Cover Image: Glass and Stone

Glass and Stone

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Member Reviews

Callie is a glass artist and gets a job at a house that is being worked on by construction worker Jordan. Due to a misunderstanding they get off to a rocky start but they find a way to patch things up to continu to work together as professionals.

A budding friendship develops and soon both realize they are attracted to each other which they are pretty reluctant about acknowledging. They both have rocky pasts and a lot of that is to do with their parents.

They do find a way to each other and I liked their journey. I would have liked to see their past a bit more and the parts with Harry were a bit underused in my opinion. Nonetheless I enjoyed this story.

An ARC was provided to me via Netgalley in return of an honest review.

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A slowly developing romance between a general contractor and a glass stain artist who are both dealing with some personal baggage. It's an easy read without much excitement and rather low on angst, which might seem a bit weird considering their backgrounds. Perfect for a lazy sunday afternoon, but not the book to pick up if you are in the mood for some excitement and fastflowing plot lines.

***Thank you Netgalley and Bold Stroke Books for giving me the chance to read and review this book ***

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Not bad, not very good. It was a nice read, the characters are likeable but there wasn't much drama or excitement.

Considering Jordan's backstory, I expected more of working through her issues. Callie's issues with her parents were also solved way easily considering she did move away partly to be away from them. It only got a mention in the end.

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This book had a slow build up to a romantic story. Jordan and Callie are the main characters in the story. Jordan owns a contractor company and Callie is an aspiring stained glass artist.
Jordan does not do relationships and because of this, she is very bristly when she meets Callie for the first time. Jordan is doing the reno on the same house that Callie is doing the stained glass on. As the renos bet underway, the two women forge a friendly relationship. It is when Jordan hears Callie's dreams of opening a stained glass gallery, Jordan offers to turn her dreams into reality. The more time the women spend together, the more they realize there is a connection between them.
A good rainy day read. I would recommend.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Once again this author amazed me! I loved the characters and the story. It was written well and the characters were so real and I felt like I was right in the story with them! I highly recommend this book!

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I received an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Jordan and Callie do not have a great start. Unfortunately, or fortunately, work keeps them together and soon a friendship starts to develop that can evolve into something more. However, everyone comes with some baggage; maybe Jordan's is too heavy to allow her to move forward.

A nice light read with likable characters. As a romantic romance book, for me, it could have more writing dedicated to developing the relationship between the two main characters instead of focusing so much on their jobs. All and all, a nice book that will keep you entertained.

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Callie Burke worked with stained glass. She just recently moved to Delaware from Florida for the weather and the chance to get away from her parents. She loved them and they loved her but they just couldn’t see how she’d ever be able to provide for herself. But things were looking up because she’s not only working on items to display at the little shop she’s planning but she’s also doing some commission work.
This is how she meets Jordan Spade, the contractor in charge of the work being done on a new house. Jordan is quiet, keeps her head down and focused on the work in front of her. Of course the two women are attracted, even though Jordan can’t see herself in a relationship, considering everything she’s endured, what with losing her father and being cut off from her mother.
Callie wants to be an artist and she’s determined to not follow her grandmother’s journey with her art. Putting family first her Grandmother never got to develop. Callie has no intentions in putting anything ahead of her art. Now we know this little bit of knowledge so why Ms Roman felt the need to go over and over the same information. This is the reason I could not finish reading this book. I can’t read the same thing over and over again. But I did finish at least two thirds and can safely let you know but for the reminders throughout the story it’s not too bad a read. Somewhat enjoyable.
ARC via NetGalley/ Bold Stroke Books

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This was a sweet romance. The main characters were well developed, lovable and had great chemistry. I enjoyed the pace of their relationship.
The blurb states that Jordon didn't intervene but that must have been a mistake. I recommend 4 stars.

Thank You NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books.

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This was a good book. The main characters were easy to like and the overall story was easy to read. There wasn't a lot of angst, even though one of the main characters was dealing with misplaced guilt most of the story. I did feel that there were some repetitive sentences throughout this story and it became a little too much at times. I think that the relationship between the main characters of Jordan and Callie was sweet and simple, with a minimal amount of angst and drama, and the support characters made this a more interesting story. I would recommend this to my friends and I look forward to what's next from this author.

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I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.


Jordan is carrying around guilt of her father suicide she believes if she was paying more attention she could’ve prevent it. She keeps everyone at arm lengths minus her best friend Mel who sees right through her. Callie is doing what she loves even though her parents aren’t supportive when she meets Jordan at a job site there was tension. As Callie and Jordan form a friendship it’s starts to become more and Jordan for once want do it right and let someone in and Callie who wants to be that person. This was great read it’s deals with loss and opening yourself up and realizing that you can’t control everything.

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This book was just an average read for me. The story was simple, easy, and to the point (with some space left for angst). The characters were likeable and there were no grammar/spelling errors that I noticed. I did enjoy the book, it just wasn't a stand out to me.

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Jordan is a general contractor and finds Callie lurking in one of her construction sites. After finding out Callie is a stained glass artist whose work will be installed in the home, Jordan offers her help for a potential project in Callie's own home. As they spend more time together they realize there is mutual attraction and potentially something more.
I really liked the backstory for both Callie and Jordan and the issues they've had in the past with their families that cause them both to be a bit gun shy about relationships. I also really liked the interactions with Harry and would have loved to see a bit more of that. They do both seem to make conflicting decisions about their potential relationship throughout and then go back and forth a few times with that and the back and forth was a bit exhausting. It felt like a game of tug o war and like some steps were missing on their journey from casual friends to committed relationship as they went from one extreme to the other. The family backstory for both MCs was also left hanging and could have been used more than it was. I would have liked to see that angle explored a bit more in depth as opposed to the surface conversations that were included. I've liked Renee Roman's other books so I think this was just a one off miss for me.

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I enjoyed Jordan and Callie encounter and they have great chemistry. However, it is a low angst book and some might miss it. Personal baggage is what causes the difficulties for them to get together and it was quickly solved.

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First chapter gives quite a lot of information and sets up what is likely to be the mains meeting. The early part lays on thick how one main won't think she is good enough, not only for the other main but anyone else.
20% in and I am not compelled by either the characters or their chemistry. They are obviously in to each other, quickly, but there has been no acknowledgement of feelings between them. There is no real tension or jeopardy. There is a background story but I’m not even sure that has much to give. Don’t get me wrong, there isn’t anything wrong, it’s just not blowing my socks off. 30% in and the mains are still madly attracted to each other but each convinced it is one sided. I’m still not feeling a compulsion to find out what happens next, equally no repulsion either. An indication of my lack of immersion in the story is that I’m aware there is still 70% of the story to go and wondering how that can be!
A bit of laughter that they had to get themselves under control from, none of which raised a smile with me. This is not a light frothy book, nor is it particularly angsty, but it is not a happy book.
One makes their move, takes a chance but is rebuffed by the other. Immediate self recrimination. It’s frustrating. I kept reading so the frustration didn’t last long but I am edging toward the forcing myself to keep reading rather than my previous position of take or leave it.
Even when the mains get together the frustrating dance of “is she in to me, is this too much/not enough” is irritating me. In full disclosure it is decades since I was in a “new” relationship, so I don’t have that new relationship fear in my immediate memory bank. However a lot of what I read is romance and I don’t normally get irritated by this stuff or normally feel it is over egged. I am feeling that here. It could be pacing (move on already!) it could be being privy to both characters doubts or of course it could be me! There also seems to be lot of comments getting taken as maybe meaning something else, double entendres etc, to a ridiculous level. I think it might be me! I am detailed in this review and I hope providing any potential reader with enough detail to think, “she’s nuts, this sounds ideal,” to make that decision.
The sex scene at 80% in was a bit masculine for my taste and I didn’t find it erotic.
The book does not leave you hanging as all issues are resolved. This for me is a 2.5 as I really had to force myself back to it. I’m going to round down because, although I finished it and it wasn’t badly written I didn’t really enjoy it. I’ve enjoyed all the other 3’s as in my world 3 is a good book that I got something out of. This wasn’t for me.

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Glass and stone was an okay read for me. I like slow-burn romances, this was a little too fast-paced for me, things seemed to move very quickly. The storyline is simple and easy ( with a small amount of trauma mixed in). There's little angst, and the characters are likeable, but at times a little predictable.

All in all, I did enjoy the story, perfect for a Sunday afternoon read.

I've given Glass and Stone a 3.4 out of 5.

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Jordan Spade is a strong butch general contractor with a soft heart. She’s been hurt in past relationships, but her deepest wounds stem from something that happened to her father. In Jordan’s mind she didn’t spend enough time with her father to recognize what was happening to him.

Callie Burke is a stained glass artist who is finding her way in her career and starting to make some sales. She doesn’t have time for anything or anyone to detract her career. Callie and Jordan meet at a home construction site where Callie needs to install some stained glass art. Jordan rubs Callie the wrong way upon their initial meeting and Jordan tries to make it up to Callie. This eventually gets them on track toward a friendship.

I felt engaged with both characters, their relationship, and the struggles that both encountered. I thought the general pace of the book was quite good until close to the end. The resolution felt rushed and some happenings not necessary to advance the final elements of the story. But overall I liked this book and would certainly recommend it to other readers. 3.5 stars

I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Jordan is a contractor who meets Callie when she arrives on a home construction site. Callie is commissioned to create stained glass windows for the homeowner. Callie would like a better workshop and display area for her art and hires Jordan to convert her garage space. It gives the two time to learn about each other while working, over meals and with beach walks. Of course their attraction sizzles. Jordan is a bit broken over a toxic ex and a heartbreaking family situation. She doesn’t see herself as someone can be in a relationship. Her blaming herself got a little repetitive. Callie comes off as the go with the flow person and is supportive and kind. There is background given for her but I found her saying I was too busy with school and my art to have relationships didn’t seem to fit her loving personality. So while I liked her I didn’t think her character got as much development. I did like that everything wasn’t instant and there is time given for a relationship and feelings to blossom.

The blurb as currently written has an error saying Jordan doesn’t intervene when some work crew harass her. She does intervene, but Callie feels like she could handle it on her own.

I like the book and the pace of the story. It’s a sweet romance, with a strong butch, good passion and a bit of angst. Trigger warnings for mentions of suicide and an accidental death. This is only my second book by Roman and I will continue to look for more from her. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for a ARC in exchange for a review. (3.5 stars)

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This was a well-written book that I enjoyed reading. Renee Roman always creates well-developed characters with good chemistry, and well-paced storylines with a touch of angst, and this book was no different. It was a lovely read for a Sunday afternoon in. I have only removed one star because Jordan’s issues around control and not being enough seemed really deep-seated and it didn’t seem realistic that they could have been resolved so easily. The blurb mistakenly says that Jordan didn’t intervene when someone harassed Callie at the job site, which is wrong.

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Glass and Stone is a charming romance with a little turmoil.
Jordan and Callie first meet at a home that Jordan is overseeing construction on. Callie creates stained glass objects and is making some things for the new homeowner.
The two seem interested in each other and find ways to spend time together while their attraction begins to stir.
A tragedy for Jordan could ruin all that and only time will tell if the two can really find love and a happy life together.

This was my first read by Renee Roman and I enjoyed the story and the women she is bringing together, I'll be checking out more of her works.

If you like a sweet stirring romance then you'll enjoy this.

Thank you #NetGalley #BoldStrokesBooks for this ARC

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