Perfect Match

by Susan Oloier

A matchmaker in a humdrum relationship, a single firefighter longing for a soul mate, and a set-up that leads them straight into the path of forbidden love.

Twenty-seven-year-old Kenzie Hart can’t stand the plot-driven, Hollywood script she’s writing with live-in boyfriend, Rob. She’d rather write about love or use her matchmaker talents to fix someone up. She’s had a stellar record so far. So when a handsome firefighter moves in next door, she sets him up with her best friend. But as the screenplay languishes, her heart tells her that not only is she working on the wrong script, but maybe she set the boy-next-door up with the wrong person.

Twenty-nine-year-old firefighter Brian Watts is looking for the right woman to share his life. He’s not asking for much. Just someone down-to-earth with an interest in baseball. When he moves into a house on the Gulf Coast of Florida, he meets Kenzie, the woman next door. She’s pretty, into baseball, and…attached. When she suggests a set-up with her best friend, Brian agrees to the match. But he soon learns that Kenzie Hart is just the woman he needs in his life.

315 pages, Paperback

Published March 16, 2020

About the author

Susan Oloier is the author of My Life as a Misfit, Fractured, Superstitions, Outcast, Haunted, and the screenplay Simple Fugitives. She is co-author of the Horror Street Series. She has been a columnist and writer for both regional and national publications, including The Daily Beast. Susan currently lives with her husband and two sons. When she's not writing, she loves to read, rock climb, and ride her bike.

Reviews

[Brenda Moser · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well written story with strong characters and an entertaining story line. The author does a great job building their relationship. I enjoyed watching them come together and fall in love. It moves fluidly and is a sweet love story.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.

[Angie Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Susan Oloier has written a 5-star book that has betrayal, cheating and a few twists and turns that will have you reading until the end just to find out what happens between Kenzie and Brian. Kenzie and her boyfriend Rob are screenwriters and are working on a story but things are not going well for them. Kenzie starts to have feelings for Brian who just moved in next door to her but she can't do anything about them because she is with Rob. Kenzie decides to set her best friend Tara up with Brian, but after she does she is upset about the way things are going between them. Kenzie finds out that Rob has been cheating on her with his new agent and that the story they have been working on was rejected but the one he was working on alone was picked up. She tells him to leave and never come back. Brian has come to realize that things between him and Tara are not going well since he can't stop thinking about Kenzie but he doesn't know what to do about it. He doesn't want to be a rebound guy so he will stick things out with Tara for now. Kenzie has been told by her grandmother and sister that she should write her own story and see how it goes. She starts writing her story and it goes well for her. She is getting over Rob and starts to get her confidence back. One night during a storm, Brian goes over to see if Kenzie is alright and things get out of hand and he kisses her. The next day, he goes over and asks her if she wanted to watch the game with him as friends only and she tells him she will. They end up going to the sports bar UnderTow and Kenzie sees Tara there with another man. She goes up to Tara and asks to speak to her. Tara tells her that the man is Andy and he is the one who she has liked but could never get him to look at her. Now she is with him but she still needs to tell Brian.
Will everything that is going on will Kenzie and Brian get together?
Can Kenzie write a screenplay and get it sold?
This was a wonderful book to read that will keep your interest until the end.
I received an ARC of this book for a voluntarly and honest review.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading Perfect Match by Susan Oloier because it was such a sweet book. Kenzie is a matchmaker and she is dating and living with Rob who is all wrong for her. They are both writers and currently working on a screenplay. Brian just moved next door and he is a firefighter. Kenzie wants to set up Brian with her friend Tara. Kenzie realizes that while Brian and Tara are dating, she secretly likes him. It was a good book because I didn't know if Kenzie and Brian would ever get together or would she lose her friendship with Tara. I secretly hoped she would dump Rob who was just a dud. There was no spark there. But there was definitely a spark with her neighbor Brian. I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Loved reading it!! Definitely read it. It is a sweet book!!!

[Kaytlen Pearson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sweet romance was a pleasant read. With two characters who are looking for something more satisfying in life and struggling to find it, they relate to most of the population. As neighbors who find attraction despite everything about the situation being wrong, they push past their insecurities and eventually find their way to love.

Susan Oloier created realistic characters with faults and struggles. Both of them have great personalities and the flaws enhance the story. The world they live in is comfortable and real. This story could be any of the hallmark stories just without a Christmas setting.

[Tandy Oschadleus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy to review: There is something wonderful about enjoying the journey to a destination; taking a relaxed walk or drive and soaking in the sights and scenery. This book was like that for me: I guessed early on how it would end, but enjoyed the journey getting there. Susan builds things up slowly but surely, giving us peeks into the minds of the characters and creating a scenario where we are rooting for the down-to-earth screenwriter and hunky firefighter! A really fun and romantic read.

Profanity - no
Blasphemy - yes (2-3 times)
Sex - not described, only thoughts and desires are mentioned. Spicy yet clean kissing is detailed.
Triggers - cheating partner    

[Anonymous 5 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read other books by Ms. Oloier and I've really enjoyed them and this book was no different. The storyline was interesting and caught my attention from the beginning and kept me interested till the end. It's a story of betrayal and cheating that has plenty of twists and turns that will keep you turning the pages, anxious to find out what happens. The storyline was well-written and flowed smoothly and the characters were wonderful. I enjoyed getting to know them and follow them on their journey. A well-written story that I truly enjoyed.

I received a complimentary copy from StoryOrigin and am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Ana * · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has everything, twists and turns, betrayal cheating and the love story of a lifetime. Kenzie and Brian are neighbors, who have feelings for each other, but since Kenzie is in a relationship she decides to set him up with her best friend. But the feelings between Kenzie and Brian are stronger than any relationship either one can ever imagine. When things escalate between them, it's as if the cosmos destined them for each other. The problem is Brian is still in a relationship with her best friend.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is a good sweet romance read. The story is the second book in the Gulf Coast Firefighters series but can be read as a stand alone read. The story has a good story line. The characters are good, and they have good chemistry. The story is an enjoyable sweet firefighters romance read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given a copy of this book for an honest review. This was my first book by Susan Oloier and I loved it. A very sweet story about two neighbors with a strong attraction to each other, yet both are involved with other people. Great read that I recommend. Looking forward to reading the rest of this series & other books by Susan.

[Elvira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kenzie and Brian enter into a questionable series of twist and turns. These characters are engaging and have undeniable chemistry making this storyline flow smoothly.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed Brian & Kenzie's book. Good characters with great chemistry. It was an entertaining read with lots of twists. I received a copy of the book. And am voluntarily leaving my review.