Perfect by PC McCullough

Perfect by PC McCullough describes what all too many "over 40" women live through. With a great cast of characters she describes what happens when a successful, long married woman realizes her life is just not what she wants it to be.

Miranda Grant knows her 20 year marriage is failing. She struggles to save it, knowing that there really isn't anything left to rescue. Without giving herself time to grieve or be alone for the first time in her adult life, she plunges head long into an affair with a much younger and a very married co-worker.

Confiding in another co-worker, who clearly disapproves the relationship, Miranda spends the next year in physical ecstasy and personal (but in denial) turmoil. When the romance shatters, it takes another year to completely break off the union with the help of her friends and a therapist.

Miranda's journey is one that is romantic, sad, scary (we all could have "it" happen) and funny. It's not that any of what the main character goes through is different than real life-but the fact that it truly is something that could happen, makes it all the more riveting to read.

Setting her novel in Connecticut, McCullough fills the pages with very believable friends, situations, descriptions of what is going on in and around the towns involved in their lives and the challenges Miranda must focus on to succeed in changing her life.

The characters are all flawed. Even her best friends, who are trying to help her, insist that she do "the club scene" to get back into dating. Then realize they were oh so wrong and they created a "monster". The club pickups and on-line dating eventually lead to another disastrous heartbreak. It's this heartbreak that finally wakes Miranda up and sets her to own personal path of change, which ultimately leads to true happiness.

What impressed me the most was the ending. While on a search for a place to hold a business retreat, Miranda goes to a bed and breakfast perched on a beautiful lake. The B & B is run by a handsome, divorced man named Roman. He and Miranda find much in common and enjoy the brief weekend with innocent romance and flirting in the air. However, McCullough doesn't let her heroine fall into bed and live happily ever after with a man-instead she has her main character use her new found self happiness and strength to get up and go home with the possibility of coming back to further pursue the budding romance.