Before We Kiss by Susan Mallery

By: Unknown on Monday, June 02, 2014

Title:  Before We Kiss

Series:  Fool's Gold #14

Author:  Susan Mallery

Published:  May 27th 2014 by Harlequin HQN

Length:  368pgs

Format:  paperback

Genre:  contemporary romance

Shelf:  bought

Rating:  ★★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

New York Times bestselling sensation Susan Mallery returns to Fool's Gold, California, where it's true that sometimes you have to kiss a few frogs…

Former pro-football kicker Sam Ridge has notoriously bad luck with women—from cheaters to fame chasers. Still, the gorgeous brunette at the bar in Fool's Gold looks harmless—until she takes him home and he discovers a room devoted to securing a man, for life.

Dellina Hopkins never guessed that storing gowns from a friend's bridal boutique would chase away her first and only fling. After her parents died, she skipped her "wild youth" to raise her sisters. She doesn't want forever from Sam, but one night—all night—would've been nice.

His clean getaway gets messy when his firm hires Dellina to plan an event. As long hours lead to late nights, the two succumb to temptation again. Has Sam's luck finally changed? Or this time, will Dellina be the one to run?

Adult-content rating: This book contains content considered unsuitable for young readers 17 and under, and which may be offensive to some readers of all ages.

My Review:

Ok, this settles it. I’m moving to Fool’s Gold! Mallery has developed this enchanting sound in such a vividly real manner that I feel like I’ve walked through the town. Although Mallery’s descriptions and narrative make everything vivid in the reader’s mind, the story itself remains firmly planted in reality. Everything is so easy to believe and immerse yourself in that you can’t help but fall in love with it. The storyline was also completely unique with twists and turns that I could have never imagined, yet that fit perfectly with the characters and their stories. I laughed so hard at times. Mallery writes real life at its best, but with the fairy tale ending that so many of us want in our own lives.

Mallery’s work has an underlying message of hope that makes you realise you’re not alone. The characters in this novel have real lives. Sure some may be wealthy beyond belief, but that doesn’t mean that they have a happy go lucky, easy life. Take the main characters that we come to know and love in previous novels in this series but who really shine in this instalment. We get to know them on a much deeper, more intimate level. We find out that what is on the surface isn’t necessarily exactly what’s inside.

I appreciate that Mallery’s story is about so much more than just the main couple. She brings this whole town to life. Because Mallery’s focus is wider than simply the two main characters you actually get to know them better. By reading about everything happening around them you feel like you’re part of their lives, not just seeing a snippit of it. You, along with the main characters, are also part of something larger.

Overall this was a brilliant addition to Mallery’s Fools Gold series as well as an intriguing standalone novel. It is an emotionally stimulating novel that will capture your heart and your mind. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to others or to re-read it myself (and I’m not generally one for re-reads).

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