Release Blitz + Review: "A Match Made in Spain" by Rochelle Merrill

I'm pleased to take part in today's release blitz celebrating "A Match Made in Spain" by Rochelle Merrill. I studied in Spain for a semester in college, so it will always have a special place in my heart. Because of that connection, the title of this book alone was enough to interest me in reading it, and thankfully, it didn't disappoint.

After her best friend and fellow teacher was injured in an accident, recently divorced American Sign Language (ASL) teacher Cecilia Galvan was roped into chaperoning a school trip to Spain. The journey got off to a bad start when a handsome but careless fellow traveler ran into Cecilia's ankle with his suitcase, but things started to look up when the same man, wine company CEO Felip Segura, was seated next to her on the plane and helped her through her fear of takeoff. She never expected to see him again, but fate brought them together in Madrid, where Cecilia's group was scheduled to meet a guide from Felip's brother's tour company. Another accident resulted in their guide being placed on bed rest for several days, but Felip stepped in to help, hoping to use the time to woo Cecilia. He quickly realized that he had strong feelings for her and hoped that there was a future for them beyond her visit, but could he convince her to give them a chance?

 

Even though Cecilia and Felip fell in love quickly, their romance never really felt like insta-love to me. Because they were traveling together, they were able to get to know each other surprisingly well in a short period of time, so it wasn't difficult for me to believe in the strength of their feelings for each other. Instead, their main problem was Cecilia's determination to avoid romantic entanglements after what she went through with her philandering ex-husband, who used his frequent business trips as a cover for his affairs. No matter how much she wanted to believe in Felip and the possibility that they could have a future together, there would always be a seed of doubt sown by her ex-husband's infidelity, which made the logistics of a long-distance relationship seem insurmountable to her. By contrast, even though Felip was also divorced, he was a total romantic who had always hoped to have a second chance at love one day. He knew Cecilia was that chance and wouldn't let her go without a fight.

 

My one (tiny) complaint about this book is that it didn't include an epilogue. I really would have liked a glimpse into Felip and Cecilia's future to see how they made the relationship work over the long term. 

Overall, I very much enjoyed "A Match Made in Spain" and recommend it for all fans of contemporary romance and women's fiction. I look forward to finding out what's next from Rochelle Merrill. (I wouldn't complain if stories about Felip's brothers were in the pipeline...)

*Review copy provided by the author/publisher via Grey's Promotions. All opinions expressed are my own.   

 

 

About "A Match Made in Spain"

Can a match made on a tour of Spain be a fairytale second chance for this grumpy/sunshine pair?

A small-town ASL teacher is reluctantly captivated by the Catalonian vintner determined to woo her across the Spanish countryside. Can a match made on a tour of Spain be a fairytale second chance for this grumpy/sunshine pair?

The ink on Cecilia's divorce papers might be dry, but she's in no hurry to connect with another traveling businessman, especially the spatially challenged one seated beside her on a crack-of-dawn flight from San Francisco to Madrid.

Felip should be on top of the world running his family's cava empire, however life has left him feeling unfulfilled as of late. Good conversation and a hard-won smile from his seatmate--a grumpy but lovely American hearing-impaired teacher--have him wondering if maybe fairytales are possible--or if he's lost his mind, especially when a series of mishaps lands him in the role of the substitute tour guide for her group.

Over the course of twelve days, Felip's irresistible charm and lust for life break down Cecilia's carefully constructed walls as he competes with needy teenagers and pulls off a daring rescue to show her they are a good match. Will Cecilia see that their worlds are closer together than she thinks, and that faith and compromise can give them a real happily ever after?

Perfect for fans of Shipped by Angie Hockman and People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry. And those who miss the excitement of exploring a new place with a special someone by your side will appreciate the journey.