Welcome to (or welcome back to) Deep Haven. If you are new to the series, two books precede THE PERFECT MATCH.  Because THE PERFECT MATCH continues a storyline that began in HAPPILY EVER AFTER (Joe and Mona’s story), I think it is necessary to read HAPPILY EVER AFTER first.  The second in the series, TYING THE KNOT, features Noah Standing Bear and Anne, who make a brief appearance in this book, but are not an integral part of the storyline.  There are some spoilers in this review for those who have not read HEA, so you may not want to read further if you intend to read it.

Ellie Karlson is bucking the system, fighting prejudice, when she is accepted as Deep Haven’s interim fire chief.  Her first day finds her at the home of arsonist Leo Simmons (from HAPPILY EVER AFTER), who has apparently committed suicide by burning down his house.  His wife and three children are rescued from the flames, but are seriously injured.  Ellie is appalled at the manner in which the firefighters work as a team, and her first goal is to change their work methods.

Pastor Dan Matthews makes one comment to Ellie that sets off an emotional outburst.  The one thing Ellie will not tolerate is the opinion that as a woman she cannot handle this job.  After setting him straight, a tentative relationship begins to form.   Someone begins setting fires on a regular basis, each becoming more deadly.  It is crucial that her team works together.  Can she win the respect of her crew if she is falling in love with their esteemed pastor?

THE PERFECT MATCH complements HAPPILY EVER AFTER beautifully.  Joe and Mona return, so fans of this series will be delighted with the updates.  Noah and Anne make a brief appearance.  However, the main focus is on Dan, the town’s popular pastor, and Ellie.  Ellie is a newcomer and is welcomed by most, but there are some stubborn men in town that refuse to admit she works just as hard as they do.  She’s been victim to prejudice before, so she fights hard to prove her worth.  At times, she goes overboard, so some may find her character a little abrasive.  Stick with her though; her character goes through some tremendous growth throughout the book.

 I found THE PERFECT MATCH to be a strong, delightful addition to this popular series.  If you haven’t discovered Deep Haven yet, you really should check it out.  With just the right mix of love, laughter and faith, Susan May Warren’s books are sure to please.