Tag Archives: Susan Mallery

Hold Me

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Author: Susan Mallery
Publisher: HQN Books                                  hold me
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Emer Flounders

 

 

Goodreads:  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.

Ope’s Opinion: This is another good story by Susan Mallery.  She has a way of writing characters that you root for and can relate to.  Although this is the sixteenth book in the Fool’s Gold series, you can read it as if it were a stand alone book.  

As usual, I could have lived without the sex scenes.  I don’t need those details.

I really enjoyed the relationship between Destiny and Starr.  Being half sisters and not growing up together didn’t keep them from getting to know each other.  It was nice to see them support each other and learn to be a family.

The ending is predictable, but getting there took a lot of side roads.  I do feel it was wrapped up a bit fast in the last few pages.

Rating: 4 – I like this book so much I know several friends to share with it.

The Girls of Mischief Bay

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Author: Susan Mallery
Publisher:  MIRA
Genre:  Contemporary Romance             girls
Source: Emer Flounders

 

 

Goodreads:  Nicole Lord wants to be a good wife, but there’s a difference between being supportive and supporting her husband, who quit his job to write a screenplay she’s never seen. He won’t even help take care of their son, leaving Nicole to run the house and work full-time at her Mischief Bay Pilates studio. Can she say enough is enough without losing the man she loves?

Sacrificing a personal life for her career is how Shannon Rigg rose to become vice president in her firm, but she wonders now whether she made the right choice. An exciting new relationship with a great guy convinces her that it might not be too late—until he drops a bombshell that has her questioning whether she can have it all. And if she can, does she want it?

Although Pam Eiland has a beautiful house and a husband she adores, she feels… restless. She wonders who a stay-at-home mom becomes after the kids are grown. Finding sexy new ways to surprise her husband brings the heat and the humor back to their marriage, but when unexpected change turns her life upside down, she’ll have to redefine herself. Again.

Through romance and heartbreak, laughter and tears, three very different women will discover that friends can become family, and that life is richer with sisters at your side.

Ope’s Opinion:  Susan Mallery writes such wonderful, relatable characters and weaves an awesome story.  There are three women in this story, you can identify with one of them or maybe all three!  

I felt like I could live at Mischief Bay and be friends with these women.  Pam is closest to my age and I have the most in common with her.  Her story is very close to my own.  Some of her story made my heart ache.

I really enjoyed the fact that these women were of different ages, interests and stages in life, yet they are friends and supported each other.  I am looking forward to going back to Mischief Bay and seeing these women as Susan Mallery continues this series.

Rating: 5 – This book is so good it will be passed on and on and on….

Barefoot Season

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Author:  Susan Mallery            barefoot
Publisher:  Mira
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Source:  Purchased

 

 

 

Goodreads:  Michelle Sanderson may appear to be a strong, independent woman, but on the inside, she’s still the wounded girl who fled home years ago. A young army vet, Michelle returns to the quaint Blackberry Island Inn to claim her inheritance and recover from the perils of war. Instead, she finds the owner’s suite occupied by the last person she wants to see.

Carly Williams and Michelle were once inseparable, until a shocking betrayal destroyed their friendship. And now Carly is implicated in the financial disaster lurking behind the inn’s cheerful veneer.

Single mother Carly has weathered rumors, lies and secrets for a lifetime, and is finally starting to move forward with love and life. But if the Blackberry Island Inn goes under, Carly and her daughter will go with it.

To save their livelihoods, Carly and Michelle will undertake a turbulent truce. It’ll take more than a successful season to move beyond their devastating past, but with a little luck and a beautiful summer, they may just rediscover the friendship of a lifetime.

Ope’s Opinion:  This is the first book in the Blackberry Island series. I read them all out of order.  I read the second, third and now this one.  They can each stand alone, but would be better read in order.  

Once again, Susan Mallery wrote a captivating story that had you rooting for the main characters. All the other characters feel real and add so much to the story.  She made me want to go stay at the inn or move to Blackberry Island.  

This is a  story of friendship.  There is some romance, but it is not the focus of this book.  I actually enjoyed the fact that this book was focus more the friendship.  Towards the end of the book a dog is part of the story – it is such an awesome part of this book.  I don’t want to give anything away, so that is all I will say.

Pick up this book and start reading.  You will  want to go ahead and get the other two books – Three Sisters and Evening Star.  So much fun to read!

 
Rating:  Four Chairs – I like this book so much I know several friends to share it with.
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Evening Stars

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Author:  Susan Mallery                               evening
Publisher:  Harlequin MIRA
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Source: Harlequin

 

 

Goodreads:  New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery returns to Blackberry Island with the poignant tale of two sisters on the verge of claiming their dreams.

Small-town nurse Nina Wentworth has made a career out of being a caretaker. More “Mom” than their mother ever was, she sacrificed medical school—and her first love—so her sister could break free. Which is why she isn’t exactly thrilled to see Averil back on Blackberry Island, especially when Nina’s life has suddenly become…complicated.

Nina unexpectedly finds herself juggling two men—her high school sweetheart and a younger maverick pilot who also wants to claim her heart. But as fun as all this romance is, Nina has real life to deal with. Averil doesn’t seem to want the great guy she’s married to, and doesn’t seem to be making headway writing her first book; their mom is living life just as recklessly as she always has; and Nina’s starting to realize that the control she once had is slipping out of her fingers. Her hopes of getting off the island seem to be stretching further away…until her mother makes a discovery that could change everything forever.

But before Nina and Averil can reach for the stars, they have to decide what they want. Will Averil stay? Will Nina leave? And what about the men who claim to love them? Does love heal, or will finding their happy ending mean giving up all they’ve ever wanted?

Ope’s Opinion:  Susan Mallery can really tell a story!  This was a great read.  All her characters are flawed and are realistic people you can relate to.  There are several supporting characters that are an important part of the story.  All the family interactions lets you see all the personalities.  

Although this book is part of a series, you can read it as a stand alone.  It is written so well you will not feel you have missed anything from the previous books.

This would make a good book club book.  You can weigh in on the side of things happening to you, so you live with them or you choose your path regardless of what life throws at you.

The ending answered all my questions and left me feeling good.


Rating:  Four Chairs – I like this book so much I know several friends to share it with.
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Three Sisters

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Author:  Susan Mallerythree sisters
Publisher:  Harlequin MIRA
Pages:  325
Genre:  Romance
Source:  Library

Goodreads:   After Andi Gordon is jilted at the altar, she makes the most impetuous decision of her life – buying one of the famed Three Sisters Queen Anne houses on Blackberry Island. Now the proud-ish owner of the ugly duckling of the trio, she plans to open her own pediatric office on the first floor, just as soon as her hunky contractor completes the work. Andi’s new future may be coming together, but the truth is she’s just as badly in need of a major renovation as her house.

When Deanna Phillips confronts her husband about a suspected affair, she opens up a Pandora’s Box of unhappiness. And he claims that she is the problem. The terrible thing is, he’s right. In her quest to be the perfect woman, she’s lost herself, and she’s in danger of losing her entire family if things don’t change. 

Next door, artist Boston King thought she and her college sweetheart would be married forever. Their passion for one other has always seemed indestructible. But after tragedy tears them apart, she’s not so sure. Now it’s time for them to move forward, with or without one another. 

Thrown together by fate and geography, and bound by the strongest of friendships, these three women will discover what they’re really made of: laughter, tears, love and all.

Ope’s Opinion:  Susan Mallery hit another home run!  This book read so fast!  The story of all three women were relatable and fast moving.  It was great to see each woman’s story move forward in each chapter.  It made it seem more like real time.  

The intimate details of the romance  is my least favorite part, but at least each woman was with only one man.  They were real relationships with flaws and heart felt struggles.  As you read, you will want each woman to be happy at the end.  You can’t help but route for them.

I want more of the Blackberry Island books!  This may be my favorite Susan Mallery book to date.  So keep writing!

Rating: Four Chairs – I like the book so much I know several friends to share it with.

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