Review: The Ideal Man by Julie Garwood

Title: The Ideal Man
Author: Julie Garwood
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format: Hardcover, 322 pages
Published:  August 9th 2011 by Dutton Adult
Source: Library
Buy It: Amazon

From Goodreads: Dr. Ellie Sullivan has just completed her residency at a large urban hospital. While jogging in a park nearby, she witnesses the shooting of an FBI agent in pursuit of wanted criminals, a couple identified as the Landrys. The only person to see the shooter's face, Ellie is suddenly at the center of a criminal investigation. Agent Max Daniels takes over the Landry case. A no-nonsense lawman, he's definitely not the ideal man that Ellie has always imagined, yet she's attracted to him in a way she can't explain. Ellie heads home to Winston Falls, South Carolina, to attend her sister's wedding. Shortly after she arrives, though, she receives a surprise visitor: Max Daniels. The Landrys have been captured, and she'll be called to testify. But they've been captured before, and each time the witnesses are scared into silence-or disappear before they can take the stand. Max vows to be Ellie's shadow until the trial, and it isn't long before sparks fly.

I am a big Julie Garwood fan. I love her books and even though her historical's are my favorite, I still enjoy her contemporary novels. When I first found her books I could not stop until I had read them all. Since I have not picked up one of her books in a while I was excited when I saw this was coming out and put myself on the waiting list at the library.

Ellie Sullivan is a very intelligent women and the best at her job. Ellie has lived a hard life being separated by her family due to a violent stalker in grade school so her parents sent her to live with another family for her protection. She has always lived looking over her shoulder and now she has become a witness in a dangerous investigation when she sees a FBI agent shot. She unwilling returns home at attend her sister's wedding who just happens to be marring Ellie's ex-fiance. When she arrives things go from bad to worse when Ellie discovers that her stalker has been released and no one knows his location.

Max Daniels is the noncommittal type, but when he meets Ellie he starts to notice more than just her good looks.  Max is a caring and understanding guy and I loved how close he is to his own family. It does not take long for the sparks fly. When he starts to see how much danger she could be in he becomes protective and joins her for the family wedding. With a hired killer and violent stalker after Ellie, there is no slack on the action.

The romance between Max and Ellie is sweet and I enjoyed seeing them fall in love. Ellie reactions to everything that goes on is very believable and she is written as a strong woman. I was very annoyed with her family. Ellie's sister, Ava is a snob and so selfish, I just wanted to put my hands through the pages to slap and ring her neck. The worst part is Ava never sees the light and sees no wrong with her attitude toward Ellie and the rest of the family puts up with it never saying anything. Ava is constantly telling Ellie how everything is her fault and she's trying ruin the wedding. The mother just kind of goes with flow trying not to step on anyone's toes. Most of the time Ellie and her other sister Anne just laugh and joke about it. I was a little sad that Ellie felt she was inconveniencing her family by being there when danger could come knocking at the door.

Overall I enjoyed the book, although I will say this not one of Julie Garwood's best. I enjoyed the little secondary story with Ellie's sister Anne. I was glad to see things resolved but it felt a little rushed at the end.  I give this book 3.5 stars, I liked it and it was worth the read.