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Fool's Gold #11
Two of a Kind
New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery welcomes readers back to Fool's Gold, where a one-time fling could become the real thing...
Felicia Swift never dreamed she'd hear a deep, sexy voice from her past in tiny Fool's Gold, California. The last time Gideon Boylan whispered in her ear was half a world away...on the morning after the hottest night of her life. Her freaky smarts have limited her close friendships, and romance, but she came to Fool's Gold looking for ordinary. Gorgeous, brooding Gideon is anything but that.
Black Ops taught Gideon that love could be deadly. Now he pretends to fit in while keeping everyone at arm's length. Felicia wants more than he can give-a home, family, love-but she has a lot to learn about men...and Gideon needs to be the man to teach her.
As these two misfits discover that passion isn't the only thing they have in common, they just might figure out that two of a kind should never be split apart.
Felicia Swift never dreamed she'd hear a deep, sexy voice from her past in tiny Fool's Gold, California. The last time Gideon Boylan whispered in her ear was half a world away...on the morning after the hottest night of her life. Her freaky smarts have limited her close friendships, and romance, but she came to Fool's Gold looking for ordinary. Gorgeous, brooding Gideon is anything but that.
Black Ops taught Gideon that love could be deadly. Now he pretends to fit in while keeping everyone at arm's length. Felicia wants more than he can give-a home, family, love-but she has a lot to learn about men...and Gideon needs to be the man to teach her.
As these two misfits discover that passion isn't the only thing they have in common, they just might figure out that two of a kind should never be split apart.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 25, 2013
993 people are currently reading
3656 people want to read
About the author
Susan Mallery
862 books15.4k followers#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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 557 reviews
March 20, 2023
Felicia ist Ende 20, lebt in einer Kleinstadt in Kalifornien und ist hochintelligent. Dank ihres überdurchschnittlich hohen IQ hatte sie eine ungewöhnliche Kindheit und Jugend. Mit nur vier Jahren ist sie an eine Universität gekommen, hat studiert und Sachbücher verfasst. Nun sieht sie sich selbst als Freak und hat in Gefühlsdingen so gut wie keine Erfahrungen. Das soll sich ändern, denn Felicia wünscht sich ein ganz normales Leben; sie möchte heiraten und Kinder bekommen. Gideon soll ihr dabei helfen und ihr beibringen, wie man sich bei einer Verabredung verhalten sollte. Das erweist sich aber als gar nicht so einfach, da Gideon selbst aus seiner Vergangenheit als Soldat einiges zu verarbeiten hat.
💜💜💜💜
Mein Leseeindruck:
Dieses Buch ist mein erstes von Susan Mallery und somit war ich irgendwie nicht auf die Geschichte vorbereitet. Dank des Klappentextes und des eher humorvoll gestaltenden Covers hatte ich eine romantische und lustige, leichte Geschichte erwartet. Bekommen habe ich wenig Romantik, dafür aber einen ziemlich speziellen Humor.
Romantisch konnte es gar nicht werden, da es schon ziemlich schnell ziemlich gut zur Sache ging. Mir persönlich hat das nicht so gut gefallen; mir war das zu schnell und zu direkt.
Und der spezielle Humor hat mich leider auch nicht erreichen können. Da gab es ein paar Szenen, die wohl lustig sein sollten, über die ich aber nicht wirklich lachen konnte. Dafür waren sie zu schräg und zu unglaubwürdig.
Trotzdem gebe ich dem Buch drei Sterne, was in meinem Bewertungssystem immer noch für ein gutes Buch spricht. Es hat mich zwar nicht voll überzeugen können, aber es konnte mich dennoch gut unterhalten. Mit einigen Figuren konnte ich nicht warmwerden, andere waren schlicht unglaubwürdig. Die Idee von dieser Kleinstadt in Kalifornien, in der jeder jeden kennt, und die wohl in jedem Buch der Reihe fortgeführt wird, gefällt mir aber sehr gut.
Letztendlich ist "Kuss und Kuss gesellt sich gern" ein netter und leichter Roman für zwischendurch, der sich flüssig lesen lässt, der mir aber wahrscheinlich nicht lange im Gedächtnis bleiben wird.
💜💜💜💜
Mein Leseeindruck:
Dieses Buch ist mein erstes von Susan Mallery und somit war ich irgendwie nicht auf die Geschichte vorbereitet. Dank des Klappentextes und des eher humorvoll gestaltenden Covers hatte ich eine romantische und lustige, leichte Geschichte erwartet. Bekommen habe ich wenig Romantik, dafür aber einen ziemlich speziellen Humor.
Romantisch konnte es gar nicht werden, da es schon ziemlich schnell ziemlich gut zur Sache ging. Mir persönlich hat das nicht so gut gefallen; mir war das zu schnell und zu direkt.
Und der spezielle Humor hat mich leider auch nicht erreichen können. Da gab es ein paar Szenen, die wohl lustig sein sollten, über die ich aber nicht wirklich lachen konnte. Dafür waren sie zu schräg und zu unglaubwürdig.
Trotzdem gebe ich dem Buch drei Sterne, was in meinem Bewertungssystem immer noch für ein gutes Buch spricht. Es hat mich zwar nicht voll überzeugen können, aber es konnte mich dennoch gut unterhalten. Mit einigen Figuren konnte ich nicht warmwerden, andere waren schlicht unglaubwürdig. Die Idee von dieser Kleinstadt in Kalifornien, in der jeder jeden kennt, und die wohl in jedem Buch der Reihe fortgeführt wird, gefällt mir aber sehr gut.
Letztendlich ist "Kuss und Kuss gesellt sich gern" ein netter und leichter Roman für zwischendurch, der sich flüssig lesen lässt, der mir aber wahrscheinlich nicht lange im Gedächtnis bleiben wird.
July 17, 2018
This is eleventh(!) in a series and other couples are scattered throughout this story. You don't need to have read them for this to make sense, I don't think. But it helps understand the background and to be less annoyed by all the happy family dynamics on display.
Oh my gosh is this awful on so many levels! Felicia is a poorly thought-out stereotype and Gideon isn't even that good. Here's a clue for authors: smart people are socially awkward for one of two reasons. They are on the autism spectrum and have a hard time reading body language. Or they just don't care (generally manifest as being wrapped in their own head, forgetful professor-style but can also show as Steve Jobsian arrogance). A smart person who cares about social dynamics has no trouble figuring out how to make it work. There are actual studies to back this up, but I have a sister who practically personifies this dynamic. I was shocked when we ended up in the same university and she matched or bettered my grades in non-trivial classes without half trying. She'd always been the queen of her social set and I thought that was all she was (yes, I was a clueless kid).
So Felicia grated but Gideon was far, far worse. He's stuck in emotionally-stunted land with his "I'm too broken for love" but when his chain of thought goes "you fall in love and then death" my eyes rolled so hard I had to catch them with a butterfly net to stick them back in my head. Holy over-done dark tragedy brooding!
So I stopped while I was . . . er, behind. Before I wasted any more time on the stupid? Yeah, I'll go with that.
Oh my gosh is this awful on so many levels! Felicia is a poorly thought-out stereotype and Gideon isn't even that good. Here's a clue for authors: smart people are socially awkward for one of two reasons. They are on the autism spectrum and have a hard time reading body language. Or they just don't care (generally manifest as being wrapped in their own head, forgetful professor-style but can also show as Steve Jobsian arrogance). A smart person who cares about social dynamics has no trouble figuring out how to make it work. There are actual studies to back this up, but I have a sister who practically personifies this dynamic. I was shocked when we ended up in the same university and she matched or bettered my grades in non-trivial classes without half trying. She'd always been the queen of her social set and I thought that was all she was (yes, I was a clueless kid).
So Felicia grated but Gideon was far, far worse. He's stuck in emotionally-stunted land with his "I'm too broken for love" but when his chain of thought goes "you fall in love and then death" my eyes rolled so hard I had to catch them with a butterfly net to stick them back in my head. Holy over-done dark tragedy brooding!
So I stopped while I was . . . er, behind. Before I wasted any more time on the stupid? Yeah, I'll go with that.
June 25, 2013
This book was a hoot! Felicia has come to Fool’s Gold to help set up the headquarters for her friend’s bodyguard school. Felicia is an interesting lady. She grew up as a child prodigy in a situation where she was younger, smarter, and more naïve than everyone around her. She joined the military to be independent and found she had a knack for logistics. Three of her ex- military buddies, Justice, Ford and Angel, have started the new business and she is handling the initial work for them. Her goal is to start a new life that includes becoming a regular person with a family and 2.5 children, all of the things she missed out on growing up. Enter Gideon….
Gideon is the man who “deflowered” Felicia four years prior and then was forced to stay back as Ford and Justice swept in an took her away in a rush of misplaced chivalry. Gideon is also looking to start a new life as the owner and talent portion at the Fool’s Gold radio station. He is a man with many broken parts in him, and he is definitely not looking for the same future that Felicity is hoping to find. He is however, still really attracted to her and they are hitting the sheets pretty soon after finding each other in town.
I loved Felicia’s character. She is so literal and is always spouting off factoids in lieu of conversation and then catching herself and getting all flustered. Her childhood has left her socially inept and she is constantly trying to fit in not realizing that people just love her quirkiness. Her new job as festival coordinator brings out the best and the worst in her. Gideon’s dark history has left him empty and he doesn’t think he can be what Felicia needs. He needs to let go of his past and want to have a future with Felicia. Watching them work out the kinks in their relationship was enjoyable.
The other great part of this book is both the return of older characters and the introduction of the new. It’s fun to catch up on the lives of familiar people we have met before. It’s also exciting to see new people that could be the subject of future books, Yay! I hope this series just keeps going because it has been a lot of fun to read and the romances have been so satisfying.
Gideon is the man who “deflowered” Felicia four years prior and then was forced to stay back as Ford and Justice swept in an took her away in a rush of misplaced chivalry. Gideon is also looking to start a new life as the owner and talent portion at the Fool’s Gold radio station. He is a man with many broken parts in him, and he is definitely not looking for the same future that Felicity is hoping to find. He is however, still really attracted to her and they are hitting the sheets pretty soon after finding each other in town.
I loved Felicia’s character. She is so literal and is always spouting off factoids in lieu of conversation and then catching herself and getting all flustered. Her childhood has left her socially inept and she is constantly trying to fit in not realizing that people just love her quirkiness. Her new job as festival coordinator brings out the best and the worst in her. Gideon’s dark history has left him empty and he doesn’t think he can be what Felicia needs. He needs to let go of his past and want to have a future with Felicia. Watching them work out the kinks in their relationship was enjoyable.
The other great part of this book is both the return of older characters and the introduction of the new. It’s fun to catch up on the lives of familiar people we have met before. It’s also exciting to see new people that could be the subject of future books, Yay! I hope this series just keeps going because it has been a lot of fun to read and the romances have been so satisfying.
March 1, 2022
I love this series and was happy to visit the town again. The romance moved quickly and didn't feel like it had too many snags. Overall a nice romance that I'd recommend to others.
December 28, 2015
Review copy provided via NetGalley
Why I Read this Book: I’m going to be honest, I was apprehensive about reading Two of a Kind because Felicia did not rub me the right way when her character was introduced in Just One Kiss. I was sort of hoping I’d have at least one more book until I got Felicia’s book, to get more acclimated to her, but as it were, her book was next.
What I Liked: For me, Two of a Kind was all about the secondary characters. I heart Consuelo; she is one kick ass chick. She’s one of the guys yet fits right in to the girls’ social circle. Then there was Mrs. Hendrix and what she did to (for) her sons Ford and Kent. And speaking of the Hendrix men, I can’t wait for both of their books. There are also some new people coming to town, some professional sports players.
One thing I did like about Felicia was her lack of a mouth filter. She just blurted out whatever she was thinking, without thinking it through first. This made for entertaining moments. Another thing that humored me was that Felicia took things so literally.
What I Didn’t Like: I don’t hate Felicia but I don’t like her either. (Though she is growing on me, albeit at a snail slow pace.) Her personality and perceived mental prowess has rubbed me the wrong way since her character was first introduced. Though I will say that she did become more sociable and more comfortable in her own skill in Two of a Kind. Felicia is unlike any character I have ever read. She’s inadvertently honest , blunt, direct, and very observant. But she also comes across as being very over analytical about mundane things, which translates into doing things in a very mechanical way. Even though Felicia isn’t my favorite character, she was a well-written one. The author masterfully crafted a nuanced character but in doing so imbued Felicia with traits I didn’t like.
There was a child plot moppet that came out of nowhere. Nowhere meaning there was never a hint of this child, either in past books or in the blurb for Two of a Kind. The kid, Carter, himself was a good kid but his presence felt contrived.
And finally, Gideon’s demons were patched up too quickly and too easily. The guy has some baggage, the sort of baggage that doesn’t get resolved in a matter of days or months.
Overall Impression: I knew going in that I wasn’t going to love Two of a Kind. I read it solely for the secondary characters, old and new alike. I am anxiously looking forward to Three Little Words, which is Isabel and Ford’s book. And I think I know who Consuelo’s HEA will be, and if I’m right, I can’t wait for that book as well.
Why I Read this Book: I’m going to be honest, I was apprehensive about reading Two of a Kind because Felicia did not rub me the right way when her character was introduced in Just One Kiss. I was sort of hoping I’d have at least one more book until I got Felicia’s book, to get more acclimated to her, but as it were, her book was next.
What I Liked: For me, Two of a Kind was all about the secondary characters. I heart Consuelo; she is one kick ass chick. She’s one of the guys yet fits right in to the girls’ social circle. Then there was Mrs. Hendrix and what she did to (for) her sons Ford and Kent. And speaking of the Hendrix men, I can’t wait for both of their books. There are also some new people coming to town, some professional sports players.
One thing I did like about Felicia was her lack of a mouth filter. She just blurted out whatever she was thinking, without thinking it through first. This made for entertaining moments. Another thing that humored me was that Felicia took things so literally.
What I Didn’t Like: I don’t hate Felicia but I don’t like her either. (Though she is growing on me, albeit at a snail slow pace.) Her personality and perceived mental prowess has rubbed me the wrong way since her character was first introduced. Though I will say that she did become more sociable and more comfortable in her own skill in Two of a Kind. Felicia is unlike any character I have ever read. She’s inadvertently honest , blunt, direct, and very observant. But she also comes across as being very over analytical about mundane things, which translates into doing things in a very mechanical way. Even though Felicia isn’t my favorite character, she was a well-written one. The author masterfully crafted a nuanced character but in doing so imbued Felicia with traits I didn’t like.
There was a child plot moppet that came out of nowhere. Nowhere meaning there was never a hint of this child, either in past books or in the blurb for Two of a Kind. The kid, Carter, himself was a good kid but his presence felt contrived.
And finally, Gideon’s demons were patched up too quickly and too easily. The guy has some baggage, the sort of baggage that doesn’t get resolved in a matter of days or months.
Overall Impression: I knew going in that I wasn’t going to love Two of a Kind. I read it solely for the secondary characters, old and new alike. I am anxiously looking forward to Three Little Words, which is Isabel and Ford’s book. And I think I know who Consuelo’s HEA will be, and if I’m right, I can’t wait for that book as well.
May 18, 2021
I am really enjoying this small community and the characters who flow in and out as each couple finds their HEA.
December 4, 2013
Sweet read. The stories set in Fool's Gold are quite saccharine. Of course since this is not my first trip to this town I wasn't surprised. The people there are really unbelievably nice and supportive etc. Still I did enjoy the heroine who was written as firmly on the Asperger's spectrum. She was brilliant but extremely socially awkward. Since usually if that comes up in a novel it is typically the man with these issues it was interesting to read this switch. Ultimately pleasant but I couldn't take a steady diet of unrealistic sweetness. Plus just got to say that the characters were a bit idiotic not to realize right off the bat that the kid hadn't really run away. I mean he practically spelled it out in his note. So there was no real tension at all in that scene and that was typical of the whole book.
June 26, 2013
I love having a visit back to Fool's Gold. I really loved this book!! You can jump right into the storyline and you feel as though you are visiting old friends. Felicia, the main character, is new to town and wants to fit in. Due to a different childhood and her over the top brilliance, she has a hard time trying to fit in. Because the town is made up of such nice people, she is taken in right away. Her biggest problem is with love. She has a history with Gideon and needs to see if they can start over. With lots of town events and a few surprises, this is an amazing visit back to Fool's Gold. I just can't wait for Three little words next!!!!
January 4, 2025
This is absolutely my favorite book in the series! I love Felicia!!!!
October 10, 2014
Another excellent visit to Fool's Gold. Felicia has come to town to help her friends get their bodyguard school up and running. She is amazingly intelligent but socially awkward and is looking for a little "normal" in her life. Gideon came to Fool's Gold a year ago and bought two radio stations where he is basically hiding out. Four years ago they had had an incredible night together. They are still attracted to each other but want totally different things - Felicia wants a family and Gideon wants to avoid emotional ties. But she thinks he's the only one who can teach her about men. Just as they start to settle in to a dating/friends Gideon is confronted with a thirteen year old son he didn't know he had. Now it's Felicia's turn to help Gideon.
I loved Felicia. She is so intelligent that at the age of four her parents couldn't handle it and gave her to a university to raise. As a result she is highly educated but never learned how to relate to people. When she talks to people she tends to take things literally and often goes off on scientific tangents. She joined the military where she was assigned to do logistics for a Special Forces group, which is where she met Justice, Ford and Angel. They asked her to come to Fool's Gold and use her talents to help them set up their business. She has come to love the town. She has made friends with some of the women who gently tease her about her "scary smarts" but treat her as one of their own. I totally loved some of the conversations they'd have when Felicia would say something completely unexpected. Felicia was surprised and a bit embarrassed to find Gideon in Fool's Gold and spent some time avoiding him. Once they reconnected she discovered she was still attracted to him and in her own bluntly honest way let him know that she was available. I loved her confidence that she could sleep with him and not fall for him. I also liked the way that she could talk to him about anything. When the mayor asked her to take over running the festivals it was Gideon she went to for advice. I really liked the way that he supported her and gave her the confidence to do it. I enjoyed seeing her take on her first festival. The descriptions of her thoughts and reasoning, then the reactions of the attendees and vendors were so great that I felt like I was there. Gideon's arrival and his ability to calm her panic attack was sweet. When his son showed up it was Felicia's turn to help him as she moved in with them to help Gideon learn what to do. Felicia had absolutely no experience with parents but she had really good instincts. I loved seeing her relate to Carter. Even her odd way of talking helped her with him because he thought it was cool. As the weeks went on and she continued living with Gideon and Carter her emotions became more involved. She began to dream of actually being part of a true family with them.
I liked Gideon too. He was hiding out in Fool's Gold. While he had been in the military he was captured and spent two years being tortured and watching the rest of his men die. Seeing them suffer as they thought of their families made Gideon vow he would never have one of his own. He was also suffering from terrible survivor's guilt since he was the only one who survived. He still suffers from terrible nightmares and flashbacks and considers himself to be irreparably broken. He is surprised to encounter Felicia in Fool's Gold. He has great memories of their night together and wouldn't mind a repeat but he realizes that Felicia is looking for permanent and he won't go there. When she shows up at his house late one night to ask his advice, their desire takes over. He's honest with her about his inability to commit but she just wants him however she can get him. I loved the way that he agreed to help her learn about dating men by taking her on some dates himself. I also loved the way that he gave her the confidence to take the festival planner job. I liked seeing the way that he couldn't stop himself from checking on her while she was working her first festival. One of the things I liked best about Gideon was the fact that Felicia's intelligence didn't bother him. He really enjoyed the things she said and how her mind worked. When his son showed up in Fool's Gold needing a home Gideon was obviously terrified by the idea. He had no idea how he was going to be able to be a father. He was desperately relieved when Felicia offered to help out. I enjoyed seeing the way he pretty much did whatever she told him to do when it came to Carter. As the weeks went on he got used to having them in his house, but he was still avoiding letting either of them emotionally close. When Carter makes a desperate attempt to show Gideon that they should be a family he really panics and pushes them away. I loved the way that his friends tried to help him and the way he finally was able to open up.
The secondary characters were just as well done as Felicia and Gideon. Carter was the most important of those. While he showed a lot of intelligence and ingenuity, he was also a fairly typical thirteen year old. He showed some of the age appropriate attitudes but thanks to Felicia he was good at accepting consequences. I enjoyed his friendship with Reece and their scheme at the end was pretty good. Mayor Marsha's brief appearances were always great, if a little spooky. It can be a little scary how she seems to know so much about people. I loved seeing more of Ford and Angel and their competition and newcomer Consuelo's ability to cut through their crap. I'm looking forward to stories for all of them.
I loved Felicia. She is so intelligent that at the age of four her parents couldn't handle it and gave her to a university to raise. As a result she is highly educated but never learned how to relate to people. When she talks to people she tends to take things literally and often goes off on scientific tangents. She joined the military where she was assigned to do logistics for a Special Forces group, which is where she met Justice, Ford and Angel. They asked her to come to Fool's Gold and use her talents to help them set up their business. She has come to love the town. She has made friends with some of the women who gently tease her about her "scary smarts" but treat her as one of their own. I totally loved some of the conversations they'd have when Felicia would say something completely unexpected. Felicia was surprised and a bit embarrassed to find Gideon in Fool's Gold and spent some time avoiding him. Once they reconnected she discovered she was still attracted to him and in her own bluntly honest way let him know that she was available. I loved her confidence that she could sleep with him and not fall for him. I also liked the way that she could talk to him about anything. When the mayor asked her to take over running the festivals it was Gideon she went to for advice. I really liked the way that he supported her and gave her the confidence to do it. I enjoyed seeing her take on her first festival. The descriptions of her thoughts and reasoning, then the reactions of the attendees and vendors were so great that I felt like I was there. Gideon's arrival and his ability to calm her panic attack was sweet. When his son showed up it was Felicia's turn to help him as she moved in with them to help Gideon learn what to do. Felicia had absolutely no experience with parents but she had really good instincts. I loved seeing her relate to Carter. Even her odd way of talking helped her with him because he thought it was cool. As the weeks went on and she continued living with Gideon and Carter her emotions became more involved. She began to dream of actually being part of a true family with them.
I liked Gideon too. He was hiding out in Fool's Gold. While he had been in the military he was captured and spent two years being tortured and watching the rest of his men die. Seeing them suffer as they thought of their families made Gideon vow he would never have one of his own. He was also suffering from terrible survivor's guilt since he was the only one who survived. He still suffers from terrible nightmares and flashbacks and considers himself to be irreparably broken. He is surprised to encounter Felicia in Fool's Gold. He has great memories of their night together and wouldn't mind a repeat but he realizes that Felicia is looking for permanent and he won't go there. When she shows up at his house late one night to ask his advice, their desire takes over. He's honest with her about his inability to commit but she just wants him however she can get him. I loved the way that he agreed to help her learn about dating men by taking her on some dates himself. I also loved the way that he gave her the confidence to take the festival planner job. I liked seeing the way that he couldn't stop himself from checking on her while she was working her first festival. One of the things I liked best about Gideon was the fact that Felicia's intelligence didn't bother him. He really enjoyed the things she said and how her mind worked. When his son showed up in Fool's Gold needing a home Gideon was obviously terrified by the idea. He had no idea how he was going to be able to be a father. He was desperately relieved when Felicia offered to help out. I enjoyed seeing the way he pretty much did whatever she told him to do when it came to Carter. As the weeks went on he got used to having them in his house, but he was still avoiding letting either of them emotionally close. When Carter makes a desperate attempt to show Gideon that they should be a family he really panics and pushes them away. I loved the way that his friends tried to help him and the way he finally was able to open up.
The secondary characters were just as well done as Felicia and Gideon. Carter was the most important of those. While he showed a lot of intelligence and ingenuity, he was also a fairly typical thirteen year old. He showed some of the age appropriate attitudes but thanks to Felicia he was good at accepting consequences. I enjoyed his friendship with Reece and their scheme at the end was pretty good. Mayor Marsha's brief appearances were always great, if a little spooky. It can be a little scary how she seems to know so much about people. I loved seeing more of Ford and Angel and their competition and newcomer Consuelo's ability to cut through their crap. I'm looking forward to stories for all of them.
June 30, 2013
Let me just state, I am a hard-core Susan Mallery fan and by no means do I mean for my review to deter anyone from trying this book. This is just my humble opinion on one book, and I highly urge anyone to try her books if you haven't read her before and if you have than you already know that Susan can rock an amazing story.
However, with that said, this book didn't work for me. Hmm, I really wanted to give Two of a Kind a higher rating, but this is the first Fools Gold book I couldn't quite get into. Felicia and Gideon almost became one of those dreaded DNF books for me, this makes me sad because Susan is an automatic comfort read for me, and I always know she will give me that sweet memorable read. I hung in there however and it did get better, but it didn't have that wow factor or the need to have more of the characters. It wasn’t that the characters weren’t engaging or lacked fun and sweet moments because just as with the other characters in Fools Gold they were spot on. I really loved Felicia and her spunky know it all attitude in Just One Kiss, but in her own book it just became too over whelming, and this is because Felicia is a wicked smart genus. The poor girl doesn't know how to converse without breaking everything down and getting crazy technical about whatever she is talking about while going off on a tangent about it. All the technical speak is what killed it for me. I found it over took the characters and the importance of her growth with them. It really took me away from the story leaving me easily distracted. Felicia is still a great fun character and I loved following her journey to self-discovery when it came to finding her space in her personal relationships and the town of Fools Gold. For me this is more of a personal thing than a reflection of the author's writing I just wish the smart talk was "dumbed" down a bit, I know that won't make sense to those reading the review but I am not sure how else to word it. Maybe I would have liked to see her a bit more “normal” and not so extreme with her brain.
As always, Susan has a wonderful way with her characters and adding just the right amount of romance and drama that keeps you hooked and coming back for more. In that aspect, Two of a Kind was no exception. I enjoyed the twist of Gideon’s son and Felicia taking over Pia’s position as the new Event Coordinator. It was also tons of fun visiting with old friends, and I am even more excited about getting to Ford’s book next. What I wasn’t expecting was Angel. Ugh, loved him even more in this book, and I can’t wait until Susan helps him put his damaged past behind him with a happily ever after of his own!
Thank you to Susan Mallery & NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of Two of a Kind in exchange for my honest opinion.
However, with that said, this book didn't work for me. Hmm, I really wanted to give Two of a Kind a higher rating, but this is the first Fools Gold book I couldn't quite get into. Felicia and Gideon almost became one of those dreaded DNF books for me, this makes me sad because Susan is an automatic comfort read for me, and I always know she will give me that sweet memorable read. I hung in there however and it did get better, but it didn't have that wow factor or the need to have more of the characters. It wasn’t that the characters weren’t engaging or lacked fun and sweet moments because just as with the other characters in Fools Gold they were spot on. I really loved Felicia and her spunky know it all attitude in Just One Kiss, but in her own book it just became too over whelming, and this is because Felicia is a wicked smart genus. The poor girl doesn't know how to converse without breaking everything down and getting crazy technical about whatever she is talking about while going off on a tangent about it. All the technical speak is what killed it for me. I found it over took the characters and the importance of her growth with them. It really took me away from the story leaving me easily distracted. Felicia is still a great fun character and I loved following her journey to self-discovery when it came to finding her space in her personal relationships and the town of Fools Gold. For me this is more of a personal thing than a reflection of the author's writing I just wish the smart talk was "dumbed" down a bit, I know that won't make sense to those reading the review but I am not sure how else to word it. Maybe I would have liked to see her a bit more “normal” and not so extreme with her brain.
As always, Susan has a wonderful way with her characters and adding just the right amount of romance and drama that keeps you hooked and coming back for more. In that aspect, Two of a Kind was no exception. I enjoyed the twist of Gideon’s son and Felicia taking over Pia’s position as the new Event Coordinator. It was also tons of fun visiting with old friends, and I am even more excited about getting to Ford’s book next. What I wasn’t expecting was Angel. Ugh, loved him even more in this book, and I can’t wait until Susan helps him put his damaged past behind him with a happily ever after of his own!
Thank you to Susan Mallery & NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of Two of a Kind in exchange for my honest opinion.
August 7, 2016
Felicia Swift, having grown up on a university campus away from her parents, has a scarily impressive IQ but lacks the social skills she deems necessary to achieve a 'normal life.' When she is personally offered a job in Fool's Gold, she hopes it is a step in the right direction toward her ultimate goal - to fit in, get married, and have a real family. Two years in a taliban prison, where he was tortured and forced to watch his fellow soldiers die, has taught Gideon Boylan that to love is to be weak and to have someone to love means having something to lose. Gideon may be a member of the Fool's Gold tribe and the sultry, deep voice playing oldies on the radio late at night. But he lives alone, where he tries to find peace, away from his demons. One night together in Thailand years ago is enough to bring these two back together now - but it could mean putting their hearts at risk.
Yeah, okay, I totally loved this. I can definitely see myself relating to Felicia. I'm definitely no where near as smart as she is, but I can be so socially awkward and ramble on and on without even realizing. Also, when she freaks out over a mistake - something she believes she could never make - it's almost like a panic attack. I've definitely gotten like that, where I'm so used to being efficient and on top of my game that if I slip for even a second, I chastise myself for not knowing better.
She's terribly sweet and so innocent. I love how straightforward she is, even though she usually doesn't intend to be that way - she can't help how smart she is!
Gideon is a real man with a legitimate problem - his trust issues stem from an experience that people don't know much about nor can anyone imagine it. Emotional and mental scars are so much harder to deal with because you can't always see the pain, but the victim feels it so sincerely that it's almost physical. Felicia is such a good match for Gideon because she doesn't try to act like she understands Gideon's problems on a personal level. She might understand it in text-book terms, but her real lack of understanding Gideon's emotional scarring allows him to open up to her and teach her what it means to really feel pain on the inside - an understanding she needs to feel more human. And Gideon won't realize it at first, but Felicia definitely makes him feel more human too.
Yeah, okay, I totally loved this. I can definitely see myself relating to Felicia. I'm definitely no where near as smart as she is, but I can be so socially awkward and ramble on and on without even realizing. Also, when she freaks out over a mistake - something she believes she could never make - it's almost like a panic attack. I've definitely gotten like that, where I'm so used to being efficient and on top of my game that if I slip for even a second, I chastise myself for not knowing better.
She's terribly sweet and so innocent. I love how straightforward she is, even though she usually doesn't intend to be that way - she can't help how smart she is!
Gideon is a real man with a legitimate problem - his trust issues stem from an experience that people don't know much about nor can anyone imagine it. Emotional and mental scars are so much harder to deal with because you can't always see the pain, but the victim feels it so sincerely that it's almost physical. Felicia is such a good match for Gideon because she doesn't try to act like she understands Gideon's problems on a personal level. She might understand it in text-book terms, but her real lack of understanding Gideon's emotional scarring allows him to open up to her and teach her what it means to really feel pain on the inside - an understanding she needs to feel more human. And Gideon won't realize it at first, but Felicia definitely makes him feel more human too.
January 19, 2022
Mallery is back with another excellent entry into her Fool's Gold series. I laughed and I cried and loved this "feel-good" romance.
Felicia has always been a misfit. She is a genius who was given up by her parents when she was four and raised in a university laboratory setting. She became an emancipated minor when in her early teens and faked her age to join the Army when she was sixteen. She is a genius at logistics and worked with Special Ops teams whose members became her substitute family. Now she has moved to Fool's Gold with some of her Special Ops friends who are setting up a business to train bodyguards. Felicia wants more than anything else to be normal, to fall in love, and to have a family.
Gideon has also come to Fool's Gold after serving in Covert Ops, being captured by the Taliban, and surviving more than two years of captivity. He watched his fellow captives and brothers-in-arms suffer and die and feels that the only reason he survived is that he had no emotional connections with anyone. He is convinced that he is irretrievably broken and is just a shell.
Felicia and Gideon had met four years earlier in Thailand where she approached him. They had a brief sexual encounter, her first, and haven't seen each other since. Now back together in Fool's Gold, Felicia wants to resume the relationship and have Gideon teach her how to be normal so that she can find someone to love and fulfill her dreams.
Things get even more complicated when a twelve-year-old son Gideon didn't know he had shows up. Carter's mother had told him about his father when she was dying of cancer. Carter had been living with friends of his mother but, now that they were getting a divorce, Carter feared that going into the foster care system was in his future if he couldn't find a way to make Felicia and Gideon his new family.
Part of the joy of this series is the strong relationships among many of the characters. Felicia has developed a close group of women friends. Gideon has a good group of men friends too. The community is also close and caring.
Tanya Eby does a great job narrating. Romance lovers won't want to miss this one.
Felicia has always been a misfit. She is a genius who was given up by her parents when she was four and raised in a university laboratory setting. She became an emancipated minor when in her early teens and faked her age to join the Army when she was sixteen. She is a genius at logistics and worked with Special Ops teams whose members became her substitute family. Now she has moved to Fool's Gold with some of her Special Ops friends who are setting up a business to train bodyguards. Felicia wants more than anything else to be normal, to fall in love, and to have a family.
Gideon has also come to Fool's Gold after serving in Covert Ops, being captured by the Taliban, and surviving more than two years of captivity. He watched his fellow captives and brothers-in-arms suffer and die and feels that the only reason he survived is that he had no emotional connections with anyone. He is convinced that he is irretrievably broken and is just a shell.
Felicia and Gideon had met four years earlier in Thailand where she approached him. They had a brief sexual encounter, her first, and haven't seen each other since. Now back together in Fool's Gold, Felicia wants to resume the relationship and have Gideon teach her how to be normal so that she can find someone to love and fulfill her dreams.
Things get even more complicated when a twelve-year-old son Gideon didn't know he had shows up. Carter's mother had told him about his father when she was dying of cancer. Carter had been living with friends of his mother but, now that they were getting a divorce, Carter feared that going into the foster care system was in his future if he couldn't find a way to make Felicia and Gideon his new family.
Part of the joy of this series is the strong relationships among many of the characters. Felicia has developed a close group of women friends. Gideon has a good group of men friends too. The community is also close and caring.
Tanya Eby does a great job narrating. Romance lovers won't want to miss this one.
January 24, 2024
Two of a Kind
3.5 Stars
Frightfully intelligent yet socially awkward, Felicity Swift is a newcomer to Fool's Gold. So imagine her surprise upon learning that the man with whom she spent one explosive night in Thailand is the new owner of the local radio station. Suffering from PTSD after spending two years in captivity, former special forces operative, Gideon Boylan, is looking for some much-deserved peace and quiet. The last thing he wants or needs is a woman in his life, but he just can't seem to keep his hands off Felicity. Can these two lonely hearts find happiness together?
While Gideon and Felicity have scorching hot chemistry, their romance is missing that special something mainly due to the fact that Gideon is emotionally stunted and psychologically unwilling to commit to a relationship. Although this is blamed on his PTSD, it is actually quite clear that his attitude existed prior to his captivity.
Felicity is an incredible heroine. She has an amazing capacity for love and the portrayal of her cold and clinical childhood is all the more heartbreaking given her caring nature. It is evident from the start that she is more invested in her relationship with Gideon than he, and while everything ultimately turns out for the best (this is a romance after all), one cannot help but feel that she deserves better.
The secondary storyline focusing on Denise Hendrix's desire to find wives for her two unmarried sons is very amusing, and Mallery has provided an intriguing basis for the next installment that will obviously focus on Ford and Kent's HEAs. The two love interests are polar opposites yet both appealing in their own ways. I look forward to reading about the ensuing shenanigans.
3.5 Stars
Frightfully intelligent yet socially awkward, Felicity Swift is a newcomer to Fool's Gold. So imagine her surprise upon learning that the man with whom she spent one explosive night in Thailand is the new owner of the local radio station. Suffering from PTSD after spending two years in captivity, former special forces operative, Gideon Boylan, is looking for some much-deserved peace and quiet. The last thing he wants or needs is a woman in his life, but he just can't seem to keep his hands off Felicity. Can these two lonely hearts find happiness together?
While Gideon and Felicity have scorching hot chemistry, their romance is missing that special something mainly due to the fact that Gideon is emotionally stunted and psychologically unwilling to commit to a relationship. Although this is blamed on his PTSD, it is actually quite clear that his attitude existed prior to his captivity.
Felicity is an incredible heroine. She has an amazing capacity for love and the portrayal of her cold and clinical childhood is all the more heartbreaking given her caring nature. It is evident from the start that she is more invested in her relationship with Gideon than he, and while everything ultimately turns out for the best (this is a romance after all), one cannot help but feel that she deserves better.
The secondary storyline focusing on Denise Hendrix's desire to find wives for her two unmarried sons is very amusing, and Mallery has provided an intriguing basis for the next installment that will obviously focus on Ford and Kent's HEAs. The two love interests are polar opposites yet both appealing in their own ways. I look forward to reading about the ensuing shenanigans.
September 28, 2014
Two of a Kind by Susan Mallery. A charming, often funny story from Fool's Gold, CA, a fictitious small town that I would love to visit. Everyone there is kind, sharing, and caring with and about each other.
This is Felicia Swift's story. She is extremely smart and because of her upbringing, doesn't truly understand conversational dynamics. She wants to be "normal". This story tells of the growth of her people skills and throughout the story, as she learns the nuances of everyday life, and expresses her happiness when she understands a non-sequitur, you feel happy and proud for her. And of course the path of love between her and Gideon Boylan, who doesn't want to love anyone, is wound through the story deftly and with a bit of spice.
I was truly sorry to reach the end of Felicia's story. She is engaging, smart, and I would love to have her as a friend. I hope we see lots more of her in this ongoing series.
This is Felicia Swift's story. She is extremely smart and because of her upbringing, doesn't truly understand conversational dynamics. She wants to be "normal". This story tells of the growth of her people skills and throughout the story, as she learns the nuances of everyday life, and expresses her happiness when she understands a non-sequitur, you feel happy and proud for her. And of course the path of love between her and Gideon Boylan, who doesn't want to love anyone, is wound through the story deftly and with a bit of spice.
I was truly sorry to reach the end of Felicia's story. She is engaging, smart, and I would love to have her as a friend. I hope we see lots more of her in this ongoing series.
January 18, 2016
Enamorada me encuentro de Fool's Gold y sus personajes, por si no os habíais dado cuenta.
jejejeje.
Estoy en uno de esos momentos romanticones en los que sólo me apetece leer bonitas y dulces historias de amor, de esas que se leen rápido, fácil y de las que disfrutas como una enana.
Susan Mallery me da todo eso.
Felicia y Gideon creo que se han convertido en una de mis parejas preferidas de toda la saga. Me encantan.
Ahora, a por el siguiente!!! jejeje
Reseña completa: http://ifantasiasyrelatos.blogspot.co...
jejejeje.
Estoy en uno de esos momentos romanticones en los que sólo me apetece leer bonitas y dulces historias de amor, de esas que se leen rápido, fácil y de las que disfrutas como una enana.
Susan Mallery me da todo eso.
Felicia y Gideon creo que se han convertido en una de mis parejas preferidas de toda la saga. Me encantan.
Ahora, a por el siguiente!!! jejeje
Reseña completa: http://ifantasiasyrelatos.blogspot.co...
February 3, 2015
Es lo primero que leo de esta autora y aunque se que no es el primero de la serie, lo pille de oferta y decidi probar, es un libro sencillo y rapido de leer que si bien no te hace tener el corazon en un puño si que te hace sentir y acabas con una sonrisa en la cara. Un buen libro para una tarde lluviosa
June 22, 2013
I wish I could give this book 17 stars. Seriously, LOVE this series, and Felicia might be my favorite character ever!! Can't wait for the next Fool's Gold book!!
December 11, 2018
Kuss und Kuss gesellt sich gern von Susan Mallery ist Teil 11 der Fool's Gold Serie. Die Protagonistin in diesem Buch ist Felicia. Sie ist überdurchschnittlich intelligent und ist auf der Suche nach Normalität. Da trifft es sich gut, dass sie Gideon, ein ehemaliger Soldat, in Fool's Gold wiedertrifft. Dieser hat jedoch ein schweres Paket aus seiner Vergangenheit mit sich herumzuschleppen. Das beide einander gut tun ahnt niemand von ihnen.
Dieses Buch hat mir wieder sehr gut gefallen. Hier haben wir ein nicht so typische Hauptcharakterin. Sehr selbstbewusst, wahnsinnig intelligent aber auf der anderen Seite dann doch unsicher. Und das Gideon Angst vor einer Bindung hat kann man mit seiner Vergangenheit auch verstehen. Ich möchte mir gar nicht vorstellen, was ihm alles passiert ist. Wir lernen auch einige neue Charaktere kennen. Vor allem Carter habe ich in mein Herz geschlossen!
Das war ein recht lustiges Buch. Diese Reihe liest sich sehr schnell und flüssig, wenn man Zeit hat. Und wenn wir einen Blick auf die Covers werfen, alle passen wunderbar zusammen und sehen sehr nett aus. Auf geht es zum nächsten Buch!
Dieses Buch hat mir wieder sehr gut gefallen. Hier haben wir ein nicht so typische Hauptcharakterin. Sehr selbstbewusst, wahnsinnig intelligent aber auf der anderen Seite dann doch unsicher. Und das Gideon Angst vor einer Bindung hat kann man mit seiner Vergangenheit auch verstehen. Ich möchte mir gar nicht vorstellen, was ihm alles passiert ist. Wir lernen auch einige neue Charaktere kennen. Vor allem Carter habe ich in mein Herz geschlossen!
Das war ein recht lustiges Buch. Diese Reihe liest sich sehr schnell und flüssig, wenn man Zeit hat. Und wenn wir einen Blick auf die Covers werfen, alle passen wunderbar zusammen und sehen sehr nett aus. Auf geht es zum nächsten Buch!
August 24, 2023
3/5 ⭐️ I had previously read this entire series (or at least most of it) by this author a while ago, before I started keeping track of my reading or rating books. I remembered liking some of the books in it and was curious what I would think about it today. It was fun to be back in the world of Fool’s Gold with a familiar cast of characters. (This series was so strange because it takes place in the same town for a long period of time with an ever evolving friend group with sometimes surprising additions.) The characters during this portion of the series were ex-military, and the female lead in this installment was pretty unique for the series - a genius who struggles with more mundane social aspects of language. I liked the broad strokes of the story (practice dating, surprise child/single dad) with leads figuring out what they want from life. However, in execution, it was a bit too instalusty and focused on their physical relationship, and I wanted some more depth and nuance in the found family story. This was fun to return to, and I would be curious to read more from this series again in the future! 🫂👥🔓☁️
February 16, 2019
Felicia is so much like someone I love. Too smart to blend with everyone else, but exactly the special mix needed to make things always a little better. It takes a special person to love someone like that and appreciate them. This story really touched me.
July 24, 2024
A mother rents a festival booth to find spouses for two of her sons.
The title could use some work. Not sure which two (people?) were two of a kind.
"I learned many, many years ago that harsh words can never be unspoken, and they have consequences. Since then I have vowed to weigh what I say first."
The title could use some work. Not sure which two (people?) were two of a kind.
"I learned many, many years ago that harsh words can never be unspoken, and they have consequences. Since then I have vowed to weigh what I say first."
June 29, 2018
I liked the idea of this book. The story took a weird turn halfway through, and I after that I lost interest in this book. There is a happy ending, though.
July 28, 2018
Loved this one! Loved Felicia, she was so funnily awkward and direct. Just love this entire series!
June 21, 2013
Full review posted here: http://thebookpushers.com/2013/06/21/...
I was so excited to read Felicia’s story, because I loved that her character was so incredible smart, and more than a little socially awkward. She reminded me of the character TV character Bones.
Felicia didn’t think she would stick around in Fool’s Gold after helping to set up her friend’s business, but when she runs into her first flame, Gideon, and then begin seeing each other once again, the pull of the town is too much for Felicia to resist. Add in the offer of a new job in town, and Felicia finds herself pulled into and falling in love with the small town life.
Gideon likes the small town atmosphere of Fool’s Gold, but does his best to keep himself separate from the town. If he doesn’t get too close, then he doesn’t have to worry about getting attached. But with Felicia walking back into his life, Gideon discovers that there is something to be said about falling in love, with both a woman and his town.
Although this wasn’t exactly a second chance love story, since Felicia and Gideon never really had a chance to fall for each other after their first sexual encounter, in many ways this story felt like a second chance. Both Felicia and Gideon were greatly impacted by their one and only night together, and the chance to rekindle that spark between them was something that they were both excited about, and that excitement and tension came across beautifully.
I think one of my favorite parts in this story was the beginning, when Felicia and Gideon meet again for the first time. Felicia was caught off guard and out of her element, bringing out that sweet and innocent personality she had when she wasn’t overthinking everything. And Gideon got the chance to really see her, be swept away by her and take her out of her comfort zone. It was cute and sweet and so well done, that it might be my favorite moment in that book between these two.
Although I heard a lot of people on twitter talking about how nervous they were to read Felicia’s story, I loved and adored her. I have only read a few books in which the main character is too smart for their own good, but every book I have read has blown me away. I love watching Felicia’s thought process as she blurts out the random information in her head, and then realizes that she has lost everyone else, and fights with herself to fit within the social norm. I also loved that her friends didn’t want her to change. They loved her random facts, the way her brain processed things, and her ability to blurt out every thought. I loved it about her too and way so glad to see that she had support from other strong female characters.
Poor Gideon was a tough nut to crack. I wasn’t 100% pleased with the way his story went. I don’t want to give anything away, but Mallery certainly threw me for a loop with the introduction of a sub-plot that I was absolutely NOT expecting. And because of it, I felt as if Felicia and Gideon’s relationship suffered, just a little bit. I wanted to get a chance to see them rely on each other more, instead of focusing so much of their time and energy on this secondary point.
All in all I did really enjoy this book in the series. I loved Felicia, thought she was such an incredible heroine, and I loved the way she had to navigate between her book smarts and lack of social skills. While I never really felt as if I got to know Gideon as well as I would have liked to, the relationship between him and Felicia was rock solid by the end of the book, and I couldn’t ask for anything more.
I give Two of a Kind a B.
I was so excited to read Felicia’s story, because I loved that her character was so incredible smart, and more than a little socially awkward. She reminded me of the character TV character Bones.
Felicia didn’t think she would stick around in Fool’s Gold after helping to set up her friend’s business, but when she runs into her first flame, Gideon, and then begin seeing each other once again, the pull of the town is too much for Felicia to resist. Add in the offer of a new job in town, and Felicia finds herself pulled into and falling in love with the small town life.
Gideon likes the small town atmosphere of Fool’s Gold, but does his best to keep himself separate from the town. If he doesn’t get too close, then he doesn’t have to worry about getting attached. But with Felicia walking back into his life, Gideon discovers that there is something to be said about falling in love, with both a woman and his town.
Although this wasn’t exactly a second chance love story, since Felicia and Gideon never really had a chance to fall for each other after their first sexual encounter, in many ways this story felt like a second chance. Both Felicia and Gideon were greatly impacted by their one and only night together, and the chance to rekindle that spark between them was something that they were both excited about, and that excitement and tension came across beautifully.
I think one of my favorite parts in this story was the beginning, when Felicia and Gideon meet again for the first time. Felicia was caught off guard and out of her element, bringing out that sweet and innocent personality she had when she wasn’t overthinking everything. And Gideon got the chance to really see her, be swept away by her and take her out of her comfort zone. It was cute and sweet and so well done, that it might be my favorite moment in that book between these two.
Although I heard a lot of people on twitter talking about how nervous they were to read Felicia’s story, I loved and adored her. I have only read a few books in which the main character is too smart for their own good, but every book I have read has blown me away. I love watching Felicia’s thought process as she blurts out the random information in her head, and then realizes that she has lost everyone else, and fights with herself to fit within the social norm. I also loved that her friends didn’t want her to change. They loved her random facts, the way her brain processed things, and her ability to blurt out every thought. I loved it about her too and way so glad to see that she had support from other strong female characters.
Poor Gideon was a tough nut to crack. I wasn’t 100% pleased with the way his story went. I don’t want to give anything away, but Mallery certainly threw me for a loop with the introduction of a sub-plot that I was absolutely NOT expecting. And because of it, I felt as if Felicia and Gideon’s relationship suffered, just a little bit. I wanted to get a chance to see them rely on each other more, instead of focusing so much of their time and energy on this secondary point.
All in all I did really enjoy this book in the series. I loved Felicia, thought she was such an incredible heroine, and I loved the way she had to navigate between her book smarts and lack of social skills. While I never really felt as if I got to know Gideon as well as I would have liked to, the relationship between him and Felicia was rock solid by the end of the book, and I couldn’t ask for anything more.
I give Two of a Kind a B.
June 13, 2013
Reviewed for: Lets Get Romantical
Definitely one of my favorite books of the series! This book was all about Felicia! It was impossible not to love her. She is quirky, caring, social awkward and just so giving. All she wants is to be normal but her upbringing and her intelligence make that impossible. In Fools Gold she is finally finding her footing. She is making friends that don’t seem to mind that she is the smartest person on the room and that sometimes she goes off on random tangents why over explaining everything. She wants to belong, to find a man to love and to have a family but she doesn’t think that could ever happen for her as long as she remains “abnormal”. Enter Gideon, they had a one night affair in Thailand over four years ago that neither forgot. It was Felicia first time and when she runs into Gideon again, the attraction remains just as strong as it was that night. Gideon and Felicia enter into a deal, he would help her socialize and she would realize that he was not the forever kind of guy.
Gideon was a POW for over two years her was tortured and watched while every other person in his unit died. He was the only one that survived. He came to Fools Gold to live in peace and to heal he never in a million years thought he would run into Felicia, a one night stand he never forgot. Gideon likes his peaceful life, he knows he’s not completely healed and never will be, but he has long since come to terms with that. Since, he is alone he doesn’t really need to worry about the fact that he is not healed impacting anyone but himself. When Felicia enters his life again, she is aware of his history and that he is not a forever kind of guy. He likes Felicia as a person, he likes that she is quirky and not like everyone else. I love that about him. As a character he is not as well developed as Felicia but you still like him as a character. You feel for him, as his past. Two years of constant torture would not make the most social of people. I love how he treats Felicia in the beginning, he kind of drops off in the middle when something unexpected happens but he comes together in the end.
The story like all Susan Mallery novels is fun, endearing and heartwarming. The town of Fools Gold is like a character all on its own and makes for a great “side character”. Susan Mallery has a great sense of humor and knows how to write a light fun read that is sure to make you melt a little. The Susan Mallery formula is still in affect but in this book it’s not quite as noticeable as some of the previous books.
*This copy was provided to me through NetGalley for an honest review. No other compensation was provided.
Rating: 4.5 Romanticals
Definitely one of my favorite books of the series! This book was all about Felicia! It was impossible not to love her. She is quirky, caring, social awkward and just so giving. All she wants is to be normal but her upbringing and her intelligence make that impossible. In Fools Gold she is finally finding her footing. She is making friends that don’t seem to mind that she is the smartest person on the room and that sometimes she goes off on random tangents why over explaining everything. She wants to belong, to find a man to love and to have a family but she doesn’t think that could ever happen for her as long as she remains “abnormal”. Enter Gideon, they had a one night affair in Thailand over four years ago that neither forgot. It was Felicia first time and when she runs into Gideon again, the attraction remains just as strong as it was that night. Gideon and Felicia enter into a deal, he would help her socialize and she would realize that he was not the forever kind of guy.
Gideon was a POW for over two years her was tortured and watched while every other person in his unit died. He was the only one that survived. He came to Fools Gold to live in peace and to heal he never in a million years thought he would run into Felicia, a one night stand he never forgot. Gideon likes his peaceful life, he knows he’s not completely healed and never will be, but he has long since come to terms with that. Since, he is alone he doesn’t really need to worry about the fact that he is not healed impacting anyone but himself. When Felicia enters his life again, she is aware of his history and that he is not a forever kind of guy. He likes Felicia as a person, he likes that she is quirky and not like everyone else. I love that about him. As a character he is not as well developed as Felicia but you still like him as a character. You feel for him, as his past. Two years of constant torture would not make the most social of people. I love how he treats Felicia in the beginning, he kind of drops off in the middle when something unexpected happens but he comes together in the end.
The story like all Susan Mallery novels is fun, endearing and heartwarming. The town of Fools Gold is like a character all on its own and makes for a great “side character”. Susan Mallery has a great sense of humor and knows how to write a light fun read that is sure to make you melt a little. The Susan Mallery formula is still in affect but in this book it’s not quite as noticeable as some of the previous books.
*This copy was provided to me through NetGalley for an honest review. No other compensation was provided.
Rating: 4.5 Romanticals
June 11, 2013
This is the 12th book in the Fool's Gold series and it is the second book released in the newest trilogy from Mallery. In the last book we were introduced to Justice Garrett who was bringing some of his military friends to Fool's Gold to open up a bodyguard business. Felicia is one of those friends. She used to be in a special branch of the military running the logistics because she is a super genius. Felicia followed Justice To Fools Gold to help him set up his new company but now her goal is just to be normal. So when Pia (a past character and the coordinator of all the festivals) approaches her about taking over her job, Felicia decides to go for it.
Gideon owns and operates a local radio station in Fool's Gold and is doing quite well at avoiding most of the population of the town. He lives in a secluded part of town on the outskirts in a large cabin. He's still suffering from PTSD after being rescued from his prison. When Gideon finds out Felicia is in town he has to decide how willing he is to try to ignore her when all he can remember is their one night together.
Felicia and Gideon were an interesting match up. Felicia was so cerebral sometimes it wasn't hard to see why she had a hard time getting along with the more "normal" folk and yet when she was with Gideon she almost acted like a lovesick teenager. Which I guess she kind of was since she missed out on that whole part of her life. Gideon from the beginning just sounded sexy, not only because his voice was described as being sexy but just his actions in general reminded me of a bad boy gone right. He has that edge to him and it's barely contained. There were times I totally understood why he was acting like an idiot and other times where I was so frustrated and feeling sorry for Felicia and other characters that I wanted to wallop him over the head.
There were a lot of different things happening in this book and what felt like a lot of different plot lines that ended up merging together. I liked returning characters and new characters alike but at times I did feel like there was a lot going on and a lot being set up for future books. But in the end I did enjoy this one and I'm liking where this series is going as a whole. Nothing says angst like ex-military men (and women).
Thanks to netgalley and Harlequin for providing me with this copy to read and review.
Review has been edited to change the name Faith to Felicia. Thank you kindly to Erin for pointing that out!
Gideon owns and operates a local radio station in Fool's Gold and is doing quite well at avoiding most of the population of the town. He lives in a secluded part of town on the outskirts in a large cabin. He's still suffering from PTSD after being rescued from his prison. When Gideon finds out Felicia is in town he has to decide how willing he is to try to ignore her when all he can remember is their one night together.
Felicia and Gideon were an interesting match up. Felicia was so cerebral sometimes it wasn't hard to see why she had a hard time getting along with the more "normal" folk and yet when she was with Gideon she almost acted like a lovesick teenager. Which I guess she kind of was since she missed out on that whole part of her life. Gideon from the beginning just sounded sexy, not only because his voice was described as being sexy but just his actions in general reminded me of a bad boy gone right. He has that edge to him and it's barely contained. There were times I totally understood why he was acting like an idiot and other times where I was so frustrated and feeling sorry for Felicia and other characters that I wanted to wallop him over the head.
There were a lot of different things happening in this book and what felt like a lot of different plot lines that ended up merging together. I liked returning characters and new characters alike but at times I did feel like there was a lot going on and a lot being set up for future books. But in the end I did enjoy this one and I'm liking where this series is going as a whole. Nothing says angst like ex-military men (and women).
Thanks to netgalley and Harlequin for providing me with this copy to read and review.
Review has been edited to change the name Faith to Felicia. Thank you kindly to Erin for pointing that out!
October 9, 2014
Another great book. Loved it!
TWO OF A KIND was great! This series really is getting better and better. Gideon and Felicia were so unique that they were fun to read about.
I liked what happened in this book. I enjoyed it all and was never bored. Things flowed well and even had a few surprises thrown in.
***Details***
Gideon was such a deep character. He was the sole survivor of being held and tortured for nearly two years. He was written off by so many and now he lives his life in solitude. He believes he can live on the fringe of Fool’s Gold, but he will learn that the town won’t let him.
We knew a lot about Felicia from the previous book, but to actually learn her story through her eyes was beautiful. Although she had amazing opportunities because of her intelligent, she never got to socialize and be a kid.
When she and Gideon finally run into each other, the sparks are there just like they were their first night together. Felicia wants to fall in love and have a family, but she fears she’s too disconnected. She wants to learn to be more normal and Gideon accepts the offer to give her those experiences through dating after making sure she knows he’s not the forever type guy.
These two are great together and have more with each other than just in the bedroom. Felicia understands Gideon better than even he will admit.
I loved watching Felicia become a part of the town. After Pia learns she’s pregnant, Felicia is offered the job. With a few bumps along the way, Felicia gives the festivals a new lift.
The twist comes in when Gideon finds out he has a 13 year old son, Carter. Felicia moves in with them to aid in the transition and for a large part of the book, is the glue that holds them together. Gideon finds it hard to connect while Felicia feels a part of a family for the first time.
Carter becomes great friends with Kent Hendrix’s son, Reese and the boys plot ways to get Gideon and Felicia together at Carter’s urgings.
Although Gideon fights the walls closing in on him and every turn, he finally must realize love doesn’t make you weak. After the boy’s runaway scheme, Gideon gets a taste of losing all that he’s gained and finally grasps what he’s been missing.
Luckily, Felicia and Carter are there to be the family he never knew he needed.
TWO OF A KIND was great! This series really is getting better and better. Gideon and Felicia were so unique that they were fun to read about.
I liked what happened in this book. I enjoyed it all and was never bored. Things flowed well and even had a few surprises thrown in.
***Details***
Gideon was such a deep character. He was the sole survivor of being held and tortured for nearly two years. He was written off by so many and now he lives his life in solitude. He believes he can live on the fringe of Fool’s Gold, but he will learn that the town won’t let him.
We knew a lot about Felicia from the previous book, but to actually learn her story through her eyes was beautiful. Although she had amazing opportunities because of her intelligent, she never got to socialize and be a kid.
When she and Gideon finally run into each other, the sparks are there just like they were their first night together. Felicia wants to fall in love and have a family, but she fears she’s too disconnected. She wants to learn to be more normal and Gideon accepts the offer to give her those experiences through dating after making sure she knows he’s not the forever type guy.
These two are great together and have more with each other than just in the bedroom. Felicia understands Gideon better than even he will admit.
I loved watching Felicia become a part of the town. After Pia learns she’s pregnant, Felicia is offered the job. With a few bumps along the way, Felicia gives the festivals a new lift.
The twist comes in when Gideon finds out he has a 13 year old son, Carter. Felicia moves in with them to aid in the transition and for a large part of the book, is the glue that holds them together. Gideon finds it hard to connect while Felicia feels a part of a family for the first time.
Carter becomes great friends with Kent Hendrix’s son, Reese and the boys plot ways to get Gideon and Felicia together at Carter’s urgings.
Although Gideon fights the walls closing in on him and every turn, he finally must realize love doesn’t make you weak. After the boy’s runaway scheme, Gideon gets a taste of losing all that he’s gained and finally grasps what he’s been missing.
Luckily, Felicia and Carter are there to be the family he never knew he needed.
October 1, 2013
Actual rating: 2.5 stars
You know, I almost can't put these books in the "realistic fiction" shelf because everything in Fools Gold seems to be covered in rainbows and sparkles and unicorns. This time around we've got Felicia and Gideon, two former military operatives trying to find their place in Fools Gold. Felicia, with her background in planning military operations and movements, has settled into the job of town event manager and seems genuinely thrilled to be living a normal, civilian life. Gideon had left the military years before and is the owner/radio personality on the local oldies station.
The pacing remains really, really off. Just like the previous book in the series, our main couple goes from zero to engaged in less than two months. And just like the last book, where the Justice and Patience had spent a few months together as kids, our couple has history. Unlike the last book, that history is a one-night stand in Thailand, so I don't really think we can count that towards the "accumulative time together, no it's not creeepy we're getting engaged so soon" quota. But everyone in this town of attractive 20- and 30-somethings seems to get engaged at the drop of a hat, so maybe it's cultural?
Gideon's love 180 is a little startling though especially when you consider he goes from definitely against marriage/kids/picket fence to discovering he has a 13-year-old son who appears out of nowhere at the books midpoint. I'll give Mallery this much, that particular plot point wasn't foreshadowed at all. Bravo!
And yet, Gideon's son Carter is a great representation of all the problems with this book. He appears out of nowhere, infodumps his background, and then nearly immediately carves a perfect life for himself in this town with no real challenges. This kid is the most well-adjusted recent orphan you will ever meet. Yes, there's some growing pains in his relationship with Gideon, but Felicia is instamom, going so far as to move in with the man who has repeatedly told her he never wants to get married. I just don't know.
I think part of my problem is I jumped into this series at book 10, so there's certainly some background I'm missing. But despite the flaws and character whiplash, I'm oddly charmed by these books. And, yes, I will read the next book as well.
You know, I almost can't put these books in the "realistic fiction" shelf because everything in Fools Gold seems to be covered in rainbows and sparkles and unicorns. This time around we've got Felicia and Gideon, two former military operatives trying to find their place in Fools Gold. Felicia, with her background in planning military operations and movements, has settled into the job of town event manager and seems genuinely thrilled to be living a normal, civilian life. Gideon had left the military years before and is the owner/radio personality on the local oldies station.
The pacing remains really, really off. Just like the previous book in the series, our main couple goes from zero to engaged in less than two months. And just like the last book, where the Justice and Patience had spent a few months together as kids, our couple has history. Unlike the last book, that history is a one-night stand in Thailand, so I don't really think we can count that towards the "accumulative time together, no it's not creeepy we're getting engaged so soon" quota. But everyone in this town of attractive 20- and 30-somethings seems to get engaged at the drop of a hat, so maybe it's cultural?
Gideon's love 180 is a little startling though especially when you consider he goes from definitely against marriage/kids/picket fence to discovering he has a 13-year-old son who appears out of nowhere at the books midpoint. I'll give Mallery this much, that particular plot point wasn't foreshadowed at all. Bravo!
And yet, Gideon's son Carter is a great representation of all the problems with this book. He appears out of nowhere, infodumps his background, and then nearly immediately carves a perfect life for himself in this town with no real challenges. This kid is the most well-adjusted recent orphan you will ever meet. Yes, there's some growing pains in his relationship with Gideon, but Felicia is instamom, going so far as to move in with the man who has repeatedly told her he never wants to get married. I just don't know.
I think part of my problem is I jumped into this series at book 10, so there's certainly some background I'm missing. But despite the flaws and character whiplash, I'm oddly charmed by these books. And, yes, I will read the next book as well.
July 31, 2013
The Fools Gold series continues with Two of a Kind the story of Felicia Swift and Gideon Boylan. Gideon we met a while back and Felicia more recently. Both have issues with their past. Felicia is pretty much a genius but was left at the age of 4 by her parents with a college because they couldn't handle her. Raised at the college and taken care of my professors she was smarter than most of them but didn't learn how to socialize for her age and so grew up being a little on the odd side in some ways. She got into the military where she met Ford Hendrix and Justice Garrett. Justice became like a brother to her as well as Ford. Wanting to be normal she sought out a man and picked Gideon to be her first time. Now years later they are both in Fools Gold and the spark from that one night is still there. Gideon was a soldier taken prisoner of war for 2 years before he was rescued. He was the only one of his men to survive and now has survivors guilt and PTSD among other things. He can't be what Felicia really needs but decides to help her learn to socialize in the normal world. Throw a 13 year old son in the mix he didn't know he had and it's a interesting mix. You get some back story on a lot of the characters in this story. Most of course for Felicia and Gideon but a bunch of the secondary characters as well. Felicia is this brilliant person but is trying to learn how to be like a average young woman. How to be loved and make friends and in a surprise for her how to me a mother. Gideon is good at faking normal although with Felicia he feels more normal than he has in years. I found myself rooting for Gideon to want to try to get to a place he needed to be to heal. Felicia is much stronger a person and much more normal than she thinks. You watch her blossom and grow in this book. Kent and Gideon's sons are hilarious in their quest to get Gideon to figure out he loved Felicia. My heart melted a little bit every time Gideon and Felicia had scenes together. You just want it to work out because they've been through so much in their lives they deserve some happiness. Another brilliant addition to the Fools Gold series. I hope we get to see Gideon's brother in a future book!
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