ROSE PERFECT

Author: Janet Davies ISBN: 1419907956 3/2007 TIME TRAVEL Publisher: CERRIDWEN PRESS

Rosanna Harlow has just come out of the worst year of her life. 2005 was the pits. She lost her job, was ripped off by her feral cousins and she broke her big toe trying to do home renovations on the cheap. All she wants now is a peaceful, prosperous 2006 with no problems or excitement. The last thing Rosanna Harlow needs is the darkly attractive Archer McCall turning up on her door step telling her he is a Time Traveler from the year 2049 and that he needs her help to stop her best friend, Prue, from becoming a major drug lord. Sure he does. Yet, she soon discovers the Time Traveler is not mad and he is indeed telling her the truth. So why her? It’s not like she’s Wonder Woman or anything. She has no special powers. If she had, she would have used them long before this to sort out her own life. The evil of one woman will bring Rosanna Harlow the enduring love that she never knew she needed. But will she survive 2006 to be with Archer? Will their efforts to save the future be in vain?

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

ROSE PERFECT is a book I wanted to love. Set in Australia, with a handsome time traveler from the future as the hero, I thought it would be a story that would pull me in and hold me blissfully captive. After all, I yearn to see Australia someday, I never turn my back on a handsome hero and time travel conjures up thoughts of Somewhere In Time or the wondrous adventures that Diana Gabaldon takes her readers on. So honestly, I thought I'd be wild over ROSE PERFECT.

Unfortunately, that's not the case. Although the book has an intriguing premise, it falls short when it comes to the actual story-telling. I had a hard time believing in the two primary characters. Archer, the time traveler, arrives to avert a deadly drug ring and the best person to help him do this is the drug trafficker's best friend. Rose, the best friend whose track record with men is decidedly spotty, immediately believes Archer when he shows up in her garden and delivers his news. Why? It just doesn't make sense to me. The dialog felt forced and as the book progressed, I found myself not caring whether or not they saved the world. Also, there was so little mention made of the setting that I felt let down. The story could have taken place anywhere, and I felt the potential of "seeing" Australia was lost.

This is the first novel from Ms. Davies and I believe that she shows promise in the writing field. She had a great idea with ROSE PERFECT. I just think the delivery of the story left much to be desired. But who knows? One person's disappointment could be another's pleasure. For me, this was a disappointment.

Kay James