The Perfect Couple
By Brenda Novak
MIRABooks
ISBN: 9780778326670
439 Pages
It’s a dog’s life! That is, if you live close to The Perfect Couple. This was my first Brenda Novak novel. Let’s just say that I didn’t immediately order the rest of her books as I would when I enjoy finding a new author.
The Perfect Couple, Tiffany and Colin, are next-door neighbors of Zoe Duncan and her fiancee, Anton. Zoe has become involved hoping that she will be providing a good, stable home for her thirteen-year-old. Even though Samantha really does not like or want him as a father figure.
And then Samantha disappears, perhaps kidnapped, perhaps a runaway. Zoe doesn’t care which; she is going to do everything possible to find her daughter. And if that leads to a separation with Anton...so be it.
Actually, Colin has never understood her attraction for Anton and when Sam is gone, he takes the opportunity to “support” her, putting together a search team from his office as well as other assistance.
And then gets upset when Zoe hires a PI and seems to become involved with him.
Given the title and that the book opens with what The Perfect Couple is all about, there is really little suspense, other than seeing how far the degradation of human beings can be performed by another. Since that degradation not only involved outsiders, but the wife, Tiffany, I found it a sad commentary of what is really a prime problem in today’s society, where spousal abuse is quite common. Perhaps there was just too much reality in this one for me?
Novak does have the writing skill to pull off her twists and turns. I did appreciate the inclusion of “The Last Stand” activities, including Jonathan Stivers, to somewhat counter-balance those seeking Zoe’s attention. And the book did keep my interest to read until the end. Still...it just didn’t sit well in my mind...
Includes youth and wife abuse—you decide whether you want to participate in reading The Perfect Couple by Brenda Novak. I give it a 4 for overall writing and storyline but recommend Novak considers her readers more in the future...If she wants mature women to support her, then we want more than Zoe, Tiffany, Samantha and the other “dogs” got out of this deal. Hating a bad guy is one thing...but wanting him dead by our own hands is another...
G. A. Bixler
No comments:
Post a Comment