This was a cute, fun read, but I didn't love it as much as I thought I would.

I have been excited for Logan's story since she was introduced in the fist book in this series. I will say I was not disappointed in Logan. I loved everything about the character. The only thing I did not like was how Kathleen acted. She was so rigid and set in her ways that all she did was hurt Logan over and over again. It became a little repetitive how amazing, caring, sweet, and gentle Logan was only to be met with Kathleen's insecurities and the hurt she kept inflicting.

For some reason I had a really difficult time connecting to Kathleen's character because of this. Logan on the other time I got immediately and loved every second of her story. Maybe it's because of my design background but I really wish she would have had a little bit of an easier time finding love.

Overall it was a good read. Not great, not bad, just good. I love Aurora Rey's writing and can't wait to see what is in store for the rest of the Barrow clan.

ARC received from Net Galley for an honest and voluntary review.

Second in the renovation romance series, I didn't enjoy this as much as the first book, one of the main characters was a romance author, which was perhaps too 'meta' and distracting. The age difference angst was portrayed well but the pacing was weird, the 'romance' took ages to develop, and yet the obligatory argument happened super fast, after they'd been together for about a week. The author is usually reliable in writing entertaining books with great settings and characters, not sure what happened here but I'm sure they'll be back to form soon.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love Aurora Rey but this book didn't work for me. The main characters were constantly going around in circles talking about consent, and issues around miscommunication made up a big part of the book, to the extent that it took over the whole storyline which could have had a lot more substance to it. I enjoyed the dynamic between the characters other than these two issues, but I'm sorry to say this is not my favourite work by this author who's normally excellent at writing believable chemistry.

So Sweet!

Logan gets the opportunity to take lead on a renovation project but things get complicated when she is instantly smitten with her client, Kathleen. Kathleen has given up her tenure to focus on her writing career but is wary of Logan’s behaviour towards her, so everything quickly becomes tense. But when Kathleen starts embracing romance, rather than just writing about it, she discovers it’s not so bad.

Such a lovely slow burn romance! I adored Logan’s enthusiastic spirit, both for her work and love. It was really sweet how she was taken with Kathleen from the moment they met, and just wanted to impress her and be liked. For Logan there was a lot she wanted to prove by leading on the project, but she put her foot in it with her flirtatious ways with Kathleen and it unbalanced her, not professionally, but in a way that made me just want to give her a big hug. She just loved love and wanted that big romance, a chance at doing her best in her work, and to be a part of something special. I know that feeling and how easy it is to feel like you’ll never have it or you never fit, so I just kept my fingers crossed for her that Kathleen would realise all Logan did was because she was just a genuinely nice and kind person, who just liked her and wanted a chance for them to build on an undeniable obvious connection.

Kathleen was quiet and reserved, shy about love and her reactions to Logan were completely what I expected. She was excited for her renovations and bit hesitant about her new off grid life, still I thought that she really embraced it and loved the friendships she started building with Logan’s siblings and other friends within the community and their family business. It really helped make her feel more welcomed and brave acting on the feelings she was getting for Logan that she desperately tried to avoid.

Really enjoyed this story, it was fun, flirty, explored insecurities of age gap relationships and kept me hooked from the very beginning.

After years of being a professor on the go, Kathleen Kenney finally sold her first novel and with a contract from her publisher she’d finally be able to retire from teaching. Retiring was step one, now she just needed to find the perfect place to live. Luckly she found the home she wanted but lit still required some work. While work was being done she’d just stay at the small rental she’d found.
When she gets to her destination she finds she needs help right away so she calls the number of Barrow Brothers Construction asking for someone to come to her house and give her a timeline on how long the work would take. When Logan Barrow arrives they don’t seem to get along but as time goes by feelings for each other grow.
The number one reason Kathleen wanted to end things was the difference in their ages. Logan had no problem with their age difference. Ms Rey writes a good story, always but this one has a little more depth to it. I found myself unable to lay this one down until I’d finished. (Good thing I read fast so I didn’t miss any meals or sleep... ha .ha!) Truly a very, very enjoyable read.
ARC via NetGalley/Bold Stroke Books

Kathleen was worried about the age gap in this entire book. I couldn’t make it through this book very easily due to that, I even skipped some chapters and we were still talking about it. I get that it’s a big thing but I shouldn’t have skipped chapters just to come across the topic again for every chapter after that.

I really wanted to like this book. Logan purchased a library ladder for Kathleen and that’s something made out of pure dreams. Someone who knows I want and need a library ladder without me telling them? Yes please! Sign me up.

Thank you to the publisher for sending this book to me at no charge in exchange for my honest review. This book is about a masc, charming, forward, and adorable contractor named Logan and her older and hot client, Katherine. There are instant sparks between the two of them as they tackle a full-house renovation at a property Katherine just purchased. She's a writer and past professor. Katherine panics when she realizes how young Logan is, even though she's incredibly mature and even more level-head thinking than she is at times. She finally gives in with some encouragement from friends. If you find consent and consciousness sexy, this is the book for you! The spice in this book is so tasteful, so real, and so loving. I absolutely loved every moment, and all the sweet ways Logan checked in throughout the novel. The book wraps up on a quick and realistic conflict for lesbian couples, especially age-gap couples. The author does a fantastic job of bringing in communication to realistically address the conflict without it being too compromising. Amazing story! It gave me all the fuzzy feels.

Although I enjoyed this book, set in Vermont, about lesbian romance writer, Kathleen, and renovation project manager and designer, Logan, I did have some issues with the story. I felt that Logan was very understanding and went out of her way, not only with the renovation, but with her relationship with Kathleen. Logan always seemed to be the person giving the concessions in their romance and checking in with Kathleen to make sure that things were acceptable to her. Kathleen also had a big issue with the age gap (about 15 years between her and Logan) from the start but it never really seemed to bother Logan. At the end, the age gap was still being mentioned as a concern by Kathleen for a variety of reasons.

We got an opportunity to see the other Barrow Brothers Construction members including Maddie, grumpy Jack, and extended characters like Clover, Sy, and new addition Leah. These people helped provide a voice of reason following Logan and Kathleen's early working relationship and later following their breakup. I'm interested in seeing where Jack's romantic life leads in a possible next Renovation Romance book. 3.5 stars

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

This book was just not my cup of tea. Age gaps are a hard pass for me but I thought the prose was really good and would love to try other books by this author.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I didn't enjoy this book. The pacing was off, the conflict was contrived, and it was so repetitive that I ended up DNF-ing at 90%.

Overall, there is so much potential for this book. Like the title, it does have good bones. Unfortunately, the pacing is painfully slow. There's drama and conflict around the 15-20% mark and then NOTHING HAPPENS until 85% when the author realized she needed something dramatic to happen and brought out the third-act break up. The reasoning makes sense, but there was minimal set up for any of it. We didn't get to see backstory for Kathleen's family issues or trauma from past relationships. It was all within Kathleen's thoughts and, even then, it was alluded to instead of letting the reader see what's going on. Kathleen is supposed to have this horrifically tumultuous relationship with her family and we see them interact ONCE. Then, before the reconciliation, it was all VERY convenient conversations that completely centered on the two main characters. Literally every conversation the main characters had were "mind-blowing" and "major revelations." It all felt super forced and, at that point, I couldn't finish this book.

I generally don't mind a slice-of-life and slow-paced story, but the conflict at the end was so poorly done that I couldn't finish this.

I will admit that I had high hopes for this but in the end was disappointed. Logan poured her heart out to Kathleen only for her to not be able to get over the age difference. The relationship felt forced and underwhelming but the sex wasn’t bad. This just didn’t have the umph I would have liked.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

I really enjoyed this latest instalment of the Renovation series by Aurora Rey. Book two follows the youngest Barrow daughter, Logan as she takes the lead on her first renovation for the family company. Her first client is the much older Kathleen , a professor turned romance writer who has moved to the country to write in peace. But first she must turn the run down house into her dream home and that’s where Logan hopes to make a good impression on Kathleen. However the somewhat non romantic romance writer is not so quickly impressed by Logan’s romantic overtures.

The reader also gets to catch up with all the Barrow family from book one as Logan begins to try and win Kathleen over. Wonderful humour and banter sparkle in this age gap, opposites attract romance. Lots of interesting secondary characters make this a well rounded story that with delight readers.

5 stars! Absolutely!
Thank you to the publisher for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review. Seriously, THANK YOU. I have spent YEARS reading lesfic by this publisher and I am SO excited to finally get to read e-arcs. I feel like a very professional lesbian.

Aurora Rey does it again with another fabulous romance. Kathleen buys a house and Logan ends up working on it. They meet when Kathleen falls through her porch (literally) and in dreamy butch fashion, Logan is there to save the day. The two can't help being veerrry into each other despite their age difference and Kathleen's borderline "ice queen" vibes. Will love conquer all? Is there more to relationships than love? Can love solve everything? Do age differences matter?

The characters are so well written and come to life. Throughout the book I kept getting so annoyed at Kathleen, but also having a lot of compassion for her, and whenever I got annoyed I thought "dang, Aurora Rey really made this character good!" This book has a lot of similarities to a romance I've experienced myself, and it was both validating and frustrating to see it played out - because it was so accurate and lifelike! Will Kathleen get over her avoidant attachment? You'll have to read to find out. Aurora Rey also does a great job at showing how the older half of a partnership can get all caught up in the maturity levels of the younger partner, but she herself has a lot of growing up to do. Logan made me believe in love again.

I love knowing that anything written by Aurora Rey will be 1. well written 2. captivating and 3. not depressing. Seriously, in a depressing world, I don't always want to read books that have sad, heavy stuff. There are certainly big themes dealt with in here, but in a way that didn't make me feel existential. I love Aurora Rey for that. Also I just love her writing. You should too.

Good start. Any time I had to put the book down, I resented whatever was taking me away. I liked being in this book world. About 30% in I felt pacing slipped slightly. Possibly because the mains were in “No man’s land” (no pun intended!) They weren’t frosty but the romance wasn’t going anywhere….. even an acknowledged start. However just after this, things started moving, so just slightly off my perfect timeline.
Things move along, but I felt pacing slipped a bit. The whole can’t go further, must go further didn’t really hold my interest. My interest never came back as strongly as the start. Rounded up to a 3, probably just me tho’. Read it and see.

DNF @ 20%

Nothing I dislike more than instalust and zero chemistry.
I know this part is totally opinion & there are many, MANY people who feel otherwise, but the age gap was too yucky for me. I can handle a large age gap, but Kathleen being so aware of the age difference, saying she could be her mother, etc, REALLY put me off. If I had known about the age gap from the blurb, I would not have picked this up.

An age gap romance with great characters who have different believes and are at different places in their lives. An emotional story with lots of angst. Here we have Logan who is sensitive, thoughtful positive, mature and big on consent. Then we have Kathleen who is always in her head and might come across as cold. Very enjoyable and I recommend. 4.5 stars

Thank You, NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for this ARC.

The premise of the book was great—after all, who doesn’t love a good renovation—but I ended up wishing for a few change orders. Contractor Logan is immediately attracted to 40-something Kathleen, a romance writer for whom she’s project-managing a renovation, and shoot her shot. Kathleen doesn’t believe in love and is hung up on the age difference. Logan spends the rest of the story doing all the heavy lifting in the relationship, and it was hard for me to warm up to Kathleen.

Thanks to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for an ARC. Opinions are my own.

This book has everything! Age gap, small town, a protagonist that has sworn off happily ever after and the striking younger woman that makes her doubt everything she believed in. A delightful story to get lost in!

I received an advance copy from Netgalley for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Kathleen Kenney is finally where she wants to be. After decades of slapping through adjunct professor jobs, she can now fully devote herself to what she loves: writing sapphic romance. Not that she actually believes in HEA, no, that’s for her made up characters. The only thing between her and her delightful introverted future of writing in a small Vermont town is the remodeling of her new house. Barrow Brothers construction company came highly recommended, if only she didn’t meet the gorgeous project lead in a cringe-meet instead of a meet-cute. Logan Barrow is way too young for her anyway and has the falsely optimistic hope for forever love that young people do. Absolutely not what Kathleen is looking for. Right?

Logan Barrow can’t help but be excited. The Kenney remodeling is the first project she will lead solo. She’s going to do everything in her power to deliver the dream home of her client. Said client is gorgeous and somewhat of a mystery but Logan is immediately drawn to her. Kathleen brushes off Logan’s first clumsy advances. But the more Logan chips away at her walls, the more Kathleen lets her in. Can this be it? Can this be her dream project and her dream woman?

Give me a hot builder paired up with a reclusive writer story anytime of the day! Aurora Rey definitely delivered a very good one in this category. She writes sweet romance just as well as the vulnerable, emotional side of it all. Kathleen struggles with her own beliefs. The dichotomy between her mind and heart is very relatable. Logan knows what she wants and works relentlessly to show exactly that to Kathleen. She does so with the utmost respect and that is a sight to behold. Very, very swoon worthy!

This is a standalone book but somehow also the second in the Barrow series. It was great checking in with Maddie, Sy and Clover from Sweat Equity. If you haven’t read that one yet, I highly recommend it too!

Somehow I can’t resist a small town romance. There’s something so charming about a tight community where people know each other and have each others back. The relationship Kathleen instantly builds with Maddie, Clover and Leah are a great example of that. They effortlessly click despite Kathleen being reserved and introverted at her core. Found family is an important part of the story and you can’t help but want to be part of that too.

Pick up an Aurora Rey book and you can’t go wrong. This is another heartwarming example of her skill.

This story takes place in rural Vermont. Where the last few books of Aurora Rey’s have been set. This one has Logan Barrow, the youngest child in the Barrow Brothers construction company, getting her first chance of being in charge of a construction project. Kathleen Kenny hires the Barrows to remodel an old house that’s she’s bought in town. Kathleen has given up her job as a professor, to devote to full time writing queer romance novels.

This starts out as insta-lust between the two women. Kathleen is 15 years older and wants the sex but no relationship. Logan starts to fall in love with Kathleen and bends over backwards to give her what she wants.

I didn’t like Kathleen’s character at all she seemed phony and cold to me throughout the book, even if she became a little more accommodating in the end. I will say that she was upfront from the start that she wasn’t looking for a relationship. I felt sorry for Logan to be so in love with her and wished a better partner for her.

I enjoyed the other books in this series a lot better. I missed the banter that those books had and the more likable characters.

ARC received from Net Galley for an honest and voluntary review.

This Barrow Brothers Construction Company book series features Logan. The youngest in the family. Logan has much to prove to her parents and siblings (or so she thinks). Logan takes the lead on a renovation project and meets Kathleen Kenney who possess lots of emotional baggage. When the two meet, it is definite interest from Logan and possible interest from Kathleen. Logan though younger than Kathleen feels strongly about what and who she wants in her life. On the other hand, Kathleen spends much time inside her head and when she is not doing that she is focused on the 15 year age difference. Since this is the second book in the series, there is much family involvement from the Barrow family which provides some entertaining scenes as advice and opinions are shared.

Logan is very likeable and I can understand where Kathleen is coming from even though she appears unsure. I point to her family for that uncertainty. An enjoyable read and I look forward to reading Clover or Jack's story.