Leah
Written on Sep 23, 2011
Only His is somewhat similar to its predecessor Only Mine. I presume Mallery uses the same formula for each novel, where there are obstacles to overcome before the heroine can get her guy and where the entire town continue to band together (I’m totally heading to Fool’s Gold to live). In this instance, Dakota Hendrix is our heroine, and she’s much pluckier than her sisters, working on a construction site. She hasn’t seen Tucker Janack for years, so when she ends up being interviewed by him for a job at Janack Constructions, she isn’t entirely sure it’s the job for her any more. However Tucker and Nevada decide on a business only relationship. But as they say, all the best decisions never really come to fruition…
As well as focusing on Nevada, as she’s the central character, there’s also a lovely smaller plotline featuring Jo, who runs the female-only bar in Fool’s Gold. I loved Jo, and I really really enjoyed her storyline and I wish it had had more to it. I’d quite happily read an entire novel dedicated to Jo, as she’s such an awesome character. I really loved the storylines in the book, though I still think Montana’s story is the best (Only Mine, if you want to read it). I liked the banter between Nevada and Tucker, liked the friendships between the residents of Fool’s Gold and I loved the sisterly bond Nevada, Montana and Dakota share. I also liked the addition of Cat, I thought she was going to screw the novel up, but she wasn’t so bad.
Mallery has really tapped in to Fool’s Gold. She’s made it sound like such a wonderful place, somewhere you’d want to live. The way all the residents band together, the way Mayor Marsha knows EVERYTHING about EVERYONE, it’s just so cosy. I mean, not only has she given a lot of the residents stories, but they all follow each other on and it’s so good to catch up with previous characters even if I’ve not read their stories yet. Obviously the core story is that of Nevada and Tucker and it was thoroughly enjoyable. I like that Mallery doesn’t waste time getting her characters together and it doesn’t just happen at the end of the novel. It’s so appealing and refreshing.
I loved Only His. It rounded off the Hendrix trio stories perfectly (even if I haven’t read Dakota’s story…). Mallery even set up a new Fool’s Gold trilogy for Heidi, Annabelle and Charlie (I sooooooo hope those three will get stories, I loved them in Only His). Only His was warm, romantic, enjoyable, immensely readable and it was also funny. (Oh God, when Nevada walks in on Denise and Max…) Mallery is an excellent writer, thoroughly skilled at making us love her characters and believe in her stories and at making me want to move to California. I can’t wait for what Mallery writes next and I really hope this isn’t the end of Fool’s Gold. Like I said, there are at least three more stories in it! At least, I tell you! Mallery’s well worth reading, you won’t regret it in the slightest.