So this one is from my next HEAVEN’S MATCHMAKER book that is releasing on 4.7.25…
Blurb:
Third-generation matchmaker, Olivia Joyner, enjoys a 99% success rate when it comes to helping people find their happily ever afters. But her newest client is proving to be part of the 0.1 percent.
All the women Olivia have matched geriatrician Hunter Reinhart with have been perfect on paper. None of them, though, have resulted in a second request for a date, and all the women say the same thing: Hunter, although handsome and successful, is just…dull. And boring. And too reserved.
Olivia can’t understand it, because to her? Hunter is none of those things. In fact, he’s the exact opposite of dull, boring, and reserved. He’s a man she would consider worthy of marrying herself – if she was in the market for a spouse.
Which she isn’t.
Olivia needs to figure out why she can’t find Hunter Reinhart the perfect match, and it just may require her to do something she’s never done before: go on a “date” with a client.
Purely for research and educational purposes, that is.
He couldn’t have heard her correctly.
Date? The two of them? Like as in date-date? That made no sense.
She was his matchmaker. The person he’d hired to find him a wife, not be a- potential – one.
Before he could say anything, she added, “Not for real, I mean. That would be unethical and I’m certain would get me kicked out of the Matchmaker’s club.”
His brow creased. “There’s a Matchmaker’s club?”
Flipping a hand carelessly in the air, she rose, saying, “Professional ethics,” as if that explained anything. “I think we should go on a fake date or two.”
Hunter shook his head, still trying to get around the fact she wanted them to date.
Fake date? Just what the hell was that?
“Now,” she crossed to her desk and lifted her table, tapped it a few times, then brought it back to the couch, reading. “When you filled out the intake questionnaire for me you indicated you enjoyed winter sports, which is good since you live here and winter’s nine months of the year in a good year.” She grinned across to him. “But you also stated you’re open to trying new things as long as they don’t involve potentially hazardous outcomes.” She lifted her gaze again. “Give me a for instance.”
He blinked a few times. Was she seriously just leaving him hanging with no explanation about the two of them dating statement?
“What do you mean, fake date?”
Liv pulled her bottom lip under her top teeth, her gaze dropping down to her tablet for a moment before rising again and connecting with his. “It wouldn’t be a real date, not in the true sense of the word and the outcome. It would be more an educational experience, from a professional perspective. We’ll pretend to be on a date and you act like you would on a real one.”
“Why?”
“Why?”
“Yes, why, Olivia. Why would we go on a date, fake or real, for educational purposes, which, by the way, I can’t even imagine the meaning of?”
Her smile bloomed quick and bright for a moment he lost his train of thought.
“I see. Well, what I mean about educational purposes is that doing this will allow me to see and evaluate how you interact when you’re on a real date. Understand?”
He cocked his head. “Why do you need to…evaluate me? You said I wasn’t the problem.”
She took a breath and he wondered if she was trying to measure her words so they’d be diplomatic.
Who was he kidding? Of course she was.
PERFECT MATCH Liv and Hunter, Book 3 in Heaven’s Matchmaker is up for preorder right now, right here
This is just a reminder that MIX AND MATCH and LOVE MATCH, which are both sitting at 99 cents right now, will revert back to their $2.99 prices on Saturday, 9.7.24.
So, if you’ve been on the fence about reading them, now is the perfect time to download them. The price won’t change again until 2025, when book 3 is released.
This week my HEAVEN’S MATCHMAKER series ( 2 books so far) are both 99cents each. If you’ve read one but not the other, now’s the time to catch up. If you haven’t read either, now is REALLY the time to take advantage of the lower prices!!!
Both books are smalltown, friends to lovers, Closed-door romance books with characters 35+.
Divorced and lonely, nurse Jasmine Green retains the services of Heaven, NH’s very own successful matchmaker, Olivia Joyner. The bar scene and dating apps give Jasmine hives and Liv’s reputation is stellar. If anyone can help guide her through the quagmire that dating has become, Olivia can.
Architect Donovan Boyd is ready to settle down. He wants the kind of marriage his parents have; long lasting, filled with love, children, and joy. But even after a year of living and working in Heaven, he’s still considered an outsider by many. Finding the type of woman he’s looking for is hard in the tight-knit community. Retaining Olivia Joyner to help him find his forever love is one of the smartest things he’s done, especially after she sets him up with Jasmine Green.
But the red-haired, green-eyed beauty wants a different kind of marriage from the one Donovan considers ideal.
Can these two strong-willed people learn to compromise so they can both find their happily ever after? Or will their relationship forever be relegated to the friend zone?
Running away from a public scandal may be cowardly, but to Layla Warton, it’s her best option.
After her politically connected fiancé is indicted for a laundry list of crimes, Layla wants to put the public ridicule and shame of her guilty-by-association status behind her. Not easy to do when all her supposed friends and supporters lose her number and the taint of scandal-adjacent destroys the successful design business and life she’s built for herself.
Happy childhood memories and the blessing of a local friend push her toward the tiny New England town of Heaven where she spent summers with her loving grandparents. Hiding out in the town until the scandal dies down is the perfect plan.
With the paparazzi hot on her tail, an ancient family home she needs to get livable, and a contractor too hot for her sanity, Layla worries she’ll never be able to get her old life back.
Love Match has been out for a week now and the reviews are so wonderful I thought I’d give you another insight into the storyline.
Cody’s divorce hit him hard because he thought, erroneously, everything was fine with his marriage. He had no idea what was really going on with his wife, Cassidy. Once she left him, his entire life changed and with it, he lost some of his confidence and became a bit of a cynic. In this scene, he is talking with his mom and you can tell she is the person he can reveal his true self to without fear or worry.
“Shit. I knew something happened. Layla pulled a complete one-eighty by the time she came home.”
Sally’s eyebrow lifted. “And Cass was, obviously, the cause. Layla believes what she said.”
“How could she?” he cried. “It’s not true. I never sle—” he stopped short. It was one thing for your mother to suspect you had sex, quite another to talk about it, openly.
Sally sat next to him at the table and slid a hand on top of his fisted one. “I know you, Cody Angus Fonda. You’d never sleep with a woman just to gain an advantage. It’s not you. It’s simply not. Your head, not to mention your heart, would never let you do something so wrong.”
The tips of his ears felt like they were on fire.
“Apparently Layla doesn’t share your high opinion of me.”
Jane laid her head down on his lap, her eyes tracking his face. Absently, he petted her.
“Did you ever tell her you were interested in buying the house?” Sally asked.
After another gulp of coffee, Cody shook his head. “I kept meaning to. I should have from the very beginning. I know that.” He dragged a hand through his hair. “But after working on the house, spending time with her and then, well.” His mother didn’t need details about their sleeping together. “I was more focused on getting her to stay. I thought she was going to, I really did. But yesterday,” he shook his head, “she told me she’s considering leaving. That the house is too big for one person. Too much upkeep.”
“Did you tell her you wanted to buy it, then?”
“No.”
Sally tilted her head and regarded him for a long while with that all-knowing look inherent in every mother he’d ever known. She was so focused on him, in fact, he started to fidget.
“What?”
“You are one of the smartest men I have ever known, and every day I’m thankful you’re my son.”
“Okay, there’s a but screaming in that sentence, loud, clear, and terrifying.”
Sally reached over and ticked him on the head.
“Hey! OW!”
“Respect your mother, Cody.”
He shook his head, closed his eyes and mumbled something that he knew she couldn’t hear. Then, “What were you going to say?”
She took a breath. “For someone so smart you can be dense at times. Did it ever occur to you that Layla was hurt by what Cassidy said not because of the words but because of the truth that you didn’t tell her, up front, you wanted the house? I’ve got a feeling trust is hard for Layla, with her mother being the way she is, and everything that happened with the loser fiancé. How do you think she must have felt when Cassidy screamed the only reason you were with Layla was because you wanted her house when you never mentioned a thing to her.”
“I would have hoped she’d ask me directly, not just assume Cass was right. I thought she knew me better than that.”
Sally’s phone chimed just then and she tugged it out of her purse.
“Grandma,” she told him. “Hey, Ma. What’s up?”
Cody tuned her out, considering what she’d told him, instead. How many times had he berated himself for not telling Layla his feelings about the house? How many excuses had he given himself why he hadn’t shared his desire to buy it, fix it, flip it? And now look; his silence on the subject had caused her to pull away from him just when things were heating up between them. And now she was considering leaving town.
What a mess.
He had to figure out a way to get her to understand what he’d done, why he’d been silent, and get her to forgive him.
He needed to come clean, but how? She wasn’t exactly speaking to him and the texts had been so chilly his hand had gotten cold holding his phone when he read them. He supposed he could drive over to her house, take the chance she’d be home and – even more of a chance – she’d let him in.
Cody closed his eyes after finishing his coffee.
