Stacy Alesi

THE MOST WONDERFUL CRIME OF THE YEAR by Ally Carter

January 3, 2025

From the publisher:

Knives Out gets a holiday rom-com twist in this rivals-to-lovers romance-mystery from New York Times bestselling author Ally Carter.

The bridge is out. The phones are down. And the most famous mystery writer in the world just disappeared out of a locked room two days before Christmas.

Meet Maggie Chase and Ethan Wyatt:

She’s the new Queen of the Cozy Mystery.

He’s Mr. Big-time Thriller Guy.

She hates his guts.

He thinks her name is Marcie (no matter how many times she’s told him otherwise.)

But when they both accept a cryptic invitation to attend a Christmas house party at the English estate of a reclusive fan, neither is expecting their host to be the most powerful author in the world: Eleanor Ashley, the Duchess of Death herself.

That night, the weather turns, and the next morning Eleanor is gone.

She vanished from a locked room, and Maggie has to wonder: Is Eleanor in danger? Or is it all some kind of test? Is Ethan the competition? Or is he the only person in that snowbound mansion she can trust?

As the snow gets deeper and the stakes get higher, every clue will bring Maggie and Ethan closer to the truth—and each other. Because, this Christmas, these two rivals are going to have to become allies (and maybe more) if they have any hope of saving Eleanor.

Assuming they don’t kill each other first.

The laugh out loud holiday “romystery” that you’ve been waiting for!

“Full of tongue-in-cheek humor, excellent dialogue, and fantastic characters, this expertly crafted story from Carter (The Blonde Identity) is a heart-melting rivals-to-lovers romance combined with a delightful locked-room mystery.” — Library Journal (starred review)

“Perfect for fans of “Knives Out” and “The Hating Game,” this enemies-to-lovers cat-and-mouse game boasts serious stakeouts and charged make-outs.” — Washington Post

“Carter spins a clever romantic mystery with a Christmassy twist. [Her] impressive plotting means the final, Agatha Christie–esque reveal is a genuine surprise, and she pulls off the enemies-to-lovers trope beautifully. Romantic suspense fans on the hunt for something festive will want to snap this up.” — Publishers Weekly

“The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter blends genres with the expert hand of a bartender crafting the perfect gingerbread martini.” — People

https://amzn.to/3DMQTz8

I know Christmas is over but I don’t care – this was such a great read! It may be my favorite holiday read this season.

I love a good locked-room mystery, and this one goes above and beyond because in addition to the mystery, there are a lot of laughs and a romance, making this an unputdownable read.

Maggie is our heroine, a best selling cozy mystery writer who has a bit of a bump in her career when she dumps her husband after finding him in bed with her best (and only) friend. He manages to get his hands on her copyrights, and she is working her butt off, writing several books under a variety of pseudonyms to make enough money to buy him out. When she reluctantly attends her publisher’s holiday party, her editor tells her she has been invited to spend the holidays with her biggest fan, but won’t say who it is. She decides to go as she has no family and no one to spend the holidays with. She is shocked to find a private jet waiting to whisk her off to England, but before she can enjoy it too much, the “leather jacket” she hates shows up to make the trip as well.

Ethan is the “leather jacket”, a best selling thriller writer with the obligatory author photo on the back of the book with the very good looking Ethan wearing a leather jacket. Look at most thrillers and you will see a similar author photo, men and women alike. It’s a thing for sure. Maggie detests Ethan; for one thing he always calls her Marcie which she finds maddening. But off they go and it turns out the fan is Eleanor Ashley. Maggie has read every one of her 99 books, most more than once, and is shocked to find her own books in Eleanor’s library. After greeting her guests, she goes to work in her office, locking herself in. The next morning, the door is still locked but Eleanor is gone.

Maggie thinks that this is some sort of contest, possibly to pick her successor. There are several other guests there for the holidays, and everyone is a suspect to Eleanor’s disappearance. Maggie finds a clue in the library, but when she follows her instincts, she ends up outdoors with Ethan hot on her trail. When shots are fired at her, Ethan saves her and Maggie decides maybe he isn’t as bad as she thought.

There are lots of red herrings and suspects galore, but as Ethan and Maggie work together, it turns out they have more in common than she thought and feelings are burgeoning. This was a fast read with lots of laughs and a terrific mystery with a totally unexpected ending, and I loved it!

