Blog Tour + Review: "Mum's the Word" by Staci Hart

Today, I am happy to participate in the blog tour celebrating the release of Staci Hart's latest novel, "Mum's the Word," book #3 of the Bennet Brothers series. This series is a contemporary re-imagining of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice," featuring the four handsome Bennet brothers, their sister Laney, and their family-run flower shop and greenhouse, Longbourne. I am a long-time lover of all things Austen, especially "Pride and Prejudice," so I was intrigued as soon as I heard about the concept for this series and couldn't wait to start reading. Each of these books has been a fun ride, and I would recommend them for fans of contemporary romance and romantic comedy.

Despite being the third book in a series, "Mum's the Word" reads as a complete standalone, so anyone who has not yet read the earlier books will not feel lost by starting here. That said, I do recommend reading the books in order because the earlier books provide context on the circumstances underlying the lawsuit between the Bennet and Bower families, which is a primary obstacle standing in the way of main characters Marcus and Maisie's relationship here in "Mum's the Word."

About "Mum's the Word"

Bestselling author Staci Hart is back with a brand new romantic comedy and clever spin on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Meet the Bennet brothers, get to know Longbourne, and fall in love in this steamy forbidden romance.

Falling in love with a Bennet is not an option.

My mother has summoned me home to take my place at Bower Bouquets, and as the heiress, I’m expected to do as I’m told. I’m expected to sit by her side as she does her best to decimate the Bennet family and their flower shop, Longbourne. I’m expected to play by her rules, or she’ll ruin me too.

But the day I crash into Marcus Bennet changes everything.

And the kiss seals the deal.

If my mother finds out, I’ll lose everything—my family, my life, my security. Worse, she’ll make sure the Bennets pay for my mistakes.

Falling in love with a Bennet is not an option.

But I might not have a choice.

My Review

I enjoyed Staci Hart's "Mum's the Word," the third book of the Bennet Brothers series. Main characters Marcus Bennet and Maisie Bower were quite likeable and well-developed, and the chemistry between them was very intense. That said, I am not generally a fan of the insta-love trope, and this book did nothing to change my mind on that subject. Marcus and Maisie's romance was perhaps the most "insta" of any insta-love I've ever encountered. They literally ran into each other in the rain, felt a "tingle" and strange instant familiarity with each other, and then spent five minutes getting to-go coffee together. Somehow that incredibly brief meeting was enough for them to know that they were willing to sacrifice everything to be together. Truthfully, I found the whole thing pretty tough to swallow. I wish they had managed to have even a single date before finding out how their families were connected; that would have made it easier for me to believe that their feelings were based on something more than just physical attraction.

Fortunately, as the story progressed and Marcus and Maisie spent more time together, their emotional connection became increasingly obvious, and it was much easier for me to root for them to find a way to be together. It helped that I liked both of them so much as individuals, though I did find Maisie's constant fear of acting like her mother to be frustrating at times. Some of the behavior she seemed to dislike in herself was perfectly acceptable, IMO; for example, I didn't think Maisie was a bad person for standing up for herself and refusing to be bullied. However, her mother was a real piece of work and did a number on Maisie over the years; she would probably benefit from counseling to deal with the lingering psychological trauma of that relationship. I'm pretty sure falling in love with Marcus won't solve all of her problems moving forward!

There were some other details of the book that I found slightly bothersome, mostly related to the pending lawsuit between Bower and Longbourne. For example, if the presiding judge's wife was a friend of Maisie's mother, the Bennets should have been able to get him recused due to conflict of interest. For the most part, however, it was an enjoyable story, and I especially enjoyed the opportunity to check in on the other Bennet brothers and their significant others.

The second book of this trilogy ("Gilded Lily") remains my favorite of the three, but "Mum's the Word" is still a good story and worth a read. I look forward to Ms. Hart's next book featuring the Bennets' sister Laney, and a return to the Wasted Words bookstore/bar featured in the earlier Austen series.

*ARC provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.