Kimberly Cates, The Perfect Match

The Perfect Match

Kimberly Cates

Harlequin HQN, Dec 2007, $6.99

ISBN: 9780373772650

Her nonagenarian Irish "fairy godmother" Great Auntie Maeve MacKinnon tells twenty-seven year old Rowena Brown to open her animal rescue pet store in Whitewater, Illinois because in this tiny town she will find her soul mate. Rowena heeds the advice of her godmother, although she has mixed feelings about finding the love of her life.

Using her magical Cuchullain pipe, Rowena is able to perfectly match people with the animals she heals; so her rescue store proves very successful. She matches nine year old sad faced Charlie with the hundred plus pound and growing juvenile delinquent Newfoundland dog her father Deputy Cash Lawless calls Destroyer, and Rowena calls Clancy because the child and the canine are soul mates. Cash is initially irate until he sees how good Charlie is with the dog. As Rowena becomes involved with Cash, Charlie and his other younger daughter Mac, she realizes her fairy godmother is right that she will find her soul mate here, as the Lawless father and two daughters stole her heart.

Male names aside, THE PERFECT MATCH is a delightful whimsical romantic fantasy starring three wonderful humans and a canine who steals many of the scenes. Rowena and Cash are fully developed, and readers will feel for Charlie as much as her father does. The secondary players, mostly regally commanding "Princess" Mac the townsfolk, other rescued animals, and of course Clancy, enhance a warm tale of love.