The Carpenter’s Heart by Cherri Cain

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Beautiful Story of Worth and Dreams
This Christian romance is a poignant reminder that will bring tears to your eyes without being overly dramatic.
Bethany moves to Hartwell to open a Christian bookstore after walking away from a two-year engagement. Her fiancé wasn't abusive in the traditional sense, but his constant, subtle demeaning left her looking at herself in a wedding dress, unable to recognize the woman she had become. Enter Eli Parker, a man who walks past the empty storefront next door to Bethany's every day, dreaming of opening a woodworking shop. Bound by duty to support his mother and sisters, Eli has spent years making himself small, convinced he isn't worthy of his own aspirations.
When Eli steps in to help Bethany build her shop's shelves and counters, their connection forces both to confront their self-imposed limitations. The emotional turning point pivots on a profound piece of advice from Eli’s mother: “You can’t have the life you want if you don’t reach for it.”
It’s a convicting question for any reader: How many of us shrink ourselves and fail to reach for our dreams out of fear or obligation? Bethany claimed her life despite the emotional toll of her past relationship, and Eli finally reaches for his when love reshapes his perspective. This is an excellent, thought-provoking story about reclaiming your worth and using the God-given talents you were meant to share with the world.