Perfect Pairing by Rachel Spangler

Perfect Pairing Reviews

• 
  Diane Wallace

  **'While you invent, don't select.While you sketch, don't inspect.And while you write the story, don't reflect..'
  
  3.5stars!
  A deliciously well written love story. Recommended!
• 
  Les Read

  What’s up with all these lesbian authors and their sinfully delicious food descriptors?! I feel like I need to hit the gym a few extra hours after reading through their novels. Seriously! Packing on the literary pounds here reading about all this food.
  
  In Perfect Pairing, Rachel Spangler brings out her inner-chef to cook a mouthwatering story for her readers. Sausage + Maple Syrup, Chocolate + Bacon, Beef Jerky + Rolo, Mac&Cheese + Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, Banana + Peanut Butter, French Fries + Vanilla Ice Cream… Foods that are independently yummy, but explosively tasty when they’re paired together in a way that isn’t easily assumed. This would best describe the two protagonists in Perfect Pairing.. Where opposites attract and together create an exquisite entree of luuurve.
  
  At first glance, Quinn and Hal couldn’t be any more different. Spangler presents an interesting juxtaposition in lifestyle and position for the two main protagonists in the story. Quinn, banker-extraordinaire, dresses like she’s going sailing when she’s in casual-ware. Stability, for her, is everything and she keeps her feet firmly fixed to the ground. Hal, chef-extraordinaire looks more like she just rolled out of bed in the morning and lives a nomadic existence. Quinn presents an offer that she assumes Hal can’t refuse, but when she does, she makes every effort to try and convince Hal to see things her way and stay in one place. Hal would much rather have her four-wheeled freedom and tells Quinn to take a hike. But Hal’s stubbornness has met its match in Quinn’s tenacity. These two have a lot to learn from each other, and initial appearances and impressions can sometimes be deceiving. They eventually find out that they have a lot more in common than they expected and the ways Hal and Quinn discover each other will keep you turning its pages.
  
  This was my first Spangler novel and holy-moley, did it make me hungry for more! The chemistry between the main characters Hal (aka “Fryboi”) and Quinn sizzle like hot bacon in a pan from start to finish. This perfect pairing is definitely one that you won’t want to miss!
  
  Bon Appetite!
  
  Check out the soundtrack and cocktail recipe for this book at
  https://lesreadoutloud.com/2016/08/16...
• 
  Joc

  Fantastic! I'm not a fan of food books and I usually have to skip through the poncy descriptions of flavours and preparations but not with this book. I actually enjoyed it in the case of Perfect Pairing but then who doesn't love the comfort of grilled cheese? Enough about food. I thoroughly enjoyed the way Hal and Quinn evolved as characters and the way their chemistry jumped off the page. Spangler didn't give too much too soon and it kept me turning the pages. Great story, engaging dialogue, fast pace and delicious food.
• 
  Farah

  Okay, I'm going to try my best to write a good review in honor of Ms.Spangler's masterpiece.
  
  Quinn a banker met Hal Orion a food truck ower+chef with a proposal that will benefit both parties but the first meeting was not so perfect and ended up with Hal slamming the food truck's door on Quinn. Quinn was not a quitter, she kept on pursuing Hal with the proposal and Hal was just as stubborn and kept on saying no. The back and forth scenes were a bit tiresome but I pursued on and was rewarded handsomely by Ms.Spangler...
  
  What exactly did she do to turn this book around??
  Our heroines went on a road trip 😍 😍 😍. They both dropped their guards down and truly enjoyed each other's company. Their road trip was equivalent to a honeymoon, there were flirtings, bickerings, planning, cooking, eating, discovering more about each other and sexy times. The issue that caused a lot of heated arguments between our heroines reappeared after the road trip and caused the separation. Relax guys and gals, this is a romance, they got their HEA and it was written splendidly.
  The hs had been through a lot growing up, different hardships that caused how they acted as adults, Hal with her insecurities issue and Quinn wanting to build foundations. Working out their issues together and falling in love was the best reward life had given them and from the damn great epilogue, Hal and Quinn were an equal partners in life, love, business and banters.
  
  This is one of those best Lesfic I have ever read and have in my collection. It's not available on KU/Scribd. Kindle price is USD6.
• 
  Corporate Slave

  I've come to appreciate Rachel Spangler as an author.. This book is a proof of how good of a writer she is.. There's a lot of interesting details about the food industry that I appreciated and it added a bit of flavor to the book :). The main characters are very interesting and likeable .. I mean how can you not be interested in a story between a banker and a chef ? This is a solid 4.5 however I just couldn't get myself to round it up to 5 only because the ending I felt was a bit "expected" and it missed that extra flavor I was expecting because the book starts off very strong! Overall it's a very sweet story between 2 completely different characters and the struggle they face due to their diff perspective in general.
• 
  Loek Krancher

  Perfect for anyone!
  
  They are perfect for one another. The problem is that they are so opposite of each other and not to forget, so stubborn. Neither is interested in a committed relationship due to their scars and painful memories. The misunderstandings threatens to ruin everything. They both have to learn to open up and to trust each other. I loved the way the two struggles to overcome all the obstacles that prevent them from finding love. It take a lot to see each other in a different light but once that light is shining, there is no turning it off. The author has managed to put into words what many of us would love to try with our mouths. She brings the simple elements of food to life. The delicious food is not the only thing that has drawn me into the story, the beautiful constructed love story was also delightful to read. I immediately felt a connection with the main characters and I liked the secondary characters. The author has a very fluent and descriptive way with words. Pour yourself a glass of wine, sit down and pick this book. I guarantee that you can't put it down.
• 
  VReader

  I think I may have approached this book with expectations that were too high. The main problem that I had with this book is that at the beginning of this book, neither character was very likable and they didn't like each other. I slowly began to like both of them more, but with all their bickering, it was not very believable when they found their happily ever after.
  
  
• 
  Stephanie

  I really, really liked this book. An interesting setting...a food truck in Buffalo. Two strong main characters with chemistry like crazy. A well developed supporting cast. A lot of angst. It all made for a read I couldn't put down.
• 
  Jenna

  (I was provided a copy of the book by the publisher for the purposes of a fair review.)
  
  So, most of the four stars (4.25, actually) I'm giving this one are due to the exceptional banter and the nearly pornographic descriptions of food. The banter between not only Hal and Quinn, but also Hal and Sully, was just fantastic. It was sharp, funny, occasionally raunchy, sometimes endearing, and it did a wonderful job of keeping the dialogue lively. As for the food, pwhuahow! The actual sex scenes were steamy, but they didn't have anything on the kitchen scenes. Though, to be fair, there were also some sex-in-the-kitchen scenes. I still pick the food, though. A grilled cheese sandwich made with toasted sourdough, fried eggs, and hickory-smoked bacon that's been dry-rubbed with a coffee, molasses and brown sugar mixture? Are you kidding me? And those were just the first paragraphs in the book! Also, I'm kind of a sucker for third-person, past tense with alternating viewpoints, at least when it comes to romances. It's my happy place. I like to see into the minds of both leads as they fall in love, because the star of every romance novel is, to me, the romance itself.
  
  Unfortunately, though, that romance didn't work all that well for me. These were not two personalities that ever seemed like they should've been anywhere near one another for any length of time. I understood where they were both coming from, I mostly liked the pair individually, I even really liked them together for a brief period of time, but I never would've believed they had a future together if there hadn't been an epilogue. That epilogue was vital, though it felt a bit too pat and smooshy to me. I love a happy ending, and I'll take one that's too perfect over a tear-jerking tragedy any day, but this one didn't quite hit the notes I was looking for. I also felt like the book needed a few more chapters for the couple to work on themselves and their relationship in order for me to buy the ending, because I just didn't believe enough growth had taken place for any of it to work.
  
  Okay, that all sounds bad, I know, but this wasn't a bad book. These were largely entertaining people who were frequently in very entertaining situations, often preparing sumptuous food (and I'm not even a foodie!) and occasionally having piping hot sexyfuntimes. When the romance worked, it was fun to watch, it just wasn't always the easiest one to believe in. Still a fun read, though.
  
  4.25 stars. Recommended for anyone who likes sexy food, foodie sex, and/or laughing. If you don't like any of those things, you'll probably hate the book. And be no fun at parties, but I won't judge. I don't know your life.
• 
  CLo

  A Sweet Romance
  
  I've pretty much read most of Rachel Spangler's books and have grown to appreciate her writings and this does not disappoint. The story is about Hal, a food truck chief who "wants" for nothing, and Quinn, an investor banker looking to mark the town. Strong willed and confident, Quinn wants to form a partnership with Hal but Hal refuses, giving Quinn her first "no." Baffled by this, Quinn tries everything to get Hal to the light. Through this, a lusting for each other is formed and a slow burn is ignited. But difference in opinions and futures cause more issues than solutions and may ultimately cost them each other.
  
  I liked the book and felt it started off really strong with the two characters bumping heads almost immediately. You could feel the chemistry in an "opposites attract" way. Even at the point that each character was getting along, there was still an undercurrent ready to be exposed. I felt the passing was nice and so was the romance. The ending was a bit cheesy but happy. I liked the book and if you're looking for something light hearted, give it a read.
• 
  Margaret

  Detailed score: 3.5 (but closer to 3.75 than 3.25 hence the round up
  
  Spangler is a pro. So the story keeps moving, there are very few erroneous scenes or words and our characters grow.
  
  The 3.5 instead of 4+ is because I didn't really connect with or like either of our leads. Food porn doesn't really do it for me and there was a lot of it in this book. And the ending was a bit too nauseatingly sweet for my tastes
  
  Overall though, you're never going to waste your money buying a Spangler book and this is no exception.
• 
  Darlene Vendegna

  Maybe it's my love of a perfectly made grilled cheese sandwich that contributed to my enjoyment of this book. Perhaps it's the thrill I get out of wandering aimlessly among food trucks at the local food truck gatherings happening year round in my neck of the woods, that contributed to the draw. More likely it's the fact that Rachel Spangler has crafted an absolutely delicious romance story that captivated me from word one. Can a hard nosed, shark type investment banker and a stubborn, self taught chef, both with control issues, as well as many other issues, come together to form any sort of partnership? The two main characters in this story, Quinn and Hal, take us on an exploration of the answer to that question. We genuinely like them both and understand their mindsets, even if they don't always know themselves and certainly don't clearly articulate to each other. Secondary characters, Hal's best friend, Quinn's brother and another friend, are also very well drawn and in their own ways contribute to the recipe that ultimately results in the Perfect Pairing. I highly recommend this book to any lover of lesbian romances.
• 
  Pam Holzner

  Another winner from Spangler. The "dark night of the soul" could have been more detailed, but it was fine.
• 
  Jo

  3.5 ⭐
• 
  Orcbard

  This book invoked the enemies-to-lovers trope, but for the whole duration of Quinn/Hal's conflict I wasn't on Hal's side for a single moment. I can sort of see where Hal came from, but I can't bring myself to like her. She's just too stubborn and rude. The first half of their roadtrip helped a little, but how it ended really hammered in my dislike of Hal.
  
  There's also a bit of head-hopping in the same scene, which happened only 2-3 times but they still took me out of the book. I persisted, though.
  
  I really liked the description of the food at least.
• 
  Tara

  Perfect Pairing is not the easy romance I expected, but I really liked it. The dialogue is fantastic, the friendship between Hal and Sully is the best, and, come on, a food truck?! The romance had a rougher road than I expected and I kind of wanted to shake Hal sometimes, but overall this was a great book.
  
  Full review here:
  http://www.thelesbianreview.com/perfe...
• 
  Catherine

  I didn't love this book. I really struggled to like Hal. She had moments where she was winning me over but mainly I found her mean and judgmental. So when not really liking one of the characters I struggled to feel any investment in the couple.
• 
  Kexx

  I started off with high hopes, but the tale began to become caustic, acidic, and I stopped enjoying it. There seemed to be no love, no connection till there was. I usually really enjoy RS's work, but this one rung no bells.
• 
  Karen

  Not only is this a foodie book, it’s also an opposites attract tale, or opposites find out they’re not so different after all. Their pasts have shaped them into the women they are. Hal was a foster kid. She met her best friend and business partner in one of those homes. Quinn didn’t have a great childhood, either, although she got a younger half-brother out of it who she cares about.
  
  Neither main knows why the other woman is the way she is. They just know they’re butting heads. There is some attraction, of course. Events seem to solidify their distance and differences, but Spangler also draws out their backstories as the two are wrangling. I enjoyed learning more about what made them tick. It made them more understandable. The bickering and storyline get kind of messy and corrosive midway and pull in Hal's friend and Quinn's brother, which leads to more fireworks between the two mains.
  
  Of course, this is a romance, so you know there will be a happy ending. The food truck prep and cooking scenes are fascinating. It almost makes me want to go to the downtown food truck fest on Fridays and try some of the offerings.
  
• 
  Heather

  I'm not entirely sure how I landed on this book from this author, but oh my god yes. I'm harboring a bit of a grudge against it right now because I want to eat grilled cheeses and fancy food and not stop and absolutely do not have access to it, but otherwise, this book is really amazing.
  
  In typical romance novel form, you have two polar opposite people who want different things in life. Hal, the suave food truck chef that thrives on not putting an anchor down anywhere and barely trusting anyone, and Quinn who seems like a shark going after Hal to open a restaurant, but who actually just wants to find something that matters to her and to build something strong.. not realizing she may just want a relationship to hold onto.
  
  Beyond the fact that the imagery of the food almost drove me mad with lust, the imagery of both Boston and Provincetown, MA made it feel as if you were walking the streets with the characters. It was vivid, and almost like you could smell the smells and feel the warm sun touching your skin.
  
  I loved that this wasn't what I expected it to be. Most romance novels are what I'd categorize into "beach reads," easy books without too many twists or too much drama that just seems like you should sip an umbrella drink with. This made me want whiskey, neat. There is backstory and history and really fleshed out characters that make you feel for them, for the people in their lives, for what they've done for others (in the case of Dom). This wasn't easy nor was it unrealistic, it was quite real (minus all the cheese, that shouldn't be legal).
• 
  Starsandsun18

  3.5 I really wanted to like this book because i'm a chef too and i rarely read MC as a chef but i just don't feel the chemistry here or maybe i read this on a wrong time like i'm not in a mood or something. Maybe i will try again soon.
  
  Noted: don't read this if you're hungry.
• 
  Angie

  On the surface this is an opposites-attract romance that had me engaged from the first time Hal and Quinn meet. And it doesn't go well at all, especially not for Quinn, who is desperate to partner with Buffalo's most celebrated food truck chef to open a restaurant. Hal, who does not trust easily (or at all), rebuffs the offer, refusing to put herself in a position where she has to rely on anyone or anything, so an entitled stranger in a power suit never really stood a chance. Except for the fact that Quinn is beautiful (i.e. memorable) and persistent and Hal, despite her protestations, doesn't seem to mind having Quinn around.
  
  What Quinn and Hal discover is that they're not as different as they thought they were initially. They both want similar things and they definitely both want each other, but making it work and trusting someone else enough to be vulnerable is the real challenge they face.
  
  I can always expect a well-written novel when I read something by Rachel Spangler, but I'm not always sold on the narratives themselves. Perfect Pairing had my attention immediately and is one of the best Spangler novels I have read to date.
  
  
• 
  Velvet Lounger

  I started the last review I did of Rachel Spangler’s ���Does She Love You’ by saying I love her books.. and this latest story has not disappointed in any way.
  
  "Perfect Pairing" is a charming mix of a traditional romance and personal growth, with a tasty mix of food truck inspiration thrown in. Two women, who on first appearances seem to have completely different life histories, turn out to have far more in common than either could imagine.
  
  Hal has come up the hard way, surviving the foster care system and a mother who doesn’t have a clue how to be a parent, she has worked her way up to owning and running her own food truck, and become a celebrity chef among the hip and trendy scene. But her early years have left deep scars. Her way of protecting herself is to keep people at a distance, and keep her options open, never settling for anything that can be taken away.
  
  Quinn has carved a life as a successful businesswoman with a sold position at a bank. She appears secure, sure and arrogantly white collar. But underneath the business suit is a woman who’s broken family and damaged childhood has left a deep crack. Unlike Hal, she covers hers with corporate success, working every hour, avoiding holidays, building a solid career she feels safe hiding behind.
  
  "Perfect Pairing" is the tale of how these two women come together, first with a crash, then with a bang, and increasingly with mutual attraction only their fears can overcome. It isn’t a complex story, or an unusual romance, but what makes it stand out is the depth and multifaceted nature of these womens’ relationship, their inner struggles, their outward battles and their need to overcome the fear. Ms Spangler has taken what appears like two opposites and shown them to come from the same root, with different outcomes fed by how they have dealt with their lives.
  
  A small but excellent supporting cast of friends and family, evocative settings, amusing renditions of the catering trade, hot sex and a healthy dose of cheese make this another excellent read. I particularly liked being reminded of the pleasures of PTown, and would travel a long way for that unnamed Lobstah sandwich.
• 
  A.W.

  Hal Orion is a chef and a food truck owner.  She's pretty content with her life as it is.  Quinn Banning is an investment banker and is looking for a chef for her next big business venture.  Somehow, Quinn has found her way into Hal's life but that doesn't mean that Hal is ready to say yes to everything.
  
  Perfect Pairing has a nice ensemble of characters and it's hard not to like any of them.  The interaction and dialogue was good.  
  
  Despite Hal and Quinn being polar opposites, I believed the chemistry they had together and I enjoyed reading about their love story.  
  
  I also appreciated the various descriptions of food which made me hungry.
  
  Great overall read.
  
  Review also posted here:
  http://wp.me/p4Pp9O-DI
• 
  Dany

  DNF at 80%
  
  I dont dnf after i read through 60% usually but godddd this was exhausting.
  
  - Quinn and Hal had a really awful relationship but they seem to like sleeping with each other a LOOT. But after a while it was just so obvious Hal treated Quinn like her own punching bag.
  
  - I picked this up because i was in a mood for reading culinary related books and Hal is a food truck owner while Quinn is an investment banker. While i do wish we could've seen more of Quinn in her job rather than just an ambitious ruthless person with a kind heart towards people, I kinda get it wouldn't have been fun.
  
  -The side characters were adorable and frankly Hal's sous chef had more potential than Hal.
  
  I might've been able to finish if the end wasn't unnecessarily dragged out into ANOTHER fight .
• 
  Heidi

  Great dialog! Really liked the supporting characters of Sully and Ian! Craving grilled cheese!
• 
  Em Lewis

  What a great story, loved the food aspect but the road to romance was fun to read, rocky start then Hal and Quinn burning it up then breaking up, but of course this Perfect Pairing would get their HEA.