This was a fun quick read involving a quirky romance that was set up by a djinn. Short stories and novellas can make me leery of wanting to give them a try because not everyone who writes one understands just how to achieve a good balance of plot, pacing and character development to fit into the page count they have. Fortunately, this author did a great job so I ended up with an enjoyable reading experience that had me reading with a smile on my face and an ‘ah’ of satisfaction coming from my lips by the end.
Basically, the story is about two people that have gotten very caught up in their work and checked out of life because they have been burned once too often by their chances at romance. Both of them feel that there is no one out there who can understand and accept them for who they are. By coincidence, they both end up in Vegas for work related conferences right in the middle of a geeky favorite characters convention giving them a chance to let their inner geekiness show. Riley and Mirjam are brought together on a blind date with the help of a magical slot machine and a mysterious character in pink called Jenn or Jim. The blind date reveals that they might just have a shot at their wildest dreams if they will just take a chance and grasp for it with both hands.
Riley and Mirjam (Finnish and pronounced something like Meer-yam) apart are staid workaholics who are busy hiding behind barriers to protect their hearts, but I loved how the plot took them from that to caring and passionate hot lovers who want nothing more at the end of the night, but for it all to continue. That Riley was something, he had my toes curling with pleasure whether it was his turn to tell the story or Mirjam’s. I loved how the tight Mirjam took a step of faith and let herself go with Riley.
So, I can heartily recommend this one to those who enjoy a quirky magical contemporary Happy For Now with promise of the future romance with not a lot of time to read.
