From the Ground Up

Hot Dam Homes #1

by Harper Robson

Mason

Always have an exit strategy. That’s how I’ve lived my life for years, and so far things are going just fine. I know better than to get into any situation without knowing exactly when and how to get out. I don’t do commitments; not jobs, not social plans, and most definitely not relationships. I learned the hard way how bad the alternative can be.

Jackson

I’ve spent the last five years running from loneliness, and I’ve done a damn fine job. Now I’m ready to put down roots and make a home, somewhere other than Hollywood. I think I’ve found the right place, and I thought I'd found the right person. But I’m not sure I’m ready to burn all my bridges, and I’m afraid that might be the only way I can prove how important he is to me.

From The Ground Up is a steamy M/M romance featuring hurt/comfort and sexual awakening themes. You'll also find an A-list movie star, a sweet contractor, beautiful homes, loveable family members and of course, a happy ending. Book One of the Hot Dam Homes series.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Contemporary, LGBT, Gay, Contemporary Romance, Ebooks

214 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 29, 2022

About the author

Harper Robson grew up dreaming of being a writer, but that didn’t work out until she was in her forties. Along the way, she worked in oil & gas marketing, software development, and spent more than a decade as a stay-home mom.

A true Pacific Northwesterner, Harper loves the rain, and when her family decided to make a big move to Southern California in 2023, she was sure she’d miss the cozy gray winters of Seattle and Vancouver. However, it turns out that a daily dose of sunshine and palm trees isn’t hard to get used to, and San Diego feels more like home all the time.

She’s mom to two teen boys and an adorable but naughty Yellow Lab. Her husband works in the tech industry, and he makes her laugh every single day.

Harper’s favorite things include getaways with her besties, the Seattle Kraken, her dogs and drinking champagne for no reason at all.

Reviews

[Devy B · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think author need to do some research about the different sexual orientations .

Do demisexuels hook up with strangers? Do they pop boners whenever they see a hot guy ? 🤨

Mason “ hook ups machine” (I didn’t know about that nickname until 80% of the book!! ) he was in a bad relationship 10 years ago so he became a commitment-phobie meets Hollywood actor Jackson Jax” who lost his wife 5 years ago and closeted and thinks he’s “ bisexuel or demisexuel” .. he hooked up with a few guys after his wife passed away.
So they meet, insta sexual tension (which I didn’t feel tbh), insta boners like 50 the day they met.

They fucked but both were scared they decided it was just a one time thing. But of course they couldn’t resist and they agree to add benefits to their friendship. They quickly fall for each other. The sex was meh, forced and I skimmed a lot of them.

But Hook ups Machine who was in a closeted relationship with his ex because the said ex wasn’t out, didn’t want to go back to the closet and be Jax’s little secret.. There was a big misunderstanding, he has been in a bad accident and when Jax went to see him in the hospital and tell him he was going to come out publicly and he was in love him (I’m not fan of the accident drama to realize you love somnole and ready to do anything to not to lose them) Hook ups Machine refused to believe him, ditched him and sent him away of course after popping like 5 boners knowing that he had a head trauma, a broken arm, a swollen spinal cord (they didn’t know if he would be able to walk again) he and he was really in pain.
A day or 2 (or maybe a few hours) after breaking up with Mr «  I’m bisexual or demisexual » he had a crush on his Dr (the love interest of his brother Dylan in the next book) he kept drooling over him and ogling him ..
You just broke up with the man you love and you get hard for someone else like 5 min later..


Weeks later(I lost complete interest by then and after knowing Mason’s nickame) Jax came out publicly on tv as “ bisexual or demisexuel” (he still didn’t know), Hooks ups Machine decided it’s time to get his man back. Instead of talking and communicating to sort things out. they had sex of course.. How did they manage to do it because Hook ups Machine was still injured, he was wearing a back brace, how arms wasn’t completely healed and walked with a cane..
Magic sex 🙄

The epilogue..Double proposal and Jax getting fired as the lead actor from the movies franchise and not allowed to get any lead role because he was “ bisexual or demisexual” 😐

I don’t recommend.

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️ 2.5 stars ⭐️

Mason doesn’t do relationships, but a sexy actor with a British accent might just change his mind.

Way more angst than I signed up for.
I was expecting a fluffy contemporary romance, so I was surprised by the heavy themes brought up in From The Ground Up.
This wasn’t a terrible book per se, it just wasn’t really the vibe I wanted right now.

I slam into him one last time, roaring like a goddamn lion and unloading inside him with everything I have.

The fact that this is the only quote I bothered to highlight (and only because it made me chuckle) really tells you all you need to know about my feelings on this book.
It was insta-lust, not much plot, and too much drama for me.

CW and NSFW info (spoilers):
- Discussions of past toxic relationship
- Themes of grief
- Discussions of suicide (not MCs)
- MC w/ ADHD
- Injury (not life-threatening)
- Coming out
- Top/bottom
- Rimming
- Frotting

[Kirsty Dunn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I sadly DNF this book. I didn't like sporadic back and forth POVs and how quickly the MCs were baring their souls and having sex - especially since one of the MCs possibly was demisexual.
As a demisexual, bisexual I feel the representation was not what it should have been.

[Robert Fontenot · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aggressively mediocre. I’m sure it’ll be fine for some people, but I’ve read so many books lately that this is utterly forgettable. I will say that the short chapters and constant POV changes made it difficult sometimes to figure out whose head I was in from moment to moment.

[꧁•Zakiyya•꧂ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A touching story with engaging characters - 'From the Ground Up' is a heartwarming romance that captured my attention from beginning to end. 

Mason is a big, strong and sexy guy in the construction business and Jackson is a totally hot movie star with a sexy accent. 

Mason's back story really broke my heart and I loved that Jackson - although hesitant due to his career at first - never gave up on Mason. 

I liked that their attraction to each other was instantly strong due to neither one of them having a worthy connection to anyone else in a long time. But what I liked even more was that they both questioned that instant bond and it didn't just fall away into the background as if something like that was totally normal in everyday life. 

I'm such a sucker for size difference so this was definitely perfect for me and these two were so hot together...🔥🔥

Adding in that perfect amount of angst had me eating this up in no time at all. 

Even the secondary characters were interesting and I want to know their stories too. Will definitely be checking out more from this author... 💙💙

[Sabrina Morissette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jackson + Mason
•A-list movie star and construction worker
•Closeted bisexual
•Traumatized man about closeted guys (rightfully so)
•Home renovation gone wrong for a bit
•Grand gesture to earn a second chance
•Seattle
It was my second Harper Robson book and it won’t be the last I’m going to read. I like the writing style.

[Leo · Rating 4 out of 5]

4☆

ᔑᑭᏆᑕᗴ: 🔥🔥
しᗩᑌᏀᕼᔑ: 🤣
Ꭲᗴᗩᖇᔑ:😭😭
ᗰᑕᔑ: Mason, Jackson
ᑭᝪᐯ: 1st dual
Ꭲᖇᝪᑭᗴᔑ: Bisexual Awakening, Second Chances.

Que historia tan adorable, y pensar que la pospuse por mucho tiempo. La historia de Mason me me rompió el corazón y la de Jax es tan trágica. Bueno ambas pero te logran cautivar.

[Heather MMRomanceReviewed · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great debut!

Full review:
https://www.mmromancereviewed.com/202...

[Jeris Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a fun, sweet, spicy read! Loved it!

[isthisakink · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice intro to a new author!

I snagged a copy of A Clean Slate from a Book Funnel promotion, and I enjoyed it immensely. It was cute, sweet, mildly spicy, and had fairly solid mechanics. I love finding new authors through a good novella because I know if they can nail a shorter work and make it feel like a full book, it’ll be a real good time reading something longer/more fleshy.

Which led me to here, with this book, giving it a go. It’s a great series opener, the mechanics were decent, there was a lot of meat to the bones of the story, the characters were solid, and the interest to dive deeper into this series was confirmed.

But it wasn’t perfect and has some issues that you really have to suspend hard to try and explain them/make them less-than.

This might be a little spoiler-ish, so ignore from the break to the next one if you’d like to skip the risk of something ruining the book for you.

‼️‼️‼️

So a couple of issues made me use my mostly smooth brain to try and make them make sense or whatever, and I can’t not say something.

The Brad thing? I’m not really sold on how that was handled. I get that stringing it out and teasing bits and pieces of the deal helped drive the story, but that’s a really heavy topic to play games with. It deserves a level of respect to those that have actually had that kind of trauma, and I don’t feel it was shown here. That’s my opinion, so do with that what you will. I’m not dumb, I know why the author wrote it like that, but it doesn’t make it right or feel less icky.

