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Happily Inc #1
You Say It First
You’re invited to visit a wedding destination found only in a fairy tale…
Sculptor Nick Mitchell grew up in a family of artists and learned from his volatile father that passion only leads to pain. As he waits on a new commission, he takes a day job as a humble carpenter at a theme wedding venue. The job has its perks – mainly the venue's captivating owner, Pallas Saunders. Although he won't let love consume him, for ecstasy with an expiration date, he's all in.
Pallas adores Weddings in a Box. But if she can't turn the floundering business around, she'll have no choice but to cave to her domineering mother and trade taffeta for trust funds working at the family's bank. Then when a desperate bride begs Pallas for something completely out of the box, her irresistible new hire inspires her. Nick knows she doesn't belong behind a desk, and she knows in her heart that he's right – where she really belongs is in his arms.
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 22, 2017
2998 people are currently reading
6629 people want to read
About the author
Susan Mallery
839 books15.3k followers#1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery writes heartwarming and humorous novels about the relationships that define women's lives—family, friendship, romance. She's best known for putting nuanced characters into emotionally complex, real-life situations with twists that surprise readers to laughter. Because Susan is passionate about animal welfare, pets play a big role in her books. Beloved by millions of readers worldwide, her books have been translated into 28 languages.
Critics have dubbed Mallery "the new queen of romantic fiction." (Walmart) Booklist says, "Romance novels don't get much better than Mallery's expert blend of emotional nuance, humor, and superb storytelling," and RT Book Reviews puts her "in a class by herself!" It's no wonder that her books have spent more than 200 weeks on the USA Today bestsellers list.
Although Susan majored in Accounting, she never worked as an accountant because she was published straight out of college with two books the same month. Sixteen prolific years and seventy-four books later, she hit the New York Times bestsellers list for the first time with Accidentally Yours in 2008. She made many appearances in the Top 10 before (finally) hitting #1 in 2015 with Thrill Me, the twentieth book in her most popular series, the Fool's Gold romances, and the fourth of five books released that year.
Susan lives in Washington state with her husband, two ragdoll cats, and a small poodle with delusions of grandeur. Her heart for animals has led Susan to become an active supporter of the Seattle Humane Society. Visit Susan online at www.SusanMallery.com.
Critics have dubbed Mallery "the new queen of romantic fiction." (Walmart) Booklist says, "Romance novels don't get much better than Mallery's expert blend of emotional nuance, humor, and superb storytelling," and RT Book Reviews puts her "in a class by herself!" It's no wonder that her books have spent more than 200 weeks on the USA Today bestsellers list.
Although Susan majored in Accounting, she never worked as an accountant because she was published straight out of college with two books the same month. Sixteen prolific years and seventy-four books later, she hit the New York Times bestsellers list for the first time with Accidentally Yours in 2008. She made many appearances in the Top 10 before (finally) hitting #1 in 2015 with Thrill Me, the twentieth book in her most popular series, the Fool's Gold romances, and the fourth of five books released that year.
Susan lives in Washington state with her husband, two ragdoll cats, and a small poodle with delusions of grandeur. Her heart for animals has led Susan to become an active supporter of the Seattle Humane Society. Visit Susan online at www.SusanMallery.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 876 reviews
July 25, 2022
This is a chick-lit/romance, and this is the first book in the Happily Inc series. I really enjoyed this book, and I loved getting to know the characters in the Happily Inc town/series. I also loved the two main characters of this book. This romance was fun to follow and see it come to life. I love the writing in this book. The characters in this book brings this story to life. The author "Susan Mallery" is becoming one of my favorite authors.
August 3, 2020
It’s camera lights and action all the way through, this book, and very excitingly You Say It First was made into a film.
You Say It First is about wedding in a box that specializes in theme weddings with what ever a clients wants, the bride and groom will have, now that’s what I call a brilliant wedding planner.
My favourite line: Don’t Take This Wrong, but I really need you to take of your shirt. This is the first line that impressed me and hooked me me into the story, and the shirt has to come off for a reason that will make you laugh.
When Nick Mitchell actually attends the company Wedding in a Box for an interview as they are in need of a carpenter he is put in a situation that he never in his wildest dreams thought would happen to him.
The Wedding in a Box is in a desperate situation with less than just an hour Pallas Saunders who does themed weddings is a Roman soldier short, for a Roman theme wedding.
With a slight mix up Nick Mitchell gets the faux tan, treatment, dressed in a togas, where Nick will Carry a palanquin with other men they will carry the bride into a room.
Honestly what’s not to like here?
Thinking outside the box will Nick Mitchell finally get his job interview for a carpenter?
I’m not going to reveal too much of the storyline as I don’t want to spoil it for any reader.
I must admit Wedding in a Box is the perfect fairytale place to say I do.
You Say It First is a wonderful adventure about wedding with a difference that you all will totally love.
Another wonderful romance escape novel by my favourite author Susan Mallery.
I hope you all enjoy reading You Say It First as much as I did.
August 22, 2017
Step aside Fool's Gold - here comes Happily Inc!!
This is a brand new sweet romance series that's a bit of a Fool's Gold spin-off.
We already met Nick's family in FG and now he and his two artist brothers moved to Happily Inc to get away from their dad.
Nick is waiting for a call from Dubai - he's in the running to build a huge piece for a hotel lobby over there. That would take him away from home for two years.
But for now he's here. And he's working as an underpaid carpenter for Pallas.
She recently inherited the wedding company where she worked while going to college for a degree in finance.
Because that's what she's supposed to do with her life: work for the family bank in town.
But for now - or at least until the end of wedding season - she's working hard to keep WEDDINGS IN A BOX alive.
And if watching the sexy carpenter working shirtless is the price she has to pay for that - all the better.
Nick is equally attracted, but he doesn't do love. His parents taught him that.
What will happen with Pallas & Nick??
Will there be HEA in Happily Inc??
READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT! ☺
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Eeeeep .... a new Susan Mallery series!
I LOVED Fool's Gold. And this is looking just as good.
We already know the 3 brothers and Pallas introduces us to all her besties - there's LOTS of room for lots of interesting books in this new town - I love it!!!!!
This was such a sweet romance. Exactly what you've been used to from Susan.
Plus it has lots of weddings! So romantic and funny and adorable!
Of course it's not all insta-happy-endy. We have some serious 'afraid-to-love' problems to overcome - but of course we'll get there in the end! ☺
The perfect book to read while lounging on your couch with a glass of wine and some snacks.
Oh and I should also mention, if you thought Fool's Gold was crazy with their resident elephant! Happily Inc has zebras, water buffalo, a GIRAFFE ... and so much more!!! ☺☺☺
(We find out more about all that in book #2!)
I enjoyed every second of this book!
Can't wait to read the second one!
YOU SAY IT FIRST was such an adorable and funny and romantic love story! Run to your nearest amazon for your own Nick - this one is MINE! ☺
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April 26, 2019DNF@ 35% due to the fact that I’ve nodded off twice and spent seven whole minutes watching an ant which hitched a ride in on the dog, climb the skirting board.
August 23, 2017
Welcome to Happily Inc. where Susan Mallory will bring you into the lives and hearts of the wedding capital of the world. Nick and Pallas story was sweet, romantic, humorous and sexy. I couldn’t ask for a more complete read with You Say It First.
I adored both Nick and Pallas. Nick was kind, considerate, talented and so supportive of a woman that he just met. Pallas has her moments that she didn’t shine but that just made her more down-to-earth and endearing. You couldn’t help but feel sorry for her at times, cheer her on at times and just wish that she would finally tell her mother off at times. But, she was the perfect fit for Nick and you knew it from the start. She inspired him and he knew the right things to say to get her inspired (even when she didn’t see it). When he finally gets her to see the bigger picture and what she can do with Weddings in a Box, he sees his own aspirations come crashing down and he backs off.
They both have trouble with the word love … Pallas feels like she has to earn it and Nick thinks passion consumes so he won’t put his heart at stake. Neither of them had the childhood that encouraged love or showed just how wonderful being loved could be. But, ultimately, they find out that love doesn’t have to consume or be earned … it’s unconditional and just is. With the help of family and friends and an alien world, Nick and Pallas find their way through the muddied waters to each other and find that love can be the be-all and end-all.
Susan Mallory is the ultimate Romance writer and knows just how to get you to invest your heart in her stories. I loved every aspect of You Say It First. All the characters had their own quirks but, combined, they formed a beautiful circle of friends. I loved the banter between friends. I loved the support they all showed each other. I loved how they knew just what to say and when to say it. Nick and Pallas ended up being a team, brought Weddings in a Box out of the box and learned just how wonderful and beautiful being in love could be.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
You Say it First is the first book in a brand new series from Susan Mallery and I couldn’t be happier. She’s created another town in which it has an unusual beginning called Happily Inc, which turns out to be a wedding destination city. Here you will find the Mitchell brothers that were first introduced in Fool’s Gold and they’ve settled here to create their art away from their dysfunctional father and mother. Nick Mitchell is looking for work when he goes to Wedding in a Box and ends up hired to help at a wedding when Pallas Saunders is short one male attendant. She does eventually hire him for his woodworking talent to restore some wood panel scenery, and gradually gets to know him and finds herself attracted to him.
Susan Mallery has a knack for creating flawed characters and giving them opportunities to figure it out for themselves. I can definitely relate to these ordinary complications, especially when it comes to family dynamics. Both Nick and Pallas have a different take on what love is and how they try hard to either earn it or avoid it. Over the course of the story you see them together and with their own families and its entertaining and disappointing on how each behave. I couldn’t be happier that there is a new place to fall in love with just like I did with Fool’s Gold. I have been anticipating this story’s arrival and I’m happy that it is finally here.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
4.5 stars
March 26, 2019
4.5 - "This is us…" Stars!
You Say it first introduces the reader to the town and series of the same name; Happily Inc. A town that pretty much keeps itself profitable by being a destination wedding venue. Weddings in a Box being one such business, and newly owned by Pallas Saunders.
"Everything about you works for me…"
Artist/Carpenter Nick Mitchell, being the man that brings a hitch to her pulse and a glow to her heart, as the story progresses. Two things I took from this book were the great set-up/secondary characters and the easy-going/engaging writing style the author manages to impart.
Nothing massively new or unusual about the tropes used, but the unique setting, and the plethora of likeable secondary characters made this a book well worth reading, and a series in general worth one-clicking(well for me anyway even though several of the titles are a little on the expensive side for e-books).
"You’re a bigger temptation than I’d realized."
I can’t really give an author higher praise than the fact I bought the rest of the series after finishing this one, and I look forward to spending many happy hours reading her back catalogue in the future.
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.
You Say it first introduces the reader to the town and series of the same name; Happily Inc. A town that pretty much keeps itself profitable by being a destination wedding venue. Weddings in a Box being one such business, and newly owned by Pallas Saunders.
"Everything about you works for me…"
Artist/Carpenter Nick Mitchell, being the man that brings a hitch to her pulse and a glow to her heart, as the story progresses. Two things I took from this book were the great set-up/secondary characters and the easy-going/engaging writing style the author manages to impart.
Nothing massively new or unusual about the tropes used, but the unique setting, and the plethora of likeable secondary characters made this a book well worth reading, and a series in general worth one-clicking(well for me anyway even though several of the titles are a little on the expensive side for e-books).
"You’re a bigger temptation than I’d realized."
I can’t really give an author higher praise than the fact I bought the rest of the series after finishing this one, and I look forward to spending many happy hours reading her back catalogue in the future.
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.
August 31, 2017
RATING: 3/5 STARS
This is my first Susan Mallery book and I have to say that it won’t be last. I was intimidated by the sheer number of books she has written in the past. And I didn’t know what type of writing style she has but now that I have finished You Say it First, I know that her writing is an easy to dive into type of style that makes readers enjoy the story more.
Pallas Saunders, our heroine, has lived well, an interesting life. Left behind a themed wedding company, she runs the highly praised, Weddings in a Box. She works hard, trying to please everyone from the bride to the groom and most importantly, her less than supportive mother. In You Say it First, you can see the troubling relationship she has with her mother. Her mother runs by rules. Rules that determine if Pallas is standing on the good side or bad side of affection from her mother.It was frustrating to read the injustice Pallas suffered when her mother critiqued her and insulted her. I knew that I would not satisfied until Pallas stood up for herself.
Nick Mitchell, our hero, is a passionate one who loves his art and loves his wood. Wink. I’m joking. I actually mean wood like from trees. He’s a carpenter and finds his happiness through carving and creating fine pieces of work using wood as his main source of material. He likes to keep everyone at distance, claiming too much passion is not a good thing. It will consume him, destroy him, and ruin him in the end. So, definitely, love is not an option.
When Nick and Pallas meet, the chemistry is palpable. I really liked how flirtatious they were when they first met. Pallas asks for him to take off his shirt without warning and to body paint him so he could look like a greek warrior, carrying one of the greek goddesses aka the bride to her wedding. It was hilarious and I knew the story was off to a great start.
The only thing I didn’t like about this story was that it seemed generic. It was very cut from the same cloth as a lot of books and nothing was much different so it kind of got boring midway through.
MY RECOMMENDATION:
Pick it up if you’re a Susan Mallery fan!
This is my first Susan Mallery book and I have to say that it won’t be last. I was intimidated by the sheer number of books she has written in the past. And I didn’t know what type of writing style she has but now that I have finished You Say it First, I know that her writing is an easy to dive into type of style that makes readers enjoy the story more.
Pallas Saunders, our heroine, has lived well, an interesting life. Left behind a themed wedding company, she runs the highly praised, Weddings in a Box. She works hard, trying to please everyone from the bride to the groom and most importantly, her less than supportive mother. In You Say it First, you can see the troubling relationship she has with her mother. Her mother runs by rules. Rules that determine if Pallas is standing on the good side or bad side of affection from her mother.It was frustrating to read the injustice Pallas suffered when her mother critiqued her and insulted her. I knew that I would not satisfied until Pallas stood up for herself.
Nick Mitchell, our hero, is a passionate one who loves his art and loves his wood. Wink. I’m joking. I actually mean wood like from trees. He’s a carpenter and finds his happiness through carving and creating fine pieces of work using wood as his main source of material. He likes to keep everyone at distance, claiming too much passion is not a good thing. It will consume him, destroy him, and ruin him in the end. So, definitely, love is not an option.
When Nick and Pallas meet, the chemistry is palpable. I really liked how flirtatious they were when they first met. Pallas asks for him to take off his shirt without warning and to body paint him so he could look like a greek warrior, carrying one of the greek goddesses aka the bride to her wedding. It was hilarious and I knew the story was off to a great start.
The only thing I didn’t like about this story was that it seemed generic. It was very cut from the same cloth as a lot of books and nothing was much different so it kind of got boring midway through.
MY RECOMMENDATION:
Pick it up if you’re a Susan Mallery fan!
June 18, 2019
RATING: 4 STARS
2017; HQN/HarperCollins Canada
The name of the heroine, Pallas, kept throwing me off as I listened to the audio but otherwise I really enjoyed this novel. Please note this the first book in the Happily Inc series, but is a spin-off of Fool's Gold. I find that after reading all the psychological gritty suspense and nonfiction I need a breather. I like small town romances as I need the sweet HEA to make the world right again. I am finding that since I met my own hero, I find them less annoying, lol. Instead of wishing for the hero in the book, I can smugly agree with the heroine's feelings. Happily Inc is a town meant for weddings, and Pallas finds that her lark in a wedding planning business might just be her dream job, instead of the finance world her mother wants her to be in. As she is trying to figure out if she wants to continue with her mentor's business she starts to fall for sculptor, Nick, who already has one foot out of town. I have read a few novels by Mallery and for the most part she creates realistic story lines with strong characters that aren't forced to fall for one another. I have to go back to Fool's Gold at some point!
***I received an eARC from EDELWEISS***
My Novelesque Blog
2017; HQN/HarperCollins Canada
The name of the heroine, Pallas, kept throwing me off as I listened to the audio but otherwise I really enjoyed this novel. Please note this the first book in the Happily Inc series, but is a spin-off of Fool's Gold. I find that after reading all the psychological gritty suspense and nonfiction I need a breather. I like small town romances as I need the sweet HEA to make the world right again. I am finding that since I met my own hero, I find them less annoying, lol. Instead of wishing for the hero in the book, I can smugly agree with the heroine's feelings. Happily Inc is a town meant for weddings, and Pallas finds that her lark in a wedding planning business might just be her dream job, instead of the finance world her mother wants her to be in. As she is trying to figure out if she wants to continue with her mentor's business she starts to fall for sculptor, Nick, who already has one foot out of town. I have read a few novels by Mallery and for the most part she creates realistic story lines with strong characters that aren't forced to fall for one another. I have to go back to Fool's Gold at some point!
***I received an eARC from EDELWEISS***
My Novelesque Blog
August 9, 2017
I had read and enjoyed some of the books from a previous series, so I required this one on a whim. It was a delightful surprise to find it featured characters from that series.
I liked Pallas and Nick well enough. They're both good, supportive people and I think that might be the best thing I can say about them. I didn't quite get their chemistry and while the conversation was decent, it lacked banter. Thankfully, there are loads and loads of other characters who provide levity and sarcasm.
Plot wise, it was quite slow. Scenes felt repetitive and I wish I would have counted how many times "passion consumes" or a variation was used because it felt like it was literally on every page. Of course this all sounds like I didn't like the book, but I did. The break up didn't last too long and the epilogue was just enough.
Overall, it kept me entertained and I'm eager to see who stars in the next book.
**Huge thanks to HQN Books for providing the arc free of charge**
I liked Pallas and Nick well enough. They're both good, supportive people and I think that might be the best thing I can say about them. I didn't quite get their chemistry and while the conversation was decent, it lacked banter. Thankfully, there are loads and loads of other characters who provide levity and sarcasm.
Plot wise, it was quite slow. Scenes felt repetitive and I wish I would have counted how many times "passion consumes" or a variation was used because it felt like it was literally on every page. Of course this all sounds like I didn't like the book, but I did. The break up didn't last too long and the epilogue was just enough.
Overall, it kept me entertained and I'm eager to see who stars in the next book.
**Huge thanks to HQN Books for providing the arc free of charge**
April 5, 2019
The first book in the Happily Inc. series by Susan Mallery. Nick Mitchell arrives at Weddings in a Box expecting a construction job but ends up part of a Roman wedding. Nick is an artist. A sculptor waiting for word on a job he is certain he'll get. Helping Pallas Saunders out seems like a good way to spend his time while he waits. Pallas was expected to go into banking but a friend leaves her his wedding business when he died. Now she is getting into the groove and finds she actually likes it. But her mother disapproves.
Both characters have past issues. Nick has issues with his famous father and Pallas has issues with her mother. But they were likable characters and while this had a chick-litish feel there is a nice romance.
Both characters have past issues. Nick has issues with his famous father and Pallas has issues with her mother. But they were likable characters and while this had a chick-litish feel there is a nice romance.
November 21, 2019
3-1/2 stars, rounded up
It has a warmhearted foundation that carried the entire story, not just the romance. Pallas and Nick are both very likable, if a bit bland, and the supporting cast are all interesting, especially Pallas' circle of girlfriends, who have unusual careers and, I presume, are all going to get their own happily-ever-afters in the next books in this series.
The wedding that drives the plot is both touching and very creative, and pulls everyone together (teamwork makes the dream work in this town). I almost think the author missed her calling after reading this. I would seriously hire her to plan my wedding!
I have two minuses.
First, in just about every Susan Mallery book I've read, the mother is just awful -- so downright mean to her daughter(s) that I can't understand why anyone is still speaking to her. This was no exception. The parallel family friction for Pallas and Nick -- Pallas has mother problems, Nick has father problems -- added depth and dimension to the story, and as usual for this author, the interpersonal issues are handled with gentleness, empathy, and insight. But Pallas's mother made me cringe every time she was on the page. I felt merciful towards her, as she's obviously a deeply unhappy person, but I honestly couldn't understand why Pallas voluntarily spent any time with her. That gave a bitter taste to what is otherwise just a sweet, middle-weight romance.
Second, the happy ending felt like someone came in and waved a magic wand. (Or possibly looked at the word count for the book and said, "Done now!") There's a bit of doubt between Pallas and Nick and then ... it's just gone.
But these are minor complaints, even if I did write more about Pallas's mother than anything else in this book. :D This is a cheerful, fun romance with good depth to round it out.
Pallas accidentally fell into the wedding industry in the town of Happily, Inc., a town known as a great place to get married (the Gretna Green of California?). Now she runs a business with some wood panels that need restoring. Enter Nick, a handsome and world-renowned wood sculptor hanging out with his brothers, artists-in-residence at the local gallery, before he jets off to Dubai for a commission. And this being a romance, need I say more?I enjoyed this book!
It has a warmhearted foundation that carried the entire story, not just the romance. Pallas and Nick are both very likable, if a bit bland, and the supporting cast are all interesting, especially Pallas' circle of girlfriends, who have unusual careers and, I presume, are all going to get their own happily-ever-afters in the next books in this series.
The wedding that drives the plot is both touching and very creative, and pulls everyone together (teamwork makes the dream work in this town). I almost think the author missed her calling after reading this. I would seriously hire her to plan my wedding!
I have two minuses.
First, in just about every Susan Mallery book I've read, the mother is just awful -- so downright mean to her daughter(s) that I can't understand why anyone is still speaking to her. This was no exception. The parallel family friction for Pallas and Nick -- Pallas has mother problems, Nick has father problems -- added depth and dimension to the story, and as usual for this author, the interpersonal issues are handled with gentleness, empathy, and insight. But Pallas's mother made me cringe every time she was on the page. I felt merciful towards her, as she's obviously a deeply unhappy person, but I honestly couldn't understand why Pallas voluntarily spent any time with her. That gave a bitter taste to what is otherwise just a sweet, middle-weight romance.
Second, the happy ending felt like someone came in and waved a magic wand. (Or possibly looked at the word count for the book and said, "Done now!") There's a bit of doubt between Pallas and Nick and then ... it's just gone.
But these are minor complaints, even if I did write more about Pallas's mother than anything else in this book. :D This is a cheerful, fun romance with good depth to round it out.
July 14, 2020
I needed a change of pace so I went to my library website and found You Say It First by Susan Mallery. It was a cute romance set in a small town that is all about weddings and "happily ever after". A lovely afternoon's entertainment.
June 2, 2021
after reading this author's book for the first time last month Daughters of the Bride and really enjoyed it I wanted to read more..but this is not it..
dnf @27% because I don't feel this spark between the main couple and it is a rather boring storyline..
dnf @27% because I don't feel this spark between the main couple and it is a rather boring storyline..
September 27, 2017
I enjoyed this book for the most part. I felt bad for the MC her mother was horrible. Thankfully we find out why and they work on that. My only complaint was that this was a romance book but yet they didn't really focus on that much. It spent most of the time on her wedding business. Other than that this was a good book and I would definitely recommend it to others.
March 22, 2018
I know there are several bad reviews for this new series, but I enjoyed it. Was dragging threw it at the midway but then got pretty entertaining. I plan on starting to read the 2nd one as well
August 9, 2017
ARC received for an honest review
This is my first ever Susan Mallery read - yes, I can hear your gasps of shock! Heck, B has been trying to get me to read her for years!
Welcome to the town of Happily Inc and it's motley crew of residents! There is a lot of background and introductions in this first book in this series, but it is well worth it!
There are a LOT of weddings in this book, however I loved that they are not the run of the mill I Dos.
And there are plenty non-run-of-the-mill characters too. I adore Pallas and all her insecurities. Add Nick to the equation, and things start to get a little steamy!
Add in the fact that both our lovelies have commitment issues, well you just know that they are going to take us on a ride to find their HEA.
There are great secondary characters, whom I am looking forward to getting to know better as the series continues.
Light, fun , sweet and adorable, You Say It First is a great way to spend a few hours.
This is my first ever Susan Mallery read - yes, I can hear your gasps of shock! Heck, B has been trying to get me to read her for years!
Welcome to the town of Happily Inc and it's motley crew of residents! There is a lot of background and introductions in this first book in this series, but it is well worth it!
There are a LOT of weddings in this book, however I loved that they are not the run of the mill I Dos.
And there are plenty non-run-of-the-mill characters too. I adore Pallas and all her insecurities. Add Nick to the equation, and things start to get a little steamy!
Add in the fact that both our lovelies have commitment issues, well you just know that they are going to take us on a ride to find their HEA.
There are great secondary characters, whom I am looking forward to getting to know better as the series continues.
Light, fun , sweet and adorable, You Say It First is a great way to spend a few hours.
August 22, 2017
I was worried that this new series would be to much like Mallery's Fool's Gold books, especially since we revisit some characters from that series, but was pleasantly surprised. There was no cause for worry, Happily Inc. is a wedding town filled with people, animals, and a heart all its own. It was delightfully warm and amusing leaving me wanting to know more about the town and its citizens. I was captivated from the beginning to end; one minute I was crying and the next had me filled with laughter. Mallery knows how to truly bring words to life and pull emotions right out of her readers . I genuinely look forward to meeting more of the people of Happily Inc and the writing that she has to offer.
August 25, 2017
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. I was so very excited to be chosen to read this first in a new series because I was a big fan of the Fools Gold series and was beyond thrilled to have some of those characters show up in this book! I loved the concept of Wedding in a Box, very fun and creative. I loved Pallas and Nick and can't wait for the next book in this series as it is destined to be a great hit! Highly recommend!
October 1, 2017
Finally picked up a book by Susan Mallery to satisfy my curiosity.
Formulaic, with an explicit scene, which is probably why she sells so well. The writing is okay, but nothing special.
I'm sure Susan Mallery fans will love it. It's a spinoff from her famous series.
Formulaic, with an explicit scene, which is probably why she sells so well. The writing is okay, but nothing special.
I'm sure Susan Mallery fans will love it. It's a spinoff from her famous series.
September 22, 2017
So, Mallery's new series is kind of a spin-off from the Fool's Gold series and located elsewhere with three out of the five Mitchell brothers in the desert area that's famous for weddings. I never read the Fool's Gold series and I don't intend to. I tried reading one book and easily got sidetracked. But after reading the well thought out reviews on every book, it's safe to say the author uses the same romance formula that Harlequin loves so much. Emotionally damaged characters who are too stupid to deal with their problems and throw love up against the wall in all the wrong ways.
Anyway, Nick comes from a family that has a famous father who is an artist but doesn't give a rat's ass about his family except for his art and has no qualms hurting everyone that's considered close to him, so he and his two youngest talented brothers move away when the dad admits that he had an affair and his mistress gave birth to one of his son's and their mother decided to take him in as his own and pretend he was a fraternal twin of Mathias all those years. On top of that the mother later had breast cancer and still keeps her shitty husband because she thinks he's God himself. There's the reason Nick is emotionally damaged and believes "passion consumes" due to his parent's fucked up one-sided relationship.
Then we have Pallas who inherited her former boss's wedding business and took her in since her father died a long time ago and her mother hates her for being loved by everyone and was too emotionally unavailable almost her whole life and Pallas felt that love had to be earned instead of just giving it willingly and freely with no constraints. Nick, who is a sculptor, is hired to help Pallas' wedding business and a huge chunk of the book is describing the planning details which gave the book worth something to read despite getting a little dull at times, but well thought out plot by keeping the characters moving throughout the story.
You see foreshadowing with Mathias and Ronan (the bastard half-brother) since they appear a lot and engage with Pallas' friends. There were over five of them and I only cared about Alan since Mallory put an effort of having a gay character in the story, but alas, I'm sure Harlequin isn't going to give him a main lead of him finding true love and you can sense some underlining homophobia from the other male characters in the book besides a faceless boyfriend who comes to visit from LA with him. I've read a few same-sex stories and they were alright, but it is extremely difficult finding them when you have an overwhelming amount of white, straight romances controlling the industry. The one thing I liked was Nova and Joel when they got married to have Nova's terminally ill father to walk her down the aisle. The author did point out that Nova was Asian and I was thrilled, but sad at the same time because Harlequin is so whitewashed with their romances and whenever they ever bring up diversity, they're only used as supporting characters or the main character's who have an inch of non-white are stereotyped poorly by white authors.
Sorry, I had to get that rant out and I hope bestseller authors keep moving forward and finally grow a pair by making more characters that aren't always white or straight. And without insulting anyone. I know that's got to be hard for some authors, but everyone deserves representation. Let's just hope they overcome their repetitiveness with bland personalities and petty issues that main characters face first.
Moving on, Pallas grows as a character and I do like her for standing up to her cold mother as well as overcoming her fear on loving. But Nick is just a dolt I want to kick in the butt since he loves to wallow in his own misery. I guess that truly makes him an artist after all... Even if he doesn't get the commission to India, he still rejects Pallas with his bullshit reason for not falling for her and passion kills everything. Well, boo fucking hoo! I'm a shattered soul with crappy parents and siblings who are just as messed up as me that I can't lurve! BAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!! Haven't heard that story before. Sounds new to me. How groundbreaking of Susan Mallery! It's not like she's done it twenty some times in her Fool's Gold series.... It's completely original. Believe me!
Anyway, Nick comes from a family that has a famous father who is an artist but doesn't give a rat's ass about his family except for his art and has no qualms hurting everyone that's considered close to him, so he and his two youngest talented brothers move away when the dad admits that he had an affair and his mistress gave birth to one of his son's and their mother decided to take him in as his own and pretend he was a fraternal twin of Mathias all those years. On top of that the mother later had breast cancer and still keeps her shitty husband because she thinks he's God himself. There's the reason Nick is emotionally damaged and believes "passion consumes" due to his parent's fucked up one-sided relationship.
Then we have Pallas who inherited her former boss's wedding business and took her in since her father died a long time ago and her mother hates her for being loved by everyone and was too emotionally unavailable almost her whole life and Pallas felt that love had to be earned instead of just giving it willingly and freely with no constraints. Nick, who is a sculptor, is hired to help Pallas' wedding business and a huge chunk of the book is describing the planning details which gave the book worth something to read despite getting a little dull at times, but well thought out plot by keeping the characters moving throughout the story.
You see foreshadowing with Mathias and Ronan (the bastard half-brother) since they appear a lot and engage with Pallas' friends. There were over five of them and I only cared about Alan since Mallory put an effort of having a gay character in the story, but alas, I'm sure Harlequin isn't going to give him a main lead of him finding true love and you can sense some underlining homophobia from the other male characters in the book besides a faceless boyfriend who comes to visit from LA with him. I've read a few same-sex stories and they were alright, but it is extremely difficult finding them when you have an overwhelming amount of white, straight romances controlling the industry. The one thing I liked was Nova and Joel when they got married to have Nova's terminally ill father to walk her down the aisle. The author did point out that Nova was Asian and I was thrilled, but sad at the same time because Harlequin is so whitewashed with their romances and whenever they ever bring up diversity, they're only used as supporting characters or the main character's who have an inch of non-white are stereotyped poorly by white authors.
Sorry, I had to get that rant out and I hope bestseller authors keep moving forward and finally grow a pair by making more characters that aren't always white or straight. And without insulting anyone. I know that's got to be hard for some authors, but everyone deserves representation. Let's just hope they overcome their repetitiveness with bland personalities and petty issues that main characters face first.
Moving on, Pallas grows as a character and I do like her for standing up to her cold mother as well as overcoming her fear on loving. But Nick is just a dolt I want to kick in the butt since he loves to wallow in his own misery. I guess that truly makes him an artist after all... Even if he doesn't get the commission to India, he still rejects Pallas with his bullshit reason for not falling for her and passion kills everything. Well, boo fucking hoo! I'm a shattered soul with crappy parents and siblings who are just as messed up as me that I can't lurve! BAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!! Haven't heard that story before. Sounds new to me. How groundbreaking of Susan Mallery! It's not like she's done it twenty some times in her Fool's Gold series.... It's completely original. Believe me!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2017
***ARC Provided by the Publisher via NetGalley and InkSlingerPR***
Susan Mallery books are like sitting down with a good friend and hanging out. No matter the setting, or the characters, or the plot, you know you are going to enjoy the book and be glad that you read it.
So, when I got ahold of this one, I dove right in.
Nick and Pallas are wonderful together, and so perfect. A woman who is afraid she is not good enough to be worthy of love, and one who feels that love always has to be earned, that it is not given freely. Nick is afraid of the kind of love that consumes a person, as he has seen the damage it can do (his parents are the ones he looks at for this example) and he wants nothing to do with a great passion.
But, as all best laid plans do, this goes awry as Pallas learns that you can love someone, without them asking or demanding it, and Nick learns that it might, possibly, be ok to love someone with passion, that his life is lacking because he closes himself off to this.
Susan Mallery's books are character driven and they are focused on the people in the stories, not just the romance. There were references to Fool's Gold, which were fun for those who have read the books. There is a slight connection in the new Happily Inc. to that series, but not enough of one that you are unable to read this as a standalone without reading all of the other books. That said, the plot of this does have a minor spoiler to one of the Fool's Gold plot lines. But, it's not a huge issue.
The characters are all interconnected, and it seems clear that there will be a number of stories in the new series, but that is ok. There is some time spent in this title, as there is in all starts to a new series, building up the other characters so you have a relationship with all of the main people in the story. But, this is welcome, and it does not take away, much, from the core story of nick and Pallas.
This book also has zebras. If you read it for no other reason (and honestly, there are so many good reasons to read it) read it because it has zebras.
I recommend this title and I look forward to the next in the series.
Susan Mallery books are like sitting down with a good friend and hanging out. No matter the setting, or the characters, or the plot, you know you are going to enjoy the book and be glad that you read it.
So, when I got ahold of this one, I dove right in.
Nick and Pallas are wonderful together, and so perfect. A woman who is afraid she is not good enough to be worthy of love, and one who feels that love always has to be earned, that it is not given freely. Nick is afraid of the kind of love that consumes a person, as he has seen the damage it can do (his parents are the ones he looks at for this example) and he wants nothing to do with a great passion.
But, as all best laid plans do, this goes awry as Pallas learns that you can love someone, without them asking or demanding it, and Nick learns that it might, possibly, be ok to love someone with passion, that his life is lacking because he closes himself off to this.
Susan Mallery's books are character driven and they are focused on the people in the stories, not just the romance. There were references to Fool's Gold, which were fun for those who have read the books. There is a slight connection in the new Happily Inc. to that series, but not enough of one that you are unable to read this as a standalone without reading all of the other books. That said, the plot of this does have a minor spoiler to one of the Fool's Gold plot lines. But, it's not a huge issue.
The characters are all interconnected, and it seems clear that there will be a number of stories in the new series, but that is ok. There is some time spent in this title, as there is in all starts to a new series, building up the other characters so you have a relationship with all of the main people in the story. But, this is welcome, and it does not take away, much, from the core story of nick and Pallas.
This book also has zebras. If you read it for no other reason (and honestly, there are so many good reasons to read it) read it because it has zebras.
I recommend this title and I look forward to the next in the series.
September 1, 2017
3.5 stars
You say it first is the first book in a new series by Susan Mallery. It follows Pallas the owner of weddings in a box and Nick a famous sculptor. Besides the two of them, we also meet a horde of other characters who will hopefully get one day their own books. Like for example Drew and Silver. I want to see Drew making up for hurting Silver. Overall I liked almost all of the secondary characters we met in this book. Only Libby was a sour experience for me. The rest were at least okay for me. Each character has something that makes them stand out from the rest. Like Millie the giraffe for example. How many characters do you know that speak about a giraffe like she is human? Each character has its quirks but in some weird way everything worked out nicely for the book. I could have found it over the top in other circumstances which is why I decided to mention it.
There was one thing that popped into my mind around the 80% mark. I realised that I was invested in the secondary characters and their lives and on the wedding business. I wanted to see how Pallas was going to fix her situation and save the business. I didn't care for her relationship with Nick to be honest. And I don't believe the author cared about that either because Nick and Pallas hardly spend some time alone without doing something that business related. At least this is what it felt like. The romance aspect of the story was nonexistent which is sad considering that I wanted to read a romance novel. Fortunately, everything else in the book managed to hold my attention and I was a somewhat satisfied reader. At least one thing is for sure. I will continue reading the series.
You say it first is the first book in a new series by Susan Mallery. It follows Pallas the owner of weddings in a box and Nick a famous sculptor. Besides the two of them, we also meet a horde of other characters who will hopefully get one day their own books. Like for example Drew and Silver. I want to see Drew making up for hurting Silver. Overall I liked almost all of the secondary characters we met in this book. Only Libby was a sour experience for me. The rest were at least okay for me. Each character has something that makes them stand out from the rest. Like Millie the giraffe for example. How many characters do you know that speak about a giraffe like she is human? Each character has its quirks but in some weird way everything worked out nicely for the book. I could have found it over the top in other circumstances which is why I decided to mention it.
There was one thing that popped into my mind around the 80% mark. I realised that I was invested in the secondary characters and their lives and on the wedding business. I wanted to see how Pallas was going to fix her situation and save the business. I didn't care for her relationship with Nick to be honest. And I don't believe the author cared about that either because Nick and Pallas hardly spend some time alone without doing something that business related. At least this is what it felt like. The romance aspect of the story was nonexistent which is sad considering that I wanted to read a romance novel. Fortunately, everything else in the book managed to hold my attention and I was a somewhat satisfied reader. At least one thing is for sure. I will continue reading the series.
August 23, 2017
Two protagonists who hold themselves back emotionally, both influenced by their parent. She's a wedding planer who tried all her life to reach her mother's unattainable expectations and he's an artist who think that passion can be dangerous and all too consuming. He answer her ad for a part-time carpenter position but she'll make him do something else before she'll hire him to restore two sets of wooden panels at her workplace.
Not that I had doubt because I know what Susan Mallery can do, but I really enjoyed my first trip into her new series. If you're a fan of her Fool's Gold series, I think you'll like this one too. I guess we can say it's a spin-off of FG , but you don't need to read it before this one. I'll recommend you both series however because they're just that good :)
The author caught my attention right from page one and it was a pleasure to recognize all her trademarks of romance in a friendly town, a touch of humor, a great gathering place, and the presence of unusual animals. It's all in the little details and a great cast of characters.
"Not the one-night stand type ? Me, either. I want to know the guy before I meet his penis."
Not that I had doubt because I know what Susan Mallery can do, but I really enjoyed my first trip into her new series. If you're a fan of her Fool's Gold series, I think you'll like this one too. I guess we can say it's a spin-off of FG , but you don't need to read it before this one. I'll recommend you both series however because they're just that good :)
The author caught my attention right from page one and it was a pleasure to recognize all her trademarks of romance in a friendly town, a touch of humor, a great gathering place, and the presence of unusual animals. It's all in the little details and a great cast of characters.
"Not the one-night stand type ? Me, either. I want to know the guy before I meet his penis."
August 1, 2018
Terrific start to the new series. Happily Inc. is a small town on the edge of the desert in Southern California. Just as Fool's Gold is known for its festivals, Happily Inc. is a mecca for destination weddings. (I loved the explanation of how that happened.) Nick and his brothers, Ronan and Mathias, are recent transplants from their hometown of Fool's Gold. They were introduced in Thrill Me and Best of My Love, including the family drama that caused their departure. Nick is a successful artist who needs something to occupy his time while he waits to hear about a possible (probable?) overseas commission. So he answered an ad for a handyman at Weddings in a Box.
Pallas is the new and still stunned owner of the wedding business, which was left to her by a very good friend. Pallas has always expected to go to work for her mother at the family bank, which is why she got her degree in finance. But her relationship with her mother is strained, as Pallas has always felt that she has failed at earning her mother's love and respect. Libby constantly denigrates Pallas and her wedding business while putting pressure on her to work at the bank. Pallas can't quite bring herself to sell the business, as it calls to something inside her. She has given herself a few months to make a final decision, as she struggles to make the business a success.
The first meeting between Pallas and Nick had me laughing out loud. Pallas was short a soldier for a Roman-themed wedding when Nick arrived for his interview. When her first words are "I need you to take off your shirt," you know it is going to be a fun book. Nick is surprised but willing to play along. He's a little wary about taking the job after that, as playacting isn't his thing, but when he spots the incredible set of wooden panels that will be his project, he can't say no. I loved how he displayed his reverence for the workmanship and what it would mean to work on them. I think that Pallas probably started to fall for him then and there. There were certainly sparks of attraction between the two of them, but a relationship isn't in either's plans. Pallas believes that love only comes when it's earned, that it doesn't just happen. Nick flat-out doesn't do relationships. In his opinion, passion consumes and creates pain, thanks to the example shown by his parents. He refuses to allow himself to feel anything that deeply.
I loved the development of Nick and Pallas's relationship. It started slowly, more as friends, as Nick found himself drawn into the wedding planning activities. Pallas was frequently cautious and tentative at the beginning, without much confidence in her own creativity. I loved how Nick encouraged her by showing her how she could expand on her ideas. As they spent time together over wedding plans, the attraction between them continued to grow. I loved Nick's sensitivity as he waited for Pallas's mind to catch up with her desire, knowing that rushing things would be a mistake. I also enjoyed his protectiveness when he witnessed Libby's attitude toward Pallas. At the same time, Pallas is incredibly understanding about Nick's attitude toward love and passion. She doesn't agree with him and tells him so, but she also doesn't try to change his mind. I loved seeing how the two of them grew and changed over the time they were together, though none of it came easily. I cheered when Pallas made her final decision about the business and stood up to Libby. I wanted to shake Nick when he allowed his fears to come between him and Pallas. I cried when she told him "I love you. You don't have to love me back. I wish you would but if you don't, I'm going to be okay. I get it now. I get what loving someone is supposed to mean. It's a gift. You can accept it or not. That's up to you. It doesn't have to be earned and there's no time restriction. It just is. Whatever happens, whatever you decide to do, I hope you're happy. I hope you find what you're looking for." Nick's lightbulb moment was terrific and I loved that he didn't waste a moment finding her and telling her. His big moment at the end was sweet and romantic and perfect for them.
As the first book in the series, there was a lot of time spent building the world of Happily Inc. Fortunately, Pallas's wedding business was the perfect vehicle to do so. Each of Pallas's friends is unique in character and profession. Carol is the one who runs the local animal preserve (zebras!). Violet, Silver, Wynn, and Natalie are also there for whatever Pallas needs, whether it's moral support and help pull together an awesome wedding. There was also Alan, who had been with the business since its beginning. He's a colorful character who always seems to know just what to do to avert a crisis. The business was a character in itself, and I loved the behind the scenes looks at the weddings. I also enjoyed watching it change and grow along with Pallas. The big gamer wedding was the event that showcased the talents and attitudes of all those involved. I liked seeing more of Mathias and Ronan and get more of what they are going through since their father's revelations. The tensions and attitudes are believable and left me ready to shake both of them, while at the same time I wanted to hug their hurts away. Pallas also had a fair amount of drama in her family, her mother being the largest instigator of said drama. Her grandpa Frank was a fun guy, and I liked it when he stood up for Pallas. The contrast between the way that her mother treated Pallas and how she treated her twin brother, Cade, made it even harder to like her. We only saw a little of Cade, but I liked what was there. I suspect That he will eventually get his own story. I liked Pallas's cousin Drew for his support of her, but he also has an unpleasant history with her friend Silver. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens with them.
Pallas is the new and still stunned owner of the wedding business, which was left to her by a very good friend. Pallas has always expected to go to work for her mother at the family bank, which is why she got her degree in finance. But her relationship with her mother is strained, as Pallas has always felt that she has failed at earning her mother's love and respect. Libby constantly denigrates Pallas and her wedding business while putting pressure on her to work at the bank. Pallas can't quite bring herself to sell the business, as it calls to something inside her. She has given herself a few months to make a final decision, as she struggles to make the business a success.
The first meeting between Pallas and Nick had me laughing out loud. Pallas was short a soldier for a Roman-themed wedding when Nick arrived for his interview. When her first words are "I need you to take off your shirt," you know it is going to be a fun book. Nick is surprised but willing to play along. He's a little wary about taking the job after that, as playacting isn't his thing, but when he spots the incredible set of wooden panels that will be his project, he can't say no. I loved how he displayed his reverence for the workmanship and what it would mean to work on them. I think that Pallas probably started to fall for him then and there. There were certainly sparks of attraction between the two of them, but a relationship isn't in either's plans. Pallas believes that love only comes when it's earned, that it doesn't just happen. Nick flat-out doesn't do relationships. In his opinion, passion consumes and creates pain, thanks to the example shown by his parents. He refuses to allow himself to feel anything that deeply.
I loved the development of Nick and Pallas's relationship. It started slowly, more as friends, as Nick found himself drawn into the wedding planning activities. Pallas was frequently cautious and tentative at the beginning, without much confidence in her own creativity. I loved how Nick encouraged her by showing her how she could expand on her ideas. As they spent time together over wedding plans, the attraction between them continued to grow. I loved Nick's sensitivity as he waited for Pallas's mind to catch up with her desire, knowing that rushing things would be a mistake. I also enjoyed his protectiveness when he witnessed Libby's attitude toward Pallas. At the same time, Pallas is incredibly understanding about Nick's attitude toward love and passion. She doesn't agree with him and tells him so, but she also doesn't try to change his mind. I loved seeing how the two of them grew and changed over the time they were together, though none of it came easily. I cheered when Pallas made her final decision about the business and stood up to Libby. I wanted to shake Nick when he allowed his fears to come between him and Pallas. I cried when she told him "I love you. You don't have to love me back. I wish you would but if you don't, I'm going to be okay. I get it now. I get what loving someone is supposed to mean. It's a gift. You can accept it or not. That's up to you. It doesn't have to be earned and there's no time restriction. It just is. Whatever happens, whatever you decide to do, I hope you're happy. I hope you find what you're looking for." Nick's lightbulb moment was terrific and I loved that he didn't waste a moment finding her and telling her. His big moment at the end was sweet and romantic and perfect for them.
As the first book in the series, there was a lot of time spent building the world of Happily Inc. Fortunately, Pallas's wedding business was the perfect vehicle to do so. Each of Pallas's friends is unique in character and profession. Carol is the one who runs the local animal preserve (zebras!). Violet, Silver, Wynn, and Natalie are also there for whatever Pallas needs, whether it's moral support and help pull together an awesome wedding. There was also Alan, who had been with the business since its beginning. He's a colorful character who always seems to know just what to do to avert a crisis. The business was a character in itself, and I loved the behind the scenes looks at the weddings. I also enjoyed watching it change and grow along with Pallas. The big gamer wedding was the event that showcased the talents and attitudes of all those involved. I liked seeing more of Mathias and Ronan and get more of what they are going through since their father's revelations. The tensions and attitudes are believable and left me ready to shake both of them, while at the same time I wanted to hug their hurts away. Pallas also had a fair amount of drama in her family, her mother being the largest instigator of said drama. Her grandpa Frank was a fun guy, and I liked it when he stood up for Pallas. The contrast between the way that her mother treated Pallas and how she treated her twin brother, Cade, made it even harder to like her. We only saw a little of Cade, but I liked what was there. I suspect That he will eventually get his own story. I liked Pallas's cousin Drew for his support of her, but he also has an unpleasant history with her friend Silver. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens with them.
March 4, 2020
Nice and gentle love story!
January 7, 2019
3 stars [ARC Review]
Bottom Line, Up Top. Not that great. I'm not shy to DNF nowadays, so the fact that I read it all the way through does say something—I wanted to know how things would play out and resolve themselves. While I liked Pallas in the beginning, she quickly became annoying and I disliked how inconstant she was, how she seemed completely unable to resolve anything herself, and how she freaked out at any little issue. Nick was fine, but that's pretty much it—just fine. Finally, I didn't feel the connection between the two of them or why they were The One for the other.
Recommendations. I recommend you go to straight to Book 2 in the series, The Second Chance Girl , which I really enjoyed (and read before reading this one, which wasn't a problem series-wise and didn't cause me any confusion). Rated it 4 stars: read my review. Another great Susan Mallery book I read and really enjoyed was Falling for Gracie . I'm looking forward to reading the other books in the Happily Inc series—really enjoy the world she has created.
Review. Pallas Saunders, the heroine, was one of my biggest issues with this book; the other was her relationship with Nick Mitchell, our hero. Pallas was annoying for a large portion of the book: she can't troubleshoot or problem-solve by herself and she freaks out about everything. Every time something new comes her way, something unexpected happens, or she's presented with a new challenge or opportunity, she loses her shit and then Nick comes in and has to save the day (or offers a super simple fucking solution that doesn't take a genius to come up with, i.e. if she just exercised her brain a little, she could have figured it out herself).
The other thing that really bothered me in this book was the main relationship, and the fact that I didn't get it. I don't really understand how they begin (she thinks he's hot from the beginning, he thinks she's hot once he sees her in a slutty server outfit), how it begins (he randomly kisses her one day, then they randomly kiss again a few days later, then they kiss again another time, then they fall into bed together), or how it continues (they start sleeping together regularly).
There's this knowledge that Nick is waiting on approval for a gig in Dubai, and that if/when that comes through, he'll be gone for two years. There's also an open acknowledgement that he doesn't believe in / want a longterm relationship, because he's suspicious of anything that involves too much passion, given the poor example his parents have set—he doesn't want another person to so consume him, to the oblivion of all else (which I get; you don't see it much in this book, but you see in Book 2 how totally fucked up his parents' relationship is and the fucked up impact it has had on their children).
So we understand from the beginning that they both have an awareness that they're not starting something longterm, but there is still NO discussion whatsoever about anything. It ended up making me feel like passages of the book are missing; it felt weird. So fine, it's nothing serious, but at some point one of them is going to comment on that, right? You don't end up starting a relationship with someone without ever discussing the fact that you're starting a relationship with them, I don't care how formal or informal it is.
I also didn't get the attraction between them nor feel ANY chemistry. They're both nice people, they're both quite interesting people (though again, Pallas and her neuroses really annoyed me), and apparently they're both good-looking ... so okay, a relationship between them makes sense ... I guess. But beyond that, I didn't get it; I never felt on either of their parts that there was something uniquely amazing about the other person that drew them in. Nick is a decent guy and stands up for Pallas to her Mom and encourages her to stand up for herself; he also encourages her to pursue her passion and stick with the business. Those are all great things, but her friends/brother/cousin do the same. There was nothing ultimately compelling about the two of them together.
*This review is of an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Some changes and/or edits may be made to the final published version.
Bottom Line, Up Top. Not that great. I'm not shy to DNF nowadays, so the fact that I read it all the way through does say something—I wanted to know how things would play out and resolve themselves. While I liked Pallas in the beginning, she quickly became annoying and I disliked how inconstant she was, how she seemed completely unable to resolve anything herself, and how she freaked out at any little issue. Nick was fine, but that's pretty much it—just fine. Finally, I didn't feel the connection between the two of them or why they were The One for the other.
Recommendations. I recommend you go to straight to Book 2 in the series, The Second Chance Girl , which I really enjoyed (and read before reading this one, which wasn't a problem series-wise and didn't cause me any confusion). Rated it 4 stars: read my review. Another great Susan Mallery book I read and really enjoyed was Falling for Gracie . I'm looking forward to reading the other books in the Happily Inc series—really enjoy the world she has created.
Review. Pallas Saunders, the heroine, was one of my biggest issues with this book; the other was her relationship with Nick Mitchell, our hero. Pallas was annoying for a large portion of the book: she can't troubleshoot or problem-solve by herself and she freaks out about everything. Every time something new comes her way, something unexpected happens, or she's presented with a new challenge or opportunity, she loses her shit and then Nick comes in and has to save the day (or offers a super simple fucking solution that doesn't take a genius to come up with, i.e. if she just exercised her brain a little, she could have figured it out herself).
The other thing that really bothered me in this book was the main relationship, and the fact that I didn't get it. I don't really understand how they begin (she thinks he's hot from the beginning, he thinks she's hot once he sees her in a slutty server outfit), how it begins (he randomly kisses her one day, then they randomly kiss again a few days later, then they kiss again another time, then they fall into bed together), or how it continues (they start sleeping together regularly).
There's this knowledge that Nick is waiting on approval for a gig in Dubai, and that if/when that comes through, he'll be gone for two years. There's also an open acknowledgement that he doesn't believe in / want a longterm relationship, because he's suspicious of anything that involves too much passion, given the poor example his parents have set—he doesn't want another person to so consume him, to the oblivion of all else (which I get; you don't see it much in this book, but you see in Book 2 how totally fucked up his parents' relationship is and the fucked up impact it has had on their children).
So we understand from the beginning that they both have an awareness that they're not starting something longterm, but there is still NO discussion whatsoever about anything. It ended up making me feel like passages of the book are missing; it felt weird. So fine, it's nothing serious, but at some point one of them is going to comment on that, right? You don't end up starting a relationship with someone without ever discussing the fact that you're starting a relationship with them, I don't care how formal or informal it is.
I also didn't get the attraction between them nor feel ANY chemistry. They're both nice people, they're both quite interesting people (though again, Pallas and her neuroses really annoyed me), and apparently they're both good-looking ... so okay, a relationship between them makes sense ... I guess. But beyond that, I didn't get it; I never felt on either of their parts that there was something uniquely amazing about the other person that drew them in. Nick is a decent guy and stands up for Pallas to her Mom and encourages her to stand up for herself; he also encourages her to pursue her passion and stick with the business. Those are all great things, but her friends/brother/cousin do the same. There was nothing ultimately compelling about the two of them together.
*This review is of an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Some changes and/or edits may be made to the final published version.
March 1, 2018
I would really like to be kind with my dissatisfaction with this novel, however, I am so disgruntled by it that I'm not sure I'll be able to be kind. But I will try. (Semi-Spoilers Here)
Things I liked:
1- Interesting background -I've rarely read novels set in the desert.
2- Wonderful secondary characters for the most part.
3- The Alien wedding was interesting as was the
Black and White Wedding (that provided a few giggles for me)
What I was disgruntled with:
1- A lack of connection and sympathy with the main characters...I think this sort of story (Man feels he can't or won't love; Woman sorely miss-used by her mother, Father, Family)has been way overdone.
2 -Too many secondary characters that seem to blend into one type/one person (no distinct personality to me). I understand that this needs to be done with a first novel in what may be a long series, but it was a bit overwhelming to me.
3 -This is a 'was-rinse- repeat/formulaic story in so many ways ---not only does the author do this within this book, but the idea behind this book has just been over-done. There were no surprises for me.
I read to get away from the stresses of my life and want to be 'taken away' by what I'm reading, this book did not do that for me and it sounds like all the further books will be using the same formula. Readers deserve better than this.
Things I liked:
1- Interesting background -I've rarely read novels set in the desert.
2- Wonderful secondary characters for the most part.
3- The Alien wedding was interesting as was the
Black and White Wedding (that provided a few giggles for me)
What I was disgruntled with:
1- A lack of connection and sympathy with the main characters...I think this sort of story (Man feels he can't or won't love; Woman sorely miss-used by her mother, Father, Family)has been way overdone.
2 -Too many secondary characters that seem to blend into one type/one person (no distinct personality to me). I understand that this needs to be done with a first novel in what may be a long series, but it was a bit overwhelming to me.
3 -This is a 'was-rinse- repeat/formulaic story in so many ways ---not only does the author do this within this book, but the idea behind this book has just been over-done. There were no surprises for me.
I read to get away from the stresses of my life and want to be 'taken away' by what I'm reading, this book did not do that for me and it sounds like all the further books will be using the same formula. Readers deserve better than this.
August 5, 2017
I read the Happily, Inc books out of order, but when I did, I knew I just had to go back and read about how Pallas and Nick came together.
And boy, I wasn't disappointed.
Pallas owns Weddings in a box and has the most hateful mother I've ever read. truly. The woman is a class A bitch and all that goes along with it, and Pallas is at her wit's end trying to be the good daughter and live up to all mommy's expectations and demands.
Nick knows a little sumthin' sumthin' about demanding parents since his father is a world famous artist and a complete asshole. Pallas and Nick share more than just their parental angst. They are both at a bit of a crossroads in their professional and personal lives and those problems make YOU SAY IT FIRST such a good read.
Pallas finally finds her voice and confronts her mother, and in so doing realizes for the first time in her life that love isn't something she needs to earn, but something that she can give freely.
Nick finally understands that not all love is consuming and soul-sucking like his parent's marriage and love affair is.
I can see why this series is such a popular one with readers. It has great, complex characters, excellent internal and external conflicts, and fun secondary characters.
5 stars for YOU SAY IT FIRST from me!
And boy, I wasn't disappointed.
Pallas owns Weddings in a box and has the most hateful mother I've ever read. truly. The woman is a class A bitch and all that goes along with it, and Pallas is at her wit's end trying to be the good daughter and live up to all mommy's expectations and demands.
Nick knows a little sumthin' sumthin' about demanding parents since his father is a world famous artist and a complete asshole. Pallas and Nick share more than just their parental angst. They are both at a bit of a crossroads in their professional and personal lives and those problems make YOU SAY IT FIRST such a good read.
Pallas finally finds her voice and confronts her mother, and in so doing realizes for the first time in her life that love isn't something she needs to earn, but something that she can give freely.
Nick finally understands that not all love is consuming and soul-sucking like his parent's marriage and love affair is.
I can see why this series is such a popular one with readers. It has great, complex characters, excellent internal and external conflicts, and fun secondary characters.
5 stars for YOU SAY IT FIRST from me!
August 10, 2017
This book was a nice start to this new series. I liked Pallas. Yet, she was more reserved in the beginning but by the end of the story, she had really opened up. Whereas, I was a fan of Nick's instantly. Although, it probably helped that he was willing to go with the flow even if that meant dressing like a Roman soldier complete with a fake tan and toga.
Pallas business, Weddings in a Box was fun. The crazy ideas that her clients came up with were intriguing. Luckily, Pallas had her girlfriend squad to support her. They consisted of Carol, Violet, Natalie, Silver, and Wynn. These ladies were great. They brought the fun and when Pallas was with them I noticed she was more open.
Back to Nick and Pallas. I found the chemistry between them to be charming. Nick was considerate in the fact that he knew that Pallas needed to take it slowly even if her inner voice was screaming for fast. They were cute together. I am interested to check out the next book in this series.
Pallas business, Weddings in a Box was fun. The crazy ideas that her clients came up with were intriguing. Luckily, Pallas had her girlfriend squad to support her. They consisted of Carol, Violet, Natalie, Silver, and Wynn. These ladies were great. They brought the fun and when Pallas was with them I noticed she was more open.
Back to Nick and Pallas. I found the chemistry between them to be charming. Nick was considerate in the fact that he knew that Pallas needed to take it slowly even if her inner voice was screaming for fast. They were cute together. I am interested to check out the next book in this series.
June 20, 2019
Susan Mallery is getting to be one of my favorite contemporary romance authors. This is an older one of hers but it has all the elements I've come to depend in her work.
This one comes complete with a couple who have learned all about the elements of love from parents who had toxic relationships. Oh, gee, what could go wrong there?
Well, of course, there's a HEA - this is a romance, after all - but not without some shenanigans along the way -- including a wedding DJ who holds up the wedding party with a paint gun...
This one comes complete with a couple who have learned all about the elements of love from parents who had toxic relationships. Oh, gee, what could go wrong there?
Well, of course, there's a HEA - this is a romance, after all - but not without some shenanigans along the way -- including a wedding DJ who holds up the wedding party with a paint gun...
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