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Sweet Life in Seattle #1
Year of Living Blonde
A funny and sizzling romp about discovering your inner pin-up girl...
Revenge is a dish...
Plain-Jane bakery owner Natalie Anderson has always followed the recipe for a safe life. When her husband dumps her for a seductive older woman though, it’s time to throw out that recipe and start from scratch. She cooks up a plan to transform herself from mousy brown to sexy blonde. Meanwhile, she’s trying to expand her Seattle bakery, La Dolce Vita, but runs into an obstacle in the form of her irritatingly handsome landlord.
Best served hot...
Astronomer Anthony Novello’s good looks and charm usually guarantees him a free pass with women, though that’s not the case with his new tenant, Natalie. Plain, plump, and persnickety—he’s never met a woman more annoying. But when Anthony returns from a telescope observing run, he makes a discovery of the non-celestial kind—Natalie has changed. He’s amazed to find himself attracted to her. Sparks fly as he tries to convince her there’s more to him than meets the eye.
To cheating husbands...
However, when Natalie’s ex-husband tries to win her back, she’s forced to choose. Is her year of living blonde over? Or is this the start of a new and much sweeter life.
Warning: Contains one hot astrophysicist, a curvaceous and stubborn heroine, humorous situations, steamy sex scenes, a villainous ex-husband, his crazy cougar mistress, and the story of how when opposites attract they sometimes--against all odds--fall in love.
Revenge is a dish...
Plain-Jane bakery owner Natalie Anderson has always followed the recipe for a safe life. When her husband dumps her for a seductive older woman though, it’s time to throw out that recipe and start from scratch. She cooks up a plan to transform herself from mousy brown to sexy blonde. Meanwhile, she’s trying to expand her Seattle bakery, La Dolce Vita, but runs into an obstacle in the form of her irritatingly handsome landlord.
Best served hot...
Astronomer Anthony Novello’s good looks and charm usually guarantees him a free pass with women, though that’s not the case with his new tenant, Natalie. Plain, plump, and persnickety—he’s never met a woman more annoying. But when Anthony returns from a telescope observing run, he makes a discovery of the non-celestial kind—Natalie has changed. He’s amazed to find himself attracted to her. Sparks fly as he tries to convince her there’s more to him than meets the eye.
To cheating husbands...
However, when Natalie’s ex-husband tries to win her back, she’s forced to choose. Is her year of living blonde over? Or is this the start of a new and much sweeter life.
Warning: Contains one hot astrophysicist, a curvaceous and stubborn heroine, humorous situations, steamy sex scenes, a villainous ex-husband, his crazy cougar mistress, and the story of how when opposites attract they sometimes--against all odds--fall in love.
452 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 27, 2015
2668 people are currently reading
2284 people want to read
About the author
Andrea Simonne
10 books262 followersSign up for my newsletter to hear about new releases and other musings: https://www.andreasimonne.com/mailing...
Andrea Simonne grew up as an army brat and discovered she had a talent for creating personas at each new school. The most memorable was a surfer chick named "Ace" who never touched a surf board in her life, but had an impressive collection of puka shell necklaces. Eventually she turned her imagination towards writing. Andrea still enjoys creating personas, though these days they occupy her books. She's an Amazon bestseller in romantic comedy and contemporary romance, and author of the series Sweet Life in Seattle and About Love. She currently makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons.
Andrea Simonne grew up as an army brat and discovered she had a talent for creating personas at each new school. The most memorable was a surfer chick named "Ace" who never touched a surf board in her life, but had an impressive collection of puka shell necklaces. Eventually she turned her imagination towards writing. Andrea still enjoys creating personas, though these days they occupy her books. She's an Amazon bestseller in romantic comedy and contemporary romance, and author of the series Sweet Life in Seattle and About Love. She currently makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 372 reviews
dnf
January 17, 2019Why the f*** do people feel they have to write in some random tense? Third person present? Come on.
I barely tolerate 1st person past tense. I despise 1st person present but will sometimes force myself. I will tell you though that I've rarely read a book in first person present where the author hasn't made mistakes with the tense. And 3rd person present? Just no.
The synopsis sounded great but I'm not going to force myself.
I barely tolerate 1st person past tense. I despise 1st person present but will sometimes force myself. I will tell you though that I've rarely read a book in first person present where the author hasn't made mistakes with the tense. And 3rd person present? Just no.
The synopsis sounded great but I'm not going to force myself.
April 2, 2023
Going with three stars as there's no real reason not to, but it felt disjointed and perhaps a tighter rewrite???
Third person present tense alert!
More recap than review:
Heroine is dumped by her husband for an older woman and it stings. She's a pretty practical woman and doesn't indulge in frills but is focused on her bakery business. As can happen when dumped, she stops eating and then starts working out (not so typical).
The OW, in addition to being a cow that likes married men, is also an insufferable life coach and likes to send the heroine life affirming texts. This happens after a confrontation that ends in a scuffle so I suspect passive-aggressive behavior with an emphasis on aggressive.
The H happens to be her landlord, and is arrogant and beautiful. They butt heads over the lease and the very cranky heroine is stubborn and pretty much a jerk about the whole process. Now that she's thinner, still voluptuous and now blonder she's a total pinup bombshell, and her husband wants her back.
There's some development lacking, primarily with her daughter and his. They flit in and out of the story.
It was a good story about a woman reevaluating herself, but a little thin. Going blonde because of your ex's new woman was jarring, but the biggest negative was the third person present tense.
Third person present tense alert!
More recap than review:
Heroine is dumped by her husband for an older woman and it stings. She's a pretty practical woman and doesn't indulge in frills but is focused on her bakery business. As can happen when dumped, she stops eating and then starts working out (not so typical).
The OW, in addition to being a cow that likes married men, is also an insufferable life coach and likes to send the heroine life affirming texts. This happens after a confrontation that ends in a scuffle so I suspect passive-aggressive behavior with an emphasis on aggressive.
The H happens to be her landlord, and is arrogant and beautiful. They butt heads over the lease and the very cranky heroine is stubborn and pretty much a jerk about the whole process. Now that she's thinner, still voluptuous and now blonder she's a total pinup bombshell, and her husband wants her back.
There's some development lacking, primarily with her daughter and his. They flit in and out of the story.
It was a good story about a woman reevaluating herself, but a little thin. Going blonde because of your ex's new woman was jarring, but the biggest negative was the third person present tense.
June 19, 2022
Great story, and pretty realistic in my opinion. In a marriage the women have the babies, loose their waistline and gain weight. Statistics are about 75 percent are heavier than they were pre-pregnancy, including 47 percent retaining more than 10 pounds. Life is not fair to us girls that's for sure. You work to build a business/career too tired for sex, and you get frumpy/dowdy and the husband goes looking for better. Oh yeah very realistic.
I couldn't wait for the husband to come groveling back. I only wish those scenes had been written the way I would have liked. But, there was a happily ever after, so I'm good with it.
This author had some great one liners that I enjoyed very much. Excellent read!
I couldn't wait for the husband to come groveling back. I only wish those scenes had been written the way I would have liked. But, there was a happily ever after, so I'm good with it.
This author had some great one liners that I enjoyed very much. Excellent read!
July 23, 2021
Nope
This was a pretty good book up until she took her ex back. I lost interest after that, I wish Anthony would have found someone worthy of his devotion. I’m sorry after all she went through with her ex how could she even think about taking him back? For her daughter? Yeah right that would’ve done more harm than good. Whatever!!!
This was a pretty good book up until she took her ex back. I lost interest after that, I wish Anthony would have found someone worthy of his devotion. I’m sorry after all she went through with her ex how could she even think about taking him back? For her daughter? Yeah right that would’ve done more harm than good. Whatever!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 27, 2021
Spoilers alert
Ok WTF husband cheats on you. Leaves for the other women. Divorce. You meet someone else who makes you feel wonderful and accepts you as you are. Ex husband sees you again after awhile and realizes he misses someone who will take care of him like you do. He walks back in and says he’s back. And you take him back because “you want to make your daughter happy”. NO! Hell No! You just taught your daughter that women can be tossed around and treated like crap and even if your 100% unhappy who cares. At least in the end she got smart and left the ex husband when she realized he didn’t care about her it was just about him. Ugh I hate this type of crap.
Ok WTF husband cheats on you. Leaves for the other women. Divorce. You meet someone else who makes you feel wonderful and accepts you as you are. Ex husband sees you again after awhile and realizes he misses someone who will take care of him like you do. He walks back in and says he’s back. And you take him back because “you want to make your daughter happy”. NO! Hell No! You just taught your daughter that women can be tossed around and treated like crap and even if your 100% unhappy who cares. At least in the end she got smart and left the ex husband when she realized he didn’t care about her it was just about him. Ugh I hate this type of crap.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2021
Not the story I was expecting to read.
How in the world could she take Peter back? Natalie is a doormat. Plain and simple. Then she tries to copy the look of the mistress. Which lands her the landlord. But then she boots the landlord to the curb and takes back her ex husband. Very shallow characters.
Did not like the book. Will not be reading more of the series.
How in the world could she take Peter back? Natalie is a doormat. Plain and simple. Then she tries to copy the look of the mistress. Which lands her the landlord. But then she boots the landlord to the curb and takes back her ex husband. Very shallow characters.
Did not like the book. Will not be reading more of the series.
August 17, 2021
3.5 stars
A good friend recommended this book so I grabbed it and I enjoyed it. I had some problems with a few parts of it, but it kept my interest, the characters were flawed but knew it, the romance wasn’t easy but they worked at it, and in the end two people who were made to be together figured that out.
When Natalie’s husband of 14 years tell her he wants a divorce and that he’s been seeing someone else and is in love she is taken by complete surprise. She knows she’s put in long hours getting her bakery business off the ground but she thought Peter was happy with her and their daughter Chloe. Peter also lets her know she thinks she’s frumpy, not a “real woman,” and that he has no interest in working out their problems. I liked Natalie, she obviously loves her work, her daughter, and her sister who she practically raised but does a solid in return when she moves in after her ex moves out just to be there for her and her daughter. She’s smart, but very stubborn and a bit of a hot head. My biggest issue is that she believes she’s plain, ugly, and that her curves are a bad thing. The author makes the reader believe she’s a plus sized woman, but when she loses weight she fits into a size 10, so Natalie is far from fat or plus sized even before she gets healthier. The fact that this is such an ongoing theme throughout the story that Natalie believes she’s less than because she’s not model thin got old very quickly, yet it continued for so much of the story even when Anthony tells her he likes her curves, he finds her beautiful and desirable she doesn’t believe him, not for the longest time. And while I’m glad Natalie chose to get healthier by watching her food intake and exercising, in reality I’m not sure she did it for the right reason and I think she would have benefitted from some counseling to figure out her low self esteem which would have prevented her from taking her ex-husband back, don’t even get me started on that part of the story because it was truly ridiculous and a very bad message to send her daughter.
I loved that Anthony, who was a pretty regular visitor to their bakery, was super hot, but also a big nerd. I love the juxtaposition of him. He was not only an astrophysicist, he also happened to be the landlord of the bakery’s business and the one keeping Natalie and her partner Blair from expanding by not leasing them the space next door. I’m going to admit that the fact he dismissed Natalie at first because he saw her as frumpy bothered me as did the fact that he had these weird times where he became almost possessive. His character was a bit unevenly written and while I liked him there was something that kept me from really loving his character. He was closed off, even after he and Natalie became closer he still wasn’t completely truthful with her all the time, and while I appreciated he was upset Natalie’s ex was showing interest in her, his outrage really bothered me. I get he’s Italian and passionate, but he was a bit over the top (that unevenness again) for someone who was really pretty laid back.
I did enjoy Natalie discovering her sensual side, seeing that she was more than her weight and enjoying life and I really loved that Anthony appreciated everything about her. I liked them together, but honestly I wanted to see Natalie push back a bit more with Anthony. He evaded tough subjects constantly, he withheld information from her that was important, and to be honest because he’d always had it easy with women I think she should have made him work for her affections more. He’s was kind of spoiled in that way and it was easy to see he expected everyone to fall in line with what he said.
I loved the relationship between Natalie, her business partner Blair, and her sister Lindsay. While they were all very different people, they had a special sisterhood that was important to all of them and even when they didn’t agree on a subject and they hit rough patches, they were there for one another no matter what.
While this was no doubt a romance, it had a real women’s fiction vibe to it. A woman finding herself, changing her life for the better, making mistakes, and learning from them. I did enjoy Year of Living Blond and while I didn’t always agree with some of the content, I also couldn’t put it down.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
A good friend recommended this book so I grabbed it and I enjoyed it. I had some problems with a few parts of it, but it kept my interest, the characters were flawed but knew it, the romance wasn’t easy but they worked at it, and in the end two people who were made to be together figured that out.
When Natalie’s husband of 14 years tell her he wants a divorce and that he’s been seeing someone else and is in love she is taken by complete surprise. She knows she’s put in long hours getting her bakery business off the ground but she thought Peter was happy with her and their daughter Chloe. Peter also lets her know she thinks she’s frumpy, not a “real woman,” and that he has no interest in working out their problems. I liked Natalie, she obviously loves her work, her daughter, and her sister who she practically raised but does a solid in return when she moves in after her ex moves out just to be there for her and her daughter. She’s smart, but very stubborn and a bit of a hot head. My biggest issue is that she believes she’s plain, ugly, and that her curves are a bad thing. The author makes the reader believe she’s a plus sized woman, but when she loses weight she fits into a size 10, so Natalie is far from fat or plus sized even before she gets healthier. The fact that this is such an ongoing theme throughout the story that Natalie believes she’s less than because she’s not model thin got old very quickly, yet it continued for so much of the story even when Anthony tells her he likes her curves, he finds her beautiful and desirable she doesn’t believe him, not for the longest time. And while I’m glad Natalie chose to get healthier by watching her food intake and exercising, in reality I’m not sure she did it for the right reason and I think she would have benefitted from some counseling to figure out her low self esteem which would have prevented her from taking her ex-husband back, don’t even get me started on that part of the story because it was truly ridiculous and a very bad message to send her daughter.
I loved that Anthony, who was a pretty regular visitor to their bakery, was super hot, but also a big nerd. I love the juxtaposition of him. He was not only an astrophysicist, he also happened to be the landlord of the bakery’s business and the one keeping Natalie and her partner Blair from expanding by not leasing them the space next door. I’m going to admit that the fact he dismissed Natalie at first because he saw her as frumpy bothered me as did the fact that he had these weird times where he became almost possessive. His character was a bit unevenly written and while I liked him there was something that kept me from really loving his character. He was closed off, even after he and Natalie became closer he still wasn’t completely truthful with her all the time, and while I appreciated he was upset Natalie’s ex was showing interest in her, his outrage really bothered me. I get he’s Italian and passionate, but he was a bit over the top (that unevenness again) for someone who was really pretty laid back.
I did enjoy Natalie discovering her sensual side, seeing that she was more than her weight and enjoying life and I really loved that Anthony appreciated everything about her. I liked them together, but honestly I wanted to see Natalie push back a bit more with Anthony. He evaded tough subjects constantly, he withheld information from her that was important, and to be honest because he’d always had it easy with women I think she should have made him work for her affections more. He’s was kind of spoiled in that way and it was easy to see he expected everyone to fall in line with what he said.
I loved the relationship between Natalie, her business partner Blair, and her sister Lindsay. While they were all very different people, they had a special sisterhood that was important to all of them and even when they didn’t agree on a subject and they hit rough patches, they were there for one another no matter what.
While this was no doubt a romance, it had a real women’s fiction vibe to it. A woman finding herself, changing her life for the better, making mistakes, and learning from them. I did enjoy Year of Living Blond and while I didn’t always agree with some of the content, I also couldn’t put it down.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
July 13, 2021
So this was cute. Feisty lady, gorgeous guy who's totally in to her.
I enjoyed it, but marked it down a star for all the fat lines thrown in. This is a woman who lost weight to become a size 10, possibly an 8. Who got constant flack from other "hot" chicks for being "fat". Sorry. Nope. She has a big chest, a big butt, and hips with a flat stomach. In no world that I know of is this fat. Being overweight myself, I was on board with most of it, but this woman started out a size 12 or 14 and got constant flack for her weight. Even her own husband though she was not pretty. Perhaps if the author had kept her a 14 or 16 and shown how she started glamming up herself while staying curvy. But no, this is not a curvy girl romance. This is a woman with big chest romance.
The guy was nice. Hot nerdy guy from money, college professor. He was totally in to her. I liked that. He didn't want her to lose weight. He liked her the way she was.
The weight issue was a huuuuge part of the book. I initially liked it, but the more I think about it, the more it bugs me. So while it was probably a 4 star book, I had to knock it down a peg.
I enjoyed it, but marked it down a star for all the fat lines thrown in. This is a woman who lost weight to become a size 10, possibly an 8. Who got constant flack from other "hot" chicks for being "fat". Sorry. Nope. She has a big chest, a big butt, and hips with a flat stomach. In no world that I know of is this fat. Being overweight myself, I was on board with most of it, but this woman started out a size 12 or 14 and got constant flack for her weight. Even her own husband though she was not pretty. Perhaps if the author had kept her a 14 or 16 and shown how she started glamming up herself while staying curvy. But no, this is not a curvy girl romance. This is a woman with big chest romance.
The guy was nice. Hot nerdy guy from money, college professor. He was totally in to her. I liked that. He didn't want her to lose weight. He liked her the way she was.
The weight issue was a huuuuge part of the book. I initially liked it, but the more I think about it, the more it bugs me. So while it was probably a 4 star book, I had to knock it down a peg.
April 6, 2022
I loved this a lot I don’t read many contemporary romances but this one caught my eye so I decided to take a chance on a new author and I’m glad I did. It’s a slow burn romance with an initial slight enemy to lovers vibe. It’s probably more like misplaced assumptions though. Natalie who owns a bakery is taken completely by surprise when her husband Peter tells her he wants a divorce and that’s he leaving her for his older yoga instructor girlfriend. Stuck in a rut for years Natalie has been consumed by her work already suffering from self-esteem issues she considers herself a plain Jane.
At first, Natalie wants nothing more than to win Peter back but as time elapses her rediscovery into who she actually is and making small lifestyle changes along the way becomes about her and feeling better about herself and what initially started as showing Peter swiftly kickstarts a metamorphosis into a whole new side of Natalie a side that she’s beginning to like a lot. Suddenly Natalie isn’t invisible and men notice her not that she’s totally comfortable with all the attention.
Meanwhile, her elusive landlord refuses to rent out the unit next door so she can expand her business and when they finally meet he mistakes her for the help.
This wasn’t a totally dazzled by each other first meeting kind of romance. Anthony is ridiculously good looking which Natalie because of her baggage finds off putting. Anthony also doesn’t see past Natalie’s dowdy first impression either. Her initial attitude is also off-putting there’s something about Anthony that raises Natalie’s hackles and she has all these prior pre-conceptions. But there’s also something about her that he’s reluctantly drawn to and as Natalie emerges from her chrysalis he’s caught by her curvy pin-up allure and for once he actually has to work for it as Natalie doesn’t make it easy on him something he also finds equally refreshing.
I especially loved the fact that Anthony is a professor of astrophysics an astronomer. He was definitely a chic geek and despite being insanely hot he was a really nice guy as well. He was also Italian and when he uses the language of love on Natalie my toes curled.
Natalie also had to come to the realisation that she needs to put herself first. She’s spent so long putting herself last that’s it’s become second nature. Her chaotic upbringing also colours her actions and reactions accordingly. She definitely makes pretty shitty decisions because of this prior history and one of these choices is the only thing here that had me gritting my teeth at her in pure disbelief.
The intimate scenes were authentic and extremely hot and I definitely believed in the authenticity of Natalie and Anthony’s attraction. This is well written with just enough strive to make it interesting but it’s not an angsty one. I will definitely read more by this author and recommend this highly if you like contemporary romance.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
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May 26, 2015
Who says you can't find love with a younger man? Andrea Simmone takes the concept of a second chance and spins it well. Year of Living Blonde is all about Natalie's growth once her husband says he's leaving her and has been cheating. Natalie struggles to come to terms with the situation but eventually embraces a different path and begins to work out, slim down, and has a makeover. She also dances the line of attraction with the sensual Italian Anthony.
Natalie works hard as a co-owner of a growing bakery. She first meets Anthony without realizing who he is, the owner of the building the bakery is in, and makes a fool of herself. The next several meetings and conversations end up wit her insulting him. Anthony is charming, brilliant, and a bit of a douche sometimes. That old saying that you are mean to who you like? He and Natalie are living proof that it is so right.
It only takes about half way through the novel for things to heat up between Natalie and Anthony, I know because I remember screaming hallelujah, then story moves and throws two wrenches in. We get to see just how passionate and possessive Anthony is when Natalie's ex-husband says he wants her back now that she's hot and lost weight. This causes tension between Anthony and Natalie which furthers along the story.
Overall, I was more than pleasantly surprised with this read. I found myself loving the hero and heroine, laughing, and shouting. This story gets a shining 5 stars from me for making me love Anthony and Natalie!
Natalie works hard as a co-owner of a growing bakery. She first meets Anthony without realizing who he is, the owner of the building the bakery is in, and makes a fool of herself. The next several meetings and conversations end up wit her insulting him. Anthony is charming, brilliant, and a bit of a douche sometimes. That old saying that you are mean to who you like? He and Natalie are living proof that it is so right.
It only takes about half way through the novel for things to heat up between Natalie and Anthony, I know because I remember screaming hallelujah, then story moves and throws two wrenches in. We get to see just how passionate and possessive Anthony is when Natalie's ex-husband says he wants her back now that she's hot and lost weight. This causes tension between Anthony and Natalie which furthers along the story.
Overall, I was more than pleasantly surprised with this read. I found myself loving the hero and heroine, laughing, and shouting. This story gets a shining 5 stars from me for making me love Anthony and Natalie!
December 27, 2023
Meh. Writing style wasn't for me. Also a lot of fluff that could have made this 100 pages shorter which would have made it slightly better.
Want to read
March 21, 2025Ya sé que esa portada es horrible
Enigueis vi un tiktok en el que ponían el inicio de esta historia, gente en los comentarios quería saber qué pasa y por algún motivo había un par de machitos haciendo comentarios lowkey misóginos, busqué la sinopsis para responderles y ahora probablemente lo lea solo para poder seguirme peleando en comentarios de tiktok con más bases, stay tuned 👍
Enigueis vi un tiktok en el que ponían el inicio de esta historia, gente en los comentarios quería saber qué pasa y por algún motivo había un par de machitos haciendo comentarios lowkey misóginos, busqué la sinopsis para responderles y ahora probablemente lo lea solo para poder seguirme peleando en comentarios de tiktok con más bases, stay tuned 👍
March 31, 2018
Witty and charming
Love, love, love the story of Natalie and Anthony. It shows that age doesnt matter in love. Such a funny, charming and witty way of showing how two people of different background can just fall helplessly in love with each other. Kudos to Ms Simonne!
Love, love, love the story of Natalie and Anthony. It shows that age doesnt matter in love. Such a funny, charming and witty way of showing how two people of different background can just fall helplessly in love with each other. Kudos to Ms Simonne!
October 16, 2020
The book was well written but i hated the way Nathalie was with her ex i felt she was weak towards him which i understand in the beginning but i feel she never really got come her come to Jesus moment that she really deserved because he was a total ass and really mean
September 8, 2021
Tiramisu
Oh wow, definitely an emotional rollercoaster. Loved it! Very nice journey although there were a few moments I wanted to smack all of the characters at least once.
Oh wow, definitely an emotional rollercoaster. Loved it! Very nice journey although there were a few moments I wanted to smack all of the characters at least once.
August 15, 2021
I loved this story, the characters, her sister and all the baking!
But, when she starting seeing Anthony and their relationship was getting stronger, all the back and forth started annoying me.
Each hurting each other, both keeping secrets and Natalie pushing him away almost did me in. But the HEA was worth it in the end.
But, when she starting seeing Anthony and their relationship was getting stronger, all the back and forth started annoying me.
Each hurting each other, both keeping secrets and Natalie pushing him away almost did me in. But the HEA was worth it in the end.
February 27, 2015
In Year Of Living Blonde, author Andrea Simone weaves an entertaining romantic tale set in Seattle that follows Natalie Anderson's year long journey of self-discovery.
What's a girl to do when her husband dumps her for an older woman? After Natalie's husband dumps her for an older woman, she decides to transform herself from a dumpy, plain, mousy brown haired woman into a sexy blonde woman whose ready to restart her life. While concentrating on expanding her bakery, La Dolce Vita, Natalie has an obstacle standing in her way, Anthony Novello, her handsome landlord ... that is until he notices Natalie's transformation, and an unexpected attraction develops between them. And just when Natalie thinks her new start can't get any more sweeter, her ex-husband is back in the picture to complicate things because he wants Natalie back, leaving her heart in a dilemma.
I couldn't help but get caught up in Natalie's story. I loved how she didn't give up after her husband left her. I admired her determination to pick up the pieces, transform herself, and restart her life on her own terms. I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Natalie and Anthony, especially their humorous banter and undeniable attraction. I found myself cheering them on, especially when Natalie's ex-husband reappears and throws a monkey wrench into their lives, when he makes it known that he is going to fight to win back Natalie's heart. The story is filled with enough drama, humor, emotion, and romance that easily keeps the reader engaged and wondering which man would win Natalie's heart.
With a realistic cast of characters; witty dialogue and dramatic interactions; a rich description of Seattle and its local landmarks; and an entertaining romantic storyline that engages the reader to follow along; Year Of Living Blonde is an enjoyable story about a woman's year long journey of self-discovery and search for true love and happiness.
Year Of Living Blonde is the first book in the Sweet Life in Seattle Series.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Goddess Fish Promotions.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
What's a girl to do when her husband dumps her for an older woman? After Natalie's husband dumps her for an older woman, she decides to transform herself from a dumpy, plain, mousy brown haired woman into a sexy blonde woman whose ready to restart her life. While concentrating on expanding her bakery, La Dolce Vita, Natalie has an obstacle standing in her way, Anthony Novello, her handsome landlord ... that is until he notices Natalie's transformation, and an unexpected attraction develops between them. And just when Natalie thinks her new start can't get any more sweeter, her ex-husband is back in the picture to complicate things because he wants Natalie back, leaving her heart in a dilemma.
I couldn't help but get caught up in Natalie's story. I loved how she didn't give up after her husband left her. I admired her determination to pick up the pieces, transform herself, and restart her life on her own terms. I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Natalie and Anthony, especially their humorous banter and undeniable attraction. I found myself cheering them on, especially when Natalie's ex-husband reappears and throws a monkey wrench into their lives, when he makes it known that he is going to fight to win back Natalie's heart. The story is filled with enough drama, humor, emotion, and romance that easily keeps the reader engaged and wondering which man would win Natalie's heart.
With a realistic cast of characters; witty dialogue and dramatic interactions; a rich description of Seattle and its local landmarks; and an entertaining romantic storyline that engages the reader to follow along; Year Of Living Blonde is an enjoyable story about a woman's year long journey of self-discovery and search for true love and happiness.
Year Of Living Blonde is the first book in the Sweet Life in Seattle Series.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Goddess Fish Promotions.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
June 18, 2018
The one thing i like about this - No Insta Love.
Another thing I like - Written in First person and the story begins just that way, first person.
And Another thing and another..... - the snarky attitude, No BS, quick banter, Great side characters, Dual POV.
The story opens up with Peter wanting a divorce. Natalie is in shocked and pretty much stays that way for the first chapter. I mean who wouldn't. Peter has been seeing someone else for awhile, and is in love with her. Natalie: She is confused but not really. She just can't believe her family is falling apart... just like her mom and dad's did. Natalie made some not so good decisions through out the story but are sole focus was always about Chloe, her daughter.
Natalie and Blair, friend and business partner, have an awesome bakery. They are in desperate need to expand. The space next to them is open for rent but the Lessor keeps denying them. They don't understand; until they do.
I love how Anthony comes into the picture. Anthony is a fine specimen and the girls, ladies, WOMEN love him. What I like about Anthony? He didn't like all that attention. What i liked even more was that he is secretly a NERD, an astronomer.
The claws, snarky attitude and the quick banter comes into play when Natalie meets her Lessor.
And so on and so on. There was many different things going on.... Natalie vs Peter vs Chloe vs Peter's lover,girlfriend,fiance vs the Bakery's Lessor vs Anthony ..... and on top of that Anthony has his own problems... His parents....
On top of everything, Natalie begins to rediscover herself when she finally puts herself first. First step getting a fresh look... "Blonde"
I really did like this book. Didn't really like how Peter suddenly begins to weasel his way back into Natalie's life. But I do like how Peter finally closes that door.
I do recommend.
Another thing I like - Written in First person and the story begins just that way, first person.
And Another thing and another..... - the snarky attitude, No BS, quick banter, Great side characters, Dual POV.
The story opens up with Peter wanting a divorce. Natalie is in shocked and pretty much stays that way for the first chapter. I mean who wouldn't. Peter has been seeing someone else for awhile, and is in love with her. Natalie: She is confused but not really. She just can't believe her family is falling apart... just like her mom and dad's did. Natalie made some not so good decisions through out the story but are sole focus was always about Chloe, her daughter.
Natalie and Blair, friend and business partner, have an awesome bakery. They are in desperate need to expand. The space next to them is open for rent but the Lessor keeps denying them. They don't understand; until they do.
I love how Anthony comes into the picture. Anthony is a fine specimen and the girls, ladies, WOMEN love him. What I like about Anthony? He didn't like all that attention. What i liked even more was that he is secretly a NERD, an astronomer.
The claws, snarky attitude and the quick banter comes into play when Natalie meets her Lessor.
And so on and so on. There was many different things going on.... Natalie vs Peter vs Chloe vs Peter's lover,girlfriend,fiance vs the Bakery's Lessor vs Anthony ..... and on top of that Anthony has his own problems... His parents....
On top of everything, Natalie begins to rediscover herself when she finally puts herself first. First step getting a fresh look... "Blonde"
I really did like this book. Didn't really like how Peter suddenly begins to weasel his way back into Natalie's life. But I do like how Peter finally closes that door.
I do recommend.
September 19, 2015
ARC given by netgalley for an honest review
I tended to avoid story with a younger hero, but I made exception for this one. The story as good as sundae on a hot-hot day.
The heroine is Natalie a buzy up in coming bakery owner/pastry chef with her pal Blair. Now the jerk owner refuse to renew their shop lease, and her husband more than a decade cheats on her (with a women a decade older) and want a divorced. What girl to do? attack the other women? check. Get a makeover? check. Had a steamy fling with a hot jerk shop owner whose is younger by the way. double check. Anthony Novello, a young professor with a hot look and a brilliant mind, a combination that made him a player around the block. Owner of the said shop, he use a software to determine Natalie eligibility in renewing the lease. Bantering btw both of them ignite the passion that usually reserve for his astronomy field. Can they both fight against all odds that want to separate them apart?
This is the first book that I throughly immersed myself in the heroine POV. She start with the trouble most of women have, insecurity, infidelity, losing her self image after marriage etc. But she fight against all odds and make a comeback. I really hate the other woman, she is hiding under all smiley face with a catty mouth (remind of some tv show about housewife in southern setting that smile but stab people in the back). The story is well recommended to all romance lover out there. You can't help but rooting the heroine and the hero together. Great job by the author 5 stars.
I tended to avoid story with a younger hero, but I made exception for this one. The story as good as sundae on a hot-hot day.
The heroine is Natalie a buzy up in coming bakery owner/pastry chef with her pal Blair. Now the jerk owner refuse to renew their shop lease, and her husband more than a decade cheats on her (with a women a decade older) and want a divorced. What girl to do? attack the other women? check. Get a makeover? check. Had a steamy fling with a hot jerk shop owner whose is younger by the way. double check. Anthony Novello, a young professor with a hot look and a brilliant mind, a combination that made him a player around the block. Owner of the said shop, he use a software to determine Natalie eligibility in renewing the lease. Bantering btw both of them ignite the passion that usually reserve for his astronomy field. Can they both fight against all odds that want to separate them apart?
This is the first book that I throughly immersed myself in the heroine POV. She start with the trouble most of women have, insecurity, infidelity, losing her self image after marriage etc. But she fight against all odds and make a comeback. I really hate the other woman, she is hiding under all smiley face with a catty mouth (remind of some tv show about housewife in southern setting that smile but stab people in the back). The story is well recommended to all romance lover out there. You can't help but rooting the heroine and the hero together. Great job by the author 5 stars.
June 23, 2023
I liked this book and I really enjoyed the characters but I do have one issue - Anthony's behaviour.
I get that he was supposed to be jealous when Peter saw Natalie looking hot but to snatch her phone out of her hand, read her messages, and then throw it out of the window of a moving vehicle? No thank you. It changed my whole opinion on him and it was just forgotten about, aside from mentioning that he hadn't replaced the phone yet.
His jealousy and uncertainty over whether the woman he loves will return to her husband could have been handled differently and that while scene is the reason I've given a 2 star rating.
I get that he was supposed to be jealous when Peter saw Natalie looking hot but to snatch her phone out of her hand, read her messages, and then throw it out of the window of a moving vehicle? No thank you. It changed my whole opinion on him and it was just forgotten about, aside from mentioning that he hadn't replaced the phone yet.
His jealousy and uncertainty over whether the woman he loves will return to her husband could have been handled differently and that while scene is the reason I've given a 2 star rating.
December 16, 2021
4.5 Stars!!
I loved this story! Romantic comedies are my favorite romance sub-genre, but those that tout their books as rom-coms aren't always that. Andrea Simonne wrote a witty story that didn't try too hard with over-the-top devices in gaining my attention or laughter. There were many humorous moments, inner-musings, and banter, but mostly it was a nice balance between humor, poignancy, light angst, and deeply felt romance. I also loved the main characters to bits. They were well-developed and wholly realistic.
January 14, 2015
This was my first book by this author. I read it as a beta read for hot tree editing and I was so shocked at how much I loved it. I've been waiting for someone to tell a amazing story and it was. From beginning to end I was laughing and crying. She turned my worse nightmare around and I loved every minute of it. I couldn't put it down. I suggest this book to anyone who loves a good story. I can't wait to read her other books
January 13, 2024
Cute come back story
August 10, 2021
3.5 stars. I really enjoyed these characters and their story.
October 7, 2016
good book. not per see great bur good.
the heroine co owns a bakery, shes a bit plump, has a daughter with her husband who is a dentist i think. One day he ups and leaves her for someone else, he been cheating for a while and now he wants a new life with the other woman. the other woman is a few years older than them and a life coach/yoga teacher. Even me, sitting at home wanted to smack her so i was happy when the heroine and friends did so.
the heroine changes her life, eats less, snacks less, exercises, so she looses a few dress sizes but is still curvy and she gets a make over( new hair new clothes, everything). she meets the hero of the story who is a younger man( professor, he and his family are in real estate, divorced parent, so he is young but not "go get me a frisbee" young.
the husband though that the heroine would stop her life after he left, still be the same person he left behind. they mostly talked on the phone and it was about their daughter( he was buying her love, i loved that the heroine let him, go broke and die lol).
now the heroine is in her own relationship with this young hot professor that wants her all to him self when she bumps into her ex( loved that scene). her ex doesnt ever recognize her and its obvious that she has moved on and who the winner is. the ex then wants her back and so comes home and uses her daughter to glue the family back together. she breaks it off with the professor because she wants to make her daughter happy. i got that, i really did. he is a mother so its not all about her, but she is miserable. everyone can see this. when she tells the ex its a no go she realises that he did not really come back for her, he came back because he did like the easiness of his life with her but he fell out of love with the package. the other woman had a nice looking package but living with her was hell for him. he knows that he again wrecked her life but he doesnt care, so this time when she tells him to leave, she knows that he is not coming back and more importantly she does not want him back(this was not clear to her after the first break up). and for HEA she gets back with the hot young professor.
the heroine co owns a bakery, shes a bit plump, has a daughter with her husband who is a dentist i think. One day he ups and leaves her for someone else, he been cheating for a while and now he wants a new life with the other woman. the other woman is a few years older than them and a life coach/yoga teacher. Even me, sitting at home wanted to smack her so i was happy when the heroine and friends did so.
the heroine changes her life, eats less, snacks less, exercises, so she looses a few dress sizes but is still curvy and she gets a make over( new hair new clothes, everything). she meets the hero of the story who is a younger man( professor, he and his family are in real estate, divorced parent, so he is young but not "go get me a frisbee" young.
the husband though that the heroine would stop her life after he left, still be the same person he left behind. they mostly talked on the phone and it was about their daughter( he was buying her love, i loved that the heroine let him, go broke and die lol).
now the heroine is in her own relationship with this young hot professor that wants her all to him self when she bumps into her ex( loved that scene). her ex doesnt ever recognize her and its obvious that she has moved on and who the winner is. the ex then wants her back and so comes home and uses her daughter to glue the family back together. she breaks it off with the professor because she wants to make her daughter happy. i got that, i really did. he is a mother so its not all about her, but she is miserable. everyone can see this. when she tells the ex its a no go she realises that he did not really come back for her, he came back because he did like the easiness of his life with her but he fell out of love with the package. the other woman had a nice looking package but living with her was hell for him. he knows that he again wrecked her life but he doesnt care, so this time when she tells him to leave, she knows that he is not coming back and more importantly she does not want him back(this was not clear to her after the first break up). and for HEA she gets back with the hot young professor.
September 6, 2021
Rating: 3 (9/21)
Genre: contemporary, age gap, enemies
Heat: 6
#
I needed a bit of a break from some of the dark reads lately, and I enjoyed this age gap, contemporary romance. There were a few grammar verb tense and POV errors in the beginning that were a bit jarring, but improved after the first third of the book. It took me out of the story to the point I had to stop and reread to figure out how it should have sounded.
Natalie has been married for 14 years, and on their anniversary her husband says he wants a divorce. She has been clueless to the fact he was cheating on her. She is so wrapped up in her job, she owns a bakery, that she fails to see her marriage declining. Her character is strong, sassy, and she doesn’t take any crap from her ex, or the landlord that refuses to lease the adjoining space. She antagonizes her landlord to the point he stops coming into her bakery- surprise! The super hot guy that came in for his coffee and a cookie weekly was her landlord, Anthony. His character is Italian and he is the typical alpha male in bed, but not in his personality. What I liked in this story was that he was not gazillionaire, just a astrophysicist/professor who leased properties to make extra money. He was humble, and dedicated to providing for his daughter
In the beginning of the story, Natalie had stopped taking care of herself. She became complacent in her marriage like many people do. As she moves on after her marriage, she starts to exercise and eventually gets a make over as a big screw you to her ex. With her new physique and blonde hair, she attracts a lot of attention. Mainly that of Anthony, whom she starts a relationship with. Their chemistry together was really hot. And Anthony is a bit kinky. There is workplace drama, his adoring college groupies to fend off, her slimy ex, and she and Anthony’s 6 year age gap to deal with (she is older). The plot had some predictable parts, like her ex wanting her back, but had other threads that I didn’t expect. Overall, this was a solid contemporary romance with some great secondary characters as well. These characters are going to get their own stories as well.
Genre: contemporary, age gap, enemies
Heat: 6
#
I needed a bit of a break from some of the dark reads lately, and I enjoyed this age gap, contemporary romance. There were a few grammar verb tense and POV errors in the beginning that were a bit jarring, but improved after the first third of the book. It took me out of the story to the point I had to stop and reread to figure out how it should have sounded.
Natalie has been married for 14 years, and on their anniversary her husband says he wants a divorce. She has been clueless to the fact he was cheating on her. She is so wrapped up in her job, she owns a bakery, that she fails to see her marriage declining. Her character is strong, sassy, and she doesn’t take any crap from her ex, or the landlord that refuses to lease the adjoining space. She antagonizes her landlord to the point he stops coming into her bakery- surprise! The super hot guy that came in for his coffee and a cookie weekly was her landlord, Anthony. His character is Italian and he is the typical alpha male in bed, but not in his personality. What I liked in this story was that he was not gazillionaire, just a astrophysicist/professor who leased properties to make extra money. He was humble, and dedicated to providing for his daughter
In the beginning of the story, Natalie had stopped taking care of herself. She became complacent in her marriage like many people do. As she moves on after her marriage, she starts to exercise and eventually gets a make over as a big screw you to her ex. With her new physique and blonde hair, she attracts a lot of attention. Mainly that of Anthony, whom she starts a relationship with. Their chemistry together was really hot. And Anthony is a bit kinky. There is workplace drama, his adoring college groupies to fend off, her slimy ex, and she and Anthony’s 6 year age gap to deal with (she is older). The plot had some predictable parts, like her ex wanting her back, but had other threads that I didn’t expect. Overall, this was a solid contemporary romance with some great secondary characters as well. These characters are going to get their own stories as well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2021
Scorned wife of 14 years finds new love!
Scorned wife of 14 years finds new love!
Natalie is up at the early dawn hours one morning doing her usually baking when her husband comes downstairs telling her he wants a divorce. He’s fallen in love with someone else. What is Natalie supposed to do? Why pelt him with muffins is a great idea.
Natalie has a successful bakery/cafe business, a beautiful 11year old daughter, and a 14 year marriage until today when her husband told her he was in love with someone else.
It takes months for Natalie to find the normal in her life. Her husband moved in with his girlfriend, her daughter is confused and sad by her now broken family, and her crazy sister has decided she needs to move in and help out for a while.
During this new normal Natalie decides it’s time to not put her self last any longer and to start thinking of mental and physical well being. She starts working out and eating healthier and gains confidence.
With this mew confidence comes the belief that she should expand her business and rent the space for lease next door. But her landlord sees it differently. He thinks they cannot afford additional lease and updates they would need to do to the space.
Sparks and smoke fly between Anthony the landlord and Natalie. Is the telling the truth, will my business really fail if we expand before we can afford it. Is Anthony looking out for Natalie and her well being. Does her really care for Natalie like her husband never did.
Read this book to laugh and cry with Natalie and her posse as she finds REAL Love from a GOOD man!
Scorned wife of 14 years finds new love!
Natalie is up at the early dawn hours one morning doing her usually baking when her husband comes downstairs telling her he wants a divorce. He’s fallen in love with someone else. What is Natalie supposed to do? Why pelt him with muffins is a great idea.
Natalie has a successful bakery/cafe business, a beautiful 11year old daughter, and a 14 year marriage until today when her husband told her he was in love with someone else.
It takes months for Natalie to find the normal in her life. Her husband moved in with his girlfriend, her daughter is confused and sad by her now broken family, and her crazy sister has decided she needs to move in and help out for a while.
During this new normal Natalie decides it’s time to not put her self last any longer and to start thinking of mental and physical well being. She starts working out and eating healthier and gains confidence.
With this mew confidence comes the belief that she should expand her business and rent the space for lease next door. But her landlord sees it differently. He thinks they cannot afford additional lease and updates they would need to do to the space.
Sparks and smoke fly between Anthony the landlord and Natalie. Is the telling the truth, will my business really fail if we expand before we can afford it. Is Anthony looking out for Natalie and her well being. Does her really care for Natalie like her husband never did.
Read this book to laugh and cry with Natalie and her posse as she finds REAL Love from a GOOD man!
October 10, 2022
3.75 stars
This was a great story about a women finding herself and true love after divorcing her cheating husband.
Just need to say this I highly loath Peter and I am glad he stayed his consistent jerk self throughout the book.
I absolutely adored Anthony and Natalie intense love/hate relationship even before it was romantic; these two did not have the best meet cute. If I’m being honest I wasn’t a fan of Natalie in the beginning, she felt so judgmental and bitter (even before Peter’s antics), however, I did like her more throughout the book even though I did dislike her again with the cockamamy excuse of decision she made for her daughter. Anthony got on my nerves too because he was a very intelligent man with the bedside manner of pissed off bee.
Natalie finally found her happiness and her true self, but she was quick to dismantle it for her daughter. Now it must be stated that her daughter knew that her father cheated on her mother and proposed to Lena; yet she was so happy to have him back especially with the move that Peter made at the end. However, Natalie had many opportunities to explain the truth to her daughter especially since they saw how miserable she was.
Honestly, thanks to Anthony, Blair (Natalie’s bestie/bakery partner) and Lindsay (Natalie’s little sister) because they made this book enjoyable and gave Natalie the truth even when she adamant to be miserable to make her daughter happy.
This book was quite long and I did end up skipping passages that felt repetitive and unnecessary.
I am intrigued to read Blair’s book because her story sounds interesting especially with a location roaming husband named Road.
This was a great story about a women finding herself and true love after divorcing her cheating husband.
Just need to say this I highly loath Peter and I am glad he stayed his consistent jerk self throughout the book.
I absolutely adored Anthony and Natalie intense love/hate relationship even before it was romantic; these two did not have the best meet cute. If I’m being honest I wasn’t a fan of Natalie in the beginning, she felt so judgmental and bitter (even before Peter’s antics), however, I did like her more throughout the book even though I did dislike her again with the cockamamy excuse of decision she made for her daughter. Anthony got on my nerves too because he was a very intelligent man with the bedside manner of pissed off bee.
Natalie finally found her happiness and her true self, but she was quick to dismantle it for her daughter. Now it must be stated that her daughter knew that her father cheated on her mother and proposed to Lena; yet she was so happy to have him back especially with the move that Peter made at the end. However, Natalie had many opportunities to explain the truth to her daughter especially since they saw how miserable she was.
Honestly, thanks to Anthony, Blair (Natalie’s bestie/bakery partner) and Lindsay (Natalie’s little sister) because they made this book enjoyable and gave Natalie the truth even when she adamant to be miserable to make her daughter happy.
This book was quite long and I did end up skipping passages that felt repetitive and unnecessary.
I am intrigued to read Blair’s book because her story sounds interesting especially with a location roaming husband named Road.
June 28, 2021
Sweet and funny
I enjoyed this book so much! Natalie's husband of 14 years decides he wants to get a divorce and that's he's in love with another woman. I have to say her husband was a selfish manipulative asshole with no redeeming qualities at all. It was frustrating at first with how quickly she would give in to his demands even when he was clearly overstepping. I almost stopped reading a couple times because of how annoying their interactions were. However to give the author credit she showed glimpses of how dirty divorces can get.
I'm glad I stuck with it because I got to read how she changed her life in positive ways. I got to read about her overcoming her insecurities and becoming a confident woman. She started off rocky but she got past something that could have easily broke her.
When she meets Anthony they started off on the wrong foot. She finds him attractive, charming and not someone she wants to be attracted to. She fights it but she soon learns that he's much more then his looks and they actually have way more in common then what they expected. Their interactions were cute, funny and at times deep. They both struggled with letting people in and had their own personal hangups. Again I'm so glad I read it to the end and I'm looking forward to reading the next book
I enjoyed this book so much! Natalie's husband of 14 years decides he wants to get a divorce and that's he's in love with another woman. I have to say her husband was a selfish manipulative asshole with no redeeming qualities at all. It was frustrating at first with how quickly she would give in to his demands even when he was clearly overstepping. I almost stopped reading a couple times because of how annoying their interactions were. However to give the author credit she showed glimpses of how dirty divorces can get.
I'm glad I stuck with it because I got to read how she changed her life in positive ways. I got to read about her overcoming her insecurities and becoming a confident woman. She started off rocky but she got past something that could have easily broke her.
When she meets Anthony they started off on the wrong foot. She finds him attractive, charming and not someone she wants to be attracted to. She fights it but she soon learns that he's much more then his looks and they actually have way more in common then what they expected. Their interactions were cute, funny and at times deep. They both struggled with letting people in and had their own personal hangups. Again I'm so glad I read it to the end and I'm looking forward to reading the next book
June 14, 2021
The trouble with love
Natalie gets dumped by her husband Peter when he takes up with another woman. Natalie survives, though barely. She's so tied up in her bakery business she hadn't noticed the demise of their marriage.
She's a whiz at churning out sweet delicacies for the bakery and wants to expand the business. Enter, her extremely good-looking, geeky landlord, Anthony. Trying times expand exponentially.
Astronomer, professor, studier of black holes and big-bang related sciencey stuff, he's soon drawn to other holes he'd rather study.
He's a hot Italian, speaks Italian romantically and makes love like a Romeo. He's also an analytical mathematician who follows formulas to make decisions about his life. That angers and confuses her beyond all else when he refuses to lease her additional space for the bakery.
This love story is set in Seattle with a little break or two in Rome. Italian family references add twists and turns that will keep Natalie and Anthony twisting and turning.
For being a geek, Anthony is a very understanding person, a real catch, a sweet lover. Natalie recovers from years of emotional abuse by Peter and develops self-worth and dignity through the support of Anthony and friends.
Natalie gets dumped by her husband Peter when he takes up with another woman. Natalie survives, though barely. She's so tied up in her bakery business she hadn't noticed the demise of their marriage.
She's a whiz at churning out sweet delicacies for the bakery and wants to expand the business. Enter, her extremely good-looking, geeky landlord, Anthony. Trying times expand exponentially.
Astronomer, professor, studier of black holes and big-bang related sciencey stuff, he's soon drawn to other holes he'd rather study.
He's a hot Italian, speaks Italian romantically and makes love like a Romeo. He's also an analytical mathematician who follows formulas to make decisions about his life. That angers and confuses her beyond all else when he refuses to lease her additional space for the bakery.
This love story is set in Seattle with a little break or two in Rome. Italian family references add twists and turns that will keep Natalie and Anthony twisting and turning.
For being a geek, Anthony is a very understanding person, a real catch, a sweet lover. Natalie recovers from years of emotional abuse by Peter and develops self-worth and dignity through the support of Anthony and friends.
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