Summer Nights (Fool's Gold Book 8)

Oh, Shane, Shane, Shane. Talk about issues! So adorable, such a genuinely nice guy, and yet so utterly clueless. Based on a few milliseconds of watching a complete stranger dancing on a bar, he proceeds to spend the majority of twenty chapters measuring Annabelle with a flawed yardstick. Even when he realizes what he's done, he keeps on doing it. And yet--I, along with Annabelle, love him anyway. But yeesh, he waits until the very last minute to pull it all together! (And even though you know practically from chapter three how he's going to do it, it was fun to read. If anyone deserved that kind of public spectacle, it would be Shane. And Annabelle, for that matter. He so owed her.) At least we all know that we'll get to see more of them as the series continues, since the book that follows will be about the last of the three friends, Charlie, and the third Stryker brother, Clay, professional model and butt double. (Is it just me, or does anyone else hear Joey from "Friends" in their heads saying, "Al Pacino goes into the shower and bam! there's my butt!")

Again, the animals steal the show. Priscilla the elephant is lonely for a herd, and adopts various other strays into her pack, including a mother cat and her kittens, a pony, and a pig. Misunderstood but beautiful Arabian stallion Khatar is hands down one of my most favorite characters--he obviously sees Annabelle for the not-at-all-Shane's-ex-wife that she is nineteen chapters before his owner. If only horses could talk, he'd have given Shane the tongue lashing that he deserved, like any other self-respecting resident of Fool's Gold would. All in all, this one has me chomping at the bit to read Charlie's story, in the hopes that it will be just as hard to put down.

Same same. Handsome beyond words. Rich beyond words.
The author kind of dropped the ball on the opportunity to
expand on a side subject. The ex husband shows up giving us
hope that there will be a little more than the same that we've already
read in previous installments. Then just like that he accepts everything
as it is and leaves town for the most beautiful and most handsome to live
happily ever after.
I wondered how a whole town could turn their back on one person because of one person, fairly new to the
town. Businesses refusing to sell him any thing. He even said to her "I can't buy a nail in this town". She said she'd
call them off.
Really? ONE person can do this? it made me wonder if his apology was sincere or if it was just
to be able to walk the streets and buy supplies in that whole town!
I just don't know now about all this now

Horse breeder Shane Stryker's first impression of librarian Annabelle Weiss is that she's an attention-seeker: just like his ex-wife. But when she shows up at his temporary ranch for riding lessons, he finds himself drawn to her. Annabelle is likewise attracted, but after the disaster of her first marriage, she's not willing to take a chance to someone who isn't willing to go for it all when it comes to relationships. Their relationship takes off in fits and starts, but the true test will be whether or not Shane can believe Annabelle really does prefer a drama-free life, and Annabelle can convince him that the few things that crop up after they meet really are out of the ordinary for her.

This is the premise of Susan Mallery's Summer Nights , the eighth book in her Fool's Gold series. The romance between Shane and Annabelle is sweet, and the love scenes are spicy, but the mere fact of this being the eighth book in a continuing series clutters the book too much. There are recurring characters from seven previous books to catch up with, as well as set-ups going on for future books, and while it may be nice for fans of the series to catch up with their favorite characters from earlier, it leaves little room to focus on the couple we're supposed to be focused on, and will confuse any reader coming in for the first time at book eight.

I received this book from NetGalley for review.

This review appeared previously on Goodreads.

I liked this story; it was pretty good. Both Shane and Annabelle were such great people, you just wanted to have them have a HEA. Of course there are plenty of misunderstandings guaranteed to hear things up. Some of the writing is humorous of course. Like when Annabelle referred to her relationship with growing plants..she had the "black thumb of death."
I loved the fact that Annabelle wasn't going to settle for less than the best when it came to relationships. She's already been through the gauntlet of never being enough others, either not wanting her or trying to change who she is. She wants a man who will adore her; adore her like Khatar does. The romance part of the story was good. It was rocky at times which made it interesting. Half the time they get along really good and then Shane opens his mouth and puts his foot in it.
One other thing I liked was, when a problem came up Annabelle dealt with what she could and the rest was in her words, "Problems for another day."
It was fun to watch goodhearted Shane who had his agenda of what he needed to get done. His agenda meets Fool's Gold and he gets sucked in to what they need and finds out in the long run-he likes it.

The animals at the ranch are so part of this story that I would even call them good secondary characters. Khatar (the horse) was one of those interesting characters. And the pony, Reno? That whole adventure made me smile, since Shane hated ponies. We also got to get a closer look at Priscilla the elephant and what she needs. Shane's mom was something else and she was unique to say the least. Smile worthy!

4.5 stars

Oh Shane and Annabelle. I really enjoyed Summer Days and Summer Nights was just as good if not better. These Stryker guys are pretty amazing, even if they do mess things up a lot. I hope the next book about the last bother is as good as these two have been.

Shane was married previously, but it didn't work out. His ex was constantly cheating on him so he doesn't want that kind of woman again. He wants a nice, no frills lady who will love him and be with him forever and not want another guy.

Annabelle didn't have a happy childhood. Neither of her parents wanted her when they got divorced. She was married before as well, but her husband was not very good. He just wanted a perfect wife to just cook and clean and be pretty. He was mentally abusive, always saying negative things to Annabelle and just was not a good person. Luckily she got out of that situation and divorced her husband. She wants to find someone who will love her for her and not want her to be something or someone else.

When Shane first sees Annabelle she is dancing on the bar in town. He assumes that means she is a wild girl, wanting all the attention from men. Really Annabelle is quieter and that is not something she would normally do. She was just trying to convince her friend to do a dance for the bookmobile fundraiser. When she goes to the ranch to get horse riding lessons from Shane they really hit it off. Shane tries to stay away as he thinks she is like his ex, and he even tells her that at one point. She does everything she can to show him she is not, to show him she doesn't like drama.

Shane and Annabelle were another really cute couple. They obviously like each other, but Shane needs to learn to let go of his past. He needs to learn to trust Annabelle and realize she is not his ex. That is really what causes the issues in the book, and it was fun watching Shane overcome all this and work everything out. Annabelle is so sweet and I loved Shane as well. Really a great read. There was also a lot of set up for the next book with Charlie. I can't wait to read it! Hopefully it will be just as good!

This review was originally posted to Jen in Bookland

I really wanted to like this series. I was looking for something fun and light and gave these a shot, but they've gotten progressively more disappointing, and this entry was the final straw. First of all, there was the horse stuff. I know nothing about horses, but a 'dangerous' and expensive race horse keeps getting out and wandering the ranch? And not only is allowed to approach the female lead, but she ends up riding him bareback and later, in a crowd? Even I know that's not going to happen. I get the suspension of disbelief concept, but this book stretches it too thin. And then we get the only plot twist this author seems capable of writing: another unplanned pregnancy (actually, two). Either this town stocks a lot of defective condoms or they should have their water tested. It's ridiculous, and it was totally unnecessary to the plot--the story was almost over. I'm done with this series. I made it eight books in (I hate not finishing a series, even when it's just average) but I can't take another couple brought together by a kid, or another woman finding herself pregnant and wondering how her man will react. And it's a shame because Annabelle and Shane had great potential. They deserved a better story.

Review seen on: [...]

Let me start out by saying that this is my favorite Fool's Gold novel! I fell in love at the first pages and couldn't put it down till the end. (I even love this cover the best! Look at those colors).

We met Shane in Summer Days (Review here) and I knew he would be an amazing character. He's the middle brother, the guy with the horses, the gorgeous cowboy with a beautiful heart. (Seriously, this man is worthy of serious swoonage. The 911 calling type of swoonage). He's been hurt before so when he sees Annabelle he's smitten but completely cautious. He wants a quiet, reserved girl this time around, so why can't he get Annabelle out of his mind?
Annabelle is Fool's Gold librarian. She is the quiet, reserved type, except for that one night when she decided to prove a point. Little did she know, the man that captures her heart saw her wild side, and now things she's too wild for him.
Shane and Annabelle's relationship is outstanding. This book made me laugh and cry and cry from laughing so many times. The tension between the two is so thick and powerful it should be illegal to pollute the atmosphere that way. Susan is an artist with her relationships. Every person in this book is important and amazing. She has a way even with her secondary characters that makes you root for them.
In conclusion, this is my favorite Fool's Gold novel! Wait, I think I may have said that already. Well, it's so good it was worth saying twice. And maybe three or four times as well. Susan does not disappoint. If you enjoy a beautifully crafted romance, with characters that touch your heart, Summer Nights is for you!
Get it, read it, love it!

I have enjoyed the characters in this fictional perfect small town in California and their stories in this series by Susan Mallery. The characters repeat throughout the books even though the focus of each book is on particular couples. It's one of those series where you get to know different families, the mayor, the fire chief, etc... and follow them as secondary characters throughout other's stories. This can get a bit confusing if you just drop into the middle of the series, because there are a lot of supporting cast members from previous books. Each book does still stand alone, it may just have lots of folks hanging around.

The writing is very good, the dialogue is fresh and real, the characters are interesting and complex and the plot, while character driven, still has twists and turns. I like the unique folks from Fool's Gold. Susan Mallery has created a town that has taken on a life of it's own. From it's girl's bar to it's moonshiners in the mountains and it's obsession with festivals, the setting has a real town feel to it.

The second of the Stryker brothers, Shane, is the unwilling hero of this installment, finding himself falling for librarian, Annabelle Weiss. The Stryker brothers grew up in Fool's Gold but had to move in late childhood and they've just moved back. Annabelle has been living in Fool's Gold for only a year or so, after a divorce, but has put down deep roots and developed strong friendships.
Both Shane and Annabelle have been burned by past failed marriages. The difference between them is that Annabelle still wants to try to find love, but Shane is convinced he'll never allow himself to trust anyone with his heart again. Even though sparks fly between them, will they be able to let go of the past and find happiness?

Heat factor hot.

Shane Stryker returns to his childhood home in Fool's Gold with the intention of settling down, building a ranch house and stables for his thoroughbreds and maybe finding a plain, simple girl to marry. He's done with passion and drama and wants a woman who is nothing like his glamorous ex-wife. But he's not immune to an attractive woman's charms, and when he spots a breathtaking redhead dancing on the bar at Jo's, he immediately knows his libido is in trouble.

Annabelle Weiss, the town's librarian, is quiet, easygoing and doesn't consider herself anything close to a siren. So why does the handsome cowboy keep her at arm's distance? She has escaped a trophy wife marriage and is done with pretense. She wants to find a man who loves her for herself. She thinks she's found such a man in Shane, but how can she prove it to him when he says she's just like his ex-wife?

Once again, Ms. Gallery brings together the memorable characters in previous Fool's Gold books. Superb pacing, likable three-dimensional characters, snappy dialogue and humor are the trademarks of this series, and Summer Nights does not disappoint. At times, I wanted to knock some sense into Shane who seemed unable to see what a jewel he had in Annabelle, a truly worthy and vibrant heroine (a little bit bad and a whole lot good). I enjoyed the camaraderie between the Strykers, also between the women of Fool's Gold. After getting a taste of firefighter friend Charlie, I can't wait to read her story next.

Mallery proves her mettle in this stellar series. Fun and skillfully written, and the sex ain't bad, either.

First, a word about the cover. Absolutely no scenes in this book take place on a beach, certainly not any love scenes. I'm all astonishment that this photo was chosen as the cover, because it reflects nothing about the book other than a couple who falls in love.

Which is a shame, because Summer Nights is a fun, sexy read and perfect for reading at, say, the beach.

The eighth in Susan Mallery's Fool's Gold series (I read none of the previous books, and had no trouble understanding this one), Summer Nights focuses on petite redheaded librarian Annabelle Weiss, who does not let her divorce sully her wishes for True Love Always. In fact, Annabelle craves the mess and passion and lack of control that come with love. She's ready for it.

Shane Stryker, on the other hand, has made no peace with his divorce from his cheating ex-wife, who remains a specter in his life. Unlike Annabelle, Shane has no interest in anything uncontrollable; he wants order and neatness, love that can be predictable and reliable.

So of course they fall for each other.

Annabelle goes to Shane, who earlier spotted her dancing on a bar (there is a good reason for it, and no, she was not drunk) and decided that, hot as she is, he needs to avoid the certain drama that comes with her, to learn how to ride a horse. She wants to raise money for a book mobile and has an idea of riding a dancing horse as a fundraiser. Shane reluctantly agrees, just as he reluctantly agrees to a lot of things in this book, mostly because, as Annabelle tells us many times, he is a good guy. And he is. Too bad about the nasty divorce and all, because he really is a good guy. And he can wear his jeans with style.

[As an aside: girls. I know you know. Not all men can wear their jeans well. Sometimes the jeans sag, sometimes they are tight in the WRONG places, sometimes they ride too high on the hips. But a man who can wear his jeans Just So, who can fill them out in all the RIGHT places? That, my friends, is nectar of the gods.]

Shane and Annabelle are immediately attracted to each other, and the first time they kiss, it's HOT. Every time they kiss, it's HOT. So imagine how hot it is when they rock the headboard! It's HOT! But in spite of their clear desire for each other, there remains the little issue of feelings. Annabelle worries that she feels more for Shane than he for her, and he worries that he will feel anything other than lust for her at all: "He wasn't indecisive. He knew exactly what he wanted. What kept him from acting was the consequences. Because sex complicated everything. The better the sex, the bigger the complications. Because wanting Annabelle was driving him crazy but having her might be another level of hell."

