Mrs Hart’s Marriage Bureau is the first novel for adult by Northern Ireland author, Sheena Wilkinson. Martha Hart, widowed by the First World War after only eleven days of marriage, was so moved by the plight of injured, disabled and disfigured returned soldiers, she eventually opened Mrs Hart’s Matrimonial Bureau in Easterbridge to find them partners amongst the post-war surplus of grieving, widowed or involuntarily single women of Yorkshire.

Caring for her bedridden mother meant she left running to an assistant whose abuse of her position left the business run-down, and the interviews for a new assistant leave her doubtful she will find the right person. Miss April McVey, though, formerly of Lisnacashan in Northern Ireland, and now living with her aunt and widowed mother in Manchester, seems to have the right attributes and attitude to help refresh the business.

In her interview, April proves to be charming, honest, sensible, sensitive, resourceful, literate, fresh, and interested in people: she has the required sympathique. April is quite definite about not wanting to marry, so won’t follow the previous assistant. She’s not averse to hard work, but she does challenge Martha with the changes she suggests, including a name change to True Minds Marriage Bureau. Her match-ups, though, turn out to be successes.

After three years as a widower, provincial solicitor Fabian Carr is at his wits’ end with his fourteen-year-old daughter, Prudence. He moved them from London to Easterbridge where they would be closer to his sister Felicity, and away from reminders of the cancer that took his beloved Serena. But Felicity is too busy with her writing to bother much with her niece, and Prudence is now on her final warning at her third boarding school in three years.

Fabian’s second encounter with Miss April McVey entails her bringing Prudence home after she turns up, having again absconded from St Lucy’s, at her aunt’s home, where April is renting the attic bedroom. This self-possessed young woman so impresses him, he sets out to court her. April would happily find him a wife, but isn’t interested in being one.

The revamp increases business and Martha is pleased with her new employee until April makes a poor decision that puts her in danger and potentially damages the reputation of bureau. Meanwhile, April worries about her landlady, Fabian’s sister: strange behaviour, financial problems and an association with possibly the wrong people…

As well as some sweet matches, there are a couple of twists and surprises in this truly delightful historical rom-com. More from this author will be welcome.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Harper Collins UK.

"Mrs Hart’s Marriage Bureau" by Sheena Wilkinson is a charming and delightful novel that transports readers to a bygone era where love and matchmaking were both art and business. Wilkinson’s writing is filled with warmth and wit, bringing to life a cast of endearing characters whose stories intertwine in surprising and heartwarming ways. The setting is richly detailed, capturing the ambiance of the time while exploring timeless themes of love, hope, and second chances. "Mrs Hart’s Marriage Bureau" is a feel-good read that will leave you smiling, perfect for those who enjoy a blend of historical fiction and romance.

I fell in love with this story since I read the first pages and fell harder when April quote an author who's not well know but I love.
This is a comedy of manner, a story of lonely people who are indipendent but don't know that maybe there's something missing in their life.
There's Martha who matches veteran and woman who are considered "Surplus", April who is searching indipendence, Fabian and his sister
It's sweet, its poignant and it does not shy away from topics like fascism, the damage of the war, woman indipence.
An excellent book that I strongly recommend.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

My first read of this author and I was well impressed. Set in a busy market town during the pre WWII period we meet April, a bright and clever young lady who has left her home in Northern Ireland in search of new opportunities. Martha runs the marriage bureau of the title and needs an assistant. Enter April like a proverbial whirlwind, determined to make her mark.
The book has a good plot and there are many characters to become fond of in their hopes of meeting their match. This is an excellent drawing of social life during this time when women only worked until marriage and their reputation sacrosanct. A touch of politics and a study of isolation and friendships. I enjoyed the book thoroughly, and the ending is not what I expected. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC of Mrs. Hart's Marriage Bureau.

With thanks for the copy through Netgalley

A lovely story set between the two world wars with a close knit community of characters who are all great.

A heartwarming and easy to read story.

I really enjoyed this book. I liked the main characters and enjoyed the differences between April and Mrs Hart.
I enjoyed the fact that the book was set in the 1930s and the references to what was going on in the world were interesting.
I hope there is a second book as I would like to find out what happens to April and Felicity.
A very enjoyable read.

