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Love Story #1

Perfect Love Story

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When one man’s death exposes a complex web of lies, three couples discover the true meaning of love, loss and redemption.

Hailey
What do you do when you find out your whole life was a lie?

That your husband really wasn't your husband but someone else's.

That the vows you made to each other were simply empty promises.

You pick up and move to the country to start fresh.

When life hands you limes, you make sure you have tequila because your life is about to get stirred up.

Jensen
Married to my high school sweetheart, the best thing she gave me was my baby girl.

But we weren't enough for her. I wasn't enough for her.

The last thing I expected on my birthday was a Dear John letter, but that’s what I got when she upped and left.

Now, it's just me and my girl against the world till the new girl moves in next door.

Is there such a thing as a perfect love story?

186 pages, ebook

First published May 1, 2018

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About the author

Natasha Madison

74 books6,950 followers
When Wall Street Journal and USA Today Best Selling Author's nose isn't buried in a book, or her fingers flying across a keyboard writing, she's in the kitchen creating gourmet meals. You can find her, in four inch heels no less, in the car chauffeuring kids, or possibly with her husband scheduling his business trips. It's a good thing her characters do what she says, because even her Labrador doesn't listen to her...

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5 stars
2,611 (45%)
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1,964 (34%)
3 stars
885 (15%)
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84 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 617 reviews
Profile Image for Alex ♈.
1,568 reviews1,302 followers
December 13, 2018
3.75 stars

If not for the first 20-25% of the book, I would have clicked 5 stars.

I like a broody hero, but this one was rude, without any reason rude. Fortunately, the heroine wasn’t a wallflower and called him out on his crap!
After he stopped to be an a$$hole, he was actually a very sweet guy. Great father, good son. I felt for him and his past, BUT it wasn’t heroine’s fault and he was unfair at the beginning!

I like my female characters strong and self-confident, but no one (apart from me of course *lol*) was born this way; and I absolutely love to read about women, who don’t give up and become stronger.
This one wasn’t perfect and maybe I wished she acted differently, but since I didn’t co-write with Natasha, I tried to understand and to support her/the heroine.

I deserve to have a man who will not only love me and only me but also won’t have to look elsewhere to be complete. That is what I deserve. I deserve to be put on top of the pedestal and kept there.”

Yes! Yes! Yes!





Safe! The hero was NOT a manwhore -> hallelujah!!! The heroine was his only 2nd woman – amazing!!!
Burned so many times I want to hug every author, who doesn’t write her hero as an abhorrent manwhore.

Sooooo looking forward to the next book. Next heroine is a firecracker!

But I’m not sure about the 3rd one – I agree with Leonor, Blake (this heroine’s brother) will be paired with h’s cheating and lying ex’s wife. I only hope the woman would be strong-willed! Fingers crossed!
Profile Image for Britt Chaotic Creatives.
1,414 reviews95 followers
April 22, 2018
Perfect Love Story is exactly that. Beautifully, unbelievably perfect. This is one of those books that digs deep right into your heart. That you never, ever want it to end. That you finish and just hug to your chest because it was so utterly wonderful. That is just some of what this book is. Filled with so much emotion it makes your heart hurt, I was captivated from the very first page. I didn’t devour this book, it devoured me.

I was sobbing within minutes of starting this. Natasha Madison writes so beautifully the characters just come to life and the emotions are so powerful. I shattered with Hailey and then I healed with her. Hailey’s story isn’t an easy one to take. What happens to her is so devastating, but surrounded by incredible family she survives what most wouldn’t recover from.

Even surviving doesn’t means she’s really living though, but when she meets the adorable little girl who’s father just happens to be someone she thinks is a jerk she slowly begins to live again. Jensen has also been put through the wringer. A single father still bitter after a horrible divorce he’s got walls that no one has managed to climb, until Hailey arrives.

Both of these shattered hearts start to heal in one of the best love stories I have ever had the pleasure to read. Hailey and Jensen’s story is one of real, true love. Full of raw emotion and healing their story is one I’ll read again and again. I can’t wait for the next in this series!
Profile Image for Jen.
1,655 reviews1,105 followers
July 30, 2018
First of all I want to thank Natasha Madison for gifting me a copy of this book and the next two books in the series...as well as “Wrapped Up in Reading “ who put on the contest that I won!!! I was very eager to begin this series as I have read this author’s other books and fell in love with her stories! I do enjoy her style because not only is there passion, romance, and sex; but there is usually an intriguing story to go along with the love!

