Hot Man Alert: Comes with toolbelt & talent for making artisanal furniture
Mr. Fixer Upper
King Siblings
Contemporary Romance
Bloom Books
October 10, 2023
Paperback, Kindle
400
He started to work the laces of his boots loose. Toeing them off, he tugged his t-shirt over his head.
"Oh my God. What are you doing?" Paige's voice barely rose above the spray from the showerhead.
"I'm washing your damn hair."
It's a constant battle on set between sexy home renovation reality star grumpy Gannon and his no-nonsense field producer. Paige has zero time for temperamental talent, especially one who acts like being in front of the camera is the last thing he wants.
Mr. Sex in a Toolbelt has made it his mission in life to get a rise out of her, but Paige is a master at locking down her temper. They're on the road together working long hours fixing houses and changing lives. When cracks in her legendary coolness start to show and sparks fly, Gannon is infatuated and the cameras are there to capture it.
But he's fallen for pretty packages before and Paige won't be taken seriously if she's caught sleeping with the star of her show. She also can't seem to resist those big, rough hands. Those smoldery hazel eyes. The dimples. The toolbelt. That fiercely protective vibe.
Too bad it's all about to fall apart.
She never should have trusted him.
He never should have let her go.
Author's Note: A protective grumpy hero, a not easily impressed heroine, the worst human being on TV ever, a grand gesture so big you'll need a box of tissues, and THAT SHOWER SCENE.
Mr. Fixer Upper was my intro to Lucy Score, and now she has my attention.
Before I tell you all the reasons why Gannon King is swoon-worthy, I need to clarify that Mr. Fixer Upper is not a holiday book, as I thought when I grabbed it from the Target “Holiday Books” section. *sigh*
Grumpy reality TV star falls for his unimpressed & stubborn producer.
Gannon King and his twin sister, Cat King, are the stars of a home renovation show for an HGTV-like network. While Cat is the charm and soul of the show, Gannon is arrogant and over it. Together they’re ratings heaven. Paige is the field producer for the show and Cat’s bestie, but she’s not Gannon’s fan. She spends her days trying to keep him in line and in his place, while he enjoys trying to find ways to rattle her. (Mostly unsuccessfully. At least on the outside.)
One day on set while Paige is giving him a verbal beatdown, Gannon realizes he’s actually smitten by her and starts us on the wonderful journey of wearing Paige down until she admits she also wants him.
There is a shower scene that will melt hearts and wet undergarments. My heart did summersaults as I read it.
I found Gannon absolutely perfect. He is thoughtful, supportive, caring, and committed. He can be a pain in the ass in a cute and endearing way. (Like when he antagonizes Paige by calling her “princess” at work, which made me wince at times but truthfully small price to pay for the perfect man.)
I realize this review is quickly becoming an Ode to Gannon King, so let me assure you there are other reasons to read it. Paige is a hardworking woman trying to combat society’s unfairness to women. A big reason why she won’t allow the romance is because of how it will affect her career aspirations. She is a producer who is still trying to prove herself, falling for the star of the show is not in the plan or to her benefit.
Lucy Score also writes some smart and relatable discourse about double standards.
“There are double standards, some of them so subconscious we don’t even know we’re all behaving according to the double standards until someone points it out.“
This book made me so happy. My level of excitement was so high that I actually continued to read the preview to the next book included in the ARC, which I never do. I found out even though this book is categorized as a stand-alone, we get more King siblings’ stories with The Christmas Fix, an actual holiday story! *SCREAMS* (Watch out for Bee Jes’ review of Cat’s story coming soon.)
I know I’m late to the Lucy Score love bandwagon, but I made it. Isn’t that what’s most important?
Darienne was 15 when her aunt gave her a copy of Princess by Jean Sasson, and she has been hooked on books ever since. Originally from Puerto Rico and now living in Maryland, she’s always looking to visit new coffee shops and bookstores. Her favorite genres include YA, spicy romcoms, and women’s fiction. Thanks to the Bees, she’s also now obsessed with romantasy series. Other loves include lavender lattes, sassy coffee mugs, sunrises, sleeping in, small-town charm, and big city lights. One day, she’ll write that book that lives in her head.
