Bossy Beard

Mail Order Mountain #3

by Cassie Mint

I’m falling in love with my mail order match.

Then I find out—he's my grumpy boss.

How could this happen? There are thousands signed up to Soulmate Express. Thousands who could have been my happy ever after.

Instead I've been writing to the grouchiest man I know. Telling him secrets, confessing my innermost dreams… complaining about my horrible boss.

Ugh.

This can't happen. I need to forget the dreamy man I've been writing to, and go on like everything is fine.

And my boss can never know he was matched with me.

Because he'd hate that… right?

Bossy Beard is a short and steamy instalove story, starring an uber-grump and the girl he SWORE he’d keep away from.

Genres: Romance, Novella, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Enemies To Lovers, Workplace Romance, Short Stories

62 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 13, 2022

About the author

Cassie writes outrageous, OTT insta-love with tons of sugar and steam. She loves cookie dough, summer barbecues, and her gorgeous cat Missy.

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Reviews

[Darlene I read WAY to many books · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5⭐️

This wasn't my fave couple because I thought maybe he knew she was the girl he matched with but honestly he didn't know so what if that wasn't her he said he was falling for his match.
So that did give me a eck because Maverick was Pinning for her for 2 years and best way to forget her was to find someone else.
😡
Like I understood why Nina went on the match she was tired of feeling unwanted and unloved until she matched with Mav online until that one picture that made her know who her mysterious guy was. She ended that match.
And with alittle hype from her friend she went after hers only to be shot down when Maverick found out she knew who he was on the match site thinking she was joking with him.
Wanted to shake my head at Maverick for that but these 2 got together after the misunderstanding.


No ow/om drama, no cheating, tiny drama,sexy times,no virgins

Recommend-Maybe
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶🌶

Slowinsta
Push away from H
Age gap
Pinning for 2 years
No condom
Hea

[sil ♡ the book voyagers · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't stop reading these I'M SORRY!!! They're super addicting and fun af. If you want to a good time, read some Cassie Mint books nooooow.

This one is about a boss and an assistant who move to this beautiful small town in the forest because of work. There, they signed up to a mail-order/dating app without knowing they're talking to each other. He's grumpy and she's sunshine! They've been pining for each other for a while too *chef kiss*

[Renegade ♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

[*˚Remnant Light ‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾ · Rating 3 out of 5]

**3.2/5 stars**

Nina has been Merrick's assistant for two years and has had a crush on him since first meeting him. Knowing that she can't have him, she decides to sign up on the Mail Order Bride program in an attempt to forget her unrequited feelings for him and seems to get along with her match thus far. But one day, she receives a picture of her match's desk after asking him about his work and it's only then that she realizes he is none other than Merrick himself.

It's not really an original premise but it sort of worked out for me. The characters were likable and well matched (no pun intended). I liked the fact they'd both known each other for a couple years and that they both had a secret crush on the other.

It’s like this man anchors me. Whenever I think about never seeing him again, something vital inside me revolts.-Nina

Nina had a temper but not one that got on my nerves. She wasn't the usual sweet heroine but instead had vivacity. I appreciated that she didn't hold onto her unrequited love and actually sought to free herself from it. It was refreshing.

It’s the only safe thing I can tell her, because I’m not about to tell my young assistant that she looks so fucking gorgeous I could howl. That I want nothing more than to press her up against the nearest tree, and to unwrap her layer by layer until her bare skin pebbles in the frosty morning air. That if I can’t make her smile, I could at least make her moan.-Merrick

Merrick's reasons to sign up for the program were the same as Nina's. I liked that about him as well. He was serious and just bossy enough.

Since they'd both known each other for a while, their chemistry was well grounded, as well as their boss-employee relationship. They acted familiar around the other and it just made for an easy and believable read.

✔️HEA Epilogue: 6 months later, married and trying for a baby
✔️Novella
✔️Dual POV
✔️Boss/Employee
✔️Age gap H is a decade older than h who is probably between 21 and 23
✔️Grumpy/Bossy H
✔️Virgin h
✔️No OW/OM
✔️No cheating
✔️Safe
🔥 Steam level: 2.5/5 Not bad but there was only one scene
⚡Content warning No Condom/ No Mention of Birthcontrol/ No safety talk/ Foreplay/ First time/ Cowgirl

Would I recommend this novella? I think it was one of the better novellas from this Mail Order Mountain series. I wouldn't say it was outstanding but definitely enjoyable.

**Note that I do not rate novellas and full-length books by the same standards **

Mail Order Mountain Series
(Series Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.3 /5)
1. Grizzly Beard - 2. Lonely Beard
3. Bossy Beard* - 4. Big Ol' Beard

[Lolina ⋆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

-=-2.5 stars -=-

[Shruti (Hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fun - only wish they had a bit more of a conversation about the whole mail order situation - would have been nice to see them talk and then eventually laugh and admit to how they were trying to get over each other only to find out that they walked themselves into a circle. Missed opportunity for more cuteness.
The one book where it's not insta-everything in one way - they have been mutually pining after each other for 2 years, though there was instant attraction back when they met. Boss x his assistant. Hot! I wish these stories were a bit more drawn out. First book still remains a favourite.

[Tiff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one!!

Nina has the hots for her boss, Merrick, but thinks that he’ll never look at her the way she looks at him. So she joins Soulmate Express to be matched up with someone so she can finally forget about her unrequited love.

Merrick has the hots for his assistant, but he doesn’t want to be a bad boss, or make her feel uncomfortable, so he joins Soulmate Express so he can find someone to take his mind off of Nina.

They don’t know it but they’re perfectly matched, they’ve just got to get their shit together first.

I really enjoyed this one. Nina has a great sense of humor, and I felt the attraction so strongly between these two. I’m so happy everything worked out, they deserved their happiness. This is my favorite in this series so far!

[atomickitten · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up

Deliciously sweet!

I just wished it was a bit longer.

But I loved the fact it wasn't all happening in one day.
I loved that they had known each other for a while before the story took off.

And last but not least, I loved Merrick and Nina together.

Perhaps it wasn't my absolute fave from Mint but only she can write a novelette that holds some sort of depth.
Maybe not that whole lot but still.
And I just love what she writes, so yeah, I'm rounding it up to 5.

And I honestly can't wait for Cain's story.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best so far.

Best book of the series so far. Hands down. I love an unrequited love story AND you throw in the boss? I’m smitten. Nina was juuust on the right side of annoying for me, so I was able to get through it. But I loved their love story.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short fun book. Mutual pining.

[Kathy Wideman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the series. They can be read as standalone books. Nina has had a crush on her boss for years. She even moved with him to the woods to help his write his book. He is a hard man to work for but she can’t help how she feels. She has decided to move on with the Mail Order service. She has a match and she thinks it will work then she realizes her match is her boss. Merrick has been attracted to his assistant for years as well but he needs to keep things professional. So, he too signs up for the Mail Order service. Then his match suddenly cancels their match he doesn’t understand why. Will Nina woman up and tell Merrick that they were matched or will she give up. Maybe try for a different match or just go back to the city. This book was a cute quick read. They were both interested in each other but neither made a move. They are great match though. Merrick would do anything for her. I think he was rough on her as an employee as a way to create space between them. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series. Cain looks like he is going to have an interesting story. Great job Cassie.

[Viv “BookVixen” Gutierrez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very sweet, cute read. The heroine is in love with her grumpy boss who has no clue of her feelings for him. And likewise the hero is in love with her. Both think their love for the other is hopeless and unrequited, so they sign up for a matchmaking service that doesn’t allow pics until one gets to know the other, and they’re matched!

Safe. Hero’s past isn’t mentioned at all but he doesn’t come off as a manwhore and I choose to believe that he’s been celibate since knowing heroine. Heroine is a virgin and belongs only to her hero. No others, no cheating or sharing or abuse. HEA with epilogue 6 months out. No babies, but with intention to get pregnant.

[Lisa Bing · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an entertaining short story, told in dual POV, that brought together Nina, the admin assistant to Merrick, an apparently grumpy author. Nina's crush on him was not getting her anywhere, so she went online and found a match. Shucks and golly gee, it was him but neither knew it at first ;) He didn't want to be 'that' boss, so he used a snarky demeanor to try and keep himself in check. What followed was initially a whole lot of awkward for them but led to a steamy romance. This well written story really brought out the worst and best in these two and I'm glad they got their HEA.

[Oriana Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nina works as an assistant for a bossy writer. Two years she secretly pined after him. Now she signed up to a mail order website....she finally wants to move on. She meets Mr.Write and everything goes well, until one day she sees who she was writing to the whole time😉 Merrick is a demanding boss that has a huge crush on his assistant... He tries to stay away ,but fate has other plans😉 Insta-love ,sweet, romantic, with a bit steam and safe with a sweet HEA at the end😍😍😍😍😍

[Kayla Brunson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this one as much as the other two books in this series. Hopefully Cain's book doesn't disappoint!

[ReadingInThe6ix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essentially the same as others in the series. Burly boss and sweet assistant - 2 years until they admit feelings. Cute and enjoyable.

[kay reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Smexy and angsty, perfect combination! Boss x Assistant romance

[dais · Rating 4 out of 5]

Assistant x Boss meets mail order mountain… I bloody LOVED it

[LizKat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the series out of order but oh well.
LOVED this one. I'm a fool for boss/employee romances and Cassy Mint is one of my favorite authors.
Fast, fun and yeah.. fast. You can read the entire series in a few hours. Perfect for a quick fix :D

[Clarisse · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the Cassie Mint I know and love!

We have our hero Merrick, a gruff and grumpy author longing for love. He signs up for dating app called Soulmate Express and unexpected matches with his assistant Nina, who he's been feeling all kinds of unrequited feelings for since she started working for him. Little does he know that Nina has been reciprocating all along, but her own feelings get clouded by Merrick's bossy demeanor and their business relationship . When Nina finds out about their match while they're secluded in the mountains together, they soon realize that a romantic relationship may be forbidden, but not necessarily inevitable.

This was the perfect short read for me to escape into. It gave me all the ingredients I needed: a small town mountain setting, witty and digestible writing, and copious amounts of swoon and steam for such a short length. Nina and Merrick's romance happened in a snap, yet I couldn't get enough! The ending also gave a little sneak peak of the next book which, needless to say, I instantly added to my TBR.

This was the first book I read from this series. Despite going out of order, I loved it and highly recommend it.

I might have to go back and read the first two installments for more!

[Nancy Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

BOSSY BEARD is Book 3 in the Mail Order Mountain Short Stories. They can all 4 mountain man stories be read as standalone, but I have been enjoying reading the books in order. The 4 books are all written by Cassie Mint.

Nina Perez is convinced that her boss is the most horrible and grumpy boss in the entire world. Nina is also wondering why if he is so awful she followed him to the freaking mail order mountain? Her boss, Merrick Bates, had traded his jet-setting investigative journalist job and sharp suits for flannel shirts. He bought a cabin and no longer was clean shaven, but was growing a beard. As his assistant, he got her an apartment in town. It was her job to climb up that mountain to bring him his stupid black bean stir fry. Why had she followed him? Because Nina had a mad crush on her boss. It's like he anchors her. Whenever she thinks about not seeing him again, something inside her revolts. She thinks he doesn't see her as a possible mate. He's thinking he is too old for her, but has had a longtime desire for her. It would be an inappropriate action if he were to proposition her. So these two lonely people sign up for Soulmate Express, and out of all the thousands of matches they could have had, can you guess who their matches would be?

[**Elle**Bee**Double U** · Rating 4 out of 5]

For two years Nina has harbored a crush on her bossy demanding boss.
There's no reason why she should, he doesn't look at her like a woman, he constantly harps on her, oh and he moved himself and her all the way out to the backwood mountains where WiFi is spotty at best and drive through/fast food is miles away!

Signing up for Soulmate Express was suppose to be a way for her to find love and hopefully get over her little crush on her boss. But imagine her surprise when an innocent picture of MrWrites desk is the exact desk she just saw 30 minutes ago...at her boss's cabin!
When Nina finds out that her boss was only on Soulmate Express to try and get over his feelings for her will she finally give in to these feelings?

Overall, I'd give this one 3.5 stars.
It's a cute story but it's really fast.
There's no conclusion to Merrick and "big break" of a story. Did it happen?.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ms. Shawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nina Perez is in the mountains with her boss Merrick Bates. Merrick is an investigative journalist who is on sabbatical in the mountains to write a book and needs Nina there as his assistant. He also may secretly have a crush on Nina.

Nina’s friend Grace lives there and works remotely for Soulmate Express. Nina sets up a profile as SomethingsGottaGive. She is hoping to find love to get over the stupid crush she has on Merrick. She has been communicating with a guy called MrWright and thinks it is going well.

What happens when MrWright sends a picture of his desk and Nina realizes MrWright is her boss Merrick? Will she reveal who she is to Merrick? Can Nina keep her feelings to herself?.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dawnmarie Burke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 3rd book in the Mail Order Mountain Series featuring Merrick and Nina's sweet grumpy boss romance. Merrick and Nina are both attracted to each other when she starts working for him but neither ever acts on their feelings. Nina is tired of pining for what she can't have so she signs up on a dating site that unbeknownst to her Merrick is also on. She finds out when they get matched up with each other and spend time exchanging emails getting to know each other. Then he sends her a photo that she recognizes and she's not sure how to play it. I don't want to say anymore and ruin it for anyone else with spoilers. You really need to read this cute story to see what happens.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tima · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nina, the female lead has been attracted to Merrick, the male lead and her boss, since she started working for him two years ago. Merrick doesn’t want to be *that* boss and has been grumpy with her. Nina is shocked to realise that the anonymous male she’s speaking to on a matchmaking website is Merrick but she’s reluctant to tell him…

This short story is dual POV, well written, and a funny, steamy romance. I laughed at both characters awkwardness with each other and enjoyed that they managed to make their relationship work.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Beverly McCall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bossy Beard is the third book in Cassie Mint’s Mail-Order Mountain series. Like the other books in this series, Ms. Mint chronicles the romantic journey of a mountain man and his love interest. In this case it is Nina Perez and Merrick Bates. He is a journalist who relocated to the area. She is his assistant who has a crush on him. Unbeknownst to each other both are clients of Soulmate, Inc. They are a match. What happens when they find out the identity of their soulmate? Will they fall in love? You must read this book to find out.
Once again, Ms. Mint pens another entertaining age-gap romance. Keep up with her tract record, Nina and Merrick are multi-dimensional. Ms. Mint captures their strengths and vulnerabilities. In doing so, she endears her readers to these two. Her dialog is strong. She continues to use a dual POV enabling her readers to understand the lead characters and their dynamics. Nicely done, Ms. Mint.

[Kate V · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 - 3 smut-scale stars!

Nina has been in love with her boss Merrick for a long time but has never made a move because he has never shown interest in her. So she decides to try her luck at Soulmate Express only to be matched up with well...her boss.

Merrick wants his assistant Nina but can't cross that line so he's just a butthole. When he is matched with his dream girl on Soulmate Express, it's a real shocker when he finds out who she is.

When identities come to light, what will happen?!

I enjoyed this one but I felt like it took them longer to get together for how short the book was and I would have liked a little more backstory. Overall, a good smutty read.

[vmar · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is definitely my least favorite out of this series of novellas.

Aside from the boss and employee trope, which I'm not a fan of, the more tense conflict compared to the low-angst ones in the other Mail Order Mountain novellas, didn't work for me.

I found Merrick forgettable and as much as I loved charismatic, funny, and endearing Nina, their story just wasn't anything special.

I did enjoy the letter formatting in a few chapters and I always love the smiling into each other while kissing.

I'd still recommend reading this one because all of these novellas are interconnected and you see the characters throughout the other stories.

[Mistie Best · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one! Merrick was so serious and straight-laced and Nina was just head over heels for him. Unfortunately for Nina, Merrick was her boss and she couldn't cross that line with him, so she signed up for a matching service to find her match. Imagine her surprise when she discovered that her match was none other than her grumpy boss! I loved seeing these two figure out how to work through the chaos and awkwardness. Loved it!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nina has followed her boss Merrick to the mountains for work. He is overbearing and demanding yet she is attracted to him. She seeks solace in Soulmate Express who pairs up couples in the mountains. Nina thinks she has found the one until she realises that she has been chatting online with her boss Merrick. Merrick has feelings for Nina but tries to hide them. He too seeks comfort in his online chats. When he finds out the truth the pair of them face challenges to get their HEA. I loved this story. Another winner in the series. Romance, good plot and plenty of heat.