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Knotwood Mountain, Ga. #1
Hometown Princess
All Cari Duncan has ever wanted is family. Yet her late father chose his new young wife's children over Cari. Surprised—and hopeful—when he bequeaths her the old house she grew up in, Cari moves to Knotwood Mountain, Georgia. But she and her stepmother clash the minute she arrives. How can Cari make a fresh start in the small town? The handsome businessman next door, who happens to be the most eligible bachelor, claims to know exactly how. But following Rick Adams's time-tested advice means opening her heart…to faith, family and her very own Prince Charming!
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
4 people are currently reading
166 people want to read
About the author
Lenora Worth
277 books380 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 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 30, 2024
There are a few unanswered questions in this book.
May 22, 2012
HOMETOWN PRINCESS by Lenora Worth is a sweet, even-paced romance. I wasn't aware when I began to read HOMETOWN SWEETHEART that it was the second book in the Hometown series. I loved the first book in the series, HOMETOWN SWEETHEART, and was excited to read about Simon in HOMETOWN PRINCESS.
Cari Duncan moves back to her hometown after her father passes away and leaves her the old Victorian house in Knotwood Mountain, Georgia, where she grew up in. Her stepmother is not happy, in spite that the house is the only thing Cari's father left her.
All's Cari wants is to make a new start, but her stepmother will stop at nothing to drive her away. Rich Adams, the handsome businessman from next door, offers to help Cari. Will she open her heart to faith, family and her own Prince Charming?
If there are more in this series, I'll be sure to pick it up.
Cari Duncan moves back to her hometown after her father passes away and leaves her the old Victorian house in Knotwood Mountain, Georgia, where she grew up in. Her stepmother is not happy, in spite that the house is the only thing Cari's father left her.
All's Cari wants is to make a new start, but her stepmother will stop at nothing to drive her away. Rich Adams, the handsome businessman from next door, offers to help Cari. Will she open her heart to faith, family and her own Prince Charming?
If there are more in this series, I'll be sure to pick it up.
January 28, 2020
This was a quick, enjoyable read. The driving themes in this story were trust and forgiveness. Cari has been hurt by family and her previous boyfriend. She needs to forgive in order to move on, and trust His plan in order to open up and trust Rick.
A pretty standard romance formula - they meet, at least one has objections to getting into a relationship, misunderstanding keeps them, apart, etc...This follows that formula and adds the element of faith into the story.
Some of the reviewers say they were unhappy that the family tensions weren't resolved in the story. I had no issue with that - that is how real life is sometimes. God doesn't always change the hearts and behaviors of the toxic people in our lives. He just gives us the strength to deal with them or the courage to cut ties with them.
A pretty standard romance formula - they meet, at least one has objections to getting into a relationship, misunderstanding keeps them, apart, etc...This follows that formula and adds the element of faith into the story.
Some of the reviewers say they were unhappy that the family tensions weren't resolved in the story. I had no issue with that - that is how real life is sometimes. God doesn't always change the hearts and behaviors of the toxic people in our lives. He just gives us the strength to deal with them or the courage to cut ties with them.
October 10, 2011
Okay, so the book had me from the first page of mentioning shoes. What can I say I am a sucker for them! ;)
I really liked this book, and I can relate to Cari in many ways dealing with the want for revenge and not letting her past hold her future from being fulfilling. Dealing with those that have hurt you is so much easier said than done to forgive and to get over, and I enjoyed her struggles as it has helped me to renew my personal vow of also letting things go in my life.
What's not to love about Rick? Proposing with shoes on the 4th of July with the fireworks is truly my dream proposal... I would have loved the book for that reason alone! So cute! :)
I really liked this book, and I can relate to Cari in many ways dealing with the want for revenge and not letting her past hold her future from being fulfilling. Dealing with those that have hurt you is so much easier said than done to forgive and to get over, and I enjoyed her struggles as it has helped me to renew my personal vow of also letting things go in my life.
What's not to love about Rick? Proposing with shoes on the 4th of July with the fireworks is truly my dream proposal... I would have loved the book for that reason alone! So cute! :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2020
This book came to me via two friends. I didn't quite understand the title. Hometown seems to fit because Cari is coming back to the town in which she grew up, but I don't see Cari as a "princess". Yes, she did at one time buy glamorous clothes and shoes and get herself into credit trouble doing so, but that's behind her. She doesn't act entitled. In fact, I would label Bridget as more of a "princess" stereotype than Cari. I can only hope that Bridget eventually discovers that things don't matter as much as a person's character and that she changes her life for the better.
I'm still not sure whether Cari's father felt caught between his two families or if he truly was taken advantage of by Doreen and then either didn't have the energy to get out of the situation or his belief system made him stay in a marriage he really didn't want. Cari seems to feel that her father sided with Bridget more than with her and that he drove her away, telling her not to return until her attitude changed. So Cari has imagined that her father, her stepmother and her step-siblings have all lived a fairy tale life together without her. Yet, Doreen and her children all say that Cari's father treated them badly after Cari left--perhaps blaming them or their attitudes for her leaving. If it were just Doreen and Bridget, I would perhaps chalk it up to bad feelings about Cari, but Brady seems to say it too, just not in as vindictive a fashion. I suspect the truth lies somewhere between the two viewpoints.
Brady: I think he felt that if he got his mom what she wanted, he might gain her approval. Unfortunately, Doreen seems the type to be fickle with her approval. Or at least he might have felt that if his mother had more financial security, she might not ride him so much.
I'm still not sure whether Cari's father felt caught between his two families or if he truly was taken advantage of by Doreen and then either didn't have the energy to get out of the situation or his belief system made him stay in a marriage he really didn't want. Cari seems to feel that her father sided with Bridget more than with her and that he drove her away, telling her not to return until her attitude changed. So Cari has imagined that her father, her stepmother and her step-siblings have all lived a fairy tale life together without her. Yet, Doreen and her children all say that Cari's father treated them badly after Cari left--perhaps blaming them or their attitudes for her leaving. If it were just Doreen and Bridget, I would perhaps chalk it up to bad feelings about Cari, but Brady seems to say it too, just not in as vindictive a fashion. I suspect the truth lies somewhere between the two viewpoints.
Brady: I think he felt that if he got his mom what she wanted, he might gain her approval. Unfortunately, Doreen seems the type to be fickle with her approval. Or at least he might have felt that if his mother had more financial security, she might not ride him so much.
April 28, 2024
Cari Duncan comes home after being gone for years. A family argument caused her to leave. Her father passes away and leaves her a run down Victorian house. She wants to refurbisht the house and open a botique, but somebody in town doesn't want her to stay.
Rick Adams used to go to High School with Cari, and now he owns the business next door. He wants to help Cari, but they've both been hurt before. Cari has trust issues.
This is a nice Christian book. There's also a brother who makes an appearance, and it seems that he'll be the hero in the next book. His cameo, though, didn't tickle me enough to want to find the next book.
Rick Adams used to go to High School with Cari, and now he owns the business next door. He wants to help Cari, but they've both been hurt before. Cari has trust issues.
This is a nice Christian book. There's also a brother who makes an appearance, and it seems that he'll be the hero in the next book. His cameo, though, didn't tickle me enough to want to find the next book.
May 3, 2019
This was a pleasant read offering good escape, but there were some issues in the plot that didn't seem well-resolved. For instance, there wasn't any viable closure to the conflict between Cari and her step-family. The reader doesn't get to see how that conflict is actually resolved. Then the fast falling in love between Cari and Rick could have been better developed. Too many of the plot details weren't well developed.
August 8, 2025
Loved this book. Great story line did not want the book to end.
May 29, 2014
Cari Duncan came home to Knotwood Mountain after her father died to open a store in her childhood home. Rick Adams is back in town working with his family. Vandals are trying to make sure Cari's new business fails before it even opens.
June 24, 2010
I love "fluffy" romances - but this was a little too sappy, or maybe juvenile for me.
September 26, 2010
such a good read, kinda of repetitive in regards to the situation with her father which made it a little daunting at times, but overall a great story and a quick read.
March 13, 2012
It was okay. There didn't seem to be a real connection between the two characters. The book seemed to be much more about the woman and her step-family.
September 21, 2012
Two-haiku review:
She returns to house
Left to her by estranged dad
Next door to old crush
Christian, just a bit
Suspense--who wants her to leave?
Ending too easy
She returns to house
Left to her by estranged dad
Next door to old crush
Christian, just a bit
Suspense--who wants her to leave?
Ending too easy
February 20, 2014
girl moves back home after her father dies.
February 10, 2014
It was a great book I never wanted to put it down.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews