A Man for Megan has definite possibilities. It has a genie, magic, and of course, three wishes. For me, though, the story didn’t live up to its possibilities.

Megan Kelly buys a crockpot at a garage sale and discovers a genie inside. He has been cursed to serve 2,000 masters because he ticked off the goddess Ishtar by refusing to sleep with her. Gilgamesh, the genie, is a prince who will be free to rule his kingdom after Megan makes her three wishes. Megan, of course, doesn’t believe the genie at first. But when she wishes for an accident to be prevented and it is, she believes.

Megan is an appealing heroine. She’s nice, honorable, noble and kind. She spends her first two wishes to help other people. She’s engaged to Elliott a sturdy, seemingly competent young man with whom she works. It’s soon apparent that Elliot is a world class mama’s boy who is not the man for Megan.

Gilgamesh, christened Gino by Megan, is not very likable at first. He’s arrogant about humans and the fact that he’s one third human makes him believe he’s impure. Gino tries to tempt Megan into making her wishes quickly by showing her what wealth could be hers. As the book goes on, Gino changes his tune and becomes a hero.

The problem with these characters was that I couldn’t connect with them. Why is Megan trying to hold on to a fiancé who’s clearly not worth it? Given that, why does she try so hard to get along with his mother who clearly dislikes her? And Gino’s transformation from contemptuous genie to loving man was rather abrupt. He thinks Megan is cute, is attracted to her and is suddenly deeply in love with her. I could see the story-line laid out in my mind, but as I was reading, it didn’t make sense.

The book has a relationship focus throughout almost the whole story and then suddenly shifts to action mode at the end when an incident from early on returns as catalyt for the third wish. This shift in focus from “relationship” to “action” was forced and unnatural. Also, Ms Scalera’s writing was a little purple at times. This might not bother some readers, but it distracted me.

A Man for Megan is not a book that will keep you up late at night, but it might pass a few hours for you if you like a retelling of the Aladdin story. I like Disney’s better.