Made to Last by Melissa Tagg

I enjoyed Melissa Tagg's debut novel, Made to Last.  I thought her story line was clever--that of a single woman who has her own television homebuilding show and is fluctuating between three men; a former fiance, a fake husband and a reporter.

Miranda Woodruff was chosen for the new homebuilding show, From the Ground Up.  Randi developed her love of wood and building from her grandfather who'd helped raise her.  Then she'd spent 3 years in Brazil building for the poor which is also where she met her former fiance, Robbie,

also a builder, who'd abandoned her and left her with only an engagement ring.  When she auditioned for the show, she mentioned building tricks she'd learned from her "husband"--assuming she and Robbie would be married by the time her show aired.  But even though her husband didn't materialize, she kept mentioning him on her show from time to time...and the lies got easier.  Rumor had it that her show might be edged out by a new up-and-coming homebuilding show, so her director thought they needed something to increase their ratings.  He wanted to introduce Randi's "husband" to the public.  So they had to find said husband.
Blaze was a Robbie-look-alike and happened to be working for the caterer on Randi's set and fit the part for the fake husband.  Enter Matthew...the reporter who is shadowing Randi for a serial blog on Today's website.  He not only will shadow her at work, but will stay in a cabin on her property and shadow her at home--with her new fake husband.
This novel is funny and light-hearted, but also deals with spiritual issues and baggage each of the characters is carrying.  I'd say Melissa Tagg hit a homerun with her first novel!
I'd give this book 5 out of 5 stars.
Thank you to Bethany House for providing this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255