Chasing Perfect

Susan Mallery made me laugh out loud throughout this book and, at the same time, her characters really touched my heart. Charity and Josh and the other people of Fool's Gold feel like real people. The town of Fool's Gold has been receiving early census numbers, and they're shocked to discover just how bad their man shortage really is. Mayor Marsha is afraid if they don't find a way to bring more men to town quick, Fool's Gold might become a ghost town. (Not to mention that the whole country might make fun of them.) So Charity's first job as the new City Planner is to recruit more male-dominated industries to Fool's Gold. Josh Golden is Fool's Gold's most famous son, a former professional cyclist who now lives in Fool's Gold full-time and owns several businesses in town. The mayor asks Josh to help Charity in her recruitment efforts. Poor Charity can't think straight when Josh is around! Susan Mallery is a master at building a love story. I was with Charity and Josh every step of the way in their journey to discovering each other. I believe that they'll be happy together forever, and that's exactly the feeling I want to have at the end of a romance novel. Loved it, loved it, loved it!

Again, Susan writes a terrific story and a great beginning to a series. I want to move there. I love Northern California and the weather. My only disappointment is that I have to wait until the end of June for the next book.

As a child, urban planner Charity Jones had no place she could call home. Thus her fondest desire is to finally settle down somewhere. When Fool's Gold, California hires her to help the hamlet attract new business and men, she thinks this is her permanent place to call home Men for some reason don't stay in Fool's Gold normally. One exception is former Tour de France winner Josh Golden who left biking after a teammate died in an accident. He has been in hiding in the California foothills. All the women in town want Josh except Charity; all he wants is Charity and not the other women. The fun behind this entertaining contemporary romance is the aptly titled town that seems to struggle with a scarcity of men; thus leading to poignant jocular situations. The support cast is strong and eccentric while the lead couple is a wonderful pairing as she just wants a home without a man but is hired by a town of women to entice men to come and stay. Fans will enjoy the first visit to Fool's Gold as Susan Mallery deftly merges humor with pathos. Harriet Klausner

4 1/2 stars This is the first in a new series from Susan Mallery about a town in California called Fool's Gold. I received this book from the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program. Charity Jones has been hired by Fool's Gold's mayor to be the new city planner. She moved around all through childhood and now at 28 wants to settle down and grow roots. She loves the small town and can't wait to find a house and make a home. She's leaving behind a string of bad relationships and doesn't plan to do any more dating for a while. Josh Golden is Fool's Gold's golden boy. He's a retired professional cyclist who has returned home after leaving cycling at a young age. He's got reputation of being a real ladies' man and all the women in town drool over him. Charity doesn't want to be part of the crowd, but she can't help but be attracted to him. This is a classic and sweet romance. Many of the plot points are a bit predictable, but not annoyingly so. I liked the turn-around of how the golden boy can sometimes be the right guy and the "nice" guy isn't always the right one (think like the movie The Mask). Both Josh and Charity were well developed characters with enough depth to give them realism and likability. I enjoyed the banter between the two as well as their development apart. This is the first in the series and I was happy that the setup for the next book didn't occur until the very last paragraph in the book. This book can be read stand alone and you aren't left hanging too much--just a little interest left at the end. I have found lately than many series books have been setting up the next book 1/3 of the way through the one you are reading and you lose time with the current couple. Thankfully, no so in this one. Ethan is the next hero, but the next book could have included any number of characters right until the last paragraph when Ethan's story is setup. I'm a Susan Mallery fan and have read almost all of her recent series books. If you have enjoyed her latest series, you will like this one and be looking forward to reading more.

Ms Mallery has created her own town so she can tell us some love stories for six books for sure. We'll have 3 this year and 3 next year too and with luck many more books in the years to come. Fool's Gold is the name of the town in the Sierra foothills with everything you can think of and if you can't it probably will be coming to town soon. CHASING PERFECT is the story of the new city planner Charity Jones and her hopes of bringing new businesses to town--that is her job. There seem to be so many single women in Fool's Gold and not nearly as many single men for them. Charity falls in love with the town and plans to never move again. She moved so much as a child she just wants a home. Charity has a few personal problems to work through now that she chosen this. The town has a favorite son, Josh Golden the world class cyclist who does want to settle back in Fool's Gold. He's here right now but maybe he'd like to ride again though and be on the move. You're going to love Josh too-a wonderful hero with some issues he needs to work out. He has been known as a player and most think he still is. Charity and Josh seem to be drawn to each other but there is no privacy in a small town. Charity doesn't want to be one of his conquests and he needs someone to understand his feelings and they do have there ups-and-downs in their romance. I loved the town of Fool's Gold myself and Josh & Charity's love story only made it that much better. Wonderful read and I'm looking forward to July's ALMOST PERFECT Josh's friend Ethan & his old flame's love story.