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Since the early passing of her husband, Cynthia has been grateful for her father's help with her two young sons. Now Cynthia wants a bit more space to get on with her life, but she's worried about her father being all alone. Her best friend Judith is rather sure that setting Cynthia's father up with a nice, older widow would be just the ticket in The Matchmakers by author Janette Oke.

This author has been one of my all-time favorites for years, with her simple and touching stories, so I always knew I'd get around to reading this tale from the 90s eventually. What a light, cozy little story it is--and I mean that literally, with its fun and heartwarming plot and the lovely illustrations in the hardback I picked up. Not to sound corny, but this is a bona fide "curl up on the couch with a warm cup of coffee" kind of read.

Or a warm cup of cocoa. I personally don't drink coffee.

I got a little annoyed at some of the unnamed characters, and even at Judith at one point, for the attitude they'd take about Cynthia's situation. "I have a family," Judith reminds Cynthia once, as if Cynthia doesn't know that--and as if Cynthia doesn't have a family herself. (No, she doesn't have a husband anymore. But she does have a family.) And I'm not sure how well a "leave it all in God's hands and don't manipulate" frame of mind works in a matchmaking story. If you're purposely finding ways to leave two people alone in each other's company, you're still manipulating the situation.

But, anyhow. I enjoyed this easy and delightful read--predictable, but then, not quite as predictable as I thought it would be. ( )

Such a wonderful little story that tricks you in the end. I do wish it would have been a little longer and let you know what happened a little while down the road. Very true to life to the way people really think and feel. ( )