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Fool's Gold #20.5
A Kiss in the Snow
A Christmas gift straight from the heart of Susan Mallery, one of today's most beloved writers--a brand new Fool's Gold romance!
Cupcake baker Nancee Smith is stunned when search-and-rescue pilot Jesse "Shep" Sheppard strides into her kitchen. The last time she saw the Ghost of Heartbreaks Past was the night before he left her at the altar. He said he loved her, then didn't even say goodbye.
Now Shep claims he's done dashing away at the first sign of forever. The romance of Fool's Gold at Christmas tempts her to have faith--snow glistening on rooftops like great swirls of frosting, twinkle lights in every window--but this time around, she's the one with cold feet. If promises alone aren't enough to sway her, Shep will have to show her the love in his heart.
Cupcake baker Nancee Smith is stunned when search-and-rescue pilot Jesse "Shep" Sheppard strides into her kitchen. The last time she saw the Ghost of Heartbreaks Past was the night before he left her at the altar. He said he loved her, then didn't even say goodbye.
Now Shep claims he's done dashing away at the first sign of forever. The romance of Fool's Gold at Christmas tempts her to have faith--snow glistening on rooftops like great swirls of frosting, twinkle lights in every window--but this time around, she's the one with cold feet. If promises alone aren't enough to sway her, Shep will have to show her the love in his heart.
64 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2016
688 people are currently reading
1562 people want to read
About the author
Susan Mallery
874 books15.6k 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 170 reviews
October 11, 2019
Este ultimo relato cierra la saga Fool' s Gold de Susan Mallery y aunque no considero que sea el cierre mas memorable que he leido, si que admito que fue lo que esperaba.
A Kiss In The Snow es una novella amena y dulce que lei en apenas una hora, lo que no me convencio fue que tuve la sensacion de que la trama y la longitud del libro no encajaban completamente, el desacuerdo entre los protagonistas no es ninguna tonteria pero al tener tan pocas paginas se resuelve de una forma precipitada y nada creible.
En general, A Kiss In The Snow no es una mala opcion para leer entre lecturas, siempre y cuando no vayas esperando nada impresionante, sino mas bien un relato simpatico y con un aire festivo el cual no analizar.
2.5 Estrellas!
December 13, 2016
The characters were pleasant I guess but their behavior was completely implausible. I kept writing the conversations they didn't have in my head.
I just can't believe that if a man shows up years after leaving a woman at the alter and never contacting her that he would just expect things to pick up where they left off and wouldn't offer an explanation; I can't believe she would let him.
And without knowing what happened to change his behavior it's hard to believe he wouldn't take off again.
I just can't believe that if a man shows up years after leaving a woman at the alter and never contacting her that he would just expect things to pick up where they left off and wouldn't offer an explanation; I can't believe she would let him.
And without knowing what happened to change his behavior it's hard to believe he wouldn't take off again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 14, 2016
A Kiss in the Snow is Susan Mallery´s latest addition to the Fools' Gold Series but it's not, in my opinion, one of her best. It's a novella, so pretty short, and as such you cannot expect deeply developed characters and a complicated plot. Although I'm not a huge fan of these short stories, I understand that point.
My problem in this case is that the plot - what little there is - just doesn't make sense to me. What intelligent woman, after being abandoned three times by her boyfriend (the last time right at the altar) would be willing to give the man a fourth chance, no matter how many times he says he's changed? Actually, if it happened to me and said man showed up in the town I grew up in looking for me (that's not exactly how it happens in the book, but the end result is the same), I would take him more for a stalker than the love of my life.
Even though A Kiss in the Snow can be read as a stand alone book, I wouldn't actively recommend it unless you really, really love the series. Otherwise there are much better books by Susan Mallery you can read instead.
My problem in this case is that the plot - what little there is - just doesn't make sense to me. What intelligent woman, after being abandoned three times by her boyfriend (the last time right at the altar) would be willing to give the man a fourth chance, no matter how many times he says he's changed? Actually, if it happened to me and said man showed up in the town I grew up in looking for me (that's not exactly how it happens in the book, but the end result is the same), I would take him more for a stalker than the love of my life.
Even though A Kiss in the Snow can be read as a stand alone book, I wouldn't actively recommend it unless you really, really love the series. Otherwise there are much better books by Susan Mallery you can read instead.
October 10, 2016
Just as adorable as all the other Fool's Gold stories.
A verrrrrry short but very christmasy second, or rather, fourth-chance romance ☺
LOVED IT!!!
♥
April 28, 2020
I'd have to call this a fluff piece. Due to its shortness, there was no time for anything stirring to happen, no real conflict, no real difficulties. After being left three times by the same man, I would have expected the trust issues to be almost insurmountable, but no, wham, bang, they're back together again. I felt this was a story that didn't need to be told.
October 31, 2018
2.5 Stars
This was just a little to quick and simple for me. I needed more of a connection to the characters and their connection to each other. I just didn't feel it.
This was just a little to quick and simple for me. I needed more of a connection to the characters and their connection to each other. I just didn't feel it.
December 18, 2021
Short & sweet😍 though i would have liked for this particular story to be a little bit bigger🙄
November 21, 2020
I loved this story. Such a cute short story. Glad Nancee got her cat back.
February 2, 2017
This is a way too short novella. The characters are "new" to the Fool's Gold usual characters and there's nothing about the characters I could understand or feel I got to know. Shep's behavior makes no sense to me.
It seems as if this was quickly thrown together to get another Christmas Fool's Gold on the market.
It seems as if this was quickly thrown together to get another Christmas Fool's Gold on the market.
February 2, 2017
That's it? That's all we get? No explanation on where he's been or why? She must have been a terrible lawyer because taking him back was a dumb move.
If it weren't for familiar characters popping up, I would never believe this is a Fool's Gold book. Deeply disappointing.
If it weren't for familiar characters popping up, I would never believe this is a Fool's Gold book. Deeply disappointing.
October 26, 2016
A cheerful novella with all of the charm of the Fool's Gold community. I hope we get to see Nancee and Shep again!
April 14, 2025
Its a bit boring. I'm not in love with super short stories. They serve little purpose.
November 30, 2021
This was just an odd one for Susan Mallery. I typically love every book there is in this series, but I'm just dumbfounded by the plot. The "Hero" of the book dumps the heroine not once, not twice, but three times over 10 or so years. And that 3rd time is at the altar with no explanation. Even after finishing this book, I still have no clue why he never showed up on their wedding day. We get some brief mentions of him growing up in foster care and him always wanting to move from one place to another, but we never hear from him as to why he kept dumping her and broke her heart that final time.
Speaking of hearing from Shep, towards the end I found myself saying 'did we ever hear Shep speak?' He's the MC, surely there'd be something he'd say to help us learn more about him. There's absolutely no character development for him and I leave the book knowing nothing more about him than when I began. This whole story is written from Nancee's POV and while that's usually okay, I honestly forgot he was even in the picture several times.
I'm still not sure why Nancee just gave him another chance and decided to marry the guy again. Sure, he put down roots in the town she spent the summers in. I get that he was hopeful she'd return and he could get a 4th chance. But he does nothing to explain why he kept leaving, why he made no contact over the last few years after leaving her at the wedding chapel or why he deserves another chance (other than he's 'beat his demons'). He'd have to grovel a whole lot more and for longer than 2 weeks to get back in my good graces after breaking my heart three times.
I'd classify this book more chick lit than romance. There was very little romance to be had and what we did get, it left a lot to be desired. I've loved the Fool's Gold series and this was just a huge letdown.
Speaking of hearing from Shep, towards the end I found myself saying 'did we ever hear Shep speak?' He's the MC, surely there'd be something he'd say to help us learn more about him. There's absolutely no character development for him and I leave the book knowing nothing more about him than when I began. This whole story is written from Nancee's POV and while that's usually okay, I honestly forgot he was even in the picture several times.
I'm still not sure why Nancee just gave him another chance and decided to marry the guy again. Sure, he put down roots in the town she spent the summers in. I get that he was hopeful she'd return and he could get a 4th chance. But he does nothing to explain why he kept leaving, why he made no contact over the last few years after leaving her at the wedding chapel or why he deserves another chance (other than he's 'beat his demons'). He'd have to grovel a whole lot more and for longer than 2 weeks to get back in my good graces after breaking my heart three times.
I'd classify this book more chick lit than romance. There was very little romance to be had and what we did get, it left a lot to be desired. I've loved the Fool's Gold series and this was just a huge letdown.
March 25, 2019
Zimtsterne und Weihnachtszauber von Susan Mallery ist die letzte Kurzgeschichte und somit der letzte Teil der Fool's Gold Reihe. Nancee arbeitet in der Bäckerei in Fool's Gold und liebt es dort. Als eines Tages Shep bei ihr zu Hause auftaucht, traut sie ihren Augen nicht. Der Mann, der sie bereits drei Mal verlassen und sogar vor dem Altar stehen gelassen hat, will sie nun wieder zurückhaben.
Wo soll ich hier anfangen... Das Buch ist wirklich extrem kurz (und für diese Kürze leider auch teuer). Man lernt in diesem Buch Nancee und Shep zum ersten Mal wirklich kennen. Dadurch dass das Buch so kurz ist, lernt man beide aber nicht wirklich gut kennen. Man erfährt nur von einschlagenden Erlebnissen aus ihren Leben. Und dabei kommt Shep nicht sonderlich sympathisch herüber. Wenn ich Nancee wäre, würde ich ihn auf keinen Fall mehr zurücknehmen.
Die Geschichte ist einfach viel zu schnell vergangen, es gab keine Spannung und auch keine richtige Romantik. Das Buch finde ich als Abschluss dieser Reihe nicht so toll.
Wo soll ich hier anfangen... Das Buch ist wirklich extrem kurz (und für diese Kürze leider auch teuer). Man lernt in diesem Buch Nancee und Shep zum ersten Mal wirklich kennen. Dadurch dass das Buch so kurz ist, lernt man beide aber nicht wirklich gut kennen. Man erfährt nur von einschlagenden Erlebnissen aus ihren Leben. Und dabei kommt Shep nicht sonderlich sympathisch herüber. Wenn ich Nancee wäre, würde ich ihn auf keinen Fall mehr zurücknehmen.
Die Geschichte ist einfach viel zu schnell vergangen, es gab keine Spannung und auch keine richtige Romantik. Das Buch finde ich als Abschluss dieser Reihe nicht so toll.
November 4, 2016
A Christmas gift straight from the heart of Susan Mallery, one of today's most beloved writers—a brand new Fool's Gold romance!
Cupcake baker Nancee Smith is stunned when search-and-rescue pilot Jesse "Shep" Sheppard strides into her kitchen. The last time she saw the Ghost of Heartbreaks Past was the night before he left her at the altar. He said he loved her, then didn't even say goodbye.
Now Shep claims he's done dashing away at the first sign of forever. The romance of Fool's Gold at Christmas tempts her to have faith—snow glistening on rooftops like great swirls of frosting, twinkle lights in every window—but this time around, she's the one with cold feet. If promises alone aren't enough to sway her, Shep will have to show her the love in his heart.
Susan Mallery has never disappointed me since i have been reading her books. This one is no exception. 5 stars
Cupcake baker Nancee Smith is stunned when search-and-rescue pilot Jesse "Shep" Sheppard strides into her kitchen. The last time she saw the Ghost of Heartbreaks Past was the night before he left her at the altar. He said he loved her, then didn't even say goodbye.
Now Shep claims he's done dashing away at the first sign of forever. The romance of Fool's Gold at Christmas tempts her to have faith—snow glistening on rooftops like great swirls of frosting, twinkle lights in every window—but this time around, she's the one with cold feet. If promises alone aren't enough to sway her, Shep will have to show her the love in his heart.
Susan Mallery has never disappointed me since i have been reading her books. This one is no exception. 5 stars
December 31, 2017
This is a short but sweet read. Its the last book in the Fool's Gold series.
This finds our heroine, who had to move home after her last relationship cost her her career, cat and a place to live after she broke up with her boyfriend. Anyhow, she was at work baking when her ex three times over walks in the door and scares her. Apparently this ex has moved to town and wants her back.
The heroine doesn't want to want the hero and fights it especially after the last time she was left at the alter. However, the hero wears her down before long.
I have loved this series and all the quirky characters which make up this town. However, a heroine accepting someone back after they breaking up with them, especially after the last time being left at the alter, with them 3 times? Nope not believable at all. I was just glad this was a very short book.
This finds our heroine, who had to move home after her last relationship cost her her career, cat and a place to live after she broke up with her boyfriend. Anyhow, she was at work baking when her ex three times over walks in the door and scares her. Apparently this ex has moved to town and wants her back.