1/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE MOST WONDERFUL CRIME OF THE YEAR by Ally Carter. Avon (September 24, 2024). ISBN: 978-0063276680. 304p.

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HOW MY NEIGHBOR STOLE CHRISTMAS by Meghan Quinn

January 3, 2025

From the publisher:

A new holiday enemies-to-lovers romance from USA Today bestselling author Meghan Quinn.

Every Kringle in Kringletown celebrated Christmas a lot.

But Cole Black on Whistler Lane, unfortunately, did not.

As his fellow citizens decorate their quaint town, brimming with carols and glad tidings, Cole wants nothing more than to hibernate the winter away. But his dreary plans are thwarted when his Christmas nemesis, Storee Taylor, moves in next door to care for her Aunt Cindy. Immediately, the new neighbor turns his life into a real nightmare before Christmas, especially when she decides to enter the town Christmas Kringle contest in honor of Cindy. And better yet, Storee is determined to win.

Over Cole’s dead body, she will. With help from his friend Max, Cole decides to enter the competition as well, to beat Storee at her own game by pretending that this hometown grump’s heart has grown three sizes this season and he’s fallen for the girl next door. And unfortunately for Storee, she has to follow his lead to have a chance at the Christmas Kringle title.

But the competition isn’t the only thing that heats up. Cole and Storee’s fake relationship becomes very real, and before they know it, they’re attempting to hide it from Aunt Cindy. Things get complicated, the competition gets tough, and all it takes is one single night for someone to steal it all…

This book has gotten so much buzz, granted mostly from TikTok, but I heard it was really cute and funny so I went for it. The thirty-second elevator pitch is a contemporary rom-com based on The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, replete with chapter introductory bad Seuss-like poetry. Really bad. Seuss-spinning-in-his-grave bad. But the poetry was just a tiny part of the story.

Theoretically, this is a small-town romance with the always popular enemies-to-lovers trope as well as a smidge of fake dating, and it is Christmas all the way in this small town of Whoville, I mean Kringletown. The town leader is Bob Krampus, and this whole town celebrates Christmas all year long, culminating in the annual Christmas Kringle contest, a series of holiday-themed challenges from home decor to crafting to caroling and more. Storee’s favorite Aunt Cindy is recovering from hip replacement surgery and needs help. Storee’s sister is a nurse and she corrals Storee into spending the holidays in Kringletown and helping Aunty Cindy out.

Storee is surprised to find out that while her sister will be doing the actual caregiving, including a long-running and not-funny joke about cleaning her “crevices”, Cindy wants Storee to enter the contest. Cindy came in second the previous year and is determined to take the crown this year. Storee reluctantly agrees and it looks like it will be a fun time for all until the next-door neighbor, Cole, also decides to enter. Storee and Cole were friends when they were younger, but Storee hasn’t been back in Kringletown for ten years and for some reason, Cole is really pissed about it. These enemies resolve their issues rather quickly but don’t tell anyone, hence the “fake-dating” that is really only fake to probably Storee’s sister and aunt. It’s not as complicated as it sounds, but it leads to a lot of sex including the TikTok infamous candy cane sex scene. The Christmas contest challenges are adorable but it just went on forever.

This author was new to me, and I’m sorry to say that this book was too over the top for me; three-quarters of the way through I felt like I was overdosing on Christmas cutesiness. I slogged through the rest to get to the happy ending. Not my favorite Christmas romance.

1/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

HOW MY NEIGHBOR STOLE CHRISTMAS by Meghan Quinn. Bloom Books (October 15, 2024). ISBN: 978-1464230158. 480p.

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BookBitch Diary: January 1, 2025

January 1, 2025

Happy New Year! Hope you enjoyed the holidays and are looking forward to the new year!

Looking back at last year…

Book News

Here are Boston Public Library’s 10 most borrowed books in 2024

“Nine out of the ten most frequently borrowed titles were written by women and tell stories that center on women’s experiences and inner lives across multiple settings, decades, and literary styles.”

Food News

The 14 best cookbooks of 2024 (The Washington Post)

These titles span cuisines, subjects and styles, but all would be an asset to your cookbook shelf.

Other News

When I got my job at Lynn University, one of the first things I did was mount a framed copy of “A Great Day in Harlem,” the iconic black-and-white photograph of 58 jazz musicians in Harlem, New York, taken by freelance photographer Art Kane, in my office. Only two of the musicians pictured were still alive; today, there is only one, Sonny Rollins, and he spoke to The New York Times about it. They created this interactive look at the photograph, and I loved it! Hope you do, too!

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.

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Posted by Stacy Alesi

Happy Chrismukkah!

December 25, 2024

This year the first night of Hanukkah falls on Christmas day, so thanks to The O.C., we have a word for that!

Wishing all my readers a very Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanza, and Happy Hanukkah! Whatever you celebrate, I hope you get to share the holidays with family and friends, some good food, and all the joys of the season.

See you next year!

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Best Books of 2024

December 24, 2024

It’s that time of year again; these are the books that I liked best this year. This is my very subjective, very personal list. I loved a lot of books this year; I mostly read romances and romcoms, and those books tend to keep me happy. But to be honest, I forget a lot of them as soon as I’ve moved on to the next. So the ones that stay with me are the ones that end up on my annual list. I’ve read about 300 books this year, so had plenty to choose from. And I’m limiting myself to a top ten list again this year!

I hope you find this list useful and interesting!

THE WOMEN by Kristin Hannah: There are so many important themes here, from war to racism to alcoholism and other addictions, and family discordance, and reading groups will have much to discuss. While it was gut-wrenching at times, it is also poignant, provocative, and too important to be ignored. This is the kind of book that makes me glad I have this platform so I can encourage people to read it. I hope you love it as much as I do.

Read my full review

THE CLIFFS by J. Courtney Sullivan: This highly anticipated novel from J. Courtney Sullivan was worth the wait. Our protagonist, Jane, is a Harvard archivist who is also an alcoholic, like her mother and sister. After getting blackout drunk at a work event, she finds her job in jeopardy, as well as her marriage, making this the perfect time to escape from all her troubles. She heads up to Maine to settle her mother’s estate, which is complicated by the fact that her mother was a hoarder.

Research is at the heart of this novel that spans generations, Colonialism, Native American history, spiritualism, the Shakers, and so much more in a beautifully written, expansive novel sure to appeal to book groups. I loved it.

Read the full review

THE WAITING by Michael Connelly: Let me start by saying this: Michael Connelly has never phoned it in, or slacked in any way. Every one of his books is carefully researched and written with the sort of sensibility we expect from Connelly, yet he never panders. If you haven’t read Connelly, you are in for a treat. If you have, this book is everything you would expect; totally engrossing and fast-paced, with twists and red herrings laid out much like the freeways in Los Angeles with its extensive network of interconnected highways, until the supremely satisfying ending.

Read the full review

THE HUSBANDS by Holly Gramazio: Cue the Twilight Zone music…Lauren meets her husband Michael for the first time when she gets home late one night. He’s there, in her apartment. Except she’s not married. Never been married. And not surprisingly, she freaks out a bit. Lauren experiences a couple of hundred husbands before the realization hits that she needs to end this endless parade somehow. The ending was unexpected yet not, but this book is really about the journey.

This is a book that begs discussion for a lot of reasons, so if your book group is in need of something different, something hopeful instead of depressing (as I find most discussion books,) this is a great option. This compelling read had the most unusual premise and was completely thought provoking; highly recommend!

Read the full review

SEVEN SUMMER WEEKENDS by Jane L. Rosen: I have read and loved every one of Rosen’s books and I am happy to say that this one is stellar. After a misdirected comment about her boss goes viral, Addison gets fired instead of the promotion she was seeking. Feeling somewhat lost, her aunt’s final gift, her beach house on Fire Island, is just what she needs.

While she hadn’t seen her aunt since the Big Terrible Thing happened when she was a young child, she does remember her. But she really gets to know her deceased aunt when she moves to the island for the summer. Staying at the beach house changes Addison’s life in many ways, and I loved seeing her growth. The Fire Island of Rosen’s books is idyllic, but the relationships are fraught, making for a compelling read. I loved it.

Read the full review

WHAT’S NEXT: A Backstage Pass to The West Wing, Its Cast and Crew, and Its Enduring Legacy of Service, by Melissa Fitzgerald & Mary McCormack: The West Wing is one of my favorite TV shows, and I constantly rewatch it. I know it is pure fantasy, but I love the fantasy and want to live in the Aaron Sorkin-created world where politicians work hard to make life better for their constituents. This book is for fans of the show. I am a diehard “Wingnut” and proud of it.

