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Welcome to Redemption #1

A Fair of the Heart

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A hometown series full of sexy romance, humor, and heart...Single mother, and work-at-home hair stylist, Lauren Frazier can barely keep the roof over her head from falling down around her. When handyman Caleb Hunter shows up at her door for a haircut, the military veteran is the answer to her prayers—and the attraction is instantaneous. Too bad her troubled ten-year-old son isn't quite as thrilled to have Caleb hanging around.Old wounds have kept Caleb from returning to Redemption permanently. When he receives word of his mother's unexpected death, guilt and regret bring him home again, but will the love of a good woman keep him there? Beautiful, witty, and strong, Lauren excites him like no woman ever has, but she's a package deal, and he's not sure he's prepared to take on a ready-made  First Kiss...Lauren moaned, leaning into him, dissolving into his heat, pulse roaring in her ears. She turned in his arms, bringing her leg around so she could straddle his lap and snuggle even closer, plastering herself against his broad, hard chest. Caleb answered her silent plea with a growl of his own, crushing her in his arms, his hands caressing a fiery trail down her back, cupping her butt in his big hands. Their mouths meshed with escalating hunger, their tongues moving in a dance as old as time, both giving as much as they took. Lauren felt sure she would drown in the heady sensations coursing through her.The proof of his desire was nestled between them, and it took all her self-control not to move against him. It had been so long since—Caleb tore his lips free and rested his forehead against hers, his breath coming out in ragged pants."Wha—?" Lauren could barely draw air into her lungs to speak. "Is something wrong?" she finally managed to whisper."I think Emma woke up," he whispered right back.She sat back in alarm and shot a look toward the stairs. How could she have not heard her? "I'll be right back," she murmured, unable to meet his gaze. She climbed off his lap with as much dignity as possible and raced up the stairs.Emma had indeed woken up, but Lauren rubbed her back for a few minutes, and she fell right back to sleep. She stuck her head in the bathroom on her way back to check her face in the mirror, make sure the words "bad mother" weren't etched into her forehead.Caleb stood as soon as she entered the kitchen. "Is she all right? It wasn't her hand, was it?""No, just fussing. She fell right back to sleep." She wrapped her arms around herself and walked past him to the sink for a glass of water.Caleb came up behind her, but didn't touch her. "Is something wrong?"She took a sip, then another, too embarrassed to turn around and face him. "I didn't even hear her. What does that say about my maternal instinct?"He took her in his arms. "You're a wonderful mother, Lauren. You got wrapped up in the moment, which, to be honest, is a pretty big compliment."She gazed up at him, hoping her heart wasn't in her eyes. "But you heard her. Does that mean you weren't as...that it didn't affect you the same way...?"He silenced her with a quick kiss. "Shh. All it means is I'm a military man who's attuned to the sounds around him. The kiss knocked my socks off, lady."

WELCOME TO USA Today Bestselling Series

A Fair of the Heart, Book 1

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91 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 29, 2011

189 people are currently reading
716 people want to read

About the author

Donna Marie Rogers

20 books101 followers
"A good romance novel is like a bubble bath: steamy, relaxing, and over way too soon." ~ Donna Marie Rogers

USA Today bestselling author Donna Marie Rogers inherited her love of romance from her mother. Romance novels, soap operas, Little House On the Prairie--her mother loved them all. And though it wasn't until years later Donna would come to understand her mother's fascination with Charles Ingalls, Donna's love of the romance genre is every bit as all-consuming.

A Chicago native, Donna now lives in beautiful Northeast Wisconsin with her husband and children. She's an avid gardener and home-canner, as well as an admitted reality TV junkie. Her passion to read is only exceeded by her passion to write, so when she's not doing the wife and mother thing, you can usually find her sitting at the computer, creating exciting, memorable characters, fresh new worlds, and always happily-ever-afters. Donna also writes erotic romance as Liza James.

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5 stars
326 (26%)
4 stars
393 (32%)
3 stars
383 (31%)
2 stars
95 (7%)
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31 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
Profile Image for Erin (Historical Fiction Reader).
447 reviews724 followers
April 2, 2016
If you follow my blog or my activity on Goodreads, you may have noticed I reviewed book two of the Welcome to Redemption series before reviewing book one. Somehow I managed to read the books in reverse. Normally the review order wouldn’t concern me but this case is an exception. You see, book two reveals the climactic scenes in A Fair of the Heart. Having read the books in reverse, I am left questioning how much of my enjoyment was curtailed by this disclosure.

To Rogers’ credit, I really like the premise here. I married a man with a child and while I don’t necessarily seek out these books, I enjoy and appreciate writers who tackle the challenges of relationships where children of previous relationships are present. A lot of people can relate to Caleb and Lauren’s situation which lends not only a realistic quality to the story but a human one as well.

On the other hand, the timeline didn’t make a lot of sense. Running into a relationship is one thing; running in with kids is another matter entirely. A Fair of the Heart takes place over a period of days. To my mind this is far too short a time to commit to such a complicated relationship. I have similar trouble buying into Max’s transformation from ten year old delinquent to model child over the same period. Here again, the amount of time didn’t seem appropriate for the course of events.

One final note before I wrap up. It takes a certain level of skill to depict intimacy on paper. Some authors hint at it but ultimately imply more than they depict. Some opt for more detailed descriptions and venture into the realm of erotic lit. Some even go all out, issuing forth what can only be described as pornography. Rogers doesn’t belong to any of these groups. Her scenes are carefully crafted, well-illustrated and tasteful. Well played madam, well played.

Sweet story with a few issues but not too bad. Language left something to be desired but I’m willing to overlook that. Seriously considered abandoning the series after reading book two but am on the fence after reading A Fair of the Heart.
Profile Image for Mya.
1,502 reviews59 followers
June 11, 2021
This book allowed you to escape reality for a quick trip.
Profile Image for Kame.
802 reviews38 followers
February 24, 2012
This is the first book in a series of 6. It may have had 200ish pages on my Nook but it felt more like a Novella or short story. I think that is because while this was a sweet story - there is a lot we could have learned about these characters.

Lauren is a single mother, and Caleb is a carpenter who comes to her house for a haircut. An attraction is felt right away. In exchange for attacking her "fix-it" list around the house Lauren offers Caleb home cooked meals. Soon Caleb's heart is taken with Lauren and her sweet daughter Emma. Her son Max, a rebelling 10 year old, reminds Caleb of himself. He tries to take him under his wing and help him get thru the hurt of his Dad just leaving and now caring to contact his children.

Caleb had returned to Redemption for his Mother's funeral - he is dealing with the guilt of not coming home to visit as often as he should have, deciding where he wants to live, and thinking of if he is up for a ready made family.

This series is written with another author - each author taking a separate book - I have read book 1 & 2 and there are corresponding scenes in each book. However do not read book 2 thinking you will see a continuation of Lauren and Caleb's story - I am not sure if it will be continued in the remaining books.

In all - a good read that I got for free from BN - Books 3-6 are priced at 1.99 - I do not think I will purchase them.
Profile Image for Britt.
209 reviews42 followers
December 19, 2012
I picked this book up as a freebie for a reading challenge not expecting much.

What I found was a sweet story about two people finding love and in the process finding themselves again. I love the small town feel of books like this and I have always been a sucker for romances where a single mum finds a man that loves her kids as much as he loves her. I just find it so sweet and it pulls on my heart strings. This could have been a great book, an amazing book. The characters were great, the children cute, the setting absolutely beautiful, it had so much potential but the author ruined it but not putting enough time, and well pages into it.

This story felt like a half-story, I wanted to know more, I need to know more, but I just did not get that from the author. I would have liked to see more of the development of the relationship, a slower build up, more interaction between Caleb and the kids, and the ending could have been much better. For me the book ended rather abruptly and kind of left me feeling cold, not the usual happy and warm feeling I like to end a romance book like this with.

So 3 stars, but this could have easily been a 5 star read if the author had loved it enough to give it the time and length that this story really needed to come alive.
Profile Image for Stephanie.
124 reviews112 followers
March 11, 2016
Really loved this romance and how it had the idea of a ready made family. My finacee took that chance the same way that Caleb took the chance on Lauren so I really loved this. It was a romance but there was real life situations in there too. How an older child after a divorce can often blame the parent that didnt run away. I have experienced this with my own son so I felt for Lauren when she was on the receiving end of rude comments and insults.

