Melanie McAllister’s brand new copy of Home Improvement for Dummies doesn’t even begin to cover the DIY advice she really needs: how to put the pieces of her life back together. Her cheating ex-husband’s insider trading scandal destroyed her family’s multi-million dollar company and left Mel with nothing but the run-down oceanfront cottage she inherited from her parents. Biscay Beach, Maine, seems as good a place to start over as any.Hot-as-hell carpenter Eli Stuart understands new beginnings. Once a rising star in the art world, the former sculptor has been secretly carving out a new existence in the small coastal town ever since the sheen on his old life turned to rust. He’s willing to bet the feisty brunette in need of major home repairs has never lifted a tool heavier than a nail file—until Mel is racing the clock to make her ramshackle home fit for winter and, facing a near-empty bank account, decides she can do it all herself.
So Eli offers Mel a deal: if she helps him with the renovations, he’ll cut the bill in half. Soon Mel and her damned home improvement book are driving Eli mad with an explosive urge to return to his studio and fire up his torch once more. His new work is crude and raw, and before long, he can’t keep his hands off Mel, either. But a muse from his past could ruin it all for the second time—if Eli and Mel can’t let go of who they used to be and trust their hearts with a do-over.
4 Summer Love Stars
The Do-Over is a sweet contemporary chick lit read. When you are in that type of mood it hits all the right spots. There’s a romance, adorable side characters, quirky Heroine and a yummy Hero.
Melanie has a tough life. Her ex-husband is going to jail and Mel’s assets are frozen. She’s use to having money and living in the fast city of NY. She’s now going home to refurbish the only thing in her name, her cottage. She doesn’t know what she is doing, but she’s willing to do anything to get back to NY.
Mel was a tough cookie to crack. She has an OCD personality that I can’t relate to, but I found interesting reading. She gets defensive really quickly, but she has a heart and feelings. She doesn’t like to show her weakness, but she’s anything but put together. She can barely afford her renovations and she’s just struggling to survive.
Eli has been burned by a past flame and because of this he stopped doing what he loves to do, making beautiful pieces of art. Now, he spends his time working on people’s houses, he’s a fixer-upper and he’s very good at his job. He offers to help Mel and Mel can cut the cost of labor by working by his side.
Isn’t that a cute storyline? I really liked Eli. Who doesn’t like a man who can work with his hands? He’s sweet, dependable and easy-going, kind of the opposite of Mel. Eli complemented Mel well, but brining the best out of her. The banter between Eli and Mel was cute and also frustrating at the same time. Mel is so defensive towards Eli, it takes a while to get through her layers and I wanted to slap her at times.
The side characters added little extra bits to the read as they helped Mel and Eli navigate through their feelings.
Overall, like I said, it’s a sweet contemporary read. It has little angst, but a cute storyline and likeable characters. Perfect if you are in a contemporary mood.
An ARC was provided
L.E. Bross is the NA/adult contemporary pen name of YA writer Lee Bross. Her sexy new Second Chance series debuted on November 16, 2015 with a second title to follow in December. L.E. Bross lives in Maine with her husband, sons and many four legged fur babies.
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