Marry Me at Christmas

Fool's Gold #19

by Susan Mallery

Wish upon a Christmas star with New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery's sparkling Fool's Gold romance!

To bridal boutique owner Madeline Krug, organizing a Christmas wedding sounds like a joy—until she finds out she'll be working closely with the gorgeous brother of the bride, movie star Jonny Blaze. How will a small-town girl like her keep from falling for the world's sexiest guy? Especially with mistletoe lurking around every corner!

Jonny came to Fool's Gold looking for normal, not for love. Happily-ever-after only happens in the movies. Still, nothing about this quirky town is quite what he expected, and "ordinary" Madeline is the most extraordinary woman he's ever met. Refreshingly honest, disarmingly sweet. Achingly beautiful.

Planning the perfect wedding leads to candlelit dinners and strolls through snow-covered streets. And Madeline finds Jonny in real life even more captivating than her celebrity crush. But will the action star be brave enough to risk his heart and step into the role of a lifetime?

Genres: Romance, Christmas, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Holiday, Fiction, Chick Lit

330 pages, Hardcover

First published September 29, 2015

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

[Melike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marry Me at Christmas is the 19th installment in the Fool's Gold series. It was a cute Christmas romance between Madeline who owns a bridal boutique and Jonny who is a famous movie star that recently moved to Fool's Gold looking for a quiet life. Jonny hires Madeline as a wedding planner for his sister who is getting married around Christmas. Sparks between them fly and romance ensues. Bonus points for the cutest dog that enters the picture more than halfway through the book. I adored it!!!!!!

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never read anything by Susan Mallery, but I have heard a lot of good things about her romance novels. I was looking for a sweet holiday romance to read, and the opportunity to read this book came up. After reading the description, I decided to try this book out. I am so happy that I read this book, because it was exactly what I was looking for.



There was romance, humor, family ties, and friendship all weaved through out this book. I was surprised with how funny this book was, I wasn't expecting to laugh as much as I did! Madeline's thoughts made me laugh a lot, especially when she was freaking out over Jonny. Speaking of the characters, I loved them in this book. They were all so lovable and relatable. I wish there would have been a little more character development for the two main characters, however, I was happy with the development that they did have.

Another thing I loved about this book was the setting. The town mixed with the holiday festivities was just so charming. I felt like I was watching an adorable christmas romance movie. I ate it up!

The romance in this book was adorable. I really enjoyed watching the couple fall in love. Their romance was nicely set up because it never felt rushed. They fell in love over time, and at a natural pace. I thought Susan did a great job at making their romance believable.

This book had minimal drama, which was nice for a change. It was nice to sit back and just enjoy some holiday romance with minimal drama. It lead to the book feeling a little slow at times, but it didn't bother me that much. I did think that the drama that did occur could have been executed differently. I thought their issues were pretty easy to solve, and I was annoyed that they couldn't get over the drama quicker.

Those things aside, I enjoyed this book. I was in the mood for a quick romance read, and this did the trick. This book definitely put me in the holiday spirit, even though it is only September! If you enjoy Susan Mallery's other books, then I am sure you will love this book. If you are new to Susan Mallery like I was, and you are looking for a holiday romance, then I definitely recommend this sweet book.



4 / 5 Fangs

*This ebook was given to me in exchange for a honest review.*

MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
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[Stacee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was a lot of fun.

I loved Madeline and Jonny. It was fun to see their relationship slowly grow. She ever so sweetly sells wedding dresses and he's a movie star, but it works. I didn't feel that their relationship was unbalanced at all.

There were a lot of secondary characters in the form of her girlfriends and honestly, I don't remember if any of them were in the previous books I've read in the series. Of course Eddie and Gladys were loads of fun and stole every scene they were in.

The build up was sweet and the ending was quite satisfying. it was just the type of fluff I wanted to read.

**Huge thanks to Harlequin Books and Edelweiss for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review**

[✰ Bianca ✰ BJ's Book Blog ✰ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book #19

Madeline runs the town's wedding boutique.
She's making sure that every bride finds the perfect dress for the most important day in her life.
She wants to make people happy - and she wants to find this ever after happiness herself one day.

But for now she has a HUGE celebrity crush: Jonny Blaze.
The Hollywood star moved to town a while back - he wanted to get away from crazy Hollywood. What better place to escape to than a ranch outside of crazy Fool's Gold ☺
But he loves it there. He can be himself - nobody cares that he's a huge star.
But now he needs help - he promised his sister (the only family he has left) that he will throw her the perfect wedding at his ranch. Enter: Madeline. Because the town's party planner is fully booked over the holidays, our darling, meddling mayor, asks Madeline to organize the wedding.
Poor Madline with her crush - she starts stuttering when she only sees Jonny from afar. How will she ever plan a wedding with him?

But it works - they like each other and are on their way to planning the perfect little wedding.
But more than liking is not what Jonny wants for Madeline - he doesn't want her in those stupid Hollywood spotlights - and that would be exactly what would happen once they get closer....
But those sparks and the holidays and an orpahned dog and snow and the mayor...They might not stand a chance against all that ☺

What will happen to Madeline & Jonny?
Will there be a HEA?



Nope - I'm not telling you ☺
________________________________





Ugh - I just LOVE Fool's Gold and it's people - I would be happy to have a new Fool's Gold book every month for the rest of my life! ☺

Whhhooooppeeeee - a Christmas book - and it's only september ☺
Ugh - I love everything about the holidays - the smells and sounds and decorations and all of that in Fool's Gold - I sooooo want to move and live there!

And now we have a real Hollywood star in town - the only thing better than Christmas and a Hollywood Star would be a Rockstar - but pfff - I'm pretty sure that Susan will have a Fool's Gold rockband for us soon ☺

I loved this story.
Madeline is sooo adorable with her crush. And Jonny - soooo HOT and amazing. The way he wants just the best for his little sister.
And being in this town - he just wants to belong - he wants what everybody wants - a wife, a family. But he thinks he can't have all that with his job :/ Poor guy.

MARRY ME AT CHRISTMAS - another amazing Mallery Holiday Romance that has it all: The town of Fool's Gold with all its amazing inhabitants - a beautiful Romance between two amazing people - moving & adorable moments & SNOW ♥ like all of SUSAN'S books = JUST PERFECT ☺

[Jonel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how Mallery combines all of the joys of Christmas with the unique qualities of Fool’s Gold. This is an upbeat story with an undercurrent of heartache and loss. I love how the magic of Fool’s Gold shines through in the end, with love and friendship coming to the forefront. I really enjoyed how Mallery wove and stitched the various pieces of the story together, creating a complexly multifaceted tale that I couldn’t put down.

The complexity within Johnny Blaze himself was fantastic. Mallery developed both his star persona and the everyday guy that his friends and family know and love. His caring and self-doubt both come out in spades throughout. Madeline sells the focal point of every bride`s dream day, yet can`t see it for herself. Together these two took me on a fun and emotional journey that had me laughing and near tears in turns. Surrounded by the usual suspects in Fool`s Gold, and you have a winning cast.

Once again Mallery has drawn me into the heart of Fool`s Gold with a tale full of heart. This dose of Christmas cheer will be loved year-round.

Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marry Me at Christmas by Susan Mallery is a 2015 HQN publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

I always look forward to the Christmas stories written by veteran authors like Susan Mallery, and so I made a concerted effort to seek this one out. However, this time, I'm afraid the story fell a little flat for me.

Madeline's Bridal shop is entering it's slow time of year, so when a very special request came from the mayor to help plan the wedding of movie star Jonny Blaze's only sister, Madeline agrees, albeit reluctantly at first.

But, once she meets Jonny and gets over her initial starstruck giddiness of actually working with a movie star, Madeline finds Jonny to be a very grounded, down to earth guy, for the most part, except when it comes to planning his sister's wedding, where he tends to get a little carried away. Pretty soon the pair find they enjoy being with one another, but the issues surrounding life as a major movie star could nip their romance in the bud. Is the couple doomed or can a little holiday magic work it charm in Fool's Gold once again?

For some reason this story just didn't elicit any sort of emotion from me and almost felt like the author was just going through the motions with this one. The set up isn't bad, but the couple have no chemistry, and there wasn't all that much conflict, and well, they were kind of boring. In fact the entire book was a bit drab.

There were a few humorous moments, but other than that, I felt a little let down by this one. This is definitely not one of Susan's best efforts, in my opinion. 2.5 stars.

[Janeiowa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Susan Mallery continues the stories about the somewhat magical town of Fools' Gold, CA. The main characters this time are Madeline Krug of Paper Moon Bridal and movie star and new resident, Jonny Blaze. There are also cameo appearances by other FG residents featured or mentioned in one of the previous 18 FG novels...Eddie and Gladys, Jo's Bar, Isabel, Taryn, Consuelo, etc.

This one started out a bit slow for me, but I was soon caught up in the preparations for the wedding Jonny is giving his studious sister, Ginger.

I think this series requires a bit of "suspension of reality," as some of the characters seem a bit "over the top."
[With all the turmoil in our world these days, it's a shame the friendliness and helping each other seems to often only reside in these works of fiction.]


That said, it's a series I've come to enjoy, and I'll be back to enjoy whatever comes next from Ms Mallery.

[Shawna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars – Holiday/Contemporary Romance

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars. This was pretty cute. I liked both Madeline and Johnny - especially Johnny. He had such a great sense of humor. Definitely a good addition to my holiday romance book binge.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and sweet Christmas read!

[Samantha (WLABB) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and sweet and exactly what I expect in a holiday book. I know this is book #19, but it's my first time in Fool's Gold. What a delightful place! I was as enchanted by the town as Jonny was and longed to be part of this community. Watching Jonny's joy as the inhabitants embraced him as one of their own was wonderful, and I loved meeting all the colorful denizens too. There were a few I would love to know better and will be checking out their books in this series.

Overall: I have a wonderful time celebrating the holidays in Fool's Gold and look forward to returning soon.

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[Sam Chase · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rating: 3 stars

I wanted an easy, fun Christmas book...and I got exactly what I wanted. The romance was cute, and I loved the Fool's Gold atmosphere. What I didn't love was how nothing seemed to happen; it all progressed soooo sloooowly. There was so much thinking, and the book just became boring. Otherwise, a good book! It just didn't quite satisfy my craving for Christmas cuteness.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mayor Marsha strikes again, bringing together two people who seem so different but are just right for each other. Madeline grew up in Fool's Gold and after several attempts, has finally found her niche. She is part owner of the local bridal shop, Paper Moon, and loves helping brides find the perfect dress. She hopes that someday she'll find that same happiness for herself. When Mayor Marsha comes to her and asks for help planning a wedding for the sister of a local resident, Madeline can't say no. But she panics a bit when she learns it's the sister of new resident and movie star Jonny Blaze - someone she's had a crush on for a while. She's not sure she can even breathe around him, much less plan a wedding.

Jonny moved to Fool's Gold to escape the craziness of Hollywood life. He just wants a chance to be the regular guy he was before his movie career. He finds it in Fool's Gold, where nobody makes a big fuss over him. He loves his sister, Ginger, and wants to give her the wedding of her dreams, so he gladly accepts Mayor Marsha's offer to find him help.

I loved seeing the relationship develop between them. It was fun to see Madeline start out with the somewhat starstruck feeling that she worked to hide, making sure she behaved professionally while inside she was having trouble believing it. She was a little surprised by the tingles she felt, making her think of her mom's stories of falling for her dad, but attributes them to star power. She's quite certain that someone like Jonny would never be interested in a small town girl anyway. As they worked together on Ginger's wedding, Madeline quickly got to know the man instead of the star. Jonny finds that Madeline is easy to talk to and easy to work with. She doesn't treat him any differently than anyone else, which makes it possible to relax in her company.

Over the weeks leading up to Ginger's wedding, they spend a lot of time together. A simmering attraction heats up, leaving both wondering where it's heading. Madeline doesn't believe that she's the type that would attract Jonny in any permanent way, and vows to just enjoy it while it lasts. Jonny has a couple issues holding him back. One is that nearly every time he has allowed himself to love, his mother, his father, a girl in high school, tragedy has struck. He holds himself back, even with his sister, because he is afraid of losing again. The other issue is his star status. He has seen what the limelight does to relationships and doesn't want to inflict that on Madeline. I loved seeing Jonny's protectiveness toward Madeline. His double date with her and her ex was beautiful, sweet and hilarious. I really liked how much they just enjoyed being together. I also loved those instances where Madeline had to rein in his tendency to go a little overboard, as they handled it with humor and maturity. Their reactions to their growing feelings for each other cause a few hiccups in their relationship, but actually talking things through makes a huge difference.

A huge part of their relationship is, of course, where it takes place. Jonny had come to Fool's Gold to get away from the Hollywood hype, but is sometimes surprised by just how normally he is treated. I loved the scene with his car, and the mayor and her request about the ballet narration. It was also great to see how the town has his back when it comes to protecting him from tourists. There's a terrific scene where Gladys rescues him from a woman who thinks she recognizes him. Of course, Gladys and Eddie have their own moments of hilarity, made even better by Jonny's willing participation. Madeline's family also plays a part in his assimilation into the community. Fool's Gold itself also has its effect on Jonny. He quickly feels a part of the community, which leads him into greater participation. I loved his participation in the toy drive and the story behind it. The most heartmelting part, though, was his help with the Pet Adoption event, and what resulted from it. Just that would have cemented him in my heart, as it does with Madeline. I loved catching up with other residents of the town, and enjoyed the surprises that were thrown into the mix.

[Sheyla ✎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was excited to receive another book by Susan Mallery. If you are fan of the series, you know Fool's Gold is full of interesting characters, beginning with the actual town. Relationships are built, people are nice to each other and Mayor Marsha Tilson seems to have an uncanny instinct in choosing which two people should come together next. In this case our main characters are the famous action actor Jonny Blaze and the small town bridal gown store part-owner Madeline Krug.

Johny bought a home in Fool's Gold, away from the craziness his job brings. His sister is getting married on his property but he doesn't know how to plan a wedding. The bride insists on a small intimate wedding. Luck is on his side when the Fools' Gold mayor introduces him to the perfect person to help him plan it. Meeting Madeline was unexpected, he likes her honesty and how easy it is to talk to her. It's hard for him to admit he likes her a little too much. He doesn't want to loose anyone else.

Madeline Krug has to get over her crush for Jonny pronto. It's a miracle she doesn't show it when he walks into her place of business for the first time. As a favor to the mayor she agrees to help Jonny plan his sister's wedding. Spending time with him is a double-edged sword. Not only does she meet the real man behind the fame, but the real guy is much better than her fantasies. Good thing he's not interested in her, right?

I loved this story! It had the perfect mixture of sweetness and hope. Just the best way to get me into the Christmas's spirit.
Both characters were likable. As always, Edie and Gladys play a part in the story and it wouldn't surprise me if Jonny's butt ends up on their channel. My favorite scenes involves Jonny and the dog. They about killed me. I was a pile of mush after reading them.

"Dear Santa, all I want for Christmas is Jonny Blaze."

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book after watching the new Hallmark Channel Christmas movie that's based on the book. (Many, many things were changed in the adaptation. This is normal, I know.)

Jonny Blaze has moved to Fool's Gold to get away from the craziness of LA. He owns a ranch and convinces his sister that it's the place to get married. Madeline gets recruited to help plan the wedding by the "no one can say no to her" mayor, and she knows from the beginning that she'll be working with Jonny.

I really enjoyed getting to know Jonny and Madeline as they worked together to plan the wedding. Their characters had a depth not present in the film, and their attraction was palpable. And therein lies the problem ...

Sexual content on the Hallmark Channel never goes beyond kissing, and I figured that Mallery's book would go a bit farther than that. I was happily surprised to find no sex scenes in the novel; however, Jonny and Madeline do begin sleeping together—it's just that those scenes are "closed door," so the reader knows what's happening, but it's not described on the page. I guess I can be thankful for that. But here's the thing: after Jonny and Madeline have sex, all of the romantic tension is gone. Sure, there's still a "boy loses girl" component (actually, it's more of a "girl runs away from boy" thing), but they were already together, and the rest of the story wasn't nearly as interesting. Maybe that's why Hallmark movies usually save the kiss for the last couple minutes.

There's also a fairly large focus on all of the things Madeline would like to do with Jonny physically—it's never explicit (and it's all in her thoughts), but the way things are stated is rather crude and cringe-inducing. There's a bit of language, too; it's not a lot, but there are several minor swear words.

Another thing that made reading the book difficult is that Marry Me at Christmas is part of Mallery's HUGE Fool's Gold series, and there are so many minor characters (who presumably had their own books at one point) that I eventually quit even trying to keep track. A quick check of Goodreads tells me that this is the 19th book in the series ... no wonder there are so many characters!

In the end, I enjoyed the movie more than the book. My reaction may have been different if I'd read the other books in the series first, but as it was, the movie was much easier to follow.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Find this review and more at kimberlyfaye reads.

Marry Me at Christmas was another of my favorite Hallmark Christmas movies of 2017. Once I realized it was inspired by a book, I knew I had to read it. It was another cute and sweet holiday romance. There wasn't a lot of steam with this one, but it didn't even matter. I enjoyed it so very much. 

I loved Madeline and Jonny. That's Jonny Blaze, by the way. Yes, he has a total porn star name. I literally laughed out loud the first time I saw it. But, I digress. Famous person/regular person books are my jam. You know, just as long as the famous one isn't a douche. Jonny was as far from that as you could imagine. He and Madeline had great chemistry and their love story was fun and swoony. 

My first Susan Mallery book was a hit. I know I'll read more from her when I'm in the mood for another sweet, if not sexy, romance. I've already bought several of her holiday books so I can binge next Christmas.

Favorite Quotes:

"Although if wanted to tie himself in red ribbon and be waiting under my Christmas tree, I wouldn't say no."

"Love is many things, but it's not easy. It requires everything. Whatever you're most afraid to give is exactly what it will demand of you. But it's worth it. That's the secret. It's worth it."

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one has a quiet build to it, something I didn't really expect being that one of the main characters is a movie star. I thought Jonny would be a bit of a pompous ass, instead he fit into town really well. It was funny how he wanted to be treated like a regular guy, then was thrown when the citizens of Fool's Gold did just that.

I liked how as Jonny fell for the town Madeline was there with her family welcoming him in. It was great because it allowed them to spend time together without his sisters wedding being the focus.

It was interesting how both Jonny and Madeline both ran scared at different times. I sort of expected it from Jonny, but it was Madeline that surprised me. I liked that right away she realized her mistake and owned up to that.

While this whole book was enjoyable, I loved how Edie and Gladys stole it and how Jonny played into their antics, even going so far as to let them get up close and personal with his butt!

[Sina & Ilona Glimmerfee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worum geht es?
Madelines Job ist es eigentlich für jede Braut das passende Kleid zu finden, daher ist sie zunächst überfordert, als man ihr aufdrängt eine ganze Hochzeit auszurichten. Die Schwester des berühmten Schauspielers Jonny Blaze heiratet und obwohl es nur eine kleine Hochzeitsfeier werden soll, ist sich Madeline nicht sicher, ob sie dafür geeignet ist, schließlich schwärmt sie für Jonny.
Aber der Bürgermeisterin von Fool's Gold kann man nichts abschlagen und so stürzt sie sich in die Hochzeitsvorbereitungen.

Wie hat es mir gefallen?
Das ist jetzt der vierte Band, den ich aus der Fool's Gold Reihe gelesen habe und es fühlt sich an, wie nach Hause kommen. Schon auf den ersten Seiten ist das harmonische Flair der Stadt spürbar. Als ich zum ersten Mal in das Städtchen reiste, war ich noch reichlich überfordert. So viele Charaktere, die nur kurze Auftritte hatten und wieder verschwanden. Als Quereinsteiger habe ich also etwas Zeit benötigt um mich einzuleben, doch nun kenne ich schon viele der Einwohner und freue mich riesig, wenn sie auftauchen. Ganz egal, ob sie nur für eine Buchseite zu Besuch da sind, oder eine größere Rolle spielen.
Dieser Band hat mich wieder wunderbar in diese entspannende Atmosphäre eingesponnen. Das Weihnachtsthema blieb für mich jedoch eher außen vor und es bezog sich mehr auf eine winterliche Atmosphäre mit Hochzeitsaspekt. Es ist also ein Buch, dass auch ganz wunderbar, zu den anderen kalten Monaten passt.
Wie immer habe ich es genossen, mich einfach wieder in Fool's Gold zu entspannen. Es ist immer wie ein kleiner Wellnessurlaub, den ich meiner Seele gönne.

Drei zufällig ausgewählte Fragen:

👉Was ist das Besondere an dem Buch?
Ich glaube, an der gesamten Reihe ist es besonders, dass es hier mal nicht um Zickenkrieg geht, oder gegen böse Menschen gekämpft wird. Auch wird hier nicht die Kreditkarte überstrapaziert und ein Cocktail nach dem anderen getrunken. Nein, ganz und gar nicht - Fool's Gold ist ein Sammelbecken für sympathische Menschen, das Utopia unter den Buch-Wohlfühlorten. Es ist das, wovon wir alle träumen und wonach wir uns sehen, wenn wir wieder einmal abgespannt, enttäuscht, einsam, gestresst, wütend oder genervt sind. Hier will man seine Kinder aufwachsen sehen, hier will man leben. Es gibt eine echte Gemeinschaft, bevölkert mit wirklich liebenswerten Charakteren. Ein ähnelt ein wenig Stars Hollow von der TV-Serie 'Gilmore Girls'.
Also eigentlich die ideale Buchreihe für alle, die gerade wieder mit den Nerven ganz unten sind, und die sich einfach mal eine Auszeit von der bösen Welt wünschen. Ideal für Menschen, die an Harmonie glauben wollen.

👉Wäre ich gerne mit den Charakteren befreundet?
Natürlich, aber so natürlich ist das bei mir nicht. Madeline ist eine liebenswerte Frau, die jeden Tag versucht, den Kundinnen bei ihrer Hochzeit zu helfen. Es soll alles perfekt für die Braut sein und so will sie nicht, dass sie einfach irgendein Kleid nehmen. Sie ist das typische Mädchen von nebenan. Lieb, nett und hilfsbereit.
Jonny Blaze ist mir auch sehr sympathisch. Er ist der Filmschauspieler, der sein wollte, wie jeder andere und nun in dieser merkwürdigen Stadt auch genauso behandelt wird (was ihn irritiert). Wer könnte ihn auch nicht mögen? Er ist ein sehr guter großer Bruder, der seiner Schwester immer wieder zeigt, wie wichtig sie für ihn ist. Er hat das Herz am rechten Fleck und ja, er wäre definitiv jemand, den man sich in seinem Freundeskreis wünscht.
Ganz besonders gefallen hat mir jedoch Loretta, die Mutter von Madeline. Diese alte Dame ist so liebenswert, wenn sie von der Liebe spricht und mit ihrer warmen Art die Seiten füllt.

👉Für wen ist dieses Buch nicht geeignet?
Für Zyniker, die sich nicht mit solch einem Utopia anfreunden können. Alle die es sich nicht gestatten, von einer liebevollen Gemeinschaft zu träumen, sollten weder zu diesem, noch zu einem anderen der Fool's Gold Bücher greifen. Ich habe außerdem im Internet oft gelesen, dass es zu amerikanisch ist, also sollten auch alle Abstand nehmen, die es nicht mögen, wenn die Amerikaner alles festlich schmücken oder wie Amerikaner agieren. Zudem ist es kein Buch für Menschen, die Aufregung und Spannung in einem Roman suchen, denn Action sucht man hier vergebens.

Fazit:
Der Ausflug nach Fool's Gold hat mir wieder gefallen, und ich wünsche mir, noch oft in diesen zauberhaften Ort zu reisen. Dieses Buch ist eher etwas für Menschen, die sich gerne verführen lassen, von einer malerischen Idylle, lieben Menschen und Entspannung. Das Buch ist wie eine warme Decke, in die man sich einkuscheln kann, wenn draußen der Sturm tobt.

Wichtige Infos
Fool's Gold ist zwar eine Reihe, aber ihr könnt sie unabhängig von einander lesen. Ihr werdet nur erfahren, welche Paare sich finden, aber das verrät immer schon der Blick auf den Infotext. Mit den ersten Bänden der Reihe kam ich nicht klar und finde durchaus, dass Susan Mallery sich enorm mit ihrem Schreibtalent mit den Jahren gesteigert hat.

Band 1 - Stadt, Mann, Kuss...
Band 2 - Ich fühle was, was du nicht siehst
Band 3 - Wer hat Angst vorm starken Mann?
Band 4 - Nur Küsse zählen
Band 5 - Küssen ist die beste Medizin
Band 6 - Was nicht passt, wird küssend gemacht
Band 7 - Was sich neckt, das küsst sich
Band 8 - Stille Küsse sind tief
Band 9 - Der schönere gibt nach
Band 10 - Drei Küsse für Aschenbrödel
Band 11 - Drum küsse, wer sich ewig bindet
Band 12 - Kuss und Kuss gesellt sich gerne
Band 13 - Der Weisheit letzter Kuss
Band 14 - Apfel, Kuss und Mandelkern
Band 15 - Spiel, Kuss und Sieg
Band 16 - Touchdown für die Liebe
Band 17 - Halbzeit oder Hochzeit
Band 18 - Vertrauen ist gut, küssen ist besser
Band 19 - Ein Cowboy küsst selten allein
Band 20 - Wer früher küsst, ist länger verliebt
Band 21 - Zuckerkuss und Mistelzweig
Band 22 - Zimtsterne und Weihnachtszauber
(Kurzgeschichten sind nicht mit in der Aufzählung)


Das Buch wurde mir vom Verlag als kostenloses Rezensionsexemplar zur Verfügung gestellt. Die Rezension spiegelt jedoch vollkommen meine eigene Meinung wieder.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another cute story set in the town of Fool's Gold.

[Sandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ach I don't know... irgendwie war es nicht das, was ich mir erhofft habe.
Ja, es war Weihnachtskitsch in einer süßen Kleinstadt, so wie erwartet und das war auch echt nett.

Nur das ganze unnötige Hin und Her zwischen Jonny und Madeline hat sich so künstlich aufgebauscht angefühlt. Im Endeffekt ist gar nicht wirklich was passiert, sie haben sich sofort voneinander angezogen gefühlt, sind zusammengekommen und sich am Ende verlobt. Bis auf ihre ständigen - und auf Dauer echt nervigen - Selbstzweifel ist die Geschichte einfach so vor sich hingeplätschert.
Wirklich, zwischendurch hab ich nur noch die Augen verdreht. Wie oft sagt Jonny ihr, dass er sie will und dann stößt er sie wieder weg, weil er ja angeblich so verletzt ist und nie wieder lieben kann? Mann, entscheid dich mal und sende nicht dauernd so widersprüchliche Signale. Ich wäre an Madelines Stelle auch verwirrt. Trotzdem hat sie mich wahnsinnig gemacht mit ihrem ständigen "Er kann ja nicht wirklich an mir interessiert sein / Ich bin nur ein Kleinstadtmädchen / niemals würde er wirklich mit mir zusammen sein wollen" - selbst dann noch, als sie schon längt zusammen waren. Why?! Und dann dieser künstliche Konflikt kurz vor Ende, als sie nochmal für gefühlt eine halbe Seite getrennt sind, weil beide ja so große Angst haben...

Was mich außerdem genervt hat, waren die tausend Nebenfiguren. Vielleicht liegt es daran, dass das Band 19 einer Reihe war und man die meisten anderen Figuren schon aus den vorherigen Büchern kennt, aber ich kannte sie nicht. Und wenn dann so viel mit den Namen der ganzen Freundinnen und Bekannten von Madeline um sich geschmissen wird, hab ich irgendwann aufgehört zu versuchen, mir zu merken, wer wer ist und was die so machen.

Naja, insgesamt einfach nicht ganz das, was ich mir erwartet hab, aber ganz nett.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming Christmas romance.

[Christi Snow · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Review:
I have to admit, I'm a sucker for this trope...and I'm not even sure what to call it...when the normal girl next door catches the heart of the most wanted man in Hollywood.

This was just a fun book. Madeline runs Paper Moon, the bridal gown store in Fools Gold (I LOVE the name of it.) Ever since she heard Jonny Blaze was moving to town, she's been a little bit flustered over it. Every one of her friends knows about her crush on him. It's really kind of sweet just how awkward she is around him. So, it's a huge deal when Mayor Marsha comes to Madeline to ask her to help Jonny plan his sister's wedding for the day after Christmas.

This is everything a Christmas story should be...sweet and fun and full of those tiny magical moments that left me with a smile on my face. I love how overwhelmed Madeline is by the thought that Jonny could even be interested in her. And I love how aware Jonny is about his "famousness". This is another book that shows just how perfect this little town is, because they couldn't care less about him being Jonny Blaze as they prove over and over again. I loved those little glimpses of his ego taking a decent hit. It showed that yes, he's a huge movie star, but still just a normal guy. He's aware that his life doesn't make a good environment for relationships, but that's where Fools Gold is perfect for him...because here he IS just like anyone else.

It was a fun book, full of romantic, holiday moments. I loved getting to see the town in its holiday splendor. I think this book is right up there among my favorites from this series. It's hard to beat Charlie and Clay...another one of those "normal girls gets the star everyone wants" stories. I also LOVED...omg, I was laughing out loud...at how Clay and Jonny know one another. Classic and so funny. I also adored how Jonny handled the older ladies...Eddie and Gladys.

Like I said, this one's a winner. Tons of fun and laughs. The story left me with a smile on my face and happier for having read it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.

[Under the Covers Book Blog · Rating 3 out of 5]

Madeline is a partner at the local bridal gown shop in Fool's Gold. She's working hard for everything she has and following along with her plans. Her plans did not involve being a wedding planner, much less working for (or better with) her celebrity crush, Jonny Blaze. He's recently moved to the outside of town and he's a bit lost trying to plan his sister's Christmas wedding all alone, so the Mayor enlists Madeline's help.
Their chemistry was almost instant and the development of that was gradually slow. First as a working relationship that quickly became more of a friendship that then worked it way to more. I love stories about celebrities falling in love with regular every day people. The setup of Madeline and Jonny's relationship was cute and even believable. I had a harder time with how rushed the ending was in regards to the timeline and how fast we got to the I love yous. I would've preferred an ending where they were dating and see them get to that point at a later book in the series. But other than that this book was everything I was looking for in a cute holiday read.

If you are looking for steam, then you may as well just keep on walking. The chemistry is there but although there was a reference to sex, it is a fade-to-black kind of book. I don't remember if that was the case with the previous books I've read in the series or if it's just this particular one, so I figured I would point that out.

Susan Mallery always tells a beautifully sweet contemporary romance story and this for sure hit that mark. It was a very entertaining read!

Reviewed by Francesca❤ ♡ Don't want to miss any of our posts? Subscribe to our blog by email! ♡ ❤

[Julie Barrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marry me at Christmas by Susan Mallery
Madeline is the wedding gown store owner. It starts out with some trying the gowns on and it looks like they are pumpkins.
Fool's gold and the bridal shop owner is in charge of all the details of a local bride and groom.
Roselind has just started working there as her kids are back in school now. Madeline helped them be happy with whatever combinations they wanted.
Lots of back story and the characters that live there. This is the town where females are the leaders in every department in the town: mayor, fire chief, event planner, police chief, etc.
Ginger is to be married and the mayor needs her to do everything. Johnny Blaze is the brother of the bride. Wedding will be in 7 weeks time and during the Christmas season.
Story also follows Johnny and he's a movie star, travels a lot and is everybody's love fantasy. Lightening and tingling when they shake tips her off that she's found her 'one' as her mother would say, it's a family trait.
Have read all the other Christmas holidays books in this series and the same events happen with live nativity.
Lots of pregnant women and the men they are married too, we are brought up to date with their lives. Predictable ending.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).

[Carrie Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is, I'm pretty sure, my favorite Fool's Gold book yet! The humor was subtle but hilarious and the sweet romance was every girl's dream come true. I really loved Jonny - how down-to-earth he was, his integrity, his sense of humor, his big heart. And of course Eddie & Gladys stole the show again. One of these days, I just know I'm going to catch Mayor Marsha with her halo peeking out and prove she's an angel or something... her info is nothing short of providential :)

(I checked this book out from my local library & as always this is only an honest review.)

**Note to my Christian fiction followers: This is a general market novel and contains mild scenes of a sexual nature and occasional swearing.**

[Alyse · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://alysenovak.blogspot.com/2015/1...

Go to my blog for my full review of Marry Me at Christmas

This was a sweet book, yes, but it lacked something for me. Sexual tension under the surface of Madeline and Jonny's friendship... something. Everything progressed at a steady pace, but their was no heat or undeniable passion between these two for me.

[Harlequin Books]

"Holidays and marriages can be a wonderful and crazy mix, as exemplified by mega-star Mallery’s newest tale. A movie star wanting to give his baby sister the perfect wedding and a bridal boutique manager join forces in a charming and heartwarming story by one of the queens of the genre. More evidence why Fool’s Gold is the perfect place to visit!" (4 stars @ RT Book Reviews).

Miniseries: Fool's Gold

[Bookworman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprisingly sweet PG-rated story with Mallery’s signature wit and snark but a bit gentler than the previous books in this series. It’s kind of a relief as each story in this series kept getting more and more sexually graphic. I really enjoyed the characters and the love story.

FYI... Don’t bother watching the Hallmark movie; it’s not worth your time. They changed parts of the story including having Isabel act in a very un-Isabel like way.

[Dawn ♥ romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute holiday romance. I liked both the hero and heroine's attitude toward their relationship then how they handled things as it grew. Bridal show owner Madeline is asked to coordinate a wedding for the sister of movie star Jonny.

[Mary McFarlane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great Christmas love story in Fools Gold!! Can't wait for the next book to come out! Can't believe I got all caught up!