Aiden Winchester: Call it self-preservation, but I need to get out of Hollywood. My heart’s just been shredded by my longtime girlfriend. Worse yet, we have to pretend we’re still America’s sweethearts until after our next picture is released. With the next six months looking more like American Horror Story than a Lifetime channel love story, I’m heading east to make my stage debut.Broadway, here … debut.
Broadway, here I come.
Franky Marchesi: I love my close-knit Italian family. I’d probably love them a lot more if they weren’t in my face all the time. So when my best friend begs me to move into her Upper West Side brownstone—rent free—to take care of her new pup whenever she travels, I’d be crazy to say no. But while my living expenses are covered, I still need to make some money if I’m ever going to save enough for college. So with a little luck and no experience, I land a job as a barista at Broadway Beans, a coffee shop in the theater district. But on my first day, I almost kill the hottest guy I’ve ever seen. With a latte. Who knew making over-priced coffee could be so difficult?
It’s a hell of a great way to meet someone though.
A modern-day “Moonstruck,” BROADWAY BEANS is a friends-to-lovers romantic comedy.
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I Read this Blurb when Karen came to do a takeover in BookBistroBlog and it hooked me. Immediately downloaded and started reading and boy I was pleasantly consumed by this feel good, witty, sweet romantic comedy. I loved the wordplay, loved the funny banter and smart writing.
Aiden Winchester is a lonely,frustrated, antsy Hollywood actor who’s stuck in a shirtless role rut and wants to do some meaningful roles. So he heads to NYC to try his luck in a Broadway play.
“I was better than the roles I’d been getting. I just needed a chance to prove it. That wasn’t going to happen jiggling my junk in front of a bunch of horny housewives.”
Francesca Marches is a barista from Benson Hurst, Brooklyn, working in Broadway Beans who accidentally, almost kills him with almond milk. Her hilarious attempts at making fern designs in Coffee which end up looking like penises had me laughing
As is what happens when opposites meet…they attract and how!!
“I’m asking if you care enough about me that I could do something that might hurt you.” “Isn’t that the same thing?”
“No. I’m not asking to hurt you. I’m asking if it’s possible for me to hurt you.”
It was a joy to read the story which wasn’t very off the beaten path but karen writes with lot of intelligence. It wasn’t Cheesy but quirky. NYC setting is always my fave and sharp humor always gets me.
There’s A gossip TV duo -Hal E.Wood with Tatiana who provide the backdrop like a cheesy gossip show – Tea with Hal & Tatiannnaaa This dish will be served hot, hot, hot when we return!”
It was bang on funny and sleazy. I love that extra touch. Very smart karen!!
Add in a dash of Italiano famiglia and I’m a goner
Pick this up for a rollicking fun & sexy read
4.5 stars for Big Bath Tub Suckers
Karen Cimms is a super author. Love all that she writes. Waiting patiently for her next read!!
I am so into this book~ I love the characters and the way they fit together! I recommend people read this book, the author is fabulous and her writing is so engaging~ a definite page turner!
Anytime I start a Karen Cimms book I know I’ll be pulled right in, and hate having to put down her book for any reason. This author has a way of drawing you into her fictional worlds, and fall for her characters hard and fast. Franky and Aiden slipped into my number one spot for this author’s characters. The wit and sarcasm, the push and pull, hot and deliciousness of their relationship left me craving more. I also found myself drinking more lattes than usual too! Definitely a must read!
Format: Kindle Edition
Five Big Apple Stars!
I admit, I will read anything Karen Cimms writes. Twice sometimes, and I’ll still muppetflail at how much I enjoyed the experience. Broadway Beans is no exception!
Karen is a pro at putting together unique characters whom you can’t help but want to know personally. I found myself wanting to be Franky’s best friend and confidant, and I really wanted to get to know her family. Mostly I wanted to be her friend so I could smack her upside the head and let her know how dense she was in regards to Aiden and her attraction to him. Him too. Idiot 🙂
What you need to know is that this is a standalone. No big cliffies to worry about, but I would welcome a continuation of the story if Karen wrote something like that. Like I said, I’ll read anything she writes, including her shopping list.
KAREN CIMMS HAS DONE IT AGAIN WITH BROADWAY BEANS!!! THIS BOOK IS A DEFINATE MUST READ THERE IS GREAT CHEMISTRY BETWEEN AIDEN AND FRANKY.. FRANKY GOT TO KNOW AIDEN AS A REGULAR PERSON BEFORE SHE FOUND OUT THAT HE WAS A FAMOUS MOVIE STAR..IT WAS ALSO NICE THAT SHE DIDN’T CARE THAT HE WAS FAMOUS SHE LIKED HIM FOR HIMSELF NOT FOR BEING A STAR..ALSO THE GOSSIP SHOW DUO WERE FUNNY TO READ ABOUT.. WAY TO GO!!!!
This is a fun story to read. Franky is a spunky girl needing to fly from under her Italian families, sometimes overbearing, wings to emerge from her chrysalis and begin her journey through life. In comes Aiden, a big Hollywood actor wanting to prove his chops on Broadway. It is fun to see how these two give and take while protecting their hearts in this blossoming romantic story. I love how much these two grow as the story progresses.
If you want a wonderful story from an amazing writer, get this and her other books. You won’t be disappointed.
I’ve been a fan of this author from her ‘Of Love and Madness’ series. She broke my heart with Joey and then healed it with a long awaited HEA. This story started out soft and with a lot of laughter, especially with Franky’s family. They were hilarious, down to earth and fun to read. Then she met Aiden, and the fact that she didn’t know he is a movie star, as usual was a big draw for him. Then we have the agent from hell, and the usual b***hy ex, and the big fact lie, and the heartache that followed.
It all worked out in the end, but it was good for me to meet a girl like Franky. She was a hoot. She might have overdone the money part of the story. Girl, don’t reject gifts! Hello.. The duo of Hal and Tatianna, the gossip columnists, was good for my soul. Overall? I love this. The drop of one star? I wanted an epilogue from Aiden and Franky, that covers the wedding ( maybe not), or some years after the wedding.
*ARC given by the author *
Oh my goodness! This book was so totally unexpected. I fell in love with Karen’s writing with her first series, At This Moment, and continued to be a fan with her Calendar Girl series. Both series are full of angst, so I was mentally prepared to have my heart broken, stomped over and mended beautifully, but surprise! This is a sweet and heart felt romance that managed to have me swooning from beginning to end. To say that Aiden Winchester is the perfect book boyfriend is the least I can say. I loved his personality, his values and his innocence. I loved that he remains true to himself, that he is honest, a gentleman and hardworking. And Franky? She has a strong personality and has a lot of self respect, which is something I love in a character. It’s a fairly simple story, an everyday story, not plagued with big mysteries or revelations, just a story anyone can live and I loved it, makes it so relatable. And the cherry on top, the gossip sections were hilarious!. I enjoyed this book immensely, it’s because this kind of books that I love to read romance.
4 Stars
Review by Sasha Kobylinski
Late Night Reviewer
Up All Night w/ Books Blog
There are two things that I am always going to obsess over until the end of time; Broadway shows and love stories. This book made my heart so happy to combine those two in one beautiful book.
You don’t have to love Broadway or even know the first thing about theater life to understand this book. They bring you into the dramatic, over the top and cut-throat world within a couple pages.
Aiden Winchester has gone as high as one can go in Hollywood. He’s reached the top which means that he’s got something that everyone wants. Fed up with the antics that come with life in the famous fast lane, Aiden decides its time for a change. Broadway is his next step and the perfect move for an actor that has done everything else. Wanting to be taken seriously in his craft, Broadway will shape him into a more aware actor and quite possibly a person.
Franky Marchesi is famous…but in her own world. Coming from a large and at times over-bearing family it can appear as if she is always in the spotlight. She would never think about leaving them behind, but she has dreams about creating a life of her own that doesn’t need all the extra people at the moment.
The somewhat perfect opportunity falls into her lap; babysitting her friend’s pet whenever she’s out of town. FInally forced to move out on her own and get a job at the local coffee shop. Here is where two people from two different worlds meet. Aiden and Franky find a playful friendship with each other. Finding differences in each other that intrigue them, the pair grows closer and teach their counterpart about how the other half experiences things. This relationship is sweet. There is no other world that best encompasses the dynamic between these two. They grow together with no hostility, no vengeance, and no anger for the life they got given. It’s beautiful in a way that reminds a reader that there is still some form of innocence in the world.
I loved Cimms writing. She has an amazing comedic writing style that had me giggling my way through this whole novel and trying to hold them in to avoid strange glances in public. The relationship of Aiden and Franky was so pure that I loved seeing them grow together. Broadway Beans is a wonderful coming of age story where both characters are figuring out exactly who they want to be and how they can stand on their own. It’s a slow burn but don’t sleep on it because you think that it won’t get you in the end.
Karen Cimms never disappoints – I loved Broadway Bean! Ms Cimms writes such wonderful, rich, well developed characters that as a reader, you feel like you know. I fell in love with Franky, her spunk and snark were totally relatable. From a very traditional Italian family, she’s doing her best to break out and make her own place in the world. Aiden is a hot AF Hollywood actor at a crossroads in his life and career, looking to prove he’s not just a pretty face. They have amazing chemistry and I just loved their loved journey. You’ll relish feeling every emotion right along with the characters. Oh and I loved the adorably hilarious commentary from Tatianna & Hal E Wood (I could hear all of that commentary in real voices in my head)! My only complaint was that it had to end. If you’re looking for a great love story, I highly recommend Broadway Beans. I can’t wait for her next book. 🙂
I really enjoyed reading Broadway Beans. It was a page turner and good characters. It had a good storyline.
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review
Aiden Winchester is an actor who wants to prove he’s a good actor nor just a nice ass, in his last dozen movies, his wardrobe had consisted of boxers, briefs, low slung jeans, a speedo, a loin cloth and nothing and he thinks he’s worn a shirt a total of three times, but that was for only seconds. He wants to be taken seriously as an actor. Not only that he’s going through a break up with his ex, Adrianna, who he pretends to still be in a relationship with until after their most recent movie comes out which is in several months. He wants out of Hollywood and wants Broadway. Where better to be tested as an actor than on Broadway.
Franky aka Francesca Marchesi is working in her families Italian Market, stocking, cleaning, cooking, slicing meats and cheeses at the deli section, all she wants is to teach Kindergarten. She’s saving every penny to take night classes. Franky’s best friend Erika asks Franky to move in with her to help take care of her Morkie, Clarence while she’s traveling for her job with Big Pharma. Franky agrees after her brother says he’s moving back home with their parent’s home, a three-bedroom apartment with five adults and one bathroom was the final straw. In Manhattan Franky was looking for a job and found a barista job at Broadway Beans she was hired on the spot even with no barista experience. She was put in the grumpy hands of the day manager Dee-Jon, who doesn’t like anyone.
Broadway Bean is the coffee shop that hires Franky even though she has no barista experience. She meets Aiden there on her first day and almost kills him thanks to his allergy to nuts, he asked for coconut milk and she put in Almond milk. A Friendship is started and so much more.
With plot twists and the drama of a large Italian family this book was so entertaining. It was funny and heart-warming all at the same time. There is deceit, greed, humor, heart-break, romance and of course love.
I would definitely recommend this book to everyone I know, also Karen Cimms is being added as one of my “Go To Authors” you know we all have the “Favorites” or “Go To” list, she is added to mine.
Also, I need to say I loved the “Teatime with Tatiana and Hal E. Wood”. I have never laughed so hard as when I was reading those sections, hysterical, I loved it, and I’m glad I am not a celebrity of any kind, the things people do to find out about a celebrity’s life is downright terrifying. I hope I never get like that with my blog and authors. If I do tell me, because I do fangirl on several authors, can’t help it Amazing and Genius are just what I think of people who can write for a living, their imaginations are a beautiful and scary place sometimes, and if they are nice on top of it! FANGIRL over here! Okay back to the book…
I loved this story! The characters were very engaging, I loved the snark of Franky, who is a big marshmallow inside, Aiden is so LA, quite full of himself, without meaning to be. One has just had their heart shattered and the other is looking for the life they want. Neither is looking for romance, so it is a slow burn, starting with friendship. I chuckled quite a bit reading this! This book was a great read, funny, angsy, and hot! Get the latte ready and settle in for a good time! I highly recommend this book!
When I really like a story, reviews go one of two ways for me. I can just easily take notes and jot things down as I go along or I just continuously read and forget all about the note-taking. For Broadway Beans, it’s the latter. My interest was snagged after only a few pages and I just kept going.
Aiden Winchester is an actor and Hollywood royalty who wants to be taken seriously. He sheds a toxic relationship and heads to New York and Broadway. He has a bit of an ego and a little clueless at times, but still very lovable with a very generous heart.
Franky Marchesi comes from a loving albeit overbearing Italian family, but wants to make her own way. She’s snarky, fun and fiercely independent with dreams of becoming a kindergarten teacher. She too has a big, loving heart.
The slow build to their relationship was sweet. The time they spend together and with her family is priceless. Laugh out loud moments made their story so much fun. Even the moments of sadness are tempered with moments of pure bliss. Of course, there’s always trouble lurking because what good love story isn’t without its problems?
With a terrific mix of humor, charm and sensuality, Broadway Beans was the perfect romantic comedy.
Broadway Beans is chock full of as much humor and sweetness as it is drama and swoon. I found myself quickly hooked to Aiden and Franky’s story and devoured this book in one sitting. With everything you’d want in a good movie star romance and more you’re guaranteed to fall in love with these two. Along with the sweet swoony romance you get great banter, some seriously funny moments and that perfect bit of angst to really tug at your heart.
I adored Franky from the start. She’s all sass and smarts making her a ton of fun to read. That along with her sometimes frustrating but loving giant Italian family, especially her Nonna is what really hooked me in the beginning. Aiden is the polar opposite of Franky. Coming from two famous parents and being a movie star in his own right he’s escaping to New York to try his hand at Broadway while Franky is just trying to get enough freedom to finally attend college at 24. Coming from completely different worlds did nothing to stop the perfect chemistry these two have though. The instant sparks become an adorable friendship that soon grows into a deep love. With major hurdles coming at them you’ll be glued to the pages dying to know what’s coming and trust me, it’s worth it.