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bookloverchelle's review against another edition
4.0
Another fun, sweet read from Susan Mallery in the Fool’s Gold series. We met Sam and Dellina in the last book in the series and they have one of my favorite Meet Cutes. After one night of passion a misunderstanding sends Sam running away but Dellina is the only party planner in Fool's Gold and he needs her help. With only four weeks until the company party Sam needs Dellina's help so that it goes off without a hitch. I loved the interactions between Sam and Dellina. They had great chemistry, they worked really well together, and I just loved Sam's parents. There was a secondary story that involved the Mayor and a trip to New Zealand that didn't feel like it fit in too well with the original plot but I'm sure it's a lead in to a future Fool’s Gold story so it will make sense sooner or later. Great read!
jen286's review against another edition
4.0
I love these Fool's Gold books. They are fun reads. Before We Kiss was no different, though it did start off different from the others. Sam and Dellina slept together a few months ago. They were both alone on Valentine's Day and they were attracted to each other so Sam came home with Dellina. Everything was going fine until he stumbled upon her room full of wedding dresses and board with a plan for how to get a guy to propose. That really freaked Sam out so he left and has been avoiding her since then. Sam has always had bad luck with women so he doesn't want to let anyone in. He doesn't want to get hurt again.
Dellina has raised her younger sisters since her parents passed away when she was 18. She has done the responsible family thing and just wants to have some fun now. She is not looking to be tied down. So if Sam would have just spoken to her they could have cleared everything up and had some fun. Instead he tried to avoid her at all cost. Then when Sam's company is throwing a party for their clients one weekend he has no choice but to go to Dellina for help. That is what she does, throw parties. Once they get together to discuss business Dellina clears up the misunderstanding so then things are good with them. Well...things are difficult since the attraction is still there but now they are working together. Neither want to be unprofessional and start something when there is work to be done so it is fun watching them try to not act on their attraction. They were really cute together and you can tell that they start falling for each other pretty quick. Sam is a great guy and helps out Dellina with her finances and such since that is what he does and she can't seem to figure out why she is not making money. It was really sweet. Yes they have some bumps and issues to overcome, but overall another great read in this series.
This review was originally posted to Jen in Bookland
Dellina has raised her younger sisters since her parents passed away when she was 18. She has done the responsible family thing and just wants to have some fun now. She is not looking to be tied down. So if Sam would have just spoken to her they could have cleared everything up and had some fun. Instead he tried to avoid her at all cost. Then when Sam's company is throwing a party for their clients one weekend he has no choice but to go to Dellina for help. That is what she does, throw parties. Once they get together to discuss business Dellina clears up the misunderstanding so then things are good with them. Well...things are difficult since the attraction is still there but now they are working together. Neither want to be unprofessional and start something when there is work to be done so it is fun watching them try to not act on their attraction. They were really cute together and you can tell that they start falling for each other pretty quick. Sam is a great guy and helps out Dellina with her finances and such since that is what he does and she can't seem to figure out why she is not making money. It was really sweet. Yes they have some bumps and issues to overcome, but overall another great read in this series.
This review was originally posted to Jen in Bookland
nellesnightstand's review against another edition
5.0
I'm going to say it again. There is a REASON Susan Mallery is one of my FAVORITE Authors!! From disastrous relationships in his past to her having raised her sisters there are obstacles in Sam and Delina's relationship. The one night stand they had months prior, when Sam awoke to a room full of wedding gowns and a "How to get him to propose." list on the wall scared him stupid and he ran away in the night. It takes a huge weekend business party to get them together again! The chemistry between these too is sweet to watch develop! Can't wait for Jack and Larissa's story next!
cstoeger's review against another edition
4.0
As another reviewer said, "I am hopelessly in love with Fools Gold". Every single time I read a book, I am struck by this want to visit this small town. I want to live in a community like this when I grow up.
jeannethinks's review against another edition
4.0
I have enjoyed all the Fool's Gold books so far, and this one didn't disappoint. Watching the development of Sam and Dellina learn to overcome their own insecurities while dealing with stressful situations was entertaining. I am looking forward to seeing how the remaining Score members find their "Destination for Romance", love the new slogan as well.
jazzrizz's review against another edition
5.0
LOVED this one!! Sam & Dellina were a woot!! After their one night stand on Valentine's day ... with same fleeing in terror after stumbling in the wedding gown room ... I knew this was going to be a great couple.
Voodoo Mayor Marsha is setting up future stories in a rare demonstration of her superpowers.
There was quite a bit going on in this book. I can hardly wait for Kenny & Jack's book.
This series just keeps getting better with each book.
Voodoo Mayor Marsha is setting up future stories in a rare demonstration of her superpowers.
There was quite a bit going on in this book. I can hardly wait for Kenny & Jack's book.
This series just keeps getting better with each book.
scoutmomskf's review against another edition
5.0
Poor Sam just cannot catch a break when it comes to women. As a pro football player he had his pick, and managed to get losers every time. Even the woman he married was just interested in his fame and what he could do for her. When they divorced, she wrote a terrible tell-all book about their marriage. For a man who values his privacy it was a horrible betrayal. He's given up on finding his dream woman and having his own family, convinced that any relationship will go down in flames. When he meets Dellina at a bar on Valentine's Day they really click and he's looking forward to some hot one on one time with her. And he gets it, until he gets up in the night and discovers a room full of wedding gowns and a detailed plan on getting a man to propose. Panicked, he runs and has avoided Dellina ever since.
Dellina has always been the responsible one in her family. She put her life on hold to raise her younger sisters. She doesn't want a permanent relationship and family, as she considers herself as having "been there and done that." Taking Sam home that night was a step toward going after what she does want. She would have liked more time with him, but the memory of what they did have wasn't going to fade any time soon. She has a pretty good attitude about what happened and I really enjoyed the way she tormented him about it later.
Sam has to face Dellina when he needs her professional help planning a weekend long event for his company. Once they clear the air about what happened that night they are able to work well together. It doesn't take long at all for them to figure out that the attraction between them is as strong as ever. But they are determined to keep their relationship professional and not give in to the heat between them. It's a losing battle, but I loved watching them try. One of the things I liked best was watching them get to know each other and become friends.
Dellina quickly comes to understand Sam and his issues with privacy and his personal life. Sam dreads hearing that his parents, who are known for their lectures on sexuality, are coming to town and Dellina thinks that he's exaggerating what they are like. Once they arrives she discovers that they are every bit as outrageous as he claims. Oh the things that came out of his mother's mouth! Her heart is in the right place, and she loves him dearly, but she has no filter. As bad as I felt for Sam and his embarrassment, I have to say it was hysterically funny. I also loved how Dellina had his back, and supported him through the visit. Sam also has to deal with his ex-wife coming to town and wanting to do a sequel to the book she wrote. I loved how that turned out, though Sam did rather screw up with Dellina there.
Dellina loves spending time with Sam. The sparks between them are intense. She is determined to keep things between them light because the thought of opening herself up to love is too scary. She has learned over time that caring comes with a price and she's not willing to pay that price. But Sam works his way into her heart anyway and she finally realizes she wants it all. All she has to do is convince Sam that he can have it too.
As always, I love the town of Fool's Gold and catching up with the characters from previous books. A secondary story here is Dellina's sister Fayrene, whose story was in Halfway There. Though she and her boyfriend had agreed to wait four years until they marry, she has changed her mind. Throughout the book she is trying various ways to get Ryan to propose, and both Sam and Dellina try to tell her she's going about it the wrong way. We also have Mayor Marsha going all the way to New Zealand to recruit another person for one of her projects. That woman is seriously spooky with the way she knows things about people. I'd love to know her secret.
Dellina has always been the responsible one in her family. She put her life on hold to raise her younger sisters. She doesn't want a permanent relationship and family, as she considers herself as having "been there and done that." Taking Sam home that night was a step toward going after what she does want. She would have liked more time with him, but the memory of what they did have wasn't going to fade any time soon. She has a pretty good attitude about what happened and I really enjoyed the way she tormented him about it later.
Sam has to face Dellina when he needs her professional help planning a weekend long event for his company. Once they clear the air about what happened that night they are able to work well together. It doesn't take long at all for them to figure out that the attraction between them is as strong as ever. But they are determined to keep their relationship professional and not give in to the heat between them. It's a losing battle, but I loved watching them try. One of the things I liked best was watching them get to know each other and become friends.
Dellina quickly comes to understand Sam and his issues with privacy and his personal life. Sam dreads hearing that his parents, who are known for their lectures on sexuality, are coming to town and Dellina thinks that he's exaggerating what they are like. Once they arrives she discovers that they are every bit as outrageous as he claims. Oh the things that came out of his mother's mouth! Her heart is in the right place, and she loves him dearly, but she has no filter. As bad as I felt for Sam and his embarrassment, I have to say it was hysterically funny. I also loved how Dellina had his back, and supported him through the visit. Sam also has to deal with his ex-wife coming to town and wanting to do a sequel to the book she wrote. I loved how that turned out, though Sam did rather screw up with Dellina there.
Dellina loves spending time with Sam. The sparks between them are intense. She is determined to keep things between them light because the thought of opening herself up to love is too scary. She has learned over time that caring comes with a price and she's not willing to pay that price. But Sam works his way into her heart anyway and she finally realizes she wants it all. All she has to do is convince Sam that he can have it too.
As always, I love the town of Fool's Gold and catching up with the characters from previous books. A secondary story here is Dellina's sister Fayrene, whose story was in Halfway There. Though she and her boyfriend had agreed to wait four years until they marry, she has changed her mind. Throughout the book she is trying various ways to get Ryan to propose, and both Sam and Dellina try to tell her she's going about it the wrong way. We also have Mayor Marsha going all the way to New Zealand to recruit another person for one of her projects. That woman is seriously spooky with the way she knows things about people. I'd love to know her secret.
thisismenow's review against another edition
5.0
I was so looking forward to Dellina and Sam's story after reading When We Met. The bit of background about their involvement was hilarious, so I was excited when the book picked up with them right away and addressing the wedding gown room of doom.
Sam turned out to be quite different than I was expecting. His past was interesting. Both his health issues as a youth and his relationship disasters helped to shape him, but I was really shocked to learn more about his parents. They were so embarrassing, yet so funny.
Susan Mallery has a formula for her books that seems to work really well, but most of the time when it comes toward the end and someone messes things up, I feel so aggravated by them, but in this case, I understood really well where Sam was coming from and appreciated that his stupid actions weren't long lasting.
I also really enjoyed the side stories in this book. Sometimes, in other books, I've felt like they took away from the main plot of the story, but in this instance, I think it really tied well into the story. Fayrene was so frustrating in her attempts to get Ryan to propose, but I really enjoyed Sam's input into the situation. And, of course, who can forget Caramel? She was adorable.
As always, I'm so curious about Mayor Marsha. That woman is always up to something. I had kind of guessed about what was going on with Caramel, but I'm so curious to find out about the mysterious met she was with while on vacation and how she knew about Kipling and his sister Shelby's situation. I'll probably never know since Mayer Marsha is so tight lipped, but I'm excited to see those characters come into play in future books.
Before We Kiss was a great read, but, as usual, it left me longing for more. I very excited to read about Jack and Larissa in Until We Touch, and I really want to know more about Kenny. I have a feeling if Chloe has anything to do with it, he and Bailey will be getting to know each other in the near future!
Sam turned out to be quite different than I was expecting. His past was interesting. Both his health issues as a youth and his relationship disasters helped to shape him, but I was really shocked to learn more about his parents. They were so embarrassing, yet so funny.
Susan Mallery has a formula for her books that seems to work really well, but most of the time when it comes toward the end and someone messes things up, I feel so aggravated by them, but in this case, I understood really well where Sam was coming from and appreciated that his stupid actions weren't long lasting.
I also really enjoyed the side stories in this book. Sometimes, in other books, I've felt like they took away from the main plot of the story, but in this instance, I think it really tied well into the story. Fayrene was so frustrating in her attempts to get Ryan to propose, but I really enjoyed Sam's input into the situation. And, of course, who can forget Caramel? She was adorable.
As always, I'm so curious about Mayor Marsha. That woman is always up to something. I had kind of guessed about what was going on with Caramel, but I'm so curious to find out about the mysterious met she was with while on vacation and how she knew about Kipling and his sister Shelby's situation. I'll probably never know since Mayer Marsha is so tight lipped, but I'm excited to see those characters come into play in future books.
Before We Kiss was a great read, but, as usual, it left me longing for more. I very excited to read about Jack and Larissa in Until We Touch, and I really want to know more about Kenny. I have a feeling if Chloe has anything to do with it, he and Bailey will be getting to know each other in the near future!
laurenjodi's review against another edition
2.0
Before We Kiss
2.5 Stars
Together with his fellow former NFL partners, Sam Ridge has come to Fool's Gold to establish his PR firm. Despite his success on the field and in business, Sam has notoriously bad luck when it comes to women. So, he isn't all that surprised when his initial encounter with local events planner, Dellina Hopkins, ends in disaster due to a misunderstanding. But when his firm hires Dellina to help plan a party for their clients, Sam is forced to admit that there is more to her than meets the eye. Will he be willing to take a chance?
The Fool's Gold series is turning into a hit-and-miss for me. Some of the books are an absolute delight while others fail to live up to their potential. Unfortunately, this installment falls into the latter group.
Dellina and Sam's disastrous one-night stand sets the stage for an excellent second chances romance, However, there is too much focus on the party planning and not enough on the romance. It is exceedingly difficult to engage with them as a couple as they have zero chemistry. Sam's parents are much more compelling despite their shenanigans and provide several moments of hilarity.
The secondary storyline focuses on Dellina's sister, Fayrene's attempts to get her boyfriend to propose. This is exceedingly irritating as she was the one who wanted to wait, but has since changed her mind. She expects him to "prove his continued love and devotion" by guessing that she wants to get married sooner rather than later. Her behavior is childish and petulant, and Ryan could seriously do better.
Nevertheless, the hints at future relationships for Sam's partners, Jack and Kenny, are intriguing and I also want to find out more about Kipling Gilmore and his sister, Shelby. Hopefully, these books will be better.
Finally, I really want to know how Mayor Marsh knows so much about everyone - is she psychic?
2.5 Stars
Together with his fellow former NFL partners, Sam Ridge has come to Fool's Gold to establish his PR firm. Despite his success on the field and in business, Sam has notoriously bad luck when it comes to women. So, he isn't all that surprised when his initial encounter with local events planner, Dellina Hopkins, ends in disaster due to a misunderstanding. But when his firm hires Dellina to help plan a party for their clients, Sam is forced to admit that there is more to her than meets the eye. Will he be willing to take a chance?
The Fool's Gold series is turning into a hit-and-miss for me. Some of the books are an absolute delight while others fail to live up to their potential. Unfortunately, this installment falls into the latter group.
Dellina and Sam's disastrous one-night stand sets the stage for an excellent second chances romance, However, there is too much focus on the party planning and not enough on the romance. It is exceedingly difficult to engage with them as a couple as they have zero chemistry. Sam's parents are much more compelling despite their shenanigans and provide several moments of hilarity.
The secondary storyline focuses on Dellina's sister, Fayrene's attempts to get her boyfriend to propose. This is exceedingly irritating as she was the one who wanted to wait, but has since changed her mind. She expects him to "prove his continued love and devotion" by guessing that she wants to get married sooner rather than later. Her behavior is childish and petulant, and Ryan could seriously do better.
Nevertheless, the hints at future relationships for Sam's partners, Jack and Kenny, are intriguing and I also want to find out more about Kipling Gilmore and his sister, Shelby. Hopefully, these books will be better.
Finally, I really want to know how Mayor Marsh knows so much about everyone - is she psychic?
kbranfield's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars.
In the previous novel in Susan Mallery's captivating Fool's Gold series, Sam Ridge's intriguing avoidance of event planner Dellina Hopkins left me dying to read their story and I am delighted to say Before We Kiss exceeded all of my expectations!
Following her parents' untimely deaths, Dellina gladly took on the responsibility of raising her teenage twin sisters. Both of them are now grown up and Dellina is not looking for a serious or permanent relationship when she meets Sam. She is wildly attracted to the very sexy retired football player, but Dellina maintains a professional distance until their smoldering passion explodes in an unexpected encounter. Sam and Dellina agree to a casual fling, but love has a funny way of sneaking in when least expected, but will Sam's lingering trust issues from his previous disastrous relationships keep them from finding their happily ever after?
Dellina and Sam are wonderful characters and they are very well suited as a couple. At this point in her life, Delinna's primary concern is getting her event planning business on firm financial ground and this event could be just what her struggling company needs. Sam likes Fool's Gold, but unlike his business partners, he has kept his distance from the rest of the town. Sam and Dellina work well together and while they like and respect one another, neither of them is looking for a lasting relationship. A family is the last thing on Dellina's mind and while Sam does dream of having kids one day, a wife does not really fit into the picture.
In addition to Dellina and Sam's burgeoning romance, Before We Kiss has a few secondary storylines as well. A story arc with one of Dellina's sisters provides an unexpected revelation for Dellina. Mayor Marsha is on vacation but she is quite busy maneuvering events behind the scenes and the introduction of two new characters sets the stage for future novels in the series.
Although Before We Kiss is a light-hearted and very entertaining addition to the Fool's Gold series, Susan Mallery does address some a few serious topics as well. Sam's trust issues are realistic and a visit from his family is quite hilarious, but also shows the importance of respecting other people's boundaries and need for privacy.
Before We Kiss is another lovely romance set in the warm and inviting town of Fool's Gold. This sentimental and heartwarming story gives fans a chance to catch up with their favorite characters as Dellina and Sam fall in love. A few tantalizing tidbits about Jack's mysterious past leave me eagerly awaiting, Until We Touch, the next novel in this wonderful series.
In the previous novel in Susan Mallery's captivating Fool's Gold series, Sam Ridge's intriguing avoidance of event planner Dellina Hopkins left me dying to read their story and I am delighted to say Before We Kiss exceeded all of my expectations!
Following her parents' untimely deaths, Dellina gladly took on the responsibility of raising her teenage twin sisters. Both of them are now grown up and Dellina is not looking for a serious or permanent relationship when she meets Sam. She is wildly attracted to the very sexy retired football player, but Dellina maintains a professional distance until their smoldering passion explodes in an unexpected encounter. Sam and Dellina agree to a casual fling, but love has a funny way of sneaking in when least expected, but will Sam's lingering trust issues from his previous disastrous relationships keep them from finding their happily ever after?
Dellina and Sam are wonderful characters and they are very well suited as a couple. At this point in her life, Delinna's primary concern is getting her event planning business on firm financial ground and this event could be just what her struggling company needs. Sam likes Fool's Gold, but unlike his business partners, he has kept his distance from the rest of the town. Sam and Dellina work well together and while they like and respect one another, neither of them is looking for a lasting relationship. A family is the last thing on Dellina's mind and while Sam does dream of having kids one day, a wife does not really fit into the picture.
In addition to Dellina and Sam's burgeoning romance, Before We Kiss has a few secondary storylines as well. A story arc with one of Dellina's sisters provides an unexpected revelation for Dellina. Mayor Marsha is on vacation but she is quite busy maneuvering events behind the scenes and the introduction of two new characters sets the stage for future novels in the series.
Although Before We Kiss is a light-hearted and very entertaining addition to the Fool's Gold series, Susan Mallery does address some a few serious topics as well. Sam's trust issues are realistic and a visit from his family is quite hilarious, but also shows the importance of respecting other people's boundaries and need for privacy.
Before We Kiss is another lovely romance set in the warm and inviting town of Fool's Gold. This sentimental and heartwarming story gives fans a chance to catch up with their favorite characters as Dellina and Sam fall in love. A few tantalizing tidbits about Jack's mysterious past leave me eagerly awaiting, Until We Touch, the next novel in this wonderful series.