The Perfect Date Series by Donna McDonald

Cupid she’s not—but she’s pretty darn close. Nothing in the world feels better than finding her clients the perfect date. Of course finding one for herself might be nice, but creative bill paying is for college students—not for accomplished doctors in their forties. Satisfied customers will keep the electricity on.  But wait, according to all the magazines the forties are the new twenties. Now if only she felt twenty… 

Everything in Dr... moreCupid she’s not—but she’s pretty darn close. Nothing in the world feels better than finding her clients the perfect date. Of course finding one for herself might be nice, but creative bill paying is for college students—not for accomplished doctors in their forties. Satisfied customers will keep the electricity on.  But wait, according to all the magazines the forties are the new twenties. Now if only she felt twenty… 

Everything in Dr. Mariah Bates’ life was perfectly fine until the moment she quit her celebrity radio job to start a dating business. Two years, a cheating ex, and a very ugly divorce later, she’s suddenly homeless and living with her mother. Not exactly how she’d envisioned her life. Not that her mom isn’t great, but come on. 

With her cop ex-husband doing everything he can to ruin her business, she’s at her wit's end. Throw in another cop who makes her believe in love at first sight—or at least lust—and life is a mess. Interesting, fun and tummy tingling, but a mess. Especially since another cop is the last thing she needs.

Despite a very persistent, want-to-be beau who insists he's protecting her, it’s time for Mariah to take control of the game her ex has been playing. Punt or pass, she’s due for a touchdown.  Everyone deserves the perfect date—even her. ***** About THE PERFECT DATE Series The essence of all romantic comedy is that falling in love and navigating an unexpected romance is never easy or simple. Instead, it’s messy and emotional, and if you’re lucky, it’s also sexy and fun. Some relationship professionals, like my character of Dr. Mariah Bates in this series, sincerely want to help people find their perfect love match. For the various heroines I’ve created, many of whom are older, Mariah’s going to need all the help she can get. Or maybe she just needs to step out of the way. You can be the judge. NOTE ABOUT THE HEAT LEVEL: Not being a fan of the word “clean” when applied to romance, I will instead say the heat level in this new series is in the 1-2 range, rather than 3-4 like some of my others. The focus is on sensuality and I’ve packed a lot into these stories. less

Dating's one thing, but what’s love got to do with it? Nothing. At least not for Ann Lynx. She’s fifty-three for goodness sake. She’s had love. All she’s in the market for these days is some fun companionship—no strings attached. Right? Wrong. Thanks to her pain-in-the-rear-end best friend, Georgia, she’s now back on the dating scene. Add Georgia’s matchmaking daughter Mariah to the mix and Ann is officially in a world of trouble—or dates—to be more accurate... moreDating's one thing, but what’s love got to do with it? Nothing. At least not for Ann Lynx. She’s fifty-three for goodness sake. She’s had love. All she’s in the market for these days is some fun companionship—no strings attached. Right? Wrong. Thanks to her pain-in-the-rear-end best friend, Georgia, she’s now back on the dating scene. Add Georgia’s matchmaking daughter Mariah to the mix and Ann is officially in a world of trouble—or dates—to be more accurate. All that would be kind of doable, but her handyman’s sexy too-young-for-her son is making her feel like a silly young girl. She should definitely stick to the handsome, successful, and older men that Mariah keeps throwing in her path, but she can’t seem to banish the sexy Cal from her thoughts anymore than from her broken pantry. The retired military man is very good at fixing things, and at kissing her senseless. Who’s going to fix her though if Cal ends up breaking her heart? What’s love got to do with it? Maybe everything. *** ABOUT THE PERFECT DATE SERIES The essence of all romantic comedy is that falling in love and navigating an unexpected romance is never easy or simple. Instead, it’s messy and emotional, and if you’re lucky, it’s also sexy and fun. Some relationship professionals, like my character of Dr. Mariah Bates in this series, sincerely want to help people find their perfect love match. For the various heroines I’ve created, many of whom are older, Mariah’s going to need all the help she can get. Or maybe she just needs to step out of the way. You can be the judge. NOTE ABOUT THE HEAT LEVEL: Not being a fan of the word “clean” when applied to romance, I will instead say the heat level in this new series is in the 1-2 range, rather than 3-4 like some of my others. The focus is on sensuality and I’ve packed a lot into these stories. less

What could she possibly have in common with a man whose watch costs more than her car? Georgia may be slowing down a bit at sixty, but she isn’t stupid yet. The idea of her genuinely dating Dr. Brentwood Colombo, aka Hollywood when he poses in her doorway… well, that’s just totally insane... moreWhat could she possibly have in common with a man whose watch costs more than her car? Georgia may be slowing down a bit at sixty, but she isn’t stupid yet. The idea of her genuinely dating Dr. Brentwood Colombo, aka Hollywood when he poses in her doorway… well, that’s just totally insane. Where is her dignity? Where is her pride? How did she let her snickering friends dare her into giving him a chance? And where is the kind, caring daughter she raised? Mariah’s been replaced with an evil version who keeps insisting she give the womanizing plastic surgeon who dates twenty year olds a fair chance. A fair chance at what, Georgia wonders? Breaking her heart? No, thank you. She would rather keep her womanly dignity than see it trampled under Hollywood’s expensive, polished shoes. Now if he’d just stop talking about her perfect, perfect breasts, she might forget about him completely. *** About THE PERFECT DATE Series The essence of all romantic comedy is that falling in love and navigating an unexpected romance is never easy or simple. Instead, it’s messy and emotional, and if you’re lucky, it’s also sexy and fun. Some relationship professionals, like my character of Dr. Mariah Bates in this series, sincerely want to help people find their perfect love match. For the various heroines I’ve created, many of whom are older, Mariah’s going to need all the help she can get. Or maybe she just needs to step out of the way. You can be the judge. NOTE ABOUT THE HEAT LEVEL: Not being a fan of the word “clean” when applied to romance, I will instead say the heat level in this new series is in the 1-2 range, rather than 3-4 like some of my others. The focus is on sensuality and I’ve packed a lot into these stories. less

If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen. Right? That’s easier said than done when Chef Trudy Baker has to cohost the cooking show of a former love, Chef Jack Dozen. Problem is Jack’s a jilted former love who would rather throw Trudy into the fire than share the spotlight with her. Sexy Jack has all the right ingredients for the perfect man... except he’s too young for her. He’s also her guilty secret—one she never told anyone about... moreIf you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen. Right? That’s easier said than done when Chef Trudy Baker has to cohost the cooking show of a former love, Chef Jack Dozen. Problem is Jack’s a jilted former love who would rather throw Trudy into the fire than share the spotlight with her. Sexy Jack has all the right ingredients for the perfect man... except he’s too young for her. He’s also her guilty secret—one she never told anyone about. Trudy’s romantically happy friends are insisting she get happy too, which is the only reason she signed up with The Perfect Date. Dating sounds nice in theory, but in practice, the only place Trudy ever gets hot these days is in the kitchen. Her saner self knows she's better off dating a mature man closer to her own age than a cocky idiot who’s spent the last decade hating her. The recipe of the network putting them together on TV is one that spells disaster. The only thing she and Jack ever cooked up together was trouble. Maybe trouble is the ingredient she’s been missing… less

Della needs a hero. Anybody got a Superman cape I can borrow? I'm a 31-year-old guy in his prime with a dating emergency. I stupidly told my best client that I would bring a date to his function, but then I got too busy with work to actually get off my butt and find one. Hey, don't judge me. Finding a girlfriend wasn't on my agenda. So what did I do? I called my favorite dating service. The owner of The Perfect Date, Dr... moreDella needs a hero. Anybody got a Superman cape I can borrow? I'm a 31-year-old guy in his prime with a dating emergency. I stupidly told my best client that I would bring a date to his function, but then I got too busy with work to actually get off my butt and find one. Hey, don't judge me. Finding a girlfriend wasn't on my agenda. So what did I do? I called my favorite dating service. The owner of The Perfect Date, Dr. Mariah Bates, offered me the perfect deal—one that just might save my ego and my man card. I get a fake girlfriend for my business trip and all I have to do in exchange is take my fake girlfriend to her sister’s wedding. Enter Dr. Della Livingston. Mariah’s career-minded assistant with surprisingly great legs has me soon thinking I hit the fake girlfriend jackpot. Maybe I’m nuts from months of working too hard, but I’m beginning to wish this whole fake date thing wasn’t so fake. Now I want to jump off the love cliff and save the girl, except I need to figure out how to fly first. Anybody got a Superman cape I can borrow? less

