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Farmers' Market Story #1
All I Have
Let the battle begin
Mia Pruitt wishes Dell Wainwright would keep his shirt on. The Naked Farmer lures customers by stripping to his perfectly worn jeans while he and Mia sell vegetables from competing stands at the farmers' market. It's time for a showdown, and they're each in it to win.
Yet when both farms end up in jeopardy, Mia and Dell suddenly find themselves on the same team. If their rivalry was hot, their attraction is steaming, but they can't seem to agree on a plan. If they could only learn to grow together, they might reap the best harvest of all…
Mia Pruitt wishes Dell Wainwright would keep his shirt on. The Naked Farmer lures customers by stripping to his perfectly worn jeans while he and Mia sell vegetables from competing stands at the farmers' market. It's time for a showdown, and they're each in it to win.
Yet when both farms end up in jeopardy, Mia and Dell suddenly find themselves on the same team. If their rivalry was hot, their attraction is steaming, but they can't seem to agree on a plan. If they could only learn to grow together, they might reap the best harvest of all…
384 pages, ebook
First published September 1, 2014
4 people are currently reading
276 people want to read
About the author
Nicole Helm
308 books498 followersNicole Helm is the national bestselling author of fast-paced romantic suspense for Harlequin Intrigue and down-to-earth contemporary romance. Her Intrigues routinely land on the Publishers Weekly Bestseller list, and she’s received starred PW reviews for her contemporary romances. She’s written over 75 books, known for their emotional depth and happily ever afters.
Nicole also writes with Megan Crane/Caitlin Crews as Hazel Beck writing the Witchlore series, which began with SMALL TOWN, BIG MAGIC in 2022.
In her spare time, Nicole loves losing herself in genealogy research, watching Cardinals baseball, and hiking with her family. She lives in Missouri with her husband and two sons.
You can contact her via email: Nicole@nicolehelm.com
You can sign up for Nicole’s monthly newsletter at http://eepurl.com/V973n
Nicole also writes with Megan Crane/Caitlin Crews as Hazel Beck writing the Witchlore series, which began with SMALL TOWN, BIG MAGIC in 2022.
In her spare time, Nicole loves losing herself in genealogy research, watching Cardinals baseball, and hiking with her family. She lives in Missouri with her husband and two sons.
You can contact her via email: Nicole@nicolehelm.com
You can sign up for Nicole’s monthly newsletter at http://eepurl.com/V973n
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
March 25, 2017
Really liked this one. It was different and sweet. The heroine was a shy yet super strong woman, while the hero outwardly confident was full of doubts and insecurities because of his parents. I think the book clearly showed real world problems and doubts with an engaging romance. Despite the small timeline these two were in love and just clicked.
January 20, 2016
Whups! Dove into this, read about 5%, realized it's totally not my thing, and leapt out. It's not badly written. Just fluffy with a 26 year old virgin and a hero who takes off his shirt on 50 degree weather to get housewives to buy from his farm stand. It just feels very very young.
Side note: It seems to me that it's kind of yucky for a man to think a girl is a lot cuter because she now routinely straightens her hair. Something politically incorrect there. Also, it's unlikely a young farm woman has the time to get up and straighten her hair each morning before heading to the outdoor market to set up her stand.
Side note: It seems to me that it's kind of yucky for a man to think a girl is a lot cuter because she now routinely straightens her hair. Something politically incorrect there. Also, it's unlikely a young farm woman has the time to get up and straighten her hair each morning before heading to the outdoor market to set up her stand.
July 2, 2014
FYI - This story is currently for sale in the HQN Contemporary Box Set Volume Two.
Adorable story. Hero and heroine have rival farmer's market stands. Hero decides to woo customers his way by taking off his shirt - his tactic works. This infuriates the heroine to no end. While she is super awkward and shy, she has some choice words for the hero. Their banter is excellent and their competitive nature leads them to great chemistry. Their romance is slow and swoony and adorable.
Can't recommend this story enough.
Adorable story. Hero and heroine have rival farmer's market stands. Hero decides to woo customers his way by taking off his shirt - his tactic works. This infuriates the heroine to no end. While she is super awkward and shy, she has some choice words for the hero. Their banter is excellent and their competitive nature leads them to great chemistry. Their romance is slow and swoony and adorable.
Can't recommend this story enough.
December 31, 2016
This book was PERFECT.
February 19, 2017
This is a really hard review for me to write. I wasn't even sure how to rate this book. Based on my enjoyment level of it, it should probably only get 2-2.5 stars. But that was far more to do with what I brought to the reading, than the quality of the book itself.
Let me explain.
The story is that two people with competing market stalls at a farmer's market - Mia and Dell - end up starting a relationship and falling in love.
It sounds like a fun premise, but the conflict and tension is high, meaning it isn't as fun a read as the premise suggests. I already wasn't primed to like this book. The virgin woman/sexually experienced man dynamic is one that I generally dislike, even by extremely skilled writers. It didn't work for me here, either, but again that was because of my own preferences, not anything to do with the book itself.
The main problem I had is that so many of the characters were simply awful to each other, in really subtle, unpleasant ways. Dell bullied Mia, trying to put her out of business. I don't care what his reasoning was, I thought he was a complete asshat.
Dell's father was a dick to Dell. The two couldn't have a civil conversation. One of the main things that gets me upset when reading (which I never fully understood until reading this book) is when a character simply won't listen to what a protagonist has to say, or willfully misunderstands them. Dell's relationship with his father was like this, and I found it deeply unsettling in their scenes together. Dell's brother was honestly not much better.
Similarly, Mia's relationship with her mother was smothering. The fact that the woman was horrified because her 26-year-old daughter was in a relationship - it was horrible judgey and made me deeply uncomfortable how guilty she tried to make Mia. It was so uncomfortable to read. I don't care that they tried to make her have a sympathetic back story later in the book. The fact that she made her daughter feel so awful made her unforgivable in my book.
Obviously, since I was so upset by these things, I was not the right person to enjoy this book. I suppose what I'm saying is that if you like the virgin heroine/playboy man dynamic, and aren't too fussed about people the protagonists love being awful to them, then you'll most likely enjoy this book more than I did. However, I am already reading All I Am and thoroughly enjoying it. With the virgin hero, and no awful secondary characters, it's far more my speed.
Let me explain.
The story is that two people with competing market stalls at a farmer's market - Mia and Dell - end up starting a relationship and falling in love.
It sounds like a fun premise, but the conflict and tension is high, meaning it isn't as fun a read as the premise suggests. I already wasn't primed to like this book. The virgin woman/sexually experienced man dynamic is one that I generally dislike, even by extremely skilled writers. It didn't work for me here, either, but again that was because of my own preferences, not anything to do with the book itself.
The main problem I had is that so many of the characters were simply awful to each other, in really subtle, unpleasant ways. Dell bullied Mia, trying to put her out of business. I don't care what his reasoning was, I thought he was a complete asshat.
Dell's father was a dick to Dell. The two couldn't have a civil conversation. One of the main things that gets me upset when reading (which I never fully understood until reading this book) is when a character simply won't listen to what a protagonist has to say, or willfully misunderstands them. Dell's relationship with his father was like this, and I found it deeply unsettling in their scenes together. Dell's brother was honestly not much better.
Similarly, Mia's relationship with her mother was smothering. The fact that the woman was horrified because her 26-year-old daughter was in a relationship - it was horrible judgey and made me deeply uncomfortable how guilty she tried to make Mia. It was so uncomfortable to read. I don't care that they tried to make her have a sympathetic back story later in the book. The fact that she made her daughter feel so awful made her unforgivable in my book.
Obviously, since I was so upset by these things, I was not the right person to enjoy this book. I suppose what I'm saying is that if you like the virgin heroine/playboy man dynamic, and aren't too fussed about people the protagonists love being awful to them, then you'll most likely enjoy this book more than I did. However, I am already reading All I Am and thoroughly enjoying it. With the virgin hero, and no awful secondary characters, it's far more my speed.
November 20, 2015
In this delightful heartwarming romance, we have the story of Dell and Mia, two school acquaintances from a small town who love farming and the lifestyle it entails. Competitors at a local farmer's market, sparks fly as awareness of each other surfaces in a more than strictly professional manner. Dell and Mia must choose whether a partnership between them is worth the risk to their businesses and to their hearts.
It was refreshing to read a story with characters experiencing real emotion and struggle. Dell sees Mia initially as the shy geeky girl from high school and gradually becomes attracted to not only her physical attributes but her intellectual ones as well. As the story progresses he finds Mia to be funny, quirky and smart - she knows farming, and her feelings towards the land run as deep as Dell's, showing her to be a kindred spirit. Similarly Mia learns to look beyond Dell's shallow high school persona and see the attractive man underneath - nice to look at yes, but also intelligent and humorous with a love of the land just like hers. It's a real-time romance - no "insta-love", just two ordinary people who begin to see in each other the qualities they want in a lifelong partner.
It was sweet, tender, humorous, sexy and a pure delight to read. I kept waiting for a point to put the book down and continue it the next day - this didn't happen! I felt compelled to read it all the way through in one sitting, to get to the happy ever after ending, which was a wonderful and very satisfactory conclusion to the story. Several secondary characters were introduced, friends, parents and siblings, each adding a layer of reality to the not so perfect family life that everyone experiences. I sincerely hope that some of these characters will get stories of their own as I am reluctant to leave this small farming community. 5 delightful stars!
Note: This story will be available in a Harlequin e-contemporary romance box set out in early June as well as in the fall as a standalone book.
It was refreshing to read a story with characters experiencing real emotion and struggle. Dell sees Mia initially as the shy geeky girl from high school and gradually becomes attracted to not only her physical attributes but her intellectual ones as well. As the story progresses he finds Mia to be funny, quirky and smart - she knows farming, and her feelings towards the land run as deep as Dell's, showing her to be a kindred spirit. Similarly Mia learns to look beyond Dell's shallow high school persona and see the attractive man underneath - nice to look at yes, but also intelligent and humorous with a love of the land just like hers. It's a real-time romance - no "insta-love", just two ordinary people who begin to see in each other the qualities they want in a lifelong partner.
It was sweet, tender, humorous, sexy and a pure delight to read. I kept waiting for a point to put the book down and continue it the next day - this didn't happen! I felt compelled to read it all the way through in one sitting, to get to the happy ever after ending, which was a wonderful and very satisfactory conclusion to the story. Several secondary characters were introduced, friends, parents and siblings, each adding a layer of reality to the not so perfect family life that everyone experiences. I sincerely hope that some of these characters will get stories of their own as I am reluctant to leave this small farming community. 5 delightful stars!
Note: This story will be available in a Harlequin e-contemporary romance box set out in early June as well as in the fall as a standalone book.
September 6, 2014
Review in English and in Portuguese
4,5 All kinds of cute stars
Anyone who knows my reading habits knows that I'm pretty biased with the types of books I read. Until a while ago I only read historical novels, it took a long for me to recognize the beauty of contemporary novels. Paranormal books with vampires, wolves and etc? Jezz, I've just started venturing around those parts early this year, and I only dare to read books by Nalini Singh and her wonderful Psy-Changeling series. Now, a giant barrier I have is with books labeled NA (New Adult). Those with youngsters in college and so full of drama and tragedy that neither I, with 26 years of life could suffer as the people of these books suffer! I know I'm the minority, everyone LOVES those books, but they don't work for me, already abandoned thousands of them. Nowadays, I only read the ones that are super recommended and still, I have to read several reviews to see if I'll like it. The book I'm reviewing today is one of those victorious! All I Have managed to pass my prejudices and made me sigh with so much cuteness!
Mia and Dell are young farmers who apparently could not be more different. Mia is a super shy, clumsy girl who hides under big awkward clothes. She does everything to be invisible and not be the focus of the mean jokes she received when she was in high school. Dell is the handsome boy, who everyone likes and who apparently has no problem, after all, his stand at the fair is always full of girls crazy about his bare chest and his vegetables.
But in fact, they have more in common than you might think. Both need to sell well at the fair this year, Dell more than everyone, because no matter what he does to show his value and that he can operate the family farm well, his father sees nothing of this, and think of selling the property. In fact, everyone seems to see him just as a pretty face and no brain, you know?
Mia, in the other hand, has full support of her family, but is still rated as the weird geek girl that might be very intelligent, but has zero chances to socialize. She is 26 and still a virgin.
They are kind of enemies at the fair, one trying to sell more than the other, and those interactions give us lots of funny moments. As time goes by and they begin to interact and really get to know one another. It's so cute, guys! Both are vulnerable and they will learn to see that behind that facade of shy, intelligent girl and pretty boy, but little donkey, there are real and good people, crazy to be recognized for who they really are.
Mia and Dell have lots of chemistry, they're also funny and cute. I almost cry many times, my heart broken by all the struggle Dell has to do every day to prove his worth to his father and for Mia too, because she was falling in love for the first time and coming out of her shell to face the world. But also I sighed a million of times with those two.. they could not be more romantic! I super recommend this book. Quick, sweet and fun read that will warm your heart!
______________________________________________________
Quem conhece meus hábitos de leitura sabe que eu sou bem preconceituosa com os tipos de livros que leio. Até um tempo atrás só lia romances históricos, demorou muito pra eu reconhecer a beleza dos contemporâneos. Livros paranormais, com vampiros, lobinhos e etc? Vixe, só comecei a me aventurar por essas bandas esse ano, e por enquanto só me atrevo a ler os livros da Nalini Singh com a sua maravilhosa serie Psy-Changeling. Agora, uma barreira gigante que eu tenho é com os livros rotulados NA (New Adult). Esses com jovenzinhos na faculdade e tão cheios de drama e tragédias que nem eu, com 26 anos de vida, consegui sofrer como o povo desses livros sofrem! Eu sei que sou minoria, todo mundo AMA esses livros, mas eu não me encanto, já abandonei milhares deles. Hoje em dia, eu só leio aqueles que são super-recomendados e ainda assim, eu tenho que ler várias resenhas pra ver se eu vou gostar. O livro que vou resenhar hoje é um desses vitoriosos! All I Have conseguiu passar pela minha frescura e me fez suspirar de tanta fofura!
Mia e Dell são jovens fazendeiros que aparentemente não poderiam ser mais diferentes. Mia é uma menina super tímida, estabanada, que se esconde embaixo de roupas e óculos grandes. Tudo pra ficar invisível e não ser foco das piadas de mal gosto que recebia quando estava na escola. Dell é o garoto bonitão, que todo mundo gosta e que aparentemente, não tem problema algum, afinal, a banca dele na feira vive lotada de garotas doidas pelo seu peito nu e pelas suas verduras.
Mas na verdade, eles têm mais em comum do que você possa pensar. Ambos precisam vender bem na feira desse ano, Dell mais do que todos, pois por mais que ele se esforce para mostrar o seu valor e que ele pode comandar a fazenda da família bem, o pai dele não vê nada disso, e pensa em vender a propriedade. Na verdade, todos o veem só como um rostinho bonito e sem cérebro, sabe? Mia já tem total apoio da família dela, mas ainda é taxada como a geek esquisita da escola. Toda inteligente, mas com zero chances de se socializar. Ela tem 26 anos e ainda é virgem e nunca beijou.
Eles são meio que inimigos na feira, um tentando vender mais que o outro, e isso nos rendem muitos momentos bem engraçados. O tempo vai passando e eles começam a interagir e realmente conhecer um ao outro. É tão fofo, gente! Ambos são vulneráveis e eles vão aprendendo a ver que por trás daquela fachada de garota tímida e inteligente e menino bonito, mas burrinho, existem pessoas de verdade, boas e cheias de vontade de serem reconhecidas por quem elas realmente são.
Mia e Dell tem uma super química, são engraçados e fofos. Eu quase choro um monte de vezes, meu coração partido pela luta que Dell tem que travar todos os dias para mostrar o seu valor ao pai e por Mia se apaixonando pela primeira vez e saindo da sua concha para enfrentar o mundo. Mas também suspirei horrores com esses dois sendo românticos até não poderem mais! Super recomendo esse livrinho. Leitura rápida, doce, que vau aquecer seu coraçãozinho!
4,5 All kinds of cute stars
Anyone who knows my reading habits knows that I'm pretty biased with the types of books I read. Until a while ago I only read historical novels, it took a long for me to recognize the beauty of contemporary novels. Paranormal books with vampires, wolves and etc? Jezz, I've just started venturing around those parts early this year, and I only dare to read books by Nalini Singh and her wonderful Psy-Changeling series. Now, a giant barrier I have is with books labeled NA (New Adult). Those with youngsters in college and so full of drama and tragedy that neither I, with 26 years of life could suffer as the people of these books suffer! I know I'm the minority, everyone LOVES those books, but they don't work for me, already abandoned thousands of them. Nowadays, I only read the ones that are super recommended and still, I have to read several reviews to see if I'll like it. The book I'm reviewing today is one of those victorious! All I Have managed to pass my prejudices and made me sigh with so much cuteness!
Mia and Dell are young farmers who apparently could not be more different. Mia is a super shy, clumsy girl who hides under big awkward clothes. She does everything to be invisible and not be the focus of the mean jokes she received when she was in high school. Dell is the handsome boy, who everyone likes and who apparently has no problem, after all, his stand at the fair is always full of girls crazy about his bare chest and his vegetables.
But in fact, they have more in common than you might think. Both need to sell well at the fair this year, Dell more than everyone, because no matter what he does to show his value and that he can operate the family farm well, his father sees nothing of this, and think of selling the property. In fact, everyone seems to see him just as a pretty face and no brain, you know?
Mia, in the other hand, has full support of her family, but is still rated as the weird geek girl that might be very intelligent, but has zero chances to socialize. She is 26 and still a virgin.
They are kind of enemies at the fair, one trying to sell more than the other, and those interactions give us lots of funny moments. As time goes by and they begin to interact and really get to know one another. It's so cute, guys! Both are vulnerable and they will learn to see that behind that facade of shy, intelligent girl and pretty boy, but little donkey, there are real and good people, crazy to be recognized for who they really are.
Mia and Dell have lots of chemistry, they're also funny and cute. I almost cry many times, my heart broken by all the struggle Dell has to do every day to prove his worth to his father and for Mia too, because she was falling in love for the first time and coming out of her shell to face the world. But also I sighed a million of times with those two.. they could not be more romantic! I super recommend this book. Quick, sweet and fun read that will warm your heart!
______________________________________________________
Quem conhece meus hábitos de leitura sabe que eu sou bem preconceituosa com os tipos de livros que leio. Até um tempo atrás só lia romances históricos, demorou muito pra eu reconhecer a beleza dos contemporâneos. Livros paranormais, com vampiros, lobinhos e etc? Vixe, só comecei a me aventurar por essas bandas esse ano, e por enquanto só me atrevo a ler os livros da Nalini Singh com a sua maravilhosa serie Psy-Changeling. Agora, uma barreira gigante que eu tenho é com os livros rotulados NA (New Adult). Esses com jovenzinhos na faculdade e tão cheios de drama e tragédias que nem eu, com 26 anos de vida, consegui sofrer como o povo desses livros sofrem! Eu sei que sou minoria, todo mundo AMA esses livros, mas eu não me encanto, já abandonei milhares deles. Hoje em dia, eu só leio aqueles que são super-recomendados e ainda assim, eu tenho que ler várias resenhas pra ver se eu vou gostar. O livro que vou resenhar hoje é um desses vitoriosos! All I Have conseguiu passar pela minha frescura e me fez suspirar de tanta fofura!
Mia e Dell são jovens fazendeiros que aparentemente não poderiam ser mais diferentes. Mia é uma menina super tímida, estabanada, que se esconde embaixo de roupas e óculos grandes. Tudo pra ficar invisível e não ser foco das piadas de mal gosto que recebia quando estava na escola. Dell é o garoto bonitão, que todo mundo gosta e que aparentemente, não tem problema algum, afinal, a banca dele na feira vive lotada de garotas doidas pelo seu peito nu e pelas suas verduras.
Mas na verdade, eles têm mais em comum do que você possa pensar. Ambos precisam vender bem na feira desse ano, Dell mais do que todos, pois por mais que ele se esforce para mostrar o seu valor e que ele pode comandar a fazenda da família bem, o pai dele não vê nada disso, e pensa em vender a propriedade. Na verdade, todos o veem só como um rostinho bonito e sem cérebro, sabe? Mia já tem total apoio da família dela, mas ainda é taxada como a geek esquisita da escola. Toda inteligente, mas com zero chances de se socializar. Ela tem 26 anos e ainda é virgem e nunca beijou.
Eles são meio que inimigos na feira, um tentando vender mais que o outro, e isso nos rendem muitos momentos bem engraçados. O tempo vai passando e eles começam a interagir e realmente conhecer um ao outro. É tão fofo, gente! Ambos são vulneráveis e eles vão aprendendo a ver que por trás daquela fachada de garota tímida e inteligente e menino bonito, mas burrinho, existem pessoas de verdade, boas e cheias de vontade de serem reconhecidas por quem elas realmente são.
Mia e Dell tem uma super química, são engraçados e fofos. Eu quase choro um monte de vezes, meu coração partido pela luta que Dell tem que travar todos os dias para mostrar o seu valor ao pai e por Mia se apaixonando pela primeira vez e saindo da sua concha para enfrentar o mundo. Mas também suspirei horrores com esses dois sendo românticos até não poderem mais! Super recomendo esse livrinho. Leitura rápida, doce, que vau aquecer seu coraçãozinho!
March 29, 2017
I had a bad day so I took some time off to wallow in bed and read. Despite a few flaws (mainly Dell's insecurities--I understand where it came from but it frustrated me so much!), this was entertaining. It wasn't even sad but I cried a lot because I was hormonal.
June 12, 2019
Loved the humor but also the honesty of each characters flaws. Great read!
December 31, 2014
I really like Nicole Helm, you guys. I like her a lot.
September 6, 2015
Farmer's Market Romance!!!
May 9, 2016
This is slight, and sweet, and while it's not powerful in any way, it's entertaining.
July 24, 2017
This is very sweet. One thing I love about Nicole Helm's writing is that she gets the claustrophobia of growing up in a small town. Just like Mia, I was a smart, awkward girl in a very small farming town, who was consistently unable to make friends or figure out how to be "like everyone else." Actually, now that I think about it, I also came home and hooked up with a guy from school who was working on his family farm. We didn't end up madly in love and buying a farm together, but this book captures the despair of always being the person you were in high school.
I wish this story were longer; I wish the fight at the end had been a little more complicated and harder to resolve. But this is a lovely read that is the best kind of wish fulfillment.
I wish this story were longer; I wish the fight at the end had been a little more complicated and harder to resolve. But this is a lovely read that is the best kind of wish fulfillment.
October 11, 2018
About the book,
Mia Pruitt wishes Dell Wainwright would keep his shirt on. The Naked Farmer lures customers by stripping to his perfectly worn jeans while he and Mia sell vegetables from competing stands at the farmers' market. It's time for a showdown, and they're each in it to win.
Yet when both farms end up in jeopardy, Mia and Dell suddenly find themselves on the same team. If their rivalry was hot, their attraction is steaming, but they can't seem to agree on a plan. If they could only learn to grow together, they might reap the best harvest of all.
I absolutely loved this book the characters were great! The setting was brilliant!
I love how this all turn out.
