DNFed at 20%… My rating is based on what I read until that point!
Okay, I can't deny anymore that I have a pretty big reader slump this year. This is the 17th book I've DNFed this year, I've never had so many in any year, and August just finished. That's 20% of my reading this year... A lot... But what if I just got bored with the book and the characters were so unlikeable?
The book is about a home fixer-upper, where of course the two protagonists will fall in love. I love home makeover shows. So much so that I signed up for Max just because of these shows, and since then I've only watched them, so I thought it would be great to read a similar book as well. But no... So far, the writer has written too many pages about what happens during the makeover, e.g. what colours are on the walls, what tiles should be, what colour the furniture should be, what walls will be taken out, etc. It's interesting when you see it on a show, but reading about it was so boring. One of the things that really annoyed me was the following: We are currently under construction, so I know how difficult it is to find the best choice for some things. I spent days thinking about how the bathroom should be arranged or I saw a beautiful kitchen live, which was beautiful, but not what I originally wanted and I just can't choose now, etc. Here, Logan (who is the constuctor) outlines the possibilities, what they recommends, and Kathleen (whose house is being designed) can see right before her eyes that it will be perfect. And, of course, Logan has all the ideas for her... Maybe there is such a scenario, but since I suffer with these decisions, I was terribly annoyed by her determination. For more than a month, I didn't read almost anything on my e-reader (when I put my son to sleep in the dark, I like to read on the e-reader), because I had to read this, and I preferred audiobooks, series, etc., because I didn't want to read this one.
As I already mentioned, both protagonists were annoying to me. Logan was so pushy. They can see that Kathleen is bothered by her pushiness, but they doesn't stop. They brings up the subject again and again. Kathleen is so dismissive that it was too much, too.

This was an enjoyable read. It started off a bit slow, but once I got used to the writing style and narration, it flowed from there.

This is an age gap, grumpy x sunshine, F/F romance
Logan works for her familys construction business, and Kathleen is a romance author who doesn't believe in happy ever afters.

The banter between the characters is top notch, and the side characters are well written and loveable. I loved the relationships between the siblings. I will be reading the 1st book in the series

Really good and interesting read I had fun reading however it wasn’t my favourite and I don’t think I will read again

* I did receive this book from NetGalley but all opinions are my own*

Good Bones tells the story of Kathleen and Logan. Kathleen has bought a new house and Logan is her contractor that is helping her build and design her house. Logan has instant attraction to Kathleen but Kathleen rejects all advances, until Kathleen decides that she is willing to get over her streak of not dating and try with Logan.

Peace and love, nothing actually happened in this book. There was no big plot points and it felt like we were getting a play by play every time they took a breath while also learning nothing about them at all. I do think I was not the target audience and it feels like millennials and above would like this book. One thing I did like is that the conflict at the end wasn’t cheating of any form and instead was just a miscommunication that I felt like I could see both sides of.

Due to health issues cannot write a proper review now even if I enjoyed this book. as it's well plotted, fascinating world building and good storytelling. It made me laugh and kept me reading
A more extensive review will follow
Recommended.Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

The story was repetitive with Kathleen and Logan going through the same conflict over and over. Despite it being on the shorter side of books, it could have been even shorter to adjust for the repetition and pacing.

Logan is the youngest in a family business of construction and remodelling. She is the primary designer of the business and this job is her first to manage and lead. When she meets the owner of the house she knows she is totally attracted and wants everything to be perfect. A sceptical romance writer and butch contractor may have to meet in the middle. Great series.

A very sweet sapphic romance, with humor and spice. I enjoyed Logan and Kathleen as well as the secondary characters. The story was well written and evenly paced.

This was a fun read. Sweet Logan Barrow, usually a designer, is going to be project manager for her 1st renovation. Kathleen Kenney a new lesbian writer, buys a house in Vermont and hires Barrows Const. Their 1st meeting is when Kathleen falls through the deck and Logan helps her out. Logan has instant attraction and so does Katheen but there is a big age difference. Kathleen becomes a ice queen to keep Logan at bay. Logan tries everything to thaw her and she doesn’t want to lose her as a client. I like age gap books because I don’t think love has anything to do with age. The chemistry was hot once Kathleen finally gives in. It’s a fast read. Enjoy

Once I started I could not stop. This book has the perfect amount of angst and spice and will have you not wanting to put it down.

3.5 stars. The Barrows Brothers siblings are back in this second installment of renovation inspired LGBTQ romance. This story follows Logan, the youngest sibling in another client romance with the new-to-town romance author, Kathleen. Kathleen becomes fast friends with Maddie and Clover, but is initially resistant to Logan’s charms.

This is a fun read, though very similar to the first which drove my rating to a 3.5 after book 1’s 4 star rating. The story line is a bit full of cliches and a repeat storyline from book one with minor variations in the finer details: new town resident needs major home renovations, meets cute contractor, breaks general rules of not dating client, one party needs to be convinced of the realness of the feelings involved… but this second installment does poke at our FMCs being romantic tropes due to the person of romantic interest being a romance writer herself.

I received an ARC of this book on NetGalley, but ultimately purchased book 1 and 2 in order to read them in order. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, Sweat Equity: A Renovation Romance, and was excited to read Logan's romance.

Good Bones brings us back to rural Vermont, where Logan Barrow, the youngest member of the Barrow Brothers construction company, takes on her first solo project. She is tasked with remodelling a house for Kathleen Kenney, a former professor turned full-time queer romance novelist. While their initial connection is fuelled by instant attraction, the dynamic between the younger, eager-to-please Logan and the older, guarded Kathleen unfolds with predictable complications.

Despite the initial insta-lust between them, I struggled to connect with Kathleen, who came across as cold and somewhat insincere, even though she was upfront about not wanting a relationship. Logan's unwavering affection and efforts to win Kathleen over felt both endearing and somewhat heartbreaking, as the emotional imbalance in their relationship was evident throughout. The chemistry between the leads was decent, but the story often felt slow and the plot predictable, especially with the older/younger woman dynamic.

While the detailed focus on the house restoration was engaging, the story’s progression stalled with repetitive themes and dialogues. The character development was sufficient to understand their motives, but it lacked depth, particularly concerning Kathleen's background. The narrative seemed to lose its initial spark, making the latter half of the book feel flat and less compelling. Despite these shortcomings, fans of small-town romances and age-gap dynamics may still find Good Bones a worthwhile read.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

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.