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The Perfect Match
SHE'S GOT A KNACK FOR TROUBLE--AND IMPOSSIBLE DREAMS...At twenty-seven, free-spirited Rowena Brown has never fit in anywhere--not with her ambitious family, not at veterinary school and certainly not in any relationship she's ever had. But surely the good people of Whitewater, Illinois, will welcome a pet-store owner whose talent is finding the perfect home for "problem" animals, even if they do have names like Destroyer....
When a hundred-pound monstrosity of a dog appears at his door, Whitewater deputy Cash Lawless knows he's in trouble. A single dad with two young daughters, Cash wants more chaos in his life about as much as he wants to find himself drawn to the eccentric Rowena. But if he's not careful, the unruly hound and his unconventional owner might reignite Cash's hopes along with his heart--and help them all find home at last.
When a hundred-pound monstrosity of a dog appears at his door, Whitewater deputy Cash Lawless knows he's in trouble. A single dad with two young daughters, Cash wants more chaos in his life about as much as he wants to find himself drawn to the eccentric Rowena. But if he's not careful, the unruly hound and his unconventional owner might reignite Cash's hopes along with his heart--and help them all find home at last.
384 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2007
7 people are currently reading
186 people want to read
About the author
Kimberly Cates
57 books97 followersKimberly Cates lives in Illinois with her family.
Pseudonyms: Kimberleigh Caitlin and Kim Cates.
Pseudonyms: Kimberleigh Caitlin and Kim Cates.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
June 24, 2009
I checked out this book from the library because when I picked it up I saw a dog on the cover and thought, "Awww, a love story involving a dog!" The book didn't take the path I expected, but it was even better for it. I found myself not wanting the book to end, I was so torn between rushing to find out what would happen next and slowing myself down so I didn't get to the end too fast. Highly recommended!
November 16, 2008
The characters are easy to identify with...they're a little more "normal" than the characters in most chick lit. This was a great story.
April 14, 2017
I just love Kimberly Cates' books! I get drawn in from the first sentence, can't put them down and don't want them to ever end! The characters are so real, I feel as if I know them personally, and I'm right in there with them, seeing everything first hand along with them! Just amazing! Thank you for another wonderful book!
December 20, 2010
Enjoyed every minute of this book, from start to finish. The characters were likeable, and the story was a good one, I laughed and cried, got mad and happy. I got this book off of the goodreads bookswap with the intention of listing it when I was done. However, I enjoyed it so much, that I now plan to keep it so that I may ready it again when I get the fancy for a little of Rowena's magic.
September 30, 2011
An enjoyable contemporary romance--the thing that drew me to pick up this book was the cute puppy on the cover (animals always sucker me in!) and he ended up being a fun and crazy character in the story.
September 24, 2025
I loved it! The characters had such depth especially Cash, the hero. Very tortured but dedicated to his daughters. Rowena the earth-mother heroine was perfect for him. And Clancy aka Destroyer was fun.
October 4, 2013
This is a love story that even non-romance people would have to love and tear up over. It is a romance novel for dog lovers. You can see the people and even more so the animals.
July 16, 2022
I recently re-read this old book and it made me laugh and cry
January 5, 2023
This was a fun read for sure. I really liked the whole story and liked all the characters as the story unfolds
October 23, 2024
Love the Newfie
March 14, 2020
3.5 stars
I thought that the very ending was rushed.
I thought that the very ending was rushed.
December 31, 2010
There were some things I really enjoyed about this book, and some things that didn't work for me. Overall, I'd say it was good, and as this is the first book I have read by this author, I would give her another try.
Rowina is supposed to have a special gift for matching people with pets. She also has an insatiable need to rescue people and animals, one that gets her into trouble more often than not.
Cash, on the other hand, lives a well-ordered life that revolves entirely around his youngest daughter, Mac, who lost her ability to use her legs in a car accident. His ex-wife ran out on them shortly therafter, and they haven't seen her much in the last two years.
They meet over a 175 pound dog, Destroyer, who Cash wants to have destroyed and who Rowina thinks is just misunderstood. Then, one day, a 9-year-old girl, Charlie, wanders into her shop and Rowina knows that dog and girl belong together. What she doesn't know is that Cash is the girl's father.
There was a lot to like about this book. I thought the characters were good, each one managing to rise above the stereotypes they could have been. The situation was compelling, with each character suffering in a different way. I particularly liked the way they pointed out how Charlie suffered due to her younger sister's injury. Not intentionally, but she became invisible as her father spent hours doing physical therapy exercises with Mac, determined to make her walk again. We even, eventually, get the story of the mother who walked out on them, and while she isn't absolved, she is, at least, understood.
I got annoyed with Rowina at various points during the book, because she jumped to conclusions a lot, and made some snap judgments. This characteristic made me doubt her supposed ability to match people to pets, especially since we saw so little of that in action. In the end, I wasn't convinced that this aspect of her provided anything to the plot other than a convenient reason to get her involved with this family.
I got annoyed with Cash as well, for entirely different reasons. He wouldn't get involved with Rowina at first because he didn't want to parade a bunch of women in front of his girls (as if one woman is a parade). I respected that, but everything in their relationship was about him, never about her. What he needed, wanted, and could afford to give. He took her for granted, and he took advantage of her.
Of course, she let him.
The other thing that bothered me about the book is a massive SPOILER, so read further at your own risk
**************SPOILER***************
I found the ending somewhat unsatisfying. It was very emotional when Rowina promises Charlie to leave her father alone so that she wouldn't take any of his attention away from his daughter. Misguided, but definitely in character and a great moment, especially when Cash proposes a week later, and she refuses.
The trouble is, I never felt like this was truly resolved. She goes off and mourns for a while, driving home the problem that Cash took her for granted and used her, and then, one day, everything is better. Charlie reads an essay, Cash proposes again, HEA...what? There were a few missing steps, IMO, and this is exactly what kept me from giving the book 4 stars.
Rowina is supposed to have a special gift for matching people with pets. She also has an insatiable need to rescue people and animals, one that gets her into trouble more often than not.
Cash, on the other hand, lives a well-ordered life that revolves entirely around his youngest daughter, Mac, who lost her ability to use her legs in a car accident. His ex-wife ran out on them shortly therafter, and they haven't seen her much in the last two years.
They meet over a 175 pound dog, Destroyer, who Cash wants to have destroyed and who Rowina thinks is just misunderstood. Then, one day, a 9-year-old girl, Charlie, wanders into her shop and Rowina knows that dog and girl belong together. What she doesn't know is that Cash is the girl's father.
There was a lot to like about this book. I thought the characters were good, each one managing to rise above the stereotypes they could have been. The situation was compelling, with each character suffering in a different way. I particularly liked the way they pointed out how Charlie suffered due to her younger sister's injury. Not intentionally, but she became invisible as her father spent hours doing physical therapy exercises with Mac, determined to make her walk again. We even, eventually, get the story of the mother who walked out on them, and while she isn't absolved, she is, at least, understood.
I got annoyed with Rowina at various points during the book, because she jumped to conclusions a lot, and made some snap judgments. This characteristic made me doubt her supposed ability to match people to pets, especially since we saw so little of that in action. In the end, I wasn't convinced that this aspect of her provided anything to the plot other than a convenient reason to get her involved with this family.
I got annoyed with Cash as well, for entirely different reasons. He wouldn't get involved with Rowina at first because he didn't want to parade a bunch of women in front of his girls (as if one woman is a parade). I respected that, but everything in their relationship was about him, never about her. What he needed, wanted, and could afford to give. He took her for granted, and he took advantage of her.
Of course, she let him.
The other thing that bothered me about the book is a massive SPOILER, so read further at your own risk
**************SPOILER***************
I found the ending somewhat unsatisfying. It was very emotional when Rowina promises Charlie to leave her father alone so that she wouldn't take any of his attention away from his daughter. Misguided, but definitely in character and a great moment, especially when Cash proposes a week later, and she refuses.
The trouble is, I never felt like this was truly resolved. She goes off and mourns for a while, driving home the problem that Cash took her for granted and used her, and then, one day, everything is better. Charlie reads an essay, Cash proposes again, HEA...what? There were a few missing steps, IMO, and this is exactly what kept me from giving the book 4 stars.
