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Matchmade Marriages #1
The Marquess Meets His Match
Sparks fly in this fun, romantic Regency!
The marquess she loves to hate
…or the man she can’t resist?
Farmer’s daughter Charlotte Greenacre regrets attending a matchmaker’s party when she has to spend it avoiding her enemy, Lord Robert Overby! Until she learns that the handsome widower is not the villain she thought—and that after his unhappy marriage, he doesn’t want a new wife. It should mean she can now relax in his company…if it wasn’t for the irritating flare of attraction between them!
From Harlequin Your romantic escape to the past.
Matchmade Marriages
Book 1: The Marquess Meets His Match
The marquess she loves to hate
…or the man she can’t resist?
Farmer’s daughter Charlotte Greenacre regrets attending a matchmaker’s party when she has to spend it avoiding her enemy, Lord Robert Overby! Until she learns that the handsome widower is not the villain she thought—and that after his unhappy marriage, he doesn’t want a new wife. It should mean she can now relax in his company…if it wasn’t for the irritating flare of attraction between them!
From Harlequin Your romantic escape to the past.
Matchmade Marriages
Book 1: The Marquess Meets His Match
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published March 29, 2022
18 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
About the author
Laura Martin
127 books31 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Laura Martin was born and bred on the South Coast of England into a family of two loving parents and a spirited older sister. Books were a feature of her life from early on. One of her earliest memories involves sitting with the family on a rainy Sunday afternoon, listening to the exploits of a clumsy but lovable stuffed bear and his assorted cuddly friends. Laura's first ambition was to be a doctor, and in 2006 she went off to Guy's, King's and St Thomas's Medical School in London to study medicine. It was whilst she was earning her degree that she discovered her love of writing. In between ward rounds and lectures Laura would scribble down ideas to work on later that evening and dream of being an author. In 2012 Laura married her high school sweetheart, and together they settled down in Cambridgeshire. It was around this time that Laura started focussing on the Romance genre, and found what she had always suspected to be true: she was a romantic at heart. Laura now spends her time writing Historical Romances when not working as a doctor. In her spare moments Laura loves to lose herself in a book, and has been known to read from cover to cover in a day when the story is particularly gripping. She also loves to travel with her husband, especially enjoying visiting historical sites and far-flung shores.
Laura Martin was born and bred on the South Coast of England into a family of two loving parents and a spirited older sister. Books were a feature of her life from early on. One of her earliest memories involves sitting with the family on a rainy Sunday afternoon, listening to the exploits of a clumsy but lovable stuffed bear and his assorted cuddly friends. Laura's first ambition was to be a doctor, and in 2006 she went off to Guy's, King's and St Thomas's Medical School in London to study medicine. It was whilst she was earning her degree that she discovered her love of writing. In between ward rounds and lectures Laura would scribble down ideas to work on later that evening and dream of being an author. In 2012 Laura married her high school sweetheart, and together they settled down in Cambridgeshire. It was around this time that Laura started focussing on the Romance genre, and found what she had always suspected to be true: she was a romantic at heart. Laura now spends her time writing Historical Romances when not working as a doctor. In her spare moments Laura loves to lose herself in a book, and has been known to read from cover to cover in a day when the story is particularly gripping. She also loves to travel with her husband, especially enjoying visiting historical sites and far-flung shores.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 28, 2022
This was such a cute read. I had a fun time reading about Charlotte and Robert and honestly, they were so fun and cute together. Charlotte was such a ball of energy and I love that Robert was seeing how much of an impact that she had on his life and vice versa. Such a cute read from Harlequin :)
March 19, 2022
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.
Charlotte Greenacre has no intention of marrying, let along having a London season, but when she is selected as one of the potential debutantes to be sponsored by the lovely and generous Lady Mountjoy, she can't deny her mother's wish. But Charlotte has always felt more at home on her family's farm, which she's ran since the death of her father, and she doesn't have time for balls and dresses. Especially not when Lady Mountjoy's nephew, Robert, Marquess of Overby, Charlotte's neighbour and nemesis, will be at the house party. However, the longer Charlotte is in Robert's company, she soon realises she's had him all wrong, and though she's still adamant she doesn't want to marry, and give up her independence, Robert could be someone to make her reconsider it all.
