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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
Fun, funny, easy to read. Towards the end got bogged down a little too much with all of the characters from previous books, subsequent books, etc. - a few siblings/friends go a long way.
“‘You know how people do it? They decide to fuck the plan. Seriously. Fuck the plan. Walk in the woods. Reject anyone's definition of success. Abandon expectations. Listen to your heartbeat. Take no one's shit.’ He brought his hand to my neck, sliding it around to cup my nape. ‘And steal every kiss you can.’”
This was an excellent MF romance that I really enjoyed!! Both characters were bi/pan which I appreciated, and this book was much more about character growth than plot lines. The dialogue and banter was on point, and Linden was sooo swoony. Gotta love those lumberjack vibes!
4.5/5 stars :)
This was an excellent MF romance that I really enjoyed!! Both characters were bi/pan which I appreciated, and this book was much more about character growth than plot lines. The dialogue and banter was on point, and Linden was sooo swoony. Gotta love those lumberjack vibes!
4.5/5 stars :)
“Into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.” - John Muir - Preface
What you need to know about “The Belle and The Beard”:
✔ Opposites Attract
✔ Dual Point of View
✔ Romantic Comedy
✔ Jasper-Anne Cleary, 35, out of work, newly single, campaign strategist
✔ Linden Santillian, 36, arborist, bearded grumpy neighbor
✔ Enemies to Lovers
✔ Can be read as a Complete Standalone
✔ Adventures in Dating #3
Jasper and Linden meet when he and his brother, Ash (Boss in the Bedsheets) notice her trying to break into the rundown house next to his. It was once owned by Midge Miseelbush who passed away two years prior. The author, from Linden’s perspective, describes Jasper’s walk as likely being able to open a “chasm deep enough to fully digest those who got in her way.” She is dressed in a 1950’s vintage style and speaks in a voice that is warm and Southern while also having a “destroy you like a kraken” vibe.
Then Linden notices that Jasper is gorgeous: “she reminded me of summer - screen doors banging in the breeze, ripe strawberries, and the kind of oppressive heat that sent sweat rolling down your back.”
Jasper describes Linden as a bear and a brute and his hands as paws. He’s “thick as a redwood and nearly as tall”, he has a “wolfish grin”, he’s beastly and more so than anything else he’s a wolf to her. She must face him head on as he’s a threat, like a wolf, to counter any attack.
The reader gets such rich descriptive impressions of the characters by Kate Canterbary in a few sentences. I really admire this about her writing.
Jasper is at the end of her rope after a difficult week. “I was all out of sweet and fight and the only card I had up my sleeve was the belief that I had this under control.” She is the queen of powering through problems. She’s been fired and is “radioactive” in terms of finding a new job after a slip up on live TV and is hiding out. She is determined to clean her way through all the guano in Midge's house, the painting, the porch problems and everything else in order to survive.
For some reason, her presence and her insistence on doing everything herself sets Linden off. Their relationship gets more and more out of control. Gradually after a breaking point this makes way for a growing and mutual attraction and soon they can’t keep their hands off of each other.
They are both somewhat messes: Jasper is professionally and personally and Linden is personally.
I loved revisiting the Santillian family and Ash and Zelda (Boss in the Bedsheets) and Magnolia and Rob (The Magnolia Chronicles). Their warmth and own brand of crazy was exactly what Jasper needed to find her balance and the sense of family that she’d been missing out on.
Linden’s “lumberbear” of a man is so multi-faceted, vulnerable, quiet and strong, angry and empathetic. I absolutely loved him.
Jasper and Linden’s relationship is many walks in the woods and slowly figuring each other out and themselves. It’s also a lot of terrible baked goods, fancy toast, an immortal cat and the wonderfulness of a crazy family. I highly recommend this lovely book and the entire series.
WRITING STYLE: 5/5
PLOT: 5/5
WORLD-BUILDING: 5/5
PACING: 5/5
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: 5/5
ROMANCE: 5/5
HEAT: 5/5
What you need to know about “The Belle and The Beard”:
✔ Opposites Attract
✔ Dual Point of View
✔ Romantic Comedy
✔ Jasper-Anne Cleary, 35, out of work, newly single, campaign strategist
✔ Linden Santillian, 36, arborist, bearded grumpy neighbor
✔ Enemies to Lovers
✔ Can be read as a Complete Standalone
✔ Adventures in Dating #3
Jasper and Linden meet when he and his brother, Ash (Boss in the Bedsheets) notice her trying to break into the rundown house next to his. It was once owned by Midge Miseelbush who passed away two years prior. The author, from Linden’s perspective, describes Jasper’s walk as likely being able to open a “chasm deep enough to fully digest those who got in her way.” She is dressed in a 1950’s vintage style and speaks in a voice that is warm and Southern while also having a “destroy you like a kraken” vibe.
Then Linden notices that Jasper is gorgeous: “she reminded me of summer - screen doors banging in the breeze, ripe strawberries, and the kind of oppressive heat that sent sweat rolling down your back.”
Jasper describes Linden as a bear and a brute and his hands as paws. He’s “thick as a redwood and nearly as tall”, he has a “wolfish grin”, he’s beastly and more so than anything else he’s a wolf to her. She must face him head on as he’s a threat, like a wolf, to counter any attack.
The reader gets such rich descriptive impressions of the characters by Kate Canterbary in a few sentences. I really admire this about her writing.
Jasper is at the end of her rope after a difficult week. “I was all out of sweet and fight and the only card I had up my sleeve was the belief that I had this under control.” She is the queen of powering through problems. She’s been fired and is “radioactive” in terms of finding a new job after a slip up on live TV and is hiding out. She is determined to clean her way through all the guano in Midge's house, the painting, the porch problems and everything else in order to survive.
For some reason, her presence and her insistence on doing everything herself sets Linden off. Their relationship gets more and more out of control. Gradually after a breaking point this makes way for a growing and mutual attraction and soon they can’t keep their hands off of each other.
They are both somewhat messes: Jasper is professionally and personally and Linden is personally.
I loved revisiting the Santillian family and Ash and Zelda (Boss in the Bedsheets) and Magnolia and Rob (The Magnolia Chronicles). Their warmth and own brand of crazy was exactly what Jasper needed to find her balance and the sense of family that she’d been missing out on.
Linden’s “lumberbear” of a man is so multi-faceted, vulnerable, quiet and strong, angry and empathetic. I absolutely loved him.
Jasper and Linden’s relationship is many walks in the woods and slowly figuring each other out and themselves. It’s also a lot of terrible baked goods, fancy toast, an immortal cat and the wonderfulness of a crazy family. I highly recommend this lovely book and the entire series.
WRITING STYLE: 5/5
PLOT: 5/5
WORLD-BUILDING: 5/5
PACING: 5/5
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: 5/5
ROMANCE: 5/5
HEAT: 5/5
Can’t quite remember where the recommendation for this came from, but you know I have a soft spot for lumberjack types. The story was just okay, but the steam was perfection. I usually dislike reading a series out of order but I likely won’t go back and do the other triplets.
Love this family
I have to say, I adore the Santillian family. They are a trip, and I wish I knew their mom in real life! I loved Ash and Zelda’s story, but this one is a close contender for favorite. I love Linden, even when he’s being a growly lumberbear. I adore his relationship with his triplet siblings. I love the banter between him and Jasper. My only issue was that she was quite unlikable much of the time. Yes, she had a horrible tragic childhood. Yes, she had a failed marriage that occurred on a whim with a friend after a failed relationship. Yes, she was a woman before her way to the top in a mostly man’s world. And yes, her entire career exploded publicly over an unexpected hot mic. But she was just SO hot and cold. There were actually times when I thought the banter between her and Linden was jovial, but found she was actually furious. She seems to take independent woman to feminazi extremes, that often were just ridiculous. Not every single offer of kindness or assistance is diminishing one’s value as an independent capable woman for crying out loud. I’m also not sure what the purpose was of mentioning that Linden had a relationship with a close male friend (that he never took further after hooking up, before the guy moved away then died suddenly), or that he considered himself pansexual. Or that Jasper, for all her prim and properness, lived with a girlfriend before that relationship ended and she responded by marrying her best friend. I guess it’s nice that they were written as normal accepted relationships, and the idea of inclusivity was great. But it didn’t really add anything to the story. Jasper was this odd mix of prim and proper, wearing pin up dresses and heels exclusively even while painting and cleaning the cottage. She said things like “You’re being quite imperious” and “rude and lusty” about a million times, had impeccable southern manners, yet worked for progressive political parties and had a girlfriend at some point. It was just a strange combination to me.
Overall, I quite liked the story. I adore this family. And this is definitely a book that I reread regularly.
I have to say, I adore the Santillian family. They are a trip, and I wish I knew their mom in real life! I loved Ash and Zelda’s story, but this one is a close contender for favorite. I love Linden, even when he’s being a growly lumberbear. I adore his relationship with his triplet siblings. I love the banter between him and Jasper. My only issue was that she was quite unlikable much of the time. Yes, she had a horrible tragic childhood. Yes, she had a failed marriage that occurred on a whim with a friend after a failed relationship. Yes, she was a woman before her way to the top in a mostly man’s world. And yes, her entire career exploded publicly over an unexpected hot mic. But she was just SO hot and cold. There were actually times when I thought the banter between her and Linden was jovial, but found she was actually furious. She seems to take independent woman to feminazi extremes, that often were just ridiculous. Not every single offer of kindness or assistance is diminishing one’s value as an independent capable woman for crying out loud. I’m also not sure what the purpose was of mentioning that Linden had a relationship with a close male friend (that he never took further after hooking up, before the guy moved away then died suddenly), or that he considered himself pansexual. Or that Jasper, for all her prim and properness, lived with a girlfriend before that relationship ended and she responded by marrying her best friend. I guess it’s nice that they were written as normal accepted relationships, and the idea of inclusivity was great. But it didn’t really add anything to the story. Jasper was this odd mix of prim and proper, wearing pin up dresses and heels exclusively even while painting and cleaning the cottage. She said things like “You’re being quite imperious” and “rude and lusty” about a million times, had impeccable southern manners, yet worked for progressive political parties and had a girlfriend at some point. It was just a strange combination to me.
Overall, I quite liked the story. I adore this family. And this is definitely a book that I reread regularly.
Who doesn’t love a story about a controlling guy who lives basically in the middle of nowhere, and the girl that doesn’t take his crap.
Jasper is down on her luck. Recently fired and desperately needing an escape. Her aunt left her a place and Jasper decides it’s the perfect place to go while she figured things out. She wasn’t counting on Linden though.
Linden likes the solitude. He doesn’t even like when his family visits. The problem is his reaction to Jasper is instant. And he doesn’t understand it. She entertains him and he likes when she argues with him, especially when he mansplains.
They are both stubborn and so perfect for each other. Such a cute fun read.
Now I’m going to go make some fancy toast s
Jasper is down on her luck. Recently fired and desperately needing an escape. Her aunt left her a place and Jasper decides it’s the perfect place to go while she figured things out. She wasn’t counting on Linden though.
Linden likes the solitude. He doesn’t even like when his family visits. The problem is his reaction to Jasper is instant. And he doesn’t understand it. She entertains him and he likes when she argues with him, especially when he mansplains.
They are both stubborn and so perfect for each other. Such a cute fun read.
Now I’m going to go make some fancy toast s
Jasper and Linden’s story grabs your attention from the start. They’re constantly pushing each other’s buttons as they fight their connection to one another. He comes off a broody and standoffish and she’s fiery and defensive. Its an entertaining read.