The Christmas Dress

I'm not sure what I thought when I chose to read this book, what drew me to it; but it was a great book to read. 

Meghan has inherited an historic building in Chicago that has been converted into condominiums that house older residents.  The elevator is on its last legs, the plumbing is shot, there are structural issues that need to be repaired. The kicker is there is no money to be had to make any of the repairs and some of the residents need a safer place to live.  

Meghan has given up a career working for a fashion magazine to come and take care of the building and its residents. While Meghan is not missing being with the fashion magazine, she does miss designing.  It is through the auspices of one of the residents, she finds that her building has significant historical value.  This opens the door to possible grants from the historical society, which will help but not entirely cover the repairs needed. 

An opportunity arises for Meghan to show her designing chops in a contest that holds a purse of $300,000 for the winner.  The two second place prizes are $100,000 each, and even if she came in second, the money would go a long way toward making the needed repairs.  During the months that Meghan is sorting through all of the options and designing the dresses for the contest, her father's handyman, Logan, is doing Bandaid™ repairs to hold the building together until funding for the major renovations can be found. Everything culminates on Christmas Eve--the fashion contest, an inspection by the historical society, and a party for the residents of the building.  

Courtney Cole has woven a bit of magic into the plot of this book, making it a most entertaining read.  There is a bit of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants involved in the book, along with nostalgia for a different era, and more happy endings than anyone could thing possible.  And I do love me a happy ending. 

Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and a dress that not only fits, but makes you look gorgeous regardless of the occasion. 

William Morrow and Custom House and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review.  All opinions expressed are solely my own.