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nikiryther's review against another edition
5.0
Oh this book. This is the second time I’ve read it, and I forgot how much I love Bliss! The quirky town, scary committee-woman, entertaining characters, and swoony hero… it all combines to give the reader an absolutely fantastic story. I loved how the VP author wrote such REAL characters. I felt like I got to actually know them and love them and root for them. That’s how you know it’s a good book- You feel like you’ve made new friends.
jaimejustreadsromance's review against another edition
5.0
Dear Romance Reader,
Jamie Farrell does it again. If you are a fan of sweet, realistic, funny and low-angst romance then this book is a must read! It has a little bit of everything for any romance lover.
The characters are witty, smart, and funny and they all live in a town with it's very own story to tell. Bliss is the most married-est town on Earth, and the townsfolk take the title very seriously. Enter the Knot Fest and The Husband Games, an annual event pitting men against each other in a series of challenges in order to be declared Husband of the Year. Hilarity and craziness ensue.
The evil Queen General, Marilyn is not happy about Natalie, a divorced single mom, being a part of the Festival after she inherited the position from her mother, and she will do anything to drive her out of town and away from possibly tainting it. I hated Marilyn and was really hoping to see Natalie stand up for herself., but I understood that she was trying to be a bigger person and do what was right for the festival and the town, rather than standing up for herself.
CJ is a former Husband Games winner and widower who is harboring his own secret guilt. He came to town to honor his late wife and to make his former in-laws happy, only to be guilted into participating in the Husband of the Half-Century Games.
A series of events keeps throwing Natalie and CJ together and the attraction is undeniable. Unfortunately, Natalie has been all but forbidden by the CG to associate with him. CJ is persistent in his pursuit of Natalie, but she's doing her best to not rock the boat. Their chemistry was fantastic and I was rooting for them from the get go. Will they ever get their happy ever after or will Marilyn get her way, no matter who it hurts?
I really loved everything about this story. There was a bit of heat thrown into the sweet of this story, and a lot of laughs. The characters, both main and secondary are what made this story great. I cannot wait to read Kimmie's story, those dreams of hers will provide a multitude of laughs and fun, but Lindsey's story will be interesting because she's sort of a mystery. I hope that we get to read more about the Blue sisters, I mean seriously, the names alone will provide pages of entertainment for me. I cannot wait to see where Jamie takes this series.
-Jaime
*I received an ARC from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review
Jamie Farrell does it again. If you are a fan of sweet, realistic, funny and low-angst romance then this book is a must read! It has a little bit of everything for any romance lover.
The characters are witty, smart, and funny and they all live in a town with it's very own story to tell. Bliss is the most married-est town on Earth, and the townsfolk take the title very seriously. Enter the Knot Fest and The Husband Games, an annual event pitting men against each other in a series of challenges in order to be declared Husband of the Year. Hilarity and craziness ensue.
The evil Queen General, Marilyn is not happy about Natalie, a divorced single mom, being a part of the Festival after she inherited the position from her mother, and she will do anything to drive her out of town and away from possibly tainting it. I hated Marilyn and was really hoping to see Natalie stand up for herself., but I understood that she was trying to be a bigger person and do what was right for the festival and the town, rather than standing up for herself.
CJ is a former Husband Games winner and widower who is harboring his own secret guilt. He came to town to honor his late wife and to make his former in-laws happy, only to be guilted into participating in the Husband of the Half-Century Games.
A series of events keeps throwing Natalie and CJ together and the attraction is undeniable. Unfortunately, Natalie has been all but forbidden by the CG to associate with him. CJ is persistent in his pursuit of Natalie, but she's doing her best to not rock the boat. Their chemistry was fantastic and I was rooting for them from the get go. Will they ever get their happy ever after or will Marilyn get her way, no matter who it hurts?
I really loved everything about this story. There was a bit of heat thrown into the sweet of this story, and a lot of laughs. The characters, both main and secondary are what made this story great. I cannot wait to read Kimmie's story, those dreams of hers will provide a multitude of laughs and fun, but Lindsey's story will be interesting because she's sort of a mystery. I hope that we get to read more about the Blue sisters, I mean seriously, the names alone will provide pages of entertainment for me. I cannot wait to see where Jamie takes this series.
-Jaime
*I received an ARC from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review
hijinx_abound's review against another edition
2.0
Hmmm this is a tough one for me. I was totally appalled at the general lady. Why would a whole town allow her to treat people the way she does. She was way over the top and should have been knocked down a peg or two.
I loved that all the heroes siblings were names after spices. The relationships among the siblings were great too.
However, the story as a whole was just okay. I do not think that I will remember anything about this book except the names of the siblings.
I love this author's other books but I don't think this one was for me.
I loved that all the heroes siblings were names after spices. The relationships among the siblings were great too.
However, the story as a whole was just okay. I do not think that I will remember anything about this book except the names of the siblings.
I love this author's other books but I don't think this one was for me.
nicandbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Take me to Bliss!!
This book took me totally by surprise... I have read and LOVE all of Pippa Grant's books but hadn't started her "alter ego" Jamie Farrell's books and I'm kicking myself now for waiting so long. Blissed has the trademark humour that Pippa is known for, but also with a side of emotion that I didn't see coming. I was in tears by the end of this book (the happy, emotional kind) and I was not prepared for that AT ALL!!
You will fall in love with Nat and CJ - these two are amazing together. And I cannot wait to read more stories set in this small town!!
This book took me totally by surprise... I have read and LOVE all of Pippa Grant's books but hadn't started her "alter ego" Jamie Farrell's books and I'm kicking myself now for waiting so long. Blissed has the trademark humour that Pippa is known for, but also with a side of emotion that I didn't see coming. I was in tears by the end of this book (the happy, emotional kind) and I was not prepared for that AT ALL!!
You will fall in love with Nat and CJ - these two are amazing together. And I cannot wait to read more stories set in this small town!!
thegeekyblogger's review against another edition
4.0
Read/Listen for Fun (Audible/Kindle)
Overall Rating: 4.00
Story Rating: 4.00
Character Rating: 4.00
Audio Rating: 4.50 (not part of the overall rating)
Quick Thoughts: I won Blissed back in December but just never got around to listening to it. I am very picky about my Contemporary Romance and have to be in the right mood to read it. There are 3 things that must exist if I am going to like the book: Funny (I have to laugh), Charming Setting (I have to fall in love with the town), and Real People (I have to relate to the characters). Blissed hit all 3 of those AND I purchased the rest of the series immediately. I have to know what happens to the rest of the ladies in the book because they were a hoot. As for C.J. and Nat, they were a classic comedy of errors pair and it was totally a WIN! I fell in love with them as a couple. I just couldn't ask for more! I totally recommend Blissed!
Audio Thoughts:
Karen is one of my favorite narrators especially for fun, quirky contemporary romances. She delivered on Blissed. She brought C.J. and Nat to life. She made me laugh out loud with Nat's kiddo and made all the characters come alive! Well worth getting on audio!
Part of my Read It, Rate It, File It DONE! Reviews
Overall Rating: 4.00
Story Rating: 4.00
Character Rating: 4.00
Audio Rating: 4.50 (not part of the overall rating)
Quick Thoughts: I won Blissed back in December but just never got around to listening to it. I am very picky about my Contemporary Romance and have to be in the right mood to read it. There are 3 things that must exist if I am going to like the book: Funny (I have to laugh), Charming Setting (I have to fall in love with the town), and Real People (I have to relate to the characters). Blissed hit all 3 of those AND I purchased the rest of the series immediately. I have to know what happens to the rest of the ladies in the book because they were a hoot. As for C.J. and Nat, they were a classic comedy of errors pair and it was totally a WIN! I fell in love with them as a couple. I just couldn't ask for more! I totally recommend Blissed!
Audio Thoughts:
Narrated By Karen White / Length: 11 hrs and 35 mins
Karen is one of my favorite narrators especially for fun, quirky contemporary romances. She delivered on Blissed. She brought C.J. and Nat to life. She made me laugh out loud with Nat's kiddo and made all the characters come alive! Well worth getting on audio!
Part of my Read It, Rate It, File It DONE! Reviews
opheliabedilia's review against another edition
2.0
I didn't realize going in that Jamie Farrell is the name that Pippa Grant uses (or maybe just used to use) to write more straight-laced, less madcap-comedic, material. So for a long while I just kept thinking how much less funny and fun this was than her usual fare. Once I looked it up and realized the deal with the pennames, I readjusted my expectations, and started asking myself how much of the fact that I wasn't much enjoying the book was due to my erroneous expectations going in, and how much of it was the book itself.
Unfortunately, I finally concluded it was the book itself. The thing is, the entire set-up would have been perfect for a Pippa Grant style romcom, so it's too bad that's not the treatment it got. Instead, it's a relatively serious story being told in a ridiculous setting.
This town these people live in may as well have been transported to the 21st century on a time machine from 19th century London, residents and all. This is a town where marriage is so important, so sacrosanct, that when a prominent and well-liked resident gets divorced, and the resident older lady with power who has appointed herself the arbiter of all morality town-wide decides to shun the divorcee and tells everyone else to do the same, they dutifully fall in line and it nearly ruins the divorcee's life, as if getting divorced wasn't already hard enough. It's all straight out of a Regency-era story featuring dukes and duchesses.
To make it worse, said older lady who does everything in her power to ruin the FMC's life because she had the audacity to get divorced gets something of a redemption arc, even though she in no way apologizes, and even though the MMC points out that she did not in any way apologize. It was all just frustrating, and very hard to suspend my disbelief for. I think I need to stick to books where this author writes as Pippa Grant.
Unfortunately, I finally concluded it was the book itself. The thing is, the entire set-up would have been perfect for a Pippa Grant style romcom, so it's too bad that's not the treatment it got. Instead, it's a relatively serious story being told in a ridiculous setting.
This town these people live in may as well have been transported to the 21st century on a time machine from 19th century London, residents and all. This is a town where marriage is so important, so sacrosanct, that when a prominent and well-liked resident gets divorced, and the resident older lady with power who has appointed herself the arbiter of all morality town-wide decides to shun the divorcee and tells everyone else to do the same, they dutifully fall in line and it nearly ruins the divorcee's life, as if getting divorced wasn't already hard enough. It's all straight out of a Regency-era story featuring dukes and duchesses.
To make it worse, said older lady who does everything in her power to ruin the FMC's life because she had the audacity to get divorced gets something of a redemption arc, even though she in no way apologizes, and even though the MMC points out that she did not in any way apologize. It was all just frustrating, and very hard to suspend my disbelief for. I think I need to stick to books where this author writes as Pippa Grant.
bookishnicole's review against another edition
5.0
I've been slain by adorablenss. Like so fucking cute.
amyma's review against another edition
4.0
This book was 100% chicklit with a not very believable storyline, but still fun and perfect for a summer weekend read/listen. Don't read this book if you don't think books can be fluffy, this one is about as fluffy as they come. Don't believe me? What other town in a book is completely devoted to weddings and even has a wedding cake statue in the center of town. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series for another sweet story.