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.
more
Oh Marcus Bennet, always the quiet but in charge one. The first one who stepped up to save his families flower shop, always in control, until it comes to Maisie Bower. How exactly does one fall for the daughter of his mothers sworn enemy? It’s simple really, but to find out, you’ll have to read the book.
Maisie Bower…how does one live with a mother as evil, vindictive and manipulative as Evelyn Bower? Really, I can not stand that woman, but Maisie is something else to put up with that kind of person, let alone that person being her mother and I think a lot of that had to do with her father. He’s a saint, that man and every time he was on my page, I couldn’t help but smile.
Staci knocked it out of the park with this spin on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice books. I really think it’s the perfect ending to the Bennet brothers and highly suggest you grab all three today. I can not wait to see how the other two Bennet siblings pan out.
Marcus is the eldest of the Bennet clan, the one who brought everyone back together, and the last one to find love. When he makes a connection with a gorgeous woman, it’s just his luck that it’s with Maisie Bower, of the Bower empire, his family’s rival in the florist business. The one whose family his hates. Yeah…
What will Marcus think when he finds out who his gorgeous woman is? Can these rivals maintain a relationship, a forbidden love? What about when Maisie thinks Marcus sold her out? Will she trust in the love they’ve developed?
I think out of the 3 Bennet stories so far, this one is my favorite. Marcus has always been intriguing – he’s so buttoned up, so cool and focused that I wondered what made him tick, if anything could ruffle his smooth surface. When Staci paired him with the perfect woman to get under his skin, to bring him to his knees, I found out just how awesome he is, and fell in love with him and Maisie. I always love Staci’s romances and her romantic comedies, because her characters are bright spots in the very crowded romance genre. They feel alive and stand out with their chemistry, with their layered portrayals, and with their memorable dialogue. I cannot wait for more of the Bennet siblings and the people who love them.
Mum’s the Word by Staci Hart was a forbidden romance with all kinds of feels. The last thing Maisie needs is to fall for a Bennett, but when she meets Marcus, she did not know who he was. Now she has to stay away, right? But their chemistry is undeniable, can they really stay away from each other?
Marcus is a good man. He is smart, loyal and protective. All Maisie wants is her mother’s love but some things are unattainable. And yet she is strong, determined and nothing like her venomous mother. Together they were absolutely amazing, but could they get through all the obstacles they face? Mum’s the Word by Staci Hart, though a forbidden romance, was sweet and charming. I loved the characters and their journey.
Read and reviewed for Sultry Sirens Book Blog.
Happy reading!
Two words to describe this book: emotional and electric. I’m not normally a huge “love at first sight” type of reader, but this book sucked me in so completely.
“Every cell, every molecule, the whole of her was so utterly right. Had we been in a room full of people or packed in a subway car, I had no doubt I would have seen her just as I did now. With all of me.”
Marcus and Maise are just so honest and open. They are endearing and committed from their first run in. I was super happy with how the ending came together for the Bennet Brothers, and I’m so excited to return to Wasted Words with Laney!!
What a great end to this series. It was the forbidden love between the two families and we learn the backstory of why the two mothers hate each other. Marcus we loved already from books 1 and 2, he is saving the family business and I mean wears Italian suits sooo what’s not to love! When he runs into the girl of his dreams we learn all about Maisie.
Another Staci Hart win with her writing. This was much needed right now and if you have read any of her books, you know its going to be good, with love, fully developed characters, vivid plots, real life drama, and a little steam to end it off. This was such a cute series and can’t wait to see what else she writes soon!
Overall, 4 stars and 3.5 steam.
Delightfully romantic, swoony and all the feels, Marcus and Maisie’s journey took my breath away.
How about two people who almost fell in love at first had their story doomed from the start?
I meant their families were at war and in the middle, stood both two young souls who wanted to keep their families’ best interests at heart, but tearing apart when they had to put their feelings aside and standing for them.
I was rooting for these two from the beginning not only because a Bennet couldn’t be with a Bower but because it was just effortless to love them. They were sincere, passionate and following their hearts even if they knew somehow that it would not end well at some point.
Throughout this forbidden romance, this bond between the Bennet siblings became stronger than ever, a family you wanted to be part of, who had to come to save the day.
In this final battle, Marcus and Maisie would learn that somehow legacy was not what defines you. I loved everything about this story even if sometimes Maisie’s relationship with her mother drove me crazy but I was totally enraptured.
And did they make me smile tons, grinning so hard so many times. So freaking lovely!
I was super curious about what Marcus’s love story would be like. He who has always been the most serious of the Bennett brothers needed to have a strong girl in his arms. Staci Hart did not disappoint me bringing a strong Maisie but at the same time sweet and determined to achieve what she wants despite her mother acting more like a bad stepmother than a mother. Maisie’s growth along the plot is wonderful.
The meeting of these two is super romantic worthy of Romeo and Juliet and their instant love. After the shock of discovering that they should be mortal enemies, they gradually surrender to the strong attraction that exists between them and after a breathtaking twist everything collapses around them.
4/5 stars
Every Staci Hart book leaves me with a glorious giddy feeling. Her take on Pride and Prejudice struck a chord with me and each of the books in the Bennet Brother series, her tribute to Jane Austen, have become instant favorites.
There was something about Marcus Anthony Bennet that completely stole my breath, and it started with a kiss. Yes, the meet-cute of all meet-cutes was achieved when Marcus collisioncollides with Maisie Bower. But what brings them together, the Bower-Bennet feud is the very thing that will push them apart.
Insta-love doesn’t always work, but this one, well, it might be a personal favorite of all time. It was magical and I truly felt their connection. That I know is attributed to Staci Hart’s wonderfully poetic and picturesque writing. The once stoic Marcus finds himself completely entranced with Maisie, and I loved, loved, loved it! I always get a very clear sense of her characters’ essence whether they are forefront of the story or not. In this case, Marcus’ heart is on his sleeve:
” I was not a man who lost control, but when it came to her, I was a runaway train. And the desire to know why was almost as deep as my desire to know her.”
He’s never experienced an all-consuming romantic passion in his life, and now he’s found it in spades. In fact, while their growing love might occur in the dark, their passion seeps off the page.
I loved how the story was developed and how the duplicitous nature of Evelyn Bower is exposed. Her bad disposition might be attributed to her genes, but her hate comes from somewhere else. Thankfully Massie had a positive influence from her father, but her view of “family” is tarnished by her mothers’ need to control her. In Marcus she finds her champion but in the Bennets, she’ll find a home and happy future.
While the Bower-Bennet feud is resolved, we haven’t heard the last of Bennet’s. I anticipate much drama as the worlds of the Bennets and the crew from the Austen series come together in Pride and Papercuts. 5 Stars and series recommendation!
I started this book and was instantly hooked! I loved how these characters met and then how they are connected. BIG TWIST THERE! As the story went on we got more details on how they are connected which I enjoyed. The author went into deeper details than I found necessary for part of the story. I just didn’t find it as important and wanted more of the fun dynamic from the characters. But again as the story progressed from there it did pick up for me and the author threw out some more interesting twists. Overall, I did enjoy the story and really enjoyed the twists the author gave us.
I have loved every book in this series but Mum’s the Word is probably my favorite. Marcus and Maisie together is a special kind of wonderful. Their meet cute was perfection and it was great to see these two characters just go for it even with all the problems it could bring. I loved their two worlds combining, the secrets, the business deals, and different family dynamics make this a book you won’t want to put down!
Overall Grade:
It’s taken me a few days to start this review. I’ve been thinking about why I’ve struggled to find the words for Staci Hart’s Mum’s The Word when her poignant story of finding a deep abiding love in the arms of the least likely of people is charming, intentional, and thoughtful. For her first two books in this series inspired by Pride and Prejudice, the reviews flowed through my fingers, the words easily found as I read the book. But this one has made me more introspective, searching for words to explain the soul of this book. This isn’t because I didn’t adore Mum’s the Word. Instead, it has a different presence than the first two books of the series. With Coming Up Roses, there was a tension from the start as Tessa and Luke fought feelings of lust and disdain for each other, and with Gilded Lily, Lila and Kash fight their chemistry, even though it’s apparent from the first page. With Mum’s the Word, even though Marcus and Maisie’s story mimics Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, soulmates destined for each other even though they come from warring families, Marcus and Maisie fall for each other instantly. Their complication isn’t necessarily between wanting to love each other; it’s really them against their world. Therefore, it took me a bit to accept that Marcus and Maisie could fall in love almost instantaneously, unable to stay away from each other and accepting their destiny fairly quickly. It felt strange, at first, for that tension to be missing, as it seemed to be a staple in the first two books. However, this story isn’t about their love for each other; it’s about their ability to love when their world makes it nearly impossible to do so.
Once again, Staci Hart shows us why she’s an exemplary writer. She has this ability to exact a different writing voice in each of her stories, and that voice fits her characters easily. I don’t think people realize the genius behind this skill. When you read a particular author, most of the time, there is a distinct thread, a specific voice, you find in their books. You could read the book blind-folded and know fairly easily that the book belongs to them. Yet, Hart is a chameleon of sorts, taking on a particular voice for a specific story. Other than her covers, you don’t really know the voice of the story you will get from her until you’ve read the book. From a writing standpoint, it’s an accomplishment to do so. From a marketing standpoint, I imagine it can be a challenge because her writing is a challenge to qualify. What I can tell you above anything else is that Staci Hart’s stories are the types of stories that are meaningful, entertaining, and intentional. And Mum’s the Word? It is no different.
There is a gravity to this story as it tells the story of Marcus and Maisie. I don’t think it could be anything else. For one, going into this story, if you’ve read Coming Up Roses or Gilded Lily, Marcus is the most sensible, serious Bennet. He shrouds himself in business and taking care of everyone. This causes him to form a shell of protection for himself and his family. It was necessary for Staci Hart to craft him as someone who would have an immense depth of feeling for someone he loves instantly. Every choice he makes is careful and intentional, planned out long before his action. Therefore, Hart’s first moment of genius is having the most serious guy fall head over heels in love at first sight for his family’s aggressor. Not to spoil the story, but make no mistake, Maisie and Marcus love each other from the beginning. By doing this, Hart is setting a foundation of love for these two. They will need it because Hart has created one of the meanest villains I’ve read in quite some time.
Evelyn Bower is the impetus for growth in this story. She is a horrible person with very little, if any redemption. Hart uses her to create moments where Marcus and Maisie draw strength from their love for each other for purposes of healing and finding one’s truth. While Maisie’s father has been her primary caregiver, she has also grown up in the shadow of her mother’s vitriol. Even though Maisie’s spirit is divergent from her mother’s, she lives with a worry that her mother has influenced her in some way. This worry becomes the tension of Mum’s the Word. Maisie doesn’t quite know who she is if she isn’t defined by her opposition to her mother. Working through this increases the chances that she and Marcus will struggle through it. Without a grounding love, there is no way through Maisie’s journey. As such, Hart’s need for Maisie and Marcus to fall deeply in love with each other is necessary. In devising their relationship different from his brothers, Hart is able to create different struggles for the Bennet children. Again, it demonstrates her range as a writer, and it keeps her readers guessing as they read her books. It is what draws me to her as an author because she challenges me as a reader to accept her as she is.
The lovely depth of Marcus and Maisie’s love and the seriousness of the challenges of their world make for a book that clutches you in its grasp from the start. There is something solemn and serious about Mum’s the Word, but it never feels too onerous. Because this is a Staci Hart story, you know she will forge an ending that brings about the best outcome for her characters. You trust her in her storytelling. In Mum’s the Word, she uses a metaphor, illustrating this colorful, loving family through the Bennet’s greenhouse. Maisie notes “[t]he greenhouse was the Bennets—alive and a little messy, bursting with color and teeming with a feeling of home.” To a certain degree, Staci Hart’s novels are also like the Bennet’s greenhouse: colorful and diverse, offering up some of the most artistic, aesthetically-pleasing blooms. Mum’s the Word is no different, and I believe she has surely saved the most beautiful blossom for last.
I loved everything about this book. I felt strong emotion to every single character (good or bad)-even the secondary characters. Whether you are routing for characters or want to throat punch them, to invoke such strong emotions is a mark of a great author. Mum’s The Word is an amazing read with an even better ending and I loved every second!
So much more than I expected. Elizabeth @ Carolina Chic’s Read
Marcus and Maisie are completely drawn to each other during a rainstorm in the city. They bump into each other and fall instantly in love, neither of them wanting to part. They have huge hurdle to over come as they are children in the Longborne and Bower families.
Loves this story so much 5 Blooming Stars !
Staci Hart absolutely nailed this book and this series. I truly loved the characters in all the Bennet Brothers books and felt as if I was a part of the Bennet family. They love hard and they are fiercely devoted to their family and their legacy. This book-and this series- is all about Love, Trust and Dedication. But Marcus just may have my heart (because, dammit Staci, you up your game with each book and each Bennet)
Mum’s the Word is centered around Marcus Bennet and Maisie Bower. Marcus is a devoted leader within his family. He is a savior, if you will. An organized planner that is intelligent enough to find and fix things that may be broken. Maisie is the only child of the Bower family. Her mother sees her as a disgrace, but she just wants to be enough. She is fighting for what she believes in and what she wants to see happen within her family’s company. They are two characters that have been pitted against one another because of their families. A family rivalry stemming back to their parents and maybe even their grandparents. But when a chance meeting has them crossing paths, they feel an instant connection before that implodes in their faces. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not a huge fan of instalove. I’m sure it exists, but the stories really aren’t for me. The way Staci took their “meeting” and flipped my ideals on my head left me entranced and wanting to know what these two characters had in store for me.
“I’d been waiting my whole life for a thunderbolt. When I met Maisie, I saw lightning. But it was the kiss that struck me down to the ground.”
