Stacy Alesi

Spotlight Review: THE JEWEL OF THE ISLE by Kerry Rea

November 26, 2024

From the publisher:

Two very indoor people rough it on a remote island after getting swept up in an archaeologist’s hunt for a famed jewel in this dazzling new adventure rom-com by Kerry Rea, author of Lucy on the Wild Side.

If Emily Edwards knows one thing, it’s that you don’t go to a remote island by yourself. Ever the type A personality, Emily doesn’t want to hike around an unfamiliar island, but she’s determined to fulfill her late father’s national park bucket list, starting with Isle Royale National Park—home to wolves, bears, and hundred-year-old shipwrecks. She has no choice but to hire a tour guide, and there is only one that isn’t booked solid.

Ryder Fleet, co-owner of Fleet Outdoor Adventures, wouldn’t call himself a wilderness expert, and he definitely doesn’t know how to find true north. But when his dormant adventure guide business suddenly finds life again after a random inquiry, Ryder somehow finds himself on a ferry to Isle Royale with a very beautiful, no-nonsense woman. What this woman doesn’t know is that his brother Caleb, who died two years ago, was the outdoorsman of their business, while Ryder just did the marketing. But how hard could it be to hike up a few mountains?

Pretty difficult, actually, when murder is involved. Emily’s perfectly planned trek turns disastrous when she and Ryder witness a brutal crime and are suddenly forced to evade a group of archaeologists on the hunt for a jewel. As they spend nights together too close for comfort, they realize their shoddily built fire isn’t the only thing that’s kindling, and that they must trust each other if they want to escape the island with their lives—and hearts—intact.

“The great outdoors brings peril and passion in this high-octane rom-com…Rea ramps up the suspense, but never races through the relationship itself, allowing it to develop at a natural pace amid the drama. The characters slowly reveal their hidden depths…igniting an attraction that inspires them to want to save each other. It’s the perfect mix of danger and delight.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Rea takes readers on a delightful adventure that’s packed with action, twists, and humor in this forced-proximity rom-com. Hand to fans of Jo Segura and Sarah Hawley.”—Library Journal

“This hilarious novel doesn’t take itself too seriously and is a quick, fun read.”—Booklist

https://amzn.to/4ebJ2Yo

Emily lost her father over a year ago, but is still feeling guilty that she kept putting off going to national parks with him. Now that he’s gone, she feels it is her mission to spread his ashes at the top park on his bucket list, Isle Royale National Park. Emily much prefers a five star resort to doing anything outdoors, but guilt is a powerful motivator. This particular park requires some outdoor survival skills for sure, and since she doesn’t have any, she invites her boyfriend along. But two weeks before their trip, he dumps her.

Frantic, Emily tries every tour guide she can find until she reaches Fleet Outdoor Adventures, and miraculously, they have a guide available. What they don’t tell her is that her guide, Ryder, is actually the marketing person at this company but since his brother, the actual guide, passed away, the company has sort of fallen apart and is on the verge of going under. This is the last attempt to try and save it, so off Ryder goes into the wilderness on a truly madcap adventure.

Things don’t start off well when he almost misses the ferry that takes them to the park. Emily is not impressed with Ryder, to say the least, and the more they hike the less impressed she is. Ryder can only fake it for so long until he admits he is just as clueless as she is.

Meanwhile, Emily met an archaeology professor from Harvard on the ferry who tells her about a shipwreck he is researching. When they run into him in the woods, he claims his mentor tried to kill him because they found a rare blue diamond on board the wreck. Turns out to be the other way around, and Emily and Ryder realize they are in deep trouble when they witness a murder. And then they become the hunted.

This is more silly than serious, despite the guns and goons. Ryder and Emily slowly find a way to get along, and then more feelings develop. This was a really fun read with a lot of laughs between the murder attempts, and the forced proximity trope works really well here. Rea has become a must-read author for me, if only for the laughter – and what could be better than laughing?

11/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE JEWEL OF THE ISLE by Kerry Rea. Berkley (November 26, 2024). ISBN:‎ 978-0593815649. 336p.

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IS SHE REALLY GOING OUT WITH HIM? by Sophie Cousens

November 22, 2024

From the publisher:

A LibraryReads Pick

A hilarious love story about a disillusioned divorcée who agrees to let her children play matchmaker.

Columnist Anna Appleby has left her love life behind after a painful divorce. Who needs a man when she has two kids, a cat, and uncontested control of the TV remote? Besides, she’d rather be single than subject herself to the hell of online dating. But her office rival is vying for her column, and no column means no stable source of income. In a desperate attempt to keep her job, Anna finds herself pitching a unique angle: seven dates, all found offline, chosen by her children.

From awkward encounters to unexpected connections, Anna gamely begins to put herself out there, asking out waiters, the mailman, and even her celebrity crush. But when a romantic connection appears where she least expected it, will she be brave enough to take another chance on love?

