Thrill Me by Susan Mallery Series: Fool's Gold #18
Published by HQN Books on August 1st 2015
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 384
Format: eARC
Source: the publisher through NetGalley
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Also in this series: Three Little Words, A Fool's Gold Christmas, Christmas on 4th Street, When We Met, Before We Kiss, Until We Touch, Yours for Christmas, Hold Me, Kiss Me, Marry Me at Christmas, Best of My Love
Also by this author: Three Little Words, A Fool's Gold Christmas, Christmas on 4th Street, When We Met, Before We Kiss, Until We Touch, Yours for Christmas, Hold Me, Kiss Me, Marry Me at Christmas, Best of My Love, The Ladies' Man, Second Chance Girl, Why Not Tonight
Meet the Mitchell brothers of Fool's Gold, California—five gorgeous men who've left a trail of broken hearts in their wake… Maya Farlow learned the hard way to depend only on herself, so when she fell too deeply for the bad-boy charms of Del Mitchell, she did the only thing she could—she ran. Stunned, Del left Fool's Gold to make his name and fortune in extreme sports. Now ten years later, Maya's been hired to promote her hometown's new slogan, The Destination for Romance. The celebrity spokesman is none other than Del, the man she dumped but never forgot. Awkward! Although Del's not the type to hold a grudge, he's determined to avoid falling a second time for the woman who broke his heart. He's a daredevil, not an idiot. Trouble is, in all his adventures, he never found a rush as exhilarating as Maya's kiss. Maybe risking his heart will prove to be the biggest thrill of all…
I received a review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
Review
Thrill Me was light and fun, and for the most part, blessedly un-angsty. I really liked both Maya and Del, and their second-chance relationship was warm and believable.
Maya is Phoebe’s best friend (and matchmaker) and Zane’s and Chase’s stepsister from Kiss Me. Despite how take-charge and competent Maya appears in that book, she had a hard childhood, and it left its mark on her. Maya’s mom blamed Maya for her own unhappiness, constantly running Maya down and telling her she would never amount to anything. It made it hard for Maya to trust anyone to love her or rescue her. Of course, now she’s a talented video producer working for the town of Fool’s Gold; she doesn’t need rescuing anymore. She’s also a loyal and supportive friend – to Phoebe, and to Elaine Mitchell, the mother of Maya’s high-school love, Del. Her loyalty to Elaine puts her in a tough position vis-a-vis Del in this book, when Elaine asks Maya to keep something secret from him. (You know that’s going to end well!)
After Maya broke up with him a decade ago, Del fled Fool’s Gold and its memories. Now he’s back. Like Maya, he has matured well: he’s a successful businessman and a minor celebrity. He thinks he’s pretty well-balanced emotionally, though his relationship with his dad is strained and distant. Like Maya, Del has issues in his past due to a parent’s coldness. But he’s trying to mend fences with his brothers after his abrupt departure 10 years before. And he’s surprisingly comfortable around Maya despite what happened between them years ago.
Leave it to Mayor Marsha to do a little matchmaking. As soon as she knows Dell has returned, she arranges for him to work with Maya as the onscreen spokesman for the publicity footage Maya is producing for the town. It was fun to see the two of them resuming their friendship like mature adults while trying to ignore the attraction that still sizzles between them.* I didn’t have any doubt as to where things were going, but I enjoyed the ride anyway – complete with inevitable breakup and eventual reconciliation.
I’m a bit baffled by Del’s father and the relationship between him and Del’s mother; I really can’t see what she sees in him or why she loves and protects him the way she does. The Mitchell family has a lot of secrets; some of them are revealed in this book, and that causes some pain and turmoil for Del as well as his siblings. (I suspect there are books in store for Del’s brothers Nate and Aiden at some point, and possibly the twins as well.)
However, I am enjoying getting more glimpses into Eddie and Gladys, the two old ladies with an eye for a hot young guy – any hot young guy. But there’s a lot more to them than meets the eye, and beginning with the last book, we are starting to see them as people instead of caricatures. In earlier books it bothered me that the only older people we saw much of (except the mayor) were mainly there for comic relief, so I’m happy to get to know Eddie and Gladys as real people. They’re still as outrageous as ever, though – and I’m beginning to almost admire them for that.
Bottom line: Thrill Me is a good choice for poolside or beach reading this summer. It’s fun, it’s undemanding, and it should leave you, as it did me, with a smile on your face.
*As usual with Susan Mallery, there are a few steamy scenes. If you prefer your romance on the sweet side you can skip over them; you won’t miss any major plot developments.
Challenges: COYER Scavenger Hunt #38 – a book with a man fully clothed on the cover
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.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- COYER Scavenger Hunt - Summer 2015
Katherine @ I Wish I Lived in a Library
A 2nd chance romance AND un-angsty? I’m in! I haven’t read this series in awhile but I loved a Christmas book from this one that I loved and have been wanting to try it again. This sounds like a perfect one start back with.
Katherine @ I Wish I Lived in a Library recently posted…Redemption Bay – Review
Lark_Bookwyrm
Mostly unangsty, yes. And this works as a place to step (back) into the series. Have fun!
Trish @ Between My Lines
Unangsty is always a huge bonus! Sounds like a fun series.
Trish @ Between My Lines recently posted…July Pick’n’Mix Favourites
Lark_Bookwyrm
It is, and the town of Fool’s Gold is a fun place to hang out.
Bea @Bea's Book Nook
Undemanding and unangsty works for me. 🙂
Bea @Bea’s Book Nook recently posted…Meet the Men of Deep Six by Julie Ann Walker with An Excerpt & A Giveaway!
Lark_Bookwyrm
Me too. Sometimes I just want a nice light book with a guaranteed happy ending!
R_Hunt @ View From My Home
Light books are just what I’m looking for recently. Sounds good to me, and you mentioned a word I don’t much in romances, “un-angsty”. The big reason why I skip almost all YA romance books 🙂 Thanks for a good review.
R_Hunt @ View From My Home recently posted…Back… Sort Of…Random Chat
Lark_Bookwyrm
There are angsty YA books and less angsty YA books; by and large I have a preference for the latter when I read YA – but sometimes they’re hard to find! I’m especially unfond of love triangles, unless handled very well and essential to the plot. Luckily, you don’t get many of those in adult romance!
RO
I’ve been reading mostly suspense and thrillers these days, but as a fan of Susan Mallery, I’ll definitely pick this one up for a fun read once I’m back to the romance world. Great review! Hugs…Ro
RO recently posted…THURSDAY TASTINESS
Lark_Bookwyrm
Thanks, Ro! I used to do that too – read mostly one genre for a while, then switch to another for a bit. It’s harder to do now that I’m reading so many review books.
anna (herding cats & burning soup)
I’m just getting further and further behind on this series. It so sad! I’m glad to see they’re still entertaining 🙂
anna (herding cats & burning soup) recently posted…How to Get Lucky (Sexy in NYC #3) by Erin McCarthy
Lark_Bookwyrm
They’re a nice break when I need something fun!