A FAIRYTALE BRIDE is the prelude to what is sure to be a delightful collection of stories with bride's front and center. A FAIRYTALE BRIDE is billed as a short story and what Hope Ramsay created as an introduction to her new series Chapel of Love. The story never feels like an abbreviated tale -- au contraire.

Jefferson Talbert-Lyndon needed a career change -- plain and simple -- it seems that as a political journalist he totally missed the boat. Now he is hiding out at his father's fishing cabin. So not smooth. But needs time to get his head straight and see where his future is heading. Hopefully this episode was just a hiccup.

Initially Second Hand Prose -- the local used bookshop was Jeff's means to avoid seeing his Aunt Pam. But once inside he decided to peruse the shop and search through the shelves loaded with classic books. As an avid reader he enjoyed the atmosphere of this small town rather cluttered eclectic shop with two guard cats if you will.

Melissa inherited the shop from her grandmother. It was part of her soul. She reluctantly and rather jokingly offered Jeff a job at minimum wage -- which was actually more than she could afford. Melissa was trying so hard to keep Second Hand Prose open although it didn't seem likely to produce a viable living. But this shop was the last connection to her grandmother.

Candidly it looked like it was a losing battle. But somehow along the way Jeff became a champion of not only Second Hand Prose but its owner Melissa. It was becoming personal. Now the only problem was how to keep Melissa from discovering that Jeff was part of the family pushing so hard to acquire her bookstore to add to the development of the town's business center. Ah the secrets we keep. In a small town like this it's nearly impossible to keep anything a secret -- but Jeff was diligently working behind the scenes -- looking for ways to help Melissa who was becoming more important to him every day.

Looks like this new bride series is going to be an instant success. A FAIRYTALE BRIDE by Hope Ramsay was a wonderful way to introduce the reader to some very charismatic characters complete with their requisite idiosyncrasies. Pure delight right down to the supporting cast of furry creatures.