09/25/2023

Hedlund (The Last Chance Cowboy) sets this slow-burning historical romance in a 19th-century St. Louis gripped by a cholera outbreak amid a wave of Irish immigration. In 1849, handsome Riley Rafferty narrowly rescues Finola Shanahan from certain death beneath the wheels of a runaway horse and wagon. Riley’s well known for his acts of bravery around town, earning him the nickname “Saint Riley” and making him a shoo-in as the city’s next mayor. He’s immediately smitten with sassy, independent Finola, who’s intent on becoming a nun, though she’s not immune to Riley’s charms (“He had the kind of body that could make a nun blush”). Things get complicated when Finola’s parents turn to matchmaker Bellamy McKenna, who hopes to pair the two together. Though sparks fly, Finola remains skittish about marriage and children—a fear rooted in a buried childhood trauma she must grapple with as she weighs a life of service against the chance for once-in-a-lifetime romance. Hedlund’s textured historical backdrop brings the city’s Irish tenements to life, and the romance between Finola and Riley, full of longing and barely contained passion (“She was like a fire burning down a building. And he was walking straight into the flames”), is a treat. Readers will revel in this charming romp. (Dec.)

09/01/2023

Finola Shanahan has one goal in life: to drive all her suitors away so she can join a convent and continue her charity work with the Irish immigrants of St. Louis, MO. A matchmaker hired by her family sees beyond Finola's self-imposed penance, however, and matches her with daredevil businessman Riley Rafferty. The more Finola tries to scare Riley away, the more intrigued he becomes. Set against the backdrop of the bustling Gateway to the West, this laugh-out-loud historical romantic comedy also addresses the deplorable living conditions in the St. Louis slums and the struggles of enslaved Black people. When cholera hits a city bursting at the seams, Finola and Riley must decide where their true loyalties lie. VERDICT Hedlund ("Colorado Cowboys" series) seems to have a hit no matter what time period she writes, and this book is no exception. With its strong supporting characters set to continue this new series, readers will appreciate a unique U.S. immigrant story not set on the coasts. Fans of historical fare from Karen Witemeyer and Regina Jennings will want to open up this matchmaking adventure.