All she wanted was a friend. What’s wrong with that? It’s Della’s fault Greg Skyler got the wrong idea. Jellica is sticking with that theory. If she’d wanted more than friendship, she’d have picked one of the guys on her list to date instead of insisting Della see if Greg wanted to spend time with her... moreAll she wanted was a friend. What’s wrong with that? It’s Della’s fault Greg Skyler got the wrong idea. Jellica is sticking with that theory. If she’d wanted more than friendship, she’d have picked one of the guys on her list to date instead of insisting Della see if Greg wanted to spend time with her. Sure Jellica felt a smidge guilty for the money Greg spent on their initial date, but what did a man who wore sweater vests expect from a woman who wears crystals, burns sage, and teaches yoga? The two of them were never going to be the romance of the century. In fact, they have absolutely nothing in common. So why is Greg acting so shocked to hear she wants only to be friends? Then Jellica finds out Greg’s hiding granite muscles under his ugly clothes. Plus he’s kind to the boys and doesn’t chastise her for… well, for anything really. He just listens and cares and keeps trying to kiss her. Since the idea of exploring those granite muscles of his intrigues her, Jellica lets him into her life… as a friend to help her… and okay, she let him kiss her too because—wow, Mr. Sweater Vest can really kiss. Who would have guessed they’d have such chemistry? Not her, that’s for sure, but she's starting to think being friends with benefits might be a good idea. Greg isn’t a typical Prince Charming, but his kisses are certainly waking her Sleeping Beauty butt up. Just when things are starting to look promising, her bullying ex-husband shows up out of blue to threaten her. To say she’s stunned by his accusations about Greg is an understatement. What kind of man has she been kissing? Jellica starts to realize that the good guy she’s a bit more than friends with now might also be a bad guy in disguise. Before her mind can sort it out, Greg’s sister is stalking her, his mother becomes her lawyer, and Greg starts bossing her around. She needs to meditate on her loss of control and make some firm decisions before her ex-husband does something stupid she has to kill him for. Or Greg does something that sends her friends after him. Trudy’s sharpening her knives and Georgia’s polishing her gun. Being her normal woo-woo self isn’t going to fix this. Greg needs to stop invading her space and stop doing whatever it is that’s making her ex so mad at her. less

Her real life is no fairy tale and she’s no Cinderella. After what her ex-husband did to her, heiress Henna Colombo is a man-hater, not a dater. And the thing she hates most of all is the fairytale of falling in love. Why does her father and her new wicked stepmother insist she keep looking for her prince? And why at The Perfect Date? Only the most pathetic losers use a dating service. She’s fine being single... moreHer real life is no fairy tale and she’s no Cinderella. After what her ex-husband did to her, heiress Henna Colombo is a man-hater, not a dater. And the thing she hates most of all is the fairytale of falling in love. Why does her father and her new wicked stepmother insist she keep looking for her prince? And why at The Perfect Date? Only the most pathetic losers use a dating service. She’s fine being single. As far as Henna’s concerned, the love god can take his diaper-wrapped butt and arrows elsewhere. Cupid can also shove those arrows where the sun don’t shine if he thinks for one second that someone like Vassal Milano is her perfect man. Vassal’s perfect alright—perfect at sneaking around behind her back. Just like her ex, she caught him kissing someone else. No… she didn’t confront Vassal about it. Why would she put herself through all that heartache and torture again? Outside of a few unforgettable kisses, she and Vassal were only friends anyway. Cupid’s arrow missed her that time—thankfully. As for the whole dating thing and looking for any sort of honorable Prince Charming? Forget it. No such man exists. Luckily, Henna doesn’t care. less

