Customer Reviews

The Perfect Score (Harlequin Blaze)

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Its your fairly typical nerdy girl looks to super-model male stud neighbor to improve her dull (as revealed by a magazine 'slut' test she took) sexlife story line. Meanwhile she ignores the sexual vibes coming off of the new neighbor, who although sexy, has nerdiness written all over him. She won't score slut points with that guy and fears she might lose her heart as well. Better stick with trying to bed the model, but things have a funny way of sometimes not working out as she planned.

What I didn't like about this book is that some parts are written in the first person, which I don't particularly care for. I thought that the hero fell in love a bit too quick and didn't fight hard enough to keep the heroine away from the model. The model was a complete airhead and had barley any dialogue, which was really annoying. It seemed like he was no competition at all. The heroine annoyed me the most. She seemed to think it was ok to still pursue the model after she'd slept with the nerd, even though she admitted to herself that she had feelings for him. That just rubbed me the wrong way.

The writting is good and the sex scenes were hot, but ultimately for me the characters weren't as likeable as they could have been. Just an ok book that won't stick in your memory after you've read it.

If you want a great Harlequin Blaze, read Anything For You or Just Dare Me -both are excellent.

Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

Mattie Brown is horrified when she takes on online sex test and scores only an 18%. Being a woman who refuses to fail at anything, she vows to increase her slut quotient by vamping up her sex life. No way is she going to settle for a mere 18%! She wants to blow to the top off of the test. Her perfect candidate to help her experiment with her sex life is next door neighbor Cullen Slater, the model, who is as infamous for his sexual dalliances as he is for his pretty face.

Mattie is also hoping to nail a job as a screen writer for a new reality TV show and she's been practically promised a contract if she can land Cullen for her sexperience project. But if Cullen is the man for the plan, why is it she can't get another neighbor, nerdy Mike Peterson, out of her mind?

While staying true to the extra sensual tone, Julie Kenner adds punch to the story by bringing in a strong dose of humor, giving the book a chick lit kind of impression. The book is kept from being over the top with all the sexperimentation Mattie wants to do by having several scenes provide a dose of comic relief. It's hard to be uncomfortable with graphic detail when laughing over the comedy of the moment.

Mattie Brown is a riot and I just loved her character. Mike Peterson is the perfect example of looks can be deceiving. His bookish demeanor hides a lively personality with a very healthy imagination and a rather large repertoire of sexual experiences sure to make Mattie blush. He is also sweet and charming and always to lend a hand when needed. By contrast, Cullen comes across as a fairly stereotypical "dumb jock/model" though even he has another side he likes to keep hidden, preferring to give women what they expect just by looking at him.

Some additional depth comes into the story through the introduction of Mattie's sister. These two women love each other deeply but have always had a very strong competitive streak. That drive to win provides more conflict for Mattie since she is afraid to let her sister know what she's doing, for fear her sister would try to take up the challenge as well.

I have to admit, I went into The Perfect Score with great hesitancy after my last experience reading a book in the Harlequin Blaze line. I had such a strong negative reaction to the only other Blaze book I've ever read that I was afraid I'd find the same result here. However, I adore Julie Kenner's writing so I know if anyone could make me love a Blaze book, than Julie was the one most likely to do it. I am happy to report that I did thoroughly enjoy this amusing and sexy read. The Perfect Score is a winner for anyone who loves a hot and sexy tale and/or a humorous adventure.

(c) Kelley A. Hartsell, October 2007. All rights reserved.

Mattie Brown fails a magazine sex test (18%) and decides to fix that problem with her cute model neighbor - but instead of attracting the 'cute model' she finds herself spending time with Mike the hot computer geek. When hollywood suggests she write a screenplay about her failing sex test with model a main character - she has too make choice between love and her career!

In Los Angeles Mattie Brown took the slut (make that sex) test as a lark. However, when she scores 18 percent on the Internet based exam, she become outraged, humiliated and upset as that tally is what a nun would obtain not a twenty-seven years old siren, make that woman. Refusing to be left behind she decides she will re-take the test as soon as she gains some experiences. Of course Mattie has no one to practice with, which is part of the reason she scored in the lower get a sex life percentile.

She needs a practice dummy so she can score an A+ on the slut-meter and thinks she has the perfect hunk, a dumb all body male model. If he fails her there is the sex shop batteries not included. However, Mike Peterson is much more than the body instructor as the computer game expert plans to prove to the beautiful woman who has propositioned him.

THE PERFECT SCORE is a fun and amusing contemporary romance that lampoons the American preoccupation with sex and test scores. Mattie is fabulous as her quest takes her into some interesting stores, a humorous discussion with her mom (the asides are outrageously funny), and ultimately with Mike who plans to make her the teacher's pet. Julie Kenner provides a delightful lighthearted romp that never takes itself seriously except when Mattie takes tests.

Harriet Klausner