A Wager with the Matchmaker by Jody Hedlund, Bk. 3 of the Shanahan Match series

 

This story takes place in 1849, in the midst of a cholera outbreak, in St. Louis Missouri.

Alannah Darraugh, a young Irish young lady, is working in the O’Brien household as a maid. Her employers close their home and leave the city to escape being exposed to cholera leaving her jobless. She is being harassed and threatened by a local gang leader, Shaw Farrell. Her brother, Torin, was a member of the gang but quit which angers Shaw. Shaw is determined that Alannah will marry him but she refuses and has to hide from him. There is a confrontation between Torin and Shaw after Shaw assaults Alannah. Torin’s boss, Kiernan Shanahan, who is also Mrs. O’Brien’s brother, finds her a job working for his mother in their country home. Torin enlists the aid of the local matchmaker to find her a husband, thinking she would be safe if she were married. The matchmaker, Bellamy McKenna, matches her with Kiernan, unbeknownst to him. Alannah knows that it is an impossible match because of the difference if their social class.. Kiernan’s mother is not pleased that her son has taken her under his protective wing and gives her the lowest job in the home, the scullery maid and warns her to stay away from her son. Bellamy has also told Kiernan that he has found him a match but doesn’t reveal who it is. Even though Kiernan and Alannah are attracted to each other, they know a match is not possible so Keirnan keeps looking for a wife while Alannah decides she will not marry.

This is from the publisher’s website:

“After her brother's entanglement with an Irish gang threatens their family's safety, Alannah Darragh flees St. Louis and her troubled past, seeking refuge as a maid for the affluent Shanahan family. Alannah's resolve to avoid romance is tested by the undeniable attraction she feels for Kiernan Shanahan. Determined to maintain her position and the safety it provides, she vows to resist the pull of her heart despite the growing bond between them and their undeniable chemistry.

In the wake of a devastating fire, Kiernan Shanahan sees a shrewd opportunity to invest in a clay mine and brickyard to aid the city's rebuilding. To secure his venture, he seeks a wealthy bride with a substantial dowry. However, the matchmaker he consults has different plans. As danger looms and Alannah fights to keep her brother safe, Kiernan's protective instincts draw them closer, but a future together seems too far out of reach. It will take a miracle--or a wager with the wily matchmaker--to form a match between the unlikely couple.”

Will Torin and Kiernan be able to save Alannah from Shaw?

Will Bellamy be successful in his matchmaking?

Read an excerpt HERE 

This is an exciting story with suspense and danger throughout. The level of intimacy may not be acceptable by some readers of Christian fiction, while not explicit, it is more than some may like. And the minimal mention of God and faith my also be a concern. For this reason I have given it a 4 star rating.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House via Netgalley through their book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”