Wednesday, August 28, 2013

"THREE LITTLE WORDS by Susan Mallery" BLOGTOUR (#Review + #GIVEAWAY)



THREE LITTLE WORDS (Fool’s Gold #12)
Author: Susan Mallery
Published July 30, 2013 by Harlequin HQN
Genre: contemporary romance novel, women’s fiction, chick lit
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

“You were there with me, every step of the way. You kept me company when I was lonely. You reminded me what I was fighting for, and in the end, you brought me home.”

From the cover - 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 review – This ‘romantic comedy’ moves along at a placid pace and not one, but  two different love story threads are well harmonized against the backdrop of a welcoming ‘small town’ California and its close-knit community. The lively banters and punchy dialogues between the lead characters, Isabel and Ford, infuse the romance with  a captivating dose of humor, keeping the overall tones on the light-hearted side of the romance spectrum. Isabel’s witty and self-deprecating remarks playfully match Kent’s easy and laconic charm, and the author will deftly shift  their ‘friends-to-lovers dance’ on some more intense and emotional grounds at the end of the novel. They’re friendly relationship had never been just a matter of friendship after all, actually more loaded with emotional connection than Kent will ever be able to admit to friends and family, let alone  himself. With her warmth, juvenile candor, and open-hearted letters reaching him over a decade on the Iraq and Afghanistan war frontlines, Isabel was “the only steady object in a rapidly spinning world”. Even now that he is back in society, she is still his buffer, providing him with that safe haven of familiarity and stability he needs to fit back among  civilians.  But what I found even more absorbing was the love story between secondary characters Consuelo (Ford’s comrade in arms and now martial arts instructor) and Kent (Ford’s brother and high-school teacher) …for me, they stole the lead couple’s thunder. What makes their romance even more appealing to my taste is the ‘opposites attract’ theme: when ‘every-guy’s-fantasy' Consuelo and 'math geek' Kent meet, two completely different worlds collide, and that makes for some friction and angst that will tug at your heart-strings. The tough pint-size commando possesses the beauty of a war goddess, but underneath the ‘emotional Kevlar’ she keeps wearing to shield her heart from the danger of getting too involved with a man, Consuelo hides a much more vulnerable personality. Deeply wounded and craving for ‘normality’, she longs for the joy of letting herself  be a woman in the strong arms of a dependable man. A devoted teacher and divorcee father of a teen-age son, smart and sensible Kent is more than meets the eye: “the suburban dad with a sexy edge” is Consuelo’s ultimate ‘dream man’.
Heart-grabbing, loaded with humor and emotions, Three Little Words by Susan Mallery is a charmingly funny, deliciously sexy, and emotionally satisfying read. 

                                                              
Did your first love turn into the real deal? Or is your ‘dream man’ worlds apart from who you are?

GIVEAWAY  (US only)
Become a follower of Mina's Bookshelf and answer my question in the comments section below for a chance to WIN the fantastic prize generously offered by the publicist:

1 Susan Mallery FOOLPROOF BRIDAL KIT is up for grabs for a lucky follower of this blog. The kit includes 1 copy of Three Little Words and OPI, Rise&Shine, TRESemme, Gillette, Secret beauty products and more... Follow, comment away, and don't forget to add your email address. Good luck!

***Review copy graciously offered by the publicist in exchange for an unbiased and honest opinion.

16 comments:

  1. Yet another enticing review Mina! You had me at romance and comedy and then you threw in fashion! All up my alley! A must read! I'll answer your question; but, I've been so lucky to have won from your blog before so please don't consider my comment for entry to win~~only to play along. The answer is yes~~my first love, the man I met in the library in High School 30 years ago, is the man I wake up to every day. My husband.

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    1. Awwwww Maryellen!!!! So, you have your own romance hero <3 And that's wonderful...no time, no distance stands between true soul mates. Feel free to enter the contest, Maryellen, even if you have a winner in a previous contest. Thank you for stopping by :)

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  2. What a wonderful review! and to answer your question no my first love did not turn out to be "The Real Deal" Its funny cause I saw a picture of him recently and thought "OMG what was I thinking" giggle... This sounds like a GREAT book!! Its on my wish list ..

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    1. In some cases, losing sight of your first crush is the best thing, Dana ! LOL! Thank you so much for entering the contest. Best of luck :)

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  3. Beautiful review. Very well done. New follower, thanks for following me.

    Ah, love. Well to be completely honest I have never been in love before. Sad, yes but I hope when I do meet Mr. Right it will be forever.

    Beckie @ Bittersweet Enchantment

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    1. Thank you, Beckie! I appreciate your kindness :) My wish for you is to find Mr. Right. He doesn't have to be perfect...just perfect for you <3

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  4. Nice review on Three Little Words,Mina. Sounds like something I'd enjoy. Good Luck to Susan!

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  5. Hey Cathrina :) Good of you to stop by and say hi. Thank you for the follow!

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  6. Love that it's both romantic and humorous. Nice review!

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    1. If you are in the mood for some lighthearted summer (or what it's left of it), this is great. Thank you for checking in Book Cupid!

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  7. Great review! I love contemporary romances:) And to answer your question...no my first love didn't stick...I wonder how many do!

    New GFC follower:)

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    1. Wwelcome back, Melissa! Thank you for stopping by :)

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  8. Great review, love Susan Mallery! My first love didn't stick but it provided life lessons that helped me find THE ONE and we've been together 33 years. Love being part of the Long Distance Book club and getting access to great reviews and new books to add to my shelf!

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    1. WOW! 33 years is a blessing, Laura!!! Thank you for sharing your story :)

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  9. Adding to my need to read list, for sure. Sounds like a book I will fall in love with. As far as a first love, I guess it would be the boy in Kindergarten that kissed me when he caught me when we were playing cat and mouse. Luckily that romance lasted only half way through 1st grade.

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