"The Perfect Family" was my first book by Carla Cassidy and I enjoyed Ms. Cassidy's romance-suspense effort.

The strongest part of the book, and what makes it all work, in my opinion, is her heroine. Marissa is very real, a widow with two young children, trying to find her life again a year after her husband's untimely death.

Reconnecting with a former high school flame, and discovering that the spark is still very much there after many years, is dampened by individual known as Blake, who harbors an obsession with Marissa and is so intent on having her, that he is willing to kill anyone who gets in his way, or who upsets Marissa.

Rather than being a somewhat stereotypical "victim" who wanders out alone with a serial killer on the loose, or who devises some intricate plot to lure the serial killer to her, Marissa does her best to let the police do the work, while she goes about her life, even among the phone calls, flower deliveries and messages left for her at the crime scenes. Her rediscovered love, Alex, is also a pleasant surprise, although their romance does feel a bit rushed.

The romance between the police detectives feels forced and not nearly as well developed as the one between Marissa and Alex. And this is the weakest point of "The Perfect Family". The character development of some central characters, including the stalker "Blake", leave a bit to be desired.

But all in all, I found Ms. Cassidy's book to be entertaining and definitely worth the read.

I will put her on my list of authors that I must read. ( )

In the year since her beloved firefighter husband's death, Marissa has picked up the pieces, working hard to make a new life for herself and her two children.

Then one day, her life is turned upside-down again. Her highschool sweetheart comes back to town, and she feels the first sparks of interest since her husband's death. And she's questioned by police when a woman is found murdered with a bow on her forehead and a gift card proclaiming the body a gift to Marissa... a woman who Marissa had seen once--when a near-collision in a parking lot had the woman cursing at her.

Marissa tries to convince herself that it's some other woman named Marissa who's the intended "recipient" of the "gift," but a series of anonymous phone calls and flower deliveries, and another body make it clear that someone has a sick interest in her life.

While Marissa struggles to deal with the fact that a killer has been watching her, probably someone she knows, she's also dealing with protecting her children, and a rekindled romance.

There's also a secondary romance in this--a little bonus, if you will--between the police officers investigating the case.

All in all, something to please everyone: tantalizing romances, cute kids, chilling suspense/suspenseful mystery, and something happening on every page. ( )