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Frostville #1
The Princess and the Pizza Man
Newer edition found here
Matchmaking, mansions, and murder - just another Tuesday for this princess.
Twelve years of tossing pizzas in his hometown in Alabama is like a dream come true for William Monroe, but his sister is ready to leave the Podunk place, desperate to find herself a man and get hitched. He’s not too thrilled to hear about the mansion she’s dragging him to, claiming it’s haunted with the spirit of Cupid, and it’s his job to make sure she doesn’t fall for the first guy who looks her way.
Winter’s been running the Frostville Murder Mysteries ever since she inherited a hefty sum of cash, wanting to give back in a fun and profitable way for her home city. Noticing a lot of puppy-eyed patrons, she gives herself the job of matchmaking, picking out the ones who seem best suited for one another. But when the outspoken and grumpy man from Alabama arrives with his eager-to-be-matched sister, her focus starts to falter, and she wants nothing more than to prove to Will that her mansion can feel like home, too.
Books in the Destined for Love: Mansions Collection
—Kiss Me in the Rain by Lindzee Armstrong
—Roping His Heart by Jaclyn Hardy
—The Princess and the Pizza Man by Cassie Mae
—Mending Fences by Lorin Grace
—Love Me at Sunset by Lucinda Whitney
—Saving Her Plantation by Cami Checketts
Matchmaking, mansions, and murder - just another Tuesday for this princess.
Twelve years of tossing pizzas in his hometown in Alabama is like a dream come true for William Monroe, but his sister is ready to leave the Podunk place, desperate to find herself a man and get hitched. He’s not too thrilled to hear about the mansion she’s dragging him to, claiming it’s haunted with the spirit of Cupid, and it’s his job to make sure she doesn’t fall for the first guy who looks her way.
Winter’s been running the Frostville Murder Mysteries ever since she inherited a hefty sum of cash, wanting to give back in a fun and profitable way for her home city. Noticing a lot of puppy-eyed patrons, she gives herself the job of matchmaking, picking out the ones who seem best suited for one another. But when the outspoken and grumpy man from Alabama arrives with his eager-to-be-matched sister, her focus starts to falter, and she wants nothing more than to prove to Will that her mansion can feel like home, too.
Books in the Destined for Love: Mansions Collection
—Kiss Me in the Rain by Lindzee Armstrong
—Roping His Heart by Jaclyn Hardy
—The Princess and the Pizza Man by Cassie Mae
—Mending Fences by Lorin Grace
—Love Me at Sunset by Lucinda Whitney
—Saving Her Plantation by Cami Checketts
189 pages, ebook
First published September 18, 2017
562 people are currently reading
485 people want to read
About the author
Cassie Mae
46 books1,148 followersCASSIE MAE is the author of a few hundred—okay, maybe not that many—books, some of which became popular for their quirky titles, characters, and stories. She likes writing about nerds, geeks, the awkward, the fluffy, the short, the shy, the loud, the fun.
Since publishing her bestselling debut, Reasons I Fell for the Funny Fat Friend, she’s signed several Romance titles with Random House Loveswept, and founded CookieLynn Publishing Services. She is represented by Sharon Pelletier at Dystel & Goderich Literary Management.
Along with writing, Cassie likes to binge-watch Once Upon a Time and The Flash. She can quote Harry Potter lines quick as a whip. And she likes kissing her hubby, but only if his facial hair is trimmed. She also likes cheesecake to a very obsessive degree.
You can stalk, talk, or send pictures of Luke Bryan to her on her Facebook page.
cassiemaeauthor.com
Facebook.com/cassiemaeauthor
Since publishing her bestselling debut, Reasons I Fell for the Funny Fat Friend, she’s signed several Romance titles with Random House Loveswept, and founded CookieLynn Publishing Services. She is represented by Sharon Pelletier at Dystel & Goderich Literary Management.
Along with writing, Cassie likes to binge-watch Once Upon a Time and The Flash. She can quote Harry Potter lines quick as a whip. And she likes kissing her hubby, but only if his facial hair is trimmed. She also likes cheesecake to a very obsessive degree.
You can stalk, talk, or send pictures of Luke Bryan to her on her Facebook page.
cassiemaeauthor.com
Facebook.com/cassiemaeauthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
September 29, 2017
A wealthy heiress, a pizza tossing professional, a mansion, a sister, false identities, a week vacation and a murder mystery too!
Will owns and runs a local pizzeria in his hometown in Alabama. He's happy, has his eye on a girl and loves that his restaurant is a gathering place for friends and family in his town. He loves interacting with them and feeding them great food. His sister Maybelle, or Bells, is ready for some adventure. These two are thick as thieves. So when Bells tells him they're going to a mansion for a week vacation because the ghost of Cupid is said to reside there, Will can't refuse. Bells is ready for love in her life and is putting forth the effort to make it happen by getting herself to the place where Cupid is, and hopefully the man of her dreams. And she might have, just maybe forgot to mention a few key points to her brother about what all their trip entails...oh well. He's stuck and along for the ride once they get there, with plenty of surprises in store for him.
I loved the idea of a murder mystery vacation and a brother being so devoted to his sister that he's willing to help her find love. Albeit in a little unconventional way, according to him. Unfortunately, for me, I had a harder time connecting with these characters. I know other reviewers and readers are loving their personalities but it took me until, well, almost the end of the book to really feel connected to them. They do have a lot of personality, spunk, and happiness but, I just couldn't quite connect. Not exactly sure why, maybe the way they were constantly being referred to as loud and always being heard in a room because of the volume of their voices. I found myself on several occasions, skimming through the pages.
Winter is the heiress and was fun and chipper but I was back and forth on my thoughts and feelings for her as a character as well. I loved the role she played in the story, and I really liked how she took all her money and turned it into something positive and good, being used to help others. She was definitely a people person type character and very goofy/silly (in a good way). The further the story got I liked her and Will's interactions. I really enjoyed the last 3-4 chapters a lot, especially the very end. Maybelle doesn't quite find what she's looking for...or maybe she does. ;-) It's gonna be fun to find that one out.
Overall, I think a lot of readers will probably enjoy this, or think of this as a fun, fluffy and goofy read. Which I think is what the author is going for.
Content: Clean.
I received a review copy. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
Will owns and runs a local pizzeria in his hometown in Alabama. He's happy, has his eye on a girl and loves that his restaurant is a gathering place for friends and family in his town. He loves interacting with them and feeding them great food. His sister Maybelle, or Bells, is ready for some adventure. These two are thick as thieves. So when Bells tells him they're going to a mansion for a week vacation because the ghost of Cupid is said to reside there, Will can't refuse. Bells is ready for love in her life and is putting forth the effort to make it happen by getting herself to the place where Cupid is, and hopefully the man of her dreams. And she might have, just maybe forgot to mention a few key points to her brother about what all their trip entails...oh well. He's stuck and along for the ride once they get there, with plenty of surprises in store for him.
I loved the idea of a murder mystery vacation and a brother being so devoted to his sister that he's willing to help her find love. Albeit in a little unconventional way, according to him. Unfortunately, for me, I had a harder time connecting with these characters. I know other reviewers and readers are loving their personalities but it took me until, well, almost the end of the book to really feel connected to them. They do have a lot of personality, spunk, and happiness but, I just couldn't quite connect. Not exactly sure why, maybe the way they were constantly being referred to as loud and always being heard in a room because of the volume of their voices. I found myself on several occasions, skimming through the pages.
Winter is the heiress and was fun and chipper but I was back and forth on my thoughts and feelings for her as a character as well. I loved the role she played in the story, and I really liked how she took all her money and turned it into something positive and good, being used to help others. She was definitely a people person type character and very goofy/silly (in a good way). The further the story got I liked her and Will's interactions. I really enjoyed the last 3-4 chapters a lot, especially the very end. Maybelle doesn't quite find what she's looking for...or maybe she does. ;-) It's gonna be fun to find that one out.
Overall, I think a lot of readers will probably enjoy this, or think of this as a fun, fluffy and goofy read. Which I think is what the author is going for.
Content: Clean.
I received a review copy. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
October 4, 2017
I used to go to a lot of How to Host a Murder Mystery parties way back when and they were so much fun. Can you imagine going on vacation to a mansion that's devoted to putting on a show? That's just what Winter does. Well, she's the hostess to such a place. She loves it and loves being a matchmaker on the side.
Winter is fun and crazy...and completely loves what she does, and she's really good at it. When Will and his sister, Bells, go stay at the mansion, they're in for a treat. These siblings are from Alabama, but they came across as pretty red-neck to me. Will is really rough around the edges and his restaurant isn't your typical Southern food--he makes pizza. The volume button on these siblings is broken because they only speak in loud and louder and that's what they're known for. Winter and Will are about as opposite as you can get, but they're both very crazy, goofy, and silly. The story has a very light-hearted feel to it.
I did love how gradual the romance is, but felt the sparks were lacking just a little. I wanted more explosive chemistry to light up the dark shadows of the mystery. Will adores his sister and is very loyal and sweet, but he's not my ideal guy, so he was hard for me to fall head-over-heels for. While there are a few surprises, overall, it's mindless, brain candy fun and I did enjoy it.
Content: mild romance
*I received a copy to review, which didn't influence my opinion in any way.*
Winter is fun and crazy...and completely loves what she does, and she's really good at it. When Will and his sister, Bells, go stay at the mansion, they're in for a treat. These siblings are from Alabama, but they came across as pretty red-neck to me. Will is really rough around the edges and his restaurant isn't your typical Southern food--he makes pizza. The volume button on these siblings is broken because they only speak in loud and louder and that's what they're known for. Winter and Will are about as opposite as you can get, but they're both very crazy, goofy, and silly. The story has a very light-hearted feel to it.
I did love how gradual the romance is, but felt the sparks were lacking just a little. I wanted more explosive chemistry to light up the dark shadows of the mystery. Will adores his sister and is very loyal and sweet, but he's not my ideal guy, so he was hard for me to fall head-over-heels for. While there are a few surprises, overall, it's mindless, brain candy fun and I did enjoy it.
Content: mild romance
*I received a copy to review, which didn't influence my opinion in any way.*
October 4, 2017
I've been putting off this review because I just wasn't sure how to put my feelings into words with this one. This book was sure different than what I'm used to reading. I felt like the story line was quirky in a good way. The whole premise was fun but it was really hard to get into things. I felt like I was always just outside of settling in. Disconnected in a way. I felt better the last few chapters and I enjoyed the ending. It felt like a bit of redemption for the book overall. I thought Winter was a fun character, full of kindness and generosity. She was the best bit of the book for me. While this wasn't my favorite book, it was still good. :)
Clean
Clean
September 19, 2017
The title is less than auspicious, but the story more than makes up for that. Ms. Mae takes every stereotypical thought that love entails and comes up with a fascinating buffet of heart, humor and hope. William is a realist. Winter is an optimist. So what is a man with no clue how to dream, doing in a matchmaking haunted house with the queen of dreamers? Finding his own fairy tale and winning hearts along the way. Irresistible just found a new face.
September 28, 2017
9/23/17
I dismissed this book as fluff when I read the title, but reading the description, I am really excited to get reading it. Mystery theater vacation stays, the ghost of cupid, matchmaking. Sign me up!
9/28/17
I was right, there is so much more to this book than meets the eye. I was judging a book by its title and picturing a pizza delivery man, and a real princess (probably incognito). That wouldn't be bad, but the plot was so much better!
