Joseph Rockwell wants to kiss his best friend’s sister, but eight-year-old Caitlin Marshall refuses to kiss him without getting married first—AND inside her brother Martin and Joseph’s fort. The kiss is disappointing for Joseph, who also loses two of his favorite baseball cards in the deal.

Twenty yearts later in Seattle, Joseph “Joe” Rockwell shows up as a contractor at Caitlin’s (now “Cate”) office. Cate doesn’t remember “Joe” and has to be reminded that they used to be married. Cate is still sassy and stubborn, and desperately in love with her boss, Paul, who doesn’t know she exists. Joe points out at every opportunity that they were once married, which causes a stir in Cate’s office. But as Joe pursues her romantically, Cate continually reminds him that her heart belongs to Paul (even though he still doesn’t notice her romantically). Suddenly, when Paul asks her out for dinner, Cate finds that her heart is not with Paul, the man she has dreamed about for the last year. Instead, she is thinking of Joe, though she is also annoyed that he is so nonchalant about her ‘date’ with Paul. It is during dinner that Cate discovers Paul’s true love.

Author Debbie Macomber develops her characters magnificently, capturing Joe and Cate’s contrasting personalities that both complement and antagonize one another, making for a fun emotional rollercoaster ride and wonderful fodder for performer Christine Panfilio, who makes the story come alive with a distinct voice and personality for each character.

The Forgetful Bride is a delightful story of misguided love performed to perfection by Christine Panfilio. A light and enchanting romance. Five stars.