Mia Pruitt wishes Dell Wainwright would keep his shirt on. The Naked Farmer lures customers by stripping to his perfectly worn jeans while he and Mia sell vegetables from competing stands at the farmers' market. It's time for a showdown, and they're each in it to win.
Yet when both farms end up in jeopardy, Mia and Dell suddenly find themselves on the same team. If their rivalry was hot, their attraction is steaming, but they can't seem to agree on a plan. If they could only learn to grow together, they might reap the best harvest of all.
I absolutely loved this book the characters were great! The setting was brilliant!
I love how this all turn out.
October 23, 2017
I wanted to like this so much. I mean, it's about farmers! It's not bad at all, just insipid. And well, might I humbly suggest that anyone else attempting to incorporate farming into a book maybe talk to a farmer so as to not make really glaring business and seasonal crop mistakes? I'm not going to point the stuff out, because if you don't know it then it won't bother you and I have no desire to ruin things. But from my perspective, agh!!!
March 3, 2017
Romance at a farmers market: sold
A sweet and smartly written love story.
A sweet and smartly written love story.
Read
April 7, 2021Left me with a smile on my face!
June 1, 2021
3.5
I think this was a re-read, but it'd been so long since my first readthrough, I'd forgotten most of the story.
Dell was a little hit or miss for me.
I think this was a re-read, but it'd been so long since my first readthrough, I'd forgotten most of the story.
Dell was a little hit or miss for me.
December 29, 2017
This was a cute novella I read as part of a 4 pack ebook bundle. It was a quick story but filled that short time with good story bones.
Mia and Dell have neighboring farms and they both set up shop at the local farm market. Dell is known as the naked farmer and it drives Mia crazy. They start a little boy vs girl competition to bring more customers to the farm market and their perspective farms. Dell has more to lose than Mia though as his farm is holding on by a thread.
Throughout the story they find they have more in common than they thought. Can they come up with a way to be together and also keep both of their farms productive?
I have read a few Nicole Helm books and this was a cute quick novella to keep me motivated through more books by this author.
January 2, 2015
Mia and Dell are competing farmers at a farmers’ market. Dell’s not above using his body to sell some vegetables, and shy, quirky Mia’s not taking it anymore. A battle of the sexes begins, but what happens with the competitors become lovers?
The Good, the Bad and Everything in Between
A very sweet romance between Mia and Dell in a different setting than what I’ve read in a while. There’s no bikers, tattoo artists, ex and/or current military special ops guys and there’s no car chases or heavy angst.
I love that both Mia and Dell are both farmers - that is not your everyday romance fodder. They’re both connected to their family’s land, and love working their farms. It’s in their blood and it’s not done in a overly “precious” way. They grew up in the same small town, but this is about overcoming the labels that family and those around them insist on slotting them into. Mia and Dell are both passionate about their livelihood, and that is the main strength of their connection. Yes, there’s a physical attraction, but it isn’t all about that, which I enjoyed.
Mia grew up with alot of anxiety, fed to her by her mother, and a whole lot of social awkwardness, but she’s great heroine - strong and smart, she’s the one who saves the day and I loved that. The family dynamic is written well for both Mia and Dell, and I loved Mia’s relationships with her sisters the best.
There’s not alot of sexy times, but there is a good deal of anticipation, which is something I greatly enjoy. She’s a complete virgin (not even a fumbled kiss before she gets with the H) and I would have liked Dell to show a bit of possessiveness (even happiness) about it. The obstacle of getting involved with their competition wasn’t my favorite - I believed more in Dell’s insecurities being more of a hindrance to their romance than any external objections by family members. Actually, Dell isn’t a bad hero, but he was a bit wishy-washy and concerned about being labeled dumb and the final argument between Mia and Dell is all on him. I would have liked him to be a bit more commanding, but I think overall Dell’s personality fits with this sweet romance just as it should.
The Bottom Line
A sweet read with a fresh premise that I heartily recommend.
The Good, the Bad and Everything in Between
A very sweet romance between Mia and Dell in a different setting than what I’ve read in a while. There’s no bikers, tattoo artists, ex and/or current military special ops guys and there’s no car chases or heavy angst.
I love that both Mia and Dell are both farmers - that is not your everyday romance fodder. They’re both connected to their family’s land, and love working their farms. It’s in their blood and it’s not done in a overly “precious” way. They grew up in the same small town, but this is about overcoming the labels that family and those around them insist on slotting them into. Mia and Dell are both passionate about their livelihood, and that is the main strength of their connection. Yes, there’s a physical attraction, but it isn’t all about that, which I enjoyed.
Mia grew up with alot of anxiety, fed to her by her mother, and a whole lot of social awkwardness, but she’s great heroine - strong and smart, she’s the one who saves the day and I loved that. The family dynamic is written well for both Mia and Dell, and I loved Mia’s relationships with her sisters the best.
There’s not alot of sexy times, but there is a good deal of anticipation, which is something I greatly enjoy. She’s a complete virgin (not even a fumbled kiss before she gets with the H) and I would have liked Dell to show a bit of possessiveness (even happiness) about it. The obstacle of getting involved with their competition wasn’t my favorite - I believed more in Dell’s insecurities being more of a hindrance to their romance than any external objections by family members. Actually, Dell isn’t a bad hero, but he was a bit wishy-washy and concerned about being labeled dumb and the final argument between Mia and Dell is all on him. I would have liked him to be a bit more commanding, but I think overall Dell’s personality fits with this sweet romance just as it should.
The Bottom Line
A sweet read with a fresh premise that I heartily recommend.
February 23, 2017
Mia and Dell are competing sellers at a local farmer's market and don't like each other. Dell uses his body to attract customers, while Mia uses the family friendly approach. I found their sales pitches funny and entertaining. Mia is nerdy and Dell is beautiful with a load of insecurities. He want to be taken seriously but no one looks beyond his face. Don't usually encounter this problem in the hero, so that was interesting. Mia and Dell are physically attracted to each other but circumstances are not right. Once they do get together, they deal with their relationship and farm business together. Mia has faith in Dell and encourages him to be more confident. Story was just delightful and I loved the characters.
March 7, 2017
Okay contemporary romance set in a rural town. I liked way the relationship between both leads grow and how they both went in with theirs eyes opened but.... the family (both of them) were over the top and kinda turned me off the storyline.
October 2, 2014
This was my very first Nicole Helm book and let me tell you, she can really write the socially awkward heroine. It was an excellent glance into growing out of embarrassment and finding a place of confidence. The heroine was strong and powerful, even as she had remnants of her self-conscious, frumpy self.
I loved both hero and heroine in this book. They were tough and vulnerable and had some real problems to work through. There were times they acted stubborn and childish, but never to a point where they got annoying. Occasionally I wanted to smack one or two of them, but only in a good book way, not in the frustrated-throw-the-book way.
Their parents were a different matter. I didn't feel like there was a solid resolution over the way the parents were treating the children. Not that one normally gets that resolution in real life, but in my fiction I like having a powerful confrontation where the parents accept that the kids have grown up. That didn't really happen here, but the main characters showed a good amount of emotional growth in the rest of their lives and moved on from trying to please their parents by the end of the book.
The story was sweet and touching and the banter was lots of fun. I will definitely look for more books by this author.
I received this book as a gift with no review obligations.
**This review is archived on my blog: The Theory of Lieto Fine
I loved both hero and heroine in this book. They were tough and vulnerable and had some real problems to work through. There were times they acted stubborn and childish, but never to a point where they got annoying. Occasionally I wanted to smack one or two of them, but only in a good book way, not in the frustrated-throw-the-book way.
Their parents were a different matter. I didn't feel like there was a solid resolution over the way the parents were treating the children. Not that one normally gets that resolution in real life, but in my fiction I like having a powerful confrontation where the parents accept that the kids have grown up. That didn't really happen here, but the main characters showed a good amount of emotional growth in the rest of their lives and moved on from trying to please their parents by the end of the book.
The story was sweet and touching and the banter was lots of fun. I will definitely look for more books by this author.
I received this book as a gift with no review obligations.
**This review is archived on my blog: The Theory of Lieto Fine
February 14, 2017
A little repetitive. It seemed to take forever for anything to really happen.
June 19, 2015
Love the farm life, though I've never really lived it except on visits to my great-uncle's place years ago, but this story brought back the work of farming as well as the love of the land that keeps farmers on the land and loving their life. Mia Pruitt is doing her best to make her vegetable stand profitable from the produce she grows on her dad's farm, part of which she is in the process of buying. Unfortunately, her nemesis, Dell Wainwright is doing the same with the goods he grows on HIS dad's place. Trouble is, his dad is gearing up to sell the place to a developer who will put houses in a subdivision on the land that Dell feels to his bones.
When the farmers' market organizer decides to create a series of competitions between Mia and Dell to bring in more customers, each finds they are attracted to each other even though neither can be as profitable when they are competing in the who-can-sell-the-most-each-Saturday sweepstakes. How to solve this problem?
Mia has an idea, but Dell wants nothing to do with it--until he realizes what he will lose if he doesn't at least consider it and maybe even get his dad to go along. Read it for yourself to see how this particular competition ends.
When the farmers' market organizer decides to create a series of competitions between Mia and Dell to bring in more customers, each finds they are attracted to each other even though neither can be as profitable when they are competing in the who-can-sell-the-most-each-Saturday sweepstakes. How to solve this problem?
Mia has an idea, but Dell wants nothing to do with it--until he realizes what he will lose if he doesn't at least consider it and maybe even get his dad to go along. Read it for yourself to see how this particular competition ends.
