Just Finished:



Recommended by: No one. I got it on an impulse at the library.

From the Back Cover: What would make the perfect man?

That's the delicious topic heating up the proceedings at a certain table of professional women at their favorite restaurant, Ernie's, tonight: Mr. Perfect. What qualities would he have? Would he be tall, dark, and handsome? Caring and warmhearted -- or will just muscular do? Jaine Bright and her three girlfriends start off with the basics -- he'd be faithful and reliable, the responsible type, with a great sense of humor.

But as the conversation picks up momentum, so do the quartet's requirements for Mr. Perfect -- and they write down a tongue-in-cheek checklist that's both funny and racy. The next thing they know, the List, as it has come to be called, spreads like wildfire throughout their company and sizzles along e-mail lines. And it doesn't stop there: the List becomes an overnight sensation, grabbing the interest of local newspapers and television coverage. No one expected this avalanche of attention for something that began as a joke among friends. And the joke turns deadly serious when one of the four women is murdered...

The prime suspect in the case is the victim's boyfriend, who was one of a number of men who found the List sexist and offensive. But an impenetrable alibi gets him off the hook. Now, with the help of Jaine's neighbor, an unpredictable police detective, the puzzle must be solved -- and time is running out as a deadly stalker targets the three remaining friends. Now, knowing whom to trust and whom to love is a matter of survival -- as the dream of Mr. Perfect becomes a chilling nightmare.

What I Liked: Sam Donovan. I’ve said it before, but I want the man for myself. He’s tough, he’s smart, he’s a good guy with a tiny streak of bad boy, and he’s got a sense of humor. What’s not to love. Oh ~ he’s also sexy, has a great body and is well-endowed. I love the sparks between Jaine and Sam. The immediate dislike and miscommunications were just a symptom of what was going on between the two of them and I couldn’t wait for the next interaction between them. It was awesome. I have to say, Linda Howard knows chemistry and she definitely built a passionate relationships between Sam and Jaine.

I also liked the friendship between Jaine and her co-workers. It’s great to have a book where friendship is as important as the h/h relationship.

What I Didn’t Like: The list. I didn’t get the big deal of it; didn’t understand why the husbands/boyfriends of the ladies who wrote the list were so uptight; didn’t understand why the whole world went wacky for the list. Ok, it was fun ~ but, it wasn’t scandalous, it wasn’t insulting, and it wasn’t something that would grab that much attention.

Verdict: In spite of the list, I’d say it’s Very Good. The chemistry between the h/h was hot, the heroine actually had friendships and a life outside of the relationship with the hero ~ oh and there was a teeny little mystery thrown in as well. I’m one of those who always reads the end of a book before I start it, but even I was surprised by some of the things that happened in the book. Oh ~ and did I mention Sam Donovan?

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Labels: Linda Howard, Romantic Suspense, Very Good