Publisher: Berkley
Publish Date: Out now
How I got this book: NetGalley
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?
Tired of being the easygoing daughter, always ignored in favor of her high-maintenance sister, and no longer interested in being her fiancé’s trophy wife, Nicole Farnsworth calls off her wedding. All she wants is to be herself. And where better to find her destiny than Serendipity? The place where she met the one man who made her heart beat faster, and gave her the courage to reinvent her life—even if he doesn’t know it.
Officer Sam Marsden calls Serendipity home and he loves it there—even though his childhood sweetheart was stolen by his best friend. After such heartbreak, Sam fears he can’t trust his instincts when it comes to love. Yet he’s so tempted by Nicole, a woman he met only briefly but who has starred in his dreams ever since. For Nicole and Sam, opening their hearts one more time could change their lives forever. But who’ll be the first to take that chance?
*Blurb from Goodreads*
When Phillips announced that the Serendipity series was coming to an end, I was pretty heartbroken. I adore this series, and I was hoping we would get to see so many others in Serendipity find their happily ever afters.
Sam hasn’t really been interested in anyone since Nicole left town, but watching his brother and sister settle down has left him feeling a bit lonely. Opening up to relationships isn’t easy, but Sam is willing to try, especially when Nicole comes waltzing back into town. Sam soon discovers that relationships aren’t easy, especially when he tries so hard to hold a piece of himself back.
Nicole is worried that coming back to Serendipity won’t be easy, but something and someone about the town is worth it. But Nicole’s past is running after her, and escaping her ex-fiance and a possible mob hit is more stressful than figuring out exactly what Sam wants from her. As she and Sam get closer, they will have to figure out how they can move forward with their romance once the dust settles.
I loved the Marsden clan, so getting to see so much of them has been wonderful. I adore the fact that Sam is so desperate for a family, despite the fact that he is so scared of opening up his heart again. I love the relationship between him and his mother, and it’s great to see the special bond between Sam and the rest of his family. I adore watching those kinds of bonds in romance books, and Phillips does an incredible job with it all.
I really felt for Nicole from the first moment she walked into the series in the last book. From her sister with mental instability issues to her horrific home life to her ex-fiance’s push to win her back for reasons that do a disservice to them both, Nicole does not have it easy. However, I loved the fact that she was so ready to take on the world, to venture out into the unknown and take a stab at living the life she’s always wanted, instead of what’s expected of her.
The romance between Sam and Nicole was so sweet. I loved the fact that they tiptoed around each other a bit in the beginning, despite the fact that the attraction and chemistry was off the charts. They had a super intense physical relationship, and I really enjoyed the way Nicole tackled her inability to emotionally distance herself from sex and demand more for herself. From there, a wonderful friendship and then so much more built not only on their mutual desire for one another, but also the suspense with the threat against her.
I have to say that I really enjoyed the way Phillips wraps everything up in Serendipity. While we don’t get to see much of the original Serendipity couples, it was nice to see not only Nicole and Sam get their happily ever after, but also get the chance to see Nicole’s ex-fiance move on with someone who was perfect for him. It was a nice little bow on the final book in the series.
All in all, I’m so sad to say goodbye to the town of Serendipity. I’ve really enjoyed the small town romances that Phillips delivers. I think she created a wonderful cast of characters, plenty of fun romances, and lots of great secondary people to fall in love with. This final installment was no different.
I give Perfect Together a B
Nice review, every time I see a book from this series, I want to read it. Sigh, so many books!
@xaurianx: There are so many books. You better get reading! 🙂