Susan Mallery

Susan Mallery is the bestselling author of over 130 novels about the relationships that shape women's lives—family, friendship, romance, and The Bookstore Diaries is the first of three books which will be released this year.

At the centre of this novel is Jax, a recently divorced mother of two who owns and manages The Painted Lady Bookstore in a small Californian community. Jax is largely content, her store is a success, even if the Victorian home that houses it needs repairs; her show more relationship with her ex, Harris, is amicable, even if he’s lobbying to be allowed an overnight guest while their children are with him; and her younger sister, and best friend, Ryleigh is always close by. But Jax’s well ordered life threatens to descend into chaos when Harris proposes to his much younger girlfriend to circumvent the house rules, Ryleigh announces she is considering moving to San Diego after a surprise ending to her relationship, and the contractors working in the store, headed by the handsome Marcus, accidentally erase the identification markers for the personal diaries The Painted Lady Bookstore hosts for the community.

There were several aspects of The Bookstore Diaries I enjoyed, most notably the setting (because what reader can resist a bookstore); the romantic relationships that are developed for both Jax and Ryleigh; and Roman, Jax’s pet, an African Grey parrot with a big personality who is an absolute delight. I also appreciated many of the details that leant authenticity to the main characters who were generally well-realised with satisfying back stories, and the lesser sub plots that added depth to the story overall.

However, I was disappointed because the premise for The Bookstore Diaries provided by the publisher is misleading. It promises that ‘secrets spill and scandals surface’ from the diaries held by The Painted Lady, but neither eventuate in any meaningful way. In fact the diaries barely make any impact on the story, or the main characters themselves. With that expectation left unfulfilled the novel as a whole felt somewhat anticlimactic.

While The Bookstore Diaries is an engaging contemporary romance/women’s fiction novel, in all honesty my enjoyment of it was somewhat tainted by the hyperbole of premise. show less

Honestly, from the moment I turned to page one and began reading, I was totally on board with this one, from story to character. The sisters are so different, yet intensely connected. Though they share their family history, each of their stories is unique to them and just as enthralling. They are alike in some fashions, but not in all...and that's okay! Fraternal twins or not, they are individuals! Seeing life from both their perspectives was entertaining, and so emotional.

Sunshine has show more always been able to attract the boys, and while that was fine in the moment, it led to some disastrous decisions, and quite frankly, she finally wants more than that. I couldn't have applauded her efforts any louder, nor laughed any harder at how she spurned some of the unwanted attention. Margot has always been ambitious and beautiful, just not in the way her grandmother would have wanted, but even she needs a break from her past...DESPERATELY...with it, time to perhaps fall for someone new. Seeing her let her hair down , figuratively and literally, was refreshing, and again, despite the pitfalls of her current job, I couldn't have been more pleased with the outcome of things on a professional and personal level.

In the end, it was such a good story! I adored the sisters, the potential love interests, Bianca, Connor, and the rest of the bit players too! While a great summer read to pass the sunny days, it has so much more depth to it as well. It's about growing up, or rather into the person we want to be, accepting our past, and looking forward to tomorrow. It's about letting love in, and giving second chances when deserved. It's about not settling for less than we deserve, striving for our dreams, and not being afraid to ask for help in achieving them. Really and truly, it's cemented its way into being one of my favorites of this author's lengthy published title list...and I couldn't be happier for it.


**copy received for review; opinions are my own show less

Kiss Me
5 Stars

Due to his younger brother's latest scheme, Zane Nicholson is forced to take a group of greenhorns on a cattle drive. Zane is none too thrilled to learn that his city girl step-sister and her friend, Phoebe Kitzke, will be joining for moral support. Kindhearted to a fault, Phoebe has sworn off helping people, but one look at the sexy, taciturn rancher and all bets are off. Can two lonely yet wary people find happiness together?

Well, it took 17 books, but there is finally a show more 5-star read for me in this series.

Phoebe is a lovely heroine. Yes, she is a bit of a Mary Sue whose kind-heartedness gets her into trouble (even the raccoons know she's a pushover), but she has a strong sense of self, and a profound resilience, which serves her in good stead.

On the surface, Zane is Phoebe's opposite - cold and unapproachable. Nevertheless, it soon becomes clear that his distant manner conceals a deep and abiding loneliness. His memories of his parent's relationship taught him that love is too painful to endure, and as such has dedicated his life to the ranch and to his family. Phoebe, with her innate goodness and desire to connect with others, is his perfect match as she brings out the best in him.

The secondary storylines revolving around the other participants in the cattle drive are excellent, especially the relationship between the foster couple and the kids, which had me tearing up a couple of times.

In sum, this is definitely the best book in the series and I hope that the next one focusing on Zane's step-sister, Maya, continues in the same vein. show less

4.5 stars

Marry Me at Christmas by Susan Mallery is a delightfully upbeat and charming holiday romance between a small town business owner and a popular movie star. It is also the nineteenth installment in the wildly popular Fool's Gold series but it can be read as a standalone (but I HIGHLY recommend all of the books in this fabulous series).

Bridal shop owner Madeline Krug has made no secret she is harboring a huge crush on Jonny Blaze, a popular action movie actor. When Mayor Marsha asks show more her to help him plan his sister's wedding, like everyone else in Fool's Gold, she finds it impossible to say no. At first star struck and nervous around Jonny, Madeline is surprised by how well the two work together. As she slowly gets to know and fully appreciate the man behind the famous face, her crush fades away only to be replaced by genuine feelings. Their friendship slowly gives way to romance, but Madeline cannot help but wonder how long their relationship will last once Jonny returns to the glitz and glamour of his acting career.

Madeline struggled to find her way but she loves her career as a bridal shop owner. She has an uncanny knack for picking the perfect dress for brides to be and she is eager to take a more active role in the business. Although she does not know anything about planning a wedding, Madeline is quite enthusiastic about helping Jonny plan his sister Ginger's wedding. She and Jonny have a comfortable working relationship but it is not until he steps in to help her out with her snarky ex that their relationship takes a much more personal turn.

Jonny is surprisingly down to earth and he moved to Fool's Gold to escape the limelight and paparazzi. Hoping to live an ordinary, simple life, he is continually taken off guard when the townspeople treat him the same as anyone else. Jonny has a bit of a tragic past and he finds it difficult to talk about his feelings so he demonstrates his love with extravagant but well-meaning gestures that are sometimes a little over the top. Luckily, Madeline gently reins him in and provides Ginger with the small, intimate ceremony she and her fiancé desire.

The relationship between Jonny and Madeline is low-key and builds slowly over the course of the novel. Jonny is drawn to Madeline and although he tries to keep his distance from her, he cannot seem to make himself stay away from her. Madeline never balks at spending time with him, but she cannot help but wonder how long his attraction to her will last since, in her mind, she is just an ordinary person. Their romance is very sweet with very little conflict but when trouble does arise between them, it is resolved quickly and without drama.

With an endearing cast of quirky characters, a sigh worthy hero and a lovable heroine, Susan Mallery's Marry Me at Christmas is another enchanting addition to the Fool's Gold series. This absolutely heartfelt and entertaining love story will leave readers with a smile on their face as they revisit old friends and meet new ones during this latest stop in Fool's Gold. show less