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Handymen #1

A Good Man

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Not only is Michael a star on a successful home improvement show, he’s also seen as a local hero. But no one knows about the demons he carries inside him ever since the day he risked his life to save others.

All the accolades and honors only make the memories stronger and the pain unbearable. He would do anything to be able to forget, to put his past behind him and move on.

Michael takes on a new home improvement project, convinced it’s the perfect distraction. Little did he know that Emily, the woman who’s supposed to be nothing more than a client, would turn out to be a huge distraction…and engaged.

While Emily battles with her own personal problems, Michael is determined to keep his distance. The last thing he needs is woman trouble. But when it becomes clear that the attraction is mutual, he realizes staying away from her is not an option.

Now Michael needs to decide if he’s willing to risk exposing his weakness, and his heart…by giving in to temptation.

350 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 21, 2017

45 people are currently reading
308 people want to read

About the author

Rosanna Leo

40 books832 followers
Rosanna Leo writes contemporary and paranormal romance. Her novel A Reluctant Attraction, Handymen 3, is one of Oprah Daily's 50 of 2021's Most Anticipated Romance Novels. Follow her on Bookbub here: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/rosan...
From Toronto, Canada, Rosanna occupies a house in the suburbs with her husband. A mother to two grown sons, she spends much of her time wondering where all her time went. A great lover of felines, she enjoys being chased around the house by her cat, Lucy. When not writing, Rosanna works for her local library, where she is busy laying the groundwork to become a library ghost one day.
Connect with her at www.rosannaleoauthor.wordpress.com.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
Profile Image for Briar's Reviews.
2,316 reviews579 followers
December 22, 2020
A Good Man by Rosanna Leo is one hot romance, my goodness!

I came into this book expecting a nice romance with a contractor and some drama. Then I got reading it and it was WAY better than I expected. Like, WAY BETTER. Can we bold an italicize and every other formatting thing we can do for those two words?

So, I better get to explaining why so it all makes sense:

First of all, this book is based in Canada. It gives me Property Brothers vibes with a group of brothers making a television show out of renovating houses.

Side note: If you have watched Property Brothers, you 100% have a crush on one of them. This book makes so much sense. This book was the Johnathan story and OMG did it make me feel like I could just throw Johnathan in there as a fan fiction and OMG this book was meant for me.

Back to the review and away from Briar's fingerling: So we meet Michael who's one of the brothers on this show. He's the contractor, is super hot, and has a dark past (which we learn about later). His crew are all helping Emily renovate a house to make it suitable for her organic soup business. If that doesn't sound like half of the people that go on these property shows then I don't know what is. But, she's engaged to Trent. Trent is the biggest jerk on the face of the planet: he's manipulative, mean, and to throw in more alliterations, all around awful. I don't think anyone likes Trent except himself.

Michael and Emily hit it off and we can tell they are totally made for each other. They are supportive of each other and have heart eyes. Buuuut, their exes are both hanging around and making this story packed full of drama. As we go along, the book gets hot and heavy for Michael and Emily (honestly, if you want some really sexy scenes, grab this book). The romance doesn't really start until about halfway through the book, which I can also respect. I like romances where they aren't suddenly in love and ta da, finished! This book took it's time to establish a relationship and make it feel real.

It's a fantastic romance, in short. I really loved Michael and Emily's dynamic. Buuuut, there's more. There's always more, isn't there?

This book does a great job of having mental health awareness apart of it. PTSD is featured and it's taken seriously. It's not a joke in anyway. I can respect this book for making a romance with realistic aspects of life in it, not make it a joke but also not make the book feel depressing for addressing it. Rosanna Leo did an incredible job.

Overall, this book is what I wanted in a romance. It was a great escape during these crazy times. The book feels real yet also is a magical wonderland to escape from the insanity of reality.

Best quote of the book: "Seize the day. Seize the man!" I am totally gonna use that one now!

Five out of five stars!

