Book Review: The Gentleman's Confession by Anneka R. Walker

About the Book:

Inexperienced in courtship and love, Jemma turns to her best friend, Miles, for guidance on how to win a man’s heart—not knowing that Miles has secretly loved her for years.

Brookeside, England, 1822

Jemma Fielding has always considered herself an independent woman, but to honor her beloved grandmother’s dying wish, she makes a promise that she will marry and fall in love. To fulfill her promise, she turns to the Matchmaking Mamas Society for assistance and is paired with the charming Mr. Bentley. Though he is everything Jemma could hope for in a match, she is clueless about how to win his heart. Desperate to make a good impression, she seeks guidance from her dearest friend, Miles Jackson, a humble rector with a talent for understanding matters of the heart.

However, Miles’s secret affection for Jemma has spanned years, and teaching her to love someone else threatens to betray his own heart. Despite his selfless nature, Miles fears he will never be more than a humble rector in her eyes.

Even as he gives Jemma lessons in love, Miles grapples with the challenge of convincing her that Mr. Bentley may be a perfect gentleman but he is not the perfect match for her. Will Miles’s advice in romance jeopardize their years of friendship, or will it reveal the attraction that has quietly blossomed between them, proving that this time, the Matchmaking Mamas may have made a mistake? Miles must decide if he’s brave enough to confess his feelings to Jemma before she is whisked away forever.

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My Thoughts:

In The Gentleman’s Confession by Anneka R. Walker, readers meet Jemma Fielding and Miles Jackson, two affectionate, life-long friends whose relationship changed when Jemma’s dying grandmother exacted a promise from Jemma that she will marry. The beginning of Miles and Jemma’s story was one of friendship and felt largely absent of romantic tension. It wasn’t until Miles truly started pursuing Gemma that the pull between these two grew and my interest piqued.

My favorite aspects of The Gentleman’s Confession were the witty letters that Jemma and Miles exchanged and the theme about being brave enough to pursue what is good and right above pleasing others. It is the introduction of this theme that changes the direction of the story and the relationship between Miles and Jemma. I marked several quotes related to this theme and it has stuck with me since reading the story.

The Gentleman’s Confession by Anneka R. Walker lands a book three in the Matchmaking Mamas Romance series. The romance between Gemma and Miles stands well on its own, but their meetings and work with the Rebels gave me a sense of being out of the loop because I had not read the prior novels. Three stars.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.