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A Bard's Rest Romance #2
The Dane of My Existence
When the history and character of her Shakespeare-obsessed hometown is threatened, a powerhouse lawyer goes toe to toe with a commercial developer in a hilarious rom-com from the author of For the Love of the Bard.
Portia Barnes is the youngest Mergers & Acquisitions partner in her law firm's history, and she and her stilettos are poised to step into the role of her dreams--managing the firm's new Boston office. But first she's taking a summer sabbatical in her hometown of Bard's Rest, New Hampshire, where she discovers something's rotten in the midst of the town's annual Shakespeare festival.
Hotshot commercial developer Benjamin Dane is sniffing around Bard's, and while Portia isn't necessarily a Shakespeare fanatic like the rest of her family, she's not about to let him bulldoze the town's beloved outdoor theater. Yet to Portia's dismay, Ben proves as skilled as she is when it comes to outworking, outmaneuvering, and one-upping the competition. While she's never hesitated to wage war against hyper-successful alpha males, Portia is caught off guard by Ben's openness and lack of arrogance. As her own long-constructed walls start to come down, Portia begins to wonder if he might be more than an archnemesis.
With her heart on the line and the future of the town hanging in the balance, Portia faces an impossible decision--Ben or Bard's?--unless she finds a way to broker the merger of her life, and ensures the curtain falls on a happy ending for everyone.
Portia Barnes is the youngest Mergers & Acquisitions partner in her law firm's history, and she and her stilettos are poised to step into the role of her dreams--managing the firm's new Boston office. But first she's taking a summer sabbatical in her hometown of Bard's Rest, New Hampshire, where she discovers something's rotten in the midst of the town's annual Shakespeare festival.
Hotshot commercial developer Benjamin Dane is sniffing around Bard's, and while Portia isn't necessarily a Shakespeare fanatic like the rest of her family, she's not about to let him bulldoze the town's beloved outdoor theater. Yet to Portia's dismay, Ben proves as skilled as she is when it comes to outworking, outmaneuvering, and one-upping the competition. While she's never hesitated to wage war against hyper-successful alpha males, Portia is caught off guard by Ben's openness and lack of arrogance. As her own long-constructed walls start to come down, Portia begins to wonder if he might be more than an archnemesis.
With her heart on the line and the future of the town hanging in the balance, Portia faces an impossible decision--Ben or Bard's?--unless she finds a way to broker the merger of her life, and ensures the curtain falls on a happy ending for everyone.
352 pages, Paperback
First published July 4, 2023
20 people are currently reading
4921 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
March 29, 2024
He sends mint chocolate chip ice cream to her from the local store at 8pm?! KEEPER.
Read
July 10, 2023Though this book is part of a series, it stands alone just fine.
I found Portia the least interesting of the women introduced in the first book, but Martin does a great job of making a tightly-buttoned workaholic sympathetic, as Portia learns that there’s more to life than career. In learning to appreciate her family, her hometown, and her friends, she in turn becomes more lovable.
The road to romance is fun, as Ben is a great sparring partner. Best part of the book for me was the verbal duels of wit. Portia and Ben's scenes were the highlight of the book.
For the most part, I enjoyed the secondary characters, the town itself--especially the Shakespeare-related shop names. It's a fun small town fantasy, but that's such a fragile bubble, and at least for me adding cancer to it weighed the story down when it ought to be light as a soufflé. Because of the undertone of anxiety the book began to slide more into contemporary fiction from romance, though we do get our HEA.
I found Portia the least interesting of the women introduced in the first book, but Martin does a great job of making a tightly-buttoned workaholic sympathetic, as Portia learns that there’s more to life than career. In learning to appreciate her family, her hometown, and her friends, she in turn becomes more lovable.
The road to romance is fun, as Ben is a great sparring partner. Best part of the book for me was the verbal duels of wit. Portia and Ben's scenes were the highlight of the book.
For the most part, I enjoyed the secondary characters, the town itself--especially the Shakespeare-related shop names. It's a fun small town fantasy, but that's such a fragile bubble, and at least for me adding cancer to it weighed the story down when it ought to be light as a soufflé. Because of the undertone of anxiety the book began to slide more into contemporary fiction from romance, though we do get our HEA.
June 13, 2023
I really enjoyed this small town, enemies to lovers romance between a hotshot lawyer and a commercial developer who are on opposite sides when it comes to a piece of local land treasured by the Shakespeare-obsessed town of Bard's Rest, New Hampshire.
It was so fun returning to Bard's Rest and another Barnes sister. This series is funny and heartfelt with a great cast of secondary characters, strong family relationships and a TON of charm. Great on audio narrated by Gilli Messer and recommended for other small town romance authors like Sarah Adams and Annie Sereno.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC.
Steam level: fade to black/closed door
It was so fun returning to Bard's Rest and another Barnes sister. This series is funny and heartfelt with a great cast of secondary characters, strong family relationships and a TON of charm. Great on audio narrated by Gilli Messer and recommended for other small town romance authors like Sarah Adams and Annie Sereno.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC.
Steam level: fade to black/closed door
June 21, 2023
I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about The Dane of My Existence because Portia did not really endear herself to me in For the Love of the Bard. I’m so glad I read it anyway. We learn a lot about Portia, and I think it was great to get her perspective. Yes, she’s a flawed character, but I like how she owns her mistakes, especially the mistakes she made when she was younger.
Portia is different from her sisters and family. She is not as emotional and willing to share her feelings, she keeps people at a distance and hates appearing vulnerable, and she doesn’t like Shakespeare. An attorney, she is dedicated to her job but doesn’t have room for much else. I think going on a mandatory sabbatical was the best thing that could have happened to Portia. Going home to Bard’s Rest, spending time with family and friends, and meeting a new potential love interest shows Portia that there’s more to life than work. It also makes her realize how much she loves her family, her hometown, and helping others. She’s definitely not the ice queen she presents herself to be.
Ben is more than meets the eye too, and I appreciate how layered he and Portia’s characters are. I also love how they open up to and confide in each other. Their relationship is filled with chemistry, and the verbal sparring is excellent. I love when the main couple has good banter, and Portia and Ben have it in spades. Though they experience conflicts of interest, misunderstandings, and more, their attraction to and feelings for each other are obvious.
The secondary characters are great too, and you’ll recognize many from the first book as well as some new residents and visitors. And the shenanigans they get into are so funny! I wish Bard’s Rest were a real New Hampshire town. As a New England resident, I would most definitely be heading there every year for their annual Shakespeare fest. It sounds like so much fun and a delightful way to pay homage to the Bard. You can be sure I’d visit all of the cleverly named stores, including Much Ado About Pastry and Parting is Such Sweet Gelato.
A fun story with a strong female protagonist, a charming and quirky town and cast of characters, and a swoon-worthy romance, The Dane of My Existence is an entertaining addition to the series. Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Books for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
Portia is different from her sisters and family. She is not as emotional and willing to share her feelings, she keeps people at a distance and hates appearing vulnerable, and she doesn’t like Shakespeare. An attorney, she is dedicated to her job but doesn’t have room for much else. I think going on a mandatory sabbatical was the best thing that could have happened to Portia. Going home to Bard’s Rest, spending time with family and friends, and meeting a new potential love interest shows Portia that there’s more to life than work. It also makes her realize how much she loves her family, her hometown, and helping others. She’s definitely not the ice queen she presents herself to be.
Ben is more than meets the eye too, and I appreciate how layered he and Portia’s characters are. I also love how they open up to and confide in each other. Their relationship is filled with chemistry, and the verbal sparring is excellent. I love when the main couple has good banter, and Portia and Ben have it in spades. Though they experience conflicts of interest, misunderstandings, and more, their attraction to and feelings for each other are obvious.
The secondary characters are great too, and you’ll recognize many from the first book as well as some new residents and visitors. And the shenanigans they get into are so funny! I wish Bard’s Rest were a real New Hampshire town. As a New England resident, I would most definitely be heading there every year for their annual Shakespeare fest. It sounds like so much fun and a delightful way to pay homage to the Bard. You can be sure I’d visit all of the cleverly named stores, including Much Ado About Pastry and Parting is Such Sweet Gelato.
A fun story with a strong female protagonist, a charming and quirky town and cast of characters, and a swoon-worthy romance, The Dane of My Existence is an entertaining addition to the series. Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Books for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
June 27, 2023
The Dane of My Existence returns to the town of Bard's Rest, twee Shakespeare village in New England (honestly we're not sure if it's Massachusetts or Maine), and the Barnes family. This time the book focuses on oldest sister Portia. She's a high-powered corporate lawyer, self-described as an "ice queen." She's on sabbatical from her job before she takes on a new, higher role as managing partner of a satellite office in Boston. And - shock of all shocks - she's not into Shakespeare!
She's paired with Ben Dane, real estate developer, who's in town scouting potential investments. This is a couple that is so far out of our comfort zone - both workaholics, devoted to finding loopholes and making money - that it was hard for us to connect with them. That said, we can see how well-suited they are. They're both absolutely devoted to their careers, and they appreciate each other's ruthless business sense. Even the relationship conflict is related to business ethics, which was absolutely appropriate for these two.
Finally, we note that our review of the first book in the series (For the Love of the Bard) claimed that it trends "a little on the twee side." Martin both embraces and escapes that a bit here: yes, the book is set in Bard's Rest (where all of the businesses are named after Shakespearean references), but Portia thinks Billy S. is a little overrated. She notes, though, that "if someone were reading a book about our town and didn't go in for the whole Shakespeare thing, that's how they'd describe us. Twee." We see you seeing us, Jessica!!
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
She's paired with Ben Dane, real estate developer, who's in town scouting potential investments. This is a couple that is so far out of our comfort zone - both workaholics, devoted to finding loopholes and making money - that it was hard for us to connect with them. That said, we can see how well-suited they are. They're both absolutely devoted to their careers, and they appreciate each other's ruthless business sense. Even the relationship conflict is related to business ethics, which was absolutely appropriate for these two.
Finally, we note that our review of the first book in the series (For the Love of the Bard) claimed that it trends "a little on the twee side." Martin both embraces and escapes that a bit here: yes, the book is set in Bard's Rest (where all of the businesses are named after Shakespearean references), but Portia thinks Billy S. is a little overrated. She notes, though, that "if someone were reading a book about our town and didn't go in for the whole Shakespeare thing, that's how they'd describe us. Twee." We see you seeing us, Jessica!!
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
December 16, 2023
The Bard would approve
July 17, 2023
Jessica Martin’s For the Love of the Bard was one of my favorite summer reads last year so I was excited to get my hands on a copy of her latest novel, The Dane of My Existence. This latest novel takes us back to the charming, Shakespeare-obsessed town of Bard’s Rest, New Hampshire, and reunites us with the close-knit Barnes family. I adored this town and this family, so it was great to be back with them, although the focus this time is on oldest sister, Portia, who we briefly met in the first book.
Portia left Bard’s Rest years ago to pursue a career as a big shot corporate attorney. She has returned home because she’s currently taking a company-mandated sabbatical before she moves to Boston to manage one of her firm’s satellite offices. Portia considers herself an “ice queen” as she is career-driven and has little interest in relationships and/or dating. She’s also much less enthusiastic about Shakespeare than her family and most of the other residents of Bard’s Rest. I’ll admit that it took a few chapters for me to really warm up to her, but once I did, I loved her, especially when she realizes that there’s a real estate developer threatening Bard’s Rest and goes to the mat to try to save the town.
I also very much enjoyed Benjamin Dane, the hot shot commercial developer Portia goes toe to toe with. She fully expects to take him down with little trouble, but he surprises her by being equally skilled when it comes to strategizing and outmaneuvering the competition. At first I really wanted to hate him since he poses a threat to this charming little town, but it becomes clear early on that there’s a lot more to Ben Dane than meets the eye. I loved watching Portia and Ben verbally spar, but I also liked it when he catches her off guard because he isn’t the arrogant alpha-male she was expecting. Watching their relationship evolve from a rivalry to one of trust and openness really made this an enjoyable read for me and I was eager to see if they would get past being on opposite sides of this real estate drama.
Aside from enjoying getting to know Portia better and seeing her fall into a relationship she didn’t see coming, I also just really loved being back in Bard’s Rest. If you’re a Gilmore Girls fan, imagine Stars Hollow but with quirky Shakespeare enthusiasts as residents, loads of fun Shakespearean references and puns sprinkled about, and a huge Shakespeare festival that takes place every year. I loved the town so much and was disappointed to learn that it didn’t really exist in real life because I totally would have visited there!
If you’re in the mood for a fun rivals to lovers romance filled with witty banter, Shakespearean references, and all the small town and close knit family vibes, I highly recommend both For the Love of the Bard and The Dane of My Existence.
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Portia left Bard’s Rest years ago to pursue a career as a big shot corporate attorney. She has returned home because she’s currently taking a company-mandated sabbatical before she moves to Boston to manage one of her firm’s satellite offices. Portia considers herself an “ice queen” as she is career-driven and has little interest in relationships and/or dating. She’s also much less enthusiastic about Shakespeare than her family and most of the other residents of Bard’s Rest. I’ll admit that it took a few chapters for me to really warm up to her, but once I did, I loved her, especially when she realizes that there’s a real estate developer threatening Bard’s Rest and goes to the mat to try to save the town.
I also very much enjoyed Benjamin Dane, the hot shot commercial developer Portia goes toe to toe with. She fully expects to take him down with little trouble, but he surprises her by being equally skilled when it comes to strategizing and outmaneuvering the competition. At first I really wanted to hate him since he poses a threat to this charming little town, but it becomes clear early on that there’s a lot more to Ben Dane than meets the eye. I loved watching Portia and Ben verbally spar, but I also liked it when he catches her off guard because he isn’t the arrogant alpha-male she was expecting. Watching their relationship evolve from a rivalry to one of trust and openness really made this an enjoyable read for me and I was eager to see if they would get past being on opposite sides of this real estate drama.
Aside from enjoying getting to know Portia better and seeing her fall into a relationship she didn’t see coming, I also just really loved being back in Bard’s Rest. If you’re a Gilmore Girls fan, imagine Stars Hollow but with quirky Shakespeare enthusiasts as residents, loads of fun Shakespearean references and puns sprinkled about, and a huge Shakespeare festival that takes place every year. I loved the town so much and was disappointed to learn that it didn’t really exist in real life because I totally would have visited there!
If you’re in the mood for a fun rivals to lovers romance filled with witty banter, Shakespearean references, and all the small town and close knit family vibes, I highly recommend both For the Love of the Bard and The Dane of My Existence.
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
February 24, 2023
Do you enjoy going to the theater to see plays? If you’ve never been do you want to someday?
I’ve seen a few shows in theater. My last was Rock of Ages and we had such a great time. My daughter has never been but she really enjoys watching musical theater on tv.
Portia is the youngest managing partner at her high-profile law firm. She was just recently promoted and is required to take a 3 month sabbatical before assuming her role. She heads home to be with her family in Bard’s Rest, New Hampshire – how of a huge annual Shakespeare festival.
Shortly after returning to town Portia runs into commercial developer Benjamin Dane. Ben is looking to expand his commercial dealings into Bard’s Nest, but Portia is determined not to let him ruin her quaint hometown. Along the way, Portia starts to develop feelings for Ben but will she be willing to trade her hometown for love?
This was a slow burn romance that read more like contemporary fiction with a side of romance. I’m not saying that’s bad, just trying to set expectations. I excepted the romance to be first and center with this one and was disappointed it wasn’t more prominent.
I loved Portia’s character. I love a strong female main character and Jessica Martin delivered. I had no idea this book was part of a series, and it read like a standalone. I enjoyed the community of Bard’s Nest and how close knit they were. I also did enjoy Portia’s personal growth over the course of the book.
This was a solid read and quite enjoyable. I hope you check it out July 4th.
Thank you to the publisher Berkley Publishing, @berkleypub, @berkleyromance, and Netgalley @netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve seen a few shows in theater. My last was Rock of Ages and we had such a great time. My daughter has never been but she really enjoys watching musical theater on tv.
Portia is the youngest managing partner at her high-profile law firm. She was just recently promoted and is required to take a 3 month sabbatical before assuming her role. She heads home to be with her family in Bard’s Rest, New Hampshire – how of a huge annual Shakespeare festival.
Shortly after returning to town Portia runs into commercial developer Benjamin Dane. Ben is looking to expand his commercial dealings into Bard’s Nest, but Portia is determined not to let him ruin her quaint hometown. Along the way, Portia starts to develop feelings for Ben but will she be willing to trade her hometown for love?
This was a slow burn romance that read more like contemporary fiction with a side of romance. I’m not saying that’s bad, just trying to set expectations. I excepted the romance to be first and center with this one and was disappointed it wasn’t more prominent.
I loved Portia’s character. I love a strong female main character and Jessica Martin delivered. I had no idea this book was part of a series, and it read like a standalone. I enjoyed the community of Bard’s Nest and how close knit they were. I also did enjoy Portia’s personal growth over the course of the book.
This was a solid read and quite enjoyable. I hope you check it out July 4th.
Thank you to the publisher Berkley Publishing, @berkleypub, @berkleyromance, and Netgalley @netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 5, 2023
Thank you to @berkleyromance for an eARC. All thoughts are my own.
The Dane of My Existence contained some of my favorite things:
- Shakespeare
- businesses with themed names (from, you guessed it, Shakespeare)
- a tight-knit family
- a town coming together with a common goal
- a themed festival
- vocabulary words that would make my AP English teacher proud
I wholeheartedly enjoyed this story! Unlike many romance books, Ben gets right down to business and asks Portia out on a date right away.
I really loved how their relationship developed over the summer with their looming professional conflict in the background. Their interactions with Portia’s family were so fun, and I loved watching them explore the small town.
As a huge lover of the Bard, this book was a home run. Throw in lines like “musical troglodytes, all of you” and I’m 100% in. This was such a fun rom com and a great read for summer.
I have not read For the Love of the Bard, but I am going to remedy that ASAP.
The Dane of My Existence contained some of my favorite things:
- Shakespeare
- businesses with themed names (from, you guessed it, Shakespeare)
- a tight-knit family
- a town coming together with a common goal
- a themed festival
- vocabulary words that would make my AP English teacher proud
I wholeheartedly enjoyed this story! Unlike many romance books, Ben gets right down to business and asks Portia out on a date right away.
I really loved how their relationship developed over the summer with their looming professional conflict in the background. Their interactions with Portia’s family were so fun, and I loved watching them explore the small town.
As a huge lover of the Bard, this book was a home run. Throw in lines like “musical troglodytes, all of you” and I’m 100% in. This was such a fun rom com and a great read for summer.
I have not read For the Love of the Bard, but I am going to remedy that ASAP.
June 18, 2023
Thank you so much for an advanced copy of The Dane of my Existence. This was my second book by this author!
This book was fun, and flirty, and I was definitely engaged by the story...But by the end, it kind of fizzled. (Which, side bar, I also felt in the last book I read by the author, BUT the hot vet main character saved the day for me in that one). I felt like someone who had consumed something too sweet and sugary by the end, and the story was ultimately forgettable.
I don't think it's the book necessarily; I think this author's writing style is just not for me. I'm glad I read it, but I don't think I'll be re-reading it or buying it for my shelves.
Rating: 3⭐️
This book was fun, and flirty, and I was definitely engaged by the story...But by the end, it kind of fizzled. (Which, side bar, I also felt in the last book I read by the author, BUT the hot vet main character saved the day for me in that one). I felt like someone who had consumed something too sweet and sugary by the end, and the story was ultimately forgettable.
I don't think it's the book necessarily; I think this author's writing style is just not for me. I'm glad I read it, but I don't think I'll be re-reading it or buying it for my shelves.
Rating: 3⭐️
July 27, 2023
To start with, I'll state that I haven't read the first book in this series. I don't think it affected the story, but some of my issues with it might not be the same in the first book. Also I'll go ahead and say that I liked the second half of the story much better than the first.
Okay, I got this book because it was a Shakespeare themed rom-com. And to be fair, that's exactly what it is. This is a Hallmark Christmas movie but with Shakespeare. I am a Shakespeare fan (but not in the obsessive way this town is) but it still struck me as weird that our main character wasn't. I feel like the Venn diagram of people who will read this book and people who like Shakespeare is a circle. And having your main character be anti-Shakespeare (and that not being a point to resolve or anything) is a bit strange. I feel like we were meant to laugh at how silly this town is and how silly all this Shakespeare is. I'm not saying Shakespeare needs everyone to like it BUT setting your book with a Shakespeare theme seems strange if you're not going to have that be a central plot point. Based on what I'm inferring from the story, the first book was more Shakespeare centered. And I guess the point is more about the town than about the Shakespeare (how many times can I write Shakespeare) but it still felt strange. And maybe someone who is less of a Shakespeare fan (or performer) would like this better. Would just appreciate all the references. Largely speaking, this wasn't for me even though the themes seemed to be.
I did appreciate the second half of the book - once we figured out Ben's purpose for being in town. I liked the whole town-saving missions and the realizations about her job. I also thought Ben and Portia had fun banter - although I didn't believe their chemistry. Also, for those who want to know there is a semi-spicy scene in this (more explicit than I expected). As someone who reads all types, that didn't bother me but I did want to put it here in case people are expecting less (or more).
Also also making Hamlet a Cane Corso?? I felt like we were supposed to think he was this sweet small dog and yet he's the huge mastiff mix? Maybe I also know too much about dogs for this to work for me. I didn't know anything about lawyer stuff so none of that bothered me, and seemed knowledgeable.
Okay, I got this book because it was a Shakespeare themed rom-com. And to be fair, that's exactly what it is. This is a Hallmark Christmas movie but with Shakespeare. I am a Shakespeare fan (but not in the obsessive way this town is) but it still struck me as weird that our main character wasn't. I feel like the Venn diagram of people who will read this book and people who like Shakespeare is a circle. And having your main character be anti-Shakespeare (and that not being a point to resolve or anything) is a bit strange. I feel like we were meant to laugh at how silly this town is and how silly all this Shakespeare is. I'm not saying Shakespeare needs everyone to like it BUT setting your book with a Shakespeare theme seems strange if you're not going to have that be a central plot point. Based on what I'm inferring from the story, the first book was more Shakespeare centered. And I guess the point is more about the town than about the Shakespeare (how many times can I write Shakespeare) but it still felt strange. And maybe someone who is less of a Shakespeare fan (or performer) would like this better. Would just appreciate all the references. Largely speaking, this wasn't for me even though the themes seemed to be.
I did appreciate the second half of the book - once we figured out Ben's purpose for being in town. I liked the whole town-saving missions and the realizations about her job. I also thought Ben and Portia had fun banter - although I didn't believe their chemistry. Also, for those who want to know there is a semi-spicy scene in this (more explicit than I expected). As someone who reads all types, that didn't bother me but I did want to put it here in case people are expecting less (or more).
Also also making Hamlet a Cane Corso?? I felt like we were supposed to think he was this sweet small dog and yet he's the huge mastiff mix? Maybe I also know too much about dogs for this to work for me. I didn't know anything about lawyer stuff so none of that bothered me, and seemed knowledgeable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 19, 2023
Thank you Berkley Publishing Group for my copy! All thoughts are my own.
Calling all fans of Jen DeLuca’s Well Met series and Gilmore Girls! This is a charming small town romance set in New England that has the community aspect of Well Met and the zany, passionate characters from Stars Hollow. I liked For the Love of the Bard but I think that this book is where Martin hit her stride.
Don’t be intimidated by the title! It is not too Shakespearey—you don’t need to have ready any of the plays to understand this story! It’s a true rom com.
