Not Quite Over You - Susan Mallery (HQN - Nov 2018)

Read 24 November 2018

Series: Happily, Inc. (Book 4)

Silver Tesdal has a head for business and a mouth made for kissing, and banker Drew Lovato has his eye on both. But ever since he was dumb enough to let her go, she’s kept him at a distance. When the bank turns her down for a loan, Drew sees a double opportunity -- he can finance her brilliant, unique idea to rock Happily Inc’s wedding industry and win back her trust.

Despite her reputation, Silver’s not as tough as she seems. Losing Drew nearly destroyed her. Still, his kisses are as tempting as his offer to invest in her business. If she can’t quite get over him, maybe she should get under him and knock him out of her system once and for all.

But her best-laid plans begin to unravel as Silver finds herself falling even harder than when they were high school sweethearts. Which means that she’ll have to come clean about the secret she’s been hiding from him for years -- and risk losing him forever.

Good second chance romance. It can be read as a stand-alone but is better read in order for the backgrounds of the other characters. Silver and Drew were high school sweethearts and very much in love despite the obstacles. Drew was from a wealthy family, while Silver was from the wrong side of the tracks. When it was time for Drew to leave for college, Silver broke up with him. She felt he would be better off without her holding him back, and could experience college life as it was meant to be.

Twelve years later, Drew is back in Happily, Inc., and still drawn to Silver. Silver has created a good life for herself as the owner/operator of a traveling bar business. She is doing well enough that she wants to expand, but the local bank has turned down her loan application. When Drew found out, he offered to finance Silver's expansion himself, by buying in as a minority partner. Silver isn't so sure that she wants to chance that close an involvement with him.

I really liked both Silver and Drew. Silver is feisty, independent, and determined. She has fought hard to make her business a success, overcoming the obstacles in her path. I loved her creativity in her business as she took her strengths and ran with them. She is also fiercely independent, determined to make it on her own. She has made mistakes in the past, but she admits them and moves on. Drew is a great guy. Silver's background had never mattered to him; it was the person she was that he loved. Though their breakup hurt him, he later admitted that she had been right about his need to spread his wings. He's older and wiser now and wants to get to know her again. Drew also had to fight a battle on a second front, as family expectations butted up against Drew's plans for his future.

I enjoyed the rekindling of their relationship. The sparks between them were there from the beginning, and Drew was all for following up on them. Silver is a bit more cautious, not wanting to risk her heart again. When Silver decided to accept Drew's offer, she also had the strength to negotiate the terms the way she wanted them. I enjoyed the way that Drew was determined to be more than just a silent partner, and the effort he put in to learn the business. He also stuck to learning and backup and didn't try to take things over. I loved seeing them get to know each other again, and how the chemistry between them continued to build. When they finally gave in to the passion, they were determined to keep it casual, but neither could stop the way their feelings for each other continued to grow. Through it all, Silver is haunted by a secret she has kept from Drew. She has to find a way to tell him before he finds out for himself. I ached for Silver because she was afraid it would ruin what had been building between them. I was pretty impressed with Drew, who, once he got past his initial knee-jerk reaction, was able to see things from Silver's point of view. There was also some interference from Drew's mother, whose attitude did a number on Silver's insecurities. Drew had some things he had to face also, and I loved the source of some of the advice he got. The ending was terrific, with a couple of unexpected twists.

There was a secondary story going on that I wouldn't exactly call a romance. Wynn and Jasper have had an understanding for a while. Wynn laid down the rules, and Jasper has gone along. But something happened that went against those rules and Jasper knew he'd been living on borrowed time. If Wynn found out, there would be trouble. Part of the problem is that Jasper seems to have developed a yearning for something more, but Wynn is determined to keep her life as it is. I ached for Jasper, and really wanted to shake Wynn. I'm curious to see if something develops later between them, or if they are destined for other people.

I loved catching up with other residents of Happily, Inc. The previous couples are all moving forward with their relationships, and I loved seeing all the interactions. I especially enjoyed the various meetings that Drew was involved in and his amazement and appreciation for the intertwined businesses. I still want to shake Libby and her uptight snottiness toward those she deems unworthy. The real "winner" of this book, though, was Drew's mother. I detested the way that she had planned out Drew's life and how she completely ignored his attempts to show her that he had his own plans. Her plans to suck up to Bethany's parents were irritating. I hated the way she treated Silver, and her completely callous reaction to what Drew told her was nuts. If I were Drew, I would have cut her completely out of my life. Though I initially thought his father was just as bad, he turned out to be much better than I expected. I liked seeing more of Grandpa Frank. I love how he keeps his fingers in the pies of the people of Happily, Inc., and his help in Drew and Silver's relationship was just what they needed. I also loved Autumn, who was bright and amazingly insightful. She has some interesting conversations with both Silver and Drew.

Why Not Tonight - Susan Mallery (HQN - Sept 2018)

Series: Happily Inc. (Book 3)

Natalie Kaleta will do anything for the artists at her gallery, including risk life, limb and the effect of humidity on her naturally curly hair. Braving a downpour to check on reclusive Ronan Mitchell, Natalie gets stranded by a mudslide at his mountain home, where the brooding glass artist reveals his playful side, sending her inconvenient crush from under-the-radar to over-the-top.

After a secret tore apart his family and made him question his sense of self, Ronan fled his hometown for Happily Inc, but the sunny small town can’t fix his damaged heart. He won’t give in to his attraction for beautiful, perpetually cheerful Natalie. She’s untouched by darkness -- or so he thinks.

Natalie knows that when a heart goes through the flame, it comes out stronger. Life may not be a fairy tale, but sometimes dreams do come true. Why not this one? Why not tonight?

I have been waiting for Ronan's story since he first appeared in the Fool's Gold books, and I was not disappointed. Ronan is a brilliant glass artist. He is also brooding, angry, and terribly confused. In a previous book, Ronan discovered that he is not his brother Mathias's twin. He is the product of one of his father's affairs, which has made him question everything about himself. He has pulled away from everyone - his brothers, his father (I don't blame him there), and the woman he thought was his mother (that does bother me). He's so angry that he's been lied to all his life that he has allowed that anger to affect every part of his life. He's finally reached a point where he realizes that he misses the relationship he had with his brothers, but he doesn't know how to fix it. They miss him too, and it's that worry for him that sends Natalie up the mountain to check on him.

Natalie is a fellow artist as well as the gallery owner's assistant. She is one of those people who can find the good in almost anything. I loved the description of her as curvy, feisty, and that she wears glasses, which added to the realism of her character. She is also a wee bit stubborn, which is what sent her up the mountain in bad weather in a car that was inadequate for the conditions. It was no wonder that she ended up on his doorstep muddy, wet, and spitting mad.

I loved the development of Natalie and Ronan's relationship. Natalie has had a crush on Ronan but has kept it under control. An engagement gone bad has left her unwilling to risk her heart again, even though she wants a family of her own. Her conversations with her friends over the "baby app" are funny and heartbreaking at the same time. When she gets stuck on the mountain with Ronan, she discovers a whole new side of the brooding artist. I ached a little for Ronan because he was so surprised that anyone was worried enough about him to check on him. I loved how easy he found it to bring her into his house and his life. It turned out that he'd been crushing on her a bit, too. I loved those couple of days that they had together. Natalie's cheerfulness threw some light into the dark corners of Ronan's life, and I loved seeing a lighter side of Ronan emerge. I especially enjoyed the paper airplane scene. There are also some pretty strong sparks flying between them. Though it was frustrating for Natalie, I quite liked Ronan's refusal to take advantage of those sparks while she was "trapped" in his house. He certainly made up for it later.

When they agreed to have a fling, with the understanding that emotions would not be involved, I had to laugh. It was clear to me that Natalie was already well down the road to loving Ronan. I loved watching them together. With Natalie in his life, Ronan lost a lot of his broodiness, and his creative side began to re-emerge. With both of them being artists, there was no feeling of neglect when one or the other was caught up in their creative process. There were some very sweet scenes showing Ronan's support and encouragement of Natalie. When they were together, Natalie seemed to be consistently tuned into Ronan's moods. Because of her lack of family, Natalie really wants Ronan to reconcile with his. She takes every opportunity to point out to him how lucky he is to have the family that he does. I loved seeing how she brought Ronan and his brothers back together, using an art project as the reason. The more time they spent together, the deeper their feelings grew, though each one tried desperately to deny it. I ached for Natalie when she got up the courage to tell Ronan how she felt, only to have him run. Ronan is terrified that his problems would suck the life out of her, just as his father tended to do to others, so he'd rather push her away than see that happen. But when Ronan faced a crisis, Natalie was the one he turned to. The ending was intensely emotional, as Ronan was finally able to lay his fears to rest. I loved his big moment at the end. It was sweet, romantic, and beautiful.

The big issue in the book was Ronan's reaction to finding out the truth of his birth. I could completely understand the initial shock and the need to get away and process the information. However, I couldn't understand him pushing his brothers away. Even if they are "only" half-brothers, the love, respect, and memories are still there. I liked that they didn't give up on him. I ached for him and his feelings of betrayal from his mom. That was the hardest thing for him to deal with. Once Ronan was involved with Natalie, things began to change because of her. I loved her determination to help him reconcile with his family. She also knew that it couldn't be forced. I loved her creativity in bringing him together with Nick and Mathias. But try as she might, she didn't seem to be able to get through to him when it came to his mom. I found it immensely satisfying when she finally laid into him with her opinion of his attitude. In the end, it was Nick who took the logical course of action to resolve the issue. I loved Ronan's stunned reaction and how it made him reevaluate his own actions. The resolution was intense and emotional.

I also loved the friendships among the women of the story. It's always wonderful to see how the author brings together such diverse personalities in a way that works. They are always there to support each other, professionally or personally, and can be depended on to be brutally honest if required. There were a couple of those moments between Natalie and Silver when Natalie had a decision to make. There were a few hints dropped that make me think that Silver's story is going to be another fantastic installment in the series.

A Very Merry Princess - Susan Mallery (HQN - Nov 2017)

Series: Happily Inc (Book 2.5)

When Princess Bethany’s father, the king, sells one of his best stallions, she insists the animal get the royal treatment. Disguised as Beth Archer, a mere stable hand, she takes him to Happily Inc, California, a quaint wedding destination that’s especially sparkly over the holidays.

Rich women have no place on Cade Saunders’s ranch. He wants a down-to-earth girl-next-door type—like Beth Archer. After a few cocoa-flavored kisses by the Christmas tree, Bethany begins to fall for her irresistibly handsome host. But will Cade still want her when he discovers she’s more familiar with a crown than a cowboy hat?

Short, sweet novella with a bit of heat. Beth is the adopted daughter of a Middle Eastern king and a princess because of it. She was first introduced in Mallery's The Sheik's Secret Bride (June 2000) and was horse crazy even then. When her father sells her favorite stallion to an American, Beth convinces her parents to let her accompany the horse and supervise his settling in. But she wants to go as plain Beth Smith, not the royal princess. She'd been burned in the past by people who used her for their own purposes and longs to be treated as a normal person.

Cade was introduced in the first Happily Inc. book, as Pallas's twin brother. He has wanted to be a rancher for his whole life, and after working at ranches in Kentucky and Texas, he now works for his grandfather on the family ranch. He is in the process of buying the ranch and has dreams of expanding the ranch's horse breeding business. He met King Malik in Texas and was thrilled when that connection enabled him to purchase the stallion, Rida. Cade spends most of his time working the ranch, with very little dating. He was burned by a wealthy woman in Kentucky, who considered him good enough to play with but too far beneath her to marry.

I enjoyed the enthusiasm both characters had for their work. Beth's love of the horse and determination to ensure that he was well cared for was obvious, as was her connection with the horse himself. Cade's excitement over Rida's arrival was clear. I loved Pallas's visit and her amusement over his child-like exuberance.

Cade and Beth connected as soon as she and Rida arrived, bonding first over the care of the horse. There were also sparks of attraction that flared between them. Beth tried to fight the attraction, knowing that she was there a) under false pretenses, and b) she would be leaving soon. But the happiness of being treated like a regular person, coupled with Cade's charm and down-to-earth attitude, made it a losing battle. Cade was attracted to Beth from the moment he met her. Her devotion to the horse was a big draw, as was the way she dove right into life on the ranch. I enjoyed seeing them get to know each other and open up about some of their past problems. I loved Cade's reaction when Beth shared (carefully edited) parts of her past. On the other hand, finding out about Cade's past made Beth realize that he would not be happy when he found out the truth about who she is. When an unexpected visitor blows her cover, Beth discovers that she was right to be afraid of his reaction. I ached for her when Cade wouldn't even listen to her explanation. While I understood Cade's reaction, I also wanted to shake him for being so pig-headed.

The ending was terrific. Pallas takes her role as sister seriously and provides evidence to Cade of what an idiot he has been. I loved how Cade realizes that the only thing to do is go after Beth. His confrontation with King Malik was fantastic. I especially loved Malik's portrayal of the outraged and protective father, and Cade's understanding but also determination to make his case to Beth herself. The end of that confrontation was startling, but not entirely unexpected. There was another comment made later by Malik that showed that his choice of a buyer for Rida might not have been all business related.

I loved the secondary characters in this story. Seeing Liana and Malik again, and catching up on their lives was an unexpected bonus. It's clear that their love and support of Beth is just as strong as it was in their book. Beth's inclusion in Pallas's "Girl's Night" showed how easily Beth fit in with the people of Happily Inc. But the best part was the Thanksgiving dinner with Cade's family. His mother, Libby, is just as much of a snob as she was in the first book, but the rest of the family get together was great. I loved Cade's worry that Beth would be hurt by Libby's attitude and Beth's obvious enjoyment of the other members of the family. I'm looking forward to seeing more of Cade and Beth in later books.

 

Second Chance Girl - Susan Mallery (HQN - Oct 2017)

Series: Happily Inc (Book 2)

Mathias Mitchell's easy smile hides a world of hurt. After the worst kind of family betrayal, he moves to Happily Inc., California -- the wedding destination town supplies a steady stream of bridesmaids, perfect for his "no promises, no pain" lifestyle. Yet he can't stop watching for his beautiful, elusive neighbor on the animal preserve behind their homes.

Gamekeeper Carol Lund knows she's not special enough to attract an alpha male like Mathias, so his offer to help her adopt a herd for her lonely giraffe is surprising -- and his determined seduction, even more so. But just as she finally welcomes him into her bed, his careless actions crush her heart. Will she give him a second chance to prove she'll always come first in his heart?

Good book with the added benefit of being a two-for-one romance, as both Carol and her sister Violet find their happy ever afters. Carol is the gamekeeper at the Happily Inc. Animal Preserve. She loves being outdoors and her work with the animals, especially the lonely giraffe, Millie. She's sweet, friendly, and has a big heart. Mathias is her closest neighbor, and she has had quite the crush on him for a long time. But she doesn't believe that the handsome, charming, and sexy Mathias would be interested in the nothing-special her. So she will be content with their friendship.

Mathias is one of the three Mitchell brothers who left Fool's Gold to get away from their horrible father. Like his father and brother Ronan, Mathias is a glass artist. He contents himself with making "useful" art, for reasons that made me ache for him. He's also a bit of a player, hooking up with bridesmaids who are there and gone, therefore not requiring any kind of commitment. His house overlooks the Animal Preserve and he derives a great deal of enjoyment from watching the animals - and Carol.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Carol and Mathias. They are good friends at the beginning. There is some pretty funny teasing back and forth about her herd. Mathias is surprised that he is so comfortable around Carol since she's nothing like the women he is usually interested in. That comfort allows him to relax when he's with her and escape the tension that he lives with every day. That comfort also leads him down an unexpected path of attraction, which disturbs him quite a bit, because he is a "no promises" kind of guy and Carol is a forever type of woman. Carol treasures the friendship between them, even as she sometimes dreams of there being something more. She's wary when Mathias begins spending more time with her, but when he offers to help her raise funds for more giraffes, she can't turn him down. The time they spend together on this project and helping plan his brother Del's wedding draws them even closer, and the sparks between them get hotter. Though their first encounter doesn't go quite as expected, there's no stopping the fire between them.

I also liked the deeper connection that developed between Mathias and Carol. As she gets to know him and learns more about his family dynamics, Carol senses the pain that he is in. I loved her protectiveness toward him; most notably in her conversation with Ronan and how she gave Mathias a sanctuary to escape his family drama. I liked how Mathias was equally protective of Carol. He understood the depth of her need to help Millie and went above and beyond in his efforts to help Carol make it happen. I ached for him as the depth of his growing feelings for Carol collided with his fears, causing him to pull away from her. That ended up reinforcing one of Carol's fears, leaving me wondering how they were going to get past it. Help came from an unexpected source, and one look made Carol realize that she had to fight for what she wanted. I loved their big moment at the end as they faced their fears and realized that they belonged together.

One of the things I enjoyed most about this book was getting to know Mathias better. His reasons for creating his "practical art" became clear as more of his relationship with his father came out, even as I sensed that he was capable of so much more if he would just believe in himself. I loved seeing how the relationship between Carol and Millie inspired him and was totally fascinated by the process of his project. I ached for him and Ronan as the fallout from their father's revelation has affected their feelings of who they are. I really hope that things will get better for them in Ronan's book. The arrival of the family for Del's wedding was just as stressful as I expected. The confrontation with his parents revealed a lot about why Mathias avoids relationships.

I can't talk about this book and not mention how much I detest Mathias's parents. His father is a selfish, egotistical man who can't stand to see anyone get more attention than he does. I hate the way he treats his sons. Though Carol's fundraiser benefitted from it, Ceallach's intrusion into the art auction was another example of his attitude. His denigration of his sons' artwork and talents was terrible. I also hated the way that their mother never stood up for them against their father. That a mother could stand by and listen to someone verbally abuse her sons, even if he was her husband, is inconceivable to me. Though I liked that she raised Ronan as if he were her own, and feel a bit sorry for her because of the rift, I also understand Ronan's feelings.

The second romance in the book was that of Carol's sister Violet. I love Violet and her unusual career. She is friends with an old lady in England who provides her with a supply of unique and unusual buttons. Unfortunately, the woman's son jumps to an unfounded conclusion about the packages that his mother sends to Violet, and when visiting the States pays a visit to Violet. He acts like a complete jackass and is rightfully told off by Violet. Underneath his anger is also an unexpected attraction. I loved his discovery of how wrong he'd been, and his apology was very well done. I enjoyed seeing the two of them connect, once they got past that issue. Ulrich's reluctance to go back to England was obvious, even though he knew he had responsibilities that required it. I loved the part that Millie had in ensuring he got to stay longer. I loved seeing he and Violet get to know each other and fall for each other. While there were some obstacles to their being together, they weren't insurmountable. I loved Ulrich's big moment at the end. It was romantic and sweet and completely perfect for them.

You Say It First - Susan Mallery (HQN - Aug 2017)

Series: Happily Inc (Book 1)

Sculptor Nick Mitchell grew up in a family of artists and learned from his volatile father that passion only leads to pain. As he waits on a new commission, he takes a day job as a humble carpenter at a theme wedding venue. The job has its perks -- mainly the venue's captivating owner, Pallas Saunders. Although he won't let love consume him, for ecstasy with an expiration date, he's all in.

Pallas adores Weddings in a Box. But if she can't turn the floundering business around, she'll have no choice but cave to her domineering mother and trade taffeta for trust funds working at the family's bank. Then when a desperate bride begs Pallas for something completely out of the box, her irresistible new hire inspires her. Nick knows she doesn't belong behind a desk, and she knows in her heart that he's right -- where she really belongs is in his arms.

Terrific start to the new series. Happily Inc. is a small town on the edge of the desert in Southern California. Just as Fool's Gold is known for its festivals, Happily Inc. is a mecca for destination weddings. (I loved the explanation of how that happened.) Nick and his brothers, Ronan and Mathias, are recent transplants from their hometown of Fool's Gold. They were introduced in Thrill Me and Best of My Love, including the family drama that caused their departure. Nick is a successful artist who needs something to occupy his time while he waits to hear about a possible (probable?) overseas commission. So he answered an ad for a handyman at Weddings in a Box.

Pallas is the new and still stunned owner of the wedding business, which was left to her by a very good friend. Pallas has always expected to go to work for her mother at the family bank, which is why she got her degree in finance. But her relationship with her mother is strained, as Pallas has always felt that she has failed at earning her mother's love and respect. Libby constantly denigrates Pallas and her wedding business while putting pressure on her to work at the bank. Pallas can't quite bring herself to sell the business, as it calls to something inside her. She has given herself a few months to make a final decision, as she struggles to make the business a success.

The first meeting between Pallas and Nick had me laughing out loud. Pallas was short a soldier for a Roman-themed wedding when Nick arrived for his interview. When her first words are "I need you to take off your shirt," you know it is going to be a fun book. Nick is surprised but willing to play along. He's a little wary about taking the job after that, as playacting isn't his thing, but when he spots the incredible set of wooden panels that will be his project, he can't say no. I loved how he displayed his reverence for the workmanship and what it would mean to work on them. I think that Pallas probably started to fall for him then and there. There were certainly sparks of attraction between the two of them, but a relationship isn't in either's plans. Pallas believes that love only comes when it's earned, that it doesn't just happen. Nick flat-out doesn't do relationships. In his opinion, passion consumes and creates pain, thanks to the example shown by his parents. He refuses to allow himself to feel anything that deeply.

I loved the development of Nick and Pallas's relationship. It started slowly, more as friends, as Nick found himself drawn into the wedding planning activities. Pallas was frequently cautious and tentative at the beginning, without much confidence in her own creativity. I loved how Nick encouraged her by showing her how she could expand on her ideas. As they spent time together over wedding plans, the attraction between them continued to grow. I loved Nick's sensitivity as he waited for Pallas's mind to catch up with her desire, knowing that rushing things would be a mistake. I also enjoyed his protectiveness when he witnessed Libby's attitude toward Pallas. At the same time, Pallas is incredibly understanding about Nick's attitude toward love and passion. She doesn't agree with him and tells him so, but she also doesn't try to change his mind. I loved seeing how the two of them grew and changed over the time they were together, though none of it came easily. I cheered when Pallas made her final decision about the business and stood up to Libby. I wanted to shake Nick when he allowed his fears to come between him and Pallas. I cried when she told him "I love you. You don't have to love me back. I wish you would but if you don't, I'm going to be okay. I get it now. I get what loving someone is supposed to mean. It's a gift. You can accept it or not. That's up to you. It doesn't have to be earned and there's no time restriction. It just is. Whatever happens, whatever you decide to do, I hope you're happy. I hope you find what you're looking for." Nick's lightbulb moment was terrific and I loved that he didn't waste a moment finding her and telling her. His big moment at the end was sweet and romantic and perfect for them.

As the first book in the series, there was a lot of time spent building the world of Happily Inc. Fortunately, Pallas's wedding business was the perfect vehicle to do so. Each of Pallas's friends is unique in character and profession. Carol is the one who runs the local animal preserve (zebras!). Violet, Silver, Wynn, and Natalie are also there for whatever Pallas needs, whether it's moral support and help pull together an awesome wedding. There was also Alan, who had been with the business since its beginning. He's a colorful character who always seems to know just what to do to avert a crisis. The business was a character in itself, and I loved the behind the scenes looks at the weddings. I also enjoyed watching it change and grow along with Pallas. The big gamer wedding was the event that showcased the talents and attitudes of all those involved. I liked seeing more of Mathias and Ronan and get more of what they are going through since their father's revelations. The tensions and attitudes are believable and left me ready to shake both of them, while at the same time I wanted to hug their hurts away. Pallas also had a fair amount of drama in her family, her mother being the largest instigator of said drama.  Her grandpa Frank was a fun guy, and I liked it when he stood up for Pallas. The contrast between the way that her mother treated Pallas and how she treated her twin brother, Cade, made it even harder to like her. We only saw a little of Cade, but I liked what was there. I suspect That he will eventually get his own story.  I liked Pallas's cousin Drew for his support of her, but he also has an unpleasant history with her friend Silver. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens with them.