Playing with Matches

In Cathy Yardley's "Romancing Rose," Rose Parker tries to evade her grandmother's match-making attempts by proving to her that she can pass on her Vietnamese heritage, whether or not she dates a Vietnamese guy. Rose's tutor is Paul Duong, who's at first reluctant to help Rose with her Vietnamese culture crash course, since he's not too sure she's serious about actually learning. As Rose tries to learn what she can in time for her "test," she and Paul become closer. In Katherine Greyle's "Dragon for Dinner," Chinese American Su-Ling Chen is determined to rebel against her family. She does just that when she gets a perfect stranger, a motorcycle-riding bad boy (she thinks), to pretend to be her obnoxious American date. It doesn't take long for that plan to go awry, especially when it's discovered that her "date" is also her neice's teacher. In Saveeha Johnson's "The Spice Bazaar," Nalini agrees to meet a man a match-maker picked out for her. It's love at first sight, but not everything is as it seems. The man she meets is not, in fact, Dilip, the man the match-maker chose for her, but his friend Lokesh. He's so entranced by Nalini that he can't bring himself to tell her the truth, but he can't hide his identity forever. In Karen Harbaugh's "Love.com," Amy Miyazaki tries to avoid her mother's match-making attempts (the woman's been nicknamed the Blind Date Empress) by accepting a web-designing job. Amy had no idea she'd end up falling for her new boss, however. Things seem perfect, until it's revealed that Amy's grandmother may have been instrumental in pushing the two of them together. I haven't actually read all that many romance novels or stories with Asian-Americans as protagonists, other than Eileen Wilk's "Only Human" (in _Lover Beware_). I've never read match-making stories quite like these before, so the stories were, for the most part, very refreshing reads. However, most of the stories seemed to be missing something, keeping them from being truly excellent, hence the four-star rating. Paul and Rose's relationship in "Romancing Rose" actually grated a lot - the author's attempts to create tension merely made it seem like the two really didn't belong together, in spite of how it all turned out. I couldn't help but think that there would be some serious trouble in their relationship later on. I had some of the same problems with "Dragon for Dinner," up until the end, which was really pretty sweet. I enjoyed "The Spice Bazaar" the most, although the concept of actually being okay with an arranged marriage took some getting used to, for me at least. That story requires the most "cultural bending" - the match-making of the other stories is much more familiar to me. "Love.com" is pretty good. My problem with it is the problem I have with most romantic short stories - love develops at a breakneck pace that I have trouble suspending my belief for.

Romancing Rose by Cathy Yardley leads off with the story of a young woman whose grandmother is determined that she not forget her Oriental heritage. In a bargain to get the old lady off her back for a year, Rose takes a course in her culture, and is in for a huge surprise. She never wanted to fall for an Oriental man, but love does not always do what we want. Katherine Greyle's contribution DRAGON FOR DINNER, brings her Regency comedic flair to the modern world. Su Ling does her best to be a rebel, even bringing home what she thinks is a motorcycle riding bad boy for dinner just to shock her family. Mitch is not what he seems, and both are about to learn how to prioritize family and love.THE SPICE BAZAAR moves to Indian culture and gives Sarbeeha Johnson a great start to her career. Arranged marriages and deceptions prove to be quite a tangle for a young couple. Finally, Karen Harbaugh concludes in LOVE.COM, and two young people with match making parents learn what love means. ***** Normally, multi cultural romance means that the hero and heroine will be African American, and once in a while, Hispanic. There are, however, other cultures, and this collection of stories sheds new light on the Oriental one, with emphasis on those of mixed race. *****

..."While Ms. Johnson's story (THE SPICE BAZAAR) blends in with the others in the anthology by way of the generally formulaic plot and the theme of love overcoming all, the author's authentic rendering of colorful details, in an easy, readable style plunge the reader into the complicated web of expatriate Indian society, still (and perhaps forever), clinging to everything Indian that even Indians back home are eager to shed. Ms. Johnson brings to vivid life the whole Indian community as plans for Nalini's weddingspeed up and relatives arrive from around the world. Nalini, now in Chicago and Lokesh at the Spice Bazaar pine for the love that must die for duty. The story has all the ingredients of a suspense-filledromance and the reader is kept guessing the fate of the lovers upto the last page.""The book will entertain on a rainy afternoon and is a good buy for some light hearted reading. And perhaps with stories like 'The Spice Bazaar', Indian culture, like others, will have found its place in popular and not just esoteric fiction." ------------------------------

Book Review "Romance Vs. Tradition: A New Tale" by Shireen Joanna...While Ms. Johnson's story (THE SPICE BAZAAR) blends in with the others in the anthology by way of the generally formulaic plot and the theme of love overcoming all, the author's authentic rendering of colorful details, in an easy, readable style plunge the reader into the complicated web of expatriate Indian society, still (and perhaps forever), clinging to everything Indian that even Indians back home are eager to shed. Ms. Johnson brings to vivid life the whole Indian community as plans for Nalini's wedding speed up and relatives arrive from around the world. Nalini, now in Chicago and Lokesh at the Spice Bazaar pine for the love that must die for duty. The story has all the ingredients of a suspense-filled romance and the reader is kept guessing the fate of the lovers upto the last page.""The book will entertain on a rainy afternoon and is a good buy for some light hearted reading. And perhaps with stories like 'The Spice Bazaar', Indian culture, like others, will have found its place in popular and not just esoteric fiction."...

"Romancing Rose" by Cathy Yardley. To quiet her grandma, Rose agrees to visit he Au Co Vietnamese Cultural Center to learn about that half of her heritage. Paul Duong is her escort, but the only part of her ancestry she wants to study is her handsome tutor."Dragon for Dinner" by Katherine Greyle. Su Ling Chen's mother dreams that her daughter will soon meet and marry the dragon. To shut mom up, Su Ling accosts Mitch Kurtz to pretend to be her date. As passion flames between them she is disappointed that he is her niece's schoolteacher not the dragon."The Spice Bazaar" by Sabeeha Johnson. Matchmaker Showla Aunty informs Nalini Gupta that she has found the latter's perfect match, Dilip Joshi. However, Dilip's friend Lokesh Mehta arrives to greet Nalini, but fails to correct her as to his identity. They are attracted to one another, but Dilip is the chosen one."Love.com" by Karen Harbaugh. Mrs. Miyazaki wants to add another gem to her crown as the "Blind Date Empress" by finding a husband for her single daughter Amy. When Amy and Kyle Nakagawa meet, sparks fly. As their attraction begins to turn to love, the interfering matchmaking of her mother and his father causes a wedge that breaks up the relationship unless Amy realizes how they met does not matter to the heart.This quartet of matchmaking Asian-American romances is a fresh anthology that the audience will appreciate for its insight into the varying cultures and a strong cast pulling off charming, intelligent, and delightful winning matches.Harriet Klausner