“…both a love story and a story of personal growth.” —Jill M. Smith, Romantic Times, 41/2, TOP PICKCleo Alyssum’s plan is simple: stay sober, stay out of trouble, and bite her tongue until Social Services sees she’s pretty close to perfect and returns her little boy. But when an accident on her isolated property forces her to rent a cottage to celebrated cartoonist Jared McCloud, her carefully … celebrated cartoonist Jared McCloud, her carefully constructed comfort zone develops cracks.
Jared has a deadline to meet or he’ll forfeit still another lucrative career and be branded for life by his family as the loser in the family. Only, he wasn’t meant to be a hermit, and his cartoon characters aren’t nearly as fascinating as his quirky, enigmatic landlady.
When Jared discovers his island hideaway contains a drug-dealing neighbor’s two neglected, abused teens, he shoves Cleo into the real world that she fears in his effort to save the children.
Risking everything, the pair join forces to find a home for the kids and have their mother’s dangerous boyfriend locked up. In the process, they face a new realization that there’s more to life and love than either of them ever planned or dreamed.
Previously titled Almost Perfect, Ballantine 2001
CAROLINA MAGNOLIA series in order:
Rebel Dreams
Imperfect Rebel
Rebel Charm
Carolina Rebel
Rebel Girl
Home Town Rebel
“Superb, superb, superb!…You must read this excellent, excellent book.” —Heather Heath, The Old Book Barn Gazette
“…This book is not ALMOST PERFECT, it is perfect.” —Jaclyn Reding, Rendezvous
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Another great book! I always enjoy her writing.
For anyone struggling to overcome addiction this story offers an interesting storyline including drama, laughter, romance, realism, children, and prejudices encountered on the journey.
A romance novel with only a few erotic love scenes and plenty that show how complicated love can be. There’s a great story here and I was addicted, waiting to see what would happen next. I like romance stories that end well, like this one. Cleo and Jared are an unlikely couple and I got pulled into the story and liked all the characters, except for a truly bad guy. The setting is in a southeast state of South Carolina, and the weather is accurate for that area. Adventure, danger, human foibles and love with page turning wanting to see what happens next.
Stopped reading in first chapter. Boring,
This book could keep me involved. I was always putting it down to do something else. I guess it was dr low.
Sad but true picture of the social services system in our country but the sweet love story/humor laced throughout the story keeps you from collapsing in a depressed heap! Great summer read!
I never would have thought that I’d love a book as much as I loved this book about an ex drug addict who’s trying to rebuild her life on her own terms and who is desperately trying to protect and nurture two you throw away children. This book was such a revelation for me. The characters are so real and the situations are so raw. I read this book in one day. I couldn’t put it down and immediately purchased the other books in the series. Patricia Rice draws such real characters. They are human and flawed, far from perfect and absolutely compelling. I highly recommend this book. If you have a heart and give it a chance you will not regret it. If you life has been touched by anything in this book it will give you hope for the possibilities of the future.
A quirky start, but the characters quickly wrap around you and won’t let you go, with a heartwarming ending. Patricia Rice never disappoints.
Can’t wait to read others in this series
I had never read this author, but I would have read every book she publilshes. Not big on sex scenes. So I just go past those and enjoy the story for what it is. Wonderful characters and at time so darn funny you just break out laughing even in the middle of the night. Could not put them down.
A modern romance that deals with substance abuse, child abuse and redemption!
Liked this book very much! Keeps you interested!
Didn’t like it
A cute story of a very individual girl with a social problem and the ordeal she is embroiled in caused by the law, drugs, and interaction with neighbor kids. Language is fairly clean and no “F” bombs. Could be read by just about any age and enjoyed.
A complete tail of redemption. Three different family models bind this story’s,struggles with human frailities and determination. Even Mother Nature, bad karma along with the FBI would not deter this ‘happy ever after.’