**Book Review: The Gentleman’s Confession by Anneka R. Walker (5⭐️)**

In this delightful installment of the Matchmaking Momma’s Society, Anneka R. Walker introduces us to Jemma, a charming and feisty heroine who embarks on a journey of courtship lessons with her best friend, Miles. Their dynamic is both playful and heartfelt, as Miles navigates the complexities of helping Jemma while grappling with his own feelings.

The chemistry between Jemma and Miles is palpable, making their relationship a joy to witness. Walker’s writing captures the sweetness and humor of their interactions, drawing readers into their world. As Jemma learns the nuances of romance, the story blossoms into a tender exploration of friendship and love.

With a guaranteed happy ending, "The Gentleman’s Confession" is a charming and uplifting read that leaves you smiling long after the last page. A perfect choice for fans of sweet romance!

“Mr. Romantic was about to become the best teacher Jemma Fielding had ever had.”

The handsome vicar has been in love with his friend Jemma for forever, but she has always refused to marry until one day she changes her mind. What ever shall he do when she starts courting another!

This was such a fun, slow burn regency romance between two childhood friends Miles and Jemma! The obstacles they had to overcome, the emotional roller coaster! Phew what a ride this book took me on! A very enjoyable ride indeed!

I loved listening to this audiobook. It really brought the story to life. I felt like I was watching a Jane Austen adaption. Both voices had lots of personality and fit the characters so well. Miles’s voice is so sooo dreamy and so is he!

I love Miles. He is just the sweetest. He is so gentle and thoughtful. You are going to fall in love with him like all of the other ladies in town!

Jemma is spirited and independent. The growth she goes through is wonderful!

My favorite part of this story are the childhood memories and the romance lessons from Mr. Romantic himself!

Read for:
🤍childhood friends to more
🤍the matchmaking mamas
🤍seeing beloved characters again
🤍the lovely forced proximity
🤍fun scenes
🤍fighting for each other
🤍the happiest happily ever after

I love this series. I loved seeing all of the beloved characters again in the most gorgeous setting! I love the rebels and the matchmaking mamas. What an enjoyable read! The ending had my heart pounding with happiness!

I have read all of Anneka Walker's books and this one is my favorite! Once I picked it up, I did not want to put it down and I finished it in a few hours!

Miles and Jemma are two of the kindest, most generous characters I've read. Their playful banter and sweet friendship are delightful. My heart broke for Miles as he was forced to hide his feelings for Jemma, since she was "matched" with another.

The "Love Lessons" will make you swoon and their kiss is 100% worth the wait! The full circle moment is everything!!!

These Matchmaking Mamas know their business! I can't wait to see what they have in store for Ian!

After reading, I had the opportunity to listen to an ALC of the audiobook and it did not disappoint! The male narrator is one of my favorites. His deep, rich voice portrays so much emotion. The female narrator brought so much life and humor to Jemma's character. Their performances made for a highly entertaining listen.

Whether listening or reading, I highly recommend this book!

*Thank you to NetGalley, Shadow Mountain Publishing, and Dreamscape Select for the ARC/ALC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I listened to the audio and it was a pleasure to listen to.
Both narrators did an excellent job with their tones for each character, I could easily identify who was speaking. I did find it a tad annoying when the female narrator used a more squeaky voice with the FMC, the high picked, childish voice didn't sit well with the character I envisioned. But other than that I loved listening to the audio. Our male narrator had a fabulous voice, very natural and smooth.

The story was just as great. I loved the angst the author created and I absolutely loved the relationship our MC's had. The lessons were fun, I was always looking forward to their lessons together. The ending was a bit predictable I had a feeling her cousin was going to end up with the man she did. However it didn't bother me, I like to be right, lol. And the chemistry was perfection.

This was a clean, historical romance. Easy to real/listen to, fast paced, and will warm your hearts. Miles is definitely book boyfriend material.

I really enjoyed this regency romance novel by Anneka Walker. The premise is simple, it’s a story about an unspoken love between two friends, but especially for a clean romance, the angst and emotion between the two is so on point, I found myself listening it over and over. The male/female two narrators approach is used, but both are pros and it’s lovely to hear. Looking forward to more works from this author! Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC.

The matchmaking mamas are at it again!! This time though, they were enlisted for their services. Jemma promises her dying grandmother that she will get married, and after swearing to live a life of spinsterhood, she needs help. After they find her a great match, she also enlists the help of one of the Rebels- Mr. Romantic 😍
And romantic he most certainly is. I just adored Miles and the devotion he had for Jemma. He was so sweet, and thoughtful. And patient 😅 he waited so long for Jemma to figure out her own heart, and he fought so hard. Loved. Him!

This book was so cute, and I really enjoyed it!! It was fun to watch the Rebels back together in action, and seeing more of them get their love stories. I highly recommend anything by Anneka, and this one is no exception 😉

I was able to read the book and listen to the audio, and I enjoyed both so much!! I can absolutely say that you will be happy with either format. (But with that gorgeous cover, you better snag a physical copy for your shelf!!)

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for advance copies. All my opinions are my own.

The Matchmaking Mamas is one of my most favorite Regency series. Anneka Walker never fails to bring a charming and delightful story that has all the romcom feels and laughs, along with the sweet and tender romance I’ve come to expect.

In this installment, independent Jemma decides to honor her grandmother’s last wish and try to get herself matched with a certain gentleman, but she has no idea how to win him over. She asks her dear friend, Miles, who is also a rector, for help, not knowing his deep and true feelings for her.

There are so many vulnerable moments, along with many laughs and adorable situations. I fell head-over-heels for these characters and couldn’t listen to this story fast enough. With dual narration, the narrators bring this book to life and are fantastic voices. I loved everything about this one!

Each book in this series holds a place in my heart and I can’t wait for more!

Content: mild romance

A million stars for The Gentleman’s Confession! Anneka Walker delivers another new favorite in the Matchmaking Mamas series. Childhood friends to more is such a fun trope & I loved the creative spin she put on it. Miles & Jemma have such a delicious slow build romance with Miles’ pining & unrequited love. The pages just flew by as I devoured their story.

Jemma Fielding’s sworn off marriage until she promises her grandmother on her deathbed that she’ll marry. Now to find a suitor. She turns to the matchmaking mamas for a match & they find a handsome neighbor newly returned from India. But, Jemma doesn’t know much about falling in love & so she turns to her best friend, Mr. Romantic himself, for lessons.

Miles Jackson’s a poetic, humble vicar who’s secretly been in love with Jemma since childhood. When she needs his help, though it pains him, he agrees to help his friend. But as he teaches her about love, he falls even deeper & has to determine once & for all if he’ll reveal his heart.

I LOVED this story! Miles is just the sweetest, swooniest hero. He’s got such a delightful personality full of a little mischief & good natured teasing, but also kindness, romance, & depth. I adored his letters to Jemma. I also loved reading his point of view. The achingly longing he suppresses while trying to help Jemma fall in love with another man tugged at my heartstrings. When he finally can’t hold back, I was cheering all the way!

Jemma is a fun, spunky heroine who though a bit naive, has a heart of gold. She loves designing clothes & wants to help others. I was fascinated by the little known Chios massacre through Jemma’s efforts to raise money for the victims & had to Google it. There were times I wanted to shake her though, as she fights her feelings for Miles all the way. But when she finally wakes up, I loved how she goes after what she wants.

I listened to an advanced listener’s copy & absolutely adored the narrators. I especially loved the male narrator. Both of them put in just the right amount of emotion & really made all the characters come alive. It’s a fantastic alternative if you enjoy audiobooks or don’t have much time to read a physical copy.

There are so many funny, sweet moments in this fantastic Regency romance. Definitely a not to miss read! Though it’s part of a series, it can be read as a standalone. But, you’ll definitely want to read the previous books in this favorite series. I received an advanced complimentary copy & audiobook from the publisher. All opinions are my own & voluntarily provided.

Summing it up: At her grandmother’s death bed Jemma promises to get married to someone she loves. She asks her bestie for help. He’s had a secret crush on her since forever. Cue the torture. Start the fun.

You know those moments where you’re literally yelling at the main character to stop being so daft? Like out loud? Maybe it was the gorgeous cover or the fact that I’ve met this guy in previous books, but I was totally Team Miles. So clearly Jemma was daft.

I listened to the audio and hearing his swoony voice would have melted me on the spot. See? Daft? I also wanted to yell at his friends. Basically, I was like a mama bear trying to protect Miles’ heart. You? Yes. Now your mean. No. You? Nope. Absolutely stay away. You? Ok. Maybe. But I’ve got my stink eye on you. The struggle was real!

Melting points:
🫠love lessons
🫠his big vicar heart
🫠the cricket match
🫠his letters
🫠his inner turmoil
🫠the ending

Rhyme: When Jemma takes advantage of her friend, she doesn’t know his heart. Will Miles survive watching her choose a life that will keep them apart?

Thanks to @netgalley for the outstanding audio. It was SO good! That male narrator. Whew.All the banter and funny situations that were brought to life and dual POV provided excellent swoon.

This is my absolute favorite book by Anneka Walker!!! It is fabulous!!! I loved it so much after reading it that when the opportunity to listen to an early copy of the audiobook, I jumped on it and listened to it right away!!! So yes, I've enjoyed this book twice now! And will enjoy it more!

The Matchmaking Mamas series is truly delightful! These Mamas keep their children on their toes! And they all know it! The Mamas and the children! And the lengths they go to on both ends to facilitate everything or to avoid everything is comical and delightful. And to watch it all come full circle is so much fun! That whole adage of moms having eyes in the back of their head, or knowing everything...very apropos in the case of this series!

Jemma and Miles have been friends for years and years. When Jemma surprises him and all of their friends with the fact that she's ready to get married, Miles can't stand by and let anyone but him be the one to marry her. Of course it takes some time for him to come around to that. But Miles, aka Mr. Romantic, agrees to give her romance lessons and teach her how to fall in love with the man the Matchmaking Mamas have in mind for her. And what ensues is perfection!!! Seriously!!! All the heart eyes and swoons and sighs for this book! I just adored Jemma and Miles so much! They are both such wonderfully good characters with sweet and good hearts. You're not going to want to set this one down at all. You'll want to enjoy every moment of lessons and backfired plans and humorous moments!

And that kiss!!!! Oh! My! Heart!!!!!!! So worth the wait for these two!!! Read it! Or listen to it!!! You're going to love it!!! The narrators of the audiobook were so much fun to listen to bring these characters and story to life. I was very happily entertained while listening and enjoying this book that has been added to my favorite's list!!!

Content: Clean. Some kisses but nothing further.

I received a copy from the publishers, Shadow Mountain Publishing and Dreamscape Select, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading and Listening!!!

I really liked the dual narration of The Gentleman's Confession. The book is written in dual perspective so having a female narrator for Jemma and a male narrator for Miles helps the book flow for the listener. I enjoyed the different voices for the different characters. Miles was swoony but humble. Jemma was confident and secure in her friendships. I love friends to more storylines and Anneka R. Walker wrote Miles and Jemma story perfectly. I loved the ending best. A great book to listen to.

I really wanted to love this book. Well I did enjoy the banter and some aspects of the story. The problem was the lack of communication through all the characters involved. The only thing really keeping the main characters apart was that they were not being honest with anyone else about how they felt. . The book was very predictable, and there was no growth in the main characters either. I did enjoy the narrators.

Oh my goodness, The Gentleman’s Confession (published by Shadow Mountain) was absolutely incredible! Anneka Walker masterfully added to her series about the matchmaking mamas, and I believe that this is my favorite installment yet. Unlike the previous books that seemed to primarily focus on the female viewpoint, this book focused on Miles, the male main characters’ point of view. And his point of view was wonderful. It had me glued to the book every moment that I got a chance to read.

If you like friends to lovers, regency romance, meddling friends, and characters who want to right moral wrongs, then this book is for you! Also if you want the most interesting and fun first kiss story, you can’t miss this story. I never thought a game of cricket could get so exciting.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy. A review was not required.

When Jemma's grandmother dies, she promises her she will marry and she will fall in love. Jemma is a strong and independent woman, but for her grandmother, she will do anything. She enlists the help of the matchmaking mamas, much to her best friend Miles disapproval. Jemma and Miles the Vicar are the best of friends. Miles is in love with Jemma, but also feels unworthy to be with her. He desperately wants to show Jemma that she deserves someone who loves her, while also helping her find someone she loves, even if it's not him.
Jemma wants Miles to help her charm her arranged match and help her to fall in love with him. Jemma has convinced herself that Mr. Bentley is exactly who she should try to fall in love with. But what is the lessons with Miles make her see things differently or feel things she didn't know possible.
What happens when shenanigans go awry and feeling change? Will they both admit what they truly want? This was a delightful story and the friends and mamas made the humor so fun. Miles doesn't want anyone but Jemma, but the ladies of all ages just can't help but want the attractive and kind vicar. There are many scenes that had me giggling especially with the ladies were after Miles.

The narrators for this book were simply perfect. Mary Jane Wells and James Joseph were wonderful and just perfect for this story. The accents and strong personalities of the characters came across easily in this story. They were playful but also proper. James did a fantastic job at adding charm to our sweet vicar Miles and I look forward to more of his narrations.

Thank you for letting me listen and review this book.

I easily enjoyed this sweet regency romance with its cute banter, lessons on love, and best friends turned lovers. The humble MMC was too easy to fall in love with, while the FMC kept me chuckling. With all the love triangles and twisted communication lines, I was kept entertained and wondering how things would sort out in the end. The dual narration kept me extra engaged and definitely added to the storytelling.

While this is part of a series, I think it can definitely stand alone— with that said, the other books in the series have now made it onto my TBR and I’m looking forward to more shenanigans from the matchmaking mamas.

Another absolutely FABULOUS book from Anneka Walker! Gah, my smile is so big as I write this review just thinking about how giddy Miles and Jemma's story made me. I was hooked from start to finish by this charming Regency romance. There were so many elements and moments to just simply LOVE in this story. From the dynamic between Miles and Jemma, to the rest of the Rebel and matchmaking mamas cast, the characters stole my heart and I wanted to be their real-life friend.
I really enjoyed the way this book balanced depth, humor, and swoony romance. It had some surprises I did not see coming that made me just squeal in delight and excitement. I felt like the pacing was so well composed, I never wanted to skip ahead because each page and chapter offered me so much enjoyment. I also appreciated some top-notch banter and witty one-liners in this book. Miles had an unexpected humor and wit about him I absolutely loved for the character of a Regency vicar.
I totally loved listening to the audiobook version. I loved the dual narrators. The male narrator, James Joseph, may be my new most favorite Regency male narrator. He just got Miles and brought his character to life so vividly for me. I swooned. Seriously, I could listen to him as Miles every day. I also think Mary Jane Wells did well with Jemma's POV. Their accents and emotions just captured the essence of this story so much. I completely recommend the audiobook version.
If you want a fun take on the friends to lovers trope, with some creative twists and such believable motivations, do not miss this book.
I received an advance listening copy of this novel from Netgalley and Dreamscape Media. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This is a clean romance with some super sweet kisses.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Anneka R. Walker for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC audiobook for The Gentleman's Confession coming out October 22, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own. .

I really enjoy this author’s writing so I was excited to receive this book. I haven’t read the other two books in this series. I really loved the narrators and it was nice there was a male and female narrator for the two parts. I enjoyed the childhood friends plot. I think it works for regency era books. I really liked Miles’ character and I thought he was honorable and flawed. Jemma was slightly flighty to me. I didn’t enjoy her shenanigans as much. Miles’ decisions at the end were slightly sus as well. I won’t give anything away, but it wasn’t my favorite regency book. I’m sure other people will enjoy it.

I really wanted to love this book, but Miles and Jemma really annoyed me. I don’t understand why Miles led everyone, including Lissette, to believe that he loved Lissette and would marry her. Had he put a stop to the rumors years ago, all of this drama could have been avoided. I’m not a huge fan of the MCs playing the martyr and sacrificing their happiness for others.
Also, Jemma had feeling for Miles and refused to tell him. Lissette also could have been honest that she didn’t want Miles anymore. No one even asked Lissette or Miles what they wanted…or seemed to care. All their friends kept trying to push Miles to choose Lissette even after they knew he was in love with Jemma. Honesty and communication would have gone a long way. A few simple conversations would have had this whole mess cleaned up. The only honest person in this whole book was Mr. Bentley.
I did enjoy the writing style and would be interested in going back and reading the rest of the series. This storyline just wasn’t for me.

The audio was done really well.

This is a slightly different historical romance from I’m used to but I liked it. It’s set outside of London for one- a nice change. It has dual perspectives(and narration). And most of the characters are involved in social change and/or charitable works. Nice to see characters with a different perspective. This is the 3rd book in the series- I started it without realizing it’s part of a series. I mostly picked it up because of the striking cover. And I liked the premise. Romance lessons between friends who don’t realize their feelings for the other. Not spicy at all but you do feel the chemistry between the two. I enjoyed it even more when Miles decided to pursue happiness for himself. There’s a little more banter from that point which was fun. I’m looking forward to reading the other books in the series.

Where do I even begin with this book? It was such a joy. I laughed so many times and never stopped smiling. I have so many treasured highlights to look back on. Walker is one of my favorite authors.

Sweet Miles has loved Jemma since they were children. I absolutely love he falls first and secret pining. The love lessons were so delightful and funny. 

Miles and Jemma were perfectly written and still can’t get over how funny this book was too. I read several scenes over and over, just to relive the fun again and again. Their banter and the romantic tension was perfectly done. The dual POV was magical. I loved Jemma’s realizations and both perspectives of the love lessons.

I also listened to some of the audio and the narrators did an excellent job. They helped me picture these lovely characters, while listening to Walker’s beautiful words. Both narrators were wonderful. Thank you to the audio publisher for the NetGalley approval.

Ian is next for the matchmaking mamas and I can’t wait.