Miss Match by Fiona Riley is an adorable romance with a lot of amazing chemistry, steamy sex scenes, and fun dialogue. I can’t believe it’s the author’s first book, even though she assured me on Twitter that it is.
Samantha Monteiro is a matchmaker with a secret: she might be great at helping other people find their perfect match, but her last relationship crashed and burned. Weary from the end of that debacle and sweeping it under the rug with some PR magic, she has to be talked into going to a wedding for one of her successful matches. Little does she know that she’s going to meet a beautiful, funny woman who can dance like she’s never seen before.
Lucinda Moss is at the wedding because the bride is the closest thing she has to a sister. She’s attracted to the stranger at her table, even though she’s pretty sure Samantha is straight. When Samantha asks for a favour with one of her clients, Lucinda agrees to help, so long as Samantha comes to a fundraiser with her.
Is it a date? Samantha doesn’t know for sure, but she knows one thing: she’s attracted to another woman for the first time in a long time.
The Characters
Lucinda is brilliant, but lonely. Very good at her job in marketing, she has recently been promoted to run her division. She’s also a former competitive dancer and teaches dance classes in the evenings at her own studio. Between the two jobs, her life is ordered but closed off, Lucinda having learned the hard way that letting people in only leads to pain and loss. There’s something about Samantha that she can’t resist, though, and her willingness to put herself out there is beautiful.
Samantha was burned by her cheating fiance and is still exhausted by the ordeal of burying the story. She has a talent for matching soulmates, but her breakup has taken some of the joy out of her calling. Despite having had a passionate relationship with another girl when she was younger, Samantha identifies as straight, and her developing attraction to Lucinda makes her rethink her attachment to that particular label.
There are some great side characters in Miss Match, especially Andrew, Samantha’s best friend and business partner. Given that a couple of the other men are such spectacular jerks, it’s great to have that balanced by Andrew’s caring and witty ways.
The Writing Style
If I had to describe this book in one word, it would be “cute.” That’s not even the half of it, but I was utterly charmed by the dialogue, particularly in scenes involving any combination of Samantha, Lucinda, and Andrew. From meet cute to happily ever after, the relationship between Lucinda and Samantha is a joy to read. As adorable as they are together, however, the romance is particularly satisfying because they have to grow so much individually to be able to trust in their happy ending.
There’s also more sex in Miss Match than you’d find in your average romance. That said, I’d still classify it as a spicy romance rather than erotica or erotic romance because the sex scenes, while varied and well worth reading, don’t drive the story or the relationship.
The Narration
About a year after reading Miss Match for the first time, I listened to the audio version. It was a great way to revisit the story and characters and I would happily listen to more books narrated by Melissa Sternenberg.
The Pros
Fantastic dialogue, characters that had me wrapped around their little fingers, great sex writing, and a happy ending that left me smiling.
The Cons
The sequel won’t be out until next year.
The Conclusion
Miss Match is a great read and I recommend it to any romance lovers looking for something on the sexier side. Whether you’re reading a text version or listening to the audio, this book is well worth your time.
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Excerpt from Miss Match by Fiona Riley
“Ha! You’re going to find me a perfect match, huh, Ms. Monteiro?”
“Well, I can always try.”Samantha pointed her chopstick at Lucinda before gambling on her next statement. “We have an extensive portfolio of lovely ladies looking for their mates.”
Lucinda choked on her tea, coughing into her hand while trying to gain composure. “Huh. People sometimes assume I’m straight. What gave me away?”
Samantha covered her giggle with her hand before adding, “I told you, I have an eye for detail. The way you always hold the door for me, the tone you use when speaking with women versus men. Also, I saw you checking out my ass in the reflection in the glass at your office.”
Now it was Lucinda’s turn to blush. She shrugged and looked up at chocolate eyes, “I told you it was a beautiful view.”
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Bits and Bobs
- ISBN number: 9781626395749
- Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
- Audiobook Publisher: Bold Strokes Books Inc
- Narrator: Melissa Sternenberg
Fiona Riley Online
Note: I received a free review copy of Miss Match by Fiona Riley for review. No money was exchanged for this review. I will always review books as honestly as possible and on occasion I refuse to review books.
