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Eden, OK #2

Her Small-Town Hero (Eden, OK Series #2)

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Help Wanted at the Heavenly Arms Motel

If only someone will take the job so oil rigger Holt Jefford can stop making beds and burning breakfasts. And then someone does: a lovely single mother with a baby boy—and secrets.

Sweet, kind Cara Jane is scared of her own shadow—why? Holt warns himself not to trust his skittish new employee, but watching her with her son and his old granddad breaks through his guarded heart. Holt senses she's hiding out here in Eden, Oklahoma. Good choice, because the place comes with her own small-town hero.

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 1, 2006

9 people are currently reading
176 people want to read

About the author

Arlene James

214 books87 followers
Arlene James has written romance for four decades, and has published 100+ novels. A mother of sons and now a happy grandmother to the brightest, most talented, and lovely of all granddaughters, she is finding her sixth decade to be great fun.

She and her very supportive husband of 45 years (whom she agreed to marry on their first date!) enjoy a busy social life and have visited much of the world. After calling Texas home for three decades, they now live in beautiful NW Arkansas.

Arlene grew up on a ranch in south central Oklahoma and still maintains strong ties in that area. She firmly believes that writing has afforded her the best of all possible means of earning a living, and credits a junior high school English teacher with proving to her that her dream of being an author was entirely achievable.

After 4 decades of deadlines and multiple-book contracts (for which she is deeply grateful), she is enjoying the ability to write exactly what she feels led to write on her own schedule.

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Community Reviews

5 stars
56 (33%)
4 stars
48 (28%)
3 stars
54 (32%)
2 stars
7 (4%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
Profile Image for Barbara Campbell.
1,778 reviews42 followers
November 27, 2023
Another fun story set in Eden, OK. I love Holt. Yes, he's stiff and seems a bit one dimensional, but as the story progresses you get to see the real Holt and the issues that plague him. Cara Jane is just what he needs to soften his heart and take down the walls.
Profile Image for Michelle Bacon.
455 reviews38 followers
May 17, 2023
Just like a Harlequin romance book, the storyline is one and the same. I always question the premise of these stories tho. So, this woman with some secrets comes into this town and takes this job at an inn. No one knows anything about her and the owner's son is leery of her. He knows she's hiding something.
Why, on God's green Earth would you offer to marry her to save her from losing her child without knowing more about the woman?
I just can't wrap my head around these stories.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Caro.
1,776 reviews42 followers
April 14, 2020
A good sweet read. I liked this characters and their personalities. It really goes to show how hard it is to do what you know if right sometimes and how far doubt can go towards making you upset. Great for an anytime read and some self-reflecting thoughts. Written well with emotions, a little suspense, sweetness, stress and a perfect HEA. Enjoy
15 reviews
October 23, 2018
The book was amazing. At points, I got engulfed in the book to the point that I got upset. It is a must read! I judged it by its cover but it turned out great. You don't need to read the books in order to understand them either.
Profile Image for Amanda Siegrist.
Author 64 books746 followers
February 12, 2018
I enjoyed this story, although I felt like the ending was a little rushed and just came out of nowhere. That's the only thing that really bothered me. Otherwise, very enjoyable story.
Profile Image for Leahna.
161 reviews
November 4, 2022
I had a rough time with some of the grammar, but overall, a good read. Did a good job laying out the road to salvation without being heavy handed and showed Christians in a realistic light.
348 reviews4 followers
March 25, 2009
ok, part of the plot was a bit unbelievable, but the rest was quite down to earth. unfortunately, there ARE quite a number of people struggling w/ the same journey and guilt, and worse yet, we self-professed Christians are WAY too often the first to not only jump to conclusions and erroneous conclusions, but to make uncalled for judgments when we SHOULD be reaching out in love and forgiveness, and ...

good twist there at the end, and i wasn't even expecting a "mystery" in this particular book!

"what a tangled web we weave, when first we set out to deceive!"

good ending to a good series
Profile Image for Jessica.
64 reviews4 followers
November 12, 2014
Very endearing story of a broken women with a young son, looking to make a fresh start and heal her heart from past wounds. She finds a town that opens its heart to her and the people really become her family. Very sweet story of how God leads our lives in ways we can't even imagine and how faith can make us whole again when we put God first. I really enjoyed how Arlene James carried out this story line. Looking forward to more from this author!
Profile Image for Dea Mengers.
9 reviews3 followers
July 15, 2015
I reread some books or favorite parts of them from time to time. I just finished reading this for the second time. There's not just one scene that comes to mind as a favorite so I read it cover to cover.
Profile Image for Karen.
1,811 reviews1 follower
December 13, 2015
Cara is running with her son Ace away from her in laws after her husband's death. Holt is looking for someone to take the housekeeping duties his sister just left behind at at the Heavenly Arms Motel.
348 reviews4 followers
January 10, 2009
a quick, easy, lite read

tied up the "mystery" part of the book a little too quickly, therefore, not enough details
34 reviews2 followers
March 3, 2009
I love these kinds of books i dont know y i just do...This one was soooo cute too!!!
27 reviews
March 24, 2009
I really enjoyed this book because of its use of sharing the gospel and romance. At the end is Questions for discussion relating to scripture. Questions are thought provoking.
Profile Image for Aerykah.
465 reviews40 followers
November 15, 2015
Enjoyed this one quite a bit. One thing that was particularly fun about reading this book is that it takes place near where I'm from. I always enjoy that! :)
529 reviews7 followers
March 12, 2022
In all situations, good or bad, works to the Glory of God! This story is a reminder as to who is in control.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews

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