This latest tale in the Fool's Gold series about a town in the Sierra Nevadas builds on the situations previously established. For loyal fans of Susan Mallery this is ideal but new readers may have trouble settling in to the story.

BEFORE WE KISS starts with a party planner, Dellina Hopkins, who has an embarrassed client. Sam Ridge and she got carried away at a Valentine's Night party and spent a lovely night together, until Sam discovered a stash of wedding dresses in Dellina's home. Thinking she was nutty, he fled and hasn't been brave enough to speak to her since. Now he needs her expertise, so she calmly explains that a wedding dress shop in town stores stock with her. This is good fun, and Dellina didn't hold a grudge, so she goes about planning his corporate party.

Next we get into a host of other locals, in a cafe, a basketball court and other settings. Fayrene has asked her beau not to propose to her for four years, while she accomplishes some aims, and he's acquiesced. Only now she's changed her mind and thinks she'd quite like him to offer, of his own accord. I thought she seemed insecure and if there was a communication problem it should be discussed between the two sooner rather than later. Mayor Marsha needs young Fayrene to pet-sit a Pomeranian with a list of likes and dislikes, while she travels. A new male character is an Olympic skier, with a troubled family background.

There's interesting titbits such as owning timeshare in a jet, and other items thrown in for fun. A warehouse stores rabbit costumes for Easter festivals - storage must be cheap. Dellina turns out not to have a sound business head, while Sam's embarrassment returns as his mother is a lecturer on tantric sex who has booked a speaking engagement in town. Sadly, a pet hoarder turns out to have sixty cats needing homes. With all the trivia and cast it can be hard to focus on the romance in hand, but I read BEFORE WE KISS quickly as the action flows well. There is no great drama; the story reads more like a soap opera with an adult romance making good use of those tantric sex tips.

BEFORE WE KISS is probably best for those who are following Susan Mallery's series, but a new reader could start a few books earlier or try her Blackberry Island series which is relatively recent.