The Carpenter

Working Men #2

by Ramona Gray

He's good with a hammer and I'm about to get nailed.

Madison
He says it’s wrong. He says we can’t be together. But, I’ve been in love with carpenter, Jacob Marken, for years and I’m tired of waiting. I don’t care about the age difference. I’m doing everything in my power to make Jacob see that we belong together. I want to be with him. And what I want, I get.

Jacob
She’s a temptation I need to resist. Before my best friend died, I promised I would take care of Madison, not try to take her to my bed. When Madison asks me to build her some bookshelves, I can’t resist. Being alone with her is a very bad idea. I can’t be with her. I shouldn’t be with her. But, what Madison wants, Madison gets. And now that she’s mine, I’m never letting her go.

Author’s Note
This is the second in a series of stand-alone short and dirty (So. Very. Dirty.) novellas. You do not need to read the first story to enjoy this one. If you’re looking for quick, one-handed (ahem) reads with insta-love, over-the-top alpha, blue-collar men then the trope-alicious Working Men series is for you!

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Erotica, Short Stories, Contemporary Romance

90 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 18, 2018

About the author

Ramona Gray is a Canadian romance author. She currently lives in Alberta with her awesome husband and her mutant Chihuahua. She loves bad reality television, good coffee, and reading and writing about the steamier moments in life.

She loves chatting with readers so feel free to send her an email at ramonagraybooks@gmail.com or check out her website at www.ramonagray.ca

She also writes paranormal and contemporary romance as her alter-ego "Elizabeth Kelly". Check out Elizabeth's books at www.elizabethkelly.ca

Reviews

[Rae D'Achille · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not a typical Gray.

What can I say. A completely classless Madison who apparently had sex with several men at age fifteen has decided she is "in love" with father's best friend. No story, no character development, and no reader satisfaction. This author is usually a go to buy always but the working man series may have me thinking twice.

[girlwithhearteyes · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

Dad’s best friend trope. It didn’t hit the spot like The Mechanic (book 1), and to be honest I was more interested in the couple who will be in book 3, but this was still pretty enjoyable.

[Emily Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as exciting as the first novella in the series! This story is short and spicy, with enough depth to hold the scenes together and enough foreshadowing to have me looking forward to the next one in the series. Maddie and Jacob were interesting characters and were easy to understand. Maddie was self-confident and irresistible, like a force of nature. Jacob was a stubborn and over-protective alpha-type dude who spends most of the story second-guessing his own actions. There is a definite connection between them, and it was fun to read how it plays out!

[Soledad · Rating 1 out of 5]

0 ⭐

[Aya]

Ah no!. Just no!. Let me skip this book 2. I feel want to slap many times the heroine here. At age 15 yrs old she has been sex several times? 😑 shoot me now .. moving to book 3 ➡️

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn’t like this one. I’ve read several other ones in the series (I read out of order) and I’ve like them all. Some more than others. I just didn’t like this storyline. I didn’t particularly care for the characters. But I’ll move onto the next.

[Mandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first book in this series and was hoping that this would be more like it but sadly I was disappointed.

First off, let me say that I have nothing against age-gap reads. That said, I felt that the heroine in this book was too childish at times and did not enjoy the way she was so outspoken. Again, nothing against the difference in age, but I prefer the hero to be the one that takes charge and this was not the case in this book.

I decided to give this novella 2 stars because it was not quite a 1 star in my eyes but just barely a 2 star. I will however be reading the next book in the series with the hopes that I will enjoy it more.

Fast burn, no cheating, is a standalone within a series and has a hea.

[Roxmary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very steamy and hot read. Madison has had a crush on her dad’s best friend since she was 15. Jacob felt like he was betraying his best friend by lusting after his daughter who was now 23. He felt the 15 year age difference was too much, but Madison wanted Jacob and decided to stop at nothing to have him. This was a very quick and easy read with lots of hot sexy scenes. Another great story by Ramona Gray.

[Noemi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Madison has been in love with Jake

Jacob was best friends with Madison's dad until her dad passed away.

Madison has been in love with Jake since forever, but he held back because of the previous relationship with her father and the age gap between them.

All comes to head when she hires him to do work at her hone. She becomes a huge temptation he can no longer ignore!

I enjoyed this read 📚!

[Joan Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book can be read as a stand-alone but is built in the same world as book one. I loved book one but this one beat it out for best in my opinion. The tension really built the relationship up before it finally exploded in sexiness. I really can’t recommend this book enough. It does have an older man younger woman theme if that bothers you, but I loved it.

[Joan Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book can be read as a stand-alone but is built in the same world as book one. I loved book one but this one beat it out for best in my opinion. The tension really built the relationship up before it finally exploded in sexiness. I really can’t recommend this book enough. It does have an older man younger woman theme if that bothers you, but I loved it.

[Kristine Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jacob and Madison are great characters. She's mature enough that the age difference doesn't matter but young enough that she brings vitality to the relationship. Jacob has this steady strong vibe that quickly turns dirty once he stops fighting the attraction. Can't wait to see how Ren and Rachel develop in the next book. I received an ARC in exchange for a honest review.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loving these stories!

This is the 2nd book in her Working Men series and it was great! Loved the 1st book too and can’t wait for the next! This author is an auto-buy for me. Don’t miss her Undeniable series either!

[Angel G · Rating 2 out of 5]

Easy read 2/5

This series has got absolutely no plot it's just smut and yes I am now onto book 3,I just need my reading goal up and this is easy 🙂‍↔️if your in a reading slump .this will help pull you out,or put you back into one who knows lol.

[Hatshepsut · Rating 1 out of 5]

Smut where people in their late thirties are written as if they were elderly, and a 38 yr old woman’s vagina was described (derisively, but still) as “her worn-out old pus/sy” deserve zero stars, so this is where we’re at, Ramona.

[Simone · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 stars

[Joseline Diaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a story that touches on the fact that age many times does not matter, as long as their is love and right intentions.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a woman who goes after what she wants and she wanted that lovely carpenter, yes

[Glenna Stubblefield · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the live of your life shows up grab him. Madison did.

[Cheryl Spinelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet with Soooooooo much Heat. Just as good as the first.

[Rachael Masters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely Steamy!!

An absolute page turner!! Loved it all!! The characters are wonderful and the story is amazing. Would highly recommend it to anyone who likes steamy romance.

[Berthina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did not really enjoyed part 2 of this series. It gives me the ick. 🙈

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has been my favorite of the series so far. It features a slightly taboo set up and lots of dirty talk.

Age gap (a decade or so not 30+), fathers best friend, dirty talk, lots of pining

[Tarra Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, who doesn’t love a hot older man who is good with his hands!! Jacob is sexy and sweet!! Madison
has been in love with Jacob since she was a teenager and he came around the house because he was her dad’s best friend and now that she is older her feelings haven’t changed and she is ready to make Jacob
hers, now if she could just get Jacob to get over his guilt and see her the same!! This book is hot hot!!
Definitely a must read!! I love this series!!

Merged review:

Wow, who doesn’t love a hot older man who is good with his hands!! Jacob is sexy and sweet!! Madison
has been in love with Jacob since she was a teenager and he came around the house because he was her dad’s best friend and now that she is older her feelings haven’t changed and she is ready to make Jacob
hers, now if she could just get Jacob to get over his guilt and see her the same!! This book is hot hot!!
Definitely a must read!! I love this series!!

[Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved The Carpenter. This story that revolves around 23 year old Madison being in love with 38 year old Jacob. She is the daughter of his late-best friend. Jacob believes that his friend would have disapproved of the relationship so he tries to avoid Madison and ignore his attraction to her. Thankfully Madison is persistent and fills this story with plenty of sexiness. The Carpenter is a quick and fun read; I definitely recommend it.