The Fixer Upper

July 1, 2005
Libby Kimmelman hasn't really let someone get close since her husband left her and their young daughter. Widower Ned Donovan has moved to New York in search of a new beginning. Their paths cross when Ned's son, Eric, applies to the prestigious private school at which Libby is the admissions director. Ned, an architect, offers to strip Libby's fireplace, and soon he is chipping away at Libby's cool exterior as well as the layers of enamel that coat the marble mantle. This novel's strength lies in its realistic characters. Arnold doesn't ignore the difficulties of dating as a single parent; Libby and Ned put their children first, even when it threatens their own relationship. The kids are smart and funny without being obnoxiously precocious, and Libby's ex-sister-in-law, Vivienne, colorful and meddling, provides comic relief. Readers bored with bodice--rippers will be charmed by this down-to-earth romance.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2005, American Library Association.)