A Fool's Gold Christmas (Fool's Gold Romance, #9.5) (Fool's Gold, #10)

by Susan Mallery

[Leah]

A couple of years ago I really got in to Susan Mallery's Fool's Gold series. Only Yours/Only His/Only Us I devoured back then and so whenever a new Fool's Gold novel was released, it was downloaded to my Kindle. But I didn't keep up with the books and I now have 8 or 9 to get on with. I foolishly thought A Fool's Gold Christmas was a novella (I don't know why) so decided to start with that one, although I am now kicking myself because A Fool's Gold Christmas comes after the Summer Days/Summer Nights/All Summer Long trilogy. Though you don't have to read all the books in order, it helps to because Fool's Gold is a commuinty so you're always meeting past characters, which I love.

It was SO good to be back in the Fool's Gold universe. Yes, the last time I read a Fool's Gold book was 2011 which means it's been 4 years, and while I was confused meeting lots of people again, I remember the triplets from the "Only" trilogy which made me feel as if I was still a part of things. If I could move to Fool's Gold tomorrow I would. It's just got this great sense of community which is proven ever more when Evie (sister of the brothers featured inthe "Summer" trilogy) has to put on the Christmas nativity all by herself, after she's abandoned by the 70-year-old dance teacher who ran off with her fancy man (I know!). The way the residents all come to Evie's aide to help her put on the show made my heart want to explode, but that's the Fool's Gold way.

A Fool's Gold book wouldn't be a Fool's Gold book without some romance and drama and the romance comes in the form of handsome lawyer Dante. I loved how easy the chemistry was between Evie and Dante and how they just slipped into their easy-going romance without over-thinking it. If only real life relationships were that freaking easy, eh? I loved that they just clicked, even if the clog-dancers regularly gave Dante headaches (I agree with him there). I also really liked how Dante helped Evie with her family issues. It was sad to see Evie didn't get on well with her family, but Dante's very sensible words helped her to see it from a different (less angry) perspective.

A Fool's Gold Christmas was a great addition to the series, though I'm still annoyed at myself for not reading it in the intended order (bad Leah). Rest assured I will go back and start with Summer Days and I am so glad to be back in the warm embrace of Fool's Gold. It just makes me so happy to be back there, and even better to see old characters again, even if it is just briefly. This was a great addition, and I can't wait to get stuck in to more from the Fool's Gold residents.