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5.0 out of 5 stars
Four delightful stories, July 14, 2007
This review is from: Carolina Carpenter Brides: Caught Red Handed/Can You Help Me?/Once Upon a Shopping Cart/How to Refurbish an Old Romance (Heartsong Novella Collection) (Paperback)
HOW TO REFURBISH AN OLD ROMANCE, By Janet Benery
One wouldn't think a home improvement store would be a good place to find romance, but cupid lurks in the strangest places. Brianna Griffith enrolled in a class titled "How To Repair Bad Decisions Made Years Ago." All she wants to know is how to remove wallpaper. but when she arrives at the Home and Hearth Superstore, in Oak Ridge, North Carolina, the first person she sees, is Zachary Wilson. There he is, big as life, and just as handsome as ever. Years ago, Brianna broke off their romance, searching for a career. Now she wonders, can Zach forgive her for the way she treated him back then?
Zach has moved back home to Oak Ridge and opened a travel agency, like Brianna. Strange how they both ended up in the same careers when their original plans had been so different. At first when he saw Brianna, he didn't know whether to run or stay, but after all, she's the one who wanted to break up. There's something about Hearth and Home that pulls in people looking for romance, but can Zach and and Brianna solve their differences among the wallpaper books? An engaging story of love gone wrong, and one man's efforts to make it right.
ONCE UPON A SHOPPING CART By Ron Benery
Kaitlyn Ferrer is an investigative reporter, and she's covered some serious stories. Now she has an assignment that she feels is pure fluff; check out the rumors that home improvement stores, like Home and Hearth, are good places for couples to meet. With her trusty recorder and camera woman, Estella Santacruz, she sets out to discover the truth. Busy concentrating on a large display of chandeliers, she slams her shopping cart into one being pushed by a tall man with an amused expression. Soon they are chatting over coffee. Although Kaitlyn doesn't give him her real name or phone number, she does get the information she needs for her article. But is Jake Sinclair being completely honest?
Ron Benery proves that a man can write romance with the best of them. An entertaining story of two people who learn the hard way that honesty is always the best policy.
CAN YOU HELP ME? By Lena Nelson Dooley
Austin Hodges didn't intend to deceive Valerie Bradford, when she mistook him for an employee at Home and Hearth, but he let the misunderstanding go for way to long. He did try to tell her once or twice, but something always interfered.
Valarie is a take charge, do-it-myself kind of woman and she is furious that Austin thinks she can't install cabinets by herself. She soon learns he is right, and she's grateful for his help. Trust is a big issue with Valarie. She is attracted to Austin but how can she have any confidence in him again after she learns of his deception.
A proud, confident woman, learns about forgiveness. Good romance.
CAUGHT RED HANDED By Yvonne Lehman
It's nine p.m. and Laurel Jones is in the process of loading plants into her mini-van when she spies a shadowy figure lurking among the burlaped trees. A man, dressed in dark clothing and wearing a brimmed cap, walks up to stand beside her rear tire. He's wearing a cast on one foot, so she hopes she can outrun him if it comes to that. While she's frantically thinking what to do, he asks her to give him a ride to the front of the store. In full flight, Laurel grabs her keys, jumps in her mini-van and drives away leaving him standing in the rain.
Marc Goodson, head of security at Home and Hearth, is startled to see Laurel Jones loading up all those plants. He's noticed her before, but he never dreamed he might end up having her arreseted for stealing.
A witty tale of romance that brings Carolina Carpenter Brides to a satisfying end.
Four lively stories by four very good writers. Fans of romance can't go wrong with this one. It's a winner.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Fans of Christian romance will like this one, June 5, 2007
This review is from: Carolina Carpenter Brides: Caught Red Handed/Can You Help Me?/Once Upon a Shopping Cart/How to Refurbish an Old Romance (Heartsong Novella Collection) (Paperback)
Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for Reader Views (5/07)
"How to Refurbish an Old Romance" by Janet Benrey -- Home Hearth was offering a do-it-yourself class, "How to Repair Bad Decisions Made years Ago." Sophie insisted Brianna go; after all, it was a good place to meet men. Brianna was working hard to get her travel agency off the ground. Zachary Wilson's home needed sprucing up but he didn't have time for a home improvement class, besides he had a travel business to run. However, he couldn't stand the wallpaper any longer. There was only one man Brianna had ever loved and she let him slip through her fingers twelve years ago. Zachary was that man. She was shocked when she saw him at the superstore. Can these two overcome the past and find true love?
"Once Upon a Shopping Cart" by Ron Benrey -- Kaitlyn Ferrer's first assignment for the Austin Times was to investigate the dating scene at the Home and Hearth. Rumor has it that people were using the superstore as a place to meet people. She was told to write an article from personal experience. While investigating Kaitlyn literally ran into Chris Taylor, her cart collided with his. The two have more in common than they realize Chris is also working on a story. When Kaitlyn thinks Chris insulted her in an article she's angry and contemplates revenge. Can two zealous reporters build a lasting partnership?
"Can You Help Me" by Lena Nelson Dooley -- Valerie Bradford thought Austin Hodges was an employee at Home and Hearth when she asked him for assistance. He was there to buy kitchen cabinet knobs. Valerie wanted to brighten her kitchen by purchasing new kitchen cabinets and she planned to install them herself. Austin knew it was a big job and he offered to help. Soon he realized he was falling in love.
"Caught Red Handed" by Yvonne Lehman -- Someone had been stealing lumber from the Home and Hearth. Marc Goodson, head of security was determined to catch the thieves when he saw Laurel Jones loading plants into her van. It seemed like a lot of plants -- could she be stealing? Laurel suspects Marc of stealing. Once again a couple finds love at the Home and Hearth.
The stories in "Carolina Carpenter Brides" are charming. It's pleasant to find a book with good decent love stories. The plot and characters are well developed. I liked the way the authors used humor in their stories. My favorite tale was "Caught Red Handed." The irony of both Laurel and Marc suspecting each other of theft was grand. The cover is beautifully done -- saw horses on a grassy field and mountains in the background. Fans of Christian romance will like this one.
Received book free of charge.
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