I can't seem to remember a time when I wasn't reading Susan Mallery. She's one of the few authors that I can honestly say that after 20 years plus, I'm still reading her. I'm just glad that I can say after all this time of reading Mallery I still enjoy her books like I'm reading her for the first time!

When Mallery decided to end for now her Fool's Gold series (for now, fingers crossed) I can honestly say it felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest. I've spent so much time with these people and loved reading about them that it really felt like it physically hurt. Silly, I know but that's how I felt.

When you read so many book in one series you really feel like you belong there. You honestly get to know the people like they are your neighbors. At first I wasn't going to read the new series but then I made the mistake of reading both Thrill Me & Best of my Love. Both are part of the Fool's Gold series and are Mitchell brothers. Bam! Just like that I was intrigued. I now needed to know about these brothers that moved away. Sneaky move there by Mallery.

Once I started reading You Say it First I was so glad that I decided to move on to the next series. I love Nick. Yes I knew him from his brothers book but he hadn't really shined yet. Here he did. You really got to know the real man behind the art. He is really a good guy who loves to create.

He has some of the same issues his brothers have about their father and I like how he worked through them as much as he can. Do we ever really get over our parent issues? Added to the father issues they also have mother issues. How they all turned out pretty well balance is a mystery.

Nick isn't alone with his mother issues, Pallas herself has a few. I'm not sure who's is worse. But rate up there as horrible mothers. Poor Pallas has to work so hard at making herself feel good about who she is.

I happened to like who Pallas is. She brings happiness to people and their special day. Her problem is that she has to realize she lovable. That people really do care about her and that she's good enough.

You'll enjoy how both Nick and Pallas work out their pasts and look to the futures. Yes there are a few missteps but those are what make a good romance story.

Wait until you read You Say it First, you'll find a whole bunch of new neighbors to love. Plus, we have to Mitchell brothers left that needs to find their happily ever after.

You can start this series without reading the Fool's Gold series but I'd make sure to read both Thrill Me & Best of My Love first. That way you'll have the two Mitchell brothers story that came before and those set up the main thread that runs through all the stories. You don't need to, but you might feel like you are missing something.

If you are looking for an incredible old school romance, you don't have to look any further. You Say It First will give you everything you are looking for. True to her style, Susan Mallery brings to life the story of two people who are not looking for love. People chased by their demons and not believing in HEA. It is a sweet romantic story with some heartbreak, healthy dose of laughter and a sprinkle of hotness to sweeten the deal ;)

I fell in love with Nick and Pallas from the very start. Their first meeting is definitely comical but in a way it also shows features of their characters. They are both caring and will probably do everything in their power to help when they can. Even if they don't exactly know the person they are helping. Unfortunately, both of them have been thought that love and passion have a price. That you have to earn the affection of another person and that passion can be destructive. And even though, that's a somewhat empty way of life they've learned to live it and not expect anything different. Until they collide with each other and the chemistry and feelings between them can't be denied.Learning to trust each other is not easy and their path is not without obstacles but in the end their feelings win the battle :)

There are a lot of things I loved about this book but one on the top of my list are actually the similarities to the Fool's Gold series. I so loved it that it was great to have the reference to it. In a way Grandpa Frank, Pallas' grandfather, reminds me of Mayor Marsha :D I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series and read what will happen with the other characters :) Mathias and Carol are definitely an intriguing couple but I can't wait for Silver's story to come out. I think that one is going to be amazing. And let's not talk about Ronan :D

So, my recommendation is not to waste any time and pick up your copy asap. I can guarantee you won't regret it :)

This review was originally posted at Living In Our Own Story Book Blog. I received an ARC of the book in exchange of an honest review.

The first book in the new Happily, Inc series. Ronan, Matthias, and Nick have moved from Fool's Gold to start a new life with their art. Nick meets Pallas at her Wedding business. Review on GoodReads.

I read this series out of order and I much enjoyed this introduction better makes things have more sense you get a better sense of the characters. Small town series can be fun and have such interesting stories.

This is Pallas and Nick's story. Pallas runs Wedding in a Box that provides a venue for quirky themed weddings. Their meet cute was pretty fun I would say. Nick is in town to spend before a commission in Dubai what was supposed to be a part time carpenter became more. A famous wood artist in his own right creative at that. Pallas comes from a banking family and her mom is the worst I can only describe as a terror making their relationship difficult. But Pallas herself is caring, amiable, hard working and loyal. Their relationship is stressful to say the least

Being taught love must be earned and not being a banker sucks. That's so not right. I felt for Pallas her confidence took a shot and well growing up trying to earn something is a common error. Nick maybe gun shy when it comes to commitment or passion aside of art byt something about the resident wedding planner caught his eye. He is laidback to her emotional and it's a good balance. His sense of humor lights up the hard moments. They maybe passing time together before Nick leaves but I think there's potential for them of they acknowledge it.

Good emotional growth in a story is always to cheer for and Susan Mallery achieved that here. You say first it is heartwarming and feel good story about following your heart. Nick and Pallas have a story to tell and I much preferred the insght into them and other characters. Fully fleshed out and given a solid ending. Another charming small town series awaits fans.

RATING: 3/5 STARS

This is my first Susan Mallery book and I have to say that it won’t be last. I was intimidated by the sheer number of books she has written in the past. And I didn’t know what type of writing style she has but now that I have finished You Say it First, I know that her writing is an easy to dive into type of style that makes readers enjoy the story more.

Pallas Saunders, our heroine, has lived well, an interesting life. Left behind a themed wedding company, she runs the highly praised, Weddings in a Box. She works hard, trying to please everyone from the bride to the groom and most importantly, her less than supportive mother. In You Say it First, you can see the troubling relationship she has with her mother. Her mother runs by rules. Rules that determine if Pallas is standing on the good side or bad side of affection from her mother.It was frustrating to read the injustice Pallas suffered when her mother critiqued her and insulted her. I knew that I would not satisfied until Pallas stood up for herself.

Nick Mitchell, our hero, is a passionate one who loves his art and loves his wood. Wink. I’m joking. I actually mean wood like from trees. He’s a carpenter and finds his happiness through carving and creating fine pieces of work using wood as his main source of material. He likes to keep everyone at distance, claiming too much passion is not a good thing. It will consume him, destroy him, and ruin him in the end. So, definitely, love is not an option.

When Nick and Pallas meet, the chemistry is palpable. I really liked how flirtatious they were when they first met. Pallas asks for him to take off his shirt without warning and to body paint him so he could look like a greek warrior, carrying one of the greek goddesses aka the bride to her wedding. It was hilarious and I knew the story was off to a great start.

The only thing I didn’t like about this story was that it seemed generic. It was very cut from the same cloth as a lot of books and nothing was much different so it kind of got boring midway through.

MY RECOMMENDATION:

Pick it up if you’re a Susan Mallery fan!

Fool's Gold is one of my favorite all time series', so when I heard that Susan Mallery was coming out with a new series in a new town, I knew I needed to get my hands on it. You Say it First is the first book in the Happily, Inc. series. One of the greatest things… A few of these characters are from Fool's Gold. Yay! Pallas inherited Weddings in a Box, a themed wedding venue. She's incredible at her job, but she always thought she'd do something else with her life. She hires Nick, a world famous artist, to do some carpentry work for her business. She didn't know he was famous at first, but he convinced her that he wants the work. He's only in town for a few months and would love to work with her. Pallas and Nick are attracted to each other but they know it's temporary. Does that make it better or worse? I’m not sure… Nick falls under Pallas' spell and genuinely enjoys helping with the weddings. Pallas needs to do something more with the business for it to succeed. With her friends and Nick's help she decides to take on a non-conventional wedding. It's going to be out of this world. While working on the wedding, Nick and Pallas find themselves falling for each other. Will Nick realize he wants permanent before it's too late? Can Pallas trust in love? I fell in love with this town and these smart, talented characters. I loved reading about the art, the making of everything that goes into these weddings. The secondary characters are all great! I can't wait to read all of their stories!

"What happened?"
"He said he missed me."
"That bastard."
"Do you really think this is the right time for sarcasm?"
"Sarcasm is like Jell-O. It's always the right time and there's always room."

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review.

I love Susan Mallory books. I have a gazillion paperbacks with her name on it. Most of them from her Fool's Gold series. This new series takes place in Happily Inc and has a few characters that spin off from Fool's Gold. Alright enough about FG already! Ha. So this book from the town Happily Inc (yes that's it's real name) focuses on Pallas and Nick.

Pallas owns Wedding in a Box where brides can host their themed wedding but have Pallas and her staff to do all the work. Sounds amazing right? It should be. I can be. The owner just needs to see her worth. This was my biggest struggle with this story. Pallas doesn't see her worth. She's always thinking negative things about herself and she retreats further into herself thinking she's not worth the time. Though she has friends that adore her and a man who's definitely interested in her.

This is where Nick comes in. He's an acclaimed artist and needs something to bide his time while he waits to hear if he's been hired for a two year commission. There's beautiful wooden panels at Wedding in a Box he's working to repair to take up that time. Of course it's not every day you want to have an affair with your employer.

I enjoyed the way Nick tried to show Pallas how worthy she is. With both of the negative influences coming from their respective parents it can be a huge downer on ones self esteem. Nick is a true gentlemen. He doesn't try to get in her pants right away and really does try to give her a boost every time they're together.

This couple is definitely a good balance for each other. I think their sweet love story will give you an "awe" moment for sure.

3 1/2 stars

There is much to like about Susan Mallery's first book, You Say It First, from her new series, Happily Inc. How can you not like an initial scene with the woman, Pallas, telling the man, a very confused man, Nick, to take his shirt off when he thought he was interviewing for a regular old carpenter job? And then he's dressed as a Roman and expected to carry the bride in on her throne (or whatever the Romans called it).

Like this opening scene, many amusing scenes play out as Pallas and Nick come together in this well written romance. And near the ending, there is a beautiful scene, which I can't go into in detail because I won't spoil the story for you, that emphasizes that love is not conditional, that you should say it when you feel it, and be glad for and apppreciate all of the time you have together.

Unfortunately You Say It First is not without its problems. First, Mallery decided to introduce perhaps all the rest of the characters from the series in the first book, or so it seemed. I found it too much and far too much to try to keep up with, especially when there was a scene with a character called "Natalie" and I was trying to figure out which one she was. Less is more is a great motto to adhere to--pretty much always.

And then there was repetition. I noted three instances and then stopped counting of Pallas reiterating the difficulties with her mother, almost verbatim. Likewise, the same type of discussions arise with Nick and his brothers regarding their own father and the bombshell he'd dropped. I'm afraid that when I noticed myself putting the book aside more and more frequently that the repetition was affecting my reading.

However, and this may be a big however, I really enjoyed the story. As wedding planners seem to have popped up a lot in fiction lately, a wedding planner who does theme weddings was a nice change. And, Mallery did provide a great detail of interesting detail about the weddings as well as Nick's artistry, which certainly raises the You Say It First above the norm. So when you consider the quality of the writing (minus repetitions), the sense of humor, and freshness of the read, I think that this is a novel to add to your tbr pile and definitely a good start to a new series. I do hope that the repetitions and number of characters are minimized in future installments though.

I was provided with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Susan Mallery books are like sitting down with a good friend and hanging out. No matter the setting, or the characters, or the plot, you know you are going to enjoy the book and be glad that you read it.

So, when I got ahold of this one, I dove right in.

Nick and Pallas are wonderful together, and so perfect. A woman who is afraid she is not good enough to be worthy of love, and one who feels that love always has to be earned, that it is not given freely. Nick is afraid of the kind of love that consumes a person, as he has seen the damage it can do (his parents are the ones he looks at for this example) and he wants nothing to do with a great passion.

But, as all best laid plans do, this goes awry as Pallas learns that you can love someone, without them asking or demanding it, and Nick learns that it might, possibly, be ok to love someone with passion, that his life is lacking because he closes himself off to this.

Susan Mallery's books are character driven and they are focused on the people in the stories, not just the romance. There were references to Fool's Gold, which were fun for those who have read the books. There is a slight connection in the new Happily Inc. to that series, but not enough of one that you are unable to read this as a standalone without reading all of the other books. That said, the plot of this does have a minor spoiler to one of the Fool's Gold plot lines. But, it's not a huge issue.

The characters are all interconnected, and it seems clear that there will be a number of stories in the new series, but that is ok. There is some time spent in this title, as there is in all starts to a new series, building up the other characters so you have a relationship with all of the main people in the story. But, this is welcome, and it does not take away, much, from the core story of nick and Pallas.

This book also has zebras. If you read it for no other reason (and honestly, there are so many good reasons to read it) read it because it has zebras.

I recommend this title and I look forward to the next in the series.

4.5 Stars
This the first book in Susan Mallery's new series Happily INC. I'm already sold on it. I'm a huge fab of her Fool's Gold Series and I already have a feeling I will love this one as much. I liked the the Mitchell brothers have ties to Fool's Gold so it's kind of nice to have that tie in between the two series. I love the group of friends Pallas has. They have different personalities, but so much fun. Another thing that I like about the series it's a wedding town and the businesses work together to achieve it. Pallas' business Wedding in a Box is so intriguing and so much fun though she doesn't know that's her future. With the support of her friends and Nick she may find the courage o go after what she wants. Pallas' Grandpa Frank is a hoot. I can't wait for more from this series!

Pallas and Nick were such a great couple to me...they had such great chemistry and the storyline kept you involved. What I loved most was the cast of characters. It started off with a bang with Pallas asking Nick to take his shirt off and be her Roman soldier for a wedding when he comes for an interview. When he takes a carpentry job repairing panels, he gets to know Pallas a lot better. If you love Susan Mallery - then you'll love this one!!

An ARC was provided from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own and do not reflect anyone else's.

As a long time fan of Susan Mallery I was sad that the Fool's Gold series ended. However, the author designed a new quirky town, full of interesting characters, for readers to love.

Nick's all-in artistic attitude was a great contrast to Pallas's reserved personality. The author introduces so many intriguing characters - Nick's brothers, Pallas's zany friends, and other town folk.

This is another great place, like Fool's Gold, that I'll be revisiting.

I can't wait for Silver's story, I love her!

A sweet start to a new series!

Though the town's origin/purpose is unique, it's also a bit on the hokey side (come here and get married because of a fictional history...)--still, it (and the quirky cast of characters that inhabit it) will give Ms. Mallery a host of possibilities for future stories. Nick and Pallas were a lot of fun--their "we can't be together" reasons weren't the best, but a good case was made for why they believed them. They were good together, though, even if the way they kept insisting that it was just temporary was a bit annoying. Knowing an HEA was coming made it easier to bear. ;)

I loved the idea of Pallas's business--even more so once she shifted her focus slightly--and can't wait to see what future wedding challenges this series will offer!

Rating: 4 stars / B+

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

With her Fool's Gold series, Mallery is known for bringing readers quirky, humorous stories that somehow manage to be lighthearted with depth.  And with Happily Inc she does it again!  SQUEEEE!  As we've come to expect, her characters are great with the zingers but can bring you to tears ... and not just with laughter.  They have issues - real ones that you can totally get behind - and they have to deal with them before they can find their happy.

Pallas's has to do with her mother.  For some reason her mom is really hard on her and nothing Pallas does is good enough, although she's spent her whole life trying.  She's at a crossroads in her life, though, having just inherited a wedding planning business while her mom wants her to work for the family bank.  Pallas has to decide what is right for her. 

Nick's issues have to do with his father and returning readers from Fool's Gold will be familiar with the backstory (but new readers should have no trouble catching up - Mallery's a pro at giving you the info you need).  His stay in Happily Inc is just a stop on his way to whatever he's doing next, giving him a chance to connect with his brothers.  He definitely didn't plan on Pallas and the kinds of feelings he's developing for her.  He's seen what that does to a person and he has no intention of getting that involved.   If you are familiar with Mallery's work you know how that turns out ... when does anything go as you expect it to?  :)  

For me the fluidity of Mallery's stories really keeps me coming back for more.  I mean, the snappy dialogue and fun people are definitely at the top of that list, but she knows how to wrap everything together so that it works seamless towards that HEA.  Both Nick and Pallas work on their family issues (although Nick's can't be 100% resolved because he has brothers who need their own stories) and their concerns over the future, including whatever hangups are involved with committing to their relationship.  It's pretty common in Mallery's stories but she makes it seem fresh when she does it.  Every.  Single.  Time.  I don't know how but she's gotta have some kinda of magic going on.  And I am so ready to see what she has in store for us next!

Welcome to Happily Inc. where Susan Mallory will bring you into the lives and hearts of the wedding capital of the world. Nick and Pallas story was sweet, romantic, humorous and sexy. I couldn’t ask for a more complete read with You Say It First.

I adored both Nick and Pallas. Nick was kind, considerate, talented and so supportive of a woman that he just met. Pallas has her moments that she didn’t shine but that just made her more down-to-earth and endearing. You couldn’t help but feel sorry for her at times, cheer her on at times and just wish that she would finally tell her mother off at times. But, she was the perfect fit for Nick and you knew it from the start. She inspired him and he knew the right things to say to get her inspired (even when she didn’t see it). When he finally gets her to see the bigger picture and what she can do with Weddings in a Box, he sees his own aspirations come crashing down and he backs off.

They both have trouble with the word love … Pallas feels like she has to earn it and Nick thinks passion consumes so he won’t put his heart at stake. Neither of them had the childhood that encouraged love or showed just how wonderful being loved could be. But, ultimately, they find out that love doesn’t have to consume or be earned … it’s unconditional and just is. With the help of family and friends and an alien world, Nick and Pallas find their way through the muddied waters to each other and find that love can be the be-all and end-all.

Susan Mallory is the ultimate Romance writer and knows just how to get you to invest your heart in her stories. I loved every aspect of You Say It First. All the characters had their own quirks but, combined, they formed a beautiful circle of friends. I loved the banter between friends. I loved the support they all showed each other. I loved how they knew just what to say and when to say it. Nick and Pallas ended up being a team, brought Weddings in a Box out of the box and learned just how wonderful and beautiful being in love could be.

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4 stars
Susan Mallery knows exactly how to create a new series, This is starting off with a terrific entry. Twp people who find themselves through the love each has for each other. We have cameos from Fool's Gold and a promise of something special in this Happily Inc. to come.

I was worried that this new series would be to much like Mallery's Fool's Gold books, especially since we revisit some characters from that series, but was pleasantly surprised. There was no cause for worry, Happily Inc. is a wedding town filled with people, animals, and a heart all its own. It was delightfully warm and amusing leaving me wanting to know more about the town and its citizens. I was captivated from the beginning to end; one minute I was crying and the next had me filled with laughter. Mallery knows how to truly bring words to life and pull emotions right out of her readers . I genuinely look forward to meeting more of the people of Happily Inc and the writing that she has to offer.

I haven't kept up on too many of Ms. Mallery's books - I know- SHAMEFUL! LOL And it really is because she is one of my favorite romance writers.

But recently I took a break from my romance reading for many reasons. Although I wish I would have read the set that went before You Say It First (to better tie things together for lack of a way of putting it) I still really enjoyed this book.

THIS book is the reason why I love romance so much- Ms. Mallery truly is a "comfort" read author and perhaps I felt so strongly about this book because I did take a step away from straight romance reading but that may be only a small part - again honestly Ms. Mallery is just that great of a story teller.

Nick and Pallas make a great pair and it was a joy to see these two come together, so damaged as they were so to speak, and realize/learn that they are worthy of love.

As always with Ms. Mallery's books, this was a character driven book with plenty of heart and a side of great secondary characters. I can't wait for more.

Susan Mallery has done it again! I have yet to meet a series by her that I didn't love and this one is going to be no different. First of all, who doesn't love the idea of an entire town dedicated to falling in love and finding your happily ever after? The chemistry between Pallas and Nick is undeniable and had me cheering them on from the beginning. The other characters which include Pallas' group of girlfriends and Nick;s brothers all had me guessing as to who the next couple was going to be. I laughed so much throughout this book and now I can't wait to sink my teeth into book 2 which comes out in September. No worries I will be reviewing that one as well since the wonderful people at NetGalley and the publishers were awesome enough to grant me ARC's of both.