Turnabout's Fair Play (The Matchmaker #3)

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Turnabout's Fair Play (Matchmakers #3)

by Kaye Dacus (Goodreads Author)

4.06 of 5 stars 4.06 · rating details · 79 ratings · 18 reviews

Acclaimed author Kaye Dacus will provide you with hours of humor, romance, and inspirational reading with book 3 of The Matchmakers series. When Maureen O’Connor begins scheming to match her grandson Jamie with Flannery McNeill, the last thing she has in mind is a romance of her own. But when Jamie turns the tables and conspires with Flannery to bring Maureen and Flannery’...more

Paperback, 320 pages

Published November 1st 2011 by Barbour Books

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May 10, 2012 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars

When Maureen O' Connor decides to set up her grandson Jamie with Flannery, the granddaughter of the handsome visitor at her church, she never expects to find love for herself. Jamie and Flannery know their grandparents are right for each other, so they endure hanging out to throw the elderly couple together. Through a series of mishaps trying to set each other, the four characters find their own matches.

I enjoyed this book. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had read the first two books...more

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Nov 09, 2011 Ausjenny rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contempory

This is the third book in the series and this books we the Grandmothers at it again in there match making.
This time we see Flannery's grandmother conspiring to set her up with Jamie. What is interesting is that Maureen starts to fall for Jamie's grandfather. This is where the books gets interesting. Seeing the Grandparents and also the grand children both conspiring to get the other couple together. We also see how sometimes first impressions are not always right. Flannery has made up her mind...more

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Oct 19, 2011 Iola rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian-fiction, contemporary-romance, kindle, netgalley

As I am not an American, I had never heard of author (Mary) Flannery O’Connor, for whom the heroine of this novel is named (to the heroine’s continued annoyance). Apparently, O’Connor is a famous American author whose works are frequently studied by high school and college students. There, so I learnt something from reading a Christian romance novel!

Flannery MacNeill is a 30-something Christian fiction editor for a small publisher in Tennessee. She is feeling somewhat depressed because one of h...more As I am not an American, I had never heard of author (Mary) Flannery O’Connor, for whom the heroine of this novel is named (to the heroine’s continued annoyance). Apparently, O’Connor is a famous American author whose works are frequently studied by high school and college students. There, so I learnt something from reading a Christian romance novel!

Flannery MacNeill is a 30-something Christian fiction editor for a small publisher in Tennessee. She is feeling somewhat depressed because one of her best friends is about to get married, the other is engaged, and she is afraid that they will both have personality changes and no longer want to maintain the relationship once they marry. However, her friends would like to introduce her to some nice young men. Just as long as they don’t suggest Jamie O’Connor, the wedding usher and a gorgeous, overconfident Sports Marketing executive…

Jamie O’Connor is up for promotion to Sports Marketing Director at the Nashville advertising agency where he works – or so he thinks. A shock announcement forces him to rethink his career and his life, and he realises that fitting in with the boys at work may have meant that he has moved away from the person he really is, like the friends he used to have and the secret he is at pains to hide… Meanwhile, the grandmother who raised him is trying to marry him off, and that Flannery MacNeill seems like a good candidate, particularly when she is accompanied by her extremely attractive grandfather…

I really enjoyed this book – so much so that I read it twice, back-to-back. I liked the interaction and friendly banter between the hero and heroine, I liked the way the hero and heroine had so much in common, I liked the way their ‘secrets’ came out as a natural part of the relationship so there was no dreading ‘big misunderstanding, I liked the way that their faith was woven into the plot without making a big deal about it, and I liked the way that the story did not just revolve around the hero and heroine, but had a very satisfying secondary romance as well as some real relationships with friends and family (good and not-so-good). Only one thing was missing – the recipe for the Parmesan Smashed Red Potatoes that Jamie loved. I can live without the accompanying corned beef and cabbage, but those potatoes sounded good!

Although Turnabout’s Fair Play is the third in The Matchmakers series (following Love Remains and The Art of Romance), it can easily be read as a standalone novel. Kaye Dacus was nominated for the 2010 Christy Award (Contemporary Romance) for her novel, The Stand-In Groom. This is now on my Wish List, and I look forward to reading Dacus’s backlist (including the first two in The Matchmakers series). The 2010 Christy Award was actually won by Diann Mills for Breach of Trust, which I have previously mentioned as one of my favourite novels.

Thanks to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for providing a free ebook for review.
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Oct 23, 2011 Judy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Turnabouts Fairy Play by Kaye Dacus Book 3 of the Matchmakers Series

While Maureen O'Connor and Kirby McNeill try and get their grandchildren together romantically, things get turned around and they find themselves drawn together. It is a separate and unique story to see this eighty-six year old man and eighty-four year old woman choose to make the most of each day the Lord has given them.

