Smittened

Misfit Brides #3

by Jamie Farrell, Pippa Grant

A Bad Boy, a Good Girl, and Ice Cream!

Dahlia Mallard has finally found her destiny--running an ice cream shop in Bliss, the happiest bridal town in the Midwest. Problem is, her heart is bigger than her bank account. After spending her last dime on a less-than-worthy cause, she needs a serious influx of cash to get through the winter. Her last-ditch effort? Convincing country music superstar Billy Brenton to attend the risqué flavor-tasting event she's planned to boost sales. But the closest she can get to Billy is his drummer, the womanizing Mikey Diamond.

Mikey loves the ladies, and he makes no secret of it. But he's not such a fan of this town devoted to weddings, love, and marriage. And he's even less of a fan of people using him to get to Billy. When circumstances land Mikey in Dahlia's house as her new roommate, though, all his caution--and all his interest in any other single ladies--flies out the window. Dahlia's quirky and funny and, unlike his usual women, she doesn't tolerate any of his baloney. But when Mikey discovers that Dahlia, too, is using him to get close to Billy, will he take the chance to be her hero instead, or will he revert to his manwhore ways?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Rom Com, Audiobook, Chick Lit, Novella

92 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2015

About the author

Jamie Farrell writes humorous contemporary romance. She believes love and laughter are two of the most powerful forces in the universe.

A native Midwesterner, Jamie has lived in the South the majority of her adult life. When she's not writing, she and her military hero husband are busy raising three hilariously unpredictable children.

Reviews

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smittened by Jamie Farrell is both #2.5 in the Misfit Brides of Bliss series and also part of the Snowy Days and Steamy Nights: Come In From the Cold anthology which I am currently reading. You know, there is no better way to get acquainted with new authors than to read an anthology of short stories. This is how I found Jamie Farrell. This story is sweet and full of hilarious little anecdotes. The characters were loveable and heart warming.



It may have taken Dahlia Mallard a little longer than some to find her purpose in life but she has found it now. For the last two years she has taken over ownership of the Milked Duck Ice Cream Shop from her Aunt that has passed away in the little town of Bliss. Winter is a tough time, though for an ice cream shop. She would have been okay with the money she had saved up if she hadn’t been swindled by her ex boyfriend and lost her entire savings. You see, Dahlia would do just about anything for anybody.



She has heard that the sexy sought after rock star Billy Brenton is in town. Dahlia wants to have an ice cream tasting for adults only. Her unique recipes like Chocolate Orgasm and Cherry Popper are sure to be a hit, if she could only get people to come to the tasting. A sure way to gain interest is if she can get Billy to promise to attend. But Dahlia has no way of finding Billy, until his drummer and best friend, Mikey Diamond’s house burns down across the street, and Dahlia offers him a place to crash.

Mikey Diamond is not the relationship type at all. But there is something about Dahlia. He knows that she really only wants him so he can get Billy to go to her taste testing. But the longer they spend time together, the more intrigued he is by her. Dahlia is so set on saving people but maybe she is the one who needs saving.

“Mikey Diamond didn’t need saving. Dahlia did. From him.”

Dahlia is determined to not be swayed by this sexy drummer. Her luck with men should be the best of deterrents.

“She braced herself and girded her loins, which, quite honestly, needed a lot of girding.”

This short story totally took me by surprise. It made me laugh out loud and also squeezed my heart. I fell in love with the characters. I want to know more about the little town of Bliss and its residents. I most definitely want to read more by Jamie Farrell.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 CHERRY POPPER STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a very cute and very creative story with a lot of heart, and ice cream flavors I very much want to try!

“What, was there something special in your ice cream?” he said like an ass.
“Estrogen,” she said. “You might notice some swelling in your boobs and shrinkage in your package for a few days.”

I am honestly not accustom to this type of southern dialect and writing style when I read (or speak for that matter) but it wasn't so overdone that I couldn't understand and enjoy the story, it just took a moment to acclimate to it. That being said and out of the way, it is my only drawback. The story flowed perfectly. The characters were genuine, flawed and likeable. The plot was creative and touching and the setting was just down right adorable. I was pulled into the story swiftly and with the funny banter and moving plot I really enjoyed myself.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mickey Diamond is a country superstar in love with his best friend's sister. But, she married, had kids, and then got divorced, but somehow the two never could manage to get together. But, now he has met a really great lady named Dahlia. The trouble is he doesn't know if she is using him to help her sell her ice cream flavors or if he is really over the woman he has loved all his life.
This story made me crave chocolate ice cream and I loved the names of the flavors. Although this a really short story it had a wonderful ending that made me smile. 4 stars

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yep, this is why Ms. Farrell is one of my new favorite authors! I couldn't help but love every one of the characters and it sets up the next story in the Misfit Brides of Bliss series very nicely indeed. Of all the novellas in the Snowy Days, Steamy Nights anthology, this was probably the only one that left me wanting more and I'll definitely be reading on to find out what happens with Will and his lady.

And Dahlia's ice cream... oh, wow! If you're a foodie like I am, you'll be straight off to Baskin-Robbins for a fix.

[N Swaffar · Rating 5 out of 5]

*A copy given by author, in return for an honest review.*

I fell in love with this story right in the beginning. Lonely sweet small town girl falls in love with Superstar Drummer Mikey. Mikey a man-whore with a heart, who only had eyes for his childhood friend Mari Belle…until he met ice cream shop owner Dahlia, his whole world changed.

He thought he was only going to be around Dahlia to have a place to stay, after their placed burned down and she sweetly offered a room for him. But he got more than he bargained for. The more he got to know Dahlia the more he wanted to ignore the fact that he should stay away from her, he is a bad boy after all and she didn’t deserve his whoring around. But the more time they spent together and getting to know each other, he knew he wanted so much more from Dahlia than just getting her in his bed. Will Mikey figure himself out and win Dhalia over and be the man she deserves?



No matter what kind of manwhore Mikey was, when it came to Dhalia he was as sweet as pie. The way they argued their way in to their hearts, was too sweet. And I loved the sexual tension between them, right before they finally gave in to what they wanted.

Great job Jamie, this story is great. <3

[loves 2 read romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well this is another terrific read from Jaime Farrell. A drummer a girl and an ice cream parlor sounds like a good start to a joke huh. Well this is a story that grabs you and holds you. I love a story about finding love in the least likely places especially when you aren't looking for it. I highly recommend this story and to be honest anything by the Author she is fabulous.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read by Jamie Farrell! Smittened was a sweet, sassy, sexy love story. Dahlia and Mike seemed to be such an unlikely couple, but at the same time seemed perfect together. They both needed something from the other...Dahlia needed Mike's help to get to his best friend and superstar band mate Billy to save her business (Ice cream...YUMMMMMMY!!). Mike needed a place to stay after burning his house down, and though he doesn't know it he needs someone to save him from being a career hound dog. What they got was so much more!

I enjoyed reading more about the happenings in Bliss. Looking forward to the next in the series.

[Amber Tinsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smittened quickly joined the books and stories that I will definitely reread again and again. Oh how I wish there really was an ice cream shop named The Milked Duck. And that they offered erotic flavors. Dahlia needs Mikey to get to Billy so that her adults only ice cream tasting can bring in the people to save her shop. Mikey needs Dahlia after watching his home go up in flames. Neither are prepared for what happens when they are together. I was so happy to be taken back to Bliss with this novella.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet short story of a small town girl and a playboy rocker. Neither one looking for love. But when the playboy can't seem to stay away from the ice cream lady, the sexual tension between the two gets quite funny. Love this story. Jamie Farrell knocks it out of the park once again!

[Fizza · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it!

[Tami Talbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

SMITTENED - 4 stars

Dahlia is struggling to save her ice cream shop so when she sees an opportunity to get a famous country star to stop by hoping it will attract customers she decides to go for it. However, her only chance to get to him is through his drummer, Mickey. Mickey has always been in love with his best friend's sister. But since he realized she didn't return his affection, he turned to the life of being a womanizer. But upon meeting Dahlia, his heart began to feel a connection with this sassy girl who only ever looked at him for who truly he was inside. But can Dahlia and Mickey let go of their uncertainties brought on by the past and open their hearts to a love neither of them had ever before found?

Smittened is a sweet story about learning to look beneath the surface to see who truly lives inside. I liked the connection between these two characters and the banter they shared was entertaining and fun. Smittened is another excellent addition to the Snowy Days, Steamy Nights anthology as well as an introduction to me of Jamie Farrell and her fun writing style who is definitely going to be added to my Goodreads bookshelf. This is a quick read and a lovely way to spend a couple of relaxing hours of an afternoon

[Marti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Smittened by Jamie Farrell is a great novella.

Dahlia needed help. She was someone who helped everyone and believed in the good of people. I loved how the main character, Dahlia was making ice cream and not just ordinary ice cream - some of the flavors sounded soooo good (Chocolate Organism and Peachy Passion). She needed help to draw people in.
Mikey was a drummer and song-writer for a famous band and he needed a place to crash. Mikey was guarded and as much as he wanted to help her, he didn’t get it. Together they were FUN. But - poor Mikey...hope he figures it out before it is too late!

[Sandra R · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure I understand all the 5 star reviews, but I guess a lot of people enjoyed this short romance novella. Maybe you have to read the series from the beginning, ( I haven't), because there seems to be a lot going on in this town that I probably needed to know before reading this story. The writing was fine within itself and there were some fun one-liners. Everything seemed rushed, including character development, so I really wasn't invested in the H/h. It felt like I was deposited into the middle of a town and I was supposed to know the people - so my advice is to start reading from the first book in the series. I gave up a couple of chapters from the end. Sorry.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is part of the six book boxed set Snowy Days Steamy Nights:Come in From the Cold. This story is also #2.5 in the Misfit Brides series. Jamie Farrell is one of my new favorite authors that I recently found. I just love the Misfit Brides series and this short story fits right in and has you wanting more. I enjoyed watching the fun adventure between Dahlia and Mikey. I also loved the fun filled ice cream flavors that Dahlia was making in her ice cream shop. Can't wait for the next book in the series!

[Siv30 · Rating 3 out of 5]

הסיפור של דליה ומייקי חביב. היא בעלת חנות גלידה, שהתרוששה לאחר שבן זוגה האחרון נמלט עם כל חסכונותיה. הוא מתופף בלהקה מפורסמת, חובב נשים ומאוהב בסתר באחותו של חברו הקרוב וזמר המוביל בלהקה.

לאחר שריפה שכילתה את מקום מגוריהם בבליס, מייקי מסכים להתארח אצל דליה. במקפיא שלה הוא מגלה גלידות בטעמים אלוהיים שהיא הכינה לערב טעימות מיוחד שאירגנה בתקווה להעלות את מכירות הגלידה שלה ובתקווה להתאושש מהמכה הכלכלית שנחתה עליה.

הוא מחליט להתגייס לעזור לה, למרות שהיא לא מבקשת מהפחד שהוא יחשוב שהיא מנצלת אותו.

ספר קצר וחביב להעביר שעתיים קלילות.

[Jaime Fiction Fangirls · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this story. Jamie Farrell writes the best kind of characters. They are always a little quirky and a whole lot sweet, full of that Southern charm we all love. She writes the most uniquely charming stories that EVERYONE should read. I found myself smiling, and sighing, throughout this story. I love the familiarity of "The most married-est town on Earth" and "The Aisle" and can't wait to read more about the people who live there!!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Smittened is a new short story by Jamie Farrel. This story is part of the Snowy Days/Steamy Nights boxed set. I enjoyed "meeting" Dahlia and Mikey. They are a fun couple. I loved the ice cream flavors Dahlia invents in her ice cream shop. I hope to read more about Mikey and Dahlia in a future book. I look forward to reading all your books, Jamie. Great new author, check her out!!

[Rheanna Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It was the kind of book that left me wanting more, which happens to be perfect because this is part of a series revolving around an adorable town and the husband games. You know a book is good when you read it too fast right? I gobbled it up like it was the ice cream in the book. But seriously, can we get a real Milked Duck around here?

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Those gray eyes slid back to her. “Your shower big enough for two?”
“Yes, but the cats don’t like to get wet. Neither does the
guinea pig. But you might have some success with the lizard.”
Bad, bad move. Because both corners of his mouth were
getting in on the smile action. He moved them one at a time, first the right corner, then a slow follow from the left corner.
And then he showed his dimple.

SMITTENED by Jamie Farrell is a giggling delight. It’s cute, creative, fun and sexy! It’s a treat to be back in the most wedding-est small town of Bliss with its colorful characters! SMITTENED (#2.5) takes place at the same time as MATCHED (#2) and I would highly recommend that you enjoy them together, one after another, as they complement each other - filling in the same timeline. The MATCHED /SMITTENED combo would work well as a standalone, if that is your preference.

SMITTENED is the story of Mikey Diamond, rockstar Billy Brenton’s womnizing drummer, and Dahlia Mallard, the owner of The Milked Duck Ice Cream Shoppe located in downtown Bliss. Dahlia inherited the business from her Great Aunt Agnes two years ago. She has all the normal ice cream flavors on her menu, but also offers original sinfully delicious creations including, but not limited to, chocolate orgasm, peachy passion and sexual favors. Dahlia is in financial straits when she meets Mikey. To jumpstart wintertime ice cream sales, Dahlia has planned a risqué flavor-tasting event and she desperately needs Billy Brenton to attend to increase ticket sales. Can she depend on Mikey to deliver Billy to her event while safeguarding her heart from him?

When the rental house Billy and Mikey have been staying in burns down, Mikey is in need of a place to stay. Dahlia offers Mikey a room in her home in exchange for a favor; She needs Billy, Mikey’s best friend, to attend her risqué tasting event. Mikey has a reputation as a playboy, but the more Mikey is around Dahlia, he realizes that he wants more from Dahlia than getting her in his bed.

Following please find a few of my favorite quotes from SMITTENED:

He looked up from the paper he was scribbling on and offered
her a lopsided grin. “Hey, sweet pea. You bring me anything
special?”
The lopsided bit wasn’t odd, but there was something forced
about it. “Got a fresh bag of cat food outside.” Cat food that she’d
bought with the twenty he’d left to pay for his ice cream.
He pushed his makeshift drum set aside and rose with a
stretch. “Words every man dreams of hearing. Make my night if
you say you got catnip too.”
She tried not to giggle. She tried hard.
But she couldn’t help herself. “Extra strength,” she said.
This time, his grin came out bigger, less forced. “Woman of
my dreams.”
“In your dreams,” she said.
---
“I am so not kissing you tonight,” she informed him.
He chuckled softly. And if she thought his smile was
dangerous, his chuckle should’ve been classified as a biological
weapon. Sin in a sound wave.
“But now you’re thinking about what it would be like, ain’t
you?” he said.
“Only my stupid parts.”
---
“What, was there something special in your ice cream?” he said like an ass.
“Estrogen,” she said. “You might notice some swelling in your boobs and shrinkage in your package for a few days.”

Karen White returns to fantastically narrate SMITTENED. There is nothing that falls short in her performance. She captures the persona of each character and brings them to life. Her pacing is spot on. Both her male and female voices sound genuine and character differentiation is a breeze. I could go on fan-girling, but suffice to say, Karen is one of my very favorite narrators for good reason. Her productions are always perfect, polished, exceptional pleasures. Listening to SMITTENED with Karen’s narration adds an additional layer of enjoyment to this installment of Misfit Brides.

Jamie delivers a healthy dose of humor in this emotional, heartwarming novella. I loved Mikey’s and Dahlia’s sweet and hot chemistry, the delectable ice creams, the southern sweet-talking, and re-connecting with previous favorite characters. It’s my best-loved of the series so far! I highly recommend the combo of MATCHED/SMITTENED to anyone who relishes lively, touching contemporary romances! I can’t wait to listen to SUGARED in which the town’s quirky baker, Kimmie, will get her HEA!

My full review is posted at Reading Between The Wines Book Club. Please check it out there: http://www.readingbetweenthewinesbook...

[MsChris1161 · Rating 4 out of 5]

SMITTENED is another cute story in Jamie Farrell's Misfit Brides series. This novella features Mikey Diamond, the drummer and best friend of Will Truitt from MATCHED, and a self-proclaimed man-whore who never expected to find the woman of his dreams is the town of Bliss. Falling in Love, anywhere, was not on his agenda.

Dahlia inherited The Milk Duct, an ice cream shop just off the aisle in Bliss from her Aunt Agnes and she loves running it and creating new ice cream flavors. She's a little ditzy, but has the kindest heart. She takes in strays, including Mikey after his house burns down from a space heater accident. She's sweet, but she speaks her mind and that fascinates Mikey. She captures his attention completely, even when he's supposed to be keeping an eye on Will.

Fun story. Interesting characters. Happy to see more of Mikey's story filled out after reading so much about him in Matched. 4 stars

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Mickey and Dahlia's story. You sort of got hints of it in Matched but it was great to read the whole story. Mickey is really a very sweet guy and he goes out of his way to help Dahlia even though he does not want to admit to his feelings. Dahlia obviously has terrible taste in men and has previously picked the wrong guy, so she has trouble trusting Mickey expecting to get hurt by him just like all the others. Then the unthinkable happens, she lets herself fall for Mickey only to discover that he is in love with someone else. Mickey has been in love with his best friends sister for as long as he can remember but she has never seen him as anything but her brothers friend. When Mickey confesses his feeling to Marie Bell he finds out that he really doesn't love her he just thought he did. He quickly realises that Dahlia has his heart. This is a very sweet love story.

[Eleanor · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Short & Sweet Stars

Smittened is the third book (Novella) in the Misfit Brides series by Jamie Farrell (Pippa Grant) This short story tells Dahlia and Mikey story, It had everything you need for a Laugh out loud, smitten read and I loved it all from the characters to the Ice Cream. I'll be diving into more of this blissful little town and its residents.

I highly recommend this book and series!

[Michelle Quintana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute

I liked how this told the story of how Dahlia and Mikey got together. It was super cute but it didn't go far enough in their story. I was hoping it would have made it to at least the Battle of the Boyfriends.

[Dawn Strickland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Smitten, Indeed!
This was a cute and funny rom com with likeable characters. The humor wasn't forced or over the top. It enhanced the pull between the main characters. Overall, a sweet treat!

[Morgan Nebistinsky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the first two books in this series and really loved them, so I was excited to keep reading into the series, even though I wasn't very interested in this couple when they were a background couple in the second novel, "Matched". I was even more disappointed that this was more of a short story or novella, clocking in at only 113 pages. As a result, I was generally disinterested in this story. There wasn't enough time to really develop the characters past what we already knew about them from "Matched", and so the story just falls a bit flat. They are in love with each other in no time, and there was no real tension build up to this relationship like there were in the previous two novels in the series. Then there story just kind of ends, because we find out their full story ending in "Matched". I'm not sure if this was released as just like a seasonal novella or what, but it was a disappointing and unnecessary side story that Farrell failed to make into it's own fully fledged novel.

[Mary Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dahlia has a heart of gold and no matter the situation, always helps someone in need even if it puts her in a difficult situation in her own life. As she is struggling to earn money in the winter months to pay her rent, she finds herself face to face with sexy Mikey who suddenly needs a place to stay. Can she convince him to rent a room from her? Just maybe he and Billy Brenton, his famous musician friend, can make an appearance at her ice cream shop to boost business. Mikey can’t believe the house he rented just burned down, now what will he do. When Dahlia offers him a room, he accepts having no other options. What he finds is a sweet, confounding, sexy woman that sees him as a player. Can Dahlia melt this player’s heart? Will he be able to convince Dahlia he can be long-term? Another fun, sweet romance from Jamie Farrell. This is a short story so perfect quick read when you have little time but wasn’t something fun to escape into.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sweet, sexy (yet clean) romance will have you smiling over and over.
The story starts HOT, as in burning hot, immediately showing us the contrasts and hinting at complications. Mikey Diamond lived for attention and action. Dahlia Mallard knew what life was like moving around but when she inherited an ice cream parlor, she finally felt at home.
Billy Brenton, rock star, seems to be the only thing they have in common and he is missing.

I love the dialogue and the humor. The characters seem real and are easy to care about.
The briefest hints about the other books in this series make me want to read them all soon.
It is not a complicated story but with enough tension and troubles to make me want to keep reading to make sure Mikey and Dahlia "might could" figure it out.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jamie Farrell has hit it out of the park with Smitten. Dahlia, an ice cream shop entrepreneur, falls for Mikey, a drummer with Billy Benton's band, striking sparks and melting ice cream between them.
When I was done with this read, also set in the same town as Blissed, I wanted to hie myself to the nearest ice cream stand.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this third book of the “Misfit Brides” series, Dahlia and Mikey put enough passion in ice cream that it will have the reader checking their freezer for that carton they keep hidden!

Read full review in the 2016 May issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the whole idea of naughty ice cream flavors. Mikey is one cocky hot hero that I fell in love with while reading this one. Mikey has a heart of gold that he doesn't realize he has. He needs to put his feelings about a past crush in the past if he wants a life with Dahlia.