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Book Description
Avery has had enough.
Two years into the rehabilitation of the historic Taylor Building—a project plagued by delays and cost overruns—she’d like nothing more than to see the back of the site trailer, and pesky Project Manager Kent Armstrong.Avery is a no-frills team player who knows her way around a mortar shack and is determined to chip her way through the patriarchal barriers of heritage stone masonry.
Kent is a buttoned-up budget boy with a stony facade. Impossible to please, he’s a cost, scope, and schedule junkie who thinks he knows best and never seems to listen to his expert mason.
When Kent and Avery meet steel toe to steel toe on the scaffold, tempers flare and egos clash. Will she crack his hard exterior? Or will the fissures she hides beneath her carefully honed exterior undermine her own footings?
Sometimes there’s more to people—and projects—than meets the eye.
About Kate Cole
Since meeting Mr. Darcy in English 101, Kate Cole hasn't managed to shake her obsession with all things happily ever after. A sucker for romance, this Canadian bibliophile is a buttoned-up bureaucrat in the street, spicy romcom writer in her desk seat. When she isn't reading or writing, she's also a wife and mom in suburbia who can't get enough of Duran Duran or pedicures that match her current reads.
My Thoughts
Under Construction by Kate Cole, narrated by Allie Martina and Gideon Frost, is a smart, sassy, and steamy debut novel you won't be able to put down. This is the kind of book you purposely slow down for just to stay in the story longer, and once you finish, you miss the time you spent with the characters. Two years into the difficult rehabilitation of the historic Taylor Building, Avery—an expert, no-frills heritage stone mason—has had enough of the delays, the cost overruns, and the pesky Project Manager, Kent Armstrong. Avery is determined to chip her way through the patriarchal barriers of her male-dominated trade, so her guard is always up, especially with Kent. He's a buttoned-up, stony-faced "budget boy"—a cost, scope, and schedule junkie who thinks he knows best and never seems to listen to his expert mason.
When they meet steel toe to steel toe on the scaffold, tempers flare and egos clash. Their animosity on the worksite is palpable, yet they are forced to work together, leading to lots of rom-com moments and an undeniable undercurrent of attraction. As romance readers know, there’s a very thin line between hate and love, and this enemies-to-lovers workplace romance definitely provides the sizzle you expect. The question becomes: Will Avery crack Kent's hard exterior, or will the fissures she hides beneath her own carefully honed exterior undermine her own footings?
Told from the view of Avery, a strong, independent woman who is Bella to her family and friends but Avery to her colleagues, the growth of both characters unfolds brilliantly. Kate Cole delivers all the steamy rom-com goodness while also providing a nuanced nod to the ongoing lack of representation and respect for gender diversity in male-dominated trades. This added depth delves into what makes us imperfect humans and the complexities of relationships, prompting readers to reflect without being preachy. Avery is someone you want to be your bestie, and Kent is the perfect mix of hot, frustrating, and good with his hands. The wonderful side characters, like Avery's mom and her boss, Larry, are so well-written they leave you hoping for a sequel so you can spend more time with them. This book has fun, flirty romance, no shortage of sizzle and emotion, and a connection between Kent and Avery that kept me wanting more (more sexy banter, more yoga, and definitely more orange highlighters!). The narration was so good it brought the story to life and really kept me captivated. Bravo, Kate—this book is an absolute must-read.
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