Title:  A Matchmaker’s Christmas
Series:
Author:  Donna Lea Simpson
Genre:  Historical Romance, Christmas
Published:  December 17, 2014
Source:  NetGalley

Story Blurb:

Twenty years ago, Beatrice Copland committed a reckless and foolish act of deceit that she’s certain ruined the life of a man she’d fallen in love with and led to his wife’s death. Now serving as companion to the stern Lady Bournaud, she leads a quiet life and attends to her duties as a kind of penance. But Lady Bournaud, trying to make amends for her own selfish ways, is opening her country estate to a few select guests for the holidays—including the man Beatrice wronged so many years ago.

Sir David Chappell spent nearly two decades coming to terms with the haunting memory of his wife’s death. When he receives an invitation to Lady Bournaud’s for the Christmas season, he’s reluctant to go at first, but he’s sure the time away in Yorkshire will be a welcome change from London. Once there, he’s immediately captivated by the youthful beauty and genuine compassion of the lady’s companion, Beatrice Copland—all the while sensing that he’s met her before.

Even as David pursues her and Beatrice realizes she’s still powerfully attracted to the man, she must gently rebuff his advances for fear that her damning secret will come to light and reopen his old wounds. And while Lady Bournaud watches, happily scheming to make matches for all her guests, it may take more than a Christmas miracle for David to free Beatrice’s conscience, and her heart, at last.

Read on for my thoughts on A Matchmaker’s Christmas.  No true spoilers, promise.

Guilt is a horrible creature.  it eats one alive from the inside out until nothing in the world one does can make up for the past.  Nothing.

Beatrice has spent the past twenty years or so trying to atone for her mistake.  She has left the romance and marriage mart for others to enjoy and now gives of herself in service to an old curmudgeon as a tireless companion.  Lady Bournaud hasn’t lived a selfless life and now in her final years she feels the need to try to make amends by playing matchmaker to three couples – whether they desire her “help” or not.  Her solution?  A grand Christmas party with enough time allowed for love to blossom and grow strong.

It has been over twenty years now since Sir David Chappel’s wife died.  A long time to finally accept and if not live happily, at least move onwards.  He is not at all certain that attending Lady Bournaud’s Christmas house party is the answer to his melancholy, but what can it hurt to attend.  At least he would be away from London for the holiday season.

Beatrice and David are about to come face to face for the first time in decades.  David feels he somehow knows the charming companion but cannot fathom how – Beatrice discovers that love never dies and knows that she must stay far away from the man who’s life she changed forever.

Somehow Lady Bournaud must get these two to realize that the past is past and their future together is the right choice for them.  As well as guide two other couples together throughout their rocky romances.  Her work is quite cut out for her – and she is in a matchmaker’s heaven, even if it might just take a Christmas miracle to pull this off.

As I mentioned earlier, guilt is a horrible creature.  Watching David and Beatrice’s slow waltz toward each other just brings this fact to the forefront.

I really enjoyed watching Lady Bournaud’s schemes take place.  She might have been selfish in her youth, but she pulls out all the stops in her wise older years.  This is a Christmas miracle love story, for all of our couples.  To watch them find their way to each other was a treat.  Of course, love triumphs over all in the end – it’s a Christmas love story, you expected something else?  *gentle smile*

I will gladly add A Matchmaker’s Christmas to my collection of Christmas stories to enjoy year after year.  I would give it a solid 4 outta 5 rating.  I know the season is past right now – but true love never goes out of fashion.  Enjoy this one, it’s worth it.

*I received an e-ARC of A Matchmaker’s Christmas from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*