Saved by the Matchmaker by Jody Hedlund is my new favorite Hedlund novel. This story is outstanding. This is another book I highlighted and marked up like crazy because it’s jam-packed with so much goodness and wisdom! Sometimes I struggle with marriage-of-convenience stories, but not this one. Hedlund utilized this trope exceptionally well. The pacing of the characters going from strangers to friends to lovers is perfect and totally realistic. I also feel that the heroine’s struggle to overcome her physical and mental issues is exceptionally true-to-life. There are moments in this story where Enya reacts to Sullivan in a negative manner, hurting his feelings in the process, and mid-act she knows with her head that she is being foolish and selfish, but her body and soul just cannot get in line. For us humans, trauma devastates us on a mind, body, and soul level. All three of these elements must be given the space and time to heal so we can get back to the practice of healthy, contented living. The problem is, Society does not allow us the time to grieve and heal so all three elements can get back to healthy. This is why traumatized people can sometimes come unhinged. Our wounds keep bleeding, and everyone can see that, but the world tells us to get over ourselves. Hedlund did an amazing job illustrating this principle through Enya. And Sullivan…oh my word, he is the best kind of man. He is an excellent example of how to deal with traumatized people…because he was once traumatized himself. He is the embodiment of 2 Corinthians 1:3-4: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” Sometimes, God allows us to walk through trials that hurt us on a mind, body, and soul level because He’s going to bring someone into our lives in the future who will need the wisdom we learned through our traumatic times. God wastes nothing! Sullivan is the absolute best man for Enya. He sees through all her bluster and pain and anger and brokenness to the hurt girl she truly is. He gives her space and kindness and truth. All things that allow Enya to actually heal mind, body, and soul. It was a tremendously beautiful journey to walk with these characters. I loved every minute. I cried a whole lot with this read, but I also cheered a whole lot, too.

Saved by the Matchmaker is a home run. Every minute of this Historical Romance is spectacular, and I cannot recommend this book enough. If you are a fan of well-researched, well-crafted, deeply poignant Historical Literature filled with heart and depth, then Saved by the Matchmaker is 100% the book for you!