Travel back in time to Scotland with bestselling author Julia Kelly for this delightful second installment in her latest historical romance series, The Matchmaker of Edinburgh series. Accomplished matchmaker Moira Sullivan knows that sometimes, the most unlikely pair can be the most entertaining. Only desperation could have driven Caroline Burkett to her brother’s home in Scotland, but desperate … but desperate is exactly what she is. After suing her former fiance for breaking their engagement and causing a scandal in the papers, her only hope of starting over is to enlist the help of Edinburgh’s famous matchmaker, Moira Sullivan.
Born to a butler and maid, Jonathan Moray fought hard to find his place in Edinburgh society. Now a powerful newspaperman, he can make or break a person’s reputation with his headlines, but Jonathan knows his success isn’t guaranteed. He needs salacious stories to keep his readers enthralled, and Caroline’s story is just the sort to sell papers in droves.
When Moira introduces Jonathan and Caroline at a salon, Caroline knows the editor is exactly the wrong man to associate with if she wants to find a husband and restore her reputation, but even as another, more suitable suitor begins to court her, she can’t deny the power of her attraction to Jonathan. Now she must ask herself if she’s strong enough to choose between the man who can give her a secure, quiet life, or the one who promises her a passion she’s never known.more
Caroline Burkett is traveling to Scotland to live with her brother Michael and his wife Elise, and hopefully to begin anew, she hopes to be taken on by Moira Sullivan, the Matchmaker of Edinburgh. Two years ago she was jilted and sued her ex for breach of contract. She won her suit, but destroyed her chances for marriage in the process. Hounded by the press and humiliated in court, Caroline just wants to find a husband and fade into obscurity.
Jonathan Moray is the founder and owner of two papers in Edinburgh, he would love to start a third paper, but refuses to borrow money to do so, he tells his staff that they need to sell more papers. When he learns that Caroline Burkett, the “Lovelorn Lady” has come to town. He wants to get an exclusive interview with her and has a plan.
They “accidentally” meet when he is in her seat at the theater. She is immediately attracted to him and is delighted when he asks to talk to her during intermission. When they meet up, she learns who he is and what he wants and she is disgusted. The press was relentless in their pursuit of her story and made her life a living hell. She has no love for newspapermen and tells Moray so. He makes a counter offer, tell him her story or he will begin to dog her every step in his scandal sheet. She refuses and makes the acquaintance of Robert Trevlan, a friend of her brother. Trevlan immediately makes his interest known and Caroline feels a little bubble of hope that her dream to marry might actually happen.
The next morning, she receives an invitation to meet Mrs. Sullivan. The woman agrees to help Caroline, but tries to convince Caroline to want more than just security. Caroline is firm, she just wants a husband and almost any man will do. After her experience in London, she doesn’t trust her own judgement and wants no part of a “love match” as love only brings pain.
At her first dinner party, Mrs. Sullivan invites Moray and seats Caroline between him and Trevlan. Caroline is at first annoyed, especially since she enjoys talking to Moray. For his part, Moray is attracted to Caroline, but he has secrets that could ruin everything he has worked so hard to build. He knows that Caroline is looking for a husband, but he could never be that man. He tries to refocus on his goal and ignore his attraction to her.
These two are thrown together several more times and a friendship of sorts blossoms. When they share a kiss and some personal confidences, Caroline knows that she wants him. He desperately wants to see her, but she is being watched by the press and he doesn’t want to give them anything to gossip about, he knows Trevlan is staking a claim and learns disturbing information about him. There is no opportunity to see her alone, so he sneaks in her room.
They embark on a heated affair and they both share their deepest, darkest secrets. But when Moray’s secrets are revealed, he turns on the only woman he has ever loved and pushes her in to the arms of his rival.
This was a very well written, well paced story that was surprisingly steamy (much to my delight), I really became invested in these two characters and found myself shaking my head and chastising them both at times, while still rooting for their HEA.
