The Second Chance Fixer Upper

Renovation Romance Sweet RomCom #2

by Grace Worthington

Single moms don’t get second chances, right?In Hallmark movies, yes.

In reality, doubtful.

Especially when you have a five-year-old interrupting your “alone time” with the man of your dreams.

Put your hand up if you’ve ever moved to a new place and found a wild animal loose in your attic, and your former high school sweetheart shows up, looking just as incredibly handsome as the day he kissed you?

*Puts hand up.* Just me?

Then I probably don’t need to tell you that all I can think about is how I’d like to kiss him right now. . . and that is a big NOPE.

Because I’m a single mom, and my whole life is in a state of major renovation right now. Especially since I bought a major fixer upper in the beach town where I grew up and moved in with my daughter.

I can’t fall in love. And I definitely don’t do relationships.

Not when I’m trying to wrangle a five-year-old into a pair of unicorn tights while getting ready to teach science at the local high school.

There’s no way Jack and I will get a second chance at love. He’s a confirmed bachelor who will never settle down. And I’ve got more baggage than a jumbo jet can hold.

We’re just two friends who once were in love.

Except he’s bringing back all the intense feelings I had when we were together.

Now if someone could convince my heart of how impossible this is, I’d be able to focus on my fixer upper.

And forget that I’m the one who has a heart that needs fixing up . . . by the only man who’s ever had a hold on it.The Second Chance Fixer Upper brings together a single mom with her high school sweetheart in the midst of home renovation fun! It's a hilarious and heart warming love story that's perfect for the reader who loves clean romcom books.

Genres: Romance, Second Chance, Clean Romance, Audiobook, Fiction, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance

274 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 21, 2023

About the author

Grace Worthington is a three-time award-winning author who lives and breathes sweet closed door romcoms.
A former musical theatre gal and playwright, she brings that same energy, heart, and comedic timing to her stories, crafting witty banter and lovable characters you can’t help but root for.
She holds a master’s degree in psychology and human development and has also completed graduate studies in creative writing. Her inspiration comes from charming coastal towns and classic romcoms from the ’80s and ’90s.
When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two kids.

Reviews

[Lissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love Jack & Maeve's heartachingly beautiful, sweet, funny, caring, loving, swoony story!!

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I never knew ice cream could set off every spark in my body, lighting my heart up like a sparkler on fire.”

The Second Chance Fixer Upper is the second novel in the series but can be read alone. The story is of Maeve, a divorced single mom and Jack, the single-work driven man. They were best friends in high school and gave dating a chance but things didn’t work out. The story takes place year later and they end up doors down from each other. Their end goals slowly change throughout the story as they figure out what happiness really means.

I absolutely loved this story! A second chance at love is always one of my favorite tropes. The back story of their high school friendship makes every detail in the story even better. You see the love he’s had for her in every moment. The story also has a lot of cute moments with Maeve’s daughter Violet. She’s a precious little girl and you can’t help but fall in love with her sweet innocence. I think every mom (single or not) can connect with our FMC. As their fake dating-dating practice goes on, you see Jack find every way to make her feel comfortable in who she is and helps Maeve love herself again. This story is wonderful and you can’t help but cheer for their love the whole way through!

🩷closed door romance
🩷fake dating-dating practice
🩷second chance romance
🩷single mom
🩷dual pov
🩷childhood crush
🩷small town

[Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reader’s Notes:

– this is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone

– this is told from Maeve & Jack’s points of view

– Jack has a strained relationship with his father

– Jack’s stepmother & stepbrother are demeaning, underhanded, & determined to get what they want above all else

– Maeve is divorced; her ex (Dex) cheated on her (before the divorce) & continually cancels on time with his daughter

Review:

I loved this story so much! I read the first book back when it came out, and I remember really liking Jack’s character and wondering what exactly was going to happen with him and the new girl that was at the party. I loved Maeve right from the get-go with her love for her daughter and her desire to make a perfect life for her. Violet was an adorable (& even quite blunt/candid with no filter) child and I loved that she was willing to accept anyone into her sphere and rope them into whatever she wanted to do. I loved that Jack and Maeve had a past history as being the best of friends who then dated. It was awesome to have a few times where they’d think back to a past moment together. I also loved that Jack had a desire to care for Maeve and Violet, no matter what was going on in his life, and would sometimes push back what other people considered to be important in favor of caring for them (which Jack deemed most important). Some of my favorite scenes/moments in this book included: princess teatime, a fashion show, a power outage, the grand gesture, dating/flirting coaching, the friends hangout/party, and fixing up Maeve’s house.

Summary:

Maeve moved back to her hometown after the divorce to try and make a perfect life for Violet. But Violet can’t have a perfect life without a father figure. Maeve still hopes that her ex will come to his senses and take them both back so they can be the family Maeve always hoped for, but he hasn’t given her any indication that he’s interested in getting back together & any attempt at finding someone else has ended in a drastic failure for her. So when her friend Jack suggests that they fake date so that he can re-teach Maeve how to flirt/be comfortable on a date & to make her ex jealous, Maeve is all in to make her perfect family dreams come true. But as their dates/sessions go on, Maeve isn’t sure that her ex is really the man she wants anymore. But would Jack, a man who isn’t looking to settle down, be the better option for her and her daughter?

Jack always regretted breaking up with Maeve, but doesn’t feel like he should get back together with her either at this point in his life. With his desire to make his father proud by becoming the best option for the new CEO of the family company , he doesn’t have enough time to dedicate to both work and a family. Despite this, Jack finds himself drawn to Maeve and her daughter Violet and is pushing off his work to help them in any way he can. But with the deadline to his father’s announcement of the new CEO looming, Jack is getting antsy that his best might not be enough. He has to look like he’s on track to have a family as well or his stepbrother will have a leg up on him. So when Jack discovers that Maeve wants her ex back, he suggests something that will benefit them both: fake dating. That way her ex can get jealous and he will look like a family man. If only his heart wouldn’t get caught up with the one woman not interested in a relationship with him…

[Max&Mariella · Rating 2 out of 5]

Readable

I got through the book but MFC comes off slightly pathetic and MMC is somehow almost perfect.
Violet was cute, not sure why the ex had to be such a loser - this just made MDC more pathetic.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this sweet and swoony, second chance at love story! While this novel had plenty of cute romantic comedy moments, it also explored the hearts of two characters who had both experienced disappointments and heartache from people who should have loved them unconditionally.

I loved that Jack and Maeve had previously been high school friends turned sweethearts. Maeve had been dealt a real blow to her self esteem by her cheating ex husband and Jack was the perfect person to help her see her true worth. He was also such a caring man to her daughter, Violet.

I loved this romance from start to finish and there is even a sweet epilogue that can be downloaded from the author’s website. This is the first book that I have read by this author, but not the last!

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but I also purchased my own print copy. All opinions are my own.

You can read this review on my blog:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...

[Shauna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every guy I know named Jack, fictional or otherwise seems to be swoony. This story is no different. Maeve is struggling with life and Jack steps in to save the attic. I mean the squirrels. And other stuff. 😂

There is fake dating. Or is it? And plenty of sweet moments that come from unpredictable situations. Jack is the most patient thoughtful person.

Maeve really struggles and I wanted to give her a solid shake. Though I felt for her. The author does a good job with her arc and that made me happy. The last half of the books had me flipping pages to the happiest of endings.

Everyone loves a DIY job, especially if the heart is what needs fixing. See what happens when love gets a second chance, but the clock is ticking.

[hazel (taylor’s version)🎀💗 · Rating 4 out of 5]

soo cute srsly would have been five stars but in like one chapter the mmc keeps saying he hates taylor swift and they should listen to real music like 🧍🏼‍♀️

[SAMANTHA WILLIAMS · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐

[Kristie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 Very cute!

[Crazy4more · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.50 stars

So cute...with her little girl!

[Paige Pearson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't love this one like I did the others in the series, and my main problem was the female lead. She spends most of the book wanting to get her ex back while the male lead goes out of his way for her, then she gets mad at him when he's offered a job out of state. I just felt like he deserved better.

[Melissa’s Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love finding new clean romcom writers! The Second Chance Fixer Upper by Grace Worthington was such a fun read I easily devoured in a day. From the first hilarious meet-cute, I was hooked. Throw in a darling five year old, a handsome previous high school crush, a nasty ex-husband, bargains & fake dating, and you have the makings of a terrific read.

Maeve is a newly divorced single mom and chemistry teacher who recently moved back home to be near her parents. After watching reality tv renovation shows, she buys a fixer upper believing she’ll be able to do the work herself, but, it’s more than she bargained for. When her handsome old high school flame shows up right in time to rescue her from squirrels, the once thought dormant stirrings of attraction begin to resurface. Jack immediately offers to help her with her project along with helping her get back at her inconsiderate ex.

Jack’s had a thing for Maeve ever since high school, but his goals didn’t align with hers. He’s in competition with his stepbrother for the CEO position of his father’s company and is too busy to settle down. But, when Maeve and her sweet little daughter Violet come back to town, he immediately falls for them both. He and Maeve enter into mutually beneficial fake dating arrangement. Jack’ll help Maeve get over her fear of dating again, and convince her ex he made the biggest mistake of his life. Maeve will help Jack show his father he’s settling down and CEO material. But can they prevent each other from getting hurt when the fake relationship ends?

Jack was such a sweetheart! He was so perfect for Maeve, and Violet too. I loved the way he fit right in from the start and took care of Violet just as much as he did Maeve. I loved how he learned what was most important and his own self worth, right along with Maeve. I enjoyed how he helped Maeve gain her confidence back and holy cow, those kisses were amazing!

Maeve was so relatable. I appreciated her trying to do what she thought was best for Violet. I loved the way she gained courage and strength as the story progresses. Violet is a cute little precocious child and you never know what she’ll say next. As you can imagine, this led to some pretty hilarious situations.

All in all, a fun, funny, sweet romcom that’s hard to put down. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own and voluntarily given. 4 1/2 raised to 5.

CW: Character mistakenly consumes alcohol and becomes drunk. Mild innuendo. Only passionate kissing.

[Cassondra Perea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

After learning of her husband’s infidelity, Maeve Baxter, suddenly found herself starting over. As a thirty year old, single-mother trying to renovate a fixer upper she was convinced love was no longer in her cards. However, life had other plans. Maeve unexpectedly is reunited with, Jack Oliver, a former high school friend/ boyfriend, when she stumbles upon a renovation roadblock.

The Second Chance Fixer Upper is the second book in The Renovation Romance Series written by Grace Worthington. While it is apart of a series, Worthington wrote each book as a standalone. Therefore, readers have the option to begin reading the series in any order they choose. Worthington does a phenomenal job of including character and plot information necessary for her readers to enjoy the story.

I loved my time reading this sweet, clean romance. I am a huge fan of friends-to-lovers stories and was excited to learn the second book in The Renovation Romance Series features this trope! But Worthington doesn’t stop there. This is also a second chance romance featuring a single parent who finds love through fake dating!!!

The Second Chance Fixer Upper is an ideal book for those who want the satisfaction of a happy ending, but aren’t opposed the story going deeper. The title might seem straight forward but it is serves as metaphor for Maeve’s life. Heartbroken by her husband’s betrayal, she looses all confidence in her herself. Jack serves as a guide, helping her see that she is not a broken woman undeserving of love. In fact, with his help, she slowly chips away at the negative voice in her head until she sees her own strength.

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, The Second Chance Fixer Upper (and entire Renovation Romance Series) would make the perfect book to get you in the holiday mood!!!

I am a huge fan of Grace Worthington’s writing style and love supporting her. She not only writes the sweetest stories, but is one of the sweetest author’s I have had the pleasure of meeting through bookstagram.

*Special thanks to Grace for letting me be apart of her ARC team. I was honored to receive this physical copy of her book in exchange for my honest opinion. I also appreciate her being so understanding when I got sick for over a month and had to push my review way back! She is the absolute best!!!!

[Tammy Lunsford - Escape to Books By Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had all of my favorite things: a second chance romance, a sassy little 5 year old, an awesome mother, a nasty ex-husband, a hunky friend/high school crush, a wicked stepmother and plenty of laughs as well as sweet moments. This is book #2 in the Renovation Romance Series, and the hits just keep coming. Kudos to Grace Worthington. I hope to see more books in this series.
This book was absolutely charming and adorable.

Maeve is raising her 5 year old daughter, Violet, practically by herself. Her snotty ex-husband, Dex, is always coming up with excuses as to why he cannot come get Violet. Maeve is a high school Chemistry teacher who has also taken on the big task of a renovating a fixer upper. She soon finds that renovating a home is not as easy as it looks on television.

Jack Oliver broke Maeve's heart in high school. Now he is standing in her doorway with Violet, who has escaped from the house, without Maeve's knowledge. To make matters even worse for Maeve, she is standing in her house with her bathrobe on (obviously she was not expecting company). Jack is still his charming self and offers to help her out with some of the renovations as he has just recently finished a renovation himself. Jack and Maeve deserve a second chance, but they have some serious roadblocks and some serious history that needs to be settled first.

This was a delightful book with a cast of characters that you will love and some you will hate. My favorite character was Violet. This little imp was full of life, and as per the kid code, you never knew what might come out of her mouth. I found myself laughing out loud so many times. There is plenty of humor all throughout this book. This is a great book if you need a little pick me up. This would also make a great movie. If you enjoy a clean romantic comedy, you will devour this book.

Thank you to the author for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kaci Bonar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book personifies its title in two ways: first, for the house that FMC Maeve moves into and second, for Maeve and Jack (MMC) to get another chance at a relationship!  They were the closest of friends in high school, dated for a while their senior year but then driven apart by circumstances!  While Jack fell into numerous meaningless relationships, Maeve fell for Dex- they got married and gave birth to Violet (they are now divorced and coparenting)!  Maeve has moved back home to lean on the strong support system of her parents, an old friend in Annie and soon to be reconnection with Jack (at the beginning of the book)!  As the book progresses, Jack and Maeve rekindle their friendship through him helping fix her house up and help her sort through her singleness and teaching her how to get back out there, despite her still somewhat lingering feelings for her ex!  The pair agree to fake date to benefit the other, Maeve gets to show her ex what he’s missing when he cheated on her and Jack gets to prove to his dad and step family that he is the rightful successor to his father’s company!  The more you read, the more protagonists realize that the feelings they had in their past for each other still might be present, but neither is completely able to admit it aloud!  Meanwhile, Violet is realizing how much of an absentee father Dex is as Jack steps up to be there for her (including donning a princess tiara for tea parties)!  The ‘will they or won’t they’ keeps you hanging on for the whole book!  So many maybe moments keep you desiring more and cause you to melt more than the ice cream in the middle of the storm!  I adored this book from start to finish and can’t wait to add it to my permanent collection!  5⭐️/5
 
All opinions are my own and was gifted with an ARC copy! 

[RedReviews4You Susan-Dara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so happy when I finished reading The Neighbor Renovation, Book One in The Renovation Romance, that I was curious about how this second book would measure up to that book’s five star reading experience. I knew this author has always had a wonderful take on how to use humor to highlight aspects of the world we live in.  And, when I finished this book, it was confirmed that she had written another Tour De Force in this book.  Again, this was the sexiest sweet romance I have read, even though nothing other than a few kisses happened on the page, I felt the full force and power of the romance between Maeve and Jack.  I loved the play on the backstory where Jack’s toxic family caused him to sacrifice his relationship with Maeve when they were younger, and I felt the full charge of their second chance to reunite throughout this book.  The dual POV design of the book was masterfully used to allow me to fall into the whirlwind of activity and emotions that both characters were going through,  while adding just the right level of organization so that I could keep each voice clear and follow the development and conflicting emotions.  The addition of Maeve’s five year old daughter Violet and Jack’s dog George was the perfect counterpoint to the drama that filled this book, and each time one or both were on the page you could feel the connection and desire for both Jack and Maeve to get their life together renewed. I know that you will be as caught up in the details of this sweet and real romantic comedy and, like me, I’m sure you’ll be marking your calendar for the third book in the Renovation Romance Series!

[Betsy Hale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grace Worthington is the author of The Second Chance Fixer Upper which is the second book in the Renovation Romance Sweet Romcom Series. This book could be read even if you haven’t read the first, The Neighbor Renovation. This book was a delightful read about Jack and Maeve. Maeve is a single mom to Violet, a friendly outgoing five-year-old into superheroes, the science teacher at the high school and she just moved into a fixer-upper. After watching numerous home improvement shows, she thought she would save money by fixing up her new home and it brought her back to the town she grew up in and where her parents lived.
Jack lives just down the street. He is in finance and works long hours to try and gain his father’s attention to be named the CEO when his father retires. It’s a position that he has dreamed of, but he also has other interests, like rescuing animals. That is how he found out that Maeve had moved back. Violet saw him running by the house and called for help because there was a squirrel in their attic. Jack was surprised when he went in and saw his high school sweetheart, Maeve. Maeve was just as surprised because she was not dressed to meet anyone, especially Jack who was still as handsome as she remembered.
This is definitely a book that will bring a smile to your face as you read about the renovations to Maeve and Violet’s house and to their former romance, giving them both a second chance at love. I highly recommend this book as it is a clean romantic comedy.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. #TheSecondChanceFixerUpper #GraceWorthington #RenovationRomanceSweetRomcomSeries

[Anne-Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness! This book was absolutely amazing! One of the best RomCom I have read in a long time! My first book by Grace Worthington and I hope it won't be my last. I loved every minute reading this story.

You can read the synopsis to find out what the book is about but it is a clean RomCom with a fake dating scenario. I won't be giving away the story because I don't believe in doing it. What I do cover is the characters and how well the book is written.

The story had me laughing out loud and cheering for Jack to win Maeve over! Did Jack get the girl? You will have to read the book to find out. You won't be sorry the author has a wonderful way pulling you into the book and you don't want to put the book down. Grace Worthington has a special way of putting characters together that are from 2 different social worlds and making it work. Fake dating at its finest. This is the second book in the Fixer Upper series and it's the first one I have read. I did get the first book from a retailer for free, so I plan on going back to read that one as well. That is how much I enjoyed this book and the authors writing.

The characters are amazing. I found them complex with side stories but they are all likable. Well except for Maeve's ex....he was a jerk! And can we talk about Maeve's daughter, Violet, who is 5 and such a sweetheart! She really made the story and you couldn't help but fall in love with her. The way she handles Jack at such a young age, I laughed so hard! And Jack who wouldn't want a man in their life like Jack. Maeve just has to see how special he is...will she? I'm telling you, you have to read the book so go to your online retailer, local bookstore or your library and get this book. You won't regret it.

I may have given "The Second Chance Fixer Upper" a 5 star rating but in my mind it deserves a gazillion stars! Absolutely loved it. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

[Rebekah Isert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I SO enjoyed this book. I am a sucker for rom-coms, and this is no exception. There’s just something about picking up a book and expecting a feel good, hilarious romp that just leaves you in a good mood, and it’s made up for the fact that it’s a Monday, haha.

I think that if I had to pick the one thing that made this book stand out to me is Maeve’s relationship with herself and how it grows throughout the book. There are a lot of books that have insecure main characters, and even insecure characters after the dissolution of a relationship, but I really liked how the author didn’t make it simple. It wasn’t “I’m insecure because I’m single”, it was “I’m insecure, because something I thought was secure, wasn’t” and “I’m insecure because my trust was broken, and I’m still trying to figure out who is trustworthy.” This book acknowledges the fact that breakups are messy, and there’s some closure that you don’t get, and that’s okay, and that you can still find wholeness in the midst of the mess.

Interestingly, our two main characters, Jack and Maeve, really go through a lot of the same issues, but in different facets of their lives, and it really helps drive a lot of the character arcs home.

The serious stuff aside, I ALSO loved the romance, and especially the kissing scenes. They’re great. Ms. Worthington has ALWAYS been good at that, and this is no exception. Overall, this was an incredibly fun read. I really enjoyed the time that I spent with the characters, and heartily recommend it.

I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

“People who say children are perfectly sweet creatures hav never been awakened at three in the morning by a small finger poking them in the arm.” Maeve is an amazing single mom who is raising Violet, a sweet and curious daughter. She’s moved back to her hometown and has bought a run down house to make it a home for herself and her daughter. She’s watched countless hours of DIY TV remodeling shows, so she’s confident that she can do the same for her place. But, can she? It’s good thing her former boyfriend, Jack, knows a thing or two about remodeling because she’s going to need it!

I admired Maeve because even though she is terrified to start over, she is determined to overcome her fears. She is selfless when it comes to taking care of Violet. She is a very relatable character with her feelings of needing to try and fix things in her relationship with Dex.

Jack is an amazing man. He is always there for Maeve. He jumps in to help her with her house, play with Violet, and even brings Maeve a barf bag just in case she needs it for her nervous stomach. He has always wanted to win the approval of his father and has worked endlessly to step into the CEO of the family’s business. Maeve helps him to see that his worth is so much more than running a company. He was the perfect match for Maeve and Violet.

Things to love:
Attacking squirrel
Violet and her 5 year old comments
Friends to HEA
Airport megaphone announcement

I received a complimentary copy of the book. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.

[Nicole Cousin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never found a second chance book that didn't make me angry at some point. I always get mad at the idiotic things they still keep bottled up after years have passed. GET OVER IT? I constantly scream.

BUT THIS ONE DID NOT MAKE ME FEEL THIS WAY!!! *mind-blown* i loved this book, it was extremely funny and so real. While I am not a mom, and couldn't relate to a lot of her struggles that came with it, Grace did an amazing job that made me empathize with her, and so many struggles that my mom friends constantly go through.

I was so frustrated with something that I don't wanna spoil, but at the same time, I think it can be a very real struggle for a woman when facing divorce and my heart broke for her. I wasn't frustrated because it was stupid, but because I had gotten to care for Maeve so much that I just wanted her to see how she deserved so much more than what she wanted to settle for.

Enter Jack, sweet lovable Jack. This man. I just admire and respect the heck out of him. The way he felt so responsible for his family and loyalty even to a father who never showed him the love and respect he deserve. I also wanted to shake him and hug him, but his struggles were just real. And to some extent )because my dad is the best) I can relate to doing what you want and feeling the family responsibility.

I have so much to say, but give this book a chance, you will laugh, you will cry, your heart will ache but the HEA is worth it.

[Gail Raes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this romantic story. It was light and easy reading and instantly drew me in.

There were well written characters and an interesting plot. Jack and Maeve were high school sweethearts, fast forward a dozen or so years. Maeve now has an adorable 5-year-old, Violet, and an ex-husband, Dex, who cheated on her and they divorced.

For some insane reason Maeve wants Dex back. She convinces her friend, Jack, to play her new boyfriend in an attempt to make her ex jealous. Jack realizes he is still in love with Maeve but fears telling her will ruin their friendship. What could possibly go wrong with this scenario?

I loved the dialogue between the characters, it felt real and genuine and often funny. One of my favorite quotes was Jack asking Maeve, “Do you know CPR, because you just took my breath away.”
Who wouldn’t fall for a handsome guy like Jack, he was almost perfect in every way and so kind and sweet to Maeve and her daughter, Violet. He even dressed up as Batman for Violet’s superhero birthday party.

This is the second book in the Renovation Romance Sweet RomCom Series that I’ve read. Book 1 was The Neighbor Renovation which I enjoyed too; I liked The Second Chance Fixer Upper even better. I’m leaving an honest review and received an ARC copy. I can't wait to read Book 3 in this series!

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this sweet second chance, single mom story. There were plenty of sweet moments, and some pretty funny ones too. And let’s not forget the swoony moments as well. There were some great ones. Maeve moved back to her hometown with her young daughter, Violet, and a friendship rekindled with her high school friend (and ex-boyfriend), Jack, over home repair and renovation projects on her fixer-upper house. They began a fake dating relationship to help Maeve overcome anxiety about dating again and to make her ex-husband jealous, plus to help Jack seem “settled” to get a promotion. Jack was such a sweet and helpful man, and his relationship with Violet was adorable. His care for his mom was great, and a solid legitimate reason to put so much into a job that made him unhappy. Maeve was relatable in many ways, and fun and interesting. She was an optimistic soul. “I still believe that life can be beautiful even when it’s broken.” Her obsession with reuniting with her ex made me want to talk some sense into her, like her friend tried to do. But of course she figured things out eventually. “‘Happiness starts with the right person. Not a perfect life.’” While this is the second book in the series, and characters carryover, this is easily read as a standalone. This is a closed door story with no harsh language.

[Carlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series.....I read #3 then #1 so I'm all caught up with love stories about this great group of friends.

This is Jack and Maeve's story. They knew and had a crush on each other in high school but went their separate ways when Jack knew his father and stepmother did not approve of Maeve. She married another guy Dex, he left her for another woman so divorced Maeve. She has returned to her childhood town with her little daughter Violet, has a teaching job any the local high school and buys a fixer upper house to work on. And she doesn't want any relationships with any other man hoping she can win Dex back. She has enlisted the help of Jack, now her neighbor, to help her get over her dating phobia. This was such a funny story, as they pretended to be dating saying they were just friends, but neither could acknowledge the sparks that were flying in both directions!

I think I enjoyed Jack's relationship with Violet as much as his with Maeve. He was the opposite kind of father than Dex ever was. Note I also read the bonus epilogue that pulled the story together and tied a red ribbon around it...definitely worth the read!

I hope #4 in the series doesn't take too long as there are plenty more members of the garage band group still single!

[Teddy G · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up because I know a lot of people will enjoy this one.
Second chance
Slow burn clean romance
Super overly caring MMC
Awkward, self-conscious MFC
Adorable dog and little girl that both deserved more time! They saved the book for me!

I really wanted to like this one because I liked the idea for it.
I just personally did not connect with the main characters. Maeve is a teacher and a mom two of the most resourceful things and it seemed like she couldn’t find her head with both hands.
I just wanted to see more grit from her.
Dex was a total loser so it didn’t really make sense that Maeve didn’t know how to do anything because I’m pretty sure Dex wasn’t doing it all.
Let’s be real in those situations Maeve had been a single mom for a lot longer than when they split up.
I know several reviews mention the ice cream scene but it was not romantic for me because the whole time I’m thinking…
Who eats ice cream when the power goes out?
First rule of a power outage DONT OPEN the fridge/freezer.
It also seemed really weird Jack and Maeve didn’t keep in touch but she’s letting him sleep on the sofa with her daughter and babysit?
Again I think a lot of people will enjoy this quick read.

[Kristee Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Because hugging Jack is like an instant antianxiety pill. The stress just disappears, and I can breathe again.”

Back in high school, Jack and Maeve went from best friends to lovers to Jack breaking Maeve’s heart.

Years later, after a divorce with a nasty ex, Maeve is back in her hometown. And guess who she keeps running in to!
Old feelings keep surfacing back but Maeve doesn’t have time for that. Been there, done that! She needs to focus on her daughter and her fixer upper. Also, they are still in the same boat they were in high school. Their goals still haven’t really changed much, it still doesn’t align. Add on Jack’s parents, especially his Stepmother who doesn’t like Maeve for him.

They basically picked up where they left off with their friendship but the attraction is still definitely there. Little touches and some lingering looks. This might be a closed door romance but there’s definitely some steam!!

Little Miss Violet is hilarious (love the no filter! 😆) and definitely adorable so it’s no surprise Jack instantly connects with her.

This second chance romance is full of love, laughter and drama and is a must read!

[Randi Sampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Second-Chance Fixer Upper is the second book in the Renovation Romance series. While I adored the first book as well and would highly recommend it anyway--- this one definitely reads just fine as a standalone if you haven't read the first yet.

Oh my goodness, this book was so sweet! I love a good second chance romance anyway, but throw in some home renovation and fake dating into the mix? Yes, please! I couldn't help but be drawn into Jack and Maeve's story. There were so many sweet and swoonworthy moments that had me looking forward to their happily ever after. But it was definitely heavy on the 'com' part of the RomCom with so many that kept me laughing too. That grand gesture moment? Well, I won't give anything away... but I loved it and was definitely laughing out loud!! If you're a fan of HGTV and enjoy a sweet love story, this is definitely one not to be missed!

The Second Chance Fixer Upper is a closed-door romance, with nothing beyond chemistry filled kisses and no language.

**I received an ARC for consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Raechel Lenore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a lover of romcoms, I didn't hesitate to pick up this sweet sounding story with the cute cover! 
The Second Chance Fixer Upper definitely fits the bill for a fun, cute, and truly enjoyable romcom, and it was a delight to read. The novel was my first by this author, but I would definitely like to go back and read the book preceding this one - I'm quite curious about Grant and Ella's story!The main characters of this novel, Maeve and Jack, and little Violet, were each charming and so fun to get to know. Jack is the perfect hero, and I love how well he complimented Maeve, and vise versa. Maeve's daughter Violet was so sweet, and I loved her involvement in the story too.
As Jack helps Maeve get back into the dating scene in attempt to get over her phobia of dating, mishaps and laughs occur many times, making the read all that more fun.
Lighthearted, it was easy to cheer for these characters and call for a happy ending!

Thanks to the author and JustReadTours for providing the copy of this book. I was not required to give a review, and all thoughts expressed are my own.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's always a happy day when I get to read a romcom book! Add in some DIY, and it's even better!

I loved this one by Grace Worthington. Maeve and her daughter, Violet, made me smile. I loved the way they were together. I loved the crazy problems they were having with their house. And I loved that Jack always seemed to be right there, especially when Maeve would have rather he wasn't there.

I loved that this was a second chance romance for Jack and Maeve. Jack's brain, the way he was attuned to Maeve was so sweet, what woman wouldn't love that he remembered all kinds of her preferences, no matter how small. And he was there to be a fake boyfriend, when she needed him the most.

I loved that Maeve learned some things from this one. She learned that she could recover from the loss of her ex, and that it was okay to move on. Honestly, that's something we all need to learn sometimes.

This book is such a cute romcom. You won't regret picking it up!

I was sent a copy of The Second Chance Fixer Upper as a gift from the author. All opinions are my own.

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute story, and I loved how it started out. The premise and characters were interesting. But I thought the writing was a bit rough in places, like overly formal dialogue, and conversations that seemed to be missing pieces. I really liked Maeve's approach of a scientific formula for a relationship, and that both she and Jack were supposed to benefit from their fake relationship, so it made sense for both of them! But why didn't Maeve know what a good relationship looked like, since her parents were so happily married -why did she end up being a doormat even before Dex cheated? I thought Jack's character was developed well though, and I liked that he finally stood up for himself, and worked on his relationship with his dad. There were a lot of funny parts and the airport scene was great! Overall, a fun, quick read.

Content: clean.


I received this book free from the publisher/author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.