dtrumps's review against another edition
5.0
Review on Gone Pecan
Favorite Quote: His world was ruled by those who were flawless. She was broken. Maybe not where anyone could see and she’d sure learned how to fake normal. But she knew the truth.
and
She just stood there, on the sidewalk, her cheek all tingly and her insides doing some kind of fertility dance. Even someone with her lack of experience got the message. She was attracted to Clay. Sexually attracted. Based on how quickly she was thawing, after a few more meetings she would be reduced to a screaming, sobbing groupie.
Clay Stryker returns to Fool’s Gold with a goal in mind, to convince his family to go into business with him. He’s been all over the place, as a model and movie butt-double, but his wife died a few years ago and he’s tired of the lifestyle. Clay’s problem is not that he would not be able to make his endeavors work, it’s that everyone sees him as the butt model, not the smart, successful man that he’s become (thanks in part to his wife’s insistance that he go to college).
Charlie has finally reached a point where she’s decided that she wants a child. Her problem is that after one very disasterous experience, she’s afraid of men. She doesn’t date and has no interest in it at all. But she wants a child and she wants her child to have a father because her father was so important to her. So to get over her fear, she propositions Clay to help her to ease into the intricacies of intimacy.
She could not have picked a better person. Clay’s wife was the love of his life and he doesn’t want to replace her. So when Charlie and he become friends and she ultimately asks him to help her, he’s a little wary. But Charlie’s not like other women. Clay’s amazing good looks have caused many a sane woman to drop all pretence of civility and adopt a more masculine style way to show their appreciation, but Charlie doesn’t care what he looks like, she cares that he’s a nice guy.
My thoughts:
I LOVE CLAY! He is the best Stryker brother, BY FAR! He’s just so genuine and sweet and decent. Despite the random women on the street pawing at him or making innuendos towards or about him, or pinching his butt (I can’t remember if that actually happened in the book, but it’s not a long shot to think that it could), he’d just turned a blind eye. Sure, it annoyed him, but he was so used to it and he couldn’t be an ass about it (even though I would have totally gave them the evil eye). He eased Charlie into their relationship was just so subtley and a careful touch.
Charlie is very much the tomboy. She’s not a woman given to romanticizing anything. She’s straight-forward and blunt. Charlie’s a firefighter and she pulls no punches. She’s no delicate flower, but I loved that Clay could make her blush. Her longing for a child was heartbreaking when you realize that she has a real intimacy issue. I really liked her. She never played the victim and she never compromised her integrity. In fact, if you would accuse her of doing so, she would knock you out. Her reactions to Clay were funny and endearing. At the end of the day, I liked everything about her and wanted to take her home and make her tea.
The love story was beautiful and a little unpredictable, but very sweet as it was about two friends, as different as night and day, healing with the other’s help. Their gradual feelings for each other was realistic and the intensity of the attraction was obvious.
The conflict at the end was a little difficult to take because I wanted and expected better from my Clay, but I guess there had to be some chink in his armor. And now, looking back, it seems a little out of character. I wanted to rail against Clay for what he did, I wanted to cry for the pain he put Charlie through because she didn’t deserve it. I wanted to slap him. That would feel good. But he’s still my favorite Fool’s Gold Hero and this is my favorite Fool’s Gold book. We need more like this, please.
Favorite Quote: His world was ruled by those who were flawless. She was broken. Maybe not where anyone could see and she’d sure learned how to fake normal. But she knew the truth.
and
She just stood there, on the sidewalk, her cheek all tingly and her insides doing some kind of fertility dance. Even someone with her lack of experience got the message. She was attracted to Clay. Sexually attracted. Based on how quickly she was thawing, after a few more meetings she would be reduced to a screaming, sobbing groupie.
Clay Stryker returns to Fool’s Gold with a goal in mind, to convince his family to go into business with him. He’s been all over the place, as a model and movie butt-double, but his wife died a few years ago and he’s tired of the lifestyle. Clay’s problem is not that he would not be able to make his endeavors work, it’s that everyone sees him as the butt model, not the smart, successful man that he’s become (thanks in part to his wife’s insistance that he go to college).
Charlie has finally reached a point where she’s decided that she wants a child. Her problem is that after one very disasterous experience, she’s afraid of men. She doesn’t date and has no interest in it at all. But she wants a child and she wants her child to have a father because her father was so important to her. So to get over her fear, she propositions Clay to help her to ease into the intricacies of intimacy.
She could not have picked a better person. Clay’s wife was the love of his life and he doesn’t want to replace her. So when Charlie and he become friends and she ultimately asks him to help her, he’s a little wary. But Charlie’s not like other women. Clay’s amazing good looks have caused many a sane woman to drop all pretence of civility and adopt a more masculine style way to show their appreciation, but Charlie doesn’t care what he looks like, she cares that he’s a nice guy.
My thoughts:
I LOVE CLAY! He is the best Stryker brother, BY FAR! He’s just so genuine and sweet and decent. Despite the random women on the street pawing at him or making innuendos towards or about him, or pinching his butt (I can’t remember if that actually happened in the book, but it’s not a long shot to think that it could), he’d just turned a blind eye. Sure, it annoyed him, but he was so used to it and he couldn’t be an ass about it (even though I would have totally gave them the evil eye). He eased Charlie into their relationship was just so subtley and a careful touch.
Charlie is very much the tomboy. She’s not a woman given to romanticizing anything. She’s straight-forward and blunt. Charlie’s a firefighter and she pulls no punches. She’s no delicate flower, but I loved that Clay could make her blush. Her longing for a child was heartbreaking when you realize that she has a real intimacy issue. I really liked her. She never played the victim and she never compromised her integrity. In fact, if you would accuse her of doing so, she would knock you out. Her reactions to Clay were funny and endearing. At the end of the day, I liked everything about her and wanted to take her home and make her tea.
The love story was beautiful and a little unpredictable, but very sweet as it was about two friends, as different as night and day, healing with the other’s help. Their gradual feelings for each other was realistic and the intensity of the attraction was obvious.
The conflict at the end was a little difficult to take because I wanted and expected better from my Clay, but I guess there had to be some chink in his armor. And now, looking back, it seems a little out of character. I wanted to rail against Clay for what he did, I wanted to cry for the pain he put Charlie through because she didn’t deserve it. I wanted to slap him. That would feel good. But he’s still my favorite Fool’s Gold Hero and this is my favorite Fool’s Gold book. We need more like this, please.
whitney0498's review against another edition
5.0
All Summer Long is the ninth book in the Fool’s Gold series and I just loved getting to reenter this amazing world. I just really enjoyed this story and I just didn’t want it to end. I just lost myself in and I just couldn’t get enough of these interesting characters. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.
madamelibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
I've liked all the Fool's Gold books. I enjoy recognizing characters' names and meeting new characters. Sometime I'll have to read them all in order. :)
sn4p's review against another edition
3.0
I think I read too fast :O
REALLY good. I got sucked in from the beginning as usual.
Charlie (or Chantal, if you're her mother) is a firefighter.
Clay is a former butt model. *snicker*
Charlie was raped in college, and no one believed her, including her mother. She wanted to get over the fear, and enlisted Clay into helping her. It worked ;)
Charlie's mom, a former dancer, famous dancer, comes to Fool's Gold and tells Charlie that she's not good enough for Clay. Clay's mom even told Dominique that she was an idiot for saying that.
Charlie's fighting a fire, and the building partially collapses, with her in it. Clay thinks he's lost her. After having lost his first wife in a car accident, he's scared of facing that pain again, so he ends it with Charlie.
Dominique, finally figuring out how to be a mother, consoles Charlie, telling her that Clay is a jackass, and didn't deserve her. She offered Charlie her home, to heal.
Clay realizes his mistake, courtesy of his brothers. He goes to Dominique, who lays him out, but relents and helps him with Charlie.
All in all, a happily ever after story, and hints of more!!
Justice, Dominique's former bodyguard, and Patience.
PLUS!! The Stryker sister, Evie, is "back in the fold" though not by choice.
REALLY good. I got sucked in from the beginning as usual.
Charlie (or Chantal, if you're her mother) is a firefighter.
Clay is a former butt model. *snicker*
Charlie was raped in college, and no one believed her, including her mother. She wanted to get over the fear, and enlisted Clay into helping her. It worked ;)
Charlie's mom, a former dancer, famous dancer, comes to Fool's Gold and tells Charlie that she's not good enough for Clay. Clay's mom even told Dominique that she was an idiot for saying that.
Charlie's fighting a fire, and the building partially collapses, with her in it. Clay thinks he's lost her. After having lost his first wife in a car accident, he's scared of facing that pain again, so he ends it with Charlie.
Dominique, finally figuring out how to be a mother, consoles Charlie, telling her that Clay is a jackass, and didn't deserve her. She offered Charlie her home, to heal.
Clay realizes his mistake, courtesy of his brothers. He goes to Dominique, who lays him out, but relents and helps him with Charlie.
All in all, a happily ever after story, and hints of more!!
Justice, Dominique's former bodyguard, and Patience.
PLUS!! The Stryker sister, Evie, is "back in the fold" though not by choice.
jenner33's review against another edition
4.0
This is probably my favorite book so far from the Fool's Gold series. The story line was more unique. I liked how Clay was actually intelligent and I love Charlie's badass personality. The story didn't follow the same plot line which made it more exciting for me. I fell in love with their relationship because it was more realistic to me.
wildflowerz76's review against another edition
3.0
Number nine in the Fool's Gold series brings the story of Charlie the firefighter and Clay the former underwear model and movie butt double. Yeah. Charlie was raped in college and even her own mother didn't believe her. She's held herself apart ever since and is terrified of having sex again. Instead of getting the therapy she needs, she decides to ask Clay to help her have sex again because that will obviously heal all, right?
Despite the ridiculous premise, I enjoyed this one. I mean, Clay's idiocy in the end completely came out if nowhere, but other than that, this one was fairly enjoyable.
Despite the ridiculous premise, I enjoyed this one. I mean, Clay's idiocy in the end completely came out if nowhere, but other than that, this one was fairly enjoyable.
kar_keys98's review against another edition
4.0
It was so good!
The characters, main and side, were flushed out so well. The story line had a nice slow build to it. The relationship between the two main characters was built on trust and respect.
It was overall a beautiful read.
The characters, main and side, were flushed out so well. The story line had a nice slow build to it. The relationship between the two main characters was built on trust and respect.
It was overall a beautiful read.
verityw's review against another edition
3.0
Enjoyed this, although the heroine's backstory is not my usual sort of trope. But actually I enjoyed it i the end - largely because I liked Clay so much. Had some issues with the denouement - mostly because Clay had been so great the whole way through - but I can live with it.
shadowmaster13's review against another edition
3.0
Of the Fool's Gold Summer books, this is my favourite. I finished [b:Summer Nights|13223245|Summer Nights (Fool's Gold, #8)|Susan Mallery|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1334244151s/13223245.jpg|17796898] and immediately started this one because my self-control is not that strong.
Charlie intrigued me in Summer Nights. In All Summer Long she blew me away.
Charlie was raped in the past and the people in her life didn't believe her. But she moved on and is an important part of the Fool's Gold community. Seeing her friends start relationships has made her aware of her biological clock and she wants to start a family. Taking the hard option of trying to resolve her past to give her the best foundation to parent is admirable.
Clay is a former model and was a butt double in movies. Charlie feels a glimmer of attraction and asks him to teach her about sex. Clay is intrigued by Charlie and agrees to a seduction as a part of starting a relationship. Surprisingly unlike his brothers, Clay's marriage was a happy one until Diane died leaving him grieving.
There's a heap of antics, with Charlie's ballerina mother coming into town to connect, unaware that her 'advice' is as necessary as a pocket on a sock. Dominique interacting with May Stryker and Denise Hendrix and becoming a better person is lovely and amazing to watch. Evangeline, Clay's sister is back for a little and wow I hurt for their whole family, because not only did they lose their father but in their hurt they alienated Evie. Evie felt unwanted by them and she has a valid point.
Clay and Charlie are so good together in all the personality ways - and the seduction was a huge success if you ask me.
I liked that Clay didn't have to be sat down and have his idiocy spelled out straight, he has an epiphany at a Fool's Gold man only party. Well he did still have to be told but his brain tried.
Speaking of man-parties, I really liked the hook for some of the single men and hope to see their stories if we get more Fool's Gold next year. In the mean time there's [b:All Summer Long|13545634|All Summer Long (Fool's Gold, #9)|Susan Mallery|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1334244169s/13545634.jpg|17796908] out this month and [b:A Fool's Gold Christmas|13548158|A Fool's Gold Christmas (Fool's Gold, #9.5)|Susan Mallery|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1341985281s/13548158.jpg|19113330] a novella out for Christmas.
**I received this book as an ARC from HQN via NetGalley**
Charlie intrigued me in Summer Nights. In All Summer Long she blew me away.
Charlie was raped in the past and the people in her life didn't believe her. But she moved on and is an important part of the Fool's Gold community. Seeing her friends start relationships has made her aware of her biological clock and she wants to start a family. Taking the hard option of trying to resolve her past to give her the best foundation to parent is admirable.
Clay is a former model and was a butt double in movies. Charlie feels a glimmer of attraction and asks him to teach her about sex. Clay is intrigued by Charlie and agrees to a seduction as a part of starting a relationship. Surprisingly unlike his brothers, Clay's marriage was a happy one until Diane died leaving him grieving.
There's a heap of antics, with Charlie's ballerina mother coming into town to connect, unaware that her 'advice' is as necessary as a pocket on a sock. Dominique interacting with May Stryker and Denise Hendrix and becoming a better person is lovely and amazing to watch. Evangeline, Clay's sister is back for a little and wow I hurt for their whole family, because not only did they lose their father but in their hurt they alienated Evie. Evie felt unwanted by them and she has a valid point.
Clay and Charlie are so good together in all the personality ways - and the seduction was a huge success if you ask me.
I liked that Clay didn't have to be sat down and have his idiocy spelled out straight, he has an epiphany at a Fool's Gold man only party. Well he did still have to be told but his brain tried.
Speaking of man-parties, I really liked the hook for some of the single men and hope to see their stories if we get more Fool's Gold next year. In the mean time there's [b:All Summer Long|13545634|All Summer Long (Fool's Gold, #9)|Susan Mallery|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1334244169s/13545634.jpg|17796908] out this month and [b:A Fool's Gold Christmas|13548158|A Fool's Gold Christmas (Fool's Gold, #9.5)|Susan Mallery|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1341985281s/13548158.jpg|19113330] a novella out for Christmas.
**I received this book as an ARC from HQN via NetGalley**