Genre: Contemporary, Holiday
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Aethena, Paranormal Romance Guild
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About The Book
Monarch Springs is full of hot guys… So why is Aiden determined to be in love with the only one that he can’t stand?
Up-and-coming interior designer Aiden Hart came to Monarch Springs for an intriguing job and an escape from his old life. Redecorating the tourist trap that is the Monarch Mansion in a small town in Pennsylvania sounded like the exact opposite of his trainwreck of a life in Miami. Not to mention a way to jumpstart his DIY celebrity career.
Aiden didn’t want to think that his new start was cursed. But being assigned to work with the disgraced former TV carpenter Brett Jeffries at the last minute and breaking down by the side of the road not two minutes later made being cursed sound reasonable.
Things started looking up when a hot mystery man in a beat up truck stopped to rescue him. This flannel-wearing angel was not the kind of hot that happened in Miami. This was salt-of-the-earth, lumberjack, bearded, knows how to change a tire, H-O-T hotness.
Of course, his hot savior turned out to be none other than Brett Jefferies.
And that was only the start of Aiden’s problems. From a traitorous cat to exes showing up at the worst possible times, he still has to somehow get this remodel done before Christmas.
However, falling in love with the job, the town, and, worst of all, Brett, was not on Aiden’s Christmas list.
Measuring Up is the first book in the Monarch Springs series. These books can be read in any order but for maximum enjoyment, the authors recommend reading them in order of publication.
The Review
Aiden has left Miami to take a job redecorating Monarch Mansion for the holidays. Brett is back in his hometown, trying to rebuild his life. Redecorating Monarch Mansion for the holidays is supposed to be a career boost for each of them.
Neither Aiden nor Brett are interested in relationships, but they are unable to escape the fate that wants to push them together and pull them apart with equal intensity. One flat tire and a bit of thoughtless ranting send Aiden and Brett on a roller coaster of romance and miscommunication.
The ups and downs of their connection are an entertaining blend of amusing and slightly frustrating. I couldn’t decide whether I wanted to give them both a hug or sit them down with a book on communication for dummies. Sigh. The romantic tension doesn’t stop.
The story is set in the cozy small town of Monarch Springs, Pennsylvania, which is filled with an aura of mystique and some interesting souls who may or may not all have corporeal forms. Getting to know the residents of the town was as much fun as watching Brett and Aiden dance around their attraction. The pain of a wounded heart has Aiden keeping people at a distance, but his free spirit and curious nature keep putting him back in Brett’s path. Brett’s gruff but protective nature compels him to watch out for Aiden.
Even their choice of pets, Aiden’s cat and Brett’s dog, showcase just how different they are. I enjoyed watching Brett and Aiden’s contrasting personalities slowly start to mesh together.
This book is relatively short, but it is filled with romance, a dash of mystery, some adorable pets, the quirks of small town life, and hope. This is a wonderful holiday read that will keep you guessing until the last chapter whether Aiden is ever able to escape the fate that the town of Monarch Springs has in store for him.
The end has a sweet note that leaves me wondering who the next couple fated to cross paths in Monarch Springs will be. If you are looking for a holiday romance packed with emotional tension and covered with snow, Measuring Up is an excellent choice for a long afternoon read.
4 Stars.
The Reviewer
Lives in the Pacific Northwest and vacations in the desert as often as possible. She is allergic to garlic, sleeps during the day whenever possible, and breaks out in an allergic rash when exposed to excessive sunlight. She has a degree in engineering, works at a comic book store, and goes for long bike rides at night during the full moon because of the sun allergy. Aethena was forced to switch to mostly e-books and audio books when the last floor to ceiling bookcase started to overflow. She is on her fifth e-reader, and is contemplating using her engineering degree to design an e-reader that can withstand her capacity for destruction.
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