The Perfect Match (Blue Heron, #2)

by Kristan Higgins

What if the perfect match is a perfect surprise? Honor Holland has just been unceremoniously rejected by her lifelong crush. And now-a mere three weeks later-Mr. Perfect is engaged to her best friend. But resilient, reliable Honor is going to pick herself up, dust herself off and get back out there...or she would if dating in Manningsport, New York, population 715, wasn't easier said than done. Charming, handsome British professor Tom Barlow just wants to do right by his unofficial stepson, Charlie, but his visa is about to expire. Now Tom must either get a green card or leave the States-and leave Charlie behind. In a moment of impulsiveness, Honor agrees to help Tom with a marriage of convenience-and make her ex jealous in the process. But juggling a fiance, hiding out from her former best friend and managing her job at the family vineyard isn't easy. And as sparks start to fly between Honor and Tom, they might discover that their pretend relationship is far too perfect to be anything but true love...

• ISBN10: 1848454813
• ISBN13: 9781848454811
• Publish Date: 15 July 2016 (first published 1 January 2013)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Imprint: HQ
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 384
• Language: English
• URL: http://harpercollins.co.uk

Reviews

[Stephanie]

I have to say at 87% I wanted to choke Ms. Higgins but it all worked out!!

[Lindsey Gray]

I read "The Best Man" a few months ago and was taken in by Higgins story of the Holland family and her writing style. When I saw this book, I was so excited to get another look at this crazy family. Honor and Tom made me laugh a lot and cry even more. Groggy and Pops are great comic relief. I can't wait to read more from Kristan Higgins!

[kimbacaffeinate]

The tale takes place in the small town of Manningsport, New York; population of 715. Honor Holland and her family own the local vineyard, and it’s been in their family for generations. She has helped put the vineyard and its cellars on the map since she began working there. On her thirty-fifth birthday, her Doctor informs her that her biological clock is ticking, and this has her focusing on marriage. She asks her best friend with benefits to marry her and he flat out rejects her only to announce he is engaged a mere three weeks later to her best friend! Tom Barlow is a British professor here on a green card. His visa is about to expire, and he is deeply concerned for his unofficial stepson Charlie and their fragile relationship. Thanks to a meddling old woman, these two meet and agree to marry. The tale that unfolds offers a slow building romance with growth and tender moments as Higgins wraps these characters around your heart.

Honor Holland is the back-bone of her family and their business. Her only relationship has been with her best friend and it’s been an unhealthy one. She is your average woman, who really sees herself as a plain Jane, and sadly often dresses that way. She has spunk though, and we see moments of it. While not my favorite character, she made me laugh, and I was pleased with the growth we saw from her. Tom Barlow has strong features and a sexy crooked tooth but it is his British accent that has woman fawning over him. I really liked this damaged and flawed man with a heart three sizes too big. His interaction with his stepson, and attention to Honor was sweet. Of course, he needed a big kick in the pants when it came to love and trust, and I enjoyed watching him grow. The side characters were wonderful in this tale and added depth. Higgins filled the tale with characters to make you melt, laugh and loathe all while allowing them to see growth, as well.

Going into The Perfect Match, I expected a romance wrapped around the marriage trope and knew it would be laced with humor, a little angst and looked forward to watching the relationship develop. What I didn’t expect was well rounded world Higgins drew me into. I fell in the love the Holland family, with Charlie, Tom’s stepson and I got caught up in the drama with Honor’s best friends. Higgins even introduced some traditions surrounding the Vineyard that held me spellbound. I would love to live on a vineyard, the whole idea is romantic, and while I know it is hard work it seems like a simplistic way of life. The romance developed slowly, in fact; their first encounter did not go well at all. These two are complicated, and whenever an arrangement is involved and feelings enter into the equations things get deliciously complicated. Higgins balanced the angst, and misunderstands with growth and depth. I really became quite entangled in everyone’s life and felt like I lived it with them, making this a realistic and heartfelt romance that I didn’t want to end.

Copy received in exchange for unbiased review​. ​Full review​ originally published @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer

[Lorelei's Lit Lair]

Hallo darling readers, (note, the British accent) I'm in love! Yes, with the Perfect Match!
Kristan Higgins creates another masterpiece taking us to the lovely Finger Lakes region again, this time delighting us with Honor's story, a heroine who puts others first, a workaholic member of the Holland family and considers herself average, compared to her younger sister Faith, from The Best Man.
Honor just turned 35 and desperately wants to marry and have a family before her ovaries die of old age (quite a hoot in the story!)
Tom Barlow (sigh) a hunky British mechanical engineer, currently teaching in college finds his working visa is about to expire. He needs to find a way to stay in order to care for his ex-fiancee's son, a teenage who's struggling after losing his mom.
Honors grandmother tries to hook these two up, but will they be able to pull off an arranged marriage?

As every one of Higgins stories, I found myself laughing with her creative ways and characters, even references to one of my childhood favorite characters! I swooned with Tom and Honor's romantic encounters, those kisses, the kind you feel butterflies in your tummy! Also, cried in tender and heartwarming scenes. And, let's not forget her adorable pets! Spike was quite the character, giving Tom (ehem!) lots of love, in her own special way.
The Holland family and friends were so entertaining and funny! There's more drama and suspense in this one, too.
When I read any story by Kristan Higgins, it's a sure bet I'll be up all night until the book is done, leaving me with a smile.

I received an ARC for my honest opinion and highly recommend The Perfect Match, a great story of love, family drama and wonderful entertainment! 5 hearts!

[Cocktails and Books]

I have never met a Kristan Higgins book I didn't like and The Perfect Match was no exception. What's not to love? Higgins always includes a darling dog (even if this one's nickname is "Ratty"), an irresistible hunk of man and a very lovable heroine in her stories. This is the perfect formula for me! Readers will fall in love with the Holland family (if they haven't already done so in the first book of the Blue Heron series). Honor is a very responsible middle child from a very loving family. The Hollands own Blue Heron Vineyards and Honor is happy to work there, live on the property and be the "rock" for her family with her little dog Spike. That is until her aging eggs start talking to her (possibly my favorite part of the book!) and she yearns for a family of her own. Tom Barlow is in need of a green card in order to stay in the States to work and remain a part of his almost-stepson's life. He had his heart broken by the mother of said boy and is reluctant to fall in love again. Some hilarity ensues, but there is also tragedy and heartbreak--a perfect balance to the story. Tom is just right amount of hero, allowing Honor to shine as the heroine in her own right. She is definitely no weak damsel in distress. Cheers, Higgins, you've done it again! Can't wait for the next one.

Reviewed by Joelle for Cocktails and Books