Harlequin American Romance
October 2005
On Sale: October 1, 2005
Featuring: Joel Mercer; Sylvie Shea
256 pages ISBN: 0373750919 EAN: 9780373750917 Paperback Add to Wish List
Sylvie Shea has lived most of her 26 years Briarwood, North Carolina. She did live briefly in New York City, dreaming of becoming the next top wedding gown designer. Something happened there that ruined her chances, soured her on men, and sent her running back to live in a home left to her by her grandparents. Although Sylvie no longer designs wedding gowns, rumors swirl of a secret gown sheโs designed and every bride wants it. No one has seen it; some think itโs a myth and doesnโt exist.
Cartoonist Joel Mercer arrives from Atlanta with his daughter, Rianne after his ex returned to that city. Doubting a sleepy town like Briarwood will provide enough fodder to keep his strip alive, Joel thinks heโll quit and find a job. His boss cajoles him to continue his wildly successful syndicated strip depicting singles life.
Joel has several encounters with his odd next door neighbor, Sylvie Shea. A lummox dog sheโs keeping is forever terrorizing Rianneโs poor cat. His weird dressing neighbor never seems at a loss for dates with guys who drive hot cars that Joel envies. Heโs intrigued by the rumors floating around town about The Dress.
His fertile mind begins to weave the dress owner into his strip. Joelโs boss loves the hilarious episodes he pens of a country cousin who brings a half-finished wedding dress to the big cityโpresumably in search of a groom.
When Joelโs daughter begins to spend more time with Sylvie, a very different woman emerges from the one heโs drawn. Too late, Joel Mercer discovers that fictionalizing Sylvie Shea in his cartoon strip was a huge mistake. The big question is can he recover and convince all of Briarwood that he loves Sylvie?
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