I received a free copy of this book from the author, Rosanna Leo, in exchange of an honest review.
Profile Image for Anise Eden.
Author 7 books119 followers
November 12, 2017
In this gripping story about two irresistible characters whose goodness is the source of their injuries, masterful author Rosanna Leo takes the reader on a deeply moving and inspiring journey of the heart.

Against the dynamic backdrop of a home repair reality TV show, a connection crackles between Michael Zorn, one of the show’s stars, and guest Emily Daniels, whose late grandmother’s home the Zorn brothers are transforming into the headquarters for a new homemade soup business. With Emily’s fiancé and Michael’s ex-girlfriend on set, there is no shortage of drama—and that’s even before Leo takes us on a deep dive into Michael and Emily’s hearts and histories. After nearly a year, stoic Michael is still struggling with the psychological fallout of a heroic act he took in the midst of a terrifying tragedy. Meanwhile, Emily is being pulled apart by her deeply held belief in love, her determination to have faith in others, and the gnawing realization that both of these may have been horribly misplaced.

As always, Leo’s writing is beautifully crafted, evocative, and lively, as unique and flavorful as one of Emily Daniels’ gourmet soups. Leo immerses the reader in the characters’ experiences of emotional abuse and PTSD with great care and skill, then takes us along each step of the way as Emily and Michael discover their paths to love and healing. Five heartfelt and enthusiastic stars for A GOOD MAN, a triumph of contemporary romance!
Profile Image for Katherine McIntyre.
Author 86 books726 followers
November 13, 2017
Emily and Michael emanate such a warmth and authenticity, you couldn't help but root for the pair! Fabulous read.
Profile Image for ❤️Melanie G.📖💛.
2,235 reviews
March 13, 2018
This story was such a breath of fresh air. The story line is one I haven't read before and it was a wonderful surprise. This is a fun, sexy and great read with a few heart tugging moments.
1,896 reviews5 followers
November 13, 2017
Michael Zorn is a television star on a home renovations show. He meets Emily when his crew agrees to convert her grandmother’s home into a storefront for her homemade soup business. Emily is a kind, fun and ambitious but saddled with an uninvolved and disgruntled fiancé. Michael is fighting his own battles. A year ago, he rescued a group of pre-school children when the ex-husband of a guest on his show attacked. Unfortunately, Michael is unable to move beyond the trauma and has been noncompliant with treatment. Emily and Michael become fast friends and develop a strong connection. The author has obviously done her homework when confronting the PTSD. As a therapist, I appreciate the way she included descriptions of symptoms and methods of treatment. This book was a smoldering awakening of two likeable characters and their growing relationship. Always a treat to read one of Rosanna Leo’s books.
Profile Image for Elise.
49 reviews
July 20, 2020
I’m always looking for a HEA, and given all the hurdles Emily and Michael had to overcome both together and apart, they just HAD to make it and get together!

I now have SOOOOO many questions for the author! 😉
Profile Image for Christine .
1,161 reviews61 followers
August 9, 2020
Fantastic, original story! 5 Stars!

I've gone back in my mind as far as I can remember and don't recall ever reading a story like this. The premise did seem a bit familiar; I admit that, but once I started reading, I was so wrong. I can honestly say this was an original read for me. That does not happen often. Each character, including secondary were amazing. The H/h were so good together. Not only was their chemistry and sexual attraction believable, it was profound. Complexity is definitely a word I would use to describe not only Michael and Emily, but this book in general. Yes, there is angst though not too much that it didn't overshadow the bit of suspense and mystery going on as well. In addition, both Michael and Emily were dealing with personal issues of their own.

Michael was an honest character. A gentleman and protector by nature. The oldest of three brothers; incredible characters with whom he stars on a home-renovation show. With constant popularity and attention, these Handymen are the epitome of perfect heroes. I especially love how their morals and values stay true to who they are. Despite Michael being a great guy, he is suffering from his experience in a past tragedy. Michael's suffering of PTSD was very realistic. I believed it. The author wrote so beautifully, with exceptional attention to detail and facts. Not only did I love this book, I learned from it.

Emily was a sweet woman. A bit naive but full of heart. I loved her character from the first pages. From the synopsis, you know she starts off this story engaged. I am not going into any more details regarding Emily and Trent. Because this book has a good pace, you won't wait long for drama. And there is quite a bit of it going on. Don't worry though because this is not one of those stories where there is so much going on, you'll end up confused or frustrated. So many feels in this book. I had quite a few surprises as well. There were just so many great elements to this book. I can go on and on with all the positives. The only negatives in this book were the antagonists, but hey, that is expected.

A Goodman is such a perfect title for this book. I absolutely recommend this book and I am looking forward to reading about the next Zorn brother, Eli. That book is coming out soon!

This is my honest and unbiased review and I thank you for taking the time to read it. :)

Profile Image for Sissy's Romance Book Review .
8,992 reviews16 followers
July 26, 2020
A Good Man, Handymen by Rosanna Leo is the First book in the Handymen Series. This is the story of Emily Daniels and Michael Zorn. Emily is engaged to be married but things are so smooth really with that situation. When she is left with her Grandmother's house she thinks to have it renovated into her store front for her soup business. Michael is a TV star because of his home renovation show that he helps to give people a needed makeover to their home. But he is also a local hero which he tries to shake off but secretly it has left him with some issues that he keeps secret. When he meets Emily there is a instant attraction between the two but she is loyal to her commitment to her fiancé, but sadly he isn't to her. When her fiancé gets caught it leaves Emily hurt and confused which leads Micheal to step in as a friend but of course the sparks between them ignite. I must say this author handled the subject matter really good. . I enjoyed their story and would recommend this author.


Profile Image for Jess.
3,590 reviews5 followers
February 21, 2021
I grabbed this after seeing promo for a later book in the series, and hoping it would fill my rarely filled desire for fishermen. It was pretty good and a decent first read by this author! Instant attraction is something that doesn't always work for me, so I did feel like the feelings got accelerated in a way that wasn't my favorite. But I liked the premise, and the characters, and the relationship. Would definitely read another book by the author.
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews128 followers
Want to read
March 2, 2018
💝 FREE on Amazon today (1/2/2018)!💝

Blurb:
Not only is Michael a star on a successful home improvement show, he’s also seen as a local hero. But no one knows about the demons he carries inside him ever since the day he risked his life to save others.

All the accolades and honors only make the memories stronger and the pain unbearable. He would do anything to be able to forget, to put his past behind him and move on.

Michael takes on a new home improvement project, convinced it’s the perfect distraction. Little did he know that Emily, the woman who’s supposed to be nothing more than a client, would turn out to be a huge distraction…and engaged.

While Emily battles with her own personal problems, Michael is determined to keep his distance. The last thing he needs is woman trouble. But when it becomes clear that the attraction is mutual, he realizes staying away from her is not an option.

Now Michael needs to decide if he’s willing to risk exposing his weakness, and his heart…by giving in to temptation.
3,543 reviews14 followers
March 7, 2018
A Good Man is my first book by Rosanna Leo, it was a pleasant surprise. Ms. Leo has delivered a well-written book. I adore the characters in this story. Michael is a contractor with his two brothers and they are also on a handyman show. Emily wants to open a business in her grandmother's house she inherits. Michael and his brothers take on the project for the show. Emily and Michael's story is full of drama, humor, suspense, action and steamy sex. I enjoyed reading A Good Man and would be happy to read more from Rosanna Leo in the future. A Good Man is book 1 of the Handymen Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
Profile Image for Tai Nelson-Barnes.
2,833 reviews76 followers
June 21, 2020
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I am a fan of Rosanna Leo's books, so when I saw she wrote a new story I couldn't wait to read it. I had no idea that A Good Man had been released before so this is new to me book.

Michael Zorn is the first brother of three. The Zorn brothers have their own TV show that is a hit. When they have their next project picked out Michael just happens to find the woman that owns the house very attractive. But she is engaged and getting ready to open her new business. She has no room for him.

Emily is a strong self-sufficient woman who just happens to be engaged to a total jerk. When her grandmother's house is chosen to be remodeled for tv with Michael Zorn as the project manager she is over the hill. Little does she know the heat that will be coming off the two of them. Or the problems that will come up in her relationships.

I really enjoyed this contemporary romance story. I can't wait to see what happens with the other brothers.


Profile Image for Karma Queen.
318 reviews
June 16, 2019
This is for all of you who watch home improvement shows and would not mind having one of those hottie home improvement guys remodel something for you. Imagine getting selected for the show and getting to work with your favorite handyman! That's the case for Emily. Michael Zorn hits it off with her right away and would not mind showing her all the ways he's "handy" but there's the issue of her douchebag of a fiance. Michael's got issues of his own, but everything works out in the end. I give this 4 sexy tool belts.
Profile Image for Heather Fleet.
Author 23 books428 followers
April 8, 2018
This was my first Rosanne Leo book and WOW I am blown away. This story was incredibly sweet and sexy, a perfect blend. Highly rec it.
Profile Image for Karen Voitik.
3,219 reviews
December 22, 2017
>Book review – A Good Man



>I am an independent reviewer. This book is the 1st in the Handymen series and ends in an HEA. Michael and his 2 brothers are in the construction business and are the stars of a reality home renovation show. There is tension between the show’s director and her ex- Michael. All 3 brothers are portrayed as really good guys. Guys that always help and do the right thing. Knowing this, imagining Michael having an affair with the director seems out of character.



>Emily inherited her grandmother’s home and is having it renovated on the reality show. Emily wants to make a restaurant out of the home. Her fiancé, Trent, is supposed to be involved in the show, as well, but their relationship is not in a good place. Michael feels and instant attraction to Emily, but fights it until the fiancé is out of the picture. This book is a feel good story, but does have some trauma in it also.



>Michael is suffering PTSD due to a trauma he suffered earlier in the year. The thoughts, dreams and actions of Michael really make the condition hit home with how debilitating PTSD can be. Emily is so perfect in her quest to help Michael through his suffering. The story is a cute glimpse in to the behind the scenes of a reality show and also a heartbreaking glimpse into the mind of someone suffering from PTSD.



>This book is appropriate for an adult audience. I am giving the story 5 stars.
Profile Image for Behind Closed Doors Book Review.
1,243 reviews176 followers
September 23, 2020
Amount of sex – 2.5 / 5
How explicit are the sex scenes – 2.5 / 5
Story – 4 / 5
Overall – 4 / 5

A Good Man is the first book in the Handymen series written by author Rosanna Leo, and it’s also the first book that I’ve read by the author. A Good Man tells the story of Emily, who wants to renovate her grandmother's house that has been handed down to her. Her dream is to open a store to sell different types of soups. The only problem is that she doesn’t have the money for the renovation. Luckily, Emily and her fiancé were chosen to be a part of the home improvement show called Handymen.

Emily’s fiancé, Trent, was going through a difficult time, but instead of accepting Emily’s help, he constantly insulted and disappointed her until she had enough. Michael, one of the contractors on the tv show, knew that Trent was bad news. So, when Emily finial left Trent, Michael was there to comfort her.  The only problem is that Michael is also going through something difficult. Emily and his brothers try to offer him support, but his issues are starting to affect him and the others around him.  Can Emily help Michael before it’s too late?

Voluntarily Reviewed a Gifted Copy
Profile Image for Oceans Apart.
11 reviews3 followers
February 9, 2018
Who doesn’t love reality television or their stars? And who doesn’t want a handyman of their own? Well, in Rosanne Leo’s ‘A Good Man’ you get both. Rosanne writes a beautiful, heart wrenching and gripping story that will have you wanting more.

The tortured Michael Zorn, fighting his owns demons and the refreshingly independent yet flawed Emily stuck in a dead end relationship with a fiancé who doesn’t deserve her come together in an inspiring and emotional journey of finding true love.

The characters are well written and so well developed that you feel as though you’ve known their story as long as you’ve known your own. The story line is well thought out and stays true to the ups and downs and hardships of life, proving sometimes love doesn’t conquer all but it certainly does help.

A highly recommended 4.5star read.
1,579 reviews10 followers
November 16, 2017
I loved this book! Michael and Emily were perfect for each other. Really did not like Trent. Wasn't a fan of Lacy either but she kind of redeemed herself a little at the end in my eyes. I will admit to tearing up when the flashbacks intensified for Michael. He was in so much pain and Emily really helped him to heal and made him see he needed to seek help. Can't wait for the next book in the series!
Profile Image for Sheri.
Author 26 books55 followers
March 4, 2018
I follow Mrs Leo on Twitter and when I saw this was free, I jumped at it. I've been wasnting a really good romance, and this was it.

It was fast paced, well written, and heartfelt. I really enjoyed Micheal and Emily's story and can't wait to see what's in store for the other brothers!
Profile Image for Atlanta Whitlock.
907 reviews12 followers
March 24, 2021
This is my first time reading anything by Rosanna Leo and I was intrigued by a later book in this series, and even though the books can be read out of order, I’m the type of girl that would much prefer to start from the beginning and get a feel of all the characters and then I’ll be ready for the next few books. And I am glad that I did that again this time because it feels like I’m getting to know the characters and some of them do intrigue me.
For this being a new author to me, I do have to say that I think the story overall was a good read, I enjoyed the chemistry between the characters. Overall, everything was great, but it did take me a little while to fully get into the story, it just seemed like there was a slow start and whilst I found it picked up a little, it did seem a little slow to me overall through the entire book. That’s not to say that Rosanna didn’t do a good job, I just think that there needs to be a little more surprise, being caught off guard and I think I wouldn’t have found it to be as slow as I did.
There was one thing for me that I didn’t think work for me… it would have been nice to have known how things progressed in the end between Emily and Trent as it seemed like Trent was a huge part of it for about half of the book and then after he turns up at the renovation the last time it’s not exactly clear how things played out as Trent doesn’t seem like the type of guy who would be willing to just let things go and he showed that in the first half of the book.
Otherwise, I enjoyed the story and I’m interested in seeing how things play out for the other two brothers.
I’d recommend giving this a read as it’s something different and you may find yourself discovering a new author whose work you can’t help but love.

Michael and his two brothers are on a reality show with their construction & renovating firm and Michael’s getting ready for his next job as he’ll be working with a new client, Emily. He’s wanting to help her achieve her dreams, yet he can’t help but feel some sort of connection towards her.
When he meets Emily, he can’t help but wonder that something doesn’t seem right considering her fiancé is absent from the meet and greet, and then it seems to him that there’s clearly more wrong when they start with the first shooting. However, he stumbles upon Trent in a call with someone whilst hiding away from Emily. He knows it’s not his place to interfere but for some reason feels protective of Emily, so he gives Trent a warning to tell her.
Both Emily and Michael have their inner battles that they need to deal with, but it’s just up to them to decide whether they will battle through them.
What will become of the construction of the house that Emily owns?? Will Trent fess up to what he hiding??
Profile Image for Amelia Foster.
Author 10 books81 followers
June 3, 2020
I hardly ever watch TV, but when I do, HGTV is my channel. And, full confession, Property Brothers is possibly my favorite show EVER (shamelessly favor Jonathan Scott… maybe it’s the flannel?) so when I cracked open A Good Man and found out that it was not only based around a home improvement show, but one featuring BROTHERS… I was done for. I knew immediately I was going to love this story and Ms. Leo did not disappoint.

Now, if you have read basically ANY of my reviews, you know I love me a broken man. Yep, that’s Michael. Our hero has some serious PTSD and, in the midst of managing a construction business as well as a rapidly growing television show, he is doing his best to deal with the fallout this PTSD has created in his life.

Oh, yeah and then he meets Emily.

A trope I am not a fan of is a love triangle. Not gonna lie, it’s just not my cup of tea. So when we first met Emily and find out she has a fiance I went on high alert. However Ms. Leo handled it well and I deeply felt Emily’s hurt and disappointment when her deeply held belief in love and finding the best in others blows up in her face with a PITA significant other.

Michael and Emily first become friends before transitioning to more and both relationships offer depth and meaning that romances sometimes lack. We see them connecting in many ways besides just physically (but, trust me, they DEFINITELY connect physically and it is scorching!). Not only during the process of turning the home she inherited from her beloved grandmother into the homebase for her healthy, homemade soup business, but also as she helps him walk the rocky terrain PTSD creates in his life.

Not only are both characters fully and richly developed, Ms. Leo has created some fantastic side characters in Michael’s brothers as well as Emily’s brother and I can’t wait for the next in this heartwarming and charming series.
Profile Image for Laurel Richards.
Author 26 books171 followers
March 6, 2018
In the interest of full disclosure, I know this author and am friendly with her, so I'm not entirely unbiased. In general, I'm not a big fan of contemporary romance, and I only read this book because it had Rosanna's name on it. I'm so glad I did.

Pros: This was one of my favorite m/f contemporary romances. The writing was strong, the hero and heroine were likable, and I thought the pacing was great. There was enough conflict to keep me turning the pages, and I thought Rosanna added suspense without making the story unbelievable.

Cons: I'm nitpicking here, but I thought the secondary character, Lacey, toed the line of being overdone sometimes. That being said, I was pleasantly surprised by how the author handled Lacey in the end.

I would definitely recommend this book, especially to fellow fans of DIY and HGTV.
Profile Image for Jackie.
2,554 reviews
March 6, 2018
4 & 1/2 stars
I enjoyed the book, it was a fun read & held my attention to the end. Funny, I kept thinking of the twin brothers on HGTV while reading this! LOL The main characters are great, Michael was swoon worthy, and Emily was a strong heroine after she gets thru the verbal abuse from the lousy ex. There was a little bit of a flow issue here & there in the book, but it wasn't bad enough to hurt the story. There was enough things going on to keep me guessing for the most part, so it wasn't totally predictable. The HEA at the end was greatly appreciated. It left me wanting more, to see where the brothers' stories will go. The editing/proof reading could have used a bit more help though.
Profile Image for BOOKEDBY SUNSHINE.
156 reviews
February 20, 2022
A Good Man by Rosanna Leo is the first book in the Handyman Series. I was intrigued with the cover so I checked it out and I am so happy. I fell in love with both characters, Michael and Emily. Both of them had a such unique qualities. It was such a beautiful read to see how much emphasis was put on PTSD and how to love after that. Both characters were great in terms of learning to adjust and adapt to what life throws at them. I am a huge fan of Rosanna Leo's writing style so this won't be the last time I'll be reading one of her books. ❤️🥺

Follow me on Instagram: Sunshinestoriess for more short reviews like this!
Profile Image for Lisa.
1,426 reviews22 followers
December 8, 2017
Miccahel is the sexy host of a home renovation show. Emily’s grandmother’s house is his next project, turning it into a storefront and workspace for her soup business.

Emily has a real jerk of a fiancé. The first half of the book deals with him, and hints at Michael’s PTSD. Michael is considered a hero for saving lives during a shooting, but he’s haunted by the incident. The second half of the book deals with Michael’s PTSD.

I liked Michael and Emily together.
Profile Image for Michelle.
Author 10 books53 followers
December 31, 2022
I just devoured this - what a terrific story. Wonderful contemporary romance with three dimensional characters and a setting that jumps off the page. The author treats the issue of PTSD with great care, and you are rooting for Michael and Emily from almost the first page. The rest of this series is going into my play list for sure.
Profile Image for Dina.
693 reviews5 followers
December 5, 2017
Amazing!

I loved this story! It was so awesome to read a story that took place were I grew up. I couldn't stop smiling threw most of it and of course there was tears at some of the most heartfelt times. Perfect. Can't wait for the story of the other siblings
Profile Image for Jemi Fraser.
Author 36 books77 followers
March 9, 2018
Loved it! Michael and Emily are complex and believable characters who are dealing with a lot of stress. I was particularly impressed by the way the author handled a very serious topic (no spoiler alerts!) with grace and sensitivity. Can't wait to read more by this author - a great read!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews

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