This is a good book. The two main characters are Maureen and Frank. Maureen Ida senior in high school and Frank is working in his father’s lumber yard. They meet at a bar, which is owned by Frank’s friend. There is an instant attraction. They start dating. After several weeks they decide to get married but when Frank ask Maureen’s father for permission to marry Maureen he says no. So they elope. They have some ups and owns in their marriage but they make it work.

Hard Fix is book seven in the McCullough Mountain series and it was my first book by this author so I didn't quite know what to expect. While it is listed as a standalone, I think I might have enjoyed it a little more if I had read the previous books, but it technically is a standalone.

The first part of the book focuses on Maureen and Frank's love story, which is a fairly short courtship before they get married and then it focuses on their married life and some of their struggles before they eventually settle into more peaceful times. Not having read the prior books, I was not aware that they are actually the head of the family. Their relationship was also one of insta-love, which I am generally not a huge fan of, but I did like the characters for the most part.

The second part of the book then focuses on their children and their families. Their was an exceptionally large cast of characters so I found it a little difficult to keep up at times. I also struggled a little with the constant flipping back and forth to dfferent characters each chapter. Overall it was an engaging and interesting story. I just think I needed to have started at the beginning. There was definitely a lot of love throughout the story and I really liked how much Maureen and Frank adored each other and how much they loved their children.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

I jumped into this series with book 7. It can be read as a standalone book, but it’s probably better to have some background knowledge. If not, it’s a lot of character names to remember.

The first half of this book focuses on Maureen and Frank. Despite their 7 year age gap, hey fall madly in love with each other. After having seven children, they settle into “post children” life and then the book just mentions several of them that are pregnant - it seems everyone in this family has a healthy sex life.

While this wasn’t a terrible book, I found it incredibly boring. To me, it was just a rehash of daily activities - no exciting plots, no drama, no groveling, etc - just a retelling of what everyone did that day.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions stated above are mine without biases.

Complementary copy provided by NetGalley and publisher for my honest review and opinion. McCollugh Mountain history is revived and explained in this book. I loved every minute! This book brings the series full circle.

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book for an honest review.

It was lovely seeing Frank and Maureen's history and then catching up with the whole McCullough clan for their 40th wedding anniversary. There are tears, laughter and lots and lots of babies! Absolutely love this series.

It was love at first sight for Frank McCullough and Maureen O’Leahey. Maureen is an old soul who wants to dedicate her life being a wife and mother to Frank. She just has to get past her gun toting father to realize her dreams. Shamus had just approved marriage matches for her 2 older sisters, but feels Maureen needs to be a little older than 18 to marry a man of 25 years. Once she turns 18, the two get married anyway. Life’s a little rough getting started for the couple but the author gave us an adventure we will never forget. Maureen has a crazy family already before she met Frank. With their own clan, it only gets more crazy. It is never a dull moment with the family around! Recommended read!

First Half: How Maureen and Frank met and fell in love. Maureen is hilarious. I loved getting more of her ridiculous ways. It was cute getting a glimpse into her story with Frank, but it was basically insta-love and I didn’t really connect with them until after their wedding.

Second Half: Present day, extended epilogue for all the McCulloughs. It’s a personal preference, but for me there was entirely too much pregnancy in this book (both halves). I know the McCulloughs love babies, but good grief this was over the top. I’m sure there are some series fans who will absolutely love it though. Also, I felt sad that Mallory was still focusing so much on her size. I wish she’d had more growth in her self-esteem after all these years.

Even when I’m not loving the subject matter, Lydia Michaels books are compulsively readable and I always want to keeping reading to see what happens in the current one and then next one.

Hard Fix is definitely not a standalone book, it is both a prequel and a sequel to the other novels in the McCullough Mountain series. This book takes you back to where it all began and the story of Maureen and Frank. There is a lot of potentially triggering themes here so be aware and check the warnings before going in. The second half is a sequel to the other books and a check in with all your favorite couples from the previous books.

Quick Summary: A full circle love story

My Review: Lydia Michaels did it again! She has written a McCullough family hit.

Hard Fix primarily detailed the story of Maureen and Frank, the matriarch and patriarch of the McCullough clan. I loved how this book revealed how the couple came to be together, how they grew in love and life, how they built a family from the ground up, and so much more. Readers will not be disappointed with this treasure.

My Final Say: Reading the McCullough series is worth the investment. Hard Fix is a guaranteed winner. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll cheer alongside family and friends.

Rating: 3/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A

*Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this title.*

I am so happy to have read this book. This book was both a prequel/flashback to how our founding couple met and married. All the crazy stories we heard about how Frank and Maureen got together... we get to see a peak at. Then we join them for the lead up to their 40th wedding anniversary and vow renewel party. Checking in with all our couples along the way.

It was SO touching and beautiful to see what these two built. The love and faithfulness (and so much snark and sass) that they have instilled into the McCullough clan. They are a clan to be proud of. You want to strangle them and kiss them all at once. It was a true joy.

The only reason that this wasn't a full 5 stars for me was that I feel like we got just a taste of them at the start. And then not enough of them in the present. But I loved all the updates and I would stay on this mountain forever. I'm so sad I only have one more in this series to read.

This series truly is like being home. That is just the best.

OMG I enjoyed this one a lot.
It was nice getting to know Maureen and Frank before and after the kids.

Hard Fix contains a relationship with 7 years age-gap, 2 POV (which I loved), a few hot scenes, raw language, fiesty female character (I love Maureen even more after reading this book) but also some heavy stuff like miscarriage and suicide.
This book had me feeling happy, sad and warm while reading it.

Now I only have the last book left to read and it already sadness me to have to say goodbye to the McCullough family.

I was puzzled by the order of this book in the series but after reading this entry , I understood why the parents story was presented here.Of all the McCulloughs, this one seemed the most contrary.Maureen, the mother of the clan, outspoken and assertive,seemingly appeared to have lost her edge around Frank ,the older,worldlier man. This older man/younger innocent woman trope was interesting in the way the roles got switched during times of adversity.Maureen's no holds barred approach to life was refreshing and entertaining while Frank's quiet solid presence crumbled each time he experienced personal hardships.As the years progressed and their family grew,we see how they complemented each other through their struggles and triumphs. Maureen's uncensored words and her family's reactions to her are a hoot.This series is truly a work of love and continues to entertain.

Hard Fix by Lydia Michaels is the avert book in the McCullough Mountain series. This is the story that stayed it all. You finally get the full story of how Frank and Maureen got together and the ups and downs of raising seven children. The best part is the now part of the story picks up a few months after the previous book, so you get an update on all the siblings and the big changes coming to most of them. Perfect way to tie up some loose ends.

The story of Maureen and Frank becoming a couple and raising a family. Through the death of his father and fighting to save his business, building their home, running from her father when he was shooting at him losing their first child, and then celebrating their 40 wedding anniversary by renewing their vows. So much going on in this book watching the children grow all having children and how all of their lives have changed and yet just moved forward. A wonderful book with all of the characters from the other books and some surprises in between along the way. A very good story that really was a journey and a good way to end this series.

This was a wonderful addition to the McCullough Mountain series. The book takes us to the past to where the McCullough family started. Maureen and Frank finally got their story. It was well written with the first half of the book taking the reader to where they met and started their relationship. The second half of the book is in the present time where they are ready to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary. Their children and grandchildren are heavily involved and it was great to get the chance to catch up with all the previous characters from the series. I highly recommend!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

It was really well written. I read it then realized it was part of a series do I'm going to go back and read the rest of the series but I will be reading this book again.

Well written and keeps you turning TBE pages to see where it will take you next. It has romance, mystery, and and words left unsaid. Great book.