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Bayou #2
Sweetheart Bride
Back Home to The Bayou-
Saying goodbye to Fleur, Louisiana was all part of Brenna Blanchard's grand plan. Coming back to the quaint tiny town after a failed art career and broken wedding engagement, however, was not. When architect Nick Santiago recruits her to help restore a beautiful old mansion, it's just the distraction she needs--and growing close to handsome Nick is an unexpected bonus. Except, he has a heart in need of restoration, too. All business, the only thing Nick can't manage to construct is a life outside work. Unless Brenna can finally help him arrange his priorities--with love as number one.
Saying goodbye to Fleur, Louisiana was all part of Brenna Blanchard's grand plan. Coming back to the quaint tiny town after a failed art career and broken wedding engagement, however, was not. When architect Nick Santiago recruits her to help restore a beautiful old mansion, it's just the distraction she needs--and growing close to handsome Nick is an unexpected bonus. Except, he has a heart in need of restoration, too. All business, the only thing Nick can't manage to construct is a life outside work. Unless Brenna can finally help him arrange his priorities--with love as number one.
Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 2013
About the author
Lenora Worth
276 books397 followersLenora Worth has written 75 books for three different publishers. She reached a milestone when she received her 50th book pin from Harlequin. Her books have won both regional and national awards and she now has millions of books in print and is a NY Times, USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author. Currently she is writing both Love Inspired and Love Inspired Suspense and Tule Publishing. Married to her childhood sweetheart, Lenora has two grown children and lives in Florida.
Pen name: Lenora Nazworth
Pen name: Lenora Nazworth
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 18, 2020
What. Why did I read this? I’m atheist/agnostic.
Either way, not a terrible read, but not a good one either. I’m going to ignore the religious preaching (since I’m going to assume that’s common in Christian fiction), but still, the way Brenna treats Nick’s obvious trauma is wayyyyy wrong. He needs therapy, not religion (or at least, not right away. Christianity clearly makes him happy, but he needs to heal before practicing it again).
Also?? The title and the genre really bothers me, as they don’t get married in the book (her sister Alma does in the first chapter) and it’s not Christmasy (I really wanted a Christmas soft book, okay? I didn’t get one and I’m sad.)
Either way, not a terrible read, but not a good one either. I’m going to ignore the religious preaching (since I’m going to assume that’s common in Christian fiction), but still, the way Brenna treats Nick’s obvious trauma is wayyyyy wrong. He needs therapy, not religion (or at least, not right away. Christianity clearly makes him happy, but he needs to heal before practicing it again).
Also?? The title and the genre really bothers me, as they don’t get married in the book (her sister Alma does in the first chapter) and it’s not Christmasy (I really wanted a Christmas soft book, okay? I didn’t get one and I’m sad.)
January 13, 2013
Sweetheart Bride by Lenora Worth
I didn't bond with this story, not sure why. characters were strong ones in Brenna that had been hurt by a former Love and she returned to her hometown..Fluer, LA.
Nick Santiago quite- handsome- gentleman coming into town to work on restoration of a beautiful home, well it will be beautiful again when he gets through with it, his boss is a mystery..no one is telling who. The mystery person bought the house and wants it restored to its former glory and Nick has found out that Brenna will be able to help with the art for his boss.
The two do not get along well and part of the reason for that is that they become attracted to one another way too quick..
Both decide to back off and make this a business arrangement and they work well together...
I am partial to historical so could be why I read this one slower..hope you will open and read as Lenora Worth is a good author "Worth reading".
I didn't bond with this story, not sure why. characters were strong ones in Brenna that had been hurt by a former Love and she returned to her hometown..Fluer, LA.
Nick Santiago quite- handsome- gentleman coming into town to work on restoration of a beautiful home, well it will be beautiful again when he gets through with it, his boss is a mystery..no one is telling who. The mystery person bought the house and wants it restored to its former glory and Nick has found out that Brenna will be able to help with the art for his boss.
The two do not get along well and part of the reason for that is that they become attracted to one another way too quick..
Both decide to back off and make this a business arrangement and they work well together...
I am partial to historical so could be why I read this one slower..hope you will open and read as Lenora Worth is a good author "Worth reading".
December 17, 2012
What a fun story to read! I loved the ethnic culture and accents. And the wonderful characters!
June 24, 2023
Like I've said, it's hit or miss with Lenora Worth.
This miss is by a *MILE*. Maybe six or seven of them.
I absolutely LOVED the first book in the series ('Sweetheart Reunion'), so I do recommend you check that one out if you like books with a twist to them, some amazing cultural references (Cajun), and a world you really will love to escape into.
This one? It's like Worth decided to ride on the coattails of the last story instead of weaving something as beautiful and rich. It was so bad, I DNF-ed this thing at 73pgs... and I gave it a fair shot. It just wasn't. worth it.
First peeve: When there are three sisters, and the first one has dark brown hair, the second is a redhead, and the third has pale blonde. Is that even genetically possible!?!?! I *KNOW* it's not genetically probable. Yet this happens WAY too often in cheap novels. And I didn't want this series to be lumped up as 'cheap novels'. SO disappointing.
Brenna was living the LIFE in Baton Rouge as director of operations at a big-time museum. But then Worth tells us that she's LET GO FOR BUDGET CUTS , so that the author can send her home for this story. I'm sorry, but they don't let go DIRECTORS, they let go curators and researchers, general operators. Not someone IN CHARGE OF operations, for the love of Mike!
Whist in Baton Rouge, Brenna meet aloof, wealthy, successful, well-dressed Jeffrey who apparently from moment one treated her like backwater trash... and yet she not only dated but got ENGAGED to this man who we're told "never said an encouraging or complimentary word" to her. ((?!?!?!)) He even apparently hated on her job as DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS at one of the largest museums in the south - a highly respected and successful position in its own right. So... RIIIIIIIIIGHT.
Anyhow, she's home, laid off... and in cliched fashion, pouting up at the altar of her sister's wedding because *she's* the one who was supposed to be married. But the tall, dark and dark stranger in the back (←author's words, not mine) thinks that's hot. R'something. I don't know. We do know she's not 'inspirational' in any way, at this point.
His name is Nick Santiago, and he was born in Mexico and throws a spattering of Spanish in everything he says... in FrenchLouisiana backwater-land. Because when in Rome, am I right? It sullied the cultural creativity of the first book, that we're now exchanging Cajun French for immigrant Spanish.
More, the guy on the front is tall WHITE boy, and WHAT is UP with THAT?!?!?!
Anyhow, recall Brenna just came off breaking up with aloof, wealthy, successful, well-dressed Jeffrey... and immediately she sets eyes on aloof, wealthy, successful, well-dressed Nick... so... NATRUALLY she goes for exactly the same combination that DIDN'T work for her LAST time. Because reasonzzzz.
Meanwhile, she's working at Alma's cafe to cover while she's on honeymoon. And PLEASE tell me what's *inspirational* about a girl wearing a shirt that says "Food so good, you'll slap your mama". That's funny? When is it appropriate in a chrischun novel to talk about disrespecting your mother? THAT'S NOT OKAY. And yeah, it was in the last book, too, but I let it go because everything else was SOOOO amazing. This isn't - and I'm NOT letting it go, here.
So Nick is in town to renovate THE historical (derelict) mansion for a mysterious buyer who's not only rich, but is being set up to be the celebrity hero of the NEXT book in a cheesy and unimpressive move of anonymity. Dumb, because the guy is going to be MOVING THERE, so keeping his identity under wraps is moot!!!!
Nick hires Brenna to do the art in the mansion. We're told his employer has 'specific tastes', but then we're told Nick has carte blanche with the art, so... HOW DOES THAT EVEN WORK?!?! So no budget, anything Brenna wants... and more than that? We're told there *IS* an interior decorator, but she's holding off to see what art will be in the rooms, so she can work with and incorporate the colors/styles of the art.
Then, twenty pages later? Worth has Nick and Brenna looking at the paint schemes for each room, and scrolling thru computer pages of the furnishings planned for each room. WE WERE TOLD THERE WEREN'T ANY!!!!!! That it was all waiting on the art!! MAKE UP YOUR MIND!~!~!
GAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
Bad writing with smarmy characters with NO appeal to the reader and stupid, stoopid, STO_opid dialogue...
This was ruining the first book for me. Seriously.
So I'm out. Done with this one. It goes buh-bye.
I'll try book three because I have it, but... not holding out hope.
Not with Callie already more in love with the house than the hero,
and the ridiculous 'anonymous' millionaire thing.
What a shame.
This miss is by a *MILE*. Maybe six or seven of them.
I absolutely LOVED the first book in the series ('Sweetheart Reunion'), so I do recommend you check that one out if you like books with a twist to them, some amazing cultural references (Cajun), and a world you really will love to escape into.
This one? It's like Worth decided to ride on the coattails of the last story instead of weaving something as beautiful and rich. It was so bad, I DNF-ed this thing at 73pgs... and I gave it a fair shot. It just wasn't. worth it.
First peeve: When there are three sisters, and the first one has dark brown hair, the second is a redhead, and the third has pale blonde. Is that even genetically possible!?!?! I *KNOW* it's not genetically probable. Yet this happens WAY too often in cheap novels. And I didn't want this series to be lumped up as 'cheap novels'. SO disappointing.
Brenna was living the LIFE in Baton Rouge as director of operations at a big-time museum. But then Worth tells us that she's LET GO FOR BUDGET CUTS , so that the author can send her home for this story. I'm sorry, but they don't let go DIRECTORS, they let go curators and researchers, general operators. Not someone IN CHARGE OF operations, for the love of Mike!
Whist in Baton Rouge, Brenna meet aloof, wealthy, successful, well-dressed Jeffrey who apparently from moment one treated her like backwater trash... and yet she not only dated but got ENGAGED to this man who we're told "never said an encouraging or complimentary word" to her. ((?!?!?!)) He even apparently hated on her job as DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS at one of the largest museums in the south - a highly respected and successful position in its own right. So... RIIIIIIIIIGHT.
Anyhow, she's home, laid off... and in cliched fashion, pouting up at the altar of her sister's wedding because *she's* the one who was supposed to be married. But the tall, dark and dark stranger in the back (←author's words, not mine) thinks that's hot. R'something. I don't know. We do know she's not 'inspirational' in any way, at this point.
His name is Nick Santiago, and he was born in Mexico and throws a spattering of Spanish in everything he says... in FrenchLouisiana backwater-land. Because when in Rome, am I right? It sullied the cultural creativity of the first book, that we're now exchanging Cajun French for immigrant Spanish.
More, the guy on the front is tall WHITE boy, and WHAT is UP with THAT?!?!?!
Anyhow, recall Brenna just came off breaking up with aloof, wealthy, successful, well-dressed Jeffrey... and immediately she sets eyes on aloof, wealthy, successful, well-dressed Nick... so... NATRUALLY she goes for exactly the same combination that DIDN'T work for her LAST time. Because reasonzzzz.
Meanwhile, she's working at Alma's cafe to cover while she's on honeymoon. And PLEASE tell me what's *inspirational* about a girl wearing a shirt that says "Food so good, you'll slap your mama". That's funny? When is it appropriate in a chrischun novel to talk about disrespecting your mother? THAT'S NOT OKAY. And yeah, it was in the last book, too, but I let it go because everything else was SOOOO amazing. This isn't - and I'm NOT letting it go, here.
So Nick is in town to renovate THE historical (derelict) mansion for a mysterious buyer who's not only rich, but is being set up to be the celebrity hero of the NEXT book in a cheesy and unimpressive move of anonymity. Dumb, because the guy is going to be MOVING THERE, so keeping his identity under wraps is moot!!!!
Nick hires Brenna to do the art in the mansion. We're told his employer has 'specific tastes', but then we're told Nick has carte blanche with the art, so... HOW DOES THAT EVEN WORK?!?! So no budget, anything Brenna wants... and more than that? We're told there *IS* an interior decorator, but she's holding off to see what art will be in the rooms, so she can work with and incorporate the colors/styles of the art.
Then, twenty pages later? Worth has Nick and Brenna looking at the paint schemes for each room, and scrolling thru computer pages of the furnishings planned for each room. WE WERE TOLD THERE WEREN'T ANY!!!!!! That it was all waiting on the art!! MAKE UP YOUR MIND!~!~!
GAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
Bad writing with smarmy characters with NO appeal to the reader and stupid, stoopid, STO_opid dialogue...
This was ruining the first book for me. Seriously.
So I'm out. Done with this one. It goes buh-bye.
I'll try book three because I have it, but... not holding out hope.
Not with Callie already more in love with the house than the hero,
and the ridiculous 'anonymous' millionaire thing.
What a shame.
June 10, 2018
It gets 4 stars because it's an easy read and very sweet and a perfectly guilty pleasure. Not that guilty though, because it was an unexpectedly Christian book. I read Sweetheart Bride in about 6 hours laying on the couch at our cabin in Glacier, MT. It was a nice way to pass time.
While I wouldn't go out of your way to look for this book, if you do come across it somewhere (I found it in the free resort library), it wouldn't be a bad book to pick up and read.
While I wouldn't go out of your way to look for this book, if you do come across it somewhere (I found it in the free resort library), it wouldn't be a bad book to pick up and read.
September 13, 2023
If you read my review of book 1 in this series, you will find I felt it dragged a bit. Not so with Book 2. Such a great read! Watching Nick and Brenna work through their resistance to a relationship due to their pasts while feeling a strong attraction to each other was painful at times, but always entertaining and enlightening.
June 13, 2015
SWEETHEART BRIDE
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I mean absolutely no offense by the negative rating; I simply didn't like the story or the characters enough to bother reading beyond page 25 or so. In this case, the lack of interest is especially unfortunate because I typically love bayou and Louisiana stories.
February 4, 2013
Loved it!!!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews