Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway: Three Little Words by Susan Mallery (CLOSED)

Three Little Words by Susan Mallery
Series: Fool's Gold, #12
Harlequin HQN
July 2013
Format: ARC Paperback, 332 pages
Source: Publisher via Book Trib

Can first love turn into the real deal in a sizzling new Fool's Gold story from New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery? 

Isabel Carlisle thinks she's cursed in the romance department. Her teenage crush, Ford Hendrix, ignored all her letters. Her husband left her for another...man. So Isabel has come home to dust off her passion for fashion and run the family bridal shop until her parents are ready to sell it. Then she'll pursue her real dreams. At least, that's the plan, until sexy, charming Ford returns and leaves her feeling fourteen all over again....

Seeing Isabel all grown up hits bodyguard trainer Ford like a sucker punch. Back when heartbreak made him join the military, her sweet letters kept him sane. Now he can't take his eyes-or his lips-off her. The man who gave up on love has a reason to stay in Fool's Gold forever-if three little words can convince Isabel to do the same.

My thoughts: I've read quite a few books by Susan Mallery - many of her series and most of her stand-alone books. For some reason, I didn't jump on the Fool's Gold band wagon at the beginning and now I'm kicking myself. I've read a few in the series (to-date: books 1, 2, 2.5, 3 and 8), and while I am definitely not caught up, I do enjoy these books. One of the reading challenges I'm doing is Finish the Series and this is one of the series I am hoping to catch up on!

In this visit to Fool's Gold, we get more the Hendrix boys' stories. We meet quite a few of the Hendrix clan in some of the earlier books and I was excited to have both Ford and Kent's happily-ever-after tales. It's no surprise that each guy ends up with the girl they set their eyes on early in the book, and while this book primarily focused on Ford and Isabel, the secondary story between Kent and Consuelo was just as touching. 

My favorite part of these books is the journey that each character takes to get to their happily-ever-after. For some, it's a rather straight-forward journey with a few bumps in the road - obvious at times, but necessary for the story. For others, the journey is more complicated, with lots of heavy stuff thrown in. Creating a balance between the two keeps the series from becoming too predictable and boring.

I loved the letters that start this book. They are the letters Isabel wrote to Ford while he was away in the Army. These letters set the stage for the book and are a unique way to progressing time in a quick, easy way. It's especially heartwarming when we find out where those letters are now.

I'm so excited to continue reading this series - not only the earlier books, but those still to come. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite contemporary romance series!

Books in this series:

      1. Chasing Perfect                     8. Summer Nights
      2. Almost Perfect                      9. All Summer Long
      2.5 Sister of the Bride             9.5 A Fool's Gold Christmas
      3. Finding Perfect                     9.75  Halfway There
      4. Only Mine                               10. Just One Kiss
      5. Only Yours                             11. Two of a Kind
      6. Only His                                  12. Three Little Words                     
      6.1 Only Us                                 12.5 Christmas on 4th Street
      6.2 Almost Summer
      7. Summer Days


GIVEAWAY DETAILS - CLOSED (US only) 

Thanks to Alissa at Book Trib, I can offer one of my readers with a U.S. mailing address the Susan Mallery Foolproof Bridal Kit along with a copy of Three Little Words. This giveaway is open to any one who wants to be a little pampered for a special occasion or just for no reason at all. 

The gift bag includes the following and is valued at $40:

• A wedding-themed bottle of OPI nail polish
• Not Your Mother’s® Rise & Shine™ Silky Smooth Shine Mist
• Manicure set (includes emery board, small and large nail clippers, tweezers, cuticle stick and nail polish remover pad)
• Heart-shaped compact mirror
• 12-piece E.L.F. eye shadow kit
• Travel makeup brush set
• Makeup remover wipes
• Lip gloss
• Travel sewing kit
• Kleenex®
• Secret® deodorant
• Razor and Gillette® Shave Gel
• Nivea Creme
• Wisps toothbrushes
• TRESemmé® hairspray

To enter… 

• For 1 entry leave me a comment entering the giveaway.
• Tweet, share on Facebook, or blog for 2 extra entries.
• MUST include email address so I can contact you if you win.

This giveaway is open to US residents only and ends August 31th.

 

Good luck!