"Satisfying addition to the Perfect series."

Isabella Dandaneau arrives in London from New Orleans following her wayward cousin, Mignon, who was in search of her inheritance. Mignon and Isabella each inherited half a treasure map. Mignon refuses to work with her cousin; instead, she strikes out on her own only to be murdered at her new lover's house. Isabella wishes to strike an alliance with Mignon's lover and find the missing map. Having survived the War Between the States as a saboteur, Isabella is no stranger to danger.

When Barrett Stanbridge picked up Mignon at the theatre, he was only looking for a brief dalliance with no strings. After a sensual evening, he awakens to discover her bludgeoned to death. As the public clamors for an arrest, the police plan to pick up their only suspect, Barrett. Having been involved in a past messy scandal, which involved murder, Barrett realizes he is the perfect dupe. The alliance Isabella offers is his only solution.

Their partnership leads them into the path of ruthless killers, who will stop at nothing to secure the priceless treasure. Danger heightens the attraction between Isabella and Barrett but each is afraid to trust their feelings. Time is running out as the villains make a bold move, forcing Barrett and Isabella's hand.

Readers who adore strong and bold heroines will be more than satisfied with THE PERFECT DESIRE. Barrett, a secondary character in the first two Perfect novels, demanded a complicated and not-so-innocent woman, and Ms. LaFoy has blessed him with one.

Reviewed by Suan Wilson
Posted January 10, 2005

Summary

Barrett Stanbridge has a lovely home in one of London's best neighborhoods, great friends, a thriving private investigation business, and feminine companionship whenever it's convenient. The shadows of his past have been accepted and neatly put away. In short, he's a man really quite content with the structure and direction of his deliberately solitary life. Being accused of the murder of a beautiful woman changes everything. The daring Isabella Dandaneau, a widow, has left America and the memories of a less-than-happy marriage behind in order to find her fortune in England. With half of a pirate's treasure map in hand, she's arrived in London, determined to find her cousin--and the other half of the map--and better her financial lot in life. Only she has been murdered and the devilishly handsome, Barrett Stanbridge stands accused of her murder. But it takes only one look at the rogue for Isabella to know, not only is this a man who could have never killed her cousin, but that he also sets her blood on fire the way no man ever has. And it's not long before she realizes that falling in love changes everything.