Christian Fiction Devourers discussion

Our book of the month for June is A Match in the Making by Jen Turano.

Miss Gwendolyn Brinley accepted a temporary paid companion position for the Newport summer season, believing it would be a lark to spend the summer in America's most exclusive town. She suddenly finds her summer turning anything but amusing when her employer expects her to take over responsibilities as an assistant matchmaker. Tasked with the daunting prospect of attaining advantageous matches for her clients, Gwendolyn soon finds herself in the employ of Mr. Walter Townsend, the catch of the Season, but a gentleman Gwendolyn finds beyond irritating.

Walter Townsend is reluctantly in search of a wife for the sake of his unruly motherless children who cannot keep a governess for long. What he wasn't expecting was Miss Brinley, an amateur matchmaker who turns his quest for a new wife into a complete and utter debacle. Constantly besieged by society ladies on a mission to win his affection, Walter must find a way to overcome their inundating attention--and his unexpected attraction toward Gwendolyn.

The more time they spend together throughout the Newport Season, the harder it is for Gwendolyn to find Walter a wife when she realizes his perfect match might be . . . her.



Who's in for this one?

I am planning to read it! I own the paperback. It is a really pretty cover.

Katrina wrote: "I am planning to read it! I own the paperback. It is a really pretty cover."

Isn't it?! I have a physical copy as well. And it's set in Rhode Island which is a rare find. That's good for those participating in the state challenge.

I am currently reading this book. Mine is a library copy and has a totally different cover which I just love:



I'll join in the discussion!

Loraine wrote: "I am currently reading this book. Mine is a library copy and has a totally different cover which I just love:



I'll join in the discussion!"

Interesting! I haven't come across that version of the cover. Glad to have you join Loraine.

Staci wrote: "Loraine wrote: "I am currently reading this book. Mine is a library copy and has a totally different cover which I just love:



I'll join in the discussio..."

It is listed on Goodreads as a library hardback copy!

I started reading this one a few days ago, and am enjoying it so far.

I am reading this right now and I just checked the chat in here and was delighted that it is the book of the month.

I'm still figuring out Goodreads and how the chats work. I'd love to chat about the book though.

I have hung out with Jen Turano. She's as amazing in real life as her books are. And she has the best "Big curly hair." This week she was doing live chats on her Instagram from inside her tiny shed studio. It's pretty fun to see how she works.

the discussion should start any day now, Cara! glad to have you join us!

Welcome Cara! Welcome all!

It's time to begin discussing our book of the month. Did you enjoy the book? What did you think about the matchmaker role in 1888? Anything about the setting of Newport, Rhode Island that appealed to you? Other thoughts to share?

Just finished this one. It was really cute.
I can’t even imagine choosing your spouse strictly on social and financial status. How miserable that could end up being.

Lynnette Cantrell wrote: "Just finished this one. It was really cute.
I can’t even imagine choosing your spouse strictly on social and financial status. How miserable that could end up being."
I agree, Lynnette. To us in society now (and I don't mean the American aristocracy kind of society!), the concept of marrying for anything outside of a loving relationship seems absurd. But, especially the way Gwendolyn seemed to analyse those she was matchmaking, I wonder if sometimes having a friend set you up with someone might be a good kind of thing?
I personally loved that Gwendolyn took her cues from her parents' relationship . . . she knew she wanted more than what other 'debutantes' wanted . . . wanted that loving, caring, friendship-based relationship.
I'm really looking forward to Adelaide's story next!

Kate wrote: "Lynnette Cantrell wrote: "Just finished this one. It was really cute.
I can’t even imagine choosing your spouse strictly on social and financial status. How miserable that could end up being."
I a..."

Your comment about a friend setting you up brought a grin to my face. When I was in college, my roommate was dating a fellow in the Navy. He had a friend who wanted a date, so I agreed to go even though I didn't like the idea of a blind date. Well the end of the story is we got married and will celebrate 55 years of marriage on July 2nd. So you just never know how you will meet your perfect mate!

That's lovely, Loraine! I think it's just witness that God will bring us to the right person . . . sometimes in quite unexpected ways!

Kate wrote: "Lynnette Cantrell wrote: "Just finished this one. It was really cute.
I can’t even imagine choosing your spouse strictly on social and financial status. How miserable that could end up being."
I a..."

I do agree with the friend part. Sometimes they have way more insight than we do ourselves.

Loraine wrote: "Kate wrote: "Lynnette Cantrell wrote: "Just finished this one. It was really cute.
I can’t even imagine choosing your spouse strictly on social and financial status. How miserable that could end u..."


Loraine, I love your love story!!

Well I read the wrong book for the book of the month. That’s ok, this is now pending for me to borrow from the library so I’ll read when it’s available.

I always like how fast-moving and sassy the banter in her books are. And even forthright. Like how the heroine reacts when the hoity-toity lady was going to spill her red drink on her friend.

Also, I don't know if you noticed, but Jen Turano has a video posted on her Instagram posts that is talking about her editing process when she was working on book three of this series. She's adorable and I'm a sucker for background details.


(And tips. Love learning from her. My editing process is different than hers. But I just turned in book three which will come out in September. Squuueee.)

If someone can point me in the right direction for next month's book of the month choice, I would appreciate it. I'm still a newbie to this part of goodreads.

Thanks for dropping in and sharing your thoughts Cara! Super excited to hear your third in the series will release in September!!

Here's a link to the thread with July's books:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

They are:


Hope you can join for one or both.

I love Jen's sassy heroines. I saw her video but haven't watched it yet. It's great to get back stories. One of my favorites in this space is Becky Wade's behind the scenes on her cover shoots.

Welcome to CFD Cara! We are glad to have you.

Oops. I actually read this in May, but I really enjoyed it!

I found it really interesting that one of the plot points was that somehow men didn't realize that there was such a thing as matchmakers. Then when they figured it out, they wanted to use it to streamline the whole marriage business - as if it was just another distraction to what really matters so let's hire someone else to take care of it!

I personally loved that Gwendolyn took her cues from her parents' relationship . . . she knew she wanted more than what other 'debutantes' wanted . . . wanted that loving, caring, friendship-based relationship

Definitely agree with you here, Kate! I also loved the fact that she was her own person. If she thought something was silly, she wouldn't participate in the foolishness. She just had an all around, great head on her shoulders.

Sometimes the hardest part about reading a book upon release is that you want to read the next book and have to wait.. eagerly anticipating Adelaide's story. She is definitely an original!

I agree, Amber! December? (or is it November) can't come soon enough! Adelaide was definitely one of my favourite side characters!

I am still listening to the audiobook. I live about an hour from Newport, so hearing about Cliffwalk and the beaches was interesting for me. I've never toured the mansions in Newport though. One of these years I will.

I think success in marriage happens when both spouses are willing to serve each other and be truly committed to loving unselfishly. A marriage arrangement where both parties are trying to just get what they want seems risky. Marrying for money and position is a foreign concept for me.

Adelaide's character is so great. I love that she just refuses to take herself too seriously.

I just finished this book and I loved it! I love that Miss Brinley’s character was strong and able to stand her ground when others let their arrogance and societal position influence their treatment of her. I love that she held love as the most important ingredient for a marriage and not just the advantage to be gained.

Amber wrote: "Oops. I actually read this in May, but I really enjoyed it!

I found it really interesting that one of the plot points was that somehow men didn't realize that there was such a thing as matchmaker..."

Great comments Amber! Glad to have you.

Kate wrote: "I agree, Amber! December? (or is it November) can't come soon enough! Adelaide was definitely one of my favourite side characters!"

Yes! And the cover is lovely.

Jan wrote: "I am still listening to the audiobook. I live about an hour from Newport, so hearing about Cliffwalk and the beaches was interesting for me. I've never toured the mansions in Newport though. One of..."

I bet this would be a fun read via Audiobook. How cool that you are familiar with the area. I would love to visit Rhode Island one day.

Karen wrote: "I just finished this book and I loved it! I love that Miss Brinley’s character was strong and able to stand her ground when others let their arrogance and societal position influence their treatmen..."

Well said Karen!

I just finished today! The ending was more exciting than I anticipated. I am thinking we'll see/learn more of Gideon in the series. And Adelaide too, I suspect.

I loved how i knew what was going to happen, but I still greatly enjoyed reading about how it happened!

I just finished this book today. I loved it! Gwendolyn was a great character. I think my favourite parts were with the children in the story and how she related with them. It made it obvious to me who the best mother for the children would be, but I am glad she also wanted love, like her parents marriage. I am excited there will be more books in the series!