A IS FOR AMISH by Shelley Shepard Gray

August 9, 2024

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Amish ABCs, Book 1

From the publisher:

In a heartwarming new series from New York Times bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray, four siblings take a genuine leap of faith when they move to their grandparents’ farm in rural Ohio and decide to become Amish.

Exploring the relationship between Amish and English cultures through the lens of a single family, the Amish Again series is perfect for fans of Beverly Lewis, Suzanne Woods Fisher, and Charlotte Hubbard – and anyone who enjoys uplifting stories about faith, family, love, and the simple life.

Siblings Martin, Kelsey, Beth, and Jonny are as different as can be, but they have one thing in common. They’re all longing to reinvent their lives. Raised by their divorced lapsed-Amish father and English mother, they only knew real stability and a sense of family when visiting their Old Order grandparents, Josiah and Sylvia Schrock, in peaceful Holmes County, Ohio. Now the four want to try living with them and joining their faith—much to the Schrocks’ surprise . . .

Martin, the eldest, is reeling from a bad breakup, so he’s especially determined to make a fresh start. When he meets his grandparents’ neighbor, Patti Coblentz, he’s immediately drawn to her outgoing, helpful nature—but is so overwhelmed that he appears blunt and rude. Is there any way he can drop his defenses enough to admit she’s captured his heart?

Always self-conscious about the birthmark on her temple, Patti is resigned to never marrying and busying herself with the responsibilities of the large home and property she has inherited. Besides, Martin’s ill-mannered behavior and disconcerting directness make him the last man she’d ever want to wed—no matter how handsome he is.

Yet given time and patience—and adhering to their grandparents’ unexpectedly challenging rules—the whole family might just find what they’re looking for, even Martin and Patti.

SIMULTANEOUS HARDCOVER AND TRADE PAPERBACK RELEASE!

https://amzn.to/4duMKfU

This was an interesting and surprising look at living Amish. These four siblings have grandparents who are Amish, but their father left the community and their mother is an Englisher. They all decide they might want to be Amish but all four of them will be overwhelming to their grandparents, so just two of them go to live there to see how they fit in and if they want to make it permanent. Martin just had a bad breakup, and recalls the peace he always felt at his grandparents’ home. Kelsey, the youngest, truly believes she wants to be Amish, so they are the first two siblings to stay with their grandparents.

Martin meets their neighbor, a young woman named Patti who has never married. She has a prominent birthmark on her face and believes that makes her unmarriageable. And Martin is very good looking and could have his pick of any of the single women in town. Martin doesn’t see her birthmark as marring or undesirable, just as a part of Patti and he likes all of her. But he can’t decide if he can commit to her and being Amish.

Kelsey meets someone in town, and even though hers is the secondary plotline to Martin, she is the one who gets the happy ending while Martin and Patti still are very much undecided. Hopefully, that will conclude in the next book in the series. This is a good start to a new series from the queen of the Amish romance. Shepard Gray is nothing if not consistent as she spins out one entertaining tale after another. If you like a gentle romance or an inspirational romance, this is a good read.

8/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

A IS FOR AMISH by Shelley Shepard Gray. Kensington (June 25, 2024). ISBN:‎ 978-1496748843. 288p.

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Spotlight Review: PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS by Sophie Brickman

August 6, 2024

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From the publisher:

In the vein of Where’d You Go, Bernadette and Fleishman Is in Trouble, a wickedly funny and incisive debut novel following a mother trapped in the rat race of NYC parenting as her life unravels.

“Heavenly hilarity for readers.”—Good Housekeeping

It takes a village…just not this one. 

Annie Lewin is at the end of her rope. She’s a mother of three young children, her workaholic husband is never around, and the vicious competition for spots in New York City’s kindergartens is heating up. A New York Times journalist-turned-parenting-advice-columnist for an internet start-up, Annie can’t help but judge the insanity of it all—even as she finds herself going to impossible lengths to secure the best spot for her own son.

As Annie comes to terms with the infinitesimal odds of success, her intensifying rivalry with hotshot lawyer Belinda Brenner—a deliciously hateful nemesis, what with her perfectly curated bento box lunches and effortless Instagram chic—pushes her to the brink. Of course, this newly raw and unhinged version of Annie is great for the advice column: the more she spins out, the more clicks and comments she gets.

But when she commits a ghastly social faux pas that goes viral, she’s forced to confront the question: is she really any better than the cutthroat parents she always judged?

A shimmering epistolary novel incorporating emails, group texts, advice columns, newspaper profiles, and more, Plays Well with Others is a whip-smart, genuinely funny romp through the minefield of modern motherhood. But beneath its fast-paced, satirical veneer, Brickman gives us a fresh, open-hearted, all-too-real take on what it means to be a parent—fierce love, craziness, and all.

