The Matchmaker Brides Collection

by Kim Vogel Sawyer, Diana Lesire Brandmeyer, Lynn A. Coleman

Nine Meddling Matchmakers Find Love When They Least Expect It

Meet nine women of the late 1800s who have found themselves in the role of matchmaker. They think they have mastered the art of recognizing romantic potential in others, but when it comes to their own lives they have been unlucky in love. In small communities from Tennessee to Colorado, Wyoming to Indiana, love unexpectedly enters the women’s lives with men they never imagined marrying. But what will it take to get these ladies to say “I do”?

Home Grown Bride by Diana Lesire Brandmeyer
1876–Lebanon, Illinois
Emmie Mueller thinks the only way to leave Illinois and join her family in Kansas is to play matchmaker to the boarders who stand in the way of her grandmother selling her house. But tables are turned when the boarders attempt to match her with the newest man in town, Landon Knipp.

The Unmatched Bride by Amanda Cabot
1886–Cheyenne, Wyoming Territory
When a confirmed spinster matchmaker accepts an unusual assignment and helps a wealthy widower choose the right mate for his daughter, more than one couple finds true love.

Playing Possum by Lisa Carter
1895–Possum Trot, WY
Hoping to outplay, outwit, and outlast the Possum Trot matchmakers during the harvest festival, Cage Cooper proposes a pretend engagement to suffragette Theodosia Holland. Trouble is—in playing possum, they both may have gotten far more than they bargained for.

Hog Trough Bride by Ramona K. Cecil
1882–Honeytown, Indiana
Hoping to save her older sister from the humiliation of having to dance in the hog trough—a local custom when a younger sister beats her older sister to the altar—an aspiring bride engages in multiple matchmaking attempts with chaotic and surprising results.

The Tinman’s Match by Lynn A. Coleman
1880–On the road from Virginia to Tennessee
Josephine Woodley is surprised to find Xander Russell, a matchmaker, is an honorable man. Can she soften his tin heart enough for him to consider a match of his own?

Miss Matched by Susanne Dietze
1879–Emerald, Colorado
Brainy Grace Perkins applies scientific principles to play matchmaker for the singles in her small town. However, her hypothesis leaves out God’s role and matters of the heart, creating tangled results.

The Backfired Bride by Kim Vogel Sawyer
1889–Friendly, Kansas
Can a pair of single, inexperienced but well-meaning young people convince an older man and woman that marriage is better than remaining alone?

Sing of the Mercy by Connie Stevens
1876–Black Hills of Dakota Territory
A newly-elected mayor teams up with a hash house cook to turn a mining camp into a brand new town. Will they be able to transform the rough-edged miners into gentlemen, persuading prospective brides to consider matrimony?

A Match Made in Heaven by Liz Tolsma
1885–Detwiler, Iowa
Pastor Len Montgomery receives an unusual letter that turns him into the matchmaker he never wanted to be. But the match he most wants to make, the one with the town’s sweet and charming postmistress, may be out of his reach.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Historical, Christian Romance, Fiction, Novella

477 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2017

About the author

Award-winning, bestselling author Kim Vogel Sawyer told her kindergarten teacher that someday people would check out her book in the library. The little-girl dream came true in 2006 with the release of Waiting for Summer's Return. Kim's titles now exceed 1.5 million copies and are available in six different languages. A former elementary school teacher, she now enjoys a full-time writing and speaking ministry. Kim's passion lies in writing stories that point the reader to a deeper, more intimate relationship with God. When Kim isn't writing, you'll find her traveling with her retired military hubby, spoiling her granddarlings, petting the cats, quilting, or--as time allows--participating in community theater. You can learn more about Kim's writing and speaking ministries at her website, KimVogelSawyer.com.

Reviews

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of 9 short stories by some of today's most popular Christian fiction writers.
These stories are bound together by the theme of matchmakers. What a fun delight it is to read when the matchmakers have the tables turned on them as they are the ones who find themselves in a match made in heaven. A entertaining read all the way around. Perfect for when you have small amounts of time to read, each story is a delightfully quick read!
Highly recommended to lovers of historical Christian romance.
Pub Date 01 Feb 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour books for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Matchmaker Brides Collection: Nine Matchmakers Have the Tables of Romance Turned on Them is a collection of nine stories. These stories include: 
The Homegrown Bride by Diana Lesire Brandmeyer
The Unmatched Bride by Amanda Cabot
Playing Possum by Lisa Carter
Hog Trough Bride by Ramona K. Cecil
The Tinman’s Match by Lynn A. Coleman
Miss Matched by Susanne Dietze
The Backfired Bride by Kim Vogel Sawyer
Sing of the Mercy by Connie Stevens
A Match Made in Heaven by Liz Tolsma
I enjoyed every one of these stories. My favorite is Kim Vogel Sawyer's The Backfired Bride.
Highly recommended. 
5 plus stars

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Matchmaker Brides Collection: Nine Matchmakers Have the Tables of Romance Turned on Them

You would think a matchmaker would be able to make a match for themselves, however, that is not the case with these nine matchmakers. We travel along the small communities of Tennessee, Wyoming Territory, Indiana, Colorado, and Illinois in the 1800’s as these matchmakers find love. Each matchmaking situation in these novellas bring surprises and some humerus events that had me laughing as they interacted with their soon-to-be spouses. A cute and fun group of novellas.

1-Home Grown Bride by Diana Lesire Brandmeyer
1876-Lebanon, Illinois
2- The Unmatched Bride by Amanda Cabot
1886-Cheyenne, Wyoming Territory
3-Playing Possum by Lisa Carter
1895-Possum Trot, WY
4- Hog Trough Bride by Ramona K. Cecil
1882–Honeytown, Indiana
5-The Tinman’s Match by Lynn A. Coleman
1880-On the road from Virginia to Tennessee
6- Miss Matched by Susanne Dietze
1879-Emerald, Colorado
7- The Backfired Bride by Kim Vogel Sawyer
1889-Friendly, Kansas
8-Sing of the Mercy by Connie Stevens
1876-Black Hills of Dakota Territory
9- A Match Made in Heaven by Liz Tolsma
1885-Detwiler, Iowa

~I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author/NetGalley (no monetary gain were exchanged), this is my honest review~I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255~

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this. Very good and sweet set of stories. I especially enjoyed the last story written by Liz Tolsma.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

With such an alluring title and cover, I could hardly resist reading this bevy of romance tales. They may not be Amish stories (my usual go-to), but they were still a delight to read. Here’s a little synopsis, and my take, on each of the novellas…

The Homegrown Bride by Diana Lesire Brandmeyer is set in 1887 Trenton, Illinois. It tells the story of Landon Knipp, who has just chosen to make Trenton his home, and where he’ll set up his new store. Meeting boarding house owner Emmie Mueller certainly was one of his reasons for choosing Trenton. But Emmie has different goals: Matchmaking for those at the boarding house, then moving to Kansas to be with her parent. When an unexpected visitor comes to Trenton, confusion ensues. My take: This novella needed to be longer. It wrapped up too quickly and left some subplots hanging at the end.

The Unmatched Bride by Amanda Cabot is set in 1886 Wyoming Territory (Cheyenne). Wealthy widower banker Robert Carmichael (Rob) employs infamous matchmaker Deborah Johnson to find the best match for his one an only daughter, Emily. The whole town is abuzz that Deborah is matchmaking at the Carmichaels. But is there more than one match in the making? And can past tragedies and heartbreak be put aside to find true love…or will it ultimately ruin everything and everyone in its path? My take: A colorful story with well thought-out characters. For being a novella, it still read very much like a novel – and I was ready for the next chapter! Excellent story.

Playing Possum by Lisa Carter is set in the quaint town of Possum Trot, Wyoming, 1895. It tells a delightful tale of suffragette wannabe Theadosia Holland (Thea) and plain-talkin’ Cage Cooper. Thea has returned home to teach at the newly erected school. Thea and Cage have spent their lives taking pot shots at one another. Neither has a desire to marry. So they strike a deal: Come up with a ruse to make the town think they’re engaged during harvest time. But in the process, feelings get muddled – what will become of Thea and Cage? My take: Playing Possum was a wonderful, engaging tale. I found myself cheering on Thea…and ready to sock her nemesis, Sue Ellen. This definitely felt a bit like a Laura Ingalls Wilder story, and I loved every minute of it!

Hog Trough Bride by Ramona Cecil is set in 1885 Honeytown, Indiana. This novella introduces readers to Rose Hamilton and Ty Roberts. Rose and Ty are anxious to marry, but there’s a problem: In this town, the eldest sister (if not betrothed) must partake in an unusual ritual. Rose longs to spare her elder sister Violet from these shenanigans…so she’s on the hunt for a match! But who Rose chooses is shocking…and his response is even more surprising! My take: This was a fun little novella. It didn’t have much depth, and it lagged in parts. But overall, it was a fun diversion.

The Tinman’s Match by Lynn A. Coleman is set in 1878 Pearisburg, Virginia. This one features a male matchmaker – Xander Russell. But matchmaker is not his full-time profession; he is also a tin maker that sells his wares from town to town. When he finds a match for Sarah Wooley, per her uncle’s insistence, they go by wagon to meet her new suitor. What Xander does not expect is Sarah’s outspoken, over-the-top (yet very practical) cousin Jo. The group encounters a few bumps along the way – and Sarah begins to doubt making this trip in the first place. How will it turn out? My take: The Tinman’s Match was a nice switch, having a male matchmaker. I enjoyed learning a little about the tin trade along the way. The romance was a bit contrived and the story as a whole lagged near the end. But overall, it’s worth the read.

Miss Matched by Susanne Dietze is set in 1879 Colorado Springs. This novella tells a fun story about a new matchmaker, Grace Perkins, that has adopted a method of “scientific matchmaking.” Her close friend (and her father’s protégé) Dr. Mitchell Shaw watches with amusement. He delights in her antics, but has no desire for marriage – ever…even if he does love Grace from afar. When Mitch makes a major decision that will affect the lives of everyone around him, how will they cope? My take: Miss Matched was a fun, quick read. I enjoyed the light mood as well as the deeper subplots surrounding it. Well done.

The Backfire Bride by Kim Vogel Sawyer is set in 1889 Friendly, Kansas. Long time friends Lyla Emerson and Jared Hardwick are ready to strike out on their own. Jared wants to claim land in Oklahoma, and Lyla has just received her teaching certificate and longs to teach somewhere on an Indian reservation. What stands in the way? Jared’s pa and Lyla’s aunt – both are lonely (having lost a spouse), and will be lonelier when Jared and Lyla go away. So what’s left to do? Somehow bring Jared’s pa and Lyla’s aunt together…and so the hijinks ensues! My take: This novella was a wonderful story, full of conniving, conspiring, and downright fun. This one definitely stood out in the collection.

Sing of the Mercy by Connie Stevens is set in 1880 Prescott, Dakota Territory. This novella is matchmaking of epic proportion! Sarah Trent is the owner of Sarah’s Hash House, located deep in a nearly defunct gold mining town. In years gone by, there was gold to be had, but not anymore. When Prescott elects a mayor, Quinn, both Sarah and Quinn do their best to turn Prescott into a REAL town – with shops, buildings…and wives for the miners that are hanging up their mining hats. When Sarah’s brother gets himself into more trouble than he can handle, what will become of him? Of Sarah? Of the town? My take: This novella was a good, solid read. The characters were well-developed and I was fully invested in each character. It didn’t feel like I was reading a novella by any means – except I wanted it to continue! Great read!

[Karen R · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a delightful collection of all new historical novellas set in 1878 to 1895 America! Most of the stories are tender and sweet, involving young women whose sincere attempts to make good matches for others comes back on them, ending with a twist. One story even has a traveling salesman--a tinsmith--whose side business includes uniting people in matrimony.
Some of the stories include more interjections of faith, with Scripture and inspirational themes, such as trusting God, and seeking His will for the future, forgiving others and oneself.
"A man's heart deviseth his ways, but the Lord directeth his steps." Proverbs 16:9
My favorite stories were the two with a bit of humor: Playing Possum and A Match Made in Heaven. They had some fun characters and witty dialogue. The story called Sing of the Mercy was very good also, with a lot of depth to the characters and storyline. They were all well-written and enjoyable overall.
Recommend to readers who enjoy a good, clean lighter romance in a historical setting, with some faith elements.
The Homegrown Bride by Diana L. Brandmeyer--1887, Illinois
The Unmatched Bride by Amanda Cabot--1886, Wyoming
Playing Possum by Lisa Carter--1895, Wyoming
Hogtrough Bride by Ramona Cecil--1885, Indiana
The Tinman's Match by Lynn Coleman--1878, Virginia
Miss Matched by Susanne Dietze--1879, Colorado
The Backfired Bride by Kim Vogel Sawyer--1889, Kansas
Sing of the Mercy by Connie Stevens--1880, Dakota Territory
A Match Made in Heaven by Liz Tolsma--1885, Iowa

(Book provided by NetGalley and the publisher. This is my honest, unsolicited, original review.)

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I met my husband on a blind date. I had been seeing one of his coworkers who told me that my husband was soon going to be moving and he wanted someone to go out with him before he moved. So I guess you could say that I was set up by a matchmaker. It wasn't any big deal, but we hit it off and six months later, we got married.

The book I just finished is a potpouri of novellas about matchmakers who meet their match. A couple of the authors are among my favorites and these novellas all meet the quality of writing I enjoy most. I think my favorite of the olio is the last one in the book (whose title I have forgotten--the story was more important)--Len Montgomery is the new pastor in town and someone from Des Moines writes him a letter asking him to find a wife to help him on the farm and mother his five children. Cora Thomas is the postmistress who handles the mail. Rusty is the newspaper editor who publishes the letter that creates a nationwide hubbub of people looking to be matched up. Cora and Len work together to answer the letters and to try to find matches for all these seekers. What they don't realize is that they are matches themselves.

These are cute stories with busy-body matchmakers who meet their own matches and find themselves heading toward nuptial bliss. Barbour Books publishes a lot of these collections--historical and contemporary, and each one is a gem in its own right. Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and a matchmaker to make a match for you.

I appreciate Barbour Books for allowing me to read and review this book.

[Robbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine being a matchmaker and not being able to find your own match, well, that’s exactly what happens in The Matchmaker Brides Collection, a compilation of nine novellas.

Every one of the ladies and a couple of the men have been somewhat successful at finding matches for others. However, they aren’t very good at finding their own match, even when those matches are right under their noses.

The stories cover different cities in America from 1876 to 1895.The settings are in real places, and it was fun to get to know more about the history of the small towns chosen, along with the time period, too.

The tales are short, so they are quick to read and make for a wonderful opportunity to curl up and absorb them individually or all at one time.

The Matchmaker Brides Collection also resonates with inspirational themes in the narratives, highlighting the need for faith, hope and sometimes forgiveness.

If you enjoy historical fiction, with an element of romance, you are sure to love these nine novellas written by nine Christian authors.

I received a copy of The Matchmaker Brides Collection from NetGalley. However, I was under no obligation to post a review.

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

1 star:
Hog Trough Bride: Honeytown, IN/May 1885

2 stars:
Playing Possum: Possum Trot, WY/Autumn 1895

3 stars:
The Homegrown Bride: Trenton, IL/July 1887
The Tinman's Match: Pearisburg, VA to Knoxville, TN/1886
Miss Matched: (near) Denver, CO/Spring 1879
The Backfired Bride: Friendly, KS/ February 1889
A Match Made in Heaven: Detwiler, IA/Spring 1885

4 stars:
The Unmatched Bride: Cheyenne, WY/September 1886
Sing of the Mercy: Prescott, ND/1880

These stories involve a matchmaker that gets matched with someone else. Some are amateurs, and some are professionals. Some are doing it to help themselves, and some are doing it because they want to help others. Most stories stay in one town, but one involves a trip to find love. Sometimes it was right in front of them the whole time, and sometimes it dropped in unexpectedly. All of the stories have a happy ending.

[BrendaLee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written by some great authors these short stories are great ones. Nine different stories to read! Oh what fun!
Nine ladies that think they have matchmaking skills but they can't even get themselves matched up.
In each story find out what it takes for each lady to agree to get married. They think they are unlucky in matters of the heart. But soon they find out even they can get lucky.
Great characters that sometimes will make you laugh. A couple of novellas maybe a little predictable and some with things you won't see coming till it happens, but all worth reading. Read if you enjoy historical fiction and also want to get the satisfaction of reading a book that won't take you all day to read.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a favorable review.

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with most collections, some stories I enjoyed more than others. All had a Christian touch, some more so than others. There were a few things I found a bit silly or frustrating in a few of the stories, but mostly the stories were sweet. This collection was something easy to read when my mind was too tired to read something of deeper content.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some were better than others...

[Krissy Gott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series of short stories was one of the best books I have read.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this collection of novellas. They were all different but had the theme of matchmaking. Some of them even had doses of humor, which I liked.

[Terry Yaceyko · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a collection I expected to enjoy and I did - there were some great short stories in it. I loved The Tinman's Match. Lovely story.
I also loved Sing of the Mercy. Very good story.

[Sarah January · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nine different stories set in 1868-1895 about matchmaking women and men.

[Linea Winter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some good, some not so good

[Bobbie Sue Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and charming.

[Bridget · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed all the stories in this book.

[Happyscrapper · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great fun! Historical romance is not one of my favorites, but I do enjoy reading them now and again. This collection of novellas was entertaining to say the least.

Each story had very unique matchmakers that faced different challenges in making their matches. Each one found the tables being turned on them in fun ways. I appreciate and am impressed how the authors made their own story special. Being romance stories you know how it will all end, but the journeys each had a special road.

It is really hard to say which one was my favorite, but I think The Tinman’s Match would probably be it. Xander Russell was probably my favorite matchmaker. The Backfired Bride was a close second and may have given me the most laughs.

Great collection of stories for the lover of historical fiction!

Rating of 4 1/2 stars!

Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher, via Netgalley.com, but I was not required to leave a review. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

[Nicole Normand · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy from NetGalley; this is my honest review. I took one star off for editing.
1. The homegrown bride ****: Lots of misunderstanding but it's a good old-fashioned love story.
2. The unmatched bride ****: I love matchmakers and this story just fortifies the thought. Loved it.
3. Playing possum ****: Super fun read: the players were played. I even cried a bit. Loved this one a lot. Realistic to the times, lots of dialogues.
4. Hog through bride ****: An archaic tradition sets the pace of this story. A few verses here and there. Not too much. Lots of matchmaking, true love, gossip, wedding bells. Loved it.
5. The tinman's match ****: Loved it. Realistic, fun, would fit well in the steampunk style.
6. Miss Matched ****: Sweet but predictable. There's more to this story about the secondary characters.
7. The backfired bride ****: Cute. You knew everyone were churchgoers but no sermon, no prayers, no verses. Amen. Twist was predictable but loved it nonetheless.
8. Sing of the mercy **: Lots of lines wasted and ink spilled for full-length songs. Author switched one couple at the end. God's will is not to make excuses for one's bad behavior so for someone who thought she was close to God, how did it take so long to understand this?
9. A match made in heaven ***: How can a Christian quote the Bard more than scriptures? Changing the category from inspirational to sweet is more accurate. Predictable end and a bit corny.

[Bhriv · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Matchmaker Bride Collection written by nine wonderfully talented Christian authors is yet another collection that you won't want to miss. This book has multiple matchmaker stories that are heartwarming and enjoyable. Loved that they were set in the late 1800's. A fun collection of historical romancing at its best. Each one is short enough to read quickly yet if you want to sit down to all of them it'll take a good amount of time to get through.
I was given this book through Netgalley. All thoughts and comments are my own.

[Amy Roelant]

9 stories each a little different take on Matchmaking. All had CF theme and old fashioned values. Nice to read a bunch of smaller stories.

[Melissa Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful set of stories about matchmaking. From promised marriages to younger folks matchmaking for older folks, each author tells a unique story. Every situation brings surprise and sometimes laughter to the intended matches. I enjoyed these stories very much. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and this is my personal opinion.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nine well-written novellas! The stories take place between 1878 to 1895.
Each one has it's own surprise twist for the matchmaker and each one was a delight to read!
There are city folks, farmer's, miners, wealthy businessmen, a doctor, even a Pastor. Not all matchmakers are female either. I recommend taking your time, reading each story when you have a bit of time. I found them a good way to wind down after a stressful day. I love these Barbour Collections.
* I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book provided by the publisher through NetGalley

[Trixi · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are nine short historical novellas by nine various authors set in the late 1800’s time period. I enjoyed the whole matchmaker theme; it’s similar to my two favorite ones, marriage of convenience and mail-order brides. I loved the historical details, the fun characters, the touch of humor some stories had, and the setting in each story. I had to laugh at a few of these because the whole matchmaking scheme backfired on the women! The faith-theme was refreshing and each author portrayed a different & encouraging message. I also liked the fact that I could read two or three of these in one sitting. Overall a heartwarming set of stories you can savor in small bites or even spend an afternoon reading them all!

*I received a copy of this through Netgalley. I wasn’t required to give any review and all opinions expressed here are strictly my own*

[MJSH · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read a few of these collection of novellas and they've all been sweet stories bound by a theme.

The matchmaking theme is an interesting one and each of the nine authors spins the theme in various ways.
The stories are well-written with believable and fun plots. Faith plays an integral role in all the novellas, which is refreshing. The stories are relatively predictable but still heartwarming to read.

I particularly enjoyed "Tinman's Match" with the unusual twist of a man being the matchmaker, "Miss Matched" about a frontier doctor and his assistant, and "Backfired Bride" with two childhood friends falling in love while trying to fix their relatives together.

I received a digital advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to give a favorable review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

[Jessie Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely collection of short clean historic romance stories. Nice for a light hearted easy read on a quiet evening. I preferred to read one or two stories at a time. It's nice in that the stories are short enough for one sitting. They are all pretty predictable though and that was kind of annoying after the 5th story. I did not like the Hog Trough story. The title alone made me not interested. Otherwise it is a lovely collection.

[Tish · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading books on brides and this had such a cute twist being a matchmaker.. It has a lot of short stories on matchmaking. Some with the twist of falling in love themselves.. Great read and you will not be disappointed. I spotted some Authors I new and some I will be reading more of there books.