Actual 3.5-3.75 Stars. I love Cindi Madsen's book and I immediately requested this when I saw it because her books always make me giddy. I liked it but didn't love it, sad to say. This somewhat reminded me of the movie The Perfect Man that stars Hilary Duff and Heather Locklear. Great premise for the book and as I said I liked it I just needed something.... but I don’t know.

I had a hard time with Ivy but Jackson is what made the book for me.

Ivy has a major commitment phobia. She grew up in a not pleasant enviroment. It wasn’t bad, but she has seen how her mother has relied on men her whole life only to be unsatisfied time and time again. She was a woman chasing after a HEA that hasn’t or won’t be happening. Ivy doesn’t want that for her life, so she can’t make decisions, even the decision for what color to paint her wall in her condo. She is fine living with the constant hookups and doesn’t believe in love or HEA. How could she?
She is quite feisty and I did like her, but I didn’t love her. She had way to many issues for me in regards to love. She treated Jackson not that well at times and I just couldn’t get into the whole she didn’t realize that she was falling for Jackson until she did.

Jackson is swoon worthy. He is done playing the field. He wants to settled down, get married, have kids the whole nine yards. He thought that he had that once, but she ran from him. Now she hates him, and he is still attracted to her sassy little mouth. When he’s given a chance to work with Ivy, he takes it. If he can get her alone, maybe he can convince her to give them a shot. Will he get his way and get the girl?

The verbal sparring between them was funny at times and then kind of blah. I get that it ramped up the sexual tension and chemistry, but it also was childish. I also didn’t understand why Ivy felt Jackson’s family wouldn’t love them together. They treated her like a daughter and she didn’t come across as a whore in front of them that I could remember. I also don’t feel like the issues with her mom were completely resolved. That needed a bit more than what we got, as she was a big part of why Ivy was the way she was. But Jackson was the winner...he was compassionate, pushed her at the right times and made Ivy really think about things. I adored him.

Overall this is a good read and I adore Cindi Madsen writing. I do recommend this book because it was a mixture of sweet and sexy, I just couldn’t get into the heroine. 3.5-3.75 Stars!

Madsen does a wonderful job of developing the characters and I felt as if I knew them. Jackson is sweet, sexy and patient. I loved the way he pushed but showed patience. If you are looking for a feel-good read filled with laughter and fade to black heat. then grab Nailed It.

Love this one. Sweet, Sassy and Sexy. The banter and bickering between Ivy and Jackson is hot and hilarious. This one had me both laughing out loud and fanning myself. That sexual tension is something else. I love the growth of Ivy. It's hard not to feel for how Ivy become Ivy. It was lovely to see Jackson not wanting to give up on her. Jackson was not trying to fix her but embrace her as she is. Oh the man glitter. Sigh. Home improvement at its finest. Cindi Madsen nailed this one for sure. Now this is a standalone. But really read 12 Steps to Mr Right so you get a better feeling of the steps that Ivy's best friend Savannah talks about and you get more of the group too.

a few bumps that made the main character so annoying and immature (on my pov) but at the same time I loved.

This stubbornly cute story will break your reading slump and will make you ask for more. (Thank heavens for Epilogues!!)

3.75 Stars

This was a quick, funny, and sweet read. I really loved the premise of the story, especially the fixer-upper aspect of the novel. The detail during the remodel of the house was great and I felt that I could really picture the process as it went along throughout the novel. At first, I really enjoyed Ivy's character, but as the novel progressed, I was just a little bit turned off by her reluctance to even give Jackson a real chance to be more than just a quickie hookup. Jackson was a sweetheart and I loved how he kept inserting himself into Ivy's life. He just kept at it and was really what kept me engaged in the story. Overall, good read.

Overall, this book was pretty good. The story line and characters were interesting. It was a slow start for me and I couldn't really get into it. With a lot of books I'm practically glued to them and can't stop reading until I've finished. That wasn't the case with this one, unfortunately. There were a lot of inner monologues and not enough conversation between characters (especially Ivy and Jackson) which is why I had a hard to getting hooked. Ivy's resistance to relationships, while understandable, was extremely frustrating and annoying, and how hard she kept fighting with Jackson on everything kind of turned me off to her character. I thought Jackson was a saint for how patient and persistent he was with Ivy.  Decent book but not my favorite.

Pretty cute romantic comedy. Extremely predictable but had a lot of heart.

This was a cute, fun and flirty story. It had laugh out loud one liners and up against the wall sexy times. It was a little angsty but a whole lot of fun.

Nowadays who doesn’t watch DIY flipping house shows? They’re everywhere. But what is better is reading a story about flipping a house. Like most people Ivy thought she had what it took but found out quickly she was in over her head. In comes sexy contractor Jackson. These two are in a constant foreplay stage of sexual innuendos and funny comebacks. Until one day both their control snaps.

Cindi nailed this one. It was swoon worthy and sexy with a small side of angst.

I love second chance romances, and when I saw this would have some sort of HGTV angle, I was all in. 

Ivy was a person with a LOT of commitment issues. She couldn't really commit to a job or even a wall color, so how could she commit to another person? After watching her mother serial date/marry her whole life, and then fall apart when it was over, she had resigned herself to living loose and hook-ups only. 

Jackson was also known for his chronic dating, but he was ready to settle down, should he find the right woman. He thought he had, but she fled when he expressed wanting more. This was his second chance, and he was not going to let her slip away. 


So much to love!

• The chemistry between Jackson and Ivy was undeniable. The temperature rose every time they were on page together.

• Family and friends played a large role in this story. I really enjoyed the side plots involving Ivy's mom and Dixie were a nice little something extra, and I liked the way Madsen worked that tread into the main plot. 

• Jackson, Jackson, Jackson. My word! He melted my heart. He was so honest, patient, and sweet, but he had a backbone too, and I applauded him when he laid down the law. 

• The banter and verbal sparring was quite amusing. I loved the exchanges between Jackson and Ivy, but I also really liked the interactions between Savannah and Ivy. They were often fun, but they were also honest and heartfelt and you could tell they came with some love. 

• The walk down memory lane was such a great way to give us insight into Ivy's psyche. Ivy was not always the best at explaining her motives, but these vignettes let us see what was behind all the resistance to Jackson's requests. 

• The renovation was a lot of fun to be a part of. I love those makeover shows, and there were a bunch of descriptive scenes, where I felt like I was a part of one of those shows. 

• This one had a strong ending. If you have ever read any of my reviews, you may know I am a stickler for endings. I have often loved a book, just to be let down at the end, but this one did not disappoint. The ending was great and left me with a nice pitter-patter in my heart. 

Overall: A fun second chance romance, filled with humor as well as heartfelt emotion, and left me with a sappy grin on my face. I couldn't help but root for this hero and heroine!

Ivy is best friends with both Jackson, and his sister.  They are almost like family.  Almost.  Except she has serious feeling she does not want to admit about Jackson.  They have a hot history in more ways than one.

Jackson has always wanted Ivy for his own.  They have serious chemistry and sparks are always flying when they are in the same room.  Now, he has the chance to spend time with her and maybe get her to see him in a new light?  

Lots of humor, and very sexy story!  I loved the characters right from the get go.  I really felt like this was a compelling and interesting story with deep characters.  You can actually feel their pain and happiness leap off the page. 


***This ARC copy was given in exchange for an honest review by its publishers, along with Netgalley.

I received a copy of NAILED IT on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher and author.

Five stars and here's why:

Ms. Madsen NAILED IT! I love this story. I am addicted to HGTV and this story had all the feels, so I immediately got sucked right into the story. 

Ivy is a bartender with the inability to commit to anything. When her childhood place is going to be sold, she comes up with the bright idea to flip the house, but soon finds herself over her head. In walks Jackson, her nemesis, and sparks fly. There's bickering and insults and pranks galore. Jackson is swoon-worthy - he wants a happily ever after, complete with the white picket fence - with Ivy, but she's a commitment-phobe and his dream for their future is the furthest thing from her mind. What happens next is a very well told story, full of sexy humor and fun, but at the same time, it tugs at your heartstrings. If you love sexy romance with a side of home improvement and fast-paced writing, this story is for you. Highly recommend.

Having been in a bit of a contemporary romance rut, this book was a godsend. Ivy was an awesome main character. She was funny, fiercely independent, and endearingly jaded. Her journey from a commitment adverse cynic to someone who maybe-sorta-kinda loves someone was compelling and sweet. Her relationship with Jackson was not only adorable, but believable and healthy. I really enjoyed this, and am already looking into the rest of the author's books.

