Covered Bridge Charm

It is National Frozen Food Day!  This day is official (quite shocking). Proclamation #5157 by President Ronald Reagan created this day on March 6, 1984.  Celebrate this day appropriately by eating frozen waffles, fish sticks (or chicken nuggets), frozen french fries (you would dare eat fresh ones), and, of course, Mrs. Smith's pie. I am probably one of the few people who does not enjoy frozen dinners (my father loved them). Only in America would you find a frozen food day.  I had trouble finding fun or happy historical events for today (there are many depressing events listed for March 6).  The one good tidbit I found is that Bayer registered Aspirin as a trademark in 1899!

Covered Bridge Charm by Dianne Christner is a Christian romance novel.  Carly Blosser is a member of the Old Holley Conservative Mennonite Fellowship in Sweet Home, Oregon.  Carly dresses conservatively but she has a very outgoing personality (she is spunky and has many ideas).  Carly’s house is yellow, she has a bunny rabbit for a pet (that she takes with her), and she gets around town on a pink beachcomber bicycle (they are her personal symbols of freedom).  Carly is twenty-seven and still single (and accident prone).  She was going out with Dale Lapp until he wanted to move to Nappanee (Dale told a different tale and let horrible rumors spread about Carly).  Carly works at Sweet Life Retirement Center (in the assisted living facility).  Carly cares deeply for the residents (who have quirky nicknames like Klepto) and is always coming up with new ideas for Sweet Life (much to the dismay of Simon Lapp, director of Sweet Life and Dale’s father). 

Adam Lapp (thirty) volunteers at Sweet Life by teaching woodworking classes.  He also works on his family’s Christmas tree farm.  Adam is good friends with Carly’s brother, Jimmy.  Jimmy is a trucker and has asked Adam to keep an eye on Carly when he is out of town.  Adam had no idea it would be such a big job when he agreed to it.  Carly is frequently getting herself into jams (stuck in the Sweet Life elevator), bicycle in a ditch (she goes too fast and tends to close her eyes), or looking into matters she shouldn’t.  One of the residents, Martha Struder is depressed and Carly wants to cheer her up.  Martha had mentioned a secret boyfriend when she was sixteen.  Carly sets out to find him based on clues Martha has provided (a covered bridge).  Carly asks Adam for his assistance in locating the man.  Of course, spending so much time together leads to unexpected attraction.  Come along for the adventure by reading Covered Bridge Charm. 

I found Covered Bridge Charm to be a cute novel, but very much a cliché romance novel.   Covered Bridge Charm has jealously (and a little violence despite them being pacifists), lack of communication, confusion, and misunderstandings (along with the making up).  I give Covered Bridge Charm 4 out of 5 stars.  I liked the quirky characters (at Sweet Life).  I thought Carly was a little over-the-top, but she was an interesting character. 

You can follow Dianne Christner on Facebook (get updates on her latest books).  I received a complimentary copy of Covered Bridge Charm from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am currently reading The Two-Family House by Lynda Cohen Loigman (slow starter).  Have a delightful Sunday.  Enjoy the beautiful spring day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader