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An Olympus Inc. Romance #4
Ask Cassandra
Cassie Troiades is a freelance archivist, but her secret side gig as a popular advice columnist has made her cynical about love and despair for her own romantic future. When Manny Pelopson hires her to catalogue his family's old documents at the Tantalus Vineyard, they begin to find romance and mystery among the archives. But Manny has a secret of his own...
A sparkling new arc in the series where Greek mythology meets The Devil Wears Prada!
Dear Cassandra,
Eleven years ago the love of my life left me for someone else. On our wedding day. It wasn’t actually at the altar, but six hours afterwards.
I truly don’t begrudge her happiness. But I just don’t know how to get over her. She was the kindest person I’ve ever met, and she really understood what it’s like to grow up in a family of strong personalities when you’re the conflict-avoidant one.
Recently, I’ve tried to get back out there and date other women and I think it’s important to be honest about what happened, so that potential partners know where I’m coming from. But every time I tell my dates about the One Who Left, they stop being interested.
Any advice?
Left Behind.
Dear Left Behind,
First, I hope you had (and maybe continue to get) professional help to manage your feelings about what sounds like a truly traumatic event. My entire insides curdled when I read that “the kindest person” you’ve ever met left you for someone else six hours after the wedding. There were dozens of much kinder ways for her to handle that situation, and she should have chosen one of them!
Second, and I say this with all the sympathy in the world, stop telling other women about her.
The One Who Left story is eleven years old. It is off the bestseller charts, it is being removed from the library collections, it is no longer being accepted for trade at secondhand bookstores, and you do not need to bring it out for review on dates. (I am really hoping not first dates. No, right? Right?)
This column is firmly in favor of honesty, but that doesn’t have to be complete honesty. I don’t tell my dates I have a side-gig as an advice columnist. If I ever meet someone serious, then sure, but until then, not every twenty-minute coffee or casual movie hang needs to come with a side of my life story.
Don’t tell your dates yours. See how that goes. And if you feel up to it, write back to tell us how it works out–I know that the readers are rooting for you just as much as I am.
Yours,
Cassandra
A sparkling new arc in the series where Greek mythology meets The Devil Wears Prada!
Dear Cassandra,
Eleven years ago the love of my life left me for someone else. On our wedding day. It wasn’t actually at the altar, but six hours afterwards.
I truly don’t begrudge her happiness. But I just don’t know how to get over her. She was the kindest person I’ve ever met, and she really understood what it’s like to grow up in a family of strong personalities when you’re the conflict-avoidant one.
Recently, I’ve tried to get back out there and date other women and I think it’s important to be honest about what happened, so that potential partners know where I’m coming from. But every time I tell my dates about the One Who Left, they stop being interested.
Any advice?
Left Behind.
Dear Left Behind,
First, I hope you had (and maybe continue to get) professional help to manage your feelings about what sounds like a truly traumatic event. My entire insides curdled when I read that “the kindest person” you’ve ever met left you for someone else six hours after the wedding. There were dozens of much kinder ways for her to handle that situation, and she should have chosen one of them!
Second, and I say this with all the sympathy in the world, stop telling other women about her.
The One Who Left story is eleven years old. It is off the bestseller charts, it is being removed from the library collections, it is no longer being accepted for trade at secondhand bookstores, and you do not need to bring it out for review on dates. (I am really hoping not first dates. No, right? Right?)
This column is firmly in favor of honesty, but that doesn’t have to be complete honesty. I don’t tell my dates I have a side-gig as an advice columnist. If I ever meet someone serious, then sure, but until then, not every twenty-minute coffee or casual movie hang needs to come with a side of my life story.
Don’t tell your dates yours. See how that goes. And if you feel up to it, write back to tell us how it works out–I know that the readers are rooting for you just as much as I am.
Yours,
Cassandra
306 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 4, 2024
11 people are currently reading
140 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 2, 2025
I just picked this up because the main character and I have the same name. It was fun.
Read
July 4, 2024This instalment in the series was both darker and spicier than the previous ones in the series, but just as enjoyable. Wonderful mystery, dark family secrets and seriously steamy scenes. Can’t wait for the next one.
June 3, 2024
I cannot overstate how much I adore the Olympus, Inc. series, and this book is no exception. Kate Healey never misses.
June 22, 2024
Another great entry in this fascinating series of contemporary romances based on Greek myth characters.
I never thought I would get on board the ship of Cassandra/Menelaus (mind you, I'm not exactly pro Hades/Persephone and that book was one of the best things I've ever read) but this was a really nice exploration of how to move on after a romantic disaster.
Manny is actually LOVELY, a heartbroken hero who has done his best to work on his mental health and is struggling to fit back into his family after the loss of his father. Cassandra is an easy character to like, a nerdy archivist who loves her work and is good at figuring out what other people need.
It's also a 'family running a small business in a vineyard' romance which is one of my favourite story settings. And there's a dark mystery running through the books instead of the corporate drama of the first 3 in the series.
All in all a very enjoyable read. And while I'm interested in the sequel books coming about Cassandra's sisters, what I really WANT is a second chance romance for Manny's prickly mother. Bring it on!
I never thought I would get on board the ship of Cassandra/Menelaus (mind you, I'm not exactly pro Hades/Persephone and that book was one of the best things I've ever read) but this was a really nice exploration of how to move on after a romantic disaster.
Manny is actually LOVELY, a heartbroken hero who has done his best to work on his mental health and is struggling to fit back into his family after the loss of his father. Cassandra is an easy character to like, a nerdy archivist who loves her work and is good at figuring out what other people need.
It's also a 'family running a small business in a vineyard' romance which is one of my favourite story settings. And there's a dark mystery running through the books instead of the corporate drama of the first 3 in the series.
All in all a very enjoyable read. And while I'm interested in the sequel books coming about Cassandra's sisters, what I really WANT is a second chance romance for Manny's prickly mother. Bring it on!
Read
June 4, 2024If you follow my reviews, you’ll know I don’t generally read romance. But I’ve enjoyed all the Olympus, Inc books so far and this was no exception. The combination of mature, (mostly) sensible adult characters and mythological references gives me a satisfying read.
The prose was tidy and the reading smooth. Both Cassie and Manny were sympathetic characters who had baggage to deal with, but not to a ludicrous extent. The other major characters were distinct and consistent, and their lives didn’t revolve round the main characters.
The mystery clues came together nicely. Sometimes they seemed a touch coincidental, but I don’t think this was supposed to be a brain-twisting plot, so that’s all fine.
Overall, a very enjoyable continuation to the series (and would be fine to read as a stand-alone).
The prose was tidy and the reading smooth. Both Cassie and Manny were sympathetic characters who had baggage to deal with, but not to a ludicrous extent. The other major characters were distinct and consistent, and their lives didn’t revolve round the main characters.
The mystery clues came together nicely. Sometimes they seemed a touch coincidental, but I don’t think this was supposed to be a brain-twisting plot, so that’s all fine.
Overall, a very enjoyable continuation to the series (and would be fine to read as a stand-alone).
April 17, 2025
Fun Sort of Cozy Mystery Romance
I liked this book. Especially with Cassie as a main character, since we briefly met her in the earlier series. I did feel like the overall story was decent. Manny coming into his families vineyard after the death of his father. I did feel like somethings were a little rushed and others too slow. Mann's mom switched opinions much to quickly and I felt that the end got super rushed. I also feel like time was shown passing, but it didn't necessarily feel it with character development. But overall a fun read.
I liked this book. Especially with Cassie as a main character, since we briefly met her in the earlier series. I did feel like the overall story was decent. Manny coming into his families vineyard after the death of his father. I did feel like somethings were a little rushed and others too slow. Mann's mom switched opinions much to quickly and I felt that the end got super rushed. I also feel like time was shown passing, but it didn't necessarily feel it with character development. But overall a fun read.
January 1, 2025
A spicy romance with a modern take on classical Greek stories. I enjoyed seeing how the author worked in the varied Greek stories into this happily ever after romance -- quite a twist compared to the tragedies! Interesting characters working through modern challenges and I enjoyed the focus on the female characters.
Not sure if I will read more in the series, but I do enjoy the approach she is taking.
Not sure if I will read more in the series, but I do enjoy the approach she is taking.
August 19, 2024
So witty and fun and wise on relationships. Ask Cassandra actually gives good advice!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews