Wednesday, January 29, 2014

REVIEW: PERFECT TOGETHER by CARLY PHILLIPS

Perfect Together (Serendipity's Finest, #3)Series: Serendipity's Finest #4
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: 2/4/14
Format: eARC
Pages: 320
Source: Publisher
Rating: 4 stars

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 fiancĂ©’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?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17705104-perfect-together?from_search=true


First Impression... It's Carly Phillips, guys! I'm currently in the midst of a serious reading slump, and hope one of my long-time go-to authors can help me out.

The Story... Perfect Together is the third in the Serendipity's Finest series; a series I haven't started. But all is well because though I don't know the series history, Phillips casually intersperses the characters' background into the current plot.

Nicole makes the choice to break her engagement and move to Serendipity, a town that shouldn't feel like home, but does. There, she quickly becomes friends with Macy, a waitress and total fun sweetheart. She also reconnects with Sam, the cop who arrested, them befriended her when she was last in Serendipity. (It's a long story).

So now we're getting a love connection, and that's great! Except, Sam's been badly burned, and isn't keen to set himself up for heartbreak. Given her recent breakup, Nicole is reluctant too. Then we have her ex Tyler, coming to town to win her back, or is he? Because apparently Tyler's dad isn't exactly an ethical dude, and he's afraid Nicole knows the truth about his shady business dealings.

So here we are with a hopeful love match between Sam and Nicole, a "maybe" love match between Macy and Tyler (another long story and not awkward at all!), and Nicole possibly in danger from Tyler's dad's business associates.

The Characters... Nicole is a woman trying to find her way. Her life has been defined by her cold parents, a relationship she was pushed into, and a twin with serious mental health issues. I like that with Sam, she pushed for total honesty. She didn't want to force him into a relationship, but she wouldn't be strung along. Good girl.

Sam was a hot detective and obviously, a good guy. He has issues with letting the past go, but when push comes to shove, he totally gets on board. I love when book guys are all "No relationships. No commitments. Sex only." But when the right woman comes along, he sings a completely different tune. It's so funny to see a man reluctantly, yet effortlessly fall in love.

The secondary characters helped round out the story, with Macy and Tyler getting a fair amount of page time. We also have Sam's family to add to the fun. I particularly liked his siblings Mike and Erin.

The Writing... C'mon, this is Carly Phillips. I love the comfort of an author that consistently delivers charming, romantic and well-written stories that make me happy.


In the End... Romantic, Sexy, and Fun. Perfect Together was another enjoyable read from Carly Phillips.


Favorite Quote:

  As he took her hard, she was lost, and knew the last of her walls had crumbled. She'd always known she could fall hard for him even as she'd agreed to nothing serious between them. And as he played her body so well, bringing her over the edge once more, she took that final tumble into love.



The Serendipity Series
 
Perfect Fit (Serendipity's Finest, #1)  Perfect Fling (Serendipity's Finest, #2)  Perfect Stranger (Serendipity, #3.5; Serendipity's Finest, #2.5)  Perfect Together (Serendipity's Finest, #3)
(covers lead to GoodReads)
 
 
 
 


About the author
Carly PhillipsNew York Times bestselling author Carly Phillips tossed away her legal briefs and a career as an attorney to become a stay at home mom. Within the year, she turned her love of reading into an obsession with writing. Over 30 published novels later, Carly writes sexy contemporary small town romances, striking a balance between entertainment, humor and the emotion her readers have come to expect and enjoy.

Carly is a New York Times bestseller, USA Today Bestseller, Publisher’s Weekly bestseller and as of 2012, a Romance Writer’s of America RITA Nominee. In 2002, Carly’s novel, The Bachelor, became Kelly Ripa’s “Reading with Ripa” pick on Live with Regis and Kelly, making it the first romance ever chosen on a nationally televised book club.

Carly received her undergraduate degree from Brandeis University and is a graduate of Boston University School of Law (J.D.). To date, Carly has over thirty novels to her credit, all available wherever books are sold.


When not writing or playing online, Carly loves to read, occasionally to knit, and to spend time with her family. She lives in Purchase, New York with her husband, two daughters and her dogs, a soft coated wheaten terrier and a Havanese. Her dogs are prominently featured on her website and Facebook page.

 
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21 comments:

  1. Right?! The fuck buddy thing only works so far. I love it too when these "bad boys" gets tamed

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  2. OHHHH that is a cute cover though the font kind of makes me cringe, haha. It's hiding that adorable picture :( Sam seems like a decent guy and I'm happy he found love in the most unexpected places. As for the girl, I'm wondering why she broke her engagement off. LOL @ the long story comment. I wonder what these two were up to if he had to arrest them. I certainly wouldn't mind reading this series on a cold night in front of a fireplace. Seems like the perfect kind :)

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  3. This sounds like a really fun one and I kinda want to know what the long story you mentioned is. Great review!

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  4. Like how Sam pushed her into honesty and finding who she is without parents

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  5. I have heard such good things about this author but haven't read anything by her yet. As far as romances go, Rachel Gibson and Jennifer Crusie are my go to authors. You're in a slump? I was in a horrible slump late last year and the only way to get out of it was to reread my favorite books. I just reread Manhunting by Jennifer Crusie last week for the 6th time :)
    Hope you get out of it!

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  6. I have heard great things about this author but I haven't read any. I love the sound of it and those authors that can get you out of reading slump are the best ones. Great review, Andrea :)

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  7. I have not read this series yet but oh my gosh it sounds good :D glad it helped you during the reading slump now I am curious! Charming writing and lovable characters make me happy.

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  8. I just recently started reading contemporary romances outside of small town settings so I have never tried this author..which book do you recommend I try of hers first? I hope your reading slump passes.

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    Replies
    1. My reading slump did pass!

      I really liked her Chandler Brothers series, but I read it like, ten years ago, maybe.

      I think you would like this.

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  9. I clicked on this because I saw the first three books of this series are available for .99 cents today on Amazon and Kindle as a box set. Great deal! I have not read any Carly Phillips yet. Is she comparable to Jill Shalvis or Kristan Higgins?

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    1. I haven't read Higgins, but I would definitely say you can compare her to Shalvis.

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    2. Awesome, thanks! Kristan Higgins is a little on the funnier side. LOVE her books.

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  10. Oh good, I haven't read the first two in this series either. Nice to know I can jump in. Glad you enjoyed.

    Reading slump? I'm kinda feeling it too - maybe not a slump but a meh...

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  11. I just one clicked a bundle of her books so this makes me glad I did :)

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  12. I haven't read Carly Phillips but this sounds pretty good! I love the name of the town. :)

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  13. This sounds really good, Andrea. I don't know that I've read CPhillips before but I'm gonna check out the Serendipity series. :)

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  14. I like the cover. Sorry you are in a slump. Great review though,. this sounds good

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  15. So Nicole's friend Macy connects with Tyler, Nicole's ex-fiance? This sounds a bit tangled but I see you enjoyed it anyhow. Wonderful review, Andrea. I'll have to check this out.

    You're on a reading slump? I hate that when no book seems to do it for you. :( Hope it doesn't last, Andrea. KA reads usually help or how about another Laura Florand: The Chocolate Touch?!! :)

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  16. I need to read and review this one as well. It sounds really good! I love when the guy says no sex, and then falls in love too. I like that while there was romance in this story, there were some elements of danger and suspense too. The secondary characters sound great too :) I'm glad that you enjoyed this one! Great Review!

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  17. I have the first two books in this series, but haven't read them yet, and I know I would like them. Your review has sparked me to move this series up on my TBR list.

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  18. I need to read something by Carly Phillips!

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