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

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A Fool's Gold Christmas (Fool's Gold #10)

by Susan Mallery (Goodreads Author)

4.01 of 5 stars 4.01 · rating details · 1,556 ratings · 187 reviews

The unrelenting cheer in Fool's Gold, California, is bringing out the humbug in dancer Evie Stryker. She learned early on that Christmas miracles don't happen, at least not for her. And this year seems like no exception. An injury has forced her to return to the family fold, no matter that they're estranged. She won't add to the awkward scenario by being seduced by the bad...more

Hardcover, 320 pages

Published September 25th 2012 by Harlequin HQN

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Sep 10, 2012 Dee rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: harlequin, harlequin-hqn, author-susan-mallery, romance, arc-net-galley, reviewed-netgalley

4/5 Stars

As soon as I started reading this I knew it would be another good book....It was a smooth and easy read, a classic Mallery, easily identifiable as one of hers.

We had met Evie and heard about her in previous stories and I wasn’t sure if I was going to like her but that soon changed. She never knew her father and always felt the odd one out and was often ignored even by her mother, which kind of shocked me considering May (her mom, who has featured in previous Fools Gold stories) comes ac...more

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Aug 27, 2012 Cynthia D'Alba rated it 5 of 5 stars

A FOOL’S GOLD CHRISTMAS has another mother-daughter estrangement storyline, but this time is May Stryker (mother of Clay in the previous book and his brothers from books 7 and 8) and Evie Stryker.

Evie is a half-sibling to the Stryker men, conceived during a one-night stand during the time May was reeling from the death of her husband. I admit that the way Evie was ignored by May (and many times by her brothers) while she was growing up broke my heart. She suffered true psychological and mental...more

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Sep 28, 2012 TheBookVixen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2012, c-b

4 and 1/2 stars

Why I Read this Book: When I heard that A Fool’s Gold Christmas was Dante and Evie’s book, I was so excited. I may have even squealed. I had to read this book. Both characters were a great addition to the town and having them paired up was icing on the cake for me.

What I Liked: I like the we’re just having fun together but aren’t going to take this too seriously trope. I love seeing the hero and heroine fight the inevitable and then watching it all come together. Evie and Dante ea...more

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Mar 03, 2013 Brenda Margriet rated it 2 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Feb 28, 2013 Arlena rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 5-stars, adult-read, contemporary, ebooks, fast-action, harlequin, holidays, chit-lit, my-reviews, relationships, romance, women-fiction

Author: Susan Mallery
Published By: Harlequin
Age Recommended: Adult
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Book Blog For: GMTA
Rating: 5

Review:

"A Fool's Gold Christmas" by Susan Mallery was another one of her funny,sweet, warm, sexy and holiday romantic read. If you are looking for a entertaining novel ... you have come to the right place with this 'Fool's Gold Series' that just happens to take place in Fool's Gold, California. The characters were from Dante, Evie, Rafe, Clay, Shane, May, Carina, Cameron,Tammy,Gl...more

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Dec 10, 2012 Susan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-books-read, romance

Loved the book. Loved Evie and Dante. I have been waiting for their stories since I first met them in Summer Days, but never suspected at that point it would be their story. Evie was brought to Fool's Gold by her family after a devastating injury. She doesn't want to be there as she has always felt like an outsider in her own family. She was emotionally neglected by them, especially her mother, left home at seventeen and never looked back. Evie finds herself spending more time with her mother an...more Loved the book. Loved Evie and Dante. I have been waiting for their stories since I first met them in Summer Days, but never suspected at that point it would be their story. Evie was brought to Fool's Gold by her family after a devastating injury. She doesn't want to be there as she has always felt like an outsider in her own family. She was emotionally neglected by them, especially her mother, left home at seventeen and never looked back. Evie finds herself spending more time with her mother and has to decide if she wants to let go of her anger. Now she's marking time as a dance teacher until she can leave again. Then she gets the winter dance show dumped in her lap and is feeling overwhelmed. She is also not much in the holiday spirit and finds a like-minded soul in Dante, her brother's best friend and business partner. They form an alliance to get them through the holidays and discover that besides their developing friendship there is a growing attraction. Dante doesn't do relationships and makes it clear that if they start something there will be no commitment. Dante has his own issues in his past that have contributed to his attitude and acts the playboy to protect his heart and feelings. I liked the way that he helped Evie see that it was possible for her to have a new relationship with her family. He was also wonderful at being there whenever she needed any kind of support. You can see that he is falling for her, but that he doesn't want to admit it. There are a lot of great scenes where the nice guy in him shows through. There is also a wonderfully hilarious scene dealing with her brothers letting themselves into her house and not expecting Dante to be there. I loved the ending and how he finally comes through.

One of the best things about the Fool's Gold books is the sense of community and family. Being from the city, both Dante and Evie have no experience with the way that the town provides support. When Evie gets the winter dance program dumped on her she has no idea where to even start to make it happen. When she goes to Charlie for help, she can't believe that there are people who will just show up and do what is needed. I loved her surprise at how many people came to help with the sets. I also enjoyed the way that Dante made sure that her brothers were part of the group. I loved the way that people kept getting Evie involved in different activities and how much she ended up enjoying it. I loved the ladies' party when they all showed up to make Evie feel better. I like seeing the characters from previous books. Most make brief appearances, like running into a friend at the grocery store. Just enough to see what they're up to without getting bombarded with too much information. I'm looking forward to next year's books s lot.(less)

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Dec 01, 2012 Ellen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, e-book, overdrive-flp, skimmed-just-to-finish

Ya know, I may have reached my Fool's Gold saturation level.
I enjoyed this in that I finished it. I really liked Evie and Dante, but then I really liked all the Fool's Gold H/h.

But it seemed like I have read this story with these people in this town too many times.

There was a mother-daughter estrangement (been there, done that in Fool's Gold); there was a lot of elephant talk (been there, done that in Fool's Gold); there was "I don't want to love you because I have loved and lost before" (been...more

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Nov 25, 2012 Jessi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, 2012-challenge, appealing-characteristic-story, contemporary, part-of-a-series, romance

There's a lot about forgiveness in this story. Somehow this seems to be a recurring theme in romance novels lately but this is one of the best books to deal with it.
Evie Stryker was born from a one night stand and she's always felt like she was on the outside looking in. I wish that there had been more exploration of this but Mallery doesn't let Evie forgive willingly. She spends a lot of time thinking about the fact that her family hurt her and that it's not fair. So many authors just have thei...more

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Nov 09, 2012 Heather rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporaryromance

A Fool’s Gold Christmas might be the best of the Fool’s Gold series so far! Evie Stryker has never felt like part of the family. The baby surprise after a one-night-stand, she’s never felt the love (from her mother or her half-siblings). Of course, now that the rest of the Strykers have found their happily-ever-after, they all want her to rejoin the family.

Can you tell I felt her bitterness? Because I did. I felt awful for Evie, and while I really enjoyed their books, there was nothing they cou...more

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Sep 25, 2012 Rhonda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Fool's Gold Christmas by Susan Mallery
4 STARS Finally Evangeline Stryker story is here. I wanted to know more about her since we met her in Rafe's book. I wondered how this story would work out for her. It was done in a good way. Thier are a few love scenes that I skipped over. I love the town of Fool's Gold and how they come together to help each other. I need to be more active like they are in doing good. Evangeline was not close to her family they taught her that those close to you did not l...more Fool's Gold Christmas by Susan Mallery
4 STARS Finally Evangeline Stryker story is here. I wanted to know more about her since we met her in Rafe's book. I wondered how this story would work out for her. It was done in a good way. Thier are a few love scenes that I skipped over. I love the town of Fool's Gold and how they come together to help each other. I need to be more active like they are in doing good. Evangeline was not close to her family they taught her that those close to you did not love you. Her mom and her three older brothers were close until last year she hardly seen or talked to her older brother Rafe. She is living now in Fool's gold because when she was tackled at a football game and broke her leg on tv her family was watching. They brought her here when she was doped up and packed her things up and brought her to the ranch to heal. Rafe paid six months ahead on her condo she is renting. Evie told him no, but Rafe did not listen to her. Since Evie broke her leg she could not be a dancer anymore or even a professional cheerleader. She is working at the dance school and finds that she likes it and doing really well. Now the manager of the dance studio at 70 eloped and left Evie to pick up and in charge of the Christmas dance review. To a story she had never heard of and had no idea what the dances were like for it. Dante has not liked Fool's Gold he was happy living in San Fransico and being partners with Rafe. When Rafe decided to move the company to Fool's Gold he protested. Now he was working in an old building with little sound proofing. Thier was a dance studio right above him and they were driving him crazy. He was hear after work trying to call overseas and fix some problems but he could not hear the call. He decided enough is enough he was going up and talk to the dance instructer and tell her he needs quiet for a couple of weeks. He would use his charm and lawyer skills to convince her. Dante barged into the dance studio to ream at the teacher and found that he could not. He had no idea that Rafe's sister was working thier. Instead of him getting to yell at her she yelled at him and told him her problems that she had to throw together a performance in 6 weeks to a story and music that she did not know. Find and Make repairs to the sets ect. Evie the next day found her neighbor in the condo next to hers is Dante and he invited her to share his take out with her. They decide to hangout together to get through the holidays in Fool's Gold because neither one of them were used to small towns. It is fun to see all the things going on in Fool's Gold and see old friends again. I was given this ebook to read in exchange for honest review from Netgalley. 9/25/2012 PUB HarlequinHQN (less)

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Sep 25, 2012 Brenda Rumsey rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance

*This is one of Susan Mallery's greatest additions to the Fool's Gold series. If you are new to this series, Fool's Gold is a small town where everyone treats you like family. With each book we get to revisit characters we fell in love with from previous stories and catch up on what is new in their life. Don't let that stop you if your new to this series. Each book is an individual stand alone story that leaves you wanting more and you will enjoy reading past books to find other characters stori...more

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Sep 25, 2012 Brie C. rated it 3 of 5 stars

Originally posted at Romance Around the Corner

Two books ago I broke up with this series. Obviously I have no willpower because the minute I saw this one on NetGalley I requested it. The reason I wanted to read it was because the heroine was actually the one redeeming part of what I call the book with the goats of doom . I’m happy to say that this one wasn’t awful.

Evie Stryker is the estranged half-sister of the brothers that were the leads of the past three books in the series. The reason she’s...more Originally posted at Romance Around the Corner

Two books ago I broke up with this series. Obviously I have no willpower because the minute I saw this one on NetGalley I requested it. The reason I wanted to read it was because the heroine was actually the one redeeming part of what I call the book with the goats of doom . I’m happy to say that this one wasn’t awful.

Evie Stryker is the estranged half-sister of the brothers that were the leads of the past three books in the series. The reason she’s estranged is because their mother had an affair just after the boys’ father died and she was the result. The mother never loved her and she was mostly cast aside and ignored. She grew up alone and with a lot of resentment and when she left home, she never came back.

But now, she had an injury that forces her to spend time in Fool’s Gold and interact with her family. She’s not too excited about it, but at least she has the distraction of the hot lawyer who works at the same building where she teaches dance. They soon get involved even though he’s not a commitment guy (he has mommy issues and a dark past). But of course, it’s Christmas and miracles happen.

This was an entertaining story that brought memories of the early books in the series. It’s less complicated than the rest of the books, and I see it more like an extra. If you don’t read it, you won’t miss much, but still it’s worth the try. It also ties some loose ends, mostly because it resolves the heroine’s subplot that ran throughout the series. Well, I’m not sure if that is indeed the case because I only read the first book, but I assume it does because she was fine at the end of Summer Days.

There was nothing new about the romance, it was absolutely predictable and I’ve read that story many times before. It was sweet, though, and there was great chemistry between the leads. We get to see some of the characters from past books, but their presence wasn’t overbearing or forced. And overall I’m satisfied with the love story.

What I hated was the mother. What a despicable character. She was already useless and ridiculous in the first book, but this one takes it to the extreme. What a terrible mother, the heroine is the only one who sees this, yet the Christmas spirit and the rules of the HEA force her to forgive her. I say no! Dear Heroine, take your blackened heart and tell your mother to go choke on a goat or something. Just no.

So there you have it. It’s a cute, enjoyable book. I would recommend this one to fans of the series and of light small town contemporaries, as long as they are willing to pay $9.99 for 300 pages of predictable fluff (what’s up with that price?). I’m not judging, though, I would totally buy it so go for it. I complain a lot, but I always come back for more.

Source: we received an e-ARC of the book through NetGalley for review purposes.(less)

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Sep 25, 2012 Christi Snow rated it 5 of 5 stars

My Review:
What a perfect holiday romance! I loved this book. Not only did it feature two incredible characters in Dante and Evie, but it also featured so many of my favorite things about the small town of Fool's Gold in the midst of the magic of the holiday season!

These two characters have been favorites of mine for a while. Evie, just because her story is so heartbreaking. May is the perfect mother, except when it comes to her daughter Evie and everyone agrees that Evie totally received the sho...more My Review:
What a perfect holiday romance! I loved this book. Not only did it feature two incredible characters in Dante and Evie, but it also featured so many of my favorite things about the small town of Fool's Gold in the midst of the magic of the holiday season!

These two characters have been favorites of mine for a while. Evie, just because her story is so heartbreaking. May is the perfect mother, except when it comes to her daughter Evie and everyone agrees that Evie totally received the short end of the stick there. She got pregnant with Evie during a one-night stand when she was mourning the death of her husband. Evie has never been made to feel like a true part of this family, either by her mother or her three older brothers. Then there's Dante. We've always known him as Rafe's really sexy, sarcastic business partner and lawyer. I've loved him from the very moment he landed on the page...and now, *sigh* if he wasn't perfect for Evie, I'd be fighting her for him. Another fantastic character who has some heartbreaking history that makes his (fictional) reality so much more inspiring and wonderful. This is a guy who's pulled himself out of the muck to become so much more.

There's a lot going on in this story, but mainly it revolves about Evie and her finding her way back to her family....the Stryker's who we have fallen in love with over the last three books in this series. But it's also about Evie and Dante finding themselves at home in this little town which completely embraces the Christmas season. Neither of these characters is at home in small town life and they aren't exactly comfortable with all the trappings of the holiday season either, but Fool's Gold doesn't let anyone feel excluded. Soon, both these characters find themselves caught up in all the holiday activities and finding their own holiday spirit. It's a perfect book to read in prep of the upcoming holiday season to get you in the mood.

I received a complementary copy of this book in return for an honest review(less)

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Sep 23, 2012 Jac (For Love and Books) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Is there a better place in the world to spend Christmas than Fool's Gold?? I think not!

Today I was having a rather blah day and I wanted to curl up with a book that I KNEW would be good. I surfed through my shelf, nothing. I looked at my Kindle. Nothing. I resorted to Netgalley and immediately found what I was looking for! I've said it a thousand times, Susan Mallery is my go-to for a feel good read! (My husband compares my bookshelf with her books to my childhood teddy bear, because when I pul...more

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Sep 16, 2012 Kimberly rated it 5 of 5 stars

Review written for www.books-n-kisses.com

There is no place I would rather spend Christmas than Fool’s Gold. With the beautiful backdrop of the California mountains Christmas comes alive in the latest of the Fool’s Gold series from Susan Mallery. Fool’s Gold is the type of town we all wish we belong to with people willing to help and a place where a newcomer can feel at home. But when Evie is brought to the town by her family after breaking her leg she feels more like an outsider than part of the...more Review written for www.books-n-kisses.com

There is no place I would rather spend Christmas than Fool’s Gold. With the beautiful backdrop of the California mountains Christmas comes alive in the latest of the Fool’s Gold series from Susan Mallery. Fool’s Gold is the type of town we all wish we belong to with people willing to help and a place where a newcomer can feel at home. But when Evie is brought to the town by her family after breaking her leg she feels more like an outsider than part of the family. The only place she feels at home in on the dance floor so when asked to teacher the children the winter dance she agrees even as she plans her escape from the town after the holidays.

Dante has also been brought to Fool’s Gold against his will by his business partner Rafe (Summer Days #7). With the past that Dante has the best thing he can do with the ladies is love ‘em and leave ‘em and he has gotten good at just that. But when Evie and her troupe dance into Dante’s life will he recognize a good thing and will either of them be willing to overcome the past to believe in love and learn that Fool’s Gold really can be home? Both are unaware that the lure of Fool’s Gold is not only in the spirit of the season but the spirit and heart of the town.

I could not put this book down. This is the 10th in the series and I have loved everyone of them but there is just something extra special about Fool’s Gold at Christmas time. I wanted to walk the streets, see the decorations of the town and watch the performance on Christmas Eve. I wanted to drink peppermint martinis at Evie’s house with the girls and wanted to walk up to Dante and hug him after smacking him upside the head. Mallery has a way of transporting you to the town of Fool’s Gold and as a reader you can feel the love she has for her (unfortunately) imagined town which makes the reader love it to. Pick up “A Fool’s Gold Christmas”, make a cup of hot chocolate, snuggle up on the couch and I promise you in a few hours when you finally set the book down you will be ready to start decorating your house for the holidays.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.(less)

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Aug 26, 2012 Lexi rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was received from NetGalley.

This one was an easy read, low angst high sweetness factor. I haven't read the other books in the Fool's Gold Series yet so this was my first taste of Susan Mallery.

Evie was a professional football cheerleader before a freak accident broke her leg and changed her life. As she was released from the hospital and in a drugged haze from all the pain medications, her family moved her to Fool’s Gold in an attempt to ‘help’ her. Even though it was the last place on Eart...more

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Jul 17, 2012 Julie Barrett rated it 5 of 5 stars

A Fool's Gold Christmas by Susan Mallery
ISBN: 9780373777020
Dante Jefferson a lawyer had rented some space at the dance studio but he needed some quiet time where he would be able to talk to his partner overseas.
Evangeline Stryker is Rafe's sister and she's at the studio. Her mother is May and she has raised 4 boys til her husband died, had a weekend fling and Evie was the result. She felt like an outsider cuz of the age difference and nobody knows who her father is.
She stumped what she is to do...more

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Oct 24, 2012 Wanderlust rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: plight-one-s-troth

Cover & Title - 4 out of 5
Favorite Line - "She would simply put one foot in front of the other. After all, she was used to dancing through the pain."
Favorite Character - Alexander, the cat.

Ok so i will be the first to admit that i am a total grinch. Normally because of this i am not a big fan of season books, this book however was by an author i like & the other reviews made it sound not too cheesy/corny so i decided to try it. I was not disappointed by the cheese factor as there was a...more

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Oct 14, 2012 Sue rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance, contemporary-western-romance, romance, sexy

Dante Jefferson has had enough of the clog dancers in the dance studio upstairs from his temporary offices and decides to confront the teacher. Imagine his surprise to find Evie Stryker, his partner's sister is that teacher.

Evie came to Fool's gold after breaking her leg. When dance teacher Miss Monica ("The woman has to be pushing seventy") runs away with her gentleman friend, not only does Evie (who had been helping out) inherit the dance classes but she is now in charge of staging "The Dance...more

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Aug 11, 2012 Jess rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, net-galley, susan-mallery

I couldn't help myself when I saw this book on netgalley. A new Fool's Gold book? Restraint? The two just don't belong together. So "technically" I'm not supposed to be putting this review up, but eh.. I'm a rebel.

So this was not a full length book but a novella and it featured Evie Stryker (sister to Rafe, Shane and Clay - books 7,8 and 9 respectively) and Dante who is Rafe's business partner. When we met Evie we find out that her relationship with her mother May and her three brother's was no...more I couldn't help myself when I saw this book on netgalley. A new Fool's Gold book? Restraint? The two just don't belong together. So "technically" I'm not supposed to be putting this review up, but eh.. I'm a rebel.

So this was not a full length book but a novella and it featured Evie Stryker (sister to Rafe, Shane and Clay - books 7,8 and 9 respectively) and Dante who is Rafe's business partner. When we met Evie we find out that her relationship with her mother May and her three brother's was not ideal. Her mother had Evie after a one night stand and therefore she always resented Evie. The two did not get along and eventually Evie moved out on her own when she was very young. After an accident happened to her while she was a cheerleader for a pro football team, her family rushed to her rescue and brought her back to Fool's Gold to recuperate. Unfortunately, Evie is anything but happy and just wants to avoid her loving family as much as possible. She also finds the town to be unbelievably cheerful and often doubts whether or not it's a real place. Dante was forced to move to Fool's Gold after Rafe decided to move the business there. Dante rented an office below the dance studio where Evie works and the two begin to hit it off. They bond in their disbelief of all the holiday cheer and they both realize that their sexual chemistry is off the charts. Dante has no interest in being in a relationship and although he makes it clear to Evie they both begin to fall a bit in love with each other. The question becomes how they will deal with being in love.

What was great about this book was that it wasn't just about Evie and Dante together but it was about the town as a whole. We really get to see past characters come back and see how everyone bands together to help in a crisis. I loved one of the comparisons that related living in to Fool's Gold as being like in a snow globe. I mean... how awesome is that idea? Living in a snowglobe where everyone is cheerful and it's a holiday all the time? I would love that and maybe that's why I enjoy this series so much. I love the camaraderie of the town and the quirkiness of it. Maybe one day I can find my own Fool's Gold to move to.

This one earned 5 stars from me! Loved it. It made me actually go back and read a few of the other books because I needed more than just a novella. (less)

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Nov 29, 2012 Felicia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-read, kindlepurchase2012, 4-wine-glasses

Listened for Review (Brilliance)
Overall Rating: 4.00
Story Rating: 4.00
Character Rating: 4.00

Audio Rating: 3.50 (not part of the overall rating)

Part of my 25 Books for the Holiday for 2012

How this put me in the Holiday Spirit: A Fool's Gold Christmas is one of those books that remind you that family, friends, and community are the important reasons for the season. Susan embraces that concept in every Fool's Gold novel but the Christmas ones are the best!

What I thought of the characters/storyline:...more

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Oct 11, 2012 Kristen rated it 3 of 5 stars

A Fool’s Gold Christmas was a book I was really looking forward to. I only recently discovered Susan Mallery and fell in love with the Stryker family and Fool’s Gold when I read Summer Nights and All Summer Long. I loved both and in each Evie is mentioned and I was intrigued enough to think her story had the potential to blow me away.

Evie Stryker is the product of a one night stand shortly after her brothers’ father died. May Stryker was deeply in love with her husband and even though he was gon...more
A Fool’s Gold Christmas was a book I was really looking forward to. I only recently discovered Susan Mallery and fell in love with the Stryker family and Fool’s Gold when I read Summer Nights and All Summer Long. I loved both and in each Evie is mentioned and I was intrigued enough to think her story had the potential to blow me away.

Evie Stryker is the product of a one night stand shortly after her brothers’ father died. May Stryker was deeply in love with her husband and even though he was gone, could never get over her transgression. She was already a family with her three boys and Evie was the product of a night she would like to forget. Evie’s childhood was lonely and she was treated as an outsider in her family. As soon as she was able, she left. Now, due to an accident that left her without the ability to dance, she is home – against her will and her family is trying to make up for lost time.

Dante Jefferson is Rafe Stryker’s business partner. He’s an outsider in town, used to the hustle and bustle of the city life. He’s not having an easy time adjusting to small town life. When Evie moves in next door, Dante sees a beautiful woman and an outsider like him; they form a friendship built on the promise of getting through the holidays together that soon turns to romance. But Dante has loved and hurt those he loved in his past and vowed never to fall in love again.

I loved the evolution of Evie’s character. When she first comes back to town she’s bitter (rightly so) and can’t wait to get out. As she spends time in the small town and begins teaching dance to young girls, she slowly finds her niche and starts to fit in for the first time in her life.

What I didn’t like was May, Evie’s mother. I had a hard time with the way she treated Evie as a child, excluding her because of May’s mistake and making her feel an outsider in her own family. I can understand Evie’s attitude towards her and I also understand May is trying to make amends but it just seems too clichéd, too soon. They have one or two conversations and they are close. Evie doesn’t unleash her pent up feelings, she just lets them go. I get forgiveness but May is really written as a horrible mother to Evie.

Evie and Dante start as friends and romance blossoms. But I felt disconnected from the romance, the novel focused more on Evie finding herself and her place in her family and Fool’s Gold and I felt the romance was rushed and a little hard to get behind. Friendship blooming into love is fine and I loved them as friends but when they became lovers, the focus shifted again to Evie and I felt the emotional development failed.

Overall, I was disappointed in A Fool’s Gold Christmas. I expected a lot more and there was definitely a ton of potential to make Evie and Dante blow me away. I’m writing it off as the product of the Christmas themed novella, given a full length book, it could have been great, as it is, it’s just ok.
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Oct 09, 2012 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: earc

For some people it might be a little early for Christmas stories but they are always fun to read. This is the first of several i will be reviewing this year. I've been reading the Fools Gold series by Susan Mallery since it started and this one is book 10. I've pretty much enjoyed each one. A Fool's Gold Christmas involves two characters who so far have been only secondary Characters. Dante Jefferson is Rafe Stryker's business partner. He's always been a bit a bah humbug kind of guy. Although we...more For some people it might be a little early for Christmas stories but they are always fun to read. This is the first of several i will be reviewing this year. I've been reading the Fools Gold series by Susan Mallery since it started and this one is book 10. I've pretty much enjoyed each one. A Fool's Gold Christmas involves two characters who so far have been only secondary Characters. Dante Jefferson is Rafe Stryker's business partner. He's always been a bit a bah humbug kind of guy. Although we've never known much about him. Evie Stryker is the only girl in the family and the result of a one night stand her mother had in a time of grief. She grew up feeling shunned by her family and to her seen as a mistake her mother regretted. In Rafe's book you see him try to get close to her. Little to late for Evie. She's a grown woman now. Unfortunately a terrible injury gets her brought to Fools Gold for her recovery and she's stuck with a family who she feels never wanted her and her dream of a professional dancer long gone.

I really enjoyed this book. You finally get a look into what makes Dante tick. Previously i could never decide if i liked him or not but felt there was probably more to him that you could see. He made some poor choices in his younger years and it cost him big time. He learned not to fall in love. Evie had a similar issue in never trusting anyone. Not with the way her family treated her growing up. Dante and Evie end up living next door to each other and Dante realizes he's attracted to Evie. Big no no since her brother is his partner but he can't help himself. What starts out as a casual no strings attached affair to get past the holidays turns into something more. Only one of the two can't quite handle the truth when it finally hits. I love how you get a glimpse of some of the characters from previous books. Little check ins i guess. It doesn't take away from Dante and Evie story but enhances it cause it's natural in Fools Gold with holidays to see these people. Evie finally gets to see her family really does care and they regret the way they treated her. Perfect for a Christmas story. Totally enjoyable! 4 out of 5 Modokker Book Pick stars for A Fool's Gold Christmas by Susan Mallery.(less)

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Oct 03, 2012 Becky Moe rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, netgalley

Overall, I liked this book. The main characters were relatable, and really didn't do anything that set off my are-you-kidding meter like some of the ones in the last few books did. (Although who takes that long to decide they're going to adopt a cat from a shelter? No one in my house. The idea of adopting a new one has barely entered our heads when bam! we've got another cat.) Evie's prickliness made sense, and her journey to finding her place in the world and a better relationship with her mom...more

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Jul 17, 2012 Amanda P rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-copy-provided, own-as-an-ebook, humor, contemporary-romance

I quite simply adored this book! It is the final book of the Stryker’s I have to say I’m going to kind of miss them, although as true to Fool’s Gold tradition I am sure we will still see them in following Fool’s Gold installments. I started this series with the Strykers, but I certainly am not going to end this series with the Stryker’s. I am quite curious for the returned and returning home military men! This book was true to Susan Mallery form in that it was funny, fun and sweet. You leave the...more I quite simply adored this book! It is the final book of the Stryker’s I have to say I’m going to kind of miss them, although as true to Fool’s Gold tradition I am sure we will still see them in following Fool’s Gold installments. I started this series with the Strykers, but I certainly am not going to end this series with the Stryker’s. I am quite curious for the returned and returning home military men! This book was true to Susan Mallery form in that it was funny, fun and sweet. You leave the book with a warm happy feeling of a good Happily Ever After!

I do have to warn, that some of my love of this book could have something to do with Evie being a dancer and teaching the young ones to dance. I danced from the age of 2 until I was 13, so I tend to love when books incorporate one of my other loves into it. Susan Mallery did a fantastic job in recreating the feel of the little ones recital. The flury of rehearsals, costumes, make up and the excitement, I remember all of that from when I was little and I am sure anyone else who went through the same thing will also remember and it will bring a smile to their face like it did me. It was fun to remember being small sitting back stage with all the other girls waiting your chance to dance on stage for your family. This aspect was one of my favorite parts of the book, but worry not, non-dancers there was plenty else to love…

Evie and Dante are a lot alike, very different circumstances of their childhood have basically had the same outcome in their adult lives. They trust no one and refuse to give their hearts, they keep it light and then keep it moving. So what seemed to be a great idea, two people mutually attracted, stuck in a town they don’t like, with the holidays they don’t celebrate looming, scratching an itch; of course this great idea turned horribly wrong and you know that the makings of a great story are there. Evie and Dante made a very sweet “non-couple”, he was very supportive of her especially when it came to her mother. He helped her in so many ways including getting the big show off the ground, but where he helped her the most was mending the fence with her mother. Due to his own circumstances he knows the value of family and expresses to Evie that she has a right to her anger, but stresses what she could miss if she holds on to the iceberg on her shoulder. Evie shows Dante that he can open his heart again, that he won’t always be hurt. Evie is great for Dante in this aspect, she kind of sneak attacks him, he never saw it coming until it was too late and true to Fool’s Gold tradition, he runs.

One thing I would like to see with this series is the tables to turn. It’s always the guy that runs as soon as he figures he’s in too deep. I’d like to see the female run and to have the male run her down and talk some sense into her. Women run too! It would be a nice change and deviation from an obvious formula.

Rating: 5 Orchids
(less)

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Apr 19, 2013 Mandyfujita rated it 4 of 5 stars

I started reading the Blackberry Island series that Susan Mallery wrote and really enjoyed it. When I went to the library and saw this book - "A Fool's Gold Christmas" - I thought I'd give it a try. I am so glad that I did because I loved reading about Evie Stryker's struggle to fit in with her family in Fool's Gold, California. Apparently this is the 12th book in the series so I'm excited to start at the beginning with "Chasing Perfect".

In this Christmas setting, we immediately see the fricti...more

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Nov 24, 2012 Diana N rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, ebook, for-review, netgalley

I've been waiting for Evie's story. After the hints in the previous Stryker brother's books about her outcast status, I was interested to see what the author would do with her character. In some ways, this story played exactly like I had expected and in other ways didn't work like I had hoped. We had hints of whom Evie's partner would be in previous books, so Dante's appearance was no surprise. It was also no surprise that Evie's mother's mistreatment would play a factor in the story line. While...more

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Sep 26, 2012 Donna rated it 4 of 5 stars

I liked Evie much better than I thought I was going to based on the foreshadowing in the previous Stryker books. I actually really liked Dante and Evie and their entire romance. I thought their individual doubts and Dante's knee-jerk reaction were very credible without being overdone and I could really picture a real life couple reacting in those ways. What I don't like is the "well-meaning" interference by essentially the entire town that has permeated this entire series. I don't really like th...more

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Aug 02, 2012 Dannielle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: net-galley, romance, 2012

What a great story. Prior to this book we don't know a lot about Evie. We meet her in Rafe's book, and see more of her in Clay's book. But we really get to know her heart and see how she interacts with others outside of her family. It is impossible not to feel bad for the way Evie has been treated by her family her whole life. But they do make an effort to improve things, especially her mom.

Evie has a lot thrown at her in a short time, and one includes Dante. The hot sexy lawyer who is her brot...more

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Sep 26, 2012 Hsiau Wei rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, books-read-in-2012

This book is the 10th installation of the Fool's Gold series and tell the story of Evie, who seems to be estranged from both her mother and brothers and Dante, the business partner of her brother, Rafe. Evie feel unwanted from young by her mum given the circumstances of her birth and an outsider in the family. She have been away from home since she is seventeen and when she involved in an accident, the brothers hauled her back to the family fold. This of course does not goes well with Evie and b...more

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About Susan Mallery

New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery has entertained millions of readers with her witty and emotional stories about women and the relationships that move them. Publisher’s Weekly calls Susan’s prose “luscious and provocative,” and Booklist says, “Novels don’t get much better than Mallery’s expert blend of emotional nuance, humor and superb storytelling.” While Susan appreciates the crit...more

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A Fool's Gold Christmas (Fool's Gold #10)

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