Gilded Lily

'Gilded Lily' is the second book in Staci Hart's Bennet Brothers series of connected standalone romantic comedies.

📚Cassie's Review📚 I loved this take on the Jane Austen novel, Pride and Prejudice. This is the second book of the Bennet Brother's Series, and even though Luke was such a charmer, Kash has replaced him as my favorite Bennet brother.

The parallels between this book and Pride and Prejudice are spot on, and these characters are so fleshed out and real. The Bennet siblings interactions are humorous and lively, and Mrs Bennet just had me in stitches.

I had to set this book aside at one point because it hit a little too close to one of my life experiences. But that's just a testament to Staci's spot on fantastic writing, making you live through the characters, evoking real feelings and emotions.

I can't wait to see where Staci takes Marcus in his book. And I already love the title!

📚Ashley's Review📚 "This always happens - the letdown after a long night. It feels so good to not have to wear that mask anymore."

"I don't know how you do it."

"Sometimes I don't either. I just turn it on when it needs to be on, and I leave it on without regard for how much electricity it takes. That is, until I get the bill."

Staci Hart's words touch my soul. I felt many passages of this book deep in my bones. 'Gilded Lily' was an excellent follow-up to book one in the Bennet Brothers series, 'Coming Up Roses.'

I know a book is good when I have dreams about it. After finishing 'Gilded Lily' I dreamed of Longbourne, of Kash and his flower hybrids all vibrant and lovely.

I love a book about everyday people where the characters and their love feel real. This book gave us beautiful, flowery imagery (literally) a hero and heroine to root for, and villains that were easy to despise. We also got cameos from some of our other favorite Bennet family members and friends. I can't wait for the rest of this series to learn even more about the Bennets and the challenges they face together.

📚Extra tidbits📚

What's your favorite flower?

Cassie: Lilacs, coincidentally

Ashley: I love lilacs too! They smell so good. I've never tasted them though. I also really like dahlias, peonies, ranunculus, and hydrangeas. (I'm sure I could keep going.)

Do you watch reality TV?

Cassie: I don't watch reality TV. I used to watch survivor, but the last season I watched was before I met my husband and I watched it because I knew one of the contestants.

Ashley: Nope

📚Blurb📚

They say there’s no such thing as perfect.

But I’ve built my life to perfection—the perfect boyfriend, the perfect apartment, the perfect career planning celebrity weddings. My job—my only job—is to make sure every event is absolutely and completely perfect.

What’s not perfect? Kash Bennet.

And I wish I didn’t find that so appealing.

I could have told you every perfectly imperfect thing about the gardener at Longbourne. Like his hair, lush and black and far too long. Or his nose, the flat bridge of a Greek god, bent a little like it’s been broken. Or his size. Beastly. Roped and corded with muscles, gleaming with sweat and peppered with dirt.

There’s no escaping him, not if I’m going to use his family’s flower shop for my events.

But nothing is what it seems. And in the span of a heartbeat, my perfect life is turned inside out.

They say the best way to get over somebody is to get under somebody new. When Kash offers his services to the cause, it sounds like the perfect plan.

What’s not part of the plan? Falling in love with the gardener.

But they were right—there’s no such thing as perfect. And I’m the fool who finds out the hard way.