An Ever After Summer

by Toni Shiloh

Bellamy Larson works for her father at his book curating business, In a Bind. When another employee returns from France in tears, thanks to their beastly client, Bellamy is sent to deal with him. Yet where others have seen a harsh man, Bellamy sees a wounded widower in need of a friend.

Jean-Luc Thibodeaux wants to be alone. Only his friends, and now an annoying book curator, keep insisting he join the real world. Reluctantly he agrees to leave the chateau he's refurbishing and guide Bellamy around France. Soon, the wounds in his heart begin to heal.

Can he find ever after in an unlikely woman or will they only have one summer together?

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Christian Fiction, Closed Door Romance, Summer Reads, Christian Romance, Clean Romance

132 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 13, 2022

About the author

Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and an award-winning Christian contemporary romance author. A native of Texas, she now lives in northern Virginia. Learn more at http://tonishiloh.com.

Reviews

[Staci]

Cute modern day retelling of Beauty and the Beast.

[Marylin]

This story is so enchanting.
It took a favorite fairy tale and gave it a modern twist.
This was just the perfect thing to read over a relaxing weekend.
The book has a flair of its own, and the author is skilled in storytelling. This story will capture your heart and give you warm fuzzies.
It filled me with laughter, hope, sweet moments, and lots of romance!
I love reading books by Toni Shiloh. I will always pick up anything she writes, because I know I’ll be entertained and delighted. She has a wonderful way of conveying the feelings of each of the characters in this book. Each of these characters to life in a wonderfully real way. She really is a joy to read. I laughed, I cried, and I stayed up WAY TOO LATE, just so I could get one more chapter read!

I highly recommend you pick this book up; it will bring a smile to your face and sweet dreams to your heart!
I was given this book by the publisher which did not influence my review in any way, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Angela Bell]

Once upon a time, the talented Toni Shiloh sat down to compose a tale as old as time. On blank pages she combined the fragrance of books, nostalgic Disney references, the enchantment of France, and a charming grumpy / sunshine romance. As a result of her hard work and imagination, something appeared that wasn't there before—An Ever After Summer. Delighted by this new story, many a bookworm read quite happily, ever after. The End.

[Andrea Cox]

What a charming Beauty and the Beast retelling! The characters, the bookish atmosphere, the growliness of the beast… all of it was amazing. I’d definitely read more Toni Shiloh retellings—and I’m a hard sell on the genre. Well done!

Content: alcohol as a descriptor, replacement profanity

[Carrie Schmidt]

Toni Shiloh’s An Ever After Summer is ooh-la-la fantastic! You don’t even have to be a Beauty & the Beast fan to appreciate this swoonilicious romance, but you’ll love it even more if you are because of all the little touches the author adds. Jean-Luc…. I could stop right there. Blissful sigh. Keep a fan handy for whenever he’s in the room – he exudes a wounded hero sexiness (am I allowed to use that word?) and the instant sparks between him and Bell are magnifique! Such a sweet story of restoration (in more ways than one) and a delicious romance with plenty of chemistry and fireworks.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

first reviewed as part of the Once Upon a Summer: Contemporary Retellings of Timeless Tales collection

[January]

An Ever After Summer by Toni Shiloh
Previously published in Once Upon a Summer anthology
132-page Kindle Ebook

Genre: Retelling, Christian Romance

Featuring: Books, Bible Verses, Beauty & the Beast, Libraries, DMV, France, Grumpy Sunshine Trope

Rating as a movie: PG

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️½📚🇫🇷

My thoughts: This story was more of a Disney's Beauty and the Beast Retelling than Beauty & the Beast in general, most of the references were taken from that adaptation, from books being a major theme, the side story with the domestic staff, and even a Gaston-like character. The most obvious is that the MC's name is Bell, short for Bellamy. All in all, I liked it. In my opinion, It was much better than By The Book which is a Disney movie retelling, but it's not a fair comparison since this story is a novella and that was a novel.

Recommend to others: Yes. This is a quick read and very enjoyable.

[Courtney Shevchenko]

Such a fun retelling of Beauty and the Beast! ❤️ I loved getting to know the characters, and figuring out the French phrasing through the book. The characters themselves were delightful and full of charm. You found yourself rooting for the good guys, and scowling at the bad. Perfect.

I love when I read a book and I have a big smile at the end, and this was one of those books.

[Cherie l brown]

What a cute, fun, updated story of the less than handsome guy falling for the prettiest girl. His name is Jean-Luc, a Frenchman, and she is Bellamy Larson an American. Bell has to travel to France to complete an assignment for her Dad’s company. In A Bind Books has already sent several staff and Jean-Luc has rejected them all and sent them packing. Bell as the Owner’s daughter goes to try to salvage the business acct for the company. Jean-Luc is gruff, unsociable, aloof, and unimpressed with life and ppl. However, he took a quick shine to Bellamy Larsen. He’s a broken man, and she raised his spirits and he has no intentions to send her away. However, a crisis across the pond at home sends Bell back to the States. Her father instantly knows his daughter has caught feelings for the Frenchman. Can her father get better soon enough for Bell to return for the Ball? What a difference his recovery will make in the lives of both the young lovers and a developing love story of two other characters♥️

If Toni Shiloh write it, without reading the reviews, you can bank on it that the novel will be good!

[Marie Pinkham]

So good!!!

An Ever After Summer is not just swoonworthy, it is a wonderful, tender story of healing and grace. I previously read this in a collection, and reread it, reminding me how much I enjoyed it. Excellent modern retelling of an old fairy tale.

[Sheri]

Beautiful Story

This is the 3rd book I have read by this author and she does not disappoint! I love how effortlessly she weaves faith and romance together!

[Marsha]

Loved it! Loved it! Loved it!

[diaryofacleanreader]

4/5 stars

loved loved loved this book so much!! this was a contemporary retelling of beauty & the beast but there were faith elements & bookish things & just everything beautiful & perfect. LOVED the reestablishing of faith & how kind Bell was as our female lead. 📚💛🧚‍♀️

SPICE: none!! CLEANNN

language: NONE!!

tropes: enemies to lovers, grumpy x sunshine, forced proximity, BIPOC ml & fl

TW: death, grief, loss of spouse

[Traci Jones]

Fun twist on a classic!

This was such a sweet retelling of a classic fairy tale. I loved everything about it. Toni Shiloh has a beautiful gift in story telling!

[Kimyan]

A Story of Restoration

A beautiful story of how kindness and genuine friendship can change a person's outlook on life.
Bellamy has to go to France to try to save a job with a horrible client.
Jean Luc is trying to restore a home but harbors a lot of grief and self doubt.
Can Bellamy's kindness and faith in God help to show Jean Luc that happiness is for everyone???

[Kate Willis]

Absolutely adorable, and a great retelling. 💙

[Margaret Nelson]

This is a fun contemporary Beauty & the Beast re-telling, set in France. I enjoyed reading it - a nice break after a story with a lot more conflict and confusion.

[Marcena Hooks]

So Sweet and Cute

I loved this fairytale retelling and happily ever after story about Jean Luc and Bellamy. It was beautiful to read about Bellamy helping Jean Luc break down his barriers through prayer and healing. Bellamy had her share of conflicts but as a believer worked through them. The setting in France made for a nice touch. I can’t wait to read more by Toni Shiloh.

[Ifeoluwa Shobande]

Have friends or people who can pray for you. Have a small group of people that can hold vigil for you in the place of prayer if you can not do it yourself.


Thank you, Toni Shiloh, for this beautiful story. It gave a lot to rethink.

[Debby Lee]

What a charming love story. Set in France with lots of romance, with a believable plots lines, this book was fun to read. The settings were beautifully written and the characters learned to overcome difficulties and fall in love.

[Nancy]

Delightful Story

An Ever After Summer is a delightful retelling of the Beauty and the Beast story. The characters were well drawn and the setting very nice.

[Gloria Elemide]

I totally enjoyed this book and I will definitely be reading it again. 🥰🥰

[keira anne with an e]

Bell’s father has run out of employees to send to France to deal with the demanding man who has hired their company to help improve his castle library.
Too bad for him she’s determined to win him over.
This short and sweet retelling of the Beauty and the Beast story takes readers to a chateau in Paris where a grumpy widower and an optimistic woman realize they can do anything they put their minds to… when they work together.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5 stars)
Hello, my lovely friends!
I always say that I do not like Beauty and the Beast retellings. But after recently finishing Legacy of Roses by Melanie Cellier, and now this one??? I might be starting to change my mind. Because this was delightful. I loved how it played out, and it was the perfect length where I didn’t become bored with the plot, but still feel like I got to know the characters.
Oh, the characters!!! Bell and Jean-Luc were so much fun together. It was one of my favorite grumpy/sunshine relationships I’ve read, because he pretty instantly started getting happier around her. I liked how we had things play out with that, and how he started to heal from past wounds, and she encouraged him to step outside his comfort zone and embrace life.
The romance in this book was so sweet! I loved how they were pretty much instantly in love, and I loved how cute they were whenever the other one was mentioned or came into the room. It was a really fun romance, and I’m kind of sad there isn’t a short story sequel of them together after the book. However, I was happy with how this one concluded, at the same time.
I will say, it was a relatively short book, so I don’t have much more to say. I could have used some more parts with the books, and I did not like the villain of this story… but we weren’t supposed to, so it was okay. Overall, I was happy with the retelling elements. It was enough to make me grin like I was in on a joke (that beginning? Priceless), but not so much that I felt like I’d already read this book.
As far as content goes, I would say it was very clean for adult readers. There is some grief over his wife’s passing in a car accident, and then, we see one of his in-laws accusing him of being the one to blame for his wife’s death. We also have a character who is believed to be near death, but they’re alright in the end. Overall, very clean, and I would recommend it to anyone who loves romcoms or fairytale retellings.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. The fairytale retelling elements were really fun, the romance was really sweet, and it made for a great summer read. I would definitely recommend it, and I will probably re-read it at some point. I’m glad to say that I really enjoy Toni Shiloh’s books, and I am eager to read more.
(Oh, and I know that the whole Beauty and the Beast story is about not judging books by their covers, but this cover? So cute. So precious.)

EMOJI REVIEW!
🥀 beauty and the beast retelling
🏖️ all the summer feels
❤️ cute contemporary romcom
🔎 great little nods to the original story
🥐 takes place in france
🏰 renovating an old chateau
🎆 visiting disneyland paris
☀️ cute grumpy sunshine
⛪️ great faith content and witnessing

[Lilly Guirguis]

Oh so cute!

Best quotes:

“I am asking God for direction. Before, I believed I would find another project, but that no longer seems necessary or desirable.”

“Bell had done more than help with the restoration of Monique’s home; Bell had restored his heart. Made him realize he was capable of creating a new life with this woman. One he was sure would be filled with many more blessings than the one she brought simply by loving him.
“I love you,” he murmured.
“I love you too.”
“Dance with me?”
“Always.”
Bell laid her head against his chest as he slowly maneuvered them around the floor.”

[Renate Deutsche Oma]

This German American is intrigued with contemporary fairy tale retelling. An Ever After Summer is the happily ever after story about Jean Luc and Bellamy with a French setting and some unexpected twists to the story Beauty and the Beast. Bellamy helps Jean Luc break down his barriers through prayer and healing. Bellamy, as a believer, works through her conflicts. A page turning read with believable characters, some unexpected plot twists, and believable resolution. A delightful read for fairy tale readers.

[Carolyn Norman]

A retelling of Beauty and the Beast just make it with Black & Christian characters. I did appreciate it being a faith based story with all of the main characters from the fairytale.

The beast was Jean Luc Thibodeaux the owner of the chateau that Belle (Bellamy Larson) was working at. Gaston is Dominic a man who works with Belle at her father’s firm. Her father also plays a large part in the retelling.

This was a great palate cleanser.

[Tiffany]

This book was 117 pages but when I tell you it truly captures the heart and essence of Beauty and the Beast it does. My only complaint was that I wish there was a page in the front or even in the back of the book but translated the French words that were used since the book was not so long I did not mind having to use Google translate. lol. This story was short but sweet and I could see all the parallels from all the characters.

[Ra’Sheda]

3.75 ⭐️
I enjoyed this book! My only qualm is that I wish there was more development and build up in the love story between the fmc and mmc. I didn’t realize until now that it is just a novella at a bit over 100 pgs so with that in mind, the plot flow makes more sense! It’s a modern day twist on Beauty & the Beast!

[Letha]

I loved this Christian version of Beauty and the Beast! Great job, Toni!!

[Ava]

A cute Beauty and the Beast retelling! I'm normally not a fan of short stories, but I enjoyed this one.

[Melissa]

3.75 star, really quick, cute novella !