Cupid's Way

by Joanne Phillips

“Fans of romantic comedies, let us welcome you to one crazy neighborhood” BookbubGreedy housing developers and clueless grandparents don’t mix well. It’s up to bored, single Evie to save the day – but she never expects to fall for the evil corporation’s CEO in the process. When Evie discovers her grandparents’ house in Cupid’s Way is under threat from developers, she jumps to their rescue. On the cusp of her thirties, and still disappointingly single, Evie is desperate for a new challenge. But saving the street won’t be easy – the perfectly preserved Victorian terrace is a proud oasis of quirky characters and communal gardens. Unfortunately, it also sits on development land worth millions.Dynamite Construction have the deal in the bag, and soon the residents of Cupid’s Way will be forced to sell up and ship out. CEO Michael Andrews, charismatic and super-successful, has never let sentimentality get in the way of business. At least, he hadn’t until he met Evie Stone …Cupid’s Way is a heart-warming contemporary romance from the author of Amazon bestsellers Can’t Live Without and The Family Trap.Praise for Cupid’s “I enjoyed this book from the very first page ... I think this is her best one yet.” Kim the Bookworm “Cupid’s Way is a charming, captivating and simply amazing read which I definitely recommend to chick lit fans; you’ll love it.” A Spoonful of Happy Endings“An entertaining and satisfying read.” Author Pauline Wiles

Genres: Chick Lit, Romance, Amazon, Contemporary

302 pages, Paperback

First published June 23, 2014

About the author

Joanne Phillips lives Cheshire, England with her nine-year-old daughter Lulu, and spends her days (and often nights!) writing commercial fiction, romantic comedies and contemporary mysteries. Her first novel, Can’t Live Without, was an Amazon top 100 bestseller in 2012, and the stand-alone sequel, The Family Trap, won the coveted SpaSpa award in 2013 for Best Romantic Comedy.
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Joanne developed a love of writing early on, when she would retreat into imaginary conversations and invent fantasy worlds. She carried on writing through her twenties, studying with The Writers’ Bureau and the Open University, and has recently completed a Masters in Creative Writing at Manchester Metropolitan University.
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Her latest novel, This Beautiful World, was shortlisted for the Luke Bitmead award, and also made it to the shortlist for publication with the renowned Valley Press. Joanne is currently working on a new 'domestic noir' thriller and the next Flora Lively mystery.

Reviews

[Debbie Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pleasing romantic comedy that tells the story of a community's fight to save their street - the Cupid's Way of the title - from demolition.

Revolving around the nearly-30 heroine Evie Stone is a varied cast of characters of all ages. I especially enjoy the way Phillips weaves interesting and dignified elderly characters into her books, adding depth to the romantic themes played out by younger people at the heart of her stories.

The story's not only about the seemingly doomed romance sparked in the early part of the book between Evie, campaigning to save her grandparents' home, and handsome Michael, CEO of the company bent on demolishing it. There are also other romantic themes - the relationship between her spirited grandparents, for example - and themes about identity, recognising who you are and being unafraid to embrace it. The ending is satisfying and heartwarming - but I'm not giving any plot spoilers here!

So why only four stars, not five, as so many others have given it, at the time of this review?

Unlike Phillips' previous books, Cupid's Way is set in Bristol, a city I've lived and worked in, and while Phillips makes clear the interesting contrast of old and new buildings and the presence of ancient architecture nestled among the state-of-the-art, some of the geographical references were a little bit hazy, e.g. specifying which of Bristol's train stations Evie comes into (they're very different) and terms such as "the Bristol bypass" (there isn't one), which occasionally broke the spell for me. People who don't know the city might consider I'm being a bit harsh here - sorry about that!

Disclosure: I know the author personally and received a free copy as a gift, but not with a specific request for a review).

[Vanessa Wester · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you enjoy a British drama with romance and a feel good ending this is the story for you.

I enjoyed the style of writing and read it quickly. The characters were interesting and it had that TV drama tension many love - innocent locals versus the blood-thirsty corporates!

Personally, it was all too sugar coated in the end - I like good endings, but this one was too predictable for me.

Either way, an easy summer read...

[Jody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review first posted on my blog: http://spoonfulofhappyendings.blogspo...

Evie Stone is set to give an important talk at an event, but of course it is one of those days where everything just seems to go wrong and she’s running late. Thankfully, a handsome stranger named Michael is there to help her out and Evie immediately feels a connection between the two of them. However, Evie has other things on her mind. Her grandparents Mavis and Frank have lived in a Victorian street named Cupid’s Way in Bristol for many years, but the council has decided to knock all the houses on Cupid’s Way down. The residents can’t believe they are about to lose the place they love so much and where they made so many memories. Evie wants to do anything she can to save Cupid’s Way, but when she discovers the enemy, the CEO of Dynamite Construction, is a familiar face, things start to get tricky...

I can’t believe it took me so long to be introduced to Joanne Phillips’ work, because I adored this novel and fell in love with Joanne’s writing style. The book has a great storyline which I thoroughly enjoyed and a lovely leading lady, Evie, whom it was incredibly easy to warm to. Evie is on a mission to save her grandparents’ house on Cupid’s Way and I was really curious to see whether they would eventually be able to save Cupid’s Way from the hands of the council or not. Next to that, Evie has her own troubles, resulting in enough different aspects to keep track of which resulted in me not wanting to put the book down.

Next to Evie, the novel is filled with a brilliant mix of secondary characters. There’s Michael, the handsome and charming stranger Evie meets at the beginning of the book; Evie’s grandparents Mavis and Frank who you can’t help but develop a soft spot for; and all the other neighbours on Cupid’s Way with their own story to tell. Joanne Phillips has managed to write a thoroughly enjoyable book with a great storyline and a lovely cast of characters, and I already look forward to reading more of her work. Overall, ‘Cupid’s Way’ is a charming, captivating and simply amazing read which I definitely recommend to chick lit fans; you’ll love it!

[Marina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evie has only one job to do, make a presentation at the conference for the firm she works for. When she messes up, again, the only friendly person who is there for her is Michael, a gorgeous guy she meets at the conference. They talk, drink, spend the night together (not in same bed). Next morning, Evie gets a phone call from her grandparents. Their home in Cupid's Way is in danger. A big firm is trying to buy the whole street and build a medical center. The lovely Victorian terrace is a home of many different people, young and old couples, some weird, some funny, all very unique. They all have one thing in common, they love their homes in Cupid's Way. And that big firm that is trying to kick them out is represented by no one else but Michael, Evie's little crush from the conference.


Cupid's Way is a warm story for family, friends, love and heritage. It is a story for fighting for what you believe in, not just ordinary romcom. Evie is such an adorable character, she is the lovely girl from the neighborhood. Her grandparents are her entire family and she would do anything for them. She is so clumsy from time to time, and always puts herself in such ridiculous situations, she'll make you smile most of the time. Her grandparents are the most adorable old couple I've ever seen. They fight all the time, but they love each other so much. They raised Evie, and as much as she would do anything for them, they would do anything for her, even if that means playing matchmakers and interfering in her love life.

What I really liked here was Ms. Phillips' style of writing. All her characters are so unique and so adorable. (I used the word "adorable" too many times in this review, but that's how I feel about this book). The fight for the Cupid's Way has many turnovers, these people don't give up easily. This story is anything but predictable. So, I'll be definitely be in search of other Ms.Phillips' books, because I enjoyed this one and would recommend it to anyone who loves romantic stories.

My opinion: 4.5 / 5.

[Simona · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Book provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*

Evie is not really happy with her job and her love life sucks. She has to speak at a conference and that’s where she meets lovely Michael. The two of them get along really well and there is a connection between them from the beginning. She even finds herself telling him something about her job nobody knows.

When he suddenly has to leave, she is confused, but she’ll found out soon enough. Evie goes to Bristol to help her grandparent’s safe Cupid’s Way, their cute little street. And who is their opponent? – Yes, I think you can guess that one.
Evie couldn’t believe her eyes when Michael was there, Michael Andrews CEO of Dynamite Construction ready to destroy a street and the life of it’s residents. That’s why he didn’t say a thing…

After that the story unfortunately got a little boring for me without any big actions or drama. Of course there was the tension between Evie and Michael and the residents trying to find a solution, something was missing for me though.

Towards the end that changed again and I was fully brought back into this story. The residents had a great idea for saving their street. Such a cute, adorable and sweet way and they all just said what Cupid’s Way means to them. Evie’s grandmother made me cry… and Evie as well. What that they all go and see Michael and that’s where Evie lets out all of her emotions and is finally true and honest about everything. And Michael? Well, I won’t tell you, but let’s just say, he isn’t the way Evie described him in the story, he has a big heart is full of surprises.

The residents of Cupid’s Way were sweet and they all had they’re own story to tell, which was great. A great story based on a wonderful idea, but the last spark was missing. It’s still a very good 3.5 coffee rating and a catchy little story.

Rating: 3.5

[Martina Munzittu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I find that there are two types of books I read. There are the ones that I start reading, I like them, and every time I go back to where I left, it's like picking up a conversation with an old friend. Then there are the books I really like, the ones I absolutely love, the ones I miss throughout the day, and I can't wait to go back to them because I miss that conversation, that dialogue, that story that I was being told. Cupid's Way falls into this second category.

It's hard to pinpoint exactly what I loved so much about this novel, as I guess it's everything. The setting is very English, the idea of saving a Victorian street in Bristol is so endearing, especially to a non-British person like me. Then there are the characters, each of them beautifully depicted, I could imagine them as if they were standing in front of me, and Evie and Michael, the main protagonists, ah, I loved both of them, even if they were on opposite sides of the fence. I wanted to scream at them at times and just say "come on guys, find a way to work it out" but it was out of my control. And Evie's grandparents, they're so much like any grandma and grandpa, I mean, you just want to take them home with you.

The plot is full of surprises and twists, you just never knew how it's going to end.
I was really taken by Cupid's Way and I just wanted it to go on forever. I hope the author finds a way to write a sequel.

[Jo Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank author for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

We meet Evie as she is on the train to go to a conference in Cardiff, one disaster after another and she arrives late for the speech she is giving. This is where she meets Michael Andrews the CEO of Dynamite Construction, little does she know that in less than 24 hours they will be on the opposite side of Cupids Way fence.

Cupids Way is a row of Victorian Terraces in Bristol, there is a real sense of community about this area, it is also where Evie grew up with here Grandparents.

I loved Joanne's writing and not just because she has the same name as me lol, I really cared about all the wonderful residents in Cupids Way, they have a spirit and sense of community about them from Mavis and Frank, Stig, Sarah and Tim. I even felt sorry for Zac having been played by his uncle and then blamed by the other residents.

We didn't get to see much of Evie's and Michaels relationship but that didn't detract from the book in my opinion in made the book better that it wasn't solely focused on the will they, won't they, that so many novels focus on.

I really would love to read more from this author.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. The characters were interesting and I was impressed at how the author was able to create a very believable community with the residents of Cupid's Way.

This story is mainly about the character Evie Stone and her attempts to help out her grandparents who live at Cupid's Way. The Victorian terrace is at risk of being demolished when a company with ideas about how to develop the area shows an interest in buying out the properties.

Cupid's Way contains just the right amount of entertainment, drama, and romance. Although there are a lot of characters, the author did well in introducing and developing each of their stories so that by the end I really felt like I knew them all.

I always enjoy Joanne Phillips' books because she has a very engaging writing style. I'll definitely be looking out for more of her books.

I'd recommend it to fans of women's fiction. If you like contemporary drama and romance you'll enjoy it.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very beginning I loved Evie Stone – the fact that she tries to boost herself up but is full of self doubt and criticism too – all this makes her very human. It makes a pleasant change to read about somebody who is not perfect. Then there are all the quirky characters from Cupid’s Way – so realistically portrayed that I’m sure you’ll find someone you recognize there. The plot in itself is fairly predictable but Joanne Phillips makes it look easy and as I know to my cost, writing a humorous romance is anything but!!! I finished this book in just two days as the easy style just encourages you to read one more chapter …. And just one more…This is the perfect book to read whilst sitting in the garden on a summer’s afternoon, Just be prepared that once you start it everything else will be put on the back burner.

[Rachel Cotterill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evie meets Michael at a conference, but she doesn't realise he's the CEO of the property developers looking to bulldoze the terrace where her grandparents have lived for years. As Evie sets about a campaign to save their street, she keeps crossing paths with Michael - and neither of them can deny the inconvenient mutual attraction. Charming, easy-reading romance.

[Sarah Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

a good read

[Sharon Goodwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evie is on the train, on her way to deliver a talk at the Go Green conference on behalf of her architecture employer. Inference is there is something draining in her life with bags under her eyes and she is so tired.

Falling asleep, she misses her stop and has to get off at the next one and make her way back.

Checking in to Reception, there’s another attendee there, Michael. After the rudeness of the receptionist, Michael is polite and helpful. She finds out he’s been sent to see if she’s arrived. For Evie, this is the first speech she’s done and with Michael telling her that others have been eaten alive, she’s not feeling confident. However, as soon as her eyes meet Michael’s in the lecture hall, the message she reads there boosts her and she manages to deliver.

Refreshingly, the conflict between the two leads starts early in the story. There is no drawn out will they won’t they. The attraction between them is sizzling from the very beginning and although they can’t stay out of each other’s way with Michael leading the development and Evie leading the residents, it’s the morals and conflict of Cupid’s Way that for me, overrode their attraction for the majority of the story. With Evie staying with her grandparents after the meeting, we also get to know the residents quite well. This meant I identified with this community of people and was on their side from the beginning.

There’s intrigue with Evie as she’s not telling the truth about something (she has her own secret to hide), intrigue with her gran and also I had questions about another resident. I had my suspicions as something just didn’t ring true …

I disliked Evie’s boss Julia. What a bitch! Of course she’s totally insecure. Evie’s epiphany was fabulous :)

I felt the turmoil of the residents – stay and fight for their dilapidated homes with no central heating/double glazing or accept the extra money and move into new homes that need very little maintenance. With another developer McAllisters suddenly on the scene, things look as if they could get even worse.

The resident’s idea was brilliant! Watching this brought tears to my eyes, it was so poignant. I wasn’t sure whether Evie would participate in Michael’s office … I had tears rolling down my face!

Perfect ending to a fabulous read.

I enjoyed the pace of the story and loved the characters. Cupid’s Way is full of heart and warmth. The cover (which I love) expresses the story beautifully.

I would like to thank the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[MoHurley · Rating 3 out of 5]

AKA A Cat Called Cupid: A Romantic Comedy Novella
A sweet, simplistic short story about a clever cat named Cupid who lives up to his name and sets his Lady Ann up with a new boyfriend as she has purrfectly dreadful taste in men. Bella, a green-eyed Siamese, Cupid's lady cat love interest, has a nice owner, a downstairs neighbor, Craig, who's slovenly and single, so Cupid sets them up.

The short story is told from the cat's point of view. Lawyer Craig is a slob and her previous boyfriend, Jimmy the Cat Hater, is a real crook. Lady Ann and her girlfriend Flavia are annoying, whiny loquacious characters. Cupid the Cat is quite the British butler with his syntax, yet the tale is set in middle America, so it's a bit odd. But the premise that a cat can navigate a cellphone is also a stretch of the imagination. Siamese cats don't have green eyes. If they do, they're not real Siamesies.

Entertaining read as the author does capture cats' idiosyncrasies. One faked car accident, one tail stepped on, some unmentionable hairball talk, a real catfight, amore, cops and robbers. No foul language, but reading hashtages is ###### annoying. I found myself counting the number of hashtags to figure out what the ####### word or phrase was. Purrsonally, I prefer cursing. Author Mazy Morris claims this book is PG, hence the lack of cursewords, but Cupid's Lady Ann has the morals of an alleycat so, what's the point? It's OK to have 12-year-old readers learning about Lady Ann's X-rated sex life, but not see actual swearwords? Silly premise. A quickie read if you (don't) like cats and have some time to kill at the doctor's office. Engaging an extreme suspension of disbelief is in order, and you'll do fine with the tall tail. No hairballs were coughed up, or durty bums licked in the process. Mrrow!

[Rosie Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cupid's Way is a cosy romance set in Bristol, UK. Evie Stone is due a couple of weeks holiday where she'll help her Grandparents attend a meeting about the future of their house. But first she must give a talk at a Go Green Conference for her boss in Cardiff. She's late because she fell asleep on the train and she arrives flustered.

A lovely man called Michael finds her in reception and helps her arrive in time to present her lecture on "Cladding For The Cost Conscious". With a storm blowing in, trains are shut down and Evie spends the night in the hotel bar with Michael. There's a spark between them which is still there at breakfast next morning, until Michael abruptly leaves.

Later Evie attends a planning meeting with Frank and Mavis and the other residents of Cupid's way. Their homes are under threat from a developer. The council want to build a much needed medical centre and the residents are being offered a financial reward to move home.

Evie is shocked and angry when she finds that Michael is the CEO of Dynamite Construction, the developer working to take away her Grandparent's home. Feeling let down by Michael, Evie put aside her personal feelings for him and promises to help in any way she can to stop the plans to demolish Cupid's Way.

An easy read with a gentle romance.

[Lisa Crane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cupid's Way is a sweet story with a good premise. Two people on opposite sides of a battle to save or tear down a small community.

What worked for me: Good, strong characters, especially the H/h. I did find Evie's grandmother, Mavis, irritated me in nearly every scene in which she was included, but other than that, I liked the people of Cupid's Way. Michael, I felt, was an especially strong hero, torn as he was between his job and his growing feelings for Evie. And every single time he called her Phoebe Sloan, my heart gave a little pitter-patter. (That will make sense if you read the book.)

What didn't work for me: The story bogged down repeatedly. Often the slow-down revolved around the community and the ins and outs of trying to save it. While that's at the heart of the story, I found myself skimming, skimming, skimming, waiting for another mention of Michael. I felt there was a little chemistry, a little spark missing, to the point that I grew bored on more than one occasion. (Even when I thought I'd finished the book, there was one more chapter, which I felt was completely unnecessary. Almost felt as if Ms. Phillips was trying to reach a certain word count.)

Overall, a sweet, clean story, just a little wordy.

[Annette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Evie’s grandparents live on Cupid’s Way. Cupid’s Way is a street of Victorian homes which has some residents who have lived there all their lives. But now the street is threatened with demolition for a medical center and more modern housing.

For her job, Evie must give a presentation at a conference and while there she meets a lovely man named Michael. She and Michael have an immediate connection which is so strong it makes her rethink her decision to give up men forever.

(Spoiler)
When Evie finds that Michael is the man behind the plan to demolish Cupid’s way, she is both devastated and ashamed that she is still attracted to him. The mutual attraction seems to be too strong for either of them to ignore.

This is a story of family and friends and the caring that creates strong relationships. It is also a story of shared history and expectations based on that history.

It is an easy book to read. The plot is interesting and the characters are people who are each quirky and off kilter, but never dull.

If you enjoy British writing and the British sense of humor, you will enjoy this book.

[Elaine Jeremiah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evie Stone is determined to save the Victorian terraced street her grandparents live in. But things get complicated when she meets the CEO of the developers, Michael Andrews. They're immediately attracted to each other. Can Evie and Michael even have a relationship? And can Cupid's Way be saved?

I thought this was a lovely, well told romance with a difference, the difference being the numerous memorable characters who populate Cupid's Way, not least Evie's grandparents. I thought the author portrayed all the characters so well, they were all unique and interesting. I especially liked the character of Evie's grandmother who was funny and infuriating all at the same time.

The two main characters, Evie and Michael, were well drawn too and I found myself rooting for Evie especially all the way through - as you're meant to but this never felt forced. I thought the opening was great and the story unfolded gradually, making me wonder how exactly things would turn out for the characters I liked so much.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a lighthearted romance.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of Cupid's Way from the author, Joanne Phillips via Goodreads in exchange for an honest review.

And... I found it thoroughly enjoyable!

This novel moves at a fairly quick pace, which I appreciate. The story is full of characters who are eccentric and believable. I suppose it was obvious that a conclusion would work out for the neighbourhood the story involves, however, it was interesting to see the plot unfold and discover the spirit of the community members.

Cupid's Way is an entertaining read that will keep you delighted until the end.

Thanks to Joanne and Goodreads!

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joanne Phillips has done a terrific job with this book. Her fans already know they can rely on her for smooth-flowing writing, realistic dialogue and pleasing plots, but in this novel she adds a diverse cast of supporting characters to a simple but engaging central problem. Throw in a love story, with a protagonist whose own life needs a bit of a shake up, and we have the ideal recipe for an entertaining and engaging read. I don't know if Phillips plans more books set in Cupid's Way, but there is lots of scope here if she chooses to explore this community further. Personally, I'd love to see Stig starring in his own story.

[Carol Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Warm and frothy like a good cappuccino, but a little too much sugar. It's a thoroughly fun romance, interspersed with some more serious issues that vividly recalled my own recent battles against planning applications... I found the end a little too neat, but I enjoyed the book very much none the less.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, sweet contemporary romance with an interesting storyline on trying to save a row of Victorian houses - i.e Cupid's Way.

I would have liked a bit more interaction between the h/h, but it had a satisfying end.

[Nishant · Rating 2 out of 5]

Can't believe I persisted to read through the book. The first 200 pages read like they have been written by a teenager with a poor grasp of creating a plot. It becomes a little interesting towards the end, but only because humans crave for a happy ending.

[Sarah W · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really struggled with this book. Unbelievably twee and overly sentimental, I don't think there was a single character I actually liked and that didn't infuriate me. From the reviews I can see lots of people liked it, it just wasn't for me.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a quirky main character and suave leading man, the reader takes sides in a fight to save homes that are supposed to be destroyed while hoping for a solution between the two, so the leaders can be a couple. This is a romance with that great push and pull between characters that I love.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet and enjoyable. Chick-lit with a bit of bite. Strong 3 stars.

[Abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet story. All works out in the end of course!

[Leah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sort of cute, but I got bored after the beginning. Evie just seems rather dumb to me. I don't see why they can't just sell their house and move somewhere else.

[Carly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes

[Sonia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun read. It dragged a little in the middle - made me wonder if it was ever going to get to the end - but the beginning and ending was the best. I really enjoyed both.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

British and a cute story