“Okay, well, wait until you hear this.” Sally disconnected the call. “It wasn’t only Cassidy who told Layla about you wanting the house. Gran did, too.”
“When?”
“She must have driven over to the Arms right after seeing Cass yesterday. Effie and mom were together, and she asked Effie if you’d ever approached her about selling the house.”
“I never have.”
Nodding, Sally said, “That’s what she told Layla. But then Gran told her about the times you mentioned how much you’d like the house and wished you could buy it so you could fix it and resell it for a profit.”
“Oh, Jesus.” He swiped his hands through his hair again. “No wonder she thinks I’m such a douchebag—”
“Language, young man.”
Cody’s face heated like he’d placed it in a hot oven. At forty years old he shouldn’t feel chastised like a toddler when his mother scolded him.
“This is a nightmare.”
He crossed his arms over his chest, shook his head, and cast his eyes downward.
After a few moments, Sally cleared her throat. “Can I ask you a question?”
He shrugged.
“Promise you won’t brush me off, but really answer it? Truthfully?”
“Okay, now I’m getting scared.”
Sally shifted and ran her hand across his forearm. “I know you better than you think I do, son. I gave birth to you, wiped your tears when you skinned your knees, watched you with pride when your sisters came along and you vowed to be their protectors. It’s been a pleasure and an honor to witness you grow into the amazing man you are today.”
“Still hearing that but.”
She squeezed his arm, then patted it, a small smile tugging at the corner so of her mouth. “I remember the day you told me and your dad you were gonna marry Cassidy. Even though we knew you were too young and had reservations about her, we never said anything, just supported you, loved you, and welcomed her into our family.”
Touched, Cody placed his own hand over the one she still had across his arm.
“I know, mom. And I love you both for it.”
“That’s what family is for.”
“So what’s your question?”
Her eyes, twins to his own in color and shape, ping-ponged between his. She tugged her lips inward and pressed down on them, then, after releasing them again, asked, “You’re in love with Layla, aren’t you?”
The full weight of emotions seeped through his voice when he responded, “More than I ever thought I could love a woman again.”
“Oh, baby.” Sally shifted and pulled him into a hug.
All the sadness, rejection, even the feelings of loss and disappointment he’d been holding in for over three years, pretending didn’t exist, leached from deep down in his soul. He buried his face in her neck as she simply held and rocked him like she had when he was a boy.
“I didn’t think I’d ever feel this way again,” he said against her shoulder. “But somehow, somewhere along the way, she kinda…snuck in.”
“That’s how love works,” Sally said. “When you least expect to find it, wham, there it is.”
I’m currently editing my next HEAVEN’S MATCHMAKER, LOVE MATCH, book 2 in the series. I don’t have a release date yet, but here’s a little taste of what’s to come.
“Let’s go grab lunch,” he said after a moment. “We can discuss it, iron out all the details over a burger or a sandwich.”
She blinked several times, hearing his voice, but the words made no sense. “What?”
“Lunch? You know? That meal between breakfast and dinner?”
She gaped up at him, her toes starting to tingle when he grinned down at her.
“I’m assuming you’re done visiting for today?”
She nodded.
He returned the motion. “And I just finished visiting with mine. I’m hungry and I have a long afternoon ahead of me, so why don’t we head into town, grab something to eat and we can go over what it is you want me to do? Sound good?”
It took her a few moments of internal debate before she finally said, “I could eat.”
Can you stand another first draft, unedited look at LOVE MATCH ( HEaven’s Matchmaker, book 2)?
Hee hee.
here ya go…
Her skin was warm under his touch and he could sense the slight thrum of her pulse against his fingers. Was it his imagination, or did it speed up a bit while she sat there, just staring at him?
“Hey, you two. This is a surprise.”
Layla’s rapid blinking pulled him out of a vision of taking her hand, bringing it to his lips, and nibbling on her fingers, one by one.
“Liv.” He glanced up at his cousin, gingerly slipped his hand off Layla’s wrist, then nodded. “What brings you out on this cold day.”
Her eyes tracked his motion. “I’m meeting someone for lunch.”
Then she smiled at him and slid her eyes to Layla.
“How are you doing?”
He let the two of them chat for a moment, observing that his cousin’s eyes flicked from him to Layla several times, her expression thoughtful.
Oh, no, cousin, forget whatever your little matchmaking mind is conjuring.
He could hear the gears turning and squeaking in her brain. She wanted so badly to fix him up with one of her eligible and marriage-seeking clients. She couldn’t believe he was actually happy in his divorced/single state, dating as much as he wanted, hooking up when he could. For Liv, everyone had a someone and she thought it was her mission in life to make sure all in her sphere found their person.
Not gonna happen.
He’d already found his person. Unfortunately, after a while, she hadn’t felt the same. End of story.
“What do you think, Cody?”
He pulled out of musings to find two pairs of eyes focused on him.
“Sorry, what? Thinking of fifty things at once up here.” He pointed to himself.
“I asked,” Liv said, drawing out the word, “If you thought you’d have Layla’s place ready by Christmas?”
He turned his attention to the woman across the table. “I don’t know since we haven’t had a chance to talk about what she wants done yet.”
“We were just about to discuss it,” Layla told Olivia.
“Oh, well, don’t let me stop you. I see my client, anyway.” She lifted a hand and waved to someone.
Almost immediately they were joined by a familiar face.
“Hey, doc,” Cody, stood and shook the man’s hand. “How’s the new addition?
“Perfect,” Hunter Reinhart told him. “Having a home office is so much more convenient. Thanks for all your help and the great work.”
“Glad it panned it.”
Hunter zeroed in on Layla.
Liv made the introductions while Cody sat back down. For some reason, he didn’t like the way the man was staring so intently at Layla.
“Nice to meet you,” Hunter said.
“Likewise.”
“Layla and I are old friends,” Liv told him.
“Are you in town visiting?” Hunter asked.
“For a while, at least. I’m seeing to my grandmother’s house.”
“Effie Mason,” Liv offered.
Hunter’s smile grew. “Effie’s one of my favorite patients. Always smiling, always in a good mood. She’s a doll.”
When Layla returned the smile, Cody’s back shot straight. She’d never smiled like that at him. He rolled his eyes internally at how juvenile he sounded.
“Thank you for saying that,” Layla said. “I think so, too.”
“Everyone loves your grandmother,” Cody said.
Hunter nodded, never looking at him, but keeping his eyes focused on Layla. “It was a shame she couldn’t go back to her home after she broke her hip, but it really was just too dangerous for her to live alone.”
“She loves the Arms, so at least she’s happy there.”
He nodded. “Well, I expect I’ll be seeing you when you visit. I make rounds two to three times a week on all my patients there, both in assisted living and higher care.”
“I’ll look forward to it.”
Cody wanted to gag. How many times could the guy insinuate his profession into the conversation?
Okay, you’re a doctor. We all get it.
“Well, enjoy your lunch, you two.” Liv took Hunter’s arm and, thankfully, guided him toward a table on the opposite side of the room.
It didn’t get past Cody the man glanced over his shoulder a few times, his attention on Layla.
“Are Liv and him…?” Layla asked, leaving the question dangling.
“No. He’s one of her clients.”
Her brows shot up. “Clients?” She turned to look at them. “I wouldn’t think someone like him would need a matchmaker.”
The hairs on his neck stood at attention. “Someone like him?”
She shrugged and took another sip of her drink. “He’s a doctor.”
He nodded.
“So. Successful, probably has money, and is good-looking. Seems like he wouldn’t have any trouble finding someone to marry him.”
Cody’s eyes slatted. “You in the market? I’m sure Liv would set you two up if you asked.”
The sarcasm and anger in his tone drifted right over her. Instead, she shuddered, knocking him back a few paces.
“No thanks. I’m not looking to get married. Or even be in a relationship. Not now, anyway. Maybe never.” Her face went crimson again as her gaze dropped to the table.
So today’s Tuesday tease is a little different. I’m not going to intrigue you with a little snippet of an upcoming book. Rather, I’m going to try and whet your reading appetite by showing you my covers for my upcoming additions to the HEAVEN’S MATCHMAKER series that will be released in 2024.
Intrigued yet? LOL
You’ve already been introduced to MIX AND MATCH, Jasmine and Donovan’s story.
Next in line is Layla and Cody’s love story, LOVE MATCH
Then, book 3, PERFECT MATCH, featuring Olivia and Hunter.
Book 4 features Charity and Kolby from Dearly Beloved fame, YOU’RE MY MATCH
When you see them all lined up they look so pretty!
And if you haven’t clued into it yet, the covers are all seasonal. Book 1 was released in the fall, book 2 will be a Valentine’s Day release ( here’s hoping!) book 3 summer 2023, and hopefully book 4 late fall 2023.
I have my work cut out for me. The books are plotted ( you know me!!!). I just need to put my butt in the chair and type them all up.
The countdown is starting!!! In just 7 days, SABLE ( ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID) releases into the romance reading world. This pediatrician is sick and tired of always being a bridesmaid. She’s determined that the next wedding she attends will be her own.
Pediatrician Sable Miller is sick and tired of being the go-to, dependable bridesmaid in all her family and friends’ weddings. But her demanding job, the ridiculous hours, and endless family commitments keep her from finding the perfect man. A matchmaking service? Sounds like too much work. Swipe right dating? Not her thing. The bar scene? When was the last time she even had an evening free to go to a bar?
And forget about dating the myriad of on-the-make doctors and residents in her hospital. Besides, workplace romances never work out.
Sable’s options to meet the man of her dreams and start a family are dwindling and time is running out, because she promised herself the next wedding she would attend would be her own.
Kristopher Lee, the Physician’s Assistant assigned to Sable has a crush on his new mentor. But she’s got a hands-off rule when it comes to dating someone she works with. Kris is nothing if not persistent, though. After all, he didn’t survive three tours in the Army without focusing on a goal. And making Sable Miller fall in love with him is his best goal yet.
Did you preorder your copy yet? I’m still running a little giveaway if you haven’t – the rules are in the graphic below. Click on this link to my FB page. Preorder, let me know, and you’ll be in the running to win a $10.00 amazon gift card. I’m giving away 5 on the day Sable releases!
I’m excited to announce that from today until May 5, CHANCE ( LAST MAN STANDING) will be FREE on AMAZON to whet your appetite for the May 17th release of SABLE ( ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID) If you didn’t read it when it was originally released, get it now for free!
Chance Miller, divorce lawyer extraordinaire, knows the whole happily ever after dream is an urban myth. He deals with miserable and wedded warring couples every day and swears staying single keeps him sane and happy. His friends and family consider him the last single man standing and fear he’ll never find someone and settle down. But Chance relishes his carefree status and unencumbered lifestyle and has no plans to change anything.
If only his relatives would stop trying to set him up with their version of the perfect woman.
Fredrika Poole already experienced her one great love, and the widow can’t read any future romance in her tea leaves. She’s content to bake, run her business, and care for her daughter.
When Chance meets Freddie and discovers her marriage thoughts run on the same road his do, he realizes she’s the answer to his prayer for keeping the relatives at bay. But the pixie barista has a way of making Chance question everything he’s always thought about love, marriage, and wedded bliss.
Will his last man standing status go unchallenged? Or will Freddie be the one woman he wants…but can never have?
And if you like CHANCE and want to read his sister, SABLE’s, story, I’m having a giveaway if you preorder and let me know you have done so. I’m giving away $10.00 Amazon GCs to 5 people who’ve preordered before the release day of May 17th. Rules are in the following graphic!
Last year I was part of a multi-author series titled LAST MAN STANDING. 14 men who were determined never to walk down the aisle, jump the broom, wear the ball and chain.
In essence, that guy who vows never to get married.
The authors took those 14 men and gave them the perfect mate, then watched as each and every one of them fell in love and changed their mind…and their lives.
This year, those same authors have joined together to bring you the ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID series, 13 gals looking for the one.
My addition to this series isSABLE – Book 12. She’s Chance’s sister, whom we met in last year’s book. Sable is a pediatrician, and she’s sick and tired of being the go-to, dependable bridesmaid in all her family and friends’ weddings. But her demanding job, the ridiculous hours, and endless family commitments keep her from finding the perfect man. A matchmaking service? Sounds like too much work. Swipe right dating? Not her thing. The bar scene? When was the last time she even had an evening free to go to a bar?
And forget about dating the myriad of on-the-make doctors and residents in her hospital. Besides, workplace romances never work out.
Sable’s options to meet the man of her dreams and start a family are dwindling and time is running out, because she promised herself the next wedding she would attend would be her own.
Kristopher Lee, the Physician’s Assistant assigned to Sable has a crush on his new mentor. But she’s got a hands-off rule when it comes to dating someone she works with. Kris is nothing if not persistent, though. After all, he didn’t survive three tours in the Army without focusing on a goal. And making Sable Miller fall in love with him is his best goal yet.
SABLE releases on May 17th and you can preorder her story, here: BOOK 12
And here’s a little giftaway from me if you do preorder. Check out the rules in the graphic below – and if you comment here, below in the comment section, and send me your email addy, you’re entered!
Peggy Jaeger, Author 