It's a Match

by Ana Tejano

(A short story)

Cams Ronquillo is single and ready to mingle - at least, online. After finally moving on from her last break-up, she decides to try online dating thanks to the encouragement of Gabriel Evangelista, her friend, business partner, and serial (online) dater. As she learns to navigate through the potential dates at her fingertips, Cams decides to break one of their online dating rules...and gets a very unexpected match.

Genres: Romance, Chick Lit

29 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 20, 2016

About the author

Ana Tejano (@itstimeana) has loved words since she started reading books for fun in elementary school. From writing short stories in her free time as a kid, she got published under her full name in various Philippine print and online publications including Didache, In His Steps, Fish Magazine, Family Time, The Female Network, and The Top Knotters. In 2014, she self-published her first romance novel, Fall Like Rain, written during the first batch of #RomanceClass. Her books and stories are all zero heat and always with happily ever afters.

Ana was part of the Filipino ReaderCon core committee from 2010 to 2015, handling the event’s content and social media strategy, and the first Filipino Readers’ Choice Awards in 2012. When she’s not writing romance and reading books, she works as a marketing manager for a multinational tech company, serves in CFC Singles for Christ, and fangirls over BTS. She’s working on her next book(s) and promises they will be done soon. Ana lives in the Philippines with a five-year-old shih and spitz mix and three rowdy aspins.

Reviews

[Claire - The Coffeeholic Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sparks flew between Cams and Gabriel in this newest story, only they were too blind to see it. Business partners turned friends, these two had known each other for a while and it suited them just fine.

When Cams had finally gotten over her ex, she decided to try online dating, and Gabriel was too pleased to help her out with her online profile. If only he was the one asking her on a date instead of some virtual guy she knew nothing about. If only she could tell her friend who she really wanted..

I like this newest novel by Ana Tejano, it's light, short, sweet and kinda cupcake-cheesy. Cams, being a cupcake baker, was a delight to read, her innocence and naivete made her a lovable character. Online dating master with washboard abs, Gabriel was a chiseled god, in my opinion, and only a fool wouldn't like him. I like his lovable personality, funny, sweet, caring and dedicated. I think we are a match! Ha ha.

I enjoyed this short book and would highly recommend it as a bedtime story for lovers, seekers and online daters alike! Thumbs up!

[Jacky · Rating 4 out of 5]

cuuuute :')

[Sab · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daaaamn, That was Good

For such a short read, it gives sufficient background on the main characters, Camilla and Gabriel. I fell in love with both of them in just a few pages because of how simple yet captivating the storytelling was. Good good writing, indeed!

Gahhhh! Can't get enough. Gonna head over to my copy of Fall Like Rain now!

[sil ♡ the book voyagers · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a Match is shorter than the other #romanceclass books I've read. That's why I put 3 stars instead of higher, it just was too short for me. Though the story is really interesting and the ship is so cute, I just wanted a longer book ~

Some A+ things:
- An #ownvoices book, the author is Filipino while the MCs are also Filipino
- The heroine is a bAKER YOU HEARD RIGHT she makes cupcakes and the hero loves them
- The hero owns bars and he is an online dating pro
- They have such a huge crush for one another yet they don't know sobs
- They're so adorable, I love friends to lovers trope

[Reev Robledo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah, the days of online dating are upon us and has become the sort of norm for the unconventional love (or sex) explorer. Gabriel and Cams' story, however, is of the wholesome variety—a cute romance novella that can easily be devoured in an hour's time. The non-linear storytelling was beautifully crafted, making it a compelling read. I can see this as an episode of a tv series, and I seriously hope it becomes one.

[Sheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since I'm in the mood after "Keep the Faith" and this luckily came free through Amazon, just had to go on reading!

This was too short! Wish it was a full length novel than just a short story! Still worth the read. :)

A bit bothered that the cover was showing foreign models. That's probably just me though.

[twstrfries · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why. So. Short?

More of Cams and Gabriel, please.

I'm suddenly craving for the said revel bars and red velvet cupcakes. Good thing, I know someone who happens to make them. Bring me some if we'll meet up once I'm back in Manila, okay? Char!

[trisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐
too short ☹️

[patricia clare · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute!!!! I feel like this is a good intro to Ana. Love her writing style + kilig premise ♥️♥️

[Jay Tria · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short but sweet read that doesn't hold back on the feels. It tells the story of Cams, one of Rain's friends from Tejano's first book Fall Like Rain, and shows how she met hunky bar owner Gabriel while she was swimming in the despair of a failed relationship. Cams and Gabriel start off with a business relationship that gradually blossoms into an easy friendship, and eventually into something more that they both deny. The trigger comes when Gabriel, a serial and casual dater, teases Cams into creating her own profile in a dating app. She concedes, gets a match, goes on a date, and the feelings spiral from there. I loved how Gabriel inducts Cams into the dating world, in a way that's charmingly misdirected (since he had a specific direction in mind already). I loved how Cams was around Gabriel, how she tried to hold in how hot she found him, because her heart was still on the mend. And really, isn't it always safer for a guy like him to not know how attracted a girl is to him?

Having read Fall Like Rain, I feel that It's A Match is a short but true glimpse of how Tejano is growing into her writing, and it's fun to see that unravel. Looking forward to more of her works, and to a continuation of Cams and Gabriel's story. A longer one, I hope!

[Kristel · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
A very quick read and I enjoyed it immensely! Despite it being a short story, I love how the chemistry between Cams and Gabriel was established right from the start. I also love how I was given quick glimpses of their history together, making their feelings for one another authentic and natural. It's just fun to read how they react to each other! My favorite part of this story is how Gabriel was described through his online profile photos. No need to be detailed about his abs or his muscles. I know he's a catch! I wish it was longer, though. My favorite story from the author!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's short, sweet and totally addictive you can't help but wish for more. I love Gabriel and Camilla first encounter all the way to end. The story ends at what I would consider their beginning, but the story is totally worth reading.

***Review was first posted here

[Maria Ella · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read and re-read but some nuances sparked familiarity.

SO META. Hahahaha

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably closer to 3.5 stars. The characters were very cute. I wish there had been more. I didn't feel like there was a deep connection, but maybe that would have happened in a longer story.

[Alexa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I need those red velvet + PB cupcakes nowwww *cravings*

[Cathleene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very short read yet it evoked a lot of feelings because ~reasons. Their story is a typical one: they met, danced around their feelings and when they finally admitted their feelings about each other, it's reciprocal (yaaay!). And I'm craving for a full length book about theeeem ❤