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.

Emma Bartholomew has overheard her stepmother's plans for her. Now she has to think of a way out, but for someone who can't see very well that is difficult. There is a school that has helped other wallflowers to find a match. Maybe they can help.

Cormac Ormond , Earl of Dunmeath knows he is dying and needs to marry quickly. Nobody wants to marry such a desperate man.

A historical romance that is full of emotion with both our characters being desperate for a normal life. It is part of a series that is set around the school, so each book is easily read on its own. Its fascinating when you realise what is to blame for our hero's problems.

Very interesting reading.

Things are dire...She's going blind, he thinks he's dying...

An interesting premise, to be sure. Emma's stepmother is auctioning her off, well, a painting, but she goes with the painting. She is blind/almost blind (funny, her sight comes and goes in this book), going blind. A true wallflower, she goes to the school in a desperate bid not to be auctioned off. Emma is not a strong character, but does grow throughout the book.

Cormac, an Irish earl, thinks he's dying. Either from being poisoned or from a disease passed down through the men in his family. He is on the hunt, post haste for a wife to beget an heir. He proposes to most women as soon as he meets them. He has a terrible memory and is always sick whenever Emma needs him most.

I liked Cormac and Emma together, they are truly better together and stronger together.
Some possibly shady relatives, interesting quest to find the source of Cormac's illness. I really want to read Rachel's book, though.
Recommend.
4.5

⭐⭐⭐⭐
Desperate to escape her stepmother’s humiliating bride auction after five unsuccessful seasons, Emma Bartholomew turns to the School for Spinsters for help. Marrying and having children is her greatest wish, yet what man would ever want her? A shy and terribly clumsy wallflower with a secret she’d managed to keep hidden so far. Her eyesight had always been bad, but now she was almost blind and no one could know…

Desperate to find a lady willing to marry him and give him an heir before his time ran out, Cormac Ormond, the Irish Earl of Dunmeath, had come to London. He was going to die and soon. Just like his father and his brother. Getting sicker by the day, he had almost given up when he came across a shy beauty. She hadn’t mocked him and send him away like the others did, but there had been something in her eyes…

The School of Spinsters forces them together. He quickly figures out she has an eyesight problem, and she can feel his pain. Convinced the other will be put off by their condition, they both desperately try to keep it hidden. When the bride auction is brought forward, Emma suddenly disappears and Cormac nearly messes up. Luckily his guardian angel steps in!

📚 This is truly a beautiful romance. They’re both so devoted to the other even though they agreed not to fall in love. The care and patience he shows her wanting her to experience everything she’s missed out on. His attention to detail. Her determination, even with her limitations, to heal him. She simply refuses to give up the man she barely met. So touching and wonderfully written! Add his eccentric Irish family, a nice dose of steam and the captivating mystery of his illness with a most unexpected twist, and this turns into a very entertaining read!
📚 Slow burn, a different kind of marriage of convenience, mystery, steamy, travel to Ireland

Thank you to Michelle Willingham, Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC! All opinions are entirely my own.

Heart-warming and somewhat suspenseful, this novel brings two people together who are going through their own version of hell. Despite their initial meeting and the mishaps along the way, it is evident that Cormac and Emma belong together. Being auctioned off is the final nail in Emma's coffin, so to speak, but Cormac is not willing to allow her to go through that degradation. Fortunately, they both have an ally in the School for Spinsters, but it still takes some sleuthing and mistrust on the part of all the main players to find the cause of Cormac's condition and to give Emma the acceptance she longs for. Having read about the effects of Scheele's Green, also called Schloss Green, I was interested to read how this pigment played a role in this romance. I was relieved that this novel, a copy of which I received as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley, comes to a happy conclusion. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Sweet story of two people who need each other more than they know it themselves. Cormac Ormond is an Earl from Ireland and desperate to find a bride and commence siring an heir. His father and elder brother have already met untimely deaths and Cormac is the last of his male line to still be alive. His earnestness to find a bride in England meets with no success as, he proposes marriage to a girl not ten minutes after making her acquaintance.

