Monday, October 28, 2024

Sweet Regency Romance! 'The Gentleman's Confession' - Matchmaking Mamas 3 - by Anneka R. Walker

 


About the book:

Inexperienced in love, Jemma seeks help from her best friend, Miles, unaware that he has secretly loved her for years.

Brookeside, England, 1822

Jemma Fielding has always considered herself an independent woman, but to honor her beloved grandmother’s dying wish, she makes a promise that she will marry and fall in love. To fulfill her promise, she turns to the Matchmaking Mamas Society for assistance and is paired with the charming Mr. Bentley. Though he is everything Jemma could hope for in a match, she is clueless about how to win his heart. Desperate to make a good impression, she seeks guidance from her dearest friend, Miles Jackson, a humble rector with a talent for understanding matters of the heart.

However, Miles’s secret affection for Jemma has spanned years, and teaching her to love someone else threatens to betray his own heart. Trapped by his own selfless nature, Miles fears he will never be more than a humble rector in her eyes.

Even as he gives Jemma lessons in love, Miles grapples with the challenge of convincing her that Mr. Bentley may be a perfect gentleman but he is not the perfect match for her. Will Miles’s advice in romance jeopardize their years of friendship, or will it reveal the attraction that has quietly blossomed between them, proving that this time, the Matchmaking Mamas may have made a mistake? Miles must decide if he’s brave enough to confess his feelings to Jemma before she is whisked away forever.

My review:

This was a fun Regency romance with one of my favorite tropes, the friends to lovers romance, but clean of course.  We have one very independent woman who never wanted to marry and one best friend who suddenly realizes he might lose the woman he loves for good.  To top if off, she wants him to help her fall in love with someone else!  The frustration and yearning were palpable throughout the story as you see Miles struggle to be selfless while his own heart is breaking.  Jemma, meanwhile, is also trying to be selfless as she believes Miles and her cousin are meant for each other and she doesn't want her heart broken.  Misunderstanding ensue.  I did get pretty frustrated with Miles as he should have just explained himself to her cousin.  Even though he had never courted her, much less proposed, there was an assumption on her part and everyone else's that they were going to be together so the right thing would have been to explain his intentions so she could be free.  This would have also freed Jemma and himself from one misunderstanding, anyway.  This was more of a clean read than a Christian book as there wasn't much about faith even though Miles was a vicar.   However, many vicars of that time were appointed or positions bought for second sons who wouldn't inherit.  There were a lot of sweet moments with lingering glances and some kissing.  Overall, this was a fun read with a satisfying romance!  I would recommend it if you like romance.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher  I was not compensated for this review.   All opinions are my own.                                                                                                                                                                     .                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

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