I couldn't connect to this story. The plot, the characters and their dynamics - I didn't feel them at all. I just ended up rolling my eyes all the time and waiting for the story to end so I can mark it read. It took me 2 days to finish it - that says enough.

This was just lovely. A free story from the Love Is An Open Road event, we meet Justin and Trey, the former being a patient, the latter a doctor. Only then they're no longer doctor-patient, and free to pursue that thing growing between them. Except Trey likes to ride his dirt bike, and scuba-dive, and Justin thinks that with his heart condition, he can't keep pace/compete. And he pulls an Edward Cullen.

The writing is fabulous. Loved the secondary characters who play a huge role in helping these two stubborn men get it together, loved the hospital settings, and how careful the author was to not break any HIPAA laws.

And yeah, they get a HFN, as they should. Well done!

What happens when you take 2 men both who have been hurt add a nearly 20 year age gap, some well intentioned friends and mother nature puts a hole in the roof...possibilities become probabilities and more...

This was such a sweet story. It was short and yes, it was predictable but sometimes that doesn't matter and for me this was one of those times. I really enjoyed 'Fixing the Hole' and my only problem was...yes, of course it was too short. I wanted more at approximately 50 pages the author gave me a story filled with warmth, sweetness and potential. I was left with a smile on my face and wishing that I could read more about these two adorable men. While the story was complete my need for more sweet, more gentle romance, more baby steps in a relationship was lovingly prodded and awakened and then this happened...

"Tell me I'm not reading this wrong because I really want to kiss you right now."

My heart pounded so hard it felt like it was going to burst out of my chest. "Please," I whispered.

And this is when I melted into a puddle of goo. This was my first Katherine Halle book but I think I might need to go in search of more because sometimes sweet is just what I crave.

This short story, at 55 pages on my Nook, is not about a HEA, but about the possibilities.

Steve is in his mid-forties, and still reeling from a betrayal two years ago, when his then-lover cheated on him with a younger man. A self-employed legal advisor, he spends most of his days working, and occasionally meeting up with friends.

During high winds, Steve's house is hit by a toppled tree, which punches a hole into his roof. A call to his friend Dale gets him in touch with Riley, a building contractor and chatty Cathy, who expertly begins to take care of the roof.

What ensues is a romantic dance of should I, shouldn't I, with tons of UST and some excellent writing skills, that explored both characters as well as the length of this novella allowed. Both are a little gun-shy, both have experienced pain, but what seems to hold back Steve the most is the age difference. 

Riley comes across as a really likable guy, caring for his father without complaint, and generally a nice person, who cares about others, but appears to be afraid to make the first move with Steve. He seemed realistic in his hesitations (at least as one can discern, considering the entire novella is written in Steve's POV, who isn't an entirely reliable narrator), and while he sends no obvious (to Steve) signals, it's clear there's some interest there.

Steve is unsure, not only of himself, but also of Riley's signals, almost afraid to read too much into the younger man's winks and words. Afraid to reach out and ask for what he wants, even when the reader can see that the younger man is interested. There's a lot of UST the author brings across quite well, and much lingering heat when the book ends, far too soon for my liking.

I wouldn't classify this as a HFN either, to be honest. It's more of a short view into how two people met and started on their journey to a relationship. At the end, the reader is left to imagine what might be. 

3.75 stars, rounded up. Very well written for a short, with good character development and backstories, and a rather hopeful ending. 

** I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.  A positive review was not promised in return. **