The Blogger and the Hunk by Jane Matisse a five-star read you will want to snuggle with. What a great debut novel, I really hope that this author keeps up the writing as I need more of her style in my life. This story may be similar to some others out there, but the author has taken a new spin and breathes life into the story, she makes it her own with blog posts at the start of each chapter and they all have great little quirks to them that make the story that much funnier. Penelope was a great character and I adored her behaviours she was a little crazy and quirky she was so prim and proper, and you couldn’t imagine her misbehaving then she goes wild and ends up stealing clothes, all of the little details made for such a great story that I just couldn’t put it down. Thank you Jane Matisse you have a great talent for writing and now you need to get back to the keys.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Sara Oxtonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngSara Oxton2018-08-21 13:32:062018-10-07 13:32:32The Blogger and The Hunk by Jane Matisse – Review by Sara Oxton
Belleza and the Brute is the first book I have read by Jane Matisse, but it wont be the last. I love retelling of classic stories, so when I saw this, I knew it was something I wanted to read. I love the story and characters, and the perfect balance between drama and romance. Elena Salazar plays the roll of “Beauty” but her life is not all magical unicorns and rainbows. Her parents died when she was young, leaving her to take care of her brother. She did the best she could, but he became addicted to gambling and she spent her life bailing him out of bad situations. When she got a phone call from her brother in the middle of the night, she was pissed, and that one phone call changed her life. He owed money to Tristan Mercier, and it couldnt be paid. In return for his pardon, Elena agrees to work for and live with Tristan for 6 months, while her brother goes to rehab, being paid for by Tristan. Tristan, the “Beast,” is a successful businessman, owning one of the most popular clubs in the city. He was ready to call the cops on Adam, (Elena’s brother) for being a punk kid who gambled money he didnt have. That is until his sister comes to his rescue, and instantly twists up Tristan’s insides and life. He has sworn off love, after a tragic fire left him wounded and scarred, both inside and out. While he hired Elena, to simplify his work, and get his business paperwork in order, it seems her presence in his home causes disarray in his personal life. If only he can let go of his past, and forgive himself, he may once again, find happiness.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Elizabeth Sanchezhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngElizabeth Sanchez2018-08-21 12:12:122018-10-03 12:15:41Belleza and the Brute: A Modern-Day Retelling of Beauty and the Beast by Jane Matisse – Review by Elizabeth Sanchez
The Blogger and the Hunk by Jane Matisse is a standalone contemporary romance told in different POV’s of our main characters. The story is interesting and flowed easily and is well written. Whilst I enjoyed the story I was a little disheartened with the overall thoughts on what a woman should look like as expressed by our male characters. I really wanted to shake and wake them to the real world. I also felt that the sister was a bit self absorbed and had no clue what was happening around her. But what I loved was that our main character finally finally found their self worth. In the end it all came together and is a sweet romance story.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Jenni Bishophttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngJenni Bishop2018-08-21 11:02:082019-01-09 11:03:28The Blogger and the Hunk by Jane Matisse – Review by Jenni Bishop
Fantastic story!! Penny loves her job, her parents, her sister, her 2 best friends, and her books. Happy in her own company, the last thing she’s anticipating is her unwanted feelings for Jack. In a perfect world, her one night stand would have been just that, however fate doesn’t always cooperate with what we want or plan. I can say it’s not often I don’t automatically like the male counterpart of a romance novel, but Jack took some time warming up to. Penny comes off as a quiet, inexperienced introvert. Jack a loud, opinionated player. They make an unlikely couple, and right off, I felt like Penny was better suited to someone with similar interests as herself. By the end, my opinion changed. I found this to be a quick read, with several twists keeping you hooked and anticipating what’s to come next. 5 stars and looking forward to reading more by this author!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Crystal Davidsonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngCrystal Davidson2018-08-21 10:35:262018-10-16 10:35:54The Blogger and the Hunk by Jane Matisse – Review by Crystal Davidson
Belleza and the Brute is a fantastic story by Jane Matisse. This is Ms. Matisse’s second book and it is my favourite of hers, so far. The story is wonderful, a bit of a twist and modern touch to the classic “Beauty and the Beast”. The characters were particularly good, very well developed, and incredibly endearing. I snapped this book up as soon as it came up on my feed and I couldn’t read it quickly enough- I was completely captivated and immersed in the story right from the beginning- flying through the pages and devouring every word. I was so enchanted by this superb story that I read it in one sitting…. because I really didn’t want to put it down. The story has so much to love about it- taking the reader of a journey full of love, loss, grief, second chances, betrayal, and sooo much more.
Elena Salazar has had a lot of hardship and pain in her 26 years. Recently losing her job, she is incredibly worried about how she will make ends meet- so imagine her distress when she gets a call in the middle of the night from her wayward brother, begging her for money to help pay a gambling debt. But with no money to her name, Elena goes to the man her brother is indebted to in the hope of finding a solution to the problem. This puts her in the sights of Tristan Mercier, who has his own demons- haunted by a life-shattering event 5 years earlier, he is closed off, intimidating, dark and intense. But there is something about Elena that strikes a spark within Tristan. He is intrigued enough to offer her a deal that Elena really has no choice but to accept. The deal is that Elena would work for Tristan for a 6-month period to pay off the debt, while her brother goes to rehab to address his gambling problem. And so begins this incredible tale…….. but things are not quite what either are expecting. This deal will change their lives forever. You really should do yourself a favour and snap up a copy of this book for yourself and read all the intriguing details for yourself. You are bound to love it just as much as I have!
The story really had so much going for it and it was so easy to love. The storyline is a clever twist on the old classic, and even though there have been hundreds of ‘retellings’ that I’ve read over the years, this is definitely one of the best of that bunch. The story is witty- with funny quips, banter and antic; then there are touching and tender moments that melted my heart; the chemistry between Elena and Tristan was sizzling; there were suspenseful scenes that had me on the edge of my seat; which all amounted to me not being able to put the story down until I had finished the very last word.
Oh, and who wouldn’t love Toro- he’s such a wonderful addition to the story!
Bellissimo!
Thank you, Ms. Matisse!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Angela Hayeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngAngela Hayes2018-08-18 11:01:442018-09-28 11:02:35Belleza and the Brute by Jane Matisse – Review by Angela Hayes
Belleza and the Brute: A Modern-Day Retelling of Beauty and the Beast by Jane Matisse is the first book I have read by this author and boy it is a good first impression. Belleza and the Brute is a contemporary romance story but is also a second chance tale one that I loved reading. The characters are caring and compassionate, faithful and loving. One though has lost his way after a traumatic event and just needs the love and understanding of someone wonderful to hopefully help him find his way. You will find yourself caught up in many emotions that pull at your heartstrings. Pain and hurt, loss and torment, love and caring will see you wanting to reach out to help. The chemistry is sexy and smoldering you will need a cigarette by the time you have finished. LOL. If you love romance and second chances then this is a book that you don’t want to miss out on.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Jenni Bishophttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngJenni Bishop2018-08-18 10:50:252019-01-09 10:51:46Belleza and the Brute: A Modern-Day Retelling of Beauty and the Beast by Jane Matisse – Review by Jenni Bishop
The Blogger and the Hunk By Jane Matisse Rated 5 stars!
Wow! I seriously loved this book! I started it in the evening and finished up in the morning. I struggled putting it down as you can see. All of the characters were a-maz-ing! I totally understood Penelope’s plight. She is clumsy and always been a wallflower. I can understand her body issues. They were ingrained from an impressionable age and those are hard to get rid of. Jack preferred woman (leggy, blond, bubbly and stick thin) which wasn’t her but also contributed to her issues. This was not an issue for me while reading. I loved the characters and their interactions with each other. They made me laugh and say “Oh No don’t do/say that!” Or “You didn’t!”
Penelope is a inspiring girl. Yes she has issues, who doesn’t? But she enjoys her life and herself! She might by a possible hermit but what’s beneath her….is a jaw dropping girl.
Jack is a womanizing jerk! Ok that’s my first impression and a couple other times as well. I understood later that he was confused. And after a bit I forgave him for being that jerk. I was glad we were able to see his thought process it helped me understand him better.
Their friends (all six of them) were so welcome as part of the story. Each had a specific part to play and they fulfilled it perfectly. Their antics made me laugh, smirk and just smile!
This is my second book by this author and I enjoyed this one so much more! She hit everything spot on. The story was different (to an extent) and moved along at a nice pace. The characters had some growth spurts and she did a wonderful job with them. I will be putting this on my Re-read list. I highly recommend this if you like characters who are a little deeper and not perfect. Or if you enjoy fun times and close encounters.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Lisa Helmickhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngLisa Helmick2018-08-17 20:26:272018-10-01 19:36:06The Blogger and the Hunk by Jane Matisse – Review by Lisa Helmick
The Blogger and the Hunk is my first book by Jane Matisse. This was a super cute story, it was the blurb that had me wanting to read this book. The writing was easy to read and had a great plot. I enjoyed how Penelope and Jack tried to stay away but something always pulled them together. But I am sad to say that I didn’t really connect with Penelope and Jack. Other than that, this was a fun romantic comedy and I’m looking forward to reading more books by this author.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Jessica Leombrunohttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngJessica Leombruno2018-08-17 12:30:152018-10-24 12:31:38The Blogger and the Hunk by Jane Matisse – Review by Jessica Leombruno
Belleza and the Brute: A Modern-Day Retelling of Beauty and the Beast by Jane Matisse was a delightful retelling of an age old classic. I’m an absolute sap for all things beauty and the beast related, so this retelling was right up my alley. Matisse was able to give this old dusty fairy tale a fresh face and give it new life with a modern day flare. Both Elena and Tristan have skeletons in their closet that they’d love to keep tucked away. But when unlikely circumstances throw them together, neither can hide their attraction or their dirty little secrets. I really enjoyed this retelling of my favourite fairy tale and all the fun little quirks Matisse added to spice it up. I loved all the subtle nods to the movie and the original fairy tale, that made the story mesmerising to read. I loved all the characters and thought they were really well developed and three dimensional. I also loved how poetic and descriptive the writing was. Some parts were a little cliché, but it is a retelling and it’s impossible to not be. Loved the story and gave it 5/5
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Erin Davidsonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngErin Davidson2018-08-16 13:00:592018-10-05 13:02:15Belleza and the Brute by Jane Matisse – Review by Erin Davidson
Belleza and the Brute is a standalone novel from author Jane Matisse. This is my first read from this author and I’m so glad that I got the chance to read this. I can’t wait to see what else this author brings, and how her other books compare to this one but I’m excited to find out!
This book was compelling, intriguing and I cannot say how much I enjoyed this read. I loved that it was a take on Beauty and the Beast, but it also had it own unique spin to it that I really enjoyed. This book was romantic, steamy, sweet and at time entertaining and funny. But also maybe little predictable but that didn’t take away how much I enjoyed this read. I wouldn’t change anything about it. There was time in this read that a twist was thrown in that threw you, but it also gave this story an added depth. But you cannot ignore that there was something real and raw with this book with the nightmares and memories of Tristan’s and Elena’s past but also the thoughts and feeling that Tristan was feeling throughout this book. But there was also something with the vulnerability that he has that made you love him even more. Elena was most definitely the best thing that could happen to him, with them both experiencing pain and lost within each of their lives they found something within each other that connected them on a deeper level and I think she is exactly what Tristan needs to overcome and more forward from his past. Elena brings something and make him feels things he never wanted of thought he deserved to feel again, but you could help but just wish Tristan would stop being so stubborn and except his feelings that he knew were not going away and just except the inevitable.
Elena really knew how to pack a punch, she tested Tristan at points and also made him smile and laugh. They have a great chemistry that starts of slow and then ignited and cannot go ignored. I really think that it makes their relationship even more real for the fact that all the have faced and experienced they understand the hard times and except it from each other.
We cannot forget to mention the secondary characters that come into this read. Let’s first say if it wasn’t for Adam, Tristan and Elena would never get to where they are today, but I would love to read about his journey he takes after the events of this read. Also how amazing are Paola and Keith, they bring another level of excellence to this read and the journey our two main characters make. And lastly the shady Daniel, from the moment he spoke to Elena in the library and basically insulted books and reading I disliked him and he continues to prove so through the book in which you will, have to read in order to find out!
This was an incredible read, that if written would love to read another story about Elena & Tristan to see where thegy have come in their journey together, but until then (hopefully) do not miss this wonderful, compelling and brilliant read!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Chantelle Smithhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngChantelle Smith2018-08-16 10:41:112018-10-02 16:36:26Belleza and the Brute: A Modern Day Retelling of Beauty and the Beast by Jane Matisse – Review By Chantelle Smith
Jane Matisse’s The Blogger and the Hunk was a solidly written romantic comedy. The author starts this story building up the characters and then delves into the meat of the story. The writing was light, but fun and was easy to read being a debut novel from this author. It had a lot of humorous dynamics loaded in throughout the story. I really liked Penelope’s character and the development/growth she had throughout the book, it was steady and well done. Jack was outright fun, yet at times I just shook my head at his character. Overall, I think Jane Matisse did a tremendous job with this book and foresee some outstanding things to come in the future.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Heather Bahmhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngHeather Bahm2018-08-15 11:49:532018-11-09 11:50:49The Blogger and the Hunk by Jane Matisse – Review by Heather Bahm
The Blogger and the Hunk is a good opposites attract story by Jane Matisse. This is a standalone contemporary romance that is told from the duel point of view of the two main characters. It has a steady pace and a smooth flow which made the story quite easy to read. When I saw the title of the book and read the blurb, I was really excited to begin the story and find out what would happen. I did like the story, but not as much as I had initially thought that I would. Although the story is well written, with an interesting storyline and good characters- there was just something about it that didn’t gel with me, or allow me to fully immerse myself into the storyline or invest in the characters as much as I would normally love to do. I think a lot of it comes down to my initial feelings towards Jack and his attitude towards Penny at the beginning of the story when he was ‘sizing her up’. I know that attitude changed, but that feeling stayed with me the whole way through and irked me a lot.
The story is cute, with a little sprinkling of drama to keep things interesting. I did love the fact that there is a ‘Blog Post’ at the beginning of every chapter- it did help to set the tone and mood for each chapter, and the overall book.
I have read “Belleza and the Beast”, Ms. Matisse’s other book- and absolutely loved it- unfortunately this one didn’t have the same impact on me. But, I really am looking forward to seeing what she does next.
Thank you, Ms. Matisse!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Angela Hayeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngAngela Hayes2018-08-14 10:42:382018-09-28 10:43:26The Blogger and The Hunk by Jane Matisse – Review by Angela Hayes
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