In this book, we are introduced to Hailey and Jensen... these two people have both experienced heartache that cripples them emotionally... and rightfully so... When Hailey decides to make a huge life change and move to a small town, it ends up to be the best decision she ever makes!

Jensen Walker has a huge chip on his shoulder when he comes across Hailey, and to be honest, I struggled to like him at first. He was such a jerk to her and I had a very hard time not to resent him! Hailey holds her own with him though; and she not only wins his favour but his daughters as well!

The relationship that develops between Hailey, Jensen and Mila.... is really quite beautiful! I enjoyed every moment of seeing their love blossom! I also enjoyed the secondary characters in this story and I can’t wait to read Gabe’s book!!! His is next and it’s going to be a major adventure I’m thinking!!!

This series is definitely worth checking out if you are looking for a sweet romance with a bit of angst! I do highly recommend anything that Natasha Madison writes!
Profile Image for Dri ✰.
693 reviews231 followers
May 3, 2018
★ 2 stars!!! ★
 
“It’s not what you went through; it’s what you do after it that defines you.”


Infelizmente esse livro não foi tão “perfeito” quanto eu gostaria.

Até em torno de 20% da história, a leitura foi bem arrastada pra mim e com muitas repetições. O fato de tudo ser narrado de forma rápida não ajudou também.

Não consegui me conectar com a Hailey, apesar da situação delicada a qual ela estava enfrentando, eu não senti absolutamente nada. Ao meu ver ficou forçado o que dificultou sentir qualquer simpatia.
E a mesma coisa aconteceu com o Jensen.

O relacionamento da Hailey e Jensen também não me convenceu, não vi ou senti esse amor todo entre eles. Acho que faltou mais cenas dos dois juntos compartilhando sentimentos, criando uma ligação maior e mais forte.

Todo o “drama” entre Crystal & Gabe teve destaque demais para o meu gosto, totalmente desnecessário. A autora poderia ter cortado cenas que envolviam esses dois e focado mais no casal principal.

A sensação de que faltava algo me acompanhou durante toda a leitura e isso foi realmente um incômodo. Pensando bem sobre isso, tenho a certeza de que foi o ritmo com que a trama se desenrolou. Devido a “bagagem” dos personagens, a história em si merecia mais desenvolvimento e elaboração.
Uma pena, porque tinha potencial pra ser uma linda história de amor, o que definitivamente, pra mim não foi...
May 1, 2018
~Another d*ck of a hero.
~Miss goody two shoes heroine. Yes I felt sorry for her, for what her lying fake husband did to her but the answers I got weren't enough.
~Loved Crystal, can't wait for her book.
~It seems like this series will have a$$holes heroes.
~Cute kid.
~This could be me but I felt like the hero was waiting on his cheating wife to return.
~Is it also me that I didn't feel any chemistry between them two?
~Celibate hero for 4 years?

There wasn't enough couple time, I didn't believe in their "perfect love story".

I have a feeling the heroine's lying fake husband's real wife will be paired with Blake.

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This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jessica .
2,234 reviews14.7k followers
August 24, 2022
4.5 stars

I love a damaged hero, so it's no surprise I really loved this book. When Hailey's husband dies, she realizes he had a whole other family and she was the other woman. Heartbroken, she runs away to a beach house to work and be alone. There she meets a grumpy single dad whose wife left him and his daughter. He's angry that Hailey is in his home, but Hailey has been hurt enough and doesn't put up with his crap. She grows close with the daughter and falls in love with the town. Jensen realizes he's too harsh on Hailey and slowly starts to fall for her. This was a super sweet romance and I loved how both Jensen and Hailey never want to trust another person again, but they slowly fall for each other. Jensen realizes he's being a jerk to her and is definitely put in his place. This was such a good small town romance and I'm excited to read more from Natasha Madison!
Profile Image for Dee Montoya.
942 reviews598 followers
May 1, 2018
FIVE PERFECT STARS****

This story is exactly what the title says, a Perfect Love Story. A tale about losing love, healing hearts, and allowing yourself to believe in love again, after a tragedy. Natasha Madison went back to basics and brought us a beautiful story that will make you fall in love. This is truly a book that will sing to your heart.



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I loved all the characters in this story, I loved the writing and the beautiful beach town setting. This was truly the perfect love story.

Hailey thought she had it all. A newlywed still basking in the joys of having had found the perfect soulmate, but one day her husband suddenly dies in a terrible car accident. While mourning the death of her husband, she discovered the awful truth that he had actually been living a double life.

At the advice of her family, she decides to sell everything she owns and move away with her best friend, together Hailey and her cousin Crystal go on a new life adventure.

It's not long before Hailey meets Jensen. A single dad also dealing with loss. They don’t get off to a great start but little by little animosity turns into a friendship, and then a beautiful love story is born.

This story was simple but meaningful, sexy and lovely, all at the same time. Like I said before, I fell in love with all the characters and I can’t wait to read every single book in this series.



Profile Image for Kiki.
1,217 reviews602 followers
October 16, 2019
This was a hard story to read AND rate.

It got slightly better when the H got off his high horse but I think there needed to be force feeding of a humble pie or 20.

I hate judgemental people so much (yes, I’m a self proclaimed hypocrite).
Profile Image for Malene.
1,250 reviews699 followers
July 17, 2018
Perfect Love Story is a quick read with some great characters. I enjoyed the story but I wasn’t blown away. I struggled with Hayley and Jensen because of their lacking chemistry. I was mostly intrigued and interested in Hayley’s brother Blake so I’m glad to know he has his own story in this trilogy. Perfect Love Story started out great but I felt that the cautiousness Jensen felt towards Hayley went on for too long and when they finally got together it was too late in the story and for me to enjoy them as a couple. It just went too fast from that point on. I enjoyed a lot of the secondary characters such as Blake, Brody, Nanny and Delores. Overall a great first book in this series and I’m pretty sure that I’m going to read the remaining two books.
Profile Image for em.
367 reviews763 followers
May 29, 2018
"Sometimes no matter how you plan things, how you map it out, life has twists and turns."

I know, that is a zero romantic quote considering I usually pick a pretty darn cheestastic one for my romance reviews. But it's this quote and not any of the other beautiful ones available the one that resonates the most with the story. Because oh holy moses what a story indeed.

Hailey's life is turned upside down when her husband dies, only to discover soon after that he was someone else's husband in the first place. That she was THE OTHER woman. Guys, I don't know how I missed that when I was reading the blurb before picking up the book, but I did. So you can imagine my face when this huge detail is unveiled. I had to reread that paragraph a couple of times and then there was a chain reaction in my head of "oh no she did not do this" (obviously referring to Natasha Madison, because woman, you put your character through hell). So, where I want to get with this, is that the first quarter of the book is filled with angst. But surprisingly, and even if all this dread and pain and grief is coming from a pretty angsty situation, it never seemed overly dramatic. And trust me, the premise is angsty and dramatic alright.

Which brings me to the good thing about this book. All the angst ends there. After Hailey moves to start over with her life, she is able to piece herself together and find love again. Enters Jensen, a single dad that is still trying to get over the anger after his wife took off with another man and abandoned him and more particularly, their daughter. So, we can pretty much state that he is completely closed off to everyone and anyone new. This sets the perfect pace for a sort of from enemies (a*shole) to friends to lovers relationship. And man, was it beautiful.

Hailey and Jensen's dynamic, even though has a rocky start, grows naturally thanks to his daughter, and the best part? It's completely angst-free. All the angsty bits of this novel are in the beginning. Leaving for the end a natural, honest and gentle love story between two broken souls that were just waiting for each other.
Profile Image for Andrea Fleury.
959 reviews76 followers
June 25, 2018
Perfect romance

Wow....what can I say other then I cried and I laughed . This was a very sad 😢 book. But then happiness came around.I would give it 100 stars. This is my first time reading this author. Unbelievably wonderful.
Profile Image for Maria....
424 reviews162 followers
May 8, 2018
"3 Perfect Love Story Stars"

This was a sweet story.

The main character were ok at first and became more lovable as the book was progressing.

Mila was the sweetest baby girl EVER!

Jensen and Hailey's chemistry was ok. But I needed more time with these two being a couple and enjoying their new life together.

There were some great second characters that I loved as well.
Profile Image for Rachael*Caribbean*girl*bibliophile.
1,765 reviews395 followers
Shelved as 'dnf'
February 5, 2019
DNF

At the beginning of this we see the h get the heartbreaking news that her husband had died in an accident, they'd only been married six months and she loved him thoroughly. She was destroyed at this news and I cried right along with her. Then we find out that the husband was already married for 12 years and was a father of two!!!! Now at this point I'd expected the h to play some Beyonce or Aretha and burn this scumbag's clothes but nope she kept insisting it wasn't true, even when his brothers( which he claimed he didn't have) showed up to claim his belongings and they so resembled her husband she still didn't believe. Even when the family served her with a restraining order to prevent her from even attending the funeral she still didn't believe. Chapters later we fast forward a month later and she's wallowing in her spare bedroom and her friend has to stage an intervention. I stopped at that point because I'd already lost all respect for the h. Like seriously? Had he died as her loving husband I could understand but given the circumstances? Nope, no way. She needed to blast that Beyonce on high and burn all his shit ......but that's just me
Maybe I missed an epic love story but I figure I'm already not a fan of the h so why waste valuable reading hours 🤷
Profile Image for Carla Bulian.
1,396 reviews380 followers
May 4, 2018
3,7. Gostei do enredo, e gosto muito dessa autora, mas... achei a história corrida, poderia ter desenvolvido mais para gostar mais dos personagens. No final achei um pouco desconexo do contexto uma certa carta...
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews4 followers
Want to read
March 2, 2020
🎁 FREE on Amazon & on iBooks today (3/2/2020)! 🎁
Profile Image for Shayna.
1,813 reviews615 followers
April 20, 2018
“So are you going to kiss me or not?”

As you all know, I’m no stranger to the talent that Natasha Madison brings to the table. If YOU are, you need to remedy that ASAP, trust me on this. But even I was skeptical going in to this latest release of hers. In reading just the synopsis, I started to experience anxiety. Now, if you are a fan of angsty as hell romance, more power to you and you should have absolutely NO WORRIES whatsoever diving right in to this, but I’m very weary of it because of the fact that I’ve had some bad experiences in the past with angst-filled love stories. That being said, I have tremendous trust in this author so I wasn’t passing it up, and you know what? Thank you JESUS for that because PERFECT LOVE STORY was just that…the PERFECT LOVE STORY! Beautiful, touching, charming, devastating, magical, and hella’ sexy, once I started, I couldn’t put it down for the life of me, nor did I ever want to. The profound affect that Hailey and Jensen’s story had on me was astonishing. I’ve never been so frustrated one minute, and completely blissed out the next. These characters are absolutely EVERYTHING!

And this is just book one, people! Can you even imagine what else she has in store for us with this emotional series. If falling HARD for the two main characters isn’t enough for you, oh boy, are you in for a fantastic treat because there are SO MANY damn characters to love in this book! Some you’ll adore…some you’ll love to hate. Either way, you’ll feel every single emotion possible while reading this fabulous romance. So don’t be like me, and let the synopsis almost scare you off. Embrace it! Love it! Trust it! Believe me, you will not be disappointed! Natasha Madison will make FANS FOR LIFE with this new release…she already has one in me! So, keep this series on your radar because I just know they will only get better and better.

Vacation photo of couple feet relaxing on beach on hammock

ARC Tag
Profile Image for 1-Click Addict Support Group.
3,749 reviews481 followers
May 9, 2018
I've been trying to find the perfect words to describe how much I loved Hailey & Jensen's story without giving much away...hopefully I can do it justice.

Hailey's been dealt a horrible hand not understanding how and why her "husband" could do that?! I myself could not image dealing with such a low blow. But she had such a supportive family and her cousin Crystal-she truly was a friend when in need.

In the beginning I could not stand Jensen-grouchy, rude as h#ll and so testy. I felt at times that he was waiting for his ex to return into their lives and he kept a torch burning for her...but I kept hoping that she wouldn't. The way he treated Hailey had me wanting to give him a good b*tch slapping :-)

As Hailey & Jensen dance around each other , I could feel the chemistry these two had yet they were hard headed!! I loved Jensen's family and Crystal & Gabe...now those two (I.NEED.THEIR.STORY)!!!!

Would they ever be able to be free of their past or would they allow their past dictate their future?? Jensen & Hailey had me on pins and needles and I cannot tell you how much I fell in love with them and little Mila-she was a true little gem. Kara~ 5 Stars
Profile Image for Lu Bielefeld .
4,208 reviews521 followers
May 7, 2018
The hero is a jerk most of the time and our heroine has been betrayed cowardly by the fake husband.
The impression I had is that our hero still awaited the return of ex-wife. The closed and abandoned house plus his refusal to accept someone occupying the house.
Our heroine suffered a lot but gradually recovered with the help of friends and family.
I liked Crystal and the hero's daughter.
Blake seemed very interested in the real wife of the heroine's fake husband. It seemed to me that he would get involved with her. Maybe.
The ex-in-law of the hero caused confusion and disappeared without further explanation.
It was an ok story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Miss H.
49 reviews194 followers
May 27, 2018
Warning: this review possibly contains spoilers.

Perfect Love Story can be summed up in one word—shallow.

Based solely on the premise, one would think that this book had the potential of producing a great deal of emotional impact. Regrettably, however, it failed to deliver on that front, and spectacularly so. I got the impression that the author seemed to lack the skill necessary to express anything that went beyond surface level. Subsequently, the writing lacked the emotional depth to effectively pull off the story it was trying to convey.

The book felt rushed, as if it was an early draft, the bare-bones, as opposed to a finished novel. One that was written in haste, no less, as if the author couldn’t be bothered to make any real effort. At best, the writing was juvenile. At worst, it was lifeless. The dialogue was inconsistent, borderline cringe-worthy, with characters that lacked the depth required to take their reactions seriously to the situations presented. Furthermore, the narrative tried, unsuccessfully, to evoke feelings of grief and loss, but in such a superficial and threadbare way as to render it trivial.

Hailey, the heroine, who was married for all of six months, learned that her marriage was all a sham on the day her husband died. She was forced to accept his duplicitous double life when she discovered that he was already married—with children—to someone else. And for the past 12 years, no less.

Full of shock and heartbreak, she decided that a change of scenery was the solution to her woes. With the help of her grandmother, who got in touch with her longtime friend named Delores, Hailey was presented with pictures of the perfect house to rent. And, as a bonus, it was in the Carolinas—out in the country, near the water.

After selling her house and all of her possessions, Hailey was packed and ready to go. And then her best friend, Aurora Crystal, insisted she was tagging along for the adventure, having already quit her job as a nurse at a major hospital.

When they arrived at their new home, they were shocked at its dilapidated condition, as it looked nothing like the pictures they were shown. Hailey got in touch with Delores, the lady who leased the property to them. She, like Hailey, had no idea the house was in a state of disrepair. Which made zero sense, considering the house was owned by her grandson, who abandoned the home after his wife left him.

After a night of thorough scrubbing, Hailey decided to take an early-morning walk on the beach. There, she encountered a sweet little girl playing with her dog, her dad not far behind. When the little girl noticed Hailey sitting alone on the beach, she approached, asking if she was lost. The man, too, assumed she was lost—that is, until Hailey pointed out the house she just rented. The man’s friendly demeanor changed instantly after Hailey’s proclamation. He all but ran away from her, acting as if she had offended him somehow.

With their rental still in need of repairs, and the local furniture store not making any deliveries on the weekend, Delores invited Hailey and Crystal to come stay with her for a few days. She also gave Hailey a note with the address of the local construction house, the same one owned by her grandson, demanding that he fix all the repairs that needed to be done.

When Hailey made it to the business in question, Jensen, the owner and same man from the beach, flat-out refused to help.

“No way in fuck we are doing any of this. You should just load your car up and go back home. You know, to your house that isn’t here.”

When Hailey threatened him with a lease violation complaint, he begrudgingly agreed to send some guys out, promising the repairs would be done by weekends' end.

Jensen, the so-called hero, whose wife abandoned him to raise their daughter alone four years prior, was a miserable jerk. Near as I could tell, he had no reason to hate the heroine on sight. He let the house he built for his ex-wife fall into a state of disrepair, only to despise the heroine for having to audacity to rent it.

Being next door neighbors, however, Hailey and Jensen couldn’t exactly avoid one another. Especially not when Delores started scheming behind their back, concocting ways for them to run into each other; namely, by using her great-granddaughter as an excuse. While Jensen was at work, she would bring Mila, his daughter, over to Hailey’s place, where they would have lunch, make crafts, watch movies, et cetera. When Jensen caught wind, he was not happy, going so far as to accuse Hailey of trying to become Mila’s new mommy.

When Norma, Jensen’s ex-mother-in-law, found out that there was another woman sniffing around, she, too, wasn’t pleased. For some asinine reason, she was deluded enough to believe that, despite the fact that her daughter betrayed Jensen—with his own best friend, no less, leaving him to raise their daughter alone—she was suddenly going to come to her senses, four years after the fact, full of remorse and regret.

“Don’t get too comfortable,” Norma said to Hailey. “My daughter will be back, and she will take her rightful place as his wife.”

That never happened, of course, considering she had since married Jensen’s ex-best friend, and the couple now had twin daughters. Not to mention the fact that, in order to start fresh with the man with whom she was in love, she signed away her parental rights. Unfortunately, in the end, the resolution to this conflict was anti-climatic. What little drama Norma caused was extinguished so quickly as to render it pointless.

Even though he was rude and treated Hailey like an inconvenience, Jensen started acting like a jealous boyfriend, almost overnight. And then, one night, they kissed. From then on, it was pretty much smooth sailing. Once they got their act together, that is, which took more than half the book to accomplish.

Not only was the plot weak, half-formulated and with very little story development, but so were the characters. They had no depth, no dimension beyond their cardboard cutouts and poorly drawn clichés. The relationship between Hailey and Jensen didn’t feel authentic. The emotional chemistry just wasn’t there. Or any chemistry at all, actually. There was no heat, no passion—no life to the characters or story at all. There simply wasn’t anything that made me want to root for them as a couple.

On the whole, Perfect Love Story was a limp, boring read. There was no tension or real conflict of any kind. The book suffered from a serious lack of imagination, both in regard to execution and style of writing. Furthermore, in an effort to lead into the next book in the series, the narrative over-focused on other couples—namely, Crystal and Gabe, and all the drama their relationship entailed. So much so, that it seems almost pointless for them to have their own story.

Unfortunately, this was a miss for me. That doesn't mean that others won't find enjoyment from the book, but for me, personally, this was so sloppily presented as to be damn-near insulting. And that's to say nothing about the abysmal editing—if, indeed, it was edited at all.
Profile Image for Denise - Shh Mom's Reading®.
958 reviews396 followers
May 3, 2018
#MUSTCLICK https://amzn.to/2JOC9P3 I am not sure where you start with Perfect Love Story…I wish I could simply say READ THIS BOOK.. yes shouty cap.. ..but I am going to try try to do this amazing story justice.
I should start with the beginning I guess… the beginning of this book…be still my heart… such a roller coaster of emotions. The first few chapters of this book speak with the author talent that’s for sure.
Ms Madison take the reader on journey.. from the soul crushing pain you can feel bleed off the pages to anger to hatred and yes that just the beginning.
Hailey’s journey and yes it is a journey to love is a Top Pick of 2018 for me. This book is much more than a love story.
Ok so Hailey goes from trauma to re-building her life… enter stage left Jensen a single dad to beautiful little girl who is dealing with own painful past.
The reader is thoroughly entertained as these two enter each others orbit and dance around the connection the reader can feel while they deny it.
Jensen oh poor Jensen he tried to fight his emotions, oddly without the reader feeling angst (which by the way I hate) how is that possible you ask because the author does an outstanding job at allowing the reader to feel the depth of his hurt, the caution he feels for his daughter’s heart and his fear of loving again.
I am not sure how much more I want to reveal or saying other than the banter between these two is epic, the supporting cast created a world that kept me glue to my kindle and in the end I am soooo happy we get two more books set in this world (other couples no worries you get an HEA).
The happy these two find is so well… Perfect… not the love story either imagine for themselves prior to meeting but sometimes from pain and hurt comes something better than you ever imagined!
The character development was one of my favorite things in the book but it should be noted neither character had love “fix” them.
Ps you are going to want to #1click book 2 Unexpected Love Story

Not because Perfect Love Story is a cliffhanger but because you are going to want to live in this world and see the next couple get their happy!

Side note: Over the past few months Natasha Madison has become a must click author for me, this book is great place to start if you have never read here genius before!
Profile Image for Cami.
1,450 reviews75 followers
March 25, 2021
I am slowly making my way through all of this author’s books since I really have enjoyed all of the ones I have read so far. After reading this book I can tell it is going to be another good start to a new series.

Hailey experiences a devastating loss and then gets even more bad news after the tragedy. She and her best friend who just happens to be her cousin set off to a different town in search of a new beginning so that maybe the healing can begin.

Jensen Walker is raising his young daughter Mila all on his own after his wife just up and left one day while he was at work. Jensen is a broody business owner who is horrible to Hailey the first several times he encounters her. She dishes it back to him just as much but she does really like his daughter Mila and that relationship is sweet to watch.

I was a bit worried at the beginning since Jensen was such an ass but he ended up growing on me.

I can’t wait for Crystal & Gabe’s story since they seem hilarious!
Profile Image for Elizabeth.
2,127 reviews18 followers
April 29, 2018
Oh my heart!
Ms Madison, who is the absolute queen of redeeming sexy bad boys, went in a different direction with a Perfect Love Story and knocked it out of the park.
With Hailey and Jensen, she asks the question of what happens when you think you have it all and it is ripped away?
While their stories are different and their first meetings are rocky, these two help each other heal without even realizing it. Watching them form a friendship and then more was a captivating experience that made it impossible to put this book down.
Thankfully it’s not a super long book or I would have gotten noting done today! Well written with interesting characters, Ms Madison pulled me in and didn’t let go until the very last page. I am looking forward to seeing more in the 2nd and 3rd installments of the series.
Profile Image for The Book Bee.
565 reviews277 followers
June 4, 2018
REVIEW: 4 STARS
"Bad things don't happen when it's sunny outside, right?"


SOOO.....the tagline on this book was an immediate draw for me. Immediate. Because, if you look at that, how can you not be curious. Check out this tagline:

When one man’s death exposes a complex web of lies, three couples discover the true meaning of love, loss and redemption.


Right?? You're curious, right? I know the first thing that grabbed me was that tagline, but once I actually got into the story, I was hooked. To be fair, I realized right away it was a very different writing style. Not heavy, but very laid back, super easy to follow and I really enjoyed it. There were some really good emotional parts in this book, but the lighter side of it propelled the storyline for me. I really enjoyed the pace and the fact that she told this story as quick as she did. It's not a long read, and it's not necessarily a deep read...it's just a well rounded, easy to read, fun story! It was very enjoyable and quite addicting as well!!

Natasha Madison writes in a quick, no nonsense kind of way and she gets the story out without dragging anything out, and I appreciated that aspect of it. It didn't feel stagnant at all, and the characters were very relatable. Between Hailey's upheaval and Jenson's backstory, this one was ripe for some

I think my only issue I saw with this one was that she wrote with hindsight instead of foresight. And what I mean by that is sometimes there was a scene/action/reaction, but no true buildup to it - but we got the end result of it. It was almost as if an action/reaction was an afterthought, and she threw it in there to add a little bit of storyline. It's not bad...it was just a different aspect to my reading of this story. Like, why did we see this bowl appear, but we didn't get to see it happen or it wasn't discussed? Simple, mundane things like that. I know it will make more sense once you read it, but that stuck out to me a lot while I was reading this book. But again, cute and very fun to read. I really enjoyed this story and cannot possibly wait for the next two books in this series.

All I can say with conviction is THIS STORY WAS A GREAT, LIGHT STORY. Easily, easily recommend this to anyone that wants a fast paced, quick read that has some great storytelling in it. Even though the tagline is what made me want to read this series of books, I can honestly say I am now addicted to this group of characters and cannot wait to read each individual story. I will admit, she set up the second book really well with this first one and that makes me all the more giddy!!

"I had to have the two worst days of my life to have the best days of my life to come."
~BEE


Amazon Affiliate links: https://amzn.to/2Jg3udg
Profile Image for My Own Bookshelves.
688 reviews125 followers
April 24, 2018
I need a new bookshelf: SHOUTY CAPS message books. What's that? Well, it's a book that evokes so many different emotions that it's just easier to leave the cap lock on because so few words are worthy of lower case. That's when you know you are reading a completely immersive story that you can't help but let everyone know what you are feeling. It's the perfect reading hangover I enjoy.

Not angsty mind you.

I am invested in the emotional journey of the characters to fully engage and want their happy. Natasha brings that out in spades in Perfect Love Story. There is not one character that I didn't push me out of their world but draw me deeper into it. From the start, this is Hailey's story to tell. She's been dealt a crap hand in life and the cards didn't leave the deck for her. And Natasha doesn't give it a rest for the other characters. You can't believe that out of this dysfunctional mess of demons is there going to be some sort of love story. And of course there is.

Because Natasha Madison can write a child into the tale that wraps you around their finger so tightly . You can't give up on the happy. Mila's happy matters also.

Good GOD the father! I love a redeemable asshole. But Jensen...my judgment is still out. The damn jerk did some pretty nice things. And I might think he's an 'okay' hero, but refuse to admit I like him. (This is the equivalent of admitting a book made me cry. #lipsaresealed)

Okay fine, Jensen turns out to be this swoonworthy, overprotective alpha male you aren't sure you are going to hug the shit out of or slap the shit out of. He is destined to run your emotions high. (no screenshotting of this part of the review that I MIGHT actually like Jensen #denial)

Hailey and her best friend/cousin, Crystal, are the sort of besties you want and can count on. Their interactions are funny yet touching because you know their love runs deeply.

The novel is about second-chances, learning to dust yourself off for yourself, the power of many different types of love. I've been touched and enjoyed Ms Madison's writing before. However, this one truly ranks my favorite in her catalog. 5+ out of 5 SHOUTY CAPS stars.
Profile Image for Tammy.
757 reviews42 followers
July 27, 2018
This is the first book that I have read by Natasha Madison and I am now hooked.

I loved the connection between Jenson and Hailey. It wasn’t an instant jump into bed together and I really liked watching their relationship grow and then to watch their love for each other grow.

I can’t wait to read Gabe and Crystal’s book next.
Profile Image for Laura.
2,419 reviews115 followers
November 22, 2018
***ARC Provided by the Author***

Love comes in many forms, it’s not predictable. It’s the love you have for a child, for the people who matter to you in your life, for your family, your friends, your partner…and for yourself. Sometimes, the love is in the connection you have with another person, sometimes the love is in letting them go, and sometimes the love is in the discovery that, without the pain, you wouldn’t be in the place of joy you are now.

This last one, really, is what this book is about. It’s marketed as a romance, and this is true. But, at the same time, it is different. This is almost women’s fiction, because in a lot of ways it is Hailey’s journey…back to herself, after a devastating loss. It’s about Hailey picking up the pieces, and finding herself, and her courage, and the sparkle in her eyes and finding her way back to the woman who can love, and be loved, without doubting that it is real.

Hailey lives everyone’s worst nightmare, to get the news that her spouse has been killed, DOA, with no chance to say goodbye, or to do things over in the morning, to give a more thoughtful goodbye kiss, to pay attention to those little details that are just all of a sudden missing after a loss.

From the blurb, and from the way people are acting literally from page one, you know that the book is going to start here, it is going to grab you, and hold on to you, and it’s not going to let you go. Kind of like life does with Hailey. The hits keep coming, the shocks, the things she has to learn to live with, the things she has to learn to live without knowing, the things she has to learn to accept because she not only can’t change them, but she can’t go back either. Yes, this is life, broken down to its bare form, that we exist from one event, one shock or one happy thing to another. But, this is a story about characters, and the people in the story, much more than it is about plot…so, it’s one event to the other, with the emotional connection to Hailey, and to Jensen behind the events.

Jensen found a Dear John letter from the woman he expected to spend the rest of his life with, the woman he had started a family with. And, in a lot of ways, was left with the same sort of questions that Hailey struggles with. But, he was in a different place, no longer numb to the pain, but still angry and not quite at the point where he was ready to let the past go and move into the future.
This book is a slow burn, and while it is a romance, it takes a long time to get there. I think if you go into this expecting the steamy romances you have become accustomed to from Natasha Madison, you are going to be a little surprised by the way this one plays out. But, isn’t that the greatest fun of all? When you have an author you enjoy, and she writes a story that is different in enough ways that it feels fresh, but is the same in enough ways that it feels like you are spending time with an old friend, and reading the words of someone who is a familiar voice.

The writing is strong. The characters are believable, and the way it is told with the slightly overlapping POVs (not majorly, just a few minutes here and there) is a trademark of Ms. Madison’s and also something that works particularly well in this story, as they are both in different places on the same journey of learning to find their joy after the heartbreak.

With all that is going on, this book could be sad. And, it could leave you feel drained. I can’t lie, it’s not a comedy. But, it doesn’t leave you sad. It leaves you feeling hopeful, that maybe there is light at the end of whatever tunnel life places you into, if you believe that you can get there, or even if you don’t and just get up every day, one of those days, there will be a light there that was not there before. And, that light is going to be happiness. No matter that you never thought you would find it again, or that you had given up on it…happiness and joy find a way back.

I was lucky enough to read a very early copy of this title, because, to paraphrase Ms. Madison, I would give her an honest opinion and wouldn’t kiss her ass. (No pressure, really!) Well, Natasha, completely free of any ass kissing, this was a wonderful book. As you have said, it is a different book for you…but it was absolutely wonderful. I am so glad you took the chance to write this, and to tell a different story, and I am honored that you trusted me enough to send me an early copy and actually want to know what I thought.

I recommend this title…but, I think you figured that out already.
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