Welcome To Bliss, the Bridal Capitol of the Midwest! Natalie Castellano practically has it all—beauty, brains, and a stellar reputation. Because childbearing hips and exhaustion lines are totally sexy. And knowing when to let go of her family’s failing bridal boutique is smart…right? Plus, who doesn’t want to be that divorced mother in Bliss?With all she has going for her, it would be selfish to … has going for her, it would be selfish to secretly wish for love too. Who needs it? Definitely not Nat. But perhaps she does need to take her wedding dress-obsessed little boy somewhere else for a fresh start.
CJ Blue is on top of the world. At least, he was last week when he stood on the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. Now, he’s in an empty confessional, hiding from the hullabaloo of a family wedding. Aka the depths of hell.
His meddling relatives want to poke at the deep psychological wounds he supposedly bears from being a twenty-something widower. But he doesn’t want to talk, he doesn’t want to be fussed over, and he certainly doesn’t want another chance to fail at love. He just wants to get through this wedding and back to his adventurous life.
But when a dark-haired, wounded-eye beauty invades his sanctuary and whispers a secret he was never supposed to know, he gets swept up in her life. Is he brave enough to tackle the adventure of life in Bliss, or will he walk away from the only woman in the world who could offer him love, forgiveness, and a second chance?
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY STARRED REVIEW: “Farrell marries warmth with tongue-in-cheek wit in this marvelous romantic comedy…Natalie and CJ’s journey toward love, filled with scenes of high hilarity and vivid emotion, resonates with warmth and realism. A cast of quirky characters adds just the perfect touch to a heartwarming comedy of errors.”
Note: BLISSED was previously published as THE HUSBAND GAMES.
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“Blissed” was an amusing small town, slow burn romance between divorced single mom Natalie Castellano and widower CJ Blue. Natalie and CJ were both incredibly likeable, relatable characters, and I enjoyed their fiery chemistry and witty banter. They seemed like complete opposites at first but ended up having so much more in common than either one of them ever could have expected. I loved seeing them come together as a family with Natalie’s adorable young son, Noah.
The book’s secondary characters were also a ton of fun and added a tremendous amount of depth and humor to the narrative. Marilyn, aka the Queen General, was pretty over the top at times as the story’s “villain,” and I couldn’t wait for Natalie to finally stand up to her. I wasn’t particularly a fan of Natalie’s dad, either. He kept telling her that she needed to grow up, but it seemed to me that she was handling most things more maturely than he was. After all, he was the one who kept throwing temper tantrums and running off to his cabin to sulk when he didn’t get his way! Natalie’s sister Lindsey and their friend Kimmie were pretty great, however. I’m looking forward to reading their stories later in the series.
Overall, I really enjoyed “Blissed” and would recommend it for all contemporary romance and romantic comedy fans. I look forward to continuing with the series.
*Review copy provided by the author/publisher via Give Me Books Promotions. All opinions expressed are my own.
I love a good RomCom and this didn’t disappoint!
She-Who-Shall-not-be-defied has poor Natalie in a tizz. I must admit I would NOT be as diplomatic – I’d have whacked her a good oneg LOOOOOONG before she got her just desserts. Meeting the Blue family and learning all their names was a hoot. No wonder CJ goes but his initials! A certain cutie stole the show, especially when he’s charming customers in the shop.
I did feel that Natalie was by turns awesome and her own worst enemy. She just kept caving every time I thought “this is it, she’s gonna give them what for!” The Queen General was just so odious I really didn’t know how she could or would redeem herself. I really wanted to throttle Natalie and Lindsay’s dad – yes he lost his wife but he then checked out and had no interest in his business and had the audacity to blame Nat for all their problems!
Well worth a read and I’ve put the rest of the series on my seriously out of control TBR list.
CJ and Natalie history started a kiss that changed her life. CJ has spent his time running and hiding from his true feelings. Their connection was there, but it took a while to develop. They brought out the best in each.”Until you’re willing to fight for yourself, no one else will either.”
The other characters added flavour to this book. It is not a Pippa book like I have come to like.
Blurb:
Welcome To Bliss, the Bridal Capital of the Midwest!
Single mom Natalie Castellano isn’t feeling so blissful these days…
Natalie’s made a career out of screwing up all over her hometown. But it’s redemption time, and she’s putting on her big girl panties to make sure this year’s bridal festival goes off without a hitch. Even if it means she has to play nice with the man who broke her fairy tale.
She’s definitely not the one for him. Or is she…
World adventurer and reluctant local hero CJ Blue doesn’t want to be in Bliss anymore than Natalie wants him here. But family obligations have brought him back, and now, and now he’s somehow been roped into saving the town tradition he’d rather forget with the woman whose kiss he can’t forget. She frustrates him and drives him nuts but he’s had more fun giving her a hard time about the bridal festival than he has in years.
And their fun is just starting…
Despite their rocky past, these two wounded souls have more in common than they expect. They’ve both loved and lost, they’ve both tried to move on, and now they’ve both been been banned from the local church confessional after…well, they’re not supposed to talk about it. But by joining forces for the sake of Bliss, they might find the courage and the sparks to risk love one more time.
Natalie Castalnano has spent the last 5 years wallowing in the errors of her past, the town of Bliss took every opportunity to knock her down too. CJ Blue is a widower who blames himself for the loss of his wife. CJ and Natalie both struggle with their personal grief. Once they forgive themselves, their love story warms your soul.
Blissed
Misfit Brides, Book 1
By: Jamie Farrell
Narrated by: Karen White
Come to Bliss, it’s the happily ever after you have been waiting to go to! At least that is how it is portrayed! Jamie Farrell writes a humorous romance that will have you laughing out loud and wondering just what is going to happen. Natalie is divorced with a son, and runs her parents’ bridal shop. She is also now in charge of the annual Husband Games and is determined to make it the best in memory of her mother. Not looking for a relationship, she sees CJ, the last person she wants to meet. The reason for her divorce, at least in her mind, she wants nothing to do with him. Until she does. These two have witty banter, funny situations and will have you wanting to visit the town just to see the happily ever after! It’s a blast. And Noah…what a kid! Give this one a listen, your heart will be happy.
Narrated by the talents of Karen White, each voice purposefully fits every character. She has a knack for matching them perfectly, and her comedic timing is spot on. It’s a fun, easy listen and she makes it complete entertainment!
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This is the first book in the Misfit Brides Series. Natalie and CJ’s story is fun, original, emotional, and heartwarming. They are perfect together. Noah, Natalie’s four year old son, is such a smart and cute kid. The supporting characters are great. Karen White did a fantastic job with the narration. I enjoyed it. Looking forward to listen to Matched, the next book in the Series.
What an interesting world! This is Bliss, the capital of weddings and married people. Heaven forbid you’re divorced like Nat, who is then ostracized even though she’s given her all on the “Aisle”, or the premiere shopping strip of Bliss. She’s using all her spare time to help the town prepare for their biggest event but she’s foiled and bullied a lot by the Queen General (QG) of the town, who hates that she has such a standing in the town even though she was divorced. Enter CJ, who Nat blames initially for her divorce because during one of the events of Bliss, he kissed her (part of a “do you know who your wife is” game) and her husband left her.
I have to say, it took me a lot to warm up to Nat. She is a bit of a shrew and a doormat in the beginning. CJ is pretty cool and I love his family. The QG just should have been slapped. Nat’s father was annoying some of the time. Nat’s sister and friend, Kimmie were fun (I assume their books are in this series). But the quirkiness that this author is known for was missing initially. She write quirky but strong female characters usually and I didn’t feel like Nat was one of them. After we hit about 60% of the book, then Nat came into her own. She owned her positive attributes and while she and CJ had to navigate their relationship, there were smiles, laughs and tears as the story progressed. So a slower start but still, ultimately enjoyable and I look forward to coming back to Bliss.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Karen White and she did really really well playing all the different characters! I really enjoyed her narration.
Are we sure Jamie is Pippa Grant? Besides some silliness, this doesn’t feel like a Pippa book at all. The town’s obsession with weddings is nauseating. But that’s a personal preference. So much is said about Marilyn, but yet no one talks about awful every man in this book is. CJ is the worst of all. Having sisters does not make him an expert on women. (How many sisters does he have again? Oh right! 11. It was mentioned so many times, I’ll remember it till I take my last breath.) Because CJ is super sexist. He’s constantly making assumptions and judgements. And he keeps calling Natalie a nutjob. Are you kidding me?
I just didn’t feel a connection to this story. Eventually I warmed up to Natalie, but she could’ve done way better than CJ. That whole town is deranged. The book had it’s fun moments. But it also made me angry half the time, too. Also, mental swears should never count. That’s so ridiculous.
Enjoyed this story. There is much drama but it is well balanced with humor and romance. The plot has bite and heartbreaking angst. Excellent read. Good addition to your TBR list.
There are so many things to like about this book. I would have picked tear-jerker as an option, but I didn’t want to turn anyone off. There is one section at the end (I don’t like spoilers) but it is with Nat and her Dad and well, what the Dad said got me good. This is a wonderful, creative story and a romantic’s perfect setting.
This one was about CJ Blue and Natalie. She’s the token divorcee in a town devoted to bridal bliss. He’s a widower running away from himself, seeking adventure to stay alive. When the meet it’s not easy but she just might give him everything he needs.
I have been reading Pippa Grant’s books for a while and when I learned that Jamie Farrell and Pippa are the same I knew I had to read these books also. This is the first book in the Misfit Brides series, but can be read as a stand alone.
Natalie is s single mom who is stronger than she believes she is. CJ has been running from guilt and grief. They are exactly what the other needs to move forward in their own growth and to get their HEA. And their physical chemistry is amazing, leaping off the page.
This book sets up the series in the town of Bliss. There is a broad cast of zany characters that are interconnected. This story has humor, heart, wonderful characters and a cool location- everything I have come to expect from this author. I am looking forward to binge reading this series and reading the stories of some of the other characters introduced in this book.
Jamie Farrell is a newish author to me, turns out she’s also Pippa Grant. Now that she’s public with that information I’m trying to read all her Jamie books. This was such a fun book and so different from Pippa’s writing even though they are the same people! I loved the town of Bliss, the characters are one of a kind (very pippaish) CJ was a unique character in himself, the town has some interesting “rules” and celebrations. And you can’t help but want to reach through the book and hug Nat! Can’t wait to dive in to book 2
Wow, what an emotional roller coaster. It probably didn’t help that I read this on Mother’s Day and I lost my Mother 12 years ago. Natalie is struggling with the loss of her Mom, it’s been 6 months and she is trying to carry on in her footsteps, fulfilling her Mom’s last project. The Golden Husband Games for Bliss. Of course, Natalie hasn’t had an easy road. She is a divorcee in the “Most Married-est Town” so the Queen General makes it her mission to make her life miserable, ensuring she feels like an outcast. The hard part is that all Natalie has ever dreamed about doing is following her in Mother’s footsteps as Chair of the Husband Games committee so this just leads Natalie to feeling like a complete an utter failure. CJ Blue is a past winner of the Husband Games and is now a revered widower after his wife died serving in the Air Force. Sadly, CJ is lost, seeking crazy adventures around the world trying to bury his guilt for the struggles in his marriage, he feels responsible for Serena going to war and losing her life. CJ and Natalie had a moment at that infamous Husband Games 5 years ago and it became the final straw sending her husband away for good. When they cross paths again, Natalie just sees CJ as the destroyer of his marriage. CJ finds a strong, independent, courageous woman that scares the crap out of him. This road they go down to find themselves and maybe a relationship is rocky, bumpy and charming. Factor in 4 year old Noah, Natalie’s son and scene stealer, well, and I don’t know how anyone would be able to resist. Along the way we meet a strong cast of characters that are there to support Natalie and CJ giving this story amazing depth. I truly enjoyed my afternoon buried in Blissed and am still shocked that a mother would name all 13 children after spices. Crazy!
This was the first book I read by Ms. Farrell and I cannot wait to read the rest of the Misfit Brides series. Bliss is the most-married town around. Natalie, a divorced woman with a little boy, should not be there. But the annual bridal festival must go on and the man who broke her heart is back to play. The local hero who lost his wife in the war will be competing and when the sparks fly again between Natalie and CJ, will they be willing to risk their hearts again? Natalie cannot think of herself this time, she has little Noah to think about also.
A fantastic and fun read. The town is totally wackadoo, and I would never want to actually go there in real life, but reading about it was great. I enjoyed the premise and found myself really rooting for Natalie as she struggled to deal with being a divorced woman working on the Aisle in a town that is all about weddings. CJ’s sisters are a hoot! I hope there is more to come from them in future books in this series.
Bliss is a small town with a (tacky) wedding gimmick – marital bliss. Divorced single mom Natalie is trying to keep her late-mother’s family business going, while being bullied by the “Queen General” of Bliss, Marilyn, who deems Natalie does not fit in the town.
At CJ’s sister’s wedding Natalie again meets CJ, the man whom she has irrationally blamed for her divorce. CJ married his late wife in Bliss and is asked to participate in the husband games, which had been Natalie’s mother’s brain child. She is told by the Queen to keep away from CJ.
Through much of the book this reader was wishing Natalie would get a spine. How can an intelligent, talented woman let herself be pushed around?
Many characters have their idiosyncracies, which adds to the humor. Overall a well-written, light-hearted read.
sometimes I just wanted to slap them both and say get over yourselves!
Pretty over the top about weddings- I couldn’t get into it and stopped reading early on.
This was a fun read. The story was light, and I enjoyed the characters and plot.