Review: The Lost Souls Dating Agency, by Suneeti Rekhari

The Lost Souls Dating Agency, by Suneeti Rekhari
by Eric Lindstrom

Edition: 2015

Publisher: Escape Publishing

Summary:  She started out as just an ordinary university student, but the sudden and unexpected inheritance of an unused warehouse on the industrial side of town throws Shalini’s life plan askew.

Drawing from her strengths, she decides to set up a matchmaking business, helping the lonely to find a soulmate. But something unusual happens, something unexpected—her first client doesn’t fit the regular profile. Victor is dark, handsome, emotionally available...and a vampire.

Suddenly Shalini’s already disrupted world becomes a place where rules no longer apply. She must learn to adapt to her new occupation of finding The One for a prospective clientele of vampires, shape-shifters, and other beings more likely to bite first and ask questions later. And there are those out there who are less than happy with her entrepreneurial spirit.

But just as Shalini begins to think she can cope with anything, she discovers that she has bitten off more than she can chew, and played with powerful forces that have the potential to not only destroy the Lost Souls Dating Agency—but Shalini herself.

Rating: 2/5

Review: 
I will start this review by saying that I received an online copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange of a honest review.

The Lost Souls Dating Agency sounded like a cute and silly little book to read when I looked for something easy to distract myself and relax. It promised to be a New Adult book - a category I don't read much - but  I thought that with the right dosage of fun, fantasy and romance it would be nice.
It started quite well with a small mystery that got my attention. It also helped that the action was taking place in countries that I don't know much about, creating curiosity and some exoticism to the plot. Between Dubai and Australia, countries so far away from mine (one more similar than another but still with evident cultural differences), I was expecting a little bit of context about the life of Shalini on them.
Unfortunately not only I didn't get that and also didn't get much context about the main character, which is odd. Don't get me wrong, Shalini was there during the whole book,but we didn't had the chance to hear her voice on the majority of the plot. Because of that she started being a strange character for me. The process that results in the creating of the Dating Agency didn't make sense at all. For me, it felt like desiring to be a millionaire and waking up the next day to find out you are one. I think that a little more explanation was need from her, as well as more information about the idea behind the creation of this agency but specially the reason why she wanted it in first place.
The characters that interacted with her were funny and created some colorful moments that kept me reading the book. In fact, they were the saviors of this book and created funny interactions and entertainment. Even so, that bonus wasn't enough to explain, for instance, how everything worked so easily for her and not even the moments supposed to create tension had that effect in the reader.
When I was in the middle of the book, I found myself trying to guess how she would resolve all the untied knots until the end of the book, since when I searched online I didn't find any information that contradicted the book was a stand alone. Turns out it ends with a cliffhanger and it can only means there are supposed to be more. Even if I enjoyed some of the characters and was curious to know what will happen to then, if more books follow I will pass the opportunity of reading them. Really thinking about it, the problem is that this book is more similar to fanfiction or a small novella than to a "real" book and I probably created too many expectations for it. I can't say I didn't have fun reading it, but I also can't deny it was a senseless and crazy narrative.

Cláudia

About the author:
 

Addicted to the library Claudia loves to read on the move and we can usualy find her sitting in a train or bus reading while commuting to and from work. But don't be fooled she is also keeping an eye on the landscape and all around her. She is an avid defender of sustainability and volunteering and it's as easy to find her starting a new project as it is to find her chatting with her friends. She is a dreamer and loves good stories so she keeps looking for them in her personal life.