There are certain authors that you know are good for satisfying a genre itch when you are in a certain craving mood. For me, when I get to craving small town romances, the author I know I can immediately turn to for a superb read with an interesting main plot, engaging subplots and unique characterization is Kristan Higgins. Recently, I was feeling out of sorts when it came to reading and I just could not take another young adult book even though I love YA, I was frustrated. So, I thought, hmmm why not turn to an author I LOVE and read her book, The Perfect Match that is sitting on your Kindle and Netgalley queue and knock out two birds with one stone. My friends, I am so glad I made that life choice because Higgins totally satisfied the reading restlessness itch.
Honor Holland basically runs her family’s winery. She is the responsible sister. Things in her life are finally starting to fall into place. She even is positive that her lifelong hook up on the downlow will decide that he loves her and will propose. So, Honor heads over to his house wearing nothing but her trench coat and dignity only to find his parents there, and even WORSE to discover that he is engaged to her best friend. Isn’t that just THE WORST? Poor Honor. She’s got these eggs that are just tick-tick-ticking inside her. Meanwhile, Tom Barlow is in America on a work visa from a college. He’s also serving as a surrogate father figure to Charlie, the son of his ex-fiance who happens to be dead. Anyways, Tom shows up in Mannigsport and well, Honor and Tom scheme and decide to enter into a modern day marriage of convenience.
Oh, Honor, I feel you girl. As a 26 year old with friends who are popping children out right and left, I feel like my biological clock is ticking too. Granted, Honor is like 30 something. Still. I get it. Anyways. She’s a hard working woman who does not take crap from anyone. She’s organized. She knows exactly what she wants and usually goes for it, except when it comes to men. She really is like her name, an honorable person. Also, I totally laughed out loud at a lot of her scenes. OH and she is flawless to me because she has this purse dog that instead of being dumb is a rescue dog who legitimately loves Honor and who Honor legitimately loves back. And you guys, her loyalty to her pet has her rated as A+ in my good opinion.
As for Tom Barlow, whoo-hoo a character that I don’t feel all pervy for finding worthy of my swoons. You guys, he is a college professor who teaches engineering. Hello, STEM, you look good. He also has an English accent, because he is from England. And he’s a boxer. And he has a tattoo. And he has paternal instincts. And okay, sometimes he is very closed off, but still, I loved him and his scenes. And he totally is the perfect ship with Honor.
The love scenes in The Perfect Match by Kristan Higgins are not at all explicit. In fact, I thought they were relatively tame. I liked how the romance between Honor and Tom develops. It’s slow and steady and there’s some excitement because even though you totally know they end up together, there’s like conflict and drama. Oh and the two definitely have chemistry. I loved seeing Honor and Tom interact and fall for each other. OH and bonus, Faith and Levi show up as well as many of your favorite characters from The Best Man. Now, I just want Harlequin to hurry up and release Waiting On You, the next book set in Manningsport, NY. FYI, if you get the chance, check out the Finger Lakes region, I was totally just there for a work training. Loved it!
Disclosure: Review copy provided by publisher
Other reviews of The Perfect Match by Kristan Higgins:
Cocktails And Books – “Cheers, Higgins, you’ve done it again!”
Books By Kristan Higgins:
The Next Best Thing
The Best Man
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Wait, this book is set in the Finger Lakes Region?? I can never resist books set sort of close to where I live! Plus Honor is a totally awesome dog lover! I seriously need to read this book. It sounds like I might just have a lot in common with Honor.
Plus, throw in a cute English dude – yep, I’m interested.
I was with you until I got to the part where her name is Honor. *groans* What’s wrong with normal names?
Anyway, I added The Best Man to my list after you raved, so this will happen if I love that one, but, yeah, I’m just so sick of characters never being named things I’ve not encountered in real life.
For me, Kristan Higgins is pretty hit and miss but I liked the perfect match, a bit more than the best man actually.
This book sounds solidly adorable! I haven’t read many marriage of convenience stories, but this one sounds really cute. I’m a sucker for good romances, and since this one fits the bill, I’ll have to check it out!