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snoopydoo77's review against another edition
4.0
It is no secret by now that I’m a huge Cindi Madsen fan and read pretty much any book she writes and always look forward to her books.
I’m also a sucker for second chance romance so when this came up for review it was a no-brainer for me.
I enjoyed the characters, they both were well written , although Ivy at times seemed a bit more on the annoying site. But overall I enjoyed her and she was easy to relate to.
Jackson was also enjoyable and very swoon-worthy, who also happens to be a funny but yet a bit cocky. I really enjoyed his side of the book/
The side characters were as much part of the story as the main, but didn’t take away from the main couple but perfectly complemented the main storyline.
Overall. I really enjoyed this book. Some parts were a bit slower and a bit to predicable but still very fun to read. Another win for Cindi Madsen.
I rate it 4 ★
yodamom's review against another edition
4.0
When I read the blurb I developed grabby hands. I'm addicted to the home repair/flip/home shows on TV. A romance about a yin jang couple working to flip a house, woot woot !
Ivy has a bit of career dread going on, she found her college degree didn't get her where she wanted to be so she's bartending aka floating free and untethered. She has commitment phobia from years of watching her mother cling, burn and crash through many relationships. Her childhood was sadly more shattered than nurtured. When she finds that her mother's ex BFF is selling her broken down home, Ivy jumps on her dream of flipping a house and restoring some of her past. The house was one of the few places she had happy memories growing up. Everything is going well until reality smacks her upside the head and she finds that the TV shows lied about how long and how easy it was. Isn't that always the truth of any repair job ? She calls her BFF for moral support. She the BFF, sends her sexy contractor brother over. Great right ? Yeh, well the sexy brother happens to be her ex, and it ended badly. Drama, drama, drama, with this near hate thing happening between them. Ivy has a huge anti attachment thing, he has a want attachment thing, his family wants him to have a wife and babies thing, and there is the obvious attraction that steams the windows. Well it's tangled web they weave.
Ivy was a bit over the top with her rules, and lists. I wanted to shake her, she was being such an idiot.
This guy as hot, kind, and handy < wink >. Over looking her moments of stupidity I enjoyed this book, it made me smile, chuckle and swoon a bit. The characters are interesting and the story was fun to read. I appreciated the author's choice of endings for the characters it wasn't the obvious route, and that made it better. Bravo Ms. Madsen.
Ivy has a bit of career dread going on, she found her college degree didn't get her where she wanted to be so she's bartending aka floating free and untethered. She has commitment phobia from years of watching her mother cling, burn and crash through many relationships. Her childhood was sadly more shattered than nurtured. When she finds that her mother's ex BFF is selling her broken down home, Ivy jumps on her dream of flipping a house and restoring some of her past. The house was one of the few places she had happy memories growing up. Everything is going well until reality smacks her upside the head and she finds that the TV shows lied about how long and how easy it was. Isn't that always the truth of any repair job ? She calls her BFF for moral support. She the BFF, sends her sexy contractor brother over. Great right ? Yeh, well the sexy brother happens to be her ex, and it ended badly. Drama, drama, drama, with this near hate thing happening between them. Ivy has a huge anti attachment thing, he has a want attachment thing, his family wants him to have a wife and babies thing, and there is the obvious attraction that steams the windows. Well it's tangled web they weave.
Ivy was a bit over the top with her rules, and lists. I wanted to shake her, she was being such an idiot.
This guy as hot, kind, and handy < wink >. Over looking her moments of stupidity I enjoyed this book, it made me smile, chuckle and swoon a bit. The characters are interesting and the story was fun to read. I appreciated the author's choice of endings for the characters it wasn't the obvious route, and that made it better. Bravo Ms. Madsen.
mags_louise's review against another edition
3.0
**I was kindly provided with an ARC by Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review**
This was a good story, which for the most part I did enjoy. Although I must admit to being a little confused as to the premise of this story. As I wasn't sure if it was supposed to be a hate to love story or a second chance romance. And honestly it kind of got stuck somewhere in the middle.
As for the two main characters Jackson and Ivy. I thought they were likable. Certainly Jackson more so than Ivy who frustrated me a lot. Especially as she spends a lot of time trying to justify her life as a single girl and not believing in love or commitment. Even though I could understand where her issues came from. And I also didn't feel like there was much of a connection or any chemistry between the two of them either.
As for the actual story I found it extremely sweet, a little angsty at times. Yet overall it was really easy to read and I'm sure anyone whose read 12 Steps to Mr. Right will enjoy Nailed It too.
This was a good story, which for the most part I did enjoy. Although I must admit to being a little confused as to the premise of this story. As I wasn't sure if it was supposed to be a hate to love story or a second chance romance. And honestly it kind of got stuck somewhere in the middle.
As for the two main characters Jackson and Ivy. I thought they were likable. Certainly Jackson more so than Ivy who frustrated me a lot. Especially as she spends a lot of time trying to justify her life as a single girl and not believing in love or commitment. Even though I could understand where her issues came from. And I also didn't feel like there was much of a connection or any chemistry between the two of them either.
As for the actual story I found it extremely sweet, a little angsty at times. Yet overall it was really easy to read and I'm sure anyone whose read 12 Steps to Mr. Right will enjoy Nailed It too.
bananatricky's review against another edition
4.0
Ivy Clarke has a secret, she slept with her best friend Savanna's brother Jackson a while back - seven days of wonderful carnality until she realised she as developing feelings and broke it off. Brutal words were said on both sides and now their legendary sniping at each other has taken a nasty turn.
Ivy's mother Cora was the poster-child for women who only feel completed by a man. Ivy's childhood was a revolving door of new step-dads and dubious father figures as her mother latched on to one man after another. Why get a job when a man can provide? All too soon Cora would fall out of love, or the man would, and Ivy and her mother would be back with Cora's best friend Dixie, until she had the audacity to fall in love with one of Ivy's mother's cast-offs. Ivy has learned from her mother's failures and her own experience that the Clarke women can't do love, can't do commitment, can't do relationships. If her best friend Savanna is a relationship guru, Ivy is an anti-relationship guru.
When Ivy drives past Dixie's old house, the most constant 'home' in her childhood, and sees it up for sale she is hit by a wave of nostalgia and, in a fit of enthusiasm fuelled by to much HGTV, persuades Dixie to let her 'flip' the house by renovating and splitting the profits. Unfortunately, DIY isn't quite as simple as they make it look on TV and soon the house is looking worse than ever. Savanna calls Jackson behind Ivy's back and suddenly Ivy and Jackson are working together renovating the house, arguing about tiles and paint colours and, Ivy at least, resisting the chemistry that sparks between them.
I do love TV renovation programmes and I love a woman who has hardened her heart against love with a hero who's not afraid to keep trying to make connection. For me this was light-hearted, flirty, DIY heaven. I haven't read what I assume is the previous book in this series and TBH I didn't warm to Savanna so I'm not devastated, you certainly don't need to have read her story to enjoy this one.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return fro an honest review.
Bumped for release.
Ivy's mother Cora was the poster-child for women who only feel completed by a man. Ivy's childhood was a revolving door of new step-dads and dubious father figures as her mother latched on to one man after another. Why get a job when a man can provide? All too soon Cora would fall out of love, or the man would, and Ivy and her mother would be back with Cora's best friend Dixie, until she had the audacity to fall in love with one of Ivy's mother's cast-offs. Ivy has learned from her mother's failures and her own experience that the Clarke women can't do love, can't do commitment, can't do relationships. If her best friend Savanna is a relationship guru, Ivy is an anti-relationship guru.
When Ivy drives past Dixie's old house, the most constant 'home' in her childhood, and sees it up for sale she is hit by a wave of nostalgia and, in a fit of enthusiasm fuelled by to much HGTV, persuades Dixie to let her 'flip' the house by renovating and splitting the profits. Unfortunately, DIY isn't quite as simple as they make it look on TV and soon the house is looking worse than ever. Savanna calls Jackson behind Ivy's back and suddenly Ivy and Jackson are working together renovating the house, arguing about tiles and paint colours and, Ivy at least, resisting the chemistry that sparks between them.
I do love TV renovation programmes and I love a woman who has hardened her heart against love with a hero who's not afraid to keep trying to make connection. For me this was light-hearted, flirty, DIY heaven. I haven't read what I assume is the previous book in this series and TBH I didn't warm to Savanna so I'm not devastated, you certainly don't need to have read her story to enjoy this one.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return fro an honest review.
Bumped for release.
lenoreo's review against another edition
3.0
https://celebrityreaders.wordpress.com/2017/10/24/nailed-it-by-cindi-madsen/
3 stars -- I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.
Well bummer. This one just didn't grab me. I didn't dislike it, but it was solidly meh for me. Since this book was entirely from Ivy's POV, I found I didn't have as much to go on for Jackson. What I saw of him I definitely liked, but I have a feeling that I would have loved him even more if I'd had more time with him, or could have seen inside his head.
So really, all I had to go on was Ivy. And Ivy was NOT my kind of girl. I think I was supposed to empathize with her past and how that shaped her into the commitment-phobe she'd become. And it worked to a point, my heart did actually break for the childhood she had, and the way her mother treated her, and how those experiences shaped her. And if I'd seen some growth and change along the way, I might have tolerated it more. But I just didn't buy hers. I don't know why. Honestly, it's one of those things you just feel from reading, but can't explain why you didn't connect. It's like...I just couldn't connect with Ivy along the story. And when we got to the end, it felt a bit more about-face-like instead of a slow journey. I think it's because she clung so hard to her beliefs. And I just got tired of it.
Along those same lines, this book became a bit repetitive at times...or at least it felt that way to me. I felt like she would bring up the same incidences from her childhood to explain her relationship aversion. Honestly, I wanted to start skimming just to see when she would finally figure things out. I think I'm just not a patient reader. Especially when I find myself unable to fully empathize with a character.
The other little thing that tweaked me that I wasn't expecting was the level of steaminess...or something. I don't know how to categorize this. See, I'll read sweet/clean completely fade to black stories. And I'll read erotica. But I don't think I've read this Entangled imprint before, and this story was somewhere in between. Like I'd get the early sexy times part, but then when we got to the act it would just be glossed over. And not to sound like a sex-starved idiot, but it felt like a tease, because I honestly felt like it was going the more detailed way, and then just when we'd get to that part, blah blah blah, generic glossover, done. Seriously, this is the stupidest thing to complain about, but it just caught me off guard. There's nothing wrong with it whatsoever, it's just not my personal favourite. Or else I was just in a mood. Who knows with me.
OK, I feel like all I've done is complain. In general I really enjoyed the bantering and snarkiness between Ivy and Jackson... Sometimes it felt a bit more hostile than I was comfortable with, but other times it hit that tone just right where I was laughing my butt off, and I could really feel the chemistry between them. I also really enjoyed the relationship that Ivy had with Savannah, and how their friendship played a role. And again, what I saw of Jackson I really adored. I LOVED how he stuck by her, and waited out her stubbornness, and how he saw her...both her flaws and her strengths.
So yeah. Like I said, it wasn't a terrible book. I just didn't connect with it like I'd been hoping to. Ah well, not every book is going to be a match.
3 stars -- I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.
Well bummer. This one just didn't grab me. I didn't dislike it, but it was solidly meh for me. Since this book was entirely from Ivy's POV, I found I didn't have as much to go on for Jackson. What I saw of him I definitely liked, but I have a feeling that I would have loved him even more if I'd had more time with him, or could have seen inside his head.
So really, all I had to go on was Ivy. And Ivy was NOT my kind of girl. I think I was supposed to empathize with her past and how that shaped her into the commitment-phobe she'd become. And it worked to a point, my heart did actually break for the childhood she had, and the way her mother treated her, and how those experiences shaped her. And if I'd seen some growth and change along the way, I might have tolerated it more. But I just didn't buy hers. I don't know why. Honestly, it's one of those things you just feel from reading, but can't explain why you didn't connect. It's like...I just couldn't connect with Ivy along the story. And when we got to the end, it felt a bit more about-face-like instead of a slow journey. I think it's because she clung so hard to her beliefs. And I just got tired of it.
Along those same lines, this book became a bit repetitive at times...or at least it felt that way to me. I felt like she would bring up the same incidences from her childhood to explain her relationship aversion. Honestly, I wanted to start skimming just to see when she would finally figure things out. I think I'm just not a patient reader. Especially when I find myself unable to fully empathize with a character.
The other little thing that tweaked me that I wasn't expecting was the level of steaminess...or something. I don't know how to categorize this. See, I'll read sweet/clean completely fade to black stories. And I'll read erotica. But I don't think I've read this Entangled imprint before, and this story was somewhere in between. Like I'd get the early sexy times part, but then when we got to the act it would just be glossed over. And not to sound like a sex-starved idiot, but it felt like a tease, because I honestly felt like it was going the more detailed way, and then just when we'd get to that part, blah blah blah, generic glossover, done. Seriously, this is the stupidest thing to complain about, but it just caught me off guard. There's nothing wrong with it whatsoever, it's just not my personal favourite. Or else I was just in a mood. Who knows with me.
OK, I feel like all I've done is complain. In general I really enjoyed the bantering and snarkiness between Ivy and Jackson... Sometimes it felt a bit more hostile than I was comfortable with, but other times it hit that tone just right where I was laughing my butt off, and I could really feel the chemistry between them. I also really enjoyed the relationship that Ivy had with Savannah, and how their friendship played a role. And again, what I saw of Jackson I really adored. I LOVED how he stuck by her, and waited out her stubbornness, and how he saw her...both her flaws and her strengths.
So yeah. Like I said, it wasn't a terrible book. I just didn't connect with it like I'd been hoping to. Ah well, not every book is going to be a match.
reading_with_2_book_lovers's review against another edition
4.0
Cindi Madsen nailed it with this book.
Ivy and Jackson are an amazing couple.
I laughed and swooned so much during this read.
I volunteered to read a copy of this book
Ivy and Jackson are an amazing couple.
I laughed and swooned so much during this read.
I volunteered to read a copy of this book
katrinamarie's review against another edition
4.0
This review was originally posted on Bookish Things & More
I feel like I've been waiting on this book for a long time. I've been excited for a book about Ivy since I read 12 Steps to Mr. Right.
I love Ivy. She doesn't get serious with guys, and she doesn't do relationships, ever. She's seen what love can do to people and doesn't want to feel the heartache and pain that comes along with it.
Jackson could change that all. He's her best friend's brother, and when he's asked by Savannah to help out her BFF during a house renovation, he reluctantly agrees to it.
Jackson and Ivy are hysterical together. Their banter is witty, fun, and filled with innuendo. I loved seeing these two together. Jackson has his own meddling family that's ready for him to settle down.
I loved everything about this book. I loved the best friend's brother trope and seeing how they were going to work things out.
Madsen is always a go-to author for me. I know I'm going to get laughs, awkward moments, and connect with her characters.
Review
I feel like I've been waiting on this book for a long time. I've been excited for a book about Ivy since I read 12 Steps to Mr. Right.
I love Ivy. She doesn't get serious with guys, and she doesn't do relationships, ever. She's seen what love can do to people and doesn't want to feel the heartache and pain that comes along with it.
Jackson could change that all. He's her best friend's brother, and when he's asked by Savannah to help out her BFF during a house renovation, he reluctantly agrees to it.
Jackson and Ivy are hysterical together. Their banter is witty, fun, and filled with innuendo. I loved seeing these two together. Jackson has his own meddling family that's ready for him to settle down.
I loved everything about this book. I loved the best friend's brother trope and seeing how they were going to work things out.
Madsen is always a go-to author for me. I know I'm going to get laughs, awkward moments, and connect with her characters.
shobeteener's review against another edition
5.0
Ivy Clarke is kind of coasting through life having not really found what she wants to do with her life. She finds out that the only 'home' she knew growing up is for sale. She gets in over her head attempting to fix up the house to flip it. Her best friend, Savannah, send over her brother, Jackson to help her out.
These two are awesome together. Their banter is too great! Jackson knows just what to do and say to get Ivy fired up. You just know that underneath all that banter that there is chemistry. It's explosive!
Ivy doesn't do relationships. Her mother has fallen in and out of love with an ongoing string of men all through Ivy's life. Ivy has always been the grown up in their relationship. Always having to pick up the pieces when another one of her mother's relationships fails. Jackson does his best to show Ivy that love is real and that they can have a future together. Ivy doesn't trust love and ends up hurting Jackson in the process.
Her #1 rule now is-Love fully, no matter what. It's totally worth it. She now has prove it to Jackson and hope it's not too late.
I loved that my emotions were all over the place with this book. I felt sorry for Ivy for her lack of a childhood. I felt sorrow for Jackson when he was hurt by Ivy. I laughed several times during their banter. I absolutely loved this book! It is so well written that it grabbed my interest right from the start and kept me hooked all the way till the end.
These two are awesome together. Their banter is too great! Jackson knows just what to do and say to get Ivy fired up. You just know that underneath all that banter that there is chemistry. It's explosive!
Ivy doesn't do relationships. Her mother has fallen in and out of love with an ongoing string of men all through Ivy's life. Ivy has always been the grown up in their relationship. Always having to pick up the pieces when another one of her mother's relationships fails. Jackson does his best to show Ivy that love is real and that they can have a future together. Ivy doesn't trust love and ends up hurting Jackson in the process.
Her #1 rule now is-Love fully, no matter what. It's totally worth it. She now has prove it to Jackson and hope it's not too late.
I loved that my emotions were all over the place with this book. I felt sorry for Ivy for her lack of a childhood. I felt sorrow for Jackson when he was hurt by Ivy. I laughed several times during their banter. I absolutely loved this book! It is so well written that it grabbed my interest right from the start and kept me hooked all the way till the end.
dani_reviews's review against another edition
4.0
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
When I signed up for this tour, I didn't realise at the time that this was a follow-up to 12 Steps to Mr. Right, one of the first books I reviewed on Love in a time of Feminism. If it had dawned on me then, I would have been even more eager to get started, as I knew while reading Savannah and Linc's story that there was a little something something going on between Savannah's brother and best friend. I remember hoping there would be a sequel featuring them, and voila. Cindi Madsen delivered.
The chemistry was delicious in this. Home renovation lent itself to numerous innuendos, and Cindi took full advantage. There were plenty of sexy scenes, as well as just funny, banterous ones. (Is that a word?) And while Ivy was battling with her inner relationship demons, Jackson was so sure and stable and wonderful. He gave her time but also tough love. My only issue with their relationship was that the ending was a bit too much for me.
One thing I want to draw particular attention to is how much I loved the focus on Ivy's career. Yes, she was pushing for a change and driven to find something rewarding long-term; that's not unusual for books these days. What is unusual is for the main character and her best friend to talk about something other than men, and yet Savannah and Ivy did have conversations about work on top of the conversations about Ivy's mystery man. Also great was that Jackson was also supportive and actually rather helpful. A++ for the heroine not giving up a piece of herself for the sake of love!
All in all, a great sequel to a great book. I recommend both! (Especially since both have lists that I could relate to.)
This review was originally posted on Love in a time of Feminism
When I signed up for this tour, I didn't realise at the time that this was a follow-up to 12 Steps to Mr. Right, one of the first books I reviewed on Love in a time of Feminism. If it had dawned on me then, I would have been even more eager to get started, as I knew while reading Savannah and Linc's story that there was a little something something going on between Savannah's brother and best friend. I remember hoping there would be a sequel featuring them, and voila. Cindi Madsen delivered.
The chemistry was delicious in this. Home renovation lent itself to numerous innuendos, and Cindi took full advantage. There were plenty of sexy scenes, as well as just funny, banterous ones. (Is that a word?) And while Ivy was battling with her inner relationship demons, Jackson was so sure and stable and wonderful. He gave her time but also tough love. My only issue with their relationship was that the ending was a bit too much for me.
One thing I want to draw particular attention to is how much I loved the focus on Ivy's career. Yes, she was pushing for a change and driven to find something rewarding long-term; that's not unusual for books these days. What is unusual is for the main character and her best friend to talk about something other than men, and yet Savannah and Ivy did have conversations about work on top of the conversations about Ivy's mystery man. Also great was that Jackson was also supportive and actually rather helpful. A++ for the heroine not giving up a piece of herself for the sake of love!
All in all, a great sequel to a great book. I recommend both! (Especially since both have lists that I could relate to.)
This review was originally posted on Love in a time of Feminism
beckymmoe's review against another edition
4.0
Ivy and Jackson's story--finally!
In many ways, this book was absolutely worth the wait--I loved Ivy and Jackson together. When they were getting along and even when they weren't, it was a lot of fun to read their back-and-forth banter. (Jackson's morning coffee messages were some of my favorite bits! So adorable.) Ivy had some major issues to work through, though (and Jackson has the patience of a saint, fortunately) which made the romance of this book move at about the same pace as Savannah and Linc's ([b:12 Steps to Mr. Right|31428210|12 Steps to Mr. Right|Cindi Madsen|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1471991608s/31428210.jpg|52121715]); in other words, agonizingly slow at times, because did I mention Ivy's issues? Once again. I really think being able to see Jackson's side of things would have alleviated some of the frustration of reading--over and over again--about how Ivy just doesn't believe in love all the while she's (wait for it!) falling in love with Jackson.
So, yeah. Parts toward the middle had me feeling a bit stabby toward our heroine, but like in Savannah's book, a fabulous ending made up for so much of what had come before. I almost don't remember the aggravating bits ;)
Plus, Black Widow and Loki. And a reading nook not always used for reading. There's pretty much nothing else I need. Well, maybe some man glitter...
Rating: 4 stars / B+
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
In many ways, this book was absolutely worth the wait--I loved Ivy and Jackson together. When they were getting along and even when they weren't, it was a lot of fun to read their back-and-forth banter. (Jackson's morning coffee messages were some of my favorite bits! So adorable.) Ivy had some major issues to work through, though (and Jackson has the patience of a saint, fortunately) which made the romance of this book move at about the same pace as Savannah and Linc's ([b:12 Steps to Mr. Right|31428210|12 Steps to Mr. Right|Cindi Madsen|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1471991608s/31428210.jpg|52121715]); in other words, agonizingly slow at times, because did I mention Ivy's issues? Once again. I really think being able to see Jackson's side of things would have alleviated some of the frustration of reading--over and over again--about how Ivy just doesn't believe in love all the while she's (wait for it!) falling in love with Jackson.
So, yeah. Parts toward the middle had me feeling a bit stabby toward our heroine, but like in Savannah's book, a fabulous ending made up for so much of what had come before. I almost don't remember the aggravating bits ;)
Plus, Black Widow and Loki. And a reading nook not always used for reading. There's pretty much nothing else I need. Well, maybe some man glitter...
Rating: 4 stars / B+
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.