Five Stars!

Full disclosure- I LOVED the first book in the series. It was so much fun, had all sorts of twists and the characters were amazing. And this book is no exception.

Meredith is a matchmaker on TV but has no luck in real life. She needs a fake fiance, remembers a guy from a wedding last year and pretends its him. Hijinks ensue complete with lovable grandparents, fun friends, and a blast from the past.

I highly recommend reading this after reading the other since it will bring so much more context to it, and then you will understand more of the reactions that the family has.

The ending is everything!

Sweet Enemies to Lovers Rom-Com between a Boat maker and a Matchmaker
I really enjoyed Meredith and Derrick’s story. It’s a fun clean slow-burn romance, where two people are thrown together in close quarters for their mutual benefit – to get what they think they want.

What I liked:
• The re-meet-cute of her bringing him a pot roast to butter him up to her plan.
• Each of the characters shows growth over the length of the story.
• Both Meredith and Derrick were likeable characters.
• I felt the attraction that grew between them was believable and I was rooting for them.
• I enjoyed secondary characters Titi Clarita, Grandma Margaret, and even Olivia
• The Baby Shower games were a riot. I am so going to suggest one of these in the future.

What I didn’t like:
• I felt that internal feelings in the narration were sometimes rehashed too much.
• I didn’t like how Derrick’s internal dialogue seemed to be so indecisive about Olivia and Meredith. He was always so confident in other ways, that I would have liked for him to be more certain of his own feelings.

Meredith Galanes is a super successful woman in The Matchmaker Bride, part of a series by Ginny Baird. As a professional matchmaker, Meredith has gained so much popularity with her television show. Put under pressure about her own romantic life, Meridith creates a fictional boyfriend when she is put in the spotlight on live tv. A fictional boyfriend would probably have been fine, except she uses a not so fictional man she knows that she met the prior year at a wedding. Sparks sizzled then as they really got off on the wrong foot and did not get along. Meredith is about to find out if those sparks are still there when she heads to his cabin to warn him about the press coverage. Meredith heads off to Maine and starts off with a bribery and an offer to help Derrick Albright win his ex fiancé back.

This sweet romance is a fun read with depth. I love Meredith's Aunt who comes to the rescue. The humor in this book really made me laugh. Definitely enjoyed the read and getting to know more of the characters from the first book better. The setting descriptions were so good, I can't wait to visit Maine!

Tip: Try to read The Duplicate Bride first (from Blue Hill Brides) as it has a few interesting characters that reappear in The Matchmaker Bride and make it more personal when you have read the first. Still okay to read as a standalone.

Thank you to NetGalley, Entangled Publishing and Ginny Baird for this temporary advance review copy for me to read and enjoy. As always, my opinions are my own and my reviews voluntary.

I liked this cute romance, but I’m sorry I didn’t read the first book before I read this one. There were situations that were unfamiliar to me, and someone of them were integral to the understanding of the plot. I went back and read the first book, The Duplicate Bride, and it explained a lot. This isn’t really a standalone book. However, the characters were fun and the plot was good, using the enemies to lovers trope. 3 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I received this book as ARC from NetGalley. This is book 2 in a series but can be read as a stand-alone. Basic theme is rom-com in which a matchmaker is put on the spot since she is not with anyone. So she lies based on someone she met previously. Now she must get to the guy before the media gets to him. So they make an agreement of helping each over. Then it begins…. This was a HEA. It was very enjoyable and will look forward to more books by this author.

My thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC, Entangled: Amara for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.

Well, I got 42% of the way into this book and had to DNF it. I just don't like the MC h. For some reason, she just rubbed me the wrong way. I liked her aunt, but I didn't like her. It's a shame, because I did enjoy the first book of this series and I wanted to meet Olivia in this book, but I just couldn't continue reading this.

Not a bad book, but it didn't work for me at this time. Not sure how clean the book is, by 42% it was just a heated glance here and there. 2, not the right book for me, but might be for you, stars.

Ginny Baird wrote a fun romance. It is the type of book I like in the summer. It is a cute and funny read while sitting on the porch, by the pool or beach. Her characters are well written. I love when books have humor as a part of the story!

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley for my voluntary, honest review.

This was my first book by Ginny Baird and to be honest, I wish I’d read the first book in this series because I felt like I was missing big chunks of information going into this one without having read that first book. I liked this book but at times I felt lost when they referenced events that obviously took place in the first book that I missed. The hero and heroine met in the first book and from the sounds of got off on the wrong foot with one another and that carried on throughout the entire wedding week until an almost kiss. The heroine has a local matchmaker television show in Boston and is being looked at for syndication when she is interviewed by another local journalist who asks her about her own relationship of which she has none, she mentions a boat maker in Maine as being her fiancé, which is not true. Racing to Maine to set the record straight the media beats her there and soon Meredith (Mer) and Derrick make a plan to continue the charade for 10 days which Mer tries to track down Derrick’s ex and possibly reunite.

I actually liked these two characters a lot and found them interesting, smart, funny, and real. What bothered me is they both were feeling something between them, but neither one communicated that throughout this book while Meredith worked to get Derrick back with his ex-wife. They spent the entire book pretending they weren’t attracted or interested in one another only for everything to be wrapped up in a nice neat little bow in the last few pages of the book. We saw them go from not really liking one another to friends all while beginning to form feelings and really liking what they saw in the other NONE of which was communicated. It was frustrating because we never really saw them as a couple, just two people thinking they missed their chance to a crazy proposal to a wedding. WHAT? Slow down, Derrick had already jumped into one marriage without really thinking and wasn’t right for him and then boom again? No, sorry I found this completely ridiculous.

While the “relationship” part of this story puzzled me and was quite frankly unsatisfying, I absolutely loved Derrick’s family, the Albrights. They added so much to this story as did Meredith’s Titi Clarita, she was a hoot!

Overall, it was a cute book and fun to read I just want more romance in a book labeled a romance.

Meredith is a matchmaker trying to take her show national 💍. She’s in the middle of a disastrous interview, when the host discovers she’s single, so how could she possibly be a credible matchmaker? Meredith blurts out that she’s dating someone, a boat builder. Soon, the media tracks down Derrick. Who she last saw a year ago and hasn’t seen him since.

She’s shows up on his doorstep and they strike a deal - Derrick plays her fake boyfriend for the media, and she will help him reconcile with his ex, Olivia.

Of course, nothing goes as planned. They bicker and banter, until they slowly start realizing they enjoy each other’s company. They have definite chemistry and it was fun to watch them spar and fight their attraction to each other.

I felt like I was missing a bit of background information and would have liked some of the gaps in their history filled in. But overall it was a really cute read! Theres a good cast of side characters, including Derricks’ family, Meredith’s aunt who shows up to “chaperone”, and Olivia; there are a lot of funny interactions between them all.

If you’re in the mood for a sweet romance, and enjoy the fake dating trope (one of my favs! 🙃) then I recommend giving it a read!

✨Thank you to Netgalley and Entangled Publishing for a free copy of the ebook, in exchange for my honest review.✨

What is this about -
Successful Boston matchmaker and television personality Meredith Galanes’s reputation is on the line. During a guest appearance on a morning talk show, she’s broadsided by questions about her own romantic attachments, just as she’s trying to secure a syndication deal. Afraid to admit her love life is a total disaster, Meredith blurts out that she’s seriously involved with a very special man—a boatbuilder in Maine. She never expects that small slip to get spun into a story about her supposed engagement.

Or that the paparazzi will track the guy down…

Derrick Albright is laid-back about many things. Being hounded by the press about some imaginary engagement to a woman he’s only met once—and couldn’t stand—isn’t one of them. Then Meredith actually shows up at his cabin in Blue Hill, Maine, with an apology, a pot roast, and a proposal—play along until she secures her TV deal, and she’ll help him win back his ex.

It’s a simple plan, but if they have any chance of pulling it off, they’ll have to survive each other first...

I read the first book in this series and and I loved it so I needed to read this one. It was cute. I loved the realationship beween H/H. And it just made me smile. Love the romance aspect of this book. 3. 5 stars

4 Oops Stars
* * * * Spoiler Free-A Quick Review
I loved The Duplicate Bride3. It was smart and human and The Matchmaker Bride continues with this vain. Meredith and Derrick met when the other wedding was being planned and all they did was bicker and but heads.
Then a situation happens where Meridith feels cornered during an important interview about her and her company. In order to address her personal status, she makes up a relationship to throw the interviewer off...

Oops! Now she has to get Derrick to please, please be part of this fake relationship.
This was fun and this series is a winner.

This book had me torn. On one hand, I enjoyed the story but on the other hand, I felt like I was missing bits and pieces of the puzzle.

I loved how Meredith and Derrick are attracted to each other but both don't want to be. They literally fight their attraction through most of this story. The angst was on par and was what kept me hooked.

Having said that, there were pieces to their story that I wasn't privy to.

Have you ever asked someone what's so funny and they tell you "it's an inside thing, you wouldn't get it"? That's how I felt with parts of this story.

I know the bare bones of how they met and I feel like that should have been something that one of them could have reflected on - especially since other parts of the past were reflected.

Making me read the story prior to this one to understand this couple's story just made me feel let down.

This is a very delightful story that I enjoyed a great deal. What should a match maker do when being interviewed and the conversation turns to her love life? Remembering Derrick from a wedding the summer before she gives a generic answer about a boat builder. It doesn’t take long for the media to determine she was talking about Derrick. Meredith drives to see Derrick to explain just missing the press that showed up at Derricks house.
The two of them come up with a plan to let the press believe they are engaged while Meredith uses her match making skills to get Derrick a second chance with his ex wife.
What can happen when two people spend a lot of time together? Will the match maker fall for her client?
Thank you to Netgalley for complimentary copy.
This is a funny, fun story about love family and happily ever after!

Really enjoyed reading this book! Loved the chemistry between Merideth and Derek. The only downside is it was the second book in the series so there was a few references to the first book which I will be checking out!

4,5 Stars

Sweet, sassy and sparkling, Ginny Baird’s The Matchmaker Bride is a charming contemporary romance that is simply delightful.

Successful matchmaker and TV personality Meredith Galanes is an expert on all things romantic. About to secure a syndication deal, Meredith is determined not to let anyone or anything come between her and her chance to take her career to the next level. However, when during a television interview she is blindsided by questions about her personal life, Meredith finds herself with her back firmly against the wall! Not about to admit that her romantic history is a no-go disaster area, Meredith blurts out that she is in a relationship with a very special guy living in Maine. Meredith thinks her little white lie will soon be forgotten – until the press get a hold of the story and end up tracking the man in question whom she has only met once: Derrick Albright!

Boat-builder Derrick hadn’t exactly been bowled over by Meredith the only time he’d met her. Truth be told, he didn’t much like her – so he is flabbergasted when the paparazzi begin hounding him about his supposed engagement to her! Just what on earth is going on here? Derrick is still hung up about his ex – he certainly would not get engaged to somebody else and especially not Meredith Galanes! However, when Meredith turns up on his doorstep with an apology and a proposal to play along as her fake fiancé until she secures her TV deal, Derrick agrees – especially as the Boston matchmaker will help him win back his ex!

Meredith’s simple plan is meant to be foolproof – until she finds herself falling for her not so convenient fake fiancé!

Ginny Baird’s The Matchmaker Bride is such a fun read! A heart-warming contemporary romance guaranteed to bring a smile to readers’ faces, The Matchmaker Bride is an engaging and enjoyable rom-com that I couldn’t resist lapping up. Ginny Baird’s writing style will draw readers in from the very beginning and have them rooting for Meredith and Derrick. The chemistry between the two of them is positively electric and readers will simply not be able to resist turning the pages of their fantastic love story.

A feel-good romantic read perfect for Susan Mallery fans, Ginny Baird’s The Matchmaker Bride is not to be missed.

This was a very cute, romantic read set around a *gasp* single matchmaker named Meredith. When Meredith is put on the spot about her love life by a TV interviewer, she blurts out the first man that pops into her head, Derrick. Unfortunately, Meredith and Derrick don't have the best history, and so begins a comedy of events.

Since Meredith, who is looking for TV syndication for her show, is now desperate for her lie to look true, she heads to Blue Hill, Maine to talk to Derrick to hash out a plan that works for both of them. They come to an agreement, and well....I don't want to post any spoilers, but there is chemistry, miscommunication, games with diapers, and a lot of examples of true family love.

I loved the setting of this book, a quiet, picturesque town by the water. It definitely sounds like an ideal place for love to bloom and to live! I felt the peace and calmness just envisioning myself there. The writing style was good, especially for this format, although some of the dialogue seemed a little repetitive at times. Overall, this was such a fun, cute, and fast read that I would suggest to anyone who likes this genre.

The one thing I did have a small complaint about and want to advise readers on. There were a lot of references to an event that happened the summer before when this book takes place (I assume from the first book in this "series") that is not recapped in this book. While you can still read and enjoy the book without knowing what exactly happened, it is hard to know why there is so much tension and angst in certain parts of the book.

I did enjoy this first book I've read by the author. Meredith and Derrick's story was entertaining, sweet, funny, and well-written. They made me laugh out loud and swoon a lot. I loved the banter between them. I definitely want to go back and read the previous book.

Fake relationships can be the best…even better when they become real!
The story is predictable but hey, it’s all about the journey and this swexy book kept me interested throughout! After having read the previous book in this series, THE DUPLICATE BRIDE about Hope and Brent, I knew that I wanted to see how Derrick’s story would go. I was not disappointed. Our H is Derrick, a boatbuilder in Blue Hill, Maine while our h is Meredith, a televised matchmaker. Our H and h met at Brent’s wedding because Meredith was the matchmaker who pulled off the impossible. For almost the entire DUPLICATE BRIDE, Derrick and Meredith butt heads. There was one very near miss in that book which sets the stage for their reunion in THE MATCHMAKER BRIDE. During an important interview, Meredith makes a mistake which leads her to Derrick’s front door, but not before the paparazzi do. They concoct a story to appease her business interests and his opportunity to get back with his former wife Olivia. What?!
If you like all the angst involved in fooling so many people in a fake relationship for it only to become the real deal, read this book. You will love it. This is a true romance. No steam except what the reader can imagine. I volunteered to review an ARC of this book through NetGalley/Entangled publishing.

IN A NUTSHELL

Since Meredith is a well-known matchmaker, when she is asked on national TV about her love life, she lies. Her lie gets back to Derrick when reporters show up at his house, asking about their non-existent relationship. One thing leads to another, and they’re “fake engaged.” But their dislike for each other may turn into something more pleasant.

WHAT I LIKED

The romantic-comedy vibe. Romantic comedies are some of my favorite movies, and I instantly felt like I was watching one. It really reminded me of Jennifer Aniston’s Picture Perfect and Jennifer Lopez’s The Wedding Planner. Fake engagement for the sake of work and falling for your client who you are trying to help work something out with another woman. And I LOVED it. I could see this entire book play out on the big screen. It was great. It had humor (though I wish there was a lot more), it had heart, and it even had some drama.

Meredith and Derrick’s relationship. I really loved seeing how this played out. Their irritation with each other was funny. Their friendship was sweet. And their growing feelings for each other were heartwarming. It was just an all-around great romance that I really enjoyed reading about.

Family dynamic. I just loved Derrick’s family. They were all overprotective and nosy but loving at the same time. This was so realistic. It had me laughing at times, and it was also heartwarmingly sweet.

The end. I really loved the end. It was cute. And it worked out just the way it should have, in my opinion.

WHAT DIDN’T WORK FOR ME

Not admitting their feelings. At first, I really liked this. The will they, won’t they was cute. They tried so hard not to like each other. But then it just kinda went on too long for me. They were constantly thinking about each other other but denying that they were thinking about each other. It began to feel a bit repetitive.

The confusing past. So, this book is advertised as a stand-alone in a series. However, last year’s wedding was constantly referred to. And I kept waiting for an explanation, wondering if it was going to be part of the plot somehow. Then I realized that it was all in the first book in the series. It definitely made me want to read the first book, but I wish it wasn’t such a focus because I still have no idea what went down.

OVERALL THOUGHTS

This was such an enjoyable read! I love that beautiful cover, and I love the sweet story behind that cover. Ginny Baird is a great storyteller, and I will definitely be reading more of her books. This one hit all the right spots, and I’m so glad I chose to read it. If you’re looking for a romance with a bit of humor and a lot of heart, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.

Faced with the possibility of getting syndication for her TV show Matched Up, Meredith Galanes gets in a big mess during her Talk Time interview with Tanya.
What do you mean a matchmaker was single and no time for love? Couldn't that break her credibility with the public?
And that's exactly why she invents that she has a "secret" fiance, a boatbuilding who lives in Blue Hill, Maine.

In a matter of a few hours, reporters were at the door of Derrick Albright, the Blue Hill boatbuilding, but who knew nothing.

After going to visit him to explain what had happened - taking a delicious Crock-Pot, Meredith manages to convince him to go ahead with her plan, and promises to help him win back his ex, Olivia.

But with all that pretense together, Cupid ends up sending the arrow to the wrong couple, and how was Meredith going to fix this whole situation?
4 stars