Before We Kiss, by Susan Mallery (mini-review)

May 19, 2014 Lark_Bookwyrm Book Reviews, Susan Mallery 6 ★★★½

Before We Kiss by Susan Mallery
Series: Fool's Gold #14
Published by HQN Books on May 27, 2014
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 386
Format: eARC
Source: the publisher
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three-half-stars

Also in this series: Three Little Words, A Fool's Gold Christmas, Christmas on 4th Street, When We Met, 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, Christmas on 4th Street, When We Met, 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

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?

I received a review copy of this book from the publisher.

Mini-review

Before We Kiss was fun, and Sam and Dellina are both enjoyable characters. Sam’s reluctance to get involved is a little too reminiscent of several previous Fool’s Gold heroes, but his parents, particularly his mother, are quite unique; I alternately laughed and cringed at his mother’s, um, straightforwardness. (I’m trying to avoid spoilers here, but she’s got a very unusual profession.) I don’t blame Sam for being uncomfortable around his parents; growing up and particularly going through high school in that family would have been excruciatingly embarrassing for a reserved and private young man. Dellina is a woman I admire as well as like; she raised her sisters when their parents died, and she’s working hard to make her party-planning business a success, hampered by the fact that she’s great at parties but not at the business aspects. The two of them are a good match, both physically and emotionally. There’s quite a lot of heat in some of the scenes, but their emotional interactions usually take center stage.

All in all, I enjoyed the novel; it’s a light read, good for when you want something both humorous and romantic.

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.

Finley Jayne

May 20th, 2014

I haven’t started this series yet, but I keep hearing good things about it 🙂 Sounds a bit like the Lucky Harbor series, by Jill Shalvis.

Lark @ The Bookwyrm's Hoard
May 21st, 2014
And I haven’t read the Lucky Harbor series! Sounds like we both have new ones to try. 🙂

Herding Cats - Burning Soup

May 21st, 2014

Oh sounds good! I’m so looking forward to these two after the teasers in the last book and you’ve so got me curious about the mama. Glad to hear it was a nice read!

Lark @ The Bookwyrm's Hoard
May 21st, 2014
You are going to love the mother. Omigosh – I’m giggling just thinking about her.

Bea

I haven’t read either series but I have books from each siting on my Kindle, waiting their turn. 😀

Lark @ The Bookwyrm's Hoard
May 21st, 2014
I really enjoy Susan Mallery. Her new series set on Blackberry Island is a little different, or at least the first book was — more a story of healing and friendship than a romance, although there were two people who ended up together. But the real emphasis was on two former (female) friends rebuilding their relationship, at the same time that one of them is also healing from war wounds and PTSD. It was good — I need to get a review written up soon.