Title: Their Perfect Melody Series: Matched to Perfection #3
Author: Priscilla Oliveras
Published: November 27, 2018
Genre(s): Romance: Contemporary
Page Count: 336
Rating:
Summary from Goodreads:Growing up, Lilí María Fernandez was affectionately known as the family "wild child." The life of the party, she loved to dance, especially salsa, merengue, and bachata, and often sang beside her father during rehearsals for his trío group. But tragedy and loss have drawn out Lilí's caretaking side, compelling her to become a victim's advocate. These days, the special rhythms of the past seem like a distant memory. Until she meets Diego
Reyes . . .A police officer with the Chicago PD, Diego also has a talent for playing classical Spanish guitar. And Lilí soon finds herself inspired by his passion--for the music, for her, and for their shared love of familia and community. Can Diego reignite Lilí's fun-loving spirit, persuade her to balance work and pleasure--and embrace her wild side once more?
Like all of Priscilla Oliveras’ books, Their Perfect Melody is a sweet, family-focused romance that wears its Latinidad like a badge of honor. This final novel in the trilogy delivered the thoughtful and charismatic characters I’ve come to expect from the author, this time in the form of a soft-hearted cop and a wild-child-turned-counselor.
Lilí, the third and last Fernandez sister to get a Happily Ever After, was not featured heavily in either of the trilogy’s first two installments. So going into this story, the heroine was sort of an unknown quantity. I knew what her older sisters thought of her—an irresponsible tomboy in need of some serious guidance (preferably from her elder sisters). But who is Lilí herself? As I learned, Lilí is somewhat impulsive, optimistic, and “feisty” (not my word). She works at a center for domestic abuse victims, fueled by a passion that was ignited when one of her friends in college was sexually assaulted.
It is Lilí’s job that eventually leads her to meet Diego Reyes, a friendly neighborhood Chicago cop. Diego grew up in a lower-income neighborhood with his mom and sister, and sees his role as a police officer as “giving back” to the community. Diego is a bit of a hardass, and tends to impose his very rigid moral code onto everyone he comes across. And, not gonna lie: I don’t love Diego’s character. He’s fairly closed-minded, and a tad bit victim-blamey, and I really could have done without that time he slut-shamed his sister. And I do understand that those issues are part of his character, and those are things he realizes he needs to change. But honestly. A police officer who works with domestic abuse survivors should show a little more compassion and a little less derision at perceived “weakness.”
As I said, those flaws in Diego’s character are addressed in Their Perfect Melody—in fact, Lilí’s frustration with Diego’s rigidity is the main reason for the Dark Moment that (temporarily) puts the brakes on their developing romance. While she’s trying to help his sister, Lourdes, figure out how to get clean and stay that way, he’s too busy trying to out-macho everyone and control everything, with a liberal dose of “I told you so, sis” heaped on top. Obviously, it’s not a good look, and it drives a wedge between the two.
The above conflict is resolved, however, in trademark Priscilla Oliveras fashion: a grand gesture in front of an audience. Whereas Lilí’s older sister recited a horribly corny poem, this time, Diego plays Lilí’s favorite flamenco song on his guitar. It’s cheesy and over-the-top, but it does the trick. What can I say? People in this series are not lactose intolerant. (But I guess my question is: does a grand gesture actually demonstrate character growth? My hypothesis is that it doesn’t.)
And, naturally, in the background of all of this romantic drama is the big, happy, loud extended Puerto Rican family that supports (and annoys) Lilí through it all. Readers get to see both Yaz and Rosa, Lilí’s older sisters, comfortably involved with their husbands and kids. And even though the Ferndandez parents have both passed on, their memories are very much alive in much of the family’s traditions and conversations. Familia is certainly something that this author does well.
Yet in all honesty, this author’s stories are not my favorite—things for the Fernandez family come just a little too easily, and the characterization of the leads in this book lacked depth. I didn’t see enough character growth, and sappy grand gestures make me uncomfy. Even so, it’s a well-written book, and there’s something charming about it that was enjoyable in a very traditional, Hallmark move kind of way.
