A Matchless Man by Ariel Tachna

ariel-tachna-a-matchless-man-coverTitle: A Matchless Man

Series: Dreamspun Desire 19 / Lexington Lovers 02

Author: Ariel Tachna

Genre: Contemporary

Length: Novella (165pgs)

ISBN: 978-1-63477-370-6

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (1st October 2016)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 3 ½ Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: None of the matches caught his eye as much as the matchmaker himself.

Growing up poorer than poor didn’t leave Navashen Bhattathiri many options for life outside of school. All of his concentration was on keeping his scholarships. Sixteen years later, he’s fulfilled his dream and become a doctor. Now he’s returning home to Lexington and is ready to prove himself to the world. In doing so, he reconnects with Brent Carpenter—high school classmate, real estate agent, all-around great guy… and closet matchmaker.

Brent makes it his mission to help Navashen develop a social life and meet available, interesting men. Unfortunately Navashen’s schedule is unpredictable, and few of those available, interesting men value his dedication like Brent does. Brent’s unfailing friendship and support convince Navashen he’s the one, but can he capture Brent’s heart when the matchmaker is focused on finding Navashen another man?

Purchase Link: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/a-matchless-man-by-ariel-tachna-7492-b

Review: When Navashen moves back to Lexington, where he grew up, his first point of contact is Brent an old school classmate and real estate agent. Brent is keen to make Navashen feel welcome and sets about helping Navashen find a social life that doesn’t revolve around his work, and maybe helping him to find a man to spend time with.

Navashen is just happy to spend time with Brent and he loves the way that Brent treats his younger brother and wishes Brent would look his way for more than just friendship. When Navashen finally gets the courage to ask Brent out things start to look up, until Brent overhears Navashen’s mother and Brent’s insecurities take over,

This is a cute little story of friends to lovers, but I wouldn’t say it actually fit in with the Dreamspun Desire line; it missed its mark for being a romance as there really wasn’t any and I couldn’t feel any romantic connection between Navashen and Brent. Maybe if we also got Brent’s view point I could have seen his true feelings for Navashen but almost from the moment Navashen moved back to Lexington Brent seemed determined to hook him up with someone else.

Navashen does show his feelings for Brent in a subdued fashion, he just doesn’t think that Brent would be interested in him, so it’s actually through Navashen’s frustration that he and Brent get together and we learn that Brent felt the same way. We then have the hiccup with Brent’s insecurities and again it’s Navashen who has to make the effort, it was frustrating for me as a reader not to be able to smack Brent for being such a dickweed.

While I liked Navashen and Brent as characters it’s actually Akshat (Navashen’s younger brother) that steals the show, he is so amazingly sweet and loving and it’s wonderful to see his progress through the story as he finds his independence with Navashen’s help. So while I don’t rate this story very high for the actually ‘romance’ I do rate it highly for Navashen and Akshat and their brotherly relationship.