Book review of “Hard Hats and Doormats”

“Hard Hats and Doormats” by Laura Chapman
Book Description:
Lexi Burke has always been a stickler for following rules and procedures. As a human resources manager for a leading Gulf Coast chemical company, it’s her job to make sure everyone else falls in line, too.
But after losing out on a big promotion–-because her boss sees her as too much of a yes-woman––Lexi adopts a new policy of following her heart instead of the fine print. And her heart knows what it wants: Jason Beaumont, a workplace crush who is off limits based on her previous protocol.
While navigating a new romance and interoffice politics, Lexi must find the confidence to stand on her own or face a lifetime of following someone else’s orders.
Who says nice girls have to finish last?
My Review:
Being an online friend of Laura Chapman’s, I’ve eagerly been waiting to read her much-anticipated debut novel, “Hard Hats and Doormats.” As some might remember, Chick Lit Goddess did a post sharing her cover reveal, (see that HERE). The cover had me highly intrigued!
From the beginning, I really liked Lexi’s character. She seemed like a fun girl, had good friends, a job she enjoyed and was good at, but the one thing she seemed to lack was having confidence. At times, I wish she would’ve stop thinking about her job so much or feel obligated to what her boss wanted her to do, but that’s what made Lexi’s transformation through the book a fun read. I did find it interesting that when Jason was around her, he always seemed to give her the confidence she needed, and helped push her in the right direction. As a reader, I felt the chemistry between them — even the night he helped her home after drinking. Jason’s character played the classic hero!
“Hard Hats and Doormats” was very entertaining. Being from Texas, and having family in Houston, I was familiar with some of the small towns along the way, and I loved the country music references, too. Like I said above, I liked Lexi and Jason, the storyline moved at a fast pace, and I especially enjoyed how it ended–thank goodness Lexi made a decision that made herself happy. While Lexi and Jason both traveled a lot, when they were home together, the only thing I wish I could’ve seen more of was more of them together, in their homes — the more day-to-day aspects of a relationship.
It is obvious that Laura Chapman is a very talented author, and I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next!
I give this book 4 stars!


**About Cara Alwill Leyba:
**About author, Cat Lavoie:


**About Susan Blexrud: Susan Blexrud grew up in Orlando, Florida, and now lives in Asheville, North Carolina, with her husband of 27 years, John, who proposed to her on New Year’s Eve 1985 on the Venice-Simplon Orient Express, halfway between Paris and Vienna. Their son Chris lives and works in Manhattan, and daughter Allison is a college junior. Susan has a Chihuahua named Baby and a cockatiel named Romeo. She is an avid reader, and she leads two monthly book clubs in Asheville. She is a walker and Yoga enthusiast. She enjoys quilting and bird watching (loves hummingbirds), and most of all, writing her next story.

