This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance

*May Contain Spoilers*

A Match Made In Bed is book two in Cathy Maxwell's "Spinster Heiresses" series and I saw this one available at my public library through their Overdrive and I grabbed it right up. I have been in a historical listening mood lately and with Mary Jane Wells as the narrator for this book I just knew it would be a keeper and I definitely should be listening to my instincts more because this because packed quite a punch and in some ways, I never really expected to see coming. The one true talent (there are many) but what I have truly come to admire about this author over the years is the unique style of storytelling and the way she grabs the readers attention and the levels of emotion that sneak up on you.

Miss Cassandra Howell has come to London with her father and step mother to find a man to marrry, she has a fortune gifted to her by her grandfather and her father seeks a good match for her. When Cass runs into an old flame, her life is about to change in ways that she doesn't see coming. Soren York, the Duke of Camberly and Cassandra were once very good friends but then a foolish stunt from Soren hurt their friendship and Cass has never been able to forgive him. But now Soren and Cass are in close proximity to each other and the tension fly's between them. What starts as a book finding mission, Cass ends up in a compromised position and the only way to save her reputation will be to marry. Cassandra agrees, because she doesn't want to be hidden away in the country side, and seeing the way that Soren tried to protect her emboldened her resolve to pave her own life and her own decisions. But her life changes when she learns that her father has spent her whole fortune and there is nothing and has even sold off all of her possessions except for her mother's pearl necklace. Cassandra's life has turned upside down as she is betrayed by the man she trusted the most. But Soren and Cass find their own way in their lives, one where their love is reignited and a family is formed.

The second book in the Spinster Heiresses series is a truly passion ignited love tale that breathes life into a fobidden tale of a Romeo and Juliet retelling. Soren and Cassandra's friendship was forbidden, but they didn't let the hate their families had for each other to stop them. They were practically inseperable until their teens and Soren made a stupid boyhood mistake that cost him the best person in his life, a girl he loved with hair like the sun and he never forgot her. Now its been years since they have seen each other. Soren and Cassandra are both different people. Soren has cultivated businesses in the America's, a widower with a son to raise in a land where his son's heritage won't be welcome by everyone. But Soren is determined to raise his son in England and show him to be the best man he can be. As Soren and Cass reconnect, their love story we see is just beginning as Cassandra finds her own place in the world and builds her own dreams with the loving support of Soren and the creation of their family.

I truly was astounded by this book, I never expected the level of emotion that I saw coming into this story. I also love a solid retelling especially with a Romeo and Juliet retelling where we see a happy ending develop and boy does that happen. We see the forbidden love that they have paved, how they have both gone against their families to be together. What is truly remarkable in their story is the ways that they don't let the past deter them from a happy future and aren't afraid of working together to carve their own path.

Overall I found A Match Made In Bed to be a story of layers of emotion, reconnecting friendships, levels of true sacrifice and perserverance and the love tale that is empowering to its readers! SUPERB!