A Most Unsuitable Match by Stephanie Grace Whitson

Book Description:
History Brought to Life through a Surprising Romance



Miss Fannie Rousseau is a young woman of privilege traveling west to uncover the truth behind a family secret.


Mr. Samuel Beck is on a mission to atone for past failures that still haunt him.


Their meeting aboard a steamboat to Montana sparks an unlikely attraction. They are opposites in every way... except in how neither one can stop thinking about the other.


Will the end of the journey bring the end of their relationship, or is it just the beginning?



My Thoughts:
A Most Unsuitable Match was a worthwhile read. By no mean a thriller, edge-of-your-seat read…In my opinion this book falls under the category of comfortable, historical fiction. There was very little romance involved, I did love the way one of the characters compared love to, “finding your echo.” It makes wonderful, perfect sense. But I thought this book more of a journey, which often read like a diary. Was I to describe it in one sentence I’d say, “the journey of a young women’s birth into womanhood.” Thru hardship and lose, laughter and memories, Fannie learns what it means to survive on the wild frontier.


I thought narratives of the Wild West were faithfully portrayed. I especially enjoyed the historical accounts of what it meant to navigate a streamer on the Mississippi and Missouri. Having ferried down the Mississippi River, coupled with Mark Twain’s books gracing shelves of every school I ever attended, you mentally knew the importance of the Miss. But I never really thought about the fact that it was depended upon for trade and travel to all States in the upper North West.

Most of the characters were well drawn out. For being one of the main characters I would have liked to see more interaction between Fannie and her love interest, Samuel Beck. As catchy as the title is, I didn’t think it suited. Even the attire of Samuel doesn’t depict the whole of his character. The young blind boy, Patrick, was a charming character emerging far too late in the novel. Loved the role he played, not to mention his wit and wisdom given in an innocent, childlike way. He was incredibly endearing.

Over all it’s a good story. A light read. I read it slowly over the period of about a week. There were very few twists and turns and even fewer surprises. But I did enjoy it.

**This book was available for review by Bethany House Publishers. With special thanks!