The Matchmaker's Mistletoe Mission (Boots and Bouquets, #0.5)
Jaci Burton
New York Times bestselling author Jaci Burton celebrates the gift of love and the holiday season with a snowy Christmas wedding at the Bellini family vineyard. Stranded at the Red Moss Vineyard a week before her best friend's wedding, LA native and professional matchmaker Alice Weatherford is not pleased with her first trip to Oklahoma, or the epic snowstorm forcing her to stay. So much for Christmas cheer. What she needs is a project, something to distract her...and, oh, has she found one in neighboring rancher Clay Henry. Gorgeous, charming, and unlike any other man she's ever met, finding the right woman for Clay should be easy.... Having grown up with the Bellini sisters, it's no hardship for Clay to ride out the storm at their cozy family vineyard, especially since that means spending time with their savvy and smart houseguest. But despite Alice’s best efforts, he's not the least bit interested in her matchmaking.... Alice is the only woman Clay wants. Now he just has to convince the matchmaker herself to give love a chance.
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I received an arc copy of this from Berkley via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Summary
Alice, an LA native and matchmaker, is in rural Oklahoma to help prepare for her best friend's upcoming wedding. Unexpectedly, there is a massive snow storm that traps Alice at the venue, a beautiful vineyard ran by the Bellini family. Also unexpectedly, ruggedly handsome Clay is stranded at the vineyard with her.
Clay is a rancher and happily single. And he wants no part of Alice's plan to find him his perfect match. Especially since the only person he wants is Alice.
Overview
➸ POV - 3rd Person, alternating between Alice and Clay's POV
➸ Alice Weatherford - LA native, Matchmaker, Maid of honor in her best friends wedding
➸ Clay Henry - Oklahoma, Rancher
➸ Content Warnings: None
My Thoughts
This just didn't do it for me unfortunately. This had some really cute moments! But overall I didn't jive with the writing or the overall plot.
I thought the chemistry and "relationship" between the two main characters was actually really sweet. I felt the connection between them and really liked the glimpses into their slice of life moments. But this was way, way too insta-lovey for my taste. I'm also for insta-attraction but when characters are dropping the L word after a couple of days and minimal contact I can't get on board.
I also found the dialogue to be really awkward and unnatural feeling. I was also so aware of these being words on a page rather than getting pulled into a story. There were so many repeated unnatural conversations - honestly the first 20-30 pages of this is just a new character being introduced and them making the same comment on the weather. Character names were overused in dialogue, and overall this story just felt never flowed or felt real to me.
Also, the main conflicts were completely self-imposed which was so frustrating as a reader. I wanted to shake the heroine at times.
Unfortunately I don't think this series is for me, and I don't plan on continuing on. I do think this had some great Christmas-y vibes if you're looking for something to quick this holiday season. But overall I didn't love or jive with this.
Review also shared on my blog!
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