Synopsis:
“Portia Barnes is the youngest managing partner in her law firm’s history, and she and her stilettos are poised to step into the role of her dreams—leading the firm’s new Boston office. But first she’s taking a summer sabbatical in her hometown of Bard’s Rest, New Hampshire, where she discovers something’s rotten in the midst of the town’s annual Shakespeare festival.Hotshot commercial developer Benjamin Dane is sniffing around Bard’s, and while Portia isn’t necessarily a Shakespeare fanatic like the rest of her family, she’s not about to let him bulldoze the town’s beloved outdoor theater. Yet to Portia’s dismay, Ben proves as skilled as she is when it comes to outworking, outmaneuvering, and one-upping the competition. While she’s never hesitated to wage war against hyper-successful alpha males, Portia is caught off guard by Ben’s openness and lack of arrogance. As her own long-constructed walls start to come down, Portia begins to wonder if he might be more than an archnemesis.With her heart on the line and the future of the town hanging in the balance, Portia faces an impossible decision—Ben or Bard’s?—unless she finds a way to broker the merger of her life, and ensures the curtain falls on a happy ending for everyone.” —NetGalley
What I Liked:
The Small Town Charm—This is a small. quirky town. Imagine Taylor Doseys everywhere but instead of Stars Hollow lore, they love Shakespeare everything. It’s so delightful and fun!
The Banter—Ben and Portia had GREAT banter and I thought they were a great intellectual match for each other!
The Writing—I really like Jessica Martin’s writing. It’s smart and silly at the same time and she doesn’t skimp on world building.
What Didn’t Work:
A lot of description—This is a good thing, but I also really wanted to get to the action of the story. It made it feel slow at parts when this book isn’t slow and has a lot to offer! Just needed a little editing IMO.
Character Authenticity: 4/5 Spice Rating: 1/5 Overall Rating: 3.75/5
Content Warnings:
Cancer, cancer treatment, sick parent
Calling all fans of Jen DeLuca’s Well Met series and Gilmore Girls! This is a charming small town romance set in New England that has the community aspect of Well Met and the zany, passionate characters from Stars Hollow. I liked For the Love of the Bard but I think that this book is where Martin hit her stride.
Don’t be intimidated by the title! It is not too Shakespearey—you don’t need to have ready any of the plays to understand this story! It’s a true rom com.
Synopsis:
“Portia Barnes is the youngest managing partner in her law firm’s history, and she and her stilettos are poised to step into the role of her dreams—leading the firm’s new Boston office. But first she’s taking a summer sabbatical in her hometown of Bard’s Rest, New Hampshire, where she discovers something’s rotten in the midst of the town’s annual Shakespeare festival.Hotshot commercial developer Benjamin Dane is sniffing around Bard’s, and while Portia isn’t necessarily a Shakespeare fanatic like the rest of her family, she’s not about to let him bulldoze the town’s beloved outdoor theater. Yet to Portia’s dismay, Ben proves as skilled as she is when it comes to outworking, outmaneuvering, and one-upping the competition. While she’s never hesitated to wage war against hyper-successful alpha males, Portia is caught off guard by Ben’s openness and lack of arrogance. As her own long-constructed walls start to come down, Portia begins to wonder if he might be more than an archnemesis.With her heart on the line and the future of the town hanging in the balance, Portia faces an impossible decision—Ben or Bard’s?—unless she finds a way to broker the merger of her life, and ensures the curtain falls on a happy ending for everyone.” —NetGalley
What I Liked:
The Small Town Charm—This is a small. quirky town. Imagine Taylor Doseys everywhere but instead of Stars Hollow lore, they love Shakespeare everything. It’s so delightful and fun!
The Banter—Ben and Portia had GREAT banter and I thought they were a great intellectual match for each other!
The Writing—I really like Jessica Martin’s writing. It’s smart and silly at the same time and she doesn’t skimp on world building.
What Didn’t Work:
A lot of description—This is a good thing, but I also really wanted to get to the action of the story. It made it feel slow at parts when this book isn’t slow and has a lot to offer! Just needed a little editing IMO.
Character Authenticity: 4/5 Spice Rating: 1/5 Overall Rating: 3.75/5
Content Warnings:
Cancer, cancer treatment, sick parent
July 5, 2023
Reviewed for
Wit and Sin
Return to Bard’s Rest, where Shakespeare puns and potential romances are aplenty. In The Dane of My Existence , Jessica Martin’s charming creation of a town is a constant delight, but it’s lawyer and rogue non-Shakespeare lover Portia Barnes at the heart of this tale.
It wasn’t easy to become the youngest managing partner at her law firm, but Portia did it. Now on a sabbatical until she moves into her new office, Portia is at loose ends. She’s not like the rest of her family and the idea of loosening up and not working is alien to her. No dust will settle on her skills though, because Bard’s Rest is at risk. Developer Benjamin Dane is sniffing around her beloved town looking to build condos that could certainly impact the town’s charm and main source of revenue. With a new opponent, Portia’s in her element…until her attraction to Ben knocks her off her feet. Ben is the perfect sparring partner and I really enjoyed their banter. Ben and Portia are well matched on every level. I loved that they understood each other’s commitment to and enjoyment of their work. That they grew to trust each other enough with their whole selves, even the imperfect bits. Portia and Ben’s slide from enemies to lovers to more worked because they had great chemistry and fit perfectly. Portia isn’t warm and cuddly on the surface and Ben likes that about her (as did I) and doesn’t seek to change her, which I really appreciated.
But the course of true love never did run smooth, so of course Martin doesn’t make it easy on her hero and heroine. As much as they’d like to, Ben and Portia can’t forget they’re at odds and if one of them wins it means the destruction of something else to the other. I was very much looking forward to seeing what happened and Martin made all the bumps in the road worth it in the end.
The Dane of My Existence is the second book in the Bard’s Rest series. If you don’t mind some minor spoilers then you can jump in here without any confusion. The Barnes family and their friends bring this town to life in delightful ways and really help the story shine. I liked Portia’s interactions with her sisters, best friends, and townsfolk. Bard’s Rest is a place I absolutely love spending time in and I hope for more romances set in this town.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Return to Bard’s Rest, where Shakespeare puns and potential romances are aplenty. In The Dane of My Existence , Jessica Martin’s charming creation of a town is a constant delight, but it’s lawyer and rogue non-Shakespeare lover Portia Barnes at the heart of this tale.
It wasn’t easy to become the youngest managing partner at her law firm, but Portia did it. Now on a sabbatical until she moves into her new office, Portia is at loose ends. She’s not like the rest of her family and the idea of loosening up and not working is alien to her. No dust will settle on her skills though, because Bard’s Rest is at risk. Developer Benjamin Dane is sniffing around her beloved town looking to build condos that could certainly impact the town’s charm and main source of revenue. With a new opponent, Portia’s in her element…until her attraction to Ben knocks her off her feet. Ben is the perfect sparring partner and I really enjoyed their banter. Ben and Portia are well matched on every level. I loved that they understood each other’s commitment to and enjoyment of their work. That they grew to trust each other enough with their whole selves, even the imperfect bits. Portia and Ben’s slide from enemies to lovers to more worked because they had great chemistry and fit perfectly. Portia isn’t warm and cuddly on the surface and Ben likes that about her (as did I) and doesn’t seek to change her, which I really appreciated.
But the course of true love never did run smooth, so of course Martin doesn’t make it easy on her hero and heroine. As much as they’d like to, Ben and Portia can’t forget they’re at odds and if one of them wins it means the destruction of something else to the other. I was very much looking forward to seeing what happened and Martin made all the bumps in the road worth it in the end.
The Dane of My Existence is the second book in the Bard’s Rest series. If you don’t mind some minor spoilers then you can jump in here without any confusion. The Barnes family and their friends bring this town to life in delightful ways and really help the story shine. I liked Portia’s interactions with her sisters, best friends, and townsfolk. Bard’s Rest is a place I absolutely love spending time in and I hope for more romances set in this town.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
June 13, 2023
I received a gifted galley of THE DANE OF MY EXISTENCE by Jessica Martin for an honest review. Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group, PRHAudio, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review!
THE DANE OF MY EXISTENCE is the second book in the author’s Bard’s Rest Romance series. The book follows Portia, a young lawyer who never felt like she fit in Bard’s Rest. Still, when her law firm insists on her taking a summer sabbatical, she’s headed back to her hometown. It is time for the annual Shakespeare festival, but things aren’t going exactly according to the usual plan.
Ben is a commercial developer and he’s in town with an eye on the property where the town hosts it’s festival, Portia is determined to ensure he doesn’t destroy the outdoor theater. Feelings get entwined with business and things get messy.
I love the Shakespeare festival setting and the idea of this whole town that has devoted itself to the bard and I rally had fun with the first book in the series, FOR THE LOVE OF THE BARD. This book took me a bit longer to connect into. I was expecting this one to have more of the Shakespeare festival, but this time we’re following a character who doesn’t actually buy into the town’s fascination. She also doesn’t (at least initially) like dogs, so… it took a bit for me to warm up to her.
The fight over the land the theater was on added a lot of adversity to the relationship between Ben and Portia and it also made sense why they would struggle to connect. I think this balanced out well to come to the expected happy ending, but it did add some complications and it did have me believing that maybe they needed to step away from each other a bit longer.
In the end we do get some time with the festival and I did really appreciate seeing how Portia could fight for her family and her town even as she doesn’t actually fully understand their Shakespeare passion.
THE DANE OF MY EXISTENCE is the second book in the author’s Bard’s Rest Romance series. The book follows Portia, a young lawyer who never felt like she fit in Bard’s Rest. Still, when her law firm insists on her taking a summer sabbatical, she’s headed back to her hometown. It is time for the annual Shakespeare festival, but things aren’t going exactly according to the usual plan.
Ben is a commercial developer and he’s in town with an eye on the property where the town hosts it’s festival, Portia is determined to ensure he doesn’t destroy the outdoor theater. Feelings get entwined with business and things get messy.
I love the Shakespeare festival setting and the idea of this whole town that has devoted itself to the bard and I rally had fun with the first book in the series, FOR THE LOVE OF THE BARD. This book took me a bit longer to connect into. I was expecting this one to have more of the Shakespeare festival, but this time we’re following a character who doesn’t actually buy into the town’s fascination. She also doesn’t (at least initially) like dogs, so… it took a bit for me to warm up to her.
The fight over the land the theater was on added a lot of adversity to the relationship between Ben and Portia and it also made sense why they would struggle to connect. I think this balanced out well to come to the expected happy ending, but it did add some complications and it did have me believing that maybe they needed to step away from each other a bit longer.
In the end we do get some time with the festival and I did really appreciate seeing how Portia could fight for her family and her town even as she doesn’t actually fully understand their Shakespeare passion.
July 16, 2023
Calling all theater folks, this book’s for you, I really enjoyed this read. Having a town dedicated to Shakespeare was a really fun setting. The female main character (Portia) isn’t really a fan of Shakespeare, which I can relate to, but she did love her hometown and it’s whimsical elements.
I would have to say the drive-in date was my absolute favorite part and the fact that Ben the MMC was staying in a very eclectic known swinger’s house. The details were too funny.
I did get a little bit of whiplash from how back-and-forth the FMC and the MMC were in their relationship, very hot and cold, and I did get confused with all the different characters in this book. But the playbill style character list in the front of the book was a big help.
Overall, this was a really fun romcom. A perfect summer read. Definitely if you have theater experience in your past, I think you will enjoy this book.
I would have to say the drive-in date was my absolute favorite part and the fact that Ben the MMC was staying in a very eclectic known swinger’s house. The details were too funny.
I did get a little bit of whiplash from how back-and-forth the FMC and the MMC were in their relationship, very hot and cold, and I did get confused with all the different characters in this book. But the playbill style character list in the front of the book was a big help.
Overall, this was a really fun romcom. A perfect summer read. Definitely if you have theater experience in your past, I think you will enjoy this book.
July 16, 2023
This delightful book two in the Bard's Rest Romance series can be read solo, but I'd encourage readers to read the first, For the Love of the Bard, for maximum reading pleasure. The author captures the feel of a small Shakespearean-themed town with aplomb, and the characters -- especially MCs Portia and Ben -- with warmth and wit. A compelling story perfect for lovers of romance and Shakespeare!
September 19, 2023
This was so cute and a great follow up to her first story. I really like the small town of Bard’s Rest and the people who live there. Portia is such a strong character, but has moments of vulnerability that are relatable. I enjoyed the tension and build up of Ben & Portia’s relationship and even their slight hinderance in being in a relationship. I would recommend this one!
October 27, 2025
It’s a hallmark movie in book form so I can’t be too picky but there was just a lack of depth I fear. Like I couldn’t get emotionally attached to anything. They are grown adults but you wouldn’t know bc they have the communication skills of middle schoolers and they fought so much and there was just a lack of conversation each time so it just felt really shallow…
July 10, 2023
The second book in this series remains very cute and a joy to read. The lawyer stuff is closer to accurate than most I've read and I'd love to have a conversation with the author about some of the choices made. :) 4.5 rounded up for a friend of a friend as an author.
March 25, 2024
Very fun follow up to “For the Love of the Bard.” I was so happy to find this sequel. The world of Bard’s rest is so quaint and idyllic I was happy to revisit. I like the change in main character. Portia is entirely different than Miranda. I hope we get to revisit Bard’s Rest with Cordelia as the main character soon!
August 7, 2023
Charming and clever romp with a memorable cast of characters and sense of place.
November 7, 2023
well I guess I don’t really like Shakespeare that much?
July 20, 2025
Nobody talks like a real human here, and it’s debatable how much the author knows about Shakespeare. But the puns about the plays were fire, and I’d kin Portia if she had ADHD. Had fun reading this!
September 13, 2023
i like this series for its setting, bard’s rest, a small town known for its love of shakespeare. sadly i didn’t enjoy this one as much as i did the first book. i never felt any chemistry between portia and ben, so i could never buy into their relationship. also, the subplot surrounding portia’s boss felt superfluous and made the ending drag
July 14, 2023
What I love about Jessica Martin’s characters are how real they are. Just ordinary people, with no extreme trauma or baggage. It’s like she picks us up and drops us into their ordinary lives, and we can’t help but be charmed. Reading a book like this is a true vacation. I wish Bard’s Rest was real!!
September 4, 2024
Not great not terrible. Liked all the Shakespeare puns.
July 4, 2023
This was a very fun return visit to Bard’s Rest, NH, where Shakespearean puns overwhelm and shenanigans include breaking and entering and dinner theater. I’ve read some reviews that said this should be categorized as woman’s or general fiction with a side of romance, but I disagree. Yes, Portia’s family is a driving force in her decisions, but that would all come to nothing without Ben’s influence. They make each other want to become the best person they can be. Anyway, I enjoyed the hell out of this story, and can’t wait for Cordelia (the sex pirate sister) to get her own book.
July 6, 2023
Picture a hot-shot attorney climbing the corporate ladder with single-minded determination. Now picture her getting the promotion she wanted but being forced to take a three-month sabbatical before assuming her new role. Even worse, having to spend those months in the Shakespeare-obsessed New England hometown she couldn't wait to escape. It's a recipe for disaster but when a hot-shot commercial developer sets his sights on the island where the town performs its plays during the annual Shakespeare festival, that hot-shot attorney realizes her quirky hometown just may mean more to her than she thought. And so might the hot-shot developer.
I love complex characters, ones who on the surface appear to have it all together while under the water are paddling as fast as they can. That's Portia. It's satisfying to watch her story unfold, watch her learn to accept her vulnerabilities, own her mistakes, fight to right injustices, work to grow, and, yes, even fall in love. Ben is a wonderful counterpoint to her: open, supportive, and understanding. He has layers of his own which, maybe, allow him to understand hers a bit better than most. He sees her, not only the hard-driving, take-no-prisoners attorney she is but all the complicated, vulnerable, closet-do-gooder layers swirling within. I couldn't help but cheer for them to find their happy ending.
While there's plenty of emotional depth in this book (Portia's mother is battling cancer and Portia is coming to terns with that), it's balanced with hope, hilarity, and light, with mom leading the charge. I closed the final page fully convinced of mom's full recovery.
The dialog in the book is crisp, with snappy banter and sly innuendo, and not only between Portia and Ben. The well-established animosity and ongoing point-counterpoint between Portia and the long-time town clerk (the person in small towns who runs everything) and how that all plays out is one of my favorite parts of the book. Other favorites are the poignant mother-daughter moments, fun sibling dynamics, a lost dog, a hilarious petting zoo scene, and too many more to list.
If you're looking for a few hours of laugh-out-loud fun cushioned with emotional depth and a happily ever after, all set within a quirky, Shakespeare-obsessed, New Hampshire town, pick up a copy of The Dane of My Existence. It has my enthusiastic recommendation.
This is the second book in Jessica Martin's A Bard's Rest series but I didn't feel like I was missing anything by reading this book first. Having said that, after meeting book one lead characters author Miranda (Portia's sister) and hot veterinarian Adam in book two, I immediately downloaded their story, For the Love of the Bard.
*ARC received from publisher. Fair and unbiased review.
I love complex characters, ones who on the surface appear to have it all together while under the water are paddling as fast as they can. That's Portia. It's satisfying to watch her story unfold, watch her learn to accept her vulnerabilities, own her mistakes, fight to right injustices, work to grow, and, yes, even fall in love. Ben is a wonderful counterpoint to her: open, supportive, and understanding. He has layers of his own which, maybe, allow him to understand hers a bit better than most. He sees her, not only the hard-driving, take-no-prisoners attorney she is but all the complicated, vulnerable, closet-do-gooder layers swirling within. I couldn't help but cheer for them to find their happy ending.
While there's plenty of emotional depth in this book (Portia's mother is battling cancer and Portia is coming to terns with that), it's balanced with hope, hilarity, and light, with mom leading the charge. I closed the final page fully convinced of mom's full recovery.
The dialog in the book is crisp, with snappy banter and sly innuendo, and not only between Portia and Ben. The well-established animosity and ongoing point-counterpoint between Portia and the long-time town clerk (the person in small towns who runs everything) and how that all plays out is one of my favorite parts of the book. Other favorites are the poignant mother-daughter moments, fun sibling dynamics, a lost dog, a hilarious petting zoo scene, and too many more to list.
If you're looking for a few hours of laugh-out-loud fun cushioned with emotional depth and a happily ever after, all set within a quirky, Shakespeare-obsessed, New Hampshire town, pick up a copy of The Dane of My Existence. It has my enthusiastic recommendation.
This is the second book in Jessica Martin's A Bard's Rest series but I didn't feel like I was missing anything by reading this book first. Having said that, after meeting book one lead characters author Miranda (Portia's sister) and hot veterinarian Adam in book two, I immediately downloaded their story, For the Love of the Bard.
*ARC received from publisher. Fair and unbiased review.
June 9, 2023
Portia Barnes is the youngest managing partner in her law firm’s history, and she and her stilettos are poised to step into the role of her dreams—leading the firm’s new Boston office. But first she’s taking a summer sabbatical in her hometown of Bard’s Rest, New Hampshire, where she discovers something’s rotten in the midst of the town’s annual Shakespeare festival. Hotshot commercial developer Benjamin Dane is sniffing around Bard’s, and while Portia isn’t necessarily a Shakespeare fanatic like the rest of her family, she’s not about to let him bulldoze the town’s beloved outdoor theater. Yet to Portia’s dismay, Ben proves as skilled as she is when it comes to outworking, outmaneuvering, and one-upping the competition. While she’s never hesitated to wage war against hyper-successful alpha males, Portia is caught off guard by Ben’s openness and lack of arrogance. As her own long-constructed walls start to come down, Portia begins to wonder if he might be more than an archnemesis. With her heart on the line and the future of the town hanging in the balance, Portia faces an impossible decision—Ben or Bard’s?—unless she finds a way to broker the merger of her life, and ensures the curtain falls on a happy ending for everyone.
I was happy to come back to this quirky shakespearean town and the fun cast of characters. The story as a whole was enjoyable, but definitely put-downable. I liked Portia as the female lead. Her and Ben go toe to toe a lot throughout the book and it's so fun! It's very much an enemies to lovers romance trope. While their love story is cute my favorite part of the book was this side plot where Portia's boss isn't quite who he says he is and that storyline kept me hooked til the end.
The reason I didn't rate it higher is because I had to put some context together from the last book as I read it so long ago and ultimately I ended up setting this book down multiple times without issue. While I enjoyed the book asa. whole, there were parts I was skimming.
Thanks to the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review. This book releases 7/4
I was happy to come back to this quirky shakespearean town and the fun cast of characters. The story as a whole was enjoyable, but definitely put-downable. I liked Portia as the female lead. Her and Ben go toe to toe a lot throughout the book and it's so fun! It's very much an enemies to lovers romance trope. While their love story is cute my favorite part of the book was this side plot where Portia's boss isn't quite who he says he is and that storyline kept me hooked til the end.
The reason I didn't rate it higher is because I had to put some context together from the last book as I read it so long ago and ultimately I ended up setting this book down multiple times without issue. While I enjoyed the book asa. whole, there were parts I was skimming.
Thanks to the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review. This book releases 7/4
March 16, 2023
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published on July 4th, 2023
Book two in the Shakespeare drenched Rom Com series from Jessica Martin. While the first book (For the Love of the Bard) focused on one Barnes daughter ( the Barnes family being a kind of First Family of the Bard’s Rest Shakespeare Festival), this book centered on the eldest daughter — Portia — the uber driven, germaphobic, corporate lawyer who does not get the hype about Shakespeare (grumble grumble). Forced into a summer sabbatical prior to a big promotion, Portia gets a real chance for something different when she meets Ben Dane — a genuine good (and smart and gorgeous etc.) guy in the guise of an evil developer who wants to turn the local island / festival outdoor stage into — gasp — condos!
Honesty, ethics, and truth in relationships trump all — great banter and wonderful (completely unrealistic but absolutely fun to read about) characters make this very entertaining and great alternative to reading the daily news. Medium-high on the Steamy Scale. Plenty of fun around the Shakespeare themed town with merchants such as: the Merry Wines of Windsor, The Taming of the Shoe, and Parting is Such Sweet Gelato including the flavor “Et Tu, Brûlée.” I admit it — I would totally book a place for the weekend.
A few fun quotes to give you an idea of her comic and irreverent writing style:
“Selfishly, I rooted against the baby thing. Babies were gross, and I was really bad at faking any enthusiasm for them.”
“Dan’ face twisted into somewhere between ‘accidentally licked a persimmon’ and ‘received undesirable correspondence from the IRS.’”
“Candace is the total package: smart, creative, caring. And in a zombie apocalypse scenario, she’d be the last one standing atop a pile of rotting undead carcasses.”
“I was committing a felony with people who weren’t smart enough to wear non-identifiable gear. I wasn’t sure how to feel about that.”
Book two in the Shakespeare drenched Rom Com series from Jessica Martin. While the first book (For the Love of the Bard) focused on one Barnes daughter ( the Barnes family being a kind of First Family of the Bard’s Rest Shakespeare Festival), this book centered on the eldest daughter — Portia — the uber driven, germaphobic, corporate lawyer who does not get the hype about Shakespeare (grumble grumble). Forced into a summer sabbatical prior to a big promotion, Portia gets a real chance for something different when she meets Ben Dane — a genuine good (and smart and gorgeous etc.) guy in the guise of an evil developer who wants to turn the local island / festival outdoor stage into — gasp — condos!
Honesty, ethics, and truth in relationships trump all — great banter and wonderful (completely unrealistic but absolutely fun to read about) characters make this very entertaining and great alternative to reading the daily news. Medium-high on the Steamy Scale. Plenty of fun around the Shakespeare themed town with merchants such as: the Merry Wines of Windsor, The Taming of the Shoe, and Parting is Such Sweet Gelato including the flavor “Et Tu, Brûlée.” I admit it — I would totally book a place for the weekend.
A few fun quotes to give you an idea of her comic and irreverent writing style:
“Selfishly, I rooted against the baby thing. Babies were gross, and I was really bad at faking any enthusiasm for them.”
“Dan’ face twisted into somewhere between ‘accidentally licked a persimmon’ and ‘received undesirable correspondence from the IRS.’”
“Candace is the total package: smart, creative, caring. And in a zombie apocalypse scenario, she’d be the last one standing atop a pile of rotting undead carcasses.”
“I was committing a felony with people who weren’t smart enough to wear non-identifiable gear. I wasn’t sure how to feel about that.”
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