I’m delighted today to be joining the blog tour for the latest book from Jaimie Admans, A Midnight Kiss on Ever After Street, and sharing my review. The first in a new series with Boldwood Books, published on 4th July, this lovely book is now available as an e-book (free via Kindle Unlimited), in paperback and as an audiobook. My thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for the invitation and support, and to the publishers for my advance reading ecopy (provided via netgalley).
Until I read The Beekeeper at Elderflower Grove last year, I’d never read one of Jaimie’s books before (I know, I know…!) – but I loved that book so very much (it was one of my 2022 Books of the Year, and the most perfect summer read… you can read my review again here) that I was entirely thrilled to hear that she’d been signed by one of my favourite publishers. This was an eagerly awaited book that I wouldn’t have missed for the world…
A picture-perfect town; a place where dreams come true. Welcome to Ever After Street…
Will a kiss at midnight change her life forever?
Sadie Winters has spent her whole life doing as she’s told. But when her overbearing aunt forbids her from going to the farewell ball at the beloved local castle, Sadie has had enough!
One magical makeover, one midnight curfew, and wearing a dress of her own creation, Sadie is unrecognizable as Ever After Street’s shy seamstress.
Sadie might dream of meeting a handsome prince but the only person to cross her path is Witt – the slightly awkward estate agent intending to sell the castle and dash Sadie’s dreams forever.
As the clock strikes midnight, Sadie and Witt share a magical kiss and Sadie knows her heart is in serious danger. Surely Witt must feel the same way…? Sadie can’t hang around to find out.
But as reality dawns the next day, and fate brings Witt to Sadie’s door again, Sadie realises that her mystery estate agent prince has absolutely no idea who she is!
Sadie can’t forget their midnight kiss, but is she brave enough to change her life and find love along the way…?
It’s not very often that I’m lost for words when writing a review – and I’ll readily admit that I thought at first I may be a little old for fairy tales, and that this book really might not be for me. But by the end, I’d laughed and cried, desperately hoped for a happy ever after, and remembered why I love reading romance so very much. This whole book was simply gorgeous, so perfectly put together, the product of an extraordinary imagination, beautifully written, and an emotional journey I so enjoyed – a book that everyone who believes in love really must add to their reading list, as I absolutely guarantee they’ll love it every bit as much as I did.
In the shadow of an abandoned castle, you’ll find Ever After Street – on the edge of Full Moon forest with its sparkling lights and mushrooms and fairy doors, it’s a collection of the loveliest fairy tale themed shops like Rapunzel’s hair salon, the Mermaid’s Treasure Trove, the Once Upon A Dream bedding shop, the Frozen ice cream parlour, the Tale As Old As Time bookshop, along with the Colours of the Wind museum and the 1001 Nights restaurant. Sadie is a seamstress, working at The Cinderella Shop that once belonged to her mother who wanted only to create dresses that made the people who wore them happy – when she died, Sadie’s aunt took over the business, with the promise that she’d hand it over to Sadie when she felt she was ready. But that day still hasn’t come, and in the intervening years she’s taken things in a rather different direction – her promise of a refund if you don’t find love while wearing one of their dresses has almost bankrupted the business, the back room is full of returned dresses, and she continues to pursue the celebrity endorsements that she’s convinced will save them while trying to sell increasingly eccentric designs well outside the price range of their customers.
The castle is now up for sale, with the rumour that it’s about to be sold to a supermarket chain – and that’s a threat to every business on the street. Although the farewell masked ball is being boycotted by the community, Sadie desperately wants to see inside the castle, and there she meets her handsome prince – the socially awkward Witt, there to dispose of the castle’s contents – only to have to flee for home at midnight so her aunt isn’t aware of her absence. And, while running away, she leaves a shoe behind – picked up by Witt, who arrives at the shop the next day looking for help to find the woman who won his heart.
Yes, it’s the Cinderella story – but so cleverly given a modern twist, and with a romance at its centre that’s absolute perfection. The developing relationship between Witt and Sadie – both of them a little damaged – frequently made me smile, made my heart ache, and brought many a tear to my eye. As they help and support each other, growing ever closer, I really took them both to my heart, adored every moment of their story, and so wanted them to have their happy ending – but, as you’d expect, there are plenty of barriers and upsets along the way.
The whole book has an exceptional warmth – at times, it really felt like the cuddle we all rather need when things aren’t going quite the way we want them to. And as for the ending… my goodness, I didn’t want to leave Ever After Street behind, but it was just so totally perfect. An absolutely delightful read, and without question one of my books of the year – go on, give it a try, I really think you might just love it too…
About the author
Jaimie Admans is a 37-year-old English-sounding Welsh girl with an awkward-to-spell name. She lives in South Wales and enjoys writing, gardening, watching Hallmark movies, and drinking tea, although she’s seriously considering marrying her coffee machine. She hates spiders, hot weather, and cheese & onion crisps. She writes quirky and uplifting romantic comedies and loves nothing more than escaping into a good book, whether by reading them or writing them!
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