Bestselling author Staci Hart is back with a brand new romantic comedy and clever spin on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Meet the Bennet brothers, get to know Longbourne, and fall in love in this steamy forbidden romance.Falling in love with a Bennet is not an option.My mother has summoned me home to take my place at Bower Bouquets, and as the heiress, I’m expected to do as I’m told. I’m … do as I’m told. I’m expected to sit by her side as she does her best to decimate the Bennet family and their flower shop, Longbourne. I’m expected to play by her rules, or she’ll ruin me too.
But the day I crash into Marcus Bennet changes everything.
And the kiss seals the deal.
If my mother finds out, I’ll lose everything—my family, my life, my security. Worse, she’ll make sure the Bennets pay for my mistakes.
Falling in love with a Bennet is not an option.
But I might not have a choice.
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4.5 STARS!
As always, Staci holds your attention captive, her lyrical writing making you swoon with every page flip!
A Bower and a Bennet, sworn enemies for eons…
Well, that is until one rainy day when Margaret Bower literally runs into Marcus Bennet. It was the perfect meet-cute moment #sigh. But they soon discover that they can’t be together; and oh my poor heart .
Out of all the Bennet siblings thus far, I’d have to say Marcus is my fave. He’s the caretaker. The one everyone depends on. He’s much more reserved and keeps to himself. So, for him to fall in love is mystical and wonderful all at once.
Margaret ‘Maisie’ Bower lives up to her mother’s expectations. She tries to win her heart and her approval but Evelyn Bower is just a bitter and cruel woman. Maisie soon discovers she will not be weak. She grows a backbone and stands up to her mother, making her own path. I felt for Maisie; and falling love in with Marcus made her brave.
Though the climax of the story–the moment when the drama comes forth–was a bit unnecessary, this story was sweet and whimsical, and tender in all the right places with just the right amount of sass and hilarity added by the Bennet siblings. This family is a unit and I couldn’t get enough of them!
If you need some forbidden love in your life with angst and sweet romantic moments, then Mum’s The Word by Staci Hart is the book for you!
4.5 STARS
A heart-squeezing romance brimming in the forbidden angst of an old family rivalry.
Margaret ‘Maisie’ Bower has been controlled by her mother all her life, manipulated in many ways for Evelyn Bower is a mean, bitter, and spiteful woman who breathes revenge and will not stop until she has made Maisie in her image. But Maisie is sweet. She’s kind and funny, and above all else she is compassionate. She sees the good in everyone, even her witch of a mother, which at times, shows her naivety.
Marcus Bennet has based his life on logic. On reason and numbers. The middle child in the Bennet clan, he is the composed one. The buttoned up, keep-it-all together one. Reserved yet dependable. But underneath those suits lies a wildfire, sparked by the enemy of his family. The same enemy that wishes to destroy Longbourne –the Bennet family flower shop which Marcus has sunk not only his savings into but his loyalty and dedication, too–in a lawsuit headed by Bower Bouquets. Yes, Maisie’s family legacy.
A Bennet can never love a Bower. It’s a curse that has tainted Maisie’s family history for generations. But one rainy day, in the midst of the hustle and bustle of a subway in New York, Maisie literally crashes into Marcus. And it is a meet-cute of epic proportions. Now, let it be said: this is my favorite Bennet Brothers novel. Marcus Bennet stole my heart as quickly as he stole Maisie’s! However, as mentioned before Maisie comes off as naive when it comes to her mother. This ultimately caused a disconnect between myself and Maisie.
Rich, beautifully written, and full of depth, Staci Hart’s gift and mastery of the lyrical writing style is showcased in Mum’s the Word, a well-executed nod to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and the original Bennets.
I am absolutely in love with this series!! Ms. Hart’s talent with words is out of this world. I love the play on flower names in her titles and how relevant they are to each story!
Mum’s the Word is the story of Marcus and Maisie.
A chance meeting, an instant bond and then to find out that the obstacles between the two of them is almost insurmountable.
Marcus has made it his mission to save his family’s business. He will stop at nothing to beat the Bower family in a frivolous lawsuit brought against them. He is the planner, the organizer, the straight-laced business genius.
Maisie has come home to once again be under her mother’s thumb. To dance to her tune and play by her rules. All Maisie wants is to be happy and to contribute something meaningful to the world.
Marcus and Maisie’s chemistry is beautiful to behold and steamy to read. That first kiss between them has got to be one of the most swoony scenes I have read in a long time.
It’s lovely to see the whole Bennet family again! It’s lovely to see the dynamics between all of them and how they stick up for each other!
Another phenomenal story from the talented mind of Staci Hart!! Well done!
NO SPOILERS!
Mum’s the Word was a funny, sexy, and swoon-worthy standalone romantic comedy in the Bennet Brothers series!
I really enjoyed the storyline. The plot was different than expected, and took some turns that I didn’t always like, but I was still very pleased with the end result. And I was especially happy to have finally gotten the answers in regards to the fate of Longbourne.
The characters were the true heart and soul of the story. Marcus Bennet and Maisie Bower were amazing in every way, and I loved them dearly. They were extremely lovable and had wonderful personalities. Marcus and Maisie had instant chemistry together, and while it seemed like their relationship went from zero to sixty in a second flat without much buildup, I still enjoyed how it progressed from beginning to end. Staci Hart endeared me to the entire Bennet family starting in Coming Up Roses (Bennet Brothers Book 1), then in Gilded Lily (Bennet Brothers Book 2), and finally she made me fall in love with them all over again in Mum’s the Word. Seriously, I adored this family and loved them with all of my heart. Marcus and Maisie’s story wasn’t without trials and tribulations, but through it all, they found their happily ever after and I was more than pleased with the outcome.
Mum’s the Word, the entire Bennet family, and the Bennet Brothers series were exceptional and provided endless amounts of humor, drama, and swoon-worthy romance! I absolutely loved the world and characters Staci Hart created in the Bennet Brothers series, and I would highly recommend each and every standalone: Coming Up Roses, Gilded Lily, and of course, Mum’s the Word!
Mum’s The Word is EVERYTHING I wanted in the final book of Staci Hart’s Bennet Brothers series. The story line, the characters, the writing – all of it allowed readers to truly see who Maisie Bower and Marcus Bennet are and why, despite all the obstacles, including their last names, the soulful connection they share from their initial interaction made them both take risks and go all-in in a relationship that would either restore them or destroy them.
I adored Maisie and the progression of her character. It’s clear at the beginning of the story that her self-esteem is lacking due to her mother’s neglect and the hurtful words she uses to put Maisie in her place, but as the book continues, Hart illustrates the growth of Maisie’s backbone and the way she slowly builds herself back up in order to no longer cower at her mother’s condescending comments. She definitely is a work-in-progress – one that will be faced with and put in difficult situations -but Maisie understands the difference between right and wrong and refuses to allow her mother to destroy anyone else, especially the Bennets.
Marcus is a man of principle…a man of morals and he held steadfast to his beliefs as he worked to prevent his family’s business from going under; I appreciated the fact that he valued honesty and total disclosure, and even though there were times where I felt he saw things too narrowly and reacted too quickly in a black and white manner, he’s an amazing manner who understands the value of family and hard work. He doesn’t see Maisie as a Bower, as someone who he detests…he sees her as someone who makes him want things he never thought he would and feel everything that comes with falling in love.
Marcus and Maisie’s connection – it didn’t feel like lust at first sight because it was deeper than their physical attraction. It was at the soul level and Hart built upon it as the story went on. What’s happening between them seems fated…seems necessary to their happiness, to their future, to their existence. And it allows readers to be completely invested in these two characters getting everything they wanted and needed. Marcus and Maisie’s ‘soulful’ bond is illustrated in the way they feel when they’re together, in the intimate moments when they share more than their bodies with each other. To me, there’s nothing sexier than a couple who is connected on every level.
I ADORED Maisie and Marcus’ story – the interactions between Marcus and his brothers/parents; Maisie’s relationship with her father; the contrast of Maisie and Marcus’ family dynamics and how it shaped them; how they changed one another by just being them and found a soul mate who gets them on every level.
Mum’s The Word is definitely one of my most favorite Staci Hart stories!
5 Poison Apples
4.5 ‘Be my equal’ Stars!
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
What a sweet, sweet ending for the Bennet Brothers series! If you still haven’t met these wonderful men and their adorable family, I don’t know what you are waiting for! Staci Hart did a fantastic job with these novels and characters and let me tell you, Marcus and Maisie’s love story was no exception. Get ready to swoon with the delicious sweetness that is Marcus Bennet, his relationship with Maisie and the whole Bennet family!
So, Mum’s the Word is the third and final installment from Staci’s Bennet Brothers series and now it’s time for the oldest Bennet sibling to get his deserved happy ending. Marcus meets Maisie just before a meeting that is about to turn the Bennets life upside down. The spark is instant and cannot be stopped by anything. Or does it? Imagine the surprise for both when they realize Marcus is a Bennet and Maisie is a Bower (the daughter of the enemy). A forbidden attraction starts. Will this love be their salvation or will it be their downfall?
I’d be crazy to let her go. For a moment, there in my arms, I didn’t know if I could.
But I didn’t have a choice.
I believe I’ve mentioned this on every review of this series but it’s true: these novels are sugary sweet in the best possible way. I’ve been excited about Mum’s the Word ever since that tease at the end of Gilded Lily when I realized Marcus was about to fall for Margaret ‘Maisie’ Bower. I am a sucker for forbidden stories and this one was absolutely delightful! I loved Marcus so much, he is so protective of his family and Maisie and he will do everything in his power to save them from the lawsuit Maisie’s mother has against them. These Bennet brothers.. they are just perfection!
It just felt right, exactly as it should be. As if for the first time in many, many years, the stars had aligned, and I was given a perfect moment.
Of course, I loved all the family interactions because Bennets, duh! Need I say more? They are hilarious, sweet and so loving. And Maisie, so different from her vicious mother and exactly like her caring dad, fits right in. This relationship develops quite fast, in a very secretive manner and full of sweetness and some major drama. It’s not easy for Marcus and Maisie to have this beautiful connection but trust me when I say it’s so worth it. I loved them together and their chemistry was a swoon fest I was all over!
It was crazy. Reckless. Illogical.
And I didn’t care. Because I loved her, and that truth became the only one in my life that mattered.
Therefore, I am rating Mum’s the Word with 4.5 STARS because I found it to be a lovely ending for the Bennet Brothers series. I loved all the crew of characters so much and how Staci worked so hard on their love stories and also on the amazing familiar relationship between the Bennet family. Marcus and Maisie were absolutely adorable and their book was so entertaining. I loved every second of it! And don’t worry, Lanie and Jett are both getting stories, just in another series. I cannot wait to read those too! Highly recommend this series!
Staci Hart has completely outdone herself with this series. Every time I read a new Bennet Brother, I think, “It can’t get any better than this…” AND THEN IT DOES. There was so much depth to this story and to every single one of these characters. I was wrapped up from the first word to the last. It’s impossible not to fall in love with not only Marcus and Maisie, but with the entire Bennet family. Romantic comedy gold. 5 stars!
Rate: 4.5 / 5 stars
Oh man…I think I just read my favorite Bennett brother’s story. Marcus was so dreamy omg. From the very first chapter there was just something about him… and something about him and Maisie that was special.
I loved their first meeting… that’s exactly what we call MEET CUTE. And gosh was it super cute! It’s like these two’s souls met when they collided against each other. Everything that came after was shocking, fighting against temptation, fighting for what was right and boy was it emotional some times.
Everything to do with Maisie and her family had me feeling some type of way. Her mother was the devil incarnate and I felt so much for the poor girl who just wanted to be loved by her mother. But I’m glad she soon realized that her family legacy wasn’t worth everything she was being put through by her own blood. Maisie’s parents story also added to my sadness… that man had been in a loveless marriage for year, all for his little girl. That’s love man and it was beautiful to read about their relationship. Maisie might have had a sh*t mother but she had an awesome loving father.
Family isn’t always blood. Marcus helped Maisie learn that and he gave her a big family and a beautiful true love story. These two were just super cute and I loved them to pieces. Getting to see the whole family again and watching them get the success they deserved was amazing. This family is a precious one.
These Bennett Brothers are all kind of special each in their own ways. This series was adorable and I really adored it. It’s centered on family, second chances and falling in love. I can’t wait to read the other two Bennett siblings’ stories. Even though this series is over as of now, there’s still two more Bennett books coming our way that will be crossovers with other Staci series!
The last in the Bennet Brothers series this one is about Marcus the middle brother and the fight to save Longbourne the family’s flower business.
Marcus runs into Maisie in the rain on the street instant connection between them.
When they see each other across the room only to realize they are in the middle of the battle between their families.
Maisie’s mom is awful and her dad is the sweetest,
Great ending to the series.
Audio Review!
I did it! I finally read this book! I had been putting it off cause I knew I was gonna freaking Hate the villain, and I damn if I wasn’t right. I also really just didn’t want to go though the heart ache of the Longborn fam going though all this turmoil with the Law suit.
This book wasn’t at all what I was expecting, I had no idea was gonna fall in love with Maisie and just want to pack her up and get her the hell away from her awful asshole of the mother. Or that strait laced Marcus was gonna fall in love at first sight too! This was defiantly and Insta love story and I am here for it!
Maisie is so sweet and caring all she wants to do it good for the world, Marcus just wants to make everything ok for his Family and have everyone to be happy. In fact the nothing things they seem to be selfish about is each other.
Hart as usual delivered in the burn and steam and spice department, it was definitely not the mask steaming up my glasses at work..
I love it book as much as the first in its series and more then the second.
Hats off to Staci and another wonderful story from this series. I keep thinking each time a new book comes out about this family that I couldn’t love them more but I am always proved wrong .
This is a love story proves that you cannot choose the person you fall head over heels for . Marcus and Maise are smitten at first sight but it soon becomes apparent that they are going to have many hurdles to overcome . This is a beautiful tale of overcoming some of the biggest hurdles that can be thrown at them . Family, business, secrets and betrayal . Marcus is a strong, smart, family man that is fighting to save the family business. As the business fight is about to begin a chance meeting in a coffee shop becomes a game changer. Maise is such a breath of fresh air. She is smart, sweet, strong but has grown up in a home with a supportive dad and iron fist mother. She wants to be part of her family company but the drama and family dynamics begin to make her think twice. When she meets a handsome stranger and exchanges numbers she could never have expected what could have happened next! This was quite a ride with Maise and Marcus and I absolutely loved it!!
~~Michele McMullen ~
“It was a kiss thick with hello and desperate with goodbye.”
Mum’s the Word is the third and final book in the Bennet Brothers series and tells the story of Marcus, the most focused, responsible and private member of this chaotic family. And the series ends in a brilliant way. Marcus had aroused my curiosity in the previous books and here he doesn’t disappoint. I loved the book.
Two strangers collide in the middle of the street in the rain. And amidst a trampled leather briefcase, a newspaper that offers little shelter and almost a slip, the handsome man in a suit will be able to save the delicate girl. Until they look into each other’s eyes, the connection and attraction will be instantaneous. A scene for every romantic to sign.
But there is a big problem. These two strangers introduce themselves and agreed with a date. But a few moments later, they will discover that they are part of two arch enemy families. Marcus is a Bennet. Maisie a Bower. And this romance à la Romeo and Juliet, will be doomed before it even begins.
With both families at war and a lawsuit threatening to wipe out the family’s legacy, Marcus knows he must let Maisie go. But it will be impossible to forget her.
Maisie cannot understand the hatred her mother has for the Bennets. Coerced into returning home, this mother-daughter relationship will be more tumultuous than normal, since she does not fit her mother’s high standards and expectations. Marcus is the forbidden fruit that she will not be able to resist.
A forbidden passion. Two people so different but so right for each other. Two rival families. And a situation that can put both their hearts and financial situations at risk. Just like arousing the fury of the family members as well.
But Marcus’s protective instincts will come into action as he testifies that Maisie’s life was not as perfect as he thought. Evelyn treats her daughter with the same iron hand and indifference that treats all other matters.
Hiding this relationship from the Bennet siblings will be almost impossible, because as usual, everyone gets involved into other people’s business. But perhaps the best and greatest allies are the least expected.
Marcus is everything I thought and more. Loyal, protective, responsible and extremely passionate. Maisie is a little naive, very supportive and will face a tough decision when important secrets are revealed.
A great ending to a beautiful series.
PS: Lanie and Jett will still have their stories told, and will be part of another series, which I honestly didn’t understand.
What do passion, angst, the lure of the forbidden, and flowers have in common? If you guessed that they are all part of the beauty of MUM’S THE WORD by author Staci Hart, then you would be correct. As ever, Staci has written a book that is smart, sexy, and captivating, and the perfect wrap-up to her Bennet Brothers series.
I wasn’t sure that I was going to like Marcus’s book, to be honest, but he and Maisie are just perfect. He is just as swept up in the immediate passion as Maisie, and, though the long and unhappy history between the Bowers and the Bennets would dictate that there is no way that they can be together, Fate is shaking her finger and saying otherwise. Seeing straight-laced and self-contained Marcus at the mercy of his passion and his heart is just everything.
Maisie is finally able to find what she’s wanted for her whole life…unconditional love. That it’s all wrapped up with passion and romance just makes it better. Plus, and it’s a big plus, as part of the Bennets, she’s finally part of a wonderful loving family, which she so deserves.
While I appreciate some angstiness in my books, I’m always going to be looking for the HEA, and Staci continues to deliver in spades. I couldn’t have hoped for a nicer end to this series. That being said, I am excited to see Lanie and Jett get their stories, too, and cannot wait for PRIDE AND PAPERCUTS, next up in the Austen series.
The Bennets and the Bowers have had this long-standing family feud that started from their grandparents. It led to the main conflict of the book — Evelyn Bower wants to take the Bennets out of business.
Maisie Bower spent her life feeling like her mom was pulling the strings on her all this time. Despite that, she does have a good relationship with her dad. Even though she feels like she didn’t get the kind of care she wanted from her mom, atleast she has a father who cares deeply about her.
Marcus Bennet is the reserved, quiet, and responsible one out of all his siblings. He previously bought out Longbourne, their family legacy, from his mom in order to save it.
They meet at the start of the book, had an instant attraction, and didn’t realize the other was from their rival family. There is definitely that forbidden love element just because they came from rival families. I like that Marcus gave Maisie the courage to stand up to her mother. The scenes when she does are satisfying to read, I couldn’t help but feel so proud of her.
The main reason why I’m giving three stars is that I found the romance insta-lovey. While I do love the characters separately, I just wasn’t convinced enough because of the pacing. I do see that they are meant for each other, though. Their first meeting was also what I’d call a meet-cute. I guess I needed to see more development of just the two of them and getting to know each other.
I do love their HEA especially since Maisie finally gets to be with a family that treats her well. The Bennets remain one of my favorite fictional families, I just love their family dynamic.
Before I start I just want to say one thing: I cannot remember a time where I hated a character as much as I hated Evelyn Bower. Good lord, she was an awful human being. Every time she was on the page she just made me hate her even more. So well done, Staci!
Now to Marcus and Maisie. I absolutely LOOOOOOOOOVED them! From the moment they bumped into each other, they knew that they were meant for each other. I really liked that fact that they didn’t let their feud between their families get in the way of them being together. On paper, these two would never work, but in reality, they were perfect for each other.
I loved that once they made their minds up that they were going to be together, they stuck to their guns. That doesn’t mean that they didn’t have any road blocks to their happy ending, but their feelings for each other were just so strong. And the happily every after in this book is so much more than I thought it would be.
Once I started reading, I had a really hard time putting this book down. I really love the Bennet family and of course we get all of them in this book. The relationship between all the siblings is not only fun to read, but it’s also very heartwarming. They always have each other’s back. Even if they think the other is making a mistake.
Marcus and Maise are freaking adorable together. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every book in this series.
I enjoyed Staci Hart’s “Mum’s the Word,” the third book of the Bennet Brothers series. Main characters Marcus Bennet and Maisie Bower were quite likeable and well-developed, and the chemistry between them was very intense. That said, I am not generally a fan of the insta-love trope, and this book did nothing to change my mind on that subject. Marcus and Maisie’s romance was perhaps the most “insta” of any insta-love I’ve ever encountered. They literally ran into each other in the rain, felt a “tingle” and strange instant familiarity with each other, and then spent five minutes getting to-go coffee together. Somehow that incredibly brief meeting was enough for them to know that they were willing to sacrifice everything to be together. Truthfully, I found the whole thing pretty tough to swallow. I wish they had managed to have even a single date before finding out how their families were connected; that would have made it easier for me to believe that their feelings were based on something more than just physical attraction.
Fortunately, as the story progressed and Marcus and Maisie spent more time together, their emotional connection became increasingly obvious, and it was much easier for me to root for them to find a way to be together. It helped that I liked both of them so much as individuals, though I did find Maisie’s constant fear of acting like her mother to be frustrating at times. Some of the behavior she seemed to dislike in herself was perfectly acceptable, IMO; for example, I didn’t think Maisie was a bad person for standing up for herself and refusing to be bullied. However, her mother was a real piece of work and did a number on Maisie over the years; she would probably benefit from counseling to deal with the lingering psychological trauma of that relationship. I’m pretty sure falling in love with Marcus won’t solve all of her problems moving forward!
There were some other details of the book that I found slightly bothersome, mostly related to the pending lawsuit between Bower and Longbourne. For example, if the presiding judge’s wife was a friend of Maisie’s mother, the Bennets should have been able to get him recused due to conflict of interest. For the most part, however, it was an enjoyable story, and I especially enjoyed the opportunity to check in on the other Bennet brothers and their significant others.
The second book of this trilogy (“Gilded Lily”) remains my favorite of the three, but “Mum’s the Word” is still a good story and worth a read. I look forward to Ms. Hart’s next book featuring the Bennets’ sister Laney, and a return to the Wasted Words bookstore/bar featured in the earlier Austen series.
*ARC provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.
This story was such a delight!!!
As the final Bennet Brothers book, I knew this will be a bit emotional to bid goodbye to the brothers. But I was still a bit overwhelmed by how much I loved the bond between them. It’s always so fulfilling to see sibling bonds prospering and this was no different.
Insta love stories are a hit and miss for me but this one was definitely a hit. These characters are so delightful that you cannot help but adore them.
I really liked the connection and chemistry between Marcus and Maisie and I really loved the way their relationship progressed. I think the thing that really rubbed me the wrong way was Maisie and her mother’s relationship. It’s sort of hard for me to read about selfish parents.
It was the forbidden nature of their relationship that reeled me in but I absolutely stayed for their character development. I’m sad to see them go but absolutely excited to see what’s next from Staci.
There’s nothing better than a book packed with all the goods: humor, love, amazing characters and a page-turning plot! Mum’s the Word has it all and more!
This book could not have come at a better. I was in a book slump and needed a good book to pull me out of it. Mum’s the Word was a forbidden romance.
Marcus and Maisie were full of emotions and characters you can’t help but love. Out of the brothers Marcus is the most reserved and just as I imagined he would be. Maisie brings out a different side to Marcus. These two are perfect for each other. These two have a lot of obstacles to overcome and have each other to help along the way. Maisie did not have the nicest mother and it just broke my heart the way she treated her. After spending time with Marcus she learns what the meaning of family is and how you treat each other.
I am huge fan on Staci Hart and can’t recommend her books enough. If you are looking for a swoony read full of all the feels, I highly recommend this book.