I was contacted a while back by Taylor Dean to beta-read her newest novel, Chasing Fireflies. Now I get contacted a lot of authors to read and/or beta-read a certain project, but when one of my favorites comes knocking on my door, I drop everything (after I recover from the swooning and hysterics off course, because these ladies ROCK!!!) and get right on the project! To read and understand her book, I needed to read a prequel novella. That is when Taylor explained the project of the Power of the Matchmaker to me.
The Concept
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
DOES IT GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT?!?!?!?!?!
The Novella that kicks of the whole series
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.
Review
I loved this short, emotional, poignant read. Mae Li loves with all her heart, and that heart gets shattered into a million pieces. This is written in such a heart wrenching way you feel you are going through it right along with her. I felt utter despair. This poor, young girl.
Mae Li runs away, and the life she faces in Shanghai is dreadful. She is on the verge of giving up completely in life, but in comes a new matchmaker. She immediately recognizes what Mae Li has gone through, and now Mae Li is ready to become a Matchmaker herself.
This tale is a short, yet very emotional read. It gives you a great insight into who this magical person is, and having read one of the books so far, I can see that her own story makes her determined to give to others what she has lost in life.
I am not sure if I will be able to read and review all 12 books, but I will do my best 🙂 This is an amazing project, with some very amazing authors! I’m so looking forward to this in 2016!!
And look what a gem I found on one of the back covers of the books 😉
Thank you for this WONDERFUL post about The Power of the Matchmaker, Mylissa! And thanks for being one of my beta readers. Your comments were extremely helpful!