Staci Hart created a story of star-crossed lovers. Each word, each action, each emotion was so carefully crafted and was important in the Bennet and Bower family journey. There are characters that you will absolutely love and characters you will despise. But that’s what makes a good and entertaining story. Their convictions stay true throughout the story and I loved that. They did not stand down to who their characters were. But they did grow and learn from their actions and from their family.
“…I had never subscribed to the sentiment that one person could make another whole. But now I knew the concept had been born from the restriction of words.”
This story was magnificently told. It had characters that grew, while still holding true to who they were. The timing and pacing was all well done. It made the romance that much more believable. The laughs were there, but it seemed a little more contemporary than the previous two. It was the witty dialogue between Marcus and Maisie and Marcus and his family that had me swooning and laughing. The Bennet family will always hold a special place in my heart. While this is a series, I definitely think you could read this book and any of the others as total standalones. Also, this may be the “final” book in the Longbourne flower shop setting, but we still have two other Bennet siblings books to look forward to. And for that, I am forever grateful!
Go forth and pick up this book. It is absolutely lovely and such a beautiful journey to happiness. Filled with painful words and actions from family members, but also filled with so much love and equality. And in the end….LOVE WINS!
“Because love is another important thing-it’s hope. Love hopes that things will get better. It looks for the best in those it loves and believes it can bring those best parts out for the world to see. In a lot of ways, love CAN change you.”
I always enjoy a good story that this author brings out and I’m really loving this series of the Bennet Brothers. Excited to see what comes next!
When Maisie and Marcus first meet, there’s an instant spark between them but when they meet again they’ll be left speechless and not knowing how to continue. Maisie’s mother is trying to make her do something that she’s not really interested in but she feels she has no other choice than to stay and to try to do her work. When it clashes with Marcus’ family company, it’s not easy for them to ignore what is going on but also not easy to ignore their feelings for each other. Marcus is trying everything in his power to save his family’s company from harm but it’s hard when Bower is tryng all they can to dismantle it. But through it all, he and Maisie grow closer to each other and their bond is getting stronger. Will they be able to find a way to be together?… And will Marcus be able to save the company?…
I would read Staci Hart’s grocery list. The woman can do no wrong. While instalove isn’t normally my trope she does it in a way what pulls me in and makes me not put the book down until I’m finished. By book 3 of a series you’re already deeply invested in this family…they’re basically become your own. I’m sad to see this series end (sort of…it’s intertwined with another of her series so it’s not technically done yet but the remaining story/brother is part of her other series). I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.
4.5 Stars
Have you noticed that series based on families always seem to leave the brooding, most mysterious sibling for last? I think it’s to build up the intrigue, and that’s definitely the case with Marcus Bennet. From the moment he was introduced I’ve been wanting his story, and the glimpses we’ve gotten of him throughout the series have been little breadcrumbs leaving me begging for more. Well, we finally have his story, and it’s everything I wanted and more.
Marcus & Maisie are modern-day Romeo & Juliet, caught between a long-standing family feud that began decades before they were born. After an epic meet-cute in the rain (swoon!) their attraction is instant and while crazy, they both know the other is meant to be in their life. Until they meet again hours later and discover just who the other is.
“But mostly because when I’m with you, the world seems full of possibility when I’ve lived without hope for so long.”
I loved these characters! They are each strong and independent, always putting others above themselves. And even when they finally found their own happiness everything & everyone else was put first. While family is still a huge theme in this book, it’s explored in a whole new way. The story itself was perfectly paced, and while my mind raced with every horrible scenario that could be thrown at them I was pleasantly surprised with how everything turned out.
Mum’s the Word is the final book in the Bennet Brothers series and by far my favorite. I highly recommend it and the whole series!
Another great Bennett book!! Marcus and Maisie are such a great story!! A random meeting and date set up then a realization of who each other really are!
I loved Maisie’s growth through the book and how Marcus knew how he felt and grew with her!
Staci Hart delivers another amazing book. I love how the story flows, the family connections and all the show creates to have us fall in love with these characters!
Y’ALL! I am SWOONING over Marcus Bennet! He has become my ulitmate book boyfriend. This was such a great forbidden romance. I love when there are feuding families and the characters have to fight to be together. Marcus and Maisie have this amazing connection and watching them was swoony. Marcus goes above and beyond to help Maisie feel like she’s part of a team. I loved how he just listened and was so supportive! Maisie is an amazing character! Watching her grow and learn to fight for herself and what makes her happy was empowering.
Staci has blown me away with each book in this series. I love the Bennet family and I can’t wait to what happens next with this delightfully quirky family!
Such a unique spin on “enemies” to lovers. Maisie and Marcus’ story is another great Bennet brother story. I love this family! The characters, all of them, are so vibrant and seem to jump off the page. I can totally see myself hanging out at Longbourne talking to Luke or Tess or Marcus (okay, he’s not as open as Luke) or Maisie.