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Grumpy Series
The Grumpy Carpenter
I came to escape the city—
not to share a toolbox with a hot carpenter who growls when I breathe too loud.
Levi’s all scowls, muscles, and secrets.
So we’re stuck fixing Aunt May’s house together.
The deal is eleven days.
No flirting. No feelings. Definitely no future.
But then he catches me—literally—when I fall from the ladder.
Burns the grilled cheese, but we eat it anyhow.
Tells me I’m not broken, even when I feel like rubble.
And I believe him.
Right until I find out what he’s been hiding.
A daughter.
A son.
And enough money to buy the entire town.
Now I can’t breathe without thinking about the kids.
Or him.
Or the ring in his pocket he thinks I haven’t noticed.
I thought I was falling for a man with nothing to offer but wood and wit.
Turns out, I might have nothing he needs.
And it’s too late to walk away clean.
But then, Aunt May springs a unique, surprise twist that leaves us all gasping.
not to share a toolbox with a hot carpenter who growls when I breathe too loud.
Levi’s all scowls, muscles, and secrets.
So we’re stuck fixing Aunt May’s house together.
The deal is eleven days.
No flirting. No feelings. Definitely no future.
But then he catches me—literally—when I fall from the ladder.
Burns the grilled cheese, but we eat it anyhow.
Tells me I’m not broken, even when I feel like rubble.
And I believe him.
Right until I find out what he’s been hiding.
A daughter.
A son.
And enough money to buy the entire town.
Now I can’t breathe without thinking about the kids.
Or him.
Or the ring in his pocket he thinks I haven’t noticed.
I thought I was falling for a man with nothing to offer but wood and wit.
Turns out, I might have nothing he needs.
And it’s too late to walk away clean.
But then, Aunt May springs a unique, surprise twist that leaves us all gasping.
134 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 25, 2025
About the author
Mia Cross
33 books5 followersShe lives in gorgeous San Diego, right next to the La Jolla, Oceanside, and Poway locations of her novels, so she writes very authentically about those areas.
She goes to church in Poway, surfs at La Jolla and dines at Oceanside.
Her first book at age 9 was entitled, "Poems" and it was published.
She can fly any airplane, play any musical instrument, and write a full novel in a week. After writing one, she spends a month making every word count.
And no, she doesn't use AI to write. Never has, Has no need. Stream of consciousness and great editing. Her record is eleven hours for 54,000+ words in a recent Romance.
She only writes clean books. She brings fearless energy, passion, creativity, and relentless drive to each story she writes.
But beyond the adventures, the music, and the books, one truth matters most: she absolutely adores god, her family and her dear readers.
She goes to church in Poway, surfs at La Jolla and dines at Oceanside.
Her first book at age 9 was entitled, "Poems" and it was published.
She can fly any airplane, play any musical instrument, and write a full novel in a week. After writing one, she spends a month making every word count.
And no, she doesn't use AI to write. Never has, Has no need. Stream of consciousness and great editing. Her record is eleven hours for 54,000+ words in a recent Romance.
She only writes clean books. She brings fearless energy, passion, creativity, and relentless drive to each story she writes.
But beyond the adventures, the music, and the books, one truth matters most: she absolutely adores god, her family and her dear readers.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 29, 2025
You catch somebody falling from a ladder while trying not to fall in love… not happening is it Levi? And what about the guy ? Cause he’s cute too isn’t he Claire ? It’s really not fair that they’re put together to fix up the house but at least he’s not a louse…Aunt May and her friend got their heads together to fix a meet up because not only did she love her niece but Levi too knowing that these two are perfect for one another and that he would love her. Levi Richardson and Claire Taylor are not brought together by circumstances as they might surmise but two wile old dears who are turning the gears to put together a plan for her niece to have a good man..Surprise! She should know ,taking him under her wing when he was a young man in the foster system and again when she is certain that he’s the best man for her niece and she asks him to help with fixing up her house …Well of course things go swimmingly because even though he’s grumpy he’s not a louse. But this is not all she wrote as they say because there is a twist in the tail too ….he’s not on his uppers as she first thought and a couple more surprises as well has her fraught and lost in her own thought. A well put together ( I know couldn’t resist) book of fixing up love and the way to happy ever after with some works and a few quirks. Mia Cross has developed this story of hers so well with the twist and the turns as well as the yearns . Two people in love but heavens above they needed a helping hand but it’s grand the way it’s written and of your great characters ms Cross I’m smitten. Great story
September 3, 2025
I opened this book expecting a cute fixer-upper romance with a grumbly guy and a few hammer jokes. What I got? A slow-burn, soul-scraping, laugh-out-loud, heart-squeezing journey I didn’t know I needed.
Our heroine (a city girl on the edge of burnout) comes to Aunt May’s quaint, creaky house looking for a break. Instead, she finds Levi—a man who can build anything except an emotional wall high enough to keep her out.
Levi is every inch the grumpy carpenter stereotype at first glance: brooding, silent, intense enough to splinter wood with one glare. But he’s also kind when he thinks you’re not looking, surprisingly gentle with your broken pieces, and more complicated than a three-story blueprint. He’s the kind of man who burns grilled cheese and then shrugs while you eat it together anyway. (Honestly? That scene owns me.)
Their banter is hilarious, their chemistry is magnetic, and their moments of vulnerability? Downright devastating in the best way.
But just when I thought they were settling into something real, the twist hit.
A daughter.
A son.
A secret bank account and a ring that’s been burning a hole in his pocket.
Suddenly, she’s not just falling for a man—she’s falling for a whole life she didn’t see coming.
And then, oh Aunt May. That twist she drops? It’s wild. It’s perfect. It’s exactly the push these two stubborn hearts needed.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Our heroine (a city girl on the edge of burnout) comes to Aunt May’s quaint, creaky house looking for a break. Instead, she finds Levi—a man who can build anything except an emotional wall high enough to keep her out.
Levi is every inch the grumpy carpenter stereotype at first glance: brooding, silent, intense enough to splinter wood with one glare. But he’s also kind when he thinks you’re not looking, surprisingly gentle with your broken pieces, and more complicated than a three-story blueprint. He’s the kind of man who burns grilled cheese and then shrugs while you eat it together anyway. (Honestly? That scene owns me.)
Their banter is hilarious, their chemistry is magnetic, and their moments of vulnerability? Downright devastating in the best way.
But just when I thought they were settling into something real, the twist hit.
A daughter.
A son.
A secret bank account and a ring that’s been burning a hole in his pocket.
Suddenly, she’s not just falling for a man—she’s falling for a whole life she didn’t see coming.
And then, oh Aunt May. That twist she drops? It’s wild. It’s perfect. It’s exactly the push these two stubborn hearts needed.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 10, 2025
This is the first book I have read by Mia Cross but I will difinitely read more of these light romance stories. Claire Taylor has came from the city to a small town where her Aunt May lived to see what she had inherited and see if she would like to live there. First thing that she has to do is help fix up the house so that she can live in it. Then she can decide if she will stay there or go back the city. Levi Richardson the master carpenter that Aunt May had hired to do the work is willing to help Claire with the repairs but they much work out how everything will go. Aunt May had help raise Levi after he was put in foster care and help him find is way while he was very young so she was willing try and help him when she was older with try find some one fall in love and she felt that her neice would be just perfect for him but she needed to get them together so with her best friend's help she push them both together all the time. This was definitely a light read book for anyone to read in one night.
January 29, 2026
“A loon somewhere laughs. I swear it does! Like it saw the whole thing and can’t wait to tell all of its looney friends.” - Claire
The story follows Claire, May's niece, May leaves Claire her house. This cottage is completely in need of renovation, as soon as she arrives at the house she sees what she has started. Instert Levi the grumpy carpenter, who has promised Aunt May that he will help renovate the cottage. But Aunt May had her own idea about this arrangement.
The story feels incredibly fast to me, the reason I gave it three stars is because I really liked the story. But this could easily have been a novel, the writing style was not quite my thing.
The story follows Claire, May's niece, May leaves Claire her house. This cottage is completely in need of renovation, as soon as she arrives at the house she sees what she has started. Instert Levi the grumpy carpenter, who has promised Aunt May that he will help renovate the cottage. But Aunt May had her own idea about this arrangement.
The story feels incredibly fast to me, the reason I gave it three stars is because I really liked the story. But this could easily have been a novel, the writing style was not quite my thing.
August 29, 2026
I wrote it, but this is the truth.
*I Loved This Grumpy Carpenter!*
Funny, romantic, and impossible to put down. The grumpy hero’s rough edges hide a genuinely tender heart, and the chemistry is irresistible from the start. Every clash, laugh, and romantic moment pulled me deeper into the story. I finished it smiling—and wishing for more.
*I Loved This Grumpy Carpenter!*
Funny, romantic, and impossible to put down. The grumpy hero’s rough edges hide a genuinely tender heart, and the chemistry is irresistible from the start. Every clash, laugh, and romantic moment pulled me deeper into the story. I finished it smiling—and wishing for more.
November 2, 2025
This is a lovely sweet clean slow burn romance.
This is a fairly short well written story with good characters. I enjoyed this book.
I received a free copy of this book and freely and honestly leave my review.
This is a fairly short well written story with good characters. I enjoyed this book.
I received a free copy of this book and freely and honestly leave my review.
January 6, 2026
Part of an interconnected Series with overlapping characters. Best read in order but not required.
Second chance
Matchmaking after death?
Single father
Unusual happenings.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Second chance
Matchmaking after death?
Single father
Unusual happenings.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 31, 2025
A great story with a chance of love second time around and lots of humour to make this an intriguing read . I received this ARC copy and recommend this book to other readers .
June 30, 2026
2.5 ⭐️
May 22, 2026
Another good book in the Grumpy Alpha Male Series. A cute easy read that you'll enjoy. Aunt May was Claire's aunt and left her home to Claire. She was a big city girl wondering if the small town life might just be the change she needs. But she finds the home comes with a catch, as she must use Levi, a master carpenter to do the repairs. A slow burn romance with some twists,secrets,foster children and a hidden fortune. Some angst and drama but eventually a happy ending and no cliffhanger. I read a free arc via the author and voluntarily chose to write a review.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews