The Travelling Matchmaker series part 1 by M.C. Beaton

I had never read an M.C. Beaton until this year. With such an enormous back list, vibrant covers and titles that show ingenuity and humour I am baffled why it took me so long. Now, the first one I picked up was because of a Kindle sale and it was 99p at Christmas: Emily Goes to Exeter. This is the first in the Travelling Matchmaker series and once I had read it, I could hardly resist buying or procuring the others, by any means necessary! So, I went to my trusty local library and low and behold they placed it on hold for me for a mere 80p - once someone returned the book, it was going to be all mine and they would e-mail me to let me know when to come in. A rather handy system and even cheaper than a Kindle daily deal! So once armed with my new book and seeing as the sun was shining that weekend (do you remember when the sun used to shine?). I braved the outdoors and devoured it in one delightful sitting. Anyway, here are my reviews of the first 3 Travelling Matchmaker books:

Emily Goes to Exeter is a brilliant start to the series. Hannah Pym is a housekeeper for a recluse who unexpectedly leave her a legacy of £5,000 on his death. Suddenly Miss Pym is no longer a servant, but a lady of independent means. The glory of that revelation means that Miss Pym can now do as she pleases and what she pleases to do is to travel! Having worked as a servant for most of her life, she has had very few experiences out of the house, her one joy is watching the stage coach (or Flying Machine as they were called) come speeding past the house. So, once the money is in her account, she has acquired a lovely little flat in Kensington (a place once cannot walk to at night, as it is a very dangerous area!) she goes off to fetch her first ticket on the stage coach to Exeter.
All at once the adventures begin, as a quite beautiful young boy is seated opposite Hannah on the coach and a mysterious handsome outside passenger proves to be very useful when snow drifts mean the passengers must shelter for a few days. Suddenly Hannah finds she is quite a wily matchmaker and is able to turn the rather spoilt Emily into the perfect match for the proud Lord Ranger Harley. But not only is there romance, but mysteries abound as it appears someone on the stage coach is trying to get away with murder - can clever Miss Pym, Harley and Emily find the would-be-killer?
A brilliant, face-paced novel for lovers of regency period and a glory good little read. I have to say Beaton had me in stitches of laughter at the oddest moments, with incredible wit and vivacity you will be captured by Hannah's adventures!

Belinda Goes to Bath
Belinda has been sent away in disgrace. Even though her aunt and uncle deliver her to the Flying Machine in a horse and carriage, she is forced to take the stage with the others. Miss Hannah Pym is at once interested in this girl and her odd arrival. Especially with her companion who seems fit to moral bursting! Hannah cannot resist finding out all and when she begins to uncover the story, Hannah is more determined to help. A 'lucky accident' of their drunk driver upsetting the coach into a river pushes the passengers into the house of a local mar guess who welcomes them into his home. What luck to stumble upon an attractive aristocratic bachelor, when Hannah has already set her sights on finding Belinda the perfect match!
Belinda is a wonderful character, with more vivacity than Emily and a lot easier to like on first meeting. The rest of the cast of characters are brilliantly drawn, especially the morally superior companion who ends up with a shaved head! Great historical detail fleshes out the story and makes this story a gorgeous read!

Penelope Goes to Portsmouth
Our indomitable Hannah Pym is ready for her next journey, armed with her successful matchmaking track-record she can hardly wait to see who should appear on her travel this time around. When a stunning young girl climbs into the coach Hannah is excited to notice a gorgeous lord is also in attendance, but can true love overcome class? While Hannah and her friends are attempting to save a deaf and dumb footman from the clutches of Lady Carey (rather a racy character here in her see-through gowns!) Hannah keeps on her meddling ways, even if she must do some rather out of character things.
Fantastic third instalment, but I must say the rather beautiful Penelope was a bit hard to like as quickly as Belinda, but you do quickly start rooting for her 'happy ending'!

So in conclusion, I have now downloaded the rest of the books from the Kindle website (how awful is that store on the Kindle - useless!) and will be devouring them on my journeys to work! Not the cheapest of Kindle books, but a rather lovely series I can see myself re-reading whenever I need a quick regency fix! Go on guys get out there and use your library, download a book or go see a real-life bookseller, because these books do have the most wonderful covers!