Tag Archives: Susan Mallery

TBRG Top 2011 Contemporary Reads

Posted on December 27, 2011 by TBRG| 6 Comments

It’s that time of year again when we break down the books we’ve read. Here at The Book Reading Gals we break it down into the different genres and then have a top reads of the year. Today we have our top 5 contemporary reads of the year. If we reviewed the book we are linking to it, if not then we are linking to the authors page about the book.

Heather’s top 5

  1. Serendipity by Carly Phillips
  2. Head over Heels by Jill Shalvis
  3. A lot like Love by Julie James
  4. The Ideal Man by Julie Garwood
  5. With no Remorse by Cindy Gerard

Melanie’s top 5

  1. Until There Was You by Kristan Higgins
  2. Serendipity by Carly Phillips
  3. The Welcome Home Garden Club by Lori Wilde
  4. Animal Magnetism by Jill Shalvis
  5. Only Mine by Susan Mallory

Janon’s top 5

  1. Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
  2. Until There Was You by Kristan Higgins
  3. Animal Magnetism by Jill Shalvis
  4. Bring me Home for Christmas Robyn Carr
  5. Bad Boys Do by Victoria Dahl

As you can see we tend to read and love the same books. Tune in tomorrow to see who made our top historical reads.

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Already Home

Posted on March 30, 2011 by TBRG| 2 Comments
Already Home
by Susan Mallery
release date 3/29/11

 

After nearly a decade as a sous-chef in a trendy eatery, Jenna is desperate for a change. She’s supported her ex-husband’s dreams for so long that she can’t even remember her own. Until she sees a for-lease sign near her parents’ home and envisions her very own cooking store.

Her crash course in business is aided by a streetwise store manager and Jenna’s adoptive mother. But just as she’s gaining a foothold in her new life, in walks her birth parents—aging hippies on a quest to reconnect with their firstborn.

Now Jenna must figure out how to reconcile the free-spirited Serenity and Tom with her traditional parents, deal with her feelings for a new love interest and decide what to do about her ex’s latest outrageous request. In the end, Jenna will find that there is no perfect family, only the people we love….

This is a heart-warming story of finding oneself and along the way also discovering an extended family.

Jenna has a lot of self-doubt, mostly caused by an abusive ex-husband, but with the support of her family she starts taking chances and fulfilling her dreams.  She can’t do it alone so in walks Violet; the two quickly become strength for each other, not just in business but as close friends.  In fact there was a line in the book that I think is one of my favorites ever: “Violet had always meant to be perfect one day. But somewhere during her life journey, she’d made an imperfect turn and never recovered.”

I loved not only the friendship but also the relationship between both girls and Beth “mom” who is just about perfect.  You also have the whole other family that steps in when the birth parents show up.  I appreciated how Susan turned these two families into one big family unit.   Now don’t forget with all that is going on, new business, new family, new life, this is a romance book so we also have a new love interest and what a good one he is.

This book touches on so many things, a lot of which have touched me personally.  Through the characters Susan addresses subjects that aren’t always easy and she does an extremely good job at it.  The fear and damages of abuse, the strength of recovery, adoption, and illness, to just name a few.  In fact one scene brought back so many memories of my grandmother that I was a crying wreck.  Each topic though made this book into an extremely poignant, touching story.   Because of the topics discussed in the book some may struggle with it, all I can say is push through it all comes together perfectly in the end.

 

Grade A

Posted in Contemporary, Review

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Winner

Posted on August 26, 2010 by TBRG| Leave a comment

The lucky winner of Chasing Perfect, Almost Perfect & Finding Perfect by Susan Mallery is
Jane
Please email your mailing information to us at thebookreadinggals @ gmail.com (no spaces)

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Finding Perfect/Giveaway

Posted on August 23, 2010 by TBRG| 11 Comments

Finding Perfect by Susan Mallery
Fool’s Gold bk 3

We were introduced to Fool’s Gold in “Chasing Perfect” with Josh and Charity, and fell in love with this small town. Came back for Ethan & Liz’s story in “Almost Perfect” had a brief glimpse into the lives of Katie & Jackson “Howie” “Sister of the Bride” in Summer Brides now for the best of them all “Finding Perfect”!

This is Pia’s story, we fell in love with her from the beginning, she was the one who you could see as your best friend, she had the right amount of humor, honesty and toughness. Pia feels that she has no motherly instinct of any kind and is freaked out in the first book when her best friend Cryastl has her taking care of her cat, in this book she is given a bigger challenge, we find out that Chrystal has left her embryos to Pia knowing that she will do the right thing, what that is Pia has no idea. Her life has just been thrown into turmoil and the person who happens to always be there to see it is Raoul – if you have read the Bakery Sisters trilogy you will recognize him right away, we am so glad Susan gave him a story.

Rauol has always wanted a family of his own and Pia and the babies as the perfect opportunity, it doesn’t hurt that he finds her attractive and the sexual chemistry between them is off the charts. They just have to deal with all the past emotional junk that they are both carrying around.

Or course there is a lot that happens between the decision to be a parent and finding the love of their lives but you need to read these for yourself. So if you have a few hours and want to escape into Fool’s Gold and the citizens there this is the perfect book for you. We do know that I am looking forward to seeing what Ms. Mallery will be giving us next.

One lucky commenter will win all three Perfect books – Chasing Perfect, Almost Perfect & Finding Perfect – contest will be open until Wednesday


rating 4.5 of 5

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Almost Perfect

Posted on August 21, 2010 by TBRG| Leave a comment


Back in high school, Liz Sutton was the girl from the wrong side of the tracks. Then she’d stolen the heart of the most popular boy in town, and their secret romance helped her through the worst of times. Until Ethan Hendrix betrayed her and everything they’d ever meant to each other. Devastated and pregnant, Liz left Fool’s Gold, California—forever, she thought….

Now Liz must return to town and face the man who doesn’t know of their son’s existence. And this time she won’t have the option of making a quick getaway. Ethan and Liz can’t deny their passionate attraction, even after all these years. But will their desire be enough to spark a second chance at love?

This is the second book in the Perfect series based in Fool’s Gold. We met Ethan in Chasing Perfect so I was excited to actually get his story, I was a little disappointed in him at first but in the end he does redeem himself.

The story starts out with Liz who is coming to the rescue of her nieces that have been abandoned and it just so happens to be in Fool’s Gold, where she grew up and could not get out of their fast enough, now she is confronted with her past.

Ethan and Liz had a past which resulted in a child that he did not know about so when they are reunited theyouknowwhat hits the fan. This puts the entire town in an uproar and they don’t have a problem voicing their opinions about it. We experience them both dealing with the emotions of betrayal while also trying to handle the fact that they still love each other.

This was a good book with a very hea, can’t wait for the next one Finding Perfect.

Rating 3.5 of 5

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Summer Brides

Posted on August 17, 2010 by TBRG| Leave a comment


Summer Brides

Three happily-ever-afters from three of your favorite authors

The Borrowed Bride by Susan Wiggs
During her own bridal shower, Isabel Wharton is whisked away by past love Dan Black Horse to his retreat in the Cascade range. But returning to her Native roots, and Dan’s loving arms, is harder than she ever imagined.

A Bridge to Dreams by Sherryl Woods
With her vacation plans foiled, Karyn Chambers realizes that her long-awaited escape must give way to staying at home in San Francisco. Little does she know her Prince Charming is right in her own backyard.

Sister of the Bride by Susan Mallery
When Katie McCormick finds out that her sister is marrying her ex, she finally agrees to a setup for the big day. To her surprise, Jackson is a catch. But when wedding catastrophe ensues, will their sparks fizzle or ignite into flames?

