Perfect Switch [Mass Market Paperback]

Lisa Plumley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2004

While house-sitting for her TV-star twin sister, Marley, Meredith Madison finds an invitation that asks "are you ready for the fantasy of a lifetime?" Admittedly, her life could use quite a bit more excitement. Glamorous, talented Marley has always owned the spotlight, leaving Meredith to fill the role of jeans-and-tee-shirt brainiac/wallflower. Weary of living in her sister's shadow, Meredith decides to grab the chance to step into Marley's Jimmy Choo's. And when a limo arrives to carry her away to her "fantasy," the guy in the back seat is dream-come-true number one. Entrepreneur Tony Valentine has spent his adult life avoiding Hollywood - yet here he is, trying to rescue his family's floundering movie studio. His idea for an actor fantasy camp is the perfect plan...but something isn't right about his headlining celebrity instructor, Marley Madison. Sure, stars some-times dress down, but she looks a tad too familiar with the softer side of Sears. The woman's klutzy, awkward, and adorable. This can't really be Marley...can it? Whoever she is, she's going to have to charm the wealthy "campers" into believing her act. But if they're anything like Tony, they'll find her irresistible!

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Meredith is all too willing to switch places with her glamorous starlet twin, Marley, so her famous sister can enjoy a honeymoon without the interference of the paparazzi. But she didn't know that Marley had agreed to be the featured attraction at an actors' fantasy camp. This means Meredith will have to pull off a perfect impersonation, which is easier said than done, considering the fact that she's a historian and doesn't have a chic bone in her body. Tony Valentine, an e-commerce whiz kid intent on saving the family movie studio, can't understand why Marley Madison, a renowned, longtime Hollywood actress, blows her lines, dresses like a fugitive from Goodwill, forgets to shave her legs, drinks beer, and swears like a sailor. Plumley writes with her usual comic panache in this hilarious sequel to Perfect Together (2003). And what's not to love about a book with a heroine who fights the hero's Pygmalion efforts tooth and nail, all the time believing that nobody has a better time than a historian? Shelley Mosley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"Lisa Plumley delivers colorful characters with quick wit. A must-have for anyone looking for a witty and lighthearted romance." -- Romance and Friends

"Peopled with marvelous secondary characters, this delightful romance is a funny, engaging read." -- Romantic Times BOOKclub

"Perfect Switch is lighthearted and heartwarming. Make this your first selection for enjoyment during vacation!" -- Romance Reviews Today

"Perfect Switch is witty, original, tender and sizzles with chemistry. A romantic comedy you do NOT want to miss. Brava!" -- Old Book Barn Gazette

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 380 pages
• Publisher: Zebra (June 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0821773429
• ISBN-13: 978-0821773420
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,819,394 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not the perfect book but..., June 1, 2004

By 

Ratmammy "The Ratmammy" (Ratmammy's Town, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Perfect Switch (Mass Market Paperback)

Courtesy of WWW.Loveromances.Com

PERFECT SWITCH by Lisa Plumley

If you happened to be the identical twin sister of a famous television star, would you trade places with her? In Lisa Plumley's PERFECT SWITCH, Meredith Madison, a plain, quiet, historian that had never wanted to be compared to her more glamorous sister, decides to take advantage of her sister Marley's star status, replaces her at a "fantasy camp" and manages to fool almost everyone.

The novel opens with Meredith riding in a luxury limo with Tony Valentine, a very sexy man that Meredith is not aware is the head of the once successful Valentine Studios in Hollywood. She thinks she's on her way to a fantasy escape vacation, taking Marley's position since Marley is on her honeymoon, unknown to the general public. Tony fills Meredith in (since he thinks her agent has apparently forgotten to tell her what is going on) that this is not a vacation, but two weeks of work. Meredith is to be the star attraction at a fantasy acting camp, where the average Joe can attend classes and learn how to put on a television show. Her job is to help teach various classes on the art of being an actress and a star. The success of this camp will determine the future of Valentine Studios, so there is a lot at stake, and a lot of responsibility on Meredith's shoulders. Meredith has a heart attack but does not let Tony know that she is not her famous sister Marley. She's gotten herself into this mess, and she vows she'll get herself out.

Meredith does her best to be the Marley replacement, and while most of the acting camp including Tony cannot figure out what is wrong with "Marley," Meredith thinks she has them all fooled. She thinks her clothes are glamorous and does not understand that hairy legs and belching in public does not make her into a star. Tony does eventually find out the truth from Meredith, after a lot of convincing, although at first he is not totally persuaded there is a twin. But after a while he is able to tell that Meredith is no Marley. Meredith's choices in outfits, her makeup, especially her hairy legs, prove that she is a fraud. Her behavior in public was another indicator that she was not Marley.

PERFECT SWITCH is a comedy romance, with Meredith being the main act. There were plenty of funny scenes that left this reviewer giggling. However, despite the light tone that is felt throughout the book, it is also a story about a woman who is struggling to find her own identity, having always lived in the shadows of her famous sister. As Tony and Meredith get to know one another, there is an obvious spark that ignites between them, and while Tony falls in love with Meredith, Meredith firmly believes he loves her for her "Marley" look, and not for who she really is underneath the clothes and the makeup.

While this reviewer enjoyed most of the book, there were parts that appeared to go on too long. Part of the problem was not enough action, too many contemplative scenes with either Meredith or Tony "thinking out loud." Another problem in some scenes was not enough dialogue, and too much narrative for a romance of this genre. Otherwise, it was a fun ride to tinsel-town, a behind-the-scenes look at the world of show biz, with two unlikely romantic partners finding their way toward each other. A reader could do worse. Three and a half stars goes to PERFECT SWITCH. This reviewer would definitely consider reading another book by Lisa Plumley in the future.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Funny, August 31, 2005

By 

MAD4ROMBKS "Mad" (North Carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Perfect Switch (Mass Market Paperback)

One of my favorite themes in books is twins, so when this book came up for review, I immediately asked for it. As soon as I started it, I realized there was another book before this one that I never read. This worked fine as a stand alone, but I felt like I was missing something since I hadn't read PERFECT TOGETHER before starting PERFECT SWITCH.

There were a many laugh-out-loud moments between the hero and the heroine that had me in stitches, but other times I wanted to groan at the interruptions between them just as things were getting good. For those looking for a heartwarming and funny read, you need to pick this up -- as for me, I've got PERFECT TOGETHER on my TBB list, since this was my first Plumley book and hope it's as funny as this one was.

Mad

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very highly recommended, May 30, 2004

By 

C. Penn "WordWeaving" (Greenville, SC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Perfect Switch (Mass Market Paperback)

While her twin sister sports glitzy sequence and glamour, Meredith Madison prefers her Birkenstocks. Neverthelss, the museum advertising historian decides to assumes her twin sister Marley's glamorous movie star identity for a couple of weeks and some pizzazz to her life. The invitation she co-opted includes a limo and a hunky escort named Tony Valentine. But Meredith does not realize that the invitation also includes a contract to teach movie star insider inforation at Valentine Studio's actors fantasy camp.

Meredith immediately explains the case of switched identity; unfortunately, Tony does not believe her. That is, until the first day on the set when she makes ridiculous mistakes and displays a decided lack of star glamour. But with Marely honeymooning and Valentine studios in financial straights, Tony has no choice but to persuade Meredith to transform from klutz to sophisticate. Meanwhile, the sizzling chemistry between them is enough to create an inferno.

Author Lisa Plumley has a gift for comedic romance, delighting yet again with PERFECT SWITCH Although twin tales seem to be all the rage at the moment, Plumley manages to add her own unique twists for a refreshingly different approach. Meredith quickly reveals her identity to Tony, who refuses to believe her until her decided lack of acting skills proves her word. Tony needs Meredith to successfully play the part of her sister or his entire family will suffer the effects of the financial difficulties plaguing the studio. Meanwhile, Tony's matchmaking family provides plenty of laughs with their determined antics and eccentricities. The perfect blend of tender romance, witty dialogue, and outrageous antics, PERFECT SWITCH comes very highly recommended.