I loved watching Frankie decide who was the best match for each of her friends and family members. The Christmas season was a fun setting for Frankie's matchmaking. I enjoyed the twists and turns that it took for Frankie to find her perfect match just in time for Christmas.

The Merry Matchmaker by Sheila Roberts is as cozy as a Hallmark movie with a dash of mistletoe mischief. The small-town charm, holiday cheer, and meddling matchmaker make for a lighthearted and festive read. The characters are warm and likable, with just enough romantic tension to keep you rooting for their happily-ever-afters. Plus, Roberts’ knack for capturing the magic (and madness) of the season makes it easy to get swept up in the snowy setting.

That said, the story sometimes leans a little too heavily on predictability, and the matchmaking antics, while fun, occasionally feel repetitive. The romance is sweet but lacks the spark that makes it truly memorable. Still, if you’re in the mood for a feel-good, low-stakes holiday escape, this one pairs perfectly with a cup of cocoa and a cozy blanket. A solid 3.5 (rounding up!) stars for its festive charm, even if it doesn’t quite reinvent the snow globe.

Sheila Roberts books are always a joy and this one didn’t disappoint. A fun Christmas story to put you in a festive mood. I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.

Sheila Roberts' The Merry Matchmaker is a heartwarming and delightful holiday romance that perfectly captures the spirit of Christmas while exploring themes of love, second chances, and personal growth. With its charming characters, cozy atmosphere, and feel-good storyline, this novel is an enjoyable read for those looking for a festive escape.

The story follows the protagonist, a matchmaker who is trying to help others find love while grappling with her own romantic dilemmas. Roberts does an excellent job of weaving together the romance and personal growth of the characters, creating a narrative that is both sweet and uplifting. The holiday setting adds to the warmth of the story, with Christmas traditions, decorations, and festive cheer enhancing the overall atmosphere.

The characters are well-developed and endearing, particularly the protagonist, who is relatable in her journey of self-discovery and finding love. Her interactions with other characters, including the people she’s trying to match, add depth to the story and make the romantic arcs feel genuine and satisfying. The romantic tension builds at a steady pace, and the chemistry between the leads is sweet and believable.

The pacing of the book is just right for a holiday romance, with a good balance of lighthearted moments and deeper emotional beats. The plot may be predictable at times, but this is a hallmark of the genre, and Roberts’ skillful writing ensures that it remains enjoyable and engaging throughout. The book is a perfect blend of romance and festive cheer, offering readers an easy, cozy read that will leave them with a smile on their face.

While the plot is mostly predictable, which may be expected in holiday romance novels, the book’s charm lies in its characters and the emotional satisfaction of their journeys. Some readers might find the story a bit formulaic, but it doesn’t detract from the overall fun and heartwarming experience.

In conclusion, The Merry Matchmaker is a delightful, festive romance that will leave readers feeling warm and cheerful. Sheila Roberts' writing is engaging and full of charm, making this a perfect holiday read for fans of feel-good romance. While the plot may be familiar, the lovable characters and heartwarming story make it an enjoyable and satisfying novel for the season.

Based on Austen’s “Emma”, this one fell flat for me. I didn’t enjoy it and it just never grasped my attention.

The Merry Matchmaker by Sheila Roberts is a charming and festive holiday romance that celebrates love, second chances, and the magic of Christmas. The story follows Merry, a matchmaker with a knack for bringing people together, who finds herself entangled in a love story of her own when she helps a couple reconnect during the holiday season. With heartwarming moments, a cozy small-town setting, and a focus on family and friendship, this book is a feel-good holiday read perfect for fans of sweet, uplifting romance stories.

* I want to start by thanking the author and publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. very cute. I really liked it

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of The Merry Matchmaker by Sheila Roberts!

“The Merry Matchmaker” by Shelia Roberts is inspired by Jane Austen’s “Emma” and follows a woman who constantly tries to set up those around her, often leading to unintended consequences. The story focuses on Frankie, a 50-year-old woman whose enthusiasm for matchmaking drives the plot. Christmas plays a significant role, providing the setting for her latest attempts.

One of my main concerns was Frankie’s character. For someone her age, she often came across as immature, and some of her decisions were frustrating to read. The book also includes a large cast of characters, which made it difficult to keep track of everyone. The dialogue-heavy narrative sometimes made it hard to remember who was speaking. I think listening to the audiobook alongside reading the ebook could have made it easier to follow.

The story is told from multiple perspectives, and I enjoyed the small-town holiday setting. While the book includes many elements of a classic Christmas romantic comedy, the overall execution didn’t meet my expectations. It was an entertaining read, but not one I would strongly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley, Shelia Roberts and Harlequin Publishing for the gifted ebook ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

I love a good matchmaking story, and I really wanted to love this one. But The Merry Matchmaker takes its inspiration from Emma and… let’s just say, Frankie is no Cher Horowitz. Our well-intentioned widow decides to sprinkle a little holiday magic by setting up literally everyone in town. From her sister Stef to her shy, sweet employee Elinor, no one is safe from her meddling. But instead of heartwarming success, what follows is a series of chaotic, questionably thought-out matchmaking attempts that left me cringing more than swooning.

I get that Frankie was supposed to be endearing, but her lack of self-awareness made it really hard to root for her. Poor Elinor, in particular, gets the short end of the mistletoe here, and honestly, I just wanted her to get a refund on whatever matchmaking package she unknowingly signed up for. The small-town holiday vibes were cozy, and there were moments of warmth, but overall, it felt like Clueless did this whole concept way better.

I’m giving The Merry Matchmaker 3 out of 5 stars—a festive premise with some sweet moments, but the execution just didn’t land for me. If you love meddling matchmakers and Christmas chaos, this might still be worth a shot.

Sheila Roberts’ The Merry Matchmaker is a heartwarming, feel-good story filled with humor, charm, and a dash of romance. At the center of the novel is Frankie Lane, a well-meaning but overzealous matchmaker who seems to have a solution for everyone’s problems—except her own. From her sister's love life to her daughter’s career aspirations, Frankie’s attempts to help others often end in chaos, making for plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.

Despite her mishaps, Frankie’s heart is in the right place, and the story offers a delightful mix of family dynamics, personal growth, and friendship. One of the most endearing parts of the novel is the relationship between Frankie and Mitch Howard, the local hardware store owner. As longtime friends, their deep connection and shared history are rich with emotion, and their potential for romance creates a sweet and satisfying thread through the story.

The Merry Matchmaker explores themes of love, second chances, and the importance of letting go of control to allow life—and love—to happen naturally. It’s a charming tale about taking risks, learning from mistakes, and discovering that sometimes the best things come when we least expect them.

For readers looking for a cozy, uplifting read with delightful characters, The Merry Matchmaker is the perfect choice. It’s lighthearted yet full of heart, making it an ideal pick for the holiday season or any time you need a feel-good escape.

I love Christmas love stories. This was a really fun read. It kept me engaged throughout. I enjoyed the story and look forward to reading more works by Shelia Roberts!

This story didn’t grab my attention like I had hoped unfortunately. I wasn’t a fan of Brock. He just rubbed me wrong.

The Merry Matchmaker was... well, a book about matchmaking with a cozy and fun Christmas setting. Frankie means well. Her adult children (and others) do not need her advice or insertion into their lives, but she just can't help it! And while she means well, her help isn't always well received. This story was inspired by Jane Austen's Emma and that made me want to read it straight away--and I wasn't disappointed that I did!

This was cute! I would have like a little more romance, but it was still a very enjoyable holiday read

Thanks to the publisher for the advanced copy!

Oh i was so excited for this book but unfortunately I just couldn't get into this one :( a bummer. thanks netgalley & the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

The Merry Matchmaker is about Frankie, a middle aged woman, who thinks she knows what's best for everyone when it comes to their romantic life. She owns a shop called Holiday Happiness and is best friends with the Mitch, who owns the hardware store right next door. He even helped her through the loss of her beloved husband 9 years earlier.

For the most part, I enjoyed this book. However, I gave it 3.5 stars (rounded up to 4, because you can't give half stars on this platform) because I liked almost every character but Frankie. She was so busy prying and scheming in her friends and family's love lives and it all ended up going terribly. It's so frustrating that she doesn't learn her lesson and makes terrible decisions about her love life too. It's like she willfully ignores all the clues that are in front of her because she thinks she knows best, when she really doesn't. It literally takes her essentially being slapped in the face for her to realize something about her own love life and the things she does come off as selfish.

Now that I have the bad stuff out of the way, I loved Frankie's family dynamic. She is close with both her mom and sister and it's nice to see them interact (usually). I also really love Mitch. He's a sweet and caring guy who will do anything for Frankie and others in the town. The friendship side of their relationship is sweet, but the romantic meddling side is not.

I did enjoy the side story of Frankie and the Christmas committee. There was fun rivalry there, which I loved.

All in all I think this book was enjoyable, I just really wish that Frankie was written differently.

I have read quite a few by Sheila Roberts now and have enjoyed them all. The main character was a bit pushy perhaps but overall likeable and the town's characters and holiday festivities were fun to read/experience.

The Merry Matchmaker was a cute Christmas read! I loved the characters and the meddling matchmakers. Definitely a feel good holiday read!

The Merry Matchmaker is inspired by Jane Austin's Emma and is a fun Christmas romance. Frankie Lane is a fixer and thinks she knows what is best for everyone else. First she tries to match her divorced sister, Stef, with the new man in town, then she makes her shy employee, Elinor over to match her with one of their customers, and is constantly trying to convince her mom to remarry. She runs Holiday Happiness, a shop where she works with her mother and daughter. She is widowed and has a best friend, Mitch, who she spends a lot of time with. When Elinor's makeover has her falling for Mitch and spending time with him, Frankie suddenly has feelings of jealousy?

This was a fun festive story. Frankie has passed on chairing the Christmas festival this year so she can devote her time to matchmaking. She is quite the woman, one who thinks she knows what is best for everyone, but can't see what is best for herself. I really liked Mitch, he was her BFF, but it was obvious to this reader that he was just biding his time. The Christmas festivities were fun, and I loved the contests to choose Mrs. Claus. There were times that I got frustrated with Frankie, but it all worked out eventually. The characters were all wonderful and played various parts in the story. I always enjoy Sheila Roberts stories. Her writing is wonderful and I always enjoy her sweet, clean romances. Throw in Christmas festivities and family relationships and you have a wonderful Christmas romance.