Make It Real by Nan Reinhardt – a Review

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Description:
They were only faking it … .

A landscape designer for his family’s construction firm, Joe Walker, is nearing completion on one of the most important projects of his career—gardens for spec homes that if they wow, Walker Construction will survive. When a freak accident sidelines him with a broken leg, the firm hires a competitor. Her ideas are radically different, but his stalker ex arrives to play nurse, and Joe needs more than gardening help.

After six-years working in English manor gardens, horticulturist Kara Sudbury returns to River’s Edge to help in her grandparents’ struggling garden center. She’s thrilled when Jackson Walker hires her to execute his injured cousin’s designs. Ignoring Joe is difficult because he’s as sexy now as he was in high school and even more stubborn. But when. Kara’s up for the subterfuge…for a price, but then the pretense feels real, and Kara is reminded that every rose has its thorns.

Review:

Make it Real by Nan Reinhardt is the 2^nd book in her wonderful The Walkers of River’s Edge series. We meet Kara Sudbury, our heroine, who returned to River’s Edge, to help her grandparents with their struggling garden center.  Joe Walker, our hero, is a landscape designer for his family’s construction firm; and he is currently working on a very important project. Joe has a freak accident that will sideline him with a broken leg and a protruding bone. Kara happened to come to his rescue, and tries to get him to move away from poison ivy, which will make matters worse. It is Kara who helps get Joe to the hospital, and call his family.

Kara visits Joe at the hospital, and also finds Joe’s ex-girlfriend falling all over him, with Joe telling the nurses to kick her out; as they broke up weeks ago.  Joe asks Kara if she can pretend to be his girlfriend, so he can get rid of the other girl; they agree that Kara will play the current girlfriend role, and Joe will let Kara handle the landscaping and pay her for the work.  This will help Kara bring the Sudbury’s Nursery back on track, allowing them to bring more business.    

Kara is very good at her job, especially after spending a number of years in England, as a landscaper.  She tries to tell Joe about more colorful plants to will make things look better, which in time he will begin to realize that Kara knows what she is doing. Joe’s brother Jackson, hires her to execute his injured cousin’s designs.  Kara also aids in helping Joe get around from his severe injury, which in a short time, they will both begin to have feelings for each other.  The chemistry between them was off the wall.

I really enjoyed watching Joe and Kara fall in love. I also loved all the Walker family, as well as Kara’s grandparents.  It was a bit sad close to the end, which I won’t reveal why; so not to ruin it for you. 

What follows is a sweet wonderful heartwarming romantic story, with a great couple, excellent secondary characters; and great small town.  Make It Real was so very well written by Nan Reinhardt; as I have read her other previous series, and loved them.   If you enjoy a fun, sweet romance, I suggest you read Make It Real.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied for review