Review: Well-written but distracting major elements
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 02 27, 2011
First, in the interest of full disclosure, I was provided this short novella free by the author.Mick (short for Michaela) works for a web-based matchmaking service. She and two co-workers (a data geek and an astrologer) try to match up clients that the computer has not been able to. But having lost a bet to BFF Jazie, Mick now has to put her own profile into the Matchmakers system and date the first three men the computer finds for her.There is a lot to like about this book. Geary handles humor well, scattering amusing lines and situations throughout the story without losing sight of the plot. Her comparisons of human and guppy dating rituals were priceless. Most of the characters feel real (although the second man Mick dates is impossibly perfect) and the story moves right along. Geary avoids the temptation to include detailed sex scenes, a blessing because they wouldn't be necessary to the story. The cover is cute and I noticed no spelling and grammar errors, a pleasant change from too many independent authors.The big weakness consists of two major story elements. First, computer capabilities and use are so integral to the story that a reader who is not herself fairly techie could easily get lost. At a minimum, if you aren't capable of finding an ebook and downloading it to an ereader or computer, you probably will miss part of the story. Second, only astrology fans will be able to enjoy the astrological emphasis. Mick's co-worker Miri relies on it in matching and in life, and the other characters are willing to at least listen to Miri's predictions. I despise astrology, so this was a fairly serious drawback for me and kept the book from a 5 rating. I couldn't even skip the astrology parts, there seemed to be bits and pieces on every page.