A sweet, cozy read filled with romance and acceptance. It was a bit predictable which maybe took a bit away from my enjoyment as I saw the reveals or secrets coming a mile away but it was still a fun read filled with a slow burn romance that built between Marnie and Darcy.

While initially both were lost in grief and unhealthy coping mechanisms, they were able to bring out the best in each other. Darcy was the perfect Beast and at times acted as one, though underneath you could see the hurt and pain living underneath the disguise. While the disguise itself wasn’t so unbelievable, the scene with the hazmat suit felt a bit harder to believe. There was definitely build up to those moments where he would trust her and reveal even a sliver and in the end I loved how Marnie accepted him and made him feel deserving of love again.

The whole setting sounded quite magical and wonderful. I haven’t read book one in the series but as this was mostly standalone it didn’t feel like I was missing anything crucial. I would love to visit somewhere magical like Ever After Street and the book festival that Marnie hosted sounded like great fun!

I appreciated the ending especially and how it was focused on Darcy’s own acceptance of himself. The part where Marnie describes her frustration with the ending of the Disney movie totally rang true here where he wasn’t magically transformed into a different person physically but that he accepted himself and learned to love himself as this new version that had been through all he had been through. I will check out future books in this series as I’m hoping to hear more about how Marnie and Darcy work out in the future as well as who is next to find love…maybe Cleo?

Thank you to the publisher, Boldwood Books for the advanced digital reader copy of this book through NetGalley. My review is my honest opinion.

A modern-day retelling of Beauty and the Beast done very well! A sweet romance that brings two people who struggle with interacting with other people together to start building a beautiful friendship and possibly more. However, will their love take root and grow or will it be mowed down before it gets started by a lurking villain. She needs to save her bookstore and get her life back on track while he needs to start living his life more fully again. The romance is sweet and the friendship develops sweetly and tenderly, but the underlying theme that is driven home in this book is that beauty is only skin deep and often times not even that deep. It is truly what a person is at their core and in their heart that makes them beautiful or ugly. If you look around, you'll see many people who focus on the beauty they show the world on the surface, but a few need to work on the beauty and positivity that they put out into the world more than the surface. I am absolutely in love with Ever After Street, the people who live and work there, as well as the beautiful romances that are woven into the books. This is the second book in the series and I do highly recommend that you read them in order as you will have a much stronger foundation of the people in the books. I can't wait to see what fairy tale retelling we get next and who will be living the fairy tale!

I’ve never read anything by this author before but the title and synopsis immediately grabbed my attention and I’m glad I requested a copy.
I really enjoyed everything about this story from the small town hallmark vibes to the happily every after book store and town themes.
The story is very well written with great character development.
The story follows Marnie, who’s changed since her mother passed away. During her grievance she’s neglected many things including the garden behind the bookstore and the store.
Darcy is owns the flower shop, that Marnie named her bookstore after, and when he hears about Marnie’s troubles he decides to help her. Darcy is very reclusive and broody, complete opposite of Marnie.
The characters chemistry was great and I enjoyed the slow build up.
Overall, this was a great contemporary clean romance novel with homage to Beauty and the Beas. I loved the well done mental health representation.

This is such a heartwarming read. Marnie is struggling – with grief after Mum’s death, but also her beloved bookshop, A Tale as Old as Time, on Ever After Street is failing. No customers, and certainly no customers who are spending money. And with grief overcoming her every being, Marnie has no idea what to do to save her failing business.

Owner of the flower shop next door, the dark and mysterious Darcy O’Connell keeps himself to himself, that is until he hears Marnie needs help, and seeing how distressed she is and knowing that he can’t turn his back on her, he decides to help out. Soon they are spending many evenings together and a beautiful friendship develops between them both.

Boding over their joint love of books and reading, it is beautiful to watch how their friendship develops slowly and gradually and come up with a plan to save Marnie’s beloved bookshop. An Enchanted Moment on Ever After Street is one of the most heartwarming and beautiful stories I have read in a very long time. The addition of the Beauty and the Beast theme being weaved into the storyline of the book is just so magical, and the characters of Marnie and Darcy are so realistic and touching – this book pulled on my heart-strings so much – without a shadow of a doubt, this is a must-read ♡

I loved the first book in this series, a Cinderella story and this one, a Beauty and the Beast story was just as great! It definitely gave me all the feels.
I could really relate to Marnie, not just because of her love for books but also feeling lonely except for online book friends but then opening up to those who were right in front of her all along. I loved the romance side of this story between Marnie and her neighbor who was hiding from all, but the community feeling and friends being there for one another was just as important for this story. I smiled, I welled up and I got all warm of fuzzy reading this!

This is such a gorgeous, magical story, that enchanted me from the first page to the very last. It transported me to a wonderful world peopled with highly engaging characters that I absolutely adored, and whirled me away from the ordinary, taking me to extraordinary Ever After Street. This is a glorious retelling of Beauty and the Beast, wonderfully written, and it works beautifully. Darcy absolutely melted my heart, and Marnie helped restore my faith in human nature. There’s love, romance, friendship, loss and kindness which simply ooze from the pages, and I absolutely loved it. Ever After Street is my happy place, and I can’t wait for my next visit! Highly recommended.

Lovely enchanting book based on a fairy tale beauty and the beast. Great plot, enjoyable characters well written. Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy

A beautiful take on Beauty and the Beast. I loved it. So adorable. Fell into the book and didn't want to stop. Very cosy, give me more ❤️

Magical and heart warming, for Beauty and the Beast fans everywhere. A story of romance, overcoming insecurities and being true to who you are, no matter what.
A second book in the Ever After Street series, and a glorious, fairytale that had me hooked from start to finish.
Marnie, grieving her Mum, runs bookshops – A Tale As Old As Time. They ran the shop together, so her Mums loss has impacted in massive ways. When the bookshop is put at risk, she is devastated and determined to make changes, with or without the input from her grumpy neighbour Darcy. She’s never seen him, nobody has, but a chance encounter from either side of the wall leads to a very unique and unexpected friendship.
As the story unfolds, both Marnie and Darcy open up, they help heal each other in many ways and form a bond that is special. When we discover the trauma in Darcys history we can understand why he has been the way he has, it was emotional and made his development throughout the story so much more special.
I loved the characters, I think they complemented each other and brought the best out of one another. I was so glad this book was set in a bookshop (a book lovers dream!) yet again I felt the sense of community within this story; with great characters we have previously met popping up and meeting those that may take a main role in future books.
A gorgeous read, great writing, engaging characters and I am already looking forward to the next in the series.

I had absolutely no idea that the whole series was going to be based around fairytales. This was a wonderful modern day take on Beauty and the Beast, it's romantic, heartwarming and absolute gorgeousness!

Ever After Street sounds such a wonderful place to live doesn't it? So friendly, with community at its heart. And there's a bookshop too, aptly named A Tale As Old As Time and comes complete with its own Mrs Potts!! Darcy's flowershop next door comes with another fab nod to Beauty and the Beast, it's called The Beast's Enchanted Rose Garden!

The characters are written with warmth, they're real, relatable, and brought so much heart to the story.

I loved every. single. minute ❤️

Our first introduction to this series had a play on the tale of Cinderella, and, might I say, it was rather charming to say the least. Now, we're invited back to Ever After Street to meet our modern day version of the beast and his beauty, complete with books (bookshops!), forbidden roses (a floral shop focused on roses!), a beastly prince (lack of royal bloodlines, but beastly acting and hidden away nonetheless!), a headstrong girl looking for adventure in the great wide somewhere (okay, so not EXACTLY on this one, but she knows her own heart, even if it's a little lost recently, with good reason), and a town full of townspeople waiting to spring into action, if ever they were asked to (so different than the tale we know and love, but only just!).

Marnie is our leading lady, and Darcy is our leading gent. Despite being business owners, both need a lesson in communication, while his should be catered a little more towards patience and acceptance, but I digress. The obstacles Marnie is facing are not impossible, just improbable, not so much because of a lack of skill, but a failure to reach for help when needed, especially in these hard times. When she tackles the forboding future that's been placed in her path, she can either turn tail and run, or toughen up and show the landlord and the town what she's made of. It's easier to do the first, but no one ever said she took the easy way out.

I love how Marnie strove to keep her and her mom's dream alive. When it looked like trouble was heading her way, I wanted to reach out and help her myself, and found it lovely that the townspeople were only an ask away from assistance. I loved the idea of the Friendship Dates, and watching people connect. Love comes in many forms, and we need them all to really feel our best selves, even when we don't think we deserve it. I loved watching Darcy come out of his shell...slowly, but surely...and how Marnie never gave up on him, even when he wanted to give up on himself. It's a town that I'd love to be a part of, and will happily visit again and again with each story's release (there will be more, right?!).

A great pick for Contemporary Fiction readers as well as Contemporary Romance fans, so long as you both love a healthy dash of fairy tale magic! See how much you pick up from the tale as old as time that we all know and love, but enjoy the update on the story filled with second chances, and a whole lot of heart.

Jaime Admans' latest book, An Enchanted Moment on Ever After Street, takes place in a small town where anything can happen.

Marnie is struggling with grief after her adored mum passed away, leaving her the bookshop. Sadly, Marnie hasn’t felt able to come up with new ideas to draw people in, so it’s struggling financially and the garden hasn't been cared for in ages. To make matters worse, her landlord is warning her to clean up her act.

Enter her "Scary Neighbour," Darcy, who is usually reclusive but starts responding to Marnie's persistent chatting. As their unlikely friendship blossoms, Marnie races against time to save her beloved bookshop.

Will she be able to turn things around and get her happy ending? You'll have to read the book to find out!

Thanks to Rachel's Random Resource and Boldwood Books for providing me with an advance reader copy (ARC) of this book. I want to express my sincere and heartfelt review. This book is both predictable and heartwarming, but that doesn't diminish the enjoyment it brings. The relationship between Marine and Darcy develops gradually, which I found quite charming. Throughout the book, the references to 'Beauty and the Beast' add an extra layer to the story, giving it a touch of familiarity and nostalgia. The friendship between the Bloomsons and the progress they make in the garden is truly heartwarming, showcasing the power of community and growth. While some aspects of the book were already known to me before the big reveal, it didn't take away from my reading experience. The garden scenes, especially Marnie and Darcy's first meeting, were described with such beauty and attention to detail that they captured my attention completely. Many of their interactions had me bursting into laughter, and as Darcy gradually opened up and learned to trust again, it was inspiring to witness the neighbours change their perception of him and genuinely care for his well-being. Overall, this is a delightful and clean romance that I genuinely enjoyed. Despite its sweetness, the book also explores more profound themes, adding depth and complexity to the story.

#BookReview #AdvanceReaderCopy #HeartwarmingRomance #CommunityGrowth #Friendship #DelightfulRead #CleanRomance #GenuineCare #TrustAndHealing #DeeperThemes

I am a huge fan of Jaimie and her work. Much to my shame, I haven't quite caught up with everything that she has written but that is something that I hope to rectify in the not too distant future. I must admit that I have a particular soft spot for the series set on 'Ever After Street'. I read and thoroughly enjoyed reading the first book in the series called 'A Midnight Kiss On Ever After Street'. When I heard that Jaimie was due to release another book in the series, I knew that I had to grab a copy at the earliest opportunity and hibernate until I had finished reading. Well ladies and gents, the wait is over because the second book in the series is called 'An Enchanted Moment On Ever After Street' and it was released on 11th January 2024. It's an excellent addition to what is proving to be an excellent series. I adored reading 'An Enchanted Moment On Ever After Street' but more about that in a bit.

I loved the character of Marnie Platt and warmed to her from the very start. In fact she ended up feeling more like a friend rather than a character in a book. I guess that in a sense, I empathised with her to a certain degree. Her Mam passed away and since then Marnie has been a bit lost and has let things slide. I certainly felt that way when my Dad passed away suddenly and unexpectedly some years ago. Marnie realises that something has to change and that she may need to step outside of her comfort zone if she has any chance of getting the 'happy ever after' ending that she so deserves.

As with all of Jaimie's books, I was drawn to this one by the fact that I saw Jaimie's name on the cover of a book that I knew I hadn't read yet. As soon as I started reading, I knew that I was reading something special and it was so special that I knew I wouldn't be able to put the book down. I was spot on too. My Kindle wasn't exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I couldn't bear to miss a single second of the story Part of the reason why I enjoyed the story so much has to do with the character of Marnie and the fact that she felt like a friend. I loved the way in which Marnie's confidence levels grew during the story. I also loved the friendship that Marnie seemed to develop with Darcy, who is the owner of the florists next door and who is very reclusive. The more of the book that I read, the more I wanted to read and the quicker the pages seemed to turn. I had to keep reading to see if both Marnie and Darcy got their respective 'happy ever after' endings and I kept everything crossed that they would end up together. All too quickly I reached the end of 'An Enchanted Moment On Ever After Street' and I had to say goodbye to Marnie, Darcy and the rest of the characters. I found 'An Enchanted Moment On Ever After Street' to be an emotional but ultimately uplifting and heartwarming story.

'An Enchanted Moment On Ever After Street' is superbly written but then I have come to expect nothing less from Jaimie Admans. Jaimie has an easy going writing style that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. In fact reading one of Jaimie's books feels more like a chat between friends rather than reading a book. I hope that makes sense. Jaimie's love for her characters shines through in the very vivid and realistic way in which she describes them. She makes her characters seem just as real as you and I. In fact the characters in this book ended up feeling more like friends than characters in a book. I hope that makes sense. Jaimie tackles some difficult subjects in this book but deals with them with great compassion and sensitively. Reading 'An Enchanted Moment On Ever After Street' certainly took me on an emotional rollercoaster ride with all the ups and downs, highs and lows and so on. I love the way in which Jaimie makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story themselves.

In short, I adored reading 'An Enchanted Moment On Ever After Street' and I wholeheartedly recommend this book to other readers. I will be reading much more of Jaimie's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

This is a book where I have to advise you to
Read the book and not my review!
I absolutely loved it, it is such a great read,
With fabulous characters who deserve to succeed!

This is an adult version of Beauty and the Beast
With all the feels to say the least!
Marnie adores the story and always will
But her beloved mother's death has an impact on the shop till.

A letter brings bad news and gardening jobs to be done
And makes Marnie think again about her Mum and her seat in the sun.
What she never anticipated was help from next door,
From the reclusive man who seems everyone to ignore.

This truly is an enchanted read, so moving, too,
With these two loners sharing what they're going through.
The breaking down of barriers erected to protect the heart
Make this an emotive read right from the start.

The sense of community, how they pull together once more
Make this a fun story with fairy tales running through
But what else would you expect on 'Ever After Street'
Other than a story like this that is a real treat?

For my complementary copy, I say thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review.

Since losing her beloved mum, Marnie’s life hasn’t been easy – as well as struggling with grief, the customers just aren’t spending time or money in her bookshop, A Tale as Old as Time, and she has no idea what to do about it. And then there’s the ex who showed his true colours refusing to take “no” for an answer – and the threat of eviction because of the now overgrown garden and the failing business has made the possibility of carrying on look impossible.

Crying her heart out in the garden, her distress is heard by her “scary neighbour” – the reclusive and rarely seen owner of the flower shop next door, The Beast’s Enchanted Rose Garden. They begin to talk through the overgrown hedge, and he shows her real kindness – and helped by tea and biscuits with gifts of roses in return, his help becomes more practical, although his face always remains covered. And, with his support, the ideas begin to flow and the customers start to reappear – and if the one big event she’s planning can succeed, it might just give her a brighter future.

I’m very deliberately not going to tell any more of the story – you’ll have realised, I’m sure, that it’s a modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast – because I really want every reader who picks it up to be as enchanted by it as I was. The bookshop setting is inspired – Marnie’s passion for the books she sells is something you can really feel, and I found myself urging her on and hoping her every new idea would be a success. She’s also a really sympathetic and loveable character – easy to identify with, hurting when she hurts, sharing her moments of joy, and feeling the growing attraction to her mysterious neighbour. And his full story very slowly emerges too – entirely heartbreaking, with some real surprises along the way as his true character is gradually uncovered.

The romance in the story provides – quite honestly – some of the loveliest moments I’ve ever read, so perfectly written and intensely moving. There’s one particular moment… and no, I really mustn’t, but I could feel every second of it, aching inside, hardly breathing, and with tears in my eyes. That’s such special writing – and I’d defy anyone not to feel the same. And, as well as the wonderful couple at the heart of the story who I grew to love beyond measure, there’s the warm community of Ever After Street offering their friendship and support – and there were times when that filled my heart and moved me to tears too.

This might just be a tale as old as time, but the author’s storytelling has raised it into a class of its own. This was a book I entirely adored – but I suspect you can probably tell. If you love romance, you really must add it to your reading list now – I promise you’ll feel exactly the same as I did.

Another stunning book by Jaimie, wonderfully written. Lovely range of characters and plot, penned in Jaimie's expert way. Loved it!

I don't recall reading a fairy-tale retelling before, and this one was delightful.
It was a Beauty and the Beast retelling and such a sweet story.
Ask any booklover what their favourite fairy-tale/Disney movie is, and most of us will say Beauty and the Beast, purely for the books!

Marnie and Darcey are so wonderful together and really bring out the best in each other - and help each other discover sides to themselves they never realised they had.

Of course, every Disney fairy-tale has a villain we love to hate, and this one is no exception.

I enjoyed this one, and I'm pleased to hear it's a series!

This was my first Jaimie Admans, but not my last.

I adored this book! It's such a lovely, heartwarming story. Its fairy tale theme is enchanting and charming and focuses on friendships, love and kindness. It was so sweet and endearing. It made me feel that every little community should have a local bookshop like Marnie's. It manages to bring people together in friendship and for me, it really brightened up a very miserable week in January.

The Beauty and the Beast parallels were cute. I loved the garden scenes, especially Marnie and Darcy's first meeting and a lot of their interactions had me laughing out loud. As Darcy mellowed and began to trust others again it was lovely to see the neighbours change their minds about him and genuinely care about his welfare.

This was simply a gorgeous, uplifting story and if you are a fan of Beauty and the Beast and old-fashioned romance then this is one you won't want to miss or leave lingering on your TBR.

Will there ever be a book by Jaimie Admans that I don’t love? I don’t think so. An Enchanted Moment on Ever After Street is the second book in the series, but you can totally read it as a stand-alone. Although, I highly recommend you read book 1 because it is amazing. In this occasion we have a story based on a classic many of us love: Beauty and the Beast. We have Marnie who is still grieving her mother’s death and we have Darcy, aka Scary Neighbor. After being brought together by a messy garden, he doesn’t seem so Scary anymore, but why is he so reclusive and most important of all, how can Marnie save her bookshop?
I loved every single part of this book, reading Marnie’s story was lovely, not only because everything is related to books and booklovers and I am a big fan of bookish books, but because we can find a story about a woman trying to find her place in the world and doing what she likes and helping people at the same time. We see her grow and come out of her shell and do pretty much the same for Darcy.
I must admit that it was a bit predictable in some point but I was still entranced, reading page after page and not wanting the book to end. It was a deeply enjoyable read, a really gripping story and I’m not only already missing the characters (we get to see the characters from the first book) but also eager of reading the third book in the series.