Julie Ortolon, Almost Perfect

Almost Perfect

Julie Ortolon

Signet, Sep 2005, $6.99, 304 pp.

ISBN: 0451216407

Artist Maddy Mills, scientist Christine Ashton, and Amy Baker are elated for former college roommate Jane Redding, a TV anchor turned motivational speaker, who has written a self-help book "How to have the Perfect Life". However, they become angry when they realize Jane used the trio as classic examples of how fear can destroy your life. Angry and feeling ridiculed, the threesome detest that Jane is right. Motivated, they vow to prove little Ms. Perfect wrong by regaining the passion they lost when they allowed phobias to paralyze them.

Artist Maddy is to get any Santa Fe gallery to display her work. To achieve the objective Maddy obtains work as the Arts & Crafts Coordinator at Mama Fraser's Camp Enchantment. Fraser's son Joe also works there as director. Years ago Maddy rejected Joe's proposal of marriage as she chose art school over being a military spouse. Ultimately she lost both as her fervor for the arts vanished with Joe leaving her life. Though frightened, she is more scared that Joe is there and she still feels her heart beat like crazy for him though he seems to reject her as yesterday's news.

The first of the "perfect" tales is a fun story with a strong male lead whose heart was once crushed by the more tenuous female counterpart; choosing ice cream flavors is difficult for Maddy. However, readers will wonder not just whether Maddy meets the challenge that her two buddies dared her with, but also how will she overcome Joe's animosity towards her. Fans will appreciate this lighthearted second chance at love between two high school sweethearts reunited for the first time in a decade.

Harriet Klausner