Emma Bartholomew, an unsuccessful wallflower after five seasons who suffers her own demons, is set to be auctioned off by her stepmother to pay her father's debts! In Emma's attempt to buy herself sometime, she requests and is allowed to visit The School for Spinsters to find a suitable husband instead of the auction.

Both these people have secrets that they don't wish to share with anyone until they have no choice but to come clean to each other. I really liked both characters and their interaction with each other. Cormac is patient with Emma and is still attracted to her. Though he's paid for her hand in marriage via the auction and settled all her father's outstanding debts, he's still willing to let her go if she is against marrying him.

They grow to love and care very much for one another are tackle the situation with Cormac's constant illness as well as his mother's animosity towards Emma when they first meet.

A sweet read that I finished in a matter of hours and thoroughly enjoyed it. Would recommend this book and Michelle Willingham.

I received an ARC from Dragonblade publishers and NetGallery and I voluntarily leave my honest and fair review.

3 stars

Not too bad but I didn't enjoy it as much as the other ones in the series. I didn't really like Beatrice and found Cormac a bit 2 dimensional. The premise being that Cormac is desperate to get married because he thinks he knows he is dying. He is wealthy. Beatrice's step mother decides to auction her off. Beatrice thinks it's because she's loosing her sight and that Lucy wants Beatrice's father to herself. This isn't actually the full motivation but I personally can't see how Beatrice could forgive her. Beatrice goes to the spinster school to see if she can get help. They partially help her before they twig that her problem is to do with her lack of sight and then they are more effective in their efforts. I could understand that Cormac is desperate but I wasn't convinced that a peer would want an heir that could be disabled. as Beatrice's near blindness could have been heriditory. I also found it odd that we were suddenly launched into the headmistresses possible romance or sparing with a potential suitor. IMO it was a left turn from the main story.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really love this book it was only 13 chapters. I’m so happy that I got approved for it thank you to Dragon Lee publishing and a galley for giving me this book to review. Basically the main heroine Hass to find a husband and she couldn’t find a husband and I guess it was hard for her and her stepmother tells her if she doesn’t find a husband she’s going to auction her off and obviously she doesn’t want that. She meets the sky who is like a Lord or Duke. I forgot his title, but his name is Cormac and basically they fall in love pretty slowly she had one secret, though, which was that she was blind and there was something going on with him as well. He told her like that they can marry quickly and have a kid and she’s basically free from you know her father But his secret was that he was slowly dying. I guess he was being poisoned you find out later in the story of course I really love the story. I love the end the ending it was perfect when this book comes out for sale I think I’m gonna buy the cover second on it. I just love the story overall .

I really enjoyed the first books in the series and having met Emma in the previous book I was so excited to get her story. It was so easy to like Emma and so hard to have any positive feelings toward her father and stepmother. The whole auction thing was gross from the start and only made worse when it actually happened. I get that her stepmother had her reasons, but they hadn't even tried to cut back expenses or downsize before she decided to basically sell Emma to the highest bidder. Luckily Cormac entered the picture or else who knows what would have happened to Emma. I really liked Cormac, but I can see how he did not make a great impression on those he met in London. The mystery surrounding his illness was interesting and kept me guessing until the end. I could have done without the bit with his mother inadvertently being responsible - as if the woman wasn't feeling the loss of her husband and eldest son enough, now she can add some guilt on top of it. I also wasn't a huge fan of the chapters involving the school after Emma and Cormac got together - they often felt like interruptions rather than a B storyline. Back to Cormac and Emma, I loved them as a couple. He was so supportive and understanding and I don't think his interest in her was completely to do with his desperation to get married. I was glad he didn't give up on her when she was initially too insecure to accept his proposal. I also really really liked that he gave her an out before she agreed to marry him. Although it made things more difficult, I appreciated that Cormac's family was not initially accepting of Emma - it showed how much they loved him and that they would come to his defense had she not been there for the right reasons. I would have liked more information on what kind of eye condition she had - was it something close to legal blindness or a degenerative condition?

I enjoyed this book. It was a quick, easy, light book to read. I liked Emma and enjoyed her journey to become more certain of herself. Cormac wasn't the normal rake, didnt current lover and I liked that there was no reference to past lovers, I like when the man is really centered on the MFC in the book. I havent read the previous books and no issue jumping in with this book. it went closed door but it was fairly light on the details for their love scenes. I Am so interested in the headmaster of schools romantic journey.

This is a decidedly different story that was entertaining to the last word! I loved how Emma was so willing to fight for her future, regardless of her issues. Fighting the “stepmother”had a twist to it I never saw coming. Also, the villain of this book was a TOTAL surprise. The author keeps you guessing throughout the story and the big reveal was well worth the climactic ending. Cormac is such a wonderful hero, full of compassion and adorable forgetfulness. The story is well paced, well written and the characters were delightful!

I received this ARC copy for free and these are my own opinions.

Emma, practically blind, has managed to hide this secret from the ton. When her stepmother decides to auction her off in marriage, she decides to get help finding a spouse on her own. Cormac needs to marry quickly and get an heir because he is dying of a mysterious illness that has killed his father and then his older brother. They form an alliance to help each other. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for my honest review.

He is the butt of society’s ridicule while she is completely ignored. Yet there is more to them than what people have discounted. He is caring and supportive and tries to give her what she’s missed and then some. She is handicapped but has grit and spine of steel and will not give up or let him go. There is a subplot going on with the matchmaker as well. It’s a wonderful story about admirable people.

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

** got an arc from net galley in exchange for a review ** 4.3. i have read a LOT of historical romance novels and this one genuinely took me by surprise. emma is a spinster ( she's 23 lol ) and a wallflower. you find out early on it's because she's nearly blind and keeping it a secret from the ton. the romance was sweet, the second plot of her husbands' sickness interesting. it was short enough that i wish i could have gotten a bit more, but i think i will be reading the previous ones now.

Book: Match Me, If You Can: Michelle Willingham
Series: (The School for Spinsters, Book 3)
Publisher: Dragonblade
Book Length: 239 pages
Release Date: August 17, 2023
Overall Rating: 5/5 Stars
Blog Rating: 5/5 Saltire Flags

Cormac Ormond is dying and in Ireland his mother orders him to go to London as she does want to watch him suffer and die like his father and brother! Cormac needs to obtain a wife as quickly as possible in London. Afterall all his future bride-to-be only needs to do is agree to live in Ireland, have his heir and put up with his peculiarities. Furthermore, this has to happen like yesterday, because he is dying from a mysterious disease that there is no cure for and he has no idea how much time he has left.

Fu, this only attacks the male line of his family as this illness caused his father to die seven years ago and his brother met his maker three years ago from this mysterious disease. So Cormac goes to The School for Spinsters and begs for their help especially since he is giving a marriage proposal ten minutes after meeting all the debutantes at all the London balls and is becoming a big joke to the ton!

Emma Bartholomew is also desperate for the school for spinsters help since her step-mother plans to do anything to get rid of her and plans to humiliate her and auction her off for a hand in marriage. It seems her father has lost all his finances and might end up in a debtors' prison. However she fears no man will want her when they find out about her handicap that she is going blind! Something she has hidden for years, even from her family. So she also needs to find a husband as quickly as possible, the problem is she has been a wallflower and on the shelf for the past five years!

So Cormac plans to outsmart Emma’s wicked step-mother but the other issue is to buy Emma so no one else has a chance. He just prays he does not have an attack of pain, which could delay him from attending the most important night of his life. Emma has no idea about the disease or pain Cormac deals with everyday as she feels he is not trustworthy. Furthermore, Cormac breaks promises but then again Emma has not been upfront and honest about her sight issues either. Most believe Emma is just a shy wallflower who tumbles and crashes into people often.

Shall the School for Spinsters be the answer to a woman that is nearly blind and a dying man? Will they be able to help Emma and Cormac? However, if feelings are put into this mixture won’t both their hearts be shattered and broken? Read and find out.

Michelle Willingham has been my go to author and a long time favorite of mine for well over a decade. It does not matter if I am swept away in England, Scotland or Ireland, nor if it is about Highlanders, Knights or Vikings! I have absolutely loved each and every awe-inspiring journey I have gone on with this extraordinary author. As that is how I feel with each book that I am traveling on this incredible journey and Ms. Willingham is my tour guide.

Obviously I can not recommend this book enough as it is a beautiful story that really touched my heart. You can read this book as a stand alone or in series order, but it is definitely a book readers do not want to miss. I have read every single book in this series which was Violet, Ashleigh and now Emma. I have enjoyed each and everyone from cover to cover and definitely recommend to read them all!

The School For Spinsters
Book 1 - A Match Made in London
Book 2 - Match Me I’m Falling
Book 3 - Match Me IF You Can

Disclaimer: I received 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.

Buy Links:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0C6RBM55Y

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/match-me-if-you-can-michelle-willingham/1143609072?ean=9781961275003

This is the third book of this series but it can function as a standalone. Mrs. Harding's success stories from the first two books make a reappearance. Also reappearing is Sir Brian, a man from the past who is determined to win the widow's heart. I also shouldn't forget Lady Persephone who is as horrible as ever.
This story is about Emma and Cormac. Emma is a hopeless wallflower who hadn't found a match in 5 seasons. Her unreasonable stepmother is resorting to extreme measures to get Emma married. Cormac has come to London from Ireland seeking a wife. He wants to marry and have an heir as soon as possible, before he falls victim to his family curse. Marriage between the two of them seems inevitable. Due to Cormac's feelings of guilt and Emma's feelings of inadequacy, the couple manages to agree to a marriage based on friendship and not love.
Cormac does not truly believe in the curse. He thinks that he has a hereditary illness, but the possibility of poisoning has also been suggested. Emma, unwilling to give up on her new husband, begins to desperately investigate. Will she find the answers she seeks? Or will she become the next victim?

I enjoyed reading this book especially the mystery, the ending of which was unexpected. Emma and Cormac deserved their happy ending. Now I'm waiting for Mrs. Harding to get her own! I'd also like a man to show Lady Persephone some manners, but that might be too much to ask.
I received a free ARC from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Discovering that her stepmother plans to host a bride auction, with Miss Emma Bartholomew being the item in question, Emma knows she needs to find an escape, and quickly. Turning to Mrs Harding's School for Spinsters, she hopes that she can find a way to entice someone to marry her, before it's too late. But she's hiding her secret, and worries that if it was discovered no one would ever want her. Luckily for Emma, Cormac Ormond, the Earl of Dunmeath, is in London to find a wife, as he needs an heir before it's too late. Gaining a reputation as a man desperate for a bride, most ladies are turning away from him, but Emma is different.

I enjoyed this one, but not as much as book 2 I think. Emma and Cormac's relationship was sweet, though not the easiest at first. Both are hiding medical issues from each other, but the issues are quickly revealed, and they are unsure on how a marriage between them would work. I quickly worked out why Cormac was becoming ill, and wondered why they never looked at getting a doctor to check Emma's sight again, but it was still enjoyable to look at the 'mystery' while in Ireland. All in all, this was a lovely ending to the series, though I do have questions on Mrs Harding and her beau.

Captivating regency romance with plenty of emotions, intense chemistry, and strong-willed characters. I enjoyed this story and would recommend it to others.