Friday, May 6, 2016

4 stars-- Best of My Love (Fool's Gold #20) by Susan Mallery


"This is really uncomfortable," she said firmly. "But I think we can get past it."

"Okay."

The slow response was more neutral than agreement.

"We have a purpose," she continued. "I want to fall in love and get married."

Aiden's expression tightened with what could only be described as panic. Some of her tension eased.

"Not to you," she pointed out. "Don't freak."

"Then don't say stuff like that."
Best of my Love is the perfect read if you're looking for a slow building low drama romance. It was a lovely time as Shelby and Aiden start up a bit of an experiment--strangers spending time together and becoming friends. No romance involved. That's right. No naughty bits shall meet and become friendly like. Just two people--who happen to be a female and a male-- getting to know each other, hanging out, and hopefully getting over their respective issues-- she's scared to trust men and he only ever has random hook ups but no real relationships with females..and that's gotta change.


Aiden and Shelby are good people, hard workers, funny and sweet and both dealing with residual childhood trauma that's really held them back when it comes to relationships. And I totally loved them and how they were with each other. They're funny and light hearted as they plan dates, erm, gender events to get to know each other. lol Yup they took turns planing outings--Boy thing. Girl thing. You know, pedicures, card games, mountain biking and baby showers. Heh. It was just fun seeing these two try everything together and slowly become important in each others lives during their 6 month experiment together.
"I'm thinking of getting a dog."

"Interesting. A big one, right?"

He nodded. "One I could take camping and fishing."

"You could teach it to snowboard. It could wear one of those cute coats and eye goggles."

"That's not happening. This is a manly dog."

"It's a dog that doesn't yet exist, at least not in your life. Maybe you'll fall for a poodle."

"Never."

"A Yorkie?" she giggled. "You could coordinate your shirt with her ribbon. You'd be so sweet together."

"Why are you emasculating me?"

"It's fun." She rested her elbows on the table. 
The whole awkward strangers to friendship and teasing to confidants to lust sneaking in and romance budding. It was just a fun little journey. There was a lot of lightheartedness but there were also some pretty serious things dealt with as they both tried to get past their hang ups. And I loved that they were there for each other as those things were tackled.

There's a tiny bit of drama towards the end but even that was fairly light. Best of My Love was just an easy going rambling friends to lovers romance that kind of soothes the reader soul. Add in wonderful friendships outside of the romance and it was a very fun time, indeed. The only thing I wish had been included (other than a little more heat since that was WAY slow to happen) was more resolution on the family front at least with his family. But other than that...lovely, heartwarming and beautifully touching.

To overcome her painful past, baker Shelby Gilmore goes on the hunt for a friend—a male friend—to convince her stubborn psyche that men can be trusted. But where in a town as small as Fool's Gold will the petite blonde find a guy willing to not date her?

Dark, charming Aidan Mitchell puts the "adventure" in Mitchell Adventure Tours…and into the beds of his many willing female tourists. Until he realizes he's inadvertently become that guy—the one-night Casanova—and worse, everyone in town knows it. Maybe Shelby's boy/girl experiment will help him see women as more than just conquests so he can change his ways and win back his self-respect.

As Aidan and Shelby explore the secret lives of men and women, the heat between them fires up the Fool's Gold rumor mill. If no one will believe they're just friends, maybe they should give the gossips something to really talk about!

  
*covers link to Amazon

Challenges: Pick Your Genre (contemporary) | Goodreads

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