Picture Perfect by Elisabeth Grace Pages: 286
Published by Createspace Independent Pub on April 3, 2014
Genres: contemporary, Love & Romance, New Adult
Source: ecopy from Author
*****THIS BOOK CAN BE READ AS A STANDALONE*****
Being the daughter of a big-city mayor, twenty-one year old Skye Summers has giant shoes to fill in her first real job out of college. With the public spotlight on her family, and her dad’s expectations running high, she jumps at the chance to work side-by-side on an important project with her sexy new boss.
Playboy entrepreneur Landon Steele has built a successful entertainment PR firm and broken more than a few hearts along the way. He’s counting on his enthusiastic new assistant to help him expand his business into LA… until he discovers she’s a pampered rich girl who’s in the public spotlight as much as his famous clients. Still, he agrees to give her a chance, and soon the two are heating up the bedroom as well as the boardroom.
But when Skye’s ex-boyfriend threatens to reveal a dangerous secret from her past, her job, relationship with Landon, and her father’s career are suddenly all on the line. Will she be forced to leave Landon? Or will she pursue her heart, regardless of the cost?
Picture Perfect is the second book in the limelight series, but it can be read as a standalone. The first book, Rumor Has It, is about Ellie and Mason and this book is about Ellie’s best friend Skye. Ellie and Mason make an appearance in the book, but this is completely Skye’s story. I really like the theme that Elisabeth Grace has worked into this series. Neither of the characters are celebrities in this one, but Skye is the daughter of a politician, and Landon owns a PR company, so the media plays a role in this book as well. If you remember my review of Rumor Has It, you know that I COMPLETELY FELL IN LOVE WITH IT. It was one of my favorite new adult romances ever! So Picture Perfect has some damn near impossible shoes to fill. Did I like it? Yes!! Did I love it as much as Ellie and Mason’s story? No, but it was still a great read and a good edition to the Limelight series.
Skye is used to being the perfect daughter, and is calm cool and collected in almost situation. Until she meets Landon. She meets him in a nightclub after some drunk guy throws up on her. UMM, EWW!!! (Side note: Elisabeth Grace said this happened to a friend of hers. How crazy is that?!) He comes to her rescue and she acts very out of character for her and ends up in a heated lip lock with him. Fast forward to Monday, and she goes into her new job to meet her boss…Landon. Yep, right then and there I knew that I would enjoy this book as well. I did not envy Skye. I think I would have died of embarrassment, but she handled herself with class. Skye often acted with maturity beyond her age…not all the time, but most of the time, and I respected the heck out of her for that.
Landon was a treat. A yummy, yummy treat. He was a hot, young, successful professional with daddy issues. (I thought it was a happy coincidence that it was the girl with the great relationship with her father and the guy that had the strained relationship by the way.) So it should come as no surprise that he was used to girls throwing themselves at him. But what I liked about him was that he was able to recognize that Skye was different, and he didn’t treat her or pursue her in the same way he would one of those one night stands. This is not a story where people start out as a one night stand and later want more. Landon and Skye were both attracted to each other, but because they worked together they didn’t rush into anything. Their relationship was a gradual buildup and I loved every second of it. I also loved how protective he was of Skye. I love guys like him.
Picture Perfect was surprising, fun and oh so satisfying. It is so easy to root for Skye and Landon. So why didn’t I love it as much as the first book. Well, the first book was just flippin’ amazing. Ellie and Mason will continue to go down in my books as one of my favorite book couples. Their story felt longer and more detailed than Skye and Landon’s. But the main reason is that Skye did something in Picture Perfect that is a book pet peeve of mine. Let me explain, Guy character tells Skye that she better do “X” or “bad thing Y” will happen. Oh, and she can’t tell anyone. And what does Skye do? She doesn’t go to her dad. She doesn’t go to Landon. She just freaks out alone and tries to do what is she thinks is “best” for everyone and gives into guy character. And I am thinking, WHY!???! How would guy character know if she talked to her dad? He wouldn’t. I just really don’t like it when female characters fall so easily into this blackmail trap. This will probably not bother most readers, but it is a personal issue for me. I have seen it happen in many books and it just makes my eye go all twitchy. Thankfully, it was just a little part of the overall story, and like I said I can see many readers glossing right over it, and not giving it a second thought.
Picture Perfect is a great new adult contemporary romance. Told in dual narrative, the readers feel like they really get to know both Skye and Landon. Elisabeth Grace is a fantastic writer and she writes guys exactly how I like them. Super hot, slightly(or totally) alpha, slightly protective, and super sweet to their girl. I cannot wait to read the next book in the Limelight series. I am excited it is about another celebrity. If you have not read the Limelight series you need to. Even though these books can be read as standalones, start with Rumor Has It. You will love it.
Other books in the Limelight Series:
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
Sometimes the wishy washy female lead needs a smack upside the head. lol Great review.
sherry @ fundinmental