Customer Reviews: Read 25 more reviews...
 Not Her Best... January 3, 2009
There were many pages of this book that I skipped over because of inanely annoying details that I did not find relevent to the story. I ran hot and cold with the character Khela. I could not understand why a grown, intelligent and independent woman was ducking and hiding behind fixed objects from a man she was attracted to. Khela's weird behavior showed a lack of confidence within her self that was magnified ten fold by the stammering and breaking out in hives. Her ability to maintain a stoic assuredness in her professional life, was her only saving grace. Nothing about her jumped off the pages for me...she was just, blah.
Carter didn't fair much better. Besides purchasing that "cake" she made, he was a huge disappointment. His childishly immature behavior of running away instead of talking to Khela about his feelings, reminded me of an adolescent that picks up their toys and runs home. His behavior was not explained enough for me to accept and want him to get back together with Khela. I did not understand why he was so dissatisfied with his life. He kept measuring his life next to Khela's and constantly thought she was better than he, and out of his league. Which made no sense when you see the evidence of his own success in business. I've read other books by Crystal Hubbard and know of her ability to write a wonderful story that will keep you up in the middle of the night reading, denying yourself sleep, because of a need to finish it. Sadly, this is not one of those books.
 Happily Ever After..or NOT!!! December 20, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Khela Halliday is a romance writer that doesn't believe in happily ever after. Khela has been burned by love a few times, so now she is doubting the validity of what she does. She can write about love, but she doesn't believe in it. Carter Radcliff has had to deal with being gorgeous his whole life, and being used because of it. He just wants someone to look past his outer beauty and to the person he is inside. For three years, Carter has been fixing things in Khela's apartment. When he gets a request from Khela to come to her apartment with his toolbox and a tux, Carter is a little confused. Khela needs a date for an awards weekend she has to attend, and Carter just happens to be drop dead gorgeous. Even though she thinks he is a handyman, Carter and his good looks will serve the purpose she needs with no strings attached. Right?
Mr. Fix-It is a great book by Crystal Hubbard. Hubbard does a wonderful job with the characters in this book. The characters were developed perfectly for their roles. The interracial aspect also fits right in with the story. The secondary characters added that 'just right' aspect also. Every character made the story that much better. I also loved the way the author had the man in the story unsure of himself. Usually it is the woman who is the insecure one who needs time to deal with issues. It was a nice twist to the plot. Mr. Fix-It is most certainly a commendable read.
Reviewed by Tenecia
for Urban Reviews
 A romance and then some November 19, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I have to say that Blame It On Paradise is my favorite book by this author but Mr.Fix-It was good too.
What I liked: Khela's experiences as an author when she's interacting with other writers and overexuberant fans, the chapter headings (I wish I could read some of Khela's books!), Carter's sense of humor, the depiction of Boston, the book signing to raise money for the child soldiers in Africa, the Aphrodite party, and the way Carter found a way to be a "hero" for Khela. I really liked the scene where Khela is browsing in the grocery store and things like the the seal on a bottle catch her eye and inspire her to a story idea. I also really liked the love scene in Carter's apartment.
What I didn't like: Khela's best friend Daphne was hard to take sometimes. I didn't like how Carter used fighting to deal with his emotions even though I know a lot of men either close down or get belligerent when facing tough emotions. I just didn't like it on Carter. I wish Carter had heeded his friend Detrick who told him how dumb he was acting. I don't like romance novels in general but even with the things I didn't like about Mr. Fix-It, I really appreciate Crystal Hubbard's skill as a writer. She uses language beautifully.
One of the best things for me about this book was all the advice and tidbits of information Khela gives to her friend Daphne and when she's speaking at the high school about writing and getting published. If there's a sequel to this book I hope it involves Detrick.
 MR. FIX-IT November 19, 2008
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
I WALKED BY THIS BOOK SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE I DECIDED TO BUY IT, AND NOW I WISHED I HAD KEPT WALKING. THIS IS THE FIRST BOOK I'VE READ BY CRYSTAL HUBBARD AND IT LEFT ME DISAPPOINTED. THIS BOOK JUST DID NOT HOLD MY INTEREST AT ALL, BUT BEING THE TYPE OF READER THAT I AM, THIS WON'T STOP ME FROM BUYING ANOTHER ONE OF HER BOOKS. I BELIEVE IN SECOND CHANCES OR MAYBE EVEN THIRD.
Love brings out the best November 15, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Mr. Fix-It is something a little different from Crystal Hubbard, the author of Crush and Blame It On Paradise, two of the best IR romances I've ever read. The story is centralized on bestselling romance author Khela Halliday, and Carter Radcliffe, the maintenance man of her building. Khela is happy if not lonely working in her loft office in the apartment of her Boston Back Bay brownstone. She is surrounded by luxury items purchased by her ex-husband, a man she divorced once it became clear that he married her for her money. Khela's mother died of a drug overdose and her father is incarcerated, and her elderly adoptive parents are deceased, so Khela's sole source of friendship and support is her best friend Daphne. Daphne is a freelance editor and aspiring writer who harbors a tiny shred of jealousy over Khela's early writing success.
Carter is the sort of hero who is more than he seems. Alabama born and reared, Carter moved to Boston when he was recruited to play football for a private prep school. There he met another Alabama recruit, Detrick Franklin, who is Carter's best friend. The camaraderie and kinship between Carter and Detrick complement that of Khela and Daphne. Only Detrick is much more settled and focused than Carter, who seems perfectly happy polishing bannisters and getting by on a wink and smile. That is, until Khela invites him to accompany her to a writer's convention.
Khela doesn't want people to know that her life is completely empty of the romance she writes about, so she asks Carter to escort her. Carter turns on the charm and plays the perfect companion. He's so perfect, Khela gives in to her attraction to him, and they enjoy a sizzling little interlude early on.
The dialogue between Khela and Carter is sharp and insightful. The setting of Boston comes to vivid life more sharply than in other Crystal Hubbard books. I especially enjoyed the references to Calareso's, Boston Beer Works and Lansdowne Street -- where you can catch a fight for free any night of the week if the Sox are playing.
Carter is used to women wanting to be with him because of his looks and Khela is used to men wanting to be with her because of her money, so the two have those issues of trust to work out. In doing so, they each discover their true self-worth. Khela learns that she doesn't have to hide behind the fictional worlds she creates and Carter learns that he has something genuine and valuable to contribute to his community.
The only part of the book that slowed was toward the end, when Khela and Carter went their separate ways for a while. I just liked seeing them together so much, I didn't like seeing them apart, but when you find out what Carter was doing during his absence, the payoff is worth it.
Mr. Fix-It is funny, warm, sexy, sensual, weird (Mangela), and clever. Even if you hate the book, and some reviewers have, no one can deny that Hubbard is an original. She doesn't use the same language and romance cliches that lots of other writers do, and she writes with clarity and intelligence.
One of my favourite lines is the Khela Halliday book quote topping chapter four: "How shall you know Temptation? Not by its taste, scent, touch appearance or voice, but by its persistence..." I love that!
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