Will owns his own pizza restaurant in Alabama. He's an outgoing guy and loves to talk, laugh, and show off in his restaurant. His sister, Maybelle, feels like the old maid in their small town. She hears about the Frostville Mansion, that is supposedly haunted by the ghost of Eros (Cupid), and she convinces her brother to come with her so that she doesn't settle for the first guy that she sees.
I love the relationship between Will and Bells. He is such a good brother. They might argue, and loudly, but he has her back, and would do just about anything for her. It's funny watching him wrapped around her finger that way.
The murder mystery plot of the story was pretty fun, especially when Will's behavior makes everyone think that he is an actor, and quite possibly the killer.
I adored Winter! She was perfect for Will. Neither of them could be quiet to save their lives. The dialogue and the chemistry between them was great!
While the timeline of the story is short, one week at the mansion, I felt like Winter and Will had enough time together to fall in love. I had some unanswered questions about the side plot with Will's sister, Maybelle, but I am hoping that means she gets her own book.
An intriguing plot, a compelling romance, and plenty of laugh out loud moments. I adored this book!
I dismissed this book as fluff when I read the title, but reading the description, I am really excited to get reading it. Mystery theater vacation stays, the ghost of cupid, matchmaking. Sign me up!
9/28/17
I was right, there is so much more to this book than meets the eye. I was judging a book by its title and picturing a pizza delivery man, and a real princess (probably incognito). That wouldn't be bad, but the plot was so much better!
Will owns his own pizza restaurant in Alabama. He's an outgoing guy and loves to talk, laugh, and show off in his restaurant. His sister, Maybelle, feels like the old maid in their small town. She hears about the Frostville Mansion, that is supposedly haunted by the ghost of Eros (Cupid), and she convinces her brother to come with her so that she doesn't settle for the first guy that she sees.
I love the relationship between Will and Bells. He is such a good brother. They might argue, and loudly, but he has her back, and would do just about anything for her. It's funny watching him wrapped around her finger that way.
The murder mystery plot of the story was pretty fun, especially when Will's behavior makes everyone think that he is an actor, and quite possibly the killer.
I adored Winter! She was perfect for Will. Neither of them could be quiet to save their lives. The dialogue and the chemistry between them was great!
While the timeline of the story is short, one week at the mansion, I felt like Winter and Will had enough time together to fall in love. I had some unanswered questions about the side plot with Will's sister, Maybelle, but I am hoping that means she gets her own book.
An intriguing plot, a compelling romance, and plenty of laugh out loud moments. I adored this book!
September 28, 2017
William (Will) Monroe has the best pizza in his town in Alabama and he loves putting on a show for his customers. His older sister, Maybelle (Bells), is tired of being thought of as "the town spinster" so she talks Will into going to Frostville (a themed vacation at a mansion) in Michigan with her. She's heard that it's "haunted by the spirit of Eros" (aka Cupid), and there's been a romance success story every week for the past year, and according to Bells it's her turn.
Winter's parents were famous actors so when she inherits a lot of money upon their deaths she decides to turn the huge mansion into Frostville Mansion and do murder mystery weeks. She also considers herself a bit of a matchmaker and because of this Frostville has a gotten a bit of a reputation in the romance department.
Will is really grumpy the first few days, because he really doesn't want to be in cold Michigan, but Bells neglected to tell him about the murder mystery part of the which leads to him humiliating himself their first night there. Winter takes it upon herself to try to get Will to be less grumpy, and to find Bells a match. Of course things don't go quite as planned.
This is my first book by Cassie Mae so I didn't quite know what to expect. Will was my favorite character and I was totally on his side in this story. I wouldn't want to go to cold Michigan either, and then to find out the "death" at dinner was just an act after embarrassing myself in front of everyone, I'm pretty sure I would've gone home the next day. I liked that Will and Bells were close, but I didn't like how she manipulated him into doing things he didn't really want to do. Bells didn't strike me as being 36 yrs old with the way she squealed, influenced her brother to do things, and then when things weren't quite going the way she hoped she ready to go back to Alabama. She struck me as too determined and strong-minded to get discouraged so easily, but then again she was expecting to meet someone and fall in love in a week's time. I wasn't quite sure what to think of Winter. I liked her character better when she and Will were alone and he was making her pizza. This is a clean romance.
Winter's parents were famous actors so when she inherits a lot of money upon their deaths she decides to turn the huge mansion into Frostville Mansion and do murder mystery weeks. She also considers herself a bit of a matchmaker and because of this Frostville has a gotten a bit of a reputation in the romance department.
Will is really grumpy the first few days, because he really doesn't want to be in cold Michigan, but Bells neglected to tell him about the murder mystery part of the which leads to him humiliating himself their first night there. Winter takes it upon herself to try to get Will to be less grumpy, and to find Bells a match. Of course things don't go quite as planned.
This is my first book by Cassie Mae so I didn't quite know what to expect. Will was my favorite character and I was totally on his side in this story. I wouldn't want to go to cold Michigan either, and then to find out the "death" at dinner was just an act after embarrassing myself in front of everyone, I'm pretty sure I would've gone home the next day. I liked that Will and Bells were close, but I didn't like how she manipulated him into doing things he didn't really want to do. Bells didn't strike me as being 36 yrs old with the way she squealed, influenced her brother to do things, and then when things weren't quite going the way she hoped she ready to go back to Alabama. She struck me as too determined and strong-minded to get discouraged so easily, but then again she was expecting to meet someone and fall in love in a week's time. I wasn't quite sure what to think of Winter. I liked her character better when she and Will were alone and he was making her pizza. This is a clean romance.
October 4, 2017
My first impression of this book was that I thought the title was a little ridiculous, but I read it anyway since I'm reviewing the series. And I was pleasantly surprised! I had just finished reading an intense suspense book with murder and terrorism, so I found that this light-hearted, funny book was perfect to read next. Even though Winter, Will, and his sister Bells are over-the-top characters, they weren't written in an overly dramatic way, which I think was an important subtlety in making the book not turn me off. There are hints of depth to them that were intriguing in the midst of the humor and fun situations they find themselves in. I was curious how Will and Winter would find a happily ever after since they are from such different parts of the country and have entrenched lives there. A great balance of entertainment and deeper layers. Lesson learned- don't always judge a book by its title ;)
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
October 17, 2017
This is my first book by Cassie Mae. I found it had a little bit of everything I love in a romance. Murder, humor, flirting, and a whole lot of swooning. The author’s descriptions of Frostyville and Roe’s Pizza brought the story alive for me, now I want a amazing piece of pizza and to participate in a murder-mystery event!
I fell in love with all the characters. They are loud and fun. Winter has it all and just wants to help people find their happy ever after. Will has a smile that will make any girls heart throb. Watching these two interact, among all the others, had me laughing right out loud!
A clean fun read that you surely will not be able to put down. I was hooked by the end of the first page. I look forward to reading more by this author.
*Please note I received a copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
I fell in love with all the characters. They are loud and fun. Winter has it all and just wants to help people find their happy ever after. Will has a smile that will make any girls heart throb. Watching these two interact, among all the others, had me laughing right out loud!
A clean fun read that you surely will not be able to put down. I was hooked by the end of the first page. I look forward to reading more by this author.
*Please note I received a copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
September 19, 2017
This book had everything I’ve come to expect from Cassie Mae. Characters you can’t help but love, a good dose of humor, and chemistry so palpable you feel like you’re inside the pages watching the love story blossom and unfold. I loved Will and how protective of his sister he was and I loved the genuineness of Winter. Both characters came to life and now I want to go have a slice of pizza at Roe’s Pizzeria and watch Will toss the dough behind his back and man do I want to join in a murder mystery at Frostville Mansion.
A perfect romance with a little mystery thrown in that had me smiling and laughing the entire time. A definite must read! Now I want Bells story!
A perfect romance with a little mystery thrown in that had me smiling and laughing the entire time. A definite must read! Now I want Bells story!
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February 13, 2018💝 FREE on Amazon today (2/13/2018)! 💝
Blurb:
Matchmaking, mansions, and murder - just another Tuesday for this princess.
Twelve years of tossing pizzas in his hometown in Alabama is like a dream come true for William Monroe, but his sister is ready to leave the Podunk place, desperate to find herself a man and get hitched. He’s not too thrilled to hear about the mansion she’s dragging him to, claiming it’s haunted with the spirit of Cupid, and it’s his job to make sure she doesn’t fall for the first guy who looks her way.
Winter’s been running the Frostville Murder Mysteries ever since she inherited a hefty sum of cash, wanting to give back in a fun and profitable way for her home city. Noticing a lot of puppy-eyed patrons, she gives herself the job of matchmaking, picking out the ones who seem best suited for one another. But when the outspoken and grumpy man from Alabama arrives with his eager-to-be-matched sister, her focus starts to falter, and she wants nothing more than to prove to Will that her mansion can feel like home, too.
Blurb:
Matchmaking, mansions, and murder - just another Tuesday for this princess.
Twelve years of tossing pizzas in his hometown in Alabama is like a dream come true for William Monroe, but his sister is ready to leave the Podunk place, desperate to find herself a man and get hitched. He’s not too thrilled to hear about the mansion she’s dragging him to, claiming it’s haunted with the spirit of Cupid, and it’s his job to make sure she doesn’t fall for the first guy who looks her way.
Winter’s been running the Frostville Murder Mysteries ever since she inherited a hefty sum of cash, wanting to give back in a fun and profitable way for her home city. Noticing a lot of puppy-eyed patrons, she gives herself the job of matchmaking, picking out the ones who seem best suited for one another. But when the outspoken and grumpy man from Alabama arrives with his eager-to-be-matched sister, her focus starts to falter, and she wants nothing more than to prove to Will that her mansion can feel like home, too.
March 3, 2018
Cassie Mae never fails to knock it out of the park for me. When I first started reading I wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy this book as much, but it took MAYYBE another chapter and a half to convince me to finish the book. Her characters always manage to suck me into their realm and hold me hostage. The Princess and the Pizza Man is perfect if you’re looking for a happy, light read.
March 27, 2018
Fun
Cupid hits her mark! A cute murder mystery week at an exclusive resort for singles. I can’t wait to read Maybelle’s story next! 4.5 stars.
Cupid hits her mark! A cute murder mystery week at an exclusive resort for singles. I can’t wait to read Maybelle’s story next! 4.5 stars.
April 7, 2018
Sweet romance
This was a one click freebie abs blue I've got to get the rest! It was sweet love story with lots of fun and laughter. Definitely get it..
This was a one click freebie abs blue I've got to get the rest! It was sweet love story with lots of fun and laughter. Definitely get it..
January 8, 2023
Meh. Largely forgettable. Characters were nice but underdeveloped, as was the plot. Not enough backstory; might’ve worked better had it been trimmed down and issued as a novella.
October 21, 2024
So cute! Very sweet romance—I’m excited to read the next one!
October 25, 2017
Quirky and cute but somehow... lacking. I loved the characters and the plot idea was unique but it seemed as though so much time was spent on the matchmaking and murder mystery, that not much was spent on the actual romance. It was a little slow in the beginning and then, it was just over. The ending was very satisfying and I enjoyed it - it is written by Cassie Mae, after all - I just didn't love it.
September 30, 2017
Oh my! I had no idea what to expect from a book by Cassie Mae, but knew from just seeing the title that I had to read this one. From the very start of the book I had a smile on my face, and there were certainly some laugh-out-loud moments as well. In addition to the humor, I was touched by the deep love that Will had for his older sister and the way he was willing to do just about anything for him.
Winter was a fun rich girl, who was boisterous, caring, and passionate about life. She had a strong desire to help others. And she appeared to be very confident in herself and not afraid of what others thought about her. I loved reading about her at the ball.
There was a secondary romance in the story as Bells, Will's sister, sought to be targeted by Cupid, and a murder mystery through the theater. If you choose to read this book, be sure to try to figure out who the murderer was. I got so caught up in the other parts of the story I kinda forgot to solve that myself. Several things had unexpected endings, but in a good way. It is fun to be surprised in a story that makes you think that maybe you know where it is going.
The writing in the book was very good (I saw a few typos, but being as this was a pre-release copy, I'm guessing they will be corrected in the final release), with great descriptions that drew me in as if I was experiencing the story first-hand. I will note that the cover should not give you the idea that the story takes place on a warm beach, though, because it was very cold in Michigan when they were there, and they were inside for most of the book.
There was a single line where a crude sexual comment was made which felt out of place for the rest of the story which was clean and sweet. Aside from my personal preference for keeping crudeness from books, that line should have been left out just for consistency with the rest of the book.
After having read this book, I took a look at her bio on Goodreads to learn more about her and her writing. I cracked up when I saw this: "And she likes kissing her hubby, but only if his facial hair is trimmed", because she obviously used her real-life experience in the book. I won't explain that comment beyond this so I don't give any spoilers.
This review was originally posted on Among the Reads
I received this book for free from Destined for Love Romances, Lindzee Armstrong in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Winter was a fun rich girl, who was boisterous, caring, and passionate about life. She had a strong desire to help others. And she appeared to be very confident in herself and not afraid of what others thought about her. I loved reading about her at the ball.
There was a secondary romance in the story as Bells, Will's sister, sought to be targeted by Cupid, and a murder mystery through the theater. If you choose to read this book, be sure to try to figure out who the murderer was. I got so caught up in the other parts of the story I kinda forgot to solve that myself. Several things had unexpected endings, but in a good way. It is fun to be surprised in a story that makes you think that maybe you know where it is going.
The writing in the book was very good (I saw a few typos, but being as this was a pre-release copy, I'm guessing they will be corrected in the final release), with great descriptions that drew me in as if I was experiencing the story first-hand. I will note that the cover should not give you the idea that the story takes place on a warm beach, though, because it was very cold in Michigan when they were there, and they were inside for most of the book.
There was a single line where a crude sexual comment was made which felt out of place for the rest of the story which was clean and sweet. Aside from my personal preference for keeping crudeness from books, that line should have been left out just for consistency with the rest of the book.
After having read this book, I took a look at her bio on Goodreads to learn more about her and her writing. I cracked up when I saw this: "And she likes kissing her hubby, but only if his facial hair is trimmed", because she obviously used her real-life experience in the book. I won't explain that comment beyond this so I don't give any spoilers.
This review was originally posted on Among the Reads
I received this book for free from Destined for Love Romances, Lindzee Armstrong in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
October 3, 2017
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4 stars -- I received a free copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.
This was an adorable little story. I will admit that I started off on the wrong foot with it...partially b/c I had a terrible cold that was making concentrating hard, and partially because I'm not really a huge fan of spelling out accents...it's a stupid pet peeve, but there you go. I was a little concerned that I wasn't going to fall in love, but I got sucked in like I always do with a book by Ms. Mae.
I was concerned when we first met Will and his sister Maybelle (Bells) that they would be too stereotypically southern. I should have had faith. While they do have some stereotypical southern quirks, they fleshed out into really intriguing characters to me. I loved how easily embarrassed Will could get, especially given how supposedly loud he was. I also loved hearing the story about how his passion for cooking started... And I really appreciated how much he loved his sister, and how he went above and beyond for her.
And Winter was just delightful to me...quirky and odd and not at all what I was expecting. She just sounds delightful, I felt like I could really picture who she was, and I'd want to be her friend. She has a really big heart.
And Winter and Will were so adorable together. It was a truly sweet romance, and I loved how it played out at the end. It fulfilled everything my romantic heart was hoping it would.
I also enjoyed the murder mystery, and the cast of goofy actors and guests at the mansion. I will say I didn't solve the mystery, I was totally surprised by that one! And I didn't quite peg what was going on with Bells...that's one bit I wouldn't have minded learning more of what happened. She was a fun character in her own right, almost a caricature, but pulled back into realism with her feelings and conversations with Will and Winter.
So all in all, while it may have had a bit of a bumpy start for me, I was utterly delighted with how this little story played out in the end. Made me a happy camper.
4 stars -- I received a free copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.
This was an adorable little story. I will admit that I started off on the wrong foot with it...partially b/c I had a terrible cold that was making concentrating hard, and partially because I'm not really a huge fan of spelling out accents...it's a stupid pet peeve, but there you go. I was a little concerned that I wasn't going to fall in love, but I got sucked in like I always do with a book by Ms. Mae.
I was concerned when we first met Will and his sister Maybelle (Bells) that they would be too stereotypically southern. I should have had faith. While they do have some stereotypical southern quirks, they fleshed out into really intriguing characters to me. I loved how easily embarrassed Will could get, especially given how supposedly loud he was. I also loved hearing the story about how his passion for cooking started... And I really appreciated how much he loved his sister, and how he went above and beyond for her.
And Winter was just delightful to me...quirky and odd and not at all what I was expecting. She just sounds delightful, I felt like I could really picture who she was, and I'd want to be her friend. She has a really big heart.
And Winter and Will were so adorable together. It was a truly sweet romance, and I loved how it played out at the end. It fulfilled everything my romantic heart was hoping it would.
I also enjoyed the murder mystery, and the cast of goofy actors and guests at the mansion. I will say I didn't solve the mystery, I was totally surprised by that one! And I didn't quite peg what was going on with Bells...that's one bit I wouldn't have minded learning more of what happened. She was a fun character in her own right, almost a caricature, but pulled back into realism with her feelings and conversations with Will and Winter.
So all in all, while it may have had a bit of a bumpy start for me, I was utterly delighted with how this little story played out in the end. Made me a happy camper.
August 23, 2019
Fantastic light romance!
Rating: G
Sex: only a few kisses
Language: none
Violence: none
HEA: oh yes
Would I read more of the series: yes
This was a delightfully fun read! The romance was charming, the banter was light and funny. The characters weren't deeply developed and the plot wasn't intricate; it was a sweet story of two people falling in love. A few things weren't resolved (she's significantly richer than he is and it bothers him a little, Alabama or Michigan).
----SPOILERS----
Bells wants to find her true love, so she talks her brother, Will, into going to a Michigan mansion for a week. It's said to be haunted by Cupid. Bells fails to tell Will it's a murder mystery week.
Winter is the hostess. Her rich and famous parents died when she was 18, leaving her vast amounts of wealth. She opened the mansion to be a hotel because she's lonely. For fun, she hosts a murder mystery quarterly.
Will has never left Alabama before. He's cold and homesick. He's only there to help Bells not choose a yahoo. The first night at dinner, Will overhears a murder plot against Winter, so when the man she swapped dessert with dies, he whisks Winter away to keep her safe. She tells him what's going on.
Will catches Winter spying on people the next day. He learns she's Cupid. Winter wants to set up Bells and Garrett. He wants in.
They spy on the other couple one night, and accidentally fall in a bush together. They plan a double date for the dinner she's not needed as an actress. Will makes pizza in her guest house with a brick oven.
Bells doesn't come to dinner because she broke up with Garrett. She wants to leave, but now Will doesn't. He gets her to stay by reminding her she promised to do Winter's hair for the ball.
When he leaves, he gets her number. They message for a week, but he's unhappy, and his pizza showmanship has declined. He realizes home isn't a place, it's a feeling. He flies to Michigan. She's on her way to Alabama. They meet in her driveway, luckily. In the epilogue, he proposes.
Rating: G
Sex: only a few kisses
Language: none
Violence: none
HEA: oh yes
Would I read more of the series: yes
This was a delightfully fun read! The romance was charming, the banter was light and funny. The characters weren't deeply developed and the plot wasn't intricate; it was a sweet story of two people falling in love. A few things weren't resolved (she's significantly richer than he is and it bothers him a little, Alabama or Michigan).
----SPOILERS----
Bells wants to find her true love, so she talks her brother, Will, into going to a Michigan mansion for a week. It's said to be haunted by Cupid. Bells fails to tell Will it's a murder mystery week.
Winter is the hostess. Her rich and famous parents died when she was 18, leaving her vast amounts of wealth. She opened the mansion to be a hotel because she's lonely. For fun, she hosts a murder mystery quarterly.
Will has never left Alabama before. He's cold and homesick. He's only there to help Bells not choose a yahoo. The first night at dinner, Will overhears a murder plot against Winter, so when the man she swapped dessert with dies, he whisks Winter away to keep her safe. She tells him what's going on.
Will catches Winter spying on people the next day. He learns she's Cupid. Winter wants to set up Bells and Garrett. He wants in.
They spy on the other couple one night, and accidentally fall in a bush together. They plan a double date for the dinner she's not needed as an actress. Will makes pizza in her guest house with a brick oven.
Bells doesn't come to dinner because she broke up with Garrett. She wants to leave, but now Will doesn't. He gets her to stay by reminding her she promised to do Winter's hair for the ball.
When he leaves, he gets her number. They message for a week, but he's unhappy, and his pizza showmanship has declined. He realizes home isn't a place, it's a feeling. He flies to Michigan. She's on her way to Alabama. They meet in her driveway, luckily. In the epilogue, he proposes.
October 3, 2017
Will has accompanied his sister Bells (short for Maybelle) from Alabama to Michigan in the winter so that she could possibly find her one true love at Frostville Mansion. The mansion is thought to be haunted by the spirit of Eros and many couples have come together there. Winter is the owner of Frostville Mansion which, in addition to the matchmaking, hosts a murder mystery week four times a year. There is an entire cast of characters, including Winter playing Princess, that live amongst the guests for the entire week. Will is not aware that there is a mystery afoot and ends up causing a bit of a scene at dinner the first night. Will and Winter end up working together to get Bells matched up with another guest but there are plenty of sparks between the two of them as well. Can two people who are from such different backgrounds find love together?
This is the first book that I have read by Cassie Mae and I loved it. This was such a sweet and humorous story. Winter and Will are wonderful characters and I was really hoping that they were going to end up together from the very beginning. Winter is quirky and funny while Will is charming and somewhat bashful despite his loudness. They are both endearing characters and I was drawn into this story very quickly. I enjoyed all of the secondary characters as well and I was surprised when the “murderer” was found because it wasn’t who I thought it would be. I would like to have more information about what happens with Bells and Michael but maybe that it is for another book??
I received an ARC of this book and have voluntarily provided an honest review.
This is the first book that I have read by Cassie Mae and I loved it. This was such a sweet and humorous story. Winter and Will are wonderful characters and I was really hoping that they were going to end up together from the very beginning. Winter is quirky and funny while Will is charming and somewhat bashful despite his loudness. They are both endearing characters and I was drawn into this story very quickly. I enjoyed all of the secondary characters as well and I was surprised when the “murderer” was found because it wasn’t who I thought it would be. I would like to have more information about what happens with Bells and Michael but maybe that it is for another book??
I received an ARC of this book and have voluntarily provided an honest review.
October 16, 2017
Another cute and sweet story that I’ve come to expect from Miss Mae’s writing.
The whole of going’s on vancation to a mansion and partaking in a murder mystery while there was very fascinating. I would have liked more on the mystery though, but that wasn’t the focus if the story. The focus was that it was rumored to be haunted by Cupid’s spirit and that people who have attended previously had made their life match.
May Ellie wanted so bad for that to happen with her, so she talked her brother, Will, into attending for a week.
Both Will and Maybelle are from Alabama and had a ‘country twang’ about them. In they way they talked and in the way they acted. The only thing that bother me was the constant misuse of the word y’all. I’ve lived in GA (several years close to the Alabama pstate line, until I moved to the east coast of GA several years ago) and while people in the South do say y’all a lot, it is in reference to a group of people. Y’all is ‘slang’ for ‘you all’ and should be used for two or more people. It is not singular and the characters kept using it when talking to just one person. Was a little distracting. Lol.
The only other thing I can say is that I wished we had gotten a bit more of Maybelle in the end. Otherwise it was such a cute story.
The whole of going’s on vancation to a mansion and partaking in a murder mystery while there was very fascinating. I would have liked more on the mystery though, but that wasn’t the focus if the story. The focus was that it was rumored to be haunted by Cupid’s spirit and that people who have attended previously had made their life match.
May Ellie wanted so bad for that to happen with her, so she talked her brother, Will, into attending for a week.
Both Will and Maybelle are from Alabama and had a ‘country twang’ about them. In they way they talked and in the way they acted. The only thing that bother me was the constant misuse of the word y’all. I’ve lived in GA (several years close to the Alabama pstate line, until I moved to the east coast of GA several years ago) and while people in the South do say y’all a lot, it is in reference to a group of people. Y’all is ‘slang’ for ‘you all’ and should be used for two or more people. It is not singular and the characters kept using it when talking to just one person. Was a little distracting. Lol.
The only other thing I can say is that I wished we had gotten a bit more of Maybelle in the end. Otherwise it was such a cute story.
October 4, 2017
The Princess and the Pizza Man isn't really a romance between royalty and her pizza delivery man :) But it is a romance set in a mystery mansion that doubles as a matchmaking agency sort of! Meet Winters, aka Princess Winters, she holds a paying murder mystery mansion event which also for some reason results in her actors falling for their guests! The next event should result in the same thing as well going by her track record. Enter Mr. Pizza Man! Willam has his very own pizza place in Alabama and it's definitely his dream business but when his older sister begs him to go to Michigan to one of those murder mystery mansions he couldn't really say no. Even if the weather is extremely cold in Michigan and he doesn't really believe she'll meet the man of her dreams there and fall in love despite what the brochure and former guests says! But when Winter and William meet the legend seems to hold true, so how can the Princess and the Pizza Man make this one work? This was a fun lighthearted romance that will definitely might make you go for one of those tours yourself!
*ARC provided*
*ARC provided*
October 10, 2017
I liked it
Will has a noisy personality. He is very Southern. He lets his sister talk him into coming way up north with her, to a large mansion (also serving as a hotel) that’s supposed to be haunted by the ghost of Cupid. And she wants to find a man desperately. He doesn’t want to go, but for his sister he’d do just about anything.
Winter is loud and outgoing too. She inherited billions from her celebrity parents and is now the owner of said mansion. It’s also the place where Murder Mystery Week is being held. Winter plays the part of ‘Princess’. And she’s also secretly the one playing Cupid. She isn’t just a spoiled rich girl: there is more to her.
I liked the concept. I liked Will complaining about the cold. I couldn’t really relate to Winter nor Will, but I did like them. Will didn’t know that there would be a murder mystery, which made for some funny scenes (if somewhat over the top). He finds it hard to determine when Winter is acting and when she’s being real. It was fun. Different from other romances (in the sense of: original). I liked it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and voluntarily posted an honest review.
Will has a noisy personality. He is very Southern. He lets his sister talk him into coming way up north with her, to a large mansion (also serving as a hotel) that’s supposed to be haunted by the ghost of Cupid. And she wants to find a man desperately. He doesn’t want to go, but for his sister he’d do just about anything.
Winter is loud and outgoing too. She inherited billions from her celebrity parents and is now the owner of said mansion. It’s also the place where Murder Mystery Week is being held. Winter plays the part of ‘Princess’. And she’s also secretly the one playing Cupid. She isn’t just a spoiled rich girl: there is more to her.
I liked the concept. I liked Will complaining about the cold. I couldn’t really relate to Winter nor Will, but I did like them. Will didn’t know that there would be a murder mystery, which made for some funny scenes (if somewhat over the top). He finds it hard to determine when Winter is acting and when she’s being real. It was fun. Different from other romances (in the sense of: original). I liked it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and voluntarily posted an honest review.
November 15, 2017
I love these Destined for Love Romance collection! This one was so much fun! It wasn't quite what I was expecting, but I loved every bit of it!
I have to say that I love the whole idea of the Frostville Murder Mysteries! How much fun to go stay somewhere and have one of those going on around you while you're there. Then you can try to find out just who the criminal was...so much fun! I love Winter's character. She's funny, and kind and she's great at being a matchmaker. Maybe not so much for herself, but you know!
And then there's Will. I loved Will! I loved how he goes out of his way to help his sister out. I love that he comes up with great nicknames for everyone he knows. I love that he is a true southern gentleman and that he wants to stay in his hometown in Alabama forever.
The plot is so much fun! Not only are you trying to figure out who the murderer is supposed to be, but you're trying to figure out if Will and Winter are going to work and if Will's sister Maybelle is going to find someone just right for her. So great!
This is such a fun book! And it's clean enough you can hand it to your teenager without any worries. You won't want to put it down!
I have to say that I love the whole idea of the Frostville Murder Mysteries! How much fun to go stay somewhere and have one of those going on around you while you're there. Then you can try to find out just who the criminal was...so much fun! I love Winter's character. She's funny, and kind and she's great at being a matchmaker. Maybe not so much for herself, but you know!
And then there's Will. I loved Will! I loved how he goes out of his way to help his sister out. I love that he comes up with great nicknames for everyone he knows. I love that he is a true southern gentleman and that he wants to stay in his hometown in Alabama forever.
The plot is so much fun! Not only are you trying to figure out who the murderer is supposed to be, but you're trying to figure out if Will and Winter are going to work and if Will's sister Maybelle is going to find someone just right for her. So great!
This is such a fun book! And it's clean enough you can hand it to your teenager without any worries. You won't want to put it down!
October 3, 2017
I adored this book! From the first moment with the pizza man, Will, and the princess Winter, I loved this story. It is so fun and so much southern and outgoing charm with Will and his sister Maybelle heading north to Frostville Mansion to attend a murder mystery vacation week. His sister is hoping to find the love of her life, but Will ends up being the one cupid strikes. It's an amazing setting with the luxurious mansion and the colorful, but lonely princess of the castle, who is the heir and owner of the business. It's a very cool idea with the murder mystery show that is carried out throughout the week as the guests try to figure out the whodunit. I totally enjoyed the story from the start with the pizza man grudgingly following his sister to this vacation spot, and then fell right into the whole romantic story as Winter captivates him. It's a lot of fun scenes and much dialogue that made me laugh out loud. I really loved their personalities in the book and highly recommend this one, now a favorite of mine.
October 12, 2017
A fun story to brighten my nights.
Will is happy with his pizzeria, he is the attraction of the city with his pizza exhibitions, started to get interested in a girl and feels that he has already built his home, but his sister is wishing to find a love and asks him to go with her on a singles trip to Frostville Mansion whose reputation for mysteries and matchmaking is great. He even goes just to please his sister.
Arriving and beginning all the mystery about unexpected murders, he meets Winter. The fun-loving owner of the place feels the cupid herself and apparently seems to be the killer's target.
With a light and fluid writing, I was hoping that each character would find what they were looking for and everything would turn out well. The ending is very cute and romantic and I caught myself sighing several times with this beautiful love story and of course I have given lots of laughs.
Will is happy with his pizzeria, he is the attraction of the city with his pizza exhibitions, started to get interested in a girl and feels that he has already built his home, but his sister is wishing to find a love and asks him to go with her on a singles trip to Frostville Mansion whose reputation for mysteries and matchmaking is great. He even goes just to please his sister.
Arriving and beginning all the mystery about unexpected murders, he meets Winter. The fun-loving owner of the place feels the cupid herself and apparently seems to be the killer's target.
With a light and fluid writing, I was hoping that each character would find what they were looking for and everything would turn out well. The ending is very cute and romantic and I caught myself sighing several times with this beautiful love story and of course I have given lots of laughs.
April 12, 2018
So I actually started the Frostville series out of order. I read Southern Spinster first and loved that enough to pick up another Frostville book! So Princess and the Pizza Man is Will's story. Will is the pizza guy of his small hometown in Alabama. Completely content with his life, but out of love and support for his sister, Maybelle, he agrees to be dragged along for a week out at the Frostville Mansion for a (unbeknownst to him) murder mystery event! After an embarrassing meet cute, Will is soon smitten by the owner/operator of the Frostville Mansion--Miss Frosty, herself, Winter. Through the week, Winter and Will team up to try to find Maybelle a match. Winter is focussed on the task at hand...until she isn't. The more time the two spend together, though, the more Will starts opening up his small-town eyes (and heart?) to the possibility of something he never even thought he was looking for. Is a week too soon for something real to develop? Loved this installment to the series.
September 28, 2017
This is such a fun, clever and sweet romance. I really enjoyed the unique setting of a murder mystery week in a massive mansion in Michigan. It is everything that Will Monroe does not like and makes him uncomfortable but, for the love and care of his sister, Maybelle he will play along. They are such an adorable pair that you can't help but love them. Winter, the owner and operator of the mansion can not resist matchmaking and is torn between her role as Princess in the mystery and helping Maybelle find her true love which results in some interesting scenes...with Will. Love when you least expect it is the greatest role of all.
I recommend this highly entertaining book for the laughs, the fun, the surprises and the happily ever afters that follow.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
I recommend this highly entertaining book for the laughs, the fun, the surprises and the happily ever afters that follow.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
April 8, 2023
This is my second Cassie Mae read and I’m still not sure about how to rate this one. On one hand, the storyline was interesting and a bit quirky which is good. On the other hand, the story seemed to drag before getting to the heart of the story. The premise of the story was good; connecting with the characters and the story took too long. I think the author tried to put too much into the story: murder mystery, rumors of a haunted mansion with a Cupid-playing ghost, actors among guests, matchmaking heiress, a down-to-earth southern business owner who is only trying to protect his sister, a spinster (refer to sister being protected), and much more. All of this happens in a story that is under 200 pages long. Shew!
The humor was great. There were definitely good things going on. I have a few more Cassie Mae stories downloaded on my Nook and I’ll read them.
The humor was great. There were definitely good things going on. I have a few more Cassie Mae stories downloaded on my Nook and I’ll read them.
October 3, 2017
This was my first story by this author. I so enjoyed it. William owns a pizza in Alabama. His sister hears about a mansion that is haunted by Cupid and wants to go because she feels like she is an old maid. Will loves his sister so he goes with her. She doesn't tell him that it is also a murder mystery week, so when sommes dies the first night at dinner he goes to protect "Princess Winter". What follows is so great. I love Winter's personality. She is Cupid and besides doing the murder mystery she is trying to find Will's sister Bells a match. It was so great watching Will help her spy on the couple. They have such a great chemistry together. It was a very interesting story with a double HEA.
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