One of Bustle’s Best New Books of Fall 2024
One of BookBub’s Best Books of Fall 2024
One of Nerd Daily’s Most Anticipated Books of 2024
One of SheReads’ Most Anticipated Books of Fall 2024
One of LitHub’s Ultimate Fall 2024 Reading List
One of theSkimm‘s Most Anticipated Books of Fall 2024

“Another bright and gratifying love story from Cousens. . . . She tackles the enemies-to-lovers trope with characteristic humor and thoughtfulness, while injecting it with complex characters and realistic situations.” —Library Journal (starred review)

“[Cousens] delivers another refreshing novel that takes readers on an unexpected journey…Through a series of chaotic, charming, and surprising rendezvous, Anna begins to find herself again. . . . Complete with a cast of well-developed and memorable characters, Cousens expertly weaves together themes of self-discovery, romance, motherhood, and friendship, resulting in a rich story that is engrossing to the end with high appeal to women’s lit readers.” —Booklist (starred)

“Cousens has a well-earned reputation for writing delightful love stories, and this one more than delivers. The enemies-to-lovers chemistry between Anna and Will is both believable and steamy, and Cousens deftly plays with rom-com tropes while crafting a journey of self-discovery in the wake of divorce. It’s also refreshing to read a slightly older heroine—Anna is in her late 30s, an age that often seems nonexistent in romances—with an established life, career, and children. A supremely satisfying love story with all the charm readers have come to expect from Cousens.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred)

https://amzn.to/3AVjFgc

Cousens writes reliably excellent stories, and this is no exception. Anna is in her late thirties, divorced, a mom of two, and works as a columnist for a local homestyle magazine. Like most print magazines, this one is in trouble, and there is a new owner in town. He wants more clicks, more likes, more social engagement, and Anna fears her column may be cut. Then her work nemesis, Will, offers up his own idea for a column to replace hers, and Anna’s competitive streak blooms. They each commit to writing personal columns about their dating life.

Will is a few years younger than Anna and drop-dead gorgeous. He is known for his regular hookups with a different girl every week. Anna hasn’t been on a date since before she was married. A couple of co-workers help create a profile for her on an online dating app, but the dates are horrible. When she mentions that her son wants to fix her up with a classmate’s divorced dad, her new boss jumps at the idea, and a new column is hatched; Anna’s kids will find her six dates from the local men in their community, and she’ll write about them. While these dates aren’t fabulous, Anna is making new friends at least and trying new things.

Will tries to help, although she doesn’t see it that way. But when he books them a weekend getaway at a camp where phones are banned and they stay in the woods, Anna finds herself falling for Will. The weekend is a big success, until a family emergency calls Anna home.

It’s an enemies-to-lovers romance, with a lot of laughs along the way. The setting in Bath, England adds some interest as well, but it’s the characters that truly drive this story. If you enjoy a fun romp of a romance, don’t miss this one.

11/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

IS SHE REALLY GOING OUT WITH HIM? by Sophie Cousens. G.P. Putnam’s Sons (November 19, 2024). ISBN: 978-0593718902. 368p.

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THE BEAST TAKES A BRIDE by Julie Anne Long

November 22, 2024

The Palace of Rogues, Book 8

From the publisher:

In USA Today bestselling author Julie Anne Long’s latest installment in the Palace of Rogues series, an estranged couple decide to fake their way through the London season to repair their good name… but neither are prepared for the genuine sparks that begin flying between them.

A blue-blooded beauty bartered to a Beast…

He would pay any price to possess her. But even though Alexandra Bellamy sacrifices herself to save her family’s fortunes, a shocking betrayal sunders her marriage to a taciturn brute of a war hero, Colonel Magnus Brightwall, before it even begins. Five years of icy separation later, a scandal—with Alexandra at the middle—reunites them, and Magnus issues an edict: they will confront the ton, rescue their reputations, then Magnus will banish her to another continent—forever.

But alone in a suite at the Grand Palace on the Thames, a new battle begins—between pride and the unexpected volcanic passion stirring between them. The danger is real: Magnus rediscovers why Alexandra is the only woman who could ever break him. And even as she lays bare the beautiful heart beating beneath the battered hide of the near-stranger she married, Alexandra knows she may have already lost him—even as she finally falls fatally, irrevocably in love.

“The eighth entry in Long’s wonderful “Palace of Rogues” series (following My Season of Scandal) is another lovely read . . . This latest from Long showcases her sharp skill for character detail, dialogue, pacing, and tone. A book to treasure.”—Library Journal

“A marriage of estrangement becomes real just as it’s ending . . . This “Beauty and the Beast” rewrite is evocative of some of Lisa Kleypas’ and Sherry Thomas’ historical romances, where marriages must be rebuilt by two complicated people healing the wrongs they did to each other and baring their true selves . . . A keeper, fusing the beauties of historical romance with present-day ideas of individual happiness.” —Kirkus Reviews

https://amzn.to/48UjGNG

This is the latest addition to one of my favorite series, and it’s a good one. Heart wrenching, in fact. The “beast” is Colonel Magnus Brightwall, a soldier who has been away for five years, leaving the morning after he got married. His wife is Alexandra Bellamy, whose father basically sold her into marriage. It would have worked out, except that Alexandra had a bit of a crush on another man, and he kisses her goodbye as he is leaving town. Unfortunately, her only kiss was also her last, because it happened shortly after the wedding and was witnessed by her husband.

Magnus never thought he would marry, but something about Alexandra strongly appealed to him. But he is devastated by what he saw, and he returns to war, leaving his bride behind. She makes a life for herself, but when he returns, things have to change. He readies the house for sale, and they move into the Grand Palace on the Thames. Determined to resist the irresistible proves much more difficult than Magnus expected, and as they spend time together, feelings start to emerge. But he is stubborn, and she feels helpless to change anything.

This was such an emotional read for me. These characters and their story were incredibly engaging, and I couldn’t wait for their happy ending, but it didn’t seem like they would get one until the very end. While theoretically these books don’t need to be read in order, I think they make more sense if you have the backstory created in the previous books. Another excellent read from Julie Anne Long.

THE BEAST TAKES A BRIDE by Julie Anne Long. Avon (October 22, 2024). ISBN: 978-0063281172. 368p.

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Spotlight 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

November 19, 2024

From the publisher:

A behind-the-scenes look into the creation and legacy of The West Wing as told by cast members Melissa Fitzgerald and Mary McCormack, with compelling insights from cast and crew exploring what made the show what it was and how its impassioned commitment to service has made the series and relationships behind it endure.

Step back inside the world of President Jed Bartlet’s Oval Office with Fitzgerald and McCormack as they reunite the West Wing cast and crew in a lively and colorful “backstage pass” to the timeless series. This intimate, in-depth reflection reveals how The West Wing was conceived, and spotlights the army of people it took to produce it, the lifelong friendships it forged, and the service it inspired.

From cast member origin stories to the collective cathartic farewell on the show’s final night of filming, What’s Next will delight readers with on-set and off-camera anecdotes that even West Wing superfans have never heard. Meanwhile, a deeper analysis of the show’s legacy through American culture, service, government, and civic life underscores how the series envisaged an American politics of decency and honor, creating an aspirational White House beyond the bounds of fictional television.

What’s Next revisits beloved episodes with fresh, untold commentary; compiles poignant and hilarious stories from the show’s production; highlights initiatives supported by the cast, crew, and creators; and makes a powerful case for competent, empathetic leadership, hope, and optimism for whatever lies ahead.

“What’s Next pulls back the curtain on the making of the iconic show, just in time for a pre-election rewatch.” –People

“[This] lively, engaging booktakes a deep dive into the series, including its origin, creators, casting, key episodes from its seven seasons, and more… Fans of the series (aka “Wingnuts”) will enjoy these on- and off-camera stories, and those who have never watched an episode will find out what they’ve missed.” –Booklist

“An entertaining history of the show grounded in extensive interviews with its stars, writers, and crew…the insider stories amuse, and meditations on the show’s legacy highlight its influence on real-life politicos.” —Publishers Weekly

“The authors gained excellent access to key figures on the show… plenty of insider trivia… [a] thorough exploration of a prestige-TV standard-bearer.”—Kirkus
https://amzn.to/3Umaqfr

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.

I received the hardcover from the publisher over the summer. I still have trouble reading print books, so I read it a little at a time, which worked out perfectly because I got to savor it in a way that I don’t always get to do when I read on my Kindle. It is an extraordinary read about an extraordinary show.

The authors are two of the cast members: Melissa Fitzgerald played Carol Fitzpatrick, CJ’s assistant, and was there from the beginning throughout the series. Mary McCormack started during season five, and played Deputy National Security Adviser Kate Harper. Melissa was so inspired by the episode “In Excelsis Deo” that she ended up as the Director of Justice for Vets, a non-profit organization focused on veterans’ treatment courts that has since been rebranded as All Rise. Many of the cast have helped out with the foundation as well. A TV series that inspires public service is a rarity.

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, along with The Sopranos and The Wire, all from the same era. 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.

11/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

WHAT’S NEXT by Melissa Fitzgerald & Mary McCormack. Dutton (August 13, 2024). ISBN: 978-0593184547. 608p.

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Debbie Macomber’s Christmas 2024

November 15, 2024

This year Macomber has THREE Christmas romances out; one novel, and two novellas packaged together in one book. They are exactly what her fans expect – sweet and happy holiday reads!

A CHRISTMAS DUET

From the publisher:

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A solo holiday trip inspires one woman to rediscover her passion—and remember that, sometimes, duets are more fun—in this romantic Christmas novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber.

“A perfectly delicious Christmas bonbon of a novel.”—Mary Kay Andrews, New York Times bestselling author of The Santa Suit and Bright Lights, Big Christmas

Hailey Morgan’s life has always revolved around music. She once had big dreams of becoming a professional songwriter, but the reality of life has led her to working as an assistant high school band teacher in Portland. As the holidays approach, Hailey dreads the annual tradition of spending Christmas with her family and dodging her mother’s meddling questions about her love life.

When Hailey’s close friend offers her the use of her family’s empty cabin for a rejuvenating solo holiday retreat, Hailey finally decides to do something to make herself happy. However, her arrival in the small town of Podunk, Oregon, is anything but peaceful when she discovers the cabin has been invaded by several wild animals. Luckily, Jay, the son of the town’s main store proprietor—and an incredibly handsome and charming former musician to boot—is more than willing to help.

Soon Hailey and Jay are nearly inseparable, chopping down and decorating a Christmas tree, sipping hot cocoa in front of a cozy fire, and best of all, playing music together. Jay’s positive feedback and encouragement inspire Hailey to believe she might succeed as a songwriter after all. But even in her snow-dusted oasis, family holiday drama still finds Hailey, interrupting and threatening her newfound peace and confidence. Meanwhile revelations from Jay present complications of their own. Suddenly her Christmas paradise has become a winter storm and Hailey must weather through the challenges to stand up for herself and embrace the holiday spirit.
https://amzn.to/3NQDzvw

A CHRISTMAS DUET by Debbie Macomber. Ballantine Books (October 15, 2024). ISBN: 978-0593725337. 288p.

MISTLETOE AND MISCHIEF

Two stories to celebrate the holiday season with the good people of Cedar Cove…

A Cedar Cove Christmas

Mary Jo Wyse finds herself in Cedar Cove on Christmas Eve, stranded, pregnant and alone. And there’s no room at the local inn… So Grace Harding brings Mary Jo home to her ranch, where they’ve got a spare room over the stable. And luckily a paramedic named Mack McAfee is there to help when Mary Jo goes into labor. The people of Cedar Cove join them in celebrating the birth of baby Noelle. But no one has more to celebrate than Mack…because this Christmas brings him faith, hope and love.

1225 Christmas Tree Lane

Beth Morehouse expects this Christmas to be one of her best. But someone leaves a basket of puppies on her doorstep, and now she’s determined to find them all good homes. Also complicating things is the invitation her daughters extended to their dad…whom Beth divorced a long time ago. As always in life, there are surprises. More than one family’s going to have a puppy under the tree. More than one scheme will go awry. And more than one romance will have a happy ending!

https://amzn.to/4hxyHJg

MISTLETOE AND MISCHIEF by Debbie Macomber. MIRA; Reissue edition (October 1, 2024). ISBN: 978-0778368212. 368p.

I enjoyed both of these books! Reading Mistletoe and Mischief was like visiting an old friend. I was happy to be back in Cedar Cove again, even if I didn’t remember a lot of the characters. I thought maybe this was Macomber’s way of ending the series, but it didn’t feel like an ending. There are at least a dozen books in this series, and I’ve enjoyed them all. Please note that these have been previously published as individual books.

The Christmas Duet was a fun read about an aspiring songwriter who escapes her overbearing family for a Christmas alone – but it doesn’t turn out that way. A sweet romance blooms during most of the book, followed by family and a happy ending. Pure entertainment the way Macomber does it!

11/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

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THE CHAI FACTOR by Farah Heron

November 15, 2024

From the publisher:

Amira Khan has no plans to break her no-dating rule.

Thirty-year-old engineer Amira Khan has set one rule for herself: no dating until her grad-school thesis is done. Nothing can distract her from completing a paper that is so good her boss will give her the promotion she deserves when she returns to work in the city. Amira leaves campus early, planning to work in the quiet basement apartment of her family’s house. But she arrives home to find that her grandmother has rented the basement to . . . a barbershop quartet. Seriously? The living situation is awkward: Amira needs silence; the quartet needs to rehearse for a competition; and Duncan, the small-town baritone with the flannel shirts, is driving her up the wall.

As Amira and Duncan clash, she is surprised to feel a simmering attraction for him. How can she be interested in someone who doesn’t get her, or her family’s culture? This is not a complication she needs when her future is at stake. But when intolerance rears its ugly head and people who are close to Amira get hurt, she learns that there is more to Duncan than meets the eye. Now she must decide what she is willing to fight for. In the end, it may be that this small-town singer is the only person who sees her at all.

https://amzn.to/3CdQtBo

I’ve read a few of Heron’s books and enjoyed them, so when this one popped up as a recommendation, and I saw it was her debut novel, I decided to give it a read. There’s a theme of dealing with racism that just seemed appropriate at this time in our country, I’m sorry to say. But not to worry, there is plenty of humor, some heat, and an opposites attract, forced proximity romance at the heart of this story.

Amira runs into a little problem on the way home. A man on the train is making her feel uncomfortable, and another man who looks like a lumberjack comes to her rescue. But Amira is not the type who wants to be rescued. She needs to finish her master’s thesis in hopes of a promotion at work, so she decides to come home and make use of the solitude of her grandmother’s basement apartment. But when she gets there, she finds out the other bedrooms have been rented to a barbershop quartet, and all she knows about that is they need to sing. All the time. Not exactly conducive to studying.

One of the quartet turns out to be her lumberjack rescuer – Duncan Galahad (that name is a bit on the nose for me.) Amira can’t fault her grandmother; after all, she is staying there rent-free. She gets the quartet to agree to a schedule, and they fall into an easy friendship, despite their different backgrounds and cultures. Two of the men are a couple, the third is engaged, but Duncan is single. As he and Amira get to know one another, a physical attraction becomes apparent, leading to some suggestive sex. Amira likes to take charge in the bedroom, and Duncan finds that really hot, but it all takes place behind closed doors so we are not privy to that.

I enjoyed this – I like reading about different cultures, and these characters were all interesting. This was a terrific debut and as good a read as I expected from this author. Highly recommend.

11/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE CHAI FACTOR by Farah Heron. HarperCollins Publishers (June 11, 2019). ISBN: 978-1464220128. 464p.

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Spotlight Review: LIFE’S SHORT, TALK FAST: Fifteen Writers on Why We Can’t Stop Watching Gilmore Girls, edited by Ann Hood

November 12, 2024

From the publisher:

Fifteen leading writers explore what Gilmore Girls means to them in this delightful celebration of a contemporary TV classic.

Fast-talking, warm-hearted, and endlessly rewatchable, Gilmore Girls has bonded real-life mothers and daughters since 2000, when its iconic pilot introduced us to Lorelai, Rory, and their idyllic Connecticut town of Stars Hollow. More than twenty years later, it has become one of the most-streamed TV shows, ever.

In an anthology as intimate and quick-witted as Gilmore Girls itself, best-selling author Ann Hood invites fifteen writers to investigate their personal relationships to the show. (“It’s a show? It’s a lifestyle. It’s a religion.”) Joanna Rakoff considers how Emily Gilmore helped her understand her own mother; Sanjena Sathian sees herself―and Asian American defiance―in Lane Kim; Freya North connects with her son through the show; Francesco Sedita discovers an antidote to pandemic loneliness; Nina de Gramont offers a comic ode to the unreality of Stars Hollow. For anyone who identifies as Team Logan, Team Jess, or even Team Dean, Life’s Short, Talk Fast reveals what Gilmore Girls tells us about ourselves―and why it matters.

The writers in this anthology represent bestselling writers, BIPOC and LBGTQ writers, and a varying age range. This diverse group speaks to the broad appeal of Gilmore Girls. These topics include growing up with a single mother, examinations of motherhood from different ages, the fantasy of small-town America, being a single mother, the self-consciousness the show created for non-white fans, a queer look at Lorelai’s parenting that reflects the writer’s own parenting choices, the show’s comfort and impact during the pandemic, Rory’s life path and changes throughout the show and how it did or didn’t disappoint fans and how the guy you root for to win Rory’s heart actually reveals a lot about you.

Essays by Anjanette Delgado, Ann Hood, Annabelle Mei, Cathi Hanauer, Erin Almond, Francesco Sedita, Freya North, Joanna Rakoff, Katie Moulton, Michael Ruhlman/Chris Eigeman, Nina de Gremont, Rand Richards Cooper, Sanjian Sathian, Tracey Minkin and Yassmin Abdel-Magied.

This publication has not been prepared, approved, or licensed by Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.; Warner Bros Television; or any other entity or individual associated with the creation or production of Gilmore Girls.

“In this heartfelt tribute to Gilmore Girls, contributors reflect on what the show has meant to them . . . The personal meditations are as soul-stirring as the show itself and shed light on its broad appeal. Gilmore Girls devotees will relish this.” -Publishers Weekly
https://amzn.to/3Umaqfr

I’m a long time Gilmore Girls fan and rewatcher. I started watching with my daughter a few years after the pilot aired, but we only watched sporadically. When it started streaming on Netflix, I watched the entire series, and I’ve been watching it over and over again for years now. There are episodes and even most of a season that I hate, but I don’t skip them (I guess I’m a bit of a masochist?) There are episodes that make me cry, no matter how many times I’ve seen them. It is a comfort watch for me. I love these characters, the quirky small town, and most of all, the relationship between Lorelai and Rory, mother and daughter but more than that, best friends.

They formed that bond because the age difference between them wasn’t great – Lorelai was only 16 when she had Rory, and as a single mother with a terrible relationship with her own mother, Lorelai knew she wanted a completely different relationship with her own daughter. The series starts when Rory is 16 years old, so full circle. They are alike in so many ways, but also different in many others. It’s their dynamic that is so compelling.

In this book, several authors talk about their relationship with the show, with their own mothers, daughters, or sons. Their observations were interesting and educational – I never really thought about Lorelai’s coat collection (there were so many!) and her relationship with money. It was always there, sort of in the background until she needed help from her parents. Most of these authors are fans of the show, and one is definitely not – but his family are.

This is a book for the fans. If you haven’t watched it, this book won’t matter to you or even make much sense. But if you are a fan, it’s another way to visit Stars Hollow. It is thought-provoking, sometimes funny, and sometimes sad, but always interesting. It is the type of book you can pick up, read an essay or two, and put down again. I didn’t – I read it straight through, but you don’t have to. I didn’t always agree with what was said, but I enjoyed hearing all the different perspectives on a TV show that has meant so much to me. I appreciate the sentiments involved with this project, and I hope all the Gilmore Girls fans out there will find this book and love it, too.

As a mother, I’d be Team Logan for my daughter; as me, Team Jess (I married my own Jess!)

11/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

LIFE’S SHORT, TALK FAST: Fifteen Writers on Why We Can’t Stop Watching Gilmore Girls, edited by Ann Hood. W. W. Norton & Company; An Unauthorized edition (November 12, 2024). ISBN: 978-1324079453. 208p.

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2024 HOLIDAY READS

November 8, 2024

I have read quite a few holiday books this year, so here are some of my favorites! In no particular order…

CHRISTMAS SWEATER WEATHER by Jaqueline Snowe

Christmas is both naughty and nice this year when a single dad and his best friend’s sister celebrate with some secret (steamy) romance and festive fun, perfect for fans of Maggie Knox and Lyssa Kay Adams.

Charlotte Calhoun has avoided Hayden Porter, her older brother’s sexy-as-sin best friend, ever since that mortifying night when he flat-out rejected her. Fine. Except this Christmas season, they’re thrown together at a snowy ski resort for her brother’s bachelor party, complete with mistletoe, cozy fireplaces, and adjoining rooms. She can tell herself to get over Hayden, but holiday cheer is turning to holiday lust every time he is within ten feet of her.

Between being a full-time single father and his high-pressure college coaching job, a romantic relationship is off the table for Hayden. But he’s fought his attraction to Charlotte for as long as he can. A one-night stand is starting to sound like a good idea—as long as her brother never finds out. But with two long weeks until the wedding, hiding their growing feelings is going to take a Christmas miracle.

From the BookBitch: This was a fun, sexy Christmas romance and completely entertaining – everything I want in a Christmas romance.

A CHRISTMAS EVE LOVE STORY by Ginny Baird

Annie Jones is stuck repeating Christmas Eve until she finds everything she’s been missing in life in this heartwarming time travel Christmas romance for fans of Miracle on 34th Street, Groundhog Day, and Josie Silver’s A Winter in New York.

Annie Jones works hard designing windows for iconic New York City department store Lawson’s Finest. So when her Christmas window display gets upended by some rambunctious kids on Christmas Eve, the all-too-realistic store Santa gives Annie a little decorating tip on how to start over. With help from friendly security guard Braden Tate, Annie repairs the damage and heads home. But when she wakes the next morning, she’s bewildered to find that it isn’t Christmas day at all, but Christmas Eve all over again.

Trapped in a time loop, Annie doesn’t know how she’ll ever make it back to the present. Luckily, she has an infinite number of chances to get things right. As little everyday choices bring her closer to Braden and to Christmas day, Annie starts to picture what her new life― one full of friendship, love, and community―could look like.

From the BookBitch: “Groundhog Day” is one of my favorite movies, and this book has a similar premise around Christmas Eve instead. Annie was a sweet character, as was Braden, and as the days keep repeating, they learn more about one another and themselves – and how much reaching out to strangers can matter.

THE DECEMBER MARKET by RaeAnne Thayne

The magic of Christmas—and a second shot at romance—is in the air in Shelter Springs this holiday season…

Amanda Taylor isn’t a fan of Christmas, but as the owner of a local soap shop, ignoring the holiday season isn’t an option. To forget the pain of Christmases past, Amanda focuses on making the season bright for her customers at the Shelter Springs Holiday Giving Market. But when her beloved grandmother, Birdie, starts dating the dashing new resident of the Shelter Inn retirement community, Amanda smells trouble. Fortunately, Rafe Arredondo, the grandson of Birdie’s charming suitor, is equally dubious of the match. Unfortunately, he’s just as fiery as his grandfather—and Amanda has zero interest in getting burned.

As a single father, paramedic and assistant fire chief, Rafe has more than enough on his plate. Sure, he and Amanda share a common goal in keeping their grandparents apart. Still, that doesn’t mean he should allow himself to feel as drawn to her as he does. Even if she is great with his young son. Even if she does help the burden of his own painful past feel a little lighter… But when their paths keep crossing at the holiday market, it starts to feel like fate, prompting them both to wonder if taking a chance on love might gift them everything they’ve been wishing for.

From the BookBitch: This is the second book in the Shelter Springs series, and I loved it. Not sure why the publisher is harping on the grandparents relationship; that is really a subplot. It’s the heat between Rafe and Amanda that makes this story fiery and unputdownable.

A HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS by Taylor Hahn

A witty, warmhearted novel about coming to terms with grief, taking a chance on unexpected connections, and finding family in time for the holidays

For wedding singer Mel Hart, the holidays have always retained a certain magic. Her mother, Connie, always managed to pull off spectacular Santa hijinx that convinced Mel to keep believing in Santa way longer than other kids. Those moments meant everything to Mel because the rest of the year, life was unpredictable because of her mother’s alcohol use.

But two weeks before Christmas, Mel gets a call from the hospital: her mother has died.

Then a woman shows up on Mel’s doorstep, claiming to be Connie’s estranged best friend, promising to tell Mel a different narrative—one in which Connie was almost a famous country music star, if only a man hadn’t gotten in the way. Instead of spending Christmas alone in her dead mother’s house, Mel agrees to stay with Barb for the holidays, finding herself in the middle of Barb’s complicated family and uncovering secrets while fighting an attraction to Barb’s in-the-middle-of-a-divorce son. As Christmas approaches, Mel reckons with how little she knew about her mother’s past while reexamining her own future.

A Home for the Holidays is a moving exploration of complicated grief, mother-daughter relationships, loving someone with addiction, and the redemptive power of opening one’s heart to love in all its forms.

From the BookBitch: I loved learning with Mel about her mother’s life, and seeing her relationship blossom. While not your typical Christmas romance, the additional depth here was welcome.

AN AMISH CHRISTMAS MATCH by Winnie Griggs

Can one Amish woman give a struggling widower with five rowdy boys a helping hand—and chance at love—this Christmas season?

Phoebe Kropf knows everyone thinks she’s a bit odd—and more than a little accident-prone. She doesn’t understand why they fuss over her at home rather than see her as a bright, independent Amish woman. So when a friend asks Phoebe to help care for a house full of young men in nearby Sweetbrier Creek, she leaps at the chance to prove she’s more than her shortcomings . . .

Widower Seth Beiler is in over his head with his five orphaned brieder to care for and all the Christmas orders his woodworking shop needs to fulfill. When he asked for help with some cooking and cleaning, he wasn’t expecting a housekeeper as unconventional—or lovely—as Phoebe. Yet her warm care and holiday traditions win their hearts one by one. And soon the farmhouse finally starts to feel like home again. When the Christmas season and Phoebe’s time there is nearly at an end, will Seth convince her that the greatest gift would be her staying . . . as part of their familye?lationships come into play here when team captain Beckett’s sister moves into the same building as his teammate, Garrett. Garrett is tasked with watching out for Jennie, and he does, happily. But as they grow closer, their friendship soon turns into a more physical relationship. When big brother finds out, that happy ending seems in jeopardy.

From the BookBitch: I love Amish romances, and this was a good one – light on the preaching/religion, but heavy on the character development. I loved seeing Phoebe realize her self-worth.

Previously reviewed this season:

ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY by Susan Mallery

WINDOW SHOPPING by Tessa Bailey

LOVE YOU A LATKE by Amanda Elliot

THE CHRISTMAS TREE FARM by Laurie Gilmore

LOVELIGHT FARMS by B.K. Borison

11/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

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Posted by Stacy Alesi

Spotlight Review: EIGHT NIGHTS TO WIN HER HEART by Miri White

November 5, 2024

From the publisher:

Bask in the warm glow of the menorah in this debut Jewish romantic comedy featuring a hard-of-hearing hero and a Chanukah meet-cute, perfect for fans of Rachel Lynn Solomon and Jean Meltzer.

Andie Williams is not looking forward to spending her first Chanukah alone after her father’s death. About to lose her job, with her only prospect across the country for another work opportunity, she could use some chutzpah to make it through the eight nights alone.

Leo Dentz has had a crush on the girl across the hall from his apartment for years but has never had the courage to say anything—until she drops her grocery bags and he notices her drug store Chanukah candles. Ready to take a chance outside of his comfort zone, Leo offers to join Andie on the first night, sharing his dinner with her.

As Andie and Leo fall for each other one night at a time, and the clock ticks down on Andie’s move, will this season of miracles light their way forward?

“White combines scrumptious descriptions of comfort food, massive winter lights displays, and believable family drama in her entertaining holiday contemporary.” —Publishers Weekly

https://amzn.to/4ebJ2Yo

Yes, it’s a Hanukkah miracle – another holiday romance set around Hanukkah instead of Christmas. Now my regular readers know I LOVE Christmas romance; in fact, I’ve read so many this year I’m going to have to do a compilation review (coming soon!) But I am thrilled to be reading my second (or third?) Hanukkah romance this season, and it’s a good one. It’s also a debut novel, so hopefully more to come.

Andie is one of those amazing preschool teachers you wish for but rarely get. Sadly, her school has lost its funding so she’s looking for another job. Preschool teachers usually make bupkis (nothing much) and tend to burn out, so you wouldn’t think it would be hard to find another job. Yet Andie would like a job that pays more than minimum wage, and benefits would be nice, too. And she finds it – unfortunately, that job is in Ohio, precipitating a real soul-searching decision. She loves living in Boston, but as a young single woman with no family, she has no obligations to stay there. Except the memories of her father, and she is torn about leaving their apartment and all the memories it holds.

Leo lives down the hall from Andie and has had a crush on her for a couple of years now. He had a bunch of ear infections as a child that he never outgrew, and eventually lost his hearing, and he wears hearing aids. It was interesting to see a young person with that issue.

Their meet-cute happens when Andie drops a bag of groceries, revealing Hanukkah candles. Leo finally gets up the courage to ask her to spend her first night of Hanukkah with him. Leo finally realizes this is his big break, his chance to get to know her better and see where it goes. When he finds out she is moving for a new job, he realizes he has eight nights to get her to stay.

Leo has some family issues of his own. He works with his brother, both working for their father in their grandfather’s antique business. When Leo and his brother were teenagers, they were fooling around in the shop and broke some valuable pieces. Their father has never forgiven them. Now that he is getting ready to retire, his sons want to buy the business from him, but he doesn’t think they deserve it and is entertaining offers from outsiders.

Andie and Leo grow closer, but problems arise when he offers to fix her beloved mother’s desk. It is an antique and in terrible shape. But Andie lost her mother as an infant, and it is all she has of her so she very reluctantly lets Leo take it to the shop. You can see what happens next from Mars, but this is a romance so a happy ending is guaranteed.

There is some humor here, and some steamy sex. But mostly, it is about family and love and Hanukkah, and it is a terrific holiday read. I can’t wait to see what comes next from this new author.

11/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

EIGHT NIGHTS TO WIN HER HEART by Miri White. Alcove Press (October 15, 2024). ISBN:‎ 978-1639108923. 304p.

Kindle

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BookBitch Diary: November 1, 2024

November 1, 2024

Heading into the election!

Election Day is a mere five days away! In case you are new here, I just want to make it clear which way I am voting. Feel free to disagree with me; this is America, and we are all entitled to vote however we want.

I watched in complete disbelief last month as Alex Wagner on MSNBC spent some time with a group of UA (The United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry) union members in Lansing, Michigan, an important swing state. Some were solidly Trump or Harris, but most were undecided. Most also had no idea what was going on in the world. Many of them were getting all their [dis]information via social media. Some knew nothing about Trump and all the court cases he’s involved with, and even worse, the ones who knew didn’t seem to care. Some didn’t have any opinions on Jan. 6th or didn’t understand why it was a big deal. Many were concerned with immigration, but none were very clear on what the problems were. These were union members with good jobs, and one young man said that immigrants were taking “all the jobs.” Not his, apparently.

A couple of weeks ago I watched Jimmy Kimmel send a “reporter” to a Trump rally at Coachella. The “reporter” asked people their opinions on a variety of issues, from critical race theory to fracking to D.E.I. All the Trump supporters had strong opinions on these topics, so the reporter followed up by saying, “What is “critical race theory [or whatever the topic was] for people who don’t understand it?” Not one of those people with strongly held beliefs could explain them; they just knew they were bad. To be fair, there probably were people there who could explain some of these topics, but for comedy’s sake, they didn’t show any of them. It’s funny as hell if you’re not a Trump supporter, and Kimmel is playing to his audience. I point this out because this is the type of disinformation that is so prevalent today.

As an academic librarian, I try to teach my students how to determine the trustworthiness of their sources. How to tell the difference between information, misinformation, and disinformation. It is becoming more difficult to parse through all the noise and find the kernels of truth. AI has made it exponentially more complicated, which is why information literacy is so vitally important.

I realize that most people don’t follow the news like I do. I read three newspapers a day, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post. I don’t read them cover to cover, but I get their newsletters and feel I have a pretty good idea of what is happening in the world. I watch probably too much MSNBC, some CNN, and some YouTubers like David Pakman and The Young Turks. I also follow late-night comedians like Jimmy Kimmel, John Oliver, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, and Seth Meyers – all are available on YouTube, and when the news is especially brutal (looking at you, Netanyahu,) they make me laugh.

I am a “super voter,” a term I had never heard until I worked for the Obama campaign. It was the second campaign I ever worked on; my first was Jimmy Carter, and I didn’t turn 18 until a month after his election so I couldn’t even vote for him! But I have voted in every election since. Local and national. And apparently, that makes me a “super voter.” I love that! We are so privileged in this country, and it kills me that so many people don’t vote. This is from the Pew Research Center:

The elections of 2018, 2020 and 2022 were three of the highest-turnout U.S. elections of their respective types in decades. About two-thirds (66%) of the voting-eligible population turned out for the 2020 presidential election – the highest rate for any national election since 1900. The 2018 election (49% turnout) had the highest rate for a midterm since 1914. Even the 2022 election’s turnout, with a slightly lower rate of 46%, exceeded that of all midterm elections since 1970.

I also find it interesting that other democracies around the world have much higher voter turnout than we do. The Institute for Responsive Government, “composed of industry-leading experts, the Institute’s team works across disciplines to build a new approach to governance that centers efficiency, efficacy, and accessibility” put out this report: What Other Countries Can Teach Us About Turnout

Their report investigates the roles different voting structures around the world play in increasing turnout among eligible voters. The purpose is to surface several alternatives the United States could explore as a way of confronting its voting challenges and increasing turnout. Instead, we have Republicans suppressing as many voters as possible – especially voters of color. The rulebook on winning fairly has been incinerated; the sickening new way to win? Any means possible.

Please vote! Our future depends on it.

We Put 12 Strangers in a Group Chat About the Economy . . . It Got Personal

The Wall Street Journal did a little something out of their lane – a sort of social experiment. I found it completely fascinating! The reporter, Rachel Wolfe, chose twelve people she felt were representative of a broad swath of America, but who didn’t know one another.

“What would happen, we wondered, if we asked 12 people diverse in thought, background and identity to talk to each other every day about the economy?”

Then she fed them prompts and recorded the results.

“Over five weeks and 1,300 text messages, our recruits sparred over student loans, presidential candidates and inflation. They also shared their successes, painful stories—and drink coupons.”

Hope you find it worth reading as well.

Book News

For ‘Perfect Couple’ author Elin Hilderbrand, book organization is optional

At her home in Nantucket, the bestselling author keeps her collection personal, including where she puts her books: “Nobody else has to understand it.” [I love looking at other people’s bookshelves!]

Warner Bros pulls plug on Harry Potter events at library

This is so sad! The Harry Potter books get so many kids to read. For years, the publisher encouraged these types of events, but no longer. This library got a “cease and desist” letter from the movie studio so they had to cancel one of their most popular events.

Elizabeth Benedict, 10, gives a salute with her wand during 2018’s A Night at Hogwarts at Teton County Library. The library said Thursday that it was canceling all of its 2024 Harry Potter-themed events due to copyright issues. RYAN DORGAN/Jackson Hole Daily FILE

What Is a Shadow Library?

Millions of books circulating in the shadows of the internet are shedding light on the current realities of accessing information.

Food News

Frozen spinach deserves more respect. Here’s how to best use it.

Pack nutrition into a wide range of dishes with this budget-friendly staple. [I use it all the time!]

*Frozen spinach is sold bagged and in a block. (Scott Suchman for The Washington Post; food styling by Lisa Cherkasky for The Washington Post)*

Stanley Tucci wants to cook for you

How the actor built a culinary identity, one project at a time.

Other News

Doctor running half marathon sees woman collapse, saves her, finishes race

*Chrystal Rinehold, left, with Shane Naidoo and the half marathon medal he cut in half and presented to her on Oct. 3. (Friends of Shane Naidoo)*

I got to spend Rosh Hashanah with my family in New York. My grandson is three and was lucky enough to get into the “3K” program that the city runs – it’s a lottery process for preschool through the city school system. It’s not perfect – he cries sometimes during the day, and he got sick a week or two into it, but there has been some improvement since he started going in early September. The plus side is they got to keep their fabulous nanny, whose primary job is now my six-month-old granddaughter. They are coming to visit for Thanksgiving, and I can hardly wait!

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: November 1, 2024 | Ramblings | Permalink
Posted by Stacy Alesi