Publish Date: Out Now
How I got this book: NetGalley
Matilda Geoffrey risked it all for love. She left Australia to be with Barry—the man who had swept her off her virtual feet. Now, wearing a wedding dress, she’s alone on Main Street in small-town Wisconsin, and things aren’t working out exactly as planned…
In town for his annual family visit, Marc Olsen had never seen a bride quite like Matilda—staring into a storefront window, holding a tottering wedding cake, and looking desperately in need of a groom. He may not have any warm feelings for his hometown,but meeting Matilda just as she discovers she’s been scammed by her online “fiancé” stirs something in him.
Matilda is not the kind of woman Marc imagined himself with, and Marc is anything but the romantic hero that Matilda has always dreamed of. But as unlikely circumstances throw them together, can they let go of their misconceptions and risk their hearts for love?
*Blurb from Goodreads*
Carina Press has been very hit or miss for me with a lot of their stories, but Lowe’s small town romance about an Australian woman who gets stranded in small town Wisconsin was a hit for me.
Matilda can’t believe she has become one of those women who falls for a scam artist. She comes to the US thinking she is finally going to marry her fiance, and finds herself left with no man, no money, and no way home. What would get any other woman down doesn’t seem to phase Matilda. Within days she is working as a wedding planner, has a place to live and the start of a new life.
Marc left his home town a long time ago and dreads coming back. Having to grow up way too quickly brings back some painful memories whenever he is home. But with his sister’s sudden cancer, his need to be there for her, and his unexplainable pull towards Matilda has him sticking around far longer than expected, and doing things he never imagined possible. When things really heat up between them and Matilda wants him to step up and be the man she knows he can be, will Marc be able to admit he can love once again?
I’m always a fan of small town romances, and the cast of characters in this town are so fun to read and follow. I was especially drawn into the story of Marc’s sister Lori who has breast cancer and goes through so many emotions during the course of this book. Watching her struggle was so heartbreaking and empowering at the same time. The extent of her emotions was so real and believable it was beautiful.
The romance between Matilda and Marc was at times slow to develop, but at the same time it felt real. They didn’t come into their emotions quickly, they didn’t have a whirlwind romance. It developed over time and it was special. I really enjoyed the journey that they went on together, and was happy with how they ended it. While Marc got off a little easy on having to win her back he still did it with heart and that was enough for me.
I didn’t always feel as connected to the main characters as I did to some of the secondary characters. But at the same time, I loved the way the author played up the differences in Australia words and phrases, and the girl in a foreign world aspect. It was cute and sweet. Having been to Australia, the differences in phrases had me cracking up remembering some of the things I was confused on while I was there. That aspect of it really connected for me.
At times the writing was difficult for me to read because it felt very old school compared to how contemporary the story was. There were lots of phrases and things that I remember reading in old Harlequin category books that kinda threw me for a loop because they just didn’t seem to gel with the rest of the story. Maybe it was just me, but that one thing was a little hangup that kept popping up its head as I was reading.
All in all I really enjoyed this contemporary fairy tale. The love story was sweet and beautiful and I hope to see more of Lowe in the future.
I give Boomerang Bride a B
