ISBN-10: 0373777027
ISBN-13: 978-0373777020
Publisher: Harlequin
Line: HQN
Release Date: Sept 25, 2012
Pages: 320
Retail Price: 16.95
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Heat Level: Hot
Rating:
The unrelenting cheer in Fool's Gold, California, is bringing out the humbug in dancer Evie Stryker. She learned early on that Christmas miracles don't happen, at least not for her. And this year seems like no exception. An injury has forced her to return to the family fold, no matter that they're estranged. She won't add to the awkward scenario by being seduced by the bad-boy charms of her brother's best friend, the last man she should ever want to date. Even when she's recruited to stage the Fool's Gold winter festival, she vows to do as promised, then move forward with her life anywhere but here.
Jaded lawyer Dante Jefferson is getting used to the backwater town he now reluctantly calls home, but the pounding of little dancers' feet above his temporary office is more than any man should have to take! When he confronts their gorgeous teacher, he's unprepared for the attraction that sears him down to the soul. Evie is his best friend's sister--off- limits unless he's willing to risk his heart. Dante has always believed that love is the most dangerous force in the universe, but that was before he had to reckon with the magic of a certain small town, where miracles do seem to happen....
Review
Ms. Mallery has cemented herself as one of my must read authors! Fans of her Fool’s Gold series are in for a delightful and funny treat this holiday season.
Evie Stryker is in Fool’s Gold against her wishes. Her family abducts…well coerces her into coming to Fool’s Gold while she heals from an accident. To say that being around her family is an understatement is being nice. She has always been the outsider and the close knit town is an additional stress for Evie. To pass the time, Evie decides to help the dance instructor for the town’s Christmas musical. When the dance instructor (a seventy year old woman) ups and leaves with a man, she is left to pull off one of the biggest events of the year.
Dante Jefferson is not thrilled to call Fool’s Gold his home. The small town may have charm but the lack of a 24 hour grocery store and the constant stomping on his head by tiny dancers is wearing thin. To make matters worst, the town is overcome with the holiday bug. The only thing that can save him this holiday season is the company of Evie.
Evie is in full panic mode and ask her soon to be sister-in law, Charlie, for a bit of help. Soon, the whole town and even Dante are helping her get this production started. Evie is not big on people but the more time she spends with Dante, the more she likes it. Her family is another issue. May Stryker had Evie after a one-night stand when her husband died. Evie has always felt that her mother didn’t love her and the fact that May and her brothers pushed her aside, didn’t help her.
Now May wants to spend as much time with Evie and make up for what she did to Evie as a child. The problem is that Evie doesn’t want to work things out and sees herself as the child in the situation. I loved the conversation where Charlie sets her straight.
“If she feels remorse and asks for your forgiveness, what will make you grant it? She can’t undo the past. So how do you find closure? How do you move on?”
“I don’t know,” Evie admitted. “I don’t think I want to forgive her.”“So you’ll both always be in pain? That doesn’t sound very pleasant. Are you sure you want to live that way.”
“No, I don’t,” Evie said before could stop herself. “But why does she get a free pass?”“Because in any other alternative, you have to pay, too. Aren’t you tired of that?”
Evie nodded slowly “I want normal,” she admitted. “I want to have a family who cares about me and whom I can care about.” She wanted so much more than she had.
“You either make it work with the family you have or go find a new one. I hate to break it you, but you’re kind of past the cute kid stage.”
Evie managed a smile. “You think? Because I look adorable in a tutu.”
The story is so hilarious. Evie and Dante have the best banter with one another that I’ve read in a long time. I liked that they caught on to one another’s jokes immediately. It makes the romance a bit lighter. The friends-to-lover trope is executed perfectly in this story.
Dante won me over. There is so much more to him than being a playboy. His background is revealed and my heart immediately broke for his younger self. I’m glad that he got a HEA with Evie. They both deserved it and her reconnecting with her family is a great bonus. I definitely got bitten with the holiday bug. I can’t wait to read more holiday romances :)
Reviewed by Samantha