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Oregon In Love #1
Restorations
In a small Oregon community, Sara Andersen finds herself in possession of an old farmhouse in desperate need of renovations. Brian Farris is a builder who is new in town, but intimately acquainted with Sara. His purpose is not to restore only the house, but his relationship with her. The only problem is that Sara doesn't believe Brian has undergone any soulful renovations of his own.
177 pages, ebook
First published July 28, 2003
69 people are currently reading
482 people want to read
About the author
Bonnie Blythe
26 books292 followersEver since I tucked paperback romance novels in my school textbooks, I've
been a fan of Christian romance. Getting to write them is even more fun.
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Bonnie-Blythe/...
been a fan of Christian romance. Getting to write them is even more fun.
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Bonnie-Blythe/...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
January 8, 2015
Maybe a 3.5. I really liked it in the beginning, but by the end, Sara was being pretty cowardly, and Brian was being a complete dork-head. They both liked (or, apparently LOVED) each other, but neither of them was willing to admit it. Sara was being self-conscious and self-critical... Brian was being all hot-and-cold and sending completely mixed signals... Then Aunt Hattie was being all secretive and stuff, and it's cool what was actually going on, but it was a bit TOO parallel in my mind. Like almost the EXACT same thing happened to her as happened to Sara... A bit coincidental.
Anyway, I'm glad they worked everything out in the end!
BUT the WEIRDEST part about this book was the heroine's name: Sara Andersen. That's my maiden name. Spelled just like that, Sara with no "H" and Andersen with an "E-N." Is that not the most BIZARRE THING EVER??? It was totally strange. The hero did NOT have the same name as my hubby but kinda close! Ferras vs Ferrell? Anyway, crazy!
Anyway, I'm glad they worked everything out in the end!
BUT the WEIRDEST part about this book was the heroine's name: Sara Andersen. That's my maiden name. Spelled just like that, Sara with no "H" and Andersen with an "E-N." Is that not the most BIZARRE THING EVER??? It was totally strange. The hero did NOT have the same name as my hubby but kinda close! Ferras vs Ferrell? Anyway, crazy!
June 29, 2014
This is my first book by Bonnie Blythe, it won't be my last.
Sara's grandfather leaves her a old farmhouse. She goes to town to sell it upon arrival she spots her old boyfriend driving through town.
This is Sara's (and her aunt Hattie's) story of love.
This book is pretty short so there is not a lot of depth that happens but it is still a good read.
This is the first in a series.
Sara's grandfather leaves her a old farmhouse. She goes to town to sell it upon arrival she spots her old boyfriend driving through town.
This is Sara's (and her aunt Hattie's) story of love.
This book is pretty short so there is not a lot of depth that happens but it is still a good read.
This is the first in a series.
August 18, 2013
2.5 stars
Sweet story about a girl restoring an older home and reconnecting with a former boyfriend. Cute read when you are in between other books. Characters aren't super deep and they waste a lot of time before they are honest with each other.
Sweet story about a girl restoring an older home and reconnecting with a former boyfriend. Cute read when you are in between other books. Characters aren't super deep and they waste a lot of time before they are honest with each other.
October 3, 2025
This is a story about the attraction between two people that has had several ups and down, but now seems on the path to complete reconciliation. The problem is that neither Sara nor Brian seem quite ready to leave the past in the past. They were very close up until two years ago when they split up, and haven't seen each other since. If they admit it, though, they have continued to think about each other sometimes.
At the beginning of the story Sara is shocked when she learns that her grandpa has died, and she regrets that she hasn't visited him in a long time. Sadness and guilt spurs her to make the trip to where he lived as soon as possible. Upon arrival she finds out that Brian has been living on her grandpa's property for awhile. You can imagine how this complicates things for both of them. Feelings of mistrust come to the surface immediately.
Sara's Aunt Hattie lives nearby and takes her under her wing and tries to explain things, telling her how she and her grandfather both have come to know Brian and think highly of him. Sara can hardly believe this, but she tries to keep an open mind. Then when the two of them meet up, there is a mixture of feelings, remembering both the good days and the not so good. The story then goes through several weeks of their coming together, sometimes rekindling old romantic feelings and sometimes recalling why Sara rejected Brian.
In the end they finally find peace and comfort with each other, which was a relief to me. The only thing is that the story is to be continued in book #2, so I won't (or can't) tell you how it ends.
At the beginning of the story Sara is shocked when she learns that her grandpa has died, and she regrets that she hasn't visited him in a long time. Sadness and guilt spurs her to make the trip to where he lived as soon as possible. Upon arrival she finds out that Brian has been living on her grandpa's property for awhile. You can imagine how this complicates things for both of them. Feelings of mistrust come to the surface immediately.
Sara's Aunt Hattie lives nearby and takes her under her wing and tries to explain things, telling her how she and her grandfather both have come to know Brian and think highly of him. Sara can hardly believe this, but she tries to keep an open mind. Then when the two of them meet up, there is a mixture of feelings, remembering both the good days and the not so good. The story then goes through several weeks of their coming together, sometimes rekindling old romantic feelings and sometimes recalling why Sara rejected Brian.
In the end they finally find peace and comfort with each other, which was a relief to me. The only thing is that the story is to be continued in book #2, so I won't (or can't) tell you how it ends.
November 8, 2021
clean romance
This was a feel good romance book to get lost in when you need a little step away from reality. Clean Christian romance that delves into the interpersonal turmoil of second chances.
This was a feel good romance book to get lost in when you need a little step away from reality. Clean Christian romance that delves into the interpersonal turmoil of second chances.
February 3, 2024
Great read!
Loved the storyline and characters. Look forward to reading more in this collection and from this author. Worth every minute!
Loved the storyline and characters. Look forward to reading more in this collection and from this author. Worth every minute!
December 12, 2013
I have never really been a romance person, mostly because I want more of a story than people having sex and the crass description of body parts and the act itself. As a result I don't read many even Christian ones. But this was a nice story, and I will probably read the others in the series.
Sara is back in her home town because of the death of her grandfather, who essentially raised her. She wants to get done what she needs to and head back to her life. While she is out on an errand she spies someone who looked a lot like the man who broke her heart, but it couldn't possibly be him she tells herself. When she and her aunt go over to the farm her grandfather left her she discovers that it was Brian and he is living in the cottage behind the farm house. Sara isn't ready to believe that Brian has become a Christian and is ready to be the man she needs.
Well written. More of a plot than just the romance. Christian theme was not over done, but slightly under done in the fact that it didn't seem to explain Brian's change of heart as well as I would have liked. All in all a good story.
Sara is back in her home town because of the death of her grandfather, who essentially raised her. She wants to get done what she needs to and head back to her life. While she is out on an errand she spies someone who looked a lot like the man who broke her heart, but it couldn't possibly be him she tells herself. When she and her aunt go over to the farm her grandfather left her she discovers that it was Brian and he is living in the cottage behind the farm house. Sara isn't ready to believe that Brian has become a Christian and is ready to be the man she needs.
Well written. More of a plot than just the romance. Christian theme was not over done, but slightly under done in the fact that it didn't seem to explain Brian's change of heart as well as I would have liked. All in all a good story.
September 11, 2014
I live in Oregon so when I found this book on kindle, I downloaded it. One of the downfalls of reading the book is trying to make Oregon fit the description. It can become a guessing game- where exactly is this fictitious town? My biggest complaint, so far, is that they drove several hours and several hundred miles after they left Crescent City before reaching Oregon. Crescent City is right across the border- less than 30 miles. Even towing a trailer with a Honda Accord should not have made for such a detour to get to Oregon. Now, it is entirely possible they drove to visit someone in Brian's family, but there was no mention of that. If they took the most direct route to I-5 and stayed on it, 200 miles would put them over half the distance from the California border to the Washington border. There is another possibility, which consists of going what I would consider way out of their way, but most of the trip would not be on a freeway or interstate. Hmmm...
Overall, the book was okay. The author's writing style has room for improvement.
Overall, the book was okay. The author's writing style has room for improvement.
September 26, 2012
Sara & Brian are a couple who took their walk with God at different time & down different paths at the beginning. So, when their human choice to a scary turn in their relationship in they were caught on so many levels they took it as a booming hand of God their to punish her. Therefore, she ran instead of talking to him. Which is really the theme of this whole story lack of mature adult communication. Praying to God is wonderful but expecting a different answer then what is presented then running from it then blaming the other person is not the answer. Love is a gift. Run to it but be mature enough to know there are hurdles to get over, but so worth it. I very much enjoyed this book I just got frustrated that they would not talk about their thoughts & feelings.
April 20, 2013
I'm sorry can't quite do a review of this book justice. I did enjoy reading it! Wanted to leave some comment. I know it was a pretty quick read for me....
From good reads:In a small Oregon community, Sara Andersen finds herself in possession of an old farmhouse in desperate need of renovations. Brian Farris is a builder who is new in town, but intimately acquainted with Sara. His purpose is not to restore only the house, but his relationship with her. The only problem is that Sara doesn't believe Brian has undergone any soulful renovations of his own
From good reads:In a small Oregon community, Sara Andersen finds herself in possession of an old farmhouse in desperate need of renovations. Brian Farris is a builder who is new in town, but intimately acquainted with Sara. His purpose is not to restore only the house, but his relationship with her. The only problem is that Sara doesn't believe Brian has undergone any soulful renovations of his own
July 30, 2012
story about an anti-social bookworm who has a past that includes the love of her life. But the relationship ended with a nasty letter he/she wrote to one another. He becomes a Christian and she's already one. Somehow they are brought together and realize they still love one another. Its the perfect love story. Its good to see people who were meant to be together in the first place come together later in life. Of course that is not real just a story. Brilliantly written.
August 8, 2012
This book has an excellent story line of love restored with a couple of surprises. Bonnie Blythe adeptly addresses issues of premarital relationships, non-trust & a Christian dating a non-Christian. If you have issues with editorial errors, this book is a little frustrating with missed, extra and transposed words in the Kindle edition. All-in-all a very light & pleasant read. I would definitely recommend it.
January 28, 2016
A delightful romance of restoration, forgiveness and starting over.
Both Sara and Brain has strong characters although I thought that Sara really needed a kick. Clinging to a past that almost cost her dearly. But at the end with the patient skill of Brain she got it right and commit to him totally. Against the remodeling of her grand father's house to a Bed & Breakfast the two got a chance to know each other and allowing the feelings to grow in a beautiful romance.
Both Sara and Brain has strong characters although I thought that Sara really needed a kick. Clinging to a past that almost cost her dearly. But at the end with the patient skill of Brain she got it right and commit to him totally. Against the remodeling of her grand father's house to a Bed & Breakfast the two got a chance to know each other and allowing the feelings to grow in a beautiful romance.
August 6, 2013
This is a wonderful struggling love story. I so wanted to shake both of them through out the book and say wake up and go for what is right in front of you. this book has a lot of suspense aspect to the story because you really do not know if they will ever get together or not. The end leaves you hanging and wanting to read the next book.
June 23, 2012
Sweet romance! Has some of my favorite things...becoming a Christian, re-dedication to Christ, remodeling, decor, love second chances, taking care of elders, B&B, and two romances to boot! I had a hard time putting this one down, I was so caught up in the story.
December 13, 2015
In the beginning, I thought it was going to be a really good book, but then there was so much back and forth going on, I kind of got lost in the mix. The characters were not well developed and the story was less than inspiring. Not her best work, that's for sure.
August 28, 2016
In a small Oregon community, Sara Andersen finds herself in possession of an old farmhouse in desperate need of renovations. Brian Farris is a builder who is new in town, but intimately acquainted with Sara.
June 16, 2016
Very sweet christian romance. Warm memorable characters and good plot line.
June 8, 2012
Great story about forgiveness, renovation- inside and out, and God's guiding in our lives! Writer brings you right in to this sleeply little town and the lives of each character.
June 11, 2012
Not a bad story, but there were a bunch of typos in the Kindle version.
June 11, 2012
Sorry, this book was just to sappy and unrealistic to me. Grade: C
March 23, 2013
Oh Boy Oh Boy I loved this book and would recommend this book to anyone who would love to kick back and read
August 7, 2012
Two-haiku review:
She inherits home
Finds old boyfriend living near
Has he really changed?
Nice Christian romance
Too much "tell" in back story
But enjoyable
She inherits home
Finds old boyfriend living near
Has he really changed?
Nice Christian romance
Too much "tell" in back story
But enjoyable
November 13, 2012
Picked it up because I like the author. Very good short read. A few surprises, which are always good for me. :)
July 10, 2013
Between 3 1/2 and 4.
February 23, 2014
sweet story...easy to read...hard to put down!!
September 4, 2014
a cute christian love story with a happy ending. gotta love that
November 26, 2014
This is a sweet Christian romance. The description of Oregon was realistic in this one.
September 10, 2016
Ebook
She goes home for her granddaddy funeral. He leaves her a house that needs work. The contractor is her ex....
She goes home for her granddaddy funeral. He leaves her a house that needs work. The contractor is her ex....
March 28, 2015
Pretty cool book. Predictable, but the fun is in the details. Highly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews