Gemma, a bluestocking in 1820s England, shocks her friends and family when she promises her dying grandmother that she will take a husband. She enlists the help of the Matchmaking Mamas to find him, and calls on her best friend Miles -- the village vicar nicknamed "Mr. Romance" -- to instruct her in how to fall in love with the man who was chosen for her. But there's a problem. Miles has secretly been in love with Gemma ever since they were children, even though he's been all but promised to Gemma's cousin Lisette.

This clean romance didn't need any spice to be absolutely stunning. Between the fast pace of the story, the interesting characters, the sparkling dialogue, and the sharp humor throughout, this was a totally enjoyable book. I listened to the audio and I thought both male and female narrators were amazing, especially Mary Jane Wells. The narration had a pure theatrical quality that I don't hear often enough in audiobooks.

I haven't read/listened to the first two books in this series. Hopefully at some point I can get to them.

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Gentleman's Confession is an utterly charming romantic comedy set in Regency-era England that thrives on misunderstandings, slow-burn chemistry, and delightful narration. Anneka R. Walker spins a tale that is equal parts heartwarming and hilariously awkward, with her leads often thrown into situations that are as silly as they are endearing.

The audiobook brings this story to life with a fantastic double narration. Mary Jane Wells shines as the voice of Jemma, perfectly capturing her spirited chaos and self-doubt. Wells's inflection adds so much personality, making Jemma’s inner monologues all the more engaging. The male narrator, James Joseph, is equally compelling, bringing a steady, tender energy to Miles that contrasts beautifully with Jemma’s liveliness. Their combined performances elevate the story’s humor and yearning.

And oh, the yearning! This story is the epitome of a slow burn, with every glance, brush of hands, and exchange between Jemma and Miles steeped in delicious tension. Walker expertly balances humor with emotion, as the characters navigate the fraught territory of friendship and unspoken love. The climactic confession feels not only satisfying but deeply earned, offering a payoff that perfectly concludes their journey.

The side characters and setting also deserve mention. Walker's portrayal of the village and its quirks—like a cricket match with a neighboring town—creates a cozy and whimsical world that feels like a temporary escape from reality. And Ian, a secondary character, left such an impression that anticipation for his story is hard to resist.

In summary, this audiobook is a joyful experience for fans of Regency romance, witty banter, and stories brimming with heart. It’s a must-listen for anyone who loves a good slow burn and characters who fumble their way into love with all the charm and awkwardness of real life!

This is a sweet friends-to-lovers regency read filled with cute banter but also lots of miscommunication. Jemma and Miles are best friends, and Miles agrees to teach her how to fall in love, but might regret his decision. Much of the plot caused me to have anxiety over their poor decisions, as I’m not a fan of miscommunication tropes, but I did enjoy the “lessons” and the cute ways they showed up for eachother through genuine friendship. It’s a third book in a series, but I haven’t read the previous two and didn’t feel lost at all. Ultimately it’s a cute, light read for fans of the genre, especially if you listen to the audiobook, as the narrators are fantastic. Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Select for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

I selected this book partly because I love the narrator, Mary Ann Wells. The story, however, was too silly for my taste. Just inane. I prefer my storyline believable, but the details: a prediction, an interfering society of do-gooders, a desperate requirement to marry combined with the hero's lack of gumption, made me question the editors who approved this story. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

I listened to the audiobook version of The Gentleman’s Confession by Anneka R. Walker, which is a refreshing clean romance set in 1822 England. The story begins when Jemma is with her beloved grandmother who is on her death bed. Jemma promises her grandmother that she will settle down and marry, despite being fiercely independent all of her life. Jemma immediately enlists the help of the Matchmaking Mamas who pairs her with a new resident in town, the charming Mr. Bentley. However, she also asks her lifelong friend, Miles, who serves as the town’s vicar, to help her secure the affection of Mr. Bentley. It’s obvious from the beginning that Miles has loved Jemma from afar for at least a decade, but Jemma is firmly entrenched in the idea that Miles is pledged to her cousin Lisette. I got so tired of Jemma’s persistence in this notion and it was frustrating listening to it repeatedly. Thankfully everything turns out in the end and all parties involved get their happy endings.

When I started listening to this audiobook, narrated by Mary Jane Wells and James Joseph (both did an outstanding job), I didn’t realize it was the third book in a series. I believe I missed a few plot points because I didn’t understand who “the Rebels” were and why Jemma and Miles were included in the group. Therefore, I recommend listening to the first two books in the series before venturing to this one.

I love this series and this book! This book gave me similar vibes to Jane Austin’s Emma. Jemma is so stubborn and headstrong and so funny and Miles is a green flag kind of guy. Loved this friends to more.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Select for the ARC of this audiobook for my honest review

I loved this romance, and the matchmaking mamas are so impressive. I love it when the love interests actually someone that I’d like , I also loved the time period and it was so interesting. Always fascinating to read about people in those days and how they acted with friends and in relationships, what was a scandal back then too. So much fun! I recommend

I'll be publishing my review on Goodreads and StoryGraph 2nd December and on Tik tok most likely will add to a monthly wrap up post with review the beginning of January

I was absolutely smitten by this audiobook and the sweet relationship between Jemma and Miles in 1822 England. It was a happy and refreshing read (or listen, as was the case for me). I was instantly in love with Miles and rooted for their sweet connection the entire book. I also loved the spunk and wit of Jemma.

I have not read other books in this series, but having listened to this one, I feel like I should give those a try as well!

I do not give in to the temptation to try a ‘regency romance’ too often because I had a phase where I read too many of them and now do not necessarily enjoy all the ones I pick the same amount. I chose this because the audio version was available. I am really glad I did, especially in this format!

The narrators definitely seemed to have enjoyed themselves because I felt like I could hear extra emotion in their voices as the story progressed. Even when the characters might have been too earnest, listening to their thought process, it made sense for the characters to be that way.

There’s a bit of a background already established in the series, something that becomes quite apparent once the story begins. Miles had always been in love with Jemma but there are a few things preventing him from declaring himself. The biggest hurdle is that everyone’s always assumed he plans to marry Jemma’s cousin.

The story, including the ending, is predictable, but this does not take anything away from the experience. It is a clean romance with heartfelt characters and realistic situations ( for the most part), making the whole book highly entertaining. I planned to listen to just a couple of chapters but ended up following that with the entire book because I was enjoying myself too much.

There are some dialogues and scenes that had me chuckling. My review is purely for the audio version. I would highly recommend it to fans of this genre.

I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own listening experience.

This was an enjoyable read.
I absolutely loved the friend group and the matchmaking mamas. They gave the book some added humor.
This was a friends to lovers trope and it had me rooting for Miles right from the start.
I enjoyed that this book didn’t have a designated “bad guy” everyone was likable.
The author managed to give everyone a happy ending which I loved.
I also listened to this one on audio and it was wonderful. The narrator did a great job.

This is the first time that I have read a book by this author, and I enjoyed it very much. It was a cute and cozy romance between two people who won't admit their feelings for each other. Jemma and Miles were both adorable with the chemistry and denial. I enjoyed this story because it was warm and funny. The only down side is that I would have loved more romantic moments between them. I think the characters were well written, and the story was plotted well. I would recommend this to other for reading.

Thank you Net Galley ARC and Shadow Mountain Publishing.

If you’re in the mood for a delightful new read with a splash of historical romance, then The Gentleman’s Confession by Anneka Walker is your next must read!

Jemma is the spirited young lady who’s promised to marry in honor of her grandmother’s dying wish! She hilariously enlists the Matchmaking Mamas to find her a mate, and her best friend Miles (aka Mr. Romantic) to teach her all the lessons of love!

But here’s the twist, Miles is secretly in love with her!

Their journey is packed with witty banter, swoony moments, and even a little lake scene that’ll make your heart race! I loved all the friendships and support the little band of Rebels gives each other! I also absolutely loved Jemma’s fashion sense, and her desire to use her talents to help out those in need <3

This book is a sweet blend of laughter and longing that’ll leave you cheering for love to win out in the end. Seriously, don’t miss this sweet romance!

Thank you to Shadow Mountainpub and Netgalley for the opportunity to both read and listen to this book

A thoroughly charming and delightful tale. Jemma and Miles have been friends forever, sharing rich history and experiences. Miles also happens to be deeply in love with Jemma. I was drawn to his unrelenting friendship and desire to see good for Jemma. Even when she starts down a path he wants no part of, he does want to support and be close to his friend. He gives her lessons in love, revealing his own heart to her along the way and shows us all what a romantic he is. Despite expectations others have for them, their affections deepen and showcase how friendship really does lay a beautiful foundation for meaningful relationships. The challenges and twists and turn add effectively to the story and highlight how these two are better together than apart. I enjoyed the narration as well, as it allowed me to experience the story more richly in my mind’s eye as I listened along.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

LOVED! I love the matchmaking mamas. I also love Miles being in love with Jemma since they were kids but still agreeing to help her find a husband. This book was so sweet! I can't get over their love story. It is just the sweetest!

Jemma Fielding would stop at nothing to honor the final promise she made to her dying grandmother : She would find love and get married.
Unsure of her ability to ignite such feelings in another person and herself, Jemma asks her longtime friend Miles for help. The thing is that Miles was secretly in love with Jemma for years, but never dared to confess his love.

A Gentleman's Confession is the kind of predictable and wholesome rom-com that will probably not be your favourite read of the year, but that will keep you entertained for a while.
It is a historical romance that takes place in the early 1800s : the time periode and everything that comes with it (the rules of propriety, the pining... etc.) was my favourite aspect of this book. The Matchmaking Mama's and The Rebels "squads" were also an original and interesting aspect, I only wish that they took more space in the story, but since this is the third installment of a series, I guess that they must've been more present in the first couple of books.
One thing that I didn't like in this book though was our MMC Miles, the vicar of Brookeside, who acted, in my opinion in a very "un-vicar-y" and borderline manipulative manner towards Jemma. He was just not the type of love interest one would wish for that lovely young woman.

🎧 Audiobook : 3.5/5 nice work from both narrators, even though I had a preference for Mary Jane Wells' perfomance.


Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Select for providing this audiobook for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Funny, serious and romantic - such a great combination. While this is the third in a series of the Matchmaking Mama's, you would not have known as there was not a lot of assumed knowledge from previous books in the series. I listened to this as an audiobook and the narrators were great. Both Mary Jane Wells and James Joseph did a wonderful job o f conveying emotion and differentiating between characters. Again, this is a fabulous example of when you don't need spice in a book for it to be a great listen. I have enjoyed this book so much I will be going back to listen to the first two books and I am very excited for the last book, the last of the rebel's to marry!

Big thanks to Netgalley, Dreamscape Select, Shadow Mountain Publishing and Anneka R Walker for a copy of this audiobook. This is my honest opinion.

the gentleman's confession is one of those book i read at just the right time—because i loved it.

jemma fielding is finally ready to marry, thanks to a promise she made to her grandmother. the matchmaking mamas society has a suitor for her, but to win his heart, she needs help from her best friend, miles jackson. miles agrees to help her, of course, despite his own affections for her. will he really lose his hope for romance to the society's record of success?

what a delightful friends-to-more historical romance. it involves so many elements i love, like matchmaking, love lessons, "it's almost too late," and an auction, and the story is fairly low-stress as it all plays out. i just enjoyed it all so much—and if you love feel-good historical romance, i think you'll love this one, too.

(i received a complimentary copy from the publisher. i was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions i have expressed are my own.)


considerations:
—language: none
—spice: kisses only
—faith: he's a rector
—content: none

This is a lovely, heartwarming tale set in 1822. The story revolves around the main characters of Jemma and Miles as Jemma sets to fulfill the dying wish of her grandmother, who insists that she abandon her modern rebellious ideas of being a spirited spinster, get married and fall in love.
She enlists the help of her best friend Miles who is a much chased after, handsome local vicar.

I quite like both the main characters, Miles is the ideal book boyfriend and his pure love and adoration of Jemma is beautiful. Jemma is the regency equivalent of Bridget Jones and is clumsy, independent and stubborn. They together with their group of rebel friends give the words love triangle and even love quadrilateral a run for their money and a thorough workout!

The term rebels isn't one that I have heard of in (slightly post) Regency era books or movies and it threw me a bit although I came to realise that they were a group of modernish thinking people who do good for big causes. I never came to know who or what they were rebelling against but that doesn't impact the story in a big way. I also think there may be a book that came before this one due to mentioned bits about other characters.

As for the matchmaking mamas, they get a bit of mention in the book and their scheming ways see and have seen a few happily matched couples. I quite liked the sound of them although we don't know what really goes on there due to the point of view only being from Jemma and Miles.

I guessed the ending quite early on in the book although quite a bit of the story line surrounding it such as the cricket match, injury and picnics were unexpected and great listening prior to the ending.

The narrators were fantastic and the female one had me in stitches when Jemma got hysterical and awkward. It really was funny to listen to Jemma's character being fully brought to life at her stubbornist, most 'in denial' moments.

A romantic and cheering book that had me wanting to read (listen) more. Thanks to Netgalley, Dreamscape Select and the author and publisher for allowing me to listen to the ARC audiobook. All opinions expressed are my own.

A delightful romance.

Confirmed spinster Jemma makes the dreadful promise to marry and find love, but how can she deny her grandmother's dying wish?

She enlists the help of the Matchmaking Mamas... and her childhood bestfriend, Miles. What could go wrong?

(This contains an audiobook Review)

First I would like to thank Netgalley and Dreamscape Select for this opportunity to listen to this book.


This audiobook has two narrators due to the book being in a dual POV which I absolutely adored since it helped me get in the head space of each character. Both narrators do a fabulous job of making sure their words are pronounced and clear, while also bringing their characters to life. I loved how I was able to feel the chemistry of the two main characters through the narrators.