Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author and/or publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. A positive review is not required. Also, I may earn a commission on some affiliate links below, whose fees support independent bookshops. Hope you will consider getting it at a local bookstore.

Published on: 01 March 2022
Published by: Entangled Publishing: Amara
Type: series, standalone
Genre: Small Town & Rural Fiction, Clean & Wholesome Romance, Contemporary Romance
Tropes: Rom-Com, Against-All-Odds, Second Chances, Grumpy Alpha, Strong female MC
Author: Marissa Clarke
Book Length: 338 pages
Read: 17 May 2022
Shelved: 19 May 2022
Rating: 4 / 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
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Synopsis
Workaholic Lillian Mahoney has given everything to her job. The hugely popular lifestyle show she helped create monopolizes her time, energy, creativity, and anything remotely resembling a life. But all it takes is the show’s womanizing, egomaniac star throwing a massive hissy on live TV to utterly implode Lillian’s career in a New York minute.
Now Lillian’s hiding out in the gorgeous and completely unknown seaside village of Blink, Maine. Out of gas. A stolen wallet. A broken heel. And worse, she’s somehow managed to completely piss off the town’s resident hunk, Caleb Wright. She’ll show that hot, grumpy single father exactly what she’s made of.
But Blink isn’t quite what Lillian expects—and neither is Caleb…or his feisty teen daughter she can’t help but love. And while her entire life and career are in shreds, Lillian might just discover what happens when she gives her bad first impression a second chance…
Review
Characters:
Lillian Mahoney – single workaholic, lifestyle content creator, the brains behind the Sharpe Lifestyle brand based in NYC
Caleb Wright – a single parent to a teenager, owns Wright Boat Works in Blink, NY.
POV: multiple POVs – Caleb and Lillian’s.
What I love about the book:
1.) A community saving a dying town.
I did not know this premise from the summary. It wasn’t an easy problem for the MCs to resolve, and it took a bit more “creative” thinking and motivation to get the rest of the townspeople in on “Reviving and Revitalizing” Blink.
“People will forgive ignorance; they won’t forgive laziness.”
~ Accidentally Perfect, Marissa Clarke
2.) Undeniable sexual chemistry
I love the grumpy-sunshine theme with a dose of opposites attract. I came into the book expecting a light-hearted, feel-good read, mainly because it is considered a “clean romance book.” Hence, I was pleasantly surprised to see hot sizzling flirting, banter, and chemistry that made the relationship believable with the amount of attraction on paper that worked from hate to love.
3.) Colorful and humorous set of small-town characters that spice up Lillian’s uptight city life and see the beauty of a small-town environment.
There is no other way to describe the Blink Maine “peanut gallery” aside from nosey, crazy, yet supportive! Being in a small town, everyone’s at each other’s business, especially in Caleb’s love life. People like Amanda, Cassidy, Roger, etc., used everything to ensure that Lillian and Caleb found their way to each other. The group’s gentle nudge/manipulation got to me, and although there were many times that either MC sighted the group for their “sly ways,” Lillian and Caleb still felt for it and did end up with their HEA.
“That’s perfect. Just let me know the schedule. “
~ Accidentally Perfect, Marissa Clarke
She waited for them to take her lead, but they stayed seated. Cassidy gave her an I told you so smirk complete with arched eyebrow.
“You’ll need dynamite to blast them out now,” she whispered as Lilian passed her on the way to the sink.
4.) Story pacing and character development are well done!
With the many things happening in the story, it was still great to see the focus on the characters and make them relatable. Many characters will make readers come to love and appreciate, like Amanda’s controlling yet ways or Roger’s manipulative yet well-thought-out plans.
5.) World-building was beautifully written!
I could see myself standing at the pier by Caleb’s boat in Blink, Maine, through the author’s vivid descriptions. I also got a few visuals as Lillian explored the town, and each rock/cliff was not left unturned. Lillian mapped out each inch of the place through her hikes and exploration of the town. Nature took center stage and was given much importance. It is why a city folk Lillian:
(a) got her inspiration after a slight “burnout,”
(b) found a way to marry her passion for organization and social media position to help the town, and
(c) found inspiration and love with Caleb – all the lovely views and breathtaking scenes.
Conclusion: I enjoyed reading Accidentally Perfect. It was well-written and full of magnetic chemistry on each page! Lillian is the perfect example of a workaholic NY perfectionist that paired well with Caleb’s laid-back yet hardworking lifestyle of a small-town business owner. How the author resolved the ending was hilarious, with the small-town AND Sharpe Lifestyle group combining their efforts to save a town from extinction AND ensure two people do not miss out on their second chance this time around. I cannot wait to see what the series will hold for the rest of the people in Hideaway Harbor!
” People should always help each other out. It’s what we’re put here for. “
~ Accidentally Perfect, Marissa Clarke

About the Author

Marissa Clarke lives in Texas, where everything is bigger, especially the mosquitoes. When not writing, she wrangles her rowdy pack of three teens, her husband, and a Cairn Terrier named Annabel, who rules the house (and Marissa’s heart) with an iron paw. She also writes young adult novels for Penguin USA as Mary Lindsey. You can contact her here.
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