What do you think?
Rate this book
Return Match
Saul Bradford believed that Lucy Martin bore him a grudge for turning her out of her father's house -- she was well aware of that. Yet how could she resent him when she had helped to make him so unhappy in the past? She only wanted to atone for her bad behaviour by making him welcome to the manor, and by shielding him from her cousin Neville's sarcastic tongue. But Saul wasn't inclined to accept her protection … he made it perfectly clear that wasn't what he wanted at all!
190 pages, Paperback
First published October 10, 1986
9 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
About the author
Penny Jordan
1,131 books672 followersPenelope Jones Halsall
aka Caroline Courtney, Annie Groves, Lydia Hitchcock, Melinda Wright
Penelope "Penny" Jones was born on November 24, 1946 at about seven pounds in a nursing home in Preston, Lancashire, England. She was the first child of Anthony Winn Jones, an engineer, who died at 85, and his wife Margaret Louise Groves Jones. She has a brother, Anthony, and a sister, Prudence "Pru".
She had been a keen reader from the childhood - her mother used to leave her in the children's section of their local library whilst she changed her father's library books. She was a storyteller long before she began to write romantic fiction. At the age of eight, she was creating serialized bedtime stories, featuring make-believe adventures, for her younger sister Prue, who was always the heroine. At eleven, she fell in love with Mills & Boon, and with their heroes. In those days the books could only be obtained via private lending libraries, and she quickly became a devoted fan; she was thrilled to bits when the books went on full sale in shops and she could have them for keeps.
Penny left grammar school in Rochdale with O-Levels in English Language, English Literature and Geography. She first discovered Mills & Boon books, via a girl she worked with. She married Steve Halsall, an accountant and a "lovely man", who smoked and drank too heavily, and suffered oral cancer with bravery and dignity. Her husband bought her the small electric typewriter on which she typed her first novels, at a time when he could ill afford it. He died at the beginning of 21st century.
She earned a living as a writer since the 1970s when, as a shorthand typist, she entered a competition run by the Romantic Novelists' Association. Although she didn't win, Penny found an agent who was looking for a new Georgette Heyer. She published four regency novels as Caroline Courtney, before changing her nom de plume to Melinda Wright for three air-hostess romps and then she wrote two thrillers as Lydia Hitchcock. Soon after that, Mills and Boon accepted her first novel for them, Falcon's Prey as Penny Jordan. However, for her more historical romance novels, she adopted her mother's maiden-name to become Annie Groves. Almost 70 of her 167 Mills and Boon novels have been sold worldwide.
Penny Halsall lived in a neo-Georgian house in Nantwich, Cheshire, with her Alsatian Sheba and cat Posh. She worked from home, in her kitchen, surrounded by her pets, and welcomed interruptions from her friends and family.
aka Caroline Courtney, Annie Groves, Lydia Hitchcock, Melinda Wright
Penelope "Penny" Jones was born on November 24, 1946 at about seven pounds in a nursing home in Preston, Lancashire, England. She was the first child of Anthony Winn Jones, an engineer, who died at 85, and his wife Margaret Louise Groves Jones. She has a brother, Anthony, and a sister, Prudence "Pru".
She had been a keen reader from the childhood - her mother used to leave her in the children's section of their local library whilst she changed her father's library books. She was a storyteller long before she began to write romantic fiction. At the age of eight, she was creating serialized bedtime stories, featuring make-believe adventures, for her younger sister Prue, who was always the heroine. At eleven, she fell in love with Mills & Boon, and with their heroes. In those days the books could only be obtained via private lending libraries, and she quickly became a devoted fan; she was thrilled to bits when the books went on full sale in shops and she could have them for keeps.
Penny left grammar school in Rochdale with O-Levels in English Language, English Literature and Geography. She first discovered Mills & Boon books, via a girl she worked with. She married Steve Halsall, an accountant and a "lovely man", who smoked and drank too heavily, and suffered oral cancer with bravery and dignity. Her husband bought her the small electric typewriter on which she typed her first novels, at a time when he could ill afford it. He died at the beginning of 21st century.
She earned a living as a writer since the 1970s when, as a shorthand typist, she entered a competition run by the Romantic Novelists' Association. Although she didn't win, Penny found an agent who was looking for a new Georgette Heyer. She published four regency novels as Caroline Courtney, before changing her nom de plume to Melinda Wright for three air-hostess romps and then she wrote two thrillers as Lydia Hitchcock. Soon after that, Mills and Boon accepted her first novel for them, Falcon's Prey as Penny Jordan. However, for her more historical romance novels, she adopted her mother's maiden-name to become Annie Groves. Almost 70 of her 167 Mills and Boon novels have been sold worldwide.
Penny Halsall lived in a neo-Georgian house in Nantwich, Cheshire, with her Alsatian Sheba and cat Posh. She worked from home, in her kitchen, surrounded by her pets, and welcomed interruptions from her friends and family.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 10, 2018
"Return Match" are one of the more lighter romances by Penny Jordan.I truly liked this one..the adorable and sensual romance between Saul Bradford and Lucy Martin were enjoyable and i also liked the family relationships.To the lighter tone and the less note of intensity as in other 5-star books by Penny Jordan i give this one 4-star.
