Calling on the Matchmaker Summary, Characters and Themes

Calling on the Matchmaker by Jody Hedlund is a historical romance set in 1849 St. Louis, bridging together themes of faith, family duty, and unexpected love. 

The books talks about Finola Shanahan, a determined Irish-American woman intent on avoiding marriage and instead embracing a religious life, and Riley Rafferty, a local hero scarred by a failed marriage but bound by a promise to his dying father to remarry. When a matchmaking scheme unexpectedly pairs these two stubborn souls, their worlds collide in ways neither anticipate. The novel explores cultural traditions, personal sacrifices, and the tension between societal expectations and individual desires, all painted vividly against a richly detailed historical backdrop.

Summary

Finola Shanahan is a spirited young woman with a mind of her own, living in the bustling Irish-American community of St. Louis. Unlike her family, who eagerly want her to marry and settle down, Finola dreams of becoming a nun and dedicating her life to faith.

To that end, she is determined to sabotage any matchmaking attempts, even arriving late and creating obstacles to the process. Her efforts, however, take a surprising turn when she is nearly run over by a carriage and rescued by Riley Rafferty—a man known as “Saint Riley” for his local heroics and generous nature.

Mistaking Finola for a nun, Riley is immediately drawn to her but respects her apparent religious commitment. Despite her resistance, Finola finds herself embroiled in the matchmaking process when Bellamy McKenna, the less confident son of the local matchmaker, takes on her case.

Bellamy, eager to prove himself, suggests Riley as the perfect match for Finola, much to her dismay. Riley, still wounded by a past marriage but bound by a promise to his dying father to remarry, reluctantly agrees to explore the match.

Their early encounters are charged with tension, misunderstandings, and an undeniable spark, even as Finola clings to her plan to avoid marriage altogether. As negotiations between Riley and the Shanahan family begin, Finola’s resolve begins to waver.

She secretly hopes that by making herself a difficult match, no suitor will seriously pursue her. Meanwhile, Riley struggles with his own fears and doubts about love and commitment.

Their interactions gradually shift from guarded to genuine as they learn more about each other’s hopes, fears, and values. Finola’s charitable work and conversations with the convent’s Mother Superior highlight her internal conflict between duty and desire.

Their burgeoning relationship faces additional challenges when Riley falls ill with cholera, forcing Finola to confront her true feelings. The crisis brings them closer, though not without stirring scandal in their tightly-knit community.

While Riley’s reputation remains untarnished, Finola faces social judgment for her care and presence during his illness. This public scrutiny adds pressure to their situation, prompting Finola’s family to consider moving up wedding plans to protect her honor.

Complicating matters further, Riley wrestles with political pressures related to his anti-slavery stance, risking the support of his Irish-American constituents but gaining moral clarity and Finola’s admiration. These external conflicts mirror the personal struggles each faces—the pull of public duty versus private passion.

Bellamy, initially seen as an awkward side character, grows into his role as a matchmaker, orchestrating plans and schemes that bring Riley and Finola closer despite their reservations. His cleverness and optimism provide both comic relief and pivotal moments in their courtship.

Finola’s internal battle continues as she grapples with the possibility of abandoning her dream of the convent to embrace a life with Riley. Their relationship deepens through shared vulnerability, and despite lingering doubts and societal expectations, they find themselves drawn to the hope of a future together.

As wedding preparations unfold amid whispers and tensions, Riley boldly declares his love, taking on the mantle of protector not just for Finola but for their community’s values and hopes. The novel paints a rich picture of love emerging from conflict, tradition, and the courage to choose one’s own path.

Characters

Finola Shanahan

Finola is the spirited and independent heroine of the story, a young Irish-American woman living in St. Louis in 1849. From the start, she resists the societal and familial pressures to marry, particularly opposing the matchmaker’s efforts on her behalf.

Her initial determination to avoid marriage is rooted in her desire to join a convent, seeking a religious life as an alternative to the expected path. Despite her strong will and outward resistance, Finola reveals layers of vulnerability and compassion, especially through her charitable work and deep concern for her family, including her sister Enya.

As the story progresses, her encounters with Riley Rafferty begin to challenge her assumptions about love, duty, and personal sacrifice. She grapples with guilt, societal expectations, and her own emerging feelings, ultimately facing a profound internal conflict between her religious calling and her growing affection for Riley.

Finola’s character arc is one of transformation, moving from defiance and self-protection to openness, trust, and embracing love.

