Perfect Timing

Maxi and Mya were the best of friends, but a huge miscommunication lead the best friends to drift apart. Mya is married, and Maxie is getting over the heartbreak of losing the one man she truly loved, and having to deal with a serious health situation. Maxi has some important decisions to make. 10 year class reunion is approaching. Maxie is hoping to use the cruise to help her sort out her thoughts, and Mya is hoping to rebuild her friendship with Maxi. While on the cruise Maxie finds out she is rooming with of all people Christopher Chandler. Because Maxi and Christopher have the same last name, it was assumed they are a married couple. They agree to room together until other arrangements can be made. Maxi remembers how Christopher was the tough guy at school, but she also remembered how smart he was. Christopher remembers how Maxi was always kind to him. Looks like this cruise could stir up some romantic feeling between two old friends. Mya has this wonderful opportunity to advance her career, but her husband wants her to stay at home raise the children, and take care of the home and him. Garrett plays professional ballplayer and old fashioned. Mya loves her job, and does not want to give it up. Mya has to make a choice and the choice she makes could have her losing her job, or her family. Christopher has made something of himself, and he held in his feelings about his feelings for Maxi. He has always loved Maxie, but was not sure how Maxi felt about him, and felt he had nothing to offer her. His life was so bad in Savannah, GA that he leaves vowing to never return. When Christopher finds out that Maxie had the same feelings for him, he is elated. He is also concerned when he finds out about Maxie's desire to have a child, and he agrees to help her make her dream of becoming a mother come true. Timing was a major topic in this book. Hence the title Perfect Timing. Seems things always happened at the wrong times. Mya got a wonderful job opportunity just when she is trying to keep her marriage together. In addition she feels her husband is cheating on her with a cheerleader. Maxie finds out about her health situation and has to decide if she could have a child right away. What I always enjoy about Brenda Jackson is she makes the characters interesting, and you feel like you can relate to the characters. As they go through their emotions, you are right there with them experiencing the same emotions. I thought the secret Mya held from Maxie was a lot more worse than it was. I thought Mya and Garrett's story was okay, but I really enjoyed Christopher and Maxie's story. I would love to see a sequel for this book. I always enjoy Brenda Jackson's books. She is such an awesome writer.

The book was a quick read for me (two days) and was an excellent read by one of my favorite romance authors. Its a story of two best friends since grade school who finally see each other again on a high school reunion cruise. Mya Rivers faces questions of infidelity from her husband while Max worries if she will ever have her own child before its too late. I couldn't put the book down! It was so well written I had to know what was going to happen with the two friends! Ms. Jackson proves once again that true love does exist. -JaT

Two words for Perfect Timing...Page Turner! From the first page to the last page I could not put this book down. Ms. Jackson did a wonderful job with the development of all 4 characters, Mya Rivers, Maxie Chandler, Christopher Chandler and Mya's husband, Garrett. Maxie Chandler and Mya Rivers are childhood friends from Savannah, Georgia and they find their friendship tested on all levels of trust, loyalty and love. Ten years later, the friends go on a 7-day cruise for their school reunion and on that trip, old secrets and old feelings are revealed. This story has no place for major perfidy but will certainly keep you turning the pages to see what Christopher Chandler will do next! This is one of the few books that I wish a sequel could be written. Reviewed by M.T. Clinton

Mya and Maxi forged their friendship in grade school. Along the way came Christopher and Mya's love, Garrett. Mya is a finance executive married to the professional athlete Garrett. Maxi is the college professor who was Christopher's only friend during their school years. Because of a secret that Mya chose to keep right after high school graduation, her relationship with Maxi is strained. Feeling like the town pariah, Christopher leaves Savannah vowing never to return. Ten years later, these four adults meet up at their class reunion cruise carrying their issues on board.Perfect Timing gives you everything that a novel should offer: excellent and surprising storyline, believable and somewhat humorous characters, friendships gone astray, infidelity, misunderstandings.........followed by thoughts of forgiveness coupled with the inability to forgive, redemption, trust and love.Brenda Jackson is one my favorite romance authors and this is another excellent credit to her ever growing portrayal of the human psyche. Reviewed by Dawn R. ReevesAPOOO Bookclub

Brenda Jacksons' first contemporary envokes all emotions and touches the heart. Childhood friendships, marriage, broken friendships repaired, marriages in trouble, verable abuse, suicide,death of parents, denial, and forgiveness. Wrap around each other in the lives of Mya, Garrett, Maxine (Maxi) and Christopher. These four people graduated from high school,each setting out on his/her own course. Mya and Garrett get married secretly before going to to college because they think she is pregnant. Mya keeps this a secret from her best friend Maxi which causes a rift between the ladies. Christopher leaves their home town of Savannah, GA vowing never to return to the town where every one treated him as if he were the dirt on the bottom of their shoes except Maxi. Maxi completes college, returns to Savannah. Each with memories which will bound them together in a lasting friendship. Ten years later these four people are reunited on a high school reunion cruise. Mya shares with Maxi the secret that has kept them at bay. Both willing to amelioratet their friendshipthey talk and listen to each other forgiving and forgeing a new begining. Maxine Chandler, Christopher Chandler not marries, not even related have been thrown together since elementary due to having the same last name. On the cruise the are put in the same state room because of their last names, agreeing they are consenting adults they share the cabin together with a few set rules. The lives of these people defy all rules of relationship, and marriage to form two lasting marriages abd a perfect friendship. Two years later Mya and Garrett have a third child while Maxi and Christopher are living in bliss with their 8 month old son Christopher Max. This story entwines life, love, forgiveness, understanding and trust into a neat package showing us that forgiveness and careing are a matter of PERFECT TIMING.For Brenda 13 is a lucky number, read One Special Moment, Surrender, A Family Reunion, or any of her other works and you will agree she is one special author.