Review: a perfect romance/suspense.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 09 25, 2013
A Perfect Mess.  A Perfect Series #1. Zoe Dawson.Arc supplied via Netgalley.I've not read any of Zoe's work before, but really enjoyed this book and would happily read more. It's a stand-alone novel - hurrah!! I see there's two more on the series planned, and I assume/hope they're the stories about Bookers brothers and Aubree's friends - this book seems to be setting them up to pair off :)Well, the food in this....didn't help that I read it yesterday, having decided a diet was needed and I'd try the Fast diet, 500 cals a day for two days a week, and I decided to save them all for tea, so reading all the delicious foods, boudin sausage, craw-fish, apple pie, real vanilla ice-cream was torture :) still, the frog sticking helped - eurghh I cannot imagine killing and eating them!The book though - was a great read. The mystery of what happened in Wild Magnolia Road was set early, and I was dying to know what did happen. Clearly Aubree and Booker shared some kind of link about it, but it was all a big secret and I wanted to know what it was! Aubree is home from college as her aunt is in hospital after a fall, and no-one knows whether it was an accident or not. Straight away things happen to Aubree, starting with an attack on her car before she's even got into the house. She gets weird texts too that frighten her, and indicate someone knows more about the mystery. She's been avoiding home and Booker since it happened almost a year ago - Booker is a real charmer though and is on hand as ever to help and defend Aubree, even though she's tried to keep away from him and when first home gives him the cold shoulder. Its clear from both her words and actions she really wants to be closer, and the same with him and yet despite his attempts she keeps trying to stay back. He's never thought he was good enough for her though because of his background, and she's always felt that he's so stunning that she wouldn't attract him for more than just a friendship. They find out though that they can't stay away from each other, and as their relationship heats up the danger increases. I was on the edge of my seat wondering just what was going to be revealed. There's mysteries round every corner, some dangerous and many just part of their history but that impact on the present.Its beautifully written - who can't help but love Booker, and his triplet brothers? They've pulled themselves up from poverty, with Bookers novel sales providing start up for the other two to have their own business. So the kids that the town denigrated have become something after all, and yet there are still those that can't see beyond the Outlaw name. Like all life I guess, some people are born bigots and won't ever change their ways :( I loved Aubree too - what was the chicken stuff though? If it was revealed somehow I've missed it, and it keeps nagging at me - I might have to re read just to search for it!! Her aunt was wonderful also, and the two girls she's been friends with since school. Aubree doesn't have many friends, she's always kept herself quite closed, possible due to her background, but they don't let that put them off, and now she's back they pick up as if she'd never left. Its clear too that they both have feelings for the other two Outlaw boys.The characters - the triplets and the girls - are all 19/20 ish but feel older. There's none of that juvenile silliness that's so irritating in many books about people this age, and instead they just fit perfectly into small town life. I felt I was there - and given I've never been far from home that's good :) I loved the way the boys spoke... "sugar" - I could just hear those soft, seductive voices. There was so much emotion, about past events, and those of the present and possible future that I was pulled completely into the characters lives. When the big hiccup came I was sooo sad, felt tears and a lump in my throat. I know its just a story, but in a real good book the emotion is such that it feels real. I love a HEA too so was great to get one. There was some sex here, but beautifully and  seductively done, fitted the plot and isn't graphic in-your-face sex that puts many readers off. I look forward to reading the next stories in the series. Priced at 2.49 for 215 pages/465 kb its good value and had enough depth to be one I'd love to re read. One for the keepers file.Stars: bit longer and I'd have gone five, so four and a half. Great book if you love romance and a suspense/mystery behind it.