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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
lighthearted
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
- white m/w, both pan, neighbors, kinda grumpy/sunshine
- if you like a woman who is determined as fuck and has been alone for a little too long and a man who loves being alone except she cracks him open, then this is a book for you
- it was a little too long for my brain, but WHEW some of the hottest no-sex foreplay scenes DAMN
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
While "The Belle and the Beard" was laugh-out-loud funny at times, this book was so much more than just a rom-com. It featured incredibly well-developed, endearing characters and a complex enemies-to-lovers romance between new neighbors Linden Santillian and Jasper-Anne Cleary. After Jasper's career as a political strategist imploded on national TV, she retreated to her deceased aunt's ramshackle house in Massachusetts to regroup. She had to reinvent her entire life from scratch, but that was extremely difficult to do while also being confronted with a metric ton of baggage from her childhood and past relationships as well as trying to keep her aunt's house from falling down on top of her.
Jasper was used to being a fixer, jumping in and doing what needed to be done while everyone around her was still trying to figure out exactly what had happened, and she was also staunchly independent, refusing to ask for or accept help from anyone. That created quite a bit of conflict in her relationship with Linden, who had a tendency to be overprotective where Jasper was concerned. I appreciated that she wasn't afraid to call him on it, but he pushed back and made her realize that it was okay for her to accept help. Their banter along the way was fantastic and frequently made me laugh, and I loved their fiery chemistry as well. The slow burn over the first half of the book seemed like torture at times, but the payoff was totally worth it.
Overall, "The Belle and the Beard" gave me all the feels and I absolutely loved it. I highly recommend this story for all contemporary romance fans. It was the first book I've read by Kate Canterbary, but it certainly won't be the last.
*Review copy provided by the author/publisher via Grey's Promotions. All opinions expressed are my own.
Jasper was used to being a fixer, jumping in and doing what needed to be done while everyone around her was still trying to figure out exactly what had happened, and she was also staunchly independent, refusing to ask for or accept help from anyone. That created quite a bit of conflict in her relationship with Linden, who had a tendency to be overprotective where Jasper was concerned. I appreciated that she wasn't afraid to call him on it, but he pushed back and made her realize that it was okay for her to accept help. Their banter along the way was fantastic and frequently made me laugh, and I loved their fiery chemistry as well. The slow burn over the first half of the book seemed like torture at times, but the payoff was totally worth it.
Overall, "The Belle and the Beard" gave me all the feels and I absolutely loved it. I highly recommend this story for all contemporary romance fans. It was the first book I've read by Kate Canterbary, but it certainly won't be the last.
*Review copy provided by the author/publisher via Grey's Promotions. All opinions expressed are my own.
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
They’re both queer, both stubborn and grumpy, both determined not to have feelings… Kate Canterbary writes excellent books, but this one is the best one.