Jackson. Even though there was information given, and he had meat, it wasn’t enough of the right cut, and made his whole character fall a little flat for me. The deal with his sexuality alone needed more detail. I’m not saying anyone is ever entitled to the details of someone’s sexuality, but as a reader who relies on the information provided to build the story and get the most out of it I need something to go on. If you want to have a character fall on the ACE spectrum, show me that. Don’t make it feel like queer glitter. We aren’t like certain others in the literary world, we’re better than that. There are so many variations of ACE life, and he definitely could’ve been living one of them, but it felt like a label thrown in for the hell of it, and I absolutely ABHOR that so much. Everyone deserves their sexuality to be acknowledged correctly and—here’s that word again—respected.

What happened to Mason being hurt? Like, I feel like his broken arm in a cast disappears when The Big Moment happens, and his back magically gets to a point in the healing process he wouldn’t have been at yet. Not to mention flying so soon after a moderately severe concussion. I get it, it’s a romance novel, and suspending is part of the process, but there’s only so much you can actually suspend to make that work. So, like, let’s keep it as realistic as we can? Maybe? That would be helpful.

Meaningful detail. I want steak, not offal, alright? I’m a snob. I want that wagyu, not ground beef from Taco Bell. Give me the D I R T. I need my stories to come alive, and in order to get the full experience, I’m gonna need more than what I got here. It was cute, it had a lil’ angsty minute, it tried to get really heavy…but there was just that little ‘oomph’ missing, and I need it and want it enough to whine about it. Commit to the whole bit or nah.

‼️‼️‼️

3.5/5. I liked it, I will keep reading, but it for sure wasn’t all it could’ve been. It had issues, but this author has a lot of potential and I see them growing in a positive way. I enjoy their style, I like their fluff vibes, and I’m interested in seeing them thrive.

[JD Waggy · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 stars rounded up because I think it's super important to have books in which men are also survivors of abusive relationships because that absolutely happens and we need to stop pretending it's only women. I wish this was better, though.

So we meet Dylan, Hunkery Hunk With Baggage who has been sleeping his way through the gay scene of Oregon, I guess, and living from day to day dragging the weight of Said Baggage. He meets Jackson, who feels a bit like a Pierce Brosnan-type to me, and they are Sexy Sexing in about four minutes flat. That was one of the first absurdities to me; not that I don't understand the place of insta-love in romance books, but that we've been handed two characters who are hurting and withdrawn and in pain and all that as fundamental parts of their character but yet they're banging in sweet love within about a weekend? What? (Also, I agree with the other reviewers here that Robson seems to toss around "demisexual" and "bisexual" without really engaging what either of those means, especially since Jackson's internal narrative uses "gay" and doesn't seem to recognize his first marriage as romantic love until he's talking it through with other people and is like "oh bisexual is a thing." That would be totally valid as a real-people journey but in fiction it feels very much like a cop-out, especially since we only get Jackson's backstory moments when it needs to support Dylan's character trajectory and not when Jackson's being, like, a person.) I have a note of a highlighted quote on p. 67 where one says "I do feel like I owe him a better explanation" and I asked "why tho" because there's literally no relationship except the narrative's force of one; even by the end, I never believed this ship because there wasn't anything beyond "you're super hot and if I can't be with you I'll die." There was never any real on-page bonding or development.

I deeply appreciate the casual acceptance of therapy here and the recognition that mental health is a) a thing and b) something that it's not shameful to care for, but my appreciation of the mental health aspect was stomped on by my frustration at the sex. Hurrah that there's a moment of pointing out they use condoms but there's also a scene of a non-negotiated sex act that had me almost throwing my phone across the room. On page 151, Dylan initiates some somnophilia-adjacent activities with Jackson and says, "He's still drowsy, but his body knows what it wants." NOPE. NO YOU DO NOT. If you haven't declared "I am okay with you sexually using my body while I'm not awake enough to fully consent," then it's a no no matter how his dick is responding. Do not be that person, Robson, do not do it.

I do appreciate the commentary on coming out culture and the very sharp limits of people who call themselves allies, and I appreciate the many glimpses we get of how Dylan's past trauma shapes his present reactions and that Jackson rolls with that and understands that that's real and not Dylan's fault, but the fringe benefits don't outweigh just how bored I was with this. The ship is shallow and the worldbuilding is cardboard; I've no interest in the rest of the series, which sucks because there's a lot of good representation in the characters. I just don't trust that Robson knows how to handle them well.

