The Matchmaker's Rogue

The Matchmaker's Rogue

by Regina Scott

Overview

Grace-by-the-Sea: Where romance and adventure come home.Polished Jesslyn Chance has one of the most enviable positions in the little Regency coastal village of Grace-by-the-Sea. She is the hostess of the spa, arranging introductions and entertainments and playing matchmaker to the ladies and gentlemen who come to take the waters, promenade through the shops, and dance at the assembly. But when a rogue returns from her past, Jess finds herself suddenly at sea.Always an adventurer, Larkin Denby left Grace-by-the-Sea to right the wrongful death of his father. Now he's back on a mission: to identify the mysterious Lord of the Smugglers who allegedly sails from Grace Cove and takes England's secrets to France. But Grace-by-the-Sea is the perfect little spa town, run by the still oh-so-perfect Jesslyn Chance. When the village's future is threatened, Jess must work with Lark to solve the mystery and protect the town's own. In doing so, the matchmaker of Grace-by-the-Sea may just find that the best match for her is the rogue who stole her heart years ago.Here's a little taste:Lark had watched Jesslyn yesterday, flitting from group to group, individual to individual, and always leaving them looking happier than when she'd arrived. She tended the spa like a lady might tend her roses. Surely if there was the least hint of a weed in her garden, she would be the first to root it out.Or had she only suspected? Did she too wonder about someone in the village? What secrets might lurk behind the blue expanse of her eyes? He leaned closer. "Tell me, Miss Chance. Is there anyone in the area you find particularly intriguing?"She pursed her lips, and he had to force his eyes away from the soft pink mouth. "At the moment," she said with her disarming sweetness, "I am most intrigued by you.""Me?" Lark made himself smile. "I'm nothing remarkable.""Yet everyone seems determined to remark on you." She took a step closer, and he straightened to retreat."You arrive with no notice after years away," she said, ticking off her reasoning on her fingers. "You have family just over the hill, yet you are staying at an inn. You are obviously well. You haven't taken a sip of the waters or asked to bathe. From your conversation, your mind is sound. You don't seem to be searching for friendship. Why have you come to my spa?"There was nothing but air surrounding him, but he had the distinct impression he had been trapped. "I simply decided to take a holiday."His answer, unfortunately, did not appear to satisfy. "I'm delighted to hear that you wished to return to Grace-by-the-Sea for your holiday," she said. "I cannot help but feel compelled to make that holiday enjoyable."All at once, he remembered another time, when being with her was all he had wanted. She had made his stay at the spa enjoyable at a time when he'd feared for his mother's health and wasn't sure about his own future. But now was no time to renew those feelings. If she knew the truth, she would only be in danger.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781657611467
Publisher: Independently published
Publication date: 01/08/2020
Series: Grace-by-the-Sea , #1
Pages: 272
Product dimensions: 5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.57(d)

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The Matchmaker's Rogue 4.8 out of 5 based on 0 ratings. 4 reviews.
BrittanyMc 1 days ago
This was a delightful and clean Regency tale! Romance with a dash of mystery and danger mixed together in the beautiful and tranquil setting of Grace-by-the-Sea. I enjoyed these characters, from Jess and Lark, to the various and frequently amusing side characters. Jess’s Aunt Maudie provided such comic relief in an endearing manner. I loved the way most of the residents shrugged off her fanciful comments, while accepting her for the woman she was. The Matchmaker’s Rogue was such a good story! I enjoyed it from start to finish and look forward to reading more in the series. I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
cristal6 3 days ago
This was a very good story, but I have put this as a 4-star because it was not one that would keep me glued to. This is about Jesslyn Chance and Larkin Denby. Jess is the hostess of the spa at Grace-at-the-Sea, which she took over after her physician father passed away. Lark is undercover for the King to find the Lord of Smugglers. Jess and Lark, in the past, had been, shall we say, friendly. She is wondering first of all, why is he there and is he trying to pick up where they left off years before. In near the center of the book, while going through a tour of a Castle How, it is found that that is the place where the smugglers are putting a beacon light in the window to show clear passage for the smugglers. The question here is, is Jess’s brother a smuggler? What will she do if that is found to be true? Will Jess and Lark end up back in each other’s arms? These and more are questions that will be answered when you read this book. Good job, Regina, and another book well written! The Matchmarker’s Rogue became available for sale January 10, 2020. I was honored to received a complimentary copy of this book from the author for my honest review. Thank you Regina Scott!
eLynda 3 days ago
I have long considered Regency novels one of my favorite, especially those written by authors I have read and enjoyed before. So it was with eagerness that I picked up the first in a new series by Regina Scott. I expected a fun story, but in this instance, the novel exceeded my expectations by giving me a mysterious tale that kept me guessing until the end; even after I felt like I had perhaps figured it out, the need to confirm it ensured I turned those final pages to make sure I hadn’t missed something important. Since I’ve read many Regencies, it feels like a comfortable time period to me, but I always find that I learn something new when reading one of Scott’s novels. Whether it’s a verbalized expression like “fallen top over toes” or a technical term for a water pump used during that time, I appreciate feeling like I better understand the era after reading her work. The characters are fun in this book, especially Jess’ aunt, Maudie. We get enough of her backstory to appreciate her quirks and perhaps why she is as we see her, but my heart melted at Jess’ understanding and care for her relative that others might, particularly at this time, have seen as an unfair burden. The other secondary characters are largely mysterious with the suspicion of smuggling hanging over their heads, but they also come across as multi-dimensional rather than paper villains. I enjoyed Jess and Lark’s story—both their individual journeys and the one they undertake together. Learning to trust their futures despite their pasts is not easy, but the two of them work alongside each other to heal hurts even as they solve the smuggling mystery, despite the danger and potential heartache it may bring. I highly recommend this story to fans of Regency fiction, to those who enjoy a romance with a hint of mystery and suspense, or anyone who has in interest in historical smuggling or espionage. Scott does not disappoint and I look forward to the next release in her Grace-by-the-Sea series. I received a review copy of this book from the author but was under no obligation to post a positive review. The opinions expressed are both honest and my own.
Jutzie 5 days ago
The Matchmaker's Rogue by Regina Scott Grace-by-the-Sea Series Book One Jesslyn Chance is the spa hostess in the small village of Grace-by-the-Sea. The spa, with its healing waters, helps the whole village. Jesslyn family had started it a hundred years ago, a man in the family always a physician. Until her dad passed a year ago, and she continues as hostess. But life is changing and a new future looms ahead. Larkin Denby has returned to the small village he hasn't been in for eight years. As a Running Officer, his superior has sent him here to find the Lord of the Smugglers. It's bad enough they smuggle items in from their enemy...France...and don't pay the taxes, but England's secrets are being passed along as well. And he must keep his true reason for being there a secret. Jessyln had fallen for Larkin as a young woman. She won't make that mistake again. Where she's content in her small village...he's an adventurer. I'm so excited for the next book in this series already...and the next...et cetera. Great characters and story.