This was such a quick and enjoyable read. I found it really refreshing how there weren't added drama plots for the sake of drama, and that though it wasn't all smooth sailing for Charlotte and Robert, they came to terms with their differences and issues quickly, and together. Charlotte felt that her whole life needed to be focused on the family farm, and helping her widowed mother, and younger sisters. She never really thought about herself, and was happy with that, but seeing that happiness is possible, without losing all of herself, was something she hadn't thought possible. I liked how Robert didn't shy away from his past or his own failings either - he dealt with them head on. I'm glad this is going to be part of a series, as it definitely was set up for one, and I'm hoping some of the other girls - especially Lucy and Eliza - get their own stories.
Charlotte Greenacre has no intention of marrying, let along having a London season, but when she is selected as one of the potential debutantes to be sponsored by the lovely and generous Lady Mountjoy, she can't deny her mother's wish. But Charlotte has always felt more at home on her family's farm, which she's ran since the death of her father, and she doesn't have time for balls and dresses. Especially not when Lady Mountjoy's nephew, Robert, Marquess of Overby, Charlotte's neighbour and nemesis, will be at the house party. However, the longer Charlotte is in Robert's company, she soon realises she's had him all wrong, and though she's still adamant she doesn't want to marry, and give up her independence, Robert could be someone to make her reconsider it all.
This was such a quick and enjoyable read. I found it really refreshing how there weren't added drama plots for the sake of drama, and that though it wasn't all smooth sailing for Charlotte and Robert, they came to terms with their differences and issues quickly, and together. Charlotte felt that her whole life needed to be focused on the family farm, and helping her widowed mother, and younger sisters. She never really thought about herself, and was happy with that, but seeing that happiness is possible, without losing all of herself, was something she hadn't thought possible. I liked how Robert didn't shy away from his past or his own failings either - he dealt with them head on. I'm glad this is going to be part of a series, as it definitely was set up for one, and I'm hoping some of the other girls - especially Lucy and Eliza - get their own stories.
November 4, 2022
Charlotte and Robert worked out their differences pretty early on so a lot of the tension was gone quickly. Made for a slower read.
November 8, 2022
Mumu' - per RFS
.
Carissime fenici, possono un uomo con un infelice matrimonio alle spalle e una
giovane ragazza che non crede nell’amore, riscoprire insieme la felicità? Miss
Charlotte Greenacre dopo la morte dell’adorato padre si è ritrovata a gestire da sola
le tenute di famiglia, e non riesce a perdonare il proprio vicino di casa, Lord Robert
Overby per aver acquistato a un prezzo irrisorio parte delle proprie terre, quando in
verità non sa che…
Charlotte, costretta dalla madre, accetta l’ospitalità di Lady Mountjoy insieme ad
altre quattro fanciulle, con lo scopo di riuscire a essere la fortunata prescelta che
l’accompagnerà a Londra per tutta la Stagione e trovare così marito. Miss Greenacre
non è affatto contenta di aver lasciato il proprio lavoro alla tenuta per qualcosa che
ritiene così stupido, ma la presenza del vecchio nemico rende il soggiorno ancora più
pietoso. Sino a quando un bacio del tutto inaspettato rimescola le carte del destino e
costringe Charlotte a fare i conti col suo giovane cuore palpitante. Ma anche per Lord
Overby quel bacio improvviso lo porterà a riflettere sul suo rapporto disastroso con la
defunta moglie e il timore di un nuovo amore.
La scrittura del romanzo è molto fluida, non mancano dialoghi frizzanti tra i
protagonisti e l’esuberanza e gioia di vivere di Miss Charlotte è veramente
contagiosa. La lettura è sin dalle prime pagine molto coinvolgente, il racconto
comincia proprio con un rocambolesco incontro tra i protagonisti che ci permette
immediatamente di presupporre che ne vedremo delle belle!
Molto interessanti anche le ambientazioni, non mancheranno lunghe cavalcate,
giochi sul prato, gite in barca, balli, insomma sarà veramente difficile annoiarsi!
Consiglio la lettura ai cuori più romantici e sognatori.
.
Carissime fenici, possono un uomo con un infelice matrimonio alle spalle e una
giovane ragazza che non crede nell’amore, riscoprire insieme la felicità? Miss
Charlotte Greenacre dopo la morte dell’adorato padre si è ritrovata a gestire da sola
le tenute di famiglia, e non riesce a perdonare il proprio vicino di casa, Lord Robert
Overby per aver acquistato a un prezzo irrisorio parte delle proprie terre, quando in
verità non sa che…
Charlotte, costretta dalla madre, accetta l’ospitalità di Lady Mountjoy insieme ad
altre quattro fanciulle, con lo scopo di riuscire a essere la fortunata prescelta che
l’accompagnerà a Londra per tutta la Stagione e trovare così marito. Miss Greenacre
non è affatto contenta di aver lasciato il proprio lavoro alla tenuta per qualcosa che
ritiene così stupido, ma la presenza del vecchio nemico rende il soggiorno ancora più
pietoso. Sino a quando un bacio del tutto inaspettato rimescola le carte del destino e
costringe Charlotte a fare i conti col suo giovane cuore palpitante. Ma anche per Lord
Overby quel bacio improvviso lo porterà a riflettere sul suo rapporto disastroso con la
defunta moglie e il timore di un nuovo amore.
La scrittura del romanzo è molto fluida, non mancano dialoghi frizzanti tra i
protagonisti e l’esuberanza e gioia di vivere di Miss Charlotte è veramente
contagiosa. La lettura è sin dalle prime pagine molto coinvolgente, il racconto
comincia proprio con un rocambolesco incontro tra i protagonisti che ci permette
immediatamente di presupporre che ne vedremo delle belle!
Molto interessanti anche le ambientazioni, non mancheranno lunghe cavalcate,
giochi sul prato, gite in barca, balli, insomma sarà veramente difficile annoiarsi!
Consiglio la lettura ai cuori più romantici e sognatori.
March 31, 2022
Lady Mountjoy’s children are grown & wed & she wants to give some local girls the chance of a season so she invites five young woman to her country estate for a house party. Farmer’s daughter Charlotte Greenacre is one of the invitees but regrets attending when she has to spend it avoiding her enemy Lord Robert Overby! Until she learns the handsome widower is not the villain she thought. They seem to find themselves together but as neither wishes to marry that shouldn’t be a problem.
A very well written romance, the characters are well portrayed & have depth, the pace is very good & I read this captivating read in two sittings. I loved both Robert & Charlotte, he’s the widower who had a very unhappy marriage, which was surrounded by scandal, she’s an independent, feisty woman who’d rather be wearing breeches & farming her family's farm & has no intention of marrying. I loved how this delightful pair changed from enemies, at least on Charlotte’s part, to friends & finally to lovers. The chemistry between the pair was electric & they complemented each other beautifully. I also loved the humour & often found myself laughing. I look forward to more stories in the series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
A very well written romance, the characters are well portrayed & have depth, the pace is very good & I read this captivating read in two sittings. I loved both Robert & Charlotte, he’s the widower who had a very unhappy marriage, which was surrounded by scandal, she’s an independent, feisty woman who’d rather be wearing breeches & farming her family's farm & has no intention of marrying. I loved how this delightful pair changed from enemies, at least on Charlotte’s part, to friends & finally to lovers. The chemistry between the pair was electric & they complemented each other beautifully. I also loved the humour & often found myself laughing. I look forward to more stories in the series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
August 26, 2023
Love island meets Bridgerton! If you ever wondered how the Georgians handled match making, this is the book for you. Laura does a fantastic job of involving the reader in this house party designed to help young ladies with their preparation for the Season in London. However for one of the cast of female guests, who knows if they'll need to journey to London after all.
If you like a quirky detail to your books - how does a pet pig being smuggled to a house party suit you?
If you like a quirky detail to your books - how does a pet pig being smuggled to a house party suit you?
July 10, 2023
This novel was about a a farm girl participating in a semi-competition for a sponsored season in London with Aunt of the man she believes stole land from
her family's estate. During her stay, their differences dissipate and they begin to fall in love.
The Good
The romance scenes and banter was good overall. I enjoyed them getting to know each other and teasing each other a lot. The pacing of their relationship was also done well. The set up was also something I haven't seen before.
The Bad
The 2 star rating could tell you I didn't enjoy the book overall. My main issue was the male lead, Robert. His backstory was one that is a trope that is very overdone in historical romance. His overall asshole-ness and selfishness was never developed from how it was i. the beginning. I was 82% through the book at he was still terrible. I understood why Charlotte would like him but the author did not endure him to the audience. Worse, was that there was NO GROVELING. After having sex with her, he THEN finally decides to marry her and can barely utter the words. She refuses rightfully so, but after two weeks of off-page development he finally comes and says he loves her so she jumps for joy and agrees. Did his trust issues suddenly disappear? His lack of any impulse control? His selfishness? I guess so through the power of love he is obviously fixed and no further development is needed. I think some of the events they did for his aunt could have been sacrificed for lengthening the end and seeing him improve as a person and dealing with his issues.
The Rating
2.5/5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2022
Charlotte finds herself at a house party of a benevolent lady determined to help young debutantes have the season they deserve. Charlotte doesn't see marriage on her horizon but running the family farm after her father's sudden death. Charlotte is a quirky and likeable character. Robert has a scandalous unhappy marriage in his past and is not looking to find another wife. He is attracted to independently spirited Charlotte, and despite misunderstandings and misconceptions about each other, they cannot deny their mutual attraction.
I enjoyed this Regency romance that reflects the society of the time and the developing romance between Charlotte and Robert. A vividly described setting full of pertinent historical detail and a believable cast of supporting characters make this an engaging, humorous and romantic escapist story.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.
I enjoyed this Regency romance that reflects the society of the time and the developing romance between Charlotte and Robert. A vividly described setting full of pertinent historical detail and a believable cast of supporting characters make this an engaging, humorous and romantic escapist story.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.
October 22, 2022
Ah what an unexpectedly lovely story. A really romantic novel without being too graphic apart from the odd scene. The historial setting was quaint, if a little far fetched, but a wonderful background for an unlikely relationship to develop. I love the way the author spends time considering the reasons for the key characters responses and how they negotiate their way from hate to love through understanding. Both the main characters were loveable and real and made me want to keep reading to find out more. The language was perhaps a little modern for the setting at times but this didn’t distract from the story. I do think the scenes could have been more descriptive at times, mostly because I wanted feel fully immersed in the location during this wonderful story. A wonderfully romantic happy ending was the icing on the cake to this fairytale.
June 22, 2023
DNF 141 pages in.
I gave it a fair go but it was just a bit meh. A bit bland. A bit 'seen this 1000 times before'. The h is one of those 'not like other girls' who would rather be romping about in breeches than doing boooring girl things like embroidery and dancing. She's also 'sassy' and 'quirky' (see the piglet as a pet). The H has trust issues from his *dark past* (tm), and of course is massively progressive and forward thinking with all the correct modern views and sensibilities in spite of the fact he's a Lord in Regency England. Both characters are basically modern day people dressed up in regency clothes, and they smack talk and have sassy convos and bants. No thank you.
I just felt... so.... bored. The pace plods along, the characters are stock, and the writing is so-so. Not enough to hold my interest.
I gave it a fair go but it was just a bit meh. A bit bland. A bit 'seen this 1000 times before'. The h is one of those 'not like other girls' who would rather be romping about in breeches than doing boooring girl things like embroidery and dancing. She's also 'sassy' and 'quirky' (see the piglet as a pet). The H has trust issues from his *dark past* (tm), and of course is massively progressive and forward thinking with all the correct modern views and sensibilities in spite of the fact he's a Lord in Regency England. Both characters are basically modern day people dressed up in regency clothes, and they smack talk and have sassy convos and bants. No thank you.
I just felt... so.... bored. The pace plods along, the characters are stock, and the writing is so-so. Not enough to hold my interest.
August 17, 2022
Charlotte Greenacre is invited to a matchmaker's house party where one among five debutantes will be selected for a London season with Lady Mountjoy. Lady Mountjoy's nephew Lord Robert Overby is present to assist his aunt in her endeavor. Long felt by Charlotte to be a thorn in her side, she is none too happy to be spending time with Robert.
During the course of the time Charlotte and Robert are together, a misunderstanding from their past is cleared up and soon, they find they're having fun with each other, which then turns into strong emotion.
Robert was hurt badly by his first wife and doesn't see a reason to find another. Will his misgivings about marriage be resolved in time for him to have a future with Charlotte?
During the course of the time Charlotte and Robert are together, a misunderstanding from their past is cleared up and soon, they find they're having fun with each other, which then turns into strong emotion.
Robert was hurt badly by his first wife and doesn't see a reason to find another. Will his misgivings about marriage be resolved in time for him to have a future with Charlotte?
February 8, 2025
It's been a while since I read a Laura Martin book, I'd forgotten what a wonderful writer she is. I really enjoyed this, it's incredibly charming with an endearing and realistic romance between two adorable characters. It's a cute story, like being wrapped in a comfort blanket, I loved the interaction and blessing romance between Charlotte and Robert, she is full of life, spirited and quirky and he first comes across as a little cynical and borderline jaded but they make a really fun and easy to like a couple.
It is a pretty stereotypical regency romance, opposites attract with a little will-they-won't-they thrown in for good measure, highly enjoyable and perfect for those who want a little light-hearted reading!
It is a pretty stereotypical regency romance, opposites attract with a little will-they-won't-they thrown in for good measure, highly enjoyable and perfect for those who want a little light-hearted reading!
March 13, 2022
4 stars
A good book. The hero's adopted aunt is willing to sponsor a debutante through the season. Charlotte's mother wants her to be the one selected. Charlotte had met the hero, Robert when he bough a parcel of land off her mother, at what charlotte thought was a bargain price. Charlotte just wants to return to the farm and look after it. She's even brought along a pig to the house party.
A lively start to the series. One I intend to follow.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A good book. The hero's adopted aunt is willing to sponsor a debutante through the season. Charlotte's mother wants her to be the one selected. Charlotte had met the hero, Robert when he bough a parcel of land off her mother, at what charlotte thought was a bargain price. Charlotte just wants to return to the farm and look after it. She's even brought along a pig to the house party.
A lively start to the series. One I intend to follow.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 28, 2022
This was a quick read and a rather fun romp from some unspecified time in the past. The plot revolves around feisty heroine (unconventional, doesn't like going out in society) and a marquess who, having been married once doesn't want to risk his heart again. So not a story that is very original. Charlotte, our heroine, succumbs to the stereotype that if a woman doesn't want to get married all she needs is the desire of a good man and she changes her mind.
Read
March 13, 2023An easy and uncomplicated read, with enough dynamic tension between the couple. Charlotte is an engaging heroine and amuses Lord Overby who has little to be amused about for quite some time. He is predisposed to distrust love, but could an unpredictable young lady change his mind? I really disliked the cover.
Read
March 2, 2022Historical Fiction, Sagas, Regency Romance
Miniseries
Matchmade Marriages (Book #1)
Miniseries
Matchmade Marriages (Book #1)
October 7, 2022
I initially was more interested in the second book of this series, but this first one was really good. Had funny parts to it. An adult scene, but only more toward the end of the book.
November 25, 2023
Lovely tale
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews