With Halloween over I am in the Christmas zone and couldn’t wait to dive into some holiday reads! First up was The Merry Matchmaker and to say I’m disappointed is, well, disappointing. I was expecting Hallmark-esque quirky matchmaking shenanigans and instead was met with almost complete boredom. I’m happy this read quickly and wasn’t that long because I really couldn’t wait for it to be over. Two stars rounded up simply because it got me in the holiday mood for something else.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Sheila Roberts is back with another humorous, heart-tugging novel that is sure to put readers in the Christmas spirit. One of the facets of Roberts’ books that I most enjoy is the sense of community she creates, something that’s important in The Merry Matchmaker, with main character Frankie front and center.

Frankie is that friend, family member, business owner that has her hands in just about everything going on in her small town. She’s the person who is certain she knows what’s best for everyone else and sets about making it happen…whether “everyone else” wants it or not. Where she’s completely clueless is when it comes to what she needs.

Roberts walks a fine line with this character. Her antics generate humor but also awkward situations, frustration, and occasionally hurt feelings. What saves her is the fact that everything she does comes from a place of genuine - if misguided - kindness. She may be fifty but she still has some growing to do, a journey that Roberts skillfully, and realistically, guides.

The supporting cast of the book are all richly depicted, contributing humor, holiday fun, and, in some cases, life lessons along the way. Combining laughter, emotion, and those all-important lessons is something Sheila Roberts does exceedingly well. The touch of romance - between mature characters - adds another layer of enjoyment as does the community’s many Christmas events. This one is sure to put you in a holiday frame of mind.

ARC received from publisher via NetGalley

This is a retelling of Emma by Jane Austen. It’s a cute small town Christmas story where store owner, Frankie, mettles in the lives of those around her. I thought it was a cute read, great to get you in the Christmas spirit.

3 stars

This was a sweet, if somewhat simple, story, which seems to be loosely based on Jane Austen’s <i>’Emma’</i>.

Set in a small town, this is a story of both the upcoming holiday, the hustle and bustle of getting ready for Christmas, and the events leading up to Christmas, itself. There are characters to root for, and others who ooze jealousy when they don’t get what they want. Primarily, this is a love story, but it is a love story that begins slowly - evolving over time.

I can’t say that I loved this, but I did appreciate that in this story, the ‘love’ part of this evolved in a mostly realistic way, and over a period of time that felt realistic.


Pub Date: 01 Oct 2024


Many thanks for the ARC provided by Harlequin Trade Publishing / MIRA

Plot
This holiday romance is a retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma! Frankie Lane is a 50-year-old widow who knows what is best for everyone but herself. She tries to set up her employees, meddles in her daughter’s life, and battles her frienemy for control of the town holiday committee. And then there is Mitch, a divorcee who needs his perfect match – at least according to Frankie.

Why Kirsten loves it
I’m not typically an Emma lover, because I find her meddling to be self-serving in the original story. I was expecting to feel the same about Frankie, but I was pleasantly surprised by her motivations really being based on love – even if they weren’t warranted. The holiday spin heightened my enjoyment!

The Merry Matchmaker was a ok read for me. I have an issue with a story that has so many characters in it. It was so hard trying to keep up with all the characters.
The story seems to have been inspired by Jane Austen’s Emma.
The setting is beautiful….a small town in the Pacific Northwest.
The holiday season was lovely.
A heartwarming holiday romance with LOTS of characters.
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

loved this holiday romance inspired by Emma! The main characters are older (40s/50s), so that’s very different from Emma, but I liked the other similarities.

It’s very festive! Sometimes holiday romances just have a few holiday aspects, but this book was full of traditions much like my family celebrates. And it gave me some new ideas as well.

I recommend it for anyone looking for a sweet small town, family focused story (this one features 2 sisters, their mother, and several other side characters). There is no spice other than kissing and some mild desire.

Note that several characters are dealing with grief or the after effects of unhealthy relationships. There is no death or abuse in the book itself.

Overall a wonderful read I can imagine picking up again next year to get in the holiday mood!

If you're looking to get into the Christmas spirit, Merry Matchmaker is the perfect festive rom-com to dive into. Set in the charming small town of Carol, this novel follows Frankie, a well-meaning but slightly meddling matchmaker who believes she knows what’s best for everyone’s love lives. Her attempts at matchmaking lead to humorous romantic mix-ups and heartwarming moments that make this a feel-good holiday read. With endearing characters and a cozy setting, Merry Matchmaker brings laughter and joy as love blossoms in unexpected ways—capturing all the warmth and cheer of the season.

An adorable Christmas romance!! Thoroughly enjoyed this one. Shelia Roberts is so talented and I always love her books. All the holiday Happy feels. I enjoyed these characters. This is about Frankie who is always trying to set up her friends and family. She has the best of intentions and I found that so cute. She owns a holiday themed store in her small town. She always wants to make people happy. There's many characters in this fucking I enjoyed getting different points of views. A heartwarming and cozy Christmas read that I highly recommend you picking up this holiday season.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Have you ever had someone try to set you up on a date?

The Merry Matchmaker was inspired by Jane Austen’s Emma and tells the story of a woman who can’t stop trying to help everyone around her find their perfect match, even when her help normally leads to disaster.⁣ Frankie can't help herself. She is always meddling in everyone's business around her. She seems to think she knows what other people want. But, what Frankie doesn't see is that she is the one missing love and joy in her own life. This was a great holiday read. It was heartwarming and I would definitely recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade publishing for the advanced copy

This book is what Hallmark movies are made of! Despite it continually leading to disasters, Frankie can’t help but try to help everyone around her find their happily-ever-after while running her holiday themed store during the busiest time of the year.

This cast of characters are from all stages and walks of life and this book has all the holiday vibes! I loved the multi-generational aspect of this story which included her mother, sister, daughter and even her best friend.

If you love watching Hallmark movies and getting cozy under a blanket then this book is for you! Everything about this book will get you into the Christmas spirit!

Thank you to Harlequin Books, NetGalley and Sheila Roberts for sharing this advanced copy in exchange for my review!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA for my copy of The Merry Matchmaker by Sheila Roberts. It published October 1, 2024.
Once again, Sheila Roberts writes the perfect Christmas book. Starting with a beautiful setting, that I wish I could visit! Then we’ve got a sizable, yet manageable cast of characters, all of whom I wish I could hang out with! On top of it all, the character development, the plot, the subplots, this book has it all!
I highly recommend this one, as it quite possible might be the best Christmas book of 2024!

The Merry Matchmaker is inspired by Jane Austen’s Emma which is such a great book.

This story follows Frankie who always wants to help people. She wants everyone around her to find their own happily ever after. Which sometimes doesn’t go to plan.

Frankie owns a Christmas store which keeps her busy but she always finds ways to play matchmaker.

This is such a heartwarming holiday story that will give you all the feels.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Merry Matchmaker is the perfect holiday romance. With a meddling main character with a big heart and the best intentions, she was the perfect buttinsky (my made up word)

You can always count on Sheila Roberts to craft a tale that makes you feel good and put a smile on your face. You are always happier than when you began.

The Merry Matchmaker is a fun holiday book set in a special little town. The Matchmaker is so busy setting up others that she almost loses what is dear to her.

Delightful holiday read about finding love in a small town.
This was a charming, sweet read and one I recommend for all romcom and holiday romance fans!

Such a cute holiday romance! If you love a cozy sweet romance then this one is for you. It’s lovely and so heartwarming. Perfect if you have a side of coco nearby

Sheila Roberts has a delightful new Christmas book that you’ll want to add to your holiday TBR! In this charming tale, Frankie Lane runs a holiday store in a small town and believes she knows what's best for everyone, often meddling in the lives of her sister Stef, daughter Natalie, employee Elinor, and long-time friend Mitch. While her intentions are good, she tends to overlook her own happiness, especially after losing her husband. When one of her well-meaning projects goes awry, Frankie realizes she needs to prioritize herself for a change. Inspired by Jane Austen's *Emma*, this engaging read features multiple POVs and captures the enchanting atmosphere of a small town during the holidays. The drama from Frankie's meddling is entertaining, and her epiphany is particularly satisfying. Although the outcome is predictable, the journey is a joy, making this a heartwarming, cozy holiday read that I highly recommend!

What if all you wanted to do was to help other people be happy but you couldn’t help but fail miserably at it! Some people don’t know when to stop “trying” to help!

Grab some coco, your big fuzzy socks, and prop yourself up next to the fireplace because this book is sure to charm you with some small-town holiday escapism.

I can see the Jane Austen in this book, with all of Frankie’s meddling. Always from a kind place, but she’s obviously avoiding her own feelings and life. While that annoyed me, I couldn’t help but fall for all the charm in this book.

The town, the characters, the Christmas vibes and how everyone in the town gets into the holiday spirit. The budding romances, and the adorable way everything came together for a happy ending. It melted my little holiday heart 💝

Thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Sheila Roberts for providing me with a complimentary ARC to review!