A Matchmaker for a Marquess

(The Heart of a Scandal #3)

Christi Caldwell

Barry Aberdeen, Marquess of Tenwhestle/Meredith Durant

My Rating: 5/5 stars

BookBlurb

Be prepared to smile, swoon, and sigh in Christi Caldwell’s latest ‘Heart of a Scandal’ installment where a matchmaker firmly on the shelf is about to fall head over heels for her best friend’s younger brother.

She lived by a strict set of rules…
Meredith Durant believes those who won’t marry, matchmake, and she’s made a notable career for herself helping young women find the perfect mate. Having suffered a broken heart years before, she’s quite content in her work and determined to never fall prey to love again. Her most recent job finds her working for the unlikeliest of households, never expecting her assignment would be her best friend’s younger brother, Barry—who’s not so little anymore. He’s a grown man who leaves her breathless and wishing just maybe this time she could have a happy ending. But how can that happen when, once her job is done, she must watch him wed another?

He’s decided to break her rules:
Barry Aberdeen, the future Duke of Gayle, knew his days of freedom were numbered. With his sister recently married, his mother turned her marital aspirations to him. She’s even gone as far as to hire a matchmaker. Worse, the matchmaker is a childhood friend–Meredith Durant. Only the rigid, serious creature is not the carefree girl he remembered. If he’s going to be saddled with a matchmaker, he’s going to have fun loosening Meredith’s too-tight chignon. What he doesn’t expect is how entranced he’ll be when those strands come falling down around her shoulders.

Review_RmA

A Matchmaker for a Marquess is the third book in author Christi Caldwell’s “The Heart of a Scandal” series. This is actually the first book I’ve read in this series, and am now going back to read the other books. This was truly just a joy to read!

Meredith Durant had spent her entire life at Berkshire Estates. Her father was the Duke of Gayle’s friend and man-of-affairs for more than two decades. When her father is abruptly and unexpected sacked, Meredith is shocked and devastated to leave…

Barry Aberdeen, Marquess of Tenwhestle is not society’s typical rogue, he has a love for botany. With his parents desperate to see him wedded, his mother secretly hires a matchmaker to help in her quest. What Barry doesn’t know is the girl who he grew up with, Meredith Durant is the matchmaker…

Well first let me say I absolutely loved Barry. He’s charming, funny and I just adored his personality. The interaction and the banter between him and his family was witty and had me smiling throughout most of the book.

As for Meredith, my heart broke for the young girl who felt betrayed all those years ago, who struggled to take care of her father and to make a living after his passing. I absolutely loved Meredith and Barry together. They grew up together with Barry being 4 years younger and more of a nuisance to Meredith back then. So when she meets the grown-up Barry and feels herself attracted to him, she struggles and tries desperately to fight the feelings that continue to grow. I loved watching these two former friends reconnect and gradually fall in love.

With witty dialogue, fabulous secondary characters and a surprising twist at the end I didn’t expect, this was an absolutely fantastic read that I struggled to put down! Highly recommend!