Stacy Alesi

Spotlight Review: FIRST-TIME CALLER by B.K. Borison

February 11, 2025

Heartstrings, Book 1

From the publisher:

A hopeless romantic meets a jaded radio host in this cozy, Sleepless in Seattle–inspired love story from beloved author B.K. Borison.

Aiden Valentine has a secret: he’s fallen out of love with love. And as the host of Baltimore’s romance hotline, that’s a bit of a problem. But when a young girl calls in to the station asking for dating advice for her mom, the interview goes viral, thrusting Aiden and Heartstrings into the limelight.

Lucie Stone thought she was doing just fine. She has a good job; an incredible family; and a smart, slightly devious kid. But when all of Baltimore is suddenly scrutinizing her love life—or lack thereof—she begins to question if she’s as happy as she believed. Maybe a little more romance wouldn’t be such a bad thing.

Everyone wants Lucie to find her happy ending…even the handsome, temperamental man calling the shots. But when sparks start to fly behind the scenes, Lucie must make the final decision between the radio-sponsored happily ever after or the man in the headphones next to her.

“A wonderfully tender and sexy story full of swoon-worthy lines and perfect moments that will elicit smiles, sighs, and tears and keep readers thoroughly invested in the happily-ever-after.”—Library Journal (starred review)

“Lucie and Aiden are perfectly imperfect together and will have eager readers rooting for their romance. Quirky supporting characters… add depth, while Borison’s skillful plotting keeps the pages flying. This first-rate tale will resonate with true romantics.”—Publishers Weekly

“Warm-hearted and thoroughly delightful, Borison’s winning latest will likely expand the fan base that fell for her Lovelight series.”—Booklist

https://amzn.to/42aNXGS

Downloaded this so fast when I saw the comparison to “Sleepless in Seattle,” one of my favorite romcoms that I re-watch regularly, and I may have liked this book even more than the movie!

Lucie is a single mom who got pregnant the first time she had sex. Her baby daddy is married to his own husband, and they live next door. It’s an ideal situation, especially for their daughter, Maya, and everyone is great friends. One night, Lucie is lying in bed and hears voices. It turns out to be Maya on the phone with the local Baltimore radio station. Aidan Valentine is the host of the late-night romance talk show Heartstrings. Maya has never seen her mom go on a date, and she’s all of twelve years old. She calls in to get advice for her mom. Once Lucie realizes what is happening, she gets on the phone with Aidan and spills her guts, talking long after Maya has fallen asleep.

Within days, the broadcast, which is also a podcast, went viral, and the station manager seized it as an opportunity to save the station, which was being threatened with a hostile takeover. Lucie is invited to join Aidan in the studio a few nights a week, and all of Baltimore is now invested in finding her a date.

Aidan is quite cynical about love and romance, which Lucie finds odd as he hosts a romance podcast. But he has his reasons, most of which are based on his childhood growing up with a mother who has cancer, which returns time and again. Aidan is afraid to love anyone for fear of losing them. He has distanced himself from his parents, too, for the same reasons. But something is happening between Aidan and Lucie, and he fights it as hard as he can.

Unlike “Sleepless in Seattle”, this story is pretty much contained within the Baltimore city limits, making it much more intimate. People who know Lucie are listening, including her co-workers in the garage where she is a mechanic, her ex and his husband, and her daughter. A sponsor takes on the show, increasing revenue for the station, and Lucie even gets a couple of dates out of it. Those dates cause her to realize her feelings for Aidan, and eventually,y he can’t fight it his attraction to Lucie anymore. But he soon panics, pushing her away.

I could not put this book down. I know Borison has tons of fans from the Lovelight Farms series, and I’m one of them, but I loved this book so much more than those. I was so invested in these characters that I hated to leave them. Luckily, this is the first book of a new series, and I’m all in.

2/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

FIRST-TIME CALLER by B.K. Borison. Berkley (February 11, 2025). ISBN: 978-0593641194. 448p.

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Audiobook Sunday: DESIRE OR DEFENSE by Leah Brunner

February 9, 2025

Read by Dane Anderson & Alex Picard

D.C. Eagles Hockey, Book 1

From the publisher:

I’m the notoriously angry, grouchy D.C. Eagles defenseman who just can’t keep his temper in check—a temper that leads to a fifteen-game suspension from the NHL.

As if that’s not bad enough, I’m forced into a short-term youth-hockey coaching gig—which my manager swears will “rebuild my image.”

But what I didn’t expect was for a gorgeous, spunky blonde to stomp onto the ice on day one and lecture me about being rude to her little brother.

Something about this spitfire of a woman, and the boy she’s so protective of, has my defenses melting.

And if I’m not careful, I’ll burst into flames, forever melting the ice I’ve carefully kept around my heart.

This is a closed-door romcom with mild language. Trigger warnings include parental substance abuse and dealing with grief/loss of parents.

https://amzn.to/4h6YkQt

I had to suspend my disbelief here; a hockey suspension for fifteen games is most unusual, but it does happen so I was able to go with it. Happily, it was worth it because I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book. And no worries if you are not a hockey fan, it will not affect your reading of this sweet romance.

Andie lost her parents and is raising her much younger, 12-year-old brother. Mitch is a defenseman for a fictional pro hockey team who gets this huge suspension for fighting. His coach orders him to therapy, and to help with a peewee hockey team as part of his penance for letting his team down. That’s where he meets Andie, whose brother plays in this league.

This isn’t instalove, but there is definite attraction from the start. Andie and Mitch have similar traumas in their backgrounds, but there is a lot of cute banter that keeps the story light. There was a really funny scene where Mitch is listening to an audiobook that turns out to be quite a spicy romance, which this book is not. This is a closed-door romance, but that said, there is still plenty of innuendo, and you can definitely feel the sexual chemistry between Andie and Mitch.

This was a fun read, and the narrators did a great job bringing me into the story. This was one of those books that I really couldn’t put down. While the narrators often make the difference, in this case, it was the collaboration between the writer and the narrators that made this such a good listen.

Note: there is a novella that starts before this, even though this is the first book in the series. I was able to borrow it from Hoopla through my library. Hopefully, I’ll be able to get all the books in this series that way.

2/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

DESIRE OR DEFENSE by Leah Brunner. Narrators: Dane Anderson, Alex Picard. Dreamscape Media; August 15, 2023. Listening Length: 7 hours and 52 minutes.

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ONCE SMITTEN, TWICE SHY by Chloe Liese

February 7, 2025

The Wilmot Sisters, Book 3

From the publisher:

Star-crossed lovers learn that practicing romance leads to the perfect happy ending in this steamy reimagining of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.

Since heartbreak entered the scene, Juliet Wilmot, once a hopeless romantic, has sworn off love. But when she’s presented with the chance to revisit romance—purely for practice—with the gorgeous, off-limits guy she keeps serendipitously running into, it feels like a sign from the universe.

Quiet, shy Will Orsino knows happily-ever-after isn’t on his horizon. Problem is, for the sake of the family business, marriage is. Resigned to the inevitable, but with no confidence he can woo a wife, he can hardly say no when fate hands him the alluring, unattainable woman he keeps crossing paths with, offering to help him learn the ropes of romance.

Neither of them looking for love, Jules and Will agree they’re the perfect pair to practice romance. Except that practicing to perfection leads to an irresistible attraction. Their once smitten hearts, though still twice shy, might have happily-ever-after written in the stars for them, after all.

AN INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER!

“Liese continues her brilliantly conceived, wryly witty Wilmot Sisters series with a beguiling romance inspired by Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night….Liese writes with thoughtful insight about living with a chronic disease and neurodiversity.”—Booklist

https://amzn.to/3CqRtT9

This was an unusual romance in that the main protagonists never have a crisis or breakup of any kind. Instead, it’s a friends-to-lovers, slow-burn romance with interesting characters that we really get to know.

Jules has a debilitating illness that causes her pain and weakness at times, but that’s not her real problem. Her more significant issue is that she had a nasty breakup and has become extremely guarded and protective of her heart. Will is on the spectrum and doesn’t pick up on social cues, so he has difficulty dating. They meet briefly in Scotland when Jules is hiding out there, mending her broken heart. She knows she is in no position to start a new relationship, no matter how attractive she finds Will.

Will lives on his family’s farm and runs their distillery, but his sister schmoozes the customers, so at least he doesn’t have to socialize. He visits his best friend in the States and falls asleep in the greenhouse next door. He awakens to Jules attacking him, thinking he is stalking her. They eventually figure out that Jules’s next-door neighbor and good friend (who treats her like a sister) is Will’s best friend, and it’s smooth sailing after that. As they get to know one another, they each admit to their weaknesses with dating and are determined to help one another by pretend dating and practicing romance so they can be more comfortable with it. Will needs a wife who will be able to help him with his business but has no expectations of any kind of love story. Jules wants the romance but is afraid of getting hurt again.

The more time they spend together, the more they enjoy each other’s company, but Jules wants true love and is afraid Will isn’t looking for it. Eventually, they realize they are both exactly what the other needs, and they get their happy ever after.

This is a sweet romance with a bit of heat, but it’s the romance that truly carries the story. I loved Will’s habit of inadvertently saying his thoughts aloud; it added some lightness. This is the third book of a series that I haven’t read, and as far as I can tell, it stands alone beautifully. Happily, I have the first two books in the series on my Kindle.

2/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

ONCE SMITTEN, TWICE SHY by Chloe Liese. Berkley (January 14, 2025). ISBN: 978-0593441541. 384p.

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BETTER THAN FRIENDS by Jill Shalvis

February 7, 2025

Sunrise Cove, Book 7

From the publisher:

A Cozy Romance with a Touch of Suspense, Perfect for Winter 2025, Snuggle Up and Fall in Love!

Old flames reignite in Sunrise Cove in this charming enemies-to-lovers, second-chance, small-town, forced-proximity love story about family, friendships, and true love from New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis.

When Olive Porter’s off-the-grid parents go missing, she reluctantly seeks out Noah Turner, her ex and the only person she both trusts implicitly and not at all.

As a special investigative agent for the National Park Service, Noah’s used to living under intense pressure. Or he was until he got injured on the job. Now unhappily recuperating at home while being smothered by his loving but nosy family, he’d love nothing more than a good distraction.

So when Olive shows up looking like a million bucks, he has to do a gut and heart check. Because nope, no matter what, he can’t fall for her again, the woman who once blew up his entire life and never looked back. How ironic then that his own personal hell (Olive) is also his ticket out of town. The question is, will the risk be worth the reward?

Bestseller Shalvis returns to Sunrise Cove (after Summer Escape) for an irresistible enemies-to-lovers romance . . . The drama pairs with tenderness and plenty of steam to keep the pages turning. Series fans and new readers alike will be drawn in by the clever plotting and buoyant prose. It’s another winner from Shalvis. —Publishers Weekly

https://amzn.to/4jJKp4L

Jill Shalvis has once again delivered a delightful tale in Better Than Friends, the seventh installment in her beloved Sunrise Cove series. This romance easily stands alone yet takes readers back to the charming small town near Lake Tahoe, where love, family, and second chances intertwine beautifully.

The story centers on Olive Porter, a PR firm owner who returns to Sunrise Cove under pressing circumstances: her best friend’s husband, Joe, is hospitalized and in a coma after an accident, then her off-the-grid parents mysteriously disappear. To find them, she must turn to Noah Turner, the man who still holds her heart despite their complicated past.

Noah, now a special investigative agent for the National Park Service, is recovering from a job-related injury that has left him temporarily sidelined and blames himself for Joe’s accident. Staying with his twin sister Katie while recuperating, he’s unprepared for the emotional whirlwind Olive’s return brings. Their chemistry is undeniable, and Shalvis masterfully weaves their shared history into the present-day narrative, revealing glimpses of their high school friendship and romance while unraveling the mystery of why Olive left him years ago.

The novel excels in its exploration of relationships—romantic, familial, and platonic. Olive’s bond with the Turner family, forged during her teenage years living next door to them, is heartwarming. Katie’s quirky personality and unfiltered honesty add humor and depth to the story, while Noah’s adorable nephew Joey steals scenes with his innocent charm (and his knack for catching Olive and Noah in compromising moments). Shalvis also introduces lovable animal companions—a dieting elderly dog and a stray cat named Pepper—who bring additional warmth and laughter.

As secrets from the past come to light and emotions run high, Better Than Friends delivers all the hallmarks of a great romance: second chances, forced proximity, and sizzling chemistry. Fans of these tropes will be captivated by Olive and Noah’s journey toward healing and love.

Whether you’re new to the Sunrise Cove series or a longtime fan, this book is a must-read. It’s sweet, heartfelt, and filled with character growth. I couldn’t help but root for Olive and Noah to finally find their happily ever after!

2/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

BETTER THAN FRIENDS by Jill Shalvis. Avon (January 21, 2025). ISBN: 978-0063353435. 336p.

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Spotlight Review: DREAM GIRL DRAMA by Tessa Bailey

February 4, 2025

Big Shots, Book 3

From the Publisher:

A steamy chance encounter between a professional hockey player and the manic pixie dream girl he just can’t seem to forget takes a turn when the pair realize that their parents are engaged—in an all-new rom-com by #1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey.

When professional hockey player Sig Gauthier’s car breaks down and his phone dies, he treks into a posh private country club to call a tow truck, where he encounters the alluring Chloe Clifford, the manic pixie dream girl who captivates him immediately with her sense of adventure and penchant for stealing champagne.

Sparks fly during a moonlight kiss and the enamored pair can’t wait to see each other again, but when Sig finally arrives to meet his dad’s new girlfriend over dinner, Chloe is confusingly also there. Turns out the girlfriend is Chloe’s mother. Oh, and they’re engaged.

Sig’s dream girl is his future stepsister.

Though the pair is now wary of being involved romantically, Chloe, a sheltered harp prodigy, yearns to escape her controlling mother. Sig promises to teach her the ins and outs of independence in Boston—but not inside his bedroom. They both know there can never be more than friendship between a famous hockey player and his high-society, soon-to-be stepsister. But keeping their relationship platonic grows harder amid the developing family drama, especially knowing they were meant for so much more…

A Spicy Sports Rom-Com with an Unconventional Love Story, Perfect for Winter 2025: Heat Up Your Winter Nights!

“The latest sensually hot and sweetly heartfelt addition to Bailey’s Hot Shots hockey series rewards readers with an ingeniously inventive cast that not only includes some memorable secondary characters, including a fierce and fabulous harp mentor, but also a perfectly matched pair of protagonists, whose combustible sexual chemistry provides the fuel for several incendiary love scenes.”— Booklist

“Readers who don’t like the instalove trope may not buy into the immediate connection between the leads, but Bailey backs it up with thoughtful characterization and red-hot sex scenes. This is a winner.”— Publishers Weekly

“This love-at-first-glance romance between a gruff cinnamon-roll hero and a naive dream girl is swoon-worthy. The tension between the characters is palpable, and readers will be on a knife’s edge waiting for it to break.”— Library Journal

https://amzn.to/4jCtD7p

I love Tessa Bailey and this series is one of my favorites. This latest entry was unputdownable for sure, but I had a hard time suspending my disbelief with the reason these two couldn’t be together.

Let me backtrack. Sig is a professional hockey player coming to the end of his first contract. This was more real-life than almost any sports romance I’ve read; his salary is not in the millions of dollars, and that is a reality for most rookies. Sig was brought up by a single mother who told him his father had married her for her money, taken that money, and disappeared. She came from a wealthy family, but refused to lean on them for support, so they were dirt poor. Sig got in touch with his father as he became an adult, and they had an understandably strained relationship.

Chloe grew up in the wealthiest enclave in Connecticut and has been a harp prodigy since she was a young girl. But she never really studied her instrument, and only did performances at her mother’s request. She lives the life of a socialite, for the most part.

Sig and Chloe meet when his truck breaks down on his way to meet his father for dinner. He manages to get it into a parking lot of a very exclusive country club. His phone has died, and he has no way of getting help, so he goes into the club where the very snooty concierge tries to send him away. Chloe spots him from across the room and rushes in to help, telling the concierge that she’s been waiting for him. She shmoozes her way past him and takes Sig into the bar. It is love at first sight for both of them. They hang out while his phone charges and share a very heated kiss. Then she needs to get home, and he needs to go meet his father and they part.

It turns out that his father is getting married and he wants Sig to meet his fiancée. He hears the most beautiful music he’s ever heard coming from the next room. It turns out Chloe is the musician, and his father’s soon-to-be step-daughter, and even worse, Sig’s soon-to-be step-sister. The rest of the book is about Sig & Chloe becoming best friends who can’t be lovers, and the tension between them is excruciating. I have read thrillers that didn’t have this amount of tension! So kudos to Bailey, she really knocked it out of the park in that regard.

The only problem is that step-siblings have no blood relation, and no real taboo about being together, except in this book. The hockey team dangles an eight-figure salary and team captaincy for Sig, and Chloe has the opportunity to study with the first chair of the Boston Symphony, who is retiring and wants her to take that spot. But both of these incredible opportunities hinge on Sig and Chloe never seeing one another again.

The matter is settled by the end of the book, and of course, there is a happy ending. But plan on putting aside everything else once you pick up this book – I read it in one very late night. It truly is unputdownable!

2/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

DREAM GIRL DRAMA by Tessa Bailey. Avon (February 4, 2025). ISBN: 978-0063380776. 320p.

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Paperback: This deluxe paperback features gorgeous sprayed edges with stenciled artwork and colored illustrations on the inside cover, with fan favorite tropes!

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Audiobook Sunday: THE MATCH by Sarah Adams

February 2, 2025

Read by Leanne Woodward & Rusty Mewha

It Happened in Charleston, Book 1

From the publisher:

From the New York Times bestselling author of Practice Makes Perfect comes an expanded edition of The Match—a charming romance novel about second chances and the healing power of love, with a never-before-seen chapter.

Sometimes love finds you when you least expect it.

Evie Jones has dedicated her life and very limited funds working for Southern Service Paws, the company that matched her with the love of her life: Charlie, a service dog trained to assist with her epilepsy. But it’s no secret that the company has been struggling to make ends meet. It’s up to her and her longtime mentor and boss to throw the fundraiser of the century to keep the doors open.

Then, Evie meets Jacob Broaden at a client consultation meeting. There are instant sparks—but not the good kind, because Jacob’s daughter set up the meeting without his knowledge. Ten-year-old Sam has been recently diagnosed with epilepsy and has wanted a service animal ever since. While he has hesitations at first, it doesn’t take long for Jacob to be convinced that a service dog and possibly Evie, with her magical, woodland-green eyes, might just be the best thing for him and his daughter.

As Evie spends more time with Jacob and helps Sam find her perfect match with a lovable golden retriever named Daisy, she starts longing for something she’s never had before—a loving family. For Jacob, falling in love with Evie is the last thing he should be doing, but love has a way of finding those who need it most.

https://amzn.to/4hnPL3F

I have read most of Sarah Adams’ books, so when the algorithm showed me this one that I hadn’t read, I was all in. And I loved it! Apparently, this is an expanded edition of the original book with an extra chapter. I couldn’t tell you where or why though, it all flowed seamlessly to me.

Evie comes from old Southern money, but she is not too fond of her parents or their lifestyle. Her mother is super critical and pushy, and her father just goes along with her mother. When Evie is diagnosed with epilepsy as a teen, it changes her life. Her long-time boyfriend makes fun of her seizures, and she dumps him, much to her parent’s chagrin. Their fathers are lawyers and partners, and they hoped their children would marry one day. But that’s not going to happen if Evie has anything to say about it.

One day Evie meets a woman about her mother’s age, maybe older, who has a beautiful service dog with her. They get to talking and Evie is lucky enough to be able to purchase a service dog who can sense her oncoming seizures and take care of her. It’s a rather remarkable relationship, and it empowers Evie to move out on her own. Her parents cut her off, hoping that will force her home, but she is determined. She gets a job with the service dog company, and becomes great friends with her boss, who wants to retire and let Evie run the place.

Evie gets an email requesting a meeting for a man and his recently diagnosed young daughter. Evie is very excited; this is the first time she’s met someone else with epilepsy who needs a service dog. Except when she gets there, it turns out the child scheduled the meeting and manipulated her father into going. He is divorced; his ex-wife wanted to be an actress and took off for Hollywood, leaving him a single dad with his own successful architecture firm. It’s not easy and he probably hasn’t slept since his daughter’s diagnosis. He doesn’t know anything about service dogs but he knows he can’t handle the responsibility of one more thing.

Eventually, he sees the importance of the dog and makes amends with Evie. She spends a week with them acclimating them to their new dog. The more time they spend together, the more they realize how much they enjoy each other’s company. It’s a rocky road to a happy ending, and I loved every stumble along the way. The narrators were great and really pulled me into the story. Can’t wait to read the sequel, The Enemy!

2/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE MATCH by Sarah Adams. Narrators: Rusty Mewha & Leanne Woodward. Dreamscape Media; November 07, 2024. Listening Length: 9 hours and 7 minutes

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BookBitch Diary: February 1, 2025

February 1, 2025

Happy Groundhog Day! Let’s hope that groundhog doesn’t see his shadow tomorrow. Either way, I’ll be watching the movie!

Book News

This play was inspired by a memoir that I loved, The Legacy of Luna: The Story of a Tree, a Woman and the Struggle to Save the Redwoods by Julia “Butterfly” Hill, which came out around 2001 – and I still remember it clearly. Talk about making an impression! I’ve literally read thousands of books since then, so a book that memorable deserves a look if you haven’t read it. I hope I get to see this show!

Fire wrecks romance bookstore. Fans step in, make real-life happily ever after.

*Jamie Fortin, owner of Friends to Lovers Bookstore, said she was overwhelmed by the strangers who came together to support her shop.*

Are men’s reading habits truly a national crisis?

The questionable statistic at the heart of the “men don’t read fiction” discourse.

Who are the top readers for 2024? And where did they get their books?

And — bonus data — which books were they least likely to finish?

Digital Audiobooks Lead Growth In Library Circulation For The Second Year

Digital audiobooks continue to dominate circulation in U.S. public libraries, with strong growth in both adult and youth audiobook collections. A new survey conducted by Library Journal (LJ) and School Library Journal (SLJ), in partnership with the Audio Publishers Association (APA), highlights the ongoing shift towards digital audio content.

Food News

Good News

Dog was attacked, left with crooked face. Now he’s a social media star.

*Brodie, a 6-year-old mixed breed dog with a crooked face. Amanda Richter adopted Brodie — whose face was bitten as a puppy by his mother — in 2019. (Amanda Richter)*

An airport piano was filthy and out of tune. He fixed it (for free!) during a layover.

“It was in very rough shape – dust was everywhere, and there was a gluey substance under the keys that prevented them from working,” said passenger Josiah Jackson.

*Josiah Jackson lifts out a piano’s keys and action before a cleaning and tuning at Chicago O’Hare International Airport. (Josiah Jackson)*

Other News

We are a month into the new year and I am still avoiding much news these days. I am a former MSNBC news junkie, with emphasis on former. I still subscribe to the New York Times, The Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal, but I mostly read the headlines when it comes to anything political or Trump. I can’t handle any more than that. I am hoping we get through these next four years with as little damage as possible with conceivably a major swing in the 2026 elections, but I’m not as optimistic as I used to be. I feel irreversibly damaged from this past year, and I’m not sure when or if I’ll ever recover. I am joining the millions and millions of Americans who don’t read newspapers or educate themselves in any meaningful way. I am in mourning, for lack of a better word, for America and democracy. Someone wake me up when this national nightmare is over.

My grandchildren are my happy place.

As always, thanks for reading, and stay safe.

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

Comments Off on BookBitch Diary: February 1, 2025 | Ramblings | Permalink
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RULE by Jay Crownover

January 31, 2025

Marked Men, Book 1

From the publisher:

Opposities Attract in this Angsty Forbidden-Love College Romance, and Inspiration for the Upcoming Film “Marked Men: Rule and Shaw“

Opposites in every way . . . except the one that matters

Shaw Landon loved Rule Archer from the moment she laid eyes on him. Rule is everything a straight–A pre-med student like Shaw shouldn’t want–and the only person she’s never tried to please. She isn’t afraid of his scary piercings and tattoos or his wild attitude. Though she knows that Rule is wrong for her, her heart just won’t listen.

To a rebel like Rule Archer, Shaw Landon is a stuck-up, perfect princess-and his dead twin brother’s girl. She lives by other people’s rules; he makes his own. He doesn’t have time for a good girl like Shaw-even if she’s the only one who can see the person he truly is.

But a short skirt, too many birthday cocktails, and spilled secrets lead to a night neither can forget. Now, Shaw and Rule have to figure out how a girl like her and a guy like him are supposed to be together without destroying their love . . . or each other.

The first Marked Men novel in Jay Crownover’s combustible New Adult series.

https://amzn.to/3E94p0e

This book was a bit different from my usual; this is categorized as New Adult, with Shaw, the female protagonist a pre-med college student, and Rule, the male protagonist, a few years older and a tattoo artist. But I heard about the movie and decided to take a look, and I loved it.

Shaw is the quintessential good girl; pre-med, a rich, preppy boyfriend, and does whatever her parents want her to do. Rule is the complete opposite. He is tatted all over, and runs a very successful tattoo business with his best friend, financed by his uncle. He was also a twin, but his brother, Remy, died in a car crash on his way to pick up Rule. Rule hasn’t really recovered and his oldest brother, Rome, is in the service half way around the world. His mother blames him for Remy’s death and this family is really hurting. Remy and Shaw were best friends all through high school, and everyone thought they would eventually get married. After his death, she still hung out with his family who treat her like a daughter. Her own family has some serious issues – her parents are divorced and both remarried and are very wealthy. They like to control Shaw with money, basically telling her if she doesn’t do whatever they say, they will cut her off. Growing up with a father like that, I could definitely relate.

Shaw picks up Rule every Sunday and drags him to his family brunch, but it’s not a happy time. Half the time when she shows up, he is in bed with random women. What Rule and his family don’t know is that while Shaw loved Remy, she has been in love with Rule since she was fourteen years old. Remy knew, and it suited his purpose to have his family think they were a couple.

Meanwhile, Shaw has been dating Gabe, and her parents are thrilled, but she is not attracted to him and eventually breaks up with him. He refuses to take no for an answer and starts stalking her. Her parents don’t believe her, and Gabe is in constant contact with her parents, telling them they are working things out, which makes them happy – while it makes Shaw miserable. On her twentieth birthday, Shaw gets drunk, and Rule takes her home with him. She seduces him, and he is shocked by their chemistry. To his surprise, she is gone when he wakes up. Usually, he has to kick out the girls he beds, so this is a new experience for him.

Shaw and Rule start seeing one another, and for Rule, this is a first. He’s never had a girlfriend, never wanted one, but there is something about Shaw that makes him feel seen, and he isn’t sure how to handle it. Their relationship has its ups and downs, but things get super creepy when Gabe keeps sniffing around. At one point, Shaw’s parents invite Gabe and Shaw for dinner, and she can’t figure out a way to say no. He ends up attacking her in her bedroom, and she becomes scared of him. As it turns out, for very good reason.

There is a lot of drama and a lot of sex in this book, along with body modification, which I found interesting. The book was pretty much unputdownable, and I read it over the weekend. I was able to get the series from Hoopla, an app through my public library, and I’m looking forward to reading the rest. I’m looking forward to the movie as well.

The Marked Men Series:

1/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

RULE by Jay Crownover. Avon (January 3, 2023). ISBN: 978-0062302403. 432p.

Kindle

Audible

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DESIGNS ON YOU by Jaci Burton

January 31, 2025

From the publisher:

Sparks fly when an interior designer and a game designer cross paths, but they must learn if they can design a happily ever after in this heartfelt romantic comedy from New York Times bestselling author Jaci Burton.

Natalie Parker is in her mid-thirties, divorced, and firmly focused on her newly resurrected career and her two children. When her sister asks her to help design the backyard in the new home she shares with her boyfriend, Linc, Natalie’s more than happy to take on the project. What she isn’t prepared for is Linc’s younger brother, video game designer Eugene Kennedy. He’s smart, incredibly good-looking, and constantly flirts with Natalie. He’s also too young for her, which makes him totally off-limits.

Eugene is intrigued by Natalie’s beauty, smarts, and especially her sarcastic wit. When he teases her, she throws it right back at him. Besides that, they have an instant chemistry, but she keeps trying to get rid of him despite the sparks that fly between them. And Eugene never backs down from a challenge.

Natalie is running out of reasons to think being with Eugene is a bad thing. Her kids adore him, her sister loves him, and even her always negative mother does, too. The only person holding her back is…her. Maybe it’s time she take that leap and design herself a love for the ages. After all, if she can create the perfect home, she sure as hell can design a happily ever after.

https://amzn.to/40nELxI

I enjoyed this steamy romance with an older woman/younger man dynamic. Natalie is divorced from a very demanding husband and trying to find her own footing. She is not looking for a relationship, but she can’t deny the chemistry she feels when she meets her sister’s boyfriend’s brother. Eugene is five years younger than Natalie, and she has a hard time with the age difference. He doesn’t care; he is instantly smitten with the young mother. Yes, Natalie has two children who feature prominently in this story, as they should.

Luckily, Natalie’s sister and her kids think Eugene is great, so that eases the way for her to tiptoe into the relationship. She fights it for as long as she can, but eventually, they start heating up the pages. Natalie isn’t sure she wants more than just a fling, but Eugene wants forever and figures out a way to get Natalie on board. This was a fast, fun read and like all of Burton’s books, it is sexy as hell. It’s not especially memorable but it is very entertaining, and I enjoyed it.

1/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

DESIGNS ON YOU by Jaci Burton. Berkley (December 3, 2024). ISBN: 978-0593439616. 352p.

Kindle

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Spotlight Review: OUT OF THE WOODS by Hannah Bonam-Young

January 28, 2025

From the publisher:

A married couple joins a week-long wilderness expedition to help them reconnect in this heartfelt companion novel to the viral TikTok sensation Out on a Limb.

High school sweethearts Sarah and Caleb Linwood have always been a sure thing. For the past seventeen years, they have had each other’s backs through all of life’s ups and downs.

But Sarah has begun to wonder . . . who is she without her other half?

When she decides to take on a project of her own, a fundraising gala in memory of her late mother, Sarah wants nothing more than to prove to herself—and to everyone else—that she doesn’t need Caleb’s help to succeed. She’s still her mother’s daughter after all, independent and capable.

That is, until the event fails and Caleb uninvitedly steps in to save the day.

The rift that follows unearths a decade of grievances and doubts. Are they truly the same people they were when they got married at nineteen? Are they supposed to be?

In a desperate attempt to fix what they fear is breaking, Sarah and Caleb make the spontaneous decision to get out of their comfort zones and join a grueling hiking trip intended to guide couples through rough patches.

What follows is a life-affirming comedy of errors as two nature-averse people fight their way out of the woods in order to find their way back to their roots.

“Bonam-Young excels in creating nuanced characters on complicated emotional journeys and she makes Caleb and Sarah’s reconnection believable through both sweet and heat-filled moments. This is a delight. —Publishers Weekly

https://amzn.to/42aNXGS

I must admit I was feeling a bit trepidatious about reading this second-chance romance. It felt like it might be hitting a bit too close to home for me; after all, I met my husband when I was 17, and he was 19, and while we didn’t get married until six years later and our marriage has been a good one, there were ups and downs along the way. I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about this book. Turns out, I loved it!

Sarah and Caleb have been through a lot together in their seventeen years of marriage. They married when they were nineteen years old, so Sarah’s mom could be at the wedding. She had ALS and died a few months later. Caleb came from a wealthy background but didn’t necessarily always agree with his parents and their life choices. He felt more loved and at home in Sarah’s house.

Sarah was raised by a single mom and her Aunt June, who also had a daughter, Win, who was the same age as Sarah. Caleb felt the loss of Sarah’s mom nearly as much as Sarah did. Several years later, she gets the idea to hold a fundraiser for ALS in her mother’s memory. It’s a formal gala, but the money isn’t rolling in like Sarah was hoping. At the last minute, Caleb gives her a huge check to make up the difference, and that gesture sends Sarah spiraling. She wanted to do this on her own, but after that check, it feels like Caleb rescued her, and she is tired of being rescued. She asks him to name one thing about her that is truly special and unique, and he doesn’t say a word. They end up not speaking for a few weeks.

Then Win tells her about this week-long marriage retreat in the woods that her boss is running. There is an opening for another couple, and while neither Caleb nor Sarah are the outdoorsy types, they decide they probably should go anyway. If being off the grid for a week can help their marriage, they are both willing to try. The camping and hiking trip is no picnic, but they start growing closer again, and it looks like it may have been just what their marriage needed, at least until a dreadful accident occurs.

This was my first read from this author; I believe she had several self-published books before this traditionally published book came out. It was well-written and engaging, and I loved these characters. I couldn’t help but root for their happy ending, and I was sorry to turn that last page. This was a different spin on a second-chance romance as the characters were married, but as someone who has been married for more than forty years, I can assure you it rang true. I laughed, I cried, and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Don’t miss it!

1/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

OUT OF THE WOODS by Hannah Bonam-Young. Dell (January 28, 2025). ISBN: 978-0593871867. 336p.