Dueling neighbors, baby fever, fake boyfriends, and pizza… Life in Bliss has never been better!Pepper Blue wants a baby. Forget the husband. She’s better at training men to be good husbands for other women than she is at getting one herself, so she’s doing this on her own.But she hasn’t exactly shared the news with her family, and they’re determined to find her a date to the next family … to the next family wedding. A date that won’t ditch her for one of her sisters or cousins. This time.
Which means Pepper Blue needs a fake boyfriend. A fake boyfriend that she has no chance of actually falling in love with. A fake boyfriend like her obnoxious neighbor.
Tony Cross is a pizza god with a sausage problem. He’s putting on a good show—a different woman at his house every night, flirting with all the right customers, flexing his muscles when called upon—but since his divorce, his meat has been more on the undercooked side. If you know what he means.
Except, unfortunately, when it comes to his annoyingly perfect, always put together, too good for him neighbor. Pepper Blue. Who is not a viable candidate for fixing his “little problem.”
So he’s not sure why he’s coming to her rescue, pretending to be her boyfriend to save her from a bad date at his pizza joint. He just knows it’s fun. And it irritates her. And it turns out, she might be able to help his flagging pizza sales as much as she’s helping his flagging… you know.
So long as this is just business, he’s happy to keep pushing her buttons.
All night long, if he has to.
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I was in such a book slump when I found this book and it was exactly what I needed to get out of my rut. It’s charming, funny, adorable, sweet, and heartwarming. It’s like a hot chocolate after a day in the cold, or a slice of pizza with all my favorite toppings delivered by the hot neighbor who I can’t stand… Oh, wait, no that’s actually the plot of the book. But seriously, that’s how it felt. I was drawn right in from page one and fully invested in Pepperony (Pepper and Tony) finding their happily ever after. I was sad to finish it and it just might be one of the very, very few books I ever re-read.
I loved this book! This is the sixth book in the Misfit Brides series by Jamie Farrell/ Pippa Grant. Pepper Blue and Tony Cross are two people going through a lot of emotional and physical issues. They live next door to each other and just begrudgingly get along. The last fifteen guys Pepper has gone out with have married the next woman he dated. Her grandmother has decided that she needs to set Pepper up to get past her curse. While on a disastrous double date with her grandmother at Tony’s Pizzeria, Tony steps up and pretends to be Pepper’s boyfriend. Since both of them have weddings they have to attend in the next couple of months, they decide to continue their ruse to keep their families off of their backs. I loved both Tony and Pepper, they are characters with a lot of layers. I also loved all of the side characters and hope Jamie/Pippa will write more of the Blue family stories. I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the author for my honest review.
I had a lot of fun (re-)visiting the quirky folks who live and love in Bliss. 🙂
Pepper and Tony are a great team, and I enjoyed their story a lot (except for the “all is lost” point, when I just wanted to smack Tony upside the head…)
But all in all, Jamie Farrell is writing true to form: Funny, awwwwww-inspiring, snort-inducing, and right in the feels.
Bonus points for Lucky and Sadie getting a sort-of-HFN. 🙂
(And Gran seems to be related to Grandma Mazur and Tante Lulu. Just saying.)
This is book 5 of 7 in series. This one is Pepper Blue who’s siblings arecnamed after the spice rack and there are 2 brothers and alot of sisters. She wants one think to be a mom even a single one. Pepper believes she is cursed. Her neighbor Pizza God Tony Cross isn’t sure he can love again. What starts out as convenience turns into more.
4.5
I enjoyed revisiting Bliss.
What I liked:
The writing style
The characters
Gran
The humor
Standalone
HEA
Epilogue
I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
I have been waiting for Pepper’s story since book 1 of the series. A strong, smart, successful woman, Pepper is looking for what she feels is missing in her life. Her large family plays a big part in the book and her Gran is a true gem. She is fearless, funny and sees more than she lets on. Tony is trying to move forward after a traumatic divorce and doesn’t believe he will ever have love. I really loved what a stand-up guy Tony is and hate his Ex so much for what she put him through. Pepper is struggling and Tony helps her by pretending to be her boyfriend to take the family heat off of her. Pretend becomes real before they know it and they admit their secrets to each other.
I appreciated how this book addresses Tony’s equipment failure as you do not often see that. I also really appreciated the emotions Pepper goes through as she comes to terms with infertility. I felt the feeling and emotions on these two subjects were honest and realistic. As a reader, I cheered for them when the got their HEA.
Loving the Misfit brides series! Pepper and Toni will pull at your heart strings! Although I believe that Gran is my favourite character.
5 SPICED STARS!! Here we go again, Jamie Farrell has put just the right amount of spice for you to devour this book. I absolutely loved all the feels and incredible story for Pepper and Tony. As always this author has outdone herself, I always know I am in for a treat. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
Wonderful! Finally, Pepper gets her story and boy does she have a rocky road. She seems so in control and composed all the time but we finally get to see her fears and insecurities, the things that truly make her a remarkable woman. She has a new neighbor, Tony the pizza man, and his cat is terrorizing her dog so they really don’t get along but when she needs a save from the worst date ever, he jumps in which is a mystery. Tony is new to Bliss, running from his own pain. An unlikely alliance is formed to save each other from well-meaning family members but could they find something more together. The family dynamics are hilarious and heart wrenching at times but provide the glue to what shapes both characters. Truly another fun, sexy and exciting journey into the world of Bliss.
A Heartfelt Romance! This is the story of a woman who is smart and successful in all aspects of her life but can’t have the one thing she wants the most and, it’s not a man. Pepper’s story really hit home for me because I have been her at one point in my life. The way the author handled the subject matter was spot on. This was the first story I have read that has actually gotten the feelings right when it comes to infertility. That made this story very special to me. Pepper and Tony’s story is beautiful, heartbreaking and at points even funny and the ending was FANTASTIC!
If you love romance novels with the perfect mix of banter and humour the Misfit Brides by Jamie Farrell is a must read, this author knows how write amazing stories with wonderful characters. Every book in this series is full of love, passion, witty banter and loveable characters.
Spiced is Pepper and Tony’s story, Pepper has always dreamed of having a baby but her body click is ticking way to fast and time is running out, Tony has just opened up the new Pizzaria in town he is not looking to settle down, two people who are damaged from past relationships can they mend each other’s broken hearts……..
A perfect addition to a great series once again this author has given us a beautiful written love story that had me hooked from the first page. Great read loved it.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
Jamie Farrell has a way with words. She make me laugh as she encourages deep thought. Be careful or her charming reads will still the heart right out of your chest. The appeal of Spiced is Pepper and Tony find a way to deliver a truth we’ve all heard many times in a heartfelt way without being obvious. That is the beauty of the Misfit Brides series as a whole. The entire series is about being true to yourself, heart, body and spirit. Pepper wants to follow her heart, but her pride and family keep getting in the way. Tony puts on a show, but is much deeper than anyone knows. Ms. Farrell is at the head of the class with her temptingly sweet feel good reads. Addictive entertainment.
Jamie Farrell has done it again! Spiced is a must read for romance lovers that appreciate a bit of humor in their books. Ms. Farrell has delivered a well-written book and populated it with characters we know and love from previous books. Pepper is a business owner and she wants a baby enough to go through IVF to get it. Tony is her neighbor and the owner of a pizza shop. Their story is packed with drama, humor that will have you laughing out loud and of course, you can’t have a romance without spice. This book hooked me at page one and held me hostage until the end. I loved reading Spiced and look forward to my next book by Jamie Farrell. Spiced is book 6 of The Misfit Brides Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this. All thoughts and opinions are my own.