The Matchmaker's Most Disastrous Scheme

by Samantha Blok

The Tollivers are back in Book Two of the sparkling Regency romcom series everyone’s talking The Trouble with the Tollivers! Expect more scandal, more schemes, and far too much sibling interference as London Society braces itself for another Season of delightful chaos.

A scheming debutante. A grumpy duke. A love story neither of them saw coming.

Miss Georgiana Tolliver has waited her entire life for this her very own Season, at last! She has the gowns, the gloves, the colour-coded lists of eligible gentlemen, and a heart full of grand, glorious hopes. Her plan is to usher her impetuous younger sister safely through Society, to orchestrate a string of advantageous matches, and (should the opportunity arise) to secure a duke for the family. Unfortunately, the brooding and impossible Duke of Morleigh refuses to cooperate.

What begins as a perfectly managed scheme swiftly devolves into scandal sheets, flying arrows, and one very accidental engagement… to the wrong Tolliver sister. Now affianced to a man who is both infuriated and infuriating, Georgie finds herself caught in the one love story she never meant to her own. Being a duchess is far lonelier than she imagined, and the man who married her for honour may never love her back.

As it turns out, love cannot be organised or colour-coded, and happily-ever-afters are far more complicated when one is living them.

A riotous Regency romantic comedy bursting with plotting sisters, scandalous schemes, and one very compromised duke.

Perfect for fans of Jane Austen, Tessa Dare, Evie Dunmore, and Bridgerton’s most deliciously chaotic romances.

325 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 1, 2026

About the author

Samantha Blok lives in sunny Sydney, Australia, and is a hopeless creative at heart. She studied Fine Arts before going on to complete a Bachelor of Arts in Education and English Literature, followed by a Master of Teaching. She worked as a teacher for several years, then somehow found herself in educational public policy.

By day, she writes about Very Serious Things. By night, she writes historical romance — usually of the Regency or Gothic variety — where heroines are sharp, heroes are brooding, and things tend to get delightfully improper.

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@samanthablok_author

Reviews

[Joanne Farley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book two and what a great book it is. Georgie is entering her first London season and she fancies herself a bit of a matchmaker.

What ensues is a series of mishaps, misunderstandings and fun.

This is a grumpy/sunshine romance which is way over the top which I love.

[Tracey Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

We’re back with the Tollivers for book 2 and this time the mayhem was even greater.
Georgiana fancies herself something of a matchmaker and sets her sights on securing a Duke for her younger sister Lottie. What begins as a well intended plan quickly spirals into chaos, with misunderstandings and unexpected outcomes.
I absolutely love Samantha’s writing style. It feels like stepping into a period drama with the dialogue and classic tone, but what makes these stories so special is the humour. There’s something so enjoyable and hilarious about ladies who are expected to be proper at all times, occasionally letting that slip and the Tolliver sisters do that brilliantly. They are so witty.
Another things that makes these books stand out for me is the way the author speaks to the reader throughout, so unique and playful.
Thank you to the author for sending me an arc copy to read and review.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Booksirens for a copy of this ebook and this is my freely given opinion.

This is book 2 of the Tollivers series, and tells primarily the story of Georgie/Georgianna Tolliver and her debute to the London Season. It is also the story of her matchmaking endeavours and meddling into her younger sister, Lottie's life, as Lottie and Georgie make their debut together. Georgie is warm, loving, friendly, and a small general storming the world in how she wants to micromanage her recalcitrant sister's life and future. Lottie is quite vocally and obstinately rebelling against her debute and the expectations of Society on a young woman, and Georgie is convinced that marrying her off to the perfect match (in Georgie's opinion) will tame her before she upends the Tiolliver name with more scandal, and open the way for Georgie to tend to her future at her leisure. Despite being managing and meddlesome to the extreme, this seems to come from a place of (blinkered and tunnel-visioned) love and concern for her sister.

But to her efforts, she has developed a system of lists to determine Lottie's perfect match and what she thinks maybe a foolproof gameplan to bring the two prospective lovebirds together so that love may flourish and become the perfect marriage. The male target of Georgie's mechanisms? The brooding and elusive Duke of Morleigh.

A grumpy-sunshine romance that ensues from a flurry of mishaps because of Georgie's misbegotten matchmaking plans for the two less than interested targets of her schemes, and their desires to evade them. The Duke is looking for a bride, but neither Tolliver sister fit his list of the perfect duchess; but he is not looking for love, only to fulfill his duty and cause him the least inconvenience while fulfilling what he thinks he needs for a duchess. Underneath his obvious anger and cold contempt at her mechanisms, the Duke however cannot deny his attraction to the small sunny tornado that is disrupting his life so much.

