Audio Review: Almost Perfect by Julie Ortolon

Almost Perfect

The Perfect Trilogy, #1
Julie Ortolon

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Ortolon Publishing
Narrator: Jane Cramer
Date of Publication: November 12, 2013
Abridged or Unabridged: Unabridged
Length of Production: 8 hrs and 21 mins

Available at the following retailers:
Amazon     Audible

Maddy, Christine, and Amy, friends since college, are thrilled to learn their old suitemate's self-help book, How to Have a Perfect Life, has become a smashing bestseller - until they realize she used them as negative examples of how women let fear mess up their lives. The worst part is...it's sort of true. So, the three friends make a pact: They each have one year to face down their fears - and prove Miss Perfect wrong!

A free spirited artist - Maddy was always the artistic one of the group, full of life from her saucy red curls to her vintage hippie skirts. Her challenge, the friends decide, is to get her artwork accepted at a gallery. A job as arts director at a summer camp near Santa Fe - with its thriving art scene - seems like just the thing.

There's just one catch: The camp is run by Maddy's high school flame, Joe, whose heart she smashed when she chose her art over marriage to him. His anger over the breakup hasn't cooled one bit. But neither has their attraction. Old desires burn hotter than ever as Joe makes it clear there's only one way back into his heart: She has to get serious about the art career she once valued above all else. But will falling in love help or hinder Maddy as she struggles to meet her challenge?

I stumbled across this audiobook while perusing the titles available for review at Audiobook Jukebox. I liked the sound of it, and as I had just recently finally broken down and purchased an "audible approved" device, I was eager to try it out.

This is the first book in a trilogy about 3 women. Former college roommates, still very much in close contact with each other, get together to help celebrate the forth former roommate's new book. But as they are skimming through the book at the signing, they find out that she had used them as examples of what NOT to do. The friends decide to confront these fears and make a combination wager and dare for each of them to face their individual fear.  Maddie ends up going first.

Maddie had put her art career on hold while her husband had cancer. She stepped in to help run his accounting firm, and now since his passing, she hasn't done anything towards rekindling earlier desire of making a name for herself. Maddie is charged with getting her art in a gallery and an offer to work as an Art Coordinator for a summer camp near Santa Fe, seems the perfect opportunity. Just one big problem, her high school boyfriend Joe, is the Camp Director. She hopes to clear the air with him and maybe once again become friends. Only Joe hasn't forgotten, nor has he forgiven her.

Maddie and Joe had sparks right from the start. When Joe finds out his mother has hired Maddie behind his back, he tries to make her leave. They share a history, but have since grown and changed and become new people. I think second chance at love stories work best when both of the couple have not only changed since they were together last, but still have growth opportunities available. This was especially true for Maddie and Joe. I enjoyed the story and though this is part of a trilogy, the only cliffhanger is what happens to Christine in her story. I would listen to the next 2 books, as I really enjoyed the interactions between the women.

I think Jane Cramer did a good job on the narration. Though she didn't really change up the tone of the different voices, she did give each one it's own distinct rhythm and cadence that made it clear which character was speaking. I was pleased with the overall performance and would listen to her again.  This was a solid 3 stars.