The Bodyguard's Vow Matchmaker Book 3
Fantasy
Getaway Reads, LLC
April 23, 2013
100
Dual Review
The Matchmaker’s Curse – Novella – Regan Black
Reviewers: She Said – Gloria Lakritz / She Said – Penelope Adams
Good help is hard to find…
As the newest Matchmaker, Amy Campbell has the magical power to identify soulmates and smooth the path for arranged marriages between elves, werewolves, or any of the myriad creatures of myth. As Amy discovers the position isn’t all roses and happy endings, she realizes the critical need for a bodyguard to help her navigate the pitfalls and dangers.
Mac did a favor for one Matchmaker long ago, not knowing it would tie him indefinitely to the new Matchmaker. Frustrated by Amy’s inexperience with her inherent magic and her new power, he wants only to send her on her way as quickly as possible. But an ancient vow is revealed that could undermine his goal.
2nd Place Winner for Best Paranormal Romance Novella
2013 PRG Reviewer’s Choice awards!
Gloria Lakritz – She Said:
I am smiling. I just finished reading #2 of the series in Regan Black’s Matchmaker books, The Matchmaker’s Curse, and low and behold a sweet Novella appears at my fingertips shortly after calledThe Bodyguard’s Vow!!!
Ms Black has decided the novels will be interspersed with a series of novellas giving the reader snippets into the continuing story of Amy Campbell, and how she and her entourage are faring with Amy being the new Matchmaker. This all happened during the first bookThe Matchmaker’s Mark, when Amy learned that the world has things that go bump in the night. Her beloved Aunt Camille had left to points unknown and Amy learned the history of what Camille was and what she left Amy to carry on. Since Amy was a college professor along with her best friend Maeve, Amy had a bit of paranormal catching up to do. For her protection, she was whisked away by Mac her temporary guardian and protector, and Gilly a sprite, and Camille’s personal assistant.
In The Matchmakers Curse andThe Bodyguards’s Vow we follow the ‘mark’ Amy put on an angry, sexy were, Grant Barclay, she thinks by accident. She is worried about doing it, but has not learned what has transpired since being taken out of town and is concerned she has done something wrong. Her second problem is trying to keep in touch with her best friend Maeve who is the focus of The Matchmaker’s Curse. For this second book, we only hear through others that Amy is out of pocket as life in their small town continues being paranormal. This makes this Novella such a treat as it fills us in on what Amy has been doing…What a Great idea !
Mac we learn had made a vow many years ago to another Matchmaker for her protection. He now finds that if no one in his lineage is able, it is he that has to be the protector. He is annoyed that he has to nurture this inexperienced newbie and is gruntingly intolerant. His brother Duncan is there for the dry humorand camaraderie only two brothers can bring, Gilly is also a wonderful character, and for only a short 50 page story, this is chocked full of storyline, humor, and some good repartee. We all look forward to see where this relationship and attraction between Mac and Amy go.
In the mean time, there are things going on ‘at home’ and on ‘the road’ that can ll be shared in the future. Amy has just enough spunk and enough hutzpa to create havoc and I cannot wait to see how Mac handles this…
Ms Black as always has given is such deeply dimensional characters that they are not characters they are people, we wish to see again. She has told us in her interview… Dare will be the subject of the next novel. I cannot wait.
Review by Gloria Lakritz
Sr Member and Review Chairperson for the Paranormal Romance Guild
Penelope Adams – She Said:
One would think being matchmaker to the paranormal would be all glamour and traveling around the world fancy free. Amy Campbell, ex-English Professor and current Matchmaker is discovering that is not the case. It seems some members of the paranormal community aren’t satisfied with their matches, and others are just ornery.
Temporarily living with her Aunt Camille’s (the previous matchmaker) trusted friend Mac, who Amy refers to as “the Grumpy Scot”, all her possessions are in storage and she can’t even call her BFF Mauve King because she is in hiding.
In between bothering her about reading the book her aunt left her and nagging her about putting together a team to take care of her, the Grumpy Scot is driving her crazy. If it weren’t for her rescue greyhound Guinness, she would feel downright unloved. Nope, life as The Matchmaker is not all glamour and riches; it’s downright difficult and dangerous.
We were introduced to Amy and learned about her heritage as the Matchmaker in the first book of this series, The Matchmaker’s Mark. We met all the key players in Amy’s life and learned some of the politics of the paranormal world. In the second bookThe Matchmaker’s Curse we follow Amy’s first match, her best friend Mauve and werewolf Grant Barclay as they get to know each other and get into and out of a few scrapes. In this short novella we get to see more of Amy’s day to day life and learn a little more of Mac’s background. Two new players are introduced, Gilly the sprite who was Aunt Camille’s companion and Duncan, Mac’s carefree brother.
This is a short little novella, about 50 pages, but it isn’t short on story and Ms. Black still manages to give us pictures with her words that are so clear that I actually felt my feet tingle when Gilly pulled Amy into her magical highway. These are not characters in a book any longer, these are old friends who leap off the page and sit beside you while they tell you their story.
Readers of this series will already know what happens in part of it but that doesn’t take away from the enjoyment of the story. Watching Amy and Mac struggle with each other is fun and frustrating, watching Duncan and Gilly go at each other is sometimes like watching brother and sister (at one point Duncan even complains because she’s touching him) and at other times like watching old cartoons where a dog and cat are fighting and all you see is a ball rolling around with fur flying. Once again Ms. Black takes us into a world of fantasy, with laugher, danger and just a tiny little bit of romance. Bravo.
Review by Penelope Adams
Member of the Paranormal Romance Guild Review Team
Now that the reviewers have read each other’s thoughts…
Good evening Penny. It seems like yesterday we sat here talking about The Matchmaker’s Curse. What a wonderful surprise to have received this sweet novella submission from Regan Black to whet our whistle. The idea is wonderful to view each side of the story with what was transpiring with Amy when we were dealing with her best friend Maeve King’s story.
I wasn’t expecting this little gift so, like you, I was thrilled when we got the email. It’s a cute little novella but manages to give us so much information in it’s pages. I absolutely loved seeing more of Mac, love me some hunky Scotsmen and then adding his brother Duncan to the mix just made me one happy little woman. Clever Regan Black somehow managed to give us information and more questions all at the same time. Getting to meet the sprite Gilly was so much fun, that one has a secret or two.
This series is so different than Regan’s Justice Series that it is like two people writing. The UF series set in Chicago in the year 2096 is so dark and the Matchmaker series is like a breath of fresh air. I am telling you , I expect Amy Campbell to soon kick butt and take no enemies. I love the story that surrounds her and I sit back and wait for the next story of Dare!!!!
I agree, it is like two different authors writing. I think I enjoy the humor in this series more than anything else, yes there is romance and yes there is mystery/suspense but there is always humor. I also have to say it’s nice to pick up a book by an author you know is going to deliver a good read, Ms. Black always gives us a good story, no matter what genre she is writing in. I worried she wasn’t going to be able to make the leap into light romance but she didn’t disappoint and this series just keeps getting better. Like you, I can’t wait to see what happens in the next story and hope we still get to see glimpses of Amy, Mac and company. By the way, I’m also biting my fingernails waiting for the next installment in the 2096 series, I’m like a junky with that one and can’t contain myself when a new one comes out, I just gobble it up.
Good Night, Gracie.
Yes I cannot wait to get me some of that Slick Mickey and the gang. You know there is something about a gangsta with a conscience right Penny? But I digress…Help us Regan….another quick Novella would help while we wait for those Novels that seem to take so darn long!!!!! Come back again soon
Night Georgie
Q&A with Author Regan Black
1- Thank you for this sneak peek Novella. Where do we go from here? Will it be The Meet with the Wolves? Or something else?
The next release in the Matchmaker series will be a full length novel and it will be Cade’s story. At least that’s how we have it on the production schedule. There’s not even a working title yet, but both his past adventures with the Wood Elf Elite Guard and his future soulmate really intrigue me.
My plan is to showcase a few of Amy and Mac’s adventures with their new team in novellas like The Bodyguard’s Vow so readers can learn along with them what makes her so different from previous Matchmakers. The Meet will most likely become another fun short story or novella. I’ve played with a few of those characters and ideas. It’s just a matter of timing.
2- Will Grant’s mother and pack appear more in the future?
Definitely! Especially since Maeve and Amy are best friends and Amy just matched seven wolves of Fiona’s pack, we will continue to see more of Grant’s mother going forward with the series.
And remember, Gilly isn’t all that happy about Fiona’s mysterious access to the fold. Very few creatures want to get on a sprite’s bad side.
3- Will Amy get to see Maeve soon and know how happy she is?
Since they are both irrevocably tied to the magical realms now, it will be easier (in some ways) for Amy and Maeve to stay in touch. Already I’ve envisioned what an interesting holiday scene it would be to have Maeve and Grant, Lily and Dare, and Amy and Mac gathered around the same table.
Of course there would be risks involved, but that makes it all the more fun!
4- Are we going to get hints in the future as to where Aunt Camille is?
Oh, yeah. And I hope readers love the way her story unfolds as much as I do. As you know, Amy remains convinced Camille is alive and resolving the mystery of her aunt’s fate is never far from her mind. It remains to be seen if that will be a help or hindrance as she comes into her own as the Matchmaker.
5- Got to ask…anything new for The Justice Series?
I want to get book six to fans more than I can possibly say. It’s just a matter of maintaining the time and energy to tell the story the way it needs to be told. Creatively, it isn’t easy going from the lighter adventures of the Matchmaker to the dark, edgier world of futuristic Chicago. Julia and Lucas (you get a glimpse of them in Shadows to Light) have quite an adventure in store. Here’s an insider tip: Julia will be my first heroine of the 2096 series who isn’t sporting a psychic gift or genetic manipulation. But she is a soldier, and entering military service in 2096 means exposure to all kinds of perils and pitfalls – even away from the battlefield.
As always Regan it is a pleasure to read your work….Come back soon