The Matchmaker's Replacement

It kind of makes me a horrible person, but I'll admit it and hang my head in shame: I judge a book by its cover. Or you know what? No, let me reword that. I will buy a book based in its cover. If it has a good cover and the synopsis sounds interesting, sure, get in my cart, please and thank you. Now here's the thing, if a book happens to say Rachel Van Dyken on it, it goes in the cart immediately. I don't care what the synopsis says. I don't care if the cover is a picture of a bird sitting in a wicker basket while riding a surfboard into the sunset. If her name is on it, I'll buy it, end of story. There's really no need to be surprised by her level and quality of work because it's all amazing, she has never let me down. I have very few auto-buy authors but Rachel is right at the top of that list. Want a book recommendation? Here's an author to check out, she has something for everyone!“Be the Cinderella at the ball and the prince takes you home, right?Isn’t that how life worked? Instead, the prince kissed me, then insulted me, rejected me, and so started the war.”Everyone who loves a good enemies to lovers romance, look no further, this is the book that you want. Trust me when I say you won't deny the hatred between these two! The line they walk is a fine one, fuelled with passion that will have you burning through the pages. My favourite part with this trope is when each character starts to acknowledge that they may not actually hate the other as much as they let on but can't give in without a fight. Being Gabi and Lex, it's guaranteed this feud won't go down quietly and it's quite the adventure to watch unfold.“Only you could make something so asinine sound somewhat sweet. Okay, point me to the Fortress of Solitude, and I’ll try not to sweat estrogen everywhere.”“Upstairs. And Gabs, I really mean it when I say . . . If you ever leave a tampon in my room, I will cut you.”“Aw . . .” Gabs placed her hands against her heart. “That’s just so”—she wiped a fake tear—“thoughtful.”Not only is this book hilarious, but the banter between the hero and heroine is spot on. The battle for power is addicting and what they say/do to aggravate each other will have you shaking your head. Even when you get a break from the bickering and banter for some sweet and swoony moments, it comes right back at you because that's just who Gabi and Lex are.“Hey!” He chuckled. “I was just trying to help.”“Grabbing your crotch is not the answer, Lex!”“Weird, because it so often is.”“I hate today.”“Is it the rain?” He frowned.”“It’s not—”“It is.”Sometimes in a book, you fall in love with the hero; these become our book boyfriends. Other times, you bond with the heroine; she becomes the kick ass girl we want as our BFF. But what about the times where you fall in love with the characters as a couple? I loved every single second of the relationship in this story. From the present to the quick flashbacks, the fighting, the bickering, the laughing and loving, it was perfect. There's times when everything just feels right and this was one of those times. I finished the book with no questions or qualms, and having never doubted this relationship. Man, I wish they were real people!I loved every chapter, every page, every sentence of The Matchmaker's Replacement. It's lively and will keep you on your toes, it puts a smile on your face and will make you laugh out loud. It deals with all too real issues and shows the lengths you'll go through for the people that you love. You'll swoon, you'll laugh, you'll devour every word and you'll fall in love with Lex and Gabi just like I did.“I gently placed her back in the passenger seat. “Buckle up, Sunshine, I’m about to rock your world.”“Hmm . . . I wonder how many girls you’ve said that to?”“That line? Too cheesy. I saved it for you.”“Touched.” She smirked, then reached for my hand. “And Lex?”“Yeah?” I was shaking, but I squeezed her hand back.“Tonight.” She licked her pink lips. “You were my hero.”I had never realized how badly I wanted her to see me in that light—until that moment.”This is the type of book that's so easy to read, you breeze through it. You give yourself goals while reading like, "okay, I can read *x* many pages before getting back to the real world." Or whatever the case may be. But when you finish those designated pages, you keep going. Soon enough you finish the chapter, then the next. Possibly even the one after that before you realize what has happened. It's addictive.“Don’t play with fire, Sunshine . . .”“I’m made of fire.” I licked my lips as his eyes narrowed. “Don’t get burned.”What happens when the villain turns into a hero? Lex Luthor happens. Man oh man this guy is perfect! He knows when to be light and fun or serious and swoony. He has no problem saving the damsel in distress and is loyal to a fault. Lex is THE definition of what a book boyfriend should be.“I didn’t ask you to save me!” I shouted.“You didn’t have to!” He matched my tone as he charged toward me. “Because I always will!”Gabi was a pretty damn cool chick. She's sassy, confident, completely selfless and I really enjoyed seeing her character grow. Ultimately, who else could possibly keep up with the super villain genius boy otherwise known as Lex Luthor?You know what's awesome? Life doesn't always have earth shattering, soul crushing, character dying/being kidnapped conflicts and neither does this book. What I can tell you is it's certainly a doozy, but there isn't some large fabricated issue just used as a plot point in the story. It's a real issue that affects both characters equally. Even better, it's then dealt with by character who are acting like adults. Wait! Can that happen in a NA book? I kid. You know what I hate more than overused and predictable plots? Miscommunication which leads to a breakup of characters. You know what doesn't happen? That! Hallelujah, thank you Rachel“The front door slammed. And Lex Luthor, super villain, my hero, boyfriend, and the strongest guy I’d ever known, crumpled into my arms and didn’t let go.”I love the Consequence series by RVD something fierce, but I think the Matchmaker series may have just overthrown the Consequence guys and gals. Dare I say that? I loved every second of The Matchmaker's Playbook when I read it earlier this year. It's funny and charming, intriguing and entertaining and yet holds depth to make you passionate about the characters. Thinking back, I believe I rated the first book as 5 stars and I really wasn't sure what Rachel would do to top Ian and Blake's story. Not thinking much about it, when offered, I jumped on the chance to read The Matchmaker's Replacement while expecting about the same amount of enthusiasm for this story. I was wrong. I was dumbfounded. With stating how much I enjoyed the previous book in the series, this one blew it out of the water! I was IN LOVE with this story immediately, Gabi and Lex stormed their way into my heart and refused to leave. This book right here is not only favourites shelf material, but may just be my favourite Rachel Van Dyken book to date.“And the damsel fell for the villain. Write that, Disney.”

