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sherwoodreads's review
There's a lot to like in this romance, though it also had some problems.
Likes: Ava, the heroine, whose genuine enthusiasm for her job teeters on the edge of burnout as she keeps trying to prove herself. How many women do we know in that same situation?
I liked her bestie Olivia, old Mrs. Trundell (sympathetically drawn, really, one of the best characters in the book, though she's only in a chapter or two). I enjoy seeing friendships among women, especially across generations.
I also really liked the handyman hero, whose quiet competence carries all through the story, though all the women (including the heroine) are objectifying him from the gitgo, which gets me to the problematical aspects. Almost from the first Ava and Olivia are watching his butt from the back, and commenting on his physical attributes. Maybe a dose of reverse sexism here?
Or maybe it was meant to demonstrate the intense attraction between Ava and Hunter, which pitchforks them despite themselves into love. Considering Hunter's proclivities underscored by Ava's dad's history, the narrative voice telling us there will be a Happily Ever After isn't quite as convincing as I would have wished. I think another chapter or two was needed to show Hunter's evolution.
Other issues, which might not be issues for another reader:
The subplot with the evil boss was predictable, Marcia and Mrs. Garland pretty much cardboard. Much better delineated were Hunter's family, though again, the subplot with Hunter's brother needed more than the narrative voice telling us the very real problem was suddenly okay.
Finally, the many, many copyedit and proofing errors kept bouncing me out of the story.
Likes: Ava, the heroine, whose genuine enthusiasm for her job teeters on the edge of burnout as she keeps trying to prove herself. How many women do we know in that same situation?
I liked her bestie Olivia, old Mrs. Trundell (sympathetically drawn, really, one of the best characters in the book, though she's only in a chapter or two). I enjoy seeing friendships among women, especially across generations.
I also really liked the handyman hero, whose quiet competence carries all through the story, though all the women (including the heroine) are objectifying him from the gitgo, which gets me to the problematical aspects. Almost from the first Ava and Olivia are watching his butt from the back, and commenting on his physical attributes. Maybe a dose of reverse sexism here?
Or maybe it was meant to demonstrate the intense attraction between Ava and Hunter, which pitchforks them despite themselves into love. Considering Hunter's proclivities
Spoiler
he loves his footloose lifestyleOther issues, which might not be issues for another reader:
The subplot with the evil boss was predictable, Marcia and Mrs. Garland pretty much cardboard. Much better delineated were Hunter's family, though again, the subplot with Hunter's brother needed more than the narrative voice telling us the very real problem was suddenly okay.
Finally, the many, many copyedit and proofing errors kept bouncing me out of the story.