I love how there was a little more spice to the lovemaking scene. A little more detail in that department is never bad. But it wasnt so overdone I felt like I was reading erotica.
Profile Image for Tamara.
Author 16 books365 followers
December 30, 2011
book 1 in the Welcome to redemption series. really great characters who acted like real people! I loved the fact that Lauren never over reacts to Caleb's interaction with her son Matt. I hate it when the authors make single mothers act like idiots over their children. I thought the story progressed at a nice pace and I really enjoyed getting to know Lauren and Caleb. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
Profile Image for Ronnae Stately.
772 reviews
October 16, 2024
Lauren Frazier is a hair dresser who works out of her own house. One day a man, Caleb Hunter, comes to her house to get a haircut. They immediately are attracted to each other and so begins a romance. Lauren is also a single mother of two a boy of 10, Max, and a girl of four, Emma. Emma attaches to Caleb as soon as she meets him when e comes to fix things out their house. But Max doesn't like Caleb at first because he is angry at the world because his father has abandoned them for his own selfish purposes. Eventually Max becomes accostomed to Caleb as he is give tasks and paid for his work in staining wood that Caleb is working on for different projects around town. This story has its ups and owns all with a romance story entertwined.
Profile Image for Jane.
Author 6 books89 followers
January 13, 2026
Laren, a single mom with two young children works hard to support her family as a hair dresser in her falling down home since her ex-husband leaf a little over a year ago and has never kept in touch with her children. Caleb is from Redemption and is home because his mother died suddenly when he goes to Laren for a hair cut.

It turns into A Fair of the Heart as romance devleops despite her problems with Max, her son and Caleb falls for Max and his little sister Emma along with their mother as she gives him a Welcome to Redemptions ~ in Book 1. A quick and sweet romance including two loveable children.
907 reviews3 followers
January 26, 2022
Finding home

They have an instant connection yet you get a slowburn vibe. They figure things out in a short amount of time but really seem to know each other through the events in the story. She is a single mom and he is figuring out where to stay and coming to terms with the past
Profile Image for heather steigler.
84 reviews
January 31, 2018
To short

Can't really recommend this book. The book was over before I got started. The only character you kinda got to know is Max and in a romance...well a 10 yr old isn't what comes to mind. I was disappointed.
Profile Image for April.
Author 12 books69 followers
January 3, 2020
An enjoyable quick read that's believeable and sweet. Can truly understand being a single parent and appreciating a shoulder to lean on. I'd read this story in kindle but just reread it in the Heart Of A Hero paperback. 4 stories by 4 awesome authors!
2,533 reviews
books-boxed-sets
April 27, 2020
In boxed set - "Welcome to Redemption: Series Collection (Welcome to Redemption #1-6)"
Profile Image for Amy Burkhart.
90 reviews2 followers
June 21, 2020
Love Love Love!!!!

This was such an absolutely wonderful ready made family story!! I can’t wait to read more in this series! ❤️❤️❤️❤️
12 reviews
September 15, 2022
6 day wonder...

I love romances & this one was excellent! Just enough mystery & delays to make you want to read ahead to the end BUT don't. You'll miss some sweet things...
434 reviews5 followers
December 22, 2022
Handyman Plus

Thank you for this heartwarming love story. I found it down to earth, enjoyable, and humorous. I look forward to reading more of your work.
Profile Image for Cheryl Steckling.
318 reviews1 follower
March 3, 2016
A Fair of the Heart (Welcome to Redemption #1) by Donna Marie Rogers
Lauren Frazier is a single mom with 2 children Max who is 10 and Emma who is 3. Her husband left her and she tried between mortgage and such to keep up but nothing left for the repairs to the house.
Caleb Hunter is in town and he is a handyman. He needs a haircut and the man at the library gives him 2 names for whom to go to. One is Lauren, so he goes there and realizes there is something special about her.
Caleb is no stranger to town but has been gone quite a few years. His mom, Rosalee lived there in Redemption and had with Hutch owned Hutch's Diner. Rosalee passed away before Hutch and she could get married. Caleb's real dad walked away from the family when he was quite young. So he totally understood what Max was going through.
Lauren hires Caleb to do some house repairs. One repair he needed to make was to Max's dresser. He uncovered some cigarettes as he does those repairs.
Max is bigger than the normal 10 year old, he cusses, he smokes, he is really mad at his mom as he feels she told his dad to leave.
Loved the book and how the author tells the story and has parts that show how Caleb is a natural at being a dad even though he has never had children or a wife.
Can Caleb win the heart of Lauren and can he get past the point that Lauren is a package deal?


The Welcome to Redemption series is wrote by Donna Marie Rogers and Stacey Joy Netzel
579 reviews32 followers
January 7, 2012
This was an easy enjoyable read. On my Nook the story was approx 200 pages long out of 226 pages total. I liked this town and the characters. This is the first book in the series. The other books in this series are just as good if not better.

Single mother, and work-at-home beautician, Lauren Frazier can barely keep a roof over her head, let alone stop it from falling down around her. When handyman Caleb Hunter shows up at her door for a haircut, he's the answer to her prayers--and the attraction is instantaneous. Too bad her troublesome ten-year-old son isn't quite as thrilled to have Caleb hanging around.

Old wounds have kept Caleb from returning to Redemption permanently. When he receives word of his mother's unexpected death, guilt and regret bring him home again, but will the love of a good woman keep him there? Beautiful, witty, and strong, Lauren excites Caleb like no woman ever has, but she's a package deal, and he's not sure he's prepared to take on a ready-made family.
Profile Image for Rosie Comia.
28 reviews
May 27, 2013
I read this book in Nov-Dec. 2012 before I joined Goodreads hence, the late review.

This is a small town contemporary romance between Lauren Frazier, a single mother beautician & Caleb Hunter, a carpenter-electrician. They met when Caleb went for a haircut & there was an immediate attraction between them. They agreed bartering services, his fix-it-all at her house & her home cooked meals. In no time at all, Caleb found himself involved in her family. Her daughter Emma adored him while he found himself helping straightened out ten-year old Max's rebellious attitude. In the end, they ended up a ready made family.

This is an enjoyable & easy read although it feels like a novella instead of a 222-page book. The story/relationship took place in a span one week or thereabouts so it feels a bit rushed. Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading this. Mostly, I love reading romance about a single mother & a handsome, lovable & responsible "knight in shining armor."
Profile Image for ⚜️XAR the Bookwyrm.
2,343 reviews17 followers
January 3, 2015
This was an interesting short book, but my problem with it was that it was too short! I got invested in the characters, and bam!...the story ends. The pacing of the relationship also seemed rather fast, as they fell in love way too quickly for my liking. The characters were well thought out and developed, I just wanted more of the book! I also would have liked to see some additional world building, like the reason for the fair and more about the town. I peeked ahead and saw that the next book focuses on a character that we meet for all of maybe five minutes in the book, so I definitely would have wanted more development of her before diving into the next book. All in all, a short read that is worth reading once, but the lack of world building makes the book suffer.
Profile Image for Cayla.
1,087 reviews36 followers
September 14, 2015
This book was a very fast read for me. (That's not a bad thing, by the way.) It's a fairly realistic story of a divorcee raising two kids and taking a chance on love.

The main two things I did not like: 1) There is some sex in the book and I was under the impression that this book was a "Christian Fiction read." So warning: don't let your Christian friends pick up this book or they'll be in for a disappointment. 2) Lots of profanity---LOTS!!! Again, a lot of readers in the Christian community will complain about this just I am doing right now.

This book had SOOO much potential. It's really sad that Ms. Rogers felt that her story needed sex and cussing to make it "good enough." The thing is, a story can be just as moving without it.
Profile Image for Melissa.
228 reviews
April 26, 2012
A short (free) read offered through B&N for the Nook. The characters were good but the ending a big abrupt.

Caleb Hunter is returning to his hometown after his mother's passing. He falls for a single mom with two kids and has to decide if he wants to stick around the town and put down roots or go back to Chicago and his single but boring life. He quickly steps in to help with Max, the ten year old son who seems to always be making bad decisions. When Max is faced with an accident, Caleb finds it easier to make his decision. He's fallen in love and is sticking around.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Penny.
159 reviews5 followers
August 4, 2014
This could have been a good romance story, especially with the way the hero helps with the single Mother's son. However, I am giving it only 2 stars because of the bad language that didn't need to be in the story, but on top of that, the way they used God's and Jesus' name in vain constantly throughout the book. No, this was not Christian Fiction, but please put warnings in your publishers reviews about language content and cursing.

ALERT: Also there was a very sexual scene that was not reported either.

Profile Image for Nicola.
788 reviews21 followers
July 16, 2012
Once again a short book in which resolutions must be arrived at quite quickly. I found the writing enjoyable and for the most part the characters likeable. The rebellious son should have received more attention in this book, both as in to how he became this way, and how he changed throughout - however as a secondary character I realize that there was not the time for that. Fast-paced romance for sure - the whole book took place in the span of a week.
Profile Image for Jake.
89 reviews2 followers
August 12, 2012
Ok, it's safe to say that I am not into romance novels at all. The only reason I read this was because it was on my Kindle. But, I will admit, I enjoyed it... some. I found myself caring about the characters, and while the plot was thin (all romance novels are) I enjoyed it. This is part of a series and while I am sure I will eventually read them all, I am not racing to get there. Still, a nice read on a lazy afternoon.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews

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