Trish Perry's The Perfect Blend Review and Giveaway!

Trish Perry's new novel, The Perfect Blend, was just that...the perfect blend of romance and lessons learned. It was a charming book, one that had me smiling or laughing out loud many times.

Here's a blurb from Trish's website:

Steph Vandergrift left everything to elope with Middleburg attorney Rick Manfred, who then stood her up at the altar. Too embarrassed to return home, Steph hopes to earn enough to get by until she can decide what to do next. Tea Shop owner Milly Jewel hires her and appreciates the extra help at the tea shop.

Also appreciative of Steph is Kendall James, one of the kindest, most eligible bachelors in the area. But by the time Steph feels able to consider dating again, her run-away fiance returns and tries to win her back. Steph is wary, but she and Rick always blended so well.

Christie Burnham, the frank-talking equestrian from whom Steph rents a room, and her frillier sister Liz become fast friends and confidantes to Steph. Between the two sisters, there isn't much any man is going to pull over on Middleburg's newest bachelorette and tea shop employee.

Reading this book made me remember just how much God is in the little things as well as the big. When we trust him to use our circumstances--even when painful--toward a good end, amazing things can happen!

Probably my favorite part of Trish's writing is her ability to let the reader know what's going on in the hero's head even when we stay in the heroine's point of view the entire time. She's a master at including body language to give hints. It's like reading a chick lit book in 3rd person. No one will be disappointed in not officially getting inside Kendall's head...the romance reader is totally satisfied.

Donning my therapist cap. A love interest--even one as dreamy as Kendall--might seem too soon for someone on the heels of being left at the altar. Steph's situation is so dire. She's been dumped, she's uprooted her life and burned lots of bridges at home and finds herself in a new place with no job and little money. But Trish does a great job of getting the reader to understand why at attraction to someone else is not only a possibility, but a reality.  Steph wrestles with this question, and that appeased my therapist urge to say, "Slow down!" :)

My favorite part, hands down, is when Steph "goes off the deep end" just a tad and does something to her former fiance's mother she later comes to regret. Essentially, she mini-dissociates...kind of like an out-of-body experience, to do this malicious deed to who would have been her mother-in-law. No, she's not crazy! Many times, we find ourselves on the backside of an event wondering, "Did I just do that? How did that happen?" It'll make you gasp...and then wish you could have the guts to do it to one of your enemies!

Steph basically grows up in this book. It's a coming of age tale, even though she's in her mid-twenties. Many readers will identify with difficult parents and trying to strike out on your own. It was delightful for me to read, and it will be delightful for one lucky winner, as well!

Leave your name and email in the comment section below to be entered in the giveaway that will run until October 1st. If you're already a follower, you get +2 entries. If you're a new follower, let me know and you'll get +3!

Q4U: Have any of you done something where you basically saw yourself acting and were powerless to stop what was in motion?