Review: Bait & Switch, Didn't Expect That From This Calibre of Author
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 04 9, 2013
I have read other things by Barbara Delinsky, so I was ecstatic that a new book was being offered free as  pre-order.  Granted I was surprised that one of her books was being offered free, but I assumed it was a marketing ploy.  It was, just not the one I thought it was.I had assumed (which is always wrong) that the book was being offered free to get a bit of buzz.  At the time I pre-ordered there was nothing mentioned about this being a short story.  Personally, if it had been mentioned I would have still ordered it, but I would not have been irritated.Today, I finally got some time to myself and began reading.  I did not read the new description where it says that it is a short story with a sample of her next new novel.  As I had a lovely free afternoon I settled down for a good story, which I got (more on that later), but it ended abruptly at 38%, with the next page saying "Read on for an excerpt...".I have checked the cover on my Kindle, unlike the cover on the new description page, there is no mention of this being "A Short Story".  There is no forward or "note to the reader" saying this is basically a free short story so that the reader will also read the excerpt and pre-order it.If Ms. Delinsky and her publishers had been up front about what they were doing, I probably would have read the excerpt.  However, as they have stooped to pretending to give a full length novel experience, when there isn't one, similar to the new habit of the self published and Indie crowd, I refuse to do so.As to the story itself, "The Right Wrong Number", deserves a 4.5.  I LOVED the pace and tone.  I truly enjoyed Carly's personality.  The story itself was fun and whimsical.  Carly accidentally dials Charlie and gives all the details of a major event in her life, before realizing she was talking to the wrong man.  I would love to meet these character's again.  The only problem I had was the ending, which I found unnecessarily abrupt.I HIGHLY RECOMMEND the short story, now that I know it is a short story.  But if you don't like short stories, pass this by.