Having already read Savannah and Linc’s story in 12 Steps to Mr Right, I knew immediately that I was going to thoroughly enjoy Ivy and Jackson's journey in finding their HEA. Their getting there was so completely captivating I just knew hands down that I was in for a fast paced story with the type of writing I've experienced from this author in her previous books. 

Even  though I was often frustrated with Ivy and her roadblocks to happiness with her rules to NOT having a relationship with Jackson, her finally getting there was quite the ride. Her banter with Jackson was priceless, the dialogue quick, smart, and engaging. The emotional aspects and gentleness that Jackson brought to the story was one of the reasons I couldn't put the book down and read it in one sitting. 

I will continue to be a loyal reader of Ms Madsen's book and look forward to what she has in store next. 

This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

Received for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, I didn't love this one. Around 30% or so I did start getting extremely bored and found myself skimming more than I was reading.

It wasn't BAD per-se, just... drawn out. There just seemed to be a lot of info dump and I wasn't here for it.

The romance, though sweet, was very meh. For some reason I wasn't feeling the heat or tension that the author was trying to put across. I love hate to love romances, but this one didn't draw me in like they usually do.


*will be posted to wwe.perpetualfangirlblog.wordpress.com at the end of October during my October review.

What I liked:
The writing style 
The characters 
The snarky dialogue 
Standalone 
HEA 

I look forward to reading more from this author.

Jackson is just really sexy, "Jackson stepped between my legs, wedging them open. He dipped his head, leaving him right at eye level with me. “Now that we’ve gotten some of that anxious energy out with destruction, how ’bout you tell me what’s up? You’re still all tense.” Jackson really knows how to do a number on a woman's ovaries, “you’re welcome,” he whispered, and a shiver ran down my spine. “For the record, this is the most I’ve ever enjoyed a job, and I’m not talking about the fun we have after work, although I’m enjoying that, too.” I enjoyed this book, loved Jackson.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36303439-nailed-it

4.5 Nailed it Stars

If you need a pick-me up book, this is definitely one that you should read.

Ivy, has commitment issues, due to her past. However, when she finds out the only place she once called home is up for sale, she decides to flip the house. Little does she know that HGTV shows you only the easy things house flipping. She quickly realizes she’s bitten off more than she can chew and needs help. In walks Jackson, an oh so swoony contractor. However Jackson is her best-friend’s brother and they had a fling a while back and can barely get along without throwing barbs at each other. Jackson and Ivy work together to flip the house but not without quirky and entertaining back and forth banter and smoking hot chemistry.

I loved this book. It’s a quick and entertaining read. Cindi Madsen has quickly become one of my favourite go to authors. Her books always brighten my day and make me laugh. This book was no different. Madsen really “Nailed It” with this book. I highly recommend it.

<i>ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley!</i>

The characters from this book were the 2ndary ones from, 12 Steps to Mr. Right. Ivy is Savannah's bestie and Jackson is Savannah's brother. And while it's really not necessary to read "12 Steps", I think that reading "12 Steps" first will give one a better appreciation for this book. Besides, "12 Steps" was a really cute and fun story so reading that book wouldn't be a hardship anyway. 😉

But back to the review of this book.

If you're a fan of HGTV, of shows like Fixer Upper or the Property Brothers, then I think you'd enjoy this book. Heck, if ever you've tried to DIY something in your own home and have it turn out distressingly awful, you'd get a kick of the things that happen to Ivy. However, it was really Jackson who stole my heart. 

He's sweet, sometimes gruff, but oh-so-swoony and gentle. And maybe it's just me, but there's just something about a guy who knows what to do, who is so capable, that really gets to me. Because you know guys like that will take care, good care, of you and your heart too.

So if you want a light, fun, rom-com type of read, you might want to give this one a shot because Jackson is totally a DIY hottie.

I love second chance romances, but this one offered a little something different.  DIY project gone bad. girl bit off more than she can chew, hunky contractor rescues damsel.  OK that last bit's annoying, like we need rescuing.  Cute book.

This review is based on the ARC provided by the author and/or the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.