Handyman

Now this is more like it!
And no. I'm not biased, just because the heroine's name is Maggie.
But, I can easily identify with this struggling low-income single mom. Handyman is a great romantic story with lots of heart and a comedic edge, that isn't interrupted by unnecessary sex. There's plenty of external and internal conflicts, and sexual tension to keep things interesting.

Word on the web is: Universal/DreamWorks acquired the story. Keep your eyes open for the movie, but don't hold your breath. In Hollywood, having acquired the rights is a long way from actually doing anything with it. They'll pay for something, sit on it and often do nothing as they put their energy into something bigger.

Synopsis: Handyman
Maggie Ivey is at the end of her emotional rope when she arrives at the office of psychiatrist Dr. Golding for the first visit in a 21 Day Life Overhaul. A friend had enrolled Maggie in order to help her take control over her frazzled life.

At the time of Maggie's first appointment, Dr. Golding is laid up in the hospital for emergency bypass surgery as his contractor Jake Cooper takes measurements to remodel the office.
Maggie arrives in a full blown crying spell complete with hives and begins to unload her life's problems on to who she thinks is a very kind Dr. Golding.

Jake being a typical male, doesn't know how to handle this woman's crying spell and decides it is probably best to just give her the time she needs to get it all out. Unable to tell Maggie that he's not the shrink, he agrees to meet her at the office for the next appointment in scheduled in the 21 day program. Jake continues to get-in-himself-in-a-fix, not knowing how to tell her that he's not the doctor, but he does know how to solve many of the issues troubling Maggie and steps in as her Champion. Jake provides practical solutions for life improvements instead of the nonsense therapies in Dr. Golding's books.

Knowing that Maggie just needs a little assistance to "shore up the walls" of her life, Jake decides to stick it out for the 21 days to help her out. But once Jake decides she's the one woman he wants in his life, how is he going to tell Maggie the truth? How will she respond? And how will he be able to keep Maggie and her young son in his life after the 21 days?

Read an excerpt from the publisher's website.