Reviewed by Carissa
TITLE: Fixing the Hole
AUTHOR: Katherine Halle
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 80 pages
BLURB:
Heavy rains and strong winds slammed an uprooted tree through Steve Crowell’s roof, leaving a gaping hole to match the one in his heart. After his ex left him for a younger man, Steve’s not sure he’s ready to handle another disaster. His best friend highly recommended the contractor, but the man’s already late, and when he shows up with his music thumping, Steve isn’t impressed—until Riley steps out of his pickup truck. Personable, gorgeous Riley talks a mile a minute, which Steve finds both ridiculously endearing and terrifying. Piecing together a heart isn’t as easy as fixing a roof, but Riley might just be the right man for the job.
REVIEW:
Steve Crowell was quite fond of the tree shading the house outside his office window…that is, until it decides to widen said window by a combination of gravity, stormy winds, and just plain bad damn luck. Luckily Steve’s best friend has the number of a contractor that’s quick and cheap. And really really hot. Not that Steve’s bestie warned him about that last part–or that Riley talks like it is an olympic sport and he’s aiming for the gold medal.
No matter how much Steve lectures himself about the dangers of falling for a younger guy (again) he can’t take his eyes off the vibrant man who has invaded his home. And it seems like Riley isn’t exactly adverse to his advances. Maybe. For all he knows, Steve could just be another creepy older dude lusting after the hot contractor who just wants to do his job. But he hopes he might just be reading the right thing into those coffee mornings.
After nearly an hour of ‘Call Me Maybe’ on repeat on my ipod, I can honestly say that this book may be the thing that finally breaks me. I don’t even like that song, and yet, here I am, unable to stop listening. Granted, my version is a slightly modified (read: better) version, but still…I think I’m going crazy. And it is ALL THIS BOOK’S FAULT!!
Not that I’m laying blame on anyone if I snap and run down the street naked yelling THE BRITISH ARE COMING!! (Manfully resists making a cum joke here, cause I be a classy and shit.)
This book was extremely sweet and fluffy. Not a lot of sexing going on, but some Grade-A pining makes up for all the sexy-times we do not in fact get to enjoy. And despite the fact that Riley’s song of choice has led me to near breaking point, I found his bouncy fast-talking and persistence a nice foil to Steve’s hesitance and staidness. I might also have a not-so-secret love of stories where there is a 15+ age gap between the MCs. Especially when the younger guys knows what he is doing and has to push the hot older dude into realizing just how awesome they would be together.
Other than Riley’s horrible taste in music (which is apparently infectious) I had a lot of fun reading this. I don’t get a lot of sweet in the stories I read, so this was a nice change of pace. And the pacing actually works out really well here. I kinda expected this to be little more than porn, but instead it was a real story that I believed in because how slow it went. I’d love to read more from these guys, since it was only a short story and we left them off way too soon for my liking.
If you are looking for something a little fluffy, but still a great short story, this one might be right up your alley. Just be warned, the music here is dangerous.
RATING: 
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