Perfect Fit by Carly Phillips

Title: Perfect Fit

Series: Serendipity bk 4, Serendipity’s Finest bk 1

Author: Carly Phillips

Genre: Contemporary’

In the picturesque town of Serendipity, New York, three siblings have grown up in the shadow of their proud and respected police chief father. But what do love, fate, and fortune have in store for the next generation of Serendipity’s finest?

Always feeling like the odd man out in his family, Michael Marsden wanted to make it on his own. So he escaped Serendipity to become an undercover cop in Manhattan, where the Marsden name wasn’t known. But Michael’s independence is compromised when he returns home to replace his sick father as chief of police. Back in the shadow of his family, he’s as lost and restless as ever, until he’s challenged by someone he never anticipated.

Cara Hartley is the Serendipity cop with whom Mike had a one night stand three months earlier. Neither expected anything more but fate has other things in store. When Mike returns as Cara’s boss, the sexual tension between them is impossible to ignore – and the unexpected emotional connection continues to grow. But Cara’s a small town girl while Mike has a wanderer’s blood in his veins.

Both are convinced a future together is impossible. Until Mike’s real father’s secrets come back to haunt him and he realizes there are some things worth staying and fighting for. Including Cara.

I have been a fan of this series ever since the first book, so I was really excited to learn that Carly would be continuing the series with the Mardsen Family.

I should probably give a disclaimer that my DH’s name is Mike and he was a cop, and oldest son is adopted and also has the name of Mike so I was already going to love Mike Mardsen.

Mike is one of the heroes who is slightly damaged. Not because of anything he had done perse, but more because of his perceptions of his biological dad who left before he was born. This has colored everything he has done for most of his life. So when he comes home to Serendipity to help out the Police Dept while his dad the current Police Chief is going through cancer treatments. He figures this is going to be a quick come in help out and then head back to NYC and his life. He doesn’t count on Cara or having to confront his families past, and his biological father.

Cara is one of those heroines I would like to come out of the book to be my friend, she is that kind of person. She is brutally honest and her word is sacred because of the way she grew up. Out of necessity she has to distance herself from her mom, even though it breaks her heart to do so.

Mike and Cara together are one of those couples who instinctively know that the other one needs and this causes all sorts of feelings between the two of them they don’t want to acknowledge or admit it.

Carly has done an excellent job of writing a character like Mike is so true to someone with his background its almost as if he was real. As I read the parts where he discuss or thinks about his bio dad and adoptive I felt like I was back in my sons therapy sessions, the emotions and thoughts so real.

Mike Mardsen is one of the best heroes I’ve read this year.

I can honestly say that this book is one of the top books I’ve read, and one that I will re-read. It’s Carly Phillips at her finest.

Grade A+