FOR THE LOVE OF THE BARD is the first book in Jessica Martin’s “Bard's Rest Romance” series. Miranda Barnes has a lot on her plate when she heads home to Bard’s Rest – small town and Shakespeare-palooza central. She co-owns a literary agency and she she’s also a hugely successful YA fantasy author debating her next literary move, after her last one had her catching some flack from her rabid readers. There’s a lot to love about this story – the quirky characters, the self-discovery journey, the theater fun, and a rocky road love story. I love it all!

It's the centennial anniversary of the Shakespeare Summer Festival in Bard and everyone is planning on directing, acting, or doing something Shakespeare related. Miranda winds up with a double whammy – helping with her mother’s production, as well as unexpectedly directing her own. The casting and creative drama is wildly entertaining. Miranda also has a little family drama when her mother refuses to prioritize her health when she needs to most. I like the way Jessica Martin adds the right amount of seriousness to the health scare without turning everything into a melodrama. And still, with all these other balls in the air, Adam Winters pops back into Miranda’s life. He’s a blast from the not-so-pleasant past. While they were teens, Miranda and Adam were seriously crushing on each other until something happened on prom night to destroy things. The author is slow to reveal exactly what the betrayal was, but eventually everybody gets much-needed clarification. The sexual tension and flirting between the two main characters is terrific. The chemistry is palpable. Adam seems like a sweetie, so the reader is left trying to puzzle out what he could’ve done back in the day that was so wrong. He’s a vet, friendly with her family, and haunts every play Miranda finds herself associated with. He works on the sets, helps animals in need, and tries to woo back the one that got away.

FOR THE LOVE OF THE BARD is delish with fab characters and storytelling. In addition to the love story, Jessica Martin gives readers a window into the relationship between readers and an author from the author’s perspective. The supporting characters in this story were just as great as the two main characters and added an extra layer of depth, as well as some comic relief. I look forward to reading more romance from Jessica Martin.