Review: The Time Traveling Matchmaker

THE TIME TRAVELING MATCHMAKER by Janie Emaus

Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Romance, 224 pages

3***

Blurb: Like every goal-oriented twenty-something, Jessica Singleton, an aspiring filmmaker, is obsessed with finding her future as quickly as possible. What she doesn’t know is that the future is obsessed with finding her. Renn Porter, an agent with Time Traveling Matchmaker’s Inc, blasts back in time-and into her life-in order to transport Jessica to the soul mate who has paid for this service…in the future. But things turn dangerous when it’s revealed that Renn has been sent after his own soul mate. Caught between two times, Jessica and Renn struggle to stay alive. Falling in love is the biggest risk either of them have ever taken-because, as they are destined to learn, the very existence of Time Traveling Matchmakers, Inc. rests in Jessica’s hands.

Thoughts: This was an unusual time-travel romance in that the matchmakers are from the future, hired by people who want their soul-mate, and the matchmaker goes back in time to find them (using futuristic technology to determine who that is). When novice matchmaker Renn meets Jessie (the supposed match for someone), things definitely do not go smoothly. Not only is he drawn to her like no one he’s ever met, but he gets the feeling things at work aren’t exactly as they’re supposed to be.

I loved the first few sentences from Jessie: I used to believe in happily ever after, but now I only believe in…after summer…after school…after breakfast…etc. I know that feeling all too well. Jessie meets Renn and after some misunderstandings, they turn to each other, but there’s someone who doesn’t want them together.

While I liked the story overall, I thought the writing was a bit jumpy with things happening, then not happening (going into buying a phone, not buying one, then having a phone). Dates that are a bit…off. But I did love the juxtaposition with Jessie’s parents. That was so sweet. I wish a character Renn knows had been found, but I have a feeling that’s a loose thread for a later book.

Recommendation: This is a decent story with an interesting premise, but there are some writing hiccups that made it not quite work for me. But overall, the concept is really good and I actually do look forward to more from this author.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Netgalley and the author, I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

9/19/22