Veena’s review of Best of My Love (Fool’s Gold, Book 20) by Susan Mallery
Contemporary Romance published by Harlequin HQN 26 Apr 16
This series is like chocolate. It brings a smile to my face every time I get to bite into a new release. I couldn’t wait to see how Ms. Mallery spins her newest romance, especially since it’s a sure bet there is no platonic romance between a man and a woman.
Shelby is happy with her life and making new friends in Fool’s Gold but still has a long way to go before she’s going to trust her body and heart to a man. Aidan, on the other hand, has no problems jumping in and out of bed with a host of different females without making a commitment of any kind. Can the two of them come together as friends and help each other heal and move on toward their very own happily ever after?
When Shelby approaches Aidan with her offer, he’s pretty skeptical but takes it on face value and takes the plunge. As the two storm sacrosanct bastions like the girls’ lunch and the men’s poker night, the town speculates about the state of their relationship. But, more importantly, they each learn to look deep inside themselves and figure out what’s making them tick. I thoroughly enjoyed this completely unconventional story as they come up with activities to help the other learn more about what makes the opposite sex tick, but the mani/pedi sessions are the winner. Why can’t I find a guy who wants to paint my toenails?
Aidan definitely comes through when Shelby wrestles with the dilemma of taking over the bakery and executing on her dreams. He provides all the emotional support that she needs during this most stressful time of her life. In return, she helps Aidan really look at his past from a fresh perspective and find the healing he needs to move on to be able to open himself to a meaningful relationship. I like how they really bring out the best in each other. Those Mitchell men definitely have a lot going for them, and I can’t wait to see how things work out for the remaining brothers.
No Fool’s Gold story would be complete without all the various activities that we’ve grown accustomed to around town and a quick update on the various characters we’ve grown to know and love. Yes, of course, there is definitely no platonic friendship between the opposite sexes, as Shelby and Aidan prove. However, the gender roles are definitely reversed in this one as Shelby is the one to act like a foolish male and Aidan is the one who gets the benefit of the margaritas and women’s solace for his broken heart.
Dear Ms. Mallery, please keep these books coming. Just as I can’t imagine my life without chocolate, it’s hard to imagine a long period without one of these romances to lighten things up.
Grade: A
Summary:
An irresistible new love story from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Fool’s Gold series, set in a town Library Journal calls “so appealing, readers will want to start scoping out real estate.”
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!
Other books in this series:
