Book review: GOOD AS GOLD, by Sarina Bowen

Giltmaker #1

Matteo & Leila

I haven’t read the previous books in this author’s Vermont series, and have just realized I need to get to them.  Love the setting in this book!  It’s a sweet and lovely story about lifelong best friends who have been apart for fourteen years.  When Matteo comes back home, reunites with his family and best friends Leila and Rory, it feels like a puzzle piece that was missing is finally back in place.  There are lots of heartwarming family, friends, and lovers moments in this story!

Matteo left town after graduation because he wanted to make a living in snow sports but knew the opportunity lied elsewhere.  He made his home in Aspen, Colorado, started his own heli-skiing business with friend Sean.  When Sean dies in a snowboarding accident, Matteo is depressed and needs to recharge his batteries and who better than his family back home?  

Once he comes back and hangs with Leila, he wonders about his life choices.  Likewise, Leila had married Rory and I think she did it because Matteo wasn’t around.  After twelve years of rocky marriage, Leila finally calls it quits, and wonders about her crappy decisions.  Talk about a happy coincidence, that Matteo happens back in town when Leila’s divorce finalizes!  I call it serendipity!

Leila always wanted to have a baby but Rory didn’t.  Now she’s decided to go for it, even if single.  In a drunk moment, Leila proposes Matteo to be her baby Daddy.  And in making this decision, a lot of Matteo’s, Rory’s and Leila’s issues come forth to be dealt with.  

The story moves straightforward, very sweet and with many heartwarming moments.  I found Matteo an exceptional character.  He’s incredibly kind and easy going.  He lets his siblings make fun of him, has no problem babysitting his niece and nephew, listens with a lot of patience to Rory’s whiny conversation, and gives a lot of support to Leila.  He’s also present for his friend’s widow and daughter.  He has a lot of integrity, is a hardworking, flow with it guy.  Leila, I saw as a woman who is repenting from a lot of her choices and feels like life passed her by with not a lot of good results.  Leila and Matteo are the perfect couple, they complete each other.  I wondered about Rory, since I saw him as a boy who didn’t want to grow into a man.  But Matteo is patient and kind and good to his friend.  There’s still hope for the guy!

There are no spectacular moments or angsty moments but just simple romantic love and steamy scenes.  I loved the family atmosphere, with Matteo’s siblings banter, Laila’s grumpy father and grumpier brother, the group texting and the endless bets all around.  I particularly loved when Matteo lost a bet and had to call Laila “queen” for a month and when Laila lost a bet and had to call Matteo “Sir Sexy Pants”.  The humor is warm and loving and the whole atmosphere of the book is familial and charming, with some yummy sexy times.

Purchase links

Amazon: https://geni.us/Good-as-Gold-Amazon
Audio: https://geni.us/GoodasGold-Audbl

Add to GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/130187226-good-as-gold

About the author

 

Sarina Bowen is a 24-time USA Today bestselling author, and a Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary romance novels. Formerly a derivatives trader on Wall Street, Sarina holds a BA in economics from Yale University.

A New Englander whose Vermont ancestors cut timber and farmed the north country in the 1760s, Sarina is grateful for the invention of indoor plumbing and wi-fi during the intervening 250 years. She lives with her family on a few wooded acres in New Hampshire.

Sarina's books are published in over a dozen languages with fifteen international publishers.

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