[Sarah☀️ Somerville · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really liked the idea of this book. The themes, the trauma, the characters’ backgrounds… it could have been fantastic.

And then the execution was just… bizarre.

The whole thing took place over just a few weeks. They met, there was instant attraction and sex, and then they’re in love within minutes. Never mind the fact that I simply don’t like this in books, it made no sense for the characters, their life situations, their trauma and their (supposed) sexuality.

Oh right. So Jackson’s sexuality was the next thing. He was either bisexual or demisexual. Right. Okay, I get that sexuality is an internal thing, and Jackson can choose the label that is most meaningful to him and labels, who cares anyway (not me), and we all experience sexuality differently BUT… First, he seemed to think “I haven’t had sex in five years so I might be demisexual!” Huh? He didn’t come across as demisexual at all in the book. And then he thought he had to be demisexual OR bisexual. Huh? Why not both? They’re not mutually exclusive. It was just… weird.

Then there was… yeah, I should probably spoiler-tag this bit… Then there was Jackson’s “grand gesture”. Now, I know that Mason’s issues with Brad began with the secrecy - Brad being closeted and hiding the relationship. BUT I felt like Jackson’s declaration on public TV - making his coming out all about Mason and the relationship, not just about himself - was extremely manipulative. I cringed. It was awful. Jackson could have handled this a lot better, and perhaps support from a psychologist or other professional would not have been a bad idea, just sayin’…

And THEN the next bit’s a spoiler as well, drat… And THEN 5 seconds after a major accident and spinal injury, Mason’s hopping on a plane to LA, and then to wherever they went afterwards because I’ve already forgotten. In what version of our world is this a good idea?

Honestly, this book started with a fantastic idea, great characters, great setup… and then in trying to fit it all into a couple of weeks, it went right off the rails at the main characters’ first meeting.

I might try more by this author, but won’t go in with high expectations.

[Roger R · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved reading this one! I’m a sucker for male movie star who explores his sexuality and embrace the m/m romance. This one did not disappoint me at all. I love these quick head over heels type of connections. I’ve experienced these all the time! I’m thrilled that it’s the first book in the Hot Dam Homes series and I look forward to reading the rest of the books! Their struggles with being open to having a relationship because of one character’s prior trauma and the other character’s fear of letting go of the memories of his dead wife. It was simply a very endearing story to read for me. That one would definitely go on the list of M/M books that should be made into a Hallmarkesque TV movie! If I could give it 10 stars out of 5 I would! It’s now in my Top 5 favorite M/M books to read. BTW the guy on the cover is to die for! I absolutely love the front cover!
This story is about Jackson, an Action/Adventure movie star who purchased a house in the Seattle area and was in need of someone to renovate the newly purchased house. Mason, the other MC was asked by his brother, Dylan, the proud owner of Hot Dam Homes to try to win the contract to do the renovations. He was discussing this with Jackson’s business manager when Jackson happened to stop by. They both fell heads over heels for each other. Jackson took it upon himself to discuss the renovations with Mason. Right on the spot, Jackson decided to give the contract to Hot Dam Homes when an accident struck. As Jackson and Mason were walking around the property, Jackson fell through an unstable wood piece on the boat deck and injured himself. Mason had to touch Jackson’s lower part in order to loosen some of the planks so Jackson could get out. You can imagine how steamy the story would go! I’ll just stop right there and encourage you to pick up the book to find out what happened and to find out whether Mason can let go of the past trauma in order for the relationship to move ahead and work.

[Kelley Vandiver · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a sweet, mindless book that is perfect for the Summer. Sure, one of the characters has some mental traumas from a past boyfriend but that is a small part of the book. I just want to point out to the writer that when you write a book in first person, the silly inner dialogue can be really distracting and annoying. I started counting how many times the main characters thought the word "dick" but gave up at 20. My main problem with the book happened at the beginning and since the writer is a woman, I want to give some insight into what it is like to have a penis. There was an accident that happens on an old dock that I want to reference. When a boy is about 14 or 15, everything can give him an erection...the wind, a thought about sex, rubbing up against it, so many things. However, that passes. When a man is embarrassed, you can just about forget getting it up. Or, when a man is in pain and bleeding...forget it! Now, if a man is embarrassed AND in pain and bleeding there is NO WAY that his dick is going to spontaneously betray him.