The heroine doesn't want to want the hero and fights it especially after the last time she was left at the alter. However, the hero wears her down before long.
I have loved this series and all the quirky characters which make up this town. However, a heroine accepting someone back after they breaking up with them, especially after the last time being left at the alter, with them 3 times? Nope not believable at all. I was just glad this was a very short book.
October 1, 2016
Short and sweet like always. It's sad that Fool's Gold is over but look forward to seeing what else Susan Mallery has to offer coming up
October 18, 2016
Very nice novella. I always like a return to the town of Fool's Gold. Heart warming story of two people meant to be together.
October 30, 2016
Way too short, no character development, we know nothing about why Shep keeps leaving, it was very unsatisfying.
November 15, 2016
Love the Fools Gold books. I've read every one !
November 13, 2025
I honestly love all the fool's gold books, but this one just didn't sit with me for some reason :( I still enjoyed it, just not as much as any of the other ones.
June 29, 2018
Honestly, while this was as pleasant to read as most Fool's Gold stories are, most of the content was wildly boring. I barely felt like there was enough space to get to know Nancee and Shep, let alone for their whole clearly complicated history-- like, how did they meet? How did they get back together after he left her TWICE? Why didn't he ever actually explain what made him leave her at the altar and what made him stay put?? We're just sort of expected to take a lot about the characters and their relationship for granted, and it's frustrating because we get next to no time to actually process them as people, let alone whatever connection they might have. (Like, Nancee's backstory is WILDLY interesting and we get roughly one page devoted to it!! Come on, Susan!!)
(But, like, I have to give any book featuring a guy flying across the country to get a woman's cat back from her ex at least one star just for that. A+++ romance right there alone, honestly.)
(But, like, I have to give any book featuring a guy flying across the country to get a woman's cat back from her ex at least one star just for that. A+++ romance right there alone, honestly.)
January 19, 2021
This novella in the Fool's Gold series tells a complete story and could stand alone. Some of the characters from earlier books make an appearance, especially Madeline.
There are no big surprises and since it is short, the story is a bit rushed. Nancee has fled to her Aunt Gladys after being investigated by the FBI for her relationship with her last boyfriend. She bakes a lot. Beyond that, we don't really learn a lot about her.
Shep was tied to a chair as a foster child and as a result feels confined staying in one place. He has abandoned Nancee three times including once at the altar.
After that setup, this is a plain vanilla story. There's a misunderstanding followed by a very predictable grand gesture.
There isn't really space for some of the usual things that make this series great. There's an attempt to show community support and love, but like everything else it's rushed.
Mature themes: kissing is far as this one goes in the steam category.
There are no big surprises and since it is short, the story is a bit rushed. Nancee has fled to her Aunt Gladys after being investigated by the FBI for her relationship with her last boyfriend. She bakes a lot. Beyond that, we don't really learn a lot about her.
Shep was tied to a chair as a foster child and as a result feels confined staying in one place. He has abandoned Nancee three times including once at the altar.
After that setup, this is a plain vanilla story. There's a misunderstanding followed by a very predictable grand gesture.
There isn't really space for some of the usual things that make this series great. There's an attempt to show community support and love, but like everything else it's rushed.
Mature themes: kissing is far as this one goes in the steam category.
October 27, 2022
What I read: A Kiss in the Snow by Susan Mallery
Why I picked it up: It’s the 2nd to last novella in the Fool’s Gold series, which I’m going to finish today!!
How I read it: On Kindle.
What it’s about: Nancee fell in love with Shep when she was 19, but the past ten years have been on again, off again and included him standing her up at the altar. Life hasn’t been easy and her last relationship ended when the FBI started investigating her as a terrorist, so she’s back at her great-aunts baking cupcakes trying to figure out what comes next.
What I liked: Shep was fun – a guy who worked through his childhood problems and figured out how to live with them instead of running from them.
What I disliked: It’s all so quick – and there weren’t many updates about our other Fool’s Gold friends.
Genre: Christmas, chaste romance.
Rating & Recommendation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ and sure, but only if you’re already into the Fool’s Gold series.
Why I picked it up: It’s the 2nd to last novella in the Fool’s Gold series, which I’m going to finish today!!
How I read it: On Kindle.
What it’s about: Nancee fell in love with Shep when she was 19, but the past ten years have been on again, off again and included him standing her up at the altar. Life hasn’t been easy and her last relationship ended when the FBI started investigating her as a terrorist, so she’s back at her great-aunts baking cupcakes trying to figure out what comes next.
What I liked: Shep was fun – a guy who worked through his childhood problems and figured out how to live with them instead of running from them.
What I disliked: It’s all so quick – and there weren’t many updates about our other Fool’s Gold friends.
Genre: Christmas, chaste romance.
Rating & Recommendation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ and sure, but only if you’re already into the Fool’s Gold series.
September 21, 2017
bonus story in book 19. The story of Nancee Smith Glady's great niece and Jesse Sheppard (Shep). Nancee and Shep meet each other in college. Their in and out of each others lives over the next 10 years. 3 times he has left her breaking her heart. This time is moves to Fools Gold first getting a job with the search and rescue team. Nancee comes home to her aunts house after her ex gets her involved in his illegal activities. She's found innocent but loses her lawyer job in DC. When she comes back to Fools Gold she is very surprised to find Shep living there. She still loves him so much but is afraid to trust him because he has always let her. Its his turn to prove that he's ready to settle down in Fools Gold and be with her forever.
January 29, 2023
Nancee moved back to Fool's Fold after having lived with a "terrorist" as he was described by the FBI and homeland security. Although he ended up not be a terrorist, he ruined her law career, and she had to leave DC. She ended up baking cupcakes for Stella during the Christmas rush. Her old boyfriend, Shep, ended up living in Fool's Gold. Nancee was left at the altar, and that was on her third try with him. She didn't figure it would work this time to go for a 4th try. But he ended up flying to DC to get her cat back from the hoodlum boyfriend because he was keeping him. That pretty much sealed the deal, plus, she loved Shep.
June 30, 2020
A Christmas novella featuring Glady’s great-niece, Nancee, and Shep. They have loved each other for ten years, but he’s left her three times, including once at the altar of a Los Vegas chapel. But when Nancee’s seemingly great life unravels, through no fault of her own, she visits her favorite person and the town she loves and spends her days baking cupcakes for Shelby’s bakery.
Shep seems settled, and he’s been in town for a year. He says he’s been waiting for her, but can she believe him this time? Can she trust him not to take off again?
Shep seems settled, and he’s been in town for a year. He says he’s been waiting for her, but can she believe him this time? Can she trust him not to take off again?
November 6, 2018
Nancee Smith has come back to Fool's Gold to figure out what she plans to do with the rest of her life. She was a lawyer in Washinton DC, whose ex boyfriend was being investigated by the FBI.
She is baking cupcakes for a local baking shop when her old flame, Jesse "Shep" Sheppard surprises her in her great aunt Gladys' kitchen. Nancee figures out she is still in love with Shep, but is afraid he will leave her again. Three times in 10 years is a bit much for ones heart.
She is baking cupcakes for a local baking shop when her old flame, Jesse "Shep" Sheppard surprises her in her great aunt Gladys' kitchen. Nancee figures out she is still in love with Shep, but is afraid he will leave her again. Three times in 10 years is a bit much for ones heart.
August 8, 2020
Man who emotionally abused the woman he loves for years (saying he loved her then abandoning her three separate times - including once at the altar) shows up and expects to get her back.
Lots of "can I trust him?" "should I?" going back and forth in the heroine's head, with no real communication from the man. But it's ok, he's building a house and got her cat back from her ex, so it's apparently all fine.
Lots of "can I trust him?" "should I?" going back and forth in the heroine's head, with no real communication from the man. But it's ok, he's building a house and got her cat back from her ex, so it's apparently all fine.
January 18, 2018
A Kiss in the Snow
This was a fast read in the Fool's Gold series. Also a second chance at love. The last time she saw him the the night before they were to marry. He left her. Now years later he is back in her life willing to do anything to get her back. But he has promised that several times before. Is she willing to keep giving him chances?
This was a fast read in the Fool's Gold series. Also a second chance at love. The last time she saw him the the night before they were to marry. He left her. Now years later he is back in her life willing to do anything to get her back. But he has promised that several times before. Is she willing to keep giving him chances?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 170 reviews