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thankyou's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
over the top reactions from the firefighter. she shouldn’t have forgiven her! push her out the window!
gloriamontagov's review
4.0
➥ 4 Stars *:･ﾟ✧
"I guess you'll have to restart your car." Sasha cupped Abby's face and kissed her slowly once more. "Unless you feel like you've warmed up a bit..."
Abby followed Sasha's mouth as she leaned back to separate them. She stole a kiss before nodding. "Yup. Definitely warmed up."
"Good." Sasha ran her thumb along Abby's lower lip.
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I can see why this one has lower ratings than the other books in this series: because this book somehow packed 2 full-blown third-act conflicts. Obviously, that only pulled it down by one star for me, and there were many other truly lovely elements that I appreciated. My review may contain light spoilers. So...the pros:
➥ Abby humbling Sasha
➥ Sasha and Abby dancing together
➥ Sasha buying Abby a bouquet of flowers
➥ Sasha noticing that Abby was cold and rubbing her arms to warm her up
➥ Sasha with her firefighter uniform on
➥ Sasha with nothing on
➥ Sasha's muscles
➥ Sasha being good with kids (god, my ovaries were going to explode)
➥ Abby being a moody hottie, but also an adorable fucking softie
➥ Edie and Luke as a couple
➥ Seeing Samantha and Lucinda all happy and in luuuuuhhv.
➥ The sex 😌🤗😘
➥ Steamy epilogue 🔥 (every single author needs to take fucking notes rn because that closing sex scene did NOT COME TO PLAY)
*Wipes brow*, well that was easy, why don't I always just write a pros and cons list? Probably because I obnoxiously overexplain things until I'm satisfied that all my thoughts are now in the review rather than in my head. Okay! Onto the cons...
➥ Double third-act conflict 😪👎 (view spoiler) And they were both quite contrived.
➥ Followed by grand gestures 😬❌👎
➥ More dialogue blips than usual. Riley's work is rarely perfect and there are some occasionally cringey, face-souring moments, but this was another level. The glass-blowing pun, the fire puns ("dating someone so lit"), "babe" used once as a petname (I actually found it hot (I usually don't) but here is the TW you need).
➥ Although the sex scenes were great, as usual, there were fewer moments of the non-sexual romantic intimacy that Riley usually writes really well.
Generally, I liked Sasha's (h) character. Hot firefighter, delicious arms, gentleman-ish, sweetheart at heart. I didn't love the way she was presented initially as a "womaniser", admitting that she would look at other women while on dates in the past, but the book moved past that quickly. I envisioned her with a low blonde messy bun and NICE ASS ARMS 🥵🥵🥵.
But what Abby was most appreciative of was the cut of the tank top; Sasha’s strong, muscular shoulders flexed and rolled as she spun the bar while she walked. Abby had been surprised at how heavy the bar was, but Sasha maneuvered it like it was weightless.
I was drooling 🤷♀️. She's also really great in bed (duh) 😌💕 but like I said, a total fucking sweetheart.
Sasha stroked her side in reply, the soft sensation of a kiss between her shoulder blades warming her in a different way entirely.
Abby (h) was not here to play either. I loved how Sasha had this mesmerized gentle buff giant thing going on. Because she knows what's fucking up, Abby is fucking wife material.
"I'm an accountant." Abby shocker her once again.
"An accountant?" Sasha couldn't help the once-over she gave Abby and, to her horror, her mouth began saying things that her brain was screaming to keep to herself. "There's no way someone as gorgeous as you fools around with numbers all day."
"Is that so?" Abby blinked, a small smile settling on her face as she placed the now empty cocktail glass on the bar. Sasha was aware of Shaun trying to stifle a laugh behind them. She swallowed, waiting for what would be a totally deserved tongue lashing for her forwardness.
“Does it bother you? That I prefer the company of numbers to people with limited filters, such as yourself?” Abby’s lips shined as her tongue slid along them. “Contrary to what your skewed opinion may be, one can be both gorgeous and into math.”
Yeah, they can send the threesome application form my way 😘
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hhushaw's review
4.0
An honest review thanks to NetGalley. I have read the previous two books in this series, but you do not have to before reading Strike a Match. The characters are in the book, and I love this series so I would recommend it, but you do not have to. This was an awesome book, maybe even my favorite of the series. Sasha was amazing and having her so involved in her family and background gave her the perfect soft edge. This was an outstanding romance; you will not be able to put it down.
kieranl's review
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
4.0
I can’t exactly put my finger on what I found odd about this book; regardless I really appreciated that the focus was not on danger/trauma of being on the front lines as a firefighter. Solid fairly lighthearted read
patricia71's review
5.0
The least of the serie. I loved the MC’s together. The angst was there, the story was sexy, they were sexy in talk and action and they were romantic. But I was actually also curious about Dianna’s and Abby’s energy. The sex scenes were hot, but for a dirty minded couple like they were, there should have been more sex scenes in this one. There were a couple of hot scenes that didn’t progress on page. And that was a shame. I’m especially talking about the scene where Sasha was in Abby’s house for the first time and they just got back together. So 4,5 stars.
sherpawhale's review
3.0
Okay, you would think with my low score that I did not like this book.
On the contrary! I liked it quite a bit. I thought the chemistry was absolutely sparking between the two leads, I thought they each had good backstory.
I *hated* two tropes used here, and that's a personal thing.
One was a Grand Gesture: in particular, a grand gesture that involves an unconnected audience. I loathe that sort of thing; I can't tell you how much I root for people at baseball games or whatever to say "no" when a proposal happens. What artful manipulation.
The other was that... misunderstandings should not be based on characters needing therapy. Yet it was acknowledged by the characters themselves... that they fucked up because of their pride, preconceptions, and things they needed to examine... okay, I talked myself into giving this 1 star more, but that's it.
Recommended if you like Grand Gestures, because there are two of them.
On the contrary! I liked it quite a bit. I thought the chemistry was absolutely sparking between the two leads, I thought they each had good backstory.
I *hated* two tropes used here, and that's a personal thing.
One was a Grand Gesture: in particular, a grand gesture that involves an unconnected audience. I loathe that sort of thing; I can't tell you how much I root for people at baseball games or whatever to say "no" when a proposal happens. What artful manipulation.
The other was that... misunderstandings should not be based on characters needing therapy. Yet it was acknowledged by the characters themselves... that they fucked up because of their pride, preconceptions, and things they needed to examine... okay, I talked myself into giving this 1 star more, but that's it.
Recommended if you like Grand Gestures, because there are two of them.
elvang's review
4.0
This third book in the Perfect Match series brings together two women with something in common. They both have used the services of Perfect Match in the past, but a series of near matches have left them feeling like there will never be a special someone for them to love. Sasha McCray is a full-time firefighter who moonlights for a catering company, helping to support her parents and their medical expenses. Abby Rossmore works as an accountant for a charity and moonlights as a reluctant heiress. When they meet at the wedding reception for Sam and Luce all the fire-related superlatives used in the blurb come into play.
Strike a Match gives us just enough Samantha and Lucinda to remember what an awesome couple they make. Riley ties their fairy tale wedding reception into an introductory tool for the moonlighting Sasha, and the confident accountant/heiress Abby. Nothing sweeter than first connections at other people's weddings. It was a perfect showcase for the author’s skills at witty dialogue and her ability to set a scene and fire up the steamy bond these two women have right from the start.
This is a pure romance pleasure read. There are no villains to contend with, no broken hearts from serious past relationships and better still, no crazy ex’s showing up at inopportune moments. There is some serious lack of communication and secretive behaviour which creates a small amount of angst but that doesn’t detract from the amazing chemistry these two strong and independent women share.
A terrific escapist read filled with beautiful people who deserve their HEA. You can’t go wrong with a Fiona Riley read.
ARC received with thanks from BSB via NetGalley for review
Strike a Match gives us just enough Samantha and Lucinda to remember what an awesome couple they make. Riley ties their fairy tale wedding reception into an introductory tool for the moonlighting Sasha, and the confident accountant/heiress Abby. Nothing sweeter than first connections at other people's weddings. It was a perfect showcase for the author’s skills at witty dialogue and her ability to set a scene and fire up the steamy bond these two women have right from the start.
This is a pure romance pleasure read. There are no villains to contend with, no broken hearts from serious past relationships and better still, no crazy ex’s showing up at inopportune moments. There is some serious lack of communication and secretive behaviour which creates a small amount of angst but that doesn’t detract from the amazing chemistry these two strong and independent women share.
A terrific escapist read filled with beautiful people who deserve their HEA. You can’t go wrong with a Fiona Riley read.
ARC received with thanks from BSB via NetGalley for review
mjsam's review against another edition
4.0
ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is the third book in the matchmaker series, and features Sasha, who showed up briefly as a past date of Shelley’s in the second book and Abby, who also dated Shelley, but wasn’t actually a character in that book.
This is a fun read for the most part, the characters are engaging and have great chemistry. The way their relationship unfolds is both sweet and fun, and includes some great banter. Both sets of parents are also lovely and add to both the levity and the character building. Lucinda and Samantha also feature, (though Samantha shows up more) and their scenes are fun as well.
My only issue with the story was that obviously if one character is hiding something, it will bite them on the butt, and it does, although I was surprised this happened at the 3/4 mark, because it leads to the requisite breakup and those are usually left for right near the end. Unfortunately this was so another completely unnecessary breakup could be wedged in before the end. I could have lived without the second one, and the book could have done without it too, but the epilogue makes up for it.
I also give Ms Riley kudos for not doing something in the book that I was expecting the whole time (which I can’t mention here so as not to spoil the story), I love when authors surprise me.
Not sure if this is the last in this series, but I’ve enjoyed them all, and look forward to Ms Riley’s next book, whatever it is.
This is the third book in the matchmaker series, and features Sasha, who showed up briefly as a past date of Shelley’s in the second book and Abby, who also dated Shelley, but wasn’t actually a character in that book.
This is a fun read for the most part, the characters are engaging and have great chemistry. The way their relationship unfolds is both sweet and fun, and includes some great banter. Both sets of parents are also lovely and add to both the levity and the character building. Lucinda and Samantha also feature, (though Samantha shows up more) and their scenes are fun as well.
My only issue with the story was that obviously if one character is hiding something, it will bite them on the butt, and it does, although I was surprised this happened at the 3/4 mark, because it leads to the requisite breakup and those are usually left for right near the end. Unfortunately this was so another completely unnecessary breakup could be wedged in before the end. I could have lived without the second one, and the book could have done without it too, but the epilogue makes up for it.
I also give Ms Riley kudos for not doing something in the book that I was expecting the whole time (which I can’t mention here so as not to spoil the story), I love when authors surprise me.
Not sure if this is the last in this series, but I’ve enjoyed them all, and look forward to Ms Riley’s next book, whatever it is.
lsnack's review against another edition
5.0
I really liked it.I liked all three books to be honest. I’m hoping there’s a fourth I’m sure there’s a character in there that’s looking for Miss Match to get a her the perfect match