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There is a saying that goes, “Always a bridesmaid, never a bride”. “Third time’s a charm”…that’s another one. Egypt Starr was way past her “third time” as a bridesmaid. Her sister Paris’ wedding would be big old number 14. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a case of not finding the right guy because she had, fourteen times. They had just found all her friends and now, her sister to be more right than her. Determined to not let the number 14, her mother’s attempts at matchmaking, and the sorry state of her car get her down, Egypt set off for her home town, Dragoon Springs to be a bridesmaid…again.
Cade Dugan was afraid for his life. Everywhere he turned he was accosted by women. The small, quaint town of Holly was infested with women in blue coats and scarves, all of them trying to marry him. It was his fault, really. Cade, a sculptor, had used his town as the model for his upscale Christmas Village and figurines which, since it was close to Christmas, were a hot item for those holiday shoppers. It was the figurines that were the problem. He had modeled a figurine after the very single, Mayor of Holly but made a female companion to make a couple for the Village set. Now, the mayor was married with a baby. His wife had shown up in Holly looking exactly like the female figurine, right down to the outfit. Coincidence? Not in Holly, it had happened to the baker and a few others after Cade had used them as models. The public had gotten wind of the matchmaking sculptor and often came to Holly just to see if it were true. The town council asked him to not use the townsfolk anymore for his figurines, but he had. Cade had been stupid enough to make another couple, this one modeled after him and a woman wearing a blue coat and blue scarf, thus the invasion of the Blue Coats.
Enter Fate. In a series of just-my-luck incidents, Egypt and Cade get thrown together for the weekend whether they like it or not. Egypt thinks he’s an egomaniac living in a perpetual Christmas snow globe nightmare. Cade thinks she is just another Blue Coat trying to pin him down. Only she’s not wearing a blue scarf, but a purple one. Just like the original companion piece he created, a personal piece not set out for the public to see. Then, the lights start to go out in town, another sure sign that Egypt is the one for him. Now, if only he could convince her.
CHRISTMAS VILLAGE is one of the best romantic comedies I’ve read yet! Linda Andrew’s characters of Egypt and Cade as polar opposites that attract are hysterical and heartwarming at the same time. Add a touch of Christmas magic and it’s the perfect recipe for a delicious read. Don’t let the title fool you, this is a great book for any time of year!
Reviewed by Tina Burns
for The Road to Romance
May 2, 2004
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