March 28, 2015
So I don't know if I'm not being critical of anything these days or just getting really lucky in my reading choices or what, but I am not going to complain. All I Have was crazy adorable. Mia is the perfect formerly awkward heroine because she hasn't actually changed and there wasn't a miraculous makeover or anything. She's just come to embrace her personality and gained a lot of confidence since she was in high school (and really, who hasn't?). She still has insecurities, but they aren't crippling anymore. Dell was completely charmed by her, and that's my favorite thing. And his relationship with his dad added the perfect amount of conflict and angst. Reading about how much he loved their farm and how little his dad cared about that hurt. But in a good way that kept the story from being too sweet. Anyway, I'm definitely going to be reading more books by Nicole Helm and can't wait for the rest of this series.
July 4, 2014
4.5 stars
I read this book as part of a boxed set but wanted to review each story individually.
I really enjoyed this book.
Dell and Mia grow up in the same town. Both have farming in their blood. Dell was always considered the fun-loving, care-free guy while Mia was the bookworm who kept to herself.
Now they both are running their families' farms, trying to make them a success. Dell wants to prove to his dad that he can make the farm thrive.
While they start off as direct competitors at the town farmers market they soon learn that they feel the same way about the land, that it is in their blood.
With all the competition and bantering back and forth between them (which was fun to watch),I found myself really drawn to Dell and Mia when they took the time to tell each other their hopes, dreams, and fears.
I read this book as part of a boxed set but wanted to review each story individually.
I really enjoyed this book.
Dell and Mia grow up in the same town. Both have farming in their blood. Dell was always considered the fun-loving, care-free guy while Mia was the bookworm who kept to herself.
Now they both are running their families' farms, trying to make them a success. Dell wants to prove to his dad that he can make the farm thrive.
While they start off as direct competitors at the town farmers market they soon learn that they feel the same way about the land, that it is in their blood.
With all the competition and bantering back and forth between them (which was fun to watch),I found myself really drawn to Dell and Mia when they took the time to tell each other their hopes, dreams, and fears.
July 26, 2014
To say I am a sucker for a blue collar man, is putting it mildly. However, I’d never thought about that in terms of a farmer. However, I may start slowing down when I pass tractors from now on and stopping at EVERY farmer’s market I pass… That Dell… whew! In Mia I may have found a kindred spirit as I too often blurt out things I’d really rather I hadn’t divulged.
Likes – I liked that the competition between them was more out of necessity than just because… it added depth to both characters and made the plot line very believable. Love or Money? The age old dilemma was out in full force in this book.
Dislikes – Aside from more steamy love scenes… I couldn’t ask for more. This book had it all! Hence the 5 star review! This will be a re-read for me and one I can easily pass on to friends, relatives and anyone else who wants a good contemporary romance.
Likes – I liked that the competition between them was more out of necessity than just because… it added depth to both characters and made the plot line very believable. Love or Money? The age old dilemma was out in full force in this book.
Dislikes – Aside from more steamy love scenes… I couldn’t ask for more. This book had it all! Hence the 5 star review! This will be a re-read for me and one I can easily pass on to friends, relatives and anyone else who wants a good contemporary romance.
July 8, 2015
Rounded off from 3.5 stars
A sweet read. It is about Mia and Dell, both farmers trying to compete against each other for customers at the vegetable market. I love how it was set on a country farm. It's a refreshing change from the stories set in the city. I also like that the story has depth, that it tackles not only Mia and Dell's relationship, differences and similarities, but also their relationship to their families. It has a conservative vibe, given that it's set in a small town, but it didn't come to a point of being too uncomfortable for our "liberated" generation. The banters are cute and the minor characters gave more life as they were established well, but it lost its appeal on the latter part of the story. I still like it.
A sweet read. It is about Mia and Dell, both farmers trying to compete against each other for customers at the vegetable market. I love how it was set on a country farm. It's a refreshing change from the stories set in the city. I also like that the story has depth, that it tackles not only Mia and Dell's relationship, differences and similarities, but also their relationship to their families. It has a conservative vibe, given that it's set in a small town, but it didn't come to a point of being too uncomfortable for our "liberated" generation. The banters are cute and the minor characters gave more life as they were established well, but it lost its appeal on the latter part of the story. I still like it.
January 15, 2016
3.5 stars. Sweet enemies to friends to lovers story. The heroine got on my nerves with her goofiness and her tenancy to blurt out inappropriate things at inappropriate times. The hero thought it was cute but I found it annoying. I did enjoy the unique setting and plot - both main characters are 20-something adults who are farmers. Mia has the support of her family, where Dell does not. Her understanding and support of Dell, in the midst of their competition, is quite lovely. The solution to their professional issues (work together, duh) was rather apparent and took them long enough to realize. Not as great as I'd hoped based on other reviews, but still cute.
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