Good Husband Material

Hometown Heartbreakers #7

by Susan Mallery

Eight years after she skipped town on the eve of her engagement, Kari Asbury briefly revisited sleepy Possum Landing, certain she'd encounter the handsome, upstanding lawman whose love once thrilled--and intimidated--her teenage heart. Still, she never expected to stumble into a bank robbery and meet Sheriff Gage Reynolds at gunpoint!

Gage's forceful gaze captivated Kari. His gallant rescue riveted her. His earthy, upright appeal enthralled her. All male, Gage was everything a woman--no longer a girl--could want. But with years of heartbreak...and untold secrets...between them, could Kari find the courage to stand by the man she'd always loved?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Harlequin, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Adult, Family

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

#1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery writes heartwarming and humorous novels about the relationships that define women's lives—family, friendship, romance. She's best known for putting nuanced characters into emotionally complex, real-life situations with twists that surprise readers to laughter. Because Susan is passionate about animal welfare, pets play a big role in her books. Beloved by millions of readers worldwide, her books have been translated into 28 languages.

Critics have dubbed Mallery "the new queen of romantic fiction." (Walmart) Booklist says, "Romance novels don't get much better than Mallery's expert blend of emotional nuance, humor, and superb storytelling," and RT Book Reviews puts her "in a class by herself!" It's no wonder that her books have spent more than 200 weeks on the USA Today bestsellers list.

Although Susan majored in Accounting, she never worked as an accountant because she was published straight out of college with two books the same month. Sixteen prolific years and seventy-four books later, she hit the New York Times bestsellers list for the first time with Accidentally Yours in 2008. She made many appearances in the Top 10 before (finally) hitting #1 in 2015 with Thrill Me, the twentieth book in her most popular series, the Fool's Gold romances, and the fourth of five books released that year.

Susan lives in Washington state with her husband, two ragdoll cats, and a small poodle with delusions of grandeur. Her heart for animals has led Susan to become an active supporter of the Seattle Humane Society. Visit Susan online at www.SusanMallery.com.

Reviews

[Sibel Gandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Türkçe adı Kırık Kalpler Şehri (Orjinal ismine mikemmel derecede uygun olmuş 😒 )

[Saly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good Husband Material is a so-so book, nothing great and nothing bad.
Kari was a young 18 year old with dreams and her feelings for Gage(who was 23) and his planning for the future made her scared and she left. She comes back to sell her grandmother's place intending to move on since she is done with modeling and has earned a degree to be a teacher and they become friends again since they are neighbors. There are no angry words instead they talk, Kari apologizes and explains her position and Gage even understands though that never takes away the hurt but time changes things and they both see their mistakes. There are also "parental" issues involved on both sides and resolved to some extent. This connects to the Haynes books as everyone knows that father was a big cheat and he had more kids out there.

Nothing special, quick read.

Rating 2.5

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this series in order of publication this time made this book pop out of nowhere unexpectedly. I was halfway through the book before its placement made sense. Then I discovered it is book seven instead of book four, so publication order does not work either. The story itself was great. Gage and Kari are interesting characters, although second-chance romances aren't my favorite. If I think of it as a "right time, right place", I could get into it more. My only problem with this book is the honeymoon suite scene. I spent that time in "ick" and "really?" mode. It was just wrong on so many levels.

[HÜLYA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bu ayın en güzel kitabı idi..Çok severek okuduğum için yorumu hak etti...Susuan Mallery farkı..

[Jack Vasen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book tells a complete story and can stand alone. There are some ties to book 7 in the series and to Earl Haynes in general, but everything is covered in this book. I can't get excited about possible loose threads related to extended family.

This book isn't awful, but I didn't enjoy it at all. Most of it has a somber tone. The plot is pretty thin with the possible exception of the backstories of the two leads which are just depressing. In addition, this is a rekindled romance story which, as typical, doesn't have the wonder and newness of romance between new acquaintances. The chemistry was a mixture of reliving the past and lust with heavy emphasis on the latter. There is a rival, but she is just a joke. The ending is disappointing. Any attempt at humor couldn't overcome the sad tone.

Kari is a recently retired and only moderately successful fashion model turned school teacher. SM tries hard to overcome any negatives associated with models being arrogant, but I still struggled to really like Kari. Gage seems like a great guy until he reacts stubbornly to his newly revealed backstory and sulks badly. If you read book 7, any surprise or shock is greatly reduced. In fact, if you have, I'd say skip this one.

Reality check: how does a twenty-something former model with no teaching experience have teaching position offers just rolling in?

Mature themes: there is moderately explicit sex and the Earl Haynes tie-in is even more disgusting than the early books, although it is a repeat of book 7.

[Kate Vale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kari Asbury is determined to leave as soon as she arranges for the sale of her late grandmother's home in little Possum Landing, TX. Now that she has her degree, she's eager to apply for a job as a teacher (math, middle school) and get on with her life.

That is, until she encounters the man living next door, sheriff Gage Reynolds, who'd been her love in high school. But he's determined not to follow his heart, which Kari broke when she abruptly left town years earlier.

Trouble is, they need each other, can help each other--if only each will allow the other back into their lives. Will she leave again? Will he declare his love? Will she?

[ShannonCC]

Eh. I don't know, just didn't grab me. When they first dated she was a 17 year old high school student and he was a 23 year old war veteran who was the town's new deputy. I mean . . . . isn't that sort of icky to anyone else? They make it clear that they never had sex, but still. I mean. Ew.

Not least of which, he's a *deputy* dating a child. What's the age of consent in Texas? Just, ew.

Now in the book she's 26 and he's 32, which is fine, but at 17? No. So whatever drama we're going to get into with how the heroine (at age 18) broke this older man's heart . . . yeah. No thanks.

[Marjorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kari ran from Gage when she was 18 because she wanted to become a model. Gage was 23 and in love with her. Now Kari has come back home to clean out her grandmother’s house. The two soon find themselves talking to each other and getting to know each other again. When Gage hears emotionally damaging words, it is Kari who brings him back.

Susan Mallery wrote great books back then and still does today.

[Susannah Carleton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book with old loves meeting again, older and wiser. Add in shocking family revelations (for him), a bit of family drama for her, and the realization that they never stopped loving each other, despite all the years apart.

Is a second chance at love possible for this couple?

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nancy

Oh my gosh! What a wonderful series! I was trying to make the books go together and wow do they! You have read them to find out ! Great characters and storyline is a wonderful story! Thanks

[Krista Leichner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both were great!

Both books were really good. Jill Kemerer was a new author to me, and this book was a great introduction to her. Susan Mallery is a must-read for me no matter what book it is. I have even reread some of them!

[Belinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kari left town years ago but is back. She runs into her love Gage right off the bat! There is a bank robbery where he uses their past to break it up.

As they spend time together and work through past issues will they let the past go and give love a try?

A good quick read.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

On to the next.

[Kathy Gilliland · Rating 2 out of 5]

Predictable love story of two people who rediscover love

[Carolee Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book about reuniting with a first love. Had to laugh the main character had a beeper... Took a bit for me to understand how this fit into the series.

[maggie rodriguez]

Good Man

Another good read from Susan Mallery. I've read at least 10 of her books, and each one just gets better and better.

[Jennifer (lecturama) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5⭐️

[Mylie McKissack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book.

[belly · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can't tell me that that isn't Kylie Minogue and Antony Starr on the front cover. Maybe Bradley Cooper.

[Tricia Hackney · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF
Would love a little story in between my porn scenes.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

After being apart She comes back to town to clean up her aunts home and reconnects with her boyfriend who is 7 years older than her. A romance ensues and she stays in town . A fun story to listen to

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve read many books by this author that I’ve thought were really good. This one was good but too predictable for me. Maybe it’s because I’ve read so many more that were better by this author.

[Moey17 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick easy read, a bit more candy for the brain!

[Alexis-Morgan Roark · Rating 4 out of 5]

The hero actually got it in this book, and for that, the author got an extra star. I've grown weary of people that bolt, who return later, and there's a half-as&ed reason for the whole thing. Even taking into consideration their age!

This one, however, I liked. I took a star away because I just think eight years is this side of ridiculous, but, hey, a longer period of time has worked in soooo many books AND there was no darned secret baby!!! **SHUDDER** Also considering her grandma died like a year after she left...I don't know, that part I just didn't buy nor get.

The opening scene was hilarious and the wanna be other woman, in her dreams, was a hoot...and more than a little deranged in a non-violent way.

All in all. Another great $1 table read.

[Phylis Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kari and Gabe once were very close friends. On the eve of the engagement Kari panicked and left town. Now after 8 years she has come home to fix and sell her Grandmothers house. She knows that she will meet up with Gabe after all this time because he lives next door.

She has a check that needs cashing so she reluctantly walks into the hometown bank knowing that she will be facing her past. Everyone there will question why she is back and for how long. What she didn't count on was walking into the bank while it was being robbed.

As it turns out Gabe is the sheriff of the town and he walks in trying to stop the bank robbery. A great book by Susan Mallery that I would recommend you read.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book continues the Hometown Heartbreakers series. These last four books, including Completely Smitten, were written six or seven years after book #7 and were generally better. The "reunited couple" theme is one of my least favorite because I usually feel so irritated that the couple has needlessly wasted years that I can't really enjoy it. Gage was a great hero and Kari was charming and likeable. I felt that Gage's angst over his mother's secret was a little overdone.

[Nancynova · Rating 1 out of 5]

rabck from svoight 9/10; When Gage finds out that his biological father is not the man that raised him, he thinks that everything about him is changed. But that's no true - Kari just has to convince him that he's still the man for her

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this story. The plot was more complex than in previous books in this series and there were a number of unexpected surprises along the way. I think the writing was better too. This was much more of a standalone book as well. Entertaining book and series.

[June · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kari returns to her hometown to sell her grandmother's house. On her first day home she finds herself held hostage at a bank robbery and rescued by her ex-boyfriend, who she abandoned 8 years ago when she ran away to New York City, and who is now the Sheriff. Sparks fly...

[Roub · Rating 2 out of 5]

oh mine !the 1st chapters were awfully boring. the pace too slow for me. towards the middle the book got on the right track and i liked it then