From the Bookshelf of Turning Pages At Midnight…

Making the Match (River Rain, #4)

Kristen Ashley

Start date: September 20, 2022

Finish date: September 23, 2022

Discussion: Buddy Reads

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Buddy Reads

* October 2025 Buddy Reads
By Diana · 18 posts · 25 views

last updated Oct 19, 2025 02:06PM

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last updated Oct 31, 2025 02:56PM

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What Members Thought

Sep 27, 2022 Jennifer☠Pher☠ rated it liked it

This series has most definitely become KA’s platform to write what she feels most strongly about and that is definitely her right, it’s just not my favorite sort of storytelling, especially since I’m here for the romance.

Worse, I feel like everything I write in this review (and really, don’t write since I’ve deleted a lot out of fear of offending someone, because in this day, everyone is offended by something) will be me using this as a platform for my own agenda and believe me, that is not my ...more

9 likes · Like · see review

Oct 07, 2022 Ivy Deluca rated it liked it

This is ....exactly what I expected? It's got a very privileged "lifestyles of the rich and famous" soapy vibe, but way less catty. And if you get that reference, you're old enough to enjoy KA's pop culture references lol.

The series is centered around the combined families of the Holloways and the Pierces, since the first book featured the MMC here Tom's, ex-wife Gen and her first love becoming her last love, Duncan. This addresses the collapse of Gen's marriage with Tom since it's the only thin This is ....exactly what I expected? It's got a very privileged "lifestyles of the rich and famous" soapy vibe, but way less catty. And if you get that reference, you're old enough to enjoy KA's pop culture references lol.

The series is centered around the combined families of the Holloways and the Pierces, since the first book featured the MMC here Tom's, ex-wife Gen and her first love becoming her last love, Duncan. This addresses the collapse of Gen's marriage with Tom since it's the only thing we really know about him before this story starts - he cheated on her, and she left and that's when, through a series of events, she got back together with Duncan.

Honestly, the messiness of these relationships and navigating a blended family like this is what's interesting because I've read a lot of books that just stick to the CHEATING BAD theme and leave it at that. Now, I don't tolerate cheating between the MCs in any book, but I thought the idea of examining a MMC who has cheated in the past was different. And this is as messy as my description of it just now lol. It's not easy, and there's a lot of hurt feelings involved, but I liked that it acknowledged that these two characters, who are in their 40s and 50s, respectively, didn't live in a vacuum. Their pasts are part of who they are, they've ALL screwed up, some big, some smaller, but understanding the reasons for those mistakes gave the characters some depth and dimension.

I think my main complaint is that there's a huge story involving sexual assaults in sports and the coverup of those SAs, yet it's very peripheral and while it's an important topic, it felt extraneous, at best. Other than jumpstarting the contact between the MCs, it's a B plot at best. I appreciate the desire to explore issues like this, but as in all things, the execution still matters, and here it just falls flat for me. However, that may be because this book started its life as a serial, and pacing in a serial is different and the storyline beats always feel a little repetitive. There's the prerequisite detailed descriptions of decor and focusing on those details sometimes to distraction, but the family/found family scenes are the really good bits, as always.

Anyway, I know what I'm getting with KA and while this is not top tier, it's not bottom of the barrel either. I liked the bits I liked and I'd read the next one. ...more

6 likes · Like · see review

Oct 05, 2022 Michele ~ la Smoocherina rated it it was amazing

I just finished this book. Then I re-read the series in order and am now re-reading this book. KA did a phenomenal job of showing that one mistake does not define you. It’s how you handle your life after that mistake that does. I love a story of redemption. And if not for that mistake that Tom made years ago, we wouldn’t have all of these wonderful connections and blended families.

Kristen Ashley is my favorite writer for a lot of reasons. Not the least of which she never stops growing as a writ ...more

2 likes · Like · see review