Chris Manby, The Matchbreaker

The Matchbreaker

Chris Manby

Berkley, Mar 2007, $14.00

ISBN: 042521379X

In London, twenty-something Lindsey Parker detests her beloved father's fifth fianc e (with one marriage to her late mom) Karen as she believes the physical trainer has no taste. She treats her dad's intended with scorn and derision while plotting to end this engagement the way three others ended. Lindsey has her opportunity when she announces to her father and his fianc e that she will throw a hen night for her future stepmom. A hesitant Karen, knowing how Lindsey feels about her, reluctantly agrees at the urging of her future spouse.

Lindsey starts the hen trek by slipping a special gift inside of Karen's bag, but the moron leaves it behind in a taxi. They fly to Ibiza where Lindsey's best friend during her school days Gemma hosts them on her family yacht Afsaneh. However, even Gemma feels Lindsey went too far when she pushed Karen into the water as the boat drove away. Lindsey gets what she wants when Karen breaks off with her dad, but soon learns a lesson on how much love a heart can contain when she falls in love with apparently fickle Karen's new "lover," but it is too late for her depressed dad.

THE MATCHBREAKER is an interesting, chick-lit, family drama starring a young woman who believes no female is good enough for her dad as he has been mother, father, and grandparent to her. The storyline focuses on Lindsey whose actions impact the well-being of others. Though the lead protagonist is unlikable with her scorn of others (not just Karen) in the audience's face, Chris Manby provides a fascinating relationship tale as no person seemingly can meet the standard set by her father when he raised her with love.

Harriet Klausner