Five Star Expressions - Matchmaker, Matchmaker [Hardcover]

Joanne Sundell (Author)

Book Description

Series: Five Star Expressions | Publication Date: January 11, 2006

A Jewish girl of nine, Zoe-Esther Zundelevich, gives in to fancy and secretly visits the village matchmaker before leaving Russia with her papa, Yitzhak, for refuge in Amerika. The matchmaker gives Zoe-Esther the name of her promised match, when she is of age. Zoe-Esther dreams of him, carrying her dreams across the ocean and into womanhood. Times are hard but Zoe-Esther manages the impossible and becomes one of the few women to graduate from medical school in 1867 Philadelphia. Afraid for her papa's life when he's stricken with tuberculosis, she moves him to the Colorado Territory in search of a cure. Jake Whiskey comes into her life, and she must not give in to her attraction to a rake, a gambler, a non-Jew! It would kill her papa, who wants her to marry "nice Daniel Stein." But the name given Zoe-Esther long ago wasn't Daniel. It wasn't Jake either, no matter how much she might wish it. When she at last meets her match, can she risk losing the man who now has her heart? Can she sacrifice her own happiness for her papa's?

Joanne Sundell and her husband live in the mountains of Colorado.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

First-time author Sundell creates a unique romance that dramatizes the hardships faced by Jewish immigrants and ambitious women in mid-nineteenth-century America. After leaving their shtetl in Russia for a freer life in Philadelphia in 1867, Yitzhak sells the family's silver menorah to make his daughter's dream of becoming a doctor come true. Zoe-Esther graduates from medical school, realizes that her father is suffering from tuberculosis, and decides that they must move to the Colorado territory. But the trip is arduous, and Golden City is not welcoming to Jews, let alone a woman doctor. As they struggle to survive, Zoe-Esther meets Jake, a true product of the Wild West--the owner of a local saloon, a gambler, a drinker, and, most problematically for Zoe-Esther, a non-Jew. She fights her attraction by recalling her visit to the matchmaker back in Russia, while Yitzhak argues for her marrying a young Jewish doctor back in Philadelphia. Fresh in its characters and cultural concerns yet classic in its obstacles to romance. Patty Engelmann
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

Fresh in its character, and cultural concerns yet classic in its obstacles to romance." -- Booklist, Jan 1, 2006

If you are looking for a story that touches on all things emotional, be sure to read MATCHMAKER, MATCHMAKER. -- Romance Reviews Today, Feb 2006

Matchmaker, Matchmaker is a heartwarming story of grit, determination, and redemption through love. -- Alice Duncan, Award-winning Author

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 302 pages
• Publisher: Five Star; 1 edition (January 11, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594144117
• ISBN-13: 978-1594144110
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,774,674 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Debut To Success! Ms. Sundell Penned A Heartwarming Historical!, March 7, 2006

By 

Janalee Ruschhaupt (Fresno, California U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Five Star Expressions - Matchmaker, Matchmaker (Hardcover)

A young Jewish girl will go to the Matchmaker in her hometown in Russia, to find out the name of her true love, and the man she will marry someday.

Now an adult living in Philadelphia and ready to finish her schooling to be a doctor at a time when so few women are accepted into this mainly male profession, Zoe-Esther Zundelevich is quite a tough little thing! She has worked hard to achieve her goals. Daniel Stein, another Jewish medical student and soon to be doctor, is ready to ask Zoe to marry him, Zoe on the other hand, has different plans and agendas. Zoe's father, Yitzhak, is showing signs of developing tuberculosis. Zoe will move her father to Colorado, where the air is crisp and clean.

Once there, Zoe will have to face the cold shoulders, of the town's residents not only for being a female doctor, but also being Jewish. Oh, let's not forget the handsome and sexy Jake Whiskey, a non-Jew that drinks, smokes, and owns a gambling hall. Zoe will be in for an uphill battle where the odds are stacked against her.

Matchmaker, Matchmaker is by author Joanne Sundell. This is the debut novel for Ms. Sundell, and she penned a completely engrossing read. Ms. Sundell's voice is one that you will want to keep your eyes on, because her writing is just wonderful. This reader found this historical romance novel to be totally refreshing in its premise, with something completely different to offer the historical market. This reader also learned some very interesting things about the Jewish culture that was interesting, as well as fascinating.

Zoe has her poor little hands full just getting work to feed her father and herself. She cannot find work as a doctor in the small-minded town of Golden City, but she does manage to make ends meet. For some odd reason whenever she is around Jake Whiskey, she just gets all flustered inside. How can this be? His name is not the one the Matchmaker gave her many years ago. These two will fight their attraction to each other, tooth and nail! Jake has some of his own demons to conquer; maybe he can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. One thing that is true, sometimes when the heart speaks, we cannot help but listen.

This historical romance is an absolutely delightful and engaging tale of mismatched lovers that struggle with all the elements in their lives to find what really matters is each other, what you learn a long the way, might even surprise you! They say that love can conquer all, open the book to see for your selves. Matchmaker, Matchmaker by author Joanne Sundell. This reviewed found this novel to be an inspirational read!

Reviewed by Janalee Ruschhaupt, 2005
Courtesy of Love Romances www.loveromances.com

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars matchmaker, matchmaker, February 27, 2006

By 

M. Riegel (Aurora, Co) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Five Star Expressions - Matchmaker, Matchmaker (Hardcover)

Not only is this a Romance that keeps you on your toes, but it
also gives you history of early Jews in the West and some of the
history of the traditions of the Jewish people. It held my interest until the end. I know this is a first published novel
by Joanne Sundell and I look foreward to more!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't Miss Out!, February 10, 2006

By 

Jane Austin "Rebecca" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Five Star Expressions - Matchmaker, Matchmaker (Hardcover)

I absolutly loved this book! A captivating read, start to finsih.....what a page turner! A interesting combination of western history, medicine, jewish culture, and forbidden love. A great romantic read!