Picture Imperfect

by Cindy Procter-King

Early Release Pricing, Limited Time Only!
Photographer Ursula Scott discovers her sexy apprentice is an ex-cop investigating threats at his uncle's studio...but is she a target or a suspect?

Sassy Suspense from Romance Writers of America Golden Heart finalist Cindy Procter-King

Just when she thought she had her life on autofocus...

Photographer Ursula Scott is six short months from buying her boss’s studio and helping her family knock down a massive debt. She can put up with his hairball antics for that long, right?

Right?

But, oh, he makes life difficult. She can barely restrain herself when he hogs credit for her assignments, and now half-naked weirdos are responding to his ad for her first magazine photo spread. On top of that, someone is sabotaging the studio. Worse, she discovers her sexy apprentice is a former cop practicing his newbie PI skills on the case—and she’s a suspect!

Suddenly, Ursula’s dreams and hard work seem about to go up in smoke. In more ways than one.

Well, not on her watch.

When Gabe McKenzie moves home following the shooting that kyboshed his career, he doesn’t expect to get sucked into finding the culprit wreaking havoc at his uncle’s photography studio. He certainly doesn’t expect to fall for Ursula Scott, a long-legged brunette with a definite motive and a desire to play Nancy Drew. Even as he clears her, the sabotage escalates into a bizarre stalking, placing Ursula...and Gabe’s hopes for their future...in danger.

If only he can convince her to stop snooping around and let him do his job as a PI, before an unknown menace threatens not only her dreams—but her life.

Length: 130,000 words
Genres: Amateur Sleuth, Sassy Suspense, Romantic Comedy Mystery, Humorous Romantic Suspense, Humorous Fiction

Genres: Ebooks, Romance, Contemporary

443 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 18, 2016

About the author

Cindy Procter-King writes steamy romcom and contemporary romance bursting with laughter and emotion. Sassy feel-good fiction!

Cindy’s books are available from eBook retailers all over the world, as well as in trade paperback, some library hardcover and large print, and some foreign editions.

Cindy lives in Canada with her family, Ghost’Da Allie McBeagle, and too many grand-dogs to count.

Visit Cindy’s website at http://www.cindyprocter-king.com

Reviews

["Avonna · Rating 3 out of 5]

PICTURE IMPERFECT by Cindy Proctor-King is a cross between a romantic suspense and a cozy mystery with a romance. I would not label it as comedic or humorous as publicized. The banter is light and fun at times like in all good romances, but not throughout the book.

Ursula Scott is a photographer on a mission. She has a contract to take over her boss’ photography studio in six months and help her family financially. She finally has a big time assignment for a magazine and she will not let Mackie take the credit from her again. As she tries to get the job done, someone is sabotaging the studio.

Gabe McKenzie has moved back home after being shot has sidelined his police career. He plans to move on as a P.I., so his mother asks him as a favor to find out who is threatening his uncle’s photography studio. He doesn’t expect to fall for his uncle’s assistant, who is just one of the suspects he needs to investigate as he works undercover as her apprentice.

Ursula discovers that her sexy apprentice is not who he says he is and the budding romance is off until he allows her to help in the investigation. Against Gabe’s better judgement, the two work together to uncover the unknown menace. As the two get closer to the truth, the danger turns out to be nearly deadly.

I feel this story has a good romance plot with both the H/h being realistic characters. I had problems with the length of the book and the several subplots. I lost interest at times due to an excessive amount of information or was confused about which character I was following. I enjoyed all the main characters and the main premise, but I feel I would have enjoyed it more if some of the subplots where cut. An O.K. read.

Written for and posted first on The Romance Reviews.com.

[Judi Easley · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Review:

The cover says it's a "sassy suspense", but really it's more cozy mystery with a really vile boss man. Ursula doesn't like conflict or being in the spotlight. She much prefers to work behind the scenes. She's got her eye on the final payment and having the studio for her own so she can start helping out her parents. She's just trying to survive until that can happen.

Gabe just wants to be sure that Ursula isn't behind all the shenanigans at the studio. But her working behind the scenes seems to put her in the frame more than he'd like. Still, he just can't resist the lure of her. Since he's her assistant for this photo shoot fading to weird, he gets a close up he otherwise wouldn't get.

I gave this cozy murder cum romance a 4-star rating! Give it a try and see if it should be on one of your shelves this new year. This is an author with a whole shelf full of books to her name, so if you like this one, you might be interested in some of her other titles.

I was provided an eARC by Blue Orchard Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I am not being compensated in any way. All opinions are fully my own.
~ Judi E. Easley for Blue Cat Review

[M H · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

I apologize to the author because I know how hard they work but I just couldn't connect to the story at all. Vic was disgusting and gross, such that it took away from the romance. The romance itself was ok. I didn't get the chemistry between the characters. I received a free copy of this book and I voluntarily reviewed it

[Maggie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just meh. It goes to multiple character's perspectives but it is really unnecessary and doesn't add much to the story. Was hard to want to keep reading

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by this author and the ARC was provided by Hidden Gems. My only real issue with the book is that it is pretty long, 400+ pages, but I enjoyed it. This is the story of Ursula Scott, a photographer with a plan to soon buy the studio she works in, to help secure a financial future for her family. As she starts a photo shoot for a big magazine piece, she is introduced to Gabe McKenzie, her boss’ nephew who is there to learn about photography from her. The actual story is that Gabe, a former LAPD officer is there to investigate the incidents of sabotage going on at the studio for his mother.
The book takes time to discuss both Ursula and Gabe’s past as they get to know each other. There is definite chemistry between them from the beginning and as they work together it just builds. There is of course the issue about why Gabe is actually there and how Ursula handles the investigation. I found them to be likeable and relatable as characters. The uncle is a scumbag and it seems unlikely that Gabe’s mother would not have noticed his questionable character before the investigation reveals more about what he has been doing. The plot has plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing as to how it would be resolved. Good story and pacing to keep reading to see how it will end.

[Nyah Raine · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️.5. I am at a crossroads with this book. I feel like it had so much promise to be a quick and easy read and a fun little mystery but I feel like there were so many different storylines happening with different characters it got a little confusing. And OMG I hated Mackie’s character and how he spoke about and to women 🤮

[Jim son of Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not exactly a suspenseful romance as advertised on fill-your-Kindle day. Call it a fairly standard romance with a half a dozen subplots. I liked it. Didn't love it. I will probably remember parts as I worked as a photographer for a couple of years.

[Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting sleuthing

I enjoyed reading this story. There were several twists and turns as Ursula worked through her baggage to accept the developing love.

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I could give Cindy Procter-King’s Picture Imperfect three and a half stars. The editing was very good with only a few minor errors. The characters were mostly believable; and the romance took center stage. That being said, this imperfect novel does come with flaws. Branded as a “sassy suspense” by the publisher, somewhere near the 80% completion point, I made the remark to a friend that “short of someone getting abducted soon, this book should be listed as a cozy mystery.” Not to give too much away, but as much as I enjoyed the action that (finally) came into play, I found the ending a little abrupt for the scene. With so many characters effected by this turn of events (both directly and indirectly), I found myself needing more than a two-character conversation in the back of an ambulance. It’s one of those “epilogue sorely needed” kinds of tales.

Professional photographer Ursula Scott is willing to work her backside off, even for the world’s worst boss, in order to achieve her dream and help her family. Former cop, Gabe McKenzie promises his mom that he’ll help his uncle, photog Victor “Mackie” McKenzie, deal with a string of recent vandalism and threats at his studio. Gabe has to clear Ursula and eventually work with her as things (including their attraction) heat up. Will they ever solve the case with so many potential players? Will they ever figure out just where their relationship should go?

I received a copy of Picture Imperfect by Cindy Procter-King from Blue Orchard Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Evelyn Jane Thorne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Photographer Ursula Scott thought that her dream of buying her boss’s photography studio was finally coming true. Until strange things start to happen; mysterious graffiti, grenade thrown through the window and half-naked weirdos showing up for a photo shoot. It turns out that someone is trying to sabotage the studio and ruin Ursula’s dreams before they come true.


Gabe McKenzie moves back home after a career ending injury. After getting sucked into discovering who is trying to sabotage his uncle’s photo studio, Gabe puts his beginner PI skills to the test. Posing as a photography apprentice, Gabe manages to get up close and personal with the number one suspect…Ursula.


I would describe Picture Imperfect as a cozy mystery with a hint of romance. The story is narrated using multiple points of view of the main characters, which are Ursula, Gabe, the saboteur, Gabe’s uncle Mackie and Gabe’s mother Evie. I enjoyed the multiple points of view because it provided me a deeper insight into what the characters were feeling and thinking.

I felt that the narrative moved along at a steady pace which made it enjoyable. I had no idea who the saboteur was until near the end of the book when it finally clicked. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to those who love cozy mysteries.

I received an advanced copy for free, and this is my honest opinion.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brava for Cindy Procter-King's latest novel, one that doesn't fail to please in the lusty parts of love, but also has great character and story development. All of her novels show us that Procter-King has a way with words, particularly when it comes to lust and love. And, in this novel, the characters, both main and secondary, come to life. Her protagonists are fully realized. You'll find deranged, evil, gentle, simple, complex and tough characters. But, most of all you will get to know and love both Ursula with her hardened exterior and Gabe with his soft vulnerabilities, perfect foils for each other. They make a great team at solving a mystery who-done-it filled with twists and turns. At the end of the day, this novel does it all: covers how to fall in love at any age, solve a mystery and make the reader want even more. I just finished this delicious romantic mystery and can't help wondering if the author has a sequel on the drawing board. There are lots of possibilities for this sleuthing couple and I, for one, look forward to more. (By the way, I am writing this review completely independently. I paid for the book and bought it because I read and enjoyed Procter-King's earlier novels.)

[Connie Davé · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by this author and it won't be my last. I really liked this book. Ursula is photographer working in a photo shop she is planning on buying. Gabe is an ex cop, now a PI. The shop Ursula is going to purchase is owned by Gabe's Uncle. There are numerous things happening there, threats, vandalism, theft, and a ton of mix ups. Gabe is there undercover to investigate. Gabe and Ursula have an instant attraction and are just so cute together. I loved the banter between them and the chemistry was great. As for the suspense part of the book, it was definitely hard for me to figure out who was behind everything. I had suspicions but could not figure it out until very late in the book. I think it was a great mix of romance, suspense, humor and a very well developed story. I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Kristen Lewendon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start by saying that there is a lot going on in this book. The book is big, so be prepared to invest a good chunk of time into it. I found that this story has all of the things I love best in a cozy mystery: humor, a cast of characters that range from quirky to ‘nuttier than fruitcake’, and a mystery that I was completely unable to outthink. It also has my favorite romance elements too: a charming leading couple that you just can’t help but cheer for, with enough electricity between them to power a small city. It was very easy for me to get immersed in Ursula and Gabe’s lives. To the point that I couldn’t put this down until I finally knew all the answers. There may have been a lot of book here, but I’m kind of sorry it’s over already.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author through Hidden Gems Books.

[Heather Donovan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a simple, fast read. I had a hard time getting into the story - sometimes there was more description than was really necessary - perhaps intended to throw the reader off the scent of the mystery, but I got a little lost and had to backtrack a bit.

I loved the spark between Ursula and Gabe - their flirty banter was the best part of the book, and I would read another book by this author. Maybe even a sequel to revisit some characters and develop their stories further.

[Sandra Lopez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ursula Scott was a photographer stuck taking pictures of old, fat men in thongs. Ugh! But she needed to finish these shots for a Valentine composition of Real Men. We don’t want real men.

Meanwhile, the boss’ nephew, Gabe, a private investigator, was trying to figure out who was sabotaging his photography business. Could it be the captivating beauty, Ursula?

I liked Ursula’s bold and snarky demeanor. Still, I thought the reading was kind of long and lagging with some witty retorts.

An okay read.

[Ashlee Olson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and definitely not the last. It was written wonderfully. It flowed nicely making it a fast read. Easy to understand and follow along with. Quite a lot of secrets that keep the story interesting and flowing along. Almost all the characters have something to hide making the lists of suspects harder to narrow down. Twists and turns that leave you flipping the pages. The characters are a fun group. Friendships that leave you laughing at how they are together. Families that are different yet uniquely great. I definite must read.

[Nagma (Take A Look At My Bookshelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a long book at 400+ pages. A lot goes on in this book.

Ursula Scott is a photographer who feels stuck in her job, then her boss's business starts receiving threats and is vandalized. Here enters Gabe, the boss's nephew and a private investigator. As the couple tries to solve the mystery behind the threats and vandalism, they fall in love.

This is a pretty good romantic mystery with many twists and turns.

I am voluntarily reviewing this book via Hidden Gems.

[Connie Butcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book by this author and it definitely won't be my last. The characters and plot are well developed and didn't feel rushed or sluggish. The author pulled me in and made me want to keep reading. I found myself many nights wanting to keep going until the next chapter. Ursula and Gabe were a cute couple and I hope to read more about them in a future story.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I receive this book for free for an honest review. I enjoyed the twist & turns this book offered. However, at times it got convoluted and confusing. I enjoyed Gabe & Ursula. I would have enjoyed more about their romance and the relationships with their families.

[Rachel Humphries · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, the suspense element was brilliant & kept me guessing until the end.

The characters were very likeable, except for Mackie who I wanted to punch in the junk!

I would definitely read more from this author

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ursula and Gabe are quite a pair. Not only was this a romance but a mystery to boot. Ursula was quite sassy and Gabe was pretty yummy. The boss/uncle was one slime ball so be prepared for some disturbing scenes, IMO. "I voluntarily reviewed my copy of this book received from the publisher.

[poppy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by this author and it won't be my last. I really liked this book.You wont want to put it down a nice read recommended

[Michelle]

BBA

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

To me the story seemed to drag but still enjoyed reading it.

[Jocelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable read.

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.