Ultimately Georgie's schemes backfire splendidly and she ends up being the bride walking down the aisle to wed Morleigh, in order to prevent scandal from ruining her reputation and that of the remaining Tollivers. But what she thinks will be a cold marriage of convenience becomes unexpected hot and passionate, even with no hope of love.

Delightful, with charming scenarios and dialogue. I enjoyed the grumpy-sunshine dynamic, especially with the story told from both points of view, and the later rather graphic and passionate steam that develops between Georgie and Morleigh after their marriage and he gives into his physical attraction to her, while denying any other growing affections. But there were some jumps in the story, especially in the end when Morleigh suddenly leaves Georgie for a period to attend to business on one of his estates and it turns out that he was attending to another business he was keeping secret from her. And in the version I received, a number of malaproprisms and minor errors. But I received an ARC copy and hopefully they will be corrected before publication.

4 stars out of 5

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book and was not paid for my review.

***
Georgiana Tolliver has her Season colour-coded and planned to perfection, but the brooding Duke of Morleigh didn't get the memo. One failed scheme later, she’s facing scandal sheets, flying arrows, and an accidental engagement with the absolutely wrong man. Now she has to survive a marriage of convenience where the only thing harder than the adjusting to her new role is protecting her heart.
• Grumpy x Sunshine
• Accidental Engagement
• Marriage of Convenience
• Regency Romcom
• Spicy, Camp & Chaotic
***
Oh the Tollivers, honestly it’s a bit like coming home in a regency setting. They are chaotic, opinionated, difficult, messy and yet totally loveable no matter what lunacy they get up to. And as is regularly remarked upon in the book, God help those who marry into this family.

In this book, we get to see the scheming and determined, ordered and list lover that is Georgiana make a total mess of her first season, ish. I mean, I have to love this girl, if for nothing else then her total – and correct – requirement for the perfect stationary and lists. Georgiana is determined to funnel her wild and wilful sister Lottie into a most prestigious marriage with a Duke, seeming to think a Duke who requires order and prioritises duty only would be a good match. Whilst I understand her logic, I can’t help but shake my thirty-something-year-old head and blame it on her youth.

And the good old Duke of Morleigh, our Everand. I thoroughly enjoyed watching your perfectly pristine approach to life be simply destroyed by the sunshine whirlwind that is our Georgiana. Also, my man, that mouth of yours is so so unexpectedly filthy – you made me blush and wish for some of the lessons you apparently deliver so well.

This is not a closed door romance, at all, so whilst it’s a torturous slow burn, when it delivers, it absolutely de-live-rs!!! I did not expect the new Duchess to be so guileless and yet forthright, whilst the Duke – once he lets go of his obsession with duty – really does let go.

This is the first book where I actually kept a little journal of my reactions, because I had to get my reactions out somewhere. It is legitimately funny, like laugh out loud ridiculously funny with camp and witty and sarcastic repartee that makes you cheer. But it also got me right in the feels, because that wedding day and wedding night, oooooh I was so not ready to forgive our Duke for being a douche. Luckily he pulled his head out of his… well you know.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Genuinely laugh out loud regency chaos, oh and the spice is spicing!

[Mariahs_BookNook · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gut rating: ⭐⭐⭐
CAWPILE rating: 3.07
Spice: Hot
ARC publication date: February 1st 2026

Tropes: Regency romance, Bridgerton-esque, big loud family, grumpy sunshine romance, dual POV, "good girl"

Quote: Miss Tolliver, with her sunshine hair and mischief-filled eyes, her blushes, her contrivances, and her maddening charm, was entirely too dangerous.

My synopsis: 1813 England - Like (most) debutantes, 18yo chatterbox Miss Georgiana "Georgie" Tolliver enters her first Season set on marriage, but not for herself. Instead she's determined to pair her wayward younger sister Charlotte "Lottie" with 28yo Everard Drayton, the notoriously stony Duke of Morleigh, if only the obstinate pair would comply. Will Georgie's matchmaking schemes end in a happily ever after or will there be another scandal for the Tolliver family?

My review: A charming book that unfortunately stumbled at the halfway mark.

From the first chapter I was giggling and kicking my feet with how good the story was. I kept thinking that this was the most fun I'd had reading a book in a long time! Georgie and Everand's banter and clashes were such fun to follow, and I loved how easily exasperated he was by Georgie's pokes and teasing. Georgie was a fun witty character and I loved her sunshine optimism, with Everand the perfect black cat contrast, all stoic and proper.

The world building and descriptions were a real strength of the book, too, and it really did feel like I stepped straight into a hurried pile of emu feathers and silk. The story gave strong Bridgerton vibes with "dear reader" fourth wall breaks and a romance very similar to Kate and Anthony (which is my favourite coupling so far).

However, things started going downhill for me from the engagement, shifting to uncomfortable with a disappearing plot, forced spice, and huge swings in emotions. The relationship conflict didn't feel resolvable. Lottie was also a wretched sister and I'm not sure I'm looking forward to her romance without some serious character growth first.
Hopefully the many spelling and punctuation errors in my ARC version are fixed before publication!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Trigger warnings: Sexual content, abandonment, misogyny, toxic relationship, classism, grief, alcohol, blood

[Carolina CHC · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes a generous but understandable amount of creative liberty to bring a family like the Tollivers to life. They are a group of eccentrics who, somehow, work perfectly within the story. Much like the first book in the series, this installment is highly entertaining. While the first book leaned more heavily into humor and was downright hilarious, this one introduces more drama—largely due to the age and temperament of the FMC.

One aspect I really appreciated is how the story acknowledges the age of debutants. Many historical romances tend to forget that these young women were often sheltered and kept deliberately ignorant—especially when it came to what marriage truly entailed. The FMC’s childishness, therefore, feels surprisingly authentic. It may be a little unnerving for older readers (myself included), but it works very well for the story. In fact, it represents the real emotional maturity of a debutant more accurately than many historical romances, making it easier to forgive some of the elements that don’t fully align with the era. At their core, the characters’ personalities still feel appropriate for the period.

In the first book, the humor comes from the entire cast being delightfully outrageous. In this second book, we see the same characters, but the tone shifts because the FMC is more strategic and determined, which naturally brings a more dramatic and goal-oriented feel to the story. That contrast makes the upcoming third book especially intriguing. The third sister is selfish, silly, and immature—but she’s also a sheltered 17-year-old girl in the early 1800s, so honestly, what else could we expect? I’m very curious to see how the author will make her a lovable main female character.

Overall, I’m eager to continue the series—not just for the next love story, but to keep spending time with these characters.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Marion Löw · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this new installment of the series. Like the previous book, this hilarious Regency romcom provided me with many cheerful moments that had me laughing tears due to the absurdity of the situations. The author paints an exaggerated and ironic version of society life, interacts directly with readers with witty comments, and delivers pun after pun, plenty of farcical moments and situational comedy bursting with quirky characters, witty banter, bickering, and mishaps. The plot is very well-written and has a good pace with opposites attract, house party and marriage by scandal tropes. Georgiana and Everand are very likable protagonists. She is a ray of sunshine - lively, talkative and full of levity. He is an honorable, dutiful grump who prefers peace and solitude. Their romance develops slowly, but I really enjoyed their interactions and the way she drove him to distraction with her temper and attempts at matchmaking.
I also liked Georgie‘s chaotic family, especially her grumpy, sarcastic younger sister Lottie. I‘m really looking forward to her story.

Georgiana Tolliver is looking forward to her joint debut with her younger sister Lottie and has already planned everything down to the last detail, including who the vivacious and impetuous Lottie should marry. At the top of her list is the reserved and brooding Everard Drayton, Duke of Morleigh – the perfect man to tame her rebellious sister. But to her dismay, neither Lottie nor the Duke are interested in her matchmaking attempts. The only thing that will help is a trap to compromise the two of them, but unfortunately, this plan also backfires and it is she who is caught with Everand. Now she is the one who has to marry him...

If you enjoy witty Regency romantic comedies with quirky characters, funny moments, emotion, and a little spice, you will love this book.

I received a free ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and left voluntarily.

[Bookish_Fantasy_Queen · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/🌶️🌶️🌶️

This is my honest review of The Matchmaker's Most Disastrous Scheme

The Tolliver sisters are at it again and dare I say Georgie (Georgiana) is even more entertaining than her eldest sister. I enjoyed her scheming and thorough planning tremendously, even more when it backfired in spectacular fashion.

I found the Duke of Morleigh rather charming, especially since he was clearly enamoured with her from early in the book, without her even noticing with her determination to find a husband for her younger sister.

That changes when he feels tricked by her and her wanting to have had a marriage of love causing further tension that adds a little drama to the book. She must then accept a marriage that might never be of anything other than that of duty.

I absolutely love this family’s devotion to each other and how they will always come to aid when one inevitably gets into trouble. Lottie (Charlotte) definitely gave them cause for concern and I’m very much looking forward to reading her story!

The Duke took great care of her, out of duty, that makes you pivot between whether it is possessive or protective tendencies, but could it be protection and pride?

I recommend this for anyone who longs for a romantic read that keeps them yearning for more, with a Duke that must determine whether duty can become more.

Thank you Samantha Blok for this ARC

What to expect:
💜1813, London
💖Regency Romance
💜Marriage of Honour
💖Sibling Chaos
💜Grumpy x Sunshine
💖Witty Banter
💜Brooding duke
💖Open-door Spice

[Rebecca Love · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️

If there’s one thing I know about the tollivers it’s that you should always expect there to be some sort of hilarious drama afoot. The comical aspects of this one were amazing, every failed scheme was brilliantly timed.

I really like that the older sister explained the “marital act” to her, if there’s one thing I hate about regency romances it’s that they send women off to their wedding night with literally no clue what’s going on. Also Langley was amazing in this one, the older brother stuff was some of my favourite.

Georgiana is a wonderful character, she’s smart and cunning which produces some great moments. The Duke was ok, he’s perfectly matched for her in that she brings out his interesting side and he makes her step into a more mature space.

I love a matchmaker falling in love story. There’s something about their adamant refusal that it’s happening that really amuses me. That being said I do think I preferred the romance in book 1, this one felt like a leap occurred off page to get to the end point. We did spend a long time on the build-up to an event that changes the dynamic of the story and enjoyed that aspect. The author really went into detail on building the attraction and banter.

I did really enjoy this one and I’m very excited for book 3 since I believe it will be following a certain sister with a love for scandal and that is bound to be entertaining. I received an advance review copy of this book, and this review represents my honest opinion. Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this book.

[Mary Polzella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miss Georgiana Tolliver's plan this Season is to usher her impetuous younger sister safely through Society, to orchestrate a string of advantageous matches, and should the opportunity arise, to secure a duke for the family. Unfortunately, the brooding and impossible Duke of Morleigh refuses to cooperate. What begins as a perfectly managed scheme swiftly devolves into scandal sheets, flying arrows, and one very accidental engagement to the wrong Tolliver sister! Now affianced to a man who is both infuriated and infuriating, Georgie finds herself caught in the one love story she never meant to her own. Being a duchess is far lonelier than she imagined, and the man who married her for honour may never love her back.

This is Book 2 of the Regency romance series by Australian author @samanthablok.author, featuring the Tollivers. I enjoyed Book 1 and was keen to dive into Book 2.

In this installment, Georgiana's scheme to marry off her sister to a Duke does not go to plan when she and the Duke are caught in compromising circumstances and he is forced to do the honourable thing and marry Georgiana. A fun romantic comedy set in an over the top imagining of 1800s London high society, filled with scandal and a fair bit of spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️ - a warning to those who like a genteel romance. Great characters full of zest and a creatively written narrative makes for a fun, light-hearted read. I look forward to reading the next installment! ⭐⭐⭐.5

Thank you @booksirens for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A most wonderful read

A matchmaking debutante, a duke in want of a wife, and a Season to remember…it’s The Matchmaker’s Most Disastrous Scheme.

Georgie is a meticulous planner. She has colour coded lists for everything - including the matches she plans to make during her very first Season. First up is finding a husband for her sister…and she’s set her eyes on the Duke of Morleigh.

Everand knows he must marry and provide an heir. It is, after all, his duty. But when he encounters the Tolliver family - namely the somewhat diverting Georgie - everything seems to go awry and before he really knows what happened, he is engaged…but not to Georgie’s sister as she had planned.

This age gap Regency romance was a delight to read. It is essentially the love child of Jane Austen and Bridgerton and will have fans of the two kicking their feet and squealing. The dialogue is deliciously sharp and eminently highlight-able. It doesn’t shy away from embarrassing moments and makes the readers squirm along with the characters.

This is the second book in the series but could easily be read alone. There’s a lot of British stiff upper lip, but it certainly goes a lot further than hand flexes. It is a slow burn open door relationship, with significant time spent on the wedding night. The book deals with scandals of the time - unchaperoned ladies having their virtue compromised as a result.

I highly recommend this series to fans of Austen, Bridgerton and witty Regency romances.

[Sarah Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew going into this book that I was going to love it, what I didn’t expect was just how wrong I was about where the story was heading. Every time I thought I had things figured out, Book Two surprised me, and I loved it even more for that.

This book had me laughing, swooning, and thinking about it long after I’d put it down. It lived rent-free in my head to the point that I found myself awake at 4am just to keep reading, because I simply could not stop thinking about it in all the best ways.

The banter is sharper, the emotions hit harder, and the relationships feel richer and more layered than before. The chemistry is beautifully paced, balancing witty exchanges with genuine emotional depth, and it made every interaction such a joy to read. The Tolliver chaos is very much alive and well, and somehow even more delightful this time around.

Samantha Blok has such a comforting, engaging way of telling stories that it feels impossible not to trust her as a reader. Her voice is warm, clever, and full of heart, and reading this book felt like settling into something familiar while still being completely swept away.

This was an easy five-star read for me, immersive, clever, and impossible to put down. I finished this book feeling completely satisfied and already desperate for the next one. I cannot wait to see what comes next for the Tolliver sisters.

[Tracey Cotton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored Georgiana and her resilience. Her need for control and order felt deeply relatable, and watching her push forward with such grace made me love her instantly. After finishing Hetty’s story, I couldn’t wait for Georgie’s—and it did not disappoint. This might even be my favourite so far. The Tolliver family chaos continues, and I loved every moment of it.

This book is laugh-out-loud funny and wonderfully entertaining. Georgiana’s attempts to scheme for her sister—only to completely scheme herself—were hilarious and charming. The love story between Georgiana and Everand is a wild, delightful ride, full of witty banter, grumpy x sunshine energy, and a matchmaking plot that goes beautifully astray.

On the surface, Georgiana seems like a ditzy blonde, but she has grit, depth, and sensuality that make her such a compelling heroine. Everand’s transformation from cold and reserved to deeply emotional felt natural and earned, and their relationship developed in a way that felt organic rather than forced.

If you love Jane Austen’s Emma or Julia Quinn’s The Viscount Who Loved Me, you’ll adore this book. With mischievous siblings, sparkling humour, and just the right amount of spice, The Matchmaker’s Most Disastrous Scheme is a charming, funny, and utterly satisfying read. I can’t wait for more from the Tolliver family.

[Aria · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Matchmaker's Most Disastrous Scheme is a charming, swoony, and quietly emotional Regency romance that completely stole my heart. Returning to the Tollivers in this second book feels like slipping back into a wonderfully chaotic, familiar household, and this time the focus on Georgiana and the grumpy duke is everything I wanted from a “matchmaker meddles her way into her own romance” story.
Georgie is such a delight: clever, headstrong, and determined to orchestrate the perfect matches for everyone around her—while somehow missing her own heart’s direction. The duke is her perfect opposite: reserved, gruff, and aching underneath all that tightly controlled exterior, making their slow‑burn dynamic deliciously tense and deeply satisfying. The banter sparkles, the longing is palpable, and the way their relationship unfolds is both romantic and believable, with just the right balance of humor, miscommunication, and vulnerability.
Samantha Blok’s blend of Regency charm and gothic‑tinged atmosphere continues to shine, and I adored the cozy edges that give this series its unique flavor. This installment delivered exactly what I hoped for and more—a comfort‑read romance with depth, heart, and characters I’m already missing. A wonderful 5‑star read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[myTBRcorner · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: 4⭐
𝙎𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙚: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

"𝓓𝓸 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓲𝓶𝓪𝓰𝓲𝓷𝓮, 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓘 𝓱𝓪𝓿𝓮 𝓱𝓪𝓭 𝓶𝔂 𝓯𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓸𝓯 𝔂𝓸𝓾, 𝓖𝓮𝓸𝓻𝓰𝓲𝓪𝓷𝓪. 𝓘𝓷 𝓶𝔂 𝓪𝓫𝓼𝓮𝓷𝓬𝓮, 𝓘 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝓷𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓮𝓵𝓼𝓮 - - 𝓲𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓮𝓭, 𝓸𝓯 𝓷𝓸 𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝔂𝓸𝓾. 𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓱𝓪𝓿𝓮 𝓫𝓮𝓮𝓷, 𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓶 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓼𝓽, 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓶𝓸𝓼𝓽 𝓶𝓪𝓭𝓭𝓮𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓸𝓯 𝔀𝓸𝓶𝓮𝓷 - - 𝓬𝓸𝓷𝓷𝓲𝓿𝓲𝓷𝓰, 𝓲𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓯𝓮𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓲𝓶𝓹𝓸𝓼𝓼𝓲𝓫𝓵𝓮 𝓽𝓸 𝓭𝓲𝓼����𝓲𝓼𝓼. 𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓭𝓲𝓼𝓽𝓾𝓻𝓫 𝓶𝔂 𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓹𝓸𝓼𝓾𝓻𝓮 𝓪𝓽 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻𝔂 𝓽𝓾𝓻𝓷 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓘 𝓯𝓲𝓷𝓭 𝓘 𝔀𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓮𝔁𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓰𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓹𝓮𝓪𝓬𝓮, 𝓷𝓸𝓻 𝔂𝓲𝓮𝓵𝓭 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓺𝓾𝓲𝓮𝓽 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓸𝓻𝓵𝓭."
- 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓓𝓾𝓴𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓜𝓸𝓻𝓵𝓮𝓲𝓰𝓱

Another delightful read from the Tolliver series! I must say though, that story has only gotten better than the 1st one.

I did have a slow start. I guess, it took a while for me to get used to the dialogue and the formality of the language used. But after a while, I started getting into it. The disastrous schemes hatched by Georgie were funny and yet she somehow managed to charm the grumpy Duke despite it all.

And OMG the Duke.. He is somewhat reminiscent of Mr Darcy. He's got that broody, snobby but honourable vibe happening. But underneath all that, he's got a freaky side to him. 🥵

I loove how he slowly learned to love her, quirks and all. And how he became more expressive with his feelings. There's a lot of swoon-worthy moments and definitely had me smiling and giggling on all of them. 💖

If you love Bridgerton and Jane Austen books, you're surely gonna love this series.

[Lucille · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.


⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ARC Review 💜📖

Georgiana Tolliver had a colour-coded plan… and love said absolutely not 💁‍♀️💥

The Matchmaker’s Most Disastrous Scheme (Book 2 in The Trouble with the Tollivers) is Regency rom-com perfection—complete with scheming sisters, scandal sheets, a marriage of honour, and one very brooding duke who never stood a chance 😌👑

Georgiana is sunshine with a spine 🌞✨—sharp, capable, and convinced she can organise love if she just tries hard enough. Watching her perfectly managed Season unravel into accidental engagement chaos was DELIGHTFUL. The grumpy x sunshine chemistry? Immaculate. The banter? Witty perfection. The slow burn + open-door spice? Chef’s kiss 🔥💋

Add in peak sibling meddling, social disasters, and a duke who is honour-bound, grumpy, and quietly undone by his wife, and I was fully invested, emotionally compromised, and smiling like an idiot 😍📚

✨ Five stars for Georgiana stealing the show
✨ Five stars for Regency chaos done right
✨ Five stars for love refusing to be colour-coded

Huge thanks to Samantha Blok for the ARC 💜 I’ll happily follow the Tollivers into every scandal to come.

[Anni Taumata · Rating 5 out of 5]

How exciting it is to be back in the Tollivers universe. Now for book 2, what a great time I had read this. It's really quite witty, and I found myself laughing out loud a few times there. Georgiana is such a laugh with her meddlesome nature, plotting and scheming for her little sister.

But as an older sister myself, I get it. You only want what's best for your younger sister. My sister would have wacked me over the head, though if I meddled like Georgiana did, hahaha.

Anyway, her meddling paid off, and she found herself in a marriage of honour to the Duke of Morleigh. Everand, as you can imagine, is not impressed with the situation he's found himself in. Never mind the fact, he's literally head over heels for Georgiana. I found him to be a little cold for a bit there, BUT! Once he starts to open up, omg, swooooooooon. This man is stunning, beautiful, and extravagant. A beautiful love story blossoms between these two. And the spicy lessons, *insert fanning gif*.

I highly recommend you check this one out, loved the first book, loved the second book, and have no doubt I'm going to love the next book.

[Anonymous 5 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was pure Regency romcom fun. It brings back all the chaos, schemes, and sibling meddling I loved from the first book, but somehow makes everything bigger and messier in the best way. Georgiana Tolliver is a delightfully controlling heroine with lists, plans, and very firm ideas about how the Season should go… which of course means absolutely nothing goes according to plan.

The accidental engagement trope was handled so well here. The Duke of Morleigh is peak brooding hero, and his dynamic with Georgie is full of sharp banter, frustration, and slow-burn feelings neither of them is prepared for. I really enjoyed how the story balanced humor with quieter emotional moments, especially Georgie’s realization that becoming a duchess isn’t the fairy tale she imagined.

Overall, this was a charming, fast-paced read with plenty of scandal, plotting sisters, and romantic tension. If you enjoy witty Regency romance with lots of heart, laughs, and delightful chaos, this one is absolutely worth picking up. Looking forward to whatever trouble and chaos comes next for the Tolliver family.

I received a complimentary copy from BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving my review. 

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I LOVED the first book in this series. LOVED IT. Sharp, funny, fresh, a little bit anachronistic but who cares - enjoyed all of it.

So I was super excited to read the follow up, and downloaded it right away. This second book in the series follows another Tolliver sister, Georgie. It is still funny, a bit silly and it's witty ... but. I just thought the plot was really daft. It revolves around Georgie just not listening, watching or comprehending firstly the character and wishes of her sister - with whom she is close, and close in age, and the very clearly stated wishes of the Duke... I just... why didn't she make another plan?!

It made no sense, and I found it distracting and irritating enough that it took away a bit of my enjoyment of a book that didn't *need* anything so convoluted. Georgie is a fun, managing, slightly delusional but well meaning bundle of cheer. Morleigh is ... not. Really their interactions were quite enough on their own.

Still a lovely book, and I will be keeping an eagle eye out for the next instalment!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Mary Gosse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I had previously read the first book in the series, but this could also be read as a stand-alone. The Tolliver family was chaos and hilarity itself (once again), and I enjoyed every minute. I loved that Georgiana had big plans to enjoy everything about her first season, while still also trying to set up matches behind the scenes. Setting up her wild younger sister with a more reserved Duke, however, proved to be more challenging, and her schemes didn’t go as planned most of the time. However, I especially liked that Georgiana’s family stood behind her and supported and encouraged her, even when things went sideways. I also loved Georgiana’s optimism and drive to keep going, even when facing difficult situations. It was great to see Everand’s personality open up as he comes to slowly accept his feelings as well.

Overall, this was a book that I thoroughly enjoyed! I’m looking forward to the next book in the series already! Thank you to the author and BookSirens for the free advanced copy, this is my honest and voluntary review.

[Charmaine Fernando · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in the Tolliver series from Samantha Blok and another one I enjoyed reading. The Matchmaker’s Most Disastrous Scheme was another fun, witty read that kept me interested and engaged. This time, it is sister number two in the fray! Miss Georgiana Tolliver, unlike her sister Hetty, is very strategic in her thinking and makes lists and colour coded guides that judge each gentleman’s suitability in the grand scheme of things and is eager to actively participate.

Georgie sees herself as a matchmaker and decides to take her sister Lottie’s courtship into her own hands and steers her towards the Duke of Morleigh. Unfortunately for Georgie, Everand Morleigh is not particularly cooperative and as things go along, the wrong sister ends up engaged to the duke – Geogie! This time round, the banter was sharper, the chemistry beautifully handled and wonderfully emotional in depth.

I thoroughly enjoyed Georgie’s and Everand’s story and cannot wait for book number 3! I received an ARC from the publishers and Book Sirens and submit my honest review voluntarily.

[KK Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, these characters, the period - perfection! Chef's kiss! No notes! If you like regency romance with an FMC who is strong in her own way, with banter upon banter, with delightful schemes - this might be the book for you.
I loved meeting Hetty and the Tollivers in A Most Dreadful Guide to Ruin and I was so happy to rejoin them in this book.
Georgie and the Duke are both scheming a bit - Georgie and her sister Lottie are debutantes looking for a husband and the Duke of Morleigh is looking for a wife, but the Tolliver sisters aren't exactly on his radar. Georgie is dogged in her pursuit of the Duke for her sister Lottie - her determination really made me giggle and love her all the more. Georgie's the fixer in the family and as an eldest daughter, I could really relate to this desire! Her heart is in the right place and her chaos she causes is so endearing.
If you love watching Bridgerton and the way they make regency bright, fun and cheeky, I highly recommend this series. I could get lost in this world for ages.

[Lori S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Georgiana Tolliver is a young woman obsessed. She's about to debut but her focus is on her younger sister. She wants to pair her with the Duke of Morleigh. Unfortunately, her sister is having none of it. The duke is similarly inclined. In the course of events, Georgiana manages to make a mess of things and then she finds herself obliged to wed the duke herself.

Much like the first book in the Tolliver series, this is a madcap romance with a lot of silliness in some parts, but it ends up well with everyone happy. As you might expect from such a romance.

While it's not totally necessary to read book one in this series, it does help make a lot more sense of some of the background happenings. This is light romance that works. Even though you cringe at some of the craziness, you find yourself cheering the characters along.

I rate this 3.5 stars and recommend it to anyone looking for light romantic reading with a fair bit of humour. I would like the thank BookSirens and the writer for providing a free copy of the book. I have provided my feedback voluntarily.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstandingly entertaining.
I was captivated from the opening and eagerly followed the entertaining story as it unfolded with all the brilliance of fine china meeting a gracious collision with a very unforgiving paver. I cannot get enough of the Tolliver family, and this book delivers yet another adventure for the debutantes. Witty banter, insults delivered with finely tuned grace and a smile so luminous it takes no prisoners. As an added bonus, the narrator’s voice is rather pointed and hilarious. Fantastic characters, I was immensely pleased with the Duke’s development in particular, and continue to shake my head in despair at Lottie’s unmitigated disastrous nature to all and sundry. This can be read as a standalone book, but for heightened enjoyment I would highly recommend reading the first book in this series. I am hooked!
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[M. K. Jacobs · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars: Like the first, this Regency romance was a fun romp filled with a lovable family that has crazy escapades and hints of scandals narrowly avoided by highly titled men falling for their dazzling charms. I really liked how we got to see these newlyweds grow into the beginning of their marriage, and we also saw the couple from the first book happy together, too. Blok's narrator is easy to follow, and the plot is engaging with real stakes for the characters: at least the young ones. I will say that I wish the previous generation got clearer arcs; it feels like Lady Tolliver, and the Duke's mother, especially, here, were more fixed characters than dynamic (probably intended that way, but I think it would be fun to see them grow, too). I inhaled this book and thoroughly enjoyed the experience all the way through. Sign me up for the next book!

I received an e-ARC; all opinions are my own.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so looking forward to reading more about the chaotic, dysfunctional, but devoted, loving and loveable Tolliver family and this, the second book in the series, didn't disappoint. Samantha Blok has created a very different character for the second main female lead: a seemingly highly organised micro-manager who is sure she knows best for her wilful younger sister. Of course, her well-meaning, but meddling schemes constantly backfire leading to misunderstandings and unintended outcomes. And of course, the duty bound, seemingly highly proper main male character (who turns out not to be so proper after all) doesn't stand a chance, even if the result is not quite as Georgie planned. The book is genuinely funny, with lots of humour and I got immersed in the world the author conjured up.

I was very fortunate to receive a free advance review copy and am pleased to leave this voluntary review to support this author, who I highly recommend.

[Rose Seals · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story in this family- the Tollivers. Well written, full of drama, society, steam, intrigue, family, friends, issues, scandal, matchmaking and a marriage. Georgiana Tolliver is a chart and plan kinda of girl who believes her info provides enough to match the perfect people together. She has matched her sister, Lottie to the Duke of Morleigh. Everand is the Duke but does know he needs to marry and have an heir but wants to have a wife that does her thing and leave him alone. As Georgiana puts her plan into motion, things just keep going wrong. Georgiana wants adventure and fun and not what Everand is offering. Well a possible scandal occurs between Everand and Georgiana happen and they are forced to marry. Has lots of steam between them and then feelings change. A great book to curl up with and enjoy. Would strongly recommend to everyone.

I received this story and leave this unbiased, honest review.

[Mollie Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A whimsical and fun historical romance! For anyone who loved the Bridgerton’s, you will love the Tollivers too!

Georgiana truely gave me secondhand embarrassment as she fumbled her way through trying to set up her sister with our MMC (Morleigh). It only made reading Morleigh’s POV chapters so much better as you got an insight into what he was actually thinking (and obsessing over) when it comes to our FMC! She truely has no idea how much she has gotten under his skin and it’s so delicious as a reader to watch their relationship unfold into something deep and heated.

Yearning is the watch word here! You won’t get spicy scenes right out of the gate but it makes the story so much more interesting as the two characters fight their emotions (and cravings…).

A fantastic second book to the Trouble with the Tollivers series!

[Bridget Love to read Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miss Georgiana Tolliver is a matchmaker extraordinaire! She has made a list and gathered resources like a general on the battlefield! Her sights are set upon Everand, the Duke of Morleigh! He is austere, brooding and unwilling enchanted by the vivacious, beautiful witty Georgiana!
But Georgiana is determined to match Everand with her sister!
The best laid plans of mice and older sisters and all that!
Get ready to laugh out loud at the high jinks and shenanigans that erupt!
There is an enough steam to fog glasses as an immovable object in a pompous Duke meets the immovable object of a Tolliver!
Can there be a HEA when Everand believes Georgiana tricked him? This is a lesson well learned for both! Bravo I received an ARC copy for my unbiased review from BookSirens!

[Ally | book_dragon89 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Samantha Blok will forever be an auto buy author for me because all of her books are five star reads!!!

If you love Bridgerton vibes and spiiiicy spice, you need to pick this up! These characters are fantastic and find themselves in the most humorous situations! I giggled so many times! This may look like a demure fun regency romance, and it is….at first. But once you hit that halfway mark….sit in the freezer. I will NEVER tire of the marriage of convenience trope ESPECIALLY when the new husband has to be the one to teach his darling little wife all about marital…acts. It’s ALWAYS hot and I eat it upppp. The chemistry between these characters flew off the page and I stayed up way too late to binge this! I can’t wait for book 3!

Thank you so much to the author for the eARC!