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.

Good Bones was such a delightfully wholesome, sweet story. I loved how it showed Kathleen’s journey of learning to embrace joy and delight, and to let go. I loved how it showed Logan’s eagerness and communication, and demonstrated her respect and value for consent in all things. The flirtiness and conversation between the two of them was extra sweet.
It was almost comforting to read about a romance author who in “real life” actually had awkward sex from time to time and was romance-adverse and jaded.
I loved the acknowledgement that it was ridiculous to insinuate someone doesn’t look “middle-aged”, as if it’s a bad thing for women to look their age - and the honest acknowledgement of different concerns about age gaps. It was beautiful to see the “modest but meaningful gestures” rather than love-bombing and grand romantic gestures.
All in all, a super lovely, emotional story with a healthy dose of angst and a lot of longing, great friends with great advice, and amazing spicy scenes!!!

This took me a really long time to find a rhythm with and when I did, it just didn’t click for me. There’s a lot of emphasis on the age gap part of their relationship, but while Kathleen angsts about it literally all of the time, she never talks about it with Logan and just assumes that Logan is too immature or too young (despite being 29). All of the times that she would think of something and wonder if Logan would know what it was or would get the reference were so frequent as to feel forced and to the point where I started to wonder if these two even actually liked each other and what they liked about each other. Kathleen also chases Logan away at literally the 88% mark, meaning there’s so little time for resolution or actually seeing them work through all the issues that kept repeating throughout the story to the point that the conclusion felt really rushed. This one just wasn’t for me.

This story has been quite boring, because it is repetitive. I can understand, from my own experience, the insecurity that an age difference causes in a romantic relationship. I also understand, for the same reason, that as the years go by one has less patience or is more demanding and does not tolerate certain things, even going so far as to behave in an unkind way towards others. And with this, Kathleen's personality is defined, at least in most of the book, in the end she changes a little for the better.

And the other component of the romantic relationship represented in this book, Logan, I can't say that she can represent me now or in my past, so I don't empathize much with her behavior, too direct, too dependent on Kathleen's interests, too accommodating.

So, since it took me too long to become interested in this story, although I managed to finish it, it was not even close to what I have recently rated with 4 stars, which leaves it at 3 for me. An average story.

While this installment in the series offers a decent read, it fell short of expectations for me. Having delved into the previous book, I found it hard to connect with this one, mainly due to my lukewarm reception of Logan's character. Unlike the first book where Maddie, Sy and the supporting cast stole the show, here, Logan's demeanor felt too forceful and juvenile, hindering my immersion in the story. Logan and Kathleen just did not flow together for me, Although I appreciated the charming setting and the potential for future narratives involving the middle Barrow, the romantic aspect lacked the spark I was hoping for. Overall, while the series holds promise, this particular entry left me less engaged, elongating my reading time as I struggled to invest fully in its outcome.

After writing two novels, one of which was a bestseller, Kathleen Kenney buys a house in rural Vermont. The house needs to be renovated and she hires Barrow Brothers Construction company to do the work. Logan Barrow is the project leader. While Kathleen knows she is attracted to Logan, there's a problem - there is a 20+ year difference between them - Logan doesn’t have a problem with the age difference.

Rey has created two likable characters and her secondary characters, like Maddie and Clover, are well-drawn as well. The story has angst to be certain, but it isn’t over-the-top nor heavy-handed and doesn’t run on for pages and pages because Rey is one of the best writers of controlled angst that makes sense and isn’t added seemingly to add words to the manuscript.

This is a fast read because the characters are so well written that readers will be loathed to put the book down - even to sleep. If you don’t like endless angst that makes the book saggy, then this book is for you.

My thanks to Bold Strokes Books for an eARC.

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

Kathleen became successful enough as romance writer to buy a fixer upper she plans to be a part of getting her house the way she wants. Logan is the youngest who works with her family at their Barrow Brothers Construction she majors in design but can build also and wants to prove she can lead that been in this family for four generations. When they meet Kathleen needs help after getting stuck as they work together Logan becomes a bit smitten with Kathleen but Kathleen is concern about their age gap and that she won’t be able give Logan what she wants in the long run. I like Kathleen developing a friendship with Logan sister Maddie and Clover even though Kathleen is in different place in her life she just assumes what Logan would want in the future that she was about to miss what’s happening in the present. Enjoyable read I wonder will their be another because we still don’t know what their Uncle going to do and there’s Jack

This one was a bit hard to get into at first. It seemed like it was going to be insta-love from the first few chapters, which I'm not generally a fan of. As well, I couldn't understand the attraction between them at first when their only dialogue seemed to be discussing particulars of the house, there was very little other conversation at the beginning. Things did change around the halfway mark and they embarked on a relationship that seemed a lot more realistic and wasn't the insta-love I had thought it was going to be from the start. However, I still wasn't crazy about this one. Nothing particularly stood out to me and I felt like some of it was a bit dry or redundant towards the end. But I do think some people will really enjoy this one! It has a lot of house renovation, realistic discussion and fears regarding age differences and children, and some spicy scenes. It didn't quite work for me, but if it sounds like your cup of tea don't pass it up on my count! 3/5 stars.

This the second in the Renovation Romance series. The series seems to be following members of the Barrow Brothers Construction family. The company has been in the family for four generations. Older sister Maddie got her romance in Sweat Equity (Oct. 2023) now it is Logan Barrows turn. Logan is the youngest and majored in design at college. But she can do construction just like the rest of her family. When Kathleen Kenney purchases a fixer upper in their small town Logan is keen to be the lead. Kathleen is successful enough as a romance writer to no longer be an adjunct professor which she has done for almost 20 years. Logan is instantly smitten with Kathleen but the older woman is concerned about the 15 year age gap. Kathleen also is a little jaded and no longer believes in happily ever after love.

Logan is a golden retriever type character. Very positive, wanting too much to please, very sensitive to moods and big on consent. As the youngest she considers herself an old soul but also wants a nesting relationship. Kathleen is in a different place in her life and the book spells out her feelings well. Sometimes she can get caught up in her head but it fits her character. I liked the amount of steam and that if follows the pair for a couple of months giving time to get to know each other. Having read the first book in the series I enjoyed Maddie and her befriending Kathleen. I don’t understand Clover much. The differing expectations in the relationship give a realistic reason for the unsureness in the romance.

I liked the story and the maturity Logan demonstrates. I’m assuming there is another romance coming for Jack who is trans. And there is still the question of how the uncle’s relationship will impact the family business. I will be waiting to read it. (3.5 Stars)

Romancing the romance skeptic
Oh what fun! A romance which doesn‘t wait for the third act to have the break-up but is off to a running start, ahem stop. And a romance writer who (for good reasons) is skeptical of happy-ever-afters, namely her own. And a butch with toolbelt: yes, yes, yes. Please count me!
I really liked the unfolding of this unlikely love story, the whole small town community vibe and all those interventions of good natured friends. The characters were well done with good backstories and motivations.
The story has a good old-fashioned slowburn going with pinches of ice queen, grump and agonizing about age and age gap. The resolution could have dug a bit deeper, but over all an engaging read.

I received an ARC via netgalley. The review is left voluntarily.

Rounding up to 4 stars but 3.5 is more accurate. This book was sweet and definitely spicy! I enjoyed the addition of HGTV like themes with the home reno! I thought it was a fun story line. I enjoyed the tropes-ice queen, age gap, etc and think they were well done! It was a compelling story to read their journey to falling in love. I thought the spicy scenes were very good and well written! Spoiler- didn’t really like the rushed third act break up, predictable, but happy they had their happily ever after! It was a fun fluffy book. I enjoyed reading it and will see what else this author has to offer and read more of her work! Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley!

I found the book interesting enough but I did struggle to get through it. The plot itself was good though some aspects could have been introduced way earlier, like Kathleen’s family issues and history. The book was in third person but sometimes was written as a direct inner monologue which at times made it confusing which made me think it might have been an interesting take to see it written in first person but changing perspectives each chapter. I found some aspects unrealistic in that, the representation was great but to have three siblings all a part of the LGBTQIAP+ community all with friends in that same community representing a different aspect of it, in a small town near Vermont seemed far fetched. The tropes were spot on, but they were directly pointed out within the dialogue of the book and it felt a little on the nose. I felt the dialogue between characters was a little inconsistent, one second Logan doesn’t say much more than “cool” or “I love that.” and the next minute is saying things like “curmudgeon”, it seemed out of character without context of it being an inside joke. The romance as a whole felt very highschool and it was very hard to picture Kathleen as a woman in her mid 40’s and it seemed at times Logan was written as a 19 year old rather than a 29 year old. I can appreciate the representation within a book and can understand how to people who haven’t seen ‘themselves’ in typical literature appreciate feeling seen and represented in a romance novel, but a lot of it felt a bit pushed to tick all the boxes. I did have to stop about 70% through as I was struggling to get through it when I feel I had already read enough to base a review off the actual writing. - for context I am 27F also a part of the LGBTQIAP+ community

Age gap romance with an MC who writes romance but doesn’t believe in happy ever after!!
The story takes us through the developing romance and how the age gap is navigated as well as the hurdles thrown up by the stoic novelist with her would be ‘ever after’ builder trying to take down the walls between them brick by brick.
Another sweet romance with some hot love scenes, doubts, friendly advice, Easter eggs and self awareness that brings about potential for a future.

This was my first ARC through NetGalley and I am so excited I had a chance to read it.

My overall impression of this book was just WOW, this book was the most opposite of toxic I have ever read, in all the best ways. The motivations, thought processes, and dialogue between the characters was so beautifully thoughtful, both the characters to themselves and to us the reader. There was so much grace granted to the issues between the characters and nuance for days. The whole thing just made me feel good to read.

Oh, and we should talk about Spice. This one took Consent is Sexy to a whole new level and I was so here for it. Plenty of spice throughout the book and it is given the same delicate and detailed touch that this whole book had.

This was my first Aurora Rey book, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but after reading this one, I will DEFINITELY be coming back for more.

I enjoyed this opposites attract, age gap story.
Kathleen is a successful 40 something author that has decided to leave her tenure behind and move to rural Vermont to write and start her new life. She has been single and anti-relationships for awhile as she doesn’t believe the happy endings she writes in her books really exist. She buys an old farm house and hires Barrow Brothers Construction for a complete remodel. Twenty nine year old Logan Barrow is the youngest of the siblings and takes the lead on the remodel. She is an old soul and excited to prove herself in her family company.
As the story unfolds and their attraction builds, the tension escalates as the reader wonders if Logan can chip away the ice that Kathleen wields as protection around her heart.
The story flows well and is engaging

Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the are in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to like this, but I just don't think it worked for me. First of all, the blurb doesn't mention that this an age gap romance and normally I wouldn't mind that, but the book leaned too much into it and made it all about that, to the point where Kathleen was uncomfortable. It definitely didn't work for this. Also, Kathleen is supposed to be older but came off super immature. I think the pace of the book was off as well, and I didn't feel the connection between the characters that I would have liked. I think the story does have good bones, but it just missed the mark.

Thank you to NetGalley, Aurora Rey, and Bold Strokes Books for the eARC of this book.

Another excellent addition to Rey's collection. I have a been a long time fan of Rey and I really enjoyed the first book, Sweat Equity, and this one did not disappoint. This book follows Kathleen, a romance writer that decides to buy a house that needs some extra work, and she employs Barrow Brothers with Logan, the youngest sibling is only too excited to take lead on the project. As Logan and Kathleen work together, their chemistry proves not only good for the house but also each other.

I enjoyed following Logan and checking in with Maddie and the Barrow Brothers company. Logan, the youngest, has been trying to be taken seriously and taking lead for the first time is just what she needed, if only she wouldn't put her foot in her mouth around Kathleen. I liked Logans confidence and that she learned from seeing Maddie did with her relationship. Kathleen was an interesting character, but I like her best friend, Trudy, more. Trudy kept using kathleens job as a romance writer to make fun of the different tropes that Kathleen and Logan represented. I loved that. The self awareness was a welcoming experience and I wished it made it all the way through the book. Dropping the tird act breakup would have been awesome.

All in all, this was a cute and self aware romance. I hope there is more with these characters, I want to know how the family business plays out. This can be read solo but always better when series are read together, in my opinion. I would recommend this for fances of age gap romances and of the first book.

Something here didn’t work for me. I’m not sure if it was Logan and Kathleen or just the setting. Kathleen was supposed to be middle aged but acted like a teenager while leaving Logan to play the adult. Even the house design bits didn’t work for me in this one.

A designer meets the woman of her dreams when her family company is hired to help renovate a writer's house. The meet cute is perfect, and the chemistry is top notch. When Logan & Kathleen are in the moment it is fantastic. But getting Kathleen out of her own head is a chore and since I’m a chronic overthinker as well, it took me out of the story. I loved the parts where they discussed design and the renovations that were being done on Kathleen’s house. Overall rooted for Logan & Kathleen.

Now I really need Jack to get his own book. And I’d love more of Clover’s backstory.