"love strikes even the most confirmed bachelor"
Reviewed by Sandra Wurman
Posted February 6, 2014
Romance Contemporary
PERFECT TOGETHER is a wonderfully romantic story about
second chances and finding your own self-worth. It also
teaches us that not all people are equipped to be parents --
that whole nature or nurture philosophy is illustrated in
spades in Carly Phillips new book.
PERFECT TOGETHER is the newest book that takes place in
Serendipity involving the last remaining single Marsden
sibling -- Sam. In short Sam has deep issues with trust. Now
a detective he relies on his instinct and gut to root
through the obvious and get to the meat of an issue or case.
Unfortunately Sam also thinks he can rely on these same
methods to protect his heart which had been truly tromped on
by his fiancé Jenna.
Jenna was the one that got away -- literally left Sam at the
altar. Hard to figure out what is worse, losing the love of
your life or the fact that it was basically telecast
throughout your home town. Suffice it to say Sam was poised
to make sure that never happened again. What he didn't count
on was Nicole Farnsworth who caught Sam's attention during
her brief albeit life changing stay in Serendipity.
Nicole originally came to town to stop her twin sister
Victoria from hurting anyone. Victoria had a history of
mental illness and her fixation on a resident of Serendipity
made her presence there dangerous.
Once again Nicole managed to come between her sister and the
unlucky object of her attention. This was something Nicole
has been doing her entire life predicated by the absence of
involved, caring parents. The Farnsworth's are a self-
evolved rich couple whose own relationship was one of cold
indifference. It was no stretch of the imagination to
foresee their lack of involvement in the lives of their twin
daughters -- except when it served their purpose.
The adult Farnsworth's seem to fit the definition of
narcissism. Which made it all the more amazing that Nicole
turned out to be a warm caring person. And that's what made
Sam sit up and notice when Nicole unexpectedly returns to
Serendipity.
Nicole faced many challenges coming back to the small town
that was still reeling from their problems with Victoria.
But Nicole had returned home only to find herself missing
the charm and warmth of this small community. She needed
that in her life and if it meant facing down naysayers then
she felt up for that challenge. She was going to make a new
beginning in this town and was determined to succeed. She
needed to prove to herself that she mattered and could
accomplish what she set out to do which was to open a bakery
for her dessert specialties. She wanted to be judged and not
come out wanting. She wanted to belong. Serendipity could
give her that chance -- in her heart she just believed that.
What she didn't expect was finding so much more.
The one thing Nicole never had was the love and support of a
family. In a small town like Serendipity everyone seems to
be an extension of a large family of caring people. Of
course you do have to deal with the ever present gossip but
Nicole was ready for that too. If you carefully mask your
feelings than no one can hurt you. This was a well learned
lesson that Nicole was going to practice upon her move.
Nicole and Sam were adults. They decided that they could act
on their mutual attraction with a non-committed relationship
of a sort -- friends with benefits. But their respective
pasts were repeatedly popping up at the most inopportune
times leaving Nicole even more vulnerable and Sam more
protective.
Nicole was determined to not expect anything more than
friendship and caring from Sam who was outspoken about his
reluctance to ever get truly involved. Sam was beginning to
feel much more than he wanted for this brave loving woman.
The problem was could they out run their pasts and wind up
at the finish line with their relationship intact.
Carly Phillips faced a challenge with PERFECT TOGETHER. She
had to reintroduce a character that hadn't really captured
the readers heart in a previous story and somehow make us
not only like her but love her. Philips loves a challenge.
PERFECT TOGETHER +is a perfect story about imperfect people.
Once again we are treated to Phillips special brand of witty
engaging dialog that moves this story along in a very fast
pace.
SUMMARY
In the picturesque town of Serendipity, New York, three
siblings have grown up in the shadow of their proud and
respected police chief father. But what do love, fate, and
fortune have in store for the next generation of
Serendipity’s finest? Tired of being the easygoing daughter, always ignored in
favor of her high-maintenance sister, and no longer
interested in being her fiancé’s trophy wife, Nicole
Farnsworth calls off her wedding. All she wants is to be
herself. And where better to find her destiny than
Serendipity? The place where she met the one man who made
her heart beat faster, and gave her the courage to reinvent
her life—even if he doesn’t know it. Officer Sam Marsden calls Serendipity home and he loves
it there—even though his childhood sweetheart was stolen by
his best friend. After such heartbreak, Sam fears he can’t
trust his instincts when it comes to love. Yet he’s so
tempted by Nicole, a woman he met only briefly but who has
starred in his dreams ever since. For Nicole and Sam,
opening their hearts one more time could change their lives
forever. But who’ll be the first to take that chance?
What do you think about this review?
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