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Fool's Gold #20
Best of My Love
The final chapter in the Fool's Gold series, it can't be missed!
From #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Susan Mallery, read what reviewers are calling the biggest romance of this summer!
To overcome her painful past, baker Shelby Gilmore goes on the hunt for a friend—a male friend—to convince her stubborn psyche that men can be trusted. But where in a town as small as Fool's Gold will the petite blonde find a guy willing to not date her?
Dark, charming Aidan Mitchell puts the “adventure” in Mitchell Adventure Tours…and into the beds of his many willing female tourists. Until he realizes he's inadvertently become that guy—the one-night Casanova—and worse, everyone in town knows it. Maybe Shelby's boy/girl experiment will help him see women as more than just conquests so he can change his ways and win back his self-respect.
As Aidan and Shelby explore the secret lives of men and women, the heat between them fires up the Fool's Gold rumor mill. If no one will believe they're just friends, maybe they should give the gossips something to really talk about!
From #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Susan Mallery, read what reviewers are calling the biggest romance of this summer!
To overcome her painful past, baker Shelby Gilmore goes on the hunt for a friend—a male friend—to convince her stubborn psyche that men can be trusted. But where in a town as small as Fool's Gold will the petite blonde find a guy willing to not date her?
Dark, charming Aidan Mitchell puts the “adventure” in Mitchell Adventure Tours…and into the beds of his many willing female tourists. Until he realizes he's inadvertently become that guy—the one-night Casanova—and worse, everyone in town knows it. Maybe Shelby's boy/girl experiment will help him see women as more than just conquests so he can change his ways and win back his self-respect.
As Aidan and Shelby explore the secret lives of men and women, the heat between them fires up the Fool's Gold rumor mill. If no one will believe they're just friends, maybe they should give the gossips something to really talk about!
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 26, 2016
961 people are currently reading
3446 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 595 reviews
July 26, 2018
Best Of My Love es el ultimo libro de la saga Fool's Gold y tiene como protagonistas a Aidan y Shelby, personajes que conocemos brevemente en la novela anterior.
Desde hacia varias semanas tenia ganas de leer un libro como este : ligero, sencillo, entretenido y ameno, y sinceramente aun estoy sorprendida de lo mucho que me hizo disfrutar esta novela, para nada esperaba que fuera a gustarme tanto y mucho menos que lo leeria tan rapido, literalmente solo hice descansos para ir al baño y para comer, el resto del tiempo de este fin de semana lo pase con mi Kindle pegado a mi mano.
Ahora mismo me siento un poco dividida, por un lado estoy triste de que esta serie haya terminado ( seguire esperando que editen en español el libro 19 que me queda por leer ) aunque no todas las novelas me gustaron de igual forma, tengo que admitir que esta saga me dio muy buenos momentos, y por otro lado, me siento satisfecha de haber leido una saga tan larga sin cansarme.
La historia de Shelby y Aidan me parecio muy tierna y romantica, su relacion empezo como una amistad y poco a poco fue convirtiendose en amor, y precisamente eso fue una de las mejores cosas de esta lectura, el como fue evolucionando su relacion.
Puede que este libro no sea el mas impresionante que leas o el mas sorprendente, pero a mi me gusto muchisimo, no podia haber pedido un mejor cierre para esta serie.
3.75 Estrellas!
April 4, 2016
Imagine a second-wave feminist writing a romance novel, but set it in contemporary times, and you'll have BEST OF MY LOVE. Shelby Gilmore, traumatized by an abusive father, still has difficulty trusting men, and ends up picking all the wrong ones as romantic partners. To try and wean herself of this bad habit, Shelby decides she needs to be friends with a guy, something she's never done before. So she asks local manwhore Aidan Mitchell (who is suffering from embarrassment after one of his one-night-stands returns to town and he couldn't even remember her name) if he wants to change his ways by becoming her friend. She will teach him about girly stuff, and he will be nice to her, allowing her to begin to trust a male again. And there will be no romance involved.
Aidan, of course, learns to appreciate the girly (although makes disparaging comments about girly stuff all the while). And, of course, grows increasingly attracted to Shelby, because he doesn't just see her as an object, but as a person. Everyone but he and Shelby know the two are destined for love. Because of course two people of the opposite sex can never just be friends, can they?
Really really dislike books where behavior and likes and dislikes are so strongly gendered. Almost every other page includes a comment about "women like this" or "men believe that." I suppose, though, if you are a girly girl, and surround yourself with other girly girls and manly men, that proposing that the sexes learn about the likes and dislikes of the other might be an act of feminism.
Hard to imagine any gender or sexuality diversity existing in Fool's Gold, though...
Aidan, of course, learns to appreciate the girly (although makes disparaging comments about girly stuff all the while). And, of course, grows increasingly attracted to Shelby, because he doesn't just see her as an object, but as a person. Everyone but he and Shelby know the two are destined for love. Because of course two people of the opposite sex can never just be friends, can they?
Really really dislike books where behavior and likes and dislikes are so strongly gendered. Almost every other page includes a comment about "women like this" or "men believe that." I suppose, though, if you are a girly girl, and surround yourself with other girly girls and manly men, that proposing that the sexes learn about the likes and dislikes of the other might be an act of feminism.
Hard to imagine any gender or sexuality diversity existing in Fool's Gold, though...
May 23, 2021
After having read all of the ones in the series that I want to read, I've come to realize that it's not so much the romances (their formulaic) but the town itself, all of the secondary characters and the community that I've fallen in love with each time I read another book. It's been fun and I would love to move to Fool's Good.
June 7, 2017
3.5 stars probably but I rounded it down because I wasn't too fond of the way the gender lines were so drawn in this book. There are "man" things and there are "women" things and they can not overlap! The two main characters weren't too bad though, although the plot was predicable as all of these novels are. I do believe this is the last novel of this series (after 20 and a bunch of novellas!) and she will be doing a spin off series in a town call "Happily Inc" (yupp, real name). Not sure if I will read it or not. Though to be honest, I probably will. I've read this series since 2010/2011....
March 24, 2016
4.5 stars
This one was a lot of fun.
I loved Shelby and Aiden and the deal that they made. The idea of having girl nights and boy nights was hilarious and effective. It really showed how each of them grew as the story progressed. I loved that he painted her toes and she played poker. I especially loved how they reversed the roles when the big break up inevitably happened.
My only complaint is that I would have liked more of the HEA. The ending was fabulous, but I really wanted more of a future-take epilogue instead of just a couple of paragraphs.
Overall, the best of the series that I've read so far. I'll definitely be reading this one again.
**Huge thanks to HQN Books for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review**
This one was a lot of fun.
I loved Shelby and Aiden and the deal that they made. The idea of having girl nights and boy nights was hilarious and effective. It really showed how each of them grew as the story progressed. I loved that he painted her toes and she played poker. I especially loved how they reversed the roles when the big break up inevitably happened.
My only complaint is that I would have liked more of the HEA. The ending was fabulous, but I really wanted more of a future-take epilogue instead of just a couple of paragraphs.
Overall, the best of the series that I've read so far. I'll definitely be reading this one again.
**Huge thanks to HQN Books for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review**
July 5, 2016
Reviewed for herding cats & burning soup.
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1Yb2h87
Best of my Love is the perfect read if you're looking for a slow building low drama romance. It was a lovely time as Shelby and Aiden start up a bit of an experiment--strangers spending time together and becoming friends. No romance involved. That's right. No naughty bits shall meet and become friendly like. Just two people--who happen to be a female and a male-- getting to know each other, hanging out, and hopefully getting over their respective issues-- she's scared to trust men and he only ever has random hook ups but no real relationships with females..and that's gotta change.
Aiden and Shelby are good people, hard workers, funny and sweet and both dealing with residual childhood trauma that's really held them back when it comes to relationships. And I totally loved them and how they were with each other. They're funny and light hearted as they plan dates, erm, gender events to get to know each other. lol Yup they took turns planing outings--Boy thing. Girl thing. You know, pedicures, card games, mountain biking and baby showers. Heh. It was just fun seeing these two try everything together and slowly become important in each others lives during their 6 month experiment together.
The whole awkward strangers to friendship and teasing to confidants to lust sneaking in and romance budding. It was just a fun little journey. There was a lot of lightheartedness but there were also some pretty serious things dealt with as they both tried to get past their hang ups. And I loved that they were there for each other as those things were tackled.
There's a tiny bit of drama towards the end but even that was fairly light. Best of My Love was just an easy going rambling friends to lovers romance that kind of soothes the reader soul. Add in wonderful friendships outside of the romance and it was a very fun time, indeed. The only thing I wish had been included (other than a little more heat since that was WAY slow to happen) was more resolution on the family front at least with his family. But other than that...lovely, heartwarming and beautifully touching.
July 21, 2016
Whenever I am looking for a feel good romance, I turn to authors like Susan Mallery. Her stories that take place in Fool’s Gold have never failed me and this one was no different. While there were some things that bugged me, I know that those things come with these kinds of books. The things I didn’t like included how unrealistic it is that a small town would have multiple ex-NFL players, country stars, ex-Olympic athletes, etc and that these stories are so predictable. But the predictability is also the reason I turn to these books. I want my happy ending. The main characters in this story, Aidan and Shelby, were very likable and I enjoyed reading their story. I love Charlie, Aidan’s little Bichon Frise. So cute. I think what I loved most was that both of these characters were overcoming some pretty heavy stuff and they were able to work through them together. It made their relationship stronger. And as their relationship grew stronger, they also grew stronger individually. Shelby was able to make her dreams come true and expand her bakery business. And Aidan was able to come up with new offerings for his tour business. There are many mentions of another town called Happily, Inc. where Aidan’s brothers moved to so I’m wondering if that is an opening to a new series.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a feel good romance.
Best of My Love is the final installment in the Fool’s Gold series by Susan Mallery.
3.5 Stars
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a feel good romance.
Best of My Love is the final installment in the Fool’s Gold series by Susan Mallery.
3.5 Stars
October 14, 2024
3.5 stars. A great finish for a fun series! I hope there’s more FG stories but am going to start at Book 1 and re-read it all again. 😊Finally, FINALLY, Elaine Mitchell’s behavior is addressed. AND I enjoyed a story about one of the Mitchell brothers. Yay!!!
Graphic sex, no profanity.
NOTE: For those of you who want to hear more about the Mitchell family and what happens to Nick, Mathias, and Ronan, check out the first three books in Mallery's very enjoyable Happily Inc. series.
Graphic sex, no profanity.
NOTE: For those of you who want to hear more about the Mitchell family and what happens to Nick, Mathias, and Ronan, check out the first three books in Mallery's very enjoyable Happily Inc. series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 13, 2017
Fantastic book. This may be my favorite out of the series because it was emotional, fun, and definitely different than the others. Aidan and Shelby are two people who are determined to make changes in their lives. Aidan is a good-looking charmer of a guy, with a reputation as a ladies' man. Then he is confronted with the realization that he doesn't like the man he has become. He's determined to avoid women for a while until he can find a way to earn back his self-respect. Shelby is an attractive young woman who really wants what her friends have - a man to love and a family of her own. But an abusive childhood has left her unable to trust men, which makes finding that happy future more difficult. Shelby decides that what she needs is a man she can be friends with and who can show her that men can be trusted.
I loved the way the book started, with Aidan suffering from a hangover and regrets. It is easy to see his pain, both physical and mental. He wasn't in the best shape to deal with Shelby's questions and comments, which left him confused about her reasons. I loved her arrival a few days later to put an unusual idea in front of him. She proposes that they become friends for the next six months. Just friends, no sex. Instead, they will hang out together, giving them a chance to get to know each other. Shelby will learn to trust that he won't hurt her, and Aidan will learn to see women as something other than bedmates.
The idea is pretty simple. They will hang out together, taking turns doing "girl things" or "boy things." This will give each of them a peek into the other's world and hopefully expand their understanding. There was so much opportunity for fun here and the book totally delivered on it. Shelby introduced Aidan to lunches with the girls at Jo's, baby showers, and - gasp! - pedicures and talking about feelings. Aidan shared outdoor excursions, poker with the boys, and pool. I admit to laughing out loud during the trip to the shelter and Aidan's search for a "manly" dog and ending up with Charlie. One thing that is supposed to be completely off the table is the idea of being anything more than friends. Letting sex or romantic feelings intrude would interfere with their goal. Of course, the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and both of them find moments of attraction creeping into their get-togethers.
I really enjoyed the development of their relationship. Things started out a bit awkward as neither is used to encounters with the opposite sex not having the potential for more. There was a lot of teasing as they became more comfortable with each other and seemed to delight in pushing the envelope of gender events. In the midst of all the fun, there were also moments of seriousness as each opened up about the events that have led to their issues. I loved the support they each provided as they dealt with those issues. As the weeks went on and their friendship deepened neither was willing to admit that there was something more going on. Strangely enough, it was Aidan who realized it first, and I loved watching him come to terms with the idea. Shelby resisted hard, insisting to herself and others that it was just friendship, even after they had added "with benefits" to the description. When she could no longer deny the truth, she panicked and pushed Aidan away. In previous books, when there was a breakup, the ladies would descend on the wronged woman and commiserate. This book continued its turnabout with an unexpected twist in the process that was a riot to read. I loved Aidan's patience as Shelby worked through her fears, and the kick in the pants that Shelby received from her friend Madeline. The ending was sweet and romantic and perfect for the two of them.
There were also plenty of other things going on in our characters' lives. Shelby has her work in the bakery she co-owns with Amber. She has many ideas of ways to expand the business, but Amber isn't always as enthusiastic. It turns out that there is more going on there than Shelby knows until Amber hits her with an unexpected offer. I loved all the support and encouragement that Shelby received, not just from Aidan but from so many people. Meanwhile, Aidan is dealing with family issues, stemming from his father's actions. I really liked his relationship with his brother Nick and how his support eventually helps Nick take control of his life. I ached for both of them as they finally accepted the truth of what had to be done. It's a nice lead-in to the new series, and I can't wait to read the stories of the three other Mitchell brothers.
I loved the way the book started, with Aidan suffering from a hangover and regrets. It is easy to see his pain, both physical and mental. He wasn't in the best shape to deal with Shelby's questions and comments, which left him confused about her reasons. I loved her arrival a few days later to put an unusual idea in front of him. She proposes that they become friends for the next six months. Just friends, no sex. Instead, they will hang out together, giving them a chance to get to know each other. Shelby will learn to trust that he won't hurt her, and Aidan will learn to see women as something other than bedmates.
The idea is pretty simple. They will hang out together, taking turns doing "girl things" or "boy things." This will give each of them a peek into the other's world and hopefully expand their understanding. There was so much opportunity for fun here and the book totally delivered on it. Shelby introduced Aidan to lunches with the girls at Jo's, baby showers, and - gasp! - pedicures and talking about feelings. Aidan shared outdoor excursions, poker with the boys, and pool. I admit to laughing out loud during the trip to the shelter and Aidan's search for a "manly" dog and ending up with Charlie. One thing that is supposed to be completely off the table is the idea of being anything more than friends. Letting sex or romantic feelings intrude would interfere with their goal. Of course, the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and both of them find moments of attraction creeping into their get-togethers.
I really enjoyed the development of their relationship. Things started out a bit awkward as neither is used to encounters with the opposite sex not having the potential for more. There was a lot of teasing as they became more comfortable with each other and seemed to delight in pushing the envelope of gender events. In the midst of all the fun, there were also moments of seriousness as each opened up about the events that have led to their issues. I loved the support they each provided as they dealt with those issues. As the weeks went on and their friendship deepened neither was willing to admit that there was something more going on. Strangely enough, it was Aidan who realized it first, and I loved watching him come to terms with the idea. Shelby resisted hard, insisting to herself and others that it was just friendship, even after they had added "with benefits" to the description. When she could no longer deny the truth, she panicked and pushed Aidan away. In previous books, when there was a breakup, the ladies would descend on the wronged woman and commiserate. This book continued its turnabout with an unexpected twist in the process that was a riot to read. I loved Aidan's patience as Shelby worked through her fears, and the kick in the pants that Shelby received from her friend Madeline. The ending was sweet and romantic and perfect for the two of them.
There were also plenty of other things going on in our characters' lives. Shelby has her work in the bakery she co-owns with Amber. She has many ideas of ways to expand the business, but Amber isn't always as enthusiastic. It turns out that there is more going on there than Shelby knows until Amber hits her with an unexpected offer. I loved all the support and encouragement that Shelby received, not just from Aidan but from so many people. Meanwhile, Aidan is dealing with family issues, stemming from his father's actions. I really liked his relationship with his brother Nick and how his support eventually helps Nick take control of his life. I ached for both of them as they finally accepted the truth of what had to be done. It's a nice lead-in to the new series, and I can't wait to read the stories of the three other Mitchell brothers.
June 8, 2017
Reviewed for Romancing the Readers Blog: https://romancingthereaders.blogspot....
With the new upcoming series I knew I needed to get caught up on the Fool's Gold series, especially this book since it's Aidan's brothers that start the new series.
One of the things I love about Susan Mallery and the books that she writes is how comfortable they are. I know that sounds weird, but that's kinda how I feel.
I think it has something to do with how well she establishes her characters. You really feel like they are real people. Not characters that you wish were real (I have a few paranormal characters that I'd love to be real) but ones that could live down the street.
In Best of My Love you have Aidan Mitchell & Shelby Gilmore's story. You met both of them in prior books. Each of these characters have their own personal issues. Shelby after living a life of abuse for her father is kinda gun shy, and Aidan is very messed up by his parents and resorts to being a player. His life is one woman after another, no one sticking for more then a night or two.
You'd think that two damaged people would do better finding someone more stable in their lives. Well they didn't so they had to deal with it.
It turns out that they are really great for each other. They both bring out what they want to be from the other person, allowing themselves to grow.
I have to say, that I really loved how they grew. Aidan turned out to be a wonderful man who finally stopped telling others to not let their childhood hold them back, and allowed himself to heal from the same reason.
I am so glad these two found each other and came together. Even though there is a novella that ends the series I feel this is the send off it deserves. Not sure if the author will ever add more to the series but I will say I'm okay with the new one coming our way. It was time!
Follow me on:
https://www.facebook.com/RomancingThe...
With the new upcoming series I knew I needed to get caught up on the Fool's Gold series, especially this book since it's Aidan's brothers that start the new series.
One of the things I love about Susan Mallery and the books that she writes is how comfortable they are. I know that sounds weird, but that's kinda how I feel.
I think it has something to do with how well she establishes her characters. You really feel like they are real people. Not characters that you wish were real (I have a few paranormal characters that I'd love to be real) but ones that could live down the street.
In Best of My Love you have Aidan Mitchell & Shelby Gilmore's story. You met both of them in prior books. Each of these characters have their own personal issues. Shelby after living a life of abuse for her father is kinda gun shy, and Aidan is very messed up by his parents and resorts to being a player. His life is one woman after another, no one sticking for more then a night or two.
You'd think that two damaged people would do better finding someone more stable in their lives. Well they didn't so they had to deal with it.
It turns out that they are really great for each other. They both bring out what they want to be from the other person, allowing themselves to grow.
I have to say, that I really loved how they grew. Aidan turned out to be a wonderful man who finally stopped telling others to not let their childhood hold them back, and allowed himself to heal from the same reason.
I am so glad these two found each other and came together. Even though there is a novella that ends the series I feel this is the send off it deserves. Not sure if the author will ever add more to the series but I will say I'm okay with the new one coming our way. It was time!
Follow me on:
https://www.facebook.com/RomancingThe...
March 11, 2016
The Best of My Love by Susan Mallery is a 2016 HQN publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
The last book in this series I read was kind of lukewarm, but I realize any long running series will have a ‘one off’ from time to time, so I was confident the next book I picked up would be back on track.
I did worry at first, though, when the first half of the book seemed to repeat the “We are just friends” mantra over and over again ad nauseam, and the story seemed to move along at a snail’s pace with only a handful of humorous moments keeping me from total boredom, because there wasn't much action, or romance. I was beginning to think this book was basically a vehicle in which to set up a potential new series set in Happy, Inc.
But, at around the half way mark, the story started to pick up steam and I found myself fully engrossed in Aidan and Shelby’s drama.
Shelby Gilmore is Kibling’s sister, a young lady haunted by her past with men. She is determined to step out of her shell and learn to believe that all men are not abusive. To that end, she devises a plan to become ‘just friends’ with Aidan Mitchell. Why Aidan?
Well, it would seem Aidan has avoided relationships and marriage at all cost, which means he can’t date local women because he doesn’t want a trail of broken hearts and hurt feelings left in his wake. So, he dates tourists. No harm, no foul, right? Well, not exactly. When one of his many conquests gets hurt, Aidan takes a good long, hard look at himself, and doesn’t like what he sees. He has begun to think of women in a way that is not healthy and by his own admission, he’s turned into an asshat.
So, Aidan agrees to remain ‘just friends’ with Shelby for six months. He needs to begin to see woman as people and learn respect and honor. So, he thinks becoming friends with Shelby will help him with that goal.
Naturally, as things progress, the couple begins to fight off romantic feelings and their friendship develops into something deeper. But, will they be able to put their fears behind them and admit they love each other?
There are a few humorous situations as Aidan hangs out with the girls, and Shelby hangs out with the guys that are priceless. There is a wonderful character development, and while the process is slow, and at times tedious, it is well worth it in the end. I did enjoy watching this couple fall in love, and grow as individuals and as a couple.
I am wondering if maybe this series is coming to a close and a new connected series is in the works. I would love to see a little change of scenery myself, and I’m sure after twenty novels set in one location, the author is ready for a change of pace as well. The prospect certainly does sound intriguing.
Either way, this book ended up being a nice, solid installment in the series, and I loved the way things came together in the end, with a really sweet HEA.
This one gets 4 stars.
The last book in this series I read was kind of lukewarm, but I realize any long running series will have a ‘one off’ from time to time, so I was confident the next book I picked up would be back on track.
I did worry at first, though, when the first half of the book seemed to repeat the “We are just friends” mantra over and over again ad nauseam, and the story seemed to move along at a snail’s pace with only a handful of humorous moments keeping me from total boredom, because there wasn't much action, or romance. I was beginning to think this book was basically a vehicle in which to set up a potential new series set in Happy, Inc.
But, at around the half way mark, the story started to pick up steam and I found myself fully engrossed in Aidan and Shelby’s drama.
Shelby Gilmore is Kibling’s sister, a young lady haunted by her past with men. She is determined to step out of her shell and learn to believe that all men are not abusive. To that end, she devises a plan to become ‘just friends’ with Aidan Mitchell. Why Aidan?
Well, it would seem Aidan has avoided relationships and marriage at all cost, which means he can’t date local women because he doesn’t want a trail of broken hearts and hurt feelings left in his wake. So, he dates tourists. No harm, no foul, right? Well, not exactly. When one of his many conquests gets hurt, Aidan takes a good long, hard look at himself, and doesn’t like what he sees. He has begun to think of women in a way that is not healthy and by his own admission, he’s turned into an asshat.
So, Aidan agrees to remain ‘just friends’ with Shelby for six months. He needs to begin to see woman as people and learn respect and honor. So, he thinks becoming friends with Shelby will help him with that goal.
Naturally, as things progress, the couple begins to fight off romantic feelings and their friendship develops into something deeper. But, will they be able to put their fears behind them and admit they love each other?
There are a few humorous situations as Aidan hangs out with the girls, and Shelby hangs out with the guys that are priceless. There is a wonderful character development, and while the process is slow, and at times tedious, it is well worth it in the end. I did enjoy watching this couple fall in love, and grow as individuals and as a couple.
I am wondering if maybe this series is coming to a close and a new connected series is in the works. I would love to see a little change of scenery myself, and I’m sure after twenty novels set in one location, the author is ready for a change of pace as well. The prospect certainly does sound intriguing.
Either way, this book ended up being a nice, solid installment in the series, and I loved the way things came together in the end, with a really sweet HEA.
This one gets 4 stars.
January 17, 2016
I know I have said other books in this series have been my favorite and while that is true I have to say this might be my most favorite one to date. Mallery is back with another fantastic addition to the Fools Gold series!
Shelby came to Fools Gold 2 years ago after her mother passed away from cancer and her father was sent to prison for being abusive. Now she has a new life filled with great friends, a career on the rise and town that she loves. The only thing missing is love and trust from someone other then her brother and friends. It's time for Shelby to learn to trust and Aidan is the one for the job.
Aidan loves his job and sometimes maybe a little too much. He has some rules about women such as only hooking up with tourists and definitely not getting involved with the locals since he doesn't want to be stuck. But when Shelby proposes a friendship to help them get over there issues he thinks it's a great idea until he starts noticing her more. Can Aidan finally change his ways?
I really loved the plot of this story. Both characters clearly have some issues that need to be worked on but when Shelby suggests them becoming friends and nothing else I was drawn in. Although for them it's a bit awkward at first these two characters fall into a easy friendship that works both ways.
Shelby and Aidan switch on and off on doing a girls get together and a guys get together which I thought was smart on both parts. They each get to learn more about each other and it helps them learn more about the opposite sex. They play pool, have margaritas and open up, play Texas hold 'em and attended a baby shower. I thought that the way Mallery wrote those parts was unique and very creative.
I enjoyed the build up of when these two would finally get together. Majority of the book is them just being friends which I just really loved. These two end up sharing some pretty hot kisses and they have such great chemistry it was only a matter of time before things start to take off.
It was also great catching up with the town and revisiting with the characters from the previous books. They are such a tight town and I love it. If I could move to Fools Gold I definitely would. By reading a story from this series it's like going home to visit some old friends and it never gets old.
Aidan has some more brothers that no longer live here but I am hoping they will return and have books of there own in the future.
This is a must read for May 2016!
Shelby came to Fools Gold 2 years ago after her mother passed away from cancer and her father was sent to prison for being abusive. Now she has a new life filled with great friends, a career on the rise and town that she loves. The only thing missing is love and trust from someone other then her brother and friends. It's time for Shelby to learn to trust and Aidan is the one for the job.
Aidan loves his job and sometimes maybe a little too much. He has some rules about women such as only hooking up with tourists and definitely not getting involved with the locals since he doesn't want to be stuck. But when Shelby proposes a friendship to help them get over there issues he thinks it's a great idea until he starts noticing her more. Can Aidan finally change his ways?
I really loved the plot of this story. Both characters clearly have some issues that need to be worked on but when Shelby suggests them becoming friends and nothing else I was drawn in. Although for them it's a bit awkward at first these two characters fall into a easy friendship that works both ways.
Shelby and Aidan switch on and off on doing a girls get together and a guys get together which I thought was smart on both parts. They each get to learn more about each other and it helps them learn more about the opposite sex. They play pool, have margaritas and open up, play Texas hold 'em and attended a baby shower. I thought that the way Mallery wrote those parts was unique and very creative.
I enjoyed the build up of when these two would finally get together. Majority of the book is them just being friends which I just really loved. These two end up sharing some pretty hot kisses and they have such great chemistry it was only a matter of time before things start to take off.
It was also great catching up with the town and revisiting with the characters from the previous books. They are such a tight town and I love it. If I could move to Fools Gold I definitely would. By reading a story from this series it's like going home to visit some old friends and it never gets old.
Aidan has some more brothers that no longer live here but I am hoping they will return and have books of there own in the future.
This is a must read for May 2016!
May 10, 2016
Foi uma emoção grande voltar a Fool's Gold. Só tenho pena que os protagonistas anteriores mais recentes é que estão sempre a aparecer (agora como personagens secundários) e não também os mais antigos.
Foi muito giro ver Aidan a fazer programas típicos de mulheres com Shelby e ela a fazer coisas típicas masculinas. No final foi tão bonito ver as mulheres/amigas de Shelby a fazerem a sua intervenção de apoio a Aidan e os amigos dele fazerem o mesmo à Shelby.
Foi muito giro ver Aidan a fazer programas típicos de mulheres com Shelby e ela a fazer coisas típicas masculinas. No final foi tão bonito ver as mulheres/amigas de Shelby a fazerem a sua intervenção de apoio a Aidan e os amigos dele fazerem o mesmo à Shelby.
July 25, 2016
I loved every page of this latest novel from Susan Mallery. I couldn't put it down from the first page until the very last. I just noticed on Goodreads that it's listed as "the final chapter" in her Fool's Gold series. Say it ain't so! This is my favorite romance series and it will be dearly missed if it really is over. Maybe it's time to start back at the beginning and fall in love all over again...
April 28, 2016
I loved this! How they did the boy girl thing and then towards the end how the girls took care of Aidan and the guys took care of Shelby. I was kind of hoping that we would get a preview of the next book, I mean I hope there is another book coming, maybe the Mitchell boys move back? I need more fools gold
May 14, 2019
*sigh* I realised it's been a while since I've read a sweet romance like this, and boy have I missed them! Could I predict where this story line was going? Yes. Did I care? No. And you know why? Because I loved sharing the journey they took to get there. I really enjoyed Shelby's troubled past, it was very authentic because domestic abuse is high. There would be many readers who'd experienced it themselves, or know someone who has gone through it, and can therefore identify. And for a reader, being able to do that brings the story to life.
I found both Shelby and Aiden very likeable characters. There were scenes where I was laughing out aloud. I loved when Aiden went dog shopping, and when he took Charlie shopping. I loved the newspaper ad idea. I didn't like the way Shelby carried on about Aiden's not having sex during their 6 month friendship, I felt like that was unrealistic, therefore it took me out of the story. But putting that aside, overall, I adored this book. Admittedly, it was my first read in the Fool's Gold Series, so I'll have to go back and read them all. But I look forward to that!
I found both Shelby and Aiden very likeable characters. There were scenes where I was laughing out aloud. I loved when Aiden went dog shopping, and when he took Charlie shopping. I loved the newspaper ad idea. I didn't like the way Shelby carried on about Aiden's not having sex during their 6 month friendship, I felt like that was unrealistic, therefore it took me out of the story. But putting that aside, overall, I adored this book. Admittedly, it was my first read in the Fool's Gold Series, so I'll have to go back and read them all. But I look forward to that!
July 12, 2019
Urgh. As disappointing as I feared but with added cameos from pretty much everyone who has ever featured in this series ever. And didn’t love the couple at the centre of it either.
July 31, 2023
The Fool's Gold series is on book twenty with novellas thrown in here and there and it still doesn't falter or get old but continues to hold its own and to even get better! This book is Shelby and Aidan's story and took me totally by surprise. Both of them have trust issues from how they grew up and their family dynamics. Shelby has her brother, Kipling, who was always there to save her when he could. Aidan has four brothers who were always there for each other and still are. Neither Shelby or Aidan has just been friends with someone from the opposite sex before but Shelby proposes a six month trial of them just being friends so they could help each other get to a better place in their lives. Aidan is willing to give it a try and the things they did when hanging out were often times out of the box and totally unexpected! I laughed out loud, had tears in my eyes and felt their pain. There were reminisces, histories to uncover, walls to knock down, get to know you moments and total support for each other. The interventions by friends were sweet and totally unexpected especially when feelings were involved and discussed. Watching them grow closer and always be there for each other was heartwarming and fun to see.
There were family and friends, lots of characters from Fool's Gold and past books that were part of the story line in one way or another, babies being born, tears, anger, hurt, heartache, sadness, fear, confidences, laughter, camaraderie, get-togethers, parties, businesses to run, happiness, loving and love. The story line flowed nicely and the characters from other books in the Fool's Gold series were seamlessly woven in throughout along with what was currently going on in their lives. I liked that Happily, Inc., another town in California known for it's destination weddings, was also talked about throughout. It doesn't hurt that two of the Mitchell brothers already live there. There was nice closure and I had to wait to the very end for the happily ever after but it was worth it. The baked goods made by Shelby in her and Amber's bakery sound delicious and I would totally welcome another cookbook from Fool's Gold - this one being all about desserts!
One thing I found a little disconcerting is that Charlie is Aidan's dog but there's also a character, Charlie, who's a female firefighter that has had a significant role in Fool's Gold. I realize this was a contest winner from "your pet in a romance novel" prize but you can't put names in new books if there's already a history to that name.
Susan Mallery is one of my favorite authors. I can't wait to see where she takes us next whether in Fool's Gold, Happily, Inc. or some other destination that her mind and imagination dream up. Bravo Ms. Mallery on another well written book!
I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.
Originally read in September 2017 and my review was originally posted on Romancing-the-Book.com and is shown below:
Susan Mallery is one of my favorite writers. Best of My Love is her latest and last book in the Fool’s Gold series that I greatly enjoyed. Her writing was refreshing as always with family, friends, romance and love front and center. The new tale completely swept me into the plot which was addictive as all her books are. Steady paced but engaging. I couldn’t stop reading it.
Inside Best of My Love, I got to follow Shelby and Aidan as they grew and explored their relationship. It was fun to watch as they approached their relationship in creative ways starting as friends. I felt excitement race through me as I followed them. Many themes were explored including friendship, love, and trust and both Shelby and Aidan had trust issues. It was easy to relate to them both.
I’ve not read a novel by Susan Mallery where the characters weren’t as believable as the ones in this book. A great amount of humor was included and at times I almost cried from laughter. As I dug further into the Best of My Love, I was reunited with many of the previous characters. The Fool’s Gold cast of characters are unforgettable. The entire journey was an emotional roller coaster. So much to love…funny, sweet, and heart melting. Susan Mallery has a knack for teasing and keeping me engaged. Shelby is the lead female protagonist and her baked goods made my mouth water. The ending was worth the intrigue. Overall, I felt completely satisfied with this new book by Susan Mallery but sad to see the series end. Best of My Love is one contemporary romance I recommend to all along with the rest of the Fool’s Gold series.
There were family and friends, lots of characters from Fool's Gold and past books that were part of the story line in one way or another, babies being born, tears, anger, hurt, heartache, sadness, fear, confidences, laughter, camaraderie, get-togethers, parties, businesses to run, happiness, loving and love. The story line flowed nicely and the characters from other books in the Fool's Gold series were seamlessly woven in throughout along with what was currently going on in their lives. I liked that Happily, Inc., another town in California known for it's destination weddings, was also talked about throughout. It doesn't hurt that two of the Mitchell brothers already live there. There was nice closure and I had to wait to the very end for the happily ever after but it was worth it. The baked goods made by Shelby in her and Amber's bakery sound delicious and I would totally welcome another cookbook from Fool's Gold - this one being all about desserts!
One thing I found a little disconcerting is that Charlie is Aidan's dog but there's also a character, Charlie, who's a female firefighter that has had a significant role in Fool's Gold. I realize this was a contest winner from "your pet in a romance novel" prize but you can't put names in new books if there's already a history to that name.
Susan Mallery is one of my favorite authors. I can't wait to see where she takes us next whether in Fool's Gold, Happily, Inc. or some other destination that her mind and imagination dream up. Bravo Ms. Mallery on another well written book!
I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.
Originally read in September 2017 and my review was originally posted on Romancing-the-Book.com and is shown below:
Susan Mallery is one of my favorite writers. Best of My Love is her latest and last book in the Fool’s Gold series that I greatly enjoyed. Her writing was refreshing as always with family, friends, romance and love front and center. The new tale completely swept me into the plot which was addictive as all her books are. Steady paced but engaging. I couldn’t stop reading it.
Inside Best of My Love, I got to follow Shelby and Aidan as they grew and explored their relationship. It was fun to watch as they approached their relationship in creative ways starting as friends. I felt excitement race through me as I followed them. Many themes were explored including friendship, love, and trust and both Shelby and Aidan had trust issues. It was easy to relate to them both.
I’ve not read a novel by Susan Mallery where the characters weren’t as believable as the ones in this book. A great amount of humor was included and at times I almost cried from laughter. As I dug further into the Best of My Love, I was reunited with many of the previous characters. The Fool’s Gold cast of characters are unforgettable. The entire journey was an emotional roller coaster. So much to love…funny, sweet, and heart melting. Susan Mallery has a knack for teasing and keeping me engaged. Shelby is the lead female protagonist and her baked goods made my mouth water. The ending was worth the intrigue. Overall, I felt completely satisfied with this new book by Susan Mallery but sad to see the series end. Best of My Love is one contemporary romance I recommend to all along with the rest of the Fool’s Gold series.
February 7, 2018
Eine wunderbar herzerwärmende und witzige Liebesgeschichte, ohne viel Drama – hervorragend.
Aidan führt Touristen auf Adventure-Touren zu Zeltausflügen und Biketouren, dabei gerät auch regelmäßig eine Touristin in seinem Bett. Bis zu dem Tag, an dem er sich nicht mal mehr an den Namen seiner Bettgeschichte erinnern kann und beschließt sich zu ändern. Da kommt Shelby mit Ihrer Idee einer platonischen Mann-Frau Freundschaft genau richtig. Und beide begeben sich auf ein ganz neues Abenteuer, voller Pediküre, Babypartys und weiteren witzigen Sachen.
Es ist ein herrlicher Roman für Zwischendurch, wir werden durch die Leben von Aidan und Shelby geführt, absolut liebevolle und herzliche Protagonisten - erfahren viel über Ihre Vergangenheit und deren Probleme. Sie wachsen zusammen, wir lernen viel über Freundschaft und die wirklich wichtigen Gefühle, ein Buch was witzig und charmant herkommt und doch wachrüttelt, selbst mal wieder an die wichtigen Freundschaften zu denken.
Der Schreibstil ist tadellos, holt uns bei der ersten Seite ab und führt uns bis zum Ende, ohne in Versuchung zu kommen, Seiten zu überspringen. Der Stern Abzug kommt allerdings, weil mir im Schreibstil etwas die Aufregung und Spannung fehlt. Ich wollte nie Sätze oder Kapitel überspringen, war aber auch nicht in das Buch verliebt, sodass es mir nicht schwer gefallen ist – das Buch auch mal weg zu legen.
Das Buch kommt mit Tiefgang daher, da wir neben unseren Protagonisten auch viel über Charaktere der anderen Bücher dieser Reihe erfahren, Babyboom und Hochzeitsplanungen inbegriffen.
FAZIT
Eine herrlich witzige Liebesgeschichte, mit liebevollen Protagonisten. Eine absolute Leseempfehlung für alle die nach einer locker leichten Liebesgeschichte, mit Hang zum Kitsch aber ohne großes Drama suchen.
Aidan führt Touristen auf Adventure-Touren zu Zeltausflügen und Biketouren, dabei gerät auch regelmäßig eine Touristin in seinem Bett. Bis zu dem Tag, an dem er sich nicht mal mehr an den Namen seiner Bettgeschichte erinnern kann und beschließt sich zu ändern. Da kommt Shelby mit Ihrer Idee einer platonischen Mann-Frau Freundschaft genau richtig. Und beide begeben sich auf ein ganz neues Abenteuer, voller Pediküre, Babypartys und weiteren witzigen Sachen.
Es ist ein herrlicher Roman für Zwischendurch, wir werden durch die Leben von Aidan und Shelby geführt, absolut liebevolle und herzliche Protagonisten - erfahren viel über Ihre Vergangenheit und deren Probleme. Sie wachsen zusammen, wir lernen viel über Freundschaft und die wirklich wichtigen Gefühle, ein Buch was witzig und charmant herkommt und doch wachrüttelt, selbst mal wieder an die wichtigen Freundschaften zu denken.
Der Schreibstil ist tadellos, holt uns bei der ersten Seite ab und führt uns bis zum Ende, ohne in Versuchung zu kommen, Seiten zu überspringen. Der Stern Abzug kommt allerdings, weil mir im Schreibstil etwas die Aufregung und Spannung fehlt. Ich wollte nie Sätze oder Kapitel überspringen, war aber auch nicht in das Buch verliebt, sodass es mir nicht schwer gefallen ist – das Buch auch mal weg zu legen.
Das Buch kommt mit Tiefgang daher, da wir neben unseren Protagonisten auch viel über Charaktere der anderen Bücher dieser Reihe erfahren, Babyboom und Hochzeitsplanungen inbegriffen.
FAZIT
Eine herrlich witzige Liebesgeschichte, mit liebevollen Protagonisten. Eine absolute Leseempfehlung für alle die nach einer locker leichten Liebesgeschichte, mit Hang zum Kitsch aber ohne großes Drama suchen.
May 30, 2016
My Rating:
4.5
Favorite Quotes:
“'Do those have a lot of butter?' the eighty-something woman asked, pointing at a sugar cookie that had been dipped in chocolate. 'My doctor told me to watch my cholesterol. I told him I'm too old and he can watch it for me. Now I'm feeling defiant, so I want cookies with butter and later I'll have a steak."
"You should wear tighter clothes... You've got the goods. Let's see them. Share the bounty. Take off your shirt once in a while. Put on tighter shorts... Young people today. You're not as bright as my generation."
"I so want to be her when I grow up. Speaking my mind and ogling younger men. It's fantastic."
"'We heard there was going to be lots of single guys here... We're into that. Maybe someone will want to have sex with us... Not at the same time. We aren't comfortable with the idea of a threesome.' An unexpected conversation, especially when the two women in the question were in their eighties."
"The condom companies must've really loved you. Did you get a Christmas card every year?"
"I've seen combat. I've seen a lot of bad stuff. Nothing prepared me to watch a doctor slice open my wife's stomach like a watermelon and pull babies out. They should warn you."
"We like to think only men are stupid... But dumb is an equal-opportunity employer."
My Review:
I smirked and chortled through my second ever Susan Mallery tale. I want to read her entire listing. Best Of My Love was a sweet, humorous, and entertaining friends to lovers story that remained platonic, much to the disbelieve of the entire community, for two-thirds of the book. The storyline was current, relevant, and intriguing, while Ms. Mallery's writing style was amusing, clever, touching, and well-paced. Her characters were endearing, quirky, and people I would like to know. I remained engaged with the story from start to finish and look forward to a return visit to this quaint community.
4.5
Favorite Quotes:
“'Do those have a lot of butter?' the eighty-something woman asked, pointing at a sugar cookie that had been dipped in chocolate. 'My doctor told me to watch my cholesterol. I told him I'm too old and he can watch it for me. Now I'm feeling defiant, so I want cookies with butter and later I'll have a steak."
"You should wear tighter clothes... You've got the goods. Let's see them. Share the bounty. Take off your shirt once in a while. Put on tighter shorts... Young people today. You're not as bright as my generation."
"I so want to be her when I grow up. Speaking my mind and ogling younger men. It's fantastic."
"'We heard there was going to be lots of single guys here... We're into that. Maybe someone will want to have sex with us... Not at the same time. We aren't comfortable with the idea of a threesome.' An unexpected conversation, especially when the two women in the question were in their eighties."
"The condom companies must've really loved you. Did you get a Christmas card every year?"
"I've seen combat. I've seen a lot of bad stuff. Nothing prepared me to watch a doctor slice open my wife's stomach like a watermelon and pull babies out. They should warn you."
"We like to think only men are stupid... But dumb is an equal-opportunity employer."
My Review:
I smirked and chortled through my second ever Susan Mallery tale. I want to read her entire listing. Best Of My Love was a sweet, humorous, and entertaining friends to lovers story that remained platonic, much to the disbelieve of the entire community, for two-thirds of the book. The storyline was current, relevant, and intriguing, while Ms. Mallery's writing style was amusing, clever, touching, and well-paced. Her characters were endearing, quirky, and people I would like to know. I remained engaged with the story from start to finish and look forward to a return visit to this quaint community.
March 22, 2016
After 20 books in a series you know what to expect when you pick up a new book. But this one had a great twist, not romance but friendship. I honestly didn't think things would work out as well as they did, that Aidan and Shelby they would have enough in common to be friends. What I think helped them out is that they were honest and actually talked about things important to them and that they did boy/girl events to show the other one how things usually went with their gender. I thought it was easier for Shelby to adjust to the "boy" events than Aidan to do the "girl" events. Aidan was a good sport really seemed to throw himself into things. The baby shower ended up being a big revelation to him, one where the differences between the sexes finally clicked in his head.
I especially liked the standard "break-up" party done Fool's Gold. It was funny to see all the women at Aiden's house letting him in on their sacred event. It's almost like the ladies told their husbands because Shelby learned a lot at the same time playing poker.
I was glad that both of them took the advice that friends gave them, that they realized what was important and they surpassed their friendship to so much more.
I especially liked the standard "break-up" party done Fool's Gold. It was funny to see all the women at Aiden's house letting him in on their sacred event. It's almost like the ladies told their husbands because Shelby learned a lot at the same time playing poker.
I was glad that both of them took the advice that friends gave them, that they realized what was important and they surpassed their friendship to so much more.
July 17, 2016
3.5 Stars. I was a little iffy about this in the beginning. The premise that you need to set up some "experiment" to be friends with a member of the opposite sex was kind of silly to me. I also thought setting up a time limit for that friendship was odd. But once I got past that, I did really end up liking the relationship between Aiden and Shelby. I wish there would have been a little more Just Friends time before they started to fall for eachother, though. However, I did really like that they became such good friends and I shipped them hard. The message of opening yourself up to love got a little heavy handed towards the end and a part of me wish they would have only been just friends. It kind of took away from the point that men and women can be just friends by having them fall in love. But, I guess you can't really expect anything else to happen in this type of book. And I did really like their relationship. Overall, it was a cute, quick read that fans of romance and the Friends to Lovers trope would enjoy.
March 12, 2016
Best of My Love (Fool's Gold #20)
by Susan Mallery
Arc was received for an honest review, Reviewed by Ang from PNR Book Lover Reviews
EEEk I was so excited to receive this one, I have been a Susan Mallory for so many years.
I used to hire her books from the library, so to get this book which is like the 20th Fools Gold story was so cool.
Shelby and Aidan were so fun to read about, I adore these to I enjoyed there chemistry and the reason for why they wanted to be friends first and foremost.
The plot, was cute. They both have separate issues to sort out and there experiment to be friends for 6 months was awesome to read about. Friends to lovers… #angfriendly
Straight to the point, good solid 4 stars!
Brilliant characters al round, you get to catch up and step into an already established town and catch up with previous characters.
by Susan Mallery
Arc was received for an honest review, Reviewed by Ang from PNR Book Lover Reviews
EEEk I was so excited to receive this one, I have been a Susan Mallory for so many years.
I used to hire her books from the library, so to get this book which is like the 20th Fools Gold story was so cool.
Shelby and Aidan were so fun to read about, I adore these to I enjoyed there chemistry and the reason for why they wanted to be friends first and foremost.
The plot, was cute. They both have separate issues to sort out and there experiment to be friends for 6 months was awesome to read about. Friends to lovers… #angfriendly
Straight to the point, good solid 4 stars!
Brilliant characters al round, you get to catch up and step into an already established town and catch up with previous characters.
February 27, 2017
I liked the characters and there really are a lot of them in this book. However, the plot felt too simple for my tastes. While I can appreciate simple plots, it at least has to have some in-depth sketch of its characters, I felt that too is missing. But it's good for a simple holiday read or if you only want a plain romance plot.
May 3, 2016
I love visiting Fool's Gold, even for the twentieth time plus. Once again we catch up with old friends and get to know Shelby and Aidan better. Shelby needs a male friend for the next six months to help her overcome her trust issues of men, so she picks Aidan, who is well known to the females. This friendship will include NO Sex! Love it!!! You will be cheering them on and laughing along with them, as they make their journey. I believe all relationships need to have friendship as a basis to a good relationship. Oh, did I mentions that there will be new babies and a cute dog, Charlie, oh how I love Charlie.
Susan introduces us to her new town of Happily Inc, can't wait to read more of this new town in her upcoming books.
Susan introduces us to her new town of Happily Inc, can't wait to read more of this new town in her upcoming books.
June 8, 2016
2 1/2 stars. If someone would like to tell me why I keep reading these stories, I'd love to hear it. I did like Aiden and Shelby, and I did like that for once Shelby was the one with the issues, but I'm really getting sick of the idea that men and women can't be friends, and I'm sick of the myriad of little sexist details this series has. And I'm definitely sick of everyone sticking their noses into other people's business. It doesn't involve you, it's not affecting you, and it hasn't affected them. Stay out of it. There's a difference between being a good friend and being nosy.
April 27, 2016
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. I thoroughly enjoyed Best of my Love. I would describe it as a feel-good, fun romance in beautiful Fool's Gold. This is honestly a great series and you can't wrong with any of the books. I highly recommend this fun, heart-warming read!
March 5, 2016
Definitely my favorite of the Fool's Gold series. LOL funny.
January 23, 2018
Nicht ganz so gut. Allerdings muss ich auch sagen, dass die Neuen (Personen) mich immer mehr genervt hatten. Aber nun ist ja Schluss und es wird ein neues Kapitel mit "Happily, Inc." aufgemacht.
November 12, 2018
Ohhhhh boy, I don't think I've ever read a book I had such strongly split feelings on. Part of me is desperate to round this up even one more star because the love story is so, so good-- and part of me wants to give it ONE STAR for the ABSOLUTELY HORRENDOUS GENDER POLITICS. I'M SO GODDAMN TORN! So I'm settling on three stars, and I'll let the two aspects fight them out below, ha.
First, let's talk about what I loved, because a lot of Aidan and Shelby's relationship is really, really good. It's a wonderful description of how friendship can grow into love and how people grow to care about one another; the evolution of their relationship felt really natural and realistic and beautiful. I rarely get the feeling, in a lot of contemporary romance novels, that there's much to the people involved apart from lust and the occasional good feeling; you don't often get to see couples becoming friends at first! The way that they grow together, change one another, and make one another better people is heartwarming as all hell; I really like both of them as people, for the most part, and while I do hate the usual quick engagements in these books, I do genuinely believe that the two of them will last the long term, which I do very rarely in these books, ha. I wish the love story had happened under better circumstances, because it's absolutely one of the best ones in Fool's Gold.
However... EVERYTHING ELSE about this book is wildly infuriating. First, why in god's name does no one believe a single man and a single woman can just be friends?? Like, literally no one?? How is that possible?? Literally how is it possible that NO ONE IN THIS TOWN HAS EVER HAD A SINGLE PLATONIC RELATIONSHIP WITH A MEMBER OF A DIFFERENT GENDER. And that all of them are so disdainful of the mere concept!! It's absolutely goddamn wild and thoroughly infuriating. It made the entire town came off as condescending, heterosexist jerks, which I guess might be part of why Aidan and Shelby came off so well by comparison, ha. (Though I did fully roll my eyes at how Aidan supposedly never sees women as actual people -- like, is that meant to be endearing? It's like when we get told heroes have never touched women platonically/just to offer comfort UNTIL NOW, and it's meant to be romantic and show how this particular woman is special, but it just makes him look like he's been a giant douche his entire life.) (Also, the whole... STRUCTURE of the friendship was super weird? It was like aliens trying to study the mechanics of human friendship. Like, why can't you just... be friends?? Like normal people?? Without a time limit or intense scheduling?? Good lord.)
And the extreme divide between gender roles in the entire town is just... absolutely beyond weird. So many activities designated as "girl" things or "boy" things??? I guess... women can't ever enjoy doing things and men are biologically incapable of talking about their feelings?? THAT SEEMS HEALTHY. It's just all so, so intensely and bizarrely gendered-- any time Aidan so much as hints at character development, it's claimed he's turning into a woman! Oh no! It's something that definitely emerges throughout the series, but it's by far the worst here, and it totally sours what otherwise would have been an extremely sweet and well-developed love story. My feelings on the entire series are a very mixed bag, so I suppose it's fair for it to end on a book that embodies both so thoroughly.
First, let's talk about what I loved, because a lot of Aidan and Shelby's relationship is really, really good. It's a wonderful description of how friendship can grow into love and how people grow to care about one another; the evolution of their relationship felt really natural and realistic and beautiful. I rarely get the feeling, in a lot of contemporary romance novels, that there's much to the people involved apart from lust and the occasional good feeling; you don't often get to see couples becoming friends at first! The way that they grow together, change one another, and make one another better people is heartwarming as all hell; I really like both of them as people, for the most part, and while I do hate the usual quick engagements in these books, I do genuinely believe that the two of them will last the long term, which I do very rarely in these books, ha. I wish the love story had happened under better circumstances, because it's absolutely one of the best ones in Fool's Gold.
However... EVERYTHING ELSE about this book is wildly infuriating. First, why in god's name does no one believe a single man and a single woman can just be friends?? Like, literally no one?? How is that possible?? Literally how is it possible that NO ONE IN THIS TOWN HAS EVER HAD A SINGLE PLATONIC RELATIONSHIP WITH A MEMBER OF A DIFFERENT GENDER. And that all of them are so disdainful of the mere concept!! It's absolutely goddamn wild and thoroughly infuriating. It made the entire town came off as condescending, heterosexist jerks, which I guess might be part of why Aidan and Shelby came off so well by comparison, ha. (Though I did fully roll my eyes at how Aidan supposedly never sees women as actual people -- like, is that meant to be endearing? It's like when we get told heroes have never touched women platonically/just to offer comfort UNTIL NOW, and it's meant to be romantic and show how this particular woman is special, but it just makes him look like he's been a giant douche his entire life.) (Also, the whole... STRUCTURE of the friendship was super weird? It was like aliens trying to study the mechanics of human friendship. Like, why can't you just... be friends?? Like normal people?? Without a time limit or intense scheduling?? Good lord.)
And the extreme divide between gender roles in the entire town is just... absolutely beyond weird. So many activities designated as "girl" things or "boy" things??? I guess... women can't ever enjoy doing things and men are biologically incapable of talking about their feelings?? THAT SEEMS HEALTHY. It's just all so, so intensely and bizarrely gendered-- any time Aidan so much as hints at character development, it's claimed he's turning into a woman! Oh no! It's something that definitely emerges throughout the series, but it's by far the worst here, and it totally sours what otherwise would have been an extremely sweet and well-developed love story. My feelings on the entire series are a very mixed bag, so I suppose it's fair for it to end on a book that embodies both so thoroughly.
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