THE PERFECT BARGAIN is Book 1 in the How To Marry a Highlander series by Jessa McAdams. THE PERFECT BARGAIN, like some of my other favorite fun romances, starts out requiring the reader to suspend their disbelief a little. After her ex messes with her confidence, Sloane Chatfield concocts an outlandish plan to get her well-meaning friends off her back. To relieve her friends' worry over her and her lack of a love life, Sloane flies to Scotland and invents a hot Scottish boyfriend. As with all good romantic comedies, things become in danger of blowing up in her face when her friends announce plans to come to Scotland to scope out the new guy. What's a girl to do?

I love this book! THE PERFECT BARGAIN has everything I love in a romance -- a pretend romance that becomes real, opposites attracting, steamy scenes, and lots of fun. At the beginning of THE PERFECT BARGAIN, Sloane and lawyer- turned-pub owner Galen Buchanan have a flirty snarkiness that whets the appetite for a future romance between the two. There's no real nastiness, but they exasperate each other. They both wind up intriguing each other and realize that they have more layers than previously suspected. Even though they haven't known each other long, I like how Jessa McAdams builds attraction between Sloane and Galen, creating erotic moments and a wonderful sense of intimacy. The way they gradually grow to like and respect each other has you rooting for them by the end of THE PERFECT BARGAIN.

I like Sloane and Galen equally. Having the story told from both perspectives makes it easier to understand the main characters. Even though Galen eventually accepts Sloane's offer to pretend to be her boyfriend for money, his reasons are understandable and he doesn't come off as sleazy. As the story progresses, Sloane and Galen are revealed to be more complex than they first appeared. As Sloane's confidence increases, Galen becomes a little less sure of himself as his feelings for Sloane grow. I like how Sloane is so honest about her feelings and takes charge near the end of THE PERFECT BARGAIN.

THE PERFECT BARGAIN is a delicious blend of fun and sexy! In addition to the romance, THE PERFECT BARGAIN is also a story about a woman finding herself and taking charge of her life. By the end of the book, Sloane becomes a more confidant woman as well as being more in touch with her feelings and what she truly wants in life. I eagerly await the next book in this How To Marry a Highlander series by Jessa McAdams.