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Chasing Perfect
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Chasing Perfect
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Chasing Perfect
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Chasing Perfect

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

3.5/5

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About this ebook


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.

LanguageEnglish
Release dateSep 1, 2013
ISBN9781488739163
Author

Susan Mallery

#1 NYT bestselling author Susan Mallery writes heartwarming, humorous novels about the relationships that define our lives—family, friendship, romance. She's known for putting nuanced characters in emotional situations that surprise readers to laughter. Beloved by millions, her books have been translated into 28 languages.Susan lives in Washington with her husband, two cats, and a small poodle with delusions of grandeur. Visit her at SusanMallery.com.

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Reviews for Chasing Perfect

Rating: 3.69333336 out of 5 stars
3.5/5

225 ratings38 reviews

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  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This book felt sort of familiar as I read through most of it. The female lead (Charity Jones) falls for a man that, while single, doesn't seem to be totally "attainable" in her eyes. Josh Golden was a celebrity and supposedly lives a lifestyle full of fast women and fast bikes. But Charity finds out that her perception of him was not true. They spend time together and she falls in love. For some reason I felt as though I had read this same basic story before (woman meets man, learns he has a secret, falls for him, etc). It was almost a sense of deja vu and I though I knew exactly what was going to happen next. The last sentence in chapter 16 proved me right...Charity was pregnant. I had to take a break from the book and look at other books by this author that I have previously read. Most of them had a point where the woman found out she was pregnant and assumed she was alone in taking care of the child. I felt like I wanted to stop reading as soon as I saw that this was one of those books. The story was engaging and well written but I couldn't seem to get past the fact that it was the same thing I have read before. I really do love this author's books but I would like to see something different. Maybe a woman that doesn't assume she is alone? Maybe no pregnancy in the story? Maybe a couple that is trying to conceive but finds that it isn't as easy as having unprotected sex one time? I really hope that the next Fool's Gold story that I read switches it up a little.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This was my first Susan Mallery book and I loved it. A good romance story for anyone.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    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. :-)
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    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.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    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.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I like this series. Romances with strong female characters.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    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
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    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.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    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.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I was really enjoying this book (first in the author's Fool's Gold series) until I got within 50 pages of the end. The main character had already started with her unaccountable obtuseness where her love interest was concerned (no matter how many times Josh told her he didn't want to go back to being the big sports celebrity he used to be, she just refused to believe him--why? it made zero sense to me), but then the ending just went into total rediculousness. I'd give it 3 and a half because of the strength of the rest of the novel, but just can't seem to round it up to a 4.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    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.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I went to the Romantic Times Convention this year with a couple of friends. As we perused the schedule of events, one of them was thrilled to see that there were several sessions with Susan Mallery and focused on her small town romances set in Fool's Gold, California. The other two of us had never read any of the books but we were happy enough to tag along and listen. As I'd been looking for a few more contemporary romances to balance out my not so secret historical Regency obsession, I decided that I'd give these romances by the funny and charming Ms. Mallery a try. And of course, true to form, I had to start at the beginning of the ever increasing series with the first book, Chasing Perfect. Charity Jones is new to Fool's Gold. She's just been hired as the new city planner for the small town and she's been tasked with bringing new business to the area, especially businesses run by men. Because Fool's Gold has a serious lack of young, single men and a preponderance of single women. But somehow, Charity manages to interest the two bachelors that the town does have, Robert, the town treasurer, and local retired cycling celebrity Josh Golden. The former is a solid guy but he just doesn't make sparks fly for Charity the way that Josh does. However, Charity is reluctant to get involved with Josh because he's too famous, too perfect. She has a deep desire for the family she's been missing her whole life, having lived with just her mother, moving from pillar to post as she grew up, never setting down roots so a boyfriend who chases fame around the world is not ideal for her. Josh might be a famous cyclist and the town's golden child but he has his own issues. He gave up cycling after an accident left a young rider, to whom he was a mentor, dead. He hasn't spoken to his best friend Ethan in years even though he desperately misses him. And he harbors abandonment issues stemming from his mother leaving him in Fool's Gold when he was just a young child. Rather than admit his fears and face his demons, he rides his bike only at night and prefers to let the town think that he's a playboy. He never counted on the complication that is Charity, his lightning hot attraction to her, and his growing feelings for the lovely new town planner. The fact that she is very much behind a push to hold a bike race in town to elevate Fool's Gold's profile doesn't help matters at all either. As Charity and Josh get to know each other and end up hot and heavy, there is a lot more going on in the town as well. A hospital is considering building a branch in the town, a massive amount of money given to the town by the state has gone missing and must be tracked down, and Charity discovers that her expertise is not the only reason that she was considered for her job. The chemistry between Charity and Josh is immediate and steamy. Fool's Gold as a location is charming; it's the ideal small town, welcoming and friendly. As this is the first in a long running series, there are lots of unfinished plot lines left to tease out in future books but none of them are left in a frustrating or unsatisfying way. The fact that Charity is unable to see Josh's point of view when he presents it but accepts it almost immediately when Mayor Marsha lays it out at the end of the book is a bit too convenient in resolving their difference of opinion but aside from that hiccup, this is a warm and satisfying story.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    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.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I've found a new series! This romance is the first in the Fool's Gold series, and we're introduced to very likable characters and a lovely small town in California near the mountains. A little steamy, so maybe not for young teens, though possibly older, mature teens even though this is technically an adult romance. I'm looking forward to reading the next books in the series, to fill the void of Virgin River, which has ceased to impress me.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Chasing Perfect
    4 Stars

    Love the charming small town vibe with everyone knowing everyone else's business but dislike the way that most of the women treat Josh as if he were a piece of meat. Sexism is unacceptable whether it is directed toward women or men.

    The writing is smooth and immersing although there is some unnecessary repetition of plot points - perhaps the author thinks that her readers have a short attention span and need to be reminded of something they read 20 pages before.

    Charity and Josh have good chemistry and their romance is engaging without the silly misunderstandings that usually turn me off this genre. That said, Charity is somewhat judgmental and her tendency toward jumping to conclusions based on surface appearances is very irritating. Josh, on the other hand, is a perfect combination of sexy vulnerability and fierce determination.

    Overall, a good start to the series and the secondary characters are sufficiently interesting to continue on to the next book.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    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. :-)
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    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.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    As much as I enjoy Susan Mallery's books, this one was less-interesting to me than some others I've read. I never really took to either Charity or Josh, but Charity particularly didn't resonate with me. Her character fell a bit flat, her motives and reasoning never really ringing true. And some parts of the story just didn't fit smoothly with the rest. This book introduces a series based around the small town of Fool's Gold, and I have moved on the second book, which I enjoyed more than this one. If possible, I would recommend reading all three books in succession like one larger novel to even out experience.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    *This book had been sitting on my shelf for about two years. I randomly picked it up one day because I was in the mood for something light and quick. I am now on a path of reading the entire series, in order, probably for the rest of the year.*The Hero: Sexy athlete with a cocky attitude and a "tragic" past. But it works for him. And the story of his past isn't too angst-y or over the top, which I appreciate. The Heroine: Let me start out my saying I am the same age as this heroine and what looks like most of the heroines of this series, so that may affect my view point. She's smart and I like her. I would be friends with this girl IRL. She has a string failed relationships and "mommy-issues". This combined with out heroes "past" is the catalyst of the relationship conflict. I have to give her credit for not being a jealous type while the entire town is obsessing and fantasizing over her man. She just goes with it. Props for not being insure or petty.The Relationship: Basically realistic. Maybe a little "insta-lovey", but who am I to talk when my husband and I have been together for 9 years and we were totally insta-love. They did develop a real friendship, however, and got to know each other and had real conversations.The Setting: Contemporary in a small town. Described as a small town but yet they have a lot of typically city things, like a hospital and college. Things my small town does not have. But everyone knows everybody, which means a lot of gossip and no secrets. Steam Factor: The perfect amount. It's there without being over the top or forced. Doesn't affect the storyline and it makes sense. Not there just for the sake of being there.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    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.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    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.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Fun, better than average romance.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This book started out very well. I loved the small town of Fool's Gold and both the main characters.

    Until the last 1/4 of the book or so. Then Charity starts making assumptions about Josh and his character based on..I'm not exactly sure what and Josh acts like a complete and total moron. I was really loving the way the characters were falling in love and the progression of the story, along with the setting and secondary characters, but the end very nearly ruined it for me.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    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.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Liked it enough to want to read more in the series.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    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!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    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
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I enjoyed this book. It was predictable, but grabbed you right away and was a great read.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    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.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This was actually the first book by Susan Mallery. I wasn't awed but I also wasn't disappointed. It lacked the deep all engrossing story that Victoria Dahl's books inspire in me but it was still a decent and believable story.

    I felt that the "makeover" Charity does was a tad cliche. I did like Josh, he was strong, compassionate, and he didn't turn into what everyone just thought of him. He kept his beliefs and his morals.

    I will say I wasn't happy with the climax. I can understand Charity's thinking but she didn't even give Josh a chance in the situation and that pissed me off. I guess I really didn't like Charity all that much. I like her friend Pia a lot though.

    I haven't decided if I am going to continue with this series or not. Do you think I should?