laurenjodi's review against another edition
3.0
Only Mine
3 Stars
Fool's Gold becomes the setting for a reality show, and Dakota Hendrix is conscripted by the mayor to ensure that the production doesn't harm the town. It's all smooth sailing until Finn Anderssen arrives to drag his twin brothers - the show's perfect contestants - back home to Alaska. Dakota is drawn to Finn and vice versa, but the two are well aware that their attraction cannot lead to a future together - or can it?
The reality show is an excellent premise. Unfortunately, it isn't as well developed as it could have been. This may be due to the fact that the author was attempting to convey a message regarding the superficial and shallow nature of reality television rather than using it as a tool to enhance the romances within the novel.
Speaking of the romance, there are two parallel relationships presented in the book. The primary storyline focusing on Dakota and Finn is alright, but never manages to fully resonate perhaps because there isn't anything original about a commitment phobic hero. In contrast, the secondary subplot revolving around Stephen and Aurelia is the highlight of the book. They have a real sense of intimacy and caring that is missing from Dakota and Finn's story.
Overall, Fool's Gold is an OK contemporary romance series, but it has yet to truly capture my full attention.
3 Stars
Fool's Gold becomes the setting for a reality show, and Dakota Hendrix is conscripted by the mayor to ensure that the production doesn't harm the town. It's all smooth sailing until Finn Anderssen arrives to drag his twin brothers - the show's perfect contestants - back home to Alaska. Dakota is drawn to Finn and vice versa, but the two are well aware that their attraction cannot lead to a future together - or can it?
The reality show is an excellent premise. Unfortunately, it isn't as well developed as it could have been. This may be due to the fact that the author was attempting to convey a message regarding the superficial and shallow nature of reality television rather than using it as a tool to enhance the romances within the novel.
Speaking of the romance, there are two parallel relationships presented in the book. The primary storyline focusing on Dakota and Finn is alright, but never manages to fully resonate perhaps because there isn't anything original about a commitment phobic hero. In contrast, the secondary subplot revolving around Stephen and Aurelia is the highlight of the book. They have a real sense of intimacy and caring that is missing from Dakota and Finn's story.
Overall, Fool's Gold is an OK contemporary romance series, but it has yet to truly capture my full attention.
sweetdreams_sunshine's review against another edition
3.0
I certainly had mixed feelings about this book. After reading the first trilogy/three books in this series I fell in love with the Hendrix triplets. Dakota's story is the first and it certainly an eventful ride. I really enjoyed Dakota, however Finn, her love interest was my least favorite main male character thus far. I'm going to break down my thoughts on this book in pros & cons because I feel that is easiest.
Pros:
- I really enjoyed the chemistry between Dakota & Finn, especially at the beginning.
- I enjoyed the continuing matriarchal theme of this series and how the small town managed to work together.
- I really liked and enjoyed the idea of the reality show. I love how realistic Mallery made it and didn't just make it seem glamorous.
- The Hendrix sisters interactions were so much fun and I really loved their relationship.
- Denise Hendrix is a freaking awesome mother (and character). Need I say more?
- I loved Dakota's sense of family and her strength.
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- The resolution between Finn & Sasha was great.
- Finn did have great character development.
Cons:
- Although I understood and related to Finn at times there were several things that irritated me about him, including how often he lost his temper & just reacted without thinking and the fact that he definitely was at least a bit misogynist.
- Mallery chose to take some predictable resolutions like rather than keeping the story more interesting.
-
- Finn's reaction to Dakota telling him that she's pregnant. Him saying that she tricked him was so infuriating and immature.
- I had absolutely no feelings at all about Aurelia and Stephen's relationship. It didn't help that I didn't particularly like either character either.
- I would have liked to see more of Ethan and Liz considering they are Dakota's family. Also a mention of her other brothers would have been great too.
In the end the good outweighed the bad, as I truly enjoyed the first three quarters of the book. So I will give it three stars.
Pros:
- I really enjoyed the chemistry between Dakota & Finn, especially at the beginning.
- I enjoyed the continuing matriarchal theme of this series and how the small town managed to work together.
- I really liked and enjoyed the idea of the reality show. I love how realistic Mallery made it and didn't just make it seem glamorous.
- The Hendrix sisters interactions were so much fun and I really loved their relationship.
- Denise Hendrix is a freaking awesome mother (and character). Need I say more?
- I loved Dakota's sense of family and her strength.
-
Spoiler
It made me really happy when Dakota adopted Hannah.Spoiler
- The resolution between Finn & Sasha was great.
- Finn did have great character development.
Cons:
- Although I understood and related to Finn at times there were several things that irritated me about him, including how often he lost his temper & just reacted without thinking and the fact that he definitely was at least a bit misogynist.
- Mallery chose to take some predictable resolutions like
Spoiler
Finn buying the air strip-
Spoiler
Dakota's pregnancy. While I was certainly happy for her I feel that it provided unneeded drama and was too fluffy. It would have been awesome enough with just Dakota adopting Hannah, without the added pregnancy.- Finn's reaction to Dakota telling him that she's pregnant. Him saying that she tricked him was so infuriating and immature.
- I had absolutely no feelings at all about Aurelia and Stephen's relationship. It didn't help that I didn't particularly like either character either.
- I would have liked to see more of Ethan and Liz considering they are Dakota's family. Also a mention of her other brothers would have been great too.
In the end the good outweighed the bad, as I truly enjoyed the first three quarters of the book. So I will give it three stars.
whitney0498's review against another edition
5.0
Only Mine is the fourth book in the Fool’s Gold series and I just loved getting to reenter this series. This was such a great read and I just had so much fun with these characters. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.
slovenianbookworm's review against another edition
4.0
I have mixed feelings about Only Mine.
It was a sweet and fun read, don't get me wrong. I loved how there was two - sort of - love stories involved, but at the end of the book I was slightly angry at Dakota. She had this huge secret and she told her mother and sisters first even if it should have been Finn the first one she told him about it.
Ughhhh.
After twenty pages, when she still hadn't told him I was ready to throw the book through the window and end my reading.
It was frustrating, to say the least.
It was a sweet and fun read, don't get me wrong. I loved how there was two - sort of - love stories involved, but at the end of the book I was slightly angry at Dakota. She had this huge secret and she told her mother and sisters first even if it should have been Finn the first one she told him about it.
Ughhhh.
After twenty pages, when she still hadn't told him I was ready to throw the book through the window and end my reading.
It was frustrating, to say the least.
alwaysreadingreview's review against another edition
5.0
I love how Susan added that Dakota has endometrosis. The only thing I did not like was that it said tests. The only way to be diagnosed with endo is with surgery. A MRI, etc can not detect endometriosis. Only surgery can detect it. You need a skilled surgeon, too. A surgeon that can excise it out. After my son, Noah, was born in April 2004, I was diagnosed in October 2004 with endo by surgery. In May 2005, I had another surgery with a better skilled surgeon, who was able to removed the endo & I was endo free until this year and now it is making it's way back. The pain is a lot less than what it was 6 years ago.
When Susan wrote that Dakota could not have children because of the endo, I did not believe it. I have known so many women, who have been told that and defy that and had their child(ren). The theme in this story is never Never give up hope.
I still want to live in a town like Fool's Gold. Ok. Where is there a town like this? Anyone?
This is another must read by Susan Mallery!!! I can not wait to read the next one, Only His! I hope she writes more. (hint hint)
When Susan wrote that Dakota could not have children because of the endo, I did not believe it. I have known so many women, who have been told that and defy that and had their child(ren). The theme in this story is never Never give up hope.
I still want to live in a town like Fool's Gold. Ok. Where is there a town like this? Anyone?
This is another must read by Susan Mallery!!! I can not wait to read the next one, Only His! I hope she writes more. (hint hint)
jenner33's review against another edition
4.0
This story was different because it was from several couples' perspective. I loved the breaking free theme and living for yourself. I read this in one sitting. There were more risque parts than usual. All of these books tend to have the same trend though. There is a couple who can't possibly be together, but use each other both physically and emotionally. They deny love. The guys are portrayed as idiots who take forever at figuring things out. Stephen was probably the first male character who was not portrayed as dumb. They fall madly in love in a very short amount of time. And they all end up pregnant. I hope we break away from the everyone is pregnant before marriage theme. It would be nice to be surprised.
leahkarge's review against another edition
5.0
I know I mention this in all my reviews, but I really love Susan Mallery. Like, seriously. I've been wanting to read about the Hendrix triplets ever since they were introduced and I learned more about them in Almost Perfect. So, it was with great excitement that I found this book in the store almost a week before it was due to be out for the masses. I squealed. If I hadn't been in public, I probably would have jumped for joy. As it is, I saw it from pretty far away and sprinted over to the book section to snatch it off the shelf. I was too excited to be embarrassed. But, my extreme behavior aside, I just can't get over how much I loved this book. It was so great!
As I mentioned above, I've always been interested in the triplets. Even though I could barely keep them and their names straight. But I absolutely adore them now. It was so interesting to finally see how they interact from one of their points of view instead of an outsider's. Dakota is the first of the triplets to find love and family with this book, and I'm glad I got to know her. Despite being frustrated with her a bit, I loved her character. At this point, I think Nevada might be my favorite, but all three of the sisters are great.
I loved Finn from the first page when he tried to threaten or bribe Dakota not to put his twin brothers on the reality television show taking over the town of Fool's Gold. And my love of him grew with every page, despite the fact that he could be quite the stubborn jerk sometimes, especially regarding his brothers Sasha and Stephen. Then, when he helped Dakota with baby Hannah and was so sweet with the little girl? Oh, he stole my heart. (Or, well, tried to. With regards to this series, Ethan still has it. That ridiculous, sexy man!) I wanted to hit him upside the head for leaving, but it was only to be expected in a romance novel. However, the situation worked out perfectly and I still adore him.
This is the first book of the Fool's Gold series to have a secondary romance to it. And I loved it! Stephen and Aurelia were so adorable together. They are a perfect match, which was completely evident by the fact that they helped each other grow and finally stand up for themselves to their respective families. Like I said, adorable. I love those two!
I'm kind of mad at myself that I read this book in one day. Why do I do this to myself? Why do I torture myself this way? Because now I have to wait at least a month--if not two--for Only Yours about Montana, and even longer for Only His about Nevada! If only they were all published at the same time, that would make my life so much easier!
As I mentioned above, I've always been interested in the triplets. Even though I could barely keep them and their names straight. But I absolutely adore them now. It was so interesting to finally see how they interact from one of their points of view instead of an outsider's. Dakota is the first of the triplets to find love and family with this book, and I'm glad I got to know her. Despite being frustrated with her a bit, I loved her character. At this point, I think Nevada might be my favorite, but all three of the sisters are great.
I loved Finn from the first page when he tried to threaten or bribe Dakota not to put his twin brothers on the reality television show taking over the town of Fool's Gold. And my love of him grew with every page, despite the fact that he could be quite the stubborn jerk sometimes, especially regarding his brothers Sasha and Stephen. Then, when he helped Dakota with baby Hannah and was so sweet with the little girl? Oh, he stole my heart. (Or, well, tried to. With regards to this series, Ethan still has it. That ridiculous, sexy man!) I wanted to hit him upside the head for leaving, but it was only to be expected in a romance novel. However, the situation worked out perfectly and I still adore him.
This is the first book of the Fool's Gold series to have a secondary romance to it. And I loved it! Stephen and Aurelia were so adorable together. They are a perfect match, which was completely evident by the fact that they helped each other grow and finally stand up for themselves to their respective families. Like I said, adorable. I love those two!
I'm kind of mad at myself that I read this book in one day. Why do I do this to myself? Why do I torture myself this way? Because now I have to wait at least a month--if not two--for Only Yours about Montana, and even longer for Only His about Nevada! If only they were all published at the same time, that would make my life so much easier!
wildflowerz76's review against another edition
3.0
Dakota is taking a temporary hiatus from her job in order to babysit the reality show that has come to town. Finn has come to Fool's Gold to chase down his twin brothers who have left college with only one semester left to graduate, in order to star on this reality show.
I'm not loving this series, but I do like much better the Happily Inc series and since it's an offshoot of this one, I feel more compelled to read. I did like this one better than the first few. I'm looking forward to getting away from the gross alpha-male trope...and you'd think it would be better in a series set in a town that's mostly women, but not so much. Finn annoyed me with his controlling behavior and if I were Dakota, I would have seen that as a BIG red flag. What I really like is the community that Dakota has in the other women. That's probably my favorite part.
I'm not loving this series, but I do like much better the Happily Inc series and since it's an offshoot of this one, I feel more compelled to read. I did like this one better than the first few. I'm looking forward to getting away from the gross alpha-male trope...and you'd think it would be better in a series set in a town that's mostly women, but not so much. Finn annoyed me with his controlling behavior and if I were Dakota, I would have seen that as a BIG red flag. What I really like is the community that Dakota has in the other women. That's probably my favorite part.
sm_almon's review against another edition
3.0
This was a decent read, but I eventually found it frustrating that practically every conversation among characters in this book focused on needing to ‘find a man’… this singular focus detracted from an otherwise interesting story.