Just Perfect

The Perfect Trilogy:

Maddy, Christine and Amy are thrilled that their old college suite-mate has written a bestselling 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!

Book Three: Too Perfect

A Wandering Duckling and a Two-Faced Beast -- a Perfect Fairy Tale?

Defying the terrible sense of direction that’s kept her form traveling, Amy ships out as a nanny on a Caribbean cruise–and promptly gets lost when they stop on St. Bart’s. Now she’s stranded without any money–or even a toothbrush!

Locals say that Gaspar, owner of the island’s crumbling fortress, is a hideous recluse. They call him La Bête, “The Beast.” But when Amy applies for a job at the fort, she meets only his charming assistant, Beaufort. In truth, the two are the same man–billionaire Byron Parks, who’s desperately seeking privacy and peace.

Amy aches for the miserable man secluded in the fortress tower. Through e-mail, they begin an imaginative exchange of romantic fantasies. Byron is hopelessly smitten with his sexy storyteller–but will his real-life make-believe ruin their happy ending?

Originally published in print by St. Martin's Press.

Adrian St. Claire, the sexy chef at the Pearl Island B&B is as tempting as the dishes he serves. In fact, he’s never had a woman tell him no––until his family needs help searching for a legendary heirloom on the sunken ship in the island’s cove. To find the treasure they need the help of a woman whose family history is as linked as theirs to the island’s romantic past.

As the owner of the Pirate’s Pleasure, Jackie Taylor is far more interested in running her cruise ship along the Texas coast than chasing tales of lost booty, and even less interested in tangling with a man who collects female admirers just by walking down the street. On top of that, helping the St. Claires could dredge up secrets she’d like to remain buried.

Enticed by Jackie’s resistance, Adrian soon has something more than treasure hunts and casual flirtation in mind . . . and he’s not a man who takes no for an answer. But will they each have the courage to risk their hearts for the greatest treasure of all––falling in love?

REVIEWS:

“Readers…will eat up this final installment of Ortolon’s Pearl Island trilogy faster than a plate of Adrian’s brownies.”

–Publishers Weekly

“…the best of the best with many funny, sweet and poignant moments. And it’s great catching up with the cast from the earlier books, Falling for You and Lead Me On. Once again, readers are given a great story to enjoy.”

–Tanzey Cutter, FreshFiction.com

“The magic of the Texas coasts and pirate ships create a lush background for a special love story. Adrian is the kind of man that every woman wants to find, and if a less worthy gal than Jackie had won him, we’d all be ticked. However, she is his equal.”

–Amanda Killgore, Huntress Reviews

“…sizzling, in and out of the kitchen. This is one terrific story full of enough adventure, humor, and passion to satisfy any reader”

–Betty Cox, Affair de Couer

“…this is one temping story of sexy romance, pirate lore and treasures of the heart in the past and the future. Julie Ortolon knows how to tempt you to take the plunge into reading this fabulous trilogy.”

–Suzanne Coleburn, Reader to Reader

Allison St. Claire has the face of an angel. That’s part of the problem. She also sells quaint tea sets in the gift shop at Galveston’s Pearl Island Inn. It doesn’t exactly scream sexy! Years of having men treat her like a little sister is enough to drive a healthy woman crazy. Especially when a gorgeous hunk checks in and fails to recognize that Allison’s more than willing. She’s ready…

Frustrated author Scott Lawrence is hoping to get lucky in more ways than one when he checks into the Pearl Island Inn. A little fun in the sun with a beautiful woman may be just the inspiration he needs to cure his writer’s block. No fuss. No commitment. But a “good girl” like Allison St. Claire? No way!

When Allison makes her move, every bachelor bone in Scott’s body tells him to swim for safety. But stronger instincts prevail, and the heat climbs higher than the temperature on the Texas Coast. Now a four-letter word called love could turn a sweet spring diversion into the most unexpected and complicated fling of their lives.

“A fun, fast-paced, and fiery romance.”

–Road to Romance

“Ortolon’s protagonists must overcome some tough emotional issues before they can set their sights on the future, but their journey is laced with humor and even a little history (provided by the inn’s ghosts). Earnest and endearing, Ortolon’s newest is a heartwarming and at times heartrending read.”

–Publishers Weekly

“Readers will root for Allison and Scott to overcome the obstacles keeping them apart in this entertaining and touching story.”

––Booklist

Originally published by St. Martin's Press. From the back cover of the print edition:

What happens when Mr. Slow and Steady…

The forecast is smooth sailing for Oliver Chancellor, scion of Galveston’s premier financier. Destined to take his place in the hallowed marble corridors of his family’s bank, Chance is content with the future that’s been mapped out for him, right down to his upcoming engagement to a prim debutante enthusiastically approved by his socialite mother.

Finds himself on a collision course…

But when beautiful Rory St. Claire crosses his path, Chance recklessly plunges into uncharted territory with nothing but his heart to guide him-and a beautiful woman to tempt him…

With Ms. Full-Speed-Ahead?

Propelled by a lifelong goal to buy the island home reportedly haunted by her colorful ancestors, Rory desperately needs Chance’s help in securing a business loan, and she won’t take no for an answer. In the midst of convincing the hesitant blue blood to take a chance on her dream, Rory unexpectedly lands in Chance’s arms, stunned by his red-blooded passion-and her own awakened desire. Now, the mismatched pair can’t keep their hands off one another, and something tells Rory she’s headed for trouble-trouble in the name of love…

In the third book of the Bluegrass Series, Paige Davies finds her world turned upside down as she becomes involved in her best friends' nightmare. The strong-willed Paige doesn't know which is worse: someone trying to kill her, or losing her dog to the man she loves to hate.

FBI Agent Cole Parker can't decide whether he should strangle or kiss this infuriating woman of his dreams. As he works the case of his career, he finds that love can be tougher than bringing down some of the most powerful men in America.

Books by Kathleen Brooks:

Bluegrass Series
Bluegrass State of Mind
Risky Shot
Dead Heat

Bluegrass Brothers Series
Bluegrass Undercover
Rising Storm
Secret Santa, A Bluegrass Series Novella
Acquiring Trouble
Relentless Pursuit

This is the second book in the Bluegrass Series.

Danielle De Luca, an ex-beauty queen who is not at all what she seems, leaves the streets of New York after tracking the criminals out to destroy her. She travels to Keeneston, Kentucky to make her final stand by the side of her best friend, McKenna Mason. While in Keeneston, Danielle meets the quiet and mysterious Mohtadi Ali Rahman, a modern day Prince. Can Mo protect Dani from the group of powerful men in New York? Or will Dani save the Prince from his rigid, loveless destiny?

Books by Kathleen Brooks:

Bluegrass Series
Bluegrass State of Mind
Risky Shot
Dead Heat

Bluegrass Brothers Series
Bluegrass Undercover
Rising Storm
Secret Santa, A Bluegrass Series Novella
Acquiring Trouble
Relentless Pursuit

The McCarthys of Gansett Island, Book 3 For four of the best summers of his young life, Luke Harris was in love with Sydney Donovan, a wealthy seasonal visitor to Gansett Island. Then Sydney went off to college and never came back. She married another man and had two children while Luke remained on the island, working at McCarthy's Gansett Marina and wondering what had gone wrong between him and the only woman he ever loved. Fifteen months after Sydney suffers the tragic loss of her husband and children, she's returned to Gansett to figure out what's next, and that may very well be a rekindled love affair with the one man from her past shes never forgotten. But is she ready for a second chance at love?

The McCarthys of Gansett Island, Book 4 Since he won the Academy Award for best original screenplay a few years ago, Grant McCarthy's personal and professional lives have fallen apart. Abby, the woman he was supposed to marry, is engaged to someone else, and Grant is back at home on Gansett Island helping to run the family marina business while his father recovers from a serious injury. While all Grant's focus should be on winning back the love of his life, pesky Stephanie, who runs the marina restaurant, is working her way under his skin and into his bed. As Tropical Storm Hailey cuts off Gansett Island from the mainland, Grant suspects Stephanie is hiding something big from her past. When he finds out what it is, what will be more important to him? Winning Abby back or helping Stephanie to right a terrible wrong?

Re-released with 10K words of new content.

Joseph Anderson has decided it is time his three successful sons find brides. Joseph wants grandchildren to fill his huge mansion, and he wants them immediately. He was successful in his eldest son’s match, and in this book, his scheming brings Alex and Jessica together.

Alex is a confirmed Bachelor who loves to travel all around the globe and romance as many women as possible. That is until he meets Jessica Sanders. One night with her and he is changing his views of bachelorhood and starting to think that married life is the new way for him.

Jessica comes from a wealthy family, and has had one too many good looking men take advantage of her family's money. When she meets confirmed bachelor and known playboy Alex Anderson, she is distrustful of his flirting, and tries to avoid him at all costs. That is until they end up trapped in an elevator, and her fear of the dark, tight space is greater than her fear of the man she is trapped with.

Alex comforts her by making steamy love in the elevator, and when she runs away once they are free, he walks away wanting more. One year later he finds out he is a father, and he makes sure Jessica has no other choice than to let him do the honorable thing. They have passion, romance, love and family to help guide them through the chaos.

His idea of permanence is the VW van that takes him from one gig to the next. . .Owen Lawry has made a living as a traveling musician and enjoys his footloose and fancy free lifestyle. But after meeting Laura McCarthy and helping her to land the job as manager of his grandparents' hotel on Gansett Island, Owen decides there's something to be said about a roof over his head and a warm, sexy woman in his bed.Laura, a newlywed who discovered that her husband never quit dating, came to Gansett for her cousin's Janey's wedding, but ended up staying after she met Owen and took on the renovations to the dilapidated Sand & Surf Hotel.As Owen and Laura's attraction simmers during months of close proximity, they form a tight bond that will be tested when her estranged husband refuses to grant her a divorce. As summer turns to autumn and Laura and Owen take baby steps toward love, favorite characters from past Gansett Island stories continue to live their happily ever afters.With the McCarthys of Gansett Island, Marie Force makes you believe in the power of true love and happily ever after. Over and over again. Carly Phillips, NY Times Bestselling Author of the Serendipity series