Mr. Perfect

By: Linda Howard

Narrated by: Laura Hicks

Length: 10 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

What would make the perfect man?

That's the deliciously racy topic that Jaine Bright and her three girlfriends are pondering one night at their favorite after-hours hot spot: Mr. Perfect. Would he be tall, dark, and handsome? Caring and warmhearted - or will just muscular do? As their conversation heats up, they concoct a tongue-in-cheek checklist that becomes an overnight sensation, spreading like wildfire at work and sizzling along email lines. But what began as a joke among friends turns deadly serious when one of the four women is murdered....

Turning to her neighbor, an unpredictable police detective, for help, Jaine must unmask a killer to save her friends - and herself. Now, knowing whom to trust and whom to love is a matter of survival - as the dream of Mr. Perfect becomes a chilling nightmare.

©2001 Linda Howard (P)2012 Simon & Schuster

Critic reviews

"Sexy fun....A frolicsome mystery...Jaine Bright lives up to her name: she's as bright - and explosive - as a firecracker." ( People)

"There is nothing quite like a sexy and suspenseful story by the amazing Linda Howard! The sparring relationship between Sam and Jaine is a delight. Mr. Perfect is funny, exciting, gripping, and sensuous - in fact it ranks as one of her all-time best!" ( Romantic Times)

This story has everything

Everything you want in a book this story has. Romance, Good laughs, Drama, Suspense, and everything else! One of my favorites by Linda Howard!

Voice ruined the book

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This book is hilarious!!!...when I read it. Listening to it...not as much. Voice ruined it. Thank goodness I read it first.

Enjoyable Book

I really enjoyed the book but not a fan of the narrator. She really threw off the story with her bad voice choices for the different characters. It made listing to the book very hard. Maybe just read on your own instead of this awful narration.

Great story, mediocre narrator.

I read this book years ago and loved it so I thought I would revisit the audiobook. Story is still great but the voice of the narrator doesn’t fit the story. Her impressions of characters is a bit comical and she sounds very matter-of-fact in out of context scenarios. Worth the listen, but you’ll get more out of reading the text.

I LOVED LOVED the two main characters

STORY (romance/thriller) - Four girls compose a list of requirements for "The Perfect Man" while out drinking on a Friday night. Next thing they know, they're famous and being hunted by someone who wants to kill them. Then there's the romance between one of the women, Jane, and her detective neighbor Sam.

The relationship between Sam and Jane is one of my favorites of all the books I've listened to. They both have strong personalities and cutting humor, and their clever bickering is my favorite part of what is otherwise a very good book. And Sam...yeah, Sam is delicious. Their romance is fun and sexy, but sex isn't a large part of the book. Sam is, of course, trying to protect Jane and her friends, while also trying to figure out who is stalking them. You will probably enjoy everything about this book.

PERFORMANCE - Pretty good job. She tries to distinguish between characters and some of them sound a little weird but, as always, I appreciate the distinction and the effort.

OVERALL - There is probably about ten minutes of sex in this book. I would call it moderately explicit. Jane has a potty mouth, so be prepared for quite a bit of swearing. There is brutal murder, but the description isn't overly gross. I'd highly recommend this for anyone who likes romance/mysteries.

Enjoyed

I was totally surprised by this book. I purchased it because it was on a special, boy was I surprised. I really didn't think I would like it, but I have already listened to it more then once.

The book starts off calm and sort of cute taking you by surprise with the drama and suspense that follows. It sort of ease you right into the drama. You think it's a soft story and then boom - the drama and suspense begins. It was about the list the ladies put together as to their version of a perfect man. This unfolds and the drama begins concerning this list but not in the way you may think until you get more into the story. It is an old book, but a good one.

I loved the relationship between Sam and Jane. The friendship between the 4 friends was written well. I didn't like what happened to them, but that was the essence of the book. The only negative thing I can say is I was not thrilled with the narrator. She was just okay.

The story was exciting, kept my attention the entire time. That is not an easy thing to do with me because I get bored fast. This one had it all for me. Drama, suspense, funny, and romance. Well, I guess it was a bit interesting how Sam and Jane fell in love in all of 3 weeks, but I've heard that in real-life so I guess it can happen.

A WORTHY LISTEN

It started off as a really funny lighthearted story which was expertly switched into a dark murder mystery romance (with a twist or two along the way) by the skilled writings of Ms Howard.

Worth a credit? If you're looking for a good romance thriller then, for the price, just buy it with $ coz it's cheap enough.

Don’t do it!

While this book is classified as a mystery thriller, you must listen to half the book to get to the first murder. The narrator isn’t great with men’s voices and I found it difficult to stay with the story. I was really glad once it was over! Not a great romance either.

Just short of Perfect

Would you try another book from Linda Howard and/or Laura Hicks?

Hecks yeah! This one was fantastic though it's quite old.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Detective Sam Donovan

Would you listen to another book narrated by Laura Hicks?

Yes I would, I was impressed how well she performed for the male characters and obviously the female ones as well.

Do you think Mr. Perfect needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

I don't. This book is thoroughly toe curling and a re-read every now and then.

Any additional comments?

Yep. It's hot. He's ultra hot. A perfect FICTIONAL macho hero. The heroine is slightly annoying but not enough to ruin the read.

Be careful What You Wish For

Would you try another book from Linda Howard and/or Laura Hicks?

Yes.

Would you recommend Mr. Perfect to your friends? Why or why not?

Perhaps. But, this is a book, in my opinion, written for female readers who would like light reading material. It is laced with sex, with blood and gore, in between. I also enjoyed the bantering that went on between the main characters. I would not call it a 'page turner' because except toward the end of the story, everything was on the whole, predictable.

What aspect of Laura Hicks’s performance would you have changed?

I found that Laura Hick's performance, enjoyable.

Do you think Mr. Perfect needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

This book needs no folow up because there were no unanswered questions for the reader.

Any additional comments?

I did not choose this book because I was looking for a Pulitzer Prize winning novel. It held my interest and did not challenge a desire for deep thinking. It also made me curious enough to choose another novel written by this author.