Groomed to Perfection

I absolutely loved Groomed to Perfection! Samantha Chase has once again delivered another wonderful romance in Groomed to Perfection, the fifth book in her Meet Me at the Altar series. I love that Samantha Chase continues to write the books that I LOVE to read. Samantha Chase has once again provided her readers with amazing characters. Each book in this series keeps getting better, but I think that Groomed to Perfection is my favorite, because Emilie and Cooper faced challenges with their love story. I love how all the characters in Groomed to Perfection feel like best friends! Who does not love hot sexy men, strong, passionate females, and loving friends, who always support one another? I love how Samantha Chase somehow, she manages to find the "perfect" heroine, who is a strong woman on her own, to balance out the sexy man. Samantha Chase continues to deliver all that and so much more. I really enjoyed Groomed to Perfection and am so happy that Samantha Chase decided to write more books in the Meet Me at the Altar series. I have read other books by Samantha Chase and have always enjoyed her wonderfully written love stories. Samantha Chase has once again shown that she is an amazing storyteller. Groomed to Perfection did not disappoint; I can truly say, that Groomed to Perfection is an incredible love story, which filled me with a rollercoaster of emotions I could not put it down and loved every moment on every page. One of my favorite parts is how Samantha Chase incorporated the title of the book into the love story. I enjoy how Samantha Chase writes from the perspective of the main characters. That way you get to know what is going on in each of their minds. Groomed to Perfection is a wonderful love story and is filled with heartbreaking and heartwarming moments. My favorite moments in Groomed to Perfection are the lighter moments where I found myself smiling and laughing out loud. I also love the parts that pull at my heartstrings and cause me to sigh, as I read the heartbreaking moments. Groomed to Perfection be filled with such moments, and with so much more. It is filled with all those things that we have come to love and expect in a Samantha Chase love story, especially the poignant and bittersweet moments that filled this page turner. Who does not love a love at first sight and opposites attracts love story? Groomed to Perfection is the story of Emilie Michels, baker, for Meet Me at the Altar Wedding Services, and Alastair Cooper Vandergrift, heir apparent of Vandergrift Industries. Emilie and Cooper meet at Cooper’s cousin, Felix’s wedding, where Emilie is hiding in a corner observing the Cinderella-like wedding. Weeks later they meet again in the Meet Me at the Altar tasting room, for a cake testing for Cooper’s brother, Beau, Beau’s fiancé, Kim, his parents Evelyn, and Arthur are also in attendance. Evelyn has hired Meet Me at the Altar to plan Beau and Kim’s wedding as well as Alastair’s and his unknown bride. Cooper orders a peanut butter cup cake for Kim’s birthday, Kim’s favorite from the tasting. When Cooper picks up the cake, he invites Emilie for coffee. Things slowly begin to change between the two of them. Emilie and Cooper spend more time with one another and agree to secretly date for a month. Emilie and Cooper both know that Emilie would not be his mother, Evelyn’s choice for a bride for him. Conversation between Emilie and Cooper flows so easily As Emilie and Cooper continue to spend time together, their feelings for each other change. A surprise plot twist happens, and this changes everything between them. I love Cooper conversations with his father, Arthur and Emilie’s grandmother seeking advice on his life and how to get Emilie back. I love that Xander was willing to help Cooper get back together with Emilie. I love how Cooper tells Emilie that one day when she is ready, he will marry her, and I love Emilie’s response. I love the chemistry between Emilie and Cooper. I love how Emilie stands up for herself with Cooper’s mother. I love that with Cooper’s help, Emilie approaches Josie, Skylar, and Lea about her dream of owning a bakery, and how they are willing to make that dream come true. I love how Emilie and Cooper show their vulnerable sides, where Cooper admits that he does not want to take over for his father and lead Vandergrift Industries. I love that during their heart-to-heart, Cooper apologizes to Emilie and confesses how he really feels about her. I love Emilie’s relationship with Josie, Lea, Skye, and Emilie, and Cooper’s new relationship with Elliott, Daniel, Xander, and Knox, it feels like a real friendship, and I love how they always love, support, and have each other’s backs. I enjoyed catching up with Josie, Lea, and Skye, it felt like a get together with best friends. I love that Cooper approaches his father about living his dream. Groomed to Perfection contains all the things that I have come to love most and expect in a Samantha Chase story, romance, great characters and setting, bittersweet moments and the plot twist that ties it all together. Amazing story. I could not put it down. Highly recommend this wonderful romance. I love how Samantha Chase identified the next couple; I cannot wait to read it!

I had high hopes for Cooper and Emilie after their interesting meet-cute. Their opposite side of the spectrum relationship plays a bit like Cinderella, where there’s a wicked…in this case mother of the hero…witch to overcome. But I never fully got into either character enough to cheer for them. While the destination ends in a HEA, their journey was plagued by a man in his 30’s who can’t stand up for himself and a woman who can stand up for herself, but gives the hero too much slack to fight for her. While the storytelling, the character growth and, frankly, my love for the author, deserve the 4 star rating I gave it, it’s not anywhere near my favorites in my Samantha Chase catalog. Maybe the controlling, harpy mother (in-law) hits a bit too close for this reader.

This story is fun, sweet, romantic and aggravating. LOL!! I loved the chemistry between Emilie and Cooper right from the start. Cooper learning to take charge of his own life was awesome. And, the way Emilie put Cooper’s mother in her place was absolute perfection. I wanted to strangle her (mom) myself at times but in the end it was a very satisfying comeuppance for her. Emilie and Cooper had a lot of obstacles but still managed to work it out and get their HEA!!

Emilie Michels was a shy baker at Meet Me at the Alter’s wedding planning business. Baking was her passion since she was a child. Being the last person leaving a prestigious wedding reception, Emilie stays in the background admiring the event. Her sudden meeting, Cooper, a guest at the wedding, she has a difficult time forgetting the connection they had, plus she ended up with his suit jacket and no way of finding where to get hold of the guest to return it to him. There was no “Cooper” on the guest list. Cooper (Alastair) Vandergrift was from a wealthy family and his future had been planned since the day he was born. His mother ruled the family and her sons’s future. Cooper had resigned himself to family obligations even though it wasn’t what he wanted. Reconnecting with Emilie at his brother’s and future sister-in-law’s wedding cake tasting, Cooper had to make some decisions about himself and the future. Cooper and Emilie’s lives were changed that day either for the better or worse. This is an emotional story of two lives that intertwined, different social status, plans for different futures, and deciding between your family, your love, and what you want in your life. This is a wonderful addition to this series and very hard to quit reading. Another winner!

Four and a half stars Groomed to Perfection by Samantha Chase is part of her charming Meet Me By the Altar series, and Cooper and Emilie’s story is a doozy! To say that Cooper’s mother is controlling is a bit of an understatement. His family is wealthy and runs a corporation he’s been groomed to lead since he was a child. Although he’s never truly felt that to be satisfying personally, he also deeply feels the weight of familial expectations and desires. When he meets Emilie, she forces him to reevaluate his life and make some important choices about how he wants to live. Emilie is content with her work and loves her coworkers. She adores her family and her somewhat meddling grandmother, and if she might dream about finding a happily ever after, she isn’t losing sleep over it. Samantha Chase’s story is an emotional ride. We see clearly that a relationship doesn’t exist in a vacuum, no matter how much we might want it to. And sometimes those who love us don’t always behave as if they do. But love changes us for good. Groomed to Perfection is a terrific addition to the series!