The Belle and the Beard

De: Kate Canterbary

Narrado por: Zachary Webber, Jo Raylan

Jasper-Anne Cleary’s guide to salvaging your life when you find yourself publicly humiliated, out of work, and unemployable at 35 - not to mention newly single:

1. Run away. Seriously, there’s no shame in disappearing. Go to that rustic old cottage your aunt left you. Look out for the colony of bats and the leaky roof. Oh, and the barrel-chested neighbor with shoulders like the broad side of a barn. Definitely look out for him.

2. Stop wallowing and stay busy. It doesn’t matter whether you know how to bake or fix things around the house. Do it anyway. Dust off your southern hospitality and feed that burly, bearded neighbor some pecan pie.

3. Meet new people. Chat up the grumpy man-bear, pretend to be his girlfriend when his mother puts you two on the spot, agree to go as his date to a big family party. Don’t worry - it’s only temporary.

4. Cry it out. Screwing up your life entitles you to wine, broody-moody music, and uninterrupted sobbing.

5. Get over it all by getting under someone. Count on your fake boyfriend to deliver some very real action between the sheets.

6. Move on. The disappearing act, the cottage, the faux beau - none of it can last forever.

Linden Santillian’s guide to surviving the invasion when a hell-in-heels campaign strategist moves in next door:

1. Do not engage. There is no good reason you should chop her wood, haul her boxes, or pick her apples.

2. Do not accept gifts, especially not the homemade ones. Disconnect the doorbell, toss your phone over a bridge, hide in the basement if you must, but do not eat her pie.

3. Do not introduce her to your friends and family. They’ll favor her over you and never let you forget it.

4. Do not intervene when she’s crying on the back porch. Ignore every desire to fix the entire world for her.

5. Do not take her to bed, even if it’s just to get her out of your system.

6. Do not, under any circumstances, fall in love with her.

©2021 Kate Canterbary (P)2021 Kate Canterbary

Unique love story.

Amazing. I’m going to recommend this book and this author to all my reader friends. The Belle and The Beard has a little bit of everything, I laugh a lot. These characters make me fall in love with them with each book. Linden’s mom Diane is one one my favorite characters, she’s a hoot. She loves her children fiercely and isn’t afraid to meddle in their lives but with caution. The Santilian family is a breath of fresh air, the love they share amongst them is unique. Very unique and beautiful love story between Linden and Jasper.

Nice read

I liked this one. Good story line, good humor between the characters. This was a cute opposites attract story. I found myself laughing out loud throughout the story. Zachary Webber and Jo Raylan are great narrators.

I loved it!

The banter between these two was really enjoyable. Just to actually see the development between Linden and Jasper and the walls coming down.

Favorite part of the book was writing the notes, which happens in chapter seven or eight. That's when their dynamic really began to change and the relationship really started to blossom after that.

I actually love the books that get right to it, I like the slow build, but I love when the author genuinely captures the attraction. I know it is possible for love at first sight and I'm also aware this is fiction, but there is something more sexy and intimate about building on that attraction. I don't mind the sex right away either but the anticipation if done correctly makes it so much more. When Lin and Jas had their sex scenes and when he would just talk to her, my chest was tight. That's just how emotional it was. I think these 2 are my favorite for now, I've listened to a lot of books in a short period and these 2 have stolen my heart.

Linden and Jasper

I loved this story!! Jasper is the epitome of a southern belle, accent and all. She inherits her aunts house, and meets her new neighbor, Linden, a grumpy bearded arborist. He is immediately protective over her, and wants to make sure that she is careful while she attempts to renovate the old house. Jasper just escaped the chaos she created from her previous job, as a political candidate assistant. After loosing her job, and her aunt, she wants to see start over, and try to figure things out on her own, but of course, the hot neighbor has other plans. Loved their HEA, Loved being able to read about the Santillian triplets.

Emotional and steamy

It’s the last book and the quiet and secluded Santillian triplet was saved for last. “The Belle and the Beard” is an emotional, steamy and intense neighbors to lovers romance that wrapped up the series nicely.

Linden Santillian is the triplet that likes to keep to himself. He lives in the woods and is an arborist taking care of the trees in his area. And when the cabin next door that has been vacant for years suddenly has a new tenant, he’s less than pleased. Jasper-Anne Cleary has left the craziness of Washington D.C. for something more quiet as she figures out her next move. The cabin is in need of some serious work so focusing on that to maybe sell it later is the perfect distraction. The last thing she was expecting was the grumpy mountain man next door that sees through all the walls she’s built around herself. A relationship is the last thing either wants but they can’t stay away from each other.

This book has a different feel than the first two and it’s a little heavier on the emotions. Linden is the quieter one of his siblings and loves his solitude in the forest. But he cares for his family deeply and would do anything for them. He’s a natural protector and that shines throughout the story, especially when it comes to Jasper. Jasper’s career imploded when she made some honest, hot mic comments about a political candidate she was working with. But she’s full of integrity and I admired her for standing up for what is right. Her childhood was hard based on circumstances that were unfair to her and are why she had her walls up. But Linden was there when she needed him and was the support she needed to be able to start over. I loved how they first met and it was the beginning of an intense relationship. They had chemistry from the start but both were trying to avoid any sort of relationship. But once they were in, they were all in. They were each missing a puzzle piece to their life and they just clicked once they were together. The book did have some funny moments, especially when his family was involved. The ending was so sweet and wrapped the series perfectly.

Jo Raylan and Zachary Webber narrated as Jasper and Linden and I loved listening to them bring this story to life. Jo brought Jasper’s vulnerable and caring side alive perfectly. Zachary was amazing as the protective and quiet Linden.

I love Beards!

It's Kate Canterbary so I love this book. Zachary has become one of my go to narrators. I love his interpretations of characters and situations. This was my first read by Jo Raylan and well not so sure I would listen again. I had to turn up the volume on her chapters and go back to relisten to some of the passages. I had a hard time understanding her. But if Kate uses her again I will buy.

few fun parts

no where near as fun as "Boss in the Bedsheets". There where several parts of the story I would have liked to hear more about. spoilers.... how did her mother just leave her with the evil in-laws? did they ever get what they deserved? etc etc. I like stories that make me smile. I bought this because the previous one did that. this did not. quite sure I won't listen again. it's a 4 instead of a 3 only because it was well developed

I love this story…

…and Zachary Webber does not disappoint. Jo Raylan was not my favorite; she was oddly breathy. But I read this book last year when it was released and it was so enjoyable, so 5 stars for the story and Zachary Webber and maybe just 3 for Jo Raylan.

Great story.

Wonderful and rich story. The female narrator was a bit tough to put up with. Could have been just the male narrator for the entire book.

Listen Now!

Great third story in this series. Great narration!! Linden and Master's story is great! Growly read