Flannery McNeill on the other hand finds Jamie O'Connor to be arrogant and too handsome. From negative experi...more

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Aug 12, 2011 Cheeyee rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, romance, 2011, christian-fiction, humor, my-favorite

Review At: I Read, I Think, I Share

Review Date: 12 Aug 2011

Review URL: http://littlemermybooks.blogspot.com/2011/08/turnabouts-fair-play-by-kaye-dacus.html

Summary:

It is a light-hearted and easy read. The story is heart warming and sweet. And I like the sense of humour that author has blended into the story, which make the story more alive. I was laughing, smiling and giggling all the way.

The story is quite realistic too. I get to see the not-so-perfect hero and heroine. I also like the religiou...more

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Nov 20, 2011 Rhonda rated it 4 of 5 stars

4STARS
It started slowly for me than I got to the point that I did not want to put it down. I believe this is the first book I have read from Kaye Dacus. I hope to read more from Kaye in the future.
Flannery is moping because her best friend is getting married and her other one is engaged to be married. She is afraid they will leave her behind like what happened to her when her sister's got married.
Their grandmothers were all moaning that none of their grandchildren were married so they stepped in...more

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Oct 28, 2011 Lisa Phillips rated it 5 of 5 stars

Flannery’s life is changing. Her two best friends (the main characters of books 1 and 2 in Dacus’ Matchmaker’s series) are getting married, and she’s battling the fear that their relationship won’t ever be the same again.
She’s also developed a solid dating plan: no good-looking guys. Ever. The friend’s weddings are part of the story—and Flannery hyperventilates both times.
After thirteen years at his sports advertising job, Jamie—who thinks he’s going to get a promotion—get’s laid off.

With ever...more

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Dec 13, 2011 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian, contemporary, fiction, netgalley, read-2011, romance

Posted on Book Chelle.

3.5 of 5

I've followed The Matchmakers series since I read the first book, Love Remains. Like with a lot of the books that I have spoken about this week, the covers draw me in. The female protagonist is hidden behind a symbol that plays a large role in the plot. It's clever, really. I mean, from the covers alone, I could speculate what it is about.

In the third installment of The Matchmakers, Turnabout's Fair Play, Kay Dacus finally allows us a glimpse into the life of Flanne...more Posted on Book Chelle.

3.5 of 5

I've followed The Matchmakers series since I read the first book, Love Remains. Like with a lot of the books that I have spoken about this week, the covers draw me in. The female protagonist is hidden behind a symbol that plays a large role in the plot. It's clever, really. I mean, from the covers alone, I could speculate what it is about.

In the third installment of The Matchmakers, Turnabout's Fair Play, Kay Dacus finally allows us a glimpse into the life of Flannery McNeil. Yes, she is named after that Flannery. Flannery McNeil has been a strong voice throughout the previous two books. She is the friend that will do anything and everything for you, while keeping a busy work schedule.

Flannery is in her 30s and works for a Christian fiction editor. Like the previous two women in The Matchmakers series, Flannery has put a wall around her heart. While she appears strong on the outside, she is vulnerable on the inside. Her best friends are both engaged, and she fears that she will be alone; that everyone will leave her. Her sisters left her, her parents left her, and soon, her friends will too. But Flannery is ready to open her heart to dating, but with one except. No good-looking guys.

Flannery's grandfather, Kirby McNeil has been consisted in his weekend visits with her. He has been the constant in Flannery's busy life, and often serves as the escape that she needs. By chance meeting, he has met Maureen O'Connor. Together, they agree that Kirby's granddaughter will be a perfect match for Maureen's grandson. Unbeknownst to them both, the sparks fly and a courtship begins. Now if only the same can happen for their grandchildren.

Jamie O'Connor is in the Sports Marketing industry. A huge announcement has shook his world upside down and has forced him to take a step back from everything. Jamie is brought on this soul-searching journey that is realistic to anyone's life in present time. It was real and easy to grasp. Dacus wrote Jamie with so much depth that I wasn't sure I was reading the correct book. It was refreshing to see a male doubt himself. It was enjoyable to see that the male isn't always a hero in the story.

In Turnabout's Fair Play, I felt that the conversations, the witty banter, and the overall content was best written in this book. I think I've waited for Flannery's story since the beginning. I loved how Flannery and Jamie's story had trials and tribulations, but ended up in a happy ending. I'm glad that it wasn't love at first sight. I'm glad that Dacus wrote a period where the two didn't speak to one another. It was realistic. And yes, their faith was a big part of the book, but I didn't think it was the pink elephant in the room. It was tied into the story nicely, and without any blunt meanings.

Great read and filled with different levels of friendship and relationships.(less)

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Jan 26, 2013 Emily rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-christian-romance

I rarely read contemporary fiction. My shelves are crowded with historical novels. I found Love Remains, the first in the series for $3 and bought it, and really liked it. The Art of Romance popped up for $3, so I snagged it, and thought it was even better. I searched and searched for Turnabout's Fair Play, and when I found it at Mardel, cheerfully plunked down the full price for it. It was wonderful. The characters in this one seemed more likable and relational than the other two sets of protag...more

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Sep 21, 2011 Trish rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: x_2012

Fiction; Christian Fiction
3.5 stars

When I picked up this book, I did not realize that it was the third book in a series called The Matchmaker. I enjoyed this book as a stand alone but would really love to read the others to get a broader sense of the backstory.

For those wondering, here are the other books listed as part of this series according to Goodreads.

Book 1- Love Remains
Book 2- The Art of Romance
Book 3- Turnabout's Fair Play

In this sweet story we find four main characters; Grandma Maureen...more

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May 02, 2012 Abbie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: barbour-books, 2012, christian-contemporary-fiction, netgalley-read, blog-reviewed

Flannery has watched both her best friends get engaged and she does not have a prospect in sight. She is afraid her best friends will abandon her once they are married like her sisters did. She also has a secret that she does not think any man would except.

Jamie has the reputation as a play boy but really he only wants to find a woman who will not just see him as a looker but also love him for who he is even if that might be a medieval loving geek. With their grandparents help these two find e...more Flannery has watched both her best friends get engaged and she does not have a prospect in sight. She is afraid her best friends will abandon her once they are married like her sisters did. She also has a secret that she does not think any man would except.

Jamie has the reputation as a play boy but really he only wants to find a woman who will not just see him as a looker but also love him for who he is even if that might be a medieval loving geek. With their grandparents help these two find each other like they hope or will their plan back fire?

This is the 3rd and final book in this series and my favorite of the three.

What I liked: I liked that this book and the series in general dealt with older love. By older I mean late 20’s into early 30’s. Both characters handled things maturely and the book did not make me roll my eyes as some books do when it comes to younger love stories. Also being the 3rd book the author did a good job of wrapping the whole series up as she told the final story. When the book ended I felt like it was complete and did not leave me wondering what happens next. I also enjoyed the romance between the grandparents. It was sweet to watch them fall in love along with their grandchildren.

What I did not like: I did like the storyline for the most part but felt it got kind of boring at times. I also felt that Jamie and Flannery had a good chemistry but lacked some of the spark. After not liking each other at first they fast became more then friends but the climax of the story did not have me as excited as I had hoped. There where some secrets revealed but again it was just so so. I guess I was just hoping for a little more excitement at the end.

Over all this was a good read and a good series. I felt each book got better and I liked how the characters where in all three books and as a reader I got to enjoy watching them grow and change as the books went on. I definitely recommend this series!

I also loved the covers for this series. The last one was my favorite but I liked how they had a similar theme for each(can you figure it out?).

http://abbiesreadingcorner.com/2012/0...(less)

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Oct 20, 2011 Bookworm1858 rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian-fiction, read-2011, netgalley

Kaye Dacus is one of my favorite authors although I've had some mixed experiences with her books. Still I picked this one up with high expectations as it brings the Matchmaker trilogy to its conclusion.

The focus this time is on Flannery MacNeill, book editor extraordinaire, whose longing for a deep romantic relationship is heightened by the pending weddings of her two best friends, whose romantic adventures were detailed in the previous two books. Although she's dated quite a few men, she's alwa...more Kaye Dacus is one of my favorite authors although I've had some mixed experiences with her books. Still I picked this one up with high expectations as it brings the Matchmaker trilogy to its conclusion.

The focus this time is on Flannery MacNeill, book editor extraordinaire, whose longing for a deep romantic relationship is heightened by the pending weddings of her two best friends, whose romantic adventures were detailed in the previous two books. Although she's dated quite a few men, she's always asked God to have her fall in love with a dork. Jamie O'Connor's good looks and confidence disqualify him, especially as everything he says seems to offend her. But after he loses his job, he starts questioning the man he has become and what God wants of him. On top of these two souls are their grandparents who want to make a match but find themselves making a match first!

One of my favorite things about Dacus's books are that while romance is the primary thrust of the story, there's also so much character development. Flannery and Jamie start and end the books in completely different places, having learned to rely more on God and falling in love. They reveal their guilty pleasures (Arthurian legend) and the hurts they've experienced from family and friends over the years. They seem like such real people and I really liked them!

However there were a couple of things that niggled at me. First I'm not a fan of the meddling grandparents so desperate to have grandchildren that they involve themselves in their lives. I feel like their motives were softened over the books, to show that they just wanted happiness for the grandkids but I didn't love them as much as the younger characters. The other part was how Flannery and Jamie felt they needed to keep their love of Arthurian legend under wraps. I don't think that interest is that geeky; admittedly I'm a Star Wars nerd and I have a book blog so I'm probably not the best judge of what is or isn't geeky.

Overall: A fine conclusion to the Matchmakers trilogy; can't wait to find out what Dacus has planned next!(less)

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Mar 12, 2012 Victor Gentile rated it 5 of 5 stars

Kaye Dacus in her new book, "Turnabout's Fair Play" Book Three in the "Matchmakers" series published by Barbour reunites us with the five grandmothers who have united to marry off their single grandchildren.

From the back cover: The matchmaker has met her match.

Flannery McNeill has sworn off men. . .at least the handsome, charming kind, as they’re nothing but trouble. So when handsome and charming Jamie O’Connor shows up as an usher at her best friend’s wedding, she tries her best to avoid him. B...more Kaye Dacus in her new book, "Turnabout's Fair Play" Book Three in the "Matchmakers" series published by Barbour reunites us with the five grandmothers who have united to marry off their single grandchildren.

From the back cover: The matchmaker has met her match.

Flannery McNeill has sworn off men. . .at least the handsome, charming kind, as they’re nothing but trouble. So when handsome and charming Jamie O’Connor shows up as an usher at her best friend’s wedding, she tries her best to avoid him. But it seems like someone is conspiring to throw them together. Two someones, to be exact: Flannery’s grandfather and Jamie’s grandmother.

Maureen O’Connor thinks Kirby McNeill’s granddaughter will be perfect for her grandson and convinces Kirby to help make the two a couple. But soon, the matchmakers will find the tables turned on them when Flannery conspires with Jamie to play matchmaker, too.

As the juniors scheme to bring the seniors together, a hilarious tumult of mayhem and misconceptions ensues. . .but will it end in romance?

Kaye Dacus really knows how to write a wonderful story. Once again Ms. Dacus has filled the pages of "Turnabout's Fair Play" with high drama, wonderful romance and fascinating characters. And to end the series she has given us not just one romance but two. There is the theme of keeping one identity, being true to yourself, even though you want to fit in with the crowd. And, of course, there are the moments that you laugh out loud. "Turnabout's Fair Play" is a lot of fun and I recommend this book highly. I am sorry to see this series end as I have really enjoyed the concept and the characters however I am greatly looking forward to Ms. Dacus' next series.

If you missed the interview for "A Case For Love", a different series from Kaye Dacus, and would like to listen to it and/or interviews with other authors and professionals please go to www.kingdomhighlights.org where they are available On Demand.

To listen to 24 hours non-stop Christian music please visit our internet radio station www.kingdomairwaves.org

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Barbour Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”(less)

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Oct 02, 2012 Jessica rated it 3 of 5 stars

Cute Christian romance book. This is the 3rd in the series and I would recommend not reading this one until you have read the other 2. Alot of the story line depends on things you learn from the other books. This book finally brings Flannery, the last of the 3 best friends, to find her true love.

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Mar 27, 2012 Kara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian-chick-lit

This one made me laugh. And I liked that both characters enjoyed fan fiction. That was a fun addition! This was cute and funny. Definitely recommend.

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Dec 29, 2011 Janci rated it 5 of 5 stars

The best one in the series!!! I especially liked how the character's grandparents fell in love as well! Love can come at any age!

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Jan 29, 2012 Cheri rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

Love Kaye Dacus's books!! This christian novel is the third in the series. Finally we get to hear Flannery's story!!

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Jan 02, 2012 Mackenzie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Book 3 of 3

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About Kaye Dacus

Kaye Dacus is an author and editor who has been writing fiction for more than twenty years. Pursuing her passion for writing, she earned a Master of Arts in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. She is a former Vice President and long-time member of American Christian Fiction Writers, and is also a founding member of Middle Tennessee Christian Writers. Kaye lives in Nashville, Tennes...more

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Books by Kaye Dacus

Ransome's Honor (The Ransome Trilogy, #1)

Stand-In Groom (Brides of Bonneterre #1)

Ransome's Crossing (The Ransome Trilogy, #2)

Menu for Romance (Brides of Bonneterre, #2)

Ransome's Quest (The Ransome Trilogy #3)

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Turnabout's Fair Play (Matchmakers #3)

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