This was a fun book about fighting for what's important in life - - not just the things but also the people.

Katie Collins is a local bartender working for her small town's only remaining pub. She loves her job and being around the people. But her peaceful existence is interrupted when a hotel conglomerate begins construction on a new resort near her home. It not only brings noise and confusion to the area, it also is changing the landscape of their town....and not for the better.

Callum Dempsey works for the company developing the land in Katie's village. He's very matter of fact about his job but when a spitfire known as Katie shows up on his worksite, it throws him off his game. He's drawn to her for unknown reasons.

There is definite chemistry between these two but is that enough to overcome the fact that they are on completely opposite sides of the land construction feud? Katie will have to fight harder than she's fought for anything to try to save her beloved pub while Callum tries to keep things on track.

Thank y0u to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

Katie Collins has spent her entire life in the small Irish country town of Ennisbawn, and she doesn't take it kindly when a huge developer comes in to build a hotel and "revitalize" the town. When they threaten to tear down the pub she works at to make a better view for the hotel and golf course, Katie makes it her mission to restore the village to its former glory by reimagining the annual matchmaking festival, all while balancing her budding kinship with Callum, the project manager at the hotel building site.

This was a fun story, definitely a David vs. Goliath and you can't help but root for Katie, her group of friends, and the village of Ennisbawn to triumph over the evil corporate developer! I did feel the pacing was a bit slow at times, and there were a lot of characters that I sometimes struggled to keep track of, but I did really enjoy the relationship between Katie and Callum and how it developed.

TW: Death of parents, parental abandonment

Katie loves her tight-knit village and community life, but when Callum turns up to develop the area with a hotel and knock down the local pub Katie works in, she has the plan to revive the matchmaking festival.
This was a really cute romance novel. The main female character Kate is really sweet and shows passion for her home town, as well as the community; and loved the relationship we see between this character and her friends.

Although we know romance is blossoming between these two characters it was a slow burn but this didn’t put me off. I also loved the extra romance that Walsh gives us and hope it has a novel of its own.
I have read several books by this author and they continue to never disappoint!

Katie Collins is determined to re establish the matchmaking festival in her little Irish village in order to keep out big developers. Can she succeed? A funny, very enjoyable read.

Give me a book set in a cute countryside and I'm already sold. Katie's story was very unique because it didn't feature some small town girl heading to the big city and falling in love. Instead the small town girl fell in love with her small town and knew she was happier there than in any big city. Then enter Callum who comes from the big city but falls in love with Katie and the small town. This story feels opposite of every hallmark type romance and I loved it! It was such a fun easy read and I enjoyed watching the stories unfold. If you need something light and fun to read this is the book for you!

This was a cute, feel good story. I loved the characters right from the beginning. I loved the description of the Irish towns and setting, it made me fired up just like Katie and her small village about the hotel moving in on their quaint space. Overall this was a very cute book & I couldn’t help but smile as I read it. Thank you to Net Galley & Bookouture for an advanced copy of this book.

This book struggled to decide if it wanted to primarily be a small town do good story or a romance and it landed somewhere in between the mark. The romance didn’t have enough tension built up before they jumped in. The story created too many elements that weren’t well enough developed.

This was just a bit nondescript for me. By 20% in, I still wasn’t gripped or invested. One dimensional characters who I didn’t really care about, and not a lot to keep me turning the pages.

This book had a lot of potential but it fell a bit flat for me. I loved the small town Ireland setting and the tight knit community. I wasn’t really invested in the love story though. It was very insta-lovey and there just wasn’t enough buildup. I found myself wanting to finish this more to find out what would happen with the town and the hotel than with Katie and Callum.

Haven't met a Catherine Walsh book I didn't love! The Matchmaker was fun, filled with relatable characters, and the Irish charm we know and love!

A small Irish village was sleepy and quiet
Till developers moved in - enough to cause a riot!
Katie goes to confront them, fed up of the din,
Forgetting the pyjamas she's still dressed in.

When laughed off the site and her job threatened, too,
Katie is more determined to stop what they do.
She decides to revive the matchmaking festival next
Enlisting the locals the developers to vex.

Bringing the locals together to thwart the developers now
She becomes the leader of the action somehow.
Get ready for turmoil, angst and laughter, too,
As mischief and romance win their way through.

A fabulous read that I started late at night
When I looked at the time, I had a fright.
The sort of read that takes you into its heart
Making you reluctant to put it down, from the story to part.

I really enjoyed this delightful read
And hope it proves to be one that you also need.
Filled with friendships, community and romance
It is one that I highly recommend you give more than a chance.

For my complementary copy, I say a huge thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review.

