Gretchen's marriage plans with Collin have folded and the kindergarten teacher decides to heal her broken heart by flipping houses. After turning to television to survive being lonely, recently dumped Gretchen hones in on the Home and Garden TV (HGTV) home-improvement show. She figures it can't be that hard to make lots of money and get over being dumped four weeks before her big day. Her dad is a contractor and can save her money on supplies, she figures she doesn't have anything left to lose. She's gained twenty-two pounds in eighteen months and it is time to find her new life sans Collin.
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Gretchen's dad Hank, has been dating Betty a retired real-estate agent for six months. Gretchen isn't sure that Betty is all that into her Dad (she is independently wealthy) and Gretchen is a Daddy's girl. It had been just the two of the since her mom died when she was only thirteen.
Hank lost out on his last major job right after completing a large contract to build a hotel and had to retire due to the stress of paying his sub-contractors out of pocket. He may recoup his losses financially in a new lawsuit. A settlement in his favor may take years, but he agrees to help Gretchen whom he loves dearly.
Hank agrees to co-sign for a loan if she fines the right house to start with, and Betty joins team Gretchen to help them out with her real-estate knowledge.
The house is in total disorder. It stinks and there is trash everywhere left by renters. An older home it may have been beautiful at one time, but Gretchen is determined to see the good. She needs this restoration project to work. She has limited use of Spanish and uses the wrong words when she instructs contractors to clean the cabinets, they throw them out. Mistake number one, and one that cost a pretty penny. Gretchen is learning fast that the only way to get through this new venture is to try her best to minimize mistakes.
Since her dad doesn't need to exert himself physically he asks Gretchen to consider Noah, a nice enough man that he tried to fix her up with after she and Collin broke up. He knows his way around a saw and hammer. Gretchen is less than thrilled to have to deal with Noah on a daily basis she kept dodging him after he asked her out. School is out for the summer and she is on a tight schedule and budget. So, Noah it is. The best she can do is keep things on track and professional as possible.
Betty is away on a cruise with friends when Gretchen receives a call that her dad has been rushed to the hospital. The poor guy has suffered a mild heart-attack and is unconscious. The doctor informs Gretchen that he will need emergency by-pass surgery. There is no one else for Gretchen to call for help with this latest crisis. Her best friend Holly is at work and her employer doesn't like for her to interrupted with personal calls.
Noah shows up at the hospital after riding by the house where he noticed Hank's truck outside. A neighbor told him that Hank had collapsed. Noah offers Gretchen prayer, a meal, and his friendship. She's scared about Hank, and miffed and appreciative of Noah all at once. He is there to help even though she has yet to hire him.
Gretchen has ignored his handsome looks before. This time she listens as he shares the story of his marriage gone wrong to a fashion model more concerned with money than love and her heart goes out to him. He loves his daughter and has rearranged his whole life in order to live in the same state after his ex-wife remarries and moves away. All of Gretchen's preconceived notions about who Noah was and what he stood for were overhauled in the course of a two hour conversation and take-out burgers.
Fine and deeply spiritual were a tough combination for Gretchen to over look.
Gretchen falls for Noah's daughter Kirsten who is a sweet girl despite her mother's coldness. Kirsten spends a lot of time at the house with Gretchen and is usually dropped off by her mother without advanced warning. Kirsten is only seven years-old but she thinks Gretchen will should be her daddy's girlfriend.
When the house goes on the market, Noah purchases it and asks Gretchen to marry him and be a step-mom to young Kirsten. Despite her initial reluctance to love and even like where Noah is concerned Gretchen finally admits she loves Noah and agrees to marry him. She flips a house and gets a good man all in the same shot. She's also going to be a great mom since she and Kirsten have bonded nicely.
Best part of story, including ending:
I liked that Gretchen occupied her time and found that she could do flip a house.
Best scene in story:
My favorite scene was when the house was completed. Gretchen worked it out construction and all.
Opinion about the main character:
I liked that Gretchen fell in love with Noah's daughter. She proved that she cared about her before falling for Noah.
