Ortolon's enjoyable final novel in her Perfect trilogy (Almost Perfect
; Just Perfect
) spins a good, old-fashioned contemporary fairy tale, but conscious suspension of disbelief is required. It's time for nurturing, curvy, Texas-bred Amy Baker to face her ultimate fear—traveling alone. She plans a working vacation cruise as a nanny, but gets fired and stranded on the Caribbean island of St. Barts before the trip begins. Determined to finish her challenge, Amy takes a job as a housekeeper for Guy Gaspar, a disfigured man who lives in his extravagant fort's tower and never shows his face. Or so she's told by his jolly French assistant. In reality, the lone tenant is sexy Hollywood golden boy Byron Parks, who seeks anonymity from the paparazzi. In an Oscar-worthy performance, Byron plays both assistant and "beast," and Amy falls in love with "Guy" over the fort's intercom. In this novel's case, the title is right on: the fanciful plot twists are fun, but Amy's character reads juvenile, and Byron is too sensitive for a playboy, even one with a heart. (Nov.)
Correction:
The literary agent for Fade the Heat
(Reviews, Sept. 26) is Meredith Berstein.
