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MR. FIX-IT - Crystal Hubbard Genesis Press/Indigo July 2008 |
SYNOPSIS: After a hot handyman becomes intrigued by an uptight romance novelist who doesn't believe in love, he finds the tools to unlock her impenetrable heart.
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE |3+| Marguerite Lemons
REVIEW:
Khela Halliday is a highly successful romance novelist who is on the verge of
retiring at the same time she is being awarded the industry’s top honor. She
feels like a fraud because she simply doesn’t believe in romance. Carter
Radcliffe is a successful real estate mogul who was instantly attracted to Khela
the day she moved into his building. Khela is attracted to Carter, but she is
extremely shy and has all but become a recluse after her divorce. Her best
friend has been breaking things in Khela’s penthouse every time she visits so
that Carter, whom both have mistaken for the handyman, will have to come and fix
them. Khela invites Carter to be her “fake” date for the weekend in order to
convince her peers that she is living the life she so convincingly portrays in
her books. Khela doesn’t believe that Carter is really interested in her, so she
gives him two weeks to convince her that he’s for real.
MR. FIX-IT is a moderately paced story, set in the Boston area around
some of its older neighborhoods with their historic architecture. Khela is a
smart, sexy and talented woman who has allowed her gold-digging ex-husband, and
some rambunctious fans, to affect her view of men and relationships in general.
Carter is sexy, smart and industrious, but he too has had his share of
gold-diggers. Both characters are battle weary, and have a hard time opening
their hearts and truly trusting each other. Carter goes out of his way to get to
know Khela, but for some reason, he can’t tell her the truth about himself. I
was highly disappointed in his juvenile behavior, going to bars and getting into
fights, whenever he was upset with Khela. For a man in his position, this just
seemed completely out of character. Khela probably could have used a little
therapy after her divorce, and just to help her cope with her battle between her
personal life and the expectations of her fans. I realize that writing is a
rather solitary existence, but she used it to hide.
MR. FIX-IT is a quick and entertaining read. It was funny at times and
frustrating at others, but overall it’s a good story.
reviewer@romanceincolor.com | 27th July 2008