Title: Michael, Reinvented

Series: Delta Restorations 02

Author: Diana Copland

Narrator: Michael Pauley

Genre: Contemporary

Length: 8 hrs, 20 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (24th October 2017)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: Cute hipster and interior designer Michael doesn’t do love – not after his ex screwed him over. Sex is a different story, though, and the gentle giant who’s painting the mural in the old mansion they’re restoring might be perfect hookup material. Gil is just Michael’s type with his solid mus-cle, wicked sense of humor, and the hazel eyes that seem to see into Michael’s soul.

Trouble is, Gil does do love. He wants romance and forever, and he’s set his sights firmly on Michael. Michael’s not going there again.

Yet when Michael is the victim of a vandal who’s been plaguing the men working for Delta Res-toration, Renovation, and Design, Gil is the first person he tells. No matter how he fights it, it’s becoming harder and harder to deny he’s crazy about the guy – even if that thought terrifies him. But the true fear sets in when the criminal behavior escalates, and Michael realizes he might have lost the chance to tell Gil how he feels – forever.

Purchase Link: Audible US | Audible UK | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Review: Michael, Reinvented is the second book in Diana Copland’s Delta Restorations series. I accidently started listening to the audio of this book first, and then listened to the audio of the first book after, but that in no way took away from my enjoyment of the book. I love the characters, main and minor characters alike, and their depth, they are well developed without being outrageously complicated. On top of that, I love the chemistry between the main characters without being a case of insta-love or saturating the story with angst. Instead Michael and Gil’s story is a sweet romance between two strong men.

Michael and Gil appeared in book one, Gil’s interest in Michael was clear from the start. Michael is the best friend of David from book one, who is also his personal assistant at the job they worked at until the new restoration business takes off, which emphasises ties to the LBGTQI+ community and professionals. Gil is one of the workers, he’s a house painter with a hidden talent (at least to Michael) for creating beautiful works of art. Gil is a kind hearted man and is kindness and gentleness personified.

However, equally as clear was the fact that Michael is a soft-hearted romantic who firmly believes that love or a happily ever after is something that would never happen to him. Michael needs to get over his baggage and his reservations about relationships and when a sinister plot that leaves Gil severely injured emerges, Michael’s heart catches up to what his brain had already figured out.

Delta Restorations is a series that I sincerely hope that there are more stories (well, at least one other story because I would love to have a HEA for at least a couple of the guys on the restoration crew).

Title: David, Renewed

Series: Delta Restoration 01

Author: Diana Copland

Narrator: Michael Pauley

Genre: Contemporary

Length: 9 hrs, 2 mins

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (16th Jan 2017)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts

Reviewer: Prime

Blurb: When interior designer David Snyder buys a beautiful century-old house in eastern Washington, he is reeling with heartbreak and looking for somewhere to put down roots. Unfortunately his new home comes with a laundry list of problems: electrical, plumbing, heating…things David knows nothing about. When his mother offers him the business card of a local handyman, David pictures an overweight, balding man in his fifties. But Jackson Henry couldn’t be further from that stereotype.

Dark-haired, muscular, and handsome, Jackson left a large construction firm in Seattle to take care of his sick mother. However, his hometown still has an active “good old boy” network, and finding employment in construction is almost impossible for an openly gay man. Determined to persevere, Jackson takes odd jobs as a handyman. He’s exactly what David needs – in more ways than one.

David isn’t ready for his attraction to Jackson, not considering the way his last relationship end-ed. But as the two men get to know each other, it becomes clear that the heart often knows best, and it rewards those willing to listen.

Purchase Link: Audible US | Audible UK | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Review: I was pleasantly surprised by just how awesome David, Renewed from Diana Copland’s Delta Restorations series. This is the first book in the series and the author is completely new to me, although I’ve seen the name pop up on Dreamspinner Press website.

Is it just me and I’m a complete weirdo, but sometimes I look at a book written by a new author (new to me anyway) and either the cover or authors name – which is in no way offensive – gives me warning vibes like I’ll probably not like the book? I know, I’m a strange sort of person. However, that was the vibe I got off this book, for no apparent reason because the blurb really appealed to me.

I will admit, I accidentally listened to this series out of order and by the time I realised it, I was too far in to bother. Doing so didn’t really ruin anything for me and it didn’t leave me confused when I listened to book 2 first. This was an awesome series. But specifically for this book, I loved the characters. Everyone, both MCs as well as the minor characters, were all brilliantly fleshed out and totally relatable. These are just ordinary guys living their own extraordinary life, living with their baggage and letting love happen. The chemistry between David and Jackson is both sweet and hot. Jackson is completely sexy and will definitely fulfil anyone’s need to read about sexy tradies.

The narration was also on point. Michael Pauley is not unknown to me as a narrator, his voice absolutely fitted the characters and he picked just the right tone for everyone involved. Really, it was something wonderful.

David has recently got out of a bad relationship and in his hurt and grief, he has impulsively brought a grand old home which he wants to bring back to its former glory. The only issue with that is, his buy was so impulsive he quickly finds out he needs to sink a lot more money into the project, which doesn’t help when his ex comes back trying to con money out of David. David is desperate for help and it is his mother that suggests a local handyman (construction worker?), who is the son of one of her friends, Jackson. David thinks Jackson is straight from the start but there is definite chemistry. The romance is slow to start between the men but once it ignites there is no stopping the fire caused by David and Jackson’s romance.

Jackson isn’t just a pretty face though. He had been forced to move back home when it became apparent that his mother, who has MS, needs someone close by but his brother and sister are too selfish to think of their mother. However, his mother is a sweetheart and when David and his mother get involved to help Jackson and his mother, the romance becomes something more and the mothers become this cute little cheer squad for the men.

In between all that is the issues surrounding Jackson and the contractors he uses to help restore David’s house – obviously they run against some homophobia. Which leads David, an interior designer, to come up with a mad cap idea which leads us directly into the next book.