A Very Merry Match: Includes a Bonus Novella

Melinda Curtis

Sep 2020 · Sold by Forever

About this ebook

The holidays are served up with some spice in this small-town romance featuring a woman who must maintain a secret identity and the man who begins falling for her.
This Christmas, all Mayor Kevin Hadley wants is to give his five-year-old son whatever his heart desires. Only Tad has fallen head over holly for his pretty, sweet-as-sugarplum teacher. When attraction sparks between Kevin and Mary Margaret, the single dad thinks she may be the answer to his and his son's dreams. But after Mary Margaret reluctantly turns him down, Kevin decides it's time to embark on a new campaign -- one for Mary Margaret's heart.
Mary Margaret Sneed usually spends her holiday baking and caroling with her students. Yet this year, she's swapped shortbread and sleigh bells for a second job to pay off her late husband's debts. Mary Margaret would love to go tree trimming with Kevin and his son, but she won't risk his political future with her controversial side gig. Only the town's meddling matchmakers have determined there's nothing a little mistletoe can't fix . . . and if the Widows Club has their way, Mary Margaret and Kevin may just get the best Christmas gift of all this year.
Includes a bonus novella by Hope Ramsay!

Ratings and reviews

We are back in Sunshine Valley, this time during the holiday season and once again with the older ladies of the Widows Club, as well as the young widows of the town. This story belongs to widowed kindergarten teacher Mary Margaret Sneed’s and divorced Mayor Kevin Hadley’s story. Mary Margaret’s husband left her with debts she has been paying slowing. Thinking she’s almost clear of all the debts, a $100,000 gambling debt is presented to her by two less than stellar individuals. Desperate times require desperate actions and she secretly begins working in the Hanky Panky as a dancer. If the school board finds out, she could be fired. Meanwhile Kevin has aspirations for higher office . But his son’s teacher, Mary Margaret , intrigues him as did “Roxy” the masked dancer at the club he recently visited. Add to the mix a vengeful ex, a project that has divided the town , and a political future, and have an entertaining story. I have to confess that at times it dragged and I wasn’t too impressed with Kevin’s original comments about kissing Mary Margaret. Still, it was engaging and a reminder that our childhood does in fact affect the adult individual. Scars, whether physical or emotionally , are real. I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley and Forever. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

I'm kind of torn over this book. While I think it had plenty of potential, it just wasn't a winner for me. I did really like Mary Margaret. She came across as relatable and genuine and I could really feel for her. Kevin on the other hand, was a much different story and I simply can't say that I was a fan and that was a huge problem for this book because I thought Mary Margaret deserved more and better than him. In general, there is actually quite a lot going on in this book. So I was honestly surprised when things got that bogged down feeling. Not all the time but definitely in a few spots. The small town charm and holiday cheer were nice elements though but not nice enough to salvage this pair's romance for me. This is my objective, freely posted review.

I can't say that this was one of my favorite Melinda Curtis books but I still enjoyed visiting Sunshine Valley again! I enjoy the quirky characters and the way that the matchmaking widows are in everybody's business! They are super funny and this time Edith is part of the plot at it's her granddaughter, Mary Margaret, that's the main character. I just didn't feel that MM and the other main character, Kevin, were the best match. He's a little wishy washy in my book and wasn't the best "hero" material. I felt Mary Margaret could have done better! After all, her first husband was a total jerk. When he died, he left her with a mountain of debt (which he totally chose to do!) so even though she's a teacher, she has to find different ways to make money to try to pay it off and it's killing her! Kevin is a local politician looking for state politics and he thinks MM can help him get there. That's not very romantic! However, they just don't have chemistry in my book. But, I loved Kevin's son, Tad. He was adorable! Kevin's ex, Barb, however, was another story - a total witch!!!! An fairly good book to add to the series but I wasn't really invested in it. The characters needed more chemistry.

About the author

Melinda Curtis is the USA Today bestselling author of light-hearted contemporary romance. In addition to her Sunshine Valley series from Forever Romance, she's published independently and with Harlequin Heartwarming, including her book Dandelion Wishes, which was made into a TV move entitled Love in Harmony Valley. She lives in Oregon's lush Willamette Valley with her husband -- her basketball-playing college sweetheart. While raising three kids, the couple did the soccer thing, the karate thing, the dance thing, the Little League thing and, of course, the basketball thing. Now when Melinda isn't writing and Mr. Curtis isn't watching college basketball, they do the DIY thing.