Designing Happily Ever After

Home Sweet Home Romance #1

by Ellie Hall

I’m an admitted Type-A go-getter. If there are goes to be gotten, I’m the one to get them.

Or something like that.

Don’t get me started on how my knack for interior design is a cover-up for my internal struggle—anxiety and I are old frenemies. I probably shouldn’t think about my dysfunctional family, either. Everyone has one of those, right? And lastly, we won’t discuss how I’m officially in my forties and not exactly where I expected to be in life.

Where is that, you wonder? On the set of the new House and Landscaping TV show Designed to Last. It was the brainchild of my besties and me.

#Ladybosses

Except there’s one problem and his name is Buck McDermott. The Viking-like blacksmith who I have to work with in order to transform this dump isn’t going to last much longer if he doesn’t obey the @DomesticDiva aka, me, Christina Abernathy (I even have an official blue checkmark on my social media).

My project. My rules.

There’s just one problem. He wants to rule this roost. Isn’t that adorable? The six-foot-five, red-haired, and bearded beast thinks he can best me? Bwah ha ha. Plus, he’s too much like my ex.

Because there’s one thing I know for sure, even though Designed to Last is the name of my show, relationships don’t. There’s no such thing as a happily ever after. Well, he does do this one cute thing with his lips when he’s concentrating on hot molten metal.

But we won’t talk about that either...or our secrets. Nope.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Clean Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Fiction, Rom Com, Ebooks

266 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 15, 2022

About the author

Ellie Hall is a USA Today bestselling author. If only that meant she could wear a tiara and get away with it. ;) She loves puppies, books, and the ocean. Writing sweet romance with lots of firsts and fizzy feels gives her joy. Oh, and chocolate chip cookies are her fave. Ellie believes in dreaming big, working hard, and lazy Sunday afternoons spent with her family and dog in gratitude for God’s grace.

♥

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/EllieHallNL
Website: http://www.elliehallauthor.com
Facebook: http://www/facebook.com/elliehallauthor
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/elliehallauthor

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Series and suggested reading order:

The Only Us Sweet Billionaire Series
•these billionaires have everything, but will they find love...?•

1. Only a Date with a Billionaire
2. Only a Kiss with a Billionaire
3. Only a Night with a Billionaire
4. Only Forever with a Billionaire
5. Only Love with a Billionaire
6. Only Christmas with the Billionaire
7. Only New Year with the Billionaire

♥

The Hawkins Family Clean Romance Series

•five brothers, torn apart and the women who help put them back together...•

1. Second Chance in Hawk Ridge Hollow

2. Finding Forever in Hawk Ridge Hollow

3. Resort Getaway with a Bodyguard

4. Going Home to Hawk Ridge Hollow

5. Christmas in Hawk Ridge Hollow

♥

The Blue Bay Beach Reads Romance Series

•a small-town restaurant, a dating dare, and happily ever afters...•

1. Summer with the Marine

2. Summer with the Rock Star

3. Summer with the Billionaire

4. Summer with the Cowboy

5. Summer with the Carpenter

6. Summer with the Doctor

♥

Ritchie Ranch Clean Cowboy Romance Series

•Cowboy hats & kisses with small-town charm•

1. Rustling the Cowboy’s Heart

2. Lassoing the Cowboy’s Heart

3. Trusting the Cowboy’s Heart

4. Kissing the Christmas Cowboy

5. Loving the Cowboy’s Heart

6. Charming the Cowboy’s Heart

7. Saving the Cowboy’s Heart

8. Wrangling the Cowboy’s Heart

♥

Falling into Happily Ever After Rom Com

• Sweet, heartwarming & uplifting romantic comedy

1. An Unwanted Love Story

2. An Unexpected Love Story

3. An Unlikely Love Story

4. An Accidental Love Story

5. An Impossible Love Story

6. An Unconventional Christmas Love Story

♥

Forever Marriage Match

• Five friends have to find true love or else...romcom

1. Dare to Love My Grumpy Boss

2. Dare to Love the Guy Next Door

3. Dare to Love My Fake Husband

4. Dare to Love the Guy I Hate

5. Dare to Love My Best Friend

♥

Home Sweet Home Small Town Romantic Comedy Series

Mr. & Mrs. Fix-It Find Love

Designing Happily Ever After

The DIY Kissing Project

The True Romance Renovation

Extreme Heart Makeover

Building What's Meant to Be

♥

The Costa Brothers Cozy Christmas Comfort Romance Series

Tommy & Merry and the 12 Days of Christmas

Bruno & Gloria and the 5 Golden Rings

Luca & Ivy and the 4 Calling Birds

Gio & Joy and the 3 French Hens

Paulo & Noella and the 2 Turtle Doves

Nico & Hope and the Partridge in the Pear Tree

♥

The Love List Series

The Swoon List

The Not Love List

The Crush List

The Kiss List

The Naughty or Nice List

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Love, Laughs, and Mystery in Coco Key

The Romance Situation

The Romance Fiasco

The Romance Game

The Romance Gambit

The Christmas Romance Wish

♥

On the Hunt for Love

The Grump and the Girl Next Door

The Bitter Heir and the Beauty

The Secret Son and the Sweetheart

The Ex Best Friend and the Fake Fiancé

The Best Friend’s Brother and the Brain

Select titles are available in audiobook, paperback, hardcover, and large print formats. Happy reading!♥

Reviews

[Sarah | Kerosene.Lit · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enemies-to-lovers romance complete with a Georgian mansion remodel, secret passageways, and a growly Viking beefcake with a beard. It was absolutely delightful!

The ladybosses—Christina, Louella Belle, Mae, and Camellia—are the creators of a home improvement show, Designed to Last. Airing soon with no onsite contractor, they request the help from Buck McDermott to tackle their seasonal project ... much to Christina's displeasure.

The fiery banter and slow burn! Oh my. It was everything I crave in a romance. Dealing with a lot of childhood trauma that has developed into perfectionism, interior designer and social media influencer Christina is truly struggling underneath the surface. Lone wolf with a heart of gold, Buck was the hero of my dreams! It was heartwarming to see him peak out of his comfort zone to provide the love Christina has never received.

This was super fast paced and had a quirky humour that is totally my style. The entire premise of this series has me incredibly excited, with each book following a different character and remodelling project. I can't wait for more!

I received a copy from the author in exchange for review

[Suzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Steam Level: 🔥 (kissing only)
Trigger Warning: death of a loved one, broken engagement, addiction, body image issues

Christina Abernathy's personal life has always been a hot mess. After 1.5 failed marriages, she's decided she doesn't need a man in her life as long as she focuses on staying in shape, keeping up with her Domestic Diva social media account, and filming a home renovation show with her fellow ladybosses. When her friends decide to hire Buck McDermott as the show's contractor, Christina finds herself failing to stick to her No Man Plan thanks to his rugged good looks and teasing comments. But Buck has his own walls that need to be broken down when it comes to love. Can these two overcome their past and find that elusive happily ever after?

Christina and Buck's story was so much fun! I loved the chemistry between these two from the moment they met. Buck is meant to be a grumpy, reclusive character, but I found him to be sweet, endearing, and a bit of a flirt. I loved how he was protective of Christina and wanted to make sure she knew how beautiful and amazing she was in his eyes. Christina was really relatable for me. I too am a perfectionist at times and could relate to her social media addiction and her struggle with having a balanced diet. I also really liked that there was a bit of a mystery involved with the home they were renovating, and it provided for some great moments between Buck and Christina. The conflict at the end did seem a little forced and was resolved a bit too easily, but at that point I really didn't care because I just wanted to see these two characters happy. I'm looking forward to reading more of this series as we get to know Christina's ladyboss friends better, and I loved how the ending of this book set the stage for the next story.

Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Kansas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full disclosure: I almost DNF’d this one after reading the first 10 chapters. I’m glad I finished it, because it was not entirely without merit - it just didn’t do it for me.

I loved the premise and I loved Buck! Christina… not so much. For the first half of this book my chief complaint was that Christina, a forty something, often behaved more like a twenty something. Again, I’m glad I pressed on because those moments became fewer and farther between in the second half of the book. While I struggled to connect with Christina as an individual, I was still able to enjoy her interactions with Buck and completely root for them as a couple.

All in all, this was a fast, easy read (I finished it in one day). The story was cute, the couple was sweet, and maybe a younger reader would find the main female character to be more relatable.
🤷🏻‍♀️

Thank you to the author, Ellie Hall, for providing me with a free digital ARC.

[Chelsea Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to @elliehallauthor for the ARC of this to read!!

This was such a light, fluffy romcom and was a nice and quick read for me!

You follow Christina who, along with her fellow “ladybosses” star in a tv show to renovate an old mansion in the town of Butterbury. There, Christina meets Buck who signs on to be the contractor for the project. She initially isn’t interested as she has been burned in past relationships, and is dealing with issues she has faced with her mother. After working together throughout the renovation however, she cannot deny her attraction to Buck, who fell for her from the beginning.

There was some mystery elements to this that I really liked in regards to Christina and Buck’s pasts and the history of the house they renovate. It kept me wanting to find out what was going to happen! I also loved the banter between Christina and her friends!

Overall, this was a cute and light romcom that I really enjoyed! I would definitely recommend if you are a fan of fluffy, closed door romances! 🤩

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really excited to read this book, but unfortunately it did not land for me. That's not to say that it won't be a great, quick read for someone else, but I had a hard time getting invested in the characters and found the plot to have a bit too much going on which led to a lack of really feeling developed and connected. It has potential and I see the writer's potential.
The characters were to be in their forties, however; I felt like they did not act their age and had some moments of immaturity that did not match. They had a great chemistry and I did enjoy the back and forth with them, but overall, I was more frustrated with them, particularly Christina, and just did not resonate with the story.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not What I Was Looking For . . .

The ladybosses, consisting of Christina, Louella Belle, Mae, and Camellia, have a home improvement show and are in need of a contractor. They asked for Buck McDermott to assist with their next project. Buck is a big Viking-like blacksmith with a contractor’s license. Christina tries to boss him around and tell him what to do, but he doesn’t cave in to her wishes.

I thought Christina’s attitude was awful and she irritated me rather than providing humor in the story. I did like Buck, but have no idea what he saw in Christina. Unfortunately, this book was not what I was hoping for. I am not saying it was bad, just that it was not what I expected.

[Michelle | PurelyBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

To start, when I pick up a book, I always try to keep in mind to enjoy the book for what it is. Sometimes, you just need to read a fluffy, light book to make your day a little brighter and that is exactly what this book does.

#DesigningHappilyEverAfter was oh so sweet and oh so cute. It is perfect to read when you want something quick, easy, and guaranteed to be enjoyable. The friendship between the #ladybosses is adorable and the support they provide each other is admirable.

While I didn’t relate to Christina, the main character, very much since our personalities are a bit different, I did find her to be a strong character. I admired how she developed, learned life lessons, and grew as a person.

I was excited to find out this book is actually part of a series and that the next one will be about her friend Mae. I am super excited to read her story because I relate to her more and can’t wait to read how the farmhouse turns out.

You should definitely give this book (and series) a try when you need an instant pick me up. It won’t disappoint.

[Kaele’s Krazy Book Obsession · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

What a cute read. I absolutely love fixer-upper type shows so this was very fun. Seeing Christina gain confidence in herself was awesome. The mystery of the house they were remodeling was something fun that I wasn’t expecting. I’m interested to see how Mae’s story goes when it comes out!


Thank you Ellie Hall and Bookfunnel for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sweet romantic comedy that was a heartwarming read. It's well written and holds your attention from the first page until the last. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michaela (Reading in the Heartland) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah! I loved this! The characters and the banter and the humor and the tension and the mystery. The hidden parts and the return friends and location. Couldn’t put it down.

[Phaedra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun little rom-com

[Lissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Buck & Christina's feisty, heartachingly beautiful, sweet, loving, swoony story!

[bibliovirgo · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

A home and landscaping renovation show with an enemies to lovers trope — this storyline was cute and light, with strong character growth.

I did find that I couldn’t connect with the characters, but I think that is just a personal thing… and I also found the nicknames to be too repetitive.

Christina, a forty-something year old perfectionist, is part of a team of women creating a new home and landscaping TV show… and Buck, is the 6 foot 5, red-haired grumpy alpha male who has to work with her to make this show happen.

The attraction between them was prevalent from the start with snarky banter and even though their guards were up, you could tell they were trying to work through their pasts. Once those issues were resolved, their bond became stronger and romance blossomed.

If you’re looking for a swoony, cute, slow burn, pick this one up!

Thank you to the author for an advanced copy of her book. This book will be released on April 15, 2022.

[Alison Ramsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buck and Christine's story is funny (I love the internal monologue debates), with a bit of a love story mystery as well as painful issues in the past for both the main characters which they need to come to terms with. The series is just so much fun to read. The ladybosses are great together.

[Adeline Russ · Rating 1 out of 5]

I chose this book because of the good reviews. I keep looking for a rom-com story that’s actually fun and humorous but didn’t find it here. I did NOT want to finish this book. I am not a fan of first person narrative that takes place largely inside the head of a character. In this particular case, if the chapters had not been labeled with character names I would not even have known whose head/thoughts I was reading about.
The heroine Christina was all too obsessed with her body image and food in an extremely unhealthy way that was not humorous and certainly not informative about eating disorders. She came across as shallow and vain. Her mommy issues were not adding anything fun or informative either.
‘Swooning’ over the hero due to lack of food is just not cool. ‘Swooning’ in general is kind of ridiculous. Buck and Bo made me laugh, the character names, but probably not for the right reasons.

This book left me sadly disappointed.

[Tiffany · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kisses only. I wish that Mr. and Mrs. Fix It Find Love was listed as book 1 and this as book 2. That book kinda sets up the premise behind this one. As it was this book is really redundant, it’s basically insta-love-but-I-can’t-do-love-so-I’ll-be-mean-instead kind of book.

Christina and Buck have some pretty interesting back stories but they weren’t developed to their full potential. Instead we get a bunch of self-doubt and thoughts about how attractive they are to each other. I didn’t like that Buck kept calling Christina “sweetheart” maybe it’s just me, maybe it’s a generational thing but to me “sweetheart” is patronizing and a form of sexual harassment.

I’m glad that Christina had some self-aware moments but it seemed like her friends’ badgering was the catalyst behind any change rather than her own want to change. Also is she a widow or is she divorced? To me there is a difference. She seems to not be able to make up her mind as to which it is.

[Madison · Rating 2 out of 5]

TW: eating disorder

This book had a lot of potential but didn’t really end up hitting the mark for me. Despite feeling like half of the book was the characters repeating their baggage, I came out of it not really knowing a whole lot about them. I mean, things seemed to come out of left field a lot and not in a good way. Characters were constantly making up their mind and then saying something that negates that—all of them too back and forth for me. I also wished they would have gone more into the tv show/filming aspect—there was a lot of potential for stolen moments and tension there! But everything seemed to gloss over quickly. Probably because the book is so short.

Despite this, if you really connect with what Christina goes through, it’s probably a good choice. Buck is amazing and their romance is definitely adorable.

[Allie B • Literally Booked Solid · Rating 4 out of 5]

This closed door romance has HGTV small town vibes. It follows Christina, an in-demand social media influencer and interior designer who has lost her inspiration. Buck is a Viking tattooed beefcake with a beard and serves as Christina's blacksmith. Told in dual POV, Buck gives Christina shit and falls first, even with her high emotional walls. With interesting twists, including a bit mystery with the property they are renovating, the book has similar vibes to Lucy Score's Maggie Moves On.

[Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reader’s Notes:

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

– this is told from Christina and Buck’s points of view

Review:

I really liked that Buck paid attention to Christina and noticed things about her that others didn’t. I also liked how real Christina was in her thoughts and pushing off on telling anyone about why she really chose not to eat certain things for awhile. I also really liked Christina’s reactions/thoughts on Gremlin 😂. Some of my favorite scenes from the book include: fries, a bat, hidden passages, a story, tacos, and a drive.

Christina and three other ladies started a business together working on houses for television. This will be Christina’s renovation and she is excited for the vision she has for the home. That is, until she meets her contractor…

Buck never imagined his best friend’s wife would sucker him into being the contractor on one of their projects. Not that he’s complaining exactly, after all he’d love to work on the house (and Christina doesn’t look bad either). But it definitely wasn’t how he had planned on living his life.

Christina is not happy to be working with Buck, she’d rather have someone who would work on what she says and when she says it. Which Buck does not do. But with no other options, she’ll just need to go with the flow the best she can. And not check him out while working.

Buck had planned on living a quiet life in his home working in the forge, but that vision is being torn down and reconstructed with every interaction between him and Christina. Could he really leave behind the lone wolf life to let her into his heart?

The real question is when does anything ever go exactly the way you plan?

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plot: Christina has been a well known, and well followed, interior designer for years. When her business buys an estate on the hill for a television show, she is determined to turn it around and make it beautiful. When she doesn’t have a contractor just a week before shooting, her friend calls up another friend, Buck, who has contracting experience. They immediately don’t like one another. What will happen as they spend so much time together? Will her mother finally be proud? Can she let someone back in after all her heartbreak?

What I liked: I liked that Buck and Christina finally let their guards down. I like that he stood up for her and protected her. I liked that he took initiative with Les breaking in.

What I didn’t like: I didn’t like that Christina was in her forties and was acting like a literal child. Same with Buck. We never got his exact age, but a comment alluded to the fact that he was in his forties or fifties at least. They both acted like they were in their twenties. I think I would have liked the story better if they either acted their age or were younger. I also hated that Christina let her mom control her so much. If she really was in her forties, her mom would most likely be nearing 70, if not already past it. She is old enough to know that her mom doesn’t get a say in her life the way she kept letting her. Also, why did her mom make weird comments about and hook her up with sketchy guys? I wish there was some resolution there about her involvement.

Swearing: none

Physical intimacy level: closed door

Star rating: 3 stars

Trope: enemies to lovers (kinda), workplace romance (kinda), small town romance

[Jen (jensdreamylittlereads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute, endearing, and sweet romance. A rom-com about a home renovation TV show with an enemies to lovers trope? I was more than ready to dive in!

Christina and Buck started off as "enemies," but their chemistry was obvious from the start. I loved Buck because once he decided that Christina was the one for him, he was all in. Christina - who was full of anxiety over her obsessive need to be perfect - fought hard against her attraction to Buck, but soon found that with him she could finally let go and just be her true self. Their enemies to lovers dynamic was really fun to watch. Their snarky banter scenes were the highlight of my reading, and as they saw behind each other’s shields, eventually working together, learning together and growing together, I couldn’t help but feel extremely satisfied with their character’s progressions, both as individuals and as a new couple. And I loved the intriguing element involving a mystery surrounding Buck’s family.

This was a really easy read—one that was fairly light, sweet as hell and funny to boot. The story was light and fun but also had just the right amount of depth to make it feel real. Designing Happily Ever After was truly a fun romantic read filled great banter, humour, and the sweetest of romances. I loved the women's friendships, and the secondary characters and the dynamic they brought to this story and I seriously can't wait for more in this series!

[Courtney | Bookish Beach Babe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am officially obsessed with Buck and Christina. This story checks all the boxes for me:

•enemies to lovers ✔️
•witty banter ✔️
•grumpy alpha hero ✔️
•delicious slow burn ✔️
•swoony kisses ✔️

And so much more!!!

Christina and Buck were a delight together from beginning to end. The sparks between them were instantaneous, but they both fought hard against their feelings for each other. Witnessing their walls come down with each other was just…ahhhhh so satisfying!! There are some hilarious LOL moments — like Christina’s spontaneous swooning and the ever so lovable Gremlin. But there are some heavy things that both Christina and Buck carry from their pasts. I love how they worked through those issues together and how it made their bond stronger. Then there’s are a sweet mystery intertwined within the house they’re working on together and it ends up being the icing on the cake that ties the whole story together.

This book also introduces us to the rest of the lady bosses. I can’t wait to read about Bo and Ella Belle in Mr. and Mrs. Fix-It Find Love!! Then there is Mae and Camellia. The teaser for Mae’s story was perfection. Brothers best friend…count me in. I adored Designing Happily Ever After from beginning to end. It gave me all the feels and I fell in love with these characters. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves a grumpy alpha hero who is really an ooey gooey sweetheart at the core and a relatable hot mess heroine!!

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book sooooo much!! I am fresh from sleep and absolutely had to write this review. I stayed up pasty bedtime so I could finish this sweet Romance!!

I absolutely loved how the author tackled an issue that is so close to many people. Not just one but several.

TW: food being withheld (anorexia), perfectionism, OCD, Type A Personality, Alcoholism, Avoidant Parents, super judgemental parent.

Christina like many have food issues stemming from her childhood and her mother. I can fully empathize with her in this category. I have the same sort of issues but on a much bigger scale. I wish there would have been more talked about how she could have overcome this other than food being shoved at her and she finally giving in.

Christina essentially was being anorexic without the term being used. She withheld food from herself because of her issues. This causing her to pass out twice, but was disguised as "swooning". But this is something someone should have spoke to her more about why and how she could change that and enjoy food without shoving it at her.

Do not get me wrong I absolutely loved this book. But there are things that could have been done a little different.

I really enjoyed the snarky banter between Christina and Buck and how their relationship progressed!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Krystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

"My gaze drifts back to Buck's as if he could provide a safe harbor, a place where I could come apart..."
Christina hosts an instagram account where she is the Design Diva and every picture looks just right. Meanwhile, beneath the surface, she is struggling to let others see what she feels is the mess within. Alongside her friends, she is helping to launch a TV reality show and their next project is her own: restoring a Georgian mansion. The only problem? She needs a contractor and has rejected all those who have applied. Her friend has the perfect solution- Buck, a beard wearing contractor who is the opposite of who Christina would choose. However, the more she gets to know Buck, and the more she lets her friends in, she begins to see that maybe what she least expected is exactly what she needs.
I really enjoyed this read! I loved getting to know Christina and her friends who are so capable, and getting to succeed doing what they love. I enjoyed their friendships, and the way they love good food and sweet time together. I have a soft spot for Buck, as I have my own beard wearing contractor who is my fave. I really liked how he was protective and kind, and allowed Christina a safe place to be herself. This was a delight you won't want to miss! I can't wait for the next installment in the series!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Afreen Khalil Inscribed Inklings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Designing happily ever after by Ellie Hall📚

In Christina's world, where she's the @DomesticDiva with her sights set on transforming a dump property into a dream house for her new TV show, sparks fly when she encounters Buck McDermott, the Viking-like blacksmith she's forced to work with. In this delightful romantic comedy by Ellie Hall, readers are treated to a battle of wills between Christina and Buck as they clash over control of the project.

Christina, a self-proclaimed go-getter, is determined to assert her dominance, but Buck's rugged charm and refusal to back down make for a compelling dynamic. As they navigate their working relationship, Christina finds herself drawn to Buck's unexpected qualities, despite her reservations and past heartbreak.

Hall's writing is infused with humor and warmth, capturing the chemistry between Christina and Buck with delightful banter and sizzling tension. With each page, readers will find themselves rooting for this unlikely pair to find common ground and maybe even a happily ever after.

Filled with witty dialogue, endearing characters, and plenty of romantic sparks, the book is a charming tale of love, redemption, and the power of second chances. Ellie Hall's knack for crafting sweet romance with plenty of heart and humor shines through in this delightful read that is sure to leave readers with a smile on their faces.

Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

- Afreen Khalil

[Manee Contreras · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was something else. I loved the reconstruction and design of an old house. And the mystery behind it💍🏡

I loved Buck. He was just a grumpy, handy blacksmith. He had his flaws, as everyone else. But how he pays attention to Christina and just reads her so well. I love their chemistry and banter. I loved that they understood each other. It was funny how much they fought their attraction but at the same time they didn't. It was a mixture of feelings.

I did feel it was difficult to grasp their ages in my mind. They behaved so young haha I couldn't stop imagining them in their late twenties/early thirties throughout the whole story. Both of them had their pasts haunting them and had their baggage to deal with. I did like their development and growth into their relationship. Yes, assumptions/fears/mistakes were made, but I liked how quickly they were dealt with. It was so good that they actually listened to advice and relied on their friends for support. I loved how it was wrapped up and the epilogue. Can't wait for the next one to come in this series.

🍁
* I was kindly gifted an ARC from the author. This doesn't influence in any form my review/opinion*

⚠️TW: poor eating habits, anxiety.

[Kylie Bingham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review: Designing Happily Ever After by Ellie Hall
.
I received an eARC but all the opinions here are my own.
.
It took me a minute to get into the book. There was some missing backstory that made me a little confused, and Christina had a lot of negative self talk. I wouldn’t call it an eating disorder necessarily, but she had some eating distortions so just a heads up if that is triggering for you. Once the backstory got cleared up and the story started rolling I got really in to this book! I loved the chemistry and bantering between Christina and Buck. They both had some rough stuff happen in their past, but I loved how they worked through it together. The added mystery surrounding the house they were renovating added to the book. I am really looking forward to the next book in the series!
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My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-content: passionate kisses but nothing beyond on page or implied

[Maria Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

When Christina says that she is a hot mess masquerading as well adjusted person, she wasn't kidding. She is a hot mess indeed. Truthfully, I got really tired of hearing her inner dialog of messiness. I was kind of hating the story through the first I don't know how much of the book. And initially I didn't really like Buck all that much either but he grew on me faster than Christina did. I enjoyed the second half much better, especially after Christina started getting her junk together. She and Buck are good for each other. They both came into the relationship with some serious baggage but were able to help each other become stronger. They needed each other.
Enemies to lover is never my favorite trope because I dislike animosity but once they started being nice to each other I liked the story better and better until by the end I really was rooting for them and was a little sad the story was over. And I stayed up way too late so I could finish the story.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆
Christina is a social media influencer whose latest project is an old home in a small town. She’s clearly popular but struggles to believe in herself, after a lifetime of criticism from her famous mom. When her and her girl boss friends are desperate to find a willing contractor for the project, they call on Buck, a former CIA agent and now blacksmith to help. He’s qualified but not keen. But can Christina being involved sweeten the deal?

𝗠𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
This is the first of Ellie Hall’s stories I have read, and I am trying to make up my mind what I feel about it. The story felt fast-moving, but also a bit “instalove”, with a fair bit of glossing over the details. There is so much co-incidence where the characters overlap in their pasts. A lot of the story revolved around the pair’s determination to stay single, which is far from the reality.

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My rating 3.5/5 - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫

[Darcie R · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute book, and such an easy/fast read. As the first installment in the Home Sweet Home book series (following #LadyBosses Christina, Mae, Camellia, and Louella Belle) I would say this was a great series launch!

I really enjoyed the author’s writing style. I found myself laughing out loud on more than one occasion, and really appreciated the quirky comments made throughout. Maybe it was because I’ve been reading so many thrillers and mysteries lately, but this was exactly the kind of book I needed to make me feel all warm and fuzzy again!

Speaking of mysteries, I loved that there was a tiny mystery aspect to this book! It was great being able to follow along on Christina and Buck’s adventures, as they tried to uncover the mystery at the Easton Estate.

Without giving away the ending, I will say that it was one of my favourite parts of the book. Since each book in the Home Sweet Home series will be told from the point of view of one of the #LadyBosses, I loved that the final chapter of Christina and Buck’s story was told from Mae’s perspective. It was a great way for the author to introduce the next leading lady, and yet still give the readers their closure for this story.

Overall, this was a cute story and I really enjoyed reading it! I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a warm and fuzzy romcom read.