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kebreads's review
5.0
This was such a good story. I can't wait to read the rest in the series. The story is short, so a quick read (just what I needed on a rainy day). I loved how this story centered on true love and the power of it. Mae does a lot of growing throughout this story. I would have liked to have had more story told in parts, but I think what I want to learn may be revealed in the other books of the series. This story tugged at my heart strings. And the epilogue really tipped the story from really liking the story to loving it.
Source: Review Copy
Content: Clean - mention of prostitutes
Source: Review Copy
Content: Clean - mention of prostitutes
rgyger's review
4.0
I've been taking a class on Chinese religions, so when I found this novella up for review, I couldn't pass it up. I'm so glad I did, because the novella so well written and perfectly incorporated Chinese traditions and beliefs.
The novella prequels a series of books, each by book by a different author with one released each month of 2016. Now, since the other books are written by different people and are all set in different time periods, I don't know if the other books will be as good as this but I am interested in trying them none the less.
I received this book through I am a Reader, Not a Writers ebook review program in exchange for an honest review.
The novella prequels a series of books, each by book by a different author with one released each month of 2016. Now, since the other books are written by different people and are all set in different time periods, I don't know if the other books will be as good as this but I am interested in trying them none the less.
I received this book through I am a Reader, Not a Writers ebook review program in exchange for an honest review.
lyndajdickson's review
4.0
When Mae Li turns eighteen, Song Ren the matchmaker decides her fate. Mae Li and Chen Zhu have been in love for a year, but the matchmaker pairs them both with other people. While Chen accepts the matchmaker's decision as final, Mae decides to run away to Shanghai rather than marry. She takes with her Chen's parting gift of a pearl hair comb. Struggling to find employment, Mae is near death and prays for a miracle. Her prayers are answered when she is rescued by Mrs Tan, the matchmaker of Shanghai. Mrs Tan wants Mae to be her apprentice and take over from her when she dies. At first reluctant, Mae changes her mind when she sees Mrs Tan's approach to matchmaking. Under her tutelage, Mae - now known as Pearl - learns the true power of the matchmaker.
Set in a time when the matchmaker's decision cannot be challenged, this story is full of rich details of Chinese traditions and beliefs. A bittersweet tale of love and loss, this is an intriguing start to a new series.
I received this book in return for an honest review.
Full blog post: https://booksdirectonline.blogspot.com/2016/01/power-of-the-matchmaker-by-karey-white.html (coming soon)
Set in a time when the matchmaker's decision cannot be challenged, this story is full of rich details of Chinese traditions and beliefs. A bittersweet tale of love and loss, this is an intriguing start to a new series.
I received this book in return for an honest review.
Full blog post: https://booksdirectonline.blogspot.com/2016/01/power-of-the-matchmaker-by-karey-white.html (coming soon)
hugbandit7's review
5.0
This is a novella so a very fast read but it sets you up for 12 books coming out next year featuring the matchmaker Pearl. She loved a man from her town, but the matchmaker matched him with a rival, so Mae Li (aka Pearl) leaves her town to avoid marrying who she was matched with.
I don't know what time frame this was but am guessing late 1800's or early 1900's since there weren't cars yet. Also there were not a lot of jobs for women other than prostitution.
The book was enjoyable and I look forward to checking out the other books featuring Mae Li aka Pearl
I don't know what time frame this was but am guessing late 1800's or early 1900's since there weren't cars yet. Also there were not a lot of jobs for women other than prostitution.
The book was enjoyable and I look forward to checking out the other books featuring Mae Li aka Pearl
saradavcamp's review
4.0
I enjoyed this novella. It's a short prequel to a series of books coming out once a month next year. I wouldn't say it's a favorite book--it's too short and doesn't end with a romantic happily ever after--but they explain that up front. This story is about a woman who becomes a matchmaker and I guess she'll be in each of the stories coming out next year, so this was really just introducing her character to us. And speaking of that character, she's a good one! She came through some pretty hard trials and became a very strong person for it. I look forward to reading the other books as they come out and I think it will be good to understand her part in them from having read the prequel.
lexee9's review
4.0
I enjoyed this story. It was written very well and it sets up the series very well. It's a little sad because Mae Li doesn't get to be with her true love but it definitely caught my attention and beyond just reading the stories I am excited to get bits of pieces of Mae's life as she is the matchmaker. This was really well done and I love the plot and can't wait for more.
