Is Zoey too much of a disaster for even TV’s hottest handyman to fix?
When Zoey returns home to California to live with her ailing grandmother, she’s less than enthusiastic when Nana tries to set her up with Harry, the handyman who’s been helping her out around the house for years. But then she discovers Harry the handyman is actually Harrison Beckford, the handsome host of the hottest home … home renovation show on television.
To Zoey, Harry seems too good to be true. He’s got the job, the house, the dog, even two adorable kids who Zoey quickly falls in love with. But as she gets swept up in Harrison’s glamorous life, Zoey starts to let go of things that have always mattered to her in the past. Her career. Her friends. Soon she starts to wonder: Will fitting into Harrison’s life require too much renovation of her own, or will the two of them be able to build something amazing together?
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This was such a sweet, charming, and delightful story! I had such fun reading it and was disappointed when it ended. I wanted more of the story, but the epilogue was a good consolation prize. The characters were wonderfully defined, with great personalities and depth. I couldn’t help but fall in love with them. Zoey and Harry were so cute together. They were definitely made for each other. The kids were adorable and I loved Nana’s great advice and wisdom. Such a great story that kept me engaged and had me turning the pages and ending with a big, sappy smile on my face. This was my first time reading one of Ms. Jacob’s books and I will definitely be looking for more. If you’re looking for a sweet, clean, feel-good book then you definitely want to pick this one up!
I received a free ARC copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily giving my honest review.
3.5 stars
This has been a cute series to read and I enjoyed Hooking a Handyman. Based on the title I was expecting the handyman to be your average handyman-not a popular, rich, TV star handyman. Harry was very down to earth and a great father. I didn’t connect as much with this book as some of the others, but it’s hard to put my finger on why. Maybe it’s because the main characters were both TV personalities, but their jobs were in the background most of the time so it didn’t fall into place as an obvious fit. It’s really hard to say. Anyway, it’s a clean, fast read with a happy ending.
Zoey’s Grandma is determined to set her up with Harry, the handsome host of a renovation show. Zoey moves into her Grandma’s house to help care for her after a stroke, and finds herself nannying for Harry’s children, and falling for her boss.
But Zoey is passionate about her career which is tied up in location. Can she and Harry work past the distance love for their jobs? Brenna Jacobs does it again with another witty, fast paced read. This book will have you looking for your hammer and looking for things to renovate in your own home…as soon as all the pages are turned.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinion is my own.
This might be my favorite ABC’s of Love story yet!! Zoey is a morning news anchor based in Chicago who is in between jobs who volunteers to help her grandmother in California recover from a stroke. Harry is the handsome handyman grandma is trying to set her up with. Litttle does Zoey know that Harry is actually Harrison, the hot host of the most popular home rennovation show on tv! Sparks fly, but Zoey is only staying in California for a few months to help her grandma, as her entire career has been in Chicago. This was such a fun read! I loved that Zoey is a strong, ambitious character and doesn’t just give up on her career for someone she just met. Harry is a swoonworthy mix of handy, handsome, awesome dad who isn’t afraid to admit his faults. I was definitely rooting for them to find a way to make it work so they could be happy!!
What a delightful read this was! The characters were likable, and the story was well-written. I loved the chemistry that Zoey and Harry had, and enjoyed their flirty ways with each other. Harry’s kids seemed pretty adorable too, and he handled them admirably. (I’m a sucker for single-dad romances, and this was definitely one of my favorites!) I received an advanced copy of this book from the author (thanks so much!), and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a sweet, clean romance with warm, fuzzy feelings and happy endings.
(4.5 stars) – “People before things”
Zoey and Harry are attracted to each other. Zoey loves kids & Harry’s kids in particular, and Harry’s kids love her. They’re perfect for each other!
Except for the little detail that Zoey’s life is established in Chicago and Harry’s is in LA. And things happen so fast & start feeling really complicated, & it all begins to feel confusing & a little overwhelming …
This is a relationship development romance which is one of my favorite kinds of stories. Even though the plot sounds a bit like a fantasy, it’s written believably, like it’s real.
The story starts out with such an immediate connection between them & the beginning reads almost like it’s at the happily-ever-after already. I found myself beginning to cringe because it’s a book, after all, so you know there’s some kind of conflict coming, lol.
I generally dislike the I-need-a-career-to-feel-fulfilled flavored themes almost as much as the I-can-do-it-all-and-have-it-all lie, but I liked the way it was handled here. Zoey’s mindset was well explained & supported (as was Harry’s), and it wasn’t that she changed her mind at the end (which wouldn’t have been very believable) so much as she revised her view based on the acquisition of new info & experience
The ending does a wonderful job of bringing them back together in a way that was both credible and happy. Two pleased thumbs up!
*Clean romance level: sweet kisses, nothing graphic
Hooking the Handyman is another successful ABC’s of Love story. With a hunky handyman and spunky news reporter, this story is a sweet romance. Zoey Williamson, passionate reporter, is between jobs when she goes to care for her grandmother that is recovering from a stroke. As Zoey arrives in town, Harry, the handyman, is putting new shelves in her room for the duration. Harry is no simple handyman. He is the handyman of every woman’s dreams- Harrison Beckford: the handyman from Right-on Renovations. Zoey steps in as a nanny for Harry’s adorable children the role of boss and nanny becomes sweethearts. When Zoey receives the job of her dreams back in Chicago, can she discover what will make her happy? Can Harry support Zoey in finding self-fulfillment outside of his own home?
This sweet romance has so many swoon-worthy moments. From start to finish with an abrupt introduction where Zoey is awestruck by the celebrity handyman in her bedroom to a sweet reconciliation of differences and home cities, this story made me want more. Each step of the journey I was rooting for Zoey on her path of self-discovery. I wanted to step in and shut up the vultures (gossipy play-group mothers). As Zoey asked herself the questions, “In a world where we are programmed to achieve, achieve, achieve, are we brave enough to acknowledge that what we achieve might not be the thing that makes us happy… Is it satisfying? Do you enjoy it? Does it fill you up and make you feel like you matter? Does it bring you joy?” I had to stop and ask myself those questions. Brenna Jacobs did an impressive job of telling a sweet romance I didn’t want to put down at the same time as making me reevaluate my own life choices. I couldn’t ask for a better read.
This is a sweet clean romance with plenty of pitfalls to make it real. Zoey and Harry are both likable characters but their decisions confused me. Stay or go? Give or take? It was definitely a different take on the usual situations. I found this to be entertaining and fun overall. I was given an advance reader copy and this is my honest opinion
Zoe is a morning news anchor living in Chicago. When her station closes she goes to California to help her grandmother who’s recovering from a stroke. Little does she know that the handyman grandma hired to put shelves in the closet of the guest bedroom is home renovation TV star Harrison Beckford. Grandma doesn’t know he has a show, he’s just Harry, the boy who grew up down the street, who helped her with yard work, and things around the house.
I really liked Zoe and Harry. Zoe is smart, ambitious, and knows what she wants to do with her life. And Harry? Who wouldn’t adore Harry? Gorgeous, super handy around the house (he built his own house!!), and he’s a great dad to Hannah and Oliver (who are adorable).
I loved Zoe’s relationship with her grandma, and Harry’s relationship with his kids; both are sweet and endearing. Zoe fit into their family so easily, it was as if she was meant to be there, and grandma knew it all along. I also enjoyed Zoe and Harry’s flirtatious banter; it was so light and fun.
This is one of my favorites in this series of standalone books. It was a quick read–I started it one afternoon and finished it the next day, and it got my mind off of everything going on right now.
Such a good book. I talk y enjoyed reading this book. I love how everything works out. Love Brenna Jacobs. Thanks for writing such good books.
Zoey has put her life on hold in Chicago to help take care of her Nana after her stroke. Harry, her Nana’s handyman, just happens to be the star of his own renovation reality TV show. Zoey needs a part-time job, Harry needs a nanny for his 2 kids, sparks fly, dating begins….but happens when the life Zoey put on hold comes calling her back in it?
I really enjoyed this book, the chemistry was good, the characters believable, and I liked that it was a clean romance.
I received an advanced copy of this book, but the review is my own
Romantic comedies are my favorite escape when life gets stressful. I love the way Brenna Jacobs writes her books. I’m always guaranteed to smile, laugh, sigh and fall in love with the characters.
I read this one so fast! I loved the ease of reading and the way the story sucked me in from the first page.
Zoey is the main female lead in this one. She’s a news anchor from Chicago helping out her grandma in California. I loved the sweet relationship Zoey had with her grandma. It was really funny how Zoey met Harry, they met through her grandma.
Harry is really a tv star and her grandma had no idea. To her, he was just Harry. The boy from around the corner who helped her out in her yard and home. But Zoey knows differently. Her grandma suggests that she help with Harry’s kids and Zoey is hooked right away.
I loved reading about Zoey with Harry’s kids. And Harry with his kids. They were both just so cute. I could imagine the four of them as family long before they were even close to becoming that.
The easiness of reading this one, along with the great story line will suck you in. I hope you love it as much as I did.
I was sent an e-copy of this book as a gift from the author. All opinions are my own.
Zoey and Harry are likeable protagonists, and their supporting cast of characters- including Zoey’s Nana and Harry’s kids Hannah and Oliver – are also fun to spend some time with.
The writing is good, there are funny moments as well as swoon-worthy moments, but somehow the story didn’t quite grip me as much as “Ever After”or “Gentleman” did.
Overall, this was an entertaining read, just not my favorite in the series – that title still belongs to “Embracing Her Ever After”.
Zoey was feeling a little like a loser when her job ended and, as the least busy person in her family, she was designated as the family member most available to assist her grandmother who was recovering from her stroke and needed someone with her at all times in her California home for a while. She loved her grandmother but she was anxious to keep her finger on the career pulse until she found a new job. Her gran hired her handyman, Harry, to come build shelves in Zoey’s bedroom to help her have more storage space. Much to Zoey’s surprise Harry turned out to be Harrison Beckford, a household name and recognizable television personality with his own home improvement show! You may think you know where this story is going and you’d be right about a wonderful romance with a great guy but there were some twists and turns along the way that made things a bit unpredictable and kept me up late turning the pages. I loved all of the characters–Harrison was a particularly appealing (not perfect but close) leading man and Zoey was a talented, ambitious modern woman who was trying to sort out her priorities. There were romantic kisses and lots of witty banter. All the good stuff! And on top of it all–the book is clean. Highly recommend! I was entrusted a copy of the book by the author and this is my honest and voluntary review.
This is a 3.5 for me, a good overall romantic comedy. I was expecting a little bit more depth or for the story to grab a hold of me a little more, but overall, this was a sweet clean read and I recommend it.
I enjoyed Zoey and Harry and I love how they interacted with Harry’s kids. The children were a delightful addition to this story. Harry and Zoey’s ability to tease each other was fun; the card game and kiss(es) part was totally swoon worthy!
If you want a quick contemporary romance that’s clean, it’s worth checking out.
H is for homey.
True rating 4.5
Really enjoyed the dynamics of this story. Not your typical boy meets girl. Harry has two children. Zoey has a career in a different state. Is love enough? Will Zoey have to choose between her career and having a relationship? What does a compromise look like? Can Zoey and Harry make it work? Will Zoey find her true home?
Good writing. Really felt the emotion of the characters and their struggles.
Can’t wait for I!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.