My
Top 10 Home Renovation Show Hosts by Rosanna Leo
I’m very excited to be here on Dawn’s
Reading Nook to share the news about my new release An Irresistible Force,
Handymen 2! For those of you who are familiar with my Handymen series, you’ll
know it features a hunky trio of brothers as the heroes. Michael, Eli and Nick
Zorn are contractors, but they are also the hosts of a Canadian home renovation
show called “Handymen.” An Irresistible Force, book 2 in the series, is
Eli’s story. I was inspired to write this series after watching so many home
renovation and real estate shows on HGTV, and I thought it might be fun to share
my top ten list of HGTV-style show hosts. (Psst! Not a single Property Brother
in sight on this list!)
10) Sebastian Clovis and Samantha Pynn from
Save My Reno. I love that Seb and Sam focus on helping homeowners tackle
their renovation projects on a budget…something my Handymen try very hard to do
as well.
9) Andrew and Kevin from Brojects.
Well, I had to include some brothers, but I didn’t want to go with the obvious
brothers. Andrew and Kevin work well together and I love their sibling antics.
8) Paul Lafrance of Decked Out. Paul
was a huge inspiration as I wrote my Handymen series. In fat, his deck work is
what inspired Nick Zorn, the decking expert in my books.
7) Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer of Location,
Location, Location. Kirstie and Phil’s show is one I’ve always loved, and
it was one of the first real estate shows that caught my interest. I still
enjoy watching the reruns.
6) Dick Strawbridge and Angel Adoree of Escape
to the Chateau. What’s not to love about escaping to a French chateau? You
can’t help rooting for quirky Dick and Angel as they renovate their dream home.
5) Sarah Richardson and Tommy Smythe from Sarah’s
House. Sarah and Tommy are awesome. Their banter always makes me smile, and
I love that they bring a Canadian flair to their show.
4) Chip and Joanna Gaines of Fixer Upper.
These two are adorable, full stop. They deserve their own romance novel.
3) Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and Linda Barker
from Changing Rooms. Although it’s been some time since Changing Rooms
was on the air, it was one I never missed when it was on. Hosts Laurence and
Linda were always so much fun, and I loved all the different designs.
2) Mike Holmes and Mike Holmes Jr. from Holmes
+ Holmes. Well, Mike Holmes is the king of Canadian home renovation shows.
And I have to admit I have a wee crush on his son, Mike Jr. There’s a lot of
biceps action in this show!
1) Scott McGillivray from Income
Property. Scott is the one who first made me think, “Hmm, I want to write a
romance series about contractors on a TV show!” He’s so genuine and helpful…and
very easy on the eyes. True inspiration in rolled up shirt sleeves.
There you have it. The people and programs
that inspired my Handymen series. I hope you’ll check out An Irresistible
Force and the rest of the series, and that you enjoy getting to know my
Handymen!
An Irresistible Force, Handymen 2
A contemporary romance by Rosanna Leo
Totally Bound Publishing
Release date: September 29, 2020
Tagline:
She needed a safe place. He was determined
to give her one.
Blurb:
TV landscaper Eli Zorn has always been a
fixer. But when a family medical situation teaches him there are some things
you just can’t fix, he’s desperate to return to work for a distraction. The
demolition of an old cottage in tranquil Muskoka, Ontario, is just the ticket.
Unfortunately, a gorgeous woman has
handcuffed herself to the cottage and she won’t let it go down without a fight.
Bernadette ‘Bernie’ Nolan has history with the place, and she won’t let Eli and
the Handymen team get their hands on her refuge.
The cottage belongs to Eli’s mentor. Not
only is Peter Nolan a giant in the landscaping business, he’s also Bernie’s
uncle. And it becomes clear very quickly that relations in the Nolan family are
more than strained.
As Eli and Bernie grapple with old
loyalties, they are determined to see each other as the enemy. But this is one
attraction that cannot be denied, and one that they’re losing the will to
resist…
Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/b6ZPpx
Excerpt:
When Eli and Bernie walked into the
reception area of the Black Oak Resort, every head turned. He couldn’t blame
them. Not only were they drenched, they still had patches of mud all over their
clothes and skin. They looked like rejects from one of those reality shows
where people were forced to live on an island and drink their own urine.
The desk clerk opened and closed his mouth
a couple of times. The hotel manager gawked. She couldn’t have looked more
shocked if they’d burst in, banging a few pots and pans. An elderly lady passed
them by, gave Bernie’s filthy hair a once-over and issued a decisive “tsk.”
Without batting an eye, Bernie raised her
voice so it could be heard throughout the vast reception area. “I say, Elijah.
I’m not sure this resort meets our usual standards. I do hope they have Grey
Poupon here.”
Eli put on his best Thurston Howell the
Third voice. “Come, Lovey. Let’s retire to our suite. I think it’s time for my
milk bath.”
Bernie clapped a hand over her mouth. Eli
burst out laughing, which only made her laugh harder. Cackling, they hurried to
the elevator. Luckily, it was waiting and they plowed in, making more noise
than the Black Oak had probably ever heard.
Bernie stood with her back to one elevator
wall. “Did you see the looks on their faces?”
“Well, we do look like we fell into a sink
hole.” Eli hit the ‘five’ button and stood opposite her. “I think the hotel
manager was about to throw us out.”
“She wouldn’t dare. You’re one of the
famous Zorn brothers.”
“We’re not that famous.”
“Now, now, Eli. No one tosses out Panty
Melter Zorn on my watch.”
As soon as the words were out of her mouth,
Bernie froze.
The elevator door slowly closed.
“Excuse me, Bernadette. Did you just call
me…‘Panty Melter?’”
She paled and swallowed but threw her
shoulders back. “What if I did?”
He tried not to smile. “Is that your
nickname for me?”
She averted her gaze.
“Bernie. Do I melt your underwear?”
“Maybe. Maybe not. The proof is in the
panties.”
Her cheeks, so pink under the dried-on mud,
brought out the heat in his own face. Her dark eyes sparkled with a hint of a
dare, and although her hair stuck out in places and mud lined her clothing,
she’d never looked sexier than in that moment.
The woman made dirty look good.
Author Bio:
Rosanna Leo writes contemporary and paranormal romance. She
is the First Place Winner of the 2018 Northern Hearts Contest (Contemporary
Romance) for A Good Man, Handymen 1.
From Toronto, Canada, Rosanna occupies a house in the suburbs with
her husband and their two sons, and spends most of her time being tolerated by
their cat Sweetie. When not writing, Rosanna works for her local library, where
she is busy laying the groundwork to become a library ghost one day.
Social Media Links:
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bT91GX
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/rosanna-leo
Reader Group (Rosanna Leo’s Pride): https://www.facebook.com/groups/RosannaLeosPride/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/rleoauthor1
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LeoRosanna
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rleoauthor/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5826852.Rosanna_Leo
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/rosannaleo/
1 comment:
Thanks so much for hosting me!
Post a Comment