Power of the Matchmaker- by Karey White and others

My Rating: 4 Stars

Description:          
 A prequel novella to the POWER OF THE MATCHMAKER Series
                     Mystical . . . Beautiful . . . Romantic . . .
                        12 novels by 12 bestselling authors
                          Released once a month in 2016


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.

My Thoughts: 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.