Review: Christmas on 4th Street (Fool's Gold #12.5) by Susan Mallery

Christmas on 4th Street (Fool's Gold #12.5) by Susan Mallery

Published September 24th 2013 by Harlequin HQN

Hardcover, 336 pages

Series: Fool's Gold

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Heat Rating: Kissing to somewhat Steamy-ish

Source: From the publisher through Netgalley in exchange of an honest review!
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Summary from Goodreads

There's nowhere better to spend the holidays than with New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery in the town of Fool's Gold, where love is always waiting to be unwrapped... Noelle Perkins just got a second chance at life, and she intends to make the most of every minute. That's why she ditched a frustrating legal career to open her own store in Fool's Gold, California. The Christmas Attic celebrates everything that's magical about her favorite season. Business is booming, and as a bonus, gorgeous army doctor Gabriel Boylan has offered to help out during the holiday rush. 

Gabriel's memories of Christmas past contain more sour grapes than sugar plums, thanks to a drill sergeant father who ran his home like a boot camp. Spending the holidays with his family while he recuperates from injury sounds as appetizing as last year's eggnog. Still, there are some enjoyable distractions in town, including sunny, sexy Noelle...and the red-hot mistletoe kisses they can't stop sharing. 

Gabriel didn't think he was made for happily-ever-afters. But when fate hands you a love as sweet and surprising as this, only a fool could refuse....

Another first for me! While still unable to get as much computer time as before, I been enjoying a lot of first time authors for me. Thought I started this one in the middle of the series, it wasn't hard to keep up with everything that has been going on. Sure it feels like the characters that appeared in the book are from previous books, but Christmas on 4th Street read like a stand-alone, at least for me.

Fool's Gold is a small yet charming town where everyone knows everyone. Noelle Perkins moved to Fool's Gold as a way to start over after battling and winning against her sickness. Ditching a legal career that wasn't really carved out for her, for a chance to open her own little shop called The Christmas Attic. 

Gabriel Boylan is an army doctor visiting his brother in time of Christmas. He doesn't have particularly good memories about the previous holidays and it just get's better when his drill sergeant father and mother show up for their Christmas visit. All Gabriel has is bad memories with his father running his household like a boot camp, and their relationship does not get any better through the years. Especially since his father is a strong believer that Gabriel needs to re-enlist in the army and serve out all together 20 years.

Christmas on 4th Street was a lovely Christmas story filled with love, second chances and of course a military hero battling his inner demons. After seeing his first love die, Gabriel does not feel like love and marriage is the right fit for him. He doesn't want to see another loved one disappear from his life. Until Noelle Perkins comes along with her umbrella and steals his heart away. I loved the connection between these two and although Gabriel came with his share of problems, I was rooting for Noelle to wedge herself permanently into his heart anyway. It was sweet with just the right kind of pace that I liked. I devoured this book and immensely enjoyed Susan Mallery's writing. It's really a shame that I only now starting to get to her books because I heard so much wonderful things about her romance books. I loved her characters and the storyline that just knew how to touch my heart!