This HaBO is from Jenny, who is looking for this historical romance:
I’m looking for a historical romance, but I don’t have much to go on unfortunately. The heroine’s relative (possibly father/grandfather) is forcing her to marry. She’s been given a little bit of time to choose for herself before the relative selects a husband for her. The hero is her friend and has to marry for some reason as well. So they decide to help each other find a spouse, essentially matchmaking for each other.
The best part is that the hero is in love with her. So he sends the heroine a lot of dud suitors while trying to court her himself or get her to see that he’s an option.
I’d appreciate any help with this. I read it around 8-10 years ago.
I know of a few where the hero plays matchmaker for the heroine, but not a both scenario.
Sorry—I don’t know this book, but I wasn’t sure how to tell Amanda that the HABO I solved (at least I believe I did) last December (it was a series the submitter had listened to in Audible and it turned out to be a four-book series by Aly Martinez) is still showing as Unsolved. I’m truly not an egomaniac, but I was bragging to a friend about solving a HABO (my first!) and she said it was still listed as Unsolved. Shutdown on Deb! And you know how your first time is always so special.
Oooh, I’ve read this. Is it a Tessa Dare maybe?
I know I’ve read this book…or a similar ones. I will go searching through my files.
BTW – for Audible Members – Gideon the Ninth is on sale for $ 4.95 as a daily deal.
I don’t know the answer, but I want to read this book!
I agree that it sounds like a Tessa Dare novel, but I can’t for the life of me pinpoint exactly which one. If it is, my best guesses are Three Nights with a Scoundrel, Goddess of the Hunt, or a Lady of Persuasion. The description of Goddess of the Hunt doesn’t really match the OP’s description, but for some reason it’s the first book I thought of when I read the post.
I know I have read multiple books with some aspect of this HaBO. One that immediately came to mind is When the Duke Was Wicked (2014) by Lorraine Heath. No one is pressuring the heroine to marry; she is concerned with making sure her suitors truly love her, and the hero is supposed to be helping her to that end. She is not actively seeking anyone for him, though.
I know this isn’t it, just released last year, but if this is someone’s jam, Valerie Bowman’s No Other Duke but You has a similar plot, and it’s a twist on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
There are two matchmaker books I can think of but I think both are one sided where the hero needs help with his matchmaking.
A Certain Magic by M. Balogh and To Charm a Naughty Countess by Theresa Romain. I know I have others but have not had the time to look through Calibre yet.
It’s not Goddess of the Hunt or A Lady of Persuasion. Both of those begin with the chase– Lucy for Jeremy in GotH, and what’s-his-face for Sophia in ALoP.
Could it be either “And Then She Fell” by Stephanie Laurens or “3 Weeks with Lady X” by Eloisa James. Also “How to Marry a Marquis” by Julia Quinn vaguely fits.
I don’t think it’s Goddess of the Hunt, because the hero is not trying to find a match for the heroine, if I recall correctly. She is already crushing on another guy, and the hero is trying to get her to forget him. I don’t think anyone is forcing her to marry.
The heroine in To Charm a Naughty Countess is an independent widow, not interested in remarriage. She is trying to find a match for the hero, who needs to marry money to restore his estates. If you are looking for a hero with social anxiety, who is also a virgin, you hit the jackpot with this one! In fact they are both great books, but not the HABO.
It couldn’t be one of the Bridgertons?
Seconding A Certain Magic. It doesn’t fit 100% but it is close. They are both in love with each other and looking to marry.
My Scandalous Duke is a Teresa Romain novella that sounds similar (though not exactly) like the description.