Valentine’s Day at the castle!The Matchmaker:Lady Philippa Willoughby is known for hosting many gatherings and celebrations at the castle. Somewhat meddlesome at times, she has taken it upon herself to play matchmaker to the villagers. This, along with her carefree ways, causes her to be the brunt of gossip that she is an improper lady. When her father betroths her to a Frenchman she has never … betroths her to a Frenchman she has never met, she rebels, planning on finding a match for herself at her upcoming St. Valentine’s Day dance.
The Novice:
Lord Etienne de Beynac, the youngest of six boys, has managed to disgrace his family with his wild ways. When his father and brothers disown him he has no choice but to agree to his father’s terms. He joins a monastery as a novice across the channel, in England.
Etienne gets one last chance for redemption before he finalizes his vows to live the rest of his life as a monk. As a favor to his brother, he goes to Grimsthorpe Castle to spy on his brother’s betrothed, Lady Philippa. He needs to find out if she is a proper lady with whom his family can align. But once there, he develops a strong attraction to Lady Philippa that threatens his plans to be a monk.
Will a St. Valentine’s Day dance bring two misfits together in love? And will a man slated for a life of celibacy and poverty be able to put down the rosary and pick up the sword to fight for the woman he loves?
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This is a delightful story of “Pippa”, a young woman whose interest in life is that of matchmaking for the local people of their realm. It seems to be successful judging by the many weddings and happy marriages. Her belief is that people should marry for love. Gee what a chic idea! Then of course quite by accident she finally meets her own love interest. The only problem is that he’s a monk! And he’s not really her intended according to other things in the works. And her monk doesn’t exactly have a very upstanding history either. It’s a boys meets girl thing but fun to read. Thanks Elizabeth for the story.
Such a delightful story and makes me wish I would have been invited to the St. Valentine’s celebration in the castle:) I had no idea they celebrated St Valentine’s Day in that era and that’s why I love historical romances so much, not only do you learn history but you also get wonderful love stories!
Lady Philippa Willoughby loves nothing better than to help the poor and to matchmake, no matter what station in life the couples are. She’s good at it too, much to the displeasure of her father who deems it not a ladylike endeavor. Next thing she knows, he’s betrothed her to a Frenchman, much to her disgust!!
Lord Etienne de Beynac, having disgraced his father one too many times, is sent to join a monastery in the hopes of changing his ways. Nope, won’t happen! lol When he gets a message from one of his brothers to spy on a lady that he’s found himself betrothed to, to make sure she’s worthy, he finds himself at the castle and it doesn’t take long before he realizes he wants Philippa for himself!
This is a very sweet story and I love the way Etienne cares for Philippa’s little brother and tries to right all the wrongs that are going on in that castle. A worthy St. Valentine’s Day story:)
Great characters and love story. Wonderful author
Good romantic lightread
A story woven from the heart of a girl named Pippa, that only wants to match people with their true loves.
A baron’s daughter that coddles her baby brother, Franklin, who at 10 is a punching bag for the boy, Wilber, whose mother is consort for her father.
She is drawn to Étienne, a monk in training, and she shouldn’t be because she is betrothed to none other than his brother.
Can Etienne work out the turmoil he has caused being at their castle and taking Franklin under his wing to stand up to Wilber, and the fact that he has fallen in love with Pippa and wants her for his own.
The twist and turns is a wonderful adventure that can’t be missed.
I really enjoyed this sweet and clean short read. Lord Etienne de Beynac is the 6th son of a French Earl. He is looked down upon by his older brothers and his father and is treated poorly by them, even though he is an adult. He has become a drunken wastrel and his father is tired of it, so he sends him to an English monastery as a novice so that he can become a monk.
Lady Philippe, daughter to Baron Franklin Willoughby III, is a well-known matchmaker who throws lavish Valentine’s Day parties in an effort to match single persons with their true love. She has a younger brother whom she coddles and protects because their mother has died three years prior. Now her father is courting the widowed Lady Martha, and her son is such a bully to young Franklin. Lady Martha is also very manipulative, planting lies and dissection in her betrothed’s ears.
Lord Etienne is trying hard to be a monk but it is very difficult. He still likes to drink a bit and gamble with visiting knights. He receives a missive from his brother Giles, who is betrothed to Lady Pippa, asking him to “spy on her” and determine if she will be a suitable bride. In order to get close to her, he conspires with Pippa’s father to let him work on getting her to stop meddling in the love lives of others. He also recognizes that young Franklin is in need of learning to become a squire-in-training, as he has witnessed the harassment by Wilbur, Lady Martha’s son.
Can a “monk-in-training” fall in love with a matchmaker? How can she lose her heart to a man of the cloth? Will Pippa’s father put a stop to her Valentine’s Day celebration? What will happen when Giles comes to take his future bride? Don’t miss this awesome read!
This was a sweet story. Pippa was sure about what she did and what she wanted. Etienne was forced into the monastery, and he was trying to find himself, to prove himself to his family. I loved his protectiveness and willingness to take on the training of Franklin, Pippa’s brother. Pippa had a big heart and a talent for match making. I loved the ending, how things got turned around, and the bits of history on Valentine’s Day.
I received an ARC of this story as a gift, and this is my unsolicited review.
What better setting is there for a love story than a Valentine’s Day celebration? The second book in Elizabeth Rose’s Holiday Knights series takes place during such an event. Etienne, a reluctant novice monk, and Philippa, a well-meaning matchmaker, are brought together when Etienne agrees to determine if his betrothed, Lady Philippa, is a suitable bride. As they spend time together, they come to care for each other, but know that it is impossible for them to be together, or does fate have a different idea?
This story is charming and fun. The party was a peek at Valentine traditions from another time. There are no particularly nasty villains (well, one bully). There are some grumpy fathers. This may be because Etienne and Pippa have been just a little difficult and unruly. The two of them show definite signs of growing up as the story progresses. I love that Etienne took Frank under his wing, just as Brother Paul guided Etienne. A sweet story, awesome characters, and happy endings – this one has everything you want in a Valentine. I send this recommendation SWAK.
A woman who tries to be a matchmaker until it almost ruins her reputation. A man destined to be make his vows as a monk which was decreed by his father to do penance for his wild ways.
Can this unlikely pair come together? When Lady Philippa’s father betroths her to a man she has never met, she is determined to find her own husband at the St Valentine’s Day dance.
Lord Etienne is ready to take his vows but has one last task for his brother. Go and meet his intended Lady Philippa and see if she is a suitable match or not.
But as these two are brought together, it seems they may be fated for more? Read this enchanting tale of love found when least expected and a Valentine Day to remember!
A Valentine Story you must read!! Matchmade Hearts: Valentine’s Day by Elizabeth Rose is book 2 in the Holiday Knights series. I am always in awe at the creativeness and imagination of Elizabeth’s stories. Her characters are wonderful and her description of medieval time is spot on that you will feel you are in a different century. This story has excommunication, a novice, manipulation, matchmaking, a party, abuse, cruelty, bullied, grief, training, competition, schemes and love. It has it all and I recommend this book!
***This book was gifted to me and I am voluntarily reviewing.
Enjoyed this story. I liked the characters, and, since I was verbally bullied and made to feel lacking by a sibling as a child, I connected with Etienne and Frank. Good story. I received an ARC of this book.
Valentine Surprise.
Etienne is a wastrel, spending his days wenching, drinking, gambling and fighting. His father rather than give him a purpose in life, banishes him to an English monastery to train as a monk (a life to which he is not suited at all). However a request from his brother sees him coming into contact with Lady Philippa, a headstrong young woman whose hobby is making love matches for the local villagers. He quickly falls for her, but he is a novice monk, bound by vows of chastity and she is betrothed to his brother – how can their story end well?
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Etienne’s father sends him away to become a monk because of his wild and reckless ways. Etienne never thinks he will find love, until he is sent by one on his brothers to check out his own brothers betrothed.
Pippa is a royal who plays matchmaker to everyone else, except herself. Her father does not feel that this appropriate behavior for his daughter.
As Etienne helps Pippa set up for her Valentines Day Ball, they develop feelings for each other, just as his brother arrives to claim his fiancé.
Clean story but both the H and h were immature. Ending wasn’t satisfying. It was like the author decided ‘I’ve written enough.’
Didn’t care for it, very slow moving!
A wonderful read by a great author. A lovely romantic story for this perfect time of year or for any time of year. As usual Ms Rose eye for detail in the aspects of medieval life is wonderful to read and her characters keep you reading. This book has a bit of everything to keep you reading. I received this book as an ARC and was happy to do a review.
Ii received this copy for an honest review. liked Etienne and Pippa’s story became everyone deserves a happy ending and what could be more fitting than for it to happen on Valentine’s Day. Although I admired her attitude, I felt that she lacked understanding when it came to her relationship with Etienne. If you claim to love someone, you must be willing to accept them as they are, faults and all. I’m glad she finally realized it. It was a very sweet romace.