Book Review: To Win Her Hand by Jen Geigle Johnson

TO WIN HER HAND by Jen Geigle Johnson
SERIES: A Gentleman’s Match #1
GENRE: Historical/Regency Romance (Clean & Wholesome)
PUBLISHER: King’s Row Press
RELEASE DATE: December 15, 2022
PAGES: 272

An expert at winning a woman’s hand. A woman who cannot be won.

Lord Featherstone has the world on his shoulders. Or at least his world. With two brothers and a failing estate he must make funds somehow. But what happens when he falls for a woman? Will his tactics work when the situation is so close and personal?

Everyone thinks Lady Loveluck is a wealthy widow. What they don’t know is that she is on the brink of hiring herself out as a Governess in order to pay for her next meal. The only thing keeping her from employment is a growing reputation as a matchmaker. As long as she never falls for another man, as long as she doesn’t allow herself to be fooled into marrying, she will be just fine.

But she never counted on being caught up in the beguiling tactics of London’s renowned and not so secret matchmaker for men.

To Win Her Hand by Jen Geigle Johnson is a delightful romance between two matchmakers forced to take on clients because of financial need. Lord Featherstone is the first male matchmaker I’ve read about, at least to my recollection, and I loved that unique perspective. Seeing him with his clients (most notably, Mr. Hartsworth) reminded me of the movie Hitch, which is one of my faves, and had me smiling a lot. Lord Featherstone is also quite charming and sincere of heart, and his secret deep feelings for Lady Loveluck had me swooning more than once. He’s just a genuinely good guy, and there’s a lot to be said for that kind of hero.

Lady Loveluck is more reserved as a character, and while very likable is still harder to get to know. But there are reasons for that, and the author reveals them layer by layer as the story progresses. As we unearth more about her past & the reasons she has taken on matchmaking clients like Miss Anna, we definitely become sympathetic to her plight and are rooting even more for her to have a happily-ever-after. Lord Featherstone might be able to overcome one of the obstacles in the way of him declaring his love for her (“I trust you.” — be still my heart) but – though better off than she is – he’s in financial straits as well.

The author engagingly weaves their snappy banter and their romantic chemistry through these tensions to position readers for a finale fraught with previously-repressed sizzle. Here, though, is my one & only complaint about the story. The ending felt rushed to me. Still enjoyable, definitely. But a little anti-climactic for all the build-up and anticipation. Nevertheless, it is sweetly swoony and doesn’t take away from the overall enjoyment in the story.

Bottom Line: From the very first chapter of To Win Her Hand – a clever back-and-forth switch of POVs as Lord Featherstone & Lady Loveluck are coaching their respective clients with amusingly different approaches – I could not wait to spend more time on the pages with these two characters. Witty banter? I am here for it. A genuinely good hero? I’m here for that, too. And Jen Geigle Johnson delivers both in this charming romance.

(I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I read via Kindle Unlimited. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)

My Rating: 4 stars / enjoyed it!

KissingBook Level: 3 / may forget to breathe on occasion

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Jen Geigle Johnson is an award-winning author, including the GOLD in Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards and LDSPMA Praiseworthy’s top award for Romance,

Jen has more stories circulating in her brain than can possibly be told. She discovered her passion for England while kayaking on the Thames near London as a young teenager. History is her main jam. Her literary heroes include the greats: Jane Austen and Charles Dickens. But she has modern sensibilities as well.

Six children and an inspiring husband keep her going and make certain she doesn’t stay glued to a keyboard or lost in obscure fascinating details of old castles.

Now, she loves to share bits of history that might otherwise be forgotten. Whether in Regency England, the French Revolution, or Colonial America, her romance novels are much like life is supposed to be: full of adventure.

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