Funny how people label other people or consign them to a
particular group and not necessarily as a compliment. In fact
most often a definite slight. I was entertained by
the labels given to the men/boys by the lovely ladies in this
story.
THE BRIDE NEXT DOOR challenges stereotypes. It makes you
smile with a silly grin on your face while Hope Ramsay
treats you to a battle between two forces of nature, two
cats, and a collection of friends and family assured to win
your heart.
Courtney Wallace is the wedding and event planner at Eagle
Hill Manor and candidly hates the month of June. Well
actually, it is the whole June bride thing that gets to her.
Courtney knows firsthand what it is like dealing with
bridezillas. Courtney is also really good at making lists
-- planners do that -- but her lists are more like a
compilation of labels for men with issues. Courtney even has
a list of what she
calls the Ten Male Losers.
That list didn't prevent Courtney from ogling Matthew
Lyndon. Matthew is a few years younger than Courtney and he
has a
reputation -- but didn't all Lyndon men -- at least those
that are still bachelors. It didn't help that Matthew hangs
around with men of equal repute -- in regard to women. But
as we learn, Matthew loves the ladies -- but with respect. He
is definitely not a kiss and tell kind of guy. Reputations
take on a life of their own and with the men that Courtney
meets in her small town and through her job as wedding
planner those reputations are well earned.
And now there's The Bet. Yes, Matthew is crazy enough to
enter into a bet with his friend Brandon that he can and
will melt the ice lady, Courtney. Brandon has a reason to
want to punish Courtney. She and her little band of
friends have really given him their own special brand of
angst after he left their friend at the altar. But even
that has become dated, except Brandon now sees a way to
even the score.
Strange thing about plans, they have a way of becoming
morphed by situations. This is the lesson that both
Courtney and Matthew are going to learn. Matthew is going
full speed with his best stuff to get Courtney to notice
him as he noticed her. Yes, Matthew it seems has been
keeping an
eye on Courtney for a while now, but without any opportunity
to move to the next step. Emboldened by The Bet, Matthew is
determined to see if this attraction has any merit.
Courtney sees right through Matthew's little charade.
She know about The Bet. But what's the harm in enjoying the
company of this handsome young man who seems set on wining
and dining her. Courtney's schedule is already burgeoning
with weddings and such, but there just may be a short
window of opportunity for her to find out more about this
Lyndon man. See if the label fits. No harm no foul after
all, it's all about a bet.
Of all the Hope Ramsay books I've read, and believe me the
list is long, THE BRIDE NEXT DOOR is one of my all-time
favorites. It is part of the Chapel
of Love series. THE
BRIDE NEXT DOOR is book four in this lovely series and
totally stands on its own. It's never too late to jump
into the Chapel
of Love series, but if you get the chance you should
read them all. They are great fun, each one is guaranteed to
touch your heart and soul.
USA Today bestselling author Hope Ramsay proves that
love arrives when we least expect it.
Courtney
Wallace loves her job as a wedding planner, but she's
almost given up on her own happily-ever-after. She certainly
doesn't it expect to find it with Matthew Lyndon, the
hotshot lawyer she overhears taking a bet to seduce her.
She's not amused by the challenge, but she decides to play
along--after all, what better way to beat him at his own
game?
Matt never intended to take the bet seriously.
And moving next door wasn't part of his strategy to win-it
was just a happy coincidence-but the more he gets to know
Courtney, the more intrigued he becomes. When fun and games
turn into something real, will these two decide they're in
it to win it?
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