A heartfelt second chance romance filled with fall charm, emotional depth, and small town magic.
Release date: August 11, 2026
Publisher: Berkley Romance
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Synopsis:
A cozy fall romance wrapped in small-town charm reunites the owner of a bed-and-breakfast with her childhood sweetheart for a celebrity matchmaking scheme which has them both seeing stars.
Julia Schaeffer might run the most romantic little bed-and-breakfast in Upstate New York, but as far as that infuriating Ethan Duchamp is concerned, this older, wiser Julia has a strict “no vacancy” policy. Sure, she’s teetering on the edge of a financial cliff, and his half-baked plan to pair up his celebrity clients at her inn will undoubtedly be good for business…but how much forced proximity with the man who abandoned her is she supposed to take?
Ethan needs this to work. The dreamy, autumnal—and blissfully secluded—cottage from his childhood summers is the ideal setting for playing matchmaker to Hollywood’s next power couple. It’s the only way to save his PR career from the tabloid toilet. He knew that the inn and Julia’s warm, comforting homemade touch would inspire real feelings—he just didn’t expect them to be his. Again.
But as old wounds reopen, and their connection rekindles, Julia and Ethan are forced to confront the truths they’ve both tried to bury. In a town where nothing stays hidden for long, they’ll have to decide if they can rebuild what was lost—or if their second chance will be derailed by scars that have yet to heal.
Review:
Some romances sweep you away with grand gestures, while others quietly work their way into your heart. The Matchmaker’s Cottage is the latter. Set in a cozy bed and breakfast in Upstate New York during peak fall, this debut blends gorgeous seasonal vibes with an emotional second chance love story that lingers long after the final page.
Julia has poured everything into her charming inn, but financially she’s barely staying afloat. When Ethan—the childhood sweetheart who broke her heart years ago—returns with an unusual proposal involving two celebrity clients, she’s forced to spend time with the one person she’s spent years trying to forget. What I loved most was how thoughtfully Kat Sloan unfolds their history. The story moves between pivotal moments from Julia and Ethan’s past and the present day, allowing every reunion, misunderstanding, and lingering feeling to hit with even more emotional weight. Instead of simply telling us they once loved each other, we get to experience why. The yearning is absolutely the star of this book. There’s so much unresolved emotion between Julia and Ethan, creating that delicious tension only a well written second chance romance can deliver. Their chemistry feels earned, and both characters experience meaningful growth as they confront the hurts they’ve carried for years.
The setting deserves its own standing ovation. The cozy bed and breakfast, crisp autumn air, colorful leaves, and small town atmosphere are described so vividly that I wanted to book a weekend getaway immediately. It’s the kind of setting that wraps around the romance and makes every scene feel even more magical.
I also appreciated how the novel explores mental health with honesty and compassion. It never felt sensationalized or used simply for drama. Instead, it became an important part of both characters’ healing journeys and added even more depth to an already emotional story.
For a debut novel, this is incredibly impressive. Kat Sloan delivers beautiful writing, memorable characters, and a romance full of heart, longing, and hope.
Perfect for readers who love:
- Second chance romance
- Cozy bed and breakfast settings
- Small town romance
- Fall books
- Childhood sweethearts
- Forced proximity
- Emotional romance with lots of yearning
- Character driven love stories
Overall rating: 4/5
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