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Planning a party is easy, falling in love is hard.
No longer content to be a Los Angeles socialite, Elizabeth Elliot starts her own party planning Excessively Diverted , making dreams come true one party at a time. She even knows how to handle those unruly party guests, like Antonio Reyes, the man who drank too much, insulted the décor, and didn’t know the difference between crudités and canapés. The nerve.
So when this same Tony Reyes demands she plan his daughter’s Sweet Sixteen, Elizabeth refuses, no matter how many dollar signs are attached to his name. That is until Elizabeth discovers her new business is in trouble. She must suck up her pride and work with Tony, despite how much she hates the man.
As Elizabeth gets to know Tony and his daughter, her clear-cut hatred starts to get muddled with feelings —the kind that could screw up the job, and her life, completely. She must decide whether risking her heart is worth it… but who has time for all that when there’s a party to be planned?
No longer content to be a Los Angeles socialite, Elizabeth Elliot starts her own party planning Excessively Diverted , making dreams come true one party at a time. She even knows how to handle those unruly party guests, like Antonio Reyes, the man who drank too much, insulted the décor, and didn’t know the difference between crudités and canapés. The nerve.
So when this same Tony Reyes demands she plan his daughter’s Sweet Sixteen, Elizabeth refuses, no matter how many dollar signs are attached to his name. That is until Elizabeth discovers her new business is in trouble. She must suck up her pride and work with Tony, despite how much she hates the man.
As Elizabeth gets to know Tony and his daughter, her clear-cut hatred starts to get muddled with feelings —the kind that could screw up the job, and her life, completely. She must decide whether risking her heart is worth it… but who has time for all that when there’s a party to be planned?
- GenresContemporary Romance
120 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 27, 2017
6 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
About the author
Melanie Stanford
11 books99 followersMelanie Stanford reads too much, plays music too loud, is sometimes dancing, and always daydreaming. She would also like her very own TARDIS, but only to travel to the past. She lives outside Calgary, Alberta, Canada with her husband, four kids, and ridiculous amounts of snow.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 9, 2018
This is a modern novella about Elizabeth Elliot. Name sound familiar? Spoiled...rich...Daddy's girl...and very opinionated and brash. She is all about who's who, who you know and where you live. In this story, a sequel to SWAY this Elizabeth continues to have a few characteristics which are turn-offs for some but she gets things done...especially when it comes to taking care of Daddy and her fairly new party planning business, Excessively Diverted.
So it is when she espies someone about to create mayhem at one of her parties that she is up in his face and nothing held back. The problem is taken care of, but when that same jerk shows up at a meeting she has scheduled for her next high-roller and the party Excessively Diverted is planning for his about-to-turn-16 daughter Elizabeth quickly pulls the plug on any further work on the party. "Daddy, Fix this!"
Antonio aka Tony Reyes will do anything for his daughter and so it is that he eats crow and comes begging to have Elizabeth take care of the perfect party for his Valentina aka Vale. Elizabeth/Beth works hard to pull information from Vale in order to do this right: what are her hobbies, her likes, her dislikes? The business in on the edge of going under and she can't just walk away. As she and Vale become friends Elizabeth finds herself drawn to Tony.
But when he shows up at a charity event she attends with Dad and the sparks ignite, his relationship with his daughter may just be the thing that puts a damper on the fire. But...then...his "ex" may have something to say about that and the party planned for her daughter.
This book is tense drama all the way through. This Elizabeth doesn't back down and certainly doesn't spare words. When push-comes-to shove she learns what family is all about and realizes that it is what has been missing in her life.
I read SWAY and was happy to read of Eric and Ava in a little section of this story. This may not be JAFF but it certainly is inspired by a character we have looked on with disdain in the past. Maybe it is time to give her "a second chance" in our affections.
So it is when she espies someone about to create mayhem at one of her parties that she is up in his face and nothing held back. The problem is taken care of, but when that same jerk shows up at a meeting she has scheduled for her next high-roller and the party Excessively Diverted is planning for his about-to-turn-16 daughter Elizabeth quickly pulls the plug on any further work on the party. "Daddy, Fix this!"
Antonio aka Tony Reyes will do anything for his daughter and so it is that he eats crow and comes begging to have Elizabeth take care of the perfect party for his Valentina aka Vale. Elizabeth/Beth works hard to pull information from Vale in order to do this right: what are her hobbies, her likes, her dislikes? The business in on the edge of going under and she can't just walk away. As she and Vale become friends Elizabeth finds herself drawn to Tony.
But when he shows up at a charity event she attends with Dad and the sparks ignite, his relationship with his daughter may just be the thing that puts a damper on the fire. But...then...his "ex" may have something to say about that and the party planned for her daughter.
This book is tense drama all the way through. This Elizabeth doesn't back down and certainly doesn't spare words. When push-comes-to shove she learns what family is all about and realizes that it is what has been missing in her life.
I read SWAY and was happy to read of Eric and Ava in a little section of this story. This may not be JAFF but it certainly is inspired by a character we have looked on with disdain in the past. Maybe it is time to give her "a second chance" in our affections.
June 27, 2017
Clash was such an enjoyable novella to read. I loved it. Even though it was a novella, the story never felt rushed or incomplete. This was so delightfully smooth to read, the words flowed effortlessly.
This was written from the first person perspective if the main character, Elizabeth Elliott, and I got a great feeling for who she is. Her motto is Never Let Anyone Push You Around Or Tell You What To Do.
This could be read as a standalone, but will be especially fun for readers who read Sway, as this is a spin-off novella. There are some familiar characters from Sway, but they do not overshadow or distract from this story. (As if Elizabeth would ever stand for that)
Antonio "Tony" is an excellent match for Elizabeth. His daughter, Vale, adds dimension to the storyline and also to Elizabeth and Tony's characters and relationship. I do not believe this is a retelling of an Austen story. However, it is related to Sway which was a Persuasion retelling, and it is delightful that Elizabeth's party planning business is called Excessively Diverted.
Clash was the perfect title. Elizabeth and Tony met with a clash of personalities. Their initial meeting and dislike was believable and their relationship path was also believable and fun to witness. There are a couple of interesting side stories to add to the completeness of Clash. I definitely recommend this!
This was written from the first person perspective if the main character, Elizabeth Elliott, and I got a great feeling for who she is. Her motto is Never Let Anyone Push You Around Or Tell You What To Do.
This could be read as a standalone, but will be especially fun for readers who read Sway, as this is a spin-off novella. There are some familiar characters from Sway, but they do not overshadow or distract from this story. (As if Elizabeth would ever stand for that)
Antonio "Tony" is an excellent match for Elizabeth. His daughter, Vale, adds dimension to the storyline and also to Elizabeth and Tony's characters and relationship. I do not believe this is a retelling of an Austen story. However, it is related to Sway which was a Persuasion retelling, and it is delightful that Elizabeth's party planning business is called Excessively Diverted.
Clash was the perfect title. Elizabeth and Tony met with a clash of personalities. Their initial meeting and dislike was believable and their relationship path was also believable and fun to witness. There are a couple of interesting side stories to add to the completeness of Clash. I definitely recommend this!
March 11, 2020
Sweet, smart, and sensual. A clean romance that made my heart flutter as the story heated up and all the possibilities started to add up. Surprisingly likable characters despite first impressions or expectations. I will surely re-read this again. Easy to recommend. "Clash" is a must read this summer. Quick read.
December 15, 2018
Can You Be Persuaded To Like Elizabeth Elliot?
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Having read and utterly adored one series about Elizabeth Elliot, I was thrilled to see Melanie Stanford released a sequel novella to her clever modern adaptation of Persuasion, Sway that spotlights Elizabeth Elliot. (Side Note: Persuasion fans should definitely read Sway if they haven’t already – it is a wonderful adaptation of Jane Austen’s work that is fresh, creative, and filled with music!)
In this sequel, we meet up with Elizabeth who is running her own party planning business called Excessively Diverted (love it!), which isn’t exactly in the black quite yet. Of course, it doesn’t help that Elizabeth still goes to the spa weekly and must buy the latest designer handbag! While supervising the success of one her expertly planned parties, Elizabeth has the misfortune to overhear someone insulting her party (sounds like someone is about to make a spectacular first impression!) And being bold as brass, Elizabeth confronts this rude guest, who turns out to be Antonio Reyes, a wealthy CEO. Antonio has no problem clashing horns with Elizabeth at her party, but the next day he feels something like regret when he discovers that Elizabeth is the party planner his daughter wants him to hire for her Sweet Sixteen! Yikes! And even though Elizabeth loathes the ill-manner, arrogant jerk entirely, she might be persuaded to take him on as a client because she is in need of some funds to pay her mounting bills…
Oh boy, sounds like Elizabeth has met her match!! I loved that Melanie Stanford placed a spotlight on Elizabeth Elliot in this novella. And I appreciated seeing selfish and conceited Elizabeth learn to open her heart in a most gratifying and believable way. Yet, at the same time, she isn’t much changed in essentials. In addition, I enjoyed seeing Elizabeth’s relationships with other characters in this story. I loved seeing the heartwarming companionship between Elizabeth and her father. While these two have some personality traits in common, it was sweet to see that their relationship is more than those shared commonalities. Their reliance on and care for each other was lovely to witness.
And, of course, it was amusing to see all sorts of sparks fly when Antonio and Elizabeth were together! I loved the rapid-fire insult-matches and heated tension between these two! Elizabeth can passionately hold a grudge with the best of them, and Antonio loves pushing her uptight buttons! But their contentious relationship slowly melts into something softer, and I loved seeing some softness and vulnerability in these two strong-willed characters. In addition, I really enjoyed Elizabeth’ relationship with Vale, Antonio’s daughter, and how spending time with both Vale and Antonio made Elizabeth realize that she wanted something other than the life of an important and glamorous socialite.
I can’t believe I am about to say this…but I think I want to read more stories about Elizabeth Elliot! Or maybe I just want to read more stories by Melanie Stanford! (yeah, that’s more likely, I think!) Clash is a wonderfully entertaining and light-hearted read that once again proves that even Jane Austen’s detestable characters can become likable heroines that readers will get behind! A well-balanced and impassioned second movement to Ms. Stanford’s poignant and soulful first composition, Sway!
Austenesque Reviews
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Having read and utterly adored one series about Elizabeth Elliot, I was thrilled to see Melanie Stanford released a sequel novella to her clever modern adaptation of Persuasion, Sway that spotlights Elizabeth Elliot. (Side Note: Persuasion fans should definitely read Sway if they haven’t already – it is a wonderful adaptation of Jane Austen’s work that is fresh, creative, and filled with music!)
In this sequel, we meet up with Elizabeth who is running her own party planning business called Excessively Diverted (love it!), which isn’t exactly in the black quite yet. Of course, it doesn’t help that Elizabeth still goes to the spa weekly and must buy the latest designer handbag! While supervising the success of one her expertly planned parties, Elizabeth has the misfortune to overhear someone insulting her party (sounds like someone is about to make a spectacular first impression!) And being bold as brass, Elizabeth confronts this rude guest, who turns out to be Antonio Reyes, a wealthy CEO. Antonio has no problem clashing horns with Elizabeth at her party, but the next day he feels something like regret when he discovers that Elizabeth is the party planner his daughter wants him to hire for her Sweet Sixteen! Yikes! And even though Elizabeth loathes the ill-manner, arrogant jerk entirely, she might be persuaded to take him on as a client because she is in need of some funds to pay her mounting bills…
Oh boy, sounds like Elizabeth has met her match!! I loved that Melanie Stanford placed a spotlight on Elizabeth Elliot in this novella. And I appreciated seeing selfish and conceited Elizabeth learn to open her heart in a most gratifying and believable way. Yet, at the same time, she isn’t much changed in essentials. In addition, I enjoyed seeing Elizabeth’s relationships with other characters in this story. I loved seeing the heartwarming companionship between Elizabeth and her father. While these two have some personality traits in common, it was sweet to see that their relationship is more than those shared commonalities. Their reliance on and care for each other was lovely to witness.
And, of course, it was amusing to see all sorts of sparks fly when Antonio and Elizabeth were together! I loved the rapid-fire insult-matches and heated tension between these two! Elizabeth can passionately hold a grudge with the best of them, and Antonio loves pushing her uptight buttons! But their contentious relationship slowly melts into something softer, and I loved seeing some softness and vulnerability in these two strong-willed characters. In addition, I really enjoyed Elizabeth’ relationship with Vale, Antonio’s daughter, and how spending time with both Vale and Antonio made Elizabeth realize that she wanted something other than the life of an important and glamorous socialite.
I can’t believe I am about to say this…but I think I want to read more stories about Elizabeth Elliot! Or maybe I just want to read more stories by Melanie Stanford! (yeah, that’s more likely, I think!) Clash is a wonderfully entertaining and light-hearted read that once again proves that even Jane Austen’s detestable characters can become likable heroines that readers will get behind! A well-balanced and impassioned second movement to Ms. Stanford’s poignant and soulful first composition, Sway!
Austenesque Reviews
October 31, 2017
Do you ever have those characters that seem to have no redeeming qualities and you shake your head over their antics, but yet there's just something about them...? That is how I felt about the character of Elizabeth Elliot when I encountered her in the first book, Sway, that told her sister Ava's story in a heartwarming and passionate modern Persuasion retelling.
So it was with a bit of curiosity and anticipation that I picked up this follow-up novella that focused entirely on Elizabeth. Kudos to the author for writing an unapologetic and unvarnished version of the oldest, glamorous, big-egoed Elisabeth as she finally steps out and tries to improve. She has chosen to work- to go into party-planning. It suits her personality and talent.
It also brings her into contact with a man who rivals her for arrogance, self-confidence, pride, and oh yes, vulnerability. Elisabeth made herself strong and cast-iron inside against loss and hurt of the heart. Antonio had his heart abused and trusted by a conniving, cheating ex. And then there is Antonio's daughter, Vale, who wants a special party that only Elisabeth can deliver.
The acrimonious sparks fly and I found myself alternately groaning and smiling over Elisabeth's inner monologue, actions, and dialogue, particularly with Tony. There is definitely underlying attraction, but Elisabeth seems the last to know. Tony started out abrasive, but he grows on the reader and Elisabeth though good luck getting her to admit it.
I think the spirit of the original Miss Elisabeth Elliot from Jane Austen's Persuasion was captured pretty well and I loved getting her story. Fun and lighter follow-up to Sway.
So it was with a bit of curiosity and anticipation that I picked up this follow-up novella that focused entirely on Elizabeth. Kudos to the author for writing an unapologetic and unvarnished version of the oldest, glamorous, big-egoed Elisabeth as she finally steps out and tries to improve. She has chosen to work- to go into party-planning. It suits her personality and talent.
It also brings her into contact with a man who rivals her for arrogance, self-confidence, pride, and oh yes, vulnerability. Elisabeth made herself strong and cast-iron inside against loss and hurt of the heart. Antonio had his heart abused and trusted by a conniving, cheating ex. And then there is Antonio's daughter, Vale, who wants a special party that only Elisabeth can deliver.
The acrimonious sparks fly and I found myself alternately groaning and smiling over Elisabeth's inner monologue, actions, and dialogue, particularly with Tony. There is definitely underlying attraction, but Elisabeth seems the last to know. Tony started out abrasive, but he grows on the reader and Elisabeth though good luck getting her to admit it.
I think the spirit of the original Miss Elisabeth Elliot from Jane Austen's Persuasion was captured pretty well and I loved getting her story. Fun and lighter follow-up to Sway.
February 13, 2018
This novella is a spin-off of 'Sway' (a modern take on Jane Austen's Persuasion), which I highly recommend as a read all on it's own. This novella is based on Elizabeth Elliot (a secondary character in Persuasion and in Sway). She is Ava's older, spoiled and flawed sister who has to make some changes in her life and her lifestyle. She needs to get a job...something she hadn't planned on doing. However, after successfully planning a party for Ava, she decides to open her own party planning business: Excessively Diverted.
I so enjoyed being a part of Elizabeth's journey in this book. As the book is written in the first person, you get to be inside her head. She also has a knack for dealing with unruly guests. When she overhears one of the party guests, Antonio Reyes, insulting everything about her party and consuming way too much alcohol, she steps in to prevent a scene.
"This is my party which makes me God, and you the mere mortal who has to obey my wishes." (quote from the book)
As luck would have it, his daughter, Vale, wants Excessively Diverted to plan her sweet sixteenth birthday party. Much to Antonio's surprise, Elizabeth is the owner. Sparks fly, insults are hurled and the fun is just beginning.
This book is well written and well edited. The only flaws are Elizabeth's, as she slowly comes to realize what she really wants out of life.
I highly recommend this delightful novella!
June 9, 2017
Well of course I've read this (like a bazillion times) and of course I'm giving it five stars. I mean, I'm just a teensy-bit biased. :D
October 20, 2017
When Melanie Stanford wrote Sway, a modernization of Jane Austen's "Persuasion", I wouldn't have thought that she could be able to make me almost like Elizabeth (Anne's sister), but she did, and that alone earns her this 4 stars for Clash.
June 21, 2018
In this novella, Elizabeth Elliot has started her own party planning business called Excessively Diverted. She is employed to orhanise a birthday party for a 16 year girl called Vale, the daughter of Antonio. Sparks fly between him and Elizabeth from the beginning.
A fun and enjoyable modern variation of Persuasion.
A fun and enjoyable modern variation of Persuasion.
August 3, 2025
Elizabeth Elliot gets a HEA
This short story expands on a modern Elizabeth Elliot. She is still vain and sharp tongued, but then she shows vulnerability and depth. This enemies to friends to lovers romance was a sweet one. Elizabeth even befriends a teenage girl. I recommend this sweet, short read. We do get to see Eric and Ava also from the previous book.
This short story expands on a modern Elizabeth Elliot. She is still vain and sharp tongued, but then she shows vulnerability and depth. This enemies to friends to lovers romance was a sweet one. Elizabeth even befriends a teenage girl. I recommend this sweet, short read. We do get to see Eric and Ava also from the previous book.
September 5, 2018
i didn’t think i’d love elizabeth because of the first book, but she’s pretty great! my only complain is that this was waaaaay too short! :(
but i loved everyone and i loved seeing ava and eric again albeit briefly 💕
but i loved everyone and i loved seeing ava and eric again albeit briefly 💕
November 21, 2019
The plot starts with portraying the heroine as a selfish, spoiled and an awful human being, that doesn’t change much. Instead she learns to be less awful. The writing style is good, the romance is nice and clean and there was a touch of humor too.
August 1, 2018
Greatly read!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews