Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: The Misfits of Copper County
SERIES: Copper County
AUTHOR: May Archer
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 311 pages
RELEASE DATE: May 13, 2025
BLURB:
When you burn down your contractor’s home… and kind of, accidentally invite him to move into yours.
First things first, that fire was a fluke. A tragic, completely unintentional byproduct of high emotions, an ill-timed backyard grilling… and one very shirtless man.
I only meant to confront Brewer—my maddeningly stoic contractor—about a few small concerns with the renovation of my historic money pit.
Instead, I got distracted by his muscles (who grills shirtless in February, I ask you?), I tripped over my words—and my feet—and… well, my carefully-ordered life went up in flames.
Suddenly, Brewer’s living in my attic, his dainty teacups are in my cabinet, his slobbery dog is all up in my business, and I find myself renovating my whole future just as surely as Brewer’s renovating my home.
Copper County was never my endgame. Once I finish writing my article, I’m off on my next assignment. But between late night conversations, sledgehammer therapy sessions, and solving the Jam Cupboard Mystery (it’s a real thing, I promise), I’m starting to think we’re building something neither of us expected.
Because the more I learn about Brewer, the more I realize I’m not the only misfit in Copper County. And that maybe it’s time I stop chasing other people’s truths… and start writing my own.
REVIEW:
Note: While the “setting” of this story will be familiar to readers of Love in O’Leary and Sunday Brothers series, it works as a standalone. I do think, however, that if you haven’t read those series yet, this story will likely convince you to dive right in 😉 The town and familiar characters from those books and previous books in this series show up here as well.
What another lovely small town romance from May Archer. A fan since The Gift, I absolutely can’t resist these stories of humor and heart set in this rural hamlet. Ms. Archer is a master of the small town dynamic and the way small town folks look out for each other even if it seems like they are in each other’s business a bit too much 😉
Brewer and Delaney shouldn’t work on paper at all. And they definitely start out at odds with each other. They are opposites in many ways.
Delaney moving to Copper County when his sister Tam has a high risk pregnancy and he wants to spend more time with his family. He’s always been the odd man out with his family of hockey players. He’s not built like a hockey player and in fact he’s the farthest thing from an athlete. He’s a writer and he’s got his arms around what could be an important story. He’s hired Brewer to renovate his house. To HIS plans. Too bad his plans don’t take into account the ACTUAL house he’s bought.
Brewer knows houses and contracting and renovation. He’s got a client who won’t listen and insists on things that either won’t work in the house he’s bought or will be a stylistic disaster. They have butted heads repeatedly. But when Delaney shows up and inadvertently burns down his home, well things get a bit strange when Delaney offers for Brewer to stay with him at said house with his huge dog until things get sorted with the insurance etc. The dog makes other accommodations difficult. Oh and Delaney’s fear of dogs is a bit of a problem too.
The close proximity of Brewer and Delaney in the same small space though proves problematic. They both are hiding a simmering attraction that is making living together difficult. Then after a couple of drinks – separately – well things combust. And both are afraid of the consequences – mostly Brewer who doesn’t want his work reputation to suffer. Delaney thinks he’s not worth it anyway so things go back to being a bit weird.
Both men need some outside intervention to get them to see what’s right in front of them 😉 Between Delaney’s family and Brewer’s friends and family, they slowly sort of inch towards something?? Can Delaney really live in a small town? Can Brewer really let someone all the way in after the way he has been betrayed by his family? He’s not willing to risk his reputation and his business and his grandfather’s legacy.
I loved so much about this book! The dog, the surprise discovery at Delaney’s house (which is a whole nother romance on its own), the familiar characters and setting all make this an easily accessible story that pulled me in immediately. I loved their opposites attract vibe and the way they slowly learned to trust each other. Delaney’s realization that he maybe COULD be happy in a small town despite his quirks and differences from the rest of this siblings was really well written. This was truly a satisfying HEA for two men who came to the conclusion that they were much better together 🙂 Highly recommended.
RATING: 
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