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Lake Sterling Sweet Romance #1
Julie and the Fixer Upper
Romance novelist Julie just moved into her dream rental—a lake house. Only the gorgeous jerk who is fixing up the place is still living there, a detail the landlord didn’t mention. To get Max out of her house ASAP, she helps renovate. With any luck, she’ll fix his broody attitude while she’s fixing the house.
108 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 26, 2021
6 people are currently reading
133 people want to read
About the author
Amy Sparling
101 books807 followersAmy Sparling is the USA Today Bestselling author of books with swoony first loves and heartwarming endings. She lives on the coast of Texas with her family, her spoiled rotten pets, and a huge pile of books.
By day, she works as a librarian, and by night you can find her curled up with a book–either one she’s reading or one she’s writing.
Amy Sparling is the pen name of author Cheyanne Young, but she’ll answer to either name!
By day, she works as a librarian, and by night you can find her curled up with a book–either one she’s reading or one she’s writing.
Amy Sparling is the pen name of author Cheyanne Young, but she’ll answer to either name!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
March 18, 2024
1,5⭐️
dear god i hated this… The main character Julie was so very “pick me”. She was all about “oh my god I wish I could eat as much as him and stay that skinny” after literally eating only junk food throughout the entire book and still being extremely skinny. And the way she was all “I don’t need no man because men suck and they’re horrible” and the second she layed eyes on Max she was in love???? Idk I consider this a waste of my time but oh well it was very short so not much time was wasted.
Also why was her peeing described so vividly 😭😭 we do not need to know about that…
Max was cute tho
dear god i hated this… The main character Julie was so very “pick me”. She was all about “oh my god I wish I could eat as much as him and stay that skinny” after literally eating only junk food throughout the entire book and still being extremely skinny. And the way she was all “I don’t need no man because men suck and they’re horrible” and the second she layed eyes on Max she was in love???? Idk I consider this a waste of my time but oh well it was very short so not much time was wasted.
Also why was her peeing described so vividly 😭😭 we do not need to know about that…
Max was cute tho
November 14, 2021
I loved the writing but I cant say the same about the storyline. I'm not privy to how authors write their books (or get the inspiration to write their books) but I'm pretty sure no author deletes an almost completed manuscript because he/she was dumped. Max is a keeper and Julie (eponymous protagonist) kept getting on my nerves through out this little book. If you constantly feel the need to explain your motivations for your actions to strangers, then it might just be that you have no idea what you're doing.
April 22, 2022
This book was really good. It is really entertaining and it's told from Julie's pov.
I loved Max💙, since the beginning he was just so gentle and kind. He was super helpful, patient with Julie and taught her how to do stuff she didn't know at first. His funny and flirty banter was amazing 🛠️. I really loved his character 💞
I totally loved how he knew what he wanted, went for it, but also respected Julie's decision and pace. That was super sweet 🌼. Julie was a good heroine, although sometimes she was too stubborn for her own good.
I hate miscommunication, but I couldn't be that mad at it in this book. The pace is so quick, that it felt short until you got the solution. It was so smoothly done, that it goes well with the plot. I love how everything wrapped up, but I wanted to see so much more from these two! I loved them👌🏻.
⚠️TW: cheating (not hero).
December 12, 2021
I really enjoyed this novella. It was super sweet. There was a lot of chemistry. The romance was really sweet. I liked how the main hero heroine was a romance author. This was a really fun way and I really liked how her attitude and her writing changed according to her personal life. I like the whole premise of forced proximity it was super fun. This is another one of the awesome books that this author is created. I highly recommend this series and can't wait to read the next book.
December 2, 2021
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ +.5
This story was a lot of fun. I loved the character and the back and forth of the story. I really liked how the story was easy to read and follow. I read it in one sitting and I can’t wait for more of these authors’ books.
I received a review copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This story was a lot of fun. I loved the character and the back and forth of the story. I really liked how the story was easy to read and follow. I read it in one sitting and I can’t wait for more of these authors’ books.
I received a review copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 28, 2025
The plot development was too fast.
I read the book, because I have this random book choosing method for my Kindle library. Can I say I enjoyed it? Not really. But the writing wasn't bad.
I read the book, because I have this random book choosing method for my Kindle library. Can I say I enjoyed it? Not really. But the writing wasn't bad.
December 3, 2021
This is the first book of the Lake Sterling Sweet Romance series and sees romance author Julie packing up her life after a break up and having issues with her writing. She has used her angst at her love life, to write a new book in a really short time and got a big advance payment, which has given her the chance to relocate. She has rented a lovely cottage on the edge of Lake Sterling, for two years and thinks it will be perfect to get her next book written before the agent hassles her for some pages, which she has been too busy to write! The landlady didn’t however mention that there was a bit of a mix up with the rental and she finds a handsome man coming out of the back door after she arrives. He has been allowed to stay in the cottage rent free for two to three months, while he renovates the property for the owner, something the landlady didn’t mention.
Max is really attractive, but she has sworn off romance and her new book has a main character who goes after cheating men and finds justice for the women who have been wronged. She has sworn off men in general and seeing this man occupy her ideal writing cottage is beyond belief. She speaks to the landlady who realises her error, but can do little apart from offer a refund, which is not what she wants at all. She and Max come to a deal, where she will help him with the renovations, to try and speed things up, but being around him changes her thinking and her writing of her new series becomes even harder to do. Never mind a certain interview that goes completely wrongly and tries to show her as a liar to her writing. Max is a lovely man, as everyone she meets or talks to tells her and the small community around the lake is growing on her. As is Max, however much she tries to deny any feelings towards him. She pushes him away and finds she still can’t write what she is expected to, until her best friend gives her a talking to! It is in her hands to sort out if there is a real connection between them and what sort of writing she really wants to write and can write. A not so fun mix up brings love, but it is not an easy road for the romance writer. A short read that I wish could have been far longer. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
Max is really attractive, but she has sworn off romance and her new book has a main character who goes after cheating men and finds justice for the women who have been wronged. She has sworn off men in general and seeing this man occupy her ideal writing cottage is beyond belief. She speaks to the landlady who realises her error, but can do little apart from offer a refund, which is not what she wants at all. She and Max come to a deal, where she will help him with the renovations, to try and speed things up, but being around him changes her thinking and her writing of her new series becomes even harder to do. Never mind a certain interview that goes completely wrongly and tries to show her as a liar to her writing. Max is a lovely man, as everyone she meets or talks to tells her and the small community around the lake is growing on her. As is Max, however much she tries to deny any feelings towards him. She pushes him away and finds she still can’t write what she is expected to, until her best friend gives her a talking to! It is in her hands to sort out if there is a real connection between them and what sort of writing she really wants to write and can write. A not so fun mix up brings love, but it is not an easy road for the romance writer. A short read that I wish could have been far longer. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
August 1, 2024
Julie is a bitter author that wrote a man hater book after her ex cheated on her with a neighbor. Max is the hot handyman who her landlady forgot was staying in Julie's rental property, getting it renovated. Barely a plot ensues.
This is a novella, only 2 hours of an audiobook. Seriously, I need you to forget anything about this book except that it's stupid and not worth reading. It's a closed-door romance where they share all of 3 kisses (100 pages of book doesn't give them much time if the author is trying to actually make plot happen too, I get it.) and there is basically no heat.
The plot, such as it is, is basically that Julie has writer's block, moves to this rental house, and then gets a call from her agent that some TV show wants to interview her. The house is two months away from Max finishing the reno because he's supposed to stay into it's done, but a week or two after Julie arrives they got the call from the agent, so they rush the reno in 3 days, at least a day of which was shopping for furniture, and it's perfectly done when the interviewer comes. He moves out, she mopes for a couple days, especially after the agent tells her the new book is crap, and instead of editing up the book (like a normal human would), she scraps all her work, runs after Max to get him back, and then writes a COMPLETELY new book in a matter of hours.
Stupid.
To top out all off, the narrator of the audiobook is TERRIBLE. Her inflection is legitimately awful, and it's like she doesn't actually speak, like, ever. She gave the wrong words emphasis, she ended statements like questions, and the different tones for other characters were just annoying. Literally one character has a reasonably decent sounding tone, and she only showed up for 30 seconds in the whole audiobook.
This was a literal waste of 2 hours.
TL:DR - Just run away and find something better. Seriously.
This is a novella, only 2 hours of an audiobook. Seriously, I need you to forget anything about this book except that it's stupid and not worth reading. It's a closed-door romance where they share all of 3 kisses (100 pages of book doesn't give them much time if the author is trying to actually make plot happen too, I get it.) and there is basically no heat.
The plot, such as it is, is basically that Julie has writer's block, moves to this rental house, and then gets a call from her agent that some TV show wants to interview her. The house is two months away from Max finishing the reno because he's supposed to stay into it's done, but a week or two after Julie arrives they got the call from the agent, so they rush the reno in 3 days, at least a day of which was shopping for furniture, and it's perfectly done when the interviewer comes. He moves out, she mopes for a couple days, especially after the agent tells her the new book is crap, and instead of editing up the book (like a normal human would), she scraps all her work, runs after Max to get him back, and then writes a COMPLETELY new book in a matter of hours.
Stupid.
To top out all off, the narrator of the audiobook is TERRIBLE. Her inflection is legitimately awful, and it's like she doesn't actually speak, like, ever. She gave the wrong words emphasis, she ended statements like questions, and the different tones for other characters were just annoying. Literally one character has a reasonably decent sounding tone, and she only showed up for 30 seconds in the whole audiobook.
This was a literal waste of 2 hours.
TL:DR - Just run away and find something better. Seriously.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2022
Okay. So. Not the best. Most because it is some sparse pickings plot wise.
Girl mad. Girl dumped. Girl gets replaced real fast by ex in same building. Girl leaves town, changes type of book she writes professionally. That is...not really feministic at all. It's like, the opposite for reliance. Man hurts woman, woman tried to show up that man by remaking her whole self. It's a rough somewhat ridiculous trope, and I have a hard time losing myself to it as a plot point. Even though that's not really how it shakes out, it feels ew for about 75% of the this short novella.
Motivations aside. She's so incredibly flighty, maybe some people are like this in real life, but I don't know them. While her inner dialogue can be amusing, she gives me so much whiplash that it doesn't feel like she knows what she wants, and that's also a little unnerving in a plot.
Again. These aren't terrible attributes, but it's the way the author writes them that makes them feel both unintentional and uncared for.
For the record, reviewers are always like 'it feels like she just wrote it' when we feel like details aren't grouped or mesh well. Everything feels like a red herring, and nothing feels commitment to the character. That's what this book feels like. She just wrote it, cracked her knuckles, proofread her typos and was all--'that's a wrap.' No adjusting details, no moving around passages, or striking sections here and boosting sections there. I mean, she might have done all that--but it doesn't FEEL like it when you read through. And that's the problem.
I dunno'.
Maybe pick something else.
Maybe read this one if it's calling to you.
It's your time, for sure.
Girl mad. Girl dumped. Girl gets replaced real fast by ex in same building. Girl leaves town, changes type of book she writes professionally. That is...not really feministic at all. It's like, the opposite for reliance. Man hurts woman, woman tried to show up that man by remaking her whole self. It's a rough somewhat ridiculous trope, and I have a hard time losing myself to it as a plot point. Even though that's not really how it shakes out, it feels ew for about 75% of the this short novella.
Motivations aside. She's so incredibly flighty, maybe some people are like this in real life, but I don't know them. While her inner dialogue can be amusing, she gives me so much whiplash that it doesn't feel like she knows what she wants, and that's also a little unnerving in a plot.
Again. These aren't terrible attributes, but it's the way the author writes them that makes them feel both unintentional and uncared for.
For the record, reviewers are always like 'it feels like she just wrote it' when we feel like details aren't grouped or mesh well. Everything feels like a red herring, and nothing feels commitment to the character. That's what this book feels like. She just wrote it, cracked her knuckles, proofread her typos and was all--'that's a wrap.' No adjusting details, no moving around passages, or striking sections here and boosting sections there. I mean, she might have done all that--but it doesn't FEEL like it when you read through. And that's the problem.
I dunno'.
Maybe pick something else.
Maybe read this one if it's calling to you.
It's your time, for sure.
December 2, 2021
Short, sweet, the perfect romance read.
My only criticism of this book was it is too short! I loved it, the plot was amazing, the characters are instantly likeable – I only wish it was made into a much more detailed and longer book. As it is the first book in the Lake Sterling collection I can forgive the author for making it so short. Julie moves into her dream house only to find the landlord has made a mistake and is renting the property out to Max for a reduced rate who is doing the place up before Julie is meant to be moving in. Julie helps Max as she wants rid of him soon as possible, but one thing leads to another and Julie ends up falling for Max. I could honestly see this storyline on the big screen, I cannot wait to dive into the second book.
I received a free copy of this book, and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
My only criticism of this book was it is too short! I loved it, the plot was amazing, the characters are instantly likeable – I only wish it was made into a much more detailed and longer book. As it is the first book in the Lake Sterling collection I can forgive the author for making it so short. Julie moves into her dream house only to find the landlord has made a mistake and is renting the property out to Max for a reduced rate who is doing the place up before Julie is meant to be moving in. Julie helps Max as she wants rid of him soon as possible, but one thing leads to another and Julie ends up falling for Max. I could honestly see this storyline on the big screen, I cannot wait to dive into the second book.
I received a free copy of this book, and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 24, 2022
Julie was a disillusioned romance author who turned to a new type of book to match her anger at her boyfriend's actions. Only the words aren't coming for book number two in the series. Not. One. Word. A move and two year paid lease has consumed her advance, and even the threat of having to pay back that money hasn't helped her mental block. Things are more complicated when she discovers the cabin she leased is occupied by a guy who is remodeling it.
Funny situation and many laughs when we watch Julie try to "help" with renovations to get Max out of the house faster. (Think New Yorker apartment dweller with no skills.) Wonderful main characters, beautiful descriptive scenes, interesting unexpected conflicts. The only thing I didn't like was a seemingly rushed conclusion. Although it was a good conclusion. Fun story.
Funny situation and many laughs when we watch Julie try to "help" with renovations to get Max out of the house faster. (Think New Yorker apartment dweller with no skills.) Wonderful main characters, beautiful descriptive scenes, interesting unexpected conflicts. The only thing I didn't like was a seemingly rushed conclusion. Although it was a good conclusion. Fun story.
July 21, 2022
A very quick, sweet read. I liked the idea behind it, an author thrown together with a contractor and they definitely had some cute moments, but I unfortunately had some moments I did not like. Julie touted herself as being very 'anti-romance' and after a while it became repetitive and a little annoying. Especially since I did not feel that she really reconciled with falling for Max but being very 'anti-romance'. And it was a personal preference but I was not a fan of the narrator. Her cadence reminded me of a tiktok creator I watch and it was hard to get in to her story telling style. I know this feels like a lot of dislike but overall it was a really sweet story of a young woman healing her heartbreak and finding not just the strength to move on but happiness with the life she's built for herself. Cute read!
December 2, 2021
3-stars for Julie and the Fixer Upper
While I was excited for this book based on the blurb, I felt disappointed reading it. While the words talked about their chemistry, it didn't feel real. Since it was only written from her POV, it felt like we are only getting 1/2 of the story which also didn't help with their connection or chemistry. For most of the book, I felt bored which rarely happens when I'm reading so it's hard for me to recommend this book. Although I will say, if your looking for a sweet, clean, short read with no heat, try reading this one for yourself.
Even though I did receive an advanced review copy of this book, I also purchased the book / read it with Kindle Unlimited and am voluntarily leaving my own unsolicited opinion with my voluntary review.
While I was excited for this book based on the blurb, I felt disappointed reading it. While the words talked about their chemistry, it didn't feel real. Since it was only written from her POV, it felt like we are only getting 1/2 of the story which also didn't help with their connection or chemistry. For most of the book, I felt bored which rarely happens when I'm reading so it's hard for me to recommend this book. Although I will say, if your looking for a sweet, clean, short read with no heat, try reading this one for yourself.
Even though I did receive an advanced review copy of this book, I also purchased the book / read it with Kindle Unlimited and am voluntarily leaving my own unsolicited opinion with my voluntary review.
November 1, 2021
A sweet story about a writer who rents a house for the next two years and when she went to move in there was a man already there . He was the guy who was the renovation . He is good looking and funny but while he is working he interrupts her from writing her new book , so she decide to help him so it will less time for him to finish the job . While the work side by side she starts to have feeling for him .
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 30, 2021
Max and Julie . . .
Romance novelist Julie moved into her lake house rental, but there was a big problem. A handsome guy – the one who was hired to fix the place – happens to still be there. When he interrupts her work, she needs to get him out of there sooner rather than later. So she decides to help with the renovation. And working side by side, they begin to develop feelings for each other. Will Julie open her heart to love? Is Max ready for a relationship with her?
This is a cute story that will make you smile.
Romance novelist Julie moved into her lake house rental, but there was a big problem. A handsome guy – the one who was hired to fix the place – happens to still be there. When he interrupts her work, she needs to get him out of there sooner rather than later. So she decides to help with the renovation. And working side by side, they begin to develop feelings for each other. Will Julie open her heart to love? Is Max ready for a relationship with her?
This is a cute story that will make you smile.
December 1, 2021
Julie rents a lake house. She is planning to work on her book there. But she gets more than the house when she goes to move in and the guy working on the house is still there. If you can't beat them, join them. So she decides to help him to hurry him along and she comes to realize that he is not the one who gets fixed when she starts to have feelings for him as they work together. This was fun but it also had a neat message.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 3, 2022
cute novella
This is a sweet little rom-com. It is Insta-love, which is not always a favorite of mine, but because it was a short story it kind of needed to be. It was cute and I liked the characters, but I will say I definitely wanted more. I know it is a novella and I am mostly dissatisfied with them because they are so short and don’t have a lot of details, but that is just my take on it. I did enjoy it, and really am just looking forward to the next book that is a full length novel.
This is a sweet little rom-com. It is Insta-love, which is not always a favorite of mine, but because it was a short story it kind of needed to be. It was cute and I liked the characters, but I will say I definitely wanted more. I know it is a novella and I am mostly dissatisfied with them because they are so short and don’t have a lot of details, but that is just my take on it. I did enjoy it, and really am just looking forward to the next book that is a full length novel.
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April 16, 2022I am so sad, I really wanted to like this book. There was very little lead up to the ‘Rom’ part that indicated the love interest was actually interested in her. I get that it’s a single narrator but he was written as a ‘nice to everyone guy’ so I couldn’t see where his interest in her began and where him just being nice ended.
Also, I wanted a lot more Reno related content/banter.
Also, I wanted a lot more Reno related content/banter.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 5, 2022
Thank you Voracious Readers for a copy of this book! This was a sweet little novela that got right to the point in less than 100 pages. It was very refreshing and I wish it was longer. I would have liked to know more about Max but Julie was a great character and her story was very relatable. I enjoyed this story and will continue to read more by this author.
July 28, 2022
I listened to the audiobook (was not a fan of the narrator unfortunately) and was so surprised when it just ended. I thought the book had only just started and then it ends?! I want to continue the series though, maybe that will satisfy my want for more storyline. So only giving 3 stars because it should have been longer and more should have happened, but I do like the story itself.
November 5, 2023
Was it a good book? Meh. Would I recommend it? Probably not.
Julie as a main character was super annoying and the dialogue was at times extremely cringy (I mean, she literally said “looking what the teenagers would call a snack”).
The idea of having the main character and her romantic interest he forced to share a living space is good, but the writing fell flat for me.
Julie as a main character was super annoying and the dialogue was at times extremely cringy (I mean, she literally said “looking what the teenagers would call a snack”).
The idea of having the main character and her romantic interest he forced to share a living space is good, but the writing fell flat for me.
November 11, 2021
I loved this book by Amy, I couldn’t put it down and read it in a few hours, Julie is fab, and Max sounds gorgeous. I would love to read more about them.
A fab easy read book that keeps you gripped and makes you full in love with the characters.
A fab easy read book that keeps you gripped and makes you full in love with the characters.
December 1, 2021
This book is a great read . I love the characters the love and hate relationship. I love the bond they have along the way while they help each other . I can't wait to read the next series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 7, 2022
this book was so bad. I couldn't stand the main character. I hated that she constantly said it was "her" house. Even though Max lived there first and she agreed to let him continue to live there and renovate it.
December 14, 2023
I loved this book! It was such a breeze reading this. I loved that the mmc was an author herself! I loved seeing her train of thought when it came to writing and how she grew emotionally out of a bad place! I loved Max and his romantic self! This book is a great one to get out of a reading slump!
April 11, 2024
𝐈 𝐇𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝. 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐛. 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞. 𝐈 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐢 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫😍✨
𝟏𝟎/𝟏𝟎 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝. 𝐃𝐞𝐟 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬!
𝟏𝟎/𝟏𝟎 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝. 𝐃𝐞𝐟 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬!
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December 4, 2021Love small-town setting novels.
Fun storylines.
Great characters.
Lots of sass & I can't wait for book 2!
Fun storylines.
Great characters.
Lots of sass & I can't wait for book 2!
March 15, 2022
This was a really quick and sweet romance novella.
Will be very interested to see how their love grows throughout the series, but this was a very swoon worthy male lead. Too sweet.
Will be very interested to see how their love grows throughout the series, but this was a very swoon worthy male lead. Too sweet.
July 24, 2022
A cute little romance.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews