Haunted by the death of her sister, Finola Shanahan has resolved that she’s not worthy of a family of her own and commits to spending her days caring for immigrants in the slums. Unwilling to consider marriage, Finola has perfected the ability to sabotage the relationships her parents arrange for her. At wit’s end, her father calls upon the local Irish matchmaker, who pairs her with successful wagonmaker Riley Rafferty. After her usual tricks fail, Finola quickly realizes she can’t outsmart or outwit the dashing, determined, and daring man.

A candidate in the St. Louis mayoral election, Riley is confident a union with the wealthy Shanahan family will help solidify his chances of winning—and even more assured he and Finola can make a difference together. When a cholera outbreak begins to take St. Louis by storm, they must navigate a burgeoning attraction and growing danger testing all they know about love and sacrifice.

Escape to 1849 St. Louis for a daring and romantic tale from the talented pen of bestselling author Jody Hedlund.

Endorsements for Calling on the Matchmaker

• “Calling on the Matchmaker is a delightful, heartwarming love story filled with admirable people, charming Irish traditions, and the culture of 19th century St. Louis. Despite its light-hearted tone, there is poignancy and heartbreak just beneath the surface as two wounded souls learn to trust each other. As always, Jody Hedlund’s novels are a joy to read.” ~Elizabeth Camden, RITA and Christy Award-winning author
• “From the opening rescue scene covered in mud, through the slow-burn love story and the trials and disappointments of life in the mid-1800s, to that wonderful promise of HEA, Calling on the Matchmaker is a historical romance reader’s delight. Treat yourself! Jody Hedlund does not disappoint.” ~Robin Lee Hatcher, Christy Award-winning author of To Marry an English Lord and To Enchant a Lady’s Heart
• “With its sizzling chemistry, rich detail, and compelling action, Jody Hedlund has once again raised the bar in Calling on the Matchmaker. Readers will be drawn to the fiercely independent Finola Shanahan, but we’ll be swooning over Riley Rafferty for years to come.” ~Misty M. Beller, USA Today bestselling author

Reviews for Calling on the Matchmaker

• Marilee: Absolutely loved this book – one of my new favorites from this author! Oh my, does Jody Hedlund know how to write a swoony romance or what?! So much tension between Riley and Finola from the beginning and I loved the push and pull of their relationship as they both learned to let go of the past.
• The Literate Leprechaun: This was an extraordinary journey back to 1849 St. Louis, Missouri. I enjoyed my time with the Irish immigrant families Hedlund so masterfully created and I truly did not want to leave. This felt truly typical and authentic. I LOVED THIS STORY. That’s something coming from someone who doesn’t normally read in this genre. This story is worth all the stars. All.
• Carrie Schmidt: Calling on the Matchmaker by Jody Hedlund is charming and absorbing, fully captivating you in the story from the death-defying opening scene to the breath-stealing romantic tension a few pages later… and all the way to the ‘just-perfect’ grand finale, complete with a compelling teaser. I’m eagerly looking forward to the second book.
• Melissa’s Bookshelf: I was blown away by the unique storyline, the passionate yet clean love story, and the heartfelt drama as two endearing Irish young people with messy pasts deal with an arranged marriage. It’s a story that was so difficult to put down and I can’t wait for more!
• Brittany: I loved this story from start to finish. Riley and Finola were so perfect for each other. The unique and fascinating setting, with Irish immigrants and main characters who wanted to make the world a better place for those who were struggling, and the wonderful romantic tension between Riley and Finola has me truly eager to read the next in the series, which looks to be an absolutely captivating tale.