These were three really cute and light reads perfect for a day at the beach or just a quick escape.

The Borrowed Bride is about second chances. Isabel & Dan had a rough patch in their relationship and found it easier to walk away from each other than work through it. Now years later Isabel is moving on with her life and Dan shows back up, he realizes he does not want to loose her and has tried to turn his life around. Well of course more rough times are ahead and they almost throw everything away again but I guess true love wins in the end.

A Bridge to Dreams is about new love. Karyn has been saving for a vacation – her first one ever, can you imagine – but life is interrupting again, her car dies for good and she needs to use her vacation money for a new one. In walks PC who offers to take her on a staycation in SF. Well love blossoms of course, despite the overprotective brothers.

Have to say my favorite out of the three was A Bridge to Dreams who would not like to escape with a handsome, wealthy guy that is interested in you – sign me up!

Sister of the Bride is about love found. We met Katie in Chasing Perfect, she had a small part during girls night where we learned that her sister had stolen her fiance. Well now it is time for the wedding which she can’t attend alone so she is hooked up with Jackson, the son of her moms best friend, they had met as teenagers and did not hit it off and moms have been trying to hook them up for years – circumstances now throw them together and they realize that maybe mom really does know best.


Rating 4 of 5

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Chasing Perfect

Posted on August 16, 2010 by TBRG| Leave a comment

Chasing Perfect

Fool’s Gold bk 1
Susan Mallery

Welcome to Fool’s Gold, California, a charming community in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. There’s lots to do and plenty of people to meet, especially women. Because there’s just one tiny problem in Fool’s Gold: the men don’t seem to stick around. Maybe it’s the lure of big-city life, or maybe it’s plain old bad luck, but regardless of the reason, the problem has to be fixed, fast. And Charity Jones may be just the city planner to do it.

Charity’s nomadic childhood has left her itching to settle down, and she immediately falls in love with all the storybook town has to offer — everything, that is, except its sexiest and most famous resident, former world-class cyclist Josh Golden. With her long list of romantic disasters, she’s not about to take a chance on another bad boy, even if everyone else thinks he’s perfect just the way he is. But maybe that’s just what he needs — someone who knows the value of his flaws. Someone who knows that he’s just chasing perfect.

Susan is a hit and miss with me. Some of her books I love (Falling for Gracie is one of my all time favorite books) and others I have just liked, and some I have finished but couldn’t tell you anything about them.

This book falls in the absolutely love category, in fact it ranks up there with Falling for Gracie. I grew up in a town that was small town America and then got a little bigger and no longer became a town where everyone knew everyone but still has a small town feel to it. I personally blame wal-mart for the distruction on small town America but I digress.

Charity has finally found a place that she can call home in Fool’s Gold, apparently Henderson wasn’t the right fit, which I just don’t get as I have lived here off and on for 20 years, okay back on topic. Charity just has one tiny problem okay maybe two, she doesn’t trust easily and every time Josh comes around her, her body starts to tingle.

Josh is the golden boy of Fool’s Gold, he has risen to the top of his sport, and retired. He can do no wrong in the eyes of the town, and women fall all over themselves to get to him. Josh however doesn’t see himself as the golden boy, he is flawed and isn’t whole and until he can be whole he can’t give any part of himself to anyone.

What neither one expected was each other. To me this is one of those classic romance stories that we all love, you know what I am talking about the ones that got us started on the road to all things romance. I loved watching these two fall in love and work their issues, to find out who they really were inside, the person that those around them always knew that they could be.
I can hardly wait to see what else is in store for us in this series.

I give this book a 4 out of 5

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Monday Author Spotlight

Posted on July 13, 2009 by TBRG| 2 Comments
What time is it? It’s time to spotlight an author.
It is time to introduce you to a new author,

or re-introduce you to an old favorite.

Whichever the case may be, pull up a seat and meet…
…………

Susan Mallery

I discovered Susan last year, and immediately fell in love with her books. The first book of hers was from the Buchanan Series. I loved the relationships in this series between the siblings and the amazingly strong women and man that they fell for. Then there was the Bakery Sisters series, have to say that they last book in that series is my favorite. Her new series The Lone Star Sisters is now out. I do have to say that if I had a favorite book of hers it would be Falling For Gracie, there was just something about that book.

When I was doing some research on Ms. Mallery I ran across the following and thought it gave great insight into her as an author…

How did you get started writing?

I’d always read romances-starting when I was around thirteen. I’d never thought about writing one myself because I thought writers were exotic people who lived in France, wore black all the time and talked about things like dead philosophers and existentialism. While I was in college, I saw that a local adult education center was offering a class on “How to Write a Romance Novel.” I signed up for that class and, the very same day, began my first book.

The book was awful, but the class changed my life. It was 8 weeks long and I knew by week 6 that this is what I wanted to do with my life. I stayed in school to complete my degree (in Accounting of all things) then walked away from a job offer to try my hand at writing. Fortunately, I sold fairly quickly. My first book sold in August 1990 and was published in January 1992.

If you haven’t checked out one of her books I highly recommend that you do, as she is great. There hasn’t been one book of hers that I haven’t enjoyed. You can check out her books here .

fixed blog siigy

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Falling for Gracie by Susan Mallery

Posted on January 11, 2009 by TBRG| Leave a comment


First comes love, then comes marriage. . .
Or that was Gracie’s plan, anyway, at the ripe old age of fourteen. She loved eighteen-year-old heartthrob Riley with a desperation that made her a town legend. Even now that she’s all grown up, the locals in sleepy Los Lobos won’t let her forget her youthful crush. . . .but it’s not as easy as it looks.
And how can she, when she’s face-to-face with Riley at every turn? The onetime bad boy has come back to town seeking respectability-but the sparks that fly between them are anything but respectable! Gracie’s determined to keep her distance, but when someone sets out to ruin both their reputations, the two discover that first love is sometimes better the second time around.

REVIEW: I have been on a Susan Mallery kick lately and have been reading all her of books that I can find at the library. Some I have liked and others I haven’t this is one that I LOVED.

There was just something about Gracie and Riley, and the cast of characters that surround them. I really enjoyed how both Gracie and Riley were able to look back on the past and see it for what it was. I really felt bad for the way that Gracie’s family treated her, but was happy that she had Riley to lean on.

I very rarely give a book a 5 but I have to because this book is going into my must buy pile and has become one that I will probably read and reread.

This book gets a 5 out of 5

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Married for a Month by Susan Mallery

Posted on January 2, 2009 by TBRG| Leave a comment

WHAT’S THE SECRET TO EVERLASTING LOVE?

Taylor McGuire, a hardworking single mom with a Ph.D. in psychology, believes that compatibility is the key to a successful marriage. Bestselling relationship guru Jonathan Kirby believes it’s sexual chemistry. So when these two former lovers meet up on national TV, it’s more than just a difference of expert opinion that sets the sparks flying between them. And when Taylor puts forth her theory on love, Jonathan can’t help but challenge: “Want to bet?” So begins an unconventional contest — forty couples involved in a monthlong mock marriage for a chance to win one million dollars — which puts Taylor’s and Jonathan’s professional reputations on the line. As the competition heats up, so does the attraction. And as they fall for each other, the two experts realize that love is not a science…sometimes it’s just magic.

REVIEW: I have been on a Susan Mallery kick lately and I have been reading anything of hers that I can find. This is one of her earlier works, and I have to say that I am glad that she has gotten better with each book. This book isn’t one of her best works.

I never really felt the chemistry between any of the characters, especially Jonathan and Taylor. It was a very blah book for me.

I read this as part of the Winter Reading Challenge: Read a book that has 4 words in the title

I give this book a 3 out of 5

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