Romance Retreat: Only His by Susan Mallery

Book Review: Only His by Susan Mallery

Only His - Susan Mallery

Wedding bells are ringing in Fool’s Gold, but not for Nevada Hendrix. Her triplet sisters are engaged, and even her mother has a more active love life than she does. Determined to make a fresh start, she applies for her dream job, only to discover that her new boss is her first love. Maybe she could overlook the fact that they’ve seen each other naked, but she’ll never forget the way he broke her heart. Tucker Janack agrees to Nevada’s “business only” ground rules. After all, love is a trap that the construction millionaire has avoided his whole life. But when great business partners turn out to be so much more, every rule gets broken. Will either of them be willing to try again…or will their past get in the way?

HQN Books - Release Date: 27th September 2011

Why Did I read this book?

As I've already explained in my previous Romance Retreat post, I like to read at least one book a month in this genre and Susan Mallery is a favourite author of mine when it comes to contemporary romance.. Only HIs is the sixth book in her Fool's Gold series (the 3rd in the Hendrix triplets mini-series) so, naturally I had to pick it up.
I got this book through Netgalley

The Cover

As always with e-galley I've not seen the cover in IRL. I quite like it though. It looks summery and very serene and tranquil. It doesn't fit the story though, as Only His is more a wintery novel than a summery, and I don't think there's a lake in Fool's Gold.

My Thoughts
When you pick up a Susan Mallery novel you always get exactly what you expect. A charming setting, a sweet romance, some obstacles and a Happy Ever After. It's like a warm blanket and a cup of hot chocolate during Winter, or the sand under your feet and the ocean breeze on your skin in Summer. In other words, it's the perfect escape from dreary every day life.
Only His is the 6th Fool's Gold novel and features the third triplet sister Nevada and her first crush, now boss, Tucker Janack.Only His is not solely about Nevada and Tucker, but also about the town they live in.  It's awesome reading about Fool's Gold again, it's such a wonderful place and it comes alive within the pages. There are a few sidestories. For instance we get to follow Denise Hendrix, mother of the triplets, and her second chance at love, something that was set up nicely the earlier novels. We also get to see Jo falling in love, she who has been the constant throughout all six novels, owner of the bar and a shotgun, averse to love and men.
Only His is several things at once. It's a nice ending to the Only-miniseries, it's also a bit like a high-school reunion where you get to meet all the characters you liked in the earlier novels and see what they are up to know AND it's also setting up another three novels set in Fool's Gold, as we get to meet new(ish) characters like Annabelle, Charlie and Heidi.

Final Words
If you've enjoyed the previous novels set in Fool's Gold, you definitely shouldn't miss this one.

Romance Retreat: Only Yours by Susan Mallery

Book Review: Only Yours by Susan Mallery

Only Yours - Susan Mallery

Man’s best…matchmaker?

Montana Hendrix has found her calling—working with therapy dogs. With a career she loves in a hometown she adores, she’s finally ready to look for her own happily ever after. Could one of her dogs help her find Mr. Right…or maybe Dr. Right?

Surgeon Simon Bradley prefers the sterility of the hospital to the messiness of real life, especially when real life includes an accident-prone mutt and a woman whose kisses make him want what he knows he can’t have.

Scarred since childhood, he avoids emotional entanglement by moving from place to place to heal children who need his skillful touch. Can his growing feelings for Montana lead him to find a home in Fool’s Gold, or will he walk away, taking her broken heart with him?

Why did I read this book?

As I've already explained in my previous Romance Retreat post, I like to read at least one book a month in this genre and Susan Mallery is a favourite author of mine in this genre. Only Yours is the fifth book in her Fool's Gold series (the 2nd in the Hendrix triplets mini-series) so, naturally I had to pick it up.
I got this book through Netgalley

The Cover
I haven't seen this cover IRL, only on the e-galley. Not quite sure what to make of it, it looks a bit like late spring, early summer, but the color-combination reminds of Autumn. But it looks like a feel-good novel, which it is. The only thing missing is the dog!!!
 
My Thoughts
Some of you may remember that I wasn't a big fan of  Only Mine as I stated in my review, but I immediately dove into this one after finishing Only Mine. For me the difference between book #4 and this one was like Day and Night. I simply adored this book. Simon is such an interesting and troubled hero, I love his scars and his self-sacrifice, his loneliness. Montana on the other hand feels like a fresh breeze. I felt a connection with her that I didn't with Dakota. Maybe because we get to know Montana a little bit more in the previous Fool's Gold books than we do Dakota. And the fact that she worked in the library before obviously helps.
What I loved about this book is that it focused more on the main characters, the secondary stories are kept to a minimum and we get to meet the characters from the previous books again. After having read five books about Fool's Gold it's become close to my heart. I love reading about that town, it feels like a know every inhabitant, every street, all the corners and moods of this town. The parts that are set in the hospital in this story are heartbreaking and wonderfully written. The chemistry between Simon and Montana is perfect, as easy as that.

My only problem with Only Yours is a personal one. I'm scared of dogs. That's all.

Final Words
If you are looking for a feel-good novel, sparkling chemistry, scarred hero and cute dogs this is the book for you.

Romance Retreat #1

Bookreview - Only Mine by Susan Mallery

Only Mine (Fool's Gold #4) - Susan Mallery

You can’t win if you don’t play…

Her town’s lack of men may make headlines, but it isn’t news to Dakota Hendrix. The beautiful blonde has bigger problems to deal with, such as overseeing the romance reality competition filming in Fool’s Gold. Screening eligible bachelors is a difficult enough task, but Dakota hits an unexpected snag when a sexy stranger comes to town.

Finn Anderssen will do anything to keep his twin brothers—the perfect contestants—off the show. Despite Dakota’s better judgment, she finds herself drawn to the mysterious outsider. Like her, Finn knows about heartbreak and how a family can fall apart, so she doesn’t dare to hope for anything more than a fling. After all, even in the Land of Happy Endings, finding true love is never as easy as it looks on TV.

Why did I read this book?

I know I haven't featured Women's Fiction/Contemporary Romance on this blog before. I've always read at least one a month to take a break from darker dystopian YA novels or *heavier* chick-lit. Susan Mallery is one of my favourite authors when it comes to these type of books and when I heard that the Hendrix triplets from her Fool's Gold series would get their own books I was excited.
I received Only Mine through Netgalley.

The Cover

I haven't seen the cover IRL as I've read it as en e-galley. I haven't any opinion about it apart from liking the color-combination.

My thoughts about the book

I really enjoyed the overall warm and fuzzy feeling this book evoked in me. It felt nice visiting Fool's Gold again, seeing all the old characters again. Fool's Gold is such a charming, friendly and unique place, it's a perfect background to the story.
Dakota is a smart, funny and headstrong woman. I envy her inner strength, her fighting spirit. The interaction between her and her sisters, mother, the women in town and of course with Finn are beautifully rendered and a joy to read.

Finn is quite swoon-worthy. I love me an Alaskan Man (yes, I have a soft spot for Alaska). I liked the fact that his family meant everything to him, that he spent the most part of the book angry and grumpy, and oh my is that man wonderful with a little baby-girl. But other than that I found him regrettably boring, I just didn't quite connect with him.

There were quite a few things that bugged me while reading this book. I can't reveal specific details as I don't want to write down any spoilers. I was sad to see that this book features so many pet-peeves of mine, pet-peeves that really annoy me and take away from the joy of reading it. I also didn't feel any romance or spark between Dakota and Finn, no reason why they should be together and like each other. Which is a shame, as I really liked Dakota.

There is however a second couple in this book. I LOOOOOOVED them together. Aurelia and Stephen. Quite a controversial match, for some at least. I couldn't get enough of them, couldn't turn the pages fast enough to read more about them.

Last Words

Only Mine is a light and fast read. Even though I had some problems with some aspects of it, it was still a quite enjoyable read and I finished it in one evening. If you enjoyed the previous Fool's Gold novels Only Mine is definitely worth to pick up and read.

Recommendations

My favourite books by Susan Mallery are Straight From the Hip and Sweet Success.