Abby Callier is more in love with Shakespearean heroes than any real man, and she’s beginning to wonder if there is life for her outside the pages of a book. It doesn’t help that her esteemed parents tend to view her as they would one of their science experiments gone wrong. On the eve of finishing her dissertation, she escapes her staid existence to live in the house she inherited from her Great … Great Aunt Evie in the small town of Echo Springs, Colorado. Because, let’s face it, when a woman starts comparing her life to horror films, it might be time for a break.
Sheriff Nate Barnes believes in law and order and carefully building the life you want. In his spare time, he has been remodeling his house in the hope that one day it will be filled with the family he makes. But Nate doesn’t like drama or complications and tends to avoid them at all costs. And yet, when Miss Abigail Callier, his newest neighbor, beans him with a nine iron, he can’t help but wonder if she might just be the complication he’s been searching for all along. It doesn’t hurt that he’s discovered a journal hidden away by the previous tenant, and decides to use Old Man Turner’s advice to romance Abby into his life.
Abby never expected her next-door neighbor, the newly dubbed Sheriff Stud Muffin, to be just the distraction her world needed. The problem is she doesn’t know whether she should make Echo Springs her home, or if this town is just a stopover point in her life’s trajectory. And she doesn’t want to tell Nate that she might not be sticking around – even though she should, because it’s the right thing to do, the honest thing – because then all the scintillatingly hot kisses with the Sheriff will come to an abrupt halt. Did she mention that he’s a really great kisser?
more
When I started reading The Fixer Upper, I was in the mood for a light-hearted romance. I needed a book where I didn’t have to keep track of plotlines, characters, and all that stuff, which I got with The Fixer Upper.
The Fixer Upper had two main plotlines but a subplot line that I thought was interesting. The plotlines were easy to read, and they moved along at a medium pace. There was lag in the plotline last half of the book, but the author was able to get the book back on track.
I liked Abby. Her sense of humor was well written. I agree with her about porcelain dolls; they are creepy. Her nickname for Nate was hilarious. But I got bored with her, as weird as that sounds. Her character became flat to me. Even making her choice where she was going to teach was bleh to me.
I liked Nate. I did think it was creepy that he knew everything about her (from her great aunt, but still). But my creepiness was squashed when the author showed what a good guy he was. But, like with Abby, I got bored with him.
The romance between Nate and Abby was red hot. Who thought that cutting firewood would be a turn on? Even their exchanged looks were sexy. I loved how Abby justified her attraction to him. Again, she had me rolling on the floor, laughing. And the sex scene where Rufus stuck his nose in Abby’s butt. OMG!!! Hilarious!!
The plotline where Nate was investigating the burglaries was interesting. I did figure out who was doing them before Nate did. I did feel that plotline ending was rushed.
I loved the storyline involving Abby’s aunt and the old owner of Nate’s house. Talk about sweet and sad. I also liked the bits of advice at the beginning of each chapter (that was taken from the diary).
I wasn’t thrilled with the end of The Fixer Upper. It seemed rushed. What happened didn’t jive with me. I wanted an epilogue or another chapter to add to what happened. The author did leave the book open for book 2. I am curious who the next couple will be.
The Fixer Upper was a sweet romance. There was some lag, but the author was able to pull the book back on track. I did find the main characters pleasant but got bored with them towards the end of the book. The romance was sweet, and the sex was hot. I liked the storylines, even if I thought the ending was rushed.
It’s “The Fixer Upper” That Brings Them Closer Together & Shows Them The Way!
She’s just Inherited Her Aunt’s House & UpRooted Her LIFE to MOVE there…
And ON Her first NIGHT, She gets quite the introduction to the local Sheriff!
He ENDS Up being Her Neighbor…
Work’n ON “The Fixer Upper” He’s try’n to Remodel!
There’s lots going ON in the community,
With a Burglar on the loose & a Her career to figure OUT,
What’s to become of their budding RoMANce…
I was granted, via B00|{$P®0UT, an ARC of Maggie Mae Gallagher’s “The Fixer Upper (Echo Springs Book 1).” I recommend this book to others based upon its own merits. All opinions expressed within this review are uniquely my own & freely given!
Until next time… Happy Reading!
I loved this book! I was looking for a light-hearted steamy new release to get me through the weekend and this one fit the bill. If you love fixer uppers, adorable dogs, quirky heroines and studly sheriffs, this is the book for you, too!
Abby Callier uproots her academic life under academic parents and defies them to write her dissertation on English Literature, instead of something more appropriate, in the small Colorado town outside Denver where her great aunt lived. Tiny Echo Springs is the opposite of everything Abby is used to. She plans on finishing her paper, get her doctorate, and sell her aunt’s house. That’s the plan anyway. But things seldom go according to plan. For one, her aunt’s victorian home is filled with an army of tiny porcelain dolls that leave Abby uneasy. So uneasy, she leaves them in the living room while she sets up camp upstairs, far away from the creepy things. For another, her aunt’s neighbor is beyond hot and also the town’s sheriff. The more time she spends with the man she calls Sheriff Stud Muffin, the more she questions her current objectives and the less sure she is of what her next step will be. She takes a job at the local community college and meets a colorful cast of characters. It’s easy to see where the next books in the Echo Springs series will take us.
Plot
This is a straight-up romance that follows the typical format of meet-cute followed by all the ups and downs you expect in a contemporary romance. There’s a minor subplot involving a series of break-ins in the small town, but the subplot that really shines is Old Man Turner’s journal that tells a romantic tale that started before World War II between Old Man Turner and Abby’s great aunt. It serves as both a parallel tale as well as backstory.
Characters
This was the one part of the story I’m iffy on. Abby’s ovaries “sigh” at the sight of the studly-muffinesque sheriff. And not just once, there is much ovary sighing throughout. And Nate’s declaration that Abby “isn’t like other women” was too cliche. However, the supporting cast saved the story for me. Nate’s bevy of messed-up buddies and punk community college teacher Tessa and her gorgeous, but militant sister, Cybil, drew me in. In fact, if any of these characters are involved in the second book in the series, I’m there!
What I Enjoyed About THE FIXER UPPER
1. Rufus. Nate’s big, lovable, slobbering Great Dane provided some great comedic moments.
2. Tessa. She’s tough, acerbic, and funny. I can’t wait to read her story.
3. Cybil. She’s snark and sour wrapped in a pretty package, and her story is going to be epic.
4. Aunt Evie. The story of her romance with Old Man Turner is heartbreaking and bittersweet.
5. Old Homes. I adore old homes and the descriptions of the two Victorian homes made me want to do a few more renovations around here, much to my husband’s dismay.
Bottom Line
A decent romance with a stellar supporting cast.
The Fixer Upper by Maggie Mae Gallagher is the first book of her Echo Springs series. The story focuses on Abbey Callier and her romance with Sheriff Nate Barnes. Nate’s big, lovable, slobbering Great Dane, Rufus brings some comedic relief. There is a strong sexual chemistry between Abby and her Sheriff Stud Muffin. I find Abby’s constant reference of her aunt’s dolls as the army of the undead dolls and her horror film entries not amusing. I do enjoy the way the journal Nate found plays the part as a secondary story within the main storyline. The Fixer Upper is a spicy romance with a stellar supporting cast and Echo Springs brings out the flavors of small-town charm.
I’m always on the hunt for new to me authors so when I was going through my email and found this book come up I thought…maybe and moved on. I didn’t delete the email, I just left it for later. Throughout the day it came to me and finally I decided to get it.
I’m so glad that I did.
From the minute Abby tried to hit Nate with a golf club I was hooked. These two are perfect for each other even if they didn’t know it. I did. I liked how they interacted together. They respected each other and let the romance build.
Both of them have their issues and you see that in some of the ways they are with each other but you can also see that even though they are trying to protect themselves they really care about the other person.
It was nice seeing Abby make friends. It’s something she really didn’t have in her life and she needs. Come to Echo Springs gives her roots. A place to belong. People to be close to and friends with.
I really liked the people of the town and enjoyed The Fixer Upper enough to want more of Echo Springs. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
I really loved this book and can’t wait to read more of Echo Springs and the secondary characters stories. Abby & Nate were a great couple along with lovable Rufus!
Abby Collier is beginning to wonder if there is more to life than just the academic world her parents want her to live in. Her beloved great aunt Evie passes away and leaves her entire estate to Abby including her house and all its contents to deal with. Abby sees this as a chance to get away from her well meaning and overachieving family to finish her dissertation and make some decisions as to how she wants to move forward with her life.
Sheriff Nate Barnes who lives next door never liked city live and left Denver to return to Echo springs to work on the police force and eventually was elected Sheriff. He purchased the old Turner house next door to Evie and kept an eye on her as she got on in years. It was Nate that found Evie after she passed away. He is in the process of renovating the old Turner house when he accidentally finds Old Man Turners journal. What he reads in there is a huge surprise. When these two butt heads is funny and just as in real life you route for them to work out their differences.
The twists and turns and past histories of the characters all play a part in whether or not they can make it work. Assumptions lead to misunderstandings and you don’t know what it will take to fix it. This was a really good read by this author. I can’t wait to see what she cooks up next.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.
We meet Abby as she moves across the country to live in her Aunt’s house she inherited as well as get away from her overbearing family. Imagine her surprise when she gets an unannounced visitor on night one accusing her of trespassing. One things are cleared up she finds out the hunky guy is her new neighbor as well as the Sheriff who also happens to own a sweet yet clumsy giant dog who is a real hoot I must say. What follows is a sweet romance that takes it’s time as they each have issues to deal with from the past. The work on his house together though making both it and then their fixer upper. Add in a touch of the past through an intriguing journal and it feels that two romance stories for the price of one. Perfect for fans of contemporary romance. I really liked it so I give it 4/5 stars.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.The characters are both relatable and interesting which kept me enthralled until the very last page. The settings are so vivid that you feel like you are standing right there watching everything unfold. You won’t regret picking up this story to read because it is beautifully written and engaging.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
If you love small town romance, then this is the book for you! Fixer Upper by Maggie Mae Gallagher is so well deserving of 5 stars or Teacups! You will definitely love this book, it is filled with romance, passion, and loads of laughs too! I also just loved Abby, she’s an amazing character and quite witty! This whole story is just wonderful and filled with some amazing characters, you are going to enjoy every word on the page!
This is is a fun, highly entertaining, engaging and heartwarming romantic journey filled with dangerous mystery, fun witty banter, intriguing charters and exciting passion….. was a great read from beginning to end. A great reading experience!
The Fixer-Upper is the first book in the Echo Springs series. Abby needs a break from her life and the pressures of her family, and traveling to Echo Springs to settle her aunt’s estate is the perfect excuse. Her neighbor is the sheriff, and while their first meeting might not have been the best, they’re drawn to each other, first for friendship and then to much more. But a relationship wasn’t in Abby’s plans and Nate is trying to woo Abby to stay. When the perfect offer comes, what will Abby pick to do with her future?
I really enjoyed reading this book, loved the sweet romance that built between Abby and Nate, and adored all of their ups and downs they needed to figure out. Abby is torn in half between wanting to fulfill her family’s expectations and wanting to be liked for exactly who she is. Echo Springs is the perfect location for her to figure out who she is and wants to be, and I loved watching this process for her. Nate is such a good guy, one with integrity, honesty, spirit, and definitely loved to have fun. They made a really great couple, full of passion, learning how to be in a relationship, figuring out trust and being a little afraid to fall in love. I loved how their first meeting went and loved how Nate’s dog helped bring them together at times! There’s intrigue and a bit of a mystery that happens within these pages that helped me flip the pages, but the emphasis was definitely on Abby and Nate! I am really looking forward to this series and to see what might come next for this small town!
A heartwarming, sweet story that you’ll fall in love with. The characters are fun to get to know as you read the story and you’ll instantly fall in love with them. I can’t wait for more from this series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
First book in a new series from an author I’ve not read before is always a bit daunting for me. Luckily, I absolutely loved this book! It’s full of charm and emotion, the characters are wonderful, there is a nice bit of drama and a fair amount of quirkiness thanks to side characters and an army of undead dolls. This is a charming and sweet story that occasionally veered into slightly saccharine for my taste, but a great read that I’m looking forward to continuing the series.
What I liked about this book:
Abby was wonderfully quirky, I laughed aloud many times.
Nate was a dream guy.
The sisters were great.
The story was interesting.
What I didn’t like:
It was slow moving, I had to push myself to keep reading.
They had a lot of sex but not much else.
Abby was not very assertive. She never has time to tell him anything?
Nate wasn’t much on emotion, there could have been more about his childhood.
Overall this is a good story worth reading if you don’t mind getting bogged down from time to time.
I received a free copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
Abby, the black sheep of the family has decided to move to her Aunt’s house that she inherited. She was going to focus and get her dissertation finished so she could graduate in the fall and move on.
What she didn’t expect is to encounter the Stud Muffin Sheriff who happens to be her neighbor. He just makes her weak in the knees and hot behind the neck.
Don’t miss clumsy Abby and how she slowly falls in love with the small town.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was agreat book to sink into with characters you can relate to as well as a story line that keeps you interest. I really liked Abby and totally got her not knowing what direction she wants her life to go in and Nate with his always trying to make thing right and keeping the Echo Springs safe. There are some good laughs, mysterious break ins, a cute dog and attraction that can’t be ignored when you add in the diaries it just makes the storyline so much sweeter so be ready to sit back and relax and enjoy the read and want to read the next book as soon as you finish this one.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Nate’s the sheriff in Echo Springs, Colorado. While he’s fixing up his old home, he finds a journal kept years ago by the previous owner, and some of those stories are told throughout this book. He love Echo Springs and his life there, but lately he’s been thinking that it’s time to do something about a family. Something beyond Rufus, his 150-lb Great Dane. Sometimes, he wonders if Taylor could be that family. Taylor inherits her aunt’s home in Echo Springs, and decides to spend time there to fix up the house and finish her doctorate. Sheriff Stud Muffin is her neighbor. The only thing scaring her is the creepy doll army currently residing in the parlor. Oh, also how much her ovaries betray her when Sheriff Stud Muffin is around. It’s obviously been way too long since she’s spent time with a man. This book was such a pleasure to read. It’s just laugh out loud funny much of the time. (Seriously, who needs a 100-ct box of condoms when they don’t know anyone in town?!?) This is my first read from this author, and I’m looking forward to the next book in this series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The Fixer Upper by Maggie Mae Gallagher is a wonderful story to read. This is book number one in this brand new start to a new series writen by a brand new author for me to read. I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves reading about romantic comedy, small town and contemporary romances in their stories.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.