Title: Some Kind of Wonderful
Author: Beth Ciotta
Series: Cupcake Lovers, #3.5
Published: October 2013, St. Martin’s Paperbacks
Format: ARC E-book, 83 pages
Source: Netgalley
Have yourself a scrumptious, small-town Christmas with this special Cupcake Lovers holiday novella, Some Kind of Wonderful!Growing up in Sugar Creek, Maya Templeton and Zachary
Cole were best friends. After high school, each went out into the world
in search of adventure. Maya moved to Florida to explore her passion for
baking and pastry-making, eventually establishing her own business:
Cupcakes & Dreamscapes. Zach joined the military and became a Marine
Scout Sniper. Now, after years apart, they’re both going home for the
holidays. They don’t seem to have much in common anymore. In fact, Zach
seems to have the hots for Maya’s business partner. But when the two get
stranded together during a blizzard, they are forced to reexamine their
connection. Are Maya and Zach better off “just friends”—just as they
were when they were young? Or could it be that true love was there all
along?
My thoughts: I really enjoy Beth Ciotta’s Cupcake Lovers series and this holiday novella was just the perfect treat to read around the holidays. I have to say that this story reminded me a little bit of the romance that transpired between my husband and I. We were best friends from 8th grade all the way until we graduated high school and then went our separate ways until we reconnected 14 years later and we’ve been together ever since – going on eight years now, six married! I love reading stories that let me reminisce about our own story.
Zach and Maya were childhood friends who drifted apart after high school. While they’ve kept in touch here and there via email, they haven’t seen each other in years. The problem arises when Maya sets up her best friend as Zach’s pen pal. Giselle isn’t exactly a great writer, so she has Maya help with some creative, romantic writing, and in the process, Maya ends up pouring out herheart’s deepest desires. What happens, though, when Maya heads home with Giselle in tow and Maya sees Zach? Can she keep her distance? After all, she does have a boyfriend and Giselle does like Zach – on paper, that is.
Sometimes there are novellas that I wish were longer because I feel the romance is just a bit rushed, but this time, I feel it’s just the right length. I never once felt we were short-changed on Maya and Zach’s romance – it just felt right exactly the way things played out. It’s sweet and tender and I hope that they make an appearance in the next book.
Books in this series:
1. Fool for Love
2. The Trouble With Love
3. Anything But Love
3.5 Some Kind of Wonderful
4. In the Mood for Love
My problem with romance novellas is that I do often feel like the characters deserved a full book so I'm glad to hear this one didn't feel like that. I'm not sure I've read anything by this author though I don't see how considering she has a series that features cupcakes! I'll have to try this and her other books. Thanks for sharing!
I would love to read this series and must try one of her books. Loved your review – and the personal side of what the book evoked for you.