The Matchmaker and The Marine

The story of Melinda and Adam.
She is a matchmaker, helping others find the happiness she had before she was widowed.
Adam wants her help, he is starting to date after being hurt by his ex.
Neither of them expects to fall for each other, but will their baggage keep them apart?

He seems to know enough people at this wedding.

Ooh, who's Anita?

I guess a matchmaker needs a bit of psychology as well.

Quiet, isn't he.

He has manners, I like that.

She's easily pleased yet very impatient.

How else do you make iced tea?

Susan is crazy.

They are basically dating at this point. Pet rescue and food sharing seals it.

Whoa, really? That's so cool!

Holy mixed messages, woman.

Poor Diana.

My grandma put ketchup on spaghetti.

I'm so happy she didn't get all angsty on him.

Anita is a twat.

That guy was a butthead. Sorry, Mary.

Very likeable and relatable protagonists and side characters make “The Matchmaker and the Marine”, by Lucinda Race (MC Two Press), an enjoyable, satisfying story about two people with baggage finding their HEA.
The wounded alpha male is very interesting, a mix of charm, earnestness and hidden fears. Adam is a really compelling character, his honesty very attractive, despite the delayed revelation of “The Big Issue”.
I loved the fact Adam is a handyman/carpenter, his experience as a Marine experience shining through his actions, the slow burn romance, the writing quality and the way the author handled Melinda’s widowhood.

4 stars

A big thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an arc in return for an honest review.

Another great clean, wholesome, non smut romance.

A romance about two working adults vulnerable due to events and finding friendship and then love is always going to get me.
Don’t get me wrong I enjoy and binge smutty romances with the best of them but as much as I seek those out and enjoy them there rating at the end is never past a high 3-star. However, you give me a clean modern-day romance that is not Christian and between to hard-working adults, I eat that shit up every time and typically gets a higher rating every time. Honestly, I wish there were more of them and easier to find.

Adam is not my typical romance read but he’s down to earth, alone (no family), and the one initiating his chance of finding love. This new take of a man ready for love but still scared of being thought of as less and it's endearing. Adam adopts a kitten left in a box ready to be picked up by the trash. How he is so quick to envision and draw prints up from Mel’s slightest offhand idea. Just small things like that just make a gal’s heart swoon.
(*note my typical romance reads are an alpha werewolf or womanizing billionaires)

Mel, I loved her gardening obsession and the naturalness of being both beer and wine at the same time. Typically romance books only portray women as extremes of the one or the other. I also appreciated her baking passion. The character was kind and I really see what the author did with a kind but no doubt strong. However, Mel as a character was definitely the traditional stereotype of southern women. For example, the door is always open, fresh cookies and lemonade, and then goes out of the way to make a requested drink when the person would have as easily taken a sweat tea or water. A little too much for me. I understand that for some this is everyday life and values for people and other women for me however it just always comes across as too domestic and action of pleasing than what it is actually supposed to be i.e manners, friendliness. Furthermore, Mel is relatable as she is still grieving her husband, and though everyone in the town treats her in a way the reader assumes they classify her as a friend Mel still keeps them at arm's length.

Besides that, there really is nothing else to say this is a clean romance between a former marine and the matchmaker he hires to find him, love. Their romance is slow, realistic, friends to lovers. It has concepts of vulnerability from grief, trauma from war, and insecurity of living with a disability. Obviously, I have no standing in saying it is a good representation but with my knowledge and logic, it felt realistic and well thought.

**I received a copy of The Matchmaker and The Marine from MC Two Press and Net Galley in exchange for a voluntary and honest review. My opinions were not solicited in any way**

The Matchmaker and The Marine by Lucinda Race is a second chance romance for both Adam and Melinda. The romance is a slow build up between them and I wish that there was a bit more to the ending and a bit of heat in the romance with that being said I give the book a 4.6 star rating.

Melinda Phillips moved to Chester, CT to start over with her matchmaking business. She meets Adam Bell when they attend the wedding of their friends. As a former Marine, Adam carries the scars and secrets of his last deployment so when he puts in a bid on her pergola he decides to see if he can find "The One". But when they start to share their past can he share his painful one?

Adam Bell wanted to be a career Marine but a IED on his last deployment changed his plans and life he decides to start over in Chester where his best buddy Will lives. He goes to visit Melinda to see if she can find a match for him. He'll soon have a little kitten Skye and a job making her a gazebo/pergola they will both realize that the only match they both want is each other. He'll have to tell her about his accident in Afghanistan before they can truly become a couple.

So, I got through this book in just under two days and only because the premise of the story was promising, and I was hoping it would get better the more I read.A badly injured and emotionally scarred marine returns to civilian life feeling less than worthy of love and closes himself off to it,even while going through the motions of looking for love.A matchmaking psychologist is the person he turns to for help and things developed from there.The standard tug of war between doing the right thing or giving in to your emotions ensue and we have a story.While this trope is not new, I've always enjoyed reading about the struggles and misunderstandings that dot the path to happy ever after. My one complaint with this book was that some of the dialogue was inane and appeared to be written by a high schooler, so much so that it kind of dragged , allowing my brain to wander off from the story.If you are looking for sparkling conversations and an evocative read , this is not it, but if a slow, relaxing read is your cup of tea, pick this one up.

Sweet, simple, easy to read romance. Whilst I quite enjoyed reading this I wanted a little bit more from the book. I also found that the final parts of the book were a bit rushed and ended too abruptly.
But I did like the main characters and their stories.
This is an independent and honest review following the ARC I received from NetGalley.
3.5 stars from me.

This was such a charming book to read. It was the first one I have read from this author and I’m so glad I gave it a chance. Melinda had married her school sweetheart and after his tragic death, she moved to the small town of Chester. She wanted to help others find their happy ever after so she starts a business matchmaking couples. Adam had been injured as a Marine and forced to retire. He had no family so he moved to Chester to be by his best friend, Will. He suffered emotional and physical scars from his time in the Marines. His ex-girlfriend dumped him, and he is insecure about telling others about his injury. His friends introduce him to Melinda and later he hired her to find him a match. He slowly opens up to Melinda and realizes he doesn’t want to date other women, but Melinda hasn’t let go of her past and isn’t ready to date. Can two scarred people create their happy ever after? Adam and Melinda were perfect for each other. The book was fast-paced and hard to put down once I started to read it. I will certainly be looking at other books by this author after reading this emotion-filled book.

Melinda and Adams story was a sweet all town romance that was full of sweet characters, medaling friends and the cutest kitty ever!

This story was about taking another chance not just on love but on life! Melinda and Adam have both faced some heartbreak in life and each are trying to find what comes next!

Well we all know the ending when we read one of these stories, but the art of the story-teller is how we get there.
This is a sweet cozy romance set in a gorgeous coastline, with a wedding in a dream house – a real dream house – Rosecliff, Newport, Rhode Island – see photos. these mansions are ridiculous... especially as they call them summer cottages (when they were built).
Add in a cute kitten for him, was wounds, PTSD and you have the prototypical wounded soldier, and then a widow and so the story continues/
There is one redeeming feature from he sugar overload, and that is we get an element of therapy for emotional wounds.

3.5 stars

This was a sweet story about a matchmaker named Mel and an injured marine named Adam. They both found themselves living in a new town as a way to "start over" after each of them experienced traumatic turning points in their lives. Mel and Adam seemed so perfect for one another, but Mel was currently trying to find him a "forever girl" through the matchmaking business she operated. After several failed dates, can these two realize they are meant to be together? Or do they both carry so much baggage making it not obtainable?

This story was cute and I read it all in one sitting. Not much drama; no details for romance and perfectly G rated.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions stated above are mine without biases.

This is the first book I've read by Lucinda Race (thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity) and it was really well done. I really loved the characters- all of them including the secondary characters. Melinda is a matchmaker and Adam is her new client who came to her through a referral by a group of people who found love through Melinda. Each person was nice, there was a definite small town feel with this book and I loved the sweetness that exuded from both Melinda and Adam. Both had their past hurts and this book was about growing and opening up and the author did a great job with the pacing. It was a very very slow burn but done in such a way I wasn't bored. I just enjoyed watching these two become more and became entrenched in the small group of friends.

The Matchmaker and the Marine by Lucinda Race is that rare book that makes me smile.
A slow burn romance about two people who've suffered loss ( one a loved one, the other, physical loss) and yet find the courage and faith to take a chance on love again.

There's nothing I like better than reading about people who don't hop into bed the moment they meet, but become friends first, and then realize the person they've been looking at is the one they want to be with forever.

This was a sweet tale of second chances and I highly recommend it.
Thanks, Netgalley, for a look at the book for an honest review.
Recommended read.

Thank you NetGalley, MC Two Press and Lucinda Race for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
A wounded hero and a healing widow are the stars of this second chance romance with a twist. Melinda and Adam are likeable characters from the very beginning and you immediately root for them to find each other.
Based on the title I expected this to be very cheesy, but Lucina Race handled some very tough subjects in a very graceful way. This book is very easy to read with Adam and Melinda’s stories flowing together nicely. I never minded the swapping narrators and enjoyed getting some input from both. The timeline of this one is a little wonky and jumps a little all over the place but it usually isn’t too hard to figure out where we’re at.
I really enjoyed the side characters in this one, too! Being from Iowa I really relate to the small town setting. It’s a good way to fill a book with great characters.
My only complaint would be that sometimes the dialogue got very cheesy and unrealistic. There were only a few cringey moments throughout until the last few chapters and then eesh. Really laid it on thick.

This is my first introduction to the work of Lucinda Race. It is a sweet, clean romance between two people who have to heal, before they can find love. The characters drew me in from the very first chapter.

Melinda Phillips is the widow of a policeman, who was killed by a drunk driver. She had been very much in love with her husband, and despite or maybe because she had been very successful and popular therapists, she leaves Philadelphia to start a new life in Chester, Connecticut, as a Matchmaker. She has been quite successful in her new career, wanting to help others find the same love that she had had with her husband, John, and has made many new friends, which is all she is looking for. She already had the love of her life. Adam Bell is a retired Marine- a forced medical retirement after a run in with an IED. He suffers from PTSD and uses a prosthetic. He was burned by his almost fiancee, after his injury, but wants to find the same love that his best friend Will found with Stacey and Will's sister, Molly with Tim, both thanks to Melinda.

While Melinda works to find a good match for Adam, his heart is already telling him that it is Melinda that it wants. Will he and his friends be able to convince Melinda that she deserves a second chance at love too? Detailed descriptions provide the reader with lots of imagery. Easy banter between the characters set a light mood to the story. And what I liked most about the story is that Melinda and Adam talked everything out, without anyone getting their nose out of joint and storming off, with regrets.

I read an ARC provided by NetGalley.com. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.

What do a matchmaker and a Marine have in common? Maybe, more than you think. THE MATCHMAKER AND THE MARINE is a sweet and heartwarming story with characters that are vulnerable and endearing. They deserve happiness and maybe, they can find it with each other.

Melinda is a matchmaker and she is trying to find a match for Adam, a former Marine. As Adam and Melinda get to know each other and slowly let down their guard, they realize they are falling for each other.

Both Adam and Melinda have baggage for their pasts and they have a hard time opening up and trusting people, but they are also lonely and would like to share their lives with someone. Adam and Melinda are genuine and nice people who have had some bad luck in the past. They make a wonderful couple, it just takes them a while to realize they should be together. They enjoy each other's company but move very slowly toward each other because of their fears. They also have a wonderful group of friends who are always there to give them support and laughter.

I have to confess, I don’t usually read stories about matchmakers, but I do enjoy reading about wounded veterans and that is why I decided to read this one. This was a delightful surprise and I am glad I gave it a try. I enjoyed this small town story.

Wow! I absolutely loved this book! I couldn’t put it down and read it in one go! I really felt for Adam and Melinda throughout the whole book. I sympathised with Adam and feel that his character is really well portrayed. I would definitely recommend it and I’m crossing my fingers for a sequel! I would love to see where it goes next!

I liked this book, the two main characters were extremely mature. Innso many books now a days theres always this constant angst. I liked that these two acted their age. At first i couldnt see the attraction between them but it built over time, so when it finally happened it was great. I would definitely read another book by this author.

I had a stressful week so I thought I would relax with a nice low key HEA book. Well like they say, be careful what you wish for lol I got exactly that. It differs from my usual paranormal, suspense filled romance novels so this book left me wanting, but that could just be me and my preferred type of books. This book reminded me of when I used to sneak my mother's old Harlequin romance novels 30 years ago. It was cute, it was quaint, it was cozy lol Adam, the broody, temperamental, secretive retired marine and the amazing matchmaker who wants others to experience the all encompassing love she felt with her deceased husband.. Everybody was happy, happy, joy, joy in the book. There were no ups/downs during the story for me, no particular scene making me laugh or making me cry, it just dragged on. As I said, it was exactly what I asked for, and now I've happily gone back to my smut.

The Matchmaker and the Marine by Lucinda Race is a very sweet romance between a Mel , a former psychologist and current matchmaker, and Adam, a former marine. Mel's husband died 5 years ago and she is having a hard time moving on beyond his death. She has not dated. Adam was forced to retire from the marines after an IED explosion damaged his leg. He is an amputee and does not reveal this to Melinda when he asks her to help him find a match.

Mel hires Adam to build a pergola in her backyard. They have a mutual attraction but Mel feels she is being disloyal to her deceased husband, a police officer who was hit by a drunk driver.
The two characters are well developed. The author has a very clean writing style and great dialogue. The tension and attraction between the hero and heroine develops naturally. Their relationship is the nicest part of the story.

I really liked that the hero was not a perfect person like in other books. Being an amputee made him more relatable. His former girlfriend was uncomfortable with him being an amputee after he left the marines. I love military romances where the hero unfortunately gets injured and has to re-integrate into society. I am disappointed the author chose the standard trope of the hero being a leader and broken up about the men who died in his unit, men he did not save. This is an overused ploy to give the hero an internal obstacle to overcome. And every military romance has the hero injury by an IED. There must be other ways marines are injured. And not everybody can be the platoon leader. It would have been nice to have a more creative back story for Adam. However, he is very likeable, and more so because of his disability. He is a true gentleman and puts Mel's needs before his own, which was very nice.

FYI there is only kissing in this book. It was a heartwarming and uplifting read.
I wish that there had been more obstacles the two had to overcome, more angst, more emotional tension.
It was an appealing read with intelligent and likeable characters to deserve the HEA they get in the end.

Widowed and a matchmaker Melinda Philips wants everyone to know the love she felt.  She has accepted that she will live a lonely life but she wants to help others find love. When she is at a client's wedding who she was the matchmaker for she trips and falls into the arms of a a marine. 
Adam Bell has had his leg amputated and its nothing but a reminder of his past as a marine. His girlfriend dumped him after his amputation and he does not want to ever go through that kind of rejection again. But after catching Melinda when fell at his friends wedding he wonders if maybe he could find love.
Melinda is hired to find Adam the woman of his dreams but she finds that she could be that woman. As they get to know each other she learns that Adam is scared his lost leg will make it so he can never find love. 
Can Adam and Melinda work through all there problems and end up together? Will they get a happy ending?
I have not read this author before but after reading the summary it sounded like a book I would enjoy.  It was full of emotions and real characters that you really wanted them to end up together and also find out what happened to them. They both have to let go of there fears to be able to be together. It is realistic and I loved it. I highly reccomend this book.  It was hard to put down once I started reading I had to stay up late to finish it. This book will be on my list of books that I will reread over and over again in the future. I also will be checking out other books by this author. 
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and this is my honest review I highly recommend it.

This book was a nice quiet read, and I appreciated the struggle of the male lead, and the sensitivity with which the author wrote his story. I have to say, it was something I did not see coming, so when I read this important part, I was somewhat surprised, but it added to the emotional ride of the book. Well done!

This was sent to me in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley.

If you want a feel good book with honest heartfelt emotions then this is the book for you. There were quite a few moments in this book that brought a tear to my eye, especially when Melinda would think back on her life with her husband. The emotions in this book were true and the level of detail the author used really absorbs you into the story, it feels as if you are right there with the MCs.

There were a couple of instances in the story where some minor facts didn't add up, early in the story Mel mentions that her husband died five years ago but later on she says it was only four years since he passed. I dunno if its just me but sometimes when things like this don't add up it can throw me out of the story. Overall it was a wonderful story with a HEA.

This was a decent read. I read through it quickly. The characters were likable and the overall plot was good. I recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

Fantastic book, lovely idea and can see it becoming a series. Really enjoyed seeing the way the relationship between Melinda and Adam developed, dealing with the hidden trauma for both of them, great that they found each other and have a happy ever after together . Lovely book for a cosy afternoon read, with real feel good factor.

What a great book! I loved this story so much. We all have something no matter how big or small it may seem to others, that cause us to keep it to only those we know won't judge you or pressure you etc.
Melinda is a business owner of "It's Just Coffee" matchmaking service and she's got a pretty great track record with it. We learn a lot about her in this book and my heart broke for her.
Adam, what a guy! I won't give much away about him but he was so sweet, yet tough and new in town. He and Melinda become close as she helps him get matched up with potential dates, and he helps her by building in her backyard garden area.
Secrets have a way of showing themselves even if you're not ready to air them out.
This was done so well. Highly recommend.

Such a sweet romance! I mean, how can you not fall in love with a Retired Marine, and the Heroine who is widowed because of a terrible incident? And, of course, they have issues that they have to get through before they realize they have fallen for each other.

The Matchmaker and the Marine was a delightfully sweet and heartfelt story. I found myself smiling throughout reading and even got a little teary eyed at times. Lucinda Race created characters that I really cared about. Adam and Melinda had difficult pasts but instead of letting those pasts overwhelm them, they continued to hope and believe in happily ever after. I loved that I felt I knew both of them thoroughly and was excited for them to have their own happily ever afters. Ms. Race didn’t attempt to minimize the difficulties that Adam or Melinda faced but instead showed how they grew and learned from their experiences. The storyline was realistic while still offering the fantasy readers love in their romances novels. The secondary characters were just as delightful and offered their own joy to the story. Ms. Race is a new to me author but she impressed me with her strong writing skills. I look forward to reading many more of her books.

The Matchmaker and the Marine turned out to be absolutely amazing. It is a contemporary romance about finding love unexpectedly.
Melinda moved to a new town after her husband died and is a very successful matchmaker. Adam was forced to retired from the Marines after his last tour left him injured. He signed on to Melinda matchmaker in the hope of finding love. His friends had luck with her service, maybe he would.
The chemistry between Mel and Adam is beautiful and real. I loved how the story flowed and so much can be learned from it. Sweet, sexy and emotional! I loved it!!

ARC Provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.