Friday, July 6, 2012

Summer Nights

Summer Nights (Fool's Gold, Book 8)
Susan Mallery
Published by Harlequin HQN
383 pages
Available on Amazon.com
Thanks to NetGalley for the preview.
4 / 5 cupcakes


First, a word about the cover. Absolutely no scenes in this book take place on a beach, certainly not any love scenes. I'm all astonishment that this photo was chosen as the cover, because it reflects nothing about the book other than a couple who falls in love.

Which is a shame, because Summer Nights is a fun, sexy read and perfect for reading at, say, the beach.

The eighth in Susan Mallery's Fool's Gold series (I read none of the previous books, and had no trouble understanding this one), Summer Nights focuses on petite redheaded librarian Annabelle Weiss, who does not let her divorce sully her wishes for True Love Always. In fact, Annabelle craves the mess and passion and lack of control that come with love. She's ready for it.

Shane Stryker, on the other hand, has made no peace with his divorce from his cheating ex-wife, who remains a specter in his life. Unlike Annabelle, Shane has no interest in anything uncontrollable; he wants order and neatness, love that can be predictable and reliable.

So of course they fall for each other.

Annabelle goes to Shane, who earlier spotted her dancing on a bar (there is a good reason for it, and no, she was not drunk) and decided that, hot as she is, he needs to avoid the certain drama that comes with her, to learn how to ride a horse. She wants to raise money for a book mobile and has an idea of riding a dancing horse as a fundraiser. Shane reluctantly agrees, just as he reluctantly agrees to a lot of things in this book, mostly because, as Annabelle tells us many times, he is a good guy. And he is. Too bad about the nasty divorce and all, because he really is a good guy. And he can wear his jeans with style.

[As an aside: girls. I know you know. Not all men can wear their jeans well. Sometimes the jeans sag, sometimes they are tight in the WRONG places, sometimes they ride too high on the hips. But a man who can wear his jeans Just So, who can fill them out in all the RIGHT places? That, my friends, is nectar of the gods.]

Shane and Annabelle are immediately attracted to each other, and the first time they kiss, it's HOT. Every time they kiss, it's HOT. So imagine how hot it is when they rock the headboard! It's HOT! But in spite of their clear desire for each other, there remains the little issue of feelings. Annabelle worries that she feels more for Shane than he for her, and he worries that he will feel anything other than lust for her at all.
He wasn't indecisive. He knew exactly what he wanted. What kept him from acting was the consequences. Because sex complicated everything. The better the sex, the bigger the complications. Because wanting Annabelle was driving him crazy but having her might be another level of hell.
Susan Mallery can write some sexy times, folks. Annabelle is very comfortable with her body and with knowing what to do to drive Shane nuts, and he knows his way around a woman. Does he EVER. He knows exactly what to kiss, lick, suck and bite. He is a true fantasy.

The only problem with reading this book at the beach is that you might get the pages wet or short circuit your eReader from all the sweating you do, or from the dripping water when you go dunk yourself to cool off.

This is a fun book with some rockin' sex scenes. My only quibble is a subplot involving a friend of Annabelle's who decides she wants to become a mother. I realize Susan Mallery is setting up the next book, but it was distracting and those scenes dragged. I'd rather read more about Shane's kissing. Or how he wears his jeans.

12 comments:

  1. Summer Nights is a great summer read. Annabelle is caring, a great friend, & so sweet! I love that Annabelle wanted to learn how to ride a horse for her fundraiser for her bookmobile. I don't want to give away anything. I love that there is so many surprises! There is 1 thing that I absolutely love a lot & it has to do with Shane, but I am not going to give it away. Summer Nights is my favorite book in the entire Fool's Gold series! I give 5 stars!

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    1. Blessed - I haven't read the other ones, but I admit I'm intrigued with Rafe's story. He seems kind of yummy too. The only reason I didn't give this one five stars was the whole Charlie-wants-a-baby thing.

      Thank you for visiting and commenting.

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    2. If you liked Summer Nights, I think you would like the others in the Fool's Gold series! It is worth a try! I would read about Rafe since you are intrigued! It is a very good book! I loved it. Rafe & Heidi has a great chemistry together even though they are both stubborn. Summer Nights touched my heart a lot when he had the child from the hospital. I have a daughter, who is disabled & takes horseback riding lessons to strength her muscles. Her disease is progressive.

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    3. Since July, I am reading All Summer Long right now & I am loving it!!

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  2. Hmmm. These two sound pretty damn good. I started this series last month but haven't picked up the next book yet. I'm gonna have to I think.

    And the cover. Was just chatting with some ladies about that same thing! The one that got me recently was a bald hero having a full lush head of brown hair on the cover. Too funny.

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    1. Herding Cats - Shane is a fine example of a literary romantic hero done well. And he's a good kisser, which helps.

      I laughed at your comment about another cover gone wrong. Do those designers even read the books? Or do they assume that all romance novels are the same?

      Thank you for visiting and commenting.

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  3. Hi! I'm Susan Mallery's assistant. Thanks for the nice review of SUMMER NIGHTS! I posted a link to your review, and a review quote, at www.susanmallery.com/reviews.php. Really appreciate you taking the time to read and review the book!

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  4. cute review, I loved Annabelle and Shane's story cant wait for the next one 2 weeks seems like a LONG LONG time lol.....

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  5. Enjoy! Summer Nights is a great summer read while enjoying a little afternoon sun!

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  6. Huh never thought about the cover until you mentioned it.

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  7. Great review. Summer Nights was a fun read. I absolutely loved it! I would definately recommend the other books in the series if you haven't read them yet. :)

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  8. Summer Nights was a great read and boy can Shane fill out his jeans! The Fools Gold series is one of the best series out there.

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