The Gentleman’s Confession by Anneka R. Walker, 288 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2024. $16.
Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: G
BUYING ADVISORY: ADULTS - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
Independent Jemma (23yo) has never needed a man, but, when the grandmother who raised her is dying and makes Jemma promise to get married and fall in love, Jemma isn’t opposed to the idea. She doesn’t want to be alone. So Jemma asks the town’s meddling matrons to find her a match, but it will still take courage to accept it.
If you want awkward-but-funny encounters, tearful truths that are said but not heard, and pieces that fall unrealistically and perfectly into place, it is all here. Repressed feelings and self sacrifice permeate the pages of Jemma’s story—on both sides of the romance—and the melodrama is endless. Overall, it was a fun read with a happily ever after.
The characters are English. The mature content rating is for kissing.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

I absolutely adored this newest installment to the Matchmaking Mamas series. The “Rebels” have provided many swoony romantic moments and the camaraderie/loyalty between the friends is noteworthy.

In the newest matchmaking scheme, Jemma has enlisted the mamas to help her making a deathbed promise come to fruition. Her grandmother couldn’t pass without the knowledge that Jemma would change her stance on marriage and to find, not only a husband, but love. As a self proclaimed spinster, she hasn’t the faintest notion of how to go about it. So the mamas are called upon. But she also turns to her greatest friend and fellow rebel, Miles Jackson aka Mr. Romantic, for some lessons to help increase her romantic abilities.

When Jemma surprises Miles with the news that she is in search of a husband his world is knocked off its axis. He has been in love with her for years and hasn’t acted on the feelings because she had sworn off marriage. And now she has asked him to help her secure her match.

Through conversations and lessons, Miles realizes he can no longer suppress the emotions and decides to let her know just how much he truly cares. But Jemma cannot betray her cousin who has been in love with Miles since he saved life when they were children.

I loved Miles’s dedication to his profession and his parish. He cares deeply for his family and friends and his responsibilities. His romantic abilities are formidable and quite irreplaceable once he turns his sights on Jemma.

There were so many wonderful secret moments and conversations between the two. All innocent, yet achingly revealing. My favorite moment definitely coming during the cricket match.

I highly recommend this entire series. And I am super excited for Ian and his marriage of convenience!!

Thank you NetGalley and Shadow Mountain for the advanced copy, all opinions are my own.

This was a beautifully done historical romance, it had what I was looking for in this genre. The overall story had that element that I wanted and was engaged with what was going on in the romance department. It uses the 1800s perfectly and felt like the characters belonged in that time. Anneka R. Walker was able to weave a tale that I wanted to read more from.

This book is everything. I absolutely adore the friends-to-loves plot we have here and this story of Jemma and Miles is literally everything. The secret, the longing, the angst, the "I need to protect them from me", "they deserve better" just AHHHHHHHH. And Mr Romantic, reading his story from his perspective has touched my soul and I cri ---, and Jemma, oh my darling girl Jemma, the sweetest yet fiercest soul, I absolutely love the portrayal of these two strong, loyal and responsible characters. I think deep down everyone knew how these two belong with each other from the beginning, but having to read through this emotional rollercoaster just made me feel so alive, the fEELS. 5 stars. I can't wait for Ian's story!
Thank you netgalley for providing this copy of my favourite read so far this year.

The Gentleman’s Confession is the third book in the Matchmaking Mamas series by Anneka Walker! Just for full disclosure, I have not read the previous two (yet). I do not feel like I was missing out on anything - this novel could be read as a stand-alone!

My favorite part of this book was our main male character - Miles! He was so well-written and felt like such a real person to me. He is a vicar but we get to see the human side of his character as he works through his feelings for the previously off-limits Jemma. His self-sacrificing nature, heart for others, and inability to handle conflict well (all the gaggle of ladies!) make him a truly endearing character to read!

I would consider this a slow-burn, friends to more read. The first half of the book was rather slow for me but once I hit halfway, it picked up and I was sucked in. Even though you could see some of the plot twists from miles away, the give-and-pull relationship between Miles and Jemma was enough to keep you entertained and flipping the pages. Their relationship was such a cute take on the friends to more trope! Overall I found this an entertaining read and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a matchmaking, friends to more, historical, sweet, and clean read!

Thanks to the author and the publisher, I was given a free advance copy of this novel to read and review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own!

I haven't read the previous two books in the series, but I'd only made it a chapter or two into this one when I had to add them to my to-read list because I was enjoying this book so much. Miles was just adorable, and I enjoyed seeing him and Jemma together. Some parts were a bit predictable, and I think I would have enjoyed the interactions with their group of friends more if I'd read the first two books and had a better sense of their personalities. However, I also got several chuckles out of situations along the way and had a good time reading it.
4 stars.

I read a DRC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

All the stars! I have enjoyed this series very much, and this book is my favorite so far.

Miles Jackson is the local vicar, and has been in love with his childhood friend, Jemma Fielding, since they were young. Frequently referred to as an Adonis, and hounded by the unwed women of Brookeside, Miles hides his love for Jemma because of an uncorrected misassumption from their childhood. Miles once saved Jemma's cousin Lisette's life when they were much younger, and for some reason, everyone decided from that moment that Miles and Lisette were destined to be married. He doesn't want to hurt Lisette, so he doesn't say anything about the expectations that are placed on him, and over the years it gets harder and harder to set everyone straight, especially since he knows hurting Lisette will also hurt Jemma, who is very devoted to her cousin.

Jemma Fielding is an independent woman with a passion for charity work, righting injustices, and helping those who are in need. Miles Jackson is her best friend and a constant source of support and wisdom. She ruthlessly quashes any potential romantic feelings for Miles out of love for her cousin, and plans to remain a spinster for the rest of her life, using her fortune to fund charitable causes wherever she can.
She was raised for most of her life by her grandmother after the death of Jemma's parents, and when her beloved grandmother is dying, she makes Jemma promise that she will marry - and fall in love!

Jemma turns to the Matchmaking Mamas for help in finding her future husband and is determined to do whatever it takes to fall in love with the man they choose for her, Mr Bentley. After having spent so much of her life avoiding love and marriage, she is at a loss as to how she can win Mr Bentley's affections and make herself fall in love with him. So, of course, she turns to her best friend, Miles, for help. Miles very reluctantly agrees to give her lessons in love, while desperately trying to hide his feelings for her. As Jemma struggles to connect with Mr Bentley, Miles finally decides he is tired of stepping aside and starts using his lessons to subtly woo Jemma for himself.

Who knew Miles would be so swoony? Sure, his nickname is Mr Romantic, but I was not prepared for this!! The waltz and the eye-contact lesson! Be still my heart. I will be getting my own copy as soon as I can, and I can't wait to see what comes next when it is Ian's turn.

I received an ARC of this book from Shadow Mountain Publishing via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I quite enjoyed reading this book.

Jemma is a well off known spinster , and that’s that way she intends to live her life . Surrounded by friends but she never wants to be married .
Miles is a close friend and the local pastor . (Interesting there was no talk of religion , sermons , etc.)
He had loved Jenna for years but frustrating she and all of his friends plan for him to marry another friend Lisette some day .
Jenna’s grandma dies but before she dies she makes Jenna promise she will find true love and get married .
Jenna seeks out miles since she trusts him and he’s one of the only male bachelors left around.
So the love triangles begin …

I thought the book kept your attention and was a beautiful love story . There were a couple of things that bothered me a bit (miles is a pastor but there’s no talk of his actual ministers work except a couple of visits to minister to his congregation and miles writes and publishes a book of poetry . Would that really be allowed as a pastor /minister ?

I would read the book again as I loved jemma and miles path to true love .

Thank you to netgalley for a free arc in exchange for an unbiased review .

Miles. *sigh* What a sweetheart. I felt for him so much throughout this book. Unrequited love is the worst feeling… especially when you’ve known them since childhood. I wanted to jump in the book and hug him.

Jemma was ferocious and determined as ever to get her way. I have always liked her character and was excited to read her story and see where the Matchmaking Mama’s would lead her as well.

I LOVE this series and feel so lucky to have gotten to read it early.

Anneka Walker is one of my favorites and she never disappoints!!

I am enjoying this series by Anneka Walker! It was fun to dive back in and get to know these characters better. You are rooting for them through the story to find where true happiness lies and not follow others expectations!

This was my first book by Anneka Walker.
Unrequited love meets matchmaker mamas.

Miles! Miles had my heart from the very first. He was such a sweet, caring vicar and devoted friend. His inability to tell Jemma no lead him to a few troubles.

Jemma was such a determined, head-strong woman. Her work bringing awareness and funds to the Rebels’ causes was interesting. I enjoyed the little snippets of her interest in fashion design too.

The scrapes that Jemma and Miles found themselves in were entertaining. I absolutely enjoyed the banter between the Rebels.

Favorite lines: “We have sufficiently rebelled against the rules of Society, have we not?” “Our relationship is rather unorthodox. After all our secret meetings about love, it was time for us to make a public statement.”

This ARC was provided through the publisher and NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review, rating and opinions are my own.

I was truly hoping to love this book. And I was anxious to read it.
This is a new author to me and I liked the description of the story.
The book was easy to read and I loved that the main male character was a rector.
But the book fell flat for me. It felt like I’d read something familiar which is probably true.
Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to read this book. The opinions are entirely my own.

I truly wanted to love this book because I really like this author, and the others I read in this series were delightful. Usually friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes, but this one was more frustrating than usual to me. I thought Miles’s lady entourage was a little silly, amongst them a 70 year old, really? But more importantly, how he could stand by and allow everyone to believe that he would eventually marry Lisette for so many years by hiding his true feelings is beyond me. I know he and Jemma were both trying to be selfless and make Lisette happy, but the lengths they went to was a bit ridiculous to me. Honesty would have saved a lot of heartache and angst. I guessed from the beginning that the Matchmaking Mamas had planned things to go as they did; they all knew Miles would be happier with Jemma. Spoiler alert: it was a little sad that we missed so much of Lisette’s story except for little hints of her keeping company with Mr. Bentley. I also guessed they would end up together, making it very convenient in the end for Miles and Jemma. And why wasn’t Lisette more forthcoming with letting Jemma know that her feelings for Miles had waned? If the two of them were as close as the story allows us to believe, I think that would have come out long ago. However, there were still many delightful parts of the book I enjoyed, and gratefully, as they say, all's well that ends well. I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing but was not required to give a positive review.

Jemma and Miles were childhood friends. Miles has loved Jemma his entire life, the only thing stopping him from seeking a courtship with her now is that he is a vicar and she is a lady. He feels he has nothing to offer her. Jemma is strong in her conviction to never marry. However, after a deathbed promise to her Grandmother, she now feels compelled to make good on her promise, but she does not know where to start. She convinces her childhood friend, Miles, also known as Mr. Romantic in their youth, to assist her in how to attract and gain a husband.

I loved this story. Friends to lovers is ALWAYS a great storyline. I am looking forward to more in this series!

THE GENTLEMAN’S CONFESSION by ANNEKA R WALKER is a delightful Regency romance novel in which we come across the Rebels, a group of close friends and the Matchmaking Mamas who are in the earlier books of the series.
Jemma Fielding and Miles Jackson, the vicar, have been best friends since childhood, but Miles feels more than friendship for Jemma. When she asks him to give her lessons on love and marriage, he finds it hard to prepare her for marriage to Mr Bentley - the man the Matchmaking Mamas have chosen for her…….
Jemahas alwys said she would never marry and would rather give to good causes, but when her beloved grandmother, on her deathbed, makes her promise to marry a good man and fall in love with him, she sets out to keep her promise…….
The characters are brilliant and the dalogue witty. There are many twists and turns and wrong assumptions made which add to the suspense. …..
I highly recommend the book to anyone who enjoys sweet romance and a humourous read.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Shadow Mountain Publishing. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

I have been waiting for this book since the ending of the first book in this series and let me tell you: it did not disappoint! The matchmaking mammas are at it again and this story was full of twists and turns. Miles and Jemma are hilarious and sweet together, their easy relationship warmed my heart! Add in a cricket match gone wrong, romance lesson and a few of Mr. Romantic’s fawning fans and you will be laughing out loud. The ending was perfection, I could not be happier. For a moment there I was worried it wouldn’t work out but thankfully it did. Thank you Anneka for writing such a fun filled love story!

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book. I appreciate it!

Title : “The Gentleman's Confession”
Author: #AnnekaRWalker
September 14, 2024

Anneka Walker has crafted yet another charming Regency romance with Jemma and Miles’s story. I found myself smiling throughout, as this lighthearted and giddy tale follows Jemma asking her longtime friend, Miles, for advice on how to win over another man—while Miles has secretly loved her for years. The chemistry between them is undeniable, and their deep friendship adds a layer of emotional complexity to the romance. Miles, a humble rector with a surprising sense of humor, is endearing, and his tender care for Jemma makes their connection even more heartwarming. Watching him wrestle with his growing feelings while helping Jemma fall for someone else is both sweet and bittersweet.

The pacing was well-balanced, with enough witty banter and charming moments to keep me engaged. I also enjoyed the supporting characters, like the Matchmaking Mamas and Jemma’s cousin Lisette, who brought extra flair to the story. While the book delivers a lovely blend of humor, romance, and heartfelt emotion, it’s not without some predictable moments. Still, fans of slow-burn romances with depth and wit will find much to enjoy here. Jemma and Miles’s journey from friends to lovers is a satisfying read. Four solid stars!

I received an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own, and I am sharing this review voluntarily.

Many thanks to the author #AnnekaRWalker , the publisher #ShadowMountain, and #NetGalley. #HistoricalFiction #HistoricalRomance #Romance #Regency #RegencyRomance

I'd already read a book in the "Matchmaking Mamas" series (which had only partially convinced me), and I'm sorry to say this one was much the same.

There were some good elements: rather well-developed characters with distinct personalities, historic elements such as the Chiros masacre, etc., but also many less good elements that weakened the story.

Jemma Fielding could have been an interesting character: strong-minded, independent, loyal and devoted, she was at first reluctant to marry — understandable and justifiable by the fact that she was wealthy and well connected. However, when her Grandmother, on her dying bed, asked her to fall in love and marry, Jemma accepts to renounce to her independence and doesn't look back or question her future, she's ready to marry the first stranger that the Matchmaking Mamas propose, which was very disappointing! I would have wished for more reflection from her about the place of women in society, especially at a time when they "belonged" to their husbands and had to renounce to so much upon their marriage. So much for being "independent-minded".

Miles was a character I liked more than Jemma (she was sprouting too much nonsense after the cricket match) but he annoyed me by not daring to contradict society's expectation that he marries Lisette. And then he basically completely changed character and kept declaring to Jemma that he loved her in a way that basically made her uncomfortable, which wasn't very romantic at all. I don't think his surname "Mr. Romantic" was quite justified. His "love lessons" were disappointingly not romantic, and his book of poems could have been completely removed from the plot without making any difference.

Overall, I wasn't convinced by this book, especially the second half, and would only give it 3 stars.

I couldn’t put it down. A good blend of humor and swoony sweetness, it was *almost* perfect.

SPOILERS

My issues were twofold
- did not like the kissing of an unconscious woman and the “scandal” that ensued.

- did not like that Lisette got a love story in the margins that made everything easy for our two MCs. I’ve seen this ploy used countless times, but I think it’s lazy and unrealistic (rare). I think it would have been more real and relatable if Lisette stepped aside (bc what other choice would she have) without having an alternate plan and Miles and Jemma chose each other come what may. Then Lisette could have had a proper story of her own (which she totally deserved) and the time to grieve and heal and grow.

That said, my feelings on these matters were not enough to sour my enjoyment of this story. Can’t wait for Ian’s turn, it looks like it’s going to be a good one.

He is a vicar. She is a lady of wealth.
A wonderful story of love finding a way as hearts slowly change. Miles has loved Jemma for years but she is a woman of wealth and has no desire to ever marry which everyone knew. Now Jemma is about to lose her grandmother, who had raised her since she lost her parents. Her grandmother’s one final wish is that Jemma marry and as Jemma promises to do just that, she realizes she wants family like grandmother had provided. Vowing to keep her promise Jemma contacts the unofficial matchmakers of the village. With them in motion, she approaches Miles to teach her how to fall in love with the man chosen by the matchmakers, Mr. Bentley. As he struggles to help her fall in love, while keeping his feelings in check, they are met with one difficult situation after another, and her cousin who she lives with, Lisette is left to entertain Mr. Bentley when he comes to visit. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy. This is my review and all thoughts are my own.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6833466975