Book Review: Power of the Matchmaker by Karey White, Rachael Anderson, Kelly Oram, & 9 more

This is a charming introduction to what looks to be a lovely series!

Power of the Matchmaker
by Karey White, Rachael Anderson, 
Kelly Oram, & 9 more

• File Size: 3402 KB
• Print Length: 60 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Mirror Press (November 3, 2015)
• ASIN: B013FIOAE0
• Genre: Romance
• My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0
• 
  

A prequel novella to the POWER OF THE MATCHMAKER Series
Mystical . . . Beautiful . . . Romantic . . .
Read the matchmaker’s story to find out where it all starts . . .
Mae Li has been in love with Chen Zhu for years, and he with her. But when the matchmaker arrives at the Zhu family home, she recommends another village girl for Chen.
Heartbroken, Mae Li watches as Chen does his duty by marrying another. Mae flees her village with the clothes on her back and her only possession—a pearl embedded comb, given to her as a goodbye gift from Chen Zhu.
Upon Mae’s arrival in Shanghai, she quickly learns that she’ll starve within days unless she sells her prized comb or joins a courtesan house. She goes to the Huangpu River and promises the River God that she’ll always be selfless if he will save her from becoming a prostitute . . . Her wish is granted when Ms. Tan, the matchmaker of Shanghai, finds Mae. But Mae must completely change her future and her name if she is to become the next matchmaker.
**Join us for the POWER OF THE MATCHMAKER SERIES**
12 novels by 12 bestselling authors

Review:
Mae Li is heartbroken when the matchmaker comes in town and doesn’t match her with the man she loves, Chen Zhu. Mae Li refuses to marry her match and tries to get Chen Zhu to run away with her. He refuses but gives her a family comb embedded with pearls. Mae Li flees her village with only her clothes and the precious comb.

Mae Li struggles in Shanghai where she almost gets trapped in a courtesan house. Starving and in desperation, she finds her way to the river and falls on her knees to pray to the River God and her ancestors. By morning, Mae Li is rescued by the Shanghai matchmaker, Ms. Tan. Ms. Tan has been a matchmaker for many years and it’s time to train a replacement. Ms. Tan asks Mae Li to be an intern for one year before deciding if she will take over. Mae Li watches Ms. Tan work and learns a very different approach that reveals, as Ms. Tan says, “the power of the matchmaker”.

This is a charming and delightful read. Mae Li is a relatable character – young and in love. She doesn’t want to be disrespectful to her traditions but she won’t marry a man she doesn’t like and she hurts too much to stay and watch her love marry another young woman. Late in the story there is a surprise, sweet reunion.

The power of the matchmaker is beautifully portrayed. This is a great lead that pulled me in and makes me want to read more in the series. I recommend this to readers who like sweet, beautiful romance with the magic of love.

I received this eBook through I am a Reader, Not a Writer ebooks for review, for an honest review.

**Join us for the POWER OF THE MATCHMAKER SERIES**

12 novels by 12 bestselling authors
Released once a month in 2016:

Broken Things to Mend by Karey White (Jan 2016)
Not Always Happenstance by Rachael Anderson (Feb 2016)
If We Were a Movie by Kelly Oram (March 2016)
Love is Come by Heather B. Moore (April 2016)
Four Chambers by Julie Wright (May 2016)
O'er the River Liffey by Heidi Ashworth (June 2016)
Chasing Fireflies by Taylor Dean (July 2016)
Between Earth and Heaven by Michele Paige Holmes (Aug 2016)
How I Met Your Brother by Janette Rallison (Sept 2016)
To Move the World by Regina Sirois (Oct 2016)
King of the Friend Zone by Sheralyn Pratt (Nov 2016)
The Reformer by Jaima Fixsen (Dec 2016)