Meant to Be Yours by Susan Mallery

Renee Grothen doesn't especially want to get married, even though she's a wedding coordinator. Instead, she's willing to indulge in some fun and then go her separate ways from the guy. At least that's what she's telling herself. And the guy she happens to have her eye on is Jasper Dembenski, local and author extraordinaire.
Jasper is just coming off a book tour which he did in an RV. On his last stop, he discovered a starving dog and adopted it. He's always thought that his military past made him unsuitable to have a normal life but there are others who would disagree with him, even his ex-flame Wynn who is a friend of Renee's (that complication is handled in a very adult manner, nicely done.) Renee isn't going to be his forever after but she's definitely hot and the fact that she's helping him get past his writer's block is an added bonus.
A really nice addition to the Happily Inc. series. I'm excited to read Wynn's story (hopefully soon!)

Four stars
Follows Not Quite Over You
This book came out October 22nd
ARC kindly provided by Harlequin and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Not Quite Over You by Susan Mallery

When they were eighteen, Silver Tesdale and Drew Levato had had a flaming affair. Then she broke up with him and sent him to college. Right after that, she discovered she was pregnant. Both decided they were too young and gave the baby up for adoption.
Twelve years later, Silver is trying to get a loan from the bank that Drew works in. But his aunt takes a special delight in turning her down. Then Drew swoops in and buys the Airstreams she had her eye on. He wants to get back into her life and figures that becoming a business partner is the way to go. Silver agrees, but only to be business partners. Drew is willing to start with that. And he's also ready to do the work that he needs in order to prove that he's grown. Of course, he'll also have to find out about the secret Silver has kept for so many years...
There was maybe a little too much drama in this book but it was, overall, a fast, fun, and fluffy read.

Three and a half stars
This book came out October 27
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley
Opinions are my own
Followed by Meant to be Yours

Why Not Tonight by Susan Mallery

In earlier Happily Inc. books, we met Ronan Mitchell and his brothers. They were a holdover from the Fool's Gold series where we learned that Ronan and his twin... weren't... twins that is. Ronan was, in fact, the offspring of his father's affair with another woman. Since he found out, he's been drawing more and more within himself.
Natlie Kaleta isn't too impressed with his brooding artistic nature. She'd revel in a life where she'd be able to just do her art rather than having to cobble together jobs so that she can do a bit here and there. When she's trapped at his house after a mudslide, she's surprised by his welcoming nature and the time they spend together lets them work to know each other a little more...
Another fine book in the Happily Inc. series. I didn't totally buy Natalie and Ronan's romance but overall a very nice addition to the series.

Three stars
This book comes out September 18
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley

You Say It First by Susan Mallery

This was a charming offshoot of the Fool's Gold series. I didn't have the frustration from that series that SO MANY people recurred in the stories. Don't get me wrong, there is a LOT of sequel-bait in this book but they were woven in well, and there is a nice, built-in explanation for why we'd see some of these people again.
It seems in the 1960s, our heroine's grandfather, wanting to help the town's economy, made up a story about a stagecoach breaking down and the load of women falling in love with the men in town and opting to build the town now known as Happily Inc. Pallas Saunders knows it's a load bull but she still enjoys her role in town providing weddings in a box (or, at least I think she does. All her friends tell her so but she doesn't seem convinced). She needs help though. She's just barely breaking even and she's trying to figure out how to change that. One way is to restore the exquisite wooden panels that divide some of her rooms.
That's where Nick Mitchell comes in. We saw two of his brothers get married in the Fool's Gold series but he's not going to fall into the same trap. He's seen the marriage between his father and mother and seen how much passion can lead you to pain. So, though he's interested in Pallas (and in restoring her panels), he's not going to fall in love.

Three and a half stars
This book comes out August 22
Followed by Second Chance Girl

Second Chance Girl by Susan Mallery

In the first book in this series, we learned a lot about Mathias Mitchell. He's an artist, he sleeps with the numerous bridesmaids that come through their destination-wedding town, and he's entranced by his neighbor, Carol Lund. Well, it's just a flinch, but this is a romance series so we all know what's what.

Carol considers herself a peahen (which, thank god, she let go of after the three times it was mentioned in the first chapter. She's a gamekeeper in her family's recycling center/game preserve and she has a massive crush on Mathias. But they're friends and she doesn't want to ruin that. Plus, he only goes after peacocks (which is not a good analogy, especially for someone who knows animals).
For his part, Mathias is fascinated by Carol. And also more than a little hesitant. His parents have a ... strange relationship and he doesn't want to pull Carol into the maelstrom that is sure to result if he falls in love.
Mallery often twines love stories in her shorter series and stand-alones but she did it in this book as well, linking Carol's sister to a handsome duke.
There were moments that were a little too twee and we didn't get to see as much of Carol and Mathias because of the B plot but I am very much enjoying this series and am looking forward to Ronan's story

This book comes out September 26
Four stars