Susan Mallery can write some sexy times, folks. Annabelle is very comfortable with her body and with knowing what to do to drive Shane nuts, and he knows his way around a woman. Does he EVER. He knows exactly what to kiss, lick, suck and bite. He is a true fantasy.

The only problem with reading this book at the beach is that you might get the pages wet or short circuit your eReader from all the sweating you do, or from the dripping water when you go dunk yourself to cool off.

This is a fun book with some rockin' sex scenes. My only quibble is a subplot involving a friend of Annabelle's who decides she wants to become a mother. I realize Susan Mallery is setting up the next book, but it was distracting and those scenes dragged. I'd rather read more about Shane's kissing. Or how he wears his jeans.

Published on cupcake's book cupboard. @VivaAmaRisata
Thanks to NetGalley for the preview.

My Review:

I really enjoyed this book, which isn't a surprise since I pretty much love all of Susan Mallery's books. But what made this book for me was Shane and Annabelle's sarcastic senses of humor. Both of them constantly had little quips and thoughts throughout the book which kept me giggling. Here's a good example. In the scene below, Annabelle was arguing about why it wasn't smart for her to ride a horse:

"You'll be fine."
"Do you know how short I am? It's farther for me than most people."
"By a couple of inches."
Inches could be significant. As a man, he should know that.

Little quips like that simply kept me giggling throughout the entire book. I loved that about this book. There's great dialogue and chemistry between these two and the whole tone of the book stays happy and quirky the whole time...even when they are having issues. The happy, quick dialogue is a fabulous mainstay to this book.

This is the middle book for this summer's Fools Gold trilogy (#8 if you're keeping track.) I think it's going to be my favorite simply because I love the characters and their jobs so much. Annabelle is a librarian (hello...book lover) and Shane raises horses (hello...cowboy)! Seriously, what's not to love here?? Combining books with cowboys? Yes, Susan Mallery is tuned in completely to my fantasy perfect world.

And I really liked both these characters. They've both been married before and both have the emotional wounds to prove it, although Shane has more leftover mental issues with relationship than Annabelle does.

And let's not forget the whole Stryker farm menagerie which adds great fun to the book. As the cowboy, Shane falls to the in-charge guy of all the animals his mother keeps adopting. I loved how he kept trying to help Priscilla, the elephant, to alleviate her loneliness...even to the point of taking in the pony, Reno (he hates ponies...leftover trauma from childhood.) I loved that everyone is terrified of the stallion Khatar except for Annabelle. The way that he follows her around and loves her completely...just a GORGEOUS aspect to this story.

The next book is Charlie and Clay. My heart simply aches for Charlie, so I am so excited to watch her find her Happily Ever After. Only one more month until All Summer Long.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Reviewed by Francesca & posted at Under the Covers Book Blog

Yes! It's summer, and there's nothing better than a feel good contemporary story for me. I haven't read the rest of this series, I admit, but I saw this book feature on a friends' blog and just had to get it. I was hoping it would work as a standalone and I think it accomplished the job perfectly. If I did miss something because there were some previous couples getting hitched or showing up, then I can honestly say it didn't take away from enjoying this story.

Shane works with horses. He's back in Fool's Gold doing what he loves while building his own ranch and licking his wounds from the bad divorce from his ex-wife. Now he decided he can't have another woman that he is that passionately attracted to. Another woman that can truly make his blood boil spells trouble.

Annabelle is the town's librarian and not a local. Too bad the first time Shane sees her she's dancing on a tabletop at a bar. No matter how much he wants her he thinks its better to stay away. But she wants him and they keep running into each other.

This is maybe a story about love at first sight. Or at least lust at first sight, but their connection quickly develops into something more. It was a very sweet and light read.

Having not read this author before, I have to admit that I enjoy her style. This was romantic, with a sense of a small town and family that I like, and just felt very easy to read.

Shane was to die for sexy and Annabelle was determined to have him without begging. I like that.

I think I might have to find time to read the other stories in the series and will definitely be looking forward to the next book to come out.

Once again a Fool's Gold romance that I thoroughly enjoyed!

This contemporary romance series takes place in the fictional town of Fool's Gold outside of Sacramento California. There is something about how Ms. Mallory writes her characters that just make them so compelling! You care about them and want them to make the "right" choices; event though you know the HEA is pretty much a sure thing.

This story is about the 2nd Stryker brother, Shane, and the town librarian Annabelle. Shane is a cowboy who has recently moved back to start his own thoroughbred breeding program and to find someone nice and stable to settle down with. Annabelle is ready to find love no matter how messy it may be. They both have issues from past relationships to work through before either of them are ready to heal and move on.

I would recommend starting at the very beginning of the Fool's Gold series if you can. At the very least you should read the first book in this cycle Summer Days to get a feel for the characters.

Reviewed by JoAnne
Book provided by the author for review
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book

I love and read all of Susan’s books but this one is extra special since Susan chose the name I suggested for the librarian – Annabelle – and then gave her my last name so Annabelle Weiss was born. It was such a nice feeling to see Annabelle’s name in print throughout the book since essentially Summer Nights is her story.

There was the requisite happily ever after but it was a long time coming – until the last few pages of the book but you couldn’t help but root for Shane and Annabelle to get together and express their love for each other. There were tears, laughter, many romances, reconnecting with characters from the other Fool’s Gold books as well as the introduction of a few new characters. There was also some hardheadedness as expressed by some of the characters – especially Shane, lots of family and friends, new babies and some angst. You could envision yourself at the ranch, in town, and at the social events due to all the vivid descriptions.

The story flowed easily and was a nice continuation of the Fool’s Gold’s books that have come before although I have not read book 7, so was missing some of the blanks leading up to Heidi and Rafe’s nuptials. There was closure although another chapter or two would have been icing on the cake. I look forward to reading the other books in the series to come out this summer and hope that this series will continue indefinitely since there are so many more stories to tell. An enjoyable read, highly recommended. If you haven’t read other books by Mallery give her a try! You’ll be glad you did.

Favorite Quote: She couldn’t even hate him, she thought, resigned to the inevitable. Because she loved his honor as much as she loved everything else about him. But forever duty, wasn’t forever love. And she’d promised herself she was never going to settle again.

Annabelle broke the typical image of the buttoned-up, shy librarian. She maybe short in stature but she has many curves and shows them too with a great personality to boot.

She's a happy and informative librarian, goes out of her way to include all the readers she can. She's trying to raise $150,000 for a bookmobile to serve all of the residents of the Fool's Gold area. She has a fundraiser going all the time and getting small amounts and every dollar helps but she's been promised a chance to raise much more at one of the many local festivals. She wants to ride a horse in a ceremony celebrating the Màazib tribe, the local all-female tribe from some centuries ago. She needs to learn to ride a horse before this can come true.

Shane's going to be her teacher, after his arm is twisted a little by his crazyinlove brother and future sister-in-law, Rafe & Heidi from SUMMER DAYS LOL

Shane is a hunky cowboy who is settling in Fool's Gold with his race horses and his plans to have a stud farm. Annabelle shakes Shane is his foundations with his want for her! She has be like his ex-wife and he can't do that again.

Theirs is a hard road to romance with his feelings so mixed up and hers not sure she really wants him if.........

I don't want to give away anymore of this wonderful Fool's Gold book. The books do make you want to move there yourself if only you could find it......

Annabelle is looking for someone who is going to love her completely for who she is and not what she is willing to change into. While sitting on the sidelines watching her best friend fall hard for Rafe of the infamous Stryker boys, Annabelle is thrilled but more entranced by Shane than anything else. Annabelle maybe inexperienced in the ways of wooing a man but she is sure that Shane can show her the way to his heart. Will the roller coaster ride known as Shane be too much for Annabelle to bear or will she show her own grit and surprise not only Shane but herself as well?

Shane Stryker just wants to settle down into the ranching lifestyle that is sure to calm his tired bones. Passion is something that has burned him more than once, and while Annabelle Weston may set fire to his blood he knows that nothing good can come from that. He needs a woman that is content with being rancher's wife and loving a tired man looking for some healing of his broken heart. When Shane keeps pushing Annabelle away the more he starts to question everything about why he is pushing her away instead of just pulling her closer. This quiet librarian from a small town may just be the woman to sooth him in ways that no other woman could. But after pushing her away so much, can Shane convince her that he now wants her forever or will his rebuffs stand in between them forever?

As the 8th book in the fool"s gold series by Susan Mallery, the reader is treated with yet another great installment in a wonderful series. The story of Shane and Annabelle was extremely easy and fun to read that when the last page came I was sad to see it end. Susan Mallery has a way with her characters making them so life like and imperfect that the readers can't help but fall in love with them. Having been a fan of her work since the early days, i can tell anyone that if you want a great easy read with wonderful characters by a seasoned author than this is a series for you to invest in. I can't wait to see what else will happen next in Fool's Gold!

Fool's Gold Librarian Anabelle Weiss is usually very reserved and doesn't necessarily see herself as sexy, yet that is what Shane Stryker sees when he catches a glimpse of her dancing on a bar. Shane has just returned to Fool's Gold to begin raising horses and he doesn't want trouble; unfortunately for him, he sees Anabelle as trouble with a capital "T" and decides to resist her, even though that becomes very difficult when Anabelle shows up for riding lessons in hopes to perform a Màazib tribe ceremony on a dancing horse to collect donations for a new book-mobile.

It is during Anabelle's visit to the stables that we meet Khatar, the Arabian stallion who hands-down steals the show; Khatar is an expensive investment for Shane and due to Khatar's dangerous behavior, he doesn't want Anabelle to go near him. Things just don't seem to go according to Shane's plans, which are to build a business and settle down with a plain Suzy-homemaker - Anabelle continues to show up in his life and tempt him and Khatar is irrevocably in love with Anabelle and will not leave her side. As Anabelle and Shane get closer, they realize that they must get over the hurts caused by their divorces and must trust one another.

Susan Mallery once again manages to write a book full of humorous zingers and hilarious characters - how many books these days have lonely elephants running around? Fool's Gold is a remarkably well written series that continues to be enjoyable with every additional book published. One thing that did bother me a little was Shane's clueless attitude when it came to Anabelle and how Mallery drew that out for a good portion of the book... I mean, really? Other than that one small little bump in the road, this book is a must read for fans of the series as well as those who enjoy a light and amusing romance.

A RomanceReviewZ Blog review

I received a PDF of this book through NetGalley for the purposes of review.

Annabelle was a fun character, and the Stryker brothers all seemed like good guys. I believed the slow growth of friendship between Annabelle and Shane, but didn't really believe the sexual chemistry between the two. To put it bluntly, they were boring. I was much more interested in Charlie the firefighter's desire for and journey toward motherhood than I was in Shane and Annabelle as a couple.

I absolutely adored the relationship that grew between Annabelle, who was all but terrified of horses, and Shane's "killer horse" Khatar. Khatar found a kindred spirit in Annabelle, who despite her fear of horses, was never afraid of Khatar. He loved her from the moment he met her, and even protected her from a snake in a chapter near the end. Funny how the friendship between the horse and the girl was far more intriguing than that between the romantic leads.

Shane had issues, all based on his previous wife, Rachel, and because of one sighting of Annabelle at a bar at the beginning of the book, painted Annabelle with the same brush, even after he started sleeping with her. It took a couple of fights with his younger brother, Clay, to get his head on straight, and for me, his turnaround would have been too little, too late, after all that distrust.

While I liked the book fine, it didn't whet my appetite to read any more of the Fool's Gold books, unless there's going to be a book about Charlie. Her issues and her need to be part of a family might be interesting enough to draw me in.

I've enjoyed other of Ms. Mallery's books, and hope to enjoy more in the future, but this one just didn't do it for me.

We've been hearing about Annabelle for awhile now and it's interesting to finally see who she ended up with. I liked Shane from the previous book, but never thought these two could actually make it work, because they have different words and life in a ranch can be pretty difficult, but Annabelle was pretty awesome with Kathar and the other horses. These last few books made Fool's Gold reputation came true. The city does grow on us and the characters.

When Annabelle first told about the dancing horse thing and I was sure these two would be a couple but they have a difficult way to make things happen and Shane was still fighting a little with his feelings because his e-wife was a mess and he needed someone calm, interesting how Annabelle fit that and even more. They where nice together, but the couple missed a little chemistry for me.

Shane made a few mistakes, but he was learning to trust himself again and I liked meeting the new brother. This was a nice romance.

This is another sweet fairly lightweight read from the Fool's Gold Series. Shayne is a nice guy who made a total stuff up with his marriage to a drama queen who couldn't stay faithful for 10 minutes. He comes home with a whole lot of issues and is looking to find a sedate woman to settle down with. Someone like the librarian.

Only he's already spotted Annabelle and he's a bit worried that the instant attraction he felt for the fiery livewire might distract him. No way is he going down that track again.

Imagine his dismay when the librarian and the seductive Annabelle are one and the same. Thrown together by Annabelle's need for his horse training skills they fight all the way to their happy ending. It's an enjoyable read and the characters are engaging.

Small town romances seem very popular at the moment. The thing that bothers me with this series is that we see old characters popping up constantly for an update and the moment someone new is mentioned you know they are being dragged in for a setup for a book further down the track. It's all a bit too obvious and distracts from the present romance.

Yet another fabulous story from Fool's Gold, California! In the eighth chapter of Susan Mallery's series of the women-centric small town of Fool's Gold, we finally get to read about the sweet tempered librarian, Annabelle & the new cowboy in town, Shane - brother to the sexy Rafe Stryker, the last book's hero. Shane comes into town looking to reconnect with his family, raise his prize winning horses on his own ranch, & definitely NOT succumb to any sort of temptation. However, ever since he walked into the only bar in town & saw Annabelle dancing on the table (a sure sign of a wild child who will never settle down), he can't get her out of his mind - but he's been hurt before by a wife who he loved feverishly & continually cheated on him. Little does he know little Ms. Annabelle was simply showing her friends an indian ritualistic dance that she wanted to use in her fundraising parade to raise money for the library's bookmobile so she can bring books to shut ins & underprivileged families.

When Annabelle convinces Shane to teach her how to ride a horse for the above mentioned parade, the twosome start getting closer & learning that first impressions are just that. Annabelle tries to keep her distance, choosing independence over attachment, she even goes so far as to try to hook him up with her best friend, Charlie, but their sizzling connection leaps off the page & they find they can't contain themselves for long.

I loved the real connection between Annabelle & Shane even as they tried to find every excuse to avoid it. I loved that they truly understood what drove the other & that at the base of each of their passions (books & horses), helping others was the bottom line for each. She loved bringing books & technology to those who might not otherwise get the chance for either, while he taught little girls how to ride even though it wasn't his favorite part & took good care of his mothe'rs crazy animals. I think a big part of why I liked them so much together was how much I actually liked them both as characters.

I disliked the part where her ex re-entered the scene just to stir things up because I didn't really see the point. The effort to simply have more conflict in order to bring the pair closer was a little too obvious and, in my honest opinion, unnecessary.

I love that we revisit old friends from other books in each new installment so that even though their book has come, we still get to see what's going on in their lives - like the Hendrix Triplets' baby fever! The next heroine to look forward to is Annabelle's other best friend, Charlie, who we met and got to know better in this book - looking forward to seeing her happy ending as well!

If you haven't started this series, DO! It's such a fun little town & their stories will only make you smile!

Rating: A

This review & more at RedHotBooks.com

Why read: Requested from NetGalley

What impressed me: The relationship between Shane and Annabelle was fantastic. This was definitely a case of a male love interest being held back by his own past and insecurities and Annabelle's character was the perfect mix of sexy and sweet - just the right balance to convince him that the love he is afraid of isn't as scary as he believes.

What disappointed me: Shane was kind of an idiot. He had to be, for the plot, but it made him seem like a jerk more often than was necessary and kind of hindered my attachment to him. And the horseback riding background sort of fell flat with me even though I have more than a passing acquaintance with the activity.

Recommended: Definitely. Not my favorite Fool's Gold romance, but a quality addition to the series.

Continue series: Absolutely. Fool's Gold is the best small town romance series I've read to date.

This story is about Shane Stryker a Horse whisperer. Annabelle Weiss a Librarian in Fool's Gold.

He was married to a woman that felt that one man wasn't enough for her. Annabelle wants to find someone to settle down with.

Shane sees a woman dance on a bar top and has an instant attraction to her. He makes the decision to walk away, she remains him to much of his ex wife.

Annabelle just finished showing her friends how to dance a ritual dance at the bar. She will need to do this dance on a horse during the town parade.She doesn't know how to ride. They told her to go see a guy named Shane Stryker for lessons.

The moment that Shane Stryker first laid eyes on Annabelle, he was completely enchanted. Like a drug, he was addicted to her. But he was convinced that she was just like his ex, so he fought his addiction every step of the way.

Annabelle was a librarian. She led a normal life, some would even call it dull. With only a few close friends as witnesses (or so she thought) she set out to demonstrate the dance of the happy virgin. Little did she know that she'd made a big impression on Fool's Gold's newest resident.

An outstanding display of the beginning of an unlikely relationship, and how it grows and matures is beautiful. Just the right amount of romance and drama. The representation of family friendship and the secure bond of community makes the reader feel part of the town as characters and places one has tasted in the previous fools gold books pay a visit in this as well, however each can stand alone without fail! I am addicted and pleased that there are more to collect!

Following an ugly divorce, horse whisperer Shane Stryker wants nothing to do with sexy sirens. If he marries again he will pick a rancher as his wife. As such, he moves his horses to temporarily stay at his mom's spread in their hometown of Fool's Gold, California while his stable is built.

When he meets the librarian Annabelle Weiss at a bar, though attracted to her Shane assumes she is wrong for him as a clone of his former wife. Annabelle likes Shane, but cannot understand his rejection of her. As she needs to learn to ride a horse for a fundraiser, Shane reconsiders his initial impression when he observes how good she is with his dangerous horse Khatar who adores Annabelle.

The second Stryker Sibling Fool's Gold contemporary romance (see Summer Days) is a wonderful tale in which the protagonists affirm W.C. Field's lament to "never work with animals ..." due to the matchmaking antics of Khatar and Priscilla the elephant. Fans will enjoy this lighthearted second chance at love tale as Susan Mallery continues to strike gold in California.

Harriet Klausner

Maybe I've outgrown love stories like this. I read one of the other Fool's Gold books (audio book ) and it wasn't too bad but this one started out right away with the female and male characters having tingling loins. I had been listening to this on audio book and got to disc 2 and gave up. When Annabelle said she wondered if she should tell her good friend about the "tingling", I thought, you've got to be kidding. And everyone raises one eyebrow all the time. Have you ever tried this? It is just silly and juvenile. When Annabelle , who knows nothing about horses, gets on a stallion bareback, that's when I said the heck with this book, it's too silly and unrealistic. A well written love story can be good if there is an actual story involved, but this seems to be all about tingling loins, nodding, and raising one eyebrow. If you are 15, you might like this, but adult women? Please........

Actual rating: 4.5 stars

Once again Susan Mallery has delivered a touching, funny and believable romance. I love the main characters: Annabelle Weiss and Shane Stryker. They are both looking for a different type of relationship than they've had in the past and have a difficult time coming to terms with what they need in a partner. I loved their bantering back and forth and the fact that they are not portrayed as perfect, but flawed as the rest of us are. I look forward to reading more of this series.

I love this series of the Stryker Brothers. After I finished Summer Nights I immediately went into All Summer Long. That did not disappoint either. If you need a nice, feel good book(s) this is perfect! Have to move on to the next one in the series....I have to know what happens to everyone - love the town of Fools Gold.

Summer Nights by Susan Mallery
ISBN: 9780373776870
Annabelle Weiss was the dancer on the bar, in real life, she's the librarian, showing her friends the happy dance of the virgin. She had to raise money for her bookmobile at the festival and knows the dance of the horses might be the thing to learn and do it herself. She had divorced her author husband and had moved on.
He witnessed the dance but Shane Stryker was only on the bar for a beer and a burger, then he left. He is the horse whisperer and that is what attracted me to this book. Have seen many shows on documentary tv about them and what they accomplish.
It's just so fascinating. He was now divorced, having married the woman he thought he loved. He moved his horses from TN to Fool's Gold, stabling them at his mothers barns til his house and barns were ready.
His mother was gonna set him up with the librarian. he just wanted a regular woman to love him til he found out she was the red head dancer from the night before, the one who haunted him and his dreams at night.
Montana who was due any day with Simon's baby led the dog into the library. He was a tutor and helped relax himself when the children read to him.
All the females of Fool's Gold are helping Heidi with her wedding plans.
Jo's Bar should have the other room finished for such things as bridal showers and even weddings.
Annabelle was taking horse riding lessons using Charlie's horse and she did grasp onto the killer stallion and they went around the corral a bit til it was time to end the lesson. She couldn't believe the horse was a killer horse. He was so gentle with her on his back.
She was getting tingles when Shane caught her upon unmounting from the horse.
The deal: Her choice of household accessories for him and he was to teach little girls how to ride ponies.
He needs to reword most of what he says to her, he learns in time...
Subplot about Charlie and her past and her wishes arise and she talks to many about it.
Steamy hot sex scenes like riding a horse top off this novel that make it complete.
Love learning about the horses, races and other facts.

Adored Annabelle's story! I've loved her since we met her in last summer's trilogy and was eagerly anticipating her story and was not disappointed! The pint-sized librarian is equal parts amusing, independent, romantic and her own woman, all of which I loved. And who can resist a slightly emotionally wounded cowboy in Shane Stryker? He wasn't so bad that I wanted to reach through the pages and hit him, but he had his moments, but his adoration of Annabelle was evident, he just needed a few pushes to get there. And their moments together were priceless. Another gem for Susan Mallery.

Summer Nights was one of my favorite Fools Gold novels.
Annabelle is a loved character, plus there was a cowboy and a magnificent horse!!
You don't have to have read all of the series, just start reading Summer Nights and I promise you will want to read them all!

This was a very enjoyable book. The charachters were fun and likeable. While it did semm Shane was being a bit dense at times, it was impossible NOT to love him!

Susan Mallery's books are always full of romance and humor and this story does not disappoint.

I always enjoy Susan Mallory's books. This was no exception. I did find this one wrapped up a little quicker than some of her other stories. The bow that wraps up the whole book was a little quick coming but it was still a very nice story.