The Best Parts:Have you ever wondered if those Disney princes were like men you could find in the real world? Well you were right, they aren’t real, but I found one super close to being real who is in a book, and is super pretty, and super nerdy, and a super villain <3Lex. My goodness. Lex. This man whore is the type of man that every girl wants. I know that sounds like such a contradiction, but trust me when I saw the Lex will have you swooning after the first few chapters. His character is so complex, but not in the deep roots of I can’t feel anything, and all my love has been sucked out of me. NO. In the way that he feels TOO much, and loves with all of his damn heart.But this book isn’t just about Lex. It’s also about Gabi. The girl who has loved the bad boy forever, and knows better than to let her heart get stomped on. I love how real she is and how much heart she has. She doesn’t let anyone baby her, and she fights for the life that she wants to live, and those that she loves she fights for.The fighting between these two is real. Like so real that I look at my husband every night and go damn, I used to have a restraining order against you in high school… Yea. Lex and Gabi fighting is what true love is. It’s so much fun to read, and will have you laughing your ass off.Now this book is a little different from most depending on which platform you read on. Now if you look at the price for this book it is normally a little higher than most ebook’s I read, but it is for a good reason. If you order this book through Amazon as a ebook, you will receive a Kindle In Motion book. Now this is a new way to read where you have photo backgrounds, acted out scenes and photos throughout the whole book, OF THE CHARACTERS. You heard that right. These characters are alive and real. So freaking real.Now there is an option to turn it off while you read, which is what I did, and then I went back and reread with the graphics. The actors for the characters weren’t what I expected, but it didn’t take away from the experience. It was fun to see what you are reading come to life, and not just a little bit, but like specific scenes. Like that is magic. <3The Worst Parts:Want to know the worst part for me? It’s that this is over. Wingman Inc. is done. Well at least that is what it pans out to be by the end of the book. Like they are happy and living their live, Ian, Lex, Gabi, and Blake. Like can I just have more? Can we have their kids stories?! I just don’t want to lose these boys. Literally Ian was my everything this year, but LEX. LEX has my heart and soul forever. If you don’t like the bad boy/villain, then he just isn’t for you, and you know what?! MORE FOR ME!Final Thoughts:I laughed. My heart fell. My heart swelled. This is the kind of book you read when you want to feel something. Not be wrecked to the point that your heart shatters. No. To the point where you look around you and ask the person sitting next to you if their world was just tilted on their axis too. It is a book that has characters that will stick with you and that you will fall for. If you are ready for that then dive on in, and if not, then let me know and I’ll show you something else by Rachel that I know you will love <3

super funny story, it is a great pastime.two friends start a company based on their knowledge and observation of man and woman behavior... so now, they sell their knowledge and "help" to all kinds of woman in order to get what the girls want.great story.

Infelizmente, esse livro não me agradou em diversos aspectos.Não achei muito diferente da proposta do anterior. Muitas das vezes fiquei irritada com os protagonistas. O fato da autora ter trazido novamente uma mocinha virginal e um mocinho pegador/bad boy não me agradou.Também não houve representatividade alguma neste livro, sendo assim, mais uma das coisas que me deixou frustradaAchei realmente uma pena não ter conseguido nem terminar o livro, considerando que eu amei o primeiro.

This was a great romantic comedy. I just loved the chemistry between Lex and Gabi. Their enemies to lovers relationship was spot on. They had great witty dialogue between them; their banter just made me smile throughout. More so that than though, when the characters let their guard down and started to give us a glimpse of what was going on behind their facade, we also get a really touching book.Another fab read from RVD. I would most certainly recommend this book/series.

(I received an eARC of the book in exchange for an honest review on For The Love of Fictional Worlds)I LOVE THE KINDLE IN MOTION EDITION OF THIS BOOK! SO I BOUGHT ONE FOR MYSELF! :DTHIS BOOK WAS EVERYTHING I EXPECTED AND SO MUCH MORE!Lex is the cocky, evil genius hero that I absolutely adored at first sight in the book and Gabbi is the woman who doesn't let him get away with his crap! Sounds cliche but TRUST ME IT WORKS! This romance is all about their connection, a connection that I absolutely fell in love with. They are argumentative, snappy and sarcastic with each other, BUT IT WORKS. Oh boy, does it work!Lex Luther, is the brains behind the Wingmen Inc., - a company that he co-owns with his best friend and roommate, Ian - a way to help girls land their unrequited crushes and/or their crushes - all the while making loads and loads of money.The only rule - they don't sleep with their clients. Not that Lex needs the help. He is hot, intelligent and gives off the bad boy vibe, that girls always flock to - but that's all they actually get. His body. Not his mind, not his attention. Because that has already been given to Gabbi, his roommate's best friend/ sorta -sister.It is so much fun getting inside Lex's head - if you see him superficially, like we did in The Matchmaker's Playbook - you would think that he crass, arrogant and absolute irritating. But that was just the surface.He is also caring, loyal and feels so deeply that it was a wonder my heart actually didn't burst out of my body - with the pain and the love he held for Gabi inside him!He is the hero, I have always believed to be the best kind of heroes - they might get on your nerves most of the time, but it is depth of their love and loyalty to their woman that keeps me coming back to them!Gabrielle Sava aka Gabi is the one woman who doesn't treat Lex like the hot guy he actually is! But that doesn't mean that she isn't affected by him - of course she is.Gabi is a woman who gets the "hotness" of Lex and makes sure to keep him on his toes - but the fact that he insults her at every turn, isn't exactly condusive to a relationship. Not to mention their best friend Ian would absolutely have a conniption.She is also a woman used to dealing with life's problems alone - so when she gets into a pickle, a pickle she is trying really hard to keep from Lex's hacking ways - the only way she can stay afloat is to get on board with The Wingemen's Inc - catering to the male population, putting her in direct contact with the one man who she wants but really can't stand!Like flaming hot. Their banter, their altercations, even their romance - everything is a foreplay with them. And THEY. ARE. THE. PERFECT. MATCH!I adored their connection, their romance and their conversations but best of all, I am so glad that even though these two were pining for each other from the start - their relationship wasn't made out to be an insta-love!I mean, seriously - they were so STUBBORN and THEY TOOK THEIR TIME TO OPEN UP - and while in other cases, it would have made me want to scream at them - with their history, it made the perfect sense.Plus, it was so much fun to actually to see their journey to the point of actually accepting their feelings for each other. Lex showed so much angst at not being able to be close to the one girl he actually wants, and Gabi, she just sees glimpses of the man who could be perfect for her, but so much kept that man from her.The romance is not only humorous, but has depth and emotional foundation that is more than could be expected from a rom-com - but it is the character growth of Lex - or more to the point, the Unveiling of the Original Lex that steals the show in this installment!Trust me, if you are new to RVD, this is the series that you should start with - I did, and I haven't looked back since! :)

Lex and Gabi's weird relationship dynamic has intrigued me since reading the first novel, The Matchmaker's Playbook. So, as you can imagine, I was pretty thrilled when I discovered that the next installment in the Wingmen Inc. series would be all about them.I'm pretty sure I'm in love with Lex - sans his man-whoring ways (of course).I mean, it's not often that you find a man that has awesome programming skills, is easy on the eyes, has a kind heart, and has a decent amount of intelligent thought going on between the ears. As I'm minoring in computer science, I feel that I am quite the reliable source on this one, when I tell you that he is a very rare breed. (Can he just be real so I can have him?) He's also kind of ridiculous at times - but in a really good way. One of my favourite parts in the novel is a scene when he messages Ian, What girls eat? Just so adorably ridiculous.His and Gabi's relationship is so entertaining to read, with lost of creative pranks and insults, all with the underlining sexual tension. I loved it! I found myself laughing at one thing or another in every chapter, though my favourite were in Lex's POV and his thought process is totally over the top most of the time.There is this underlining running theme throughout the novel of the importance of family and what we are willing to do for them; sacrificing money, food, love. It's a beautiful message that is a nice change from the usual lust and 'claiming' someone as yours.The Matchmaker's Replacement is a thoroughly entertaining read that's a laugh a minute while also sending your emotions on one hell of a rollercoaster ride. It's a book that I highly recommend.