Fixed Up

Renovation Romance #3

by Aurora Rey

A sweet and sassy HGTV-inspired romance from the award-winning author of Sweat Equity and Good Bones.

Jack Barrow is pretty old fashioned as far as progressive trans guys go. He loves his family, his work, and his quiet life in his hometown of Bedlington, Vermont. Overseeing the electrical upgrade on the historic Hampstead House is all the excitement he’s looking for.

As an artist specializing in the preservation and restoration of hand-painted plaster and lathe, Ellie Lancaster plans to showcase her skills on a grand scale at Hampstead House and ensure the original beauty of the house will be enjoyed for generations to come.

Jack and Ellie have exactly nothing in common save this job and the bad luck of getting stuck together when a blizzard rolls in. Sparks are flying, and it’s not the faulty wiring. Will close quarters ignite their romance, or will the whole thing go up in flames?

Genres: LGBT

264 pages, Paperback

Published April 15, 2025

About the author

Aurora Rey is a college dean by day and a life coach award-winning author of queer romance author the rest of the time, except when she’s cooking, baking, riding the tractor, or pining for goats. She grew up in a small town in south Louisiana, daydreaming about New England. She keeps a special place in her heart for the South, especially the food and the ways women are raised to be strong, even if they're taught not to show it. After a brief dalliance with biochemistry, she completed both a B.A. and an M.A. in English.

She is the author of the Cape End Romance series and several standalone contemporary lesbian romance novels and novellas. She is has been a finalist for the Lambda Literary, RITA®, and Golden Crown Literary Society awards, but loves reader feedback the most. She lives in Ithaca, New York with her dog and whatever wildlife has taken up residence in the pond.

Reviews

[Carol Hutchinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Sweet!

Jack, a trans guy, loves his family and life in his quiet hometown, and he meets Ellie when he is managing the electrical upgrade at Hampstead House. Ellie is there as a preservationist and to help with restoration using her hand-painted plater and lathe skills. When a blizzard leaves them stuck at the house together, he and Ellie grow close.

I really loved this, for all the representation of transgender people and happy healthy relationships. It was a sweet and beautiful story about two people finding their way together when a spark leads to romance. Both Jack and Ellie were dealing with traumatic things in their lives, and Ellie had a bit of a shorter temper than the laid back attitude Jack had, but he was also blunt and to the point. It wasn’t just sparks of attraction happening between them, which made their connection interesting. They had some heated exchanges and bumps along the way, and yet shared such magical moments where it really went to show that two people with empathy and kindness to one another can have something truly wonderful.

The focus on Ellie’s situation with her mother being ill was a bit of catalyst for them falling apart and getting lost in misunderstandings. Jack understood he had not handled it all well and was very self-aware that he needed to do something to win Ellie back because he really did care about and had not meant for things to go wonky between them. Tensions were high for a while because of that, but with a little advice from both of their friends and some gentle encouragement they got back on track, and Jack was wonderfully supportive and just the rock Ellie needed. In return she gave him a much needed confidence boost.

I loved Jack and Ellie together and was so excited to find this story. Absolutely brilliant, with funny moments, and just enough drama to make a great trans romance.

[Sue Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

its the 3rd one in the series and it has quite a theme to it...covering trans and mental health but on the whole its an enjoyable storyline

ellie is employed to help restore the plaster work and to do some renovations to the some scenes that the owner wants restored its in ellies remit so she takes the job on. she also lives on site

jack is the electrician and at first isnt looking forward to a new place of work as it depends on those working the sites.... but at this one he fits in.....

but its the snow that starts to fall that becomes his downfall...he hasnt realised the snow blizzard warning and he gets stuck with ellie at the workplace.... she at least is organised but jack doesnt even have clean clothes....

but its the sharing of body warmth that will be jacks undoing...

its a great storyline and it comes with toolbelts so i was a happy bunny...

looking forward to reading more from this author....

[Abbrosy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great romance! It was nice to get updates on the other series characters. The polyam rep was lovely, and the mentally ill parent storyline was emotional and so well done. It was great to read a queer romance with a trans MC. I am hoping a sensitivity reader was used because there were a few things I wasn’t sure about, but otherwise it was a good read! I liked both characters. The third act conflict was not the worst.

[powerlireads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Boldstrokesbooks for sending me an advanced copy of Fixed Up.

I definitely enjoyed the second half of this book more. I felt like the character’s sexuality was their main characteristic at the beginning. The fact that they were queer and trans seemed to be repeated constantly, and although this is a big part of who they are, a persons gender identity and sexual orientation does not define them as a person and I wanted to see more of their personalities.

However,as the book progressed, the characters became more complex and their other personality traits started to shine through so you got a real sense of the person that they were, and they were all incredibly likeable.

I loved the chemistry between Jack and Ellie, and I loved the fact that they brought the best out of each other. You started to see them develop and grow as their relationship blossomed.

The sex scenes within this book were so well written. A lot of the spicier scenes were at the beginning of their relationship, when it was more lustful and heated between them.. then as their relationship developed, the sex scenes became less detailed, to allow the reader to focus on the other elements of their relationship. The balance between the two styles was perfect for me and the best I have read in a romance for a while.

I enjoyed all the side characters,Rhett was a joy to read about and I loved the banter between Jack and his family. The storyline of Ellie’s mum was also handled so beautifully, for such a difficult topic.

I feel like there was so much we could have learnt about the characters if we had explored other elements of their lives outside of this relationship, especially with Ellie, as there seemed to be a lot of history with her family. However, I know there are other books in the series that cover Jacks siblings, so I’m looking forward to learning more about them.

Overall,a slow burner for me,but with some really lovely moments and characters. I would definitely read more from this series and from this author.

[BookishKB · Rating 4 out of 5]

📖 Bookish Thoughts
I loved how this book started—it was giving full romcom energy in the best way. The forced proximity blizzard setup was funny and cozy. And the spice was 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Also, Ellie’s cat?? Emily Dickinson! Adorable. 🤣

That said, after the blizzard snow in, I struggled with Jack. Normally I love a good grumpy/sunshine dynamic, but there were moments where Jack came off as controlling and overly rigid—especially in how he handled the conflict with Ellie. Ellie was clearly overwhelmed, trying to navigate things with her mom and not communicating well, and instead of giving her space, Jack forced the issue. Then, when she lashed out, he took it personally and made it about whether she was even capable of being the kind of partner he wanted.

“And because, he realized with a heaviness in his chest, saying it wouldn’t fix the gaping divide between what he wanted from a partner and what Ellie seemed interested in giving.”

They hadn’t even been together long enough for that kind of pressure, and it really rubbed me the wrong way. They do work it out in the end, but that section almost had me considering a DNF.

💭 Final Thoughts
While I had mixed feelings about parts of the romance, I really appreciated how inclusive this book was. I also thought it was powerful that the author showed how difficult it can be for an adult child to care for a parent struggling with mental illness—we don’t see enough representation of caregivers in fiction.

Jack’s family was also a highlight for me! They were so loving and united, and I really enjoyed the warmth and support they showed throughout the story.

⭐️ 3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books, Inc. for the advance copy! All opinions are completely my own.

[Bee Sherrard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Barrow Brothers Construction is busy, and they just received a call from the New England Historic Preservation Trust who are looking at doing some work on one of their properties, Hampstead House. This would be right up Jack’s alley. He loves restoring old houses so when they were offered the contract everyone knew who’d be taking the lead on this project..
Jack came from a family that valued their differences, meaning as a member of the ‘Trans’ community Jack fit right in. This was where Jack could show off his work. Fixing the electric panels and rewiring the old house would be just one of the jobs going on at the Hampstead House.
Ellie Lancaster was also looking forward to showing off her skills, preserving and restoration of hand-painted murals throughout the house. Some were small but others were quite large. Since she’d just sold her family home, moving her mother into an apartment meant Elle didn't have a place to call her own.
For Ellie this job was perfect because she is allowed to live on site. How she was going to work along with Jack she didn’t know. Were they destined to keep getting in the way of each other, only time would tell. Jack, being shy, couldn’t deny Ellie made an impression on him but the question was would Ellie feel the same way?
Ms. Rey writes books that you can’t help but enjoy. The characters, both main and supporting, are likeable so you find yourself just as happy as the main characters when they find their happy-ever-after. Not saying this is what happens here but generally that’s the trend. All in all a very enjoyable read.
ARC via NetGalley/ Bold Stroke Books

[Kaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fixed Up can be read as a stand alone novel but is number three in the Renovation Romance series. The series focuses on a family who run a construction business in Bedlington, Vermont. The first two books, ’Sweat Equity’ (Oct 2023) and ‘Good Bones’ (Aug 2024) were romances for two sisters and now it is time for middle brother Jack.

Jack is an electrician and gets a bucket list job to work on a historic house in a nearby town. Jack is an introvert, who likes simple things like his work and family. He meets Ellie Lancaster, who preserves and restores hand-painted plaster and lathe. Sparks are flying early and escalate when they get snowed in together during a blizzard. I found it odd that everyone says Jack is grumpy when nothing in the story demonstrates that. Ellie is outwardly happy, often compartmentalizing her feelings. Ellie’s and her relationship with her mom is a big part of the storyline. Her mother's mental health put Ellie into a parent role early in her life. I thought this was well portrayed. I also liked her best friend Rhett.

I have read the previous books in the series and enjoyed catching up with the couples and others I remember from my reading. I’ve enjoyed the stylized covers for the series as well. This is a warm and cozy read. The relationship is nurturing and left me feeling warm all over. It jumped a bit quickly to the L word, but I’m a romance reader and won’t complain. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC and I am leaving an honest review.

[☆Laura☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fixed Up es la tercera entrega de la serie Renovation Romances , que sigue las historias de una familia dedicada a la restauración de casas históricas en un pequeño pueblo de Vermont. En esta ocasión, el protagonista es Jack Barrow, el hijo del medio de la familia, un hombre trans que trabaja como electricista, y la protagonista es Ellie Lancaster, una artista especializada en la restauración de yesos y molduras pintadas a mano.

Ambos son aparentemente opuestos, se ven forzados a colaborar en la restauración de la antigua Hampstead House. Mientras Ellie, optimista y organizada, ve la belleza de preservar el pasado, Jack, algo gruñón y reacio a nuevos proyectos, se enfrenta a sus propios desafíos personales. Lo que parecía ser una relación de trabajo sin mayor química se transforma en algo mucho más profundo cuando quedan atrapados juntos en la casa durante una fuerte tormenta de nieve. La convivencia forzada y la cercanía harán que sus diferencias se conviertan en una chispa que encienda una romántica historia.



Estuvo entretenido, pero hasta ahi. Es una historia olvidable.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another solid book by Rey, but not my favorite in the Renovation series.

Jack Barrow is the middle sibling, trans and a grump most of the time. He's antisocial and prefers his own company, but when gets the job at the Hampstead House to redo the wiring, he meets Ellie Lancaster who is as different from him as night and day.

Ellie Lancaster is an artist and has been dealing with her mother's illness most of her life, but now that her mother is in assisted living, Ellie hopes to take her life back. She's hired to restore the murals at the Hampstead House and gets more than she bargains for when she meets Jack. She's happiness personified and enthusiastic that her and Jack get on each other's nerves from the get go.

Until they get snowed in and it all changes. This is super low key angst with a semi weird 3rd act breakup, which I wouldn't really call it a breakup. Bea flirting with Jack was odd and seemed forced. I enjoyed Rhett living next door to Jack and being Ellie's best friend.

Overall, not the best, but far from the worst. I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Shannon Luchies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack Barrow has gradually become the grump of the family, especially as everyone seems to be getting hitched. He's actually happy to get a new contract, one that will be labor intensive. Then he meets Ellie...

Ellie is involved to try to preserve/restore as much of the building's interior as possible. She is also sweet, good natured and even perky, which Jack finds moderately annoying.

AND Jack's new renter on the other half of his duplex is Ellie's best friend, Rhett. Oh joy.

Also, the home they are renovating is owned by Bea, who has decided to bypass historical preservation and do what she wants with it, dismaying Ellie...

And then they get snowed in.

I will say I'm more a Jack, in that I'm content on my own and overly cheerful folks annoy me. *lol*

I'm really liking the continuity in the series, while each book is a stand alone you get cameos and updates on everyone who's appeared in the other books.

4 out of 5. Really solidly good, knocked a .5 off for a iffy third act breakup.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aurora Rey is one of the finest authors of Lesbian romance novels and has a huge following of readers who love everything she writes. In this novel, Rey has taken a gigantic step away from what readers expect from her. Here, her main character, Ellie, falls for a trans man and continues to identify as a women-loving woman. Once readers get over the shock of Rey’s giving her readers a male main character, they realize that love is love and this book is all about falling in love and giving readers a HEA.

Rey’s characters are well-drawn and likable. She keeps the angst to a minimum and addresses hard issues, including having a mentally ill parent and how hard that is to handle. Rey is skilled at keeping the pace moving forward.

If you’ve ever had questions about trans men and/or bisexual romance stories, pick this book by Rey up and put it at the top of your TBR book stack, and use it as a starting point.

My thanks to Bold Strokes Books for an eArc.

[Colby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher, author Aurora Rey, and NetGalley for the gifted copy!
Jack Barrow is old-school in the sweetest way—a quiet, steady trans guy who loves his small-town life in Vermont. Ellie Lancaster is an artist with big restoration dreams. They’re total opposites, but when a blizzard traps them together in the historic Hampstead House, sparks fly (and not just from the wiring 🔥).
This was such a cozy, feel-good read! I didn’t realize it was book 3 in a series, but it reads well as a standalone—and now I’m curious about the rest of the family. The LGBTQIA+ rep was heartwarming, and I appreciated how naturally educational it felt too. I loved this quote:
📖 “He thought about the future, all the possibilities it held. No absolute certainties, of course, but trust. Trust that things would turn out okay, trust that they’d find a way to weather the storms together.”
I do wish we got a little more focus on the house renovation and a bit more depth + humor from the characters, but it was still an adorable, soft romance. ⭐⭐⭐/5

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third in this series of books and a definite return to form, with a delightful spicy romance between a 'grumpy' trans man Jack and a sparkly woman Ellie, although is he grumpy or just introverted and been told that he's grumpy by his more extrovert family?? The banter between the siblings is very much there, as is the wonderful friendship between Ellie and Rhett. Ellie has a strong interesting back story around coping with a relative and their mental illness. Making this an interesting read with a group of fascinating characters who get on super well. I celebrate and love the author's placing of so many queer (trans, poly, gay, lesbian, bi) people in small town Massachusetts. Thoroughly enjoyable.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Zach Strassburger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this queer romance about two talented queer tradespeople working on a historical mansion. I wish it had been longer and i had more backstory on the characters, but im excited that it is part of a series i can follow. I wanted more about each of the side characters, like homeowner Bea or anything at all about the other workers in the home besides Pablo.
What there was, though, terrific. I read quickly because I wanted to know what happened next but there are some great scenes I might reread. Sex scenes felt accurate to my queer life, which is rare to read and really appreciated.

I was lucky to get a free e copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review. I have already checked out two of the author’s other books on my library app, though, so rest assured I’m not swayed by the free book aspect.

[Merkie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really sweet romance. While part of a larger series it can be read as a standalone. I didn’t feel lost or confused going into to. I appreciate seeing trans representation as well as mental illness representation as part of this story. Both were handled in ways that felt authentic. I enjoyed watching the relationship between Jack and Ellie grow. What I really enjoyed is that the third act breakup that you see in so many romance novels wasn’t truly a breakup. I wasn’t screaming at the characters to just talk to each other.
I am curious to see the other characters stories and will be adding the other books from this series to my TBR.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fixed Up is the third book in Rey’s Renovation series, and while it could be read as a stand-alone, having read the previous books in the series made me feel as if I were catching up with old friends and provided a bit of insider background into some of the side characters’ histories.

This was overall a solid read, with minimal angst or overly emotional drama. The characters all felt like people I could be friends with, and I enjoyed the HGTV-esque historic home renovation plot. I would recommend this book to folks looking for a twist on a grumpy-sunshine romance in which both characters actively claim to fall into one side of the trope while still displaying great empathy for the other.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley.

[Kennedy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am enjoying the Barrow family, their relationships and their construction business. This story focused on Jack Barrow, the family curmudgeon and electrician. There was something about Ellie Lancaster, the preservation artist that Jack found difficult to forget even though they appeared to have nothing in common.

Logan has such an awesome connection with her brother Jack. Rhett, Ellie's best friend was quite a character. Would like to know more about her. I appreciated how Ellie's mother Donna was presented in the story. A difficult as well as challenging mental illness that was presented in an interesting and informative manner. Overall, a nice addition to the series.

ARC provided by Bold Strokes Books, Inc. via NetGalley

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is like a hallmark movie crossed with a HGTV show, with added spice and lots of queer people. 

I really enjoyed this cozy romance, and I like the inclusion of queer people everywhere in the story, as well as one of the main characters being trans, and fully accepted by those in his life.  I also enjoyed the honest discussions of parents with mental illness.

This is a cozy romance set in a small town in winter, and includes being snowed in, as well as found family. 

I received a free copy from Bold Strokes Books through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

[Red Dragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another lovely story in this series - about the third Barrow sibling Grumpy Jack, who meets sunshine Ellie, while working on a renovation project.
Both Ellie and Jack have their own issues to overcome if they want to build a relationship and the book dips into mental health issues.
There are some very HOT scenes in the book as well as catching up a little with Maddie and Logan and some new characters that have the potential for the making of another book in my opinion!!
Thanks to Bold Strokes Books enabling me to give an honest view on this story.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another cute read in this series. I expected to have the focus on Jack here but it honestly felt more focused on Ellie herself than Jack, which was odd in some ways. Rhett was a good introduction to the group. For me there were maybe slightly too many spicy parts than I wanted, wouod have preferred more about the relationship progression than just getting it on regularly. It also felt like Ellie just ditched her cat all the time. Leaving her in the big house alone, then ditching her the same night they moved into a new apartment? Not very good pet parent behavior.

[Darci Kester · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book by Aurora Rey! I’ve been waiting for Jack’s story ever since reading the first book, and Ellie was the perfect sunshine to his grumpy. An HGTV feel to it with a home renovation as the background, along with a small town vibe. Also loved revisiting characters from the first two books.

Thanks to Bold Strokes Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Watch for Fixed Up to come out April 15, 2025.

[Shelby · Rating 3 out of 5]

This just wasn’t for me. It was fine, but I didn’t really love either of the characters, and I loathe third-act breakups. I appreciated the queer and trans representation, as well as the mental illness depictions, which was what kept me going in this story, but I just wasn’t super into this one.

Thanks to Bold Strokes Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Sirius Slytherin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite not reading the previous two books in the Renovation series, I really enjoyed reading Fixed Up. This was the first book I have read which included a trans main character, and I was not disappointed. Fixed Up gave me the cutesy small town romance I desired from this book, and made me feel connected to the characters including the side characters.
I also loved how inclusive this book felt. The representation of not only the LGBTQIA+ relationships but also branching out to topics such as poly relationships, made me enjoy this book even more.
Overall, a very good romance book.

[Karelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this one 💖 I’m so happy to see more trans characters.
It took me a bit to get into but once I was halfway through I found myself coming back to it with ease. I think what kept me a bit ‘away’ was the dynamic between the couple funny enough. Maybe it’s not my cup of tea but at times I was like… is this good for either of them?? Lol

[Joanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm sort of meh about this one, nothing bad to say about it but I just didn't really get into it. I think maybe we just missed a bit more build-up of them getting to know each other to ramp up the chemistry. Which makes me sad because cis fem x trans man romances are so few and far between.

Thank you Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an arc in an honest review