Not everyone can be Matthew Farrell
“Perfect Partners” by Jayne Ann Krentz
I love Jayne Ann Krentz’s older books. There’s a certain comforting familiarity to them. Just like watching a shark/ piranha/ octopus/squid movie and knowing that mixing marine life with nuclear waste is a surefire means of making sure that there aren’t going to be any repeat visitors to your town’s water carnival. Or wearing my favourite watermelon-print flannel pyjamas. Although I tried to read some of JAK’s later books, they never quite caught my attention. So if you want to read JAK at her best and are in the mood for some light romantic comedy, go pick up “Perfect Partners.”
Now, who says that romances set in the corporate world all have to involve corporate espionage, mayhem and angst? (Quiet in the back Sheridan Sakura Carlotta! And stop sputtering. You’re starting to resemble a blowfish.) Not everyone has to be a Nick Sinclair or Matthew Farrell. (That’s it Sheridan! One more word and I’m locking you in that new cage Ma’mselle Mimi just constructed out of bones.) Instead, of an alpha Judith McNaught hero, you can have Joel Blackstone, CEO of Thornquist Gear, Inc. a sporting goods empire.
What? I hear you cry. No corporate raider? No corporate espionage plot where the billionaire hero suspects his beautiful secretary of selling trade secrets, even though she has sworn her undying devotion to him and her name is Loyalty Jones? Well sorry, no such plot here, but Joel is tortured in his own non-corporate raider way. His father was killed when he was young, by the evil father of Joel’s ex-girlfriend. And so Joel’s entire life has been devoted to avenging the death of his father, and promoting the sale of sporting goods. Enter Leticia Thornquist, aka Letty (Oh thank heavens, for a minute there I thought that I would have to read about someone called Leticia. Now Letty, that’s much better.) Letty has just been named heir apparent to the Thornquist empire, and the new president of the company. Sadly, Letty doesn’t have much experience in running a business, having been, in her previous incarnation, a librarian.
So sharp words, then sparks, then clothing fly when Joel and Letty butt heads (and so much more). Joel doesn’t like it that Letty has come and tried to usurp his company, but he tries to control his attraction for her because darn it, she’s as cute as a button. (This is only if your button is cute of course, and not one of those big ugly brown buttons made in China). And Letty doesn’t like it that Joel is trying to be the boss of her, but damn, isn’t he gorgeous in his suit, and so much more forceful than her dead-end ex-fiancée professor, whom she caught in a compromising position. He was getting a blow job from his student, and such a situation is not easily explained away. (Unless of course his student had gone into convulsions and he was merely trying to stop her from biting her own tongue and his dick was the only thing handy. Give that man a teaching award!)
Basically Joel and Letty fight, make up, and try to get enough proof to implicate the murderer of Joel’s father. What’s to like about this book? For one thing, there’s JAK’s trademark humour and you get the feeling that Joel and Letty genuinely like each other. Although they have their spats, there’s nothing along the lines of a “You let me think that you aborted my baby when all along it had been eaten by a dingo!” sort of Big Misunderstanding.
Although the sex scenes in “Perfect Partners” aren’t that hot, it’s the discourse between the main couple which is far more interesting to read. And there is a very funny scene where Joel decides to exorcise Letty’s ghosts, and convinces her to re-enact above-mentioned embarrassing scene. Unfortunately for them, Letty’s ex- fiancée walks in on them, and although Joel finds it hilarious (just like a man), Letty is not pleased. But still, it’s a scene that had me chortling happily to myself, as if I had a mountain of chocolate chip scones in front of me.
So if you’re in the mood for something other than a dark, emotional read, check out “Perfect Partners”, for a light but good corporate romance. Oh, and ignore that hammering. It’s just Sheridan Sakura Carlotta banging on the door, demanding to be let out.