The Matchmaker by @catwalshwriter is a book I found a couple of months ago on Netgalley and as soon as I read the plot I was like "even if they won’t approve it, I have to read this ”, so here I am✨
•
The fmc of this story is Katie, a woman who has never left her small Irish village, Ennisbawn. Why would she? She has everything she needs there. She works in a pub, the local community is nice and she has good friends. Everything seems to be peaceful… until the project that will lead to the construction of a hotel is approved. And guess what? The hotel is right in front of Katie's house.
•
After two consecutive mornings that the noises coming from the construction site wake her up early, Katie decides to break in to find who is responsible. Certainly Katie did not expect to find herself in front of Callum, one of the main developers of this project. Her plan unfortunately does not go as expected. A few days later, however, she will learn that the construction company's intention is not only to build this hotel, but also to close the pub where Katie works. So she will have to find a way to stop this.
•
The plan with which she thinks to solve everything is to revive the festival that in the past was one of the things that made the village so fascinating and consists in pairing the participants with the hope of finding the perfect match, a soul mate. This festival has an important meaning for Katie, it is where her parents met for the first time. For this reason she will have to put all of herself into it and the help of citizens would be appreciated, even from an unexpected person👀
•
The story started very well, I liked the book quite a lot, but unfortunately I was a bit disappointed by the mmc, especially in the second part of the novel.
I really appreciated Katie for her willpower and passion to do what she believes in. As a couple they work very well❤️.
But I was blinded by the off-screen couple that was literally driving me ✨CRAZY✨. Where can I sign up for a book about Gemma and Adam??? I need it like right now.
Thank u netgalley and bookouture for approving this ARC🤍

This is the second book I've read by Catherine Walsh. My first was Holiday Romance which I absolutely loved and when I saw she had a new book on Netgalley, I was thrilled.

Although I am not a big romance or rom-com reader, Walsh writes the exact kind of story I can go to when I am in the mood for a funny, compelling romance. The settings in Ireland are the cherry on top for me.
The main characters, Katie and Callum, both drew me in so quick! This is a pretty classic enemies to lovers type of story. Katie is a sweet, small-town girl who just wants to enjoy her quiet life in her small village working at the local pub. Along comes a big construction company that is building a hotel and ruining her vision of her future and her village. Callum, the super hot guy working for the construction company just might be able to help Katie, but will he? No matter, she is not going to let them take away her dreams.

I really hope that Walsh starts getting more recognition and buzz. She is an auto-buy for me now and I can't wait to see what she writes next. Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advance copy!

I love this cool idea of a matchmaking event! And then add in the setting in a small Irish town? It makes for the sweetest romance story! Read this one for an enjoyable, light romance that you know will have a happy ending!

Thank you to Catherine Walsh, Bookouture & Netgalley for my copy. All opinions are my own.

I have really enjoyed the three books by this author that I've read, including this one. I will admit, however, that it took me just a little bit longer to get into this one and at first I really wasn't sure about it. By the halfway mark, I could see a bit more about the bones of the story and I was fully invested and in love by the end of it - I think maybe it was just a strange pacing situation. The small town setting was fun, the characters were all great, and I love the idea of a group of people working towards a common goal (very Gilmore Girls ish in some ways). The Irish setting is really just the icing on the cake with her books :)

This was another enjoyable romance from Catherine Walsh.
I was hooked from the very beginning and even though you kind of know how it will all turn out, sometimes you just need a book where you know it will end with a happy ending.
It was a bit of a slow burn romance but that didn't put me off too much. There also wasn't a third act issue, which is something that I don't like. Their relationship was basically smooth sailing, which was nice.
I also really enjoyed Katie's relationships with her friends. They were particularly strong.
And I always like the way that Catherine depicts Ireland in her books.
If you're looking for an easy, enjoyable romance, this is definitely one to pick up.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed Cat’s book, Holliday Romance, I wondered if it was the Christmas element but this book has cemented that I love Cat’s writing style.

I don’t want to give any spoilers, I really enjoyed this and after chapter 1 I couldn’t put it down.

Treat yourself to this book!

I have loved Catherine Walsh's books in the past and this one was no different.

The plot was great and the pacing was spot on. The main characters were brilliant and jumped off the page. From the start I was hooked. I loved the chemistry between Katie and Callum. The two characters worked really well together. The storyline about the matchmaking festival was great fun and it balanced out the conflicts well.

Great book.

I just adored this book! I immediately felt connect to the FMC Katie as I’ve had constant construction near my house for years. I loved the idea of the matchmaking event, it seems so much fun! Now i wish i could attend one 😂.

Also Callum? Everyone needs a Callum! I just loved how the relationship between Katie and Callum progressed and I was rooting for them from their first meeting, with Katie in her pj’s.

I had a fun time reading this book and would totally recommend this one to everyone looking for a well written romance.

"You're my favourite place"

This tale of Katie Collins and her fight to save a small Irish village is heart warming.

This book was such an easy to read story, nothing too chaotic and unforeseen. I love how the relationships all come together and the story is easy to follow.

I would have loved to see Katie's relationship with Callum a bit closer and more of a slow burn, along with a surprise bundle in the epilogue, but that is probably just a personal preference *I can see the teary eyed me reading this now*.

Overall it was a lovely read and I could see myself enjoying it again.

Thank you to @netgalley and @catwalshwriter for sending me an Advance digital copy for my honest review.