In a book like this, readers expect a happily ever after and what matters is how you get there (and whether the characters are compelling/enjoyable in their setting). I tend to get annoyed when the obstacles in the way are the usual "we can't be bothered to actually talk to each other" communication issues. In other words, the characters set up their own obstacles instead of having external ones to overcome.

This book falls into that trap - the characters are pushed together at the beginning and spend the rest of the book avoiding each other or failing to talk about their feelings/wishes/anything, even though they have been best friends for years.

On the other hand, the writing is good and the characters are different, even if I didn't particularly like them. I'd continue the series or try something else by this author to see if it was just these characters that didn't particularly suit me. It would be interesting to learn more about the history/background of "The Matchmaker of Edinburgh" and how that character will be used throughout the series.

Overall, this is a standard historical romance - good for an afternoon's distraction but not one I'd go out of my way to recommend.

**Received free through Goodreads Giveaways**