Chasing Perfect

by Susan Mallery

2010

Publication

Mills & Boon, c2010

Series

Fool's Gold (1)

Status

Available

Description

Fiction. Romance. HTML: Welcome to Fool's Gold, California, a charming community in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. There's lots to do and plenty of people to meet, especially women. Because there's just one tiny problem in Fool's Gold: the men don't seem to stick around. Maybe it's the lure of big-city life, or maybe it's plain old bad luck, but regardless of the reason, the problem has to be fixed, fast. And Charity Jones may be just the city planner to do it. Charity's nomadic childhood has left her itching to settle down, and she immediately falls in love with all the storybook town has to offer--everything, that is, except its sexiest and most famous resident, former world-class cyclist Josh Golden. With her long list of romantic disasters, she's not about to take a chance on another bad boy, even if everyone else thinks he's perfect just the way he is. But maybe that's just what he needs--someone who knows the value of his flaws. Someone who knows that he's just chasing perfect..… (more)

Media reviews

From Me to You ... Video, Photography, & Book Reviews

3 out of 5 stars. This book was about two people who have been left or abandoned by those they loved in their past and are learning how to trust again. The town of Fools Gold is very well written, the characters are great, and it makes to wish you could visit the town yourself. However, the book

was a little too predictable for you to really enjoy it. My favorite characters in this book were Charity & Pia! Charity was a good leading lady. I really hope one of these Fools Gold series books will be about Pia getting a man or at least mention it in one of the secondary plots of a book, since she was a sweetie, it made me wish I could have her as a friend. =0)

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User reviews

LibraryThing member out-and-about

I've never read Mallery before and unfortunately, based just on this book will likely not read her again. The characters were well developed and likable, but the plot was not only predictable but really pretty simplistic. No real build-up, drama, climax, just kind of there. If you are looking for a

simple easy beach read, it fits, but I prefer something with at least a little complexity.

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24 more

LibraryThing member ItsDamaris

I said it before and I will say it again Susan Mallery's books remind of lifetime movies lol. To me that is a good thing because I've seen some of the best love stories on Lifetime.

I really enjoyed this book and found it to be an easy read. I really liked the way Josh and Charity fell in love. What

I liked the most about them is that they did not have to try to impress one another. The sparks were just there. The way Josh acted around her and took such control was such a turn on. I loved the way Susan Mallery described the way Charity felt around Josh. You can almost feel the same exact way with the way she described everything in the book. I also like how Susan made Charity out to be. A strong and independant women who was very hard working and knew what she wanted and would not settle for anything less. A women who did not let others affect her life or her decisions. It was also funny on THE REAL reason Charity was hired and what her REAL goal was for the town lol.

I can not wait for the second book Fool's Gold series. I am assuming it is going to be on Ethan Hendrix and I think it's going to be interesting to see how his story plays out especially with what happened to him. You will have to read to find :-P I recommend this book. :-)

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LibraryThing member ladydymondz

Good read by Mallory but anticlimactic. It was a good story but the characters were forgettable.

LibraryThing member soleenusa

I usually very much enjoy Susan Mallery's books, but unfortunately, Chasing Perfect turned out to be a disappointment.
The premise of the book is good, but at times I thought there were too many side stories, too many secondary characters that distracted me from caring what was actually going on

with Charity and Josh.
Unlike other of Susan Mallery's characters (e.g., the couples in the Buchanan's books) I could not understand why Charity and Josh should actually end up together....
I'm looking forward to Ethan's book (one of the side characters) but this one, I'd skip it.

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LibraryThing member gypsywether

I have read several of Susan Mallery's books. I always enjoy her characters and want to read more about them and see where they end up in followup books. This was book was a great example of how we are usually our own biggest obstacle in a relationship and not some bad guy/girl trying to get in the

way.

I did feel there were a lot of side characters we were supposed to care about at the same time. In a way it seemed that Charity and Josh's story was to set up 3 or 4 other stories based on the number of important characters she introduced.. I do enjoy reading about other characters, and look forward to reading more about the other characters introduced as being important parts of the town. I just feel she could have focused more on the main characters of this book.

Overall I enjoyed it. I would recommend it as an enjoyable, easy read. I do look forward to the next book when we can read Ethan's story.

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LibraryThing member quynies_mom

If you are a fan of the happy ending, this book is for you. There is a little of everything for your enjoyment. Mystery, crime, love, interesting characters and a bit of a cliff hanger. An uncomplicated read for the beach or mountain vacation.

LibraryThing member C.Ibarra

I have a confession. I’m becoming a contemporary romance addict. This is not a genre I normally indulge in but now I find myself constantly craving the warm fuzzies and dreamy sighs that accompany a well written romance novel. The more I read, the more I want. Chasing Perfect did not disappoint.

This is definitely a story that will leave you feeling all gooey inside. Lucky for me gooey just happens to be exactly what I was hoping for when I started reading.

Chasing Perfect is a quick and delightful read. I fell in love with the small town of Fool’s Gold within the first chapter. I loved spending time with the characters in this quirky little town. Charity is a sweet girl next door type that is looking for a fresh start in a new place. Josh is a retired cyclist who is struggling to overcome a traumatic event from his past that is causing turmoil in his present. Oh and he is also a major hottie. There is even a little whodunnit side story happening which is predictable but still a nice addition to the plot. I couldn’t get enough of this book and am looking forward to the next release in this fantastic series.

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LibraryThing member MarilynS

A brilliant Book One in Mallery's Fools Gold Series. The author's witt and charm shine through with this heartwarming book about belonging, love, coming home and in the end getting it all!

LibraryThing member kulikuli

Pretty good read. I liked Charity and Josh (even though at times they had me shaking my head) and Josh being a cyclist was interesting and a new one for me. I could see Charity as someone I would be friends with is she were real or I were fictional (which is something I always look for in any

heroine). I could see myself falling in lust with Josh (also something I look for). The best part of the book was Fool's Gold, the small town where the book was set. The town had the requisite quirky characters, the gossip, and the quaintness. I was almost more interested in the townspeople than the main characters.
I do have one complaint. There were too many things going on around the main characters that was distracting. Some of the subplots fizzled for me and didn't have the impact I think they were meant to have.
I would recommend this book to readers who like romance novels set in Small Town, USA.

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LibraryThing member gryph

I enjoyed the characters in and of themselves; Mallery wrote in some interesting character quirks that made them less one-dimensional than your average romance character (a professional cyclist hero? Really?). However, I have to say that the interactions between characters was a little lacking in

energy, verve, what have you, particularly between the hero and heroine. Nice enough story. I couldn't tell you why I liked the entirely contrived town's problem of having men move away - to the extent that there is a severe gender imbalance - and the equally contrived meeting of the long-lost/never-known-of grandmother of the heroine was annoying. Three stars because it was a nice read but I probably won't feel the need to re-read it.

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LibraryThing member keeneam

I really enjoyed this book and I thought the characters built a good relationship. The hero was great and I pictured him as the everyone's dream guy, in looks and personality. I did like the female too. I love hr Susan Mallery sets up the book in the series and we get to know the other characters

before tier books come out and we count down the days till they do. I would absolutely read this book again.

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LibraryThing member lrobe190

Charity Jones accepted the job as a city planner in Fool's Gold, California because she wanted to settle down in a small town where she knew everybody. Her mother had moved them from place to place when she was growing up and she craved a stable family life. Josh Golden is the town's "golden"

boy...a championship cyclist who put Fool's Gold on the map. He is also an orphan adopted by the town when he was a young child. Charity and Josh keep running into each other in the small town and soon everyone considers them a couple. Josh and Charity both have past demons and bad relationships to overcome, but they are strongly attracted to each other. Then Charity learns a secret about her family which changes everything.

Chasing Perfect is a fun, enjoyable read. Charity and Josh are strong, likable characters and readers will be rooting for them from the beginning. There are more books on the way about life in Fool's Gold, California and I'm looking forward to the next installment.

Read in e-book format provided by HQN books through netgalley.com

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LibraryThing member Nee223

I received an email for this book, not a hard copy, so I didn't read it. I'll get to it some day

LibraryThing member anyother

I really enjoyed Mallery's last 2 series so I had high hopes for this -- which were not filled. The storyline is highly improbable and the coincidences hard to swallow. The characters themselves were likable but not a stellar start.

LibraryThing member HCross9820

My Ratings

Plot: 4/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 4/5
Originality of Plot: 4/5
Characters Development: 4/5
Ending: 4/5
Cover Art: 4/5

Overall: 29/35 = 82%

Synopsis

Perfection is in the eye of the beholder

Welcome to Fool's Gold, California, a charming community in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. There's lots to

do and plenty of people to meet, especially women. Because there's just one tiny problem in Fool's Gold: the men don't seem to stick around. Maybe it's the lure of big-city life, or maybe it's plain old bad luck, but regardless of the reason, the problem has to be fixed, fast. And Charity Jones may just be the city planner to do it.

Charity's nomadic childhood has left her itching to settle down, and she immediately falls in love with all the storybook town has to offer - everything, that is, except cyclist Josh Golden. With her long list of romantic disasters, she's not about to take a chance on another bad boy, even if everyone else thinks he's perfect just the way he is. But maybe that's just what he needs - someone who knows the value of his flaws. Someone who knows that he's just chasing perfect.

My Review

Charity Jones had come to Fool’s Gold looking for three things: a new job, a fresh start, and a place to call home. I think that Charity may have ended up with more then she bargained for.

Day one of Charity’s new job: She has to close a deal to get a major collage put down roots in Fool‘s Gold. Her laptop, with her power point presentation, blows up right before the meeting. And to top it off, a cocky, attractive man walks in and takes control of her meeting and impress the clients. If she only knew that that cocky stranger was non-other then cycling ‘golden-boy’ Josh Golden. (yes, I know bad pun)

As much as she tried not to, Charity finds herself drawn to Josh. Even though the town thought of Josh as the town’s very own playboy, that was far from the truth. Since his divorce, Josh for the most part has been alone. That was until, he walked in on Charity meeting.

I really enjoyed this book. It’s a story of second chances for everyone involved. Whether it was Josh’s coming to grips with his guilt over losing a teammate, Charity’s search for somewhere to belong, or Mayor Marsha finally finding the family she’s always longed to have.

I was very fond of the setting of this story, I love the small town feel of Fool’s Gold. Yes, everyone knows their business, but also you have a lot of people supporting you when things go bad. Now matter the tragedy, the locals of Fool’s Gold rallied together. The book kind of made me wish I have grown-up in a small town, too.

I really enjoyed the 3rd person POV in this story. I do sometimes get annoyed while reading most romance books, I just never know why the guy is doing what they are doing. I think it just lends to a more open story.

I only have only one small complaint. I felt that the subplot about the missing town funds, was unnecessary. I didn’t feel that it moved the story or the characters along. It was like it was cut and pasted into the story. The story would have been just fine without it.

I spend a lot of my reading time wrapped up in series, where the characters are always in life and death struggles. For a change of pace, I really enjoyed reading a light-hearted, touching, sweet romance novel. When I do, Susan Mallery is always an amazing choice. Let’s say her books are my guilty pleasure. If you enjoy The Fool’s Gold Series, you might also enjoy her Buchanans’ Series.

Fool’s Gold Series

1) Chasing Perfect
2) Almost Perfect
3) Finding Perfect (Release Date 8/31/10)

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LibraryThing member Books007

Good read even though it was completely predictable.

Girl moves to small town, meets town hunk/hero (who has issues), they fall in love & work through the tuff stuff. etc., etc.

LibraryThing member rdh123

Charity gets new job in Fools Gold. Josh, bike racer. Charity finds her grandmother in that town. Ok book, but slow to finish reading. Has interesting 2nd characters.

LibraryThing member imlilie

Good read, but a bit predictable. Liked the characters,plot and enjoyed the read. I would recommend this book to those who are looking for a light romantic read.

LibraryThing member booksandbutter

I enjoyed this book. It was predictable, but grabbed you right away and was a great read.

LibraryThing member memasmb

Chasing Perfect
By Susan Mallery

I received this book from the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program in e-book form. This is the third book I have read from this author.

Charity Jones answers an ad for a city planner in a small town called Fool’s Gold in California. As a woman who had a wandering

mother, she is seeking a place to call home and put down roots.

Little does she know, but soon finds out, the town that offers her a job is short on…men. They don’t seem to stay around in the community. Part of her new job is to get companies to establish businesses that will attract new people especially men to Food’s Gold.

Charity meets the town’s “perfect” hero and good looking womanizer who she is instantly attracted to but who is not “perfect” for her. The story of how these two learn about each other and fall love is a charming narrative of how not to believe everything you hear.

This romance was easy to read, had many interesting characters and had enough angst to keep you interested.

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LibraryThing member g_lavo

I am definitely a Susan Mallery fan so I was very excited when the LibraryThing Early Reviewers sent me a copy of the first book in her new series. I won't get into the plot summary since the other reviewers have done a good job with the major plot points. I think this is a great start to a fun and

sexy series from Mallery. Josh is the kind of hero that makes you wish he was real. He's sexy and sweet and charming and intelligent. Male perfection. Charity is also a very attractive heroine. I thought she seemed real and I completely understood her hesitation about getting involved with a celebrity. The similarities in their backgrounds makes the relationship very believable.

*** SPOILER ALERT ***
My only complaint is that Mallery seems to be extremely fond of the unplanned pregnancy plot twist and uses it here once again. In historicals, I never have a problem with that plot device but in contemporaries I think it only works in very rare circumstances. This wasn't one of them. I think they would have arrived at their HEA without that extra complication.

Other than that I really enjoyed this book and I will definitely read the rest of the series.

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LibraryThing member jnut1

Another good book By Susan Mallery.

This is the first in her Fool's Gold series. I learned to care about the characters and I felt that although there were issues that had to be worked through it was done well. Falling in love so quickly is an issue I have but what can you do in a 300 page book.

I

have already started on the second one Almost Perfect.

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LibraryThing member Courtney_Chance

I really liked this book a tons. so many little plot twist. such great towns people. I did give it 4 stars because I feel the town is a little unrealistic. they are a small town everyone knows everyone. usually people from small towns are a little more reserved with new people. they usually take

longer to warm up and trust them. you through this girl into a new town and everyone just loves her and accepts her. I just find it a tad bit inrealistic. otherwise I love it

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LibraryThing member DamarisGCR

I said it before and I will say it again Susan Mallery's books remind of lifetime movies lol. To me that is a good thing because I've seen some of the best love stories on Lifetime. I really enjoyed this book and found it to be an easy read. I really liked the way Josh and Charity fell in love.

What I liked the most about them is that they did not have to try to impress one another. The sparks were just there. The way Josh acted around her and took such control was such a turn on. I loved the way Susan Mallery described the way Charity felt around Josh. You can almost feel the same exact way with the way she described everything in the book. I also like how Susan made Charity out to be. A strong and independant women who was very hard working and knew what she wanted and would not settle for anything less. A women who did not let others affect her life or her decisions. It was also funny on THE REAL reason Charity was hired and what her REAL goal was for the town lol.I can not wait for the second book Fool's Gold series. I am assuming it is going to be on Ethan Hendrix and I think it's going to be interesting to see how his story plays out especially with what happened to him. You will have to read to find :-P I recommend this book. :-)

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LibraryThing member KANwrites

I like this series. Romances with strong female characters.

Fewer