Just Perfect

By: Julie Ortolon

Narrated by: Jane Cramer

Length: 7 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

Maddy, Christine and Amy are thrilled that their old college suite-mate has written a best-selling book, How to Have the Perfect Life - until they realize she used them as examples of how women let fear screw up their lives. The worst part is…it's sort of true. Together they make a pact: they each have one year to face down their fears - and maybe show Miss Perfect a thing or two!

You have to be tough to work in the ER - but Dr. Christine Ashton's courage doesn't extend to riding a chairlift, no matter how much she loves skiing. Her challenge is to strap on a pair of skis and conquer her fear of heights. The bigger challenge, though, will be resisting the sexy ski instructor her friends have deemed off-limits.

Alec Hunter is more than just a fun-loving charmer and nothing like the users and losers, and strays Christine usually picks. But she's still giving him the cold shoulder, and he's determined to prove how wrong she is about him.

After helping the victim of a snowboarding accident, the two fall hard and fast - with enough heat to melt the mountains. And everything is just perfect - until Christine must face another kind of fear and choose between her dream job back home and her dream man in Colorado.

©2011 Julie Ortolon (P)2013 Julie Ortolon

Sweet Romance

The second book in the series is just as great as the first!! I am really digging these kinda deep romances. If you cry at emotional relationship moments you should have tissues at the ready, I needed them!

Christine is a always trying to get her father's approval. It is sad that she basis her whole life on getting him to praise her. She is such a fun and sassy character other than that one major flaw. Pair her up with fun loving Alec who lives to play and sparks fly. I love that he works so hard to get her.

The beginning is loads of flirty fun, and the misunderstands made me giggle. I love the way they both found out the truth about each other.

I did feel like Alec was more invested in the relationship, but in the end she had a breakthrough too. The mixed narrative giving each charterer's POV really helps you understand each of their struggles. They both have baggage, although his is considerably less. It was great seeing them work through things. The self-help book pops up throughout this book again, it seems oddly appropriate.

I listened to the audiobooks narrated by Jane Cramer, who does a lovely job. She has a smooth read that is wonderfully paced. She definitely suits the series. Her voices are great on the women and narration, the men not so much. I would have liked at least the lead guy to be a touch deeper and more distinctive.

There is some steam, after a bit of time getting to know each other. For a winter fling there isn't much detail. It is open bedroom door but more NC-17 than R rated in the details. A delicious romance that did not steam up the windows. It was lovely, I don't always need super spicy.

I love the sense of play you get from the story telling. While the characters have depth and issues they face, the book feels light and fun. I love the three girls and their relationship with each other is the most endearing thing about the series.

Overall, I am really enjoying this series. It is funny each girl picks a different thing as her challenge, but none of the things address their real issues. It is the most clear in this book, in the end Christine faces her real fear and makes serious headway. I can not wait to see what will happen with Amy in the last book. Is it evil of me to hope when the year is up they discover Jane is far from perfect and getting a divorce?

Disclosure - I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts, opinions and ratings are my own.

I quit listening because she was beyond emotionally unhealthy

I’m not going to spoil this for anybody but her unhealthy obsession with her parents approval was to annoying for me to enjoy the book

Wonderful

This trilogy of stories about these three women is great. Great way to escape for an afternoon. Believable and funny and romantic.

Excellent Series

What did you love best about Just Perfect?

The lives of both characters and how they are so miss matched - but so the same

What did you like best about this story?

The feeling and emotions the characters had.

Have you listened to any of Jane Cramer’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes I have listened to all three books in the Perfect Trilogy. She does an excellent job - her voice is clear and she expresses so much meaning in her words.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I loved the fact that her thoughts about him were not quite true. So funny - that has happened to me a few times.

Any additional comments?

Great series! In fact all of Julie's books I have read/listened are excellent!

Awesome 2nd series book

I love how the stories blend so perfectly together. This is an amazing author. Well written books. This has been one of my best reads. Love this series.