Almost Perfect. Judy Duarte

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      Be sure to look up the reading group discussion questions at the end of the book!

      Jake edged closer and cupped her cheek.

      His callused thumb made a small, circular motion on her skin that set Maggie’s senses swirling. His gaze snagged hers and threatened never to let go.

      “You’re my best friend, Maggie,” he murmured.

      His hand slowly lowered, and Maggie fought the compulsion to reach for his wrist and hold it in place. Instead, she took a step back.

      “You’re the best friend I have, too,” she said. And she meant it.

      But best friends didn’t make each other go weak in the knees. Didn’t make them contemplate things best left alone.

      Did they?

      What was a best friend to do?

      Dear Reader,

      Not only does Special Edition bring you the joys of life, love and family—but we also capitalize on our authors’ many talents in storytelling. In our spotlight, Christine Rimmer’s exciting new miniseries, VIKING BRIDES, is the epitome of innovative reading. The first book, The Reluctant Princess, details the transformation of an everyday woman to glorious royal—with a Viking lover to match! Christine tells us, “For several years, I’ve dreamed of creating a modern-day country where the ways of the legendary Norsemen would still hold sway. I imagined what fun it would be to match up the most macho of men, the Vikings, with contemporary American heroines. Oh, the culture clash—oh, the lovely potential for lots of romantic fireworks! This dream became VIKING BRIDES.” Don’t miss this fabulous series!

      Our Readers’ Ring selection is Judy Duarte’s Almost Perfect, a darling tale of how good friends fall in love as they join forces to raise two orphaned kids. This one will get you talking! Next, Gina Wilkins delights us with Faith, Hope and Family, in which a tormented heroine returns to save her family and faces the man she’s always loved. You’ll love Elizabeth Harbison’s Midnight Cravings, in which a sassy publicist and a small-town police chief fall hard for each other and give in to a sizzling attraction.

      The Unexpected Wedding Guest, by Patricia McLinn, brings together an unlikely couple who share an unexpected kiss. Newcomer to Special Edition Kate Welsh is no stranger to fresh plot twists, in Substitute Daddy, in which a heroine carries her deceased twin’s baby and has feelings for the last man on earth she should love—her snooty brother-in-law.

      As you can see, we have a story for every reader’s taste. Stay tuned next month for six more top picks from Special Edition!

      Sincerely,

      Karen Taylor Richman

      Senior Editor

      Almost Perfect

      Judy Duarte

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      To my editor, Stacy Boyd. Your support and keen

       editorial eye make me want to reach higher and dig

       deeper. A simple thank-you doesn’t seem to be enough.

      JUDY DUARTE,

      an avid reader who enjoys a happy ending, always wanted to write books of her own. One day, she decided to make that dream come true. Five years and six manuscripts later, she sold her first book to Silhouette Special Edition.

      Her unpublished stories have won the Emily and the Orange Rose awards, and in 2001, she became a double Golden Heart finalist. Judy credits her success to Romance Writers of America and two wonderful critique partners, Sheri WhiteFeather and Crystal Green, both of whom write for Silhouette.

      At times, when a stubborn hero and a headstrong heroine claim her undivided attention, she and her family are thankful for fast food, pizza delivery and video games. When she’s not at the keyboard or in a Walter Mitty–type world, she enjoys traveling, romantic evenings with her personal hero and playing board games with her kids.

      Judy lives in Southern California and loves to hear from her readers. You may write to her at: P.O. Box 498, San Luis Rey, CA 92068-0498. You can also visit her Web site at: www.judyduarte.com.

      Dear Reader,

      I’m honored to have Almost Perfect chosen as the May Readers’ Ring release. For those of us who love reading books and enjoy discussing them, the Readers’ Ring is a great way to further our pleasure and understanding of stories with emotionally compelling plots and characters.

      Almost Perfect holds a special place in my heart, in part because Maggie and Jake became so real in the writing process. And, yes, maybe because there’s a little bit of Maggie in me.

      As teenage friends, Maggie and Jake had similar backgrounds, yet different ways of coping with their past. Isn’t that the way it is for all of us? We make choices, sometimes conscious and sometimes not, based upon our personal histories and experiences. And as humans, we hate to make changes in our lives unless forced by circumstances oftentimes out of our control.

      No matter how difficult the problem, I want my characters to learn that when a door closes they should look for an open window. There is always a way out of even the worst place, but sometimes a person has to work to get there. I hope Maggie and Jake’s story inspires you to remember that, too!

      Happy reading,

      Contents

      Chapter One

      Chapter Two

      Chapter Three

      Chapter Four

      Chapter Five

      Chapter Six

      Chapter Seven

      Chapter Eight

      Chapter Nine

      Chapter Ten

      Chapter Eleven

      Chapter Twelve

      Chapter Thirteen

      Chapter Fourteen

      Chapter Fifteen

      Chapter Sixteen

      Chapter Seventeen

      Epilogue

      Chapter One

      Way back in third grade, Jake Meredith decided that only a complete fool would set himself up for failure. Thank God he’d learned that lesson early on.

      It was a game plan that had served him well over the years.

      Until fate threw him a curve.

      Surveying the barn and corrals, Jake stood at the kitchen sink of the main ranch house and shook his head. Buckaroo Ranch. What a waste of good land and stock.

      He’d had his fill of this place years ago and left home on his eighteenth birthday. But now, in spite of his distaste for city slickers and dude ranches, the whole kit and caboodle was his.

      And since his sister had taken deposits for reservations a year in advance, and he didn’t have a clue what she’d done with the money, he was stuck running the place until the guests had a chance to play cowboy for a week.

      But that wasn’t the bulk of his problems.

      He glanced across the kitchen at the eighteen-month-old boy who was making a godawful mess with his bowl of spaghetti. When their eyes met, the toddler flashed a big grin, oozing with red-tinged slobber. Jake wasn’t sure whether Sam was pleased with the taste of marinara or just plain