Evie Stryker isn't in Fool's Gold because she wants to be.
An accidental injury has put paid to her ballet dancing
career and her well-meaning family have whisked her away
from LA for A FOOL'S GOLD CHRISTMAS in the Sierra Nevadas,
while she recovers. Here she's teaching kids to dance for
the first time in her life, and a festival performance has
been landed on her with the elopement of the usual teacher.
As if that wasn't enough, the businessman in the next-door
office comes to complain about the noise. How is he
supposed to make calls to Shanghai with all that going on?
Dante Jefferson, regretting that he upset the dance
teacher, later asks her to share a casual meal. He's her
half-brother's business partner, in one of those
complicated arrangements that mean he can't even consider
dating her, but they can and do become more friendly.
Evie isn't enjoying all the holiday decorations around
town; her early Christmases weren't much to speak of.
However, the one benefit of not being on stage anymore is
that she can eat and drink what she likes. Rafe, Evie's
half-brother who lives on a nearby ranch, considers that
now his family has a second chance to get to know one
another. As for Dante, he may not like long-term
commitment, but he has an athletic, graceful woman in a
leotard to think about....
Fool's Gold is like one big family by now and it's good to
read about people making connections, pulling together to
make a festival work, helping out just because help is
needed. Enjoying the family meal, Evie realises that all
her relatives are paired off... but she's not on speaking
terms with her mother, who always seemed to resent her. I
got the impression that Evie had been bottling up her
feelings of rejection for a long time and finally got the
chance to express them. Contrasted nicely is the festive
air around town, the decorations and tree put in place
after Thanksgiving, a pet adoption day. At the same time
people in this town do so much volunteering, for so many
events, that I don't know how they get work done or
housekeeping.
A FOOL'S GOLD CHRISTMAS is another good read for Susan
Mallery's fans, in which the challenges are personal and
sometimes professional, but we always know there will be a
romantic outcome. Dancers will love it.
A classic heartwarming tale for the holidays from New York
Times bestselling author Susan Mallery
The cheer in Fool's Gold, California, is bringing out the
humbug in dancer Evie Stryker. An injury has forced her to
return home to her estranged family. So she won't add to the
awkward scenario by falling for the charms of her brother's
best friend, no matter how tempting he is. When she's
recruited to stage the winter festival, she vows to do as
promised, then move on, anywhere but here.
Jaded lawyer Dante Jefferson is getting used to the town he
now calls home, but the pounding of little dancers' feet
above his office is more than he can take. When he confronts
their gorgeous teacher, he's unprepared for their searing
attraction. Evie is his best friend's sister—off-limits
unless he's willing to risk his heart. Dante has always
believed that love is dangerous, but that was before he had
to reckon with the magic of a certain small town, where
miracles do seem to happen .