To the London ton, Cameron MacNeill is an awkward, wallflower of a man with no hope of finding a wife. But the Highland chief holds deadly secrets, and he uses his beggar-like appearance to remain unnoticed. He enlists the help of the School for Spinsters to help him find a wife who will agree to be married in name only—because he needs a mother for his son while he is away working on behalf of the Crown. Lady Ashleigh Pryor will do anything to escape the abusive household of her father, the Marquis of Rothbury, even marry a man she barely knows. But Cameron’s lightning reflexes, the powerful muscles he hides behind ill-fitting clothing, and his mysterious manner suggest that he is not a beggar at all, but a man hiding a past he wants no one to know about.
The second book in the series & it’s easily read on its own although both Cameron & Ashleigh feature in the first book. I really liked Cameron who was Ashleigh's knight in shining armour. I came to this book disliking Ashleigh but gradually, as her backstory emerged, I came to like her. I did love the attraction between them & how Cameron fought against it. I enjoyed this well written romance which held my interest all the way through. There are edge of the seat moments, a mother & daughter emerging from years of abuse & a tender love story
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Forced by her cruel father to marry, Ashleigh decides to take her chances and elope with Scotsman Cameron. As long as he agrees to get her abused mother away from her father as well, Ashleigh agrees to a marriage of convenience. Cameron needs someone to be a mother to his little boy while he is off spying for the crown. Having lost his first wife in childbirth, he does not want to become very close to this wife. Both realize that they want more. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for my honest review.

This author is wonderful at bringing the reader to the edge of their seat. Character development? Check. Conflicts?Tied up nicely and not too soon. Chemistry? WOW. And mutual respect. Truly a happily ever after. Another great read by this author!

I loved this book. Love the couple and the story had me hooked on page one and kept me engrossed till the very end.

Both of the main characters in this book were introduced in "A Match Made in London." Ashleigh was a mean girl and Cameron was a grubby Scotsman. There was obviously more going on with both characters. In this book we learn that Ashleigh's bad behavior occurred because of desperation while Cameron's less than desirable exterior was actually a disguise. Their initial meeting did not go well, but both of them had promised the matchmaking service that they would make a fair attempt. After some time had passed, Ashleigh and Cameron became more stressed. They tentatively agreed to a marriage of convenience. Once married, both of them had to face some extreme challenges. During this time, both of them began to show each other their true selves which ultimately led to a happy ending for the deserving couple. This romance was a pleasure to read. A few interesting tidbits were dropped which promise that the next installment of this series will be as good as this one!
I received a free ARC from NetGalley and this is my honest review.

Book: Match Me, I’m Falling
Author: Michelle Willingham
Series: (The School for Spinsters, Book 2)
Publisher: Dragonblade
Book Length: 246 pages
Release Date: June 15, 2023
Overall Rating: 5/5 Stars
Blog Rating: 5/5 Saltire Flags

London 1816

This story centers on the highland Chieftain of Kilmartin, Cameron MacNeill, who is a withdrawn, peculiar man, living a secret life who is looking for a wife in name only. He looks like a homeless man living in poverty with his ill fitting baggy clothing and unkempt, long, shaggy beard. Therefore he asks Mrs. Rachel Harding, owner of “The School For Spinsters” for assistance in finding him a wife. His wife must agree they will be no more than friends with no love or future child will ever enter the picture. Afterall he already has a three year old son named Logan. Therefore he basically just wants a wife to care and raise his son while he is busy secretly working on secret Crown business. Yet he does not want his son to be raised by a nursemaid or servant like he was. He actually wants a woman who will truly love his son Logan and be a true loving mother to his son. A son he does not plan telling his new wife about until after they are wed!

However this woman will not be overwhelmed by castle business and can run his estate business while he is away. However this wife cannot have any personal or romantic expectations of the marriage as it will be a marriage in name only and there will be no future children as he already has his heir. It is a bit of a double standard as he wants this woman to love his son and his son to love his new mother but he wants a cold marriage in name only and wants no romantic connection to his new wife. Furthermore he is definitely hiding secrets working for the crown too.

This book also centers on a Lady Ashleigh Pryor who had been introduced in the first book as a bully. We soon find out she was not the mean girl she was portrayed to book one’s heroine Violet Edwards. Cameron and Ashleigh met previously, but thought they were too different and not a match. Of course they were both wrong; she thought he was not wealthy or titled because of how he dressed and groomed himself. He saw her in one bad light because she did not rush to defend Violet Edwards when Persephone was mocking Violet’s stutter. As first impressions go both Cameron and Ashleigh are both wrong where neither knows each other's true self and are really going by assumptions.

However Cameron does not realize the horrible prison Ashleigh and her mother are barely surviving in! Living with her titled father who is Cecil Pryor, Marquess of Rothbury, who is more or less an abusive dictator! Now he wants Ashleigh to marry one of his peers, a creepy man who is as old as her own father! Ashleigh knows her time has run out, as she had asked the people running the School for Spinsters for help. She will do anything to get away from her abusive father. That is even to marry a total stranger to escape her fathers cruelty and abuse.

It turns out Cameron becomes her savior on her escape from her father and an unwanted marriage and he brings her to Scotland! So the two who thought they wouldnt suit marry out of desperation and she soon recognizes Cameron is hiding his true self. First by his oversized clothing where he is physically fit she also soon starts to reveal some secrets he didn’t want anyone to know. Yet she doesn't know his biggest secret which remains hidden as it could very well cause her death!

Do these two have a future? Shall Ashleigh’s father discover Cameron and Ashleigh in Scotland and have their marriage annulled? Is it even possible for Cameron to open his heart and let love in? Will Ashleigh and her mum ever be rescued from her abusive husband before it is too late? How can Cameron and Ashleigh ever become a real true family with Logan or will they live separate lives forever that will destroy them both? Read and find out and get swept away in this second spectacular installment of The School for Spinsters.

Again my go to author Michelle Willingham posts another riveting, fast paced, page turning, gripping story that readers will positively love! I absolutely and unequivocally recommend this magnificent book! I can't wait for the series finale with the third book and final book in this wonderful series!

The School for Spinsters by Michelle Willingham
Book 1 - A Match Made in London
Book 2 - Match Me, I’m Falling
Book 3 - Match Me If You Can: TBR in 08/17/2023

Disclaimer: I recieved an Advance Reader Copy from Dragonblade publishers. I voluntarily agreed to do an honest, fair, review and blog through netgalley. All words, thoughts and ideas are my own.

Amazon Buy Link

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=match+me+i%27m+falling&crid=IOVGL6CR4A8N&sprefix=match+me+%2Caps%2C98&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_3_9

I loved the story of Ashleigh and Cameron. Ashleigh has an abusive father and wants to escape, and Cameron needs a wife to take care of his young son after his first wife died. His first marriage was an unhappy marriage. His wife didn’t like his touch and abhorred consuming the marriage, leaving Cameron thinking he cannot give pleasure to a woman. She died in childbirth and he is consumed by guilt, so he doesn’t want a real marriage but a marriage in name only. He rescues Ashleigh from her father and asks her to consider marriage to him, and after spending a fee days in his company she learns he is a very kind and considerate man and would never hurt her.
Cameron disguised himself to be safe from several people but also to disguise his wealth and position, not wanting a wife who would feign interest in him because of that. I loved that Ashleigh pushed back in every situation that stood in the way of getting closer to her husband but knew when to thread carefully with this wounded man with scars on his soul. The characters are realistic, the ending is unsurprising and as expected. The only thing that remains unresolved is the question what happens to his job a spy.
I received and reviewed an advanced copy of this book and I want to thank the author and the publisher for that. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

After getting glimpses of Ashleigh in Match Made in London it was clear there was way more to her than what we got to see so I was so excited that book 2 would tell her story. She really is the embodiment of the idea that privilege does not always mean a happy or carefree life. I will admit that I was not a huge fan of Cameron initially when he was so dismissive of Ashleigh and couldn't understand that maybe she didn't have the charmed life he thought she did. But I warmed up quickly to him when he didn't totally write her off and continued to seek out what was going on with her. It was also a little refreshing to have a male lead that wasn't super confident in the bedroom. So often they are depicted as god's gift to women so this twist offered a little something new. I thoroughly enjoyed following Ashleigh and Cameron's relationship from not liking one another to helping one another to falling in love. Ashleigh's immediate taking to Logan was also really sweet - and the fact that she faced one of her greatest fears in order to save him, well if I didn't like her before I certainly would have at that point. I also really enjoyed watching Ashleigh's mother gain back some of her confidence and independence - and I totally agree with her, her husband's end was very fitting. One thing that could have made his even better would have been something with Ashleigh and Violet towards the end of the novel. I really want these two women to be friends. There's a little hint of a possible romance for Mrs. Harding which I definitely want to know more about. And I am really looking forward to meeting Emma and finding out how The School for Spinsters helps her find happiness.

Forced to run!

Lady Ashleigh Pryor and her mother Georgina’s lives were rigidly controlled by her father Cecil Pryor, Marquess of Rothbury. Everything from the jewellery she wore to what balls she should attend. Ashleigh had been desperately saving her pin money but didn’t have enough for the two of them to escape. Now her father has decided to marry her off to one of his cronies, Lord Falkland.
Cameron MacNeill, Chief of Kilmartin was a spy for the Crown. He was looking for a mature woman, a wife to take charge of his holdings in Scotland and his son Logan whilst he was on missions. She would be a wife in name only.
Ashleigh and Cameron were introduced by Mrs. Rachael Harding of the “School for Spinsters.” neither thought they suited. That is until Ashleigh is forced to runaway sooner than expected. She chose to depart from a ball she’s attending. (Ok, even I know the footman employed by her father wouldn’t keep quiet about her asking him to place her trunk in the carriage when she’s only going to a ball!)
Ashleigh tries to flee and is nearly caught. (Here’s where our knight in shining armour, Cameron, steps in and whisks her away—to Scotland!)
Wicked papa of course never gives up the search! He’s a control freak of the worst sort.
Meanwhile Ashleigh finds herself attracted to Cameron. Perhaps she can change his mind?Ashleigh’s seduction of Cameron could have taken up fewer pages IMO.
Aspects of the story present excitement and challenge. Cameron continues his hazardous work for the Crown. Wicked Papa hones in on Ashleigh’s whereabouts.
I must admit to being annoyed by the way Ashleigh quite frequently put herself and her new family in danger. Still a pleasant enough read.

A Dragonblade ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

A wonderful tale of their getting together and solving their immediate problems, followed by new predicaments brought forward by duty and a man’s power hungry manipulations. All events culminate in the strengthening of their relationships and overcoming adversities. Very satisfying HEA.

I received an ARC from Netgalley and leaving my review voluntarily.

Match Me, I'm Falling by Michelle Willingham

I need to find myself a man like Cameron MacNeill! This entire book is such an emotional roller-coster (in a good way!) It's well written, it's heartbreaking, resilience and love that bounds and seek no boundary. Just a wonderful book and I love it so much!

I just reviewed Match Me, I'm Falling by Michelle Willingham. #MatchMeImFalling #NetGalley
[https://www.netgalley.com/member/book/292944/review]