A Match in the Making by Jen Turano is the first book in her Matchmakers series. Needing a quiet rest away from her demanding cousin, Gwendolyn Brinley accepts a summer position as a paid companion in Newport. When her employer breaks her leg she expects Gwendolyn to become her assistant matchmaker! What a delightful, entertaining story this was. Gwendolyn was such an original character; and Walter was a perfectly oblivious gentleman! The cherry on top was the three precocious children! I really enjoyed this story and can’t wait for more!
I received this book from Celebrate-Lit for my honest review.
About the Author
Named one of the funniest voices in inspirational romance by Booklist, Jen Turano is a
USA Today bestselling author, known for penning quirky historical romances set in the Gilded Age. Her books have earned Publishers Weekly and Booklist starred reviews, top picks from Romantic Times, and praise from Library Journal. She’s been a finalist twice for the RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards and had two of her books listed in the top 100 romances of the past decade from Booklist. She and her family live outside of Denver, Colorado. Readers can find her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and at jenturano.com.
More from Jen
A Chat with Jen Turano
You’re known for writing historical romantic comedies set in the Gilded Age. What made you decide to write in that particular era?
Funny thing, when I first tried my hand at writing historical, I wrote Regency—think Jane Austen, lots of drama, dukes, and probably a few countesses in serious need of attitude adjustments. One of those books, I believe I titled it A Marriage of Inconvenience, is the book that landed me my first agent. But, as she was shopping that book around, I read this fascinating book about Alva Vanderbilt. There was so much drama involved with the New York Four Hundred during the latter part of the nineteenth century that I threw myself into researching everything I could find about high society. I’ve been writing about that fascinating moment in time ever since.
Your new series revolves around matchmaking. How did you come up with that idea, and what can we expect?
I’ve been wanting to do a matchmaker series forever, and that idea reinforced when I watched Season 4 of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and there was a prevalent matchmaking thread. However, I didn’t want to do a normal matchmaker story, which is why I decided it would be hilarious to have a heroine accept a paid companion position and then, due to unforeseen circumstances, find herself turned into an assistant matchmaker even though she has absolutely no experience with matchmaking in general and is actually old enough to be considered a confirmed spinster.
How do you come up with such unusual ideas?
I think I just view life a little differently. I’ve always been rather weird, so when I think of matchmaking agencies, or lady detectives, or hat makers, I begin thinking up all these outlandish situations and then, just when my heroine or hero thinks that nothing else could go wrong, I throw something else at them. It’s a highly amusing job at times, although I’m certain my characters don’t appreciate my odd sense of humor.
Do you have a favorite character or book?
I adore Gertrude Cadwalader from Out of the Ordinary, although that’s not my favorite book. My favorite book is Diamond in the Rough because Poppy Garrison gets herself in some fabulous messes.
Your characters do seem to find themselves in some interesting mishaps and messes. Do you write these from personal experience?
You know, I have to admit that a lot of the outlandish situations I write are based on either observations I’ve made over the years or . . . yep, they’ve happened to me or my friends. I’ve definitely led an interesting life, although I do embellish the situations in some instances—creative license and all that.
How do you come up with such unusual names?
Contrary to what some may believe, I don’t make up any of my names. I scour old obituaries or shake down my friends who are into researching their ancestors for cool names. That’s how I got Mercy Miner, Temperance Flowerdew, and Lucetta Plum.
What’s coming up next?
I just finished up developmental edits for the second book in the Matchmakers series, so now I’ll go back to writing the third and final book in that series. After that? Well, I’m not positive yet. I have two ideas roaming around in my head for the next series I’ll delve into, but I simply don’t know which one I want to write quite yet.
Thanks so much for having me! Always fun being here with your readers.
All the best,
Jen