This is the second book in the Matchmaker of Edinburgh series, but I did not read the first book and had no problems at all following this story. I would happily recommend this book and look forward to reading more by this author in the future!
* I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher*
Miss Caroline Burkett is infamous for suing an ex-finance and winning her case. Unfortunately, by the time, the decision was made, every aspect of Caroline’s life had been picked apart and scrutinized. She flees London and heads to Scotland to live with her brother until she can marry. She’s looking to marry as soon as possible and hires the services Mrs. Sullivan, a matchmaker in Edinburgh, Scotland. Caroline hopes to never cross paths with another newspaper ever again.
Jonathan Moray owns two successful newspaper–one serious articles and the other, a gossip newspaper. When he finds out Caroline has fled to Edinburgh, he knows that she’s the key to selling newspaper. What he doesn’t realize is Caroline is unlike anyone he’s ever known.
I loved this second book in the Matchmaker of Edinburgh series. Ms. Kelly takes her time in establishing a relationship between Caroline and Jonathan and their attraction toward each other doesn’t feel forced. This was a serious subject that I’m sure didn’t happen very often during the times, but I felt that Ms. Kelly handled it very well. By the end, I was routing for Caroline and Jonathan to finally admit what they felt for each. Fans of historical romances will definitely enjoy this one.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Great characters. Full of surprises. A fantastic follow up to the first book in the series!
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley & Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
On the cusp of a new era, Jonathan Moray is a self-made man, one who has built his printing business on other people’s scandal. However, even though he will do whatever it takes to get the news out first, he nevertheless has a deep sense of right and wrong, and adheres to a code of morals. Initially Caroline Burkett, the young woman who took the unprecedented step of suing her fiance for breach of promise, is fair game and Jonathan stakes his future on her story. As he gets to know Caroline through the machinations of Edinburgh matchmaker Moira Sullivan, Jonathan and Caroline find they have more in common than they first thought. I found this book to be very well written, and for an advanced reader copy, it was surprisingly free of grammatical and spelling errors I felt the unfairness of Caroline’s situation, that after having been strung along for years, her fiance ditched her when a rich heiress came on the scene, and that she had surprisingly little support from her family. It would appear that everyone was looking after their own interests rather than protecting her. As the book came to an end, I got really worried that Caroline was going to take the line of least resistance and get married regardless of the cost to her, all the while hoping that Jonathan would get his head screwed on the right way. I enjoyed the characters in this book as well as insights into the advances and state of technology in the Victorian era. Despite Victorian times having a reputation of being emotionally repressed, this book brought out the signs of change taking place in society. I received a copy of this book through NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.
Caroline Burkett has fled to her brother’s home in Edinburgh, as she is desperate. After suing her former fiancé for breaking their engagement and causing a scandal in the papers, her only hope of starting over is to enlist the help of Edinburgh’s famous matchmaker, Moira Sullivan.
Born to a butler and maid, Jonathan Moray fought hard to find his place in Edinburgh society. Now a powerful newspaperman, he can make or break a person’s reputation with his headlines, but Jonathan knows his success isn’t guaranteed. He needs salacious stories to keep his readers enthralled, and Caroline’s story is just the sort to sell papers in droves.
Jonathan finds a way to meet Caroline at the theatre & their attraction starts. Then Moira introduces Jonathan and Caroline at a salon, Caroline knows the editor is exactly the wrong man to associate with if she wants to find a husband and restore her reputation, but even as another, more suitable suitor Robert Trevlan begins to court her but he also has secrets & he made my skin crawl.
Another well written well paced story with very well developed characters. Jonathan & Caroline are attracted to each other but they also like each other & are able to actually to talk to each other. Caroline is so desperate to marry to put the scandal behind her & to finally be free of all the press attention she’s had for years. Jonathan knows if his humble beginnings emerge then he could lose everything. There are misunderstandings along the way for the pair to resolve. I look forward to more books in the series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read