REVIEW: Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard

Mr. Perfect

by Linda Howard

4 HEARTS

From Goodreads

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.

Putting her "trademark darkly sensual style" (Booklist) into high gear, New York Times bestselling author Linda Howard creates a tour de force of passion and suspense in this electrifying new page-turner, and proves that appearances can be deceiving -- and deadly.

Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard was a very entertaining listen. The narrator, Laura Hicks, did a lovely job with the characters. The story itself wasn't at all predictable and had some witty banter between the hero and heroine.

Jaine Bright has made a mess of her life. She is starting to think her judgement may be a bit skewed. First, she was convinced her neighbor is an alcoholic or worse. He keeps late hours, he's surly and grumpy with her and she can't seem to be around him for more than 5 minutes without making him mad. Turns out he's an undercover cop that works strange hours and the neighborhood loves him. Second, her and her friends decide to make a list of Mr. Perfect over drinks one evening. The list gets misplaced and ends up becoming a media phenomena. Everyone wants to debate the Mr. Perfect list. Some agree, some find it humorous and it makes some very angry. All of a sudden, her and her friends are thrown into a media circus, having to defend their list and have attracted a stalker that isn't at all happy with the list. To make it even more complicated, Jaine finds her biggest supporter and protector in the very neighbor that she always thought she hated.

Sam Donovan is an undercover policeman who works crazy hours and has to deal with a neighbor that makes way too much noise when he's trying to sleep. Yes, most of that is during the day, but that's beside the point. Not to mention, he finds himself attracted beyond logic whenever she is around. Now, her friends are being hurt and she is being threatened. He'll stop at nothing to protect the woman he has come to love.

The witty, funny banter between Sam and Jaine make the book. Honestly, without that I don't know that I would have liked this book nearly as much.

"No? No? You can't say No. It's against the law to hold me against my will." "I'm not holding you against your will. I'm holding you against your car." 

You'll find yourself laughing out loud in places. Sam is cocky and brash, but very patient with Jaine. Jaine is almost like Lucille Ball in this book. She bumbles along and makes her life harder than it needs to be. But, she loves her friends and she's a very likable character.

Hotness Rating 3 out of 5