Only Yours (Hqn) (edition 2011)

Why I Read this Book: I’m hooked on this series. I love the town of Fool’s Gold and its inhabitants.

What I Liked: Only Yours is a romance story between two beta characters. Montana and Simon both have their insecurities. While Montana has ‘typical’ insecurities about herself, Simon’s insecurities are the result of his tortured past. Because of his horrible past, he’s very anti-social and just tries to keep to himself. On the flip side, he has used his bad experience in the best possible way – he contributes his expertise and dedication to helping children who are burn victims. His profession is essentially the reason for his being.

The secondary story arc revolving around the triplets’ mother was very interesting and mysterious. Their mother, Denise, got quite a bit of page time in Only Yours. There’s more to her past than she admits to and I hope we get to find out more in the next book. Perhaps there’ll be a rekindling of an old flame…?

What I Didn’t Like: Montana was trying too hard to repair Simon, which only upset him. Yes, he was still struggling with the demons from his past but he’s the only one that can fix that. Montana was overstepping her boundaries in this aspect.

The timing of Montana trying to set up her sister with the town’s new vet was a poor fit. If I had been in Montana’s shoes, knowing all along that Simon didn’t plan on staying in Fool’s Gold, I would have gone after the vet myself. Being that they both work with and love animals, Montana seems to be a more suitable match for the vet (and vice-versa) than her sister. It would have felt more right if the match-making attempt would have been saved for the next book.

The ending left me feeling unsatisfied and empty. Things were quickly wrapped up and there wasn’t enough closure for me.

Overall Impression: This is my ‘comfortable’ contemporary romance series. I know what to expect and what I’m going to get; nothing earth-shattering but a good, light romance novel perfect for an afternoon read.


You can find this review, and many more, on my blog The Book Vixen. ( )

I go back and forth on this series. I really wanted to like this one - the triplets are fun characters, and I've always had a soft spot for Montana, who 1) always felt a little behind her sisters, having some trouble figuring out her place in the world and 2) finally found that place working with therapy dogs. What's not to love, right? Well, at times I did love her story. It was sweet and involved a cute guy, kids, and dogs. At other times, though, it veered into eye-roll territory. Simon's internal monologues just made we want to shake him as the book went on...get over yourself, dude! A few of the conversations between him and members of the town - particularly a later one with Denise - were sickly-sweet unbelievably unrealistic, even for fiction. And what kind of doctor leaves a dying (literally, at that very moment) patient before the outcome is determined? Seriously???

In between those questionable parts, it was a decent story. I am looking forward to Nevada's story - hope springs eternal. ( )

Glad I didn't read other reviews before I read the book. I really enjoyed it the best of the series, and I enjoyed all the others very much.
It is what it is, a series of an extended family where everything works out. Do things get resolved quickly and perfectly? Of course.
But the situations are fun and the people are likable. Does this place exist anywhere in the real world? Of course not. Would you want to live there if it did exist? Probably not. But it is fun to visit and to hang out a while. ( )

Glad I didn't read other reviews before I read the book. I really enjoyed it the best of the series, and I enjoyed all the others very much.
It is what it is, a series of an extended family where everything works out. Do things get resolved quickly and perfectly? Of course.
But the situations are fun and the people are likable. Does this place exist anywhere in the real world? Of course not. Would you want to live there if it did exist? Probably not. But it is fun to visit and to hang out a while. ( )

Why read: Love the Fool's Gold series.

What impressed me: After reading both Ethan and Dakota's stories, readers will really feel as if they personally know the Hendrix family. This makes us immediately much more invested in how Montana's relationship works out. Now that she's finding her place in the world, you root for her and Simon the moment you meet him (as abrasive as he is). Simon is really the star of the novel. His complete emotional detachment is reminiscent of Raoul's romance, but it's taken further to the point where you often have to wonder if he has feelings at all. The developing relationship between the two and Simon's own personal development make the book that much more heartwarming.

What disappointed me: Absolutely nothing.

Recommended: Yes. Only Yours is one of the best of the series so far.

Continue series: Definitely. ( )