“This biting commentary on the travails of modern parenthood is perfect for fans of Laurie Gelman and Laura Zigman, and for those who appreciate funny portraits of imperfect women.” — Booklist

“Heavenly hilarity for readers.”—Good Housekeeping

https://amzn.to/3SkMQPi

Brickman’s first novel after Baby, Unplugged: One Mother’s Search for Balance, Reason, and Sanity in the Digital Age, also centers on parenting and mental health, but in epistolary fiction full of the warmth, emotions, and humor necessary for any family to thrive.

Annie was an arts writer for the New York Times, but three kids in four years means taking a job writing a parenting column for a new internet startup. Her “editress” is obsessing about clicks, and Annie’s anxiety about her own parenting skills are sending her into occasional panic attacks. Living on the Upper East Side of Manhattan brings its own special kind of pressure, and now that her eldest is four, that means getting him into the right school for kindergarten, and life! Her nemesis is Belinda, a fierce divorce lawyer who regularly gets her digs in as their kids compete for entry into the top schools.

Annie’s husband is busy making money and figures he can start parenting in about a decade, leaving Annie to wonder if she’ll make it until then. Told through her parenting columns, text chains replete with emojis, school newsletters, and more, eventually, everything comes to a head and implodes into a glorious, satisfying ending.

Verdict: You don’t have to be a young mom to appreciate this hilarious look at family life in an elite city. Should appeal to readers who enjoy Taffy Brodesser-Akner, Lauri Gelman, or Laura Zigman.

©Library Journal, 2024

8/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS by Sophie Brickman. William Morrow (August 6, 2024). ISBN: 978-0063371200. 320p.

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VISCOUNT IN LOVE by Eloisa James

August 2, 2024

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Accidental Brides, Book 1

From the publisher:

Two eccentric orphans bring together a grumpy viscount and the free-spirited heroine who steals his heart in the first novel in Eloisa James’s new Accidental Brides series, in which haughty aristocrats find themselves married to the wrong women. 

He wants a nanny, not a bride…

Suddenly guardian to twins, Viscount Dominic Kelbourne is luckily betrothed to a suitable lady—until she elopes. With no time to woo, Dominic decides to marry his fiancée’s unconventional sister. Torie isn’t perfect, but their kisses are so passionate that society thinks he’s actually chosen her.

She wants to marry for love…

Torie has never been able to make sense of words on a page, so she has turned her talents to art. She longs for a man who values her as she is… but marries for the sake of the twins. She doubts Dominic is capable of love, let alone respect, but as their heated debates turn into something more, Torie begins to imagine a life as a wife, not a nanny. 

But when the arrogant viscount finds that his viscountess has stolen his heart, he’ll have to give all he has to win her love.

“The first in James’s (Not That Duke) new “Accidental Bride” series takes readers on a journey to find love, with a plot that takes shape quickly, even as the dynamic cast of characters are more slowly developed and carefully crafted… James’s latest book is a must-read for fans of historical romance.” — Library Journal (starred review)

“Launching her new Regency-set Accidental Brides series, James (Not That Duke, 2023) once again displays her usual perfect sense of literary aplomb by first creating a uniquely appealing pair of protagonists (including a heroine who is not about to let not being able to read or write hold her back) and then setting them loose in a wit-infused plot enhanced by a wildly entertaining cast of secondary characters.” — Booklist

“An unusual dyslexic heroine provides depth to a solid Georgian romance.” — Kirkus Reviews

https://amzn.to/4dcNerz

It’s always a happy day when James starts a new series, and this one is set in the Georgian era. Torie can’t read or write, and not for lack of trying. She has some sort of dyslexia that her governesses tried to unsuccessfully beat out of her. What she does have is a fantastic memory, so her older sister would read to her at night and she could answer the governess the next morning. Torie’s sister is engaged to Viscount Dominic Kelbourne, but it’s been over a year and she hasn’t set a date. Now the Viscount’s sister and brother-in-law have died, so they can’t marry until the year of mourning has passed. Meanwhile, his fiancee is out galivanting with someone else and eventually elopes.

Part of the reason for her elopement is that the Viscount is now guardian to his sister’s twins, a young boy and girl, who have had little to do with their parents and consequently a very poor upbringing. On the other hand, Torie loves how unique their personalities are, and they adore her. The Viscount finds himself strongly attracted to the lush-figured Torie, the opposite of her tall, skinny, proper sister. Torie has been called a fool or worse for most of her life, including from her own father, a drunken gambler, due to her illiteracy. The Viscount is determined to have her, and due to some financial shenanigans, is able to talk her father into the match.

On the other hand, Torie isn’t so sure. She is strangely attracted to the man who is built, in her mind, like a farmer – thick and muscled. But he is known for his temper in the House of Lords, and she doesn’t want any part of that. But she does adore those children.

Torie’s passion lies in painting. Since she can’t read, it is what occupies most of her childhood and she is quite good. The Viscount doesn’t know much about art, but he knows his lust for her knows no bounds, and hers for him as well. There are some definite bumps in the road and some heat as well until they reach their happily ever after. I love Eloisa James and always learn something from her books, and this one was a terrific start to this new series. Looking forward to book 2!

Note: I hate the cover and the trend of putting obviously 21st-century men on the covers of historical romances, especially when they don’t match the descriptions in the book. I must be alone in this as it has been happening for a while now.

8/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

VISCOUNT IN LOVE by Eloisa James. Avon (July 23, 2024). ISBN: 978-0063347410. 384p.

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BARELY EVEN FRIENDS by Mae Bennett

August 2, 2024

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From the publisher:

A grumpy, rich recluse meets his match in this steamy Beauty and the Beast retelling—with a Succession twist. Fans of fairy tale adaptations, and readers of Julie Murphy and Falon Ballard, will adore Mae Bennett’s debut romance.

Bellamy Price has just been offered the job of a lifetime: lead contractor on the restoration of the mysterious and sprawling Killington Estate. If she meets the owner’s ridiculous timeline, she’ll finally make a name for herself in this male-dominated industry. But when she rolls up her sleeves, slips on her suspenders, and shows up at the crumbling mansion, Bellamy finds the estate very much occupied.

After a traumatic car accident that left his parents dead and himself injured, Oliver Killington, heir to the Killington empire, took up residence as the grumpy caretaker of his grandfather’s mansion. None too pleased by the presence of the hammer-wielding woman who’s moved into his house, Oliver tries to block her at every turn.

But when Bellamy discovers Oliver’s facing his own ultimatum from his grandfather, the two form a cautious truce, which leads to flying sparks that are definitely not from faulty wiring. As Bellamy restores the gleam to the Killington Estate, she’ll have to decide if the walls she’s built around herself are worth knocking down to make space for someone else.

Perfect for fans of Tessa Bailey, this clever, steamy debut novel will have readers rooting for this Beauty and her Beast until the very last page.

https://amzn.to/3WbLfMI

Bellamy has been working for her father in his contracting business for years, and now she finally has a job of her own – and it’s a big one. As lead contractor, she has been hired to restore an old historic home that could make her career. The budget is good, but the timeline is tight, and things get more complicated when she arrives on-site to find the owner is still living in the home and has no plans to leave.

Loosely based on “Beauty and the Beast,” Oliver is definitely the beast, roaring at Bellamy to keep out of his rooms. Determined to get this job done on time and within the budget, Bellamy has no choice but to put up with Oliver and hope for the best. Oliver is the survivor of a tragic accident that took his parents ten years earlier, and he is barely surviving at that. He’s become a recluse, but Bellamy and her crew bring life back to the estate.

The tight timeline ends with a glamorous affair, revealing the restored home so Bellamy is under a lot of pressure. This job can make or break her career, and she is not letting Oliver stand in her way. The longer she works, the more they get to know one another but things don’t start changing for a while. Eventually, Oliver is impressed with the work she is doing and lets her into his rooms. They go from enemies to almost friends with a touch of sexual tension, that really ratchets up towards their happy ending.

This book is being publicized as a debut novel, but I’ve been burned so many times by that assertion I am merely mentioning it here because who knows for sure. It was an enjoyable read, although a bit slow at times as the relationship between Bellamy and Oliver builds. I will definitely look at whatever comes next from Mae Bennett.

8/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

BARELY EVEN FRIENDS by Mae Bennett. Alcove Press (June 4, 2024). ISBN:‎ 978-1639107797. 336p.

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BookBitch Diary: August 1, 2024

August 1, 2024

Today would have been my mother’s 90th birthday, but instead, I lost her in 2008. She was only 73 years old. Eight years older than I am now, which is a sobering thought. She had a hard life; her father was much older than her mother, and his family had disowned him. I was never quite clear on why. Her mother was orphaned in Kyiv as an infant, and sent to live with an aunt in Saratoga Springs, New York. So they had no extended family. I never met my grandfather; he suffered several strokes throughout my mother’s childhood and passed away when she was 21 years old.

My mother grew up in Brooklyn. Her father couldn’t work because of the strokes, so her mother supported the family working in a toy factory. My mom had an older brother, but he had an intellectual disability. He never finished school but eventually got a job in a liquor bottling plant in Brooklyn. I was never clear on what he did exactly, but it didn’t pay much. My mother worked for as long as she could remember, babysitting when she was young, and when she was in high school, she worked as a model for Macy’s in downtown Brooklyn. She also prepped dinner every night, peeling carrots and potatoes. She cleaned the apartment, took care of her father after school, and took care of her brother as well. She graduated from high school with a secretarial degree, or something to that effect. She married my father when she was 18 years old, as many women did back then, wearing a beautiful wedding gown she borrowed from a friend.

My grandma, me, & my mom at her second wedding.

My parents divorced when I was 8 years old. It came as a complete shock to my mother. My father left, went to Mexico for a quickie divorce, and came back two weeks later, married to my evil stepmother. My mother didn’t even date for many years, but eventually, she met Bob and married him. Those were the happiest years of her life, especially after my kids were born.

My mom was sick for many years. She had rheumatoid arthritis, TMJ, sciatica, and COPD, and lived in pain for more years than I care to think about. She was in bad shape but held on until my son came home from Tampa for a visit. He spent the weekend with her, and she passed away two days later.

She would have loved my daughter-in-law, and her great-grandchildren would have been the loves of her life, as they are of mine. I always thought I would miss my mom the most when something bad happened, and I do, but I miss her more when something good happens, like my son’s wedding, my daughter’s college graduation, and the birth of my grandchildren. I would have loved to share all that joy with her.

Last picture I have of my son & my mom at his college graduation

I am at that age where many of my friends have already lost their parents, or will sometime soon. No matter how old you are, it is difficult to lose a parent. Especially a mom like mine, who made me feel loved no matter what I did – I always knew she had my back, even when she criticized me (often,) or didn’t agree with my decisions (often). As Nana, she gave my kids that same gift, unconditional love, and even more remarkably, so did her husband, who my kids called Papa. When my son questioned what my husband and I wanted to be called by our new grandson, for some reason I wasn’t comfortable saying Nana and Papa. But when Jonah was a few months old, he brought it up again and we agreed, knowing we had enormous shoes to fill and hoping we could live up to the example set for us.

I miss my mom almost every day, and I’m glad I have this forum to write about her from time to time. Thank you, my readers, for indulging me.

Book News

First of all, we are only in the first quarter of the 21st century, so this list seems a bit premature. The reader comments, especially those about the “literary luminaries” selected by the Times to partake in the process, are hilarious. The books, most of which I haven’t read and have no desire to, are just not for me anymore. If I was still in school, majoring in English, I would eagerly attack this list. But now? Too much like work.

What is the opposite of a literary snob? That would be the BookBitch.
This list of Readers’ picks was more meaningful to me – I have read many of the books on this list, and it felt more in my wheelhouse. I’d love to know your thoughts about these lists!

I’m very excited to tell you that you can subscribe to and read The Washington Post Book Review weekly newsletter, written by the very witty Ron Charles. It is my favorite read about books. He said,

“Remember, free features like this either grow or die, so please tell your friends who might enjoy this newsletter that they can read it every week by clicking here.

(No, they don’t have to subscribe to The Washington Post.)”

Food News

This month’s Food News is dedicated to the retiring Pete Wells, restaurant critic for the New York Times for the past twelve years. He followed in some serious footsteps and held his own and then some…Frank Bruni, Sam Sifton, and going way back to my teen years, Mimi Sheraton – I remember my stepmother waiting each week for the restaurant review, then often making reservations, and the fabulous Ruth Reichl, who wrote a wonderful memoir, Garlic and Saphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise, about her time as the NY Time’s restaurant critic. No word yet as to who will follow Wells, but I’ve been told by a source at the NYT that Priya Krishna and Melissa Clark will be doing restaurant reviews on an interim basis until further notice.

My favorite restaurant review EVER was written by Wells about Guy Fieri’s now-shuttered restaurant in Times Square. It is a brilliant piece of writing, hysterically funny yet scathing, and my pleasure to share…
The Times put together a curated collection of Pete Wells. Enjoy!

The Washington Post

WHAT YOU CAN LEARN ABOUT SALMON FROM ITS PACKAGING

So interesting!

Other News

After spending some time in Chicago, my family braved the South Florida heat and came to visit for a week! My beautiful new granddaughter is three months old and is the cutest. My three-year-old grandson is as sweet and smart as ever. (Not that I’m biased or anything!) It was a joy to spend some time with them!

As always, thanks for reading, and stay safe.

Thanks to The New York Times and The Washington Post for allowing me to “gift” my readers with free access to these articles, a lovely perk for subscribers.

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