Review: A Match for a Bookish Bride
I did not read as many books in the month of August as I could have, distracted as I was by my new fixation with learning the guitar. (I reckon you’ll be hearing a lot about my musical ventures as I make a point to update my blog more often.)
One of the books I did get in was a prequel to the Ella Pointe series by Tess Thompson. The prequel is called The Making of a Matchmaker; it was short enough that I could finish it in an hour, and it set the stage cleanly for what sounded like a promising a series I would enjoy following.
My first read for September is A Match for a Bookish Bride, which is the first proper novel in the Ella Pointe series. It takes place on Whale Island, a seaside town described so beautifully that it reminded me, many times, of Avonlea in Anne of Green Gables. The characters had an echo of L.M. Montgomery as well, varied and solid as they were in their virtues and flaws.
The series follows the wealthy Tutheridge family. At the start of the series, it consists of Mrs. Tutheridge and her four children, Benedict, Hudson, Briggs and Ella. There is no Mr. Tutheridge in the picture because he has been murdered, and the plot arc of the series seems to be a whodunnit.
Mr. Tutheridge was a cruel man who used people, kept mistresses, beat his sons, and mocked his daughter. His misdeeds extended to the people living in town as well; the wealthiest man in town has more power than a lowly teacher or fisherman. As a result no one is truly sad that he was shot. However, justice must prevail, even if his family is better off without him.
On thing is for certain: When everyone in town is a suspect, we have an intriguing series.
The plot for book one, A Match for a Bookish Bride, follows Benedict Tutheridge. He is the son who inherited the family business and fortune. Benedict is a clever man, but he has an unfortunate problem with reading. Since he was a schoolboy, words and letters swam on the page before him, meaning that he received consistent low grades. Each time, he was punished mercilessly by his father for shaming the Tutheridge name.
Now Benedict has inherited the brunt of the work, in spite of not being the oldest; it comes off as a cruel post-mortem joke arranged by the father whose dark spirit will always haunt him.
His mother, Mrs. Tutheridge, knows that Benedict is capable of managing the business, as well as so much more. He only needs the right assistant–a secretary to do the reading and writing portion, so that he can focus on the broader decisions.
So she begins a search for someone to fill in the position of secretary. However, she has more in mind than secretary. All of her children have lived their lives not knowing love; now that her husband is no longer alive to make them miserable, Mrs. Tutheridge has hired a matchmaker, in the hopes that there will be four weddings–four happily-ever-afters.
Benedict is not informed that the secretary his mother hired is a woman. He is told that the newcomer is called A.M. Young, so it never crosses his mind. He’s flabbergasted when he walks into the library to meet his new secretary, only to find a beautiful, shy young lady with red hair and eagerness to take on the secretarial role.
In my opinion, it’s love at first sight, but–stubborn as a man can be–Benedict fights his attraction to Amelia until he is no longer able to. His father’s cruel words left marks in his soul and on his self-esteem. Surely a woman as remarkable as her could never love him?
For a Christian romance, I enjoyed this one in particular because, though it had no inappropriate scenes, there was mention of the physical aspect of falling in love. I believe that physical attraction is mistakenly omitted from a lot of Christian romance. When a person truly falls in love, it’s all-encompassing; they want more than a person’s company, but to be with the person in the most sacred of contexts, in marriage. Thompson presents this aspect of love tastefully but realistically.
This is a quick read for a sleepy day, perfect with a cup of tea as autumn begins her approach. You will find yourself longing to live on Whale Island with its beautiful scenery and quirky characters. As a fan of happy endings, I was very glad that this book included one.
I can’t want to find out which of the siblings will be next in finding their one true love.
