The Problem With Perfect

The Problem With Perfect

by Megan Mayfair

5 out of 5

Synopsis
Marigold Doyle’s life was perfect, with a successful career and wonderful marriage. But when her husband, Julian, passes away, her life is thrown into turmoil as she discovers a trail of secrets Julian was hiding in the months prior to his death. Struggling with her grief, she knows she needs to find out Julian’s actions to help her move on.

Finn Schröder, a former police officer and now private security consultant, is focused on an uncomplicated, unattached life and growing his business. He agrees to help Marigold find out the truth about Julian, but as they become closer, he realises his feelings for her may be developing beyond simply professional.

As Marigold and Finn work through the web of Julian’s deception, will they learn to face the reality that things aren’t always exactly as they seem?



Review
After the death of her perfect husband, and her perfect career starting to wobble; Marigold Doyle has to accept that not everything fits into perfect little boxes.

I received a free copy, in exchange for an honest review.

Margaret Doyle is a powerhouse, she is only in her thirties, but she is one of the most powerful businesswomen in Melbourne. She works at the family business, and can't wait to take it over when her father retires. She had the drive and ambition to make it the leading company in Australia.
She didn't think she had to worry about her husband - Julian ticked all the boxes when they first met, and he has been perfect ever since; the charming lawyer, who was always at home in their social circle, and was committed to his wife and his job.
That is, until he died of a heart attack, and the secrets start to leak out...

Finn is an ex-cop that has his own problems, as he has to decide whether to remain loyal to his ex-colleagues, or keep his own integrity. He is glad to get the job to help Marigold uncover her husbands secrets, as it helps distract from his stress.

I loved this story, it was so sweet and funny, with moments of raw emotion.
I completely connected with Marigold. She has worked so hard for everything she has achieved, and she is proud of her accomplishments, as she should be. She is a workaholic, but she doesn't see a problem with that.
Her family seems happy - her parents aren't very close - but that's the way they've always been. Her husband seems happy with her working overtime, and that she wears the trousers in the house.
When her husband dies, naturally Marigold wants to throw herself into her work, to distract herself; but her father (and boss) insists that she takes time to grieve and heal.

It was interesting to watch Marigold and Finn, as they chase down every clue Julian left behind; and Marigold slowly comes to realise that, although everything seems perfect on the surface, there are deep cracks below.
I really liked how Julian's actions weren't overly-dramatised. He'd gone about everything wrong, but you could see why he would take those actions. At the end of the day, he wasn't some villain, he was just a man, with very human faults.

I also liked how Marigold (begrudgingly) started to spend time with her family, and reconnect with her brother, who moved away to run a successful vineyard. Their scenes together were really cute, and definitely helped get Marigold on track, to recognising her issues, and how importance balance is in life.

I'm always a fan of "light" romances. Marigold and Finn share a connection, and it was very satisfying to follow their growing attraction. It was woven throughout the story, supporting the rest of the plot.

I would definitely recommend this book, and I look forward to more of Mayfair's work.

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