I really loved this story. Romance, disability, and a little mystery. Let's conquer the world together! Now I need the next installment so I can read about the rest of the characters finding their match.

Really enjoyed this action-packed journey that is filled with dangerous and exciting charters, heart racing twist and emotionally thrilling turns. An edge of your seat emotionally thrilling roller coaster ride from beginning to end.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this ebook and this is my freely given opinion.

In this third book in the series Emma is a young woman who is a wallflower hiding a large secret from Society - the fact that she is severely visually impaired. Because of that, she cannot read, embroider, paint or do any of the things most women of her station consider de rigueur for a young woman of her station. Her stepmother has come up with a rather humiliating plan to stage an art auction that is a thin veil for what is really an auction for her hand in marriage. To save herself from this particular humiliation, Emma bargains with her father to join the School for Spinsters for a month to try to gain a better chance to steer her future and hopefully a better way to find a kind spouse.

Cormac, the Irish Earl of Dunmeath is also in a bit of a desperate search for a spouse, for a different reason. The men in his family have been dying off, and he has been suffering a terrible illness that makes him feel that he is not long for this world. As such, he needs to find a wife to hopefully get himself an heir. But he has developed an unfortunate reputation too in his search, and some of the effects of his illness make him seem less than appealing as beau, such as his forgetfulness.

Cormac finds Emma kind and appealing, even though he cannot initially remember her name. When he finds out about the auction, he offers for her, but Emma does not trust Cormac to be sincere or reliable, but in the end, her stepmother pushes forward with her auction plans and Emma has no choice. She ends up married to Cormac, and they both travel back to his home estate in Ireland, knowing they only have a short time together.

Emma and Cormac are challenged by her blindness, his wanting to protect and limit her when she wants to learn to move beyond her inability to see and do more in their lives together, and his illness, and the fear that he is being poisoned, as well as other outside factions such as his mother and her resentment of Emma as well.

This was trying to pack a lot between the issues both Emma and Cormac had into a rather sweet romance. I did not like how Cormac was stifling Emma in his desire to protect her because she was growing out of her shell and wanting to help him and grow beyond her visual limitations. But the poisoning aspect of the story and history of that was very interesting, and I am very intrigued by the secondary/background storyline developing about the owner of the School for Spinsters.

3.5 stars out of 5

The School for Spinsters has been an enjoyable series to follow so far, and this latest addition is no different. This is the third installment of the series and is just as entertaining and captivating as the previous books. Emma has had five seasons and is still unsuccessful at finding a husband. This time around, her stepmother threatens to give her hand to the highest bidder if she doesn't find a suitable match. Desperate not to have to go down that route, she turns to the School of Spinsters for help. She is also harboring a secret and fears this secret may deter anyone from marrying her.
Cormac is the Earl of Dunmeath, and he is looking for a quick marriage. He is sick and he needs an heir before it is too late. He and Emma marry after he wins her in a bridal auction, and the two begin their relationship with a beautiful friendship. As their bond grows deeper, Emma is desperate to find the cause of her new husband's illness, because she is not ready to let him go just yet.
The characters were well-crafted, with depth and personality. The story was well-written and interesting and the mystery surrounding the illness was intriguing and kept me guessing. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more of the series. I received a complimentary copy from Dragonblade Publishing and Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

This was a great story! I enjoyed the way that Willingham developed the characters. I felt the joys, fears and determination of Emma as she faced her fears and physical limitations with a new determination fueled by Cormac’s love. There was also a hint of who the next person would find a match woven into the book. If you enjoy a romance story with mystery mixed in you will enjoy this book.

Thanks to Net Galley and Dragonblade Publishing for the readers' galley in return for an honest review of this book.

Emma Bartholomew has a wicked stepmother that will do anything to get rid of her and make money in the process.
Cormac Ormond thinks a genetic disease is killing him slowly.
This was a great mystery although not particularly suspenseful. Just engaging.. Wonderful use of history of items and actions.
I recieved a free copy so that I might tell you what I honestly think. Hope you enjoyed my review. Now go enjoy the book.

Cormac Ormond believes he has an inherited illness as his father and older brother have both died from the same symptoms. Cormac desperately wants an heir so he travels to London and repeatedly asks single women of the ton to marry him minutes after meeting them.
Emma is almost totally blind but has managed to survive in her environment by counting steps. Emma is a wallflower that has not made a match in five seasons. She has difficulty dancing the steps, or talking to individuals due to her shy nature and her blindness.
When Cormac proposes to Emma she initially says No, even though her stepmother wants to auction her off with a piece of artwork. My favorite parts of the book involved Cormac stepping up and helping Emma blossom in her environment whether it was in conversations, dancing, or just being a friend. Emma in turn wanted to help Cormac and be a good wife. These two truly were a perfect match!

Could They Survive Their Match?

She is blind, and he is dying. Can it be a good match? We often judge a book by its cover. Can there be more to Emma and Cormac than meets the eye? They will have challenges to overcome, but they might just surprise one another if only they would give each other a chance. This story provides entertainment with romance, mystery, and a dash of suspense.

As a blind person, I always must comment when there is a blind person in a book. I always wish authors would ask a blind person how we do things. I do not know anyone who counts steps. It would be difficult to navigate the world in such a way. Even if your steps are always the same, it would limit the places you can go, and I would hope you can go anywhere you wish with the right tools. Aside from the blindness issues, this is an entertaining historical romance. I always enjoy this author's stories.

Match Me If You Can by Michelle Willingham is the third in the School for Spinsters series. The first two spinsters had been successfully married off and made love matches. The third was not going to be as easy, but right now the goal was to keep her mother-in-law from auctioning her off. It was humiliating. Emma Bartholomew was a lovely young woman with low self-esteem. But she had a secret, one that made her pretty much unmarriageable. Her step-mother and father didn’t know, primarily because they were too self-absorbed to notice. The School For Spinsters was her last chance, but could she do as they asked? Then Cormac Ormond, the fourth Earl of Dunmeath made his appearance in her life. He wanted a wife. Any wife. He had proposed to half the young women in London. Now, here he was. He figured out her secret, but worse, blabbed it to all present. Now everyone would know. She was beside herself.

This was an interesting story, between her blindness and Cormac’s mysterious illness. She had never spent her life feeling sorry for herself but had found ways to cope. He was going to die and he knew it. He wanted an heir, hence all the proposals. It was different with her. He wanted her, heir or no. They were both engaging characters in the middle of a curious plot. The on-again-off-again nature of his illness was also curious. She would figure it out. There could be no other way forward. The solution to the mystery was very interesting and totally a historical fact. It was not a curse that had killed his grandfather, his father, and his brother. It was something that could be fixed. This was a delightful story, full of nuance and grace, complete with glimpses of the story to come. I enjoyed it.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Match Me If You Can by Dragonblade, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Dragonblade #MichelleWillingham #MatchMeIfYouCan

I was immediately drawn to this book when I read the blurb. The idea of a blind heroine appealed to me and was the reason I wanted to read it. Emma and Cormac proved to be interesting characters. I found it interesting how Emma dealt with her blindness and what it was like to be in society. I was also intrigued by Cormac and is health issues. I must say, the what, why and where of that aspect of the story kept me on my toes. All in all I enjoyed reading 𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛 𝗠𝗘 𝗜𝗙 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗖𝗔𝗡 and would definitely read more by this author. I’m giving it the judy.ann.loves.books stamp of approval, TBR and Enjoy!

Match Me If You Can is the third book in The School for Spinsters series.

Emma Bartholomew has had five unsuccessful seasons. Emma is secretly listening to a conversation between her father and stepmother who has come up with a plan to auction her off to any man that will pay the price for an undetermined artwork with her as the bonus. It's a convoluted scheme to auction off her hand in marriage. Emma comes up with her own plan to enlist the help of the School for Spinsters to help her find a husband quickly. She is able to get her father to agree but for a very short time.

Cormac Ormond, the Irish Earl of Dunmeath has come to England to find a bride and sire a child before he dies from a mysterious illness that has claimed his older brother, father and grandfather. He is having no luck and has become known as desperate to wed.

Emma's first few days at the school are disastrous as she doesn't follow instructions and is unable to make the simplest conversation with gentlemen. Emma is hiding a secret known only to her family and tries her best not to let anyone else know.

Cormac the Earl of Dunmeath, who is also hiding a secret quickly uncovers Emma's secret and has decided that she is perfect for him. Cormac will have to work very hard to convince Emma that he is someone she can count on before the auction takes place.

This was a very enjoyable story. The characters were fun and entertaining. I had guessed why Cormac was ill but not the reason and was happy to have learned something new in regards to his illness. Looking forward to reading the whole series.

I cannot believe how quickly I read Match Me If You can by Michelle Willingham. It was a delightful read for start fisish. The love story is sweet and I could not wait to find out what was going on with Cormac.

Just don’t start this one if you don’t have time to read it. I think you’ll really enjoy this one. I cannot wait till the next installment I received a copy of Match Mr If You Can from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Two people that don’t fit into society meet and start to have feelings. The book takes you through both of their struggles and how they help each other through them. And their love story grows right in front of your eyes.

Cormac Ormond is a dying Earl from Ireland seeking an English wife to quickly marry and have his heir. The wife he picks is Emma Bartholomew, a spinster with a secret. He may have won her at a bride auction, but he will let her choose if she wants to be his wife. From the beginning of their marriage, she is suspicious Cormac is being poisoned and determined to solve the mystery of who and what is causing his illness. Mrs. Harding's School For Young Ladies doesn't play a big part in the story, but the next lady up for a match looks like it's Mrs. Harding herself. Mild open bedroom door.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

This is my first by this author, and overall I liked it. I particularly liked the heroine's interest in independence and the author's exploration of a disability that didn't magically resolve itself by the end of book. One quibble: I didn't understand why we needed to jump back to the Lord Brian storyline in London a few times; it felt like that only started halfway through the book but I also didn't read the other two books in the series, so perhaps that's on me.

Good book. Having met Cormac in the previous books, I was curious about him and his hurry to find a bride. Early in the book, we learn that Cormac suffers from a debilitating disease whose symptoms mirror the same illnesses that killed his father and brother. He wants to marry and sire an heir before he dies and fears that his time is running out. His impatience has made him a laughingstock in the ton, as he barely waits ten minutes before proposing to the women he meets. Growing more desperate daily, he visits Mrs. Harding at the School for Spinsters and enlists her help.

Emma has been out for five unsuccessful seasons and has spent all of them as a wallflower. Now her stepmother plans to auction her off to the highest bidder. At the suggestion of the heroines of the two previous books, Emma begs the help of Mrs. Harding to help her find a husband. Her efforts are hindered by the secret she has hidden for years - she is nearly blind.

I liked Emma and Cormac. Emma's confidence is low because of her vision problems, but she doesn't let it stop her from doing her best. I liked her lessons at the school and seeing her gain some confidence. Mrs. Harding uses Cormac for Emma's lessons, as she can see they need each other. It doesn't take long for Cormac to figure out Emma's handicap; he is patient and kind as he helps her through her tasks. He continues to ask her to marry him, but her insecurities keep her from saying yes.

Cormac promises to be at her side at an upcoming ball but is taken ill and doesn't make it. When Emma's stepmother moves up the auction to that night, Emma is left without support and believes that she cannot trust Cormac to be there for her. While he rescues her in a roundabout way, she still resists marrying him. I grew frustrated with her qualms because she clearly cared for him, and he for her. I was relieved when she finally gave in.

Their return to Ireland creates some stress. His mother is furious at his return and suspicious of Emma. It takes a bit for Emma to settle into her role. She wants to become the Countess Cormac deserves, but he wants to protect her from the unhappiness she feels because of her disability. I loved that she had the confidence to stand up for herself. Cormac's health improved during their short honeymoon, but he became ill again when home. I loved Emma's belief that some outside force was causing it and her determination to find out what it was. I was surprised it took so long, as I had figured it out before Cormac left London. There were some tense moments as both of them became ill (at separate times), but it also helped them realize their feelings for each other. I loved how they finally discovered what caused Cormac's illness and how that opened up a bright future for them. I liked the epilogue and seeing how they were doing a year later.

A secondary story takes place in the book's last half. Mrs. Harding has a new student, a man this time. Sir Brian has a history with her - he has been trying to court her. But she had an abusive marriage and has no intention of marrying again. I like Sir Brian's persistence and determination. Hopefully, there will be another book in the series that will cover their story.

Cormac Ormand is slowly dying. His father and brother perished from the same illness he recently started experiencing. He is in London to find a bride to give him an air before he is gone. Emma Bartholomew is at her last resort. Her stepmother is holding an auction to sell her hand in marriage to pay off Emma’s father’s debts. Cormac and Emma seek out the help of Ms. Harding at the School for Spinsters.

Michelle Willingham has a way of grabbing onto me and holding me with her wonderful characters and stories. She is one of my go-to authors. I loved this story of two people who have challenges to overcome and fall in love as they become closer to one another and help each other to be content and happy. This was a quick and pleasant read and I’d highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys women facing and conquering their fears, and men learning that a strong woman can be a wonderful partner and they can be more together. I received a copy of this book through NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

I received this book for free from Netgalley. That did not influence this review.

Match Me If You Can by Michelle Willingham is the delightful third book in the Regency Romance series, The School For Spinsters.

Emma Bartholomew is a low-status gentlewoman who has not succeeded in finding a husband despite five seasons in the marriage mart. Her stepmother is resorting to desperate measures (an auction!) to marry her off. Emma’s failure to attract a husband is due to a lack of self-confidence which is in turn due to the fact that she is almost blind. She has none of the usual female accomplishments. But she does possess an internal strength that has helped her to navigate the world though she is nearly sightless. And she refuses to be auctioned off. She takes herself to Miss Harding’s School for Young Ladies, otherwise known as the School for Spinsters. Miss Harding is a matchmaker.

Cormac Ormond, Earl of Dunmeath, is in desperate need of a wife and, even more importantly, an heir. So desperate, he has an off-putting tendency to propose to women within 10 minutes of meeting them. His desperation stems from the belief that he is dying of the same illness that took his grandfather, father, and older brother. It’s a family curse, affecting only the males.

Cormac meets Emma at a party where they briefly converse. They meet again at the School, where Miss Harding has invited Cormac and a few other men to dinner so that Emma can practice conversation. Cormac deduces Emma’s secret blindness. But he also understands the strength of her character. Emma is drawn to him, yet when he blurts her secret out in company, making her an object of pity as well as ridicule, she believes he is untrustworthy and wants nothing further to do with him. Until he confides his secret to her.

Emma doesn’t believe in the family curse, although she certainly believes in his illness. She’s determined to save him. This novel highlights the struggles of these unconventional protagonists as they find their way to love.

After five unsuccessful seasons, Emma Bartholomew’s stepmother threatens to auction off her hand in marriage. Horrified at the idea, Emma enlists the help of the School for Spinsters to help her find a husband quickly. But she knows that no man will want to wed her after he learns the secret she’s hiding…that she’s practically blind. Cormac Ormond, the Irish Earl of Dunmeath, is seeking a quick marriage because he desperately wants an heir. He knows he’s dying, and it doesn’t matter what sort of bride he finds, as long as she’s willing to help him.
Emma is the third sister to have her story & another well written story. The characters have depth & are well portrayed. I loved both Cormac & Emma both hiding medical secrets so these cause some conflict & some mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed their road to a HEA & look forward to more in the series
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

This is the third entry in Michelle Willingham's School for Spinsters series. It works as a standalone, though I did not enjoy it as much as I enjoyed the first two installments. Here we have FMC Emma Bartholomew facing potentially being auctioned off by her evil(?) step-mother. Emma's sight is close to blindness and she thinks that no one will want her because of this. She turns to the School for Spinsters as a last resort. MMC Cormac Ormond, Irish Earl of Dunmeath, is desperate to find someone to marry him as he believes he is dying. He has proposed to at least 10 debutantes and all have rejected him. When he encounters Emma, first at a ball and then at the school, he thinks she might be the answer to his problems. Oh, he also likes her. He also does not care about her vision.

Cormac rescues Emma from the machinations of her step-mother. She agrees to marry him, though she is aware that he is supposedly dying. From here, the story evolves into something of a lovely love story. Cormac wants Emma to experience all of the things she has wanted to experience but never has. Emma is convinced she can find a way to save Cormac from death. There is no dishonesty or miscommunication creating issues for this couple, which is unusual. The story simply tracks how they realize they are in love with each other, and how they save Cormac.

Like I said, I liked this one less than the previous two installments. It felt a little slow, despite being novella length. I also could not get past Cormac proposing to all of those other women, or the idea that so many debutantes would turn him, and the possibility of being a countess, down. While I in some ways appreciate that Emma's sight is never cured, I was also bothered by the fact that no one thought to have her see a doctor or try spectacles to see if there could be even a bit of help given. The steam here is good, and I do like that there wasn't a third-act separation to overcome.

3.5 stars, rounded to 4. Thank you to NetGalley and Dragonblade for a complimentary ARC of this book. The opinions herein are my own.