Book Description:
Sometimes a second chance is wrapped in tinsel, mistletoe, and the conspiring of two daughters determined to reignite love.
When widow Regina Parker’s daughter switches places with her best friend after school one day, Regina finds herself face-to-face with the one person she’s been avoiding: Theo Evers, the high school boyfriend who shattered her heart. Regina has carefully built a new life for herself since moving back to Holly, California, and she has no intention of letting old heartbreak unravel it.
Single father Theo Evers thought he had his hands full managing the town’s Christmas tree farm and raising his daughter after his wife abandoned them both. The last thing he needs is Regina back in his life–but now their daughters have become inseparable, and the scheming young matchmakers have other plans.
Determined to create the family they’ve always longed for, the girls orchestrate an elaborate strategy, secretly signing their parents up for every holiday activity in town. It’s up to Theo and Regina to decide if they’re brave enough to trust God’s plan and risk everything for a second chance at the love that got away.
In this charming Christian Christmas novella reminiscent of The Parent Trap, Toni Shiloh combines second chance romance, single parents, high school sweethearts, matchmaking mischief, and faith.
Narelle’s Thoughts:
I enjoyed reading Matchmaking Christmas, a fun contemporary romance novella set in a small Northern California town. Regina is a widow who returns to her hometown with her ten year old daughter. Theo is a single dad with a ten year old daughter who owns a Christmas tree farm. When their girls become best friends, Theo and Regina remain intent on avoiding each other. They both want to forget about their messy high school romance breakup and unresolved teenage angst.
In a twist on the classic matchmaking romance trope in The Parent Trap movie, the adorable and mischievous ten year olds hatch a plan to force their parents to spend time together. If the girls can help their parents fall in love, they’ll become sisters and gain a parent.
I loved journeying with the characters as they navigated the matchmaking hijinks orchestrated by the girls. The charming small town of Holly has all the fun Hallmark Christmas movie vibes. Regina and Theo’s romance is cute and sweet. They’re challenged to believe in second chances, deal with their emotional baggage, make amends, and restore their broken relationship. Forgiveness themes, abandonment, and trust issues are explored in the story.
I recommend Matchmaking Christmas to contemporary romance readers who like lighthearted Christmas romance novellas with singles parents and their matchmaking young daughters, second chances, forced proximity, family drama, and strong faith elements in the story.
Many thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.
Preorder from Baker Book House (40% Discount)
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
