Mallery's second Christmas novel set in the small eastern California town of Fool's Gold (after 2012's A Fool's Gold Christmas) pairs up Dr. Gabriel Boylan, an Army physician with tours of Iraq and Afghanistan under his belt, and Noelle Perkins, a lawyer turned Christmas store owner who has suffered tragedies of her own. Having seen countless catastrophes-including the death of someone very close to him-Gabriel is loath to give his heart, no matter how appealing the tall blonde might be. Noelle has chosen the opposite path: she is going to live every single day to the fullest, no matter what. After being stuck in a snowstorm together, Noelle knows what she wants from Gabriel, but she's not going to settle for anything less than mutual true love. Fans of the Fool's Gold series will enjoy this Christmas interlude. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

With dismal memories of his childhood, army medic Gabriel Boylan isn't happy about spending the holidays in quaint Fool's Gold, CA, with his family, but he's on medical leave, and when his soon-to-be-married twin brother invites him, Gabriel reluctantly accepts. The last thing he expects is to be accosted by a leggy blonde waving an umbrella or to be immediately captivated by her heart-melting smile. Yet when Noelle Perkins invades Gabriel's world with her hard-won, live-life-to-the-fullest attitude, his pessimistic views are in for an adjustment. Noelle knows exactly what's important to her. The question is: Will Gabriel finally realize what he wants, as well-and be smart and quick enough to do something about it? VERDICT Brimming with lively humor, spot-on dialog, small-town charm, and holiday cheer, this latest addition to Mallery's beloved "Fool's Gold" series picks up where Three Little Words leaves off. Highlighting the importance of family and friends, the book doesn't let the action flag until all the wedding vows are spoken. A joy-filled, Christmas treat that should please series fans. Mallery lives in Bellevue, WA. (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.