Christmas on 4th Street by Susan Mallery Series: Fool's Gold #12.5
Published by HQN Books on Sept. 24, 2013
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 336
Format: eARC
Source: the publisher
Add to Goodreads
Also in this series: Three Little Words, A Fool's Gold Christmas, When We Met, Before We Kiss, Until We Touch, Yours for Christmas, Hold Me, Kiss Me, Thrill Me, Marry Me at Christmas, Best of My Love
Also by this author: Three Little Words, A Fool's Gold Christmas, When We Met, Before We Kiss, Until We Touch, Yours for Christmas, Hold Me, Kiss Me, Thrill Me, Marry Me at Christmas, Best of My Love, The Ladies' Man, Second Chance Girl, Why Not Tonight
Noelle Perkins just got a second chance at life, and she intends to make the most of every minute. That's why she ditched a frustrating legal career to open 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 sugar plums, thanks to a drill sergeant father who ran his home like a boot camp. Spending the holidays with his family while he recuperates from 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....
I received a review copy of this book from the publisher.
Review
Christmas on 4th Street is another heartwarming holiday romance set in Susan Mallery’s fictional but charming town of Fool’s Gold. I really liked Noelle, the spunky, determined heroine who has more reason than most to relish every second of her life. Gabriel is a typical Mallery hero: sexy and fundamentally decent but complex, with painful past experiences that have left him commitment-phobic (not unlike a number of other now-happily-married Fool’s Gold men.) The chemistry between the two is unmistakable, and several times I wanted to shake some sense into Gabriel, whose issues were the only thing standing in the way of a happy ending.
There’s plenty of Christmas spirit, but much of the book felt very reminiscent of A Fool’s Gold Christmas, from the hero’s “I don’t do long-term” to his eventual coming to his senses. I’d recommend it to fans of Mallery’s Fool’s Gold series and others looking for a pleasing if somewhat predictable holiday romance.
About Susan Mallery
With more than 25 million books sold worldwide, New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery is known for creating characters who feel as real as the folks next door, and for putting them into emotional, often funny situations readers recognize from their own lives. Susan’s books have made Booklist’s Top 10 Romances list in four out of five consecutive years. RT Book Reviews says, “When it comes to heartfelt contemporary romance, Mallery is in a class by herself.” With her popular, ongoing Fool’s Gold series, Susan has reached new heights on the bestsellers lists and has won the hearts of countless new fans.
Susan grew up in southern California, moved so many times that her friends stopped writing her address in pen, and now has settled in Seattle with her husband and the most delightfully spoiled little dog who ever lived.
Herding Cats - Burning Soup
I so need to get the rest of this series. I’ve read some earlier ones and then the last few but missed so many in the middle. Will have to see if I can find this one out and about still. I love those Christmas reads even if it’s a bit past the holiday 🙂
Lark @ The Bookwyrm's Hoard
I like these. They’re good for when I need something comforting.
Pamela D
I love predictable romances when there is a Christmas theme. 🙂
Lark @ The Bookwyrm's Hoard
The predictability can be comforting and familiar, like snuggling a warm blanket around you. 🙂