Anna Olsen becomes a mail-order bride and heads to Denver to meet her husband to be. She's only corresponded with Edward Parker a few times but hopes to form a great relationship with him in time. Edward is a clock maker and jeweler but more than that he is a perfectionist. Anna is very much a free spirit who would rather be with friends or rescuing hurt and abandon animals rather than doing chores. On their wedding day Edward handed Anna a list of her responsibilities around the house. Edward had a list too but what did his say? Can two very different people discover they're Perfectly Matched or will their differences pull them a part for good?

What a great mail-order bride story. One of the things that I most appreciated about it was the relationship between Edward and Anna. The author did a fantastic job bringing out all the feelings and emotions of a newly married couple in a realistic way. After all, what do you find most on a newly married couples mind? If you've ever been married you know the answer to that question. Edward and Anna were two really great people to get to know. It was fun watching them discover how very different they were and how those differences affected everyday life. I also admired how each of them sought to please the Lord in all they did. I enjoyed all the secondary characters, all of which were loaded with personality. I will say, that though this is the third book in The Blue Willow Brides Series, I didn't feel lost at all not having read the first two books. Through Anna's interest in helping animals the reader learns, along with Anna, some history about the ASPCA, which was interesting. If you enjoy an easy flowing story with lively characters (including the animals), lots of romantic tension (all very well done) then I highly recommend Perfectly Matched!

Series: The Blue Willow Brides (Book 3)
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Revell (October 1, 2013)
ISBN-10: 0800734645
ISBN-13: 978-0800734640

This complimentary copy was provided by Revell through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

For more information about this book or Maggie Brendan's other books I encourage you to visit her website at http://maggiebrendan.blogspot.com/ ( )

This is the first of Maggie's books that I've read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Sometimes I just want a book to relax with and that makes me smile, and Perfectly Matched did exactly that. Although it concludes a series, this story easily stands alone.

The setting of Denver, Colorado in the fall of 1888 felt very real as many actual places were incorporated, some still standing today. And characterization is strong in both major and secondary characters.

Edward is certainly a unique hero! He suffers from a mild form of what we know today as obsessive compulsive disorder, first evidenced in the humorous scene where, shortly after saying "I do," he presents Anna with a detailed schedule of her daily chores. As frustrating and unbending as he seems at first, knowing his background and understanding that his actions were merely coping mechanisms, I grew to really like him. Edward's father had been an alcoholic, and his sister explains to Anna: "Edward and I both had our ways of coping as children. He liked to tinker with things that took total concentration and perfectionism. I think that was his way of controlling what he could around him, and he became compulsive about certain things."

Anna is completely his opposite, and their marriage a total recipe for disaster without God in the equation. Scatterbrained, impulsive, untidy and disheveled - but with such a giving nature, genuine sweetness, and compassion for others, especially animals in need. "When the Lord places an opportunity to do good right in front of me, then I have to take a stand," Anna explains.

I particularly enjoy romances where love grows between a married couple, and Maggie did an excellent job at portraying this. That intimate moments are a part of Edward and Anna's marriage is obvious, and it's just refreshing to see this included and so tastefully done "off camera."

This story also shows how Edward and Anna, both committed to their marriage, work through personality differences and discover that they actually have much in common and bring out the best in each other. I loved how, as early as their wedding night, Edward "suddenly had a premonition of things to come, and he felt like he was losing control."

Perfectly Matched is a tender, heartwarming romance which includes some interesting history, such as the beginning of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. I believe this is a book that romance fans will enjoy.

This book was provided by Lanette Haskins and Revell in exchange for my honest review. ( )

Title: Perfectly Matched (The Blue Willow Brides #3)
Author: Maggie Brendan
Pages: 337
Year: 2013
Publisher: Revell
While this is the third book in The Blue Willow Brides series, each book can be read as a stand-alone story. The other books are titled, Deeply Devoted and Twice Promised. These two books feature Anna’s, the main female lead in this book, sisters and their stories as mail-order brides. This story is set in Denver, Colorado in 1888.
Anna Olsen is living with her sister, but wants her own life in her own house. She decides to accept an offer of marriage as a mail-order bride to accomplish her goal. However, she soon realizes she and her husband are very different. On their wedding day, he gives her a list of household chores that need to be done and when to do them. Anna is a free spirit who never feels more alive than when she is outdoors. Now she finds her life consumed with trying to keep up with her list of things to do. She soon decides the list is impossible to keep up, and encounters a new interest…homeless animals. Her husband is against this at first, because of their hair all over everything, the mess they make in the backyard and the time they take away from his wife when she should be spending that time with him. Anna is convinced the Lord wants her to follow through with taking care of these animals.
Edward Parker is a watchmaker. He runs his shop, his home and his life with precision, and he expects his wife to do the same. Edward gives his new wife a little slack as she is young and has never run a household before. He tries to keep in mind they are both new at the marriage, and don’t know each other very well, having only corresponded by mail before marrying. Edward must learn to deal with his jealousy where his new wife is concerned. Is there any way this marriage will work? Anna is not nearly as concerned with his schedule or doing things his way and has her own ideas on how to do things. Will they learn to compromise or will they continue to step on each other’s toes?
I have read the prior two books in this series, as well as the Heart of the West series also by Maggie Brendan. While her prior works have been very good and held my attention, this particular installment was just average. The storyline just didn’t draw me in. Edward just was not likeable in my opinion. I did like Anna’s compassionate heart for animals and her willingness to take charge about solving the problem of abandoned/homeless animals. After finally consummating their marriage, it seemed readers were frequently “getting to know one another better”. I felt this excess aspect of their intimacy took away from moving the story along, and in fact was an unwanted distraction. Authors cannot always write a 5-star book, so I will still be reading future books by this author. However, this novel was just so-so.
My rating is 3 stars.
Note: I received a complimentary copy for an honest review of this book. The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility. Other reviews can be read at http://seekingwithallyurheart.blogspot.com/ . Also follow me on Twitter @lcjohnson1988, FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/lisa.johnson.75457 ( )

The title is a bit misleading. Perfectly Matched...Anna Olson is now a mail-order bride. Edward Parker, the groom, is a bit, well maybe more than a bit, OCD. Whereas, Anna, is a bit scatter brained, in a good way.
Will these two different people, newly met, be able to forge a marriage? Edward needs organization in his life, everything in its place. A day for each chore, and meals right on time. Enter Anna, and she arrives with a dog. Now being a dog lover I know that fur, and playing and just being in the house leaves things a bit disorganized! Poor Edward!
Now Anna does not stop with just one dog, oh no. Pretty soon a menagerie of different animals begins to appear, you can just picture what happens.
The story is not just about Anna and Edwards different personalities, but it is about the sweet romance that blooms. Of course, there is a rocky start to even that.
This is the third and final book in this wonderful series, and each book can stand on its own. I highly recommend that you read each of these fantastic stories, you will not be disappointed!!

I received this book through the Revell Blogger Program, and was not required to give a positive review. ( )

PERFECTLY MATCHED by Maggie Brendan is another exciting Christian Historical Romance set in 1888 Denver, Colorado. #3 and final in “The Blue Willow Brides” series, but can be read as a stand alone. See,” Deeply Devoted” and “Twice Promised”. This is Anna Olsen’s story and her shot at being a mail order bride. While, Anna is a free spirit with a love for animals, her intended, a clock maker and jeweler Edward Parker,is a perfectionist and a list maker. Together, they have many obstacles to overcome. On Anna’s wedding day Edward hands her a list of “Your Wifely Duties”. Oh, I loved this one: “The consummation of our marriage will take place after ten days to give you time to adjust.” Let the trials begin…..

Written with Ms. Brendan’s usual aplomb. She has gives the reader a mixture of mystery and suspense with faith,hope,forgiveness,conflict,history and the power of love. A must read for any historical reader. Received for an honest review from the publisher.

“Available October 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

RATING: 4.5

HEAT RATING: SWEET

REVIEWED BY: AprilR, Courtesy of My Book Addiction and More ( )