Rosanna Leo

FROM POPULAR ROMANCE AUTHOR ROSANNA LEO Book one in the Handymen series &– a newly expanded and edited version! He tears down walls for a living. She'll tear down the ones around his heart. Contractor Michael Zorn is one of the leading men on the successful home improvement show Handymen. He is also revered for an act of bravery he'd rather forget. The press may hound him, but all he really wants is to help couples realize their home renovation dreams. One of these couples is Emily Daniels and her fiancé, Trent. When Emily inherits an old home in Toronto's Little Italy, she sees it as the perfect location for her small business. The house needs a lot of work, but her appearance on the Handymen show means Michael and his contractor brothers will help her renovate at a reasonable cost. When Michael and Emily meet, their chemistry is intense. Emily wants to stay true to Trent, but her fiancé has done nothing but disappoint her. Michael recognizes Trent for what he is—a cheater. And it isn't long before he breaks Emily's heart. At first, Michael only intends to comfort Emily, but their friendship soon flares into passion. Unfortunately, Michael has secrets and wounds of his own, ones he has never trusted to another. Emily is determined to break down his walls, but can she trust her heart to a man who can't trust himself?

A Good Man

Briar's Reviews

A Good Man by Rosanna Leo is one hot romance, my goodness!

I came into this book expecting a nice romance with a contractor and some drama. Then I got reading it and it was WAY better than I expected. Like, WAY BETTER. Can we bold an italicize and every other formatting thing we can do for those two words? 

So, I better get to explaining why so it all makes sense:

First of all, this book is based in Canada. It gives me Property Brothers vibes with a group of brothers making a television show out of renovating houses. 

Side note: If you have watched Property Brothers, you 100% have a crush on one of them. This book makes so much sense. This book was the Johnathan story and OMG did it make me feel like I could just throw Johnathan in there as a fan fiction and OMG this book was meant for me.

Back to the review and away from Briar's fingerling: So we meet Michael who's one of the brothers on this show. He's the contractor, is super hot, and has a dark past (which we learn about later). His crew are all helping Emily renovate a house to make it suitable for her organic soup business. If that doesn't sound like half of the people that go on these property shows then I don't know what is. But, she's engaged to Trent. Trent is the biggest jerk on the face of the planet: he's manipulative, mean, and to throw in more alliterations, all around awful. I don't think anyone likes Trent except himself. 

Michael and Emily hit it off and we can tell they are totally made for each other. They are supportive of each other and have heart eyes. Buuuut, their exes are both hanging around and making this story packed full of drama. As we go along, the book gets hot and heavy for Michael and Emily (honestly, if you want some really sexy scenes, grab this book). The romance doesn't really start until about halfway through the book, which I can also respect. I like romances where they aren't suddenly in love and ta da, finished! This book took it's time to establish a relationship and make it feel real. 

It's a fantastic romance, in short. I really loved Michael and Emily's dynamic. Buuuut, there's more. There's always more, isn't there?

This book does a great job of having mental health awareness apart of it. PTSD is featured and it's taken seriously. It's not a joke in anyway. I can respect this book for making a romance with realistic aspects of life in it, not make it a joke but also not make the book feel depressing for addressing it. Rosanna Leo did an incredible job.

Overall, this book is what I wanted in a romance. It was a great escape during these crazy times. The book feels real yet also is a magical wonderland to escape from the insanity of reality.

Best quote of the book: "Seize the day. Seize the man!" I am totally gonna use that one now!

Five out of five stars!

I received a free copy of this book from the author, Rosanna Leo, in exchange of an honest review.

b.andherbooks

Content warning for depiction of gun violence leading to the death of a non-primary character and threat to children, discussion of PTSD, realistic descriptions of symptoms of PTSD, cheating (not between main characters), and some physical violence.

Imagine if the sexy carpenter on the host of your favorite HGTV show fell for YOU while renovating your house. Sound good? This book will be perfect for you!

Michael and his brothers are the stars, the brains, and the brawn on a popular Canadian house renovating TV show. Their latest project, flipping an old Victorian mansion into a shop/kitchen for a home chef about to launch her own soup business, is the perfect distraction for Michael who is battling PTSD symptoms. 

Michael is a hero to everyone except himself for his role in stopping a man who shot and killed his wife from also taking the lives of the children in her home daycare center. Michael is haunted by what he didn't do, which is save her life.

But, as the project commences, Michael has another little problem, namely he's utterly smitten with Emily, the homeowner and chef on this latest project. She's witty, funny, and beautiful, but also engaged. To a jerk.

For Emily, having the Knox brother's flip her nonna's home is a dream come true, the perfect jump start to her new business. Too bad her out-of-work chef fiancee is being completely unsupportive and absentee, plus host and head contractor Michael is very, very distracting.

As the demolition commences, Emily and Michael become fast friends, and more as Emily realizes Trent is not the one for her. But, just as this new romance begins, Michael's refusal to address his mental health struggles threaten to derail everything, especially as Emily offers to get him help.

While this story includes difficult topics, the author does a lovely job of making them fit within the story (not just included for shock), and never uses sex as a magical cure all. Watching Michael face his demons with support from Emily is truly wonderful.