Miss Adeline's Match - Review

Miss Adeline's Match

By: Joanna Barker

Publication: April 1st 2019 by Covenant Communications

263 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

Source: Personal Kindle Library (birthday present)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Miss Adeline Hayes is the perfect lady's companion: pleasant, conversational, and unceasingly proper. But when her closest friend, Charity Edgeworth, breaks off her arranged marriage without explanation, even Adeline's superior skills are put to the test. Charity's father banishes the two young women to the country, sending Adeline with a charge to find Charity a husband or suffer dire consequences.

As Adeline takes on the role of reluctant matchmaker, she discovers more than one obstacle in her path. Not only does Charity prefer escaping in books to socializing, but Adeline soon finds her own attentions distracted by the standoffish—and irritatingly handsome—Mr. Evan Whitfield. Amidst an eventful foxhunt and the unexpected arrival of Charity's former betrothed, Adeline simply doesn't have time for a battle of wits with Evan. But the two are continually drawn together until Adeline begins to question her tightly guarded convictions about love and marriage.

However, when secrets are revealed and truths made known, Adeline must face her most fearsome obstacle yet: herself.

Let's get past the cover, shall we? Adeline is a gentleman's daughter. But her father, a physician, has begun to suffer from what we can assume to be Alzheimer's disease which wasn't understood back then. Her mother left once her way of life could no longer be maintained, and Adeline and her older sister, Cordelia, have been struggling under the financial burden of medical expenses ever since. Thankfully, Adeline earns some money as a lady's companion for her best friend, Charity. But recently, Charity's life and Adeline's has gotten more complicated. Charity suddenly called off her engagement to George Henley and won't even tell Adeline why. Rumors are beginning to spread, and Charity's father sends the two women to his sister's house, Mrs. Beckett, for a country house party.

The twist comes in that Charity's father tells Adeline that she is in charge of seeing Charity successfully married or her family, already behind on their rent to him, will be evicted. Adeline knows that she won't steer Charity toward any man unworthy of her despite the risks to her own family, but she does embark on a journey of trying to help Charity move past her heartbreak and on with her life. If that means seeing her married to a worthy man then so be it. She begins plotting immediately upon their arrival. And there's really only one candidate despite there being two eligible men in the group.

Evan picks up on Adeline's manipulation immediately although he doesn't know her motivations, he writes her off as all of the other society girls from London that he's come to despise. His opinion of Adeline begins to change as he witnesses her help a starving young boy who tries to poach on the Beckett's property. Adeline doesn't turn him in, instead, she goes above and beyond to help young Peter. Evan begins to realize that he's likely judged her prematurely. And his admiration for her begins to grow.

A wrench is thrown into Adeline's matchmaking when George Henley shows up at the Beckett's house in an attempt to find out why Charity suddenly called off their engagement. His adamant refusal to give up and sulk away without fighting for Charity is telling about his true feelings. Ultimately, he agrees to be gone for good if Adeline will deliver a letter to Charity for him. Yet Adeline doesn't keep her promise.

When secrets come to light, Adeline must live with the decisions she's made in meddling with Charity's life, and Evan wonders if she is no better than the society women he despises after all.

Favorite quotes:

-“Happiness does not equal perfection,” Mrs. Beckett said softly. “And neither do you need to be perfect to achieve happiness. There will always be difficulties in life, and we will always make mistakes. But happiness is what makes life worthwhile, what makes it bearable. We must find joy in the everyday things.”

-I considered that for a long moment before sighing. “I wish I had your positivity.” “It is not something that comes naturally to me, I assure you,” she said with a wistful smile. “It is a decision I must make every day, though it is one I have never regretted making.”

Miss Adeline's Match was just what I needed. I was hooked on the characters and wanted good things for all of them. I read this in 24 hours which is always a bonus for me. Miss Adeline's Match gets 4 Stars. Have you read Miss Adeline's Match? What did you think? Let me know!