Riley Rafferty

Riley Rafferty is portrayed as a complex and deeply honorable man, a local hero known as “Saint Riley” whose bravery and moral compass have earned him great respect in the community. He is scarred emotionally by a failed first marriage, which makes him initially reluctant to pursue love again, even as he feels bound by his dying father’s wish that he marry.

Riley’s character is defined by his sense of duty—not only to family and tradition but also to higher principles, particularly as he faces political dilemmas related to slavery. This moral courage places him at risk socially but earns him Finola’s admiration.

His persistent pursuit of Finola, despite obstacles and his own doubts, reveals a vulnerable side beneath his heroic exterior. Riley’s growth involves balancing personal desire with responsibility, ultimately demonstrating that true strength lies in both integrity and emotional openness.

Bellamy McKenna

Bellamy McKenna serves as a lighter, more playful contrast to the intense emotions of Finola and Riley. As the less experienced younger son of the matchmaker, he begins as a somewhat awkward and underestimated character but quickly shows a cleverness and heart that endears him to both protagonists.

Bellamy’s role is crucial as a catalyst for bringing Finola and Riley together, often through schemes and well-intentioned manipulations. His character development is subtle but meaningful, evolving from a bumbling apprentice into a confident matchmaker in his own right.

Bellamy’s youthful optimism and willingness to intervene highlight the theme of hope and the importance of community support in matters of the heart.

Themes

Personal Desire, Familial Duty, and Societal Expectations in a 19th-Century Irish-American Context

In Calling on the Matchmaker, the protagonists’ lives are shaped by the tension between their individual aspirations and the rigid expectations imposed by family and community. Finola’s initial resistance to marriage and her determination to join the convent reflect a deep personal desire to define her own path, even as her family insists on traditional roles for women through matchmaking.

Meanwhile, Riley grapples with his father’s dying wish and his own past scars from a failed marriage. The narrative intricately explores how both characters navigate the demands placed on them—not only by their families but also by the broader Irish-American immigrant society of 1849 St. Louis, where marriage is not just a personal affair but a social contract influencing reputation, economic stability, and cultural continuity.

This theme highlights how love and duty often conflict in immigrant communities striving to maintain identity amidst new challenges, underscoring the sacrifices demanded by social cohesion and survival.

Moral Integrity, Political Courage, and Personal Vulnerability Amidst the Turmoil of Slavery and Community Loyalties

Riley’s political stance against slavery introduces a profound thematic layer that extends beyond romantic plotlines, positioning him as a figure wrestling with ethical convictions that risk alienating his political base. His courage in confronting a divisive issue within his Irish constituency reveals a nuanced portrayal of leadership where personal morality and public duty collide.

This political dimension serves as a backdrop to the intimate story, creating tension that influences his relationship with Finola. The novel uses this theme to probe how individuals in positions of influence balance public responsibilities with private emotions, demonstrating that love and politics are intertwined arenas requiring both vulnerability and steadfastness.

It further reflects the moral complexity of an era marked by social upheaval, where personal relationships cannot be disentangled from broader societal struggles.

Role of Reputation, Social Scrutiny, and Gendered Judgment in Shaping the Paths of Women within Religious and Secular Frameworks

Finola’s journey vividly illustrates how women’s choices are subject to harsh scrutiny and how societal reputation operates as a controlling force, especially in matters of love and morality. Her scandalous decision to care for Riley during his illness, while noble, invites gossip that threatens her social standing—a tension exacerbated by the rigid codes of conduct for women in a tightly knit immigrant community.

The juxtaposition between her consideration of the convent and her eventual acceptance of marriage reveals the limited but powerful roles available to women: religious vocation or marriage, each with distinct social implications and personal sacrifices. This theme delves into the intersection of gender, faith, and societal expectation, revealing how women negotiate autonomy within confining structures and how their reputations become battlegrounds for control and respectability.

Power of Unexpected Vulnerability and the Subversion of Traditional Matchmaking Through Genuine Emotional Connection

At its core, the novel interrogates traditional matchmaking as a social institution, initially portrayed as a mechanical, sometimes manipulative process orchestrated by Bellamy. Yet, through the evolving relationship of Finola and Riley, the story reveals how genuine emotional vulnerability can subvert and transform these societal rituals.

Bellamy’s schemes and the characters’ internal conflicts serve to peel back layers of artifice, ultimately allowing authentic love to flourish despite external pressures and internal doubts. This theme captures the tension between appearance and reality, duty and desire, and how authentic connection can emerge even in socially prescribed contexts.

The narrative thus critiques and reimagines matchmaking, showing it as a site of both constraint and possibility, where personal transformation unfolds through trust, courage, and openness.