I really loved this story. Carly Blosser and Adam Lapp were perfect for each other. Sometimes I wanted to yell at both of them to make up their minds but it all works well together. Things may not always go Carly's way but she and Adam finally work together and make some elderly residents at an assisted living home very happy. They have a few adventures and some mishaps but it is good in the end. I received this book from Barbour publishing for a fair and honest opinion. ( )

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.

I received a complimentary copy of Covered Bridge Charm from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ( )

Covered Bridge takes place in an Oregon Mennonite community, and we are quickly absorbed in their lives. Our main character Carly is a spunky, caring, and a Mennonite that pushes her plain life to her limits. She drives a bright pink bicycle, her basket contains her pet rabbit, and she works in a nursing home.
I loved her compassion with the older folks, and we meet some very interesting characters, with pet names that fit their personality, Klepto, watch as she even tries to take the saltshakers.
Adam has been Carly’s friend and her brother’s best friend forever; her brother has even requested he look out for her when he was out of town. What neither expected was to have an attraction for one another, but his family does not want her, and especially his Dad, and a rumor about her that was spread by Adam’s cousin.
For pacifists you are going to be surprised how jealousy makes Adam’s temper flare. Carly also has her turn at jealousy, but will these two ever work out their difference, and family problems.
A covered bridge and initials play a sweet part in this story, with one of the elderly nursing home patients and an old love. I loved what Adam did with the initials that were carved many years ago on the old bridge. You will also chuckle when a kiss brings on Adam ends up taking his pants off, and of course someone was watching and rumors again fly.
In the end is their any hope of a committed relationship here, or will they each find new loves?
I received this book through Net Galley and Shiloh Run Press, and I was not required to give a positive review. ( )