REVIEW and GIVEAWAY: UNTIL WE TOUCH by SUSAN MALLERY

Series: Fool's Gold #15
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Harlequin HQN
Publication Date: 6/24/14
Format: ARC
Pages: 384
Source: Publisher
Rating: 3 stars


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From New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery comes the story of secret desires finally fulfilled…

After a family tragedy, former football hero Jack McGarry keeps the world at arm's length—a challenge now that his PR firm has moved to neighborly Fool's Gold, California.

Larissa Owens knows where she stands—Jack sees her as just another one of the guys. No matter what her heart wishes, Jack's her boss, not her boyfriend. But then Larissa's big secret is revealed…by her mother!

When Jack discovers the truth about Larissa's feelings, her touch suddenly becomes tantalizing, and he's not sure he wants to resist. But if he gives in to desire, heartache is sure to follow. Friendship or true love—will Jack go for the ultimate play?

 

My Review

 

I've been excited to read Until We Touch since I finished When We Met. Somehow I managed to miss Sam's book, but there was no way I would miss Jack and Larissa. These two had an underlying chemistry that's a result of years of working together, laughing together, and helping each other many ways. Though they were opposites, Jack and Larissa fit together so well. I just knew that I would love their story.

 

Except...I didn't. Don't get me wrong, I didn't dislike Until We Touch. In fact, there were a lot of things I liked about it. I always love revisiting Fool's Gold, I love the strong female relationships in the series, and I like the comfort. But I just didn't get on board with Jack's part in the relationship.

 

I recently read this post from a romance author (sorry, I can't find it!), on what she believes is expected of a romance novel. To briefly sum it up, she noted that readers need three aspects in romance: 1) to believe the couple is meant to be together  2) to believe and/or understand the conflict that keeps them apart  3) to believe the couple can/has worked sufficiently worked through that issue and has earned the happily ever after. The problem here, for me, is I wasn't completely sold on #2, but that's not uncommon, so, fine. But I was absolutely not sold on #3. I felt that the ending -with Jack's revelations about himself and his feelings for Larissa not being fully fleshed out - was rushed. That's always going to bring me away from the story with a less than satisfied feeling.

 

I understand that I may be alone in my feelings, but there you have it. I do enjoy the Fool's Gold series so much, and believe that a lot of readers will love Jack and Larissa's story. I just had higher expectations that were not fully met. I have no idea whom the next book will be about (maybe Kenny? Bailey?) but I do look forward to revisiting.

 

I'm giving away my ARC of Until We Touch.

Must be 18+ years of age; open to US only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author

 

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author SUSAN MALLERY is known for emotionally complex stories told with charm and wit. With a keen eye for human nature, she breathes life into characters on the page and was recently honored with a prestigious National Readers’ Choice Award. Susan has lived all over the United States, including a childhood in the suburbs of Los Angeles, graduate school in the hills of Pennsylvania and several years in Texas. These days, she makes her home in Seattle, Washington. She’s there for the coffee, not the weather.

Find Susan online at www.SusanMallery.com  She’s also very active on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads, and has been known to invite her fans to help her name characters and brainstorm aspects of her books.

REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY: WHEN WE MET by SUSAN MALLERY

 

 

 

Welcome to my stop on tour to celebrate the release of When We Met the latest in the Fool’s Gold Series. The tour is being hosted by BookTrib. My stop includes a review and giveaway.

Series: Fool's Gold #13
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Harlequin HQN
Publication Date: 4/29/14
Format: ARC
Pages: 352
Source: Received from publicist for review
Rating: 3.5 stars


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New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery invites you back to Fool's Gold, where a newcomer to town might finally meet the man she never knew she needed…

Angel Whittaker earned his scars the hard way, but the scars that can't be seen are the ones that haunt him the most. Since he moved to Fool's Gold, California, he's cobbled together a life for himself as a bodyguard trainer. If he's not exactly happy, at least his heart is safe.

Working with pro-football superstars taught tough-talking PR woman Taryn Crawford one thing—she can go toe to toe with any man. But then dark, dangerous former Special Ops Angel targets her for seduction…and challenges her to resist his tempting kisses.

Even in four-inch heels, Taryn never backs down. Unless, somehow, Angel can convince her that surrender might feel even better than victory.

After enjoying Three Little Words, I was happy to go back to Fool's Gold, California. This series is full of characters with interesting and often complex backgrounds; Angel Whittaker and Taryn Crawford were no exception.

Both Angel and Taryn have exceedingly heartbreaking backgrounds. Angel is a man who lost his family, and has a mysterious scar across his neck that draws curious glance, but which he refuses to discuss. I'll admit, I'm a bit disappointed we never get the story. Taryn is a divorcee who's ex-husband is her business partner and close friend (it's a long, weird, but cool story). At first, these two sort of seemed like an odd pairing to me. I'm not sure why, but Angel struck me as the type to like a woman with simpler style, the complete opposite of what Taryn projects. After a life of poverty, Taryn can finally afford what the wants, and that would be designer shoes and clothing.

So despite my initial assumption of Angel, he is very attracted to Taryn's style, to all of her. I was a bit thrown by him just approaching Taryn and telling her they were going to happen, but it's just one of those things you have to go with. And wow, the things Angel says to Taryn...that man can bring the swoon. The relationship starts to build in a more endearing manner when work and obligation has them seeking help from each other. Along the way, Marcus and Taryn open up about their sad pasts, and that's when I was pulled into the story. Because of those pasts, Angel's devastating loss and Taryn's tough upbringing, neither wants love. We all know where this is going, right? Right. It was also no surprise that despite the two falling for each other, there's a lot of resistance, especially from Angel. Though he did frustrate me, Mallery did a nice job of reinforcing the reason for his hesitance.

I'd forgotten how much I enjoy Fool's Gold, a small town in California with the most interesting variety of people and businesses. I really appreciate the strong friendships between the ladies, and that's really a huge selling point for this series. There are no rivalries or general bitchiness, these ladies are all about support and having fun. A lot of the story is filled with the day-to-day goings on of Fool's Gold and its residents, so if you're a long time fan of the series and you love mentions and interactions with former leading characters/couples, or you just really enjoy the small-town setting, When We Met will hit the spot.


Favorite Quote
   "Of course I want you, Taryn. I'm breathing, aren't I? Because it would take being dead not to want you. You told me you wanted me to work for it and I'm more than willing to do that. To wait to feel your skin against mine, your mouth, your breasts, all of you. But when we are together, it's going to be my way. It's going to be slow. There won't be an inch of you I won't touch, won't please. I want to learn everything you like and then figure out how to do it so well I can make you come anytime, anywhere. And I will."

Giveaway

One winner will receive a copy of When We Met, courtesy of the publisher.
Must be 18+ years of age; open to US/Can only.


a Rafflecopter giveaway


 

About the author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author SUSAN MALLERY is known for emotionally complex stories told with charm and wit. With a keen eye for human nature, she breathes life into characters on the page and was recently honored with a prestigious National Readers’ Choice Award. Susan has lived all over the United States, including a childhood in the suburbs of Los Angeles, graduate school in the hills of Pennsylvania and several years in Texas. These days, she makes her home in Seattle, Washington. She’s there for the coffee, not the weather.

Find Susan online at www.SusanMallery.com  She’s also very active on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads, and has been known to invite her fans to help her name characters and brainstorm aspects of her books.

THREE LITTLE WORDS BLOG TOUR: SUSAN MALLERY'S FOOL PROOF BRIDAL KIT GIVEAWAY

Welcome to my stop on the Fool Proof Bridal Kit Giveaway and Blog Tour to celebrate the release of Susan Mallery's new book, Three Little Words, the latest in the Fool’s Gold Trilogy. The tour is being hosted by BookTrib; go to the tour homepage to follow the month-long tour. My stop includes a review and giveaway.

Series: Fool's Gold #12
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Harlequin HQN
Publication Date: 7/30/13
Format: ARC
Source: Received from publicist for review
Rating: 4 stars

Can first love turn into the real deal in a sizzling new Fool's Gold story from New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery? Isabel Carlisle thinks she's cursed in the romance department. Her teenage crush, Ford Hendrix, ignored all her letters. Her husband left her for another...man. So Isabel has come home to dust off her passion for fashion and run the family bridal shop until her parents are ready to sell it. Then she'll pursue her real dreams. At least, that's the plan, until sexy, charming Ford returns and leaves her feeling fourteen all over again....

Seeing Isabel all grown up hits bodyguard trainer Ford like a sucker punch. Back when heartbreak made him join the military, her sweet letters kept him sane. Now he can't take his eyes-or his lips-off her. The man who gave up on love has a reason to stay in Fool's Gold forever-if three little words can convince Isabel to do the same....

 

Three Little Words hit several romance "sweet spots" with me: Small town setting, a large and interesting cast of characters, and best of all, the long ago, unrequited crush that quickly becomes so much more.

Susan Mallery is an author I've noticed for years, hadn't yet read, but had plans to do so at some point. So when I got the offer to review Three Little Words, my decision was easy. And I know it might seem odd that my first Mallery book is also the twelfth in a series, but the books are companions and the author did such a nice job of subtly filling in details on the characters and their ties to one another, that I did not have a hard time keeping up.

Fool's Good was such a charming town, full of sweet, quirky, nosy, genuinely nice people. It's the type of town that makes you think of the saying "All roads lead to home."

Three Little Words centers around Isabel and Ford, but the story has a large secondary cast. Because this is a series of companion novels, long-time fans of the series will be happy to see former leading characters mentioned, or better yet, have a lot of scenes like several did in this installment. The story even features a secondary romance that actually played a large part in the story, between Ford's brother Kent and his co-worker Consuelo. I really enjoyed their romance. Kent, a teacher and single father, was such a good guy. Consuelo, a former special ops agent, has so much baggage from her former life. These two definitely had enough going on for their own book, so I'm a little curious why their story was sandwiched into this one.

At the heart of Three Little Words is Ford and Isabel. Their history is sad, but sweet. Ford went into the Navy after a bad breakup with Isabel's sister. Isabel, only fourteen at the time, had a huge crush on Ford, and and faithfully wrote him letters over the years. Because she wrote over a time span of ten years, Ford basically experienced Isabel growing up. She stopped writing when she and her boyfriend became serious. Now, four years later, she's divorced and back home, and Ford is back in Fool's Gold as well. After reconnecting, the two begin a fake relationship, meant to last temporarily.

I'm betting most can guess just how well that fake relationship works out and happens next with Ford and Isabel. Ford is very reluctant to become seriously involved, almost to the point of frustration. He was very cocky, but in a fun way. Isabel was a sweetheart, and so easy to love. Together, these two had really great chemistry, and I loved the progression of their relationship. The story is nothing new for those who read romance, but for me, the relationship was so genuinely sweet and fun that I was simply happy to be along for the ride. I'll likely even make a u-turn at some point and start the Fool's Gold series from the very beginning.

Favorite Quote:

  She managed to swallow. "You're saying women want you?"
  "All the time."
  "How that must annoy you."
  "I'm used to it. Mostly I consider taking care of them my patriotic duty."
  She felt her mouth drop open. "Your duty?"
  "Patriotic duty. It would be un-American to leave a woman in need."  ~ARC, pg25
 

  "You okay?" Ford asked with a grin.
  She nodded. "Confused."
  "I do that to women. You're overwhelmed by desire. I should have warned you."  ~ARC, pg187

Purchase Three Little Words
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository 

 

GIVEAWAY

Book Trib is giving away a fabulous prize pack! Prizes include:

The Susan Mallery Foolproof Bridal Kit includes:

 

• A wedding-themed bottle of OPI nail polish
• Not Your Mother’s® Rise & Shine™ Silky Smooth Shine Mist
• Manicure set (includes emery board, small and large nail clippers, tweezers, cuticle stick and nail polish remover pad)
• Heart-shaped compact mirror
• 12-piece E.L.F. eye shadow kit                 
• Travel makeup brush set                                                             
• Makeup remover wipes                               
• Lip gloss
• Travel sewing kit
• Kleenex®
• Secret® deodorant
• Razor and Gillette® Shave Gel
• Nivea Creme
• Wisps toothbrushes
• TRESemmé® hairspray 

Must be 18 years of age to enter. US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author SUSAN MALLERY is known for emotionally complex stories told with charm and wit. With a keen eye for human nature, she breathes life into characters on the page and was recently honored with a prestigious National Readers’ Choice Award. Susan has lived all over the United States, including a childhood in the suburbs of Los Angeles, graduate school in the hills of Pennsylvania and several years in Texas. These days, she makes her home in Seattle, Washington. She’s there for the coffee, not the weather.

Find Susan online at www.SusanMallery.com  She’s also very active on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads, and has been known to invite her fans to help her name characters and brainstorm aspects of her books.