Reviewed by Cindy

TITLE: Shouting Match

SERIES: Amore Matchmaking Book 1

AUTHOR: Pandora Pine

PUBLISHER: Self-published

LENGTH: 260 Pages

RELEASE DATE: January 11, 2022

BLURB:

After the death of his father, Capone Lombardi was tasked not only with keeping his father’s legacy alive, but also to look after his mother and three younger brothers. Putting his own love life on the back-burner, he’s spent the last five years ensuring the family restaurant, Lombardi’s, thrives. It’s pretty sad that the closest he’s gotten to cuddling is nearly being arrested by a ridiculously hot cop with a hard-on for speed limits.

Forty years old and sick of one-night stands and prowling the bar scene, Detective Fuller Sims goes to local Italian restaurant, Lombardi’s, one night for drinks. What he’s not looking for is the youngest Lombardi brother to talk him into his matchmaking scheme. But Fuller is tired of being alone, and Brando Lombardi insists he knows exactly where to find the man of Fuller’s dreams—his overworked older brother, Capone—the guy Fuller almost arrested a few hours earlier.

Taking a chance on each other, Capone and Fuller find out that Brando might have matchmaking skills after all. When a blizzard sets its sights on the rugged Maine coast, a shouting match between the new lovers sends Fuller out into the raging storm. Can Capone find him before it’s too late?

Shouting Match is book one in the exciting Amore Matchmaking series. It features four gay brothers, their eccentric mother, an ornery goat, and way too much pasta.

REVIEW:

Capone and Fuller’s story made me smile.

This is a true romance novel in every way and it warmed this reader’s heart. I grew up reading my mom’s Harlequin romances and this story hit’s every Hallmark movie note.

Capone is too busy for romance. Running the family restaurant and taking care of his 3 brothers and his mom keeps him on the run for what feels like 20 hours a day. He’s Responsible with a capital R!

Fuller is a cop who’s also a pretty decent guy. He has his reasons to be skeptical about “love” but he thinks he’d still like to find it. When he starts getting to know Capone, he thinks maybe that he could help the gorgeous chef lighten his load a little.

This book is sweet and funny and pretty low angst and honestly, it suited me just fine. I usually like a little more dark with my light, but I think this just caught me in the right mood.

Pandora Pine has a knack for writing relatable characters who easily touch your heart. Capone’s brothers are all very different men and I am looking forward to their stories as well, especially Brando, because it’s always fun to watch the matchmaker get caught in his own game.

I enjoyed watching Capone come to the realization that there’s more to his brother’s than meets the eye. Big brother’s tend to get into protection mode and forget that their siblings are people too. The author seems to understand how families work.

Fuller understands what it’s like to carry a lot of responsibility and so he’s uniquely qualified to help Capone figure out how to let some of it go. His relationship with his work partner helps the reader to understand who he is.

This book had just the right amount of steam for me. Maybe I’m getting old but I find that I don’t enjoy it as much when the sex takes over the story. Pandora does it right, not letting “the magic dick” fix everything that’s wrong. Instead they sit and talk like actually adult humans…go figure!

This was the perfect book at the perfect time for me and I will be waiting with my heart in my hand for what comes next.

RATING:

BUY LINK: 

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