Far From Perfect (A Love from the Heartland Novel) by Barbara Longley

Contemporary Romance

The blurb on the back says that fans of Jodi Thomas and Susan Elizabeth Phillips “will fall in love with the heartwarming and emotional tale.”   I am a a big fan of both and I agree.  Far from Perfect has just the same feel good reaction that both of the other authors produce.

Here is the Goodreads summary:

Noah Langford narrowly survived the roadside bombing in Iraq that killed five of his men and took his leg, leaving him haunted by flashbacks and riddled with guilt. When his stepbrother Matt dies in a car accident, the loss feels like the final blow to Noah’s shattered soul. But then he learns about the girlfriend and baby Matt abandoned years earlier, and suddenly Noah has a new mission…

Ceejay Lovejoy was nineteen and pregnant when her boyfriend walked out, disappearing from her life just like her parents did. Since that day, Ceejay has devoted herself to giving her daughter a better life, avoiding any man who could threaten that security—until the day Noah Langford shows up on her doorstep. His gentle spirit has an unexpected effect on Ceejay’s guarded heart, tempting her to take one last chance on love. But when a painful secret comes to light, it threatens to break the fragile bond growing between them…and to destroy a love powerful enough to heal them both.

I loved the characters.  Noah has PSTD but is working so hard to be able to live a normal life.  He is one of those people who want and need to take care of others but always takes the blame of anything bad that happens to the people around him.  Ceejay just does not trust.  She thinks that people will leave and break her heart so she had put up a wall to hide behind.  It takes a lot of work for the two of them to get together.  Far From Perfect also had a great cast of secondary characters who add depth to the story.

The title is a play on the town.  Perfect, Indiana sits on the banks of the Ohio and CeeJay’s goal in life is to leave because she thinks it is not the perfect place for her.  Noah certainly does not think he is perfect.  The word perfect plays a big part in the story.

The plot is well planned and written.  We know that there will be an HEA but the twists and turns keep the tension high.  Great character development plays a big part in the tension.  The writing is crisp and the dialog excellent.  Everything comes together and makes a great story.

There is a excerpt from the next book in the series at the back of the book.  After reading it I am anxious to visit Perfect again.

Montlake Romance published Far From Perfect by Barbara Longley in 2012.

I received an ARC of Far From Perfect from Amazon Vine.