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The Gates of Westmeath #1
Assassins! Accidental Matchmakers
When Kennedy Fairfield, a recent graduate (Class of 2002) trying to find her purpose in life, or at least a job in her field, saves Jason Johnson, the leader of a secret Community of supernatural people called Aetherborn, from an attempted assassination, they embark on a whirlwind epic romance and adventure.
For Kennedy to help Jason discover why people are disappearing in time to save her friends, they''ll have to navigate teleporting assassins, grumpy wizards, gossiping hags, mafia robots, and secret military groups, all in the city of Westmeath, Ontario, which has more secrets than residents.
The first book of four in The Gates of Westmeath series.
For Kennedy to help Jason discover why people are disappearing in time to save her friends, they''ll have to navigate teleporting assassins, grumpy wizards, gossiping hags, mafia robots, and secret military groups, all in the city of Westmeath, Ontario, which has more secrets than residents.
The first book of four in The Gates of Westmeath series.
375 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 15, 2022
21 people are currently reading
431 people want to read
About the author
Jen Desmarais
11 books35 followersJen Desmarais is the creator of the sex education game Blush and co-author of "Assassins! Accidental Matchmakers" and "Monsters! Incidental Wedding Guests." "Crushing It" was her first solo novel.
You can also find a short story by Jen in "Nothing Without Us Too", and a novella in "The Mystery of the Dancing Lights".
Co-founder of JenEric Designs, she creates unique geeky crocheted items. Her blogs The Travelling TARDIS and How I Taught My Dragon have been nominated for the Prix Aurora Awards over 2018-2024.
She lives in Ottawa with her author husband, daughter, son, and their library of over 3000 books.
You can also find a short story by Jen in "Nothing Without Us Too", and a novella in "The Mystery of the Dancing Lights".
Co-founder of JenEric Designs, she creates unique geeky crocheted items. Her blogs The Travelling TARDIS and How I Taught My Dragon have been nominated for the Prix Aurora Awards over 2018-2024.
She lives in Ottawa with her author husband, daughter, son, and their library of over 3000 books.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 28, 2023
A morning of chores for Kennedy takes an unexpected turn when the gorgeous stranger she just met - Jason - is attacked just steps away from her and she helps foil the assassins. The whirlwind pace never lets up from there, as the story draws the reader into a world of fantasy, sci-fi, and mysterious happenings, the supernatural and secret groups.
I found this story a total blast to read. Such fun! I enjoyed the banter between the characters, the pop-culture references, and the puns - definitely the puns. The attention to detail was incredible - I particularly loved one character's cane. Well done! And the story's a great thriller/mystery, too, with superhero antics and a fashion show, and so many more seemingly disparate elements, all pulled together with great panache into a book I didn't want to put down.
This was a truly entertaining story, a real page-turner. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!
I found this story a total blast to read. Such fun! I enjoyed the banter between the characters, the pop-culture references, and the puns - definitely the puns. The attention to detail was incredible - I particularly loved one character's cane. Well done! And the story's a great thriller/mystery, too, with superhero antics and a fashion show, and so many more seemingly disparate elements, all pulled together with great panache into a book I didn't want to put down.
This was a truly entertaining story, a real page-turner. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!
Read
January 8, 2023I'm the author, so I'm biased, but I adore this book so much!!
January 16, 2023
Assassins! Accidental Matchmakers is the exciting first book in the Gates of Westmeath series from debut novelist Jen Desmarais and her husband, accomplished author, Eric Desmarais. This multi-genre, action-packed fantasy thriller starts off with a bang and keeps you guessing right to the end. The sleepy little town of Westmeath, Ontario hosts the peaceful, albeit magical community of Aetherborn folk and their superhero, the 'Phantom'. But why are the citizens disappearing without a trace? From the moment you understand the reason behind the compelling title, Kennedy and Jason are thrown together to use their talents, wits and a little help from their friends to oppose the malevolent forces that are trying to take over their community. Can the Phantom save them and can Kennedy and Jason's blossoming relationship withstand this kind of threat? Set in 2002, I enjoyed the nostalgia of the burgeoning technology and the music of the times that accompanies Kennedy and Jason's romance. Highly recommended for fans of fantasy with action and romance that takes it to another level. I can't wait for book 2 in the series to drop!
July 14, 2022
Kennedy lives a pretty busy life.
After graduating from university, her life seems full. It’s full of neighbours in her building that need her help, friends and coworkers that know that they can count on Kennedy for anything. Her time is filled with those that count on her and her job at Discreet Frills, a small boutique lingerie store. Everything is pretty boring and normal for Westmeath. Kennedy just wishes that her life was something…more.
That something more comes in the form of Jason Johnson. Kennedy runs into Jason when she is out doing errands and is immediately smitten. While walking away, she happens to look back to see him being attacked in an alleyway. She leaps into action, saving Jason from getting stabbed and is astounded when the attacker vanishes.
Her world is thrown into overdrive as she becomes more involved with Jason, who happens to be one of the Aetherborn. They are a community of people capable of magic, but not all of them are good. There are those Aetherborn who wish the world harm and people around them are disappearing. As if that weren’t enough to deal with, there is the Phantom, a mysterious superhero who is busy trying to save the streets of Westmeath.
Kennedy’s world is no longer the boring one that it once was. Kennedy and Jason will have to risk everything if they have a shot at saving the world…
I loved everything about this book. I’ve been a long-time fan of Éric Desmarais’ work and the world building he does and knew that Assassins! Accidental Matchmakers would be good and I was pretty sure what I was in for.
I was wrong, though. It was spectacular! Assassins! Accidental Matchmakers is not just a book you read. It’s a book you want to live in.
The book pulled me in from the first page and I love the character of Kennedy. Jen and Éric excel at creating characters that you end up caring for. By the end of the book, the characters of this book weren’t just people on the page; they were friends. I’ve been with them through so much, after all.
The plot is amazing, and it just rolls along at a breakneck speed. It’s one of those books where you think that you know where it’s going and then Jen and Éric take you down a whole other path you never even considered.
Even more amazing, none of it ever feels forced. The whole plot and the world building are top notch. Though Westmeath Ontario is a real place, I want to live in the one that the authors have created. After reading this book, I feel like I know the people that live there, and I know the streets well.
I think that the biggest achievement, more than the excellent plot, the fantastic characters and the incredible world building, is that it’s all written in the same voice. Writing a book with another person can be difficult and often times I’ve read a novel written by two different people and can guess who wrote each part of the book. Not so here! Jen and Éric are incredible writers and have pulled off a fantastic slight of hand that is just so much fun.
I’m also thrilled to learn that this is the first book in a series! I can’t wait for the next novel and to meet up with Kennedy and Jason again. I may not have known them when I first started the book, but I finished it with friends and people I care about.
Since reading this book, I can’t help but wonder if there is a secret world under the one I know so well. That’s how good Assassins! Accidental Matchmakers is. I can’t wait for my next adventure.
After graduating from university, her life seems full. It’s full of neighbours in her building that need her help, friends and coworkers that know that they can count on Kennedy for anything. Her time is filled with those that count on her and her job at Discreet Frills, a small boutique lingerie store. Everything is pretty boring and normal for Westmeath. Kennedy just wishes that her life was something…more.
That something more comes in the form of Jason Johnson. Kennedy runs into Jason when she is out doing errands and is immediately smitten. While walking away, she happens to look back to see him being attacked in an alleyway. She leaps into action, saving Jason from getting stabbed and is astounded when the attacker vanishes.
Her world is thrown into overdrive as she becomes more involved with Jason, who happens to be one of the Aetherborn. They are a community of people capable of magic, but not all of them are good. There are those Aetherborn who wish the world harm and people around them are disappearing. As if that weren’t enough to deal with, there is the Phantom, a mysterious superhero who is busy trying to save the streets of Westmeath.
Kennedy’s world is no longer the boring one that it once was. Kennedy and Jason will have to risk everything if they have a shot at saving the world…
I loved everything about this book. I’ve been a long-time fan of Éric Desmarais’ work and the world building he does and knew that Assassins! Accidental Matchmakers would be good and I was pretty sure what I was in for.
I was wrong, though. It was spectacular! Assassins! Accidental Matchmakers is not just a book you read. It’s a book you want to live in.
The book pulled me in from the first page and I love the character of Kennedy. Jen and Éric excel at creating characters that you end up caring for. By the end of the book, the characters of this book weren’t just people on the page; they were friends. I’ve been with them through so much, after all.
The plot is amazing, and it just rolls along at a breakneck speed. It’s one of those books where you think that you know where it’s going and then Jen and Éric take you down a whole other path you never even considered.
Even more amazing, none of it ever feels forced. The whole plot and the world building are top notch. Though Westmeath Ontario is a real place, I want to live in the one that the authors have created. After reading this book, I feel like I know the people that live there, and I know the streets well.
I think that the biggest achievement, more than the excellent plot, the fantastic characters and the incredible world building, is that it’s all written in the same voice. Writing a book with another person can be difficult and often times I’ve read a novel written by two different people and can guess who wrote each part of the book. Not so here! Jen and Éric are incredible writers and have pulled off a fantastic slight of hand that is just so much fun.
I’m also thrilled to learn that this is the first book in a series! I can’t wait for the next novel and to meet up with Kennedy and Jason again. I may not have known them when I first started the book, but I finished it with friends and people I care about.
Since reading this book, I can’t help but wonder if there is a secret world under the one I know so well. That’s how good Assassins! Accidental Matchmakers is. I can’t wait for my next adventure.
July 3, 2022
I thought I could read it for just 5 minutes before I went to bed....an hour later, I noticed the time! I enjoyed it very much!
Read
July 10, 2023Imagine you were out getting groceries and you're passed by a man out for his morning jog. He's gorgeous and you pause to appreciate each other, when suddenly he's attacked by assassins and you rush to his aid! Talk about a meet cute!
That's what happens when Kennedy meets Jason. Kennedy is a recently graduated student in Northern Ontario, adjusting to life in her new community and making friends. Jason runs a restaurant. But that's not all he's also the leader of the community of Aetherborn. A group of people with superhuman abilities and physiologies. When Kennedy finds herself mixed up in their world she steps in to help Jason get to the bottom of disappearances within their community. Add in robot assassins, aliens, (and a lot of croissants) and you get a compelling world full of interesting characters. I enjoyed this book. It was intelligent and interesting. There were a lot of characters and at times I did feel like I needed a glossary of characters in order to keep track of them lol, but they were all interesting and diverse.
This was a heterosexual Romance book, but there were many people in the LGBTQIA+ community who were side characters within the story. I found Jason to be an interesting and complex character and I would definitely read a prequel from his perspective especially. Kennedy was an interesting character who must be the most understanding and accepting person ever. She did not seem phased at all when she discovered the secrets of the community. She just kind of rolled with the punches, literally! She was also a quick thinking badass. The story was interesting and compelling and while most things were tied up neatly by the end of the book I will have to wait patiently for the sequels to get to the bottom of other mysteries.
A fun and exciting read with so many nerdy references and puns, (they are well matched for their deep lore knowledgeof Lord of the Rings alone!)
If you are looking for action and a complex world of interesting characters, this is a book for you!
That's what happens when Kennedy meets Jason. Kennedy is a recently graduated student in Northern Ontario, adjusting to life in her new community and making friends. Jason runs a restaurant. But that's not all he's also the leader of the community of Aetherborn. A group of people with superhuman abilities and physiologies. When Kennedy finds herself mixed up in their world she steps in to help Jason get to the bottom of disappearances within their community. Add in robot assassins, aliens, (and a lot of croissants) and you get a compelling world full of interesting characters. I enjoyed this book. It was intelligent and interesting. There were a lot of characters and at times I did feel like I needed a glossary of characters in order to keep track of them lol, but they were all interesting and diverse.
This was a heterosexual Romance book, but there were many people in the LGBTQIA+ community who were side characters within the story. I found Jason to be an interesting and complex character and I would definitely read a prequel from his perspective especially. Kennedy was an interesting character who must be the most understanding and accepting person ever. She did not seem phased at all when she discovered the secrets of the community. She just kind of rolled with the punches, literally! She was also a quick thinking badass. The story was interesting and compelling and while most things were tied up neatly by the end of the book I will have to wait patiently for the sequels to get to the bottom of other mysteries.
A fun and exciting read with so many nerdy references and puns, (they are well matched for their deep lore knowledgeof Lord of the Rings alone!)
If you are looking for action and a complex world of interesting characters, this is a book for you!
June 6, 2023
Absolutely the best i have read in a while!!! Fantasy, romance and science fiction, drama and action all rolled into one! I will definitely be watching for Book 2 !!!
September 15, 2023
I purchased this book because I am a friend of the author's sister - however I thoroughly enjoyed it! Fantasy is not my typical genre, and I was pleasantly surprised with the romance in the book (I literally smiled SO big reading some parts, ha).
I wished that the first few chapters had times written other than just the dates (I was a bit confused on how the day was progressing at first). I did find the main character (Kennedy) was a little too believing/accepting of the assassination attempt in the first chapter - there could have been more "am I going crazy?" or "did that really happen?" type of questioning.
There were also a lot of different mythical/fantasy things that came up and I eventually got the hang of it (again, not my typical genre) but a fun recap/appendix at the end would have been nice for this fantasy-novice, ha.
Looking forward to book 2!
I wished that the first few chapters had times written other than just the dates (I was a bit confused on how the day was progressing at first). I did find the main character (Kennedy) was a little too believing/accepting of the assassination attempt in the first chapter - there could have been more "am I going crazy?" or "did that really happen?" type of questioning.
There were also a lot of different mythical/fantasy things that came up and I eventually got the hang of it (again, not my typical genre) but a fun recap/appendix at the end would have been nice for this fantasy-novice, ha.
Looking forward to book 2!
July 5, 2024
A fun read with a mix of many genres and surprises. The witty banter made me laugh out loud :)
March 15, 2023
This was a nice little story .
August 15, 2024
Assassins! Accidental Matchmakers was a fun, off-beat story. Kennedy was an interesting character. She had an outstanding 'go with the flow' personality that was meshed with this intense 'jump in with both feet' edge. This led her to protect a stranger who was being attacked with knives on the street and then just go on with her shopping like nothing happened. She was sunshiny and sweet. Jason was too serious for his own good. It felt like he'd never really seen anything besides his duty to his community until he met Kennedy.
There are mysteries to solve and missing people to find. Jason's alter-ego, a masked crime fighter who can jump through shadows, is hot on the case. But before too long Kennedy is all mixed up in suspicious things, too.
You have to pay close attention to the dates that are provided at the beginning of every chapter. At first several chapters are all on the same day, both from Kennedy and Jason's perspectives. But then we jumped forward in time, then back in time. It could be a little hard to follow.
There are mysteries to solve and missing people to find. Jason's alter-ego, a masked crime fighter who can jump through shadows, is hot on the case. But before too long Kennedy is all mixed up in suspicious things, too.
You have to pay close attention to the dates that are provided at the beginning of every chapter. At first several chapters are all on the same day, both from Kennedy and Jason's perspectives. But then we jumped forward in time, then back in time. It could be a little hard to follow.
July 9, 2024
Fun !
I would have liked more development on all the characters and the world, but this was a great introduction and I’m excited to pick up the sequel! Hopefully we get to explore more of the world and aliens because I find it so neat !!
(I found the romance really rushed, but they were in fact super cute so it’s fineeeeee I just like it slower paced)
There were a lot of plot threads, to the point that I’m still a bit confused but that’s probably due to my poor reading comprehension lmao
I would have liked more development on all the characters and the world, but this was a great introduction and I’m excited to pick up the sequel! Hopefully we get to explore more of the world and aliens because I find it so neat !!
(I found the romance really rushed, but they were in fact super cute so it’s fineeeeee I just like it slower paced)
There were a lot of plot threads, to the point that I’m still a bit confused but that’s probably due to my poor reading comprehension lmao
September 11, 2023
A fun read! Looking forward to the sequel.
July 4, 2024
Fun book, great twists and turns.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews