When you are a single dad of a lively six year old, on great terms with your ex, moving back to your home town to teach in the High School and have bought what you hope is a fixer-upper, there really isn't room in your life for love. At least that is what Noah insists on telling himself.
When you still live in your home town, your brother, sisters and parents all still there too, one sister running the best bakery ever, working in your dream job as a carpenter and general handy man, making your own furniture in your spare time there is no need for romance, for relationships. One night stands are just fine, no strings, no need for hearts to be involved. At least this is what Luke insists on telling himself, and all those around him.
Noah was best friends with Rachel, one of his sisters and twin to Megan when they were in High School. Luke had a crush on Noah back then but was convinced that was all it would ever be, that Noah was straight. That has never stopped his best friend Keaton, or his sisters for that matter teasing him. Being straight is what Noah thinks of himself as too though there has always been a nagging in his mind about that.
When it appears serious work is going to need to be done on the house to save Noah a breakdown, and because he loves the house, wants to help and has a brilliant new helper in young Eli, Noah's son, Luke takes on the job. It is not going to be plain sailing, not for the house restoration or for either of their hearts. Luckily for them this is a great community who will all pitch in to do what they can to help - including some meddling on the matchmaking front! The problem is fist Luke and his commitment to not being committed, which crumbles hourly the more he is around Noah and Noah's questioning of his sexuality and willingness to let someone in with Eli so ready to give his love.
This story could be one of angst, a broken house, two slightly broken men, but it is far from that. It is a beautiful story full of heart. Every time a new issue arises with the house the men come together, come closer, Eli gets impossibly cuter. They step up to the challenges and soon what ostensibly is the house being fixed is also them, their relationship. This story could be read on a number of levels but that is how I read it, a meshing of house and heart. An awakening, a realisation, a new family finding their way and a solid foundation from which to work. An outstanding novel that has won my heart.