She’s my sun and moon.My stars, my air, my sunshine.She’s every heartbeat.There are two kinds of women in the world – those I can bang, and those I can’t.My teammate’s sister?She’s a can’t.I moved in with her to protect her from a nasty ex, not to be the next guy in line.She’s the brains.I’m the brawn.She’s the fruit.I’m the sausage.She talks too much.I don’t talk at all, if I don’t have to.… the fruit.
I’m the sausage.
She talks too much.
I don’t talk at all, if I don’t have to.
Should be easy to resist her.
But every minute I spend with Felicity is another minute she gets under my skin. She makes me feel like something more than a dumb puckhead with a big Zamboni pony. And it’s getting harder to remember why I need to keep my hands to myself.
Beauty and the Beefcake is a vegan-friendly standalone romantic comedy featuring a hockey player whose vocabulary is the only thing smaller than a hockey puck, a book smart but aimless ventriloquist with too many voices in her head, a dilapidated old house that may or may not be haunted, and no cheating or cliffhangers.
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Oh Ares! He is definitely the strong, silent type. There’s no reason to waste words. I wish more people would only talk when they had something important to say. If you’ve read anything by this author and liked it then you will enjoy this. She still brings all the funny.
Felicity does not have good luck when it comes to the men in her life, the ones she takes a chance on all end up being jerks. Now she is moving back into her grandmothers home and trying to keep it under the radar from her brother. The plan should have worked until pornographic cookies ended up blessing her yard and his hockey co-worker needs a place to stay. Now Felicity finds herself rooming with the quiet Ares and they could not be more opposite. She is a talker, he is not. The attraction is undeniable can these two find their happily ever after?
This was fun, had some really humorous moments. Liked this couple and thought the pacing in the story was good. Pure entertainment.
I get that Ares is supposed to be deep but his sending gifs to communicate in a way that people have to decipher…head scratcher. I liked Felicity though and the way the author brought their story together is great. Very funny and I loved the puppets and monkey!
This is such a sweet story. Ares and Felicity are two people who are never really *seen* beyond “the dumb jock” and “the directionless genius.” It was so fun to watch them discover each other and be truly *seen* for the first time.
There’s a lot of wacky humor, but there is also genuine connection….goofiness and vulnerability are both handled well.
Ares finds his voice and love….
Pippa delivers again!!! The twins fascinated from the first, but there is something extra special about Ares. I adore him! And Felicity!! OMG! I laughed, I cried, I drooled, I…well, that might be TMI…needless to say, you need to read this book!! If you love voice-throwing, multiple personality, smart, sassy, nice chatterboxes, tall, sexy, silent, gruff, sweet, hockey playing men of few words, and one poo-flinging, finger-giving emotional support monkey, this is the book for you!
Ares is one of the best characters ever, just like his brother Zeus, who is also awesome! But Ares is wonderful in a different way. Big, quiet, underestimated but watches & knows everything! Did I also mention hot, sigh, love the Berger brothers. Ares is playing for the Thrusters now (hilarious name) with Prince Manning. It’s at Manning’s apartment that we first meet Felicity, Murphy’s sister. A bunch of people are sitting around eating and Ares has Manning’s betrothed’s emotional support monkey. She demands the monkey back & we are introduced to Felicity’s skills as a ventriloquist. It’s laugh out loud hilarious! That’s one of the things I love about Pippa’s books, she can make you laugh with her writing. Ares moves in with Felicity as a favor to her brother Nick. She’s got a crazy ex & he’s worried about her safety. Both characters have been through so much & have worked so hard for what they love. I’m really not doing this book justice, it’s so good & one of my favorites! I highly recommend it.
Pippa does it again! Only Pippa would pair a huge, adorable hunk of a man who speaks simply with grunts and gifs with a ventriloquist who never quits talking. Ares had a problem with his hearing that was undiscovered by his parents until he was six. Since he was such a large man and never spoke much, people thought him stupid and so did he. In his mind, he was good only for playing hockey. No one ever tried to look into his heart to see the real Ares. Felicity is eccentric and a great ventriloquist who hides behind her puppets. She attracts the worst men (including her stalker ex), has several degrees and cannot figure out her place in life. But she sees the heart of Ares and he sees the confusion in her soul. With Felicity living and breathing hockey, this is a match made in hockey heaven. Once again as in all of Pippa’s books, there is much laughter as well as a lot of tears. It is both a steamy, sexy romp and a story that will warm your heart and soul. Keep these magical wonders coming Pippa!
I laughed so many times while reading this book, I know I got dirty looks! BatB was hilarious, romantic and just a wonderful read! Ares is the perfect growls, grunty, bearded hero. And can we talk about Loki the monkey? HOLLERED!!
A hockey player who plays stupid and mute very well until he meets Felicity. Felicity is exceptionally smart, has loads of degrees, great friends and her favourite hobby – ventriloquism.
Throw in a monkey, donkey, cookies, stalking exes, Gammy’s ghost and the sublime crazy genius of Pippa Grant.
You will laugh, snort, hurt your stomach laughing through this book. And swoon, that Ares is one steamy fella ;). He’s also more underneath his facade. Loved the hours I spent getting to know him.
I couldn’t wait to get to this book. I’ve been intrigued by Ares from the very beginning. I mean, he’s a man of many words and the dude never shuts up. Heh, just kidding, he pretty much communicates in grunts and gifs. So adorable. He kills me that he loves to sign boy band songs. See, adorable. Felicity has her quirks too and I love how she is with Ares. Both of these characters are so much more than what people believe they are. They both have great big hearts. Another funny and entertaining story.
Book Review: Beauty and the Beefcake
Author: Pippa Grant
FIVE STARS
OK OK I know I have said it before but OMG so funny. This is a stellar book. Felicity Murphy is a super smart and pretty woman, who is currently working on her fourth, maybe fifth degree. Hoping to find something in her life that makes her come alive. Nothing has really stuck, fortunately for her she is a wiz at schooling.
Ares Berger. This man has me swooning at his fictional feet. Wow, The Force on the ice and the strong, silent, teddy bear type off the ice. Not one to be taken for granted despite his lack of verbal communication. It’s not that he can’t talk, he just chooses not to.
Felicity has just gotten out of yet another bad relationship and Ares has just been injured in a Hockey game. Nick, Felicity’s brother, has dropped Ares off for Felicity to keep an eye on and to hopefully get him to take it easy so that he can get back on the ice.
Needless to say Felicity and Ares become oh so much more.
Steamy book!! The ways that Ares finds to communicate with Felicity and make her see what he wants and desires…. This book is AHHHHMMMAAAZZZIINNNGGGG.
I NEED MORE!!!
PIPPA GRANT YOU ROCK!
KH
If you haven’t read Pippa Grant, you should!! Loved this whole series, but Ares is my favorite!! A great story with great characters!
It was turning my brain to mush I couldn’t force myself to finish it
This was my first read of the emotional support monkey, I mean Pippa Grant, and I can honestly say it won’t be the last. I loved every moment of Beauty and the Beefcake, from the chapter titled “Ares (aka an ape who just wants to get back on the ice) Grunt” to meeting Loki, the emotional support monkey, along with Felicity who may be one of my favorite characters ever. It might have something to do with her never ending need to fill silence with her many voices and along with her passion for finding the perfect job (hello kettle meet black), I’m just saying she’s amazing that’s all.
Felicity Murphy never stops talking, she has a very good reason for this, mostly. She’s a ventriloquist and even when she doesn’t have a puppet attached to her hand she’s always practicing; on monkey’s, on inanimate objects, on nothing in particular…okay, you get the point. Anyway, Felicity has a problem, actually she has several problems, abundant talking is just one of them. Horrible choices in men might happen to be another, along with job stability and her spririal Gammy, but who’s counting? She has bigger things to worry about like her new roommate. Like a huge, super giant, colossal man of a thing new roommate, Ares Berger.
“I’m a freak. A not-normal, talking to herself, career-floating, dick-magnet freak.”
Ares Berger hardly says two words in a single day and that’s on a good day. He skates, he eats, he plays hockey, he sleeps–repeat. He doesn’t need to recite a sonnet to do any of the above. Does he need an emotional support monkey or does the emotional support monkey need him? Oooooh, I’ve intrigued you I can tell. A giant of a man who has a monkey and not the one that lives in his pants, but a real monkey. (Yes, the jokes are there and they are amazing, trust me.) Moving in with his teammates sister when he injured his ankle wasn’t exactly on his to do list, but he didn’t exactly put up a fight when Nick dropped him off there either.
“There’s way more to Ares than the world give him credit for.”
Ares is a giant of a man who is often overlooked for his hulking size and he’s grown accustomed to letting people do just that. Felicity has a huge IQ, but has terrible taste in men. With these two living under the same roof they have nowhere to hide. For the first time they are exposed and their mysteries may be uncovered, but will they like what each other finds?
“Just because he’s injured and protective and more than a little mysterious, plus solid muscle, doesn’t mean I’m interested.”
Beauty and the Beefcake is a standalone, but also part of a bigger, puckier world that Pippa created. I loved joining the wonderful world she created and look forward to catching up on everything Pippa very soon.
Loved the whole series
Oh Ares somehow I just knew that this big giant grunting gif sending man with a monkey was gonna put everyone else to shame in the books I have read of Pippa’s so far and I was right!!! He is just that big ol teddy bear that needs some love but will protect you with everything he has. And I you have to watch those silent ones because their silence speaks volumes. And all he was waiting on was a woman who talks all the time like Felicity. Well I mean she did have a million different voices going off all the time….lol ok not a million but talking for some dummies she has different voices and she does talk a lot. So she’s actually quite perfect for Ares plus the fact she looks beyond the fact of what all he is and tries to get to know him for who he is. And when they touch sparks fly. But Ares has her in a no-touch box because she’s a teammates sister. She’s trying to put him in a no touch box because he’s a hockey player and they usually don’t make good boyfriends and it’s her brothers friend. And then there’s Loki always throwing stuff at her. So with a crazy monkey always messing up good kisses. A crazy ex boyfriend stalking her. Living in a haunted (Grammys) house. Will Ares and Felicity ever find there way to each other? And don’t forget the wayyyyyy overprotective brother.
I loved this book so hard y’all!! This one is my favorite one so far!! Ares has reached the #1 Spot!!!! He’s captured my heart with his grunts and crazy one word answers that makes no sense at all but at the same time makes complete sense. I love all the secondary characters in this book even the puppets(lol). Everything came together to make the perfect book!! I highly highly recommend this book!! – By Tina
I have never experienced a book hangover before, and this time I have!!! I wanted more!!! I wanted more Ares! I wanted more Ares and Felicity!!! I LOVED IT!!!
I loved the storyline, how it flowed, how it all came together, how much Felicity hated having to babysit Ares, how much Ares grunted throughout the book, and most of all Chapter 3 was the best chapter I’ve ever read in a book. HANDS DOWN, THE BEST EVER!!!! I literally choked on a donut while I was reading it!!!
There were so many great lines from this book too. I love the humour Pippa puts into each and every book she writes. Don’t ever change Pippa!! Keep that laughs with the romance coming!! I loved Ares’ story, and wish it could have just kept going with their story. I really enjoyed it from Felicity’s view too. Yes she does talk more than Ares, I think everyone does, but her POV on it was so great!!!! SERIOUSLY YOU NEED TO READ THIS BOOK!! This is a 5 Must Read!!!
I loved this book!!!
At first glance, this book is filled with possibly psychotic women who talk to themselves and empty headed hockey players that may or may not have stolen a monkey. But it is so much more than that. Ok, yes it is filled with craziness that sometimes had my head spinning trying to catch up with what was going on. Between Felicity the ventriloquist who doesn’t like the quiet so vents when she’s nervous or to fill the silence, and Ares the grunting hockey player that tries to keep everyone out by letting them think he’s an idiot, I was caught up in the world that Pippa Grant created.
Ares Berger had my heart from the first “moo” he said to confuse people. He walked in with a hurt ankle, and all he wanted to do was get back onto the ice. His teammate, Felicity’s brother, asked him to watch his sister. So he puts Felicity firmly in the “can’t touch” category even if he wants to. But all he knows is hockey and how to keep people out of his heart. So as much as his heart and his head are screaming that Felicity is his, he does his best to keep her far away from his monkey. *wink wink*
Felicity has sworn off guys because she has a tendency to choose the worst men. And then her brother, the goalie for the hockey team Ares plays on, sends them thousands of cookies with dicks on them. Yes, this was actually in the book. Do you see why I was cracking up the whole time? In between working to becoming a PT, venting at a comedy club on the weekends occasionally, and dealing with Gammy’s ghost, her mind and her heart are going a little crazy with Ares Berger living with her. And the more she gets to know him, the more she wants to know his monkey.
Felicity and Ares have more in common than they originally believe. And with Felicity feeling the need to fill the silence, she becomes attuned to Ares’ thoughts. With a grunt, she can tell what he wants to say. It becomes dangerous to both of their libidos and their hearts. Felicity starts to understand the silence, but she also sees Ares for more than the grunting oaf who says random things to throw people off. And Ares begins to see Felicity, and understand she has no idea what she’s doing with her life, despite having a high IQ and four degrees.
I loved these two so much. I’m not sure if it was because of the craziness or despite it, but I loved so much of this book. As my first Pippa Grant book, it was certainly a good one! I was smiling and laughing the whole time! Even when Gammy’s ghost freaked me out. The only reason I gave this 4 instead of 5 stars, was because sometimes the venting confused the hell out of me. But that’s totally me and my head not being able to keep up sometimes, with the voices and names.
4.5 Stars
I’ve read all of Pippa’s books and enjoyed them. I wondered how on earth she would write Ares’ story. Ares has appeared in prior books as this grunting, 350 pound of muscle hockey god. The few times he would speak, it would be in non sequiturs. While he doesn’t speak much in this book, the story goes back and forth between his and Felicity’s perspectives. As you hear his internal dialogue, you learn that he may be have an intimidating exterior, you learn that he is really a gentle giant. There were several points in the story where my eyes started to tear up (damn allergies! I’m not crying, your crying!). The only thing that was a little annoying for me (hence the 4.5 over a 5 rating), was the Felicity’s ventriloquism/multiple personality aspect of the story. She bounces back and forth between characters, and it is a little difficult to keep up with the character changes. That is a minor quibble, however. So looking forward to the next book.