An historical read set in a Yorkshire mill town in the years leading up to World War 2. April McVey comes from a small town in Northern Ireland and is looking for a job. She has left her homeland under some sort of cloud and now wishes to make her own way, independent from her Mammy who is living in Manchester with her sister.
When she gets a position as an assistant in Matha Hart’s Marriage Bureau, she is determined to make it work despite her lack of experience in this particular line of work.
The book examines April, her employer, Mrs Hart, a war widow who has also been taking care of her mother whilst trying to run her business as well as April’s landlady, Felicity and her brother, Fabian a recently widowed single parent.
All the characters are looking for some sort of love even though some of them don’t realise it until the very end of the novel. The women are described as strong and independent, despite the times they live in.
This is a cosy and pleasant read full of wonderful characters who really jump out of the pages. There is a lot of romance of course, particularly as the plot centres around a matrimonial agency but it becomes clear early on that it is not only the clients that are looking for love.
The attention to detail is very good, the author has certainly researched this pre war period and I felt the dialogue seemed very natural, even April’s speech was believable with all her Irish colloquialisms- in fact they made her even more endearing. She is a fabulous character and someone I really enjoyed getting to know.
Definitely a recommended read which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.

I loved this witty thoughful book, set in 1930s Yorkshire.

As a mid century novel enthusiast it was a delight to read a book so obviously well researched and steeped in the period, the effects of one world war lingering, the first hints of a second on the horizon. Recently moved to Manchester from Northern Ireland, April needs both a job and to move out of her Aunt's house and so applies for a job as assistant for a marriage bureau. She has no interest in marriage herself, but likes to be busy, organised and to solve problems and so, despite Martha Hart's misgivings about her dialect, language and youthful enthusiasm, is hired. Martha herself has neglected the business she set up after the war to help injured servicemen meet so called surplus women, busy looking after her ailing mother, and so with April's help she relaunches the bureau.

Mrs Hart's Marriage Bureau deftly mixes a satisfying historical romance with a social commentary on feminism, facism and sexuality, driven by fabulous characters and a fun plot. Bonus points for some fun chalet school references, some more subtle than others (Sybil and the embroidery - if you know, you know). Highly recommended.

Such a lovely historical fiction novel set in 1930s Yorkshire.

This was a gorgeous cosy read with lovable characters and a sprinkle of romance.

We follow April as she moves from Ireland in search of work and gets a job in Mrs harts marriage bureau.

It was definitely well researched for the time period it was set in. A delightful historical fiction if that’s what you’re in the mood for.

I thoroughly enjoyed this delightful story! Set in 1930s Yorkshire, April arrives like a breath of fresh air in the sleepy Yorkshire town of Easterbridge. Fresh from Ireland, she is looking for a job and is soon employed in a Mrs Hart's marriage bureau. April soon sets about suggesting ways that the bureau can be updated for the modern 1930s man or woman and attract more business in the process.
The author's research of this period clearly shines through and really helps to bring the story to life. I loved all of the little details that were included about every day life during the 30s; the attitudes and expectations of those who had survived the great war and were looking for love were particularly poignant. With characters you find yourself really caring about, a background suggestive of horrors to come in the form of Nazi Germany and some truly sweet love stories, this novel has a lot to offer the reader. Thorough recommended.

I read the description of Mrs Hart's Marriage Bureau and immediately wanted to request it. I absolutely flew through this novel in about 2 days. It has everything I love in a novel, history, romance and beautiful descriptions of the countryside. This is the perfect cosy read to curl up with at night and has been a wonderful balm for the soul.

April has travelled from Northern Ireland to Manchester and then on to Easterbridge in Yorkshire to help Mrs Hart to bring her marriage bureau into the modern age in 1930s Britain. The characters are warm, charming and the female characters are very ahead of their time especially April and Felicity who eschew traditional expectations of getting married and settling down and they just live the life they want to.

I really related to April as I am also a Northern Irish girl who is finding her feet and searching for community in Yorkshire. Plus all the Northern Irish isms made me feel right at home.

I've heard once that your home library should be like a pharmacy and this book is the perfect balm for the soul.

An atmospheric, romantic drama set in a Yorkshire mill town during the pre war years. I enjoyed the characters, story and the relationships that develop. The author captures the period well. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

A really pleasant book that read very easily and with themes that even in this day and age are relevant such as women's rights, refugees and the state of the world.

Another theme was loneliness and the need to belong. Surprisingly, even those who suggested others to join a club to expand their social life didn't take their own advice. I didn't expected how things turned out in the end, most of which I had not seen coming. And yet I am not really happy with how the majority of the characters ended up being couples. Despite this being set in 1934, it was as if that was the only way to find their way in life.
With that I was happily cheering on the ladies who turned their lives around in different ways, such as the lady taking in refugees for lodgers or the one who started working as a governess.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.