About the Book:
Title: Maggie Moves On
Author: Lucy Score
Page Length: 416
Publication Date: June 21, 2022
Publisher: Forever Pub.
Synopsis: Can these opposites turn up the heat… without burning down the house?
House-flipping sensation and YouTube star Maggie Nichols can’t wait to dig into her next challenge. Arriving in tiny Kinship, Idaho, with only a cot and a coffeemaker, Maggie is prepared to restore a crumbling Victorian mansion in four months or less. She has her to-do lists, her blueprints, and her team. What she doesn’t have is time for sexy, laid-back landscaper Silas Wright.
The man takes flirtation to a whole new level. And he does it shirtless…sometimes pants-less. He and his service school-dropout dog are impressively persistent. But she’s not interested in putting down roots. Not when fans tune in to watch her travel the country turning dilapidated houses into dream homes. A short-term fling on the other hand could fit nicely into her calendar. After all, Maggie remembers what fun is like. Vaguely.
As their summer gets downright steamy, Silas manages to demolish the emotional walls she’s spent years building, sending Maggie into a panic. He’s the wrench in her carefully constructed plans. With the end of the project looming, she has a decision to make. But how can she stay when her entire career is built on moving on?
LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository
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My Review:
I loved Maggie Moves On, a story about a house flipper/YouTube star who falls in love with a hunky, small-town landscaper. Maggie goes through so much over the course of the novel, and I really enjoyed her journey. She puts a lot of pressure on herself and, very driven, gives herself little time for friends and even less for her estranged family. However, being in a charming, small town like Kinship and connecting with so many people gives Maggie a sense of belonging she never experienced before, and she begins to question some of her life choices. She also reconnects with some people in her past and learns that not everything was what it seemed. It is an intriguing and satisfying sub-plot that also changes Maggie deeply. It’s interesting to see how she deals with her deep-seated fears and insecurities, as well as her desire to belong to something bigger than herself, while still trying to maintain her identity and independence.
The home renovation show that Maggie stars in is a great backdrop for the story. Maggie has a special connection to the house that she’s remodeling, and it definitely brings up some things from her past. It also propels her to ponder her future and what she wants in life. I almost feel like the house’s demolition and subsequent reconstruction parallel Maggie’s emotional growth throughout the story. Plus, the renovations they do sound incredible, and the author’s description of the work they do creates such a vivid image of this beautiful work in progress.
One of my favorite characters in the story is Kevin. Silas’s dog is the perfect addition to the story, and he’s so adorable, as is his hunky owner. Silas is funny and charming, and the way he almost instantly knows Maggie is the one for him is super romantic. I love that he wears his heart on his sleeve and isn’t afraid to show his feelings. Silas and Maggie’s banter is fantastic, and the way he teases and flirts with Maggie is relentless and endearing. And Silas and Maggie’s romance is fantastic!! I loved both characters and adored their love story. They have so much chemistry, and Silas’s overtures are super swoon-worthy.
The secondary characters are as fantastic as Maggie and Silas. Silas has an amazing family, and the small-town feel of the community is lovely. I like that Maggie finds so many people in Kinship to connect with. From Silas’s sisters to an at-risk teen to the cranky old man with a connection to Maggie’s house, she finds so much more than a house renovation in Kinship, Ohio. And Silas’s moms are the best! They’re so smart and fun, and the way they and the rest of the family welcome all into their fold is fantastic.
There’s so much to love about this fun and heartwarming romance! A well-paced and layered story, the book has dynamic characters and strong messages about following your dreams, finding your people, forgiveness, and opening your heart to love, and there’s even a little mystery added in that’s intriguing! And the romances (yes, there’s a secondary romance that’s super sweet too!) are wonderful. I can’t wait to read more by Lucy Score and am so grateful to Forever Publishing for providing me with a copy of the book. All opinions are my own.
Rating:
Favorite Parts:
- The romance.
- The found family.
- The secondary characters.
- The messages.
Favorite Lines:
“I don’t need to look like a hero if it makes someone else look like a victim.”
“Bad things can still happen even if no one has any bad intentions,”
WHERE IS THE ADVENTURE IN FINDING ONESELF IF ONE USES SOMEONE ELSE’S MAP?
Recommendations:
This is a great book for readers who enjoy rom-coms or contemporary romance.
This sounds more and more amazing with each review for it that I read. It sounds SO GOOD and I have a feeling I’m definitely gonna love it. Great review, Julie!
Thanks, Dini! I think you’ll enjoy it. 🙂
I’ve never heard of this book before, but it’s so up my alley, and the ratings are amazing! Thank you for putting it on my radar 😁
You’re so welcome. I hope you enjoy it when you read it!
Loved your review! For the life of me, I cannot remember any characters with the last name Bowman that she named her kiddo after. Do you remember?
Remember the gold coin on the mantle?
Bowman Potter was one of the men who robbed the stagecoach that had those coins. Ava Campbeel was his granddaughter, and she went and found a bunch of the gold years later. So, I think they named their kids after both the grandfather and granddaughter. 🙂