brookeonbooks's review
2.0
This is a very short and quick read that is intended to set the stage for a new series of books that begin to be released in January 2016. It begins on the eve of the local matchmaker's visit to Mei . Mei is nervous because she worried she will not be matched with her true love, another local boy that is also meeting with his matchmaker at the same time. Her worries prove true when she is matched with an awkward and smelling boy and her boyfriend is matched with a pretty but unkind girl. Unable to go through with her undesirable match, she runs away from her village and finds her way to the city. Unable to find work but unwilling to dishonor herself or her family by turning to prostitution, she is on the brink of starvation when she is taken in by another matchmaker and nursed back to health. In the end, she becomes this matchmaker's apprentice and takes over her business at her death. The story seemed a little short on substance but perhaps this is to be expected since the intent is to set the stage for future tales.
ghumpherys's review
5.0
This was a short prequel novella to introduce the Matchmaker series (which will be one book each month in 2016). I'm so excited for this series and loved being introduced to the story of Mae ("Miss Pearl") and her background. Admittedly, her story was a little bittersweet -- I am very much a happy ending kind of girl and so even though I know that Mae will be instrumental in those happy endings for others, I was still a little sad for her own story. I loved all the cultural details in this story (although I was a little unsure as to the exact time period). I'm looking forward to seeing Mae travel around the world and across time to use her matchmaking powers!
I received a free e-book copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I received a free e-book copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
nicolepeck's review
4.0
I loved this short novella that is the introduction to the multi-author series featuring Pearl the Matchmaker. Through each chapter, I could feel Mae's pain and struggle and her heartbreak over losing Chen, her true love, and how she struggles to find herself and then is taken in by Mrs. Tan and taught the powers of true matchmaking. At times I felt like the chapters were short and abruptly ended before moving on to the next one, so I would have loved to have this be a full-length book even, with more details and development of Mae's story, but it was still very well done and entertaining, each chapter (I assume) written by a different author, a chapter for each of the authors in the series. I look forward now to reading the rest of the series through this year!
**I received a copy of this book for free from one of the authors in exchange for my honest review.**
**I received a copy of this book for free from one of the authors in exchange for my honest review.**
lenoreo's review
3.0
https://celebrityreaders.wordpress.com/2016/02/04/power-of-the-matchmaker
3 stars -- I received an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review!
I'm finally about to start the book in this series that I've been looking forward to forever, so I figured I should read the prequel novella that's been sitting on my kindle for a few months...whoops. Also, as an aside, I don't actually know who the author of this novella is, since they list all the authors for the series. Somehow I doubt 12 authors managed to collaborate on one story. :P
Most of this novella left me feeling kind of meh. Not bad at all, just nothing too terribly remarkable. But maybe it's my disinterest in historical settings coming through? Maybe I really am that partial to romance? Partly it was that the story was basically given away in the synopsis...there were no surprises, just extended details if that makes sense. It did stir my emotions -- I felt for her losing the love of her life b/c of a mismatch... And her struggles in Shanghai definitely hit you in the heart... I guess it just wasn't lasting. I will be curious to see what her role is in the upcoming books... I'm mostly in it for one book, but there are one or two others that sound intriguing to me, so it was nice to be introduced to her character and her background.
3 stars -- I received an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review!
I'm finally about to start the book in this series that I've been looking forward to forever, so I figured I should read the prequel novella that's been sitting on my kindle for a few months...whoops. Also, as an aside, I don't actually know who the author of this novella is, since they list all the authors for the series. Somehow I doubt 12 authors managed to collaborate on one story. :P
Most of this novella left me feeling kind of meh. Not bad at all, just nothing too terribly remarkable. But maybe it's my disinterest in historical settings coming through? Maybe I really am that partial to romance? Partly it was that the story was basically given away in the synopsis...there were no surprises, just extended details if that makes sense. It did stir my emotions -- I felt for her losing the love of her life b/c of a mismatch... And her struggles in Shanghai definitely hit you in the heart... I guess it just wasn't lasting. I will be curious to see what her role is in the upcoming books... I'm mostly in it for one book, but there are one or two others that sound intriguing to me, so it was nice to be introduced to her character and her background.