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February 14, 2017Mon défi "lire une romance" est terminé et quoi que j'ai plusieurs fois voulu abandonner, j'ai globalement bien apprécié ma lecture. L'histoire autour des enfants et du chien était touchante, c'est vraiment ce que j'ai aimé, l'histoire d'amour était mignonne mais pour moi, c'était trop rapide cette montée du désir, l'évolution était plus profonde là encore, j'ai apprécié et moins levé les yeux au ciel. Donc j'ai lu une romance, j'ai mis le temps à continuer, bon j'étais malade et exceptionnellement fiévreuse, mais j'ai aimé. Je ne suis pas prête d'en lire une nouvelle de suite, mais je ne suis plus totalement fermée au genre. :-)
October 23, 2015
I love it when I find a little jem at the used bookstore, which is where I found The Perfect Match, or the thrift store, and ending up, not only falling in love with the character's and story, but also discovering a wonderful new, to me author.I obviously picked it for the cover, being a big animal lover, and reading the description of Rowena on the back cover, and I was NOT disappointed. If you love a heartwarming romance with adorable kids and cute animals, this is for you. In my opinion this book will have something for EVERYONE! If your an animal lover, you got adorable animals with Clancy/Destroyer the Newfoundland, 'Newfie, a family of Pugs, a crotchety cat. A mama cat, Cinderella, 'Cinder' and her 6 babies, rescued from a fire by the hero, Cash Lawless, and a curssing parrot. If it's kid's you've got Cash's adorable daughter's Charlotte 'Charlie' and Mackenzie, 'Mac'. For the romance you've got Cash Lawless and Rowena Brown AND Mr. Google and Miss Marigold. Someone mentioned how real the character's were, and I agree. That's another reason I loved this book. You can totally sympathize and understand why Cash is the way he is, and Rowena is just the absolute 'Perfect Match' for him, (and his girl's.) She and Clancy/Destroyer are exactly what the Lawless family needs. I totally related to Rowena's love of animal's, and totally understood how she fell for Cash and his girl's. I didn't like Cash's ex, the girl's mother, Lisa until we met her and find out why she did what she did, and understand her a little more. I think Rowena's sister Bryony needs to find love of her own. Maybe a vet? Lol! This one is definitely going on my keeper shelf. I can't wait to read more from this author.
February 8, 2013
Rowena has a gift. She's able to match problem pets (after rehabilitation) to a perfect owner. When she matches her hyper Newfoundland dog to shy Charlie, she thinks it's a match made in heaven, until she meets Charlie's father. Cash is a single father to two little girls, Charlie and Mac. The last thing he needs is a pet, he has enough problems juggling work, babysitting and physical therapy, he doesn't have time to deal with a troubled dog. Then disaster hits, and Rowena is thrown in the mix of things, and she brings the added "colour" that the girls need. But can she mend the hurt that the Lawless family has endured.
I read this book quickly, it was fast paced, the characters were interesting with one exception. I didn't care for Lisa, but I won't go into it here, you'll have to read the book. Overall, I found the book charming. It brought a smile to face and a few tears as well.
3.5/5
I read this book quickly, it was fast paced, the characters were interesting with one exception. I didn't care for Lisa, but I won't go into it here, you'll have to read the book. Overall, I found the book charming. It brought a smile to face and a few tears as well.
3.5/5
September 8, 2008
I really liked this book while I was reading it, but it stayed with me in a bad way afterwards. This book isn't as "light" as it seems. The author did a great job getting me to care about the characters, and the hero has plenty of believable emotional challenges from the get-go. But towards the end, she goes into more detail about what makes him angst-ridden and she made it way too dark and grim for me. I was already involved enough in the character's emotions just thinking that his daughter had been in a car accident. I was really disappointed that she had the situation be even worse than I thought. It's a good read, but beware -- it takes a really sad/dark dip towards the end before you get your HEA.
September 1, 2008
Deputy Cash Lawless (I know the name is ridiculous), lives with his 2 young daughters in IL. Meg, the youngest daughter, can't walk due to a car accident. Their mother left them after the accident.
The deputy is trying to get Meg to walk again, while also trying to keep his family going.
He gets a little help from the local pet shop owner (Rowana).
It was an ok read.
The deputy is trying to get Meg to walk again, while also trying to keep his family going.
He gets a little help from the local pet shop owner (Rowana).
It was an ok read.
December 18, 2010
This book had me so choked up several times. Very emotional but also very sweet and funny. I laughed out loud a couple times, too. I looked up the author thinking there would be a trilogy due to a reference in the book, but apparently there is not, or at least not yet.
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August 15, 2016Absolutely loved Mac. She is far more wiser than your typical five year old. I wish more people have her strength and determination. As for the story, it was realistic and one was able to relate to the characters.
February 4, 2008
Very good fun book. It shows how hard things can be when children are involved.
September 22, 2012
A good story - somewhat predicatable but a fast read.
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July 13, 2014Iu
September 14, 2014
cute little story. refreshing!
November 19, 2011
Cute story.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews