Only MineDiscussion(Aug.Group Read) - Some Spoilers!

[Tegan]

I'll swap book with friends, that way they want theirs back so I'm sure to get mine back. haha

[Hannah]

LMAO I should have done that Tegan but my friends seem to just take my books. I usually get them back but it cane take a few weeks. :/ I don't like buying other copies but I can, if I have to. LOL

[Tegan]

Hahaha. I know what you mean! I have a list of who has what. I'm gonna go all bounty hunter to get them back. lol.

[Hannah]

I need to do that. One of my friend's still has my Pelican Brief book from like high school. LOL

[Tegan]

Lol. We'll all set out on quests to get our books back!

[Hannah]

It may take me awhile... I am so bad at that! LOL I'm like "Oh, you want to keep it awhile? Sure, that's no problem!" instead of being all "No! Give it back to me now!" LOL

Oh, something on topic: I loved the first kiss between Finn and Dakota. Very nice. I also liked the convo between Finn and Dakota(and then between her and her sisters) at the bar. Good stuff!

[Kelly Lynn]

I love anything that takes place at Jo's Bar! The guys reactions are priceless! I'm hoping that one of these trilogies coming up in the next two years will have a good man for Jo!

[Hannah]

I loved Finn being all "... there won't be any umbrella's, right?" LMAO

[Tegan]

I totally wish there was a bar around here like Jo's. Maybe I should start my own...haha

[Shellbelle]

There are so many new post in this thread I don't know what to respond to!hahaha!

I will say that I feel like Susan Mallery could only write Fool's Gold books for the rest of her life, and she would never run out of interesting characters! I'm always wanting to know what is going to happen with the side characters! So I have a question for you guys....

What character(s) would you like to see have their own story (their own book, novella, side story in another book...) and what is about them that has you intrigued, and wanting to know more? Do you have any theories about them or their situation?

[Shellbelle]

I can't wait for the rest of Denise's story to play out, it is really heating up in Only Yours (I'm about 20 pages from being done!yay)! But I have to say after reading Only Yours I'm even more interested in learing more about the Dueling, hairdresser sisters!lol And def. Joe, she seems to have some man hating (maybe hating is to strong of a word here...) issues. But after Only Yours I'm most inteterested in learing about Kent Hendrix (the 2nd oldest i think???) and his son Reece! I won't say more till everyone has read it, but I am really hoping he at least gets a side story☺

[Tegan]

Oh boy. Well I've only read Only Mine so I can only go off of the characters in that book. Learning about Jo would definitely be interesting! I think another interesting character would be the mayor!! I can't wait to read more about Denise. It would also be interesting to see why Aurelia's mother acts the way she does. Maybe something happened in the past? There's so many characters! haha. I can't imagine how many more I'm gonna meet once I read the other books!! Also, I still think it would be interesting to see Sasha on TV! lol.

[Shellbelle]

I would love to hear more about the Mayor, I would find it hilarious to see Glady's (the older horn dog that always speaks her mind) get a little action!lol Sasha's story would be interesting too☺

[~Jennifer~]

I wonder if we ever find out why the beauty shop sisters are feuding.

[Tegan]

Are they in other novels other than Only Mine? I'm curious from what I've read in Only Mine, but I'm wondering if there's more feuding in other novels.

[~Jennifer~]

It was there in the first three...you just never find out why.

[Tegan]

Oh. Okay. Well I'll be reading those soon! :) I hope she tells us eventually!!

[Kelly Lynn]

I agree with you guys, the feuding hairdressers would be fun to hear more about. They are amusing in Rauol and Pia's story. And I already mentioned I'd love more Jo. The theories on why she is in town are so amazingly soap operaish that I can't wait to hear what it really is!

[Tegan]

This just popped into my head. I don't know if it's talked about more in other novels or if the girl is ever a part of the story, but it would be interesting to learn about the girl that did her research on Fool's Gold and their man shortage. It would be entertaining if she wound up finding a man there or something.

[~Jennifer~]

Since the month is winding down and we're getting ready for our next Group Read of . I would like to end this discussion with the following question:

Reality TV has taken over the television. With the 'find love now' kind of programs that are so popular (like The Bachelor, Chains of Love, Average Joe, etc..), how likely do you think it is for someone to find TRUE love in a situation like that? Is there a possibility that a relationship that started under such conditions can survive?

[Tegan]

I think for it to work from a television show both people have to be serious about actually finding a relationship. It can't be two people that just want to be famous and be on tv or just get some action. I think the best example of a couple that really wanted to find love are Trista and Ryan on the Bachelorette. They're still together and have a wonderful family. There's a handful of people that are still together after the show, but I think there's more that aren't. But I'm glad that they show they can really make it work.

[[deleted user]]

I'm a little late to this discussion. I just started reading last night. So far I'm really liking the story.
Let's see, to answer your question, for myself, I find it hard to believe that relationships started on shows like these can last. How can you fall in love with a man who has been kissing 10 other women while trying to start a relationship with you. Eww. I'm not surprised when a reality show couple breaks up.
Although I am happy for those who do make it like Trista and Ryan

[Shellbelle]

I think if they meet and fall in love from a reality show it's just luck. Most people that are there are trying to force or fake emotions they don't really feel. And Carolyn makes a good point, I do not want sloppy seconds...or tenths!lol I have never really got into the dating reality shows, but everyonce in a while I get sucked in, and I can't beleive the way these people degrade themselves. That can't be who they are in real life, and if it is who want to honestly be with someone like that?! Of course there is always that chance that two people meet, and hit it off, and take the time after to get to know eachother, but these people would prob. have the same results if they met at the grocery store.

Carolyn, and anybody else who has read the book or is reading the book later in the month, feel free to go back and read the questions Jen asked and answer them as you read! Love to hear what you have to say☺

[Cindy]

I just finished reading Only Mine and I loved it! I can't wait to start on Montana's story in .

Like Jennifer, I was engaged from the start because we've "met" Dakota in the previous Fool's Gold books. Finn is great, he was responsible and caring. It was sad to hear about Dakota's condition, a one in a million chance of getting pregnant :(. When she told her mom what the gynecologist told her, it was heartbreaking. I was excited when she got a call and was given a chance to adopt, Hannah is a really great baby ♥. It was surprising that Dakota got pregnant :), and I was really happy when Dakota & Finn had their HEA. They were great together, each supporting the other when they were in fear(Dakota being a first time mom) and dealing w/ family issue's(Finn's brothers).

I liked the secondary characters, even though they met in the set of "True Love or Fool's Gold" Stephen & Aurelia made a great couple. Normally I do not believe couples in reality shows would work out but I believed in their relationship. They have a similar background where they were being controlled by their parent/guardian because of this they had connected and we're able to work together to confront their problems. I was happy to see that Stephen had stood up to Finn and Aurelia had stood up to her mom. Aurelia's mom was a selfish person, I did not like her. I can't understand how a mom can treat her daughter like that. I don't believe the age difference will pose a problem, if a couple is really meant for each other and are in love they can work through any problems.

[[deleted user]]

Question #1: We'll start off with an easy one...

How did you experience the book? Were you engaged immediately, or did it take you a while to
"get into it"? How did you feel reading it—amused,
sad, disturbed, confused,...?

I was hooked from the beginning. I think it had to do with Finn and him chasing after his brothers to go back to school. I would be devastated if my child (or in his cases brothers) quit school with only one semester left.
I'm a little more than halfway and I know this story is supposed to be about Finn and Dakota, but I'm more interested in Stephen and Aurelia. I think the feelings between them are genuine and I'm curious to see how things will end (or not).

[[deleted user]]

Question 2

What were your thoughts on Aurelia's mom? What would make a mother treat her only daughter in that way? Does Aurelia's relationship with her mother tie in with the relationship that develops with Stephen? Do you see a HEA in their future or are the age differences going to pose a problem in the future?

I don't like her mom. Aurelia seems to make her decisions because of her mom and not for herself. It's selfish on her moms part. I think that both Aurelia and Stephen have that controlling parent issue and because of that they can relate to eachother.
As far as the age issue, Stephen seems to be more mature than Sasha, so I can see a lasting relationship between him and Aurelia. But I also feel that Aurelia has to deal with the age issue and just let it go. It upset me when Finn talked about her being a cougar. Geez, shes only 30.

[~Jennifer~]

Did anyone watch Outback Jack a few years ago? Vadim and Natalie are still married and have a little girl now. That's the only show I watched like that...I couldn't resist the half-naked Aussie. lol

[Shellbelle]

I think I missed that one...but I'm wishing I would have caught it;P

[~Jennifer~]

Allow me to introduce you...lol ;)He's such a cutie and seemed so sincere. Loved the show. Even the hubby watched...though I'm pretty sure he watched it for the blonde. lol

[Shellbelle]

How the heck did I miss that!!!!??? I miss the sexy Aussie but Vh1 makes sure that we see every Rock of Love episode 9,000 times...grrrr!

[[deleted user]]

Haha Shell. I love Brett Michaels but that show is just ridiculous.

I also missed Outback Jack!!! He looks like a hottie.

[Shellbelle]

Carolyn mentioned in one of her comments that she would be upset if one of her kids quite College with only one semester to go (like the twins did in Only Mine). Do you guys think you would be upset if your kids, or someone you loved and was invested in their future did the same? If it bothers you Why? And if it doesn't Why Not?

[Tegan]

Coming from a recent college graduate I would be upset. There were times that I wanted to quit the last semester, I was stressed out and just wanted to be done and move forward, but I knew it would've been a waste of the other 3 years and 1 semester. I know it would've made my family sad as well. They were so excited for me to graduate. I know they would support me in anything that I do, but after putting all that effort in. Especially right at the end. I guess it would depend on the situation. But when you're that close, finishing is really important.

[Kelly Lynn]

I think it would upset me if one of my hypothetical kids didn't finish college. I grew up with the where am I going to college question, never the are you going\planning to graduate question. It was expected from an early age, so I think I'd expect the same from my kids, unless they had some overly detailed plan that proved to me they could survive life without a degree. Neither Sasha nor Stephen had any kind of real plan, so I'd be as disappointed as Finn was.

[Tegan]

There you go, you worded what I was trying to say. haha.

[Shellbelle]

First of all I have to say I agree with you both, and Kelly it was the same in my house growing up, and I'm that way with my daughter. I haven't finished school becuase I went and got knocked up in the 2nd sememster and it has taken a lot longer to get my degree (especially after my divorce) but even still it's when I get my degree not if. But just to play devil advocate don't you feel like life experience can be just as important? Like with Sasha and Stephen, the reality show wouldn't wait...but that last semester of school will.

[~Jennifer~]

Life experience is important. But they can always get that after the last semester. I might be able to understand taking time off halfway through if he/she is really floundering and can't decide what they want to do. Maybe. One thing is for sure there will be no quitting. Period. If I can haul my butt through the Alaskan tundra in the middle of the freaking winter while my husband was deployed to finish my degree...then my son can suck it up and finish up one little semester to get his. The end. Sorry I ranted there for a sec. lol

[Shellbelle]

I have to add also that as easy as it is to say you will go back, once you take any kind of time off, it is really hard to back in the game! And life sneaks up on you and gets in the way really quickly! After I got my associate, I decided to go to work for a couple of semesters before finishing the teaching degree and then I got a divorce and now I have to work! And night classes are pretty much out of the question becuase all the block classes for the elementary ed are during the day, and then of course there are the student teaching semester, which again is during the day. So I would have to quite my job...and that's not in the cards. My point to all that rambling is I thought no big deal if I work for a couple semesters, I'll make some extra money, and I'll go back soon enough....If I would have kept going I might have finished already! A semester can snowball very quickly ....

[Tegan]

It is hard! I just graduated and I really want to go to grad school, which I'm checking into over the next year. But there's so much to do for it! Right now I have to focus on moving and getting a job before I can even sit down and study for the GRE. I figure everything will work out like it's supposed to!

[Shellbelle]

I'm closing this thread, and moving it to the ARchived. If you wish to discuss this book furthur, you can go to the Fool's Gold Series thread♥

Thank you everyone for making our first Group Read so much fun! We had some really great discussions going. And Thanks to Jennifer for leading the discussion and coming up with such great topics and questions☺