Falling For Gracie [Mass Market Paperback]

Susan Mallery (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2005

First comes love, then comes marriage. . .
Or that was Gracie's plan, anyway, at the ripe old age of fourteen. She loved eighteen-year-old heartthrob Riley with a desperation that made her a town legend. Even now that she's all grown up, the locals in sleepy Los Lobos won't let her forget her youthful crush.

. . .but it's not as easy as it looks.
And how can she, when she's face-to-face with Riley at every turn? The onetime bad boy has come back to town seeking respectability-but the sparks that fly between them are anything but respectable! Gracie's determined to keep her distance, but when someone sets out to ruin both their reputations, the two discover that first love is sometimes better the second time around.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this diverting contemporary romance from Mallery (Someone Like You), wedding cake designer Gracie Landon was shipped off at age 14 to live with relatives when her obsessive crush on 18-year-old Riley Whitefield became a local media item and an embarrassment to her family. Now, 14 years later, she's back in Los Lobos, Calif., to create a cake for her younger sister's wedding while aching to be part of the family that turned her out. Her mother is as unloving and judgmental as ever, and both her sisters are self-absorbed drama queens. Despite her family's selfish demands, Gracie, with all her eagerness to please, bends over backwards to accommodate their requests; sister Vivian demands a fabulous wedding cake that will take weeks of preparation, while sister Alexis insists that Gracie trail her husband, Zeke, whom she believes is having an affair. Since Zeke is Riley's campaign manager in his race for mayor of Los Lobos, prowling around Riley's house seems the right place for Gracie to start, but her snooping only puts her and Riley on the front page of the local press. While dirty politics, a vengeful ex-wife and a lot of backstory drama plump up the story line, some readers may find themselves wishing for a heroine who's less of a doormat.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gracie Landon became a legend at age 14 when her longing for 18-year-old Riley Whitefield turned her into a stalker. Everyone in Los Lobos remembers the tales of Gracie's exploits, including the time she nailed Riley's girlfriend's door shut so she couldn't go out with him. The newspaper even carried "The Gracie Chronicles." Now Gracie is a celebrity wedding cake designer. Her sister is getting married, and Gracie is back in town for the first time since her youthful indiscretions. Riley just so happens to be running for mayor, and Gracie's brother-in-law, Zeke, is his campaign manager. When Gracie's sister suspects that Zeke is having an affair, Gracie tries to trail him. Unfortunately, Riley catches Gracie sleuthing, and since he, too, has a vested interest in Zeke's reputation, he joins her. More than a romance, Mallory has crafted a fine tale of small-town life, family relationships, and forgiveness. At times funny, at times bittersweet, this story will appeal to a broad spectrum of readers. Shelley Mosley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: HQN Books (March 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373770340
• ISBN-13: 978-0373770342
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,414,366 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Join the Members Only area at www.SusanMallery.com for free excerpts, exclusive short stories, games, and more. And be sure to look for her on Facebook and Twitter. ***

New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery has entertained millions of readers with her witty and emotional stories about women and the relationships that move them. Publisher's Weekly calls Susan's prose "luscious and provocative," and Booklist says, "Novels don't get much better than Mallery's expert blend of emotional nuance, humor and superb storytelling." While Susan appreciates the critical praise, she is most honored by the enthusiastic readers who write to tell her that her books made them laugh, made them cry, and made the world a happier place to live.

Susan lives in Seattle with her husband and her tiny but intrepid toy poodle. She's there for the coffee, not the weather.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Charming second chance tale with the boy next door, October 3, 2005

By 

Tracy Vest (Northern California) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Falling For Gracie (Mass Market Paperback)

Gracie Landon has spent the last 14 years trying to live down her infamous past. Sent away at the age of 14 because her obsessive love for Riely Whitefield resulted in all kinds of havoc, Gracie has been asked by her mother and sisters to return home to plan her sister Vivian's wedding. It turns out that the reason they appeared to invite her is for one of her famous wedding cake creations at no charge. Gracie, now living in LA is the wedding cake maker to the stars; the Vera Wang of the cake set. When her sister Alexis asks her to help spy on her husband because she suspects he's unfaithful, Gracie reluctantly agrees, particularly since it entails spying on the house of Riley. Zeke is Riley's mayoral campaign manager. Riley has a vengeful uncle who makes his winning the election a condition of his inheritance of $97 million. His plans are to win but not serve. When they literally bump into each other, she confesses to Riley why she's there, and he agrees to help her solve the mystery to ensure hsi chances for winning are not curtailed. Soon he wonders why he resisted her all the years ago. As Riley's popularity in the poles increase (thanks to a suggestive picture and a reprinting of "The Gracie Chronicles," highlighting her past transgressions), he and Gracie continue to investigate. But the current mayor will do anything to get reelected, and he and his mistress (who has link to both Riley and Gracie) try to embarrass Riley and Gracie at every turn. But when her livelihood is threatened, Gracie is out for blood.

The story is refreshing and more than a mystery/romance. The family dynamics of the Landon women could be a book in and of itself, and the nosy townspeople would make anyone happy to live an anonymous life in a big city. While the bad guys are no mystery, getting there is so much fun!

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fun and sexy contemporary romance, March 15, 2005

By 

M. Nix - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Falling For Gracie (Mass Market Paperback)

When Gracie Ladon was 14 she became famous in her hometown, Los Lobos, California, for her obsession with 18 year old Riley Whitefield. She followed him everywhere and proclaimed her love for him. Finally when he was forced to marry his pregnant girlfriend, Gracie's mother shipped her off to live with her aunt and uncle. Now after 14 years, Gracie is returning to her hometown. A well known wedding cake designer, Gracie has been asked to make the wedding cake for her younger sister's wedding. Her family refuses to see that Gracie has grown up. Her mother and sisters seem to be waiting for Gracie to make a fool of herself again and Gracie feels as if it wasn't for needing to make the wedding cake they wouldn't have invited her home at all. Riley returned home shortly before Gracie only to discover that his uncle left him millions of dollars. An inheritance he can only receive if he is elected mayor of Los Lobos. When Gracie and Riley meet again as adults they are surprised to find that they are attracted to each other. Riley can't believe that the pretty and confident woman standing in front of him is the girl who used to terrorize him. It doesn't take long for passion to flare between them. But Riley's unscrupulous opponent is determined to use Gracie against Riley in the election and someone seems to be deliberately trying to ruin Gracie's business. Can Riley and Gracie figure out who is behind all the sabotage and get Riley elected mayor?

Falling For Gracie is one of the best Susan Mallery books that I've read. You quickly come to care about Gracie and want her to finally get the guy, save her business and kick some sense into her family. Sexy and fun, Falling For Gracie is a book I can't recommend highly enough.

Melissa
Reviewed for Enchanted in Romance
http://www.enchantedinromance.com/

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet and Delicious!, April 29, 2005

By 

Sharon Galligar Chance (Wichita Falls, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Falling For Gracie (Mass Market Paperback)

Combining her talents for writing and cake decorating, Susan Mallery whips up a sweet treat for her readers with her book, "Falling for Gracie." This is a delightful and lively story that is a sweet and delicious treat for springtime reading!

Gracie has come back home to help one sister with her upcoming wedding and the other with her huband-crisis, all the while juggling her successful career as a premier cake-decorator to the stars. While she tries to get her siblings' love lives back on track, she comes face-to-face with her past love interest - no - obsession, Riley Whitefield. Despite both Gracie and Riley's hesitations, their interest in each other renews with passion and fun. Can a second chance at love truly happen in spite of past problems, interferring family and one annoying ex-wife? Check out "Falling for Gracie" and find out!

As a former cake decorator, I was truly amazed at how well Susan Mallery describes the process of decorating wedding cakes. She knows her stuff, from how to put the cakes together right down to making the dozens and dozens of flowers that usually make up a fantastic cake. Well done, Ms. Mallery!

Sharon Galligar Chance
Wichita Falls TIMES RECORD NEWS