About the Book

Book: Matchmaker’s Best Friend

Author: Kari Trumbo

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

Release date: March 30, 2021

“You’re just like a brother to me. I don’t like you in that way.”

When they dated ten years ago as teens, it almost destroyed their friendship. So Pen Reese did the only logical thing. She lied about how she felt—and still feels—about him.

She’s still paying for that lie.

A brilliant plan to set Mike and a friend up and get over him has one problem.

It’s breaking her heart.

When Pen pushed him away, Mike Gaines assumed she just didn’t understand his faith. People like her persnickety aunt even claim he’s part of a cult—ridiculous, but it’s true. Still, if she wants him to play the part of a big brother, fine. At least he can stay close this way.

At first, Pen’s attempt to set him up with one of her close friends hurts. But what if it’s the perfect opportunity to show her what she’s missing if she sees him with someone else?

In this friends-to-more-meets-second-chance romance, The Matchmaker’s Best Friend continues the Elnora Island romances of the Independence Islands Series featuring five islands, six authors, and a boatload of happily-ever-afters.
The Independence Islands Series: beach reads aren’t just for summer anymore.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Where western meets happily ever after.

Kari writes swoony heroes and places that become characters with detail and heart.
Her favorite place to write about is the place her heart lives, (even if she doesn’t) South Dakota.

Kari loves reading, listening to contemporary Christian music, singing when no one’s listening, and curling up near the wood stove when winter hits. She makes her home in central Minnesota, land of frigid toes and mosquitoes the size of compact cars, with her husband of over twenty years. They have two daughters, two sons, one cat, and one hungry wood stove.

More from Kari

Pen is Mightier than the Sword

Especially in sparkly, stacked espadrilles and pink power suit. Don’t let Pen Reese’s pink façade fool you, she’s a businesswoman to the core, with a heart of gold. She has built a party planning business from the ground up, and she’s about to create another.

Pen is one of those characters that I could just see CLEARLY as I was writing. She is about ninety percent Elle Woods from Legally Blonde and ten percent a close personal friend. I heard her voice in my head. I could hear her talking as I wrote the book. Her personality was perfect for the energetic party planner.

I’m sure if I put a character description up without context or clarity many people wouldn’t want to read the book, they would write Pen off as shallow. But she’s not. She’s heartbroken.

Do you still remember your first love? Maybe you still care for them? Pen fell hard for her first love and no matter how professional she is or how many lavish weddings she plans, she can’t forget the one wedding she’ll never get to create. Her own.

Pen things that if Mike falls for someone else, goes off and gets married, she’ll finally be able to move on. So, she sets a plan in motion. That’s when her world completely falls apart and you see the tender parts of Pen that she doesn’t show to just anybody.

She is a very complex character and I hope she touches you like she touched me.

I hope you enjoy Pen’s tale of matchmaking gone wrong.

My REVIEW

This story frustrated me a lot. Oh, the author did a great job of writing but I really wanted to have a talk with Pen. She may be a bubbly outgoing person who knows how to give wonderful parties, but she sure lacks in the relationship department. Pen has known Mike forever and maybe that is where her vision is cloudy. How many of us have ever uttered the words, “Oh we are just good friends.” I did laugh because I have said that many times about my now husband. Well to be fair we didn’t like each other at first.

Mike is a sweet person who adores Pen. He has always been there for her and I think he may be getting discouraged. I really wanted to see Mike find a job that would give him confidence. He seems to have a problem in that area and God is right there to help him. I enjoyed the brief mention of Mike’s faith but wanted the author to explore that more. It is a very important part of his life and I think it needed more information for readers to understand it. Pen doesn’t quite understand it so there was a good opportunity to expand on it.

The idea that Pen had to increase her business was a bit unusual and I’m not sure it was such a great idea. Without saying much more about the story, that great plan that Pen comes up with will cause someone to get hurt. So I wonder if Pen really thought it through? It is obvious that Pen and Mike are in love but something is holding Pen back. Is it lack of trust, faith or perhaps rejection?

The author delivers a story that has flawed characters where they each must learn to deal with the past. There is a lack of self confidence on both Pen and Mike. I was upset that Mike would go along with this scheme of Pen’s to build her business. Where was common sense in this decision? The ending was predictable but I still enjoyed the ride to get there.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.