They had really disliked each other as children,and when they now meet after many years it is seen that Saul has never forgotten Lucy`s rejection of him.But i love the way they get over their animosity and starts a light relationship where they both are in love with each other.
But Lucy``s jerk of a cousin interferes and destroys their relationship.With bitter misunderstandings Lucy and Saul separate..but Lucy`s pregnancy gives them another chance.
Love that the hero always loved his heroine and never gave up on her even if he thought that she loved another man.
They had really disliked each other as children,and when they now meet after many years it is seen that Saul has never forgotten Lucy`s rejection of him.But i love the way they get over their animosity and starts a light relationship where they both are in love with each other.
But Lucy``s jerk of a cousin interferes and destroys their relationship.With bitter misunderstandings Lucy and Saul separate..but Lucy`s pregnancy gives them another chance.
Love that the hero always loved his heroine and never gave up on her even if he thought that she loved another man.
April 22, 2021
I like to think I'm open-minded about most kinds of love and where people find it but I have serious issues with a few situations, namely:
1) First cousins falling in love, having sex, babies and getting married - arrgh no, just NO! Its been proven that inbreeding leads to genetic issues and Penny Jordan may have unintentionally eluded to it in this book giving the h pregnancy deficiencies
2) Falling in love with your rapist and/or marrying him (which ever comes first both are gross)
3) The H having slept with sisters or a mother or a daughter especially if named relatives are alive or vice versa with the h and brothers, fathers and sons.
4) Generally anything related to incest, which includes point 1 and most likely point 3
So because this book literally had kissing-cousins as protagonists I was completely put off... I'd much rather watch re-runs of the Jerry Springer Show thank you very much!
1) First cousins falling in love, having sex, babies and getting married - arrgh no, just NO! Its been proven that inbreeding leads to genetic issues and Penny Jordan may have unintentionally eluded to it in this book giving the h pregnancy deficiencies
2) Falling in love with your rapist and/or marrying him (which ever comes first both are gross)
3) The H having slept with sisters or a mother or a daughter especially if named relatives are alive or vice versa with the h and brothers, fathers and sons.
4) Generally anything related to incest, which includes point 1 and most likely point 3
So because this book literally had kissing-cousins as protagonists I was completely put off... I'd much rather watch re-runs of the Jerry Springer Show thank you very much!
August 16, 2024
Took a while and that never happens with PJ. This was one dull slow moving book with monologues going on till eternity. I didn’t find any sparks between the MCs so it got dreadful with each passing page to hang back for their HEA.
Lucy is a bit of a bore with a dull life. Her father has passed away and left their house to the rightful male heir. Her step mom would always find excuses to slack in her job as a mother to her own children and so Lucy has to pretty much hold the fort.
Enters Saul, a cousin to Lucy as well as her father’s heir. He was an American and in the past Lucy had bullied him with her other cousin making fun of his accent and what not. Lousy and lame of a reason to hold a grudge on somebody for that long. I waited and waited and these two take their sweet time talking all along the way.
Saul is a laidback guy and Lucy a bit all over the place with too much on her plate. There is a bit of a drama pick up after the MCs have had a ONS. I’ve read way better ones from PJ and this wasn’t one of them!
Lucy is a bit of a bore with a dull life. Her father has passed away and left their house to the rightful male heir. Her step mom would always find excuses to slack in her job as a mother to her own children and so Lucy has to pretty much hold the fort.
Enters Saul, a cousin to Lucy as well as her father’s heir. He was an American and in the past Lucy had bullied him with her other cousin making fun of his accent and what not. Lousy and lame of a reason to hold a grudge on somebody for that long. I waited and waited and these two take their sweet time talking all along the way.
Saul is a laidback guy and Lucy a bit all over the place with too much on her plate. There is a bit of a drama pick up after the MCs have had a ONS. I’ve read way better ones from PJ and this wasn’t one of them!
May 17, 2022
The MCs are first cousins who previously met when she was just 12 and he nearly 18. Apparently he really fancied her then although another cousin of hers led her into being mean to the hero. I don’t have a problem with them being cousins. If it only happens once then it isn’t a problem but having the hero fancy her at just 12 and then remember that all this time (he is 29 now) seems a bit strange to me.
priority
September 23, 2023Read this classic romance by New York Times bestselling author Penny Jordan, now available for the first time in e-book! Originally published as Return Match in 1986.
He's determined to claim her!
Millionaire Saul Bradford believed Lucy Martin bore him a grudge for turning her out of her father's house--she was well aware of that. But how could she resent him when she had helped to make him so unhappy in the past?
She wanted to atone for her bad behavior by making him welcome to the manor, and by shielding him from her cousin's sarcastic tongue.
But powerful Saul wasn't after her protection...he wanted so much more! (less)
He's determined to claim her!
Millionaire Saul Bradford believed Lucy Martin bore him a grudge for turning her out of her father's house--she was well aware of that. But how could she resent him when she had helped to make him so unhappy in the past?
She wanted to atone for her bad behavior by making him welcome to the manor, and by shielding him from her cousin's sarcastic tongue.
But powerful Saul wasn't after her protection...he wanted so much more! (less)
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews