Category Archives: Fools Gold Series

Review: Best of My Love by Susan Mallery

Title: Best of My Love by Susan Mallery
Fool’s Gold Series Book Twenty
Publisher: HQN Books
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 384 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

An irresistible new love story from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Fool’s Gold series, set in a town Library Journal calls “so appealing, readers will want to start scoping out real estate.” 

To overcome her painful past, baker Shelby Gilmore goes on the hunt for a friend—a male friend—to convince her stubborn psyche that men can be trusted. But where in a town as small as Fool’s Gold will the petite blonde find a guy willing to not date her?

Dark, charming Aidan Mitchell puts the “adventure” in Mitchell Adventure Tours…and into the beds of his many willing female tourists. Until he realizes he’s inadvertently become that guy—the one-night Casanova—and worse, everyone in town knows it. Maybe Shelby’s boy/girl experiment will help him see women as more than just conquests so he can change his ways and win back his self-respect.

As Aidan and Shelby explore the secret lives of men and women, the heat between them fires up the Fool’s Gold rumor mill. If no one will believe they’re just friends, maybe they should give the gossips something to really talk about!

Review:

Best of My Love by Susan Mallery is a delightfully charming novel with a refreshingly unique storyline.  This twentieth installment in the long running Fool’s Gold series pairs up relative newcomer Shelby Gilmore with Aidan Mitchell and their unexpected friendship offers a firm foundation for their equally surprising romance.

Since moving to Fool’s Gold, Shelby has made a lot of progress in both her professional and personal lives.  Having worked through a lot of her issues that stem from her abusive childhood, she has not had much luck when it comes to relationships.  Her decision to fix her love life occurs at the same time an unfortunate encounter with a woman from Aidan’s past serves as a wake up call for him to make some much needed changes in his life.  Deciding a platonic friendship might be beneficial to both of them, Shelby proposes she and Aidan spend the next six months hanging out together as friends.  As the months pass, both of them are thrilled with how well their plan is working but will their simmering attraction derail their friendship?

Determined not to be ruled by her dysfunctional past, Shelby is self-aware enough to realize she needs help in turning around her lackluster love life.  She has taken steps to come to terms with the events from her childhood but she is still struggling with trust issues.  Despite being a little nervous when initially approaching Aidan, she does not shy away from telling him about her childhood and she is upfront about what she hopes to achieve through their platonic friendship.  Shelby is direct and straightforward with him right from the start and despite a bit of a rocky beginning, they quickly become close friends.

Aidan’s childhood with his temperamental artist father was tempestuous and left him with a somewhat skewed perception of love and marriage.  In order to avoid a committed relationship, Aidan has always stayed away from the local women while indulging in short flings with the female tourists.  Deciding to clean up his reputation, he swears off women and vows to change his playboy ways.  After a great deal of thought, Aidan realizes Shelby’s proposition has a lot of merit and he throws himself wholeheartedly into their friendship.

Since neither Aidan nor Shelby have had friendships with someone of the opposite sex before, their relationship immediately runs into a few snags.  Deciding to alternate their weekly get togethers between “girl” and “boy”  activities, they each begin to understand the very different ways that men and women communicate and interact.  This insight is invaluable as they work their individual issues and genuine affection slowly develops between them over the course of several months.  Neither is prepared for their mutual attraction, but they decide their friendship is more important than giving in to their desire.

With witty dialogue, a distinctive storyline and phenomenal character growth,  Best of My Love is a beautiful friends to lovers romance that old and new fans of the Fool’s Gold series are sure to love.  Aidan and Shelby are perfectly imperfect with fears and insecurities that are realistic and easy to relate to.  The friendship between them develops slowly but naturally over the course of story and  provides a solid basis for their burgeoning romance.  Susan Mallery does a wonderful job keeping this latest installment fresh and unique so there are a few surprises for Aidan and Shelby as they travel the road to happily ever after.

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Filed under Best of My Love, Contemporary, Fools Gold Series, Harlequin, HQN Books, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Susan Mallery

Review: Marry Me at Christmas by Susan Mallery

marry me christmasTitle: Marry Me at Christmas by Susan Mallery
Fool’s Gold Series Book 19
Publisher: HQN Books
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 336 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Wish upon a Christmas star with New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery’s sparkling Fool’s Gold romance! 

To bridal boutique owner Madeline Krug, organizing a Christmas wedding sounds like a joy—until she finds out she’ll be working closely with the gorgeous brother of the bride, movie star Jonny Blaze. How will a small-town girl like her keep from falling for the world’s sexiest guy? Especially with mistletoe lurking around every corner!

Jonny came to Fool’s Gold looking for normal, not for love. Happily-ever-after only happens in the movies. Still, nothing about this quirky town is quite what he expected, and “ordinary” Madeline is the most extraordinary woman he’s ever met. Refreshingly honest, disarmingly sweet. Achingly beautiful.

Planning the perfect wedding leads to candlelit dinners and strolls through snow-covered streets. And Madeline finds Jonny in real life even more captivating than her celebrity crush. But will the action star be brave enough to risk his heart and step into the role of a lifetime?

Review:

Marry Me at Christmas by Susan Mallery is a delightfully upbeat and charming holiday romance between a small town business owner and a popular movie star. It is also the nineteenth installment in the wildly popular Fool’s Gold series but it can be read as a standalone (but I HIGHLY recommend all of the books in this fabulous series).

Bridal shop owner Madeline Krug has made no secret she is harboring a huge crush on Jonny Blaze, a popular action movie actor. When Mayor Marsha asks her to help him plan his sister’s wedding, like everyone else in Fool’s Gold, she finds it impossible to say no. At first star struck and nervous around Jonny, Madeline is surprised by how well the two work together. As she slowly gets to know and fully appreciate the man behind the famous face, her crush fades away only to be replaced by genuine feelings. Their friendship slowly gives way to romance, but Madeline cannot help but wonder how long their relationship will last once Jonny returns to the glitz and glamour of his acting career.

Madeline struggled to find her way but she loves her career as a bridal shop owner. She has an uncanny knack for picking the perfect dress for brides to be and she is eager to take a more active role in the business. Although she does not know anything about planning a wedding, Madeline is quite enthusiastic about helping Jonny plan his sister Ginger’s wedding. She and Jonny have a comfortable working relationship but it is not until he steps in to help her out with her snarky ex that their relationship takes a much more personal turn.

Jonny is surprisingly down to earth and he moved to Fool’s Gold to escape the limelight and paparazzi. Hoping to live an ordinary, simple life, he is continually taken off guard when the townspeople treat him the same as anyone else. Jonny has a bit of a tragic past and he finds it difficult to talk about his feelings so he demonstrates his love with extravagant but well-meaning gestures that are sometimes a little over the top. Luckily, Madeline gently reins him in and provides Ginger with the small, intimate ceremony she and her fiancé desire.

The relationship between Jonny and Madeline is low-key and builds slowly over the course of the novel. Jonny is drawn to Madeline and although he tries to keep his distance from her, he cannot seem to make himself stay away from her. Madeline never balks at spending time with him, but she cannot help but wonder how long his attraction to her will last since, in her mind, she is just an ordinary person. Their romance is very sweet with very little conflict but when trouble does arise between them, it is resolved quickly and without drama.

With an endearing cast of quirky characters, a sigh worthy hero and a lovable heroine, Susan Mallery’s Marry Me at Christmas is another enchanting addition to the Fool’s Gold series. This absolutely heartfelt and entertaining love story will leave readers with a smile on their face as they revisit old friends and meet new ones during this latest stop in Fool’s Gold.

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Review: Thrill Me by Susan Mallery

thrill meTitle: Thrill Me by Susan Mallery
Fool’s Gold Series Book 18
Publisher: HQN Books
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 368 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Meet the Mitchell brothers of Fool’s Gold, California—five gorgeous men who’ve left a trail of broken hearts in their wake… 

Maya Farlow learned the hard way to depend only on herself, so when she fell too deeply for the bad-boy charms of Del Mitchell, she did the only thing she could—she ran. Stunned, Del left Fool’s Gold to make his name and fortune in extreme sports.

Now ten years later, Maya’s been hired to promote her hometown’s new slogan, The Destination for Romance. The celebrity spokesman is none other than Del, the man she dumped but never forgot. Awkward!

Although Del’s not the type to hold a grudge, he’s determined to avoid falling a second time for the woman who broke his heart. He’s a daredevil, not an idiot. Trouble is, in all his adventures, he never found a rush as exhilarating as Maya’s kiss. Maybe risking his heart will prove to be the biggest thrill of all…

Review:

Thrill Me by Susan Mallery is a very charming second chance at love romance. This latest addition to the marvelous Fool’s Gold series is the first novel featuring the Mitchell brothers and in this outing, oldest brother Del meets up with ex-fiancée Maya Farlow when the pair work on a publicity project together. Surprisingly, they easily reconnect without anger or recrimination despite the abrupt end to their engagement ten years ago but trust issues threaten to derail their semi-rekindled romance.

Maya never thought she would return to Fool’s Gold but she is now happily established in her new job as communications manager for the town. She and her stepbrother Zane have repaired their relationship and she has renewed some of her old friendships. Maya is about to begin working on a new project to promote tourism when she is stunned to learn that she will be working with Del, who is visiting his family for a few weeks. Maya still feels guilty over the way she ended their engagement but she is happy to discover he harbors no animosity towards her.  Although there is no residual tension between them, Maya is quick to apologize for the way she handled their break up and their failed romance is pretty much a non-issue for them.

Del is not close to his extended family and his relationship with his artist father is particularly strained. He has more in common with his mom, but she is a little out of sorts trying to put the finishing touches on her husband’s upcoming birthday party. Del gets along well enough with his brother Nick, but he is a little taken aback by his brother Aidan’s hostility. Twin brothers Mathias and Ronan live out of town but they do put in a brief appearance at their father’s birthday celebration. Overall, there is a lot of discord in the family due to the many secrets they have been keeping.

Despite the difficulties with his family, Del is fairly easygoing and not much ruffles his composure. He enjoys working with Maya and he has learned a lot from her during their project. Both of them are still attracted to one another and they eventually act on their desire. Their relationship is a bit undefined since Del is leaving town soon, but Maya slowly realizes her feelings run deeper for him than just lust. Before they can decide what comes next for them as a couple, Del feels betrayed and lied to when he discovers Maya has been keeping a major secret from him.

Heartfelt and engaging with an exceptional cast of characters and a unique storyline, Thrill Me is a splendid addition to the Fool’s Gold series. Del and Maya are a terrific couple and their relationship is comfortable with a strong undercurrent of sexual tension. As always, the town of Fool’s Gold is warm and inviting and the townspeople are genuinely concerned for another’s well being. The glimpses of the Mitchell brothers are quite intriguing and it will be very interesting to see what Susan Mallery has planned for them in upcoming books. All in all, another sweet installment in a favorite series that old and fans of this wonderful series are sure to enjoy.

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Filed under Contemporary, Fools Gold Series, Harlequin, HQN Books, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Susan Mallery, Thrill Me

Review: Kiss Me by Susan Mallery

kiss meTitle: Kiss Me by Susan Mallery
Fool’s Gold Series Book Seventeen
Publisher: HQN Books
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 384 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Summary:

New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery creates the small-town destination for romance in charming Fool’s Gold, California—where a loner cowboy finds the one woman who can capture his heart 

After Phoebe Kitzke’s kind heart gets her suspended from her job in LA, she swears off doing favors—until her best friend begs for help on the family ranch in Fool’s Gold. Unfortunately, sexy cowboy Zane Nicholson isn’t exactly thrilled by the city girl’s arrival.

Thanks to his brother’s latest scheme, Zane has been roped into taking tourists on a cattle drive. What Phoebe knows about ranching wouldn’t fill his hat, but her laughter is so captivating that even his animals fall for her. One slip of his legendary control leads to a passionate kiss that convinces him she’s exactly the kind of woman a single-minded loner needs to avoid.

In his arms, Phoebe discovers she’s a country girl at heart. Yet no matter how much the small town feels like home, she can’t stay unless Zane loves her, too…but is this cowboy interested in forever?

Review:

In Kiss Me, the newest addition to the always fabulous and incredibly heartwarming Fool’s Gold series, Susan Mallery takes an unusual approach by setting the novel on gorgeous cowboy Zane Nicholson’s ranch instead of in Fool’s Gold. This bold (and possibly risky) decision, coupled with the addition of several new characters, keeps this long running series fresh while guest appearances by beloved characters from previous installments will delight devoted fans of the series.

Phoebe Kitzke is a compassionate and kindhearted woman whose latest act of kindness almost lands her jail when she takes the blame for a mistake made by her boss. She is generous to a fault and genuinely helpful to those in need and although this tendency to help others often ends badly, she remains unfailingly optimistic and caring.  Phoebe has many endearing qualities (such as conversing with animals)and she is also surprisingly intuitive, quite humorous and unexpectedly self-aware. Phoebe is absolutely marvelous and she is impossible not to like as she gamely agrees to join her best friend Maya Farlow on her ex-stepbrother’s cattle drive.

The ex-stepbrother in question is none other than Zane, the taciturn and delectably sexy cowboy briefly mentioned in previous novels of the Fool’s Gold series. Zane is beyond furious when he discovers his seventeen year old brother Chase set up a website offering tourists the chance to join in the ranch’s yearly cattle drive. He is Chase’s guardian and their relationship is precarious since Zane keeps trying to prevent Chase from making decisions that he will later regret. Zane carries tremendous emotional scars from his childhood and in an effort to avoid the heartache his father experienced after his mother’s death, he keeps his entanglements light and emotion free.

Joining them on the cattle drive are a group of eclectic greenhorns who are fighting a few battles of their own. C.J. and Thad Swanson volunteer to bring Lucy and Tommy, two foster kids on the drive. While Thad is eager to bond with the children, C.J.’s disappointment and anger at what she has lost causes her to avoid them as much as possible. Audacious and fun-loving septuagenarians Eddie and Gladys are two of the series regulars who join the cattle drive. Although the pair once again provide comic relief with their zany antics, a very poignant discussion with Zane will make even the most stoic reader shed a few tears. Married couple Martin and Andrea round out the cast of secondary characters and they definitely add a little spice to the adventure with their dietary demands.

Phoebe and Zane are attracted to one another right from the start, but neither plan to act on it. Phoebe takes relationships seriously and this is something that Zane not only recognizes but respects. However, they do enjoy one another’s company and they share many quiet (and a few passionate) moments together during the cattle drive. Zane thinks Phoebe is a little goofy but he surprisingly enjoys her little quirks. He also sees how open and giving she is and he appreciates her perceptive observations. Phoebe knows she is a little too trusting and while she vows to stop helping people, she eventually realizes that these traits are integral parts of who she is. However, she does learn to stand up for herself and not let others take advantage of her.

Kiss Me is another sweet, sexy and charming romance by Susan Mallery. The characters are multi-dimensional with believable flaw and realistic issues to overcome. The setting is unique and provides added interest to the overall storyline. This latest installment of the Fool’s Gold series is an emotional yet highly entertaining novel of love and forgiveness that old and new fans are going to love.

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Review: Hold Me by Susan Mallery

hold meTitle: Hold Me by Susan Mallery
Fool’s Gold Series Book Sixteen
Publisher: HQN Books
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 384 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher

Summary:

New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery’s classic blend of lighthearted humor and intense emotional conflict works its magic on two newcomers to the California town of Fool’s Gold, which Library Journal calls “a setting so real and appealing readers will want to start scoping out real estate.”

Destiny Mills believes passion has its place—like in the lyrics of the country songs that made her parents famous. After a childhood full of drama and heartache, she wants a life that’s calm. Safe. Everything that Kipling Gilmore isn’t. Her temporary assignment with the Fool’s Gold search and rescue team puts her in delicious proximity to the former world-class skier every day. Part of her aches to let go for once…the rest is terrified what’ll happen if she does.

Though an accident ended his career, Kipling still lives for thrills—and a hot fling with a gorgeous redhead like Destiny would be a welcome diversion. Yet beneath his new coworker’s cool facade is a woman who needs more than he’s ever given. With her, he’s ready to take the risk. But love, like skiing, is all about trust—and before you soar, you have to be willing to fall.

Review:

Hold Me is the sixteenth (sixteenth!!!!) installment in Susan Mallery’s warm and inviting Fool’s Gold series and it is just as fresh and appealing as the novels that proceed it. In this heartwarming addition, it is newcomers Destiny Mills and Kipling Gilmore turn to find their happily ever after.

Destiny, along with her teenage sister Starr, temporarily move to Fool’s Gold while Destiny sets up the software for the town’s new search and rescue program. Her job requires frequent travel, so she really has no permanent ties or friendships but she immediately connects with many of the women in town. As Starr’s newly appointed guardian, Destiny slowly realizes that it might be time to put down some permanent roots and Fool’s Gold might be her final assignment. Her tempestuous and unsettled childhood with her country music star parents has given her a rather unique outlook on sex, love and marriage and by choice, Destiny has never had a serious relationship.

After a career ending skiing accident, Kipling moved to Fool’s Gold to head up the new search and rescue team. He is also partners with several of the men in town and they are about to open a bar where the men can hang out and watch sports. He is a firm believer that actions speak louder than words so when someone he cares for runs into a problem, he springs into action and finds a way to fix things for them. His younger sister Shelby is often the recipient of his problem solving and despite her exasperation with him, the two have a close relationship.

Destiny and Kipling end up spending a lot of time together professionally and slowly but surely, an unexpected friendship forms between them. Kipling is attracted to her right from their first meeting, but he is only interested in a short term fling. Since Destiny witnessed firsthand how destructive strong emotion and passion can be, she decided to avoid romantic entanglements altogether. She does not recognize the strange yearnings that she feels around Kipling, but she does enjoy spending time with him. However, the one night Destiny unleashes her passion for music, their friendship takes an unexpected detour that could change the course of their relationship.

In Hold Me, Susan Mallery once again works her magic and provides readers with another enchanting addition to the Fool’s Gold series. All of the characters are multi-faceted with relatable flaws and believable problems to overcome. The setting is, as always, idyllic with a homey atmosphere. The storyline is realistic and delightfully angst free. It is another fun and heartfelt novel that I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys sweet and steamy contemporary romances.

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Filed under Contemporary, Fools Gold Series, Hold Me, HQN Books, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Susan Mallery

Review: Christmas on 4th Street by Susan Mallery

4th streetTitle: Christmas on 4th Street by Susan Mallery
Fool’s Gold Series Book 12.5
Publisher: Harlequin HQN
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length:336 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

There’s nowhere better to spend the holidays than with New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery in the town of Fool’s Gold, where love is always waiting to be unwrapped…

Noelle Perkins just got a second chance at life, and she intends to make the most of it. That’s why she’s opening her own store in Fool’s Gold, California. The Christmas Attic celebrates everything that’s magical about her favorite season. Business is booming, and as a bonus, gorgeous army doctor Gabriel Boylan has offered to help out during the holiday rush.

Gabriel’s memories of Christmas past contain more sour grapes than sugarplums, thanks to his drill sergeant father. Spending the holidays with his family while he recuperates from an injury sounds as appetizing as last year’s eggnog. Still, there are some enjoyable distractions in town, including sunny, sexy Noelle…and the red-hot mistletoe kisses they can’t stop sharing.

Gabriel didn’t think he was made for happily-ever-afters. But when fate hands you a love as sweet and surprising as this, only a fool could refuse….

This edition is a reprint and includes the bonus story, Yours for Christmas (reviewed HERE).

The Review:

Christmas on 4th Street is a charming and very heartwarming addition to Susan Mallery’s delightful Fool’s Gold series. In this outing, relative newcomer to Fool’s Gold Noelle Perkins is paired up with Gabriel Boylan, an Army doctor who is only in town for the holidays. What makes this romance so fascinating is the fact they both went through similar experiences, yet their outlook on life is completely opposite. Further complicating their relationship is the fact that Gabriel is not planning on remaining in Fool’s Gold permanently. Will a little holiday magic bring this couple the happily ever after they so richly deserve?

Noelle has experienced more than her fair share of loss, but she embraces life to the fullest. Needing a life change, she moved to Fool’s Gold to open her Christmas shop and the town and its inhabitants welcomed her with open arms. Now with a large group of friends providing emotional support and unconditional friendship, Noelle is eager to move on to the next stage in her life: falling in love and settling down.

Gabriel has avoided spending the holidays with his family for several years, but an injury finds him stateside while he recovers both physically and mentally. In Fool’s Gold to reconnect with his twin brother Gideon, Gabriel is unpleasantly surprised to learn their parents will also be in town for Christmas. His relationship with his father remains contentious, so Gabriel offers to fill in at Noelle’s shop over the holidays.

Gabriel and Noelle share an easygoing friendship, but they both resist giving into the passion that simmers between them. Gabriel is honest that he does not want a long term relationship and Noelle is not willing to settle for a quick fling. Agreeing to ignore their attraction, they enjoy working together and with mutual acquaintances, they also spend time together socially as well.   The shift in their relationship from platonic to lovers is gradual and realistic, but their conflicting viewpoints on love quickly become a point of contention between them.

Christmas on 4th Street is a warm and inviting holiday story that old and new fans of the Fool’s Gold series are sure to enjoy. Despite some series topics, it is mostly a light-hearted romance between two very engaging and likable characters. Susan Mallery fully captures the spirit of the season with a storyline that is very endearing, but it is the fantastic cast of characters and loving community that make it such an outstanding read. Another emotional filled and uplifting novel that I highly recommend.

A quick note to readers: this edition is a reprint and includes the bonus story Yours for Christmas.

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Filed under Christmas on 4th Street, Contemporary, Fools Gold Series, Harlequin, HarlequinHQN, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Susan Mallery