There are certain elements that cause me to one-click a romance. Obviously hockey, but I’m extra picky about my hockey romances. I also like: Canadian settings, Asian characters, makeovers, love triangles, and cats. Obviously, I’m the only one who puts all these things in one book (cough, Hockey Is My Boyfriend, cough) but if I find at least two of these elements in one book, I am an extremely happy camper.
So imagine my great joy when I read the blurb for Rosanna Leo’s A Reluctant Attraction. It’s the final book in her excellent Handymen series, a trilogy about three hunky brothers who star in a home renovation show. Each book centers on a single renovation project and they’re all set around Toronto. So, already we have:
Canadian setting
Home makeover
Now throw in the site of this renovation project: a cat sanctuary.
Many cats!!!
Ms. Leo, I am all in.
On to A Reluctant Attraction. Who doesn’t like a man with a tool belt, in this case: times three? As someone who can fix nothing in the house, I am very attracted to a man who knows his way around power tools. Imagine your favourite HGTV star walking into your house in all his muscular glory and you’ll know how our heroine, Claire Brewer, feels. The hero in this book is Nick Zorn, the youngest brother, who specializes in outdoor construction. Nick is the youngest and usually the most carefree of the brothers, but is currently in a tough place both professionally and romantically. However, he’s immediately interested in Claire. She’s a young widow who owns and manages the run-down cat sanctuary.
Their romance develops in stops and starts, since both have personal issues that hold them back from committing fully. But they handle their problems in a mature way through discussion and mutual support. Their sexual relationship is particularly steamy because Nick’s personal issue is erectile dysfunction, so their compatibility in the bedroom is key. Not only are the sex scenes hot but they feel meaningful.
I enjoy the way stereotypes are juggled in this book. Nick is a towering hunk, but he’s afraid of tiny cats. His public humiliation around ED causes him to question his own sexual prowess, but ultimately he becomes quite dominant in their sex play—to Claire’s delight.
While everyone loves a good before-and-after, makeovers have a deeper meaning in fiction. When a heroine experiences a makeover, she gets to try on a new self or reveal a part of her personality that’s been hidden. Then the hero can see her in a new light. Or you can flip the sex roles around and have a man experience the same rebirth.
In this case, Claire is reluctant to let go of the past and make changes. Even though the cat sanctuary building is in rough shape, she sees it as an extension of her late husband, Arthur. When Claire finally decides to move on, she begins by freeing herself of her old life and Arthur’s possessions. Clutter clearing is another element I love in books (and TV shows) because it’s so satisfying to see. And Claire’s ability to let go of things—including her resistance to change—is what leads to the makeover of the building. The final reveal of the new cat sanctuary shows it to be both beautiful and functional. A good future for the stray cats seems certain, as well as a happy ending for Nick and Claire.
I enjoyed all three books in this series. In case you have book-clicking checklists too, here’s what you can expect from the Handymen trilogy: mature characters who behave like adults, yummy food scenes, sweet & considerate heroes, heroines searching for work fulfilment, steamy sex, and tool belts.
Buy A Reluctant Attraction here.