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Ever After Street #2
An Enchanted Moment on Ever After Street
A brand new and utterly enchanting series by bestselling author Jaimie Admans. A picture-perfect town, a place where dreams come true. Welcome to Ever After Street...
A tale as old as time…
Since her mum’s death, Marnie Platt has shut herself away from everyone who cares about her. Worse, her beloved bookshop on Ever After Street is suffering too. With sales down and the shop’s garden falling into disrepair, Marnie risks losing the very last thing she loves. Until a chance encounter with her surly and reclusive neighbour….
Dark and brooding, Darcy O'Connell likes to keep himself to himself. But when he hears Marnie needs help, he can’t turn his back on her. Soon they are spending most evenings together in her enchanted garden and a friendship starts to bloom…
With the help of old and new friends on Ever After Street, Marnie's bookshop begins to thrive again, and with Darcy's kindness, she starts to get her sparkle back too. She just can't understand why Darcy continues to shut himself away - especially from her. Can she convince him it isn't too late to embrace life, and maybe love, again?
Because every story, even theirs, deserves a happy ending….
Perfect for fans of Holly Martin, Kat French and Caroline Roberts!
A tale as old as time…
Since her mum’s death, Marnie Platt has shut herself away from everyone who cares about her. Worse, her beloved bookshop on Ever After Street is suffering too. With sales down and the shop’s garden falling into disrepair, Marnie risks losing the very last thing she loves. Until a chance encounter with her surly and reclusive neighbour….
Dark and brooding, Darcy O'Connell likes to keep himself to himself. But when he hears Marnie needs help, he can’t turn his back on her. Soon they are spending most evenings together in her enchanted garden and a friendship starts to bloom…
With the help of old and new friends on Ever After Street, Marnie's bookshop begins to thrive again, and with Darcy's kindness, she starts to get her sparkle back too. She just can't understand why Darcy continues to shut himself away - especially from her. Can she convince him it isn't too late to embrace life, and maybe love, again?
Because every story, even theirs, deserves a happy ending….
Perfect for fans of Holly Martin, Kat French and Caroline Roberts!
320 pages, Paperback
Published January 11, 2024
129 people are currently reading
502 people want to read
About the author
Jaimie Admans
32 books709 followersJaimie is a 32-year-old English-sounding Welsh girl with an awkward-to-spell name. She lives in South Wales and enjoys writing, gardening, watching horror movies, and drinking tea, although she’s seriously considering marrying her coffee machine. She loves autumn and winter, and singing songs from musicals despite the fact she’s got the voice of a dying hyena. She hates spiders, hot weather, and cheese & onion crisps. She spends far too much time on Twitter and owns too many pairs of boots.
She will never have time to read all the books she wants to read.
She is the author of chick-lit romantic comedies The Chateau of Happily Ever Afters and Kismetology, and she has also written young-adult romantic comedies Afterlife Academy, Not Pretty Enough, and North Pole Reform School.
She will never have time to read all the books she wants to read.
She is the author of chick-lit romantic comedies The Chateau of Happily Ever Afters and Kismetology, and she has also written young-adult romantic comedies Afterlife Academy, Not Pretty Enough, and North Pole Reform School.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
March 28, 2025
In a Nutshell: This book has overthrown all my earlier Jaimie Admans novels to settle at the top favourite position! Loved the main characters, the setting, the connection to ‘Beauty and the Beast’, and of course, the nod to ‘Pride and Prejudice’. Much recommended to readers of clean romances. You can’t go wrong with Jaimie Admans!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Note: I apologise in advance for sounding like an enthusiastic puppy in the review. But oh my God, this book!
Story Synopsis:
There are a couple of things you need to know first:
1. I no longer read romance novels. The only time I pick up a book from this genre is when it promises to offer me something beyond plain romance. So for romances, the title or the cover can’t sway me. It’s the blurb that makes a difference to my decision.
2. ‘Pride and Prejudice’ is one of my all-time favourite books, with Fitzwilliam Darcy being the top ranker on my Complex Characters’ list. My close friends know how fanatical I am about Darcy (especially if he looks like Colin Firth! *swoon!*) As such, I NEVER knowingly pick up books where a character is named ‘Darcy’, because these inevitably turn the original into a caricature.
Why is this important?
Simple. I picked up this book merely on seeing Jaimie Admans’ name on the cover and broke my own rule of reading the blurb first. Her novels always have excellent settings, and her plots go way beyond typical romances. Moreover, I had enjoyed the first book of this series: A Midnight Kiss on Ever After Street, which was somewhat based on Cinderella. So I didn’t feel the need to read the blurb before opting for this standalone sequel.
And then came the big discovery: The MMC of this book is named ‘Darcy’! 😱
This could have gone either way, considering what big shoes this new Darcy would have to fill in my mind where Jane Austen’s Darcy is on a permanent pedestal. My rating shows you how successful Admans has been in her endeavour.
Where do I begin praising this book!? It hits almost all the marks at a 100% level!
Bookish Yays:
😍 The journey: Everyone knows that romances are predictable. You read these novels not for the ending, but for the journey. And the journey as well as the destination are adorable in this book.
😍 The homage to ‘Beauty and the Beast’, one of my all-time favourite fairy tales. Admittedly, most of this is based on the Disney version, but Admans sneaks in a few references to the original as well. Does great justice to the ‘tale as old as time.’
😍 The references to ‘Pride and Prejudice’– what a way to trick an Austenite into gushing over a contemporary romance story!
😍 The setting: The gorgeous Ever After Street, a place I would gladly love to visit.
😍 Marnie: The garrulous introvert with a giant heart. She acts her age, which isn’t something I can claim about most romance heroines of today. Loved her character!
😍 Darcy: Ahem… what can I say! If ever there were a competition for the second best Darcy of all time, this Darcy would easily win! I was totally unprepared for his name, so when I first saw it, you should have seen the big Cheshire-Cat grin on my face! 😁
😍 Miss Potts the cat: Awwww! 😻
😍 The secondary characters: Except for Rick, every single character has a well-sketched personality. Cleo is a good addition to the set. Witt and Sadie from the first book also make a strong appearance.
😍 The focus on grief and mental health: Well-handled for both Marnie and Darcy.
😍 The bookshop and all that is connected to it: What book lover will hate these elements!?
😍 The romance: A perfect combination of friends-to-lovers as well as grumpy-vs-sunshine tropes. As someone who passionately (What an ironic word choice!) hates insta-romances, I loved this slow development of feelings between the lead characters. Give me this old-school love any day! No steam, all clean except for a few kisses – Yippee!
😍 The physical “flaws”: The focus on physical perfection and the stress on attraction based on looks is a hallmark of almost all romance novels. This book ignores both these elements, and offers to us a love story that is more a meeting of minds than of bodies. The only complaint I would make in this regard is that the book over-compensates on the word ‘beautiful’ after the “reveal”, as if we the readers need to be convinced that you-know-who is gorgeous. We don't!
😍 The open secrets: Marnie faces two minor mysteries in the story, but to the readers, both of these are as clear as day. This isn’t a mystery novel, of course, so the guessability of the suspense wasn’t a disappointment to me. Rather, the anticipation of when she would realise what was so obvious to the reader adds to the fun.
😍 The missing “touchy-feely” stuff: Now, you won’t really understand this point without context. In each of my reviews of a Jaimie Admans novel (three so far!), I have complained about how much of the focus is on touch (in non-bedroom scenes), and why it doesn’t work for me because touch isn’t my love language. A small part of me feels like Ms. Admans saw my earlier reviews and went, “Good Lord! This Rosh just doesn’t shut up about my dear characters’ need for touching each other! Let me teach her a lesson!” She then formulated the devious plan of writing a romance story where her characters literally cannot touch each other for a major chunk of the book, and for perfectly genuine reasons. What can I say now? Jaimie Admans-1: Rosh-0.
Bookish Nays:
😐 The only thing I didn’t like about this book is the character of Rick, who is clearly based on Gaston from the Disney adaptation of ‘Beauty and the Beast’. I wouldn’t say that self-centred people like him don’t exist in the world; they do. But I didn’t get why he was so bent on getting Marnie back. The motive stays unclear, and his behaviour sticks to the expected obnoxious level throughout. As a result, his character is the only one that feels clichéd.
😐 A tiny complaint about the cover as well. Though I love the two shops, the castle in the background, and the roses, the couple on the cover doesn’t match the description of the couple in the book.
That's it! The rest? *Chef’s kiss!*
I think the author totally didn’t play fair towards ensuring my strong approval rating for this book. Imagine throwing Darcy, ‘Beauty and the Beast’, a bookshop, a cat, a fairy-tale based street, and an old-fashioned romance at me like that! What’s a girl to do!
Admans recently revealed on her Instagram page that she is currently working on Book Four of this series. All I will say is: You have some super-high expectations to live up to after this one, Ms. Admans!
Strongly recommended to all lovers of the romance genre who prefer their love stories slow and steady rather than steamy and speedy. You can read this sequel as a standalone book, but seriously, why would you want to disregard the first of the series? Read both!
4.5 stars, rounding up. (As if I could round it down with this Darcy in the lead role!)
My thanks to Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of “An Enchanted Moment on Ever After Street”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
The book is available for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Note: I apologise in advance for sounding like an enthusiastic puppy in the review. But oh my God, this book!
Story Synopsis:
Since her mother died about a year ago, Marnie Platt has become a semi-recluse, shunning her concerned friends from Ever After Street. Her attitude also affects the sales in her beloved bookshop. However, when an unknown neighbour files a complaint about the abandoned bookshop garden, Marnie gets a wake-up call. She knows that if she has to save the bookshop, the garden, and herself, she can’t afford to waste more time grieving. Luckily, her grumpy neighbour, a gardener and florist, hears about her problem and by some miracle, decides to help with the garden. Soon, a begrudging friendship forms between them, even though her neighbour is determined to remain as mysterious as ever. Can Marnie convince her new friend that life is worth embracing, when she herself isn’t sure about what it holds?
The story comes to us in the first person perspective of Marnie.
There are a couple of things you need to know first:
1. I no longer read romance novels. The only time I pick up a book from this genre is when it promises to offer me something beyond plain romance. So for romances, the title or the cover can’t sway me. It’s the blurb that makes a difference to my decision.
2. ‘Pride and Prejudice’ is one of my all-time favourite books, with Fitzwilliam Darcy being the top ranker on my Complex Characters’ list. My close friends know how fanatical I am about Darcy (especially if he looks like Colin Firth! *swoon!*) As such, I NEVER knowingly pick up books where a character is named ‘Darcy’, because these inevitably turn the original into a caricature.
Why is this important?
Simple. I picked up this book merely on seeing Jaimie Admans’ name on the cover and broke my own rule of reading the blurb first. Her novels always have excellent settings, and her plots go way beyond typical romances. Moreover, I had enjoyed the first book of this series: A Midnight Kiss on Ever After Street, which was somewhat based on Cinderella. So I didn’t feel the need to read the blurb before opting for this standalone sequel.
And then came the big discovery: The MMC of this book is named ‘Darcy’! 😱
This could have gone either way, considering what big shoes this new Darcy would have to fill in my mind where Jane Austen’s Darcy is on a permanent pedestal. My rating shows you how successful Admans has been in her endeavour.
Where do I begin praising this book!? It hits almost all the marks at a 100% level!
Bookish Yays:
😍 The journey: Everyone knows that romances are predictable. You read these novels not for the ending, but for the journey. And the journey as well as the destination are adorable in this book.
😍 The homage to ‘Beauty and the Beast’, one of my all-time favourite fairy tales. Admittedly, most of this is based on the Disney version, but Admans sneaks in a few references to the original as well. Does great justice to the ‘tale as old as time.’
😍 The references to ‘Pride and Prejudice’– what a way to trick an Austenite into gushing over a contemporary romance story!
😍 The setting: The gorgeous Ever After Street, a place I would gladly love to visit.
😍 Marnie: The garrulous introvert with a giant heart. She acts her age, which isn’t something I can claim about most romance heroines of today. Loved her character!
😍 Darcy: Ahem… what can I say! If ever there were a competition for the second best Darcy of all time, this Darcy would easily win! I was totally unprepared for his name, so when I first saw it, you should have seen the big Cheshire-Cat grin on my face! 😁
😍 Miss Potts the cat: Awwww! 😻
😍 The secondary characters: Except for Rick, every single character has a well-sketched personality. Cleo is a good addition to the set. Witt and Sadie from the first book also make a strong appearance.
😍 The focus on grief and mental health: Well-handled for both Marnie and Darcy.
😍 The bookshop and all that is connected to it: What book lover will hate these elements!?
😍 The romance: A perfect combination of friends-to-lovers as well as grumpy-vs-sunshine tropes. As someone who passionately (What an ironic word choice!) hates insta-romances, I loved this slow development of feelings between the lead characters. Give me this old-school love any day! No steam, all clean except for a few kisses – Yippee!
😍 The physical “flaws”: The focus on physical perfection and the stress on attraction based on looks is a hallmark of almost all romance novels. This book ignores both these elements, and offers to us a love story that is more a meeting of minds than of bodies. The only complaint I would make in this regard is that the book over-compensates on the word ‘beautiful’ after the “reveal”, as if we the readers need to be convinced that you-know-who is gorgeous. We don't!
😍 The open secrets: Marnie faces two minor mysteries in the story, but to the readers, both of these are as clear as day. This isn’t a mystery novel, of course, so the guessability of the suspense wasn’t a disappointment to me. Rather, the anticipation of when she would realise what was so obvious to the reader adds to the fun.
😍 The missing “touchy-feely” stuff: Now, you won’t really understand this point without context. In each of my reviews of a Jaimie Admans novel (three so far!), I have complained about how much of the focus is on touch (in non-bedroom scenes), and why it doesn’t work for me because touch isn’t my love language. A small part of me feels like Ms. Admans saw my earlier reviews and went, “Good Lord! This Rosh just doesn’t shut up about my dear characters’ need for touching each other! Let me teach her a lesson!” She then formulated the devious plan of writing a romance story where her characters literally cannot touch each other for a major chunk of the book, and for perfectly genuine reasons. What can I say now? Jaimie Admans-1: Rosh-0.
Bookish Nays:
😐 The only thing I didn’t like about this book is the character of Rick, who is clearly based on Gaston from the Disney adaptation of ‘Beauty and the Beast’. I wouldn’t say that self-centred people like him don’t exist in the world; they do. But I didn’t get why he was so bent on getting Marnie back. The motive stays unclear, and his behaviour sticks to the expected obnoxious level throughout. As a result, his character is the only one that feels clichéd.
😐 A tiny complaint about the cover as well. Though I love the two shops, the castle in the background, and the roses, the couple on the cover doesn’t match the description of the couple in the book.
That's it! The rest? *Chef’s kiss!*
I think the author totally didn’t play fair towards ensuring my strong approval rating for this book. Imagine throwing Darcy, ‘Beauty and the Beast’, a bookshop, a cat, a fairy-tale based street, and an old-fashioned romance at me like that! What’s a girl to do!
Admans recently revealed on her Instagram page that she is currently working on Book Four of this series. All I will say is: You have some super-high expectations to live up to after this one, Ms. Admans!
Strongly recommended to all lovers of the romance genre who prefer their love stories slow and steady rather than steamy and speedy. You can read this sequel as a standalone book, but seriously, why would you want to disregard the first of the series? Read both!
4.5 stars, rounding up. (As if I could round it down with this Darcy in the lead role!)
My thanks to Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of “An Enchanted Moment on Ever After Street”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
The book is available for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
January 17, 2024
4.35⭐
Genre ~ contemporary romance
Series ~ The Ever After Street Series, #2
Others in the series ~ A Midnight Kiss on Ever After Street
Setting ~ England
Publication date ~ January 11, 2024
Est page Count ~ 330 (22 chapters)
POV ~ single 1st
Featuring ~ grumpy/sunshine, small town, slow burn, no 3rd act breakup, no steamage
I am thrilled to be back on Ever After Street for a A Beauty and the Beast retelling.
Told solely by Marnie who owns A Tale As Old As Time, a bookshop. Darcy owns The Beast's Enchanted Rose Garden, the flower shop next door.
Marnie is an introvert who would love to have a successful business with little hassle, so she can just curl up with Mrs. Potts, the cat, and read the day away. But sadly the bookshop is in danger of being shut down, so Marnie has to act fast and figure out how she can save it. Luckily she comes up with some nice ideas that turn out to be a big hit.
Darcy is a grump with a guarded big heart, who understandably has trouble letting people in. You can just tell he wants to be accepted even if he thinks he doesn't deserve to be. Slowly, very slowly, he realizes he can trust her with his true self. Their ballroom scene was just magical and I was singing while they were dancing
All of the friends on the quaint street are a delight and come together to lend a helping hand. We meet Cleo, who is lovely as well, and will be the star of the next book in the series. Gaston, I mean Rick, was a real douche canoe that needed a good swift kick to the rear.
Overall, it's totally predictable, but that in no way took away from my enjoyment.
Side note ~ British sayings are the best ~ the cat was "making pie on my knees." The same thing in the USA would be "mixing bread."
Series notes:
I suppose not mandatory to read A Midnight Kiss on Ever After Street first, but the 2 characters make a some appearances here, so you might as well just read it.
*Thanks to the author, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
Genre ~ contemporary romance
Series ~ The Ever After Street Series, #2
Others in the series ~ A Midnight Kiss on Ever After Street
Setting ~ England
Publication date ~ January 11, 2024
Est page Count ~ 330 (22 chapters)
POV ~ single 1st
Featuring ~ grumpy/sunshine, small town, slow burn, no 3rd act breakup, no steamage
I am thrilled to be back on Ever After Street for a A Beauty and the Beast retelling.
Told solely by Marnie who owns A Tale As Old As Time, a bookshop. Darcy owns The Beast's Enchanted Rose Garden, the flower shop next door.
Marnie is an introvert who would love to have a successful business with little hassle, so she can just curl up with Mrs. Potts, the cat, and read the day away. But sadly the bookshop is in danger of being shut down, so Marnie has to act fast and figure out how she can save it. Luckily she comes up with some nice ideas that turn out to be a big hit.
Darcy is a grump with a guarded big heart, who understandably has trouble letting people in. You can just tell he wants to be accepted even if he thinks he doesn't deserve to be. Slowly, very slowly, he realizes he can trust her with his true self. Their ballroom scene was just magical and I was singing while they were dancing
All of the friends on the quaint street are a delight and come together to lend a helping hand. We meet Cleo, who is lovely as well, and will be the star of the next book in the series. Gaston, I mean Rick, was a real douche canoe that needed a good swift kick to the rear.
Overall, it's totally predictable, but that in no way took away from my enjoyment.
Side note ~ British sayings are the best ~ the cat was "making pie on my knees." The same thing in the USA would be "mixing bread."
Series notes:
I suppose not mandatory to read A Midnight Kiss on Ever After Street first, but the 2 characters make a some appearances here, so you might as well just read it.
*Thanks to the author, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
December 11, 2023
An adorable story set in a small town on a street modeled after fairy tales, what's not to love? As a long-time fan of Beauty and the Beast, this was a book I naturally found myself drawn to. The bookstore is called A Tale As Old As Time and the business next door is called The Beast's Enchanted Rose Garden. How could I resist? I also adore this author's writing style, as she is able to so easily draw in the reader and build up romantic tension in a closed door setting. I never miss the intimacy, as it's written all over the page in emotions, glances, soft touches and the beautiful connections she builds in her characters. If you're looking for the perfect read for a quiet night in, your search is over with this enchanted romance.
Marnie Platt is struggling to keep her bookstore profitable after her mother's passing. A natural introvert with a tendency to make friendships online rather than in person, she has no one to turn to when she receives a letter from her landlord stating that there's been a complaint against her for her overgrown garden, and given the less-than-desirable outlook of her store, she has six weeks to turn things around or be evicted. Devastated, she escapes to said garden and bursts into tears...and is promptly interrupted by her neighbor, Darcy O'Connor. Darcy owns the flower shop next door, and although he does his best to stay far away from people, he can't help but want to help Marnie, even if he refuses to show her his face. Soon they're striking up conversation through the fence, and it's not long before they start bonding over tea and Marnie's favorite book. Darcy's doom and gloom outlook on life may be threatened by Marnie's ever-present sunshine, but love begins to bloom as does their comfort with each other. But Darcy is keeping a secret that may ruin any change of a relationship if Marnie were to ever find out about it. And even love may not be able to save it...unless they both are willing to give it a go.
The grumpiest of grumps makes an appearance in this story, with our main man, Darcy, putting up good competition for the top prize in the Grump category. Hidden from the world physically, he has no interest in getting involved in anyone's life let alone the chattering bookseller next door. Thankfully Marnie can talk enough for the both of them, and she knows just what to do say to get Darcy to come out of his shell. These two were absolutely made for each other. Although Darcy initially got some points docked for throwing Marnie's favorite book over the fence. Bad Darcy. But he makes up for it with his genuine care for her future and his bravery in facing his demons to help her overcome the challenges in her life. His backstory was so tragic, and I wanted to jump right into the book to give him a hug. He is such a good person at heart, but he let one tragedy define him for years. Only when he met someone unwilling to accept that he is a bad person did he finally see that he could find happiness and love again. Marnie brought out the best in him, and he was an amazing support system for her during such a lonely time in her life. The scene where he finally reveals himself to Marnie was so beautiful. I would re-read this book immediately just for that scene.
I have read two books by this author so far, and both have been beautifully written with layered characters and a plot that left me in happy tears. I look forward to reading whatever she has in store for us next!
**I received a free copy via NetGalley and this is my honest review.**
Marnie Platt is struggling to keep her bookstore profitable after her mother's passing. A natural introvert with a tendency to make friendships online rather than in person, she has no one to turn to when she receives a letter from her landlord stating that there's been a complaint against her for her overgrown garden, and given the less-than-desirable outlook of her store, she has six weeks to turn things around or be evicted. Devastated, she escapes to said garden and bursts into tears...and is promptly interrupted by her neighbor, Darcy O'Connor. Darcy owns the flower shop next door, and although he does his best to stay far away from people, he can't help but want to help Marnie, even if he refuses to show her his face. Soon they're striking up conversation through the fence, and it's not long before they start bonding over tea and Marnie's favorite book. Darcy's doom and gloom outlook on life may be threatened by Marnie's ever-present sunshine, but love begins to bloom as does their comfort with each other. But Darcy is keeping a secret that may ruin any change of a relationship if Marnie were to ever find out about it. And even love may not be able to save it...unless they both are willing to give it a go.
The grumpiest of grumps makes an appearance in this story, with our main man, Darcy, putting up good competition for the top prize in the Grump category. Hidden from the world physically, he has no interest in getting involved in anyone's life let alone the chattering bookseller next door. Thankfully Marnie can talk enough for the both of them, and she knows just what to do say to get Darcy to come out of his shell. These two were absolutely made for each other. Although Darcy initially got some points docked for throwing Marnie's favorite book over the fence. Bad Darcy. But he makes up for it with his genuine care for her future and his bravery in facing his demons to help her overcome the challenges in her life. His backstory was so tragic, and I wanted to jump right into the book to give him a hug. He is such a good person at heart, but he let one tragedy define him for years. Only when he met someone unwilling to accept that he is a bad person did he finally see that he could find happiness and love again. Marnie brought out the best in him, and he was an amazing support system for her during such a lonely time in her life. The scene where he finally reveals himself to Marnie was so beautiful. I would re-read this book immediately just for that scene.
I have read two books by this author so far, and both have been beautifully written with layered characters and a plot that left me in happy tears. I look forward to reading whatever she has in store for us next!
**I received a free copy via NetGalley and this is my honest review.**
January 17, 2024
This is the second book in the Ever After Street series and is a modern twist on Beauty and the Beast.
Marnie is grieving the loss of her mum who ran the A Tale As Old As Time bookshop with her. When she gets disturbing news about the shop she is distraught. Enter grumpy Darcy "the Beast" from the flower shop next door.
The pair form an unlikely friendship and begin to help each other recover and move forward. Darcy's backstory is so traumatic it was very emotional at times and despite being Mr Grumpy, he did have a caring side. I loved the development of both Marnie and Darcy throughout the book.
The bookshop setting was wonderful, especially with the addition of Mrs Potts. There is a great range of characters and a wonderful sense of community, especially when coming together to help Marnie.
This is a lovely heartwarming read and if you are a Beauty and the Beast fan I would recommend it.
Thank you Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books and Netgalley for my gifted copy and spot on the tour. I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
Marnie is grieving the loss of her mum who ran the A Tale As Old As Time bookshop with her. When she gets disturbing news about the shop she is distraught. Enter grumpy Darcy "the Beast" from the flower shop next door.
The pair form an unlikely friendship and begin to help each other recover and move forward. Darcy's backstory is so traumatic it was very emotional at times and despite being Mr Grumpy, he did have a caring side. I loved the development of both Marnie and Darcy throughout the book.
The bookshop setting was wonderful, especially with the addition of Mrs Potts. There is a great range of characters and a wonderful sense of community, especially when coming together to help Marnie.
This is a lovely heartwarming read and if you are a Beauty and the Beast fan I would recommend it.
Thank you Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books and Netgalley for my gifted copy and spot on the tour. I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
February 11, 2024
A super sweet, magical Beauty and the Beast inspired retelling that sees two neighbor store owners slowly becoming friends. I really adored this story - one of the best B&B retellings I've read. It has great disability rep, a bookstore owner, mistaken identity and tons of swoony romantic moments. Great on audio, I am loving this series and look forward to the next book!
Steam level: kissing only
Steam level: kissing only
December 2, 2023
she writes the best heroes
January 3, 2024
A beautiful spin on the Beauty and the Beast story with references to other wonderful childhood reading memories. The bookshop is a wonderful place on Ever After Street and getting to know Marnie is lovely. I loved her ideas for the business and with Mrs Potts by her side all she needed was the encouragement of Darcy to push her that little more out of her comfort zone. I’ve laughed and cried whilst reading and wanted to be part of Marnie’s world and visit A Tale As Old As Time.
January 7, 2024
As always with Jaimie’s books, I’m starting this review with a disclaimer: Jaimie is my best friend. Do I think Jaimie is one of the best people on the entire planet? Yes. Does that make me biased? Maybe. But best friend or not, I wouldn’t review her books if I didn’t genuinely love them - I would read them and then quietly move on. My love for Jaimie’s books and the joy they bring me is genuine.
*
An Enchanted Moment on Ever After Street was my first read of 2024, and what a way to kick off the year! This is quite possibly my new favourite book of Jaimie’s. It was beautiful, emotional, heartfelt, and romantic. There are so many relatable themes in this book: grief, reluctance to let people get too close, the difficulty of finding friends as an adult, and looking past physical appearances. Beauty and the Beast is my favourite fairytale and I loved that the story felt wonderfully fresh while still having many parallels and nods, both subtle and not-so-subtle, to the original tale.
I loved Marnie, the quiet, grieving bookseller, and Darcy, the reclusive florist who hid himself from the world and kept people away by making them think he was a beast. I loved watching their relationship slowly bloom like one of Darcy’s beautiful, carefully cultivated roses; there were so many poignant moments between them. The build-up between them was done so well, and their first kiss was one of the best, most intense first kisses I’ve ever read. The anticipation had me nearly breathless!
As a book lover, I adored the bookshop setting and how it became almost magical in the way both the shop itself and the books brought people together. I want to work in Marnie’s shop, be friends with her, and be part of the wonderfully eclectic Ever After Street community.
And because a proper Beauty and the Beast retelling wouldn’t be the same without some heavier themes, this book does deliver on that. Darcy’s reasons for keeping himself hidden away are revealed slowly (my mouth literally dropped open at the main reveal), and he deals with as many emotional scars as he does physical ones, as well as chronic pain. I loved how all of this was handled with so much sensitivity and care, and, like Marnie, I fell in love with Darcy’s beautiful spirit and resiliency. I also really appreciated how Marnie’s grief was dealt with, and found it incredibly relatable. Jaimie does such a wonderful job of weaving in these heavier topics with humour and heart to balance things out.
Also, I’d be remiss not to mention Marnie’s cat, Mrs Potts, who is a VIP (VIC?) in the story, and was highly amusing with her big personality.
An Enchanted Moment on Ever After Street is utterly charming and delightful. These characters stole my heart, and the story made me laugh, cry, and swoon. I can’t wait to return to Ever After Street later this year.
*I received an early copy of this book from Jaimie (BFF perks!). All thoughts are my own.
*
An Enchanted Moment on Ever After Street was my first read of 2024, and what a way to kick off the year! This is quite possibly my new favourite book of Jaimie’s. It was beautiful, emotional, heartfelt, and romantic. There are so many relatable themes in this book: grief, reluctance to let people get too close, the difficulty of finding friends as an adult, and looking past physical appearances. Beauty and the Beast is my favourite fairytale and I loved that the story felt wonderfully fresh while still having many parallels and nods, both subtle and not-so-subtle, to the original tale.
I loved Marnie, the quiet, grieving bookseller, and Darcy, the reclusive florist who hid himself from the world and kept people away by making them think he was a beast. I loved watching their relationship slowly bloom like one of Darcy’s beautiful, carefully cultivated roses; there were so many poignant moments between them. The build-up between them was done so well, and their first kiss was one of the best, most intense first kisses I’ve ever read. The anticipation had me nearly breathless!
As a book lover, I adored the bookshop setting and how it became almost magical in the way both the shop itself and the books brought people together. I want to work in Marnie’s shop, be friends with her, and be part of the wonderfully eclectic Ever After Street community.
And because a proper Beauty and the Beast retelling wouldn’t be the same without some heavier themes, this book does deliver on that. Darcy’s reasons for keeping himself hidden away are revealed slowly (my mouth literally dropped open at the main reveal), and he deals with as many emotional scars as he does physical ones, as well as chronic pain. I loved how all of this was handled with so much sensitivity and care, and, like Marnie, I fell in love with Darcy’s beautiful spirit and resiliency. I also really appreciated how Marnie’s grief was dealt with, and found it incredibly relatable. Jaimie does such a wonderful job of weaving in these heavier topics with humour and heart to balance things out.
Also, I’d be remiss not to mention Marnie’s cat, Mrs Potts, who is a VIP (VIC?) in the story, and was highly amusing with her big personality.
An Enchanted Moment on Ever After Street is utterly charming and delightful. These characters stole my heart, and the story made me laugh, cry, and swoon. I can’t wait to return to Ever After Street later this year.
*I received an early copy of this book from Jaimie (BFF perks!). All thoughts are my own.
March 30, 2024
A LITTLE BACKSTORY TO THIS SERIES
An Enchanted Moment on Ever After Street is the second book in the Ever After Street Series by The Nerdy Bookarazzi’s favourite author Jaimie Admans. Just to give you an insight on the Ever After Street Series, in this series Jaimie, plans on exploring all our favourite childhood fairytales with a modern outlook. This series takes place in a fictional place called the Ever After Street where a small community has multiple shops with Fairytale themes ranging from Aladdin, Sleeping beauty and what not?
The first book in the series is A Midnight Kiss on Ever After Street, in this book the author explored Cinderella’s story which all of us from The Nerdy Bookarazzi absolutely loved and now in An Enchanted Moment on Ever After Street, sure you all would have guessed it! It’s The Beauty and The Beast’s retelling. Yayy!!
It is a public knowledge that a lot of people have a conflicted relationship with The Beauty and The Beast story or all the Disney Fairytales for that matter, majorly because of the way in which all these females characters are built. But you will not have to worry about it in this series because Jaimie has got us all covered in that aspect.
First of all, let me tell you why I was excited about this book when Jaimie told me what the next book on this series is going to be. Well, it is based on The Beauty and The Beast so obviously there is going to be a lot of books and she said the lead character is going to be a Bookshop owner. Right after hearing this I was convinced this book is going to be mind-blowing and I would definitely love it. I was waiting for the launch eagerly for months and jumped at the first opportunity to read this book.
STORYLINE
An Enchanted Moment on Ever After Street is the story of a bookseller Marnie Platt. She owns a bookshop along with her mother who has recently passed away due to illness. Marnie while grappling with the loss of her mother, has to also save her crumbling bookstore from going out of business. To add on to her plight, she receives an eviction notice from her landlord as her negligence in maintaining the garden area which has attracted a lot of complaints. While struggling to come to terms with her mother’s death and boosting the daily sales of her bookshop, will Marnie be able to save her beloved bookshop and revive the garden to its original beauty as it was?
Marnie buckles under the pressure and realises the enormity of her world currently being out of her control. Surprisingly she finds help from her so called “Scary Neighbour” who has always been aloof from Ever After Street and its neighbourhood activities. However, he only offers help over a ledge as tall as the walls he has built around himself. The conversations Marnie has with her Scary Neighbour become her pillar of support during this time and she leans on him without ever having seen him. Will she be able to break through the hard exterior that he has created to protect himself (or others) from the beast inside?
THE NERDY BOOKARAZZI’S TAKE ON THE BOOK
The book being based on a renowned fairytale held no surprise ending but still managed to keep us engaged with its interesting take on the world of a small bookshop owner, and the path of healing the main characters were going through. This book highlights challenges and realities that a small bookshop owner might face during this era, where they have to compete with E-commerce giants who offer books for much cheaper rates and have a monopoly over the industry. The only way these little bookshop owners can stand apart is by providing amazing real-life bookish experiences to the readers which every reader craves for in this digital world. This book allows us to understand the foundation of what connects booklovers and it also encourages the bookshop owners use their stores as a safe haven where booklovers can form a community or space to connect over the universes created by their favourite authors.
The most notable aspect of this book is how the lead characters evolved and faced their emotional baggage and finally moved out of it. This is one of the major themes of the book which will have a lasting impression on the reader’s minds. Personally, one instance that shook the basement of all our belief system was the moment where Marnie gets to know her scary neighbour better and the ordeal he had faced in life, she wants to console him, saying it will be better, you should move on and all the other regular stuff we tell our friends and family when we are trying to console but she will consciously restrain herself from doing it. She believes all these consolations will only belittle the bad experiences and pain they’ve gone through in the past and that’s completely unfair. That line changed everything, it was like waking up from a trance and facing the reality for what it is. Jaimie subtly add these kind of strong psychological aspects to her books effortlessly which resounds like a thunderbolt.
When it comes to books, bookstore, bookish ideas infiltrated into books there’s nobody who can do it better than Jaimie Admans. If you are a bookshop owner, you should read this book and The little bookshop of love stories, the ideas in these books will help you boost the business and the readers crave that their favourite bookshop would come up with something like this. All the bookish references will make the readers run crazy with nostalgia.
The characterisation and the development of the Scary Neighbour next door was phenomenal. Both Marnie and Scary Neighbours character was on point, the author knows all her characters inside out that at no point any of them reacted or behaved out of character. This was absolutely remarkable because we come across various books where there will be no consistency in the character which would make the reading journey ponderous. This happens majorly because the authors themselves don’t know their characters well or they take an extremely long time to write the book and as a results sometimes the authors tent to forget their characters if it is not meticulously planned beforehand.
In the world of external beauties and amount emphasise is given on how someone looks, walks and carries themselves, through this book the author had enhanced us to see what the most vital things of all – the heart, character, intent and manners, which will make an individual look beautiful.
Generally Jaimie’s books focuses a lot on the sense of community, how people help each other no matter what. This book is no different, every shopkeeper in the ever-after-street is a sweet heart with the heart of gold. After reading her books you will want to see the good in everyone. It is a the kind of positivity everyone needs in life and Jaimie‘s books never fails to feed the readers will happiness and positivity.
It is definitely a good read if you are looking to heal your heart and fill your life with happiness then we would strongly suggest you go on this ride to Ever After Street with Marnie, we are pretty sure you will not be disappointed.
Our rating for this book would be 4 out of 5 stars
⭐⭐⭐⭐
An Enchanted Moment on Ever After Street is the second book in the Ever After Street Series by The Nerdy Bookarazzi’s favourite author Jaimie Admans. Just to give you an insight on the Ever After Street Series, in this series Jaimie, plans on exploring all our favourite childhood fairytales with a modern outlook. This series takes place in a fictional place called the Ever After Street where a small community has multiple shops with Fairytale themes ranging from Aladdin, Sleeping beauty and what not?
The first book in the series is A Midnight Kiss on Ever After Street, in this book the author explored Cinderella’s story which all of us from The Nerdy Bookarazzi absolutely loved and now in An Enchanted Moment on Ever After Street, sure you all would have guessed it! It’s The Beauty and The Beast’s retelling. Yayy!!
It is a public knowledge that a lot of people have a conflicted relationship with The Beauty and The Beast story or all the Disney Fairytales for that matter, majorly because of the way in which all these females characters are built. But you will not have to worry about it in this series because Jaimie has got us all covered in that aspect.
First of all, let me tell you why I was excited about this book when Jaimie told me what the next book on this series is going to be. Well, it is based on The Beauty and The Beast so obviously there is going to be a lot of books and she said the lead character is going to be a Bookshop owner. Right after hearing this I was convinced this book is going to be mind-blowing and I would definitely love it. I was waiting for the launch eagerly for months and jumped at the first opportunity to read this book.
STORYLINE
An Enchanted Moment on Ever After Street is the story of a bookseller Marnie Platt. She owns a bookshop along with her mother who has recently passed away due to illness. Marnie while grappling with the loss of her mother, has to also save her crumbling bookstore from going out of business. To add on to her plight, she receives an eviction notice from her landlord as her negligence in maintaining the garden area which has attracted a lot of complaints. While struggling to come to terms with her mother’s death and boosting the daily sales of her bookshop, will Marnie be able to save her beloved bookshop and revive the garden to its original beauty as it was?
Marnie buckles under the pressure and realises the enormity of her world currently being out of her control. Surprisingly she finds help from her so called “Scary Neighbour” who has always been aloof from Ever After Street and its neighbourhood activities. However, he only offers help over a ledge as tall as the walls he has built around himself. The conversations Marnie has with her Scary Neighbour become her pillar of support during this time and she leans on him without ever having seen him. Will she be able to break through the hard exterior that he has created to protect himself (or others) from the beast inside?
THE NERDY BOOKARAZZI’S TAKE ON THE BOOK
The book being based on a renowned fairytale held no surprise ending but still managed to keep us engaged with its interesting take on the world of a small bookshop owner, and the path of healing the main characters were going through. This book highlights challenges and realities that a small bookshop owner might face during this era, where they have to compete with E-commerce giants who offer books for much cheaper rates and have a monopoly over the industry. The only way these little bookshop owners can stand apart is by providing amazing real-life bookish experiences to the readers which every reader craves for in this digital world. This book allows us to understand the foundation of what connects booklovers and it also encourages the bookshop owners use their stores as a safe haven where booklovers can form a community or space to connect over the universes created by their favourite authors.
The most notable aspect of this book is how the lead characters evolved and faced their emotional baggage and finally moved out of it. This is one of the major themes of the book which will have a lasting impression on the reader’s minds. Personally, one instance that shook the basement of all our belief system was the moment where Marnie gets to know her scary neighbour better and the ordeal he had faced in life, she wants to console him, saying it will be better, you should move on and all the other regular stuff we tell our friends and family when we are trying to console but she will consciously restrain herself from doing it. She believes all these consolations will only belittle the bad experiences and pain they’ve gone through in the past and that’s completely unfair. That line changed everything, it was like waking up from a trance and facing the reality for what it is. Jaimie subtly add these kind of strong psychological aspects to her books effortlessly which resounds like a thunderbolt.
When it comes to books, bookstore, bookish ideas infiltrated into books there’s nobody who can do it better than Jaimie Admans. If you are a bookshop owner, you should read this book and The little bookshop of love stories, the ideas in these books will help you boost the business and the readers crave that their favourite bookshop would come up with something like this. All the bookish references will make the readers run crazy with nostalgia.
The characterisation and the development of the Scary Neighbour next door was phenomenal. Both Marnie and Scary Neighbours character was on point, the author knows all her characters inside out that at no point any of them reacted or behaved out of character. This was absolutely remarkable because we come across various books where there will be no consistency in the character which would make the reading journey ponderous. This happens majorly because the authors themselves don’t know their characters well or they take an extremely long time to write the book and as a results sometimes the authors tent to forget their characters if it is not meticulously planned beforehand.
In the world of external beauties and amount emphasise is given on how someone looks, walks and carries themselves, through this book the author had enhanced us to see what the most vital things of all – the heart, character, intent and manners, which will make an individual look beautiful.
Generally Jaimie’s books focuses a lot on the sense of community, how people help each other no matter what. This book is no different, every shopkeeper in the ever-after-street is a sweet heart with the heart of gold. After reading her books you will want to see the good in everyone. It is a the kind of positivity everyone needs in life and Jaimie‘s books never fails to feed the readers will happiness and positivity.
It is definitely a good read if you are looking to heal your heart and fill your life with happiness then we would strongly suggest you go on this ride to Ever After Street with Marnie, we are pretty sure you will not be disappointed.
Our rating for this book would be 4 out of 5 stars
⭐⭐⭐⭐
November 27, 2024
Marnie is definitely a piece of me. And when you recognise your own traits in a main character, you can’t help but warm to the story. Coupled with the fact that this centres around a bookshop then, without doubt, I knew this book would be a winner from Admans.
This is the second book in the Ever After Street series and you can certainly read this as a stand-alone. I like how characters from the previous story make an appearance, although I was yearning to see more from the established relationship from book one… hopefully they will feature in later instalments. Nonetheless, you can’t avoid the charm and magic of Ever After Street and this time readers are spoiled with a re-telling of Beauty and the Beast.
Marnie’s struggling bookshop is on the verge of being evicted. Her strange neighbour, whom no one has seen, becomes an unlikely ally with helping save her shop. Over time, friendship forms between the lonely bookworm and a man who people refer to as “Beast”. This is because this strange person never reveals his face and seems to enjoy keeping his distance from others – to the point that all conversations with Marnie either take place through a very thick hedge, or with this neighbour tightly wrapped up and revealing nothing.
This doesn’t deter Marnie and a beautiful friendship forms, as lovely as the roses in the next door garden. I loved the parallels established between the well-known fairy tale, even down to Marnie’s old boyfriend. Furthermore, the fact that Marnie is such a booklover made her even more endearing and I was really rooting for her to succeed in contacting the mysterious author of a book that she loves with a passion.
The story comes full circle with final events taking place in the main castle – just like the fairy tale and very similar to the first book. Similarly, I liked how the key male protagonist is not a glossy, shiny perfection of manhood: in both stories, Adman presents less-than-perfect men who have their own vulnerabilities. This makes them even more appealing in terms of characters and also empowers the female protagonists, especially as they are also initially presented as quite lost in life as well.
A lovely tale, I was so sad when I reached the end. I certainly cannot wait for the next book and know that I will be diving in to it very soon. This is a story that will delight romance readers, book lovers and those who just want to indulge in some childhood magic that gets a bit lost in adulthood.
With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is the second book in the Ever After Street series and you can certainly read this as a stand-alone. I like how characters from the previous story make an appearance, although I was yearning to see more from the established relationship from book one… hopefully they will feature in later instalments. Nonetheless, you can’t avoid the charm and magic of Ever After Street and this time readers are spoiled with a re-telling of Beauty and the Beast.
Marnie’s struggling bookshop is on the verge of being evicted. Her strange neighbour, whom no one has seen, becomes an unlikely ally with helping save her shop. Over time, friendship forms between the lonely bookworm and a man who people refer to as “Beast”. This is because this strange person never reveals his face and seems to enjoy keeping his distance from others – to the point that all conversations with Marnie either take place through a very thick hedge, or with this neighbour tightly wrapped up and revealing nothing.
This doesn’t deter Marnie and a beautiful friendship forms, as lovely as the roses in the next door garden. I loved the parallels established between the well-known fairy tale, even down to Marnie’s old boyfriend. Furthermore, the fact that Marnie is such a booklover made her even more endearing and I was really rooting for her to succeed in contacting the mysterious author of a book that she loves with a passion.
The story comes full circle with final events taking place in the main castle – just like the fairy tale and very similar to the first book. Similarly, I liked how the key male protagonist is not a glossy, shiny perfection of manhood: in both stories, Adman presents less-than-perfect men who have their own vulnerabilities. This makes them even more appealing in terms of characters and also empowers the female protagonists, especially as they are also initially presented as quite lost in life as well.
A lovely tale, I was so sad when I reached the end. I certainly cannot wait for the next book and know that I will be diving in to it very soon. This is a story that will delight romance readers, book lovers and those who just want to indulge in some childhood magic that gets a bit lost in adulthood.
With thanks to Boldwood books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 23, 2024
This book just cemented Jaimie Admans as one of my new favorite authors. An incredibly charming and heartwarming story of a beauty and a beast. Extremely likable characters, a bit of mystery, and a romance that made me smile. Highly recommend to any Disney or fairytale lovers!
January 17, 2024
I loved my return visit to Ever After Street and its welcoming community and friendly shop keepers. Marnie owns A Tale As Old As Time bookshop and she is grieving for her mother so the bookshop is suffering. The shop next door is owned by Darcy who grows and sells roses and flowers. This is a wonderful modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast and it was a delight to escape into this fairytale of a book, I absolutely adored it and was sorry to reach the end.
January 17, 2024
Beauty and the Beast meets Hallmark...:what could be bad about that? Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this new Jaimie Admans book. I usually love everything she has written especially her Christmas books and this one was no exception. The story really pulled you in and though a little predictable and sappy at times it was full of magical moments. There were so many Beauty and the a beast tie ins and as a major beauty and the beast fan it was hard not to fall in love with the story. There were even tie ins to other Disney fairytales as well. I want to visit ever after Street for sure. I will definitely be reading the first one in the series as well. I also loved the references she had to other books/movies in the story. Overall Jaimie Admans is becoming one of my must read authors. I hope she continues this Ever After Street/Disney themed stories series. Now all she needs to do is a Tangled themed one and my world will be made
January 15, 2024
Since losing her beloved mum, Marnie’s life hasn’t been easy – as well as struggling with grief, the customers just aren’t spending time or money in her bookshop, A Tale as Old as Time, and she has no idea what to do about it. And then there’s the ex who showed his true colours refusing to take “no” for an answer – and the threat of eviction because of the now overgrown garden and the failing business has made the possibility of carrying on look impossible.
Crying her heart out in the garden, her distress is heard by her “scary neighbour” – the reclusive and rarely seen owner of the flower shop next door, The Beast’s Enchanted Rose Garden. They begin to talk through the overgrown hedge, and he shows her real kindness – and helped by tea and biscuits with gifts of roses in return, his help becomes more practical, although his face always remains covered. And, with his support, the ideas begin to flow and the customers start to reappear – and if the one big event she’s planning can succeed, it might just give her a brighter future.
I’m very deliberately not going to tell any more of the story – you’ll have realised, I’m sure, that it’s a modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast – because I really want every reader who picks it up to be as enchanted by it as I was. The bookshop setting is inspired – Marnie’s passion for the books she sells is something you can really feel, and I found myself urging her on and hoping her every new idea would be a success. She’s also a really sympathetic and loveable character – easy to identify with, hurting when she hurts, sharing her moments of joy, and feeling the growing attraction to her mysterious neighbour. And his full story very slowly emerges too – entirely heartbreaking, with some real surprises along the way as his true character is gradually uncovered.
The romance in the story provides – quite honestly – some of the loveliest moments I’ve ever read, so perfectly written and intensely moving. There’s one particular moment… and no, I really mustn’t, but I could feel every second of it, aching inside, hardly breathing, and with tears in my eyes. That’s such special writing – and I’d defy anyone not to feel the same. And, as well as the wonderful couple at the heart of the story who I grew to love beyond measure, there’s the warm community of Ever After Street offering their friendship and support – and there were times when that filled my heart and moved me to tears too.
This might just be a tale as old as time, but the author’s storytelling has raised it into a class of its own. This was a book I entirely adored – but I suspect you can probably tell. If you love romance, you really must add it to your reading list now – I promise you’ll feel exactly the same as I did.
Crying her heart out in the garden, her distress is heard by her “scary neighbour” – the reclusive and rarely seen owner of the flower shop next door, The Beast’s Enchanted Rose Garden. They begin to talk through the overgrown hedge, and he shows her real kindness – and helped by tea and biscuits with gifts of roses in return, his help becomes more practical, although his face always remains covered. And, with his support, the ideas begin to flow and the customers start to reappear – and if the one big event she’s planning can succeed, it might just give her a brighter future.
I’m very deliberately not going to tell any more of the story – you’ll have realised, I’m sure, that it’s a modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast – because I really want every reader who picks it up to be as enchanted by it as I was. The bookshop setting is inspired – Marnie’s passion for the books she sells is something you can really feel, and I found myself urging her on and hoping her every new idea would be a success. She’s also a really sympathetic and loveable character – easy to identify with, hurting when she hurts, sharing her moments of joy, and feeling the growing attraction to her mysterious neighbour. And his full story very slowly emerges too – entirely heartbreaking, with some real surprises along the way as his true character is gradually uncovered.
The romance in the story provides – quite honestly – some of the loveliest moments I’ve ever read, so perfectly written and intensely moving. There’s one particular moment… and no, I really mustn’t, but I could feel every second of it, aching inside, hardly breathing, and with tears in my eyes. That’s such special writing – and I’d defy anyone not to feel the same. And, as well as the wonderful couple at the heart of the story who I grew to love beyond measure, there’s the warm community of Ever After Street offering their friendship and support – and there were times when that filled my heart and moved me to tears too.
This might just be a tale as old as time, but the author’s storytelling has raised it into a class of its own. This was a book I entirely adored – but I suspect you can probably tell. If you love romance, you really must add it to your reading list now – I promise you’ll feel exactly the same as I did.
December 6, 2023
A stunning modern day Beauty and The Beast and I'm here for it. I've loved the Ever After series and I can't wait to read hopefully more in this series.
Loved Marnie and Darcy's characters, they worked so well together. Rick was an arrogant piece of work and was willing Marnie to punch him.
Simply stunning read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Loved Marnie and Darcy's characters, they worked so well together. Rick was an arrogant piece of work and was willing Marnie to punch him.
Simply stunning read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 14, 2024
Jaimie Admans - An EnchantedMoment On Ever After Street.
For the second time, Jaimie Admans takes us on a magical journey to Ever After Street, where real life and Disney collide in a spectacular and glorious fashion.
#AnEnchantedMomentOnEverAfterStreet is easily read as a stand alone book. Its predecessor, A Midnight Kiss On Ever After Street, is most definitely worth a few hours of your time too.
It was with genuine excitement that I started reading this book.
I love Ever After Street. Jaimie Admans has created a setting that is quite special. It’s bonkers enough to be great fun, but just far enough within the realms of believability that the reader will be charmed and captivated by it.
Book shop owner Marnie’s tale on Ever After Street is inspired by Beauty And The Beast.
I liked Marnie from the start and really rooted for her to find a way out of her troubles.
Darcy is the quiet recluse from the flower shop next door.
If Darcy doesn’t melt your heart, then I’d honestly question if you even have one!
Oh Darcy… what a kind, sweet and sadly troubled soul.
Can poor Darcy find his groove once more? And maybe even fall in love too?
Then there is the obligatory baddie of the piece. Boo! Hiss! Rick is a bit of a Gaston character… thoroughly unpleasant and dislikable.
There are some old faces who make a welcome appearance and plenty of new characters for us to meet and take to our hearts. Well, except Rick of course we don’t like him!
All the characters, good and bad, are very well crafted and written with great care and love.
Well, I doubt anyone who has been kind enough to read this far will be surprised to learn that, I adored this book!
Once again Jaimie Admans has taken us readers on a magical journey, filled with friendship, community spirit and some utterly feel good, squishy romance.
Honestly, if life is getting you down, and even if it’s not A trip to Ever After Street will lift your spirits and leave you with a smile on your face and a heart that sings with joy.
#AnEnchantedMomentOnEverAfterStreet is an uplifting read, quirky, fun, full of love and a perfect homage to a Disney classic.
Jaimie Admans has taken a tale as old as time and spun her magic upon it, creating a modern day classic.
Well done Jaimie, another book that deserves to fly high for you.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
With thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources, Netgalley and Boldwood Books for a digital arc of this title.
For the second time, Jaimie Admans takes us on a magical journey to Ever After Street, where real life and Disney collide in a spectacular and glorious fashion.
#AnEnchantedMomentOnEverAfterStreet is easily read as a stand alone book. Its predecessor, A Midnight Kiss On Ever After Street, is most definitely worth a few hours of your time too.
It was with genuine excitement that I started reading this book.
I love Ever After Street. Jaimie Admans has created a setting that is quite special. It’s bonkers enough to be great fun, but just far enough within the realms of believability that the reader will be charmed and captivated by it.
Book shop owner Marnie’s tale on Ever After Street is inspired by Beauty And The Beast.
I liked Marnie from the start and really rooted for her to find a way out of her troubles.
Darcy is the quiet recluse from the flower shop next door.
If Darcy doesn’t melt your heart, then I’d honestly question if you even have one!
Oh Darcy… what a kind, sweet and sadly troubled soul.
Can poor Darcy find his groove once more? And maybe even fall in love too?
Then there is the obligatory baddie of the piece. Boo! Hiss! Rick is a bit of a Gaston character… thoroughly unpleasant and dislikable.
There are some old faces who make a welcome appearance and plenty of new characters for us to meet and take to our hearts. Well, except Rick of course we don’t like him!
All the characters, good and bad, are very well crafted and written with great care and love.
Well, I doubt anyone who has been kind enough to read this far will be surprised to learn that, I adored this book!
Once again Jaimie Admans has taken us readers on a magical journey, filled with friendship, community spirit and some utterly feel good, squishy romance.
Honestly, if life is getting you down, and even if it’s not A trip to Ever After Street will lift your spirits and leave you with a smile on your face and a heart that sings with joy.
#AnEnchantedMomentOnEverAfterStreet is an uplifting read, quirky, fun, full of love and a perfect homage to a Disney classic.
Jaimie Admans has taken a tale as old as time and spun her magic upon it, creating a modern day classic.
Well done Jaimie, another book that deserves to fly high for you.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
With thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources, Netgalley and Boldwood Books for a digital arc of this title.
January 15, 2024
I want to express my sincere and heartfelt review. This book is both predictable and heartwarming, but that doesn't diminish the enjoyment it brings. The relationship between Marine and Darcy develops gradually, which I found quite charming. Throughout the book, the references to 'Beauty and the Beast' add an extra layer to the story, giving it a touch of familiarity and nostalgia. The friendship between the Bloomsons and the progress they make in the garden is truly heartwarming, showcasing the power of community and growth. While some aspects of the book were already known to me before the big reveal, it didn't take away from my reading experience. The garden scenes, especially Marnie and Darcy's first meeting, were described with such beauty and attention to detail that they captured my attention completely. Many of their interactions had me bursting into laughter, and as Darcy gradually opened up and learned to trust again, it was inspiring to witness the neighbours change their perception of him and genuinely care for his well-being. Overall, this is a delightful and clean romance that I genuinely enjoyed. Despite its sweetness, the book also explores more profound themes, adding depth and complexity to the story.
#BookReview #AdvanceReaderCopy #HeartwarmingRomance #CommunityGrowth #Friendship #DelightfulRead #CleanRomance #GenuineCare #TrustAndHealing #DeeperThemes
#BookReview #AdvanceReaderCopy #HeartwarmingRomance #CommunityGrowth #Friendship #DelightfulRead #CleanRomance #GenuineCare #TrustAndHealing #DeeperThemes
January 22, 2024
A modern-day retelling of Beauty and the Beast done very well! A sweet romance that brings two people who struggle with interacting with other people together to start building a beautiful friendship and possibly more. However, will their love take root and grow or will it be mowed down before it gets started by a lurking villain. She needs to save her bookstore and get her life back on track while he needs to start living his life more fully again. The romance is sweet and the friendship develops sweetly and tenderly, but the underlying theme that is driven home in this book is that beauty is only skin deep and often times not even that deep. It is truly what a person is at their core and in their heart that makes them beautiful or ugly. If you look around, you'll see many people who focus on the beauty they show the world on the surface, but a few need to work on the beauty and positivity that they put out into the world more than the surface. I am absolutely in love with Ever After Street, the people who live and work there, as well as the beautiful romances that are woven into the books. This is the second book in the series and I do highly recommend that you read them in order as you will have a much stronger foundation of the people in the books. I can't wait to see what fairy tale retelling we get next and who will be living the fairy tale!
January 13, 2024
I adored this book! It's such a lovely, heartwarming story. Its fairy tale theme is enchanting and charming and focuses on friendships, love and kindness. It was so sweet and endearing. It made me feel that every little community should have a local bookshop like Marnie's. It manages to bring people together in friendship and for me, it really brightened up a very miserable week in January.
The Beauty and the Beast parallels were cute. I loved the garden scenes, especially Marnie and Darcy's first meeting and a lot of their interactions had me laughing out loud. As Darcy mellowed and began to trust others again it was lovely to see the neighbours change their minds about him and genuinely care about his welfare.
This was simply a gorgeous, uplifting story and if you are a fan of Beauty and the Beast and old-fashioned romance then this is one you won't want to miss or leave lingering on your TBR.
The Beauty and the Beast parallels were cute. I loved the garden scenes, especially Marnie and Darcy's first meeting and a lot of their interactions had me laughing out loud. As Darcy mellowed and began to trust others again it was lovely to see the neighbours change their minds about him and genuinely care about his welfare.
This was simply a gorgeous, uplifting story and if you are a fan of Beauty and the Beast and old-fashioned romance then this is one you won't want to miss or leave lingering on your TBR.
October 1, 2024
Rating: 4 stars ⭐️
Series: The Ever After Street
Tropes:
grumpy x sunshine ☀️
found family 💛
closed door 🌹
small town 🏘️
slow burn 🔥
This was an amazing feel-good women’s fiction that I would highly recommend if you want a cozy read.
I’m personally adding the rest of this series to my TBR to read more about the venders on this beautiful street. 💛
I never read a Disney inspired adaptation before and loved the Belle and the Beast elements throughout the story, it made it magical. ✨
This novel follows Marnie Platt as she embarks on her dream of opening a bookstore, a lifelong aspiration she shares with her mother.
The found family trope is particularly well-executed, giving readers a sense of warmth with which they can relate.
Thank you to Netgalley, Jamie Admans and the publisher for providing me with this copy. All opinions are my own.
Series: The Ever After Street
Tropes:
grumpy x sunshine ☀️
found family 💛
closed door 🌹
small town 🏘️
slow burn 🔥
This was an amazing feel-good women’s fiction that I would highly recommend if you want a cozy read.
I’m personally adding the rest of this series to my TBR to read more about the venders on this beautiful street. 💛
I never read a Disney inspired adaptation before and loved the Belle and the Beast elements throughout the story, it made it magical. ✨
This novel follows Marnie Platt as she embarks on her dream of opening a bookstore, a lifelong aspiration she shares with her mother.
The found family trope is particularly well-executed, giving readers a sense of warmth with which they can relate.
Thank you to Netgalley, Jamie Admans and the publisher for providing me with this copy. All opinions are my own.
July 10, 2025
ok...
a bit too many references at some times fake
a bit heartwarming
no real plot
funny but
not a lot of suspense
the end gives it an extra star because it was good but rushed overall not worth the read but good if you're looking for something easy and deadly simple
a bit too many references at some times fake
a bit heartwarming
no real plot
funny but
not a lot of suspense
the end gives it an extra star because it was good but rushed overall not worth the read but good if you're looking for something easy and deadly simple
February 18, 2024
A must read
This story is so beautifully written, theres raw emotion and so much soul bearing. I was blown away, it's a beautiful book and I literally couldn't put it down. I was sad to leave
This story is so beautifully written, theres raw emotion and so much soul bearing. I was blown away, it's a beautiful book and I literally couldn't put it down. I was sad to leave
January 12, 2025
3.75/5 but rounded up ⭐️⭐️
February 22, 2024
An Enchanted Moment on Ever After Street is charming and sweet and everything my Disney-obsessed heart could ever ask for.
This book had me feeling so many glorious emotions. My heart was pitter-pattering, I had butterflies in my stomach, and I found myself holding my breath because I needed to know what would happen next. As you can probably imagine, I devoured this book in one sitting, and it was everything I could ever hope for. I love Beauty in the Beast; it’s one of my favourite Disney movies, and Jaimie has done a fantastic job taking this tale as old as time and making it her own. The story has all those fabulous qualities that I have come to expect from Jaimie’s storytelling. She is a master at creating those charming and heartwarming stories with a lot of depth. There are a lot of light and fluffy moments in this book, but also moments that have you feeling those deeper emotions. An Enchanted Moment on Ever After Street, is perfect for those bookworms who love Alison Sherlock or Maxine Morrey books.
This book is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. We get to meet Marnie, a bookstore owner, in a bit of a rut. Since her mother’s passing, Marnie has lost her spark and drive to run her family bookstore. All she wants to do is get lost in a book and let the world disappear around her. The book begins with Marnie getting a letter from the landlord stating that if she doesn’t tidy up the store’s back garden and start bringing in more customers, he is going to terminate her lease. When Marnie attempts to tame the mini jungle in her shop’s backyard, she encounters Darcy, also known as Beast, by the locals. Marnie doesn’t know what to make of her prickly neighbour, who often goes from gruff to nice in the blink of an eye. The two begin an unusual friendship. The two communicate over a hedge because Darcy does not want Marnie to see him. They work together to clean up Marnie’s back garden and plan a book fair to help draw in more customers. I loved Jaimie’s modern twist on the tale of Beauty and the Beast. She was clever and thoughtful when it comes to making this tale relevant in today’s world. I loved all the little easter eggs she put into the story; they often had me smiling. Marnie is a bookworm, and her love for books just leaps from the pages. I lost count of the number of times I felt this connection with something Marnie said about why books are so important to her and the world. She is a kindred spirit to all those bookworms out there.
The theme of grief and how it can affect a person’s life is central to the story. Marnie is dealing with the grief of losing her mom and no longer feels like the person she used to be. She feels lost and knows she needs to move on but doesn’t know how. Darcy is dealing with a different form of grief. Without giving away any spoilers, his past has dictated how he is currently living his life. He is in this self-imposed exile and has shunned himself from the world. He is bitter and mean, but his behaviour is a product of the overwhelming grief he is trying to deal with. The journey that Marnie and Darcy go on is emotional and heartwarming. They create this wonderful support system for each other. Their growth in this story is remarkable and will definitely fill your heart with happiness.
The romance in this book is a delightful opposites attract, grumpy/sunshine, slow-burn love story. I adored Marnie and Darcy’s meet-cute and interactions. The majority of Marnie and Darcy’s relationship is spent with them talking to each other through a hedge that divides their backyards. I was worried at first that the lack of physical contact would hinder that sense of growing close or that their relationship wouldn’t feel intimate. But that was not the case with Marnie and Darcy’s relationship. Their conversations and the notes that Darcy left Marnie were meaningful and felt powerful. There was something deeper about the connection they formed through those conversations that felt right to me. I just ate up every one of their interactions and had to keep reading because I wanted to see what would happen next.
An Enchanted Moment on Ever After Street is an uplifting and unputdownable book, and I would recommend it to anyone who loves fairy tales.
Click on the link to read more of our reviews on our blog: https://romancebythebook.com/book-rev...
This book had me feeling so many glorious emotions. My heart was pitter-pattering, I had butterflies in my stomach, and I found myself holding my breath because I needed to know what would happen next. As you can probably imagine, I devoured this book in one sitting, and it was everything I could ever hope for. I love Beauty in the Beast; it’s one of my favourite Disney movies, and Jaimie has done a fantastic job taking this tale as old as time and making it her own. The story has all those fabulous qualities that I have come to expect from Jaimie’s storytelling. She is a master at creating those charming and heartwarming stories with a lot of depth. There are a lot of light and fluffy moments in this book, but also moments that have you feeling those deeper emotions. An Enchanted Moment on Ever After Street, is perfect for those bookworms who love Alison Sherlock or Maxine Morrey books.
This book is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. We get to meet Marnie, a bookstore owner, in a bit of a rut. Since her mother’s passing, Marnie has lost her spark and drive to run her family bookstore. All she wants to do is get lost in a book and let the world disappear around her. The book begins with Marnie getting a letter from the landlord stating that if she doesn’t tidy up the store’s back garden and start bringing in more customers, he is going to terminate her lease. When Marnie attempts to tame the mini jungle in her shop’s backyard, she encounters Darcy, also known as Beast, by the locals. Marnie doesn’t know what to make of her prickly neighbour, who often goes from gruff to nice in the blink of an eye. The two begin an unusual friendship. The two communicate over a hedge because Darcy does not want Marnie to see him. They work together to clean up Marnie’s back garden and plan a book fair to help draw in more customers. I loved Jaimie’s modern twist on the tale of Beauty and the Beast. She was clever and thoughtful when it comes to making this tale relevant in today’s world. I loved all the little easter eggs she put into the story; they often had me smiling. Marnie is a bookworm, and her love for books just leaps from the pages. I lost count of the number of times I felt this connection with something Marnie said about why books are so important to her and the world. She is a kindred spirit to all those bookworms out there.
The theme of grief and how it can affect a person’s life is central to the story. Marnie is dealing with the grief of losing her mom and no longer feels like the person she used to be. She feels lost and knows she needs to move on but doesn’t know how. Darcy is dealing with a different form of grief. Without giving away any spoilers, his past has dictated how he is currently living his life. He is in this self-imposed exile and has shunned himself from the world. He is bitter and mean, but his behaviour is a product of the overwhelming grief he is trying to deal with. The journey that Marnie and Darcy go on is emotional and heartwarming. They create this wonderful support system for each other. Their growth in this story is remarkable and will definitely fill your heart with happiness.
The romance in this book is a delightful opposites attract, grumpy/sunshine, slow-burn love story. I adored Marnie and Darcy’s meet-cute and interactions. The majority of Marnie and Darcy’s relationship is spent with them talking to each other through a hedge that divides their backyards. I was worried at first that the lack of physical contact would hinder that sense of growing close or that their relationship wouldn’t feel intimate. But that was not the case with Marnie and Darcy’s relationship. Their conversations and the notes that Darcy left Marnie were meaningful and felt powerful. There was something deeper about the connection they formed through those conversations that felt right to me. I just ate up every one of their interactions and had to keep reading because I wanted to see what would happen next.
An Enchanted Moment on Ever After Street is an uplifting and unputdownable book, and I would recommend it to anyone who loves fairy tales.
Click on the link to read more of our reviews on our blog: https://romancebythebook.com/book-rev...
January 8, 2024
Publication Date: 11th Jan 2024
4.5 Stars
One Liner: Oh, so adorable!
A Tale as Old as Time is a bookshop on Ever After Street run by Marnie Platt. She had shut herself from everything after losing a dear one, but a letter from the property owner forces her to take action or lose her bookstore. Marnie is distraught, and her wit’s end when help comes from the most unexpected corner.
No one knows Darcy O'Connell or has seen him. Many don’t even know his name, and that’s how he likes it. His is Marnie’s Scary Neighbor, who sells the most beautiful roses and flower arrangements. As he and Marnie start to interact with each other (with an overgrown hedge as a barrier), they become friends and slowly step out of their comfort zones.
Things seem to look up, but Marnie knows they have a long way to go. With some help from friends, maybe she can save the bookstore and live again. But she first needs to convince Darcy he is worthy of loving.
The story comes in Marnie’s first-person POV.
My Thoughts:
The author is now officially one of my favorites. She writes such beautiful characters- layered and flawed but not too annoying (except for the supposed villain who is 2D).
Darcy can win the grumpiest of grumps hand down. Yet, he is so human! Kind, sweet, and someone who can give without expecting anything in return (the author does grumpy men very well).
Marnie isn’t sunshine. She is an introvert (someone who can talk non-stop if she feels comfortable with the person). She is lively enough and can do well in a group, except that she has entered a shell and is struggling to come out of it. Her arc is well-structured, and we get many glimpses of what she was before tragedy changed her.
Marnie and Darcy’s relationship is slow and steady. It’s not without a few hiccups, either. They are both vulnerable, and it shows. The scenes where Darcy bonds with Mrs. Potts are too cute. Despite reading the whole thing in Marnie’s POV, we can feel the change in him and understand his emotions.
Of course, the plotline is predictable, and there’s no attempt to make it seem otherwise. The writing makes it apparent that the readers are supposed to guess. We know more than the characters (at least the FMC). The focus is on when and how the FMC will connect the dots and what happens next.
There are many bookish references given the premise. There are also several mentions of Beauty and Beast (all versions). In fact, this is an artful and contemporary retelling of the same, sans the fantasy elements, of course.
We also don’t have a third-act breakup. Since this is a slow burn, the storyline doesn’t need one. I loved how understanding the characters are and their response when the ‘secrets’ come out. A mature take that aligns with their ages (mid to late 30s).
Rick’s character feels clichéd, but then I know people who would give him company with their out-of-the-world delusions.
The community steps in only in the second half and towards the last section. That’s when the plot needs them, though we always know they are there in the background, ready to support their fellow entrepreneurs whenever necessary.
The pacing is slow and cannot be rushed. I’m used to it now. Can’t wait to see what the next book will be!
To summarize, An Enchanted Moment on Ever After Street is a heartwarming and poignant book that will make you laugh, smile, and even tear up a wee bit.
Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #AnEnchantedMomentOnEverAfterStreet
***
P.S: Two back-to-back reads with 'enchant' in the titles. At least, one of them is apt!
4.5 Stars
One Liner: Oh, so adorable!
A Tale as Old as Time is a bookshop on Ever After Street run by Marnie Platt. She had shut herself from everything after losing a dear one, but a letter from the property owner forces her to take action or lose her bookstore. Marnie is distraught, and her wit’s end when help comes from the most unexpected corner.
No one knows Darcy O'Connell or has seen him. Many don’t even know his name, and that’s how he likes it. His is Marnie’s Scary Neighbor, who sells the most beautiful roses and flower arrangements. As he and Marnie start to interact with each other (with an overgrown hedge as a barrier), they become friends and slowly step out of their comfort zones.
Things seem to look up, but Marnie knows they have a long way to go. With some help from friends, maybe she can save the bookstore and live again. But she first needs to convince Darcy he is worthy of loving.
The story comes in Marnie’s first-person POV.
My Thoughts:
The author is now officially one of my favorites. She writes such beautiful characters- layered and flawed but not too annoying (except for the supposed villain who is 2D).
Darcy can win the grumpiest of grumps hand down. Yet, he is so human! Kind, sweet, and someone who can give without expecting anything in return (the author does grumpy men very well).
Marnie isn’t sunshine. She is an introvert (someone who can talk non-stop if she feels comfortable with the person). She is lively enough and can do well in a group, except that she has entered a shell and is struggling to come out of it. Her arc is well-structured, and we get many glimpses of what she was before tragedy changed her.
Marnie and Darcy’s relationship is slow and steady. It’s not without a few hiccups, either. They are both vulnerable, and it shows. The scenes where Darcy bonds with Mrs. Potts are too cute. Despite reading the whole thing in Marnie’s POV, we can feel the change in him and understand his emotions.
Of course, the plotline is predictable, and there’s no attempt to make it seem otherwise. The writing makes it apparent that the readers are supposed to guess. We know more than the characters (at least the FMC). The focus is on when and how the FMC will connect the dots and what happens next.
There are many bookish references given the premise. There are also several mentions of Beauty and Beast (all versions). In fact, this is an artful and contemporary retelling of the same, sans the fantasy elements, of course.
We also don’t have a third-act breakup. Since this is a slow burn, the storyline doesn’t need one. I loved how understanding the characters are and their response when the ‘secrets’ come out. A mature take that aligns with their ages (mid to late 30s).
Rick’s character feels clichéd, but then I know people who would give him company with their out-of-the-world delusions.
The community steps in only in the second half and towards the last section. That’s when the plot needs them, though we always know they are there in the background, ready to support their fellow entrepreneurs whenever necessary.
The pacing is slow and cannot be rushed. I’m used to it now. Can’t wait to see what the next book will be!
To summarize, An Enchanted Moment on Ever After Street is a heartwarming and poignant book that will make you laugh, smile, and even tear up a wee bit.
Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #AnEnchantedMomentOnEverAfterStreet
***
P.S: Two back-to-back reads with 'enchant' in the titles. At least, one of them is apt!
January 3, 2026
5/5
Beauty and the Beast retelling.
🚨TW: loss of love one, accident, almost died, being harassed
A bookshop filled with Beauty and the Beast murals. A magical place where you can sit down and read a book and also even place money to gift a book to someone who can't afford a book. What a lovely place.
Marnie is struggling to keep her Tale as Old as Time Bookshop afloat and now the worst thing is that she is about to lose it because of her garden behind that she did not get to attend to ever since her mother's passing. As she was trying to clear up the garden she fell down and she started to cry and her neighbour who no one ever seen before other than him covering up with scarfs and sunglasses to avoid people begin talking to her.
And ever since then, they both often have private conversations between the walls. Though at first, he doesn't want really want to engaged with her because of something happened to his life he decided to put up his walls. Seeing Marnie needs help with the gardens, he helped her by giving her what she needed and guiding her to clean up her garden. Friendship had been created and having simple tea and biscuits between the walls.
They both opened up to each other and also encouraging one another and also giving each other the confidence to come out of their comfort zones. And come up with ideas of saving her bookshop and also awww...he is just a hopeless romantic. Love all the things that he had done for her. He is just so sweet though he often say that he is a beast. And as they get to know each other feelings grew too.
In the midst of everything, she also get to know a friend who loves the book that she recommended which is book that the author disappeared after writing that book and the author remain anonymous. Lots of activities had been planned to make the people enjoy their love of reading such as matching two people who has similar taste of books for friendship dates and also a Book Festival in the castle with the help of Darcy, her new found friend, Cleo and the rest of the people in Ever After Street.
And I really couldn't stand her ex. He is even worst than Gaston from Beauty and the Beast. Can't spoil what he did to her and Darcy.
Can't spoil too much of the story. You will have to read to find out.
Beauty and the Beast retelling.
🚨TW: loss of love one, accident, almost died, being harassed
A bookshop filled with Beauty and the Beast murals. A magical place where you can sit down and read a book and also even place money to gift a book to someone who can't afford a book. What a lovely place.
Marnie is struggling to keep her Tale as Old as Time Bookshop afloat and now the worst thing is that she is about to lose it because of her garden behind that she did not get to attend to ever since her mother's passing. As she was trying to clear up the garden she fell down and she started to cry and her neighbour who no one ever seen before other than him covering up with scarfs and sunglasses to avoid people begin talking to her.
And ever since then, they both often have private conversations between the walls. Though at first, he doesn't want really want to engaged with her because of something happened to his life he decided to put up his walls. Seeing Marnie needs help with the gardens, he helped her by giving her what she needed and guiding her to clean up her garden. Friendship had been created and having simple tea and biscuits between the walls.
They both opened up to each other and also encouraging one another and also giving each other the confidence to come out of their comfort zones. And come up with ideas of saving her bookshop and also awww...he is just a hopeless romantic. Love all the things that he had done for her. He is just so sweet though he often say that he is a beast. And as they get to know each other feelings grew too.
In the midst of everything, she also get to know a friend who loves the book that she recommended which is book that the author disappeared after writing that book and the author remain anonymous. Lots of activities had been planned to make the people enjoy their love of reading such as matching two people who has similar taste of books for friendship dates and also a Book Festival in the castle with the help of Darcy, her new found friend, Cleo and the rest of the people in Ever After Street.
And I really couldn't stand her ex. He is even worst than Gaston from Beauty and the Beast. Can't spoil what he did to her and Darcy.
Can't spoil too much of the story. You will have to read to find out.
January 4, 2024
Words can't express how much I love...
Jaimie Admans
Ever After After Street
A Tale as Old as Time Bookshop
The one initially known as the Beast
Just about everything to do with book and series
... for it is all just perfect, and amazing, and fabulous and I want more the whole time. I couldn't get enough of this story loving literally every single second of it.
Ok some of the big reveals I had guessed incredibly early on but I think you are meant to guess them but I had to keep reading to discover if I was going to be right, and for some of the reasoning too, as that I had no idea on. I just had a rather strong inkling about a few things!
And what a sense of community there is on Ever After Street, and we get to see more of all the characters we grew to love in the first book too, as well as getting to know two more residents of the street.
This really is a modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast, and it just works so so well. I'm reluctant to spill any actual details, as frankly I think every single book lover, and romance lover should read this, as its so good, so enjoyable, so readable, and so enchanting, and all the better for not having any preconceptions about any of the characters.
Suffice to say they both see significant development, there is a character who is I'd say even more ridiculously annoying and self obsessed than Gaston is, who I really wanted to hit him for myself, and being set in a bookshop that has had a threat of being closed - there are some great ideas for improving business.
But I'm determined that you should whether you already know how amazing this author is or not, that you should definitely read this book. It's just that good and easily one of her best (but I may say that ever time and its always true).
I just wish Ever After Street was a real place and I can't wait to see what fairy-tale we will get with the next book in the series (at least I hope there will be a next book).
Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Jaimie Admans
Ever After After Street
A Tale as Old as Time Bookshop
The one initially known as the Beast
Just about everything to do with book and series
... for it is all just perfect, and amazing, and fabulous and I want more the whole time. I couldn't get enough of this story loving literally every single second of it.
Ok some of the big reveals I had guessed incredibly early on but I think you are meant to guess them but I had to keep reading to discover if I was going to be right, and for some of the reasoning too, as that I had no idea on. I just had a rather strong inkling about a few things!
And what a sense of community there is on Ever After Street, and we get to see more of all the characters we grew to love in the first book too, as well as getting to know two more residents of the street.
This really is a modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast, and it just works so so well. I'm reluctant to spill any actual details, as frankly I think every single book lover, and romance lover should read this, as its so good, so enjoyable, so readable, and so enchanting, and all the better for not having any preconceptions about any of the characters.
Suffice to say they both see significant development, there is a character who is I'd say even more ridiculously annoying and self obsessed than Gaston is, who I really wanted to hit him for myself, and being set in a bookshop that has had a threat of being closed - there are some great ideas for improving business.
But I'm determined that you should whether you already know how amazing this author is or not, that you should definitely read this book. It's just that good and easily one of her best (but I may say that ever time and its always true).
I just wish Ever After Street was a real place and I can't wait to see what fairy-tale we will get with the next book in the series (at least I hope there will be a next book).
Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
January 6, 2024
It was a real treat to return to Ever After Street and catch up with some of the residents and businesses that featured in the first instalment. Don’t worry if you’ve not read it, you’ll soon catch up. As we meet Marnie and Darcy, it becomes almost immediately obvious that we are revisiting a tale as old as time, Beauty and the Beast. Of course, the modern day must adapt to accommodate the story, so we have a bookshop named A Tale as Old as Time which is owned and operated by a bookworm. Next door, there’s a flower shop that specialises in roses and is run by a reclusive character who refuses to reveal what he looks like.
Of course, it’s impossible to pretend that you don’t know what will happen, but you cannot predict how things will evolve, and that’s where Jaimie’s talent lies. She takes a classic, much-loved story and adds her own special magic to create something perhaps better than the original. Maybe, it’s just that it can be adored as an adult, leaving childlike notions with the original story. You see, there are real-life issues and scenarios to overcome and that somehow needed the reader to have experienced life first hand.
Marnie is a character that is easy to take to. Her nature was borne of pure kindness, and despite the challenges that she had faced, she never lost sight of the fact that she had the power to bring real joy to the lives of others. Her development is wonderful, and I would love to meet her and browse her bookshop.
Darcy, on the other hand, is mysterious. There’s no back story as his development includes reaching back into his past and discovering what made him into the recluse that he presents himself as. As each layer is removed from his persona, it’s impossible not to be drawn into his story and feel a true attraction to him.
This story is beautifully told, and I really do encourage you to read it. It left me feeling enchanted by the incredible sense of support, acceptance, and community. You’re in for a treat.
Of course, it’s impossible to pretend that you don’t know what will happen, but you cannot predict how things will evolve, and that’s where Jaimie’s talent lies. She takes a classic, much-loved story and adds her own special magic to create something perhaps better than the original. Maybe, it’s just that it can be adored as an adult, leaving childlike notions with the original story. You see, there are real-life issues and scenarios to overcome and that somehow needed the reader to have experienced life first hand.
Marnie is a character that is easy to take to. Her nature was borne of pure kindness, and despite the challenges that she had faced, she never lost sight of the fact that she had the power to bring real joy to the lives of others. Her development is wonderful, and I would love to meet her and browse her bookshop.
Darcy, on the other hand, is mysterious. There’s no back story as his development includes reaching back into his past and discovering what made him into the recluse that he presents himself as. As each layer is removed from his persona, it’s impossible not to be drawn into his story and feel a true attraction to him.
This story is beautifully told, and I really do encourage you to read it. It left me feeling enchanted by the incredible sense of support, acceptance, and community. You’re in for a treat.
January 10, 2024
An Enchanted Moment on Ever After Street by Jaimie Admans
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
A picture-perfect town, a place where dreams come true. Welcome to Ever After Street...
A tale as old as time…
Since her mum’s death, Marnie Platt has shut herself away from everyone who cares about her. Worse, her beloved bookshop on Ever After Street is suffering too. With sales down and the shop’s garden falling into disrepair, Marnie risks losing the very last thing she loves. Until a chance encounter with her surly and reclusive neighbour….
Dark and brooding, Darcy O'Connell likes to keep himself to himself. But when he hears Marnie needs help, he can’t turn his back on her. Soon they are spending most evenings together in her enchanted garden and a friendship starts to bloom…
With the help of old and new friends on Ever After Street, Marnie's bookshop begins to thrive again, and with Darcy's kindness, she starts to get her sparkle back too. She just can't understand why Darcy continues to shut himself away - especially from her. Can she convince him it isn't too late to embrace life, and maybe love, again?
Because every story, even theirs, deserves a happy ending….
My Opinion
Welcome back to Ever After Street, a charming street where all of the shop owners are welcoming. If you love books and Disney then this is a series that I would highly recommend and we are only on the second book so it is not too late to catch up. This was one of those books that I have been thinking about since I read the opening book in the series, it really made for a lovely escape.
This book was so difficult to put down that I ended up reading it in one sitting. Going into this book, I already knew that I was going to love it but it only took a few pages before I was hooked. This is a great read and you will not be disappointed.
Rating 5/5
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
A picture-perfect town, a place where dreams come true. Welcome to Ever After Street...
A tale as old as time…
Since her mum’s death, Marnie Platt has shut herself away from everyone who cares about her. Worse, her beloved bookshop on Ever After Street is suffering too. With sales down and the shop’s garden falling into disrepair, Marnie risks losing the very last thing she loves. Until a chance encounter with her surly and reclusive neighbour….
Dark and brooding, Darcy O'Connell likes to keep himself to himself. But when he hears Marnie needs help, he can’t turn his back on her. Soon they are spending most evenings together in her enchanted garden and a friendship starts to bloom…
With the help of old and new friends on Ever After Street, Marnie's bookshop begins to thrive again, and with Darcy's kindness, she starts to get her sparkle back too. She just can't understand why Darcy continues to shut himself away - especially from her. Can she convince him it isn't too late to embrace life, and maybe love, again?
Because every story, even theirs, deserves a happy ending….
My Opinion
Welcome back to Ever After Street, a charming street where all of the shop owners are welcoming. If you love books and Disney then this is a series that I would highly recommend and we are only on the second book so it is not too late to catch up. This was one of those books that I have been thinking about since I read the opening book in the series, it really made for a lovely escape.
This book was so difficult to put down that I ended up reading it in one sitting. Going into this book, I already knew that I was going to love it but it only took a few pages before I was hooked. This is a great read and you will not be disappointed.
Rating 5/5
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