Finished Chasing Perfect by Susan Mallery. This is the first book in Mallery’s contemporary romance series set in Fool’s Gold, Calif.

Charity Jones has always wanted to put down roots, so taking a job as the city planner of Fool’s Gold, Calif., seems like the perfect way to finally settle down. Charity loves the town and its residents, one of whom is bicycling champion Josh Golden. Josh is the town’s golden boy, a beloved resident who gives back to the community even though he has a reputation as a love-’em-and-leave-’em type of guy. Little does anyone know that he’s afraid to race after watching a teammate die in a horrible accident. Charity and Josh soon become involved, even as they both battle with their own personal demons …

I’ve been on something of a contemporary romance reading spree these past few months and decided to check out Mallery’s new series. I’m a sucker for small-town romances, and Mallery has created a charming landscape in Fool’s Gold. I especially liked the two sisters who run competing beauty shops in the town.

There’s a lot of interesting family drama in this one, and I liked how Charity and Josh’s relationship developed over time. The only thing that didn’t grab me was a subplot about someone embezzling funds from the city. I didn’t think that it really added to the story and would have preferred to see more of the town’s other residents.

But overall, this is a solid contemporary romance. Thumbs up.

Up next: Something from the TBR pile.

Books in my TBR pile: About 15.