One Amish man helps to revive a young widow’s struggling orchard—and heal her heart—in this light, warmhearted Amish romance perfect for fans of Jo Ann Brown and Jocelyn McClay.
Widow Miriam Esh has to find a fiancé, or her overbearing bruder-in-law will sell her familye apple orchard. He’s already taken it upon himself to hire someone—likely another man presuming he knows what’s best for her land. But if she’s going to save it, Miriam must focus on finding a suitable husband, not on the new orchardist or on how good he is with her son, and definitely not on how his smile scatters her thoughts . . .
By the looks of things at the Esh estate, Daniel Beiler knows Miriam could use a hand. Only the stubborn widow doesn’t want to take any of his advice. Yet as they spend their days working side-by-side and sharing warm meals, Daniel and Miriam can’t deny the growing comfort in each other’s company. So when Miriam begins receiving attention from eligible men seeking a wife, Daniel must admit his feelings for her before it’s too late. With the promise that he’ll be the partner she can trust, can Daniel convince Miriam that he should also be the mann in her life?
I can’t review this without saying that the characters’ names hit weirdly close to home. Daniel is my son, his wife is Miriam, and their son is Jonah, the same as these characters. I can’t recall ever reading a book where all the main characters’ names were also names of my family members, and I thought it especially interesting as these characters are Amish, and my family is decidedly not!
Miriam is a young widow left with a little boy, Jonah. Her husband left half of their apple orchard to their son, and the other half to his brother who has no interest in the orchard. In fact, he wants to sell it, but Miriam is adamant that it is her son’s legacy and fights her brother-in-law as best as she can. She doesn’t have any legal standing, but that doesn’t deter her. They agree on a compromise; he will hire someone to run the orchard for a period of time, but he is moving on to a new job in a new town, and doesn’t want the responsibility of the orchard. She will find a husband who will let her keep the orchard; easier said than done.
The hired orchardist is Daniel, who has been working at another orchard for years, in hopes of purchasing it one day. Instead, the owner brings in his own family, and Daniel is out of a job. He is now hopeful that he will be able to buy Miriam’s orchard, but she is unaware of the deal he made with her brother-in-law.
Miriam grew up in this place and has been working in the orchard for most of her life, and she truly loves it. But she resents all the men in her life ignoring her knowledge and making decisions for her, instead of with her, including her own husband before he passed. Daniel is knowledgeable about orchards, but she still wants a say in any work that is being done. There is some miscommunication there, and Miriam is none too pleased with him. But she can’t help but appreciate how good he is with her son, who needs a man to look up to, and Daniel is the kind and gentle man she hoped for.
Miriam and Daniel butt heads continuously, until he finally wears her down and she starts to trust him. But he is keeping a secret from her, and he knows things are going to go sideways when she finds out. I really liked the strength Miriam showed throughout, and how she stuck to her guns despite her growing feelings for Daniel. Eventually, they work their way to one another, and a happy ending for this sweet family is found.
I read the first book in this series, An Amish Christmas Match, and really enjoyed it, but it is not necessary to read them in order. This book stands alone beautifully.
5/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
AN AMISH WIDOW’S PROMISE by Winnie Griggs. Forever (April 29, 2025). ISBN: 978-1538766392. 320p.
An emotional neighbors-to-lovers romance about a woman determined to heal from heartbreak in Cape May, who kindles an unlikely attraction for her grumpy neighbor with his own tragic past.
“I think about how a person can be like a Cape May diamond. A dull piece of quartz but when the tide changes, as it always does, they can become shiny and new again.”
Sometimes the tide that sweeps you away can bring you home…
After thirteen years of marriage and seven years of infertility with her supposed soulmate, Sophie Bennett’s life is turned upside down. Not only does she discover her husband is having a sordid affair, on her birthday, but his mistress is also pregnant with his baby. Seeking solace, Sophie flees to Cape May, New Jersey, a quiet coastal town where she spent many summers as a child. There she encounters Liam Harper, a brooding carpenter who seems intent to keep everyone at a distance. Despite his best efforts, Sophie recognizes the vulnerability under his prickly exterior, sparking a curiosity about him that she can’t ignore.
Liam Harper is walking around with the weight of the world on his shoulders. Haunted by a tragedy from his past that changed him forever, Liam doesn’t believe he deserves love or happiness. After being unexpectedly awarded permanent custody of his one-year-old niece, Liam’s script flips yet again. He doesn’t know the first thing about parenthood, and his gruff exterior makes it hard for him to ask for help. When the beautiful and heartbroken Sophie becomes his new neighbor, Liam never expects her to be the one to chip away his defenses.
As the two navigate their attraction and work to heal old wounds, emotions run high. If they want to change the tides of their futures, they must decide whether love is worth the risk. Will they walk away forever, or will fate step in and see them through?
This debut novel is the first book of a series set on the Jersey shore, and is a terrific slow burn romance. Sophie is 38 years old, and on her birthday she walks in on her husband in their bed with another woman. After being married for 13 years and struggling with infertility for most of their marriage, she never expected this kind of betrayal, which only gets worse when it turns out the new girlfriend is pregnant. Sophie feels like her life has been stolen from her, and there is a scene where she confronts the other woman that was memorable and inspiring.
Sophie flees to Cape May on the Jersey shore, where spent some of her happiest childhood summers. Because season hasn’t started yet, she gets a good deal on a small cottage behind a lovely Victorian home. The owner, Ellie, is an older widow who immediately takes Sophie under her wing. Ellie babysits for the man next door, Liam, who recently became guardian to his infant niece when his sister passed away. There’s no baby daddy in the picture, or on the birth certificate for that matter, and Liam’s parents can’t deal with it, leaving him as de facto guardian to Lucy. Sophie is thrilled to help out with the sweet baby girl, and she and Liam start spending some time together. They both have a lot of baggage, and do not rush into anything.
Sophie is a family and marriage counselor and never thought she’d be in this position. There is a psychiatrist in town, and she starts seeing him to help her get through the divorce. Turns out Liam is a long-time patient of the doctor as well, and has had some real trauma in his life that he is still trying to work through. I found it so inspiring that therapy is so well represented here. Sophie’s best friend is devastated that she’s moved away, but they stay in constant contact which helps with everything she is going through. She also makes some new friends in the small beach town.
As Liam and Sophie get to know one another, feelings start to grow. Liam has real issues with feeling like he is not deserving of love, and Sophie is skittish about getting into another relationship while the ink on her divorce is barely dry. But eventually, they both give in to their feelings and find their way to a happy ending. One of the standout aspects of the book is its realistic portrayal of emotional healing and the positive emphasis on therapy. The narrative underscores that recovery is a deeply personal journey, one that unfolds at its own pace.
Overall, Changing Tides is a thoughtful and emotionally resonant read that blends romance with themes of resilience, self-discovery, and second chances. It’s a charming and heartfelt story that explores love and personal growth between two characters in their late 30s—a refreshing change from the typical twenty-something protagonists. I especially appreciated the message that it’s never too late to start over or pursue happiness in whatever form it takes. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series, Chasing Stars, which comes out in September. This feels like my first beach read of the summer, and I loved it.
Lisa Hodges needs to make a decision fast. Thanks to her dead husband’s gambling addiction, their savings is almost gone. In her early 50s with a large, waterfront home on Nantucket to support, Lisa hasn’t worked in over 30 years, has no in-demand skills and is virtually unemployable.
Her only options are to sell the house and move off-island, or, she could use her cooking and entertaining skills and turn her home into a bed and breakfast. She desperately needs it to succeed because she has four grown children with problems of their own and wants to stay close to them.
Her oldest daughter, Kate, has a fabulous career in Boston – working as a writer for a popular fashion magazine and engaged to a dangerously handsome, photographer, who none of them have met.
Kate’s twin, local artist, Kristen, has been reasonably content with her on-again off-again relationship with an older, separated businessman.
Her son, Chase, runs his own construction business and is carefree, happily dating here and there but nothing serious.
Youngest daughter, Abby, is happily married to her high school sweetheart, and they’ve been trying to have a baby. But it hasn’t happened yet, and Abby wonders if it’s a sign that maybe their marriage isn’t as perfect as everyone thinks.
Come visit Nantucket and see how Lisa’s new bed and breakfast has an impact on almost everyone in her family. It’s the first book in a new series that will follow the Hodges family, friends, and visitors to Nantucket’s Beach Plum Cove Inn.
I was so sad that Elin Hilderbrand decided to stop writing her Nantucket stories, but now that I’ve found Pamela Kelley and this wonderful series, I am sad no more! There is something magical about stories set in Nantucket, and Kelley captures that magic beautifully. This is the first book of a series, and while I haven’t read any of the others yet, I definitely will.
Lisa Hodges is a woman in her early fifties who owns a large, waterfront home on Nantucket that she can no longer afford. After the death of her husband, she discovers that he had a terrible secret; he has left her with no money at all due to his gambling addiction. Lisa hasn’t worked in thirty years and with the scarcity of jobs on the island and her lack of any kind of experience, finding a job is proving impossible. Saddened that she may have to sell her home, a friend suggests she turn her house into a bed and breakfast. At first, Lisa doesn’t think it will work, but the more she thinks about it, she realizes she doesn’t really have any other option if she wants to stay on Nantucket and be near her four adult children.
Lisa’s eldest daughters are twins: Kate and Kristen. Kate lives in Boston, where she writes for a fashion magazine and is engaged to a photographer. Her world is shaken when the magazine is sold, and she uncovers unexpected truths about her fiancé. Kate ends up moving home with her mom.
Kristen, an artist living in Nantucket, is romantically involved with a man who is separated from his wife. They’ve been dating for a while and the divorce has yet to be filed, leaving Kristen unhappy and insecure.
Lisa’s only son, Chase, runs his own construction business. Lisa approaches Chase about doing some renovations on the house so she can maintain some privacy while still being able to rent out some of the bedrooms. He thinks it’s a great idea, and with her only having to pay for materials on a minor renovation, it’s an affordable option.
Her youngest daughter, Anna, is married to her high school sweetheart, Jeff. The couple is struggling with infertility, which may be jeopardizing their marriage.
The book also introduces a variety of local business owners and friends, laying the foundation for future installments in the series. There appear to be nine books in this series, and possibly a spin-off series as well. I will investigate!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the cozy atmosphere it created. The characters are likable, and the story is engaging. I especially appreciated getting to know Lisa’s family, with a particular focus on the women. While Chase’s character plays a smaller role in this installment, I expect we’ll be seeing him and his siblings in the later books. I enjoy stories with strong character growth, and this one delivers. I recommend it to anyone looking for a sweet—if occasionally predictable—read, and I’m looking forward to continuing the series.
I listened to the audiobook version, narrated by Karissa Vacker. Her performance was articulate and expressive, and I especially appreciated how convincingly she voiced the male characters. I was pleased to see she narrates other books in the series as well. I highly recommend the audiobook for fans of this format.
5/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
THE NANTUCKET INN by Pamela M. Kelley.Narrator: Karissa Vacker. Piping Plover Press; August 17, 2019. Listening Length: 6 hours and 19 minutes.
A radiant escape to the lake from #1 New York Times bestselling author of Every Summer After and This Summer Will Be Different
As featured in People ∙ Good Morning America ∙ Cosmopolitan ∙ TODAY ∙ E! News ∙ Buzzfeed ∙ Us Weekly ∙ The New York Post ∙ SheReads ∙ and more!
I never anticipated Charlie Florek.
Good things happen at the lake. That’s what Alice’s grandmother says, and it’s true. Alice spent just one summer there at a cottage with Nan when she was seventeen—it’s where she took that photo, the one of three grinning teenagers in a yellow speedboat, the image that changed her life.
Now Alice lives behind a lens. As a photographer, she’s most comfortable on the sidelines, letting other people shine. Lately though, she’s been itching for something more, and when Nan falls and breaks her hip, Alice comes up with a plan for them both: another summer in that magical place, Barry’s Bay. But as soon as they settle in, their peace is disrupted by the roar of a familiar yellow boat, and the man driving it.
Charlie Florek was nineteen when Alice took his photo from afar. Now he’s all grown up—a shameless flirt, who manages to make Nan laugh and Alice long to be seventeen again, when life was simpler, when taking pictures was just for fun. Sun-slanted days and warm nights out on the lake with Charlie are a balm for Alice’s soul, but when she looks up and sees his piercing green gaze directly on her, she begins to worry for her heart.
Because Alice sees people—that’s why she is so good at what she does—but she’s never met someone who looks and sees her right back.
“The sparks between Alice and Charlie fly off the page and endearing Nan adds heart. This is a treat.”—Publishers Weekly
“Readers will enjoy the steamy love story that develops but will also appreciate Alice’s personal growth. Not only does she find love, she finds her purpose in her career. Fans of Annabel Monaghan will agree with Nan that ‘good things happen at the lake.'”—Booklist (starred review)
This is the sequel to Carley Fortune’s Every Summer After, which I absolutely loved—and this one is another hit. While Fortune released a couple of other books in between, this novel stands beautifully on its own. You don’t need to read the first one to appreciate this one, but you should – it’s fantastic!
This story follows Charlie Florick, a finance bro in Toronto, but is summering in Barry’s Bay. He’s taken a sabbatical and is spending the summer at his family’s lake house. His parents are gone, but his brother and sister-in-law live nearby.
Alice, a successful photographer, decides to spend the summer back in Barry’s Bay when her beloved grandmother, Nan, breaks her hip. She rents the cottage they once stayed in when she was a teen, wanting to be close to Nan and take a break from her career. The cottage is owned by John, a widower and close family friend, who agrees to make the place more accessible for Nan. Charlie is handling the renovations, and while Alice is initially grateful, her first impression of him is less than stellar—he’s snarky, and she’s annoyed by his cocky note and the key being hidden in an outhouse.
But everything changes when they officially meet. Alice soon realizes Charlie is one of the boys from a photo she took as a teenager—a photo that launched her photography career. As he continues working on the cottage and bonding with Nan, Alice finds herself warming to him. She even has a summer bucket list of things she never got to do as a teen, and once Charlie spies it, he is eager to help her tackle it.
Despite Charlie’s friendly nature, there’s a depth and sadness beneath the surface. The two form a genuine friendship that deepens into something more, though Charlie resists a real relationship. Alice, meanwhile, isn’t looking for anything serious either—but a summer fling wouldn’t be the worst idea. As they grow closer, it becomes clear that this is more than just a fling. Charlie gets her access to a local high school darkroom, and when Alice develops the photos, she sees the truth in Charlie’s eyes—he’s in love, even if he won’t say it.
Their story builds to a heartfelt and satisfying conclusion. This novel is full of charm, banter, nostalgia, and longing. It blends the forced proximity and friends-to-lovers tropes with themes of family, healing, and rediscovering joy. There’s humor, heat, and heart—and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I absolutely loved it.
5/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
ONE GOLDEN SUMMER by Carley Fortune. Berkley (May 6, 2025). ISBN: 978-0593638910. 400p.
From the bestselling author of If Something Happens to Me, comes one of the year’s most anticipated thrillers.
In the glow of their children’s exciting first year of college at a small private school in Northern California, five families gather over dinner and cocktails for the opening festivities of Parents Weekend. As the parents stay out way past their bedtimes, their kids―five residents of Campisi Hall―never show up to dinner.
At first, everyone thinks they’re just being college students, irresponsibly forgetting about the gathering or skipping out to go to a party. But as the hours tick by and another night falls with not so much as a text from the students, panic ensues. Soon the campus police call in reinforcements. Search parties are formed. Reporters swarm the small enclave. Rumors swirl and questions arise.
Libby, Blane, Mark, Felix, and Stella―The Five, as the podcasters, bloggers, and TikTok sleuths soon call them―come from very different families. What drew them out on that fateful night? Could it be the sins of their mothers and fathers come to cause them peril―or a threat to the friend group from within?
Told from each family’s point of view―and marking the return of FBI Special Agent Sarah Keller from Every Last Fear and The Night Shift―Parents Weekend explores the weight of expectation, family dysfunction, and those exhilarating first days in the dorms when friends become family.
“From one of the genre’s best . . . Finlay has a gift for intertwining many storylines and characters in a cohesive, compelling way. The tropes used here don’t feel stale, and plenty of surprises and red herrings will keep readers interested. Fans won’t want to miss Finlay’s latest.”―Booklist
“Finlay writes . . . with red herrings galore, and he caps the proceedings with a particularly shocking conclusion.”―Publishers Weekly
A Barnes & Noble’s “Most Anticipated Mysteries & Thrillers” A LibraryReads Hall of Fame Selection for May 2025 ― Best Books Voted by Librarians A Goodreads’ Readers’ “Most Popular Books Published in May 2025”
The title is what drew my attention here, but it’s the story that kept it. One of the worst weekends of my life was a parents’ weekend at college, for very different reasons than those in this story. Plus, I work at a small, private university and experience parents’ weekend every year from the staff side of things. Thankfully, nothing like this ever happened where I work!
The student body here is a mixture, like most campuses, of the haves and have-nots. One of the parents is a highly placed federal government employee who has Secret Service protection, while at the other end of the spectrum is the college president’s admin, whose son attends on a full scholarship. Another set of parents are staying at a five-star resort some distance from the school as they are too snobby to stay at the local hotel, so it’s a real mix. Most of the students live in the dorms, but one student lives in a fraternity house. These parents are thrust together because their kids are in the same capstone program at school.
The first nightmare is that a student goes missing a few days before the weekend, and is found accidentally drowned in a cave off the shore. That is horrible enough, but when the parents all meet up for the first night dinner, none of their kids show up. The parents spend some time getting to know one another and musing about their missing kids, chalking it up to kids being kids, and figure they probably went to a party instead of the parental dinner. But when no one can get hold of their kids, no texts, no phone calls, nothing, they start to worry a bit. By the next day, there’s still no word and no sign of them anywhere, and panic starts to set in.
FBI Agent Sarah Keller (Every Last Fear and The Night Shift) has asked for a hardship transfer as her father-in-law isn’t doing well and needs help. Her husband, a stay-at-home dad, and their kids have moved in with him, and her first assignment is at the university. Being new to the area, she doesn’t know anyone, even in her new department, but she is happy to work with the head of security at the university. He is professional and seems to have a real handle on things, as he was a former law enforcement officer. The story moves quickly, and I liked that we get different points of view. The local police are also involved, and as the days go by, the tension really ratchets up.
There are plenty of twists and turns here, and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I don’t want to give anything away, but I will say that the ending was a shocker and very well done. This was a suspenseful page-turner, and I highly recommend it!
5/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
PARENTS WEEKEND by Alex Finlay. Minotaur Books (May 6, 2025). ISBN: 978-1250360724. 320p.
Falling in love with your husband is anything but convenient in this steamy romance from the New York Times bestselling author of Business or Pleasure.
Dani Dorfman has somehow made it to her thirties without knowing what she wants to do with her life. So when an office romance ends poorly and gets her fired, she applies for a job in Amsterdam, idly dreaming of escaping the mess she’s created, but never imagining she’ll actually get it.
Except she does. By the end of her first week in Amsterdam, she’s never felt more adrift or alone. Then she crashes her bike into her high school ex-boyfriend—and suddenly life is blooming with new opportunities.
Wouter van Leeuwen was a Dutch exchange student Dani’s family hosted, a forbidden love that ended in a painful breakup. Years later, there’s still sizzling chemistry between them, and okay, maybe a little animosity. More importantly, Wouter needs to be married to inherit a gorgeous family home on a canal—and when Dani’s job falls apart, she needs a visa. As the marriage of convenience pushes them together in unexpected ways, Dani must decide whether her new life is yet another mistake—or if it’s worth taking a risk on a second chance.
“Solomon showcases her talent for creating flawed by appealing characters, and it’s gratifying to see Dani and Wouter’s relationship mature.”—Publishers Weekly
Dani Dorfman met Wouter van Leeuwen in high school, when he lived with her family as an exchange student from Amsterdam. They spent a year falling in love—until he dumped her via text after returning home, leaving Dani heartbroken.
Now thirty, Dani’s life has hit rock bottom. Her boyfriend cheated, their breakup went public when she accidentally forwarded his explicit emails to their entire office, and she lost her job—while he got promoted. So when a job opportunity with a tech startup in Amsterdam appears, Dani jumps at the chance for a fresh start, despite her overprotective parents’ objections.
Born a micro-preemie with asthma and a cosmetic port-wine stain, Dani’s been coddled her whole life. Determined to prove she can thrive on her own, she moves across the world—only to find her new job is drudgery, her basement apartment has no flooring (a quirky Amsterdam rental reality), and then it floods. To top it off, the startup goes under.
Things start looking up after she literally crashes her bike into Wouter. It’s their first encounter in over a decade, and it leads to an unexpected offer: move into his lovely ground-floor apartment, and he’ll charge her the same reduced rate she’s been paying. Reluctantly, Dani agrees—she has nowhere else to go.
Unless she finds another job, Dani is on the brink of losing her visa. Wouter proposes a solution: a green card marriage. He needs to be married to inherit his family home, and Dani needs to stay in the country. What starts as a pragmatic arrangement soon stirs up old feelings neither of them are ready to face.
This trope-packed romance—complete with fake marriage, forced proximity, and second chances—is full of heart and humor. Dani and Wouter’s story is not just about rekindled love, but personal growth, healing, and the messy beauty of imperfect people finding connection.
Solomon also refreshingly breaks romance norms: Wouter has thinning hair (yes, a balding romantic lead!), a rare and welcome touch of realism in a genre that often prizes superficial perfection. With the thousands of romances that I have read, I can’t think of another with a balding protagonist. There may have been a few shaved heads, but that’s about it (given that my memory isn’t what it used to be!)
Consider this, from a study entitled, “Prevalence of male pattern hair loss in 18-49 year old men” in PubMed: “The proportion of men with moderate to extensive hair loss was 42%. The proportion of men with moderate to extensive hair loss increased with increasing age, ranging from 16% for men 18-29 years of age to 53% of men 40-49.”
Exhibit A
Yet balding men are severely underrepresented in romance novels, so I loved that – my hero/husband included! When my husband and I were getting married – I was 23, he was 25 – I convinced him to go to my hair stylist instead of his usual barber. But the stylist pointed out that his hair was thinning in the back, and my husband never forgave him. If women only want men with full heads of hair, they need a lot of luck or to marry rich – Exhibit A, Elon Musk was balding when he was in the U.S. on a student visa, (although he never actually attended any classes.)
If you haven’t read Solomon, this is as good a place as any to start – but truth be told, I’ve loved all of her books with their flawed protagonists. Yes, there is still the fantasy, but touches of reality too, and I think that is a good thing. With its rich Amsterdam atmosphere and relatable characters, this is a smart, funny, and emotional love story. Don’t miss it.
5/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
WHAT HAPPENS IN AMSTERDAM by Rachel Lynn Solomon.Berkley (May 6, 2025). ISBN: 978-0593548554. 384p.
At least, that’s what I thought—until I met Conor Nilsen. In truth, I didn’t know he was the goalie for the Chicago Falcons when he struck up a conversation the night of my bachelorette party.
He proved he wasn’t just some hot guy looking to score when he helped me get my drunk bridesmaid safely back to our hotel. That’s when he discovered my 30-before-30 bucket list—a list I hadn’t managed to check a single item off.
What was meant to be a night of stargazing turned into so much more. The chemistry between us was undeniable, and after one innocent night together, I started to question everything—especially my upcoming wedding to a man I wasn’t sure loved me.
Fast forward to my wedding day, and just as I’m standing at the altar, Conor bursts through the church doors to object. And now, somehow, I’m his roommate. Yikes.
Conor is one of the best goalies in the NHL; he got there by keeping his head down and working on it all through high school and college, leaving no time for relationships. As a professional hockey player, he sticks with the puck bunnies to avoid any entanglements that could detract from his game. While he played for another team in Florida, he had a woman who, after a one-night stand, became his stalker to the point where he had a restraining order against her. But he’s in Chicago now, living in the Nest, and keeping his reputation as a playboy intact. Until he meets Eloise…
Eloise is engaged to a clone of her dad; a rich finance bro. Her bachelorette party gets derailed from her highly anticipated spa weekend to a night out clubbing, but her friend is drinking enough for the both of them, so Eloise is just hanging out in the booth with her bottle of water. She’s wearing the bridal regalia of most bachelorette parties, with the added bonus of a QR code so people can buy her drinks. Conor spots her and wanders over. He’s not the type to go after a woman who is taken, but he can’t help but notice she’s not having any fun. The fixer in him wants to help, and they hang out, talking, until her very drunk friend is ready to go. Conor helps pour her into a cab, then into her hotel room. He accidentally sees Eloise’s bucket list, and offers to help her out with it. They head out into the night to go stargazing, and spend the night talking.
Conor has never felt anything like this for a woman. She’s all he can think about, but she’s getting married in a week, so he tries to forget about her. Eloise is ruminating about her upcoming wedding, wondering if she is making the right decision. When she’s walking down the aisle, she can’t help but notice her groom isn’t even looking at her. She decides to back out, but before she can say anything, a slightly inebriated Conor bursts into the church and stops the wedding.
Next thing you know, Eloise is moving into Conor’s spare bedroom, and they start hanging out, platonically. Eloise decides she wants more, but Conor is holding off, wanting to make sure he’s not just a rebound. Meanwhile, the puck bunnies are constantly circling him, and things take a turn for the worse when his Florida stalker shows up.
Conor finally sees the light and lets Eloise decide what she is ready for, and the sex is beyond good for both of them. He decides to try and fix the stalker issue without letting Eloise know, wanting to spare her feelings, but of course, that backfires and causes the mini-breakup in the third act. No worries, though; Conor and Eloise get the happy ending they both want.
This is a Full Cast production in Duet Style, which I really love. Basically, it is read more like a play, with each actor reading a specific role, rather than dual style, with two actors alternating chapters. Connor Crais and Luci Christian Bell lead an incredible cast featuring Sean Masters, JF Harding, Troy Duran, Teddy Hamilton, and CJ Bloom. Their performances bring the story to life in such an engaging way that I can’t recommend this audiobook series highly enough. Like all the books in this series, it is an entertaining escape with heat, heart, and humor. I loved it.
5/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
MR. SWOONY by Piper Rayne.Narrators: JF Harding, Brooke Bloomingdale, Sean Masters, Erin Mallon, Connor Crais, Troy Duran, Teddy Hamilton, & CJ Bloom. Piper Rayne Inc.; February 24, 2025. Listening Length: 8 hours and 40 minutes.
Two writers compete for the chance to tell the larger-than-life story of a woman with more than a couple of plot twists up her sleeve in this dazzling and sweeping novel from Emily Henry.
Alice Scott is an eternal optimist still dreaming of her big writing break. Hayden Anderson is a Pulitzer-prize winning human thundercloud. And they’re both on balmy Little Crescent Island for the same reason: to write the biography of a woman no one has seen in years—or at least to meet with the octogenarian who claims to be the Margaret Ives. Tragic heiress, former tabloid princess, and daughter of one of the most storied (and scandalous) families of the twentieth century.
When Margaret invites them both for a one-month trial period, after which she’ll choose the person who’ll tell her story, there are three things keeping Alice’s head in the game.
One: Alice genuinely likes people, which means people usually like Alice—and she has a whole month to win the legendary woman over.
Two: She’s ready for this job and the chance to impress her perennially unimpressed family with a Serious Publication.
Three: Hayden Anderson, who should have no reason to be concerned about losing this book, is glowering at her in a shaken-to-the core way that suggests he sees her as competition.
But the problem is, Margaret is only giving each of them pieces of her story. Pieces they can’t swap to put together because of an ironclad NDA and an inconvenient yearning pulsing between them every time they’re in the same room.
And it’s becoming abundantly clear that their story—just like the tale Margaret’s spinning—could be a mystery, tragedy, or love ballad . . . depending on who’s telling it.
Named a Most Anticipated book by The New York Times ∙ Rolling Stone ∙ People ∙ USA Today ∙ Harper’s Bazaar ∙ Marie Claire ∙ E! Online ∙ The New York Post ∙ Bustle ∙ Reader’s Digest ∙ BBC ∙ PopSugar ∙ SheReads ∙ Paste ∙ and more!
“What begins as a charming if standard rom-com evolves into a hauntingly beautiful meditation on what makes a life well lived in the latest showstopper from Henry . . . This is a stunner.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Both longtime Henry fans and new romance readers will devour this rivals-to-lovers slow burn, one of Henry’s best to date.”—Library Journal (starred review)
“Henry continues to burnish her reputation for fashioning sublimely satisfying love stories with another perfectly calibrated, delectably witty tale featuring endearingly quirky, thoughtfully nuanced characters.”—Booklist (starred review)
I didn’t love this book as much as all the critics, or even as much as Henry’s other books. Actually, it is my least favorite of all her books. All that said, it is a good read, and I ripped through it in a day.
There are a lot of characters here, but the main protagonists are Hayden and Alice, and Margaret. Margaret is a recluse from a very famous, uber-wealthy family. She is living on a small island off the Georgia coast, and Alice had received a message telling her to look there for this mysterious woman. Once she confirms who she is, Margaret invites her to visit. Unbeknownst to Alice, Margaret has also invited Hayden to visit.
Hayden is a Pulitzer prize-winning biographer, and Alice loved his last book. When they both show up at Margaret’s home, she gets right to the point. She is ready to tell her life story, but she isn’t sure who she will allow to write it. She is giving them both a one month audition, so to speak – at the end of the month, they’ll give her their proposals and she will decide who will write her biography. It is sure to be a bestseller no matter who writes it, and Alice thinks this could be her big break. She has been writing celebrity gossip for an online magazine, so this would be a big step up for her. But how to compete with Hayden is weighing on her.
They arrange a schedule with each of them getting to spend three days a week with Margaret. Alice is the friendly, outgoing type, while Hayden is much more reserved. But Alice breaks through his reserve and they start sharing coffee in the morning then dinner at night. Before long, they have to come up with some ground rules – no talking about anything Margaret tells them. Besides which, she has them both sign strict NDAs. But they can’t help but compare from time to time, nothing specific, just gut feelings that Margaret is lying to them at times.
The book moves between their experiences with Margaret and their spending time together. Alice quickly realizes she is falling for Hayden, but he is keeping her at arm’s length, until that is no longer possible. They know it is going to be difficult at the end; whoever is chosen to write the book, the other will definitely have feelings about it that could, and most likely will, creep into their relationship. This dilemma follows them almost until the very end, when truths come out, but of course, the ending is a happy one.
I found it difficult at times to follow all the actors in this story. Margaret’s family is a cast of many, not to mention Alice’s and Hayden’s family have their stories as well. This is a slow burn romance of the slowest kind, but there are several twists along the way that keep the story interesting and moving along. I liked it, I just didn’t love it.
5/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
GREAT BIG BEAUTIFUL LIFE by Emily Henry. Berkley (April 22, 2025). ISBN: 978-0593441299. 432p.
From #1New York Times bestselling author Alex Aster comes her adult debut novel Summer in the City—a swoony, fast-paced rom-com set in New York City in which a screenwriter and a sexy tech CEO go from lovers to enemies and back to lovers again…
Twenty-seven-year-old screenwriter Elle has the chance of a lifetime to write a big-budget movie set in New York City. The only problem? She’s had writer’s block for months, and her screenplay is due at the end of the summer.
In a desperate attempt at inspiration, Elle ends up back in the city she swore she would never return to, in an apartment she could never afford (floor-to-ceiling windows, skyline views, and a new coffee shop to haunt included). It’s the perfect place to write her screenplay…until she realizes her new neighbor is tech “Billionaire Bachelor” Parker Warren, her stairwell hookup from two years ago. It’s been a lovers-to-enemies situation ever since.
When seeing him again turns into a full night of hate-fueled writing, Elle realizes her enemy/twisted muse might just be the key to finishing her screenplay… if she can stand being around her polar opposite. She writes anonymously, and he’s on the cover of every business magazine. He frequents fancy red carpeted events, and she doesn’t like leaving her emotional support five block radius.
One summer. One wall apart. He needs to fake a buzzy relationship during his company’s precarious acquisition. She needs to write a movie around a list of NYC locations. Both need a break from their unrelenting schedules, and a chance to rediscover the skyscraper glimmering, pizza crusted, sunlit charms of the city.
Summers always end, and so will this agreement. It’s all pretend. Promise.
Until it isn’t.
“Best-selling YA author Aster makes her adult fiction debut with a superbly crafted, splendidly entertaining romance that deftly delivers all the snappy repartee and crackling sexual chemistry of Nora Ephron at her cinematic rom-com best while also offering readers a beautifully crafted love letter to the many joys of New York City.” Copyright 2025 Booklist Reviews.” — Booklist
“Bestselling Aster makes her adult debut with a rom-com featuring a lovers-to-enemies-back-to-lovers trope. It follows a screenwriter who likes to be private and a news-making tech CEO during their swoony summer in NYC. — Library Journal
Order now to receive the stunning DELUXE LIMITED EDITION—only available on the first printing while supplies last! This collector’s hardcover features gorgeous sprayed edges with stenciled artwork, illustrated color endpapers, and special design features on the case.
Elle is a screenwriter in the grip of severe writer’s block, tasked with crafting a romance film while grappling with lingering trauma from her past. She writes under a pseudonym, thus avoiding all the Hollywood hoopla. She returns to New York to housesit her sister’s upscale apartment—her globe-trotting, pregnant sister who seems to have it all together. Their father is absent, and the memory of their late mother continues to cast a long shadow over Elle’s (often unhealthy) worldview. The studio gives her a tight timeline to finish the script, and she’s hoping living in New York City for the summer will help. They have already pulled permits to film in various locations throughout the city, so Elle needs to keep those in mind while she crafts the script.
Enter Parker Warren: tech billionaire, and—surprise—Elle’s new neighbor. He also happens to be the man behind her chaotic stairwell hookup from two years ago, which she had chalked up to a one-night stand with a bodyguard. Turns out, he wasn’t a bodyguard, but rather a billionaire entrepreneur. Now he wants Elle to pose as his girlfriend for the summer. Why? Because she’s one of the few people who couldn’t care less about his money or influence—and in return, she’d gain access to high-end locations for her screenplay. He won’t have to worry about taking a gold digger to the social events he needs to attend, so it seems like a win-win.
There’s one more twist: Elle wrote her most successful script after their infamous encounter. Whether she likes it or not, Parker has become her secret muse. Around him, she starts to feel alive again—jogging at dawn, making new friends, even braving karaoke nights, and most importantly, she is writing again. But opening her heart to him would mean betraying everything she thinks her late mother stood for. Can she let herself risk real happiness—not just for a summer, but for something more lasting?
The city becomes another character with this vivid, heartfelt portrayal of New York, and that always appeals to me. The chapters capturing the city’s energy and charm were outstanding. I appreciated the emotional arcs, especially Elle’s journey toward self-acceptance and the subtle reveal of her hidden identity. The happy ending is a given, and while I am not usually a fan of the billionaire boyfriend, Aster did a terrific job with it here. Turns out, I didn’t mind a bit. This is a cinematic romcom, and I can only hope a movie will follow.
5/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
SUMMER IN THE CITY by Alex Aster. William Morrow (March 25, 2025). ISBN: 978-0063411661. 304p.
Antisemitism is growing in the publishing industry, and somehow, I was unaware and surprised to hear this. I heard about it from my machatainista (Yiddish for my daughter-in-law’s mother; interestingly, there is no English word for this relationship!) Nancy attended a talk by Alison Hammer, who writes with a partner under the name Ali Brady (look for their new book, Battle of the Bookstores, in June) and Alison gave some specific examples, such as publishers refusing to publish Jewish authors, bookstores pulling books by Jewish authors, and an Israeli author being disinvited from a conference. That sent me down the rabbit hole – I am a librarian, and research is what I do – and what I found is extremely disturbing.
It seems like this has become more of an issue since October 7. Shades of McCarthyism with a blacklist of Jewish, or what they are calling Zionist, authors. The list was shared on Google Sheets, but Google has since pulled it down. I got this message:
We’re sorry. You can’t access this item because it is in violation of our Terms of Service.
This is completely abhorrent – same with the legal immigrants being disappeared in this country. I see the headlines and can’t help but think of this, written in 1946 by Pastor Martin Niemöller:
First they came for the Communists And I did not speak out Because I was not a Communist Then they came for the Socialists And I did not speak out Because I was not a Socialist Then they came for the trade unionists And I did not speak out Because I was not a trade unionist Then they came for the Jews And I did not speak out Because I was not a Jew Then they came for me And there was no one left To speak out for me
I found a few articles about how Shelf Awareness, a book industry newsletter aimed at readers, booksellers, and librarians, that I have subscribed to for more years than I can remember, wouldn’t take an ad for a book with the word Israel in the title. Ad for Israel Book Canceled Because ‘Customers Might Complain’. I canceled my subscription.
There’s a lot more, but you get the idea. Hammer is a member of a group called Artists Against Antisemitism, and I was happy to make a donation. Please help if you can. And thank you, Nancy, for helping me shine a light on this.
I have a 7-quart Le Creuset Dutch Oven in “Cerise Red” and a couple of baking dishes. I find it very heavy – when I use it and have to transfer it from the stove to the oven, or take it out of the oven, I generally enlist my husband’s or daughter’s help. Although I do like the baking dishes – yes, they are heavy but no more than most ceramicware. I tried the No Knead Bread recipe and the interior bottom of the Dutch oven cracked and crazed. I contacted Le Creuset (lifetime guarantee) and they said that wasn’t covered, but they replaced it anyway, which I greatly appreciated. This was the second time I had one of their Dutch Ovens just explode on me.
The first Le Creuset I ever got was the same 7-quart Dutch Oven, but in Caribbean Blue. I got it at one of Macy’s crazy sales, and I paid $99 for it, which is just insane, but the sale price was only for that color. I didn’t care, I was poor! When would I ever get an opportunity to get one of their ovens for that price. Then a year or so later, I was browning a brisket, and the interior bottom exploded, cracked, and crazed. I had to throw out the brisket (which was upsetting; it’s an expensive cut of meat), and I returned the pot to Macy’s for a new one. This was back in the day before everything was online, but I didn’t think it would be a problem. I had worked in retail years prior, and I knew that with defective merchandise, the store just sends it back to the vendor for a credit or some variation of that. Well, because I didn’t have my receipt, Macy’s staff was not especially helpful or kind; in fact, their response was to offer to sell me a new one. After escalating to the department manager and then moving up to the next level manager, and over an hour of waiting around, they finally agreed to exchange it, but for the red color – I guess they had a lot of those? Whatever. I didn’t care, and I was thrilled to get a new one. I have a Lodge enameled braiser that I’ve used for a few years now, and the outside enamel and the lid are chipped in several places. It’s still usable, but I think it illustrates the price difference between the brands. However, as my husband points out, I can buy at least two of the Lodge pans before hitting the cost of a new Le Creuset. (But not at the outlet store!)
These pots are supposed to last a lifetime. That article showed a picture of a set of pots this couple bought when they got married in 1965 and are still using! Not sure why I haven’t had that experience. Hopefully, the third time, or in this case, the third oven, is the charm, and I can leave it to my kids! Oh, and I bought an Emile Henry ceramic bread oven to make that no knead bread, which was before Le Creuset finally came out with one of their own. I also won’t heat up my Le Creuset past medium-high on my stove. Lesson learned.
Bus driver Larry Farrish Jr. made sure Levi was able to participate in Pajama Day at school. Jefferson County Public Schools
I’m not a birder, but even I can appreciate those who travel to exotic locales like these in Panama. Gorgeous pictures!
Other News
I thought this was so interesting!
April was a rough month for me, and it surprised me. April 11 was the one-month anniversary of losing my beloved Loki, and it was a hard day. I remember when I lost my mother, someone told me it takes a full year at minimum to go through the grieving process. You have to get through every holiday, birthday, and every other memorable occasion, and it held true for me. I just never thought it would also apply to losing my cat. Yes, he was a member of the family for sure, but I didn’t think that holidays and such would be so upsetting.
I mean, Passover – it didn’t occur to me that I would have an issue related to losing my Loki, yet it was. I was sauteeing chicken livers for chopped liver and dropped a tiny piece. My first instinct was to call Loki; he was always the beneficiary of a dropped piece of liver. Or chicken. Or turkey or steak. But no Loki this year.
Normally, I bake a sponge cake for Passover, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. It was the craziest thing – when I would take that cake out of the oven to cool, Loki would go nuts. He’d stand up against the counter, stretching upwards, his little nose quivering. A sponge cake is baked in a two-piece tube pan, with feet, like an angel food cake. Once it comes out of the oven, you turn it upside down for an hour. There was something about the scent of that cake that appealed to him more than just about anything else I made. This year, I made Flourless Chocolate Cake for Passover, which is better for me because I’m not a fan, so a bite was more than enough. But everyone else at the Seder loved it. I brought the rest of the cake to work, and it disappeared in a hurry.
This was also the first year I didn’t get to celebrate my grandchildren’s birthdays with them. It was the first time I missed one of Jonah’s birthdays, he turned four, and I missed Sylvie’s first birthday. It was the first, probably not the last, though. I missed being with my family for Passover, but was happy I got to share it with good friends.
Sorry for being so maudlin. I can’t seem to snap out of it. I guess I will have to get through this year to feel any better at all.
As always, thanks for reading, and stay safe.
Thanks to The New York Times for allowing me to “gift” my readers with free access to these articles, a lovely perk for subscribers.
Posted by Stacy Alesi 
Stacy Alesi's BookBitch.com™ 