The last thing Iris needs is a man with his head in the clouds. Most days Iris can’t believe that she actually left her home and country for a smooth-talking jerk who tossed her into the street first chance he got. A woman has to view that sort of thing as life lesson. Her mum raised her to be a survivor, and that includes understanding her worst enemy is herself when it comes to good-looking men. Besides… nice men don’t date broke women staying at hostels... moreThe last thing Iris needs is a man with his head in the clouds. Most days Iris can’t believe that she actually left her home and country for a smooth-talking jerk who tossed her into the street first chance he got. A woman has to view that sort of thing as life lesson. Her mum raised her to be a survivor, and that includes understanding her worst enemy is herself when it comes to good-looking men. Besides… nice men don’t date broke women staying at hostels. And Lincoln Walker seems to be a very, very nice man. He has a growing list of rich, beautiful, and successful business women wanting to date him. Iris calls tending bar a career. They couldn’t be any less suited for each other. Imagine Cinderella never getting to the ball. Then imagine her turning forty and still scrubbing fireplaces for a living. That would be the fairytale version of Iris’s life. She’s got no time to waste on dating Prince Charming—or rather, Prince Walker. The man owns his own urban kingdom and yet chooses to fly balloons for a living. Iris, on the other hand, chooses to take down rowdy drunks in bars. Cupid better not shoot an arrow her way or she’ll take him down too. In her life, love and romance are temporary. That’s all Iris can afford. less

Her business is wildly successful, but the rest of her life is just wild. Sixty may be the new forty, but not for the Honorable Eleanor J. Skyler. She's retiring from the law firm she spent her entire career building. What's wrong with wanting to wear yoga clothes every day and go zip-lining whenever the adventurous mood strikes? Nothing, that's what. She's got no time for dating and drama... moreHer business is wildly successful, but the rest of her life is just wild. Sixty may be the new forty, but not for the Honorable Eleanor J. Skyler. She's retiring from the law firm she spent her entire career building. What's wrong with wanting to wear yoga clothes every day and go zip-lining whenever the adventurous mood strikes? Nothing, that's what. She's got no time for dating and drama. She certainly has no time to deal with her senior law partner, Andrew Carson, who has for reasons she can't fathom, decided she's his perfect woman. To say she's confused in an understatement. They've known each other for over twenty years. They knew each other's spouses before they died. Why is Andrew suddenly looking at her legs and telling her she's beautiful? He's barely over fifty. He has the tiny sports car. Why can't Andrew chase a twenty-year-old like every other man having a mid-life crisis? It's bad enough her son bought her a membership to The Perfect Date. She's going through that hot mess to stop her children from nagging about her love life. Just because Greg found sweet Jellica through that dating service doesn't mean Eleanor's going to waste her time going out with grumpy old men. No, thank you. That's never happening. Neither is dating men younger than her shoes. The whole dating situation is ridiculous. Why does she have to date at all? Before she went back to work to rescue Jellica, her life was perfectly calm and peaceful. The hope of returning to that flew out the window when one of Dr. Brentwood Colombo's ex-wives mistook her for his new flame, Georgia Bates. Apparently whiskey can make you appear taller. Who knew? A video of the woman smacking her with her purse has gone viral. Now, she's a social celebrity. If her broken nose is making the news, people need to get a life. The only consolation to the wildness is Andrew having to stand in line to woo her out of widowhood because her list of potential suitors at The Perfect Date is out of control. less

Getting the makeover for her video felt traumatizing rather than adventurous. Sure, it was only hair, and one day it would grow back, but the shock of her new short haircut had yet to fade. Luckily, Claire was a survivor. She would survive seeing a stranger when she looked in the mirror. Like every other challenge, she’d eventually figure this one out as well. A failed first marriage and terrible divorce hadn’t broken her... moreGetting the makeover for her video felt traumatizing rather than adventurous. Sure, it was only hair, and one day it would grow back, but the shock of her new short haircut had yet to fade. Luckily, Claire was a survivor. She would survive seeing a stranger when she looked in the mirror. Like every other challenge, she’d eventually figure this one out as well. A failed first marriage and terrible divorce hadn’t broken her. Neither had becoming a widow when she’d allowed herself to try marriage again. However, signing up at The Perfect Date might be the one decision that ruined her love life permanently. Her very first date is already causing problems. Grace is super mad at her, but it’s not like she planned for the infamous Bart Reynolds to appear on her dating list. Her infamous, outspoken friend was the one who’d made a crazy bet with her over him. How could Claire resist the challenge of proving Grace wrong about him? Flirting with a handsome stranger while she waited in the bar for her rude date was totally out of character. Plus, their timing was terrible. Finding out that same sexy guy was an intricate part of her unconscionable date’s dating shenanigans? No, she definitely hadn’t seen that coming. Dating and drama were turning out to be far too synonymous. Her current adventure had blown up around her. Grace and Sydney were never going to stop laughing at the hot mess Claire had gotten herself into. less

She might as well be unicorn hunting as dating…Her work saves lives, which is why being a pediatric oncologist comes first in Dr. Cherry Carmichael’s life. Dating comes second. Or maybe even third because she too often lets her twin brother, Harry, talk her into being his fake date at business functions. Bar hopping and twin shenanigans take all the barely existent free time she can devote to her love life. Not that she’s ever come close to finding the perfect man… or love… or a unicorn... moreShe might as well be unicorn hunting as dating…Her work saves lives, which is why being a pediatric oncologist comes first in Dr. Cherry Carmichael’s life. Dating comes second. Or maybe even third because she too often lets her twin brother, Harry, talk her into being his fake date at business functions. Bar hopping and twin shenanigans take all the barely existent free time she can devote to her love life. Not that she’s ever come close to finding the perfect man… or love… or a unicorn. They are all equally elusive.Harry’s gift of a trial membership at The Perfect Date is as frustrating to her as it is thoughtful. She and her twin brother both know she doesn’t have time to meet potential dates for a lousy cup of coffee, much less for a real date. Harry is also forty and unattached. It's obvious to Cherry that her brother's years with the dating service haven’t worked out either.Of course, Harry’s main issue is that he has money and women want him more for his bank account than for himself. Cherry's biggest problem is that she needs a stay-at-home husband, not some work-driven guy who will expect her to make huge career sacrifices. It's too bad medical degrees don’t come with dating advice. less

She was his obsession. He was her second chance.Harry Carmichael considered himself a smart man. He’d spent years figuring out what his clients wanted and giving it to them. His cleverness with money had padded his wallet, but money wasn’t everything. If he could figure out what Dr. Sofia Walton wanted in a man, he would gladly be who she needed. She was worth any price.Dr. Sofia Walton would be the first to admit that she’d never gotten over losing her husband and two children... moreShe was his obsession. He was her second chance.Harry Carmichael considered himself a smart man. He’d spent years figuring out what his clients wanted and giving it to them. His cleverness with money had padded his wallet, but money wasn’t everything. If he could figure out what Dr. Sofia Walton wanted in a man, he would gladly be who she needed. She was worth any price.Dr. Sofia Walton would be the first to admit that she’d never gotten over losing her husband and two children. Losing one of her pediatric cancer patients always spiraled her into old grief. Yet despite the emotional pain she never handled well, Sofia remained devoted to her job of making miracles happen. It would certainly take a miracle for her to risk loving again. less

Her divorce was never finalized because she became a widow instead. Every time Juniper hoped she had finally survived her nightmare marriage, Nathan’s selfish decisions came back to haunt her. Her dead husband’s twenty-year-old mistress was contesting his will. Juniper might have handled that, but they’d also hidden a baby who looked remarkably like her own son. The kid wasn’t even two yet... moreHer divorce was never finalized because she became a widow instead. Every time Juniper hoped she had finally survived her nightmare marriage, Nathan’s selfish decisions came back to haunt her. Her dead husband’s twenty-year-old mistress was contesting his will. Juniper might have handled that, but they’d also hidden a baby who looked remarkably like her own son. The kid wasn’t even two yet. How ruthless could she be with someone who could barely walk? Her membership to The Perfect Date was doing her no good. The brand new life Juniper promised herself to live, the one filled with handsome, fun men to warm her bed, seemed like nothing more than a bunch of foolish hopes and dreams. less