If you love the show, you will love this book. If you don’t understand the popularity of the show – now celebrating its 25th anniversary! – then this book will make it clear why it is still popular so many years later. The West Wing was in the infancy of what is now thought of as prestige television; the cast was perfect, the writing incomparable, and the storylines interesting and engaging. The West Wing introduced the “walk and talk,” now a fairly common way of filming. Even the music by W. G. Snuffy Walden was unforgettable. What’s Next is a must-read for any fan of the show. I loved it.

Read the full review

LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE by Kristan Higgins: What a compelling read! I started reading it Sunday morning and finished it Sunday evening – and I hated turning that last page. There are some heartwrenching scenes here, and I found myself crying a few times, but to her credit, Higgins doesn’t really write tearjerkers; there is a lot of humor and sweetness here as well. Higgins has become one of my favorite authors – her books remind me of Elin Hilderbrand, somewhat of Jodi Picoult, and this book in particular, of Colleen Hoover, but with slightly older protagonists. To be a tad more succinct – I loved it and could not put it down!

Read the full review

NOT ANOTHER LOVE SONG by Julie Soto: I had no idea what a “Reylo-inspired grumpy-sunshine romance” was but it turns Reylo is “a nickname for the romantic relationship between Star Wars characters Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and Rey Skywalker (Daisy Ridley.)” Apparently, there is a ton of fanfiction about them, including this book. Despite having seen the film, I would have never known about this relationship. This is a romance set in the world of professional classical musicians, and I found that world fascinating. I loved it.

Read the full review

THE PARADISE PROBLEM by Christina Lauren: This writing duo’s hit another home run here. A marriage of convenience with an unusual twist – Liam and Anna get married so they can live in subsidized campus housing, and it works out great. They barely see one another, and when their two-year lease is up, they go their separate ways. Liam gives Anna some legal documents and she signs them without even looking at them, assuming they are divorce papers. But they are not. And it turns out he needs to be married for financial reasons.

This is a sizzling romance with a lot of laughs and heart – I loved it! Christina Lauren never disappoints, and this may be their best book yet. Don’t miss it.

Read the full review

ALWAYS REMEMBER by Mary Balogh: This was such an interesting twist on the Regency romance. Our heroine, Lady Jennifer, comes from a well-to-do family high up in society. She suffered an illness in childhood that left one of her legs and one of her feet deformed. She is unable to walk unassisted and uses a wheelchair. Ben is a fixer – he likes nothing better than solving a tricky problem. He speaks with Lady Jennifer, and a friendship is formed. He is strongly attracted to her, and she to him, but his lack of title makes him ineligible for marriage to a lady. I really enjoyed this story, and I’m sure the research was impeccable. The story moves quickly, and I couldn’t help but get caught up in this romance. I was so sorry to turn that last page!

Read the full review

Limiting myself to a specific number of favorites in any given year is not easy. These are my top ten for the year, but there were several other books I felt were worthy of a mention.

Honorable Mentions

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SEASON’S SCHEMINGS by Katie Bailey

December 20, 2024

Read by Austin Rising & Melissa Moran

Cyclones Christmas, Book 1

From the publisher:

A Holiday Hockey Rom Com

‘Tis the season to get even…

When Maddie Grainger’s longtime boyfriend dumps her on TV for the entire world to see, she thinks she’s hit rock bottom.

Until her parents announce that they’re spending the holidays with her ex’s family… And he’ll be bringing the woman he left her for.

All Maddie wants for Christmas is to stick it to her cheating ex. But how?

Enter Sebastian Slater, the NHL’s most infamous player.

On a drunken night out in Vegas, Maddie asks the superstar athlete to pose as her new boyfriend. She’s kidding, mostly. But Seb shocks her by making a counter offer: he doesn’t want to date Maddie for the holidays… he wants to marry her.

Show up at her ex’s cabin alone, or with a surprise new hockey-playing husband? Maddie opts for the ultimate level up.

Because maybe, just maybe, revenge is a dish best served betrothed.

Sparks fly and Christmas cheer is abundant in this festive marriage of convenience rom com. Season’s Schemings is a closed door/fade to black romance that includes mild language, innuendo, and tons of sizzle without the spice..

https://amzn.to/4inzwF0

This holiday hockey rom-com was the perfect read for me! Everything I like all rolled up into one terrific read. I consider myself still a somewhat new audiobook reader, and as many as I have enjoyed, this one had me popping in my airPods all the time. I even watched a hockey game on TV while listening; it was a very meta experience!

Maddie entered a baking competition along with her boyfriend of over ten years in order to help him with his career as a pastry chef. Maddie cooks too, but her emphasis is on healthy treats. The boyfriend dumps her on national TV, she shoves his face into red frosting, and we are off to the races!

Maddie lands a good job as a nutritionist/kitchen help for a fictional NHL team in Atlanta, the Cyclones. Having a bit of a meltdown because the ex has become engaged to the woman he was cheating on her with, she ducks into the public restroom at the stadium. Except she doesn’t realize it’s the men’s room until Seb walks in.

Sebastian is the star center for the Cyclones, and only been with the team a year. Their meet-cute ratchets up a notch when he wanders into the kitchen looking for a snack, and there’s Maddie again. They chat for a while, then it’s back to work for both of them. Seb has been singularly focused on hockey for most of his life. He hooks up with the puck bunnies now and then, but he barely has time for his family much less a relationship.

The team flies to Las Vegas for a game, and Maddie gets to go. When it turns out Seb’s visa has expired (he’s Canadian) he is benched and really upset. He runs into Maddie in the hotel bar where she is already three sheets to the wind. Tearfully, she tells him that her parents are expecting her to spend Christmas with her ex, his family and new fiancée. She comes up with the wild idea that Seb should come with her and pretend to be her boyfriend. He is her ex’s favorite hockey player. But Seb has a better idea – he proposes – literally. If she marries him, he can continue to play while the immigration paperwork is in process, and he will accompany her to the family nightmare of a Christmas. They’re in Vegas, so a drunk Elvis marries the drunk couple Seb also invites her to move in with him. She’s been sleeping on the couch in her brother’s apartment since the breakup, so it’s a win-win all the way around.

It turns out Seb is the perfect husband, especially when they reach Aspen, the family, and her ex. Seb is surprised by how much he enjoys Maddie’s company and living with her. He looks forward to coming home after work, which is a first for him. And their relationship moves to the next level. Maybe this marriage shouldn’t be temporary? While I was thinking that the ‘Canadian marrying an American for citizenship’ plot was reminiscent of one of my favorite rom-com movies, The Proposal, up pops a mention of it in the book!

Happy endings are why I read so many romances, and this was such a fun read. I loved these characters and watching their relationship bloom and grow. The narrators were terrific, too, they really made the story come alive. Can’t wait for the next book in this new series.

12/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

SEASON’S SCHEMINGS by Katie Bailey. Narrators: Austin Rising & Melissa Moran. Dreamscape Media; February 27, 2024. ASIN: B0CQ18T61Q. Listening Length: 7 hours and 38 minutes

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Spotlight Review: A FIVE-LETTER WORD FOR LOVE by Amy James

December 17, 2024

From the publisher:

A heartwarming and humorous romance in which an unlikely couple fall in love over Wordle.

Twenty-seven-year-old Emily doesn’t have a lot going well in her life right now. She dreams of a creative career but works as a receptionist in an auto shop. She longs for big city life but lives in a small town on Prince Edward Island. She craves a close group of friends but is stuck with irritating, car-obsessed coworkers.

What Emily does have is a 300+ day streak on the New York Times Wordle. But one day, with only one guess left and no clue what the answer is, she’s forced to turn to one of her irritating, car-obsessed coworkers, John, for help—and in doing so, realizes that he might not be so irritating after all.

As they make their way, word by word, toward a 365-day streak, Emily is drawn into a surprising romance that will take her outside of her comfort zone—and challenge everything she thought she knew about happiness, success, and love.

“Readers will find the snappy dialogue and genuine enthusiasm of the main character very endearing. An easy read for fans of puzzles and breezy romance, this book is also a great choice for those who prefer their romances on the lighter side.” -Booklist

“James’ debut is a sweet small-town romance that revolves around Emily’s journey of self-discovery and personal improvement . . . Wordplay and romance collide in this charming debut.” -Kirkus Reviews

“Emily is living on autopilot on Prince Edward Island in James’s debut. The best thing in her life is a 300-plus-day streak on Wordle. When she is forced to turn to her coworker John for help with a puzzle, the two pair up and push to 365 days, finding love in and beyond the squares . . . This heartfelt novel will surely garner an enthusiastic following for debut author James.” -Library Journal

“James debuts with a lighthearted coming-of-age romance . . . James shines depicting the simple joys of small-town life.” -Publishers Weekly

https://amzn.to/49Ow8PF

This has to be my favorite debut of the year! I love Wordle, and this is a romance where the two main characters find love when they start playing together at lunch. There is a lot of humor here, and I found myself laughing out loud, and telling my family all about this book. Emily is a quirky yet loveable character, and I truly enjoyed watching her grow.

Emily is a receptionist at a small auto repair shop on Prince Edward Island (one of my favorite settings, thanks to Anne of Green Gables!) The owner of the shop is ready to retire and rarely comes in to work. There are two mechanics, an older man and John, a very good-looking young man. But in the several months that Emily has worked there, John has pretty much ignored her and Emily has decided that his name, John Smith, really suits his taciturn personality. Until he sees her playing Wordle at lunch one day, and everything changes.

Turns out that John also enjoys Wordle. They start playing together every day at lunch, and eventually texting over Wordle on the weekends, too. Emily has an interesting style of play, which I found fun to read, as would any fans of the game. But Emily has big dreams, and they don’t include living in this small town and working as a receptionist. She struggles with what she truly thinks will make her happy, and while she is happy with John, she feels like there is a bigger life out there for her.

Emily starts volunteering at the small barrel-making museum in town. The woman who runs it inherited her job, and obviously couldn’t care less about the museum. She stays in her office scrolling Facebook all day and lets the volunteers run the place. Emily loves the museum and wishes more people would visit. To that end, she has some great ideas for drumming up more business, which her boss takes full credit for. She also helps out her elderly neighbor with grocery shopping and really enjoys talking to the elderly. This small town is full of old people and tourists, and Emily accidentally stumbles onto a part time job caregiving for her elderly neighbor, which leads to a couple more jobs like it.

Emily is searching for something bigger though, and decides to apply to NYU for a graduate degree in museum studies. She also applies to the Met in New York City for an internship, never really thinking she’d land either one of those. Meanwhile, she grows closer with John and she’s pretty sure she’s falling in love with him. The only drawback to this book is that because we see everything through Emily’s eyes, John remains something of an enigma.

Emily has been making friends in this small town and really loves living there. She’s sure her happiness lies elsewhere though. Her pursuing happiness elsewhere does not bode well for her relationship with John, but everything falls into place by the end of the book; Emily is heading for a 365-day Wordle streak, and a happily ever after. I loved this sweet and funny romance, and can’t wait to see what this new author comes up with next!

12/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

A FIVE-LETTER WORD FOR LOVE by Amy James. Avon (December 3, 2024). ISBN:‎ 978-0063399013. 368p.

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ELIZABETH OF EAST HAMPTON by Audrey Bellezza & Emily Harding

December 13, 2024

For the Love of Austen, Book 2

From the publisher:

This fresh and whip-smart modern retelling of Jane Austen’s classic Pride and Prejudice—from the authors of the “great beach read” (Bookreporter) Emma of 83rd Street—transports you to summer in the Hamptons, where classes clash, rumors run wild, and love has a frustrating habit of popping up where you least expect it.

It’s a truth universally acknowledged—well, by Elizabeth Bennet anyway—that there’s nothing worse than summer in the Hamptons. She should know: she’s lived out there her whole life. Every June, her hometown on the edge of Long Island is inundated with rich Manhattanites who party until dawn and then disappear by September. And after twenty-five years, Lizzy wants to leave, too.

But after putting her own dreams on hold to help save her family’s failing bakery, she’s still surfing the same beach every morning and waiting for something, anything, to change. She’s not holding her breath though, not even when her sister starts flirting with the hot new bachelor in town, Charlie Pierce, and he introduces Lizzy to his even hotter friend.

Will Darcy is everything Lizzy Bennet is not. Aloof, arrogant…and rich. Of course, he’s never cared about money. In fact, it’s number one on his long list of things that irk him. Number two? His friend Charlie’s insistence on setting him up with his new girlfriend’s sharp-tongued sister. Lizzy Bennet is all wrong for him, from her money-hungry family to her uncanny ability to speak to him as bluntly as he does everyone else. But then maybe that’s why he can’t stop thinking about her.

Lizzy is sure Will hates everybody. He thinks she willfully misunderstands them. Yet, just as they strike an uneasy truce, mistakes threaten Charlie and Jane’s romance, with Will and Lizzy caught in the undertow. Between a hurricane and a hypocritical aunt, a drunken voicemail and a deceptive party promoter, the two must sift through the gossip and lies to protect the happiness of everyone they love—even if it means sacrificing their own. But when the truth also forces them to see each other in an entirely new light, they must swallow their pride to learn that love is a lot like surfing: sometimes the only way to survive is to let yourself fall.

“Bellezza and Harding put a beachy spin on Pride and Prejudice… Austenites will be over the moon.”
—Publishers Weekly

https://amzn.to/49sHf0D

There are a ton of updated Pride & Prejudice retellings, but this is a really good one. Elizabeth “Lizzy” Bennett is the glue of the family, holding their bakery business together while her father recovers from a serious health scare. The bakery was an inherited family business and is barely hanging on. Her mother goes from one get-rich-quick scheme to the next; her latest is a bedazzled leggings pyramid scheme.

Charlie and his two sisters have rented a local McMansion on the beach for the summer. His best friend, Will Darcy, is spending weekends with them while his summer home in Montauk is under renovation. Charlie meets Lizzy’s older sister, Jane, and is smitten. Much to Lizzy’s surprise, Jane falls head over heels for Charlie. They keep pushing Lizzy and Will together, but it’s hate at first sight for those two.

Lizzy’s best friend, Piper, works at her family business, a local dive bar. Piper’s father has a dream of putting together a Hamptons music festival, but hasn’t managed it for many years. A visiting Manhattanite and supposed friend of Charlie and Will convinces him that he has the connections to make it happen, as long as he is paid very well.

Nothing goes according to plan, but Lizzy and Will go from enemies to lovers, and a happy ending is guaranteed for all. I loved it!

12/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

ELIZABETH OF EAST HAMPTON by Audrey Bellezza & Emily Harding. St. Martin’s Griffin (November 12, 2024). ISBN: 978-1250329387. 352p.

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BAKING IT MERRY by Samantha Chase

December 13, 2024

Read by Melanie Mendez

From the publisher:

A Small Town, Enemies to Lovers, Holiday Romance from New York Times bestselling author, Samantha Chase!

Everyone in the building loved the bake shop a lot.

Except for the guy on the top floor, who most certainly did not.

If it were up to him, there wouldn’t be a hint of Christmas in the building.

For two months out of the year, Daphne Noelle got to live her dream of owning a bakery. Her little pop-up bake shop—one that looked just like a gingerbread house—brought joy to every customer who stopped by to enjoy her sweet treats. She loved meeting people and making them smile, and being in such a festive setting every day was just the icing on the cake! For the last three years, everything had gone smoothly, but this year, there was one guy who was determined to ruin it all.

One of the things Tristan appreciated most about the office complex where his architecture firm was located is how upscale and elegant it was. Unfortunately, every year for eight long weeks, a holiday shop set up in the lobby, turning it into the equivalent of a traveling circus, and the bake shop booth was the worst offender. The giant gingerbread house was an eyesore and the woman running it was too cheery for his liking. This year, he was determined to do everything he could to have her and her booth removed.

When Tristan finds himself in the middle of a delicate family situation, only Daphne can help him. Now, he’ll have to beg and plead and promise to be on his best behavior while dealing with her exuberant holiday joy. But the more time he spends with her—and the more awkward situations she saves him from—he begins to realize there’s more to her than over-the-top holiday cheer. And maybe, when you’re with the right person, Christmas can mean a little bit more.

“Narrator Melanie Mendez brings warmth to the holiday romance that develops between Daphne, a baker, and Tristan, an architect . . . Listeners will delight in this holiday romance as Tristan and Daphne find happiness together.” –AudioFile Reviews

https://amzn.to/4inzwF0

This is an enemies-to-lovers Christmas romance that is so much fun to read – or listen to, as I did. Daphne’s dream is to have her own bakery someday, but for now, she has a holiday pop-up bakery in the lobby of an office building. She’s been doing this for years and most of the people who work in the building love having her there. All except one – Scrooge. Not really. His name is Tristan, and he is not a fan. He finds the gingerbread house look of the bakery to be tacky and unbefitting the lobby of his architectural company, and he files a complaint with the landlord. It doesn’t do anything but piss off Daphne, and our enemies are established.

Tristan’s assistant thinks the bakery is great, and she is constantly bringing muffins to the office. Surprisingly, Tristan loves the muffins but still hates the baker. They may be bumping heads, but when he needs a last-minute caterer for his family holiday party and a few work functions, Daphne comes through for him. The more time they spend together, the more Tristan realizes her worth, but he has a long way to go to get past her protective armor.

Daphne is Christmas personified, and surprising even himself, Tristan really falls for her. It takes a lot before Daphne thaws enough to let him in, but their happy ending is just the icing needed on this delicious confection of a read. A wonderful holiday romance!

12/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

BAKING IT MERRY by Samantha Chase. Narrator: Melanie Mendez. Dreamscape Media; November 19, 2024. ASIN: B0DH5982GT. Listening Length: 6 hours

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Spotlight Review: A LEGEND IN THE BAKING by Jamie Wesley

December 10, 2024

Sugar Blitz, Book 2

From the publisher:

In A Legend in the Baking, the new romance from Jamie Wesley, a cupcake-baking football player gets assistance from a social media maven―and his best friend’s little sister―to help promote his new bakery after accidentally going viral online.

August Hodges was supposed to be the silent partner in Sugar Blitz Cupcakes. Emphasis on silent. That is until his impromptu feminist rant about how women bakers are the backbone of the industry and baking cupcakes isn’t a threat to masculinity goes viral, making him the hottest bachelor in town. With a new location in the works, August and his partners decide to capitalize on this perfect opportunity to help cement their place in the community. But the hiring of his best friend’s younger sister, the woman who has haunted some of his best dreams for years, was as much of a shock as his new-found fame.

Social media manager Sloane Dell fell hard for her brother’s best friend the moment she met him more than a decade ago, but that teenage infatuation cost her dearly. Still, she accepts her brother’s request to revamp the bakery’s social media presence to take advantage of August’s newfound popularity, knowing it’s the big break her fledgling career needs. She’ll just ignore the fact that August is still August, i.e. sexier and sweeter than any man has a right to be. And that he drives her crazy with his resistance to all her ideas.

They vow to leave the past in the past. But when an explosive make-out session makes it clear their attraction burns hotter than ever, Sloane and August are forced to reconsider what it means to take a risk and chase your dreams.

As they’re both about to find out, all’s fair in love and cupcakes.

“Wesley delivers a delectable mash-up of rom-com tropes in her adorable follow-up to Fake It Till You Bake It.“ – Publishers Weekly

“A fun twist on the culinary romance with both characters reliving a lot of past regrets and discovering the need to work on themselves if they are to find their happily-ever-after.” – Booklist

“A sweet romance with a very slow burn.” – Kirkus

“This fast-paced second-chance romance from Wesley (Fake It Till You Bake It) is sweet and hot, with a sexy cinnamon-roll hero and a determined, strong-willed heroine.” – Library Journal

https://amzn.to/4ilmEPY

This was a terrific follow-up to Fake It Till You Bake It, but it easily stands alone. Three professional football players own a bakery together. It is not just an investment; they actually do the baking and work there. Not sure how that happens during football season, but I was willing to just go with it. One of the owners has a sister, Sloane, who is a social media marketing genius, but she doesn’t want to work for her uber-successful brother, she wants to make it on her own. But when she loses her job, she applies for a new one at a company she is dying to work for. The only hiccup in the hiring process is that they want to see what she can do in real time. So she ends up working for her brother and his friends anyway, even if it is just temporary.

August is one of the owners, but he considers himself to be the silent partner. The other guys are gregarious and happy to do publicity and meet and greet the public. August prefers to bake in the kitchen. But when a few bros come in and start spouting off, he ends up going viral when he talks about how women are the backbone of baking. August has always had a thing for Sloane, but he is shy and not sure how she feels about him. Working together as Sloane makes August the star of the social media for the bakery brings them pretty close, especially as they get to know one another.

This is a slow-burn, sweet romance with a bit of spice and a really good read. This is turning into one of my favorite series – I love sports romances, close proximity romances, and foodie culture, so this hits on all counts for me. Can’t wait to see what’s next!

12/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

A LEGEND IN THE BAKING by Jamie Wesley. St. Martin’s Griffin (November 19, 2024). ISBN:‎ 978-1250801876. 336p.

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