My Romantic Adventures #121

Hannah Hardy thought poverty would never touch her life again—until the man she loved married someone richer and told her so in a letter. Determined to become as ruthless and ambitious as Tim Jerrold, she inherits her great-uncle's general store in Green Corners, Vermont, along with fifty thousand dollars, and immediately transforms it into a supermarket to crush her elderly competition across the town square. When Benjamin Jarvis, the owner of the rival store, comes to extend a neighborly greeting, Hannah's hardened heart shows its true colors—but small towns have a way of teaching lessons that money alone cannot buy.

A romance consultant challenges a young woman named Betty's doubts about her appeal by breaking down the different "types" of girls—the athlete, the scholar, the playgirl, the party girl, the old-fashioned type, the firebrand, the fashion plate, and the romantic—and showing her how each falls short in her own way. Through these cautionary examples, the consultant reveals what men truly want and what it really takes to find lasting romance. It's a witty, no-nonsense guide to becoming the right kind of woman.

Astrid Foster is a brunette who's sworn off romance—until she meets the charming Warren Hunter at a party and discovers he has a weakness for red-haired women. Determined to win his heart, she hatches a clever scheme: she'll send other girls his way with dyed red hair, banking on them to overwhelm him with their desperation and drive him straight into her arms. As her plan unfolds with surprising success, Astrid finds herself facing an unexpected turn that challenges everything she thought she wanted.

Mary's invited to Jim's birthday party, and she knows that making a good impression means more than just showing up—she's determined to be genuinely helpful without overstepping or seeming possessive, no matter how much she cares. As the evening unfolds, she supports the celebration with grace and thoughtfulness, letting her quiet confidence and a carefully chosen gift speak volumes about what she means to him. By the end of the night, Jim's response makes it clear that Mary has figured out exactly how to be the girl he's looking for.

Linda Stevens is a capable, technically minded young woman who catches the eye of a handsome stranger—but when she tries to impress him with her expertise, she discovers that showing off her skills might cost her the relationship she's starting to build. As Linda learns to navigate the delicate balance between her abilities and his expectations, she uncovers what really matters in matters of the heart.