A delightful collection of short stories that pick up the lives of various characters from the books and series of Lily Morton. I quickly finished this, looking for my favorite coupleās stories first, then going back through the others.
A absolutely joy to revisit each one of these characters and see them once again, in various places in their relationships. Moving, funny and always beautifully written.
A must read for lovers of the books and author.
āThese short stories catch up with the men in my books after their stories have ended. Therefore, there are a lot of spoilers. Please donāt read the shorts until youāve read the original books.ā-Lily Morton
Drawn together for the first time, this is a collection of Lilyās short stories about some of the much-loved men from her books. Follow them through meeting the parents, a disastrous camping weekend, and a rather eventful school trip.
It includes stories previously written for her website, newsletter, and readersā group, along with five brand new and exclusive short storiesāThe School Trip, A Honeysuckle Interlude, A Family Affair, Beeās Amsterdam, and Gone Camping.
Paper Roses just might be my favorite book of Lily Mortonās fabulous Confetti Hitched series. The third story in this series about a wedding planning business, Confetti Hitched, the authorās focus turns from its engaging, vivacious employees to its owner, Jed Walker and his PA, Artie.
Jed, a widower, and his adorable PA Artie, are about to tumble into that popular romance trope, the fake marriage. In Mortonās story, this romantic framework for Jed and Artieās HEA is a hilarious, poignant, heartwarming tale of two men clearly destined for each other. The obstacles in their relationship, a dead husbandās memory, a timeline , and various misunderstandings are clearly present. However , Mortonās narrative takes the wonderful slow road in allowing the meaningful aspects to of the past relationship and their current feelings a slow recognition to be fully understood. I enjoyed that the reveal was part of the growing relationship. It was extremely satisfying to see such adult relationships here.
I also adore that Mal and Caden and their farm were very much involved in parts of this story. Hilarious and very entertaining.
So much laughter here as well as romance. The pages flew by. I can see this couple having so much entertainment and joy in their lives together going forward.
Paper Roses (Confetti Hitched Book 3) by Lily Morton will be a reread for me. I loved this couple so and it left me feeling so lighthearted and happy.
Another win and highly recommended story by this author for me.
Jed Walker thinks heās having a midlife crisis. The only trouble is that it feels too good to stop.
Widowed at a young age, heās spent his life since then avoiding any relationships that might end up hurting him again. He has his successful wedding planning business, Confetti Hitched, and a series of uncomplicated hookups, and thatās all he needs in life
The one person disrupting this controlled stoicism is his younger assistant, Artie. Heās sweet and kind and has a funny way of calming Jedās mind. So, when Artie comes to him with a problem, Jed moves heaven and earth to help, which is how he finds himself entering a fake marriage with the younger man and catching feelings. Too bad itās all pretend. Or is it?
From bestselling author Lily Morton comes a story about how love can completely derail the best-laid plans.
This is the third book in the Confetti Hitched series, but it can be read as a standalone.
On Circus Lane by Lily Morton is another one of this authorās fantastic heartwarming Christmas stories. The second novel, Merry Measure, was released first in December 2020, and is the hilarious holiday story of Arlo Wright, the younger brother. And I love it.
But it had been several years since Iād read it so I approached On Circus Lane with fresh eyes and as though the characters were completely new to me. After a reread, I think this is the best way to go into the book because Bee and Tom Wright were secondary characters in Merry Measure and I love their personalities and characters so much more here .
As they roam around the snow covered streets of Edinburgh, peering into the tiny alleyways and decorated shops that Morton vividly describes, we become deeply connected to this complicated marvelous couple. As with all her books, Morton has visited and traveled the same pathways that her characters take so the incredible sights and experiences of their journey come alive through the authorās own eyes as her imagination. Itās so beautifully written and charming.
Layered into the charming holiday landscape are the perfectly executed characters of Bee Bannister and Tom Wright. Bee is that slowly unfolding gift of hidden depths, adolescence painful secrets, and unimaginable intelligence wrapped up in a lovely quirky man who trusts few and has an unlimited appetite for knowledge. I adore him . Tom Wright, with his unusual family background and his parents romantic love story, is the perfect companion and character whose own journey to love is one that fits in so beautifully that the reader is along with them emotionally each step forward.
Secondary characters like Sal and Ivy, Frank and awful boyfriend Stephen are just as well crafted, full of energy and personality. We love them, root for them, and even dislike one of them ,itās a complete cast of recognizable people that add to a warmhearted romance full of the sights and atmosphere of the holiday season in Edinburgh.
In short, a fabulous story and a must read this year.
The first time Bee Bannister met Tom Wright, he couldnāt stand him.
Everything about the man aggravated himāhis perfect hair and body, his confident arrogance, and the way he looked straight through Bee.
Which is why itās such an unpleasant shock to find that heāll be sharing space with him while on a Christmas holiday with friends in Scotland.
However, as the days fly by and snowy Edinburgh begins to work its magic on him, Bee discovers that sometimes first impressions can be very misleading. Tom is kind and funny, and somehow, rather than looking through Bee, he actually sees and likes all of him.
The two men grow closer, but will Bee follow his heart or his head when the holiday ends? And can relationships that start so badly ever lead to love?
From bestselling author Lily Morton comes a festive romantic comedy about enemies to lovers and the magic of Christmas.
This is the first book in the Wright Brothers series.
I love it when I can giggle or laugh out loud when reading a book. It happens often when Iām thoroughly invested in one of Lily Mortonās contemporary romances. And it occurs again, right from the beginning, in Something Borrowed, the second in this authorās marvelous Confetti Hitched series.
That delicious, bubbly feeling engages when we meet the irrepressible wedding planner, Rafferty. That initial heart stopping, hilarious run to a wedding had me in tears, scenes so memorable, in and out of the story, Iām still in awe of Mortonās ability to write such visually comedic moments that also deliver great storytelling and multi-dimensional characters.
Thatās pretty much how the author continues through this journey of a forever romance between two childhood friends. Itās hilarious, yet poignantly realistic with its emotional elements of Rafferty Kendrickās dysfunctional childhood parenting, and Stanās rapidly deteriorating vision. Mortonās especially close relationship to this topic is known to her followers but she also talks about it in a note at the end of the book. Itās just one more reason why this element and part of Stanās character rings with such authenticity.
The focal point of this friends to lovers romance is Raffertyās inability to commit to his romantic for Stan over his fear that he is just like his parents in their inability to make a relationship work . Alongside that runs Stanās own personal fear of ruining their friendship by not asking Rafferty for more than the one they have.
Iāll admit an inability to communicate with each other isnāt an ideal element in a story but the surrounding threads and characters make it understandable, if not exactly what I wanted. But the scintillating dialogue, warmhearted humor, and believable relationships here overwhelmingly reinforce that the men here love each other and belong together.
Even Bennett the cad, as I often referred to him in my mind, couldnāt derail that. That bit with the promise didnāt come out as entirely plausible but needed as a dramatic push for Rafferty to move things forward.
And then it was lovely. And full of laughter and I was reminded how much I adore these characters and the writing of Lily Morton.
Itās a delightful story for lovers of contemporary romance and fans of this author. A definite win!
Stan has never let his blindness hold him back, but heās beginning to realise his love life is keeping him from moving forward.
He canāt remember a time when he wasnāt in love with his best friend. Rafferty is everything to himāhis partner in crime, his confidante, and the person who understands him best. But Rafferty is incapable of reciprocating Stanās feelings.
As a successful wedding planner, Rafferty is passionately committed to helping newlyweds begin their happily-ever-afters, but after a rootless childhood heās equally determined not to seek his own. How can he trust in love and marriage when so many of his brides and grooms are repeat customers?
Stan is the glue that keeps the pieces of Raffertyās life together, and as such Rafferty has always kept Stan safely in the friend box where he canāt lose him. However, lately that conviction has wavered and now Rafferty is bursting with complicated feelings for his best friend. The timing couldnāt be worse because Rafferty has realised heās in love with Stan just as Stan is moving on.
āChoose love not in the shallows but in the deep.ā – Christina Rossettiā
ā French Fancy (The Model Agency Book 2) by Lily Morton
French Fancy rose right into a tie for the top spot for favorite Lily Morton romances and, happily, into my small comfort read list of books I must have by my bedside to grab as needed for emergency occasions.
I picked it up when I got the notification it was out and, finished at 4 am in the morning, as a grumpy canine companion can attest to. I probably would have finished sooner but I kept going backwards over certain areas, laughing until I had tears in my eyes, or giggling in sheer appreciation of some of the sharpest dialogue and snappy interchanges in recent memory between characters.
Help me, some of those phrases are setting me off still! I donāt want to bring them up here for several reasons. One, I doubt Amazon would let most of the quotes get through with their racy content but more importantly, itās because I want the readers to have the spontaneous delight in coming across them in context and having their own reactions! Whatever they may be.
This book and characters just does it for me! Ticks all my boxes in terms of excellent storytelling, fabulous writing, and memorable characters.
I could talk about character development and depth of personality but, honestly, the best thing I can say about French Fancy is that itās not as if Iām reading a story about characters , but seeing people living their best lives, finding their true paths with help from their friends and families, whether they be through blood or through a foundation built by connections. I absolutely feel I know and genuinely love these people, would recognize them if I met them.
If someone asked me about them, I think I might actually reply as I would if youād asked about a friend āyes, theyāre doing fabulous last I heard , finally!ā.
Pip Simmonds, Olivier Durand, the gorgeous villa Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, they have found a permanent place in my heart. It didnāt take long. My TBR pile will suffer as Iām heading back for a reread.
I really need more of them and look forward of getting that in future books to come just as saw delightful , moving scenes with Dean and Jonas and Ruby, their daughter.
I wish I could go higher than 5. Oh well.
Lily Morton goes deep into the fears of loss, the endurance people are capable of, the strength of the support of families and friends, and, finally, how, the power of love can overcome even the most painful of barriers.
French Fancy (The Model Agency Book 2) by Lily Morton is a fantastic book and one Iāll have one reread. Iām highly recommending it!
Pip Simmonds is the twinkiest twink in London. Heās loud, proud, and packed to the brim with sass. But when heās laid low by illness, even his hotpants lose their sparkle and his worried boss sends him to the South of France to recuperate in his holiday home.
Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is beautiful, and the periwinkle-blue villa is luxurious, but the real draw for Pip is the villaās other residentāhis bossās younger brother, Olivier Durand.
Olivier owns a perfume empire and has spent his whole life running from any other form of commitment. Heās worldly, carefree, wild, and the perfect choice for a holiday fling.
Drawn together by proximity, the two men become lovers and friends and then something more. Something special. But will their special bond hold true after summerās end, when they both must return to their real lives?
This is the second book in the bestselling Model Agency series, but it can be read as a standalone.
I have been anticipating this book since I encountered Joe Bagshaw in Vow Maker, where he acted as the wedding planner to Gabe and Dylan. It was a hilarious and memorable introduction. And made all the readers want more, especially his painful romantic history.
Morton reveals Joeās love life and tale of marriage woe between scenes of weddings that Joeās firm is handling, past and present. This format works in some respects to help the story and not in others.
By breaking down the story into different timelines, a wedding here that begins the relationship, a wedding that sees the men meet up again, and so on to weddings three and four, the reader gets a wonderful feel for the strong amazing personality that is Joe Bagshaw. Quick witted, kind, thoughtful, well organized, and extremely intelligent. Heās exactly who youād want to plan your wedding. Or anything else for that matter. We connect with Joe immediately.
The other man in this unusual relationship that they arenāt calling a relationship? That would be forensic accountant Lachlan Moore. Older, self possessed, and assured of himself and his status quo, personally and professionally , heās not the immediate choice weād expect for Joe. Heās not a bad person but from the early stages, Morton doesnāt give the reader (or Joe) enough reason to believe he is the best person for that amazing being we love.
In my opinion, this is where the issues with the format overlap into character and relationship development. And not for the first time in a Lily Morton story.
Lachlan falls into that category of main protagonists that are emotionally unavailable to the other more engaging and lovable men in their lives. For the majority of the story, itās Joe whoās the narrator. Through Joeās thoughts and feelings, we watch as Lachlan creates a āon my terms only ā scenario for them where not even the term date can be used. When they marry, he then leaves Joe to be abused by a housekeeper, his friends, and his PA. Even a house. We, Joeās audience , along with Joeās friends , find this situation naturally appalling.
Morton has created a one-sided emotional connection with the couple through Joe with her readers. Only later does Lachlan get his perspective voiced. By then itās almost too late.
The authorās plan to right this one sidedness starts at a wedding in Scotland. There itās a strictly 2 person POV. So Lachlan becomes the fully fleshed out character he should have been all along. However, Iām not sure heās still a great person.
Communication, or itās lack of, is key here between the two people. Neither was able to talk to the other person about their feelings or the fact they were upset until now. Thatās not addressed either. A secret from Lachlanās end doesnāt help on the open communication front.
Thereās another smaller issue for me. I donāt know why but itās stuck with me because it held such promise for being such a tiny narrative gem.
Frances is the mother of Erica, the bride whose wedding is being held in Scotland. Frances is a veritable harridan. Nasty, demanding, arrogant, Frances has made Joeās job difficult and her name is synonymous with the worst that bridezilla mothers can deliver. But just when sheās fallen into a stereotype, Morton elevates this controlling one dimensional woman into someone human. It happens during a snowed in game night.
ā Iād thought Frances would steer the ship, but unexpectedly she defers to her husband, and thereās even a smile on her lips as they look at each other. I narrow my eyes.ā
It goes further with Frances emerging as a defender of another member of her family. And Frances goes from harridan to family matriarch with a inner life of her own. What a transformation in a few sentences!
But such a subtle , and appreciated detail wasnāt to last. Morton throws away this lovely narrative gem by reducing Frances once more to a comic flat horror of a woman because Joe needed a one-liner towards the end of the romance.
Itās choices like those, where the easy narrative path was taken, rather than the one where the author must build up the storyline further with heft and a sense of fullness, that leaves this lacking.
Mortonās booklist has so many novels where such care was taken. It pains me to say that Joe Bagshaw – Mooreās isnāt one of them. I so hoped it was.
So read this because we fell in love with Joe and want to know what happened to him. Because Lily Morton is a must read for you. For all the others, you decide if itās the age gap, second chance at love story next on your TBR pile.
Joe Bagshaw doesnāt believe in love or marriage anymore, which is rather a hindrance for a wedding planner.
His own marriage was a whirlwind affair that ended before the ink could dry on the wedding certificate. Nevertheless, even with his divorce pending, heās getting by. Or at least he was until he finds himself snowed in at a remote Scottish hotel with the wedding party from hell, a terrible ABBA tribute band, and his soon-to-be ex-husband.
Lachlan has missed Joe from the second his husband walked away. He wants Joe back and is prepared to do anything to get him. Being snowed in together seems to offer the chance Lachlan needs, but does he have what it takes to get Joe to trust in love and their marriage again?
From bestselling author Lily Morton, comes a romantic comedy about love, matrimony, and the best of second chances.
This is the first book in the Confetti Hitched series.
Vow Maker is the fourth and supposedly final book in Lily Mortonās Mixed Messages series. After 7 years together, Gabe and Dylan (Rule Breaker #1) , are finally getting married. If they can agree on a wedding planner.
In true Morton style, what ensues is a story that embraces all the aspects and emotional elements a complicated couple brings to the decision to get married. In turn, itās downright hilarious, sobering and deep when their discussions turns to the past and the barriers that had come between them, warm-hearted, and sexy.
The Gabe and Dylan here have settled into their relationship with a deep love and understanding of each other. Mixed in with interactions with the close friends and family weāve gotten to know through the previous books, itās a joy to jump back into this universe like a old friend.
Mortonās beautiful writing and exquisite way with characters and relationship dynamics connects the reader immediately with the issues that have blocked the coupleās successful journey to marriage. Gabeās old nightmares, his fears , become real to us as his past rises up to haunt him.
What he does and how he believably works through this damage pulls us emotionally even more into this couple and their future.
One of the greatest new elements and characters is their chosen wedding planner. To go further with any reveal on him is to spoil some truly guffaw inducing moments. Heās a gem and Iām hoping he gets his own romance.
Itās hard to believe that Vow Maker would bring an end to our journey with this charming, complicated crew of men. Iām hoping not. I not ready to let them go.
I am highly recommending this story but please read their beginnings in Rule Breaker to see how it all started. Iāve listed them out below.
However, after seven years of being engaged, thatās looking slightly doubtful. After going through ten wedding planners, theyāre gaining a reputation somewhat akin to Henry the Eighth on the wedding circuit.
From bestselling author Lily Morton comes the sequel to Rule Breaker. A romantic comedy novella full of family chaos, meddling friends, sexy bathroom encounters, and love. Always love.
ā-
Unless itās noted, all books reviewed have been purchased by the reviewer.
Another wonderful contemporary romance from Lily Morton, Spring Strings is situated in the same model universe that has such wonderful characters as the incredibly beautiful always stoned Dean, Jude, and the effervescent Pip.
Itās a novella so unlike some of Mortonās longer fabulously memorable stories, Spring Strings misses in some of the depth of character history and layering sheās able to bring to her novels.
But Malachi Booth is such a striking character, in strong wry personality as well in beauty, that it goes a long way in helping her readers through the narrative shortcomings. Cadan Landry, his farm in Cornwall, do the rest of the heavy lifting for the romance and storytelling.
The charm of the farm and itās setting, gruff Caden, his precarious financial situation, everything makes him and his predicament relatable.
Throw in Mal and the romance becomes a lively, sexy dance to love and HEA.
I found it entertaining and lovely.
Iām definitely recommending it for lovers of contemporary romance and Lily Morton.
Description:
Malachi Booth is a supermodel. Heās used to moving about the world, sleeping with whoever takes his fancy and watching the money roll in. The last place he expects to find himself is on a run-down farm in Cornwall, but a bad bout of bronchitis means that heās stuck there. The only compensation for this dismal state of affairs is that the farmer is very good looking, even if heās the grumpiest person that Malachi has ever met.
Cadan Landryās farm has been in his family for hundreds of years but that doesnāt make it any easier to make ends meet. As a consequence, Cadan could be called grumpy. Most men would consider a supermodel collapsing at their feet while dressed in the skimpiest pair of briefs ever made to be a sign of good fortune. Cadan just resents the fact that the young man is taking up space in his cow field.
These two men are from different worlds, but can they ever meet in the middle?
From bestselling author Lily Morton comes a novella about snarky models, misconceptions, and finding a home in the most unlikely of places.
Lily Mortonās Short Stack Collections follow our favorite couples from her romances after their happily ever after endings. What happens next? Or sometimes just before.
Itās the main question every reader and fan has wanted to know when they get involved in the lives of a couple and their relationship. We want to know what happened next?
Did some get married? What? What?
Morton has given her readers a collection of short stories featuring eleven couples from some of my most favorite romances. Some of these stories are ones I often wish had been folded into the books themselves as quite a few take place before the epilogues of the novels mentioned. Others occur after the books have ended so we get glimpses into the lives the coupleās are now leading.
Happy sigh ensues.
All are well written with style that brings these characters so vividly to life, so grounded within the framework the authorās set out for them.
If youāre not familiar with these stories, youāll be at an immediate loss here. Iāve put the book each couple is from in parentheses next to their names.
For me, the successful stories were the ones that came from those books and couples I loved the most. Apparently my favorites carried over.
The richness of their original novels and romances flowed over into these stories too. I could see them easily written at the same time. It made me want to go and pick up those books and dive back into the love affairs that made me laugh and cry and sigh .
What joy!
So if youāre new. Head to the books these reference. If youāre familiar with these novels, set back and enjoy a side journey with memorable couples you have wanted to see again.
Plus one very stoned Dean appearance thatās hilarious.
Iām highly recommending this second collection as well as the first.
Note:Some of these appear on the authorās website, others are new exclusive stories.
Drawn together for the first time, this is a collection of Lilyās short stories about some of the much-loved men from her books. Follow them through wet and windy marriage proposals, surprise workplace visits, and a very entertaining ghost tour.
It includes stories previously written for her website, newsletter, and readersā group, along with four brand new and exclusive short storiesāGertie and the Glitch, A Red Ribbon, When Will Met Jem, and Sun Cove.
Best Love is a previously published short story (Heart2Heart Anthology, old title The Tattoo Artist and the Writer) thatās been reworked, along with a epilogue.
Itās new title, Best Love, is absolutely fitting for the love story of writer Noah Sutton and tattoo artist Sage Higgins. Best friends and soul mates since Sageās mother and his brothers moved next door to Noah and his single mother at age seven, theyāve been inseparable except for certain college years and Sageās time spent traveling.
A Valentineās Day blind date arranged by a app goes wrong and they end up together, going on the dates they would have taken their dates on.
One of Lily Mortonās many gifts is the ability to write a relationship that feels emotionally entwined. One grounded in years together spent in getting to know each other so deeply that the stage where the reader comes in upon them feels rich in shared history and lives spent in a bond thatās become deeply part of each man.
Morton can accomplish this skill of writing a multidimensional relationship and beautifully defined characters in a short length of page space. Some richly crafted scenes, accompanied by dialogue that enlivens both the characters yet heightens whatever emotions the authorās narrative has in store for them (and the reader). All done precisely but with a true palette of a word artist.
In a short time, we know these men intimately. We know their history together and the feelings theyāve hidden from each other.
And we care immediately for them and the relationship.
Then Morton takes all of us on a journey to HEA.
If youāre not familiar with this author, then you might not realize youāre about to visit some fascinating locations and find out some intriguing elements about whatever place the couple ends up strolling around.
*cracks knuckles, readies Google fu*
It never ever comes across as a travelogue but is seamlessly folded into Noah and Sageās journey to love and happiness.
Here we both climb up the Minsterās Tower tour in York (a real tour) for a breathtaking sight of all of York below. Then itās off to Staithes for Captain Cook, artists, and the incredible Painted Illusion Trail.
But thatās all secondary, to the depth of the changes that this long relationship is undergoing as the men slowly open up as they spend all this time together showing the other things about themselves.
Best Love is a short story that manages to feel as though youāre taking a long journey with a couple youāve known for a long time.
Itās moving, heartwarming, and so rewarding.
Itās one Iām highly recommending.
Plus Google those trips and be prepared to want to visit there yourself. Just as I do.
Noah and Sage have been best friends since they were seven when Sage climbed over the wall between their childhood homes. They know everything about each other apart from one small thing. Noah is hopelessly in love with Sage and doesn’t ever intend to tell him.
However, fate has other plans. A dating website with a glitch in its system leads Sage to challenge Noah. Two days in which they will show each other their best dates. What could possibly go wrong?
At the end of these two days will the men discover that the best love comes with someone who really knows you, or will they fall back into being just good friends?
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 