2.5 stars
There are so many problems with this book that I don't even know where to begin. So let me start by saying that if you are looking for a light bit of fluff with no substance, you just want a quick read, this is the book for you. However if you want to see a relationship that even approaches being realistic or believable this is not the book for you.
The "romance" this story evolves over a four week period of time wherein the characters of Madeline & Jonny get to "know" one another. (I feel I can't put enough sarcasm into that) Everyone in the town is so altruistic and excepting. Jonny fits right in. Everyone treats him as normal....well except when they don't (normally when the story conveniently needs Madeline to swoop in and 'save' him). Honestly, I could rant on and on and on about how unbelievable I found this whole town and the whole relationship. It felt like I was reading a Hallmark movie (which may be great to some people but not to me!)
And don't even get me started on the ending! I'm not going to ruin it for people but suffice to say that they never talked about the things that might cause problems in their relationship ahead. They never worked out or worked through anything! I honestly can't say I actually see this relationship lasting a month beyond Jonny's next movie.
I honestly just feel let down. I went in with such high expectations and the book started out alright. However by the end I just wanted to throw it across the room. ( )

4.5 stars

Marry Me at Christmas by Susan Mallery is a delightfully upbeat and charming holiday romance between a small town business owner and a popular movie star. It is also the nineteenth installment in the wildly popular Fool's Gold series but it can be read as a standalone (but I HIGHLY recommend all of the books in this fabulous series).

Bridal shop owner Madeline Krug has made no secret she is harboring a huge crush on Jonny Blaze, a popular action movie actor. When Mayor Marsha asks her to help him plan his sister's wedding, like everyone else in Fool's Gold, she finds it impossible to say no. At first star struck and nervous around Jonny, Madeline is surprised by how well the two work together. As she slowly gets to know and fully appreciate the man behind the famous face, her crush fades away only to be replaced by genuine feelings. Their friendship slowly gives way to romance, but Madeline cannot help but wonder how long their relationship will last once Jonny returns to the glitz and glamour of his acting career.

Madeline struggled to find her way but she loves her career as a bridal shop owner. She has an uncanny knack for picking the perfect dress for brides to be and she is eager to take a more active role in the business. Although she does not know anything about planning a wedding, Madeline is quite enthusiastic about helping Jonny plan his sister Ginger's wedding. She and Jonny have a comfortable working relationship but it is not until he steps in to help her out with her snarky ex that their relationship takes a much more personal turn.

Jonny is surprisingly down to earth and he moved to Fool's Gold to escape the limelight and paparazzi. Hoping to live an ordinary, simple life, he is continually taken off guard when the townspeople treat him the same as anyone else. Jonny has a bit of a tragic past and he finds it difficult to talk about his feelings so he demonstrates his love with extravagant but well-meaning gestures that are sometimes a little over the top. Luckily, Madeline gently reins him in and provides Ginger with the small, intimate ceremony she and her fiancé desire.

The relationship between Jonny and Madeline is low-key and builds slowly over the course of the novel. Jonny is drawn to Madeline and although he tries to keep his distance from her, he cannot seem to make himself stay away from her. Madeline never balks at spending time with him, but she cannot help but wonder how long his attraction to her will last since, in her mind, she is just an ordinary person. Their romance is very sweet with very little conflict but when trouble does arise between them, it is resolved quickly and without drama.

With an endearing cast of quirky characters, a sigh worthy hero and a lovable heroine, Susan Mallery's Marry Me at Christmas is another enchanting addition to the Fool's Gold series. This absolutely heartfelt and entertaining love story will leave readers with a smile on their face as they revisit old friends and meet new ones during this latest stop in Fool's Gold.
( )

Jonny and Madeline learned the wisdom of the old adage "don't judge a book by it's cover". The heart is the one true window to a person's soul. Marry Me at Christmas was a no brainer for me. Once the main characters let their inner light shine, it was easy to see that there was something worth exploring. The outer package may have been a little off putting but the wants, hopes and dreams each had were similar. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. ( )

Wedding Shop part-owner Madeline is given the task of pulling together a wedding for Action movie actor Jonny Blaze's sister. Planning the wedding with him, while keeping him from going over the top to prove his love to his sister, has Madeline and Jonny getting to know each other and falling in love. Lot of catching up on the others in town too. ( )

Mayor Marsha strikes again, bringing together two people who seem so different but are just right for each other. Madeline grew up in Fool's Gold and after several attempts, has finally found her niche. She is part owner of the local bridal shop, Paper Moon, and loves helping brides find the perfect dress. She hopes that someday she'll find that same happiness for herself. When Mayor Marsha comes to her and asks for help planning a wedding for the sister of a local resident, Madeline can't say no. But she panics a bit when she learns it's the sister of new resident and movie star Jonny Blaze - someone she's had a crush on for a while. She's not sure she can even breathe around him, much less plan a wedding.

Jonny moved to Fool's Gold to escape the craziness of Hollywood life. He just wants a chance to be the regular guy he was before his movie career. He finds it in Fool's Gold, where nobody makes a big fuss over him. He loves his sister, Ginger, and wants to give her the wedding of her dreams, so he gladly accepts Mayor Marsha's offer to find him help.

I loved seeing the relationship develop between them. It was fun to see Madeline start out with the somewhat starstruck feeling that she worked to hide, making sure she behaved professionally while inside she was having trouble believing it. She was a little surprised by the tingles she felt, making her think of her mom's stories of falling for her dad, but attributes them to star power. She's quite certain that someone like Jonny would never be interested in a small town girl anyway. As they worked together on Ginger's wedding, Madeline quickly got to know the man instead of the star. Jonny finds that Madeline is easy to talk to and easy to work with. She doesn't treat him any differently than anyone else, which makes it possible to relax in her company.

Over the weeks leading up to Ginger's wedding, they spend a lot of time together. A simmering attraction heats up, leaving both wondering where it's heading. Madeline doesn't believe that she's the type that would attract Jonny in any permanent way, and vows to just enjoy it while it lasts. Jonny has a couple issues holding him back. One is that nearly every time he has allowed himself to love, his mother, his father, a girl in high school, tragedy has struck. He holds himself back, even with his sister, because he is afraid of losing again. The other issue is his star status. He has seen what the limelight does to relationships and doesn't want to inflict that on Madeline. I loved seeing Jonny's protectiveness toward Madeline. His double date with her and her ex was beautiful, sweet and hilarious. I really liked how much they just enjoyed being together. I also loved those instances where Madeline had to rein in his tendency to go a little overboard, as they handled it with humor and maturity. Their reactions to their growing feelings for each other cause a few hiccups in their relationship, but actually talking things through makes a huge difference.

A huge part of their relationship is, of course, where it takes place. Jonny had come to Fool's Gold to get away from the Hollywood hype, but is sometimes surprised by just how normally he is treated. I loved the scene with his car, and the mayor and her request about the ballet narration. It was also great to see how the town has his back when it comes to protecting him from tourists. There's a terrific scene where Gladys rescues him from a woman who thinks she recognizes him. Of course, Gladys and Eddie have their own moments of hilarity, made even better by Jonny's willing participation. Madeline's family also plays a part in his assimilation into the community. Fool's Gold itself also has its effect on Jonny. He quickly feels a part of the community, which leads him into greater participation. I loved his participation in the toy drive and the story behind it. The most heartmelting part, though, was his help with the Pet Adoption event, and what resulted from it. Just that would have cemented him in my heart, as it does with Madeline. I loved catching up with other residents of the town, and enjoyed the surprises that were thrown into the mix. ( )