Their Perfect Melody: Matched to Perfection, Book 3

Oliveras’s marvelous third Matched to Perfection contemporary (after Her Perfect Affair) tackles domestic violence and policing in Chicago’s Puerto Rican community with superb nuance. Sparks fly when social services advocate Lilí Fernandez confronts police officer Diego Reyes at the scene of her client’s domestic assault. Diego’s dedication to his neighborhood and Lilí’s desire to make a difference in Humboldt Park showcase how different approaches to good deeds can clash. Their attraction is strong and only grows as they continue to encounter each other, but incidents in their pasts inspire them to caution. Diego gradually shares his turbulent family history with Lilí, but he must overcome guilt about his sister’s longtime addiction and sort things out with her before he can truly commit to a romantic relationship. Familial assistance from both sides is needed to help the protagonists identify what’s truly important to them. Oliveras’s tangled, topical conflicts between multidimensional characters blend with lovingly portrayed family life and an intricate, realistic plot, enmeshing the reader in her created world. Agent: Rebecca Strauss, DeFiore & Co. (Dec.)