A PERFECT MATCH - Shelley Bradley
Samhain Publishing www.samhainpublishing.com
ISBN: 978-1-60504-012-7
May 2008
Erotic Contemporary Romance

Mitch Mackinnon is none too pleased when one of his counterparts at work goes into labor. Now everyone on staff at the Signal has to pick up "fluff" stories to fill in the gaps during her absence. Mitch enjoys reporting on sports and would have liked to avoid doing an article in the Community Happenings' section of the newspaper. When his boss suggests he do a piece on a dating agency as a favor to his wife, Mitch literally cringes inside as he tries to get out of the assignment. As editor-in-chief, John Cannon knows how to win Mitch over and reminds him that doing this article may be just the push he needs to get a job with USA Today. Grudgingly Mitch agrees and heads over to meet Juliet Lowell.  

Juliet Lowell is the owner and mastermind behind A PERFECT MATCH and looks forward to sharing information about her matchmaking agency. She's been avoiding saying yes, but Juliet does have a boyfriend who has asked her to marry him, so she's a little surprised that she feels such sexual hunger when meeting Mitch. Even though Juliet has a 62% success rate, it's crystal clear that Mitch is a nonbeliever in her abilities to match up the perfect couple. Juliet then suggests that Mitch meet a couple that just recently married to get an objective view.

Still skeptical after meeting the happy couple, Mitch gives A PERFECT MATCH a less than stellar review in the newspaper. Expecting her anger, Mitch warily checks his watch as Juliet storms into the newspaper office to accuse him of being biased about her company because of his own personal opinion. He can't possibly speak to whether her business is really successful without experiencing it firsthand, so she insists he try the agency personally. Juliet looks forward to his retraction when he sees that she really knows what she's doing. Mitch has no intention of going on a date with goodness knows who until John again convinces him that he should give it a try. Still hesitant, Mitch won't agree to any matchmaking unless Juliet is willing to put her own reputation on the line by signing on for a date with a stranger, as well.

Reading a story from Shelley Bradley is like opening up a box of gourmet chocolates. You already know that everything inside will be yummy and deliciously enjoyable. This is a tantalizing tale about how opposites really do attract as Juliet and Mitch fight hard to deny their obvious mutual appeal. Juliet craves solid roots in the community after a lifetime of moving from state to state, while Mitch lives for adventure and the joy of traveling throughout the country. And what about the fact that Andrew is waiting for an answer to his marriage proposal from Juliet? She's salivating at the mouth and drinking in Mitch's darling dimples when she should be focusing on commitment and a family with Andrew.

Unexpectedly, every time Mitch looks at Juliet he thinks about hot, hot sex and the possibility of a relationship. He may not believe in her livelihood, but Mitch can't deny Juliet's red hot appeal. Ms. Bradley easily holds the readers' attention as she focuses on entertaining, funny and intelligent characters desperate to prove a point about who's right and who's wrong. But soon, none of that matters as they come to a surprising realization about themselves. The journey ends, but are they A PERFECT MATCH? You'll want to devour this captivating and pleasurable book to find out, and then re-read it again and again.

Allegra Alston