I think this book would have been much better told in third person without all that "dick chatter" that really makes the book seem sleazy. I mean, if you are writing a romance novel, you can leave some things to the imagination! I don't need to know how many things a day make a character's dick twitch. Also...what is that? What is dick twitch? Do you mean it is getting hard? These are all terms that some romance novels use (like "waggled his eyebrows" which if someone did to me I would die laughing).

Overall, two and a half stars for the fact that it is a Summer romance that I read in the Summer and the price was good. I am not a fan of books written in the first person so there is that and it had problems with what I perceive to be issues with the male anatomy. Did I like it? it was okay. Will I read it again? Nope. It is completely forgettable. The cover of the book is totally hot. Excellent choice on models.

[K T · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dnf at 30%. The writing style here is just not for me. The povs are constantly switching mid chapter. The chapters are relatively short so it was very confusing to keep track of whose head we were in. The formatting was also off. For example.

“There’s no denying it—Jackson Cullen’s dick is as hard as steel, and my hands are literally pressed right up against it. Jackson
Fuck fuck fuck fuck. My traitorous dick has decided to betray me, and I know Mason just felt it. What the hell—thanks, asshole, I yell internally at my disloyal body.”

We switch from sentence one in Mason’s pov to sentence two in Jackson’s pov. But I genuinely thought there was a typo and we were missing punctuation because the “Jackson” that split these povs was in the same size text, no bold, no space between sentences. I had to read that page three times before I realized that we had switched characters. I thought the author had forgot which pov we were in, but it was really just a poor formatting choice.

Anyway, the concept of famous actor and contractor was cool. A little confused about what demisexual means here as they were both immediately horny and wanting each other from the first hello.

The writing was a bit too telling and not enough showing for my taste and because of those factors, I chose to dnf.

[Xanthe · Rating 4 out of 5]

From The Ground Up is Harper Robson's debut novel and it's very well written and an enjoyable read. There is enough relationship development, hot and heated encounters, as well as emotional moments to keep the reader interested.
Both Mason and Jasper have trauma from their past. Mason was in a toxic relationship and Jasper lost his wife about five years previously, neither is looking for anything way they connect as Jasper shows Mason round his home that is in need of a lot of work. It's a very quick time frame in which they grow closer but it feels natural for them both and it's good that they both have that support, feeling safe enough to open up to each other. Jasper isn't even out to Hollywood but it's not long before his feelings for Mason have him considering it but Mason's history with his ex throw up some barriers.
I really enjoyed how things progress for the MCs. They're open enough with each other but not without their worries about themselves and the future. Mason has a great family around him who provide ample support and Jasper finds himself and unexpected ally in his agent. I'm looking forward to who comes next in the series. The author isn't afraid to hit some hard topics but deals with everything very well.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.

[DD · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was pretty okay. I would rate it more at a 3.66 or 3.75 stars, but that’s annoying. So, I can tell this is a fresh author. But she shows tons of promise. I think as she keeps writing and writing she’ll get into a better groove and write some great stuff. This story was sweet, full of humor, a lovely little bit of escapism. Both men have survived trauma, unfortunately they haven’t learned a whole lot from that. Lack of communication and fluctuating trust really did a number on them once they got together. I mean, they divulge huge secrets to one another their first and second meetings and then start assuming what the other person is thinking without communicating. Slightly oxymoronish. But I did enjoy the instant chemistry. The MCs were charming albeit a bit immature. So, this story reminds of the time I read Kyleen Neuhold’s first MM book. Trying to stuff too much in the first one, way too many issues and stereotypes that could be better stretched out through the series and addressed less in this story and more in their own. This is a huge compliment though, Kyleen is one of my absolute favorite authors. There’s potential here and I think Harper can really hone this new craft of hers and get better over time.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Instant chemistry, true connection, lasting love

The story of Mason and Jackson pulled me in from the beginning. The writing was good, all the characters were distinctly different and fleshed out enough for their respective parts in the story, the landscape of Seattle was almost a character in its own right it was so atmospheric, and Mason's only relationship and Jackson's bereavement were both handled with care.
Mason's aversion to relationships is due to a toxic relationship and he still hasn't come to terms with the awful way that it ended. Jackson's wife died five years earlier and he has been alone and lonely since then, hiding in plain sight as a Hollywood star. All that changed in an instant as soon as Mason's and Jax's eyes met. They can't resist each other and they were irresistible to me too.
Both men find what they didn't know they wanted and needed, but the course of true love can't run smooth until they are completely honest with each other, and come to terms with the fact that they will have to make changes to make a relationship work.
I was very impressed with Harper's debut book and I'm very much looking forward to Dylan's story next.

[Manfred · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really loved the second part of the series "When the walls come down", so I decided to learn more about those guys and also read Masons story, who is the brother of Dylan from part two...
After getting started I noticed that I already tried reading this before and somewhere around 30% dnf'd it.
This time I got through to the end, but honestly it was not half as good as book two. The story of the construction guy meeting the big Hollywood star was so predictable and I probably read it 10 times already.
There is not really anything wrong with those two guys, they are sweet and loveable, both have a history that makes it difficult to start a relationship. The one thing that really bothered me was Jackson's assistant who we only meet for 5 minutes and afterwards his only task seems to be to restock every fridge at every place Jackson goes to, whenever he travels the fridges are packed-it is quite ridiculous...
And if this was the most memorable memory of a book I just finished you get the idea, it was not too great.
So for me that was a 3 star read and I really recommend to just skip it and fast forward to part two!

[Chelsea Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was an absolute blast to read from the first chapter! From the Ground Up is about celebrity actor, Jackson, and Hot Dam Homes employee, Mason. Let me tell you, Jackson and Mason had some insanely spicy chemistry and their relationship moved at lighting speed. However the story totally worked perfectly. Everything fit just like it was supposed to. I fell in love with these men instantly. I felt their love through the pages and I felt their highs and lows. This book also deals with some very real and hard topics, like mental health and abusive relationships. In this book you will experience the beautiful insta-love romance and also some angst on their way to their happily ever after. I look forward to continuing in this series and getting to know the other characters.

I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.

POV: 1st Person Dual POV

Standalone or series: Book 1 in the Hot Dam Homes series

Would I recommend it: 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ highly recommend!! 🤩

Would I read it again: Most definitely!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Harper Robson debut novel and it was excellent! She wrote a wonderful group of characters and I can't wait to spend more time with them as she releases more books! Mason is a contractor who works for his brothers construction company. Since his brother has autism he doesn't like dealing with the clients so Mason does. One day he goes to meet a client who wants a home renovation, that client is Jackson. Jackson is an action movie star who is a widower that just realized he's either queer or demisexaul. The two immediately have sexual chemistry and really like each other. However, Mason has a hard time trusting because of his abusive ex-boyfriend. Not only was he abusive he never came out of the closet and kept Mason a secret. Jackson is afraid to come out because he's afraid that it will hurt his career, so now Mason is afraid history is repeating itself. Will Jackson come out and gain Mason's trust? Will they get their HEA because they both really deserve it after everything they've been through!

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Enjoyable Read

If you are looking for a sweet low angst love story then you won’t be disappointed with this book.

Mason the gorgeous 6’5”” hunk of tattooed muscle who works with his brother in construction and Jackson the smooth good looking A list movie star.

They meet when an anonymous millionaire buys a beautiful (on the outside) lakeside house in Seattle which is in urgent need of refurb and Mason goes to look it over and quote for the job.

It’s instant attraction but Mason doesn’t do more than one night hookups since an horrendous relationship when he was younger from which he stills sees a therapist and has nightmares and Mason who is still mourning the death of his wife and coming to terms with his bisexuality and the fact that he has been celibate for years and is an actor in the closet.

Just one or two issues they need to sort out!

An enjoyable book and thank you Matthew Dante for the recommendation.

[Raven and Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is really good. Mason has some serious trauma from an abusive past relationship that has negatively affected his ability to form anything lasting. Jackson is contemplating announcing a lifestyle change that could affect his prospects in Hollywood as an A-lister. Both men have to decide what is worth the risk so there is a small dose of angst here but it doesn’t make this book too heavy. This is still a mostly light and fun book about two guys finding their forever and a family that is ready to accept all that comes into its orbit. My heart broke for these guys but full marks to Mason for admitting that it is time to stop letting his past make the decisions for him. And to Jackson for being patient and not giving up on him. This really is a good book and a I look forward to reading Dylan’s story next.

[Beka · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

An easy read with sweet characters who you want the best for. It tried to deal with a lot of difficult themes but because of how fast paced this book was, it fell a little flat for me sometimes as there wasn't much depth. Due to this, the characters felt a little two dimensional - they changed their minds too quickly, they didn't put up much of a fight for anything and they fell in love so damn fast. 

There were a few bits that as a Brit made Jackson's character feel a little odd - like you could tell he was written by someone who wasn't from England. But I generally liked his character, I thought he was kind, sweet and hopeful. Same goes for Mason, generally a likeable character with some really sweet moments. The two together worked nicely. I liked the side characters as well. 

A quick read with nice characters. 

[Toddles · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got the print paperback copy of this book. The font size is huge! Lol! I gave my bestie a good laugh with it. Mixed with it only being 270 pages, I read it in 6 hrs.

The cover and concept of the series caught my eye. This first book was good. Not great. I think the author is newer in the game and have complete faith that the more they write, the better the content will get. The concept and plot was there. The characters were great. Follow through was ok/good. More plot detail was needed. It was basic writing that was catchy and easy to read but nothing to scream over. I loved the characters and felt everything they felt but their journey was rushed.

Mason's story was very hard. Trigger warnings there. Loved his family and vibed excitedly that they were all so different including someone on the autism spectrum.

Book 2 sure should be good and educational.

[Theodore · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @ 17%

I'm never a fan of romances where they MCs meet and suddenly there's "something about this man that makes me want to share all my secrets." (actual quote from the page I stopped at)

Like, the whole reason I read romances is to see two people get to the point where they become comfortable enough with each other to share secrets (unless it's like a best friend to lovers, but that has different sets of milestones)

Two strangers hitting it off and suddenly talking about shit like their dead wives without any real reason to justify the deepness of the topic makes me DNF faster than you can say "instalove". Like Mason's incredibly famous, doesn't he have reasons to not immediately trust strangers? I get Jackson was nice, but still.

Anyway, I'm moving on from this story.

[Allyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the Ground Up is a solid debut from Harper Robson. Mason has a lot of trauma from a past abusive relationship, so he avoids commitment in both his personal and professional lives. He works as a contractor for his brother’s construction company and is hired to oversee the construction of Jackson’s dream house in Seattle. Jackson is a big-budget action star who lost his wife to illness and is at a crossroads. He’s worked constantly for the past five years in order to avoid his grief and his bisexuality. Mason and Jackson click from the very beginning and make each other feel safe. The story is sexy, sweet, and emotional, and the relationship between an average guy and a big Hollywood star feels like a fairytale. The ending is absolutely perfect! I can’t wait for the next book in the series.

[Juniper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an enjoyable read with interesting, likable protagonists. Jackson has the pressures of fame. Mason has the trauma of a complicated past. These elements of their respective lives provide fodder for some angst. The weight of the heavier and more emotional moments is balanced by the speed and sweetness of the guys’ connection: if it’s not insta-love, it’s insta-attraction, and while their bond is not without its challenges you definitely never doubt the basis of their quickly developing feelings for each other. I appreciated, also, that the author takes on some sensitive topics here (suicide, mental health) with care and thoughtfulness.

*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Maude · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens when you have a Hollywood stars meets a down to earth home improvement contractor. Jackson is an A list star who is making a move to Seattle. Five years ago he lost his wife and he now needs a change. Hence the seventies style house in desperate need of a contractor. Enter Mason. Their chemistry is off the charts hot and as much as they don’t want anything to occur it does, over and over again. It was entertaining to watch Mason come to terms with his past while navigating a relationship. Jackson path was equally amazing to watch. The reason’s behind each character was realistic and watching them navigate to their HEA was satisfying. I look forward to the next story by this author.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

just what I needed

I had just finished a few intense reads and needed something light and fluffy and this was perfect. Mason is working with his brother’s construction company when he visits a potential client. Jackson has just bought a house that needs to be fully renovated and just happens to drop in on his p.a. Meeting with Mason to get a quote for the house. The attraction is immediate between them but they both have a baggage that needs to be dealt with before they can make this more serious. After a misunderstanding, Mason’s family gets involved to help bring them back together again. Lots of gorgeous men, meddling siblings and one hot er doctor help make this a fun read. Look forward to Dylan’s book next.