A bold warrior who never expected to marry meets his match in a fiery young widow in this latest installment of New York Times bestselling author Lynsay Sands’s Highland Brides series, perfect for fans of Outlander.
Graeme Gunn is a warrior through and through. A second son, he left home years ago to battle his way through Scotland as a mercenary. But with his brother William’s death, Graeme is forced to return to his clan—which now includes William’s grieving widow, Annella Mackay. And Graeme is stunned to find that the beautiful, determined woman at the keep is nothing like the meek lass he remembers from William’s wedding years ago…
Annella Mackay once had hopes for a loving marriage, a dream that shattered when her husband abandoned her. Hiding her pain, she embraced the roles of both laird and lady of the Gunn clan with spirit. But with William’s death, she finally has a chance at a new dream, and she won’t let anything deter her plans. Not even Graeme, no matter how strong her attraction to the strong-willed warrior, or how much she enjoys his kisses…
It’s an explosion of passion and clash of wills from the start, especially when Graeme decides to stay and claim his title. And when the threat of a hidden enemy rears its head, Graeme and Annella realize that in fighting for their home they might also be fighting for their love.
“Her trademark humor and genuine characters…kept her series fresh and her readers hooked.” — Publishers Weekly
This is a terrific series, and I’ve read them all. This book can be read as a standalone, as it is the next generation from the first book in the series.
Annella was married to the laird of a neighboring clan, the Gunns. It was an arranged marriage, but she was hopeful that it would be a good one. But her husband abandons her on their wedding night. Her mother-in-law gives mothers-in-laws a bad name, she is just awful to Annella. And her father-in-law, the former laird, is bedridden from a nasty fall and can’t speak. That leaves the running of the clan to Annella, who is completely inexperienced. It takes her more than a year to find her footing, but six years later the clan is thriving and everyone is happy – except her in-laws.
Annella’s brother-in-law, Graeme, returns to the keep with the sad news that her husband is dead. He is mercenary and has been off fighting wars for years. Annella is not unhappy to hear the news, and begins to pack to move home to her family. But Graeme is smitten at first sight, and devises one excuse after another as to why she can’t leave yet. Once the kissing starts, Annella is not so sure she wants to leave either, especially after they end up in bed. But her brother finds them in her bedroom, and demands they marry. That works for Graeme, but Annella is not happy about it for a variety of reasons.
Graeme and Annella find their happily ever after, but there is a lot of drama before that happens. Someone is trying to kill them both, and the mystery is at the heart of this story. There is also a lot of sex and some laughs, which defines this series. Another excellent Lynsay Sands reads!
10/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
THE HIGHLANDER’S RETURN by Lynsay Sands.Avon (September 24, 2024). ISBN: 978-0063411135. 272p.
Two best friends fake date to reach their holiday happily ever after in this first romantic comedy in the Lovelight series.
A pasture of dead trees. A hostile takeover of the Santa barn by a family of raccoons. And shipments that have mysteriously gone missing. Lovelight Farms is not the magical winter wonderland of Stella Bloom’s dreams.
In an effort to save the Christmas tree farm she’s loved since she was a kid, Stella enters a contest with Instagram-famous influencer Evelyn St. James. With the added publicity and the $100,000 cash prize, Stella might just be able to save the farm from its financial woes. There’s just one problem. To make the farm seem like a romantic destination for the holidays, she lied on her application and said she owns Lovelight Farms with her boyfriend. Only…there is no boyfriend.
Enter best friend Luka Peters. He just stopped by for some hot chocolate and somehow got a farm and a serious girlfriend in the process. But fake dating his best friend might be the best Christmas present he’s ever received.
“This book is sweetly cozy and charming in a way that you won’t ever want to stop reading it.”—BookRiot
I read the fourth book in this series, then realized I’d never read any of the others, so here I am, starting with the first book. The central romance here is between Stella and Luka, who have been best friends for years. But Luka has no idea that Stella is actually in love with him, and there is no way that Stella would ever believe that Luka is in love with her.
Stella had purchased a Christmas tree farm the previous year and is in a bit over her head. She didn’t know that the farm came with huge debt (is that even legal??) Worse yet, someone has been vandalizing her farm all year long. Desperate for a cash infusion, Stella enters an online contest held by a social media travel influencer with millions of followers and a grand prize of $100,000. The only problem is that Stella lied on her application and said that she and her boyfriend had purchased the farm. A little romance is always good in these situations. When Stella becomes a finalist with the influencer planning an in-person visit, she panics, and we get that beloved romance trope, the fake boyfriend. And Luka is it.
There are a lot of laughs here and a lot of steamy sex before Luka and Stella reach their happy ending. The romance part dragged on a bit or at least it felt that way to me, but I’m definitely up for book two in this series.
I’ve lived in South Florida since the 1970’s. Hurricane David was my first, in 1979. Me and my husband, who was my boyfriend at the time, lived in Rio, a tiny hamlet about an hour north of West Palm Beach. We rented a three-room apartment that was carved out of an old house, probably very illegal (the bedroom didn’t have a window and was just big enough for a double bed – literally, it fit wall to wall.) We were in the middle of moving south to West Palm Beach. The hurricane warnings came, and the storm was expected to make landfall in WPB, so we decided to stay put. We put plywood on the windows in the living room – there was no such thing as hurricane shutters back then. David ended up as a Category 2 storm, so not too horrific. My husband had the foresight to move our cars around the side of the house; it was fortuitous because the huge tree in the front yard was destroyed by the storm and both of our cars would have been smashed. We were fine, but the surrounding area was not. We were minutes away from Hutchinson Island, and when we were able to get over there, the devastation was surreal.
We went through many more hurricanes after that one. Eventually, we purchased hurricane shutters but they are the type that need to be manually installed and it takes a full day or more to do so. We have six sliding glass doors and several windows, including clerestory windows, long narrow windows above the sliding glass doors. My house is normally filled with light, and it is eerie once those shutters go up. We didn’t have enough shutters to cover all the clerestory windows, and by the time Hurricane Andrew, a category 5 storm, hit in 1992, we were very lucky it hit south of us in Miami. My daughter was just a few weeks old, and while we didn’t get hit by the storm, a few days later we got hit with the aftermath, tropical storm winds strong enough to knock out our electricity. We had no power for several days. Meanwhile, one of my neighbors had a big van and went around the neighborhood collecting whatever we could give. I sent all my diapers, wipes, and formula to Miami. I was lucky that I could still go to the store and buy more.
That was nothing compared to Hurricane Wilma in 2005. It hit in mid-October, and again we were without power for about a week. By that time we had a lot more supplies and camping equipment. We had a giant cooler, and a grill and a two burner camping stove. We lost the roof of our house – actually, my entire neighborhood was roofless. The homes were about eighteen years old, and the building codes had changed by then, because of Andrew. But we didn’t get those improvements until we lost our roof. We didn’t have hurricane shutters on two of the clerestory windows, so we had a front row seat to debris flying over the house, things like big swaths of fencing, toys, bicycles, and pool furniture. It was quite something to see most of a shed flying over the house. The shingles coming off the roof damaged our cars, which were in the driveway. Our garage was full of stuff, and we moved all the patio furniture in there as well. And we put our crazy cat, Edgar, in there, too. He bit my daughter in the process of moving him. She ended up in the hospital the next day on intravenous antibiotics. Cat bites are no joke.
We’ve had many storms since then, but no direct hits from another hurricane. In fact, in the past few years, all the hurricanes seem to be either hitting the west coast of Florida, coming up through the Gulf of Mexico, or heading north of us up the eastern seaboard. And that’s what Helene did, with more devastation that could be imagined. A hurricane hitting the mountains?? That’s just impossible. Until it wasn’t.
More than 120 people have died already, and over 500 more are still missing across six states. There are too many horror stories, too much destruction, too much devastation.
If you want to help, here are legitimate places to offer your money or time:
WCK’s Relief Team is on the ground and in the skies over Florida, identifying communities most in need of support after Hurricane Helene. Water, sand, and debris blanket our search areas, but we will continue to do what it takes to provide nourishing meals. #ChefsForFloridapic.twitter.com/jLHomeBmYT
I know a lot of people get Amazon Prime for the fast, free shipping, but their streaming channel has grown a lot over the years, and now we watch it all the time. If you’re a football fan, it’s the only way to get Thursday Night Football. My husband loves The Rings of Power (a Lord of the Rings prequel) and Fallout. We both love Reacher, based on the Lee Child series, and Bosch and Bosch Legacy, based on the Michael Connelly series. Prime is the home of the original series The 1% Club (trivia game,) the multiple Emmy nominee Mr. & Mrs. Smith. and one of my favorite escapes, Clarkson’s Farm. Finally, there are literally thousands of movies, and they constantly add new ones. I can always find a rom-com when I need one! ‘Nuff said.
Apple says that following FDA clearance, the feature will be available via a software update. (The FDA granted approval.)
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: October 1, 2024 | Ramblings | Permalink Posted by Stacy Alesi
She left her hometown following a scandal—but family loyalty is dragging her back…
Despite their strained relationship, when Gia Rossi’s sister, Margot, begs her to come home to Wakefield, Iowa, to help with their ailing mother, Gia knows she has no choice. After her rebellious and at-times-tumultuous teen years, Gia left town with little reason to look back. But she knows Margot’s borne the brunt of their mother’s care and now it’s Gia’s turn to help, even if it means opening old wounds.
As expected, Gia’s homecoming is far from welcome. There’s the Banned Books Club she started after the PTA overzealously slashed the high school reading list, which is right where she left it. But there is also Mr. Hart, her former favorite teacher. The one who was fired after Gia publicly and painfully accused him of sexual misconduct. The one who prompted Gia to leave behind a very conflicted town the minute she turned eighteen. The one person she hoped never to see again.
When Margot leaves town without explanation, Gia sees the cracks in her sister’s “perfect” life for the first time and plans to offer support. But as the town, including members of the book club, takes sides between Gia and Mr. Hart, everything gets harder. Fortunately, she learns that there are people she can depend on. And by standing up for the truth, she finds love and a future in the town she thought had rejected her.
“Filled with mystery and drama, coupled with themes of family ties and secrets. This page-turner will not disappoint.”—Booklist
Regular readers of this blog know I am horrified by the book bannings going on all over this country, especially in Florida where I live. I was happy to see Novak take on the topic in her latest, and while I applaud her for bringing this topic gently into her readers’ hands, I would have liked to see a bit more about the problem. That said, I am truly grateful for the books she does mention.
Gia’s mother is dying of cancer, and while her father is amazing, her sister Margot has been the one to take on a lot of her care. But Margot knows the end is coming soon, and she begs Gia to come home and spend some time with their mother, and give Margot a bit of respite. What Margot doesn’t tell Gia is that she is planning on leaving her husband, and needs Gia there for their mom before she can disappear.
Gia has never liked Margot’s husband, but Margot rarely says a bad word about him and, in fact, defends him as needed. What she is too ashamed to admit is that he is extremely abusive to her – not physically, but emotionally. And those scars run just as deep.
Gia left town as a teenager after her favorite teacher molested her. When she reported him, it created a major division in the small town. He was convicted, but never confessed or admitted anything, and blamed Gia for making it up due to a bad grade. His son is the town veterinarian, and he has moved into the house behind Gia’s family. As her presence becomes known, the town starts dividing up once again. Gia never felt like she had much support – even her parents weren’t especially supportive. But when she starts talking with Cormac, the teacher’s son, he comes to realize that maybe she wasn’t lying after all.
Eventually, the truth comes out and Gia is vindicated in the eyes of the town. Gia and Cormac fall in love and find their happy ending. This was a really good read with a lot of heart, that delved into some serious topics. Very well done.
9/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
THE BANNED BOOKS CLUB by Brenda Novak.MIRA; Original edition (September 17, 2024). ISBN: 978-0778387329. 352p.
Swoon-worthy romance with lovable characters, loads of humor, and a healthy dose of drama on the way to a happily ever after.
From I’ve Read This: Instant bestsellers, Consider Me, Play With Me, and Unravel Me were all published in December 2023 after reaching massive success as e-books via their popularity on TikTok. Now that they are in print, they’re reaching an even wider audience to great success. Each is a romance that follows a different hockey player on a fictional NHL team closely modelled after the Vancouver Canucks, and not surprisingly, each book results in true love found. You don’t need to necessarily read them in order, but there are ‘relationship spoilers’ if you don’t. With each being 500 pages, it is a commitment, but one that many are clearly diving into anyway.
From Goodreads: There appears to be a fifth book coming in this series, Breathe With Me. No information on it from my usual sources though, and trust me, I did my research. There is a barely-there mention of it on The Bookseller, simply stating that book 5 will be out in 2025 in the UK, and I assume, in the US. Obviously, I am a tiny bit obessed with this series!
I did a full review of the first book in the series, Consider Me, and here are my thoughts on the rest of the series.
I believe these were self-published, but Simon & Schuster published book 4, Fall With Me, and started up their publicity machine. I managed to get hold of all the books in the series thus far, and despite their long length, I read them in a few days. I loved them all! These books are full of well-defined characters that come to life on the page, lots of steamy sex, some real problems, and enough humor that I was laughing out loud. Plus, they are set in Canada in professional hockey with a fictional team, and even the hockey stuff all rang true. Being that the author is Canadian, that’s not a surprise. Canadians live and breathe hockey like Americans do with football, basketball, and/or baseball. Or hockey, for that matter.
Carter Beckett is the NHL’s best player—both on and off the ice. His career is at its peak, his friends are performing better than ever, and there’s no shortage of women to spend the night with. What more could he want?
Olivia Parker isn’t new to professional hockey players, thanks to her best friend’s boyfriend, but she has no interest in dating one herself—no matter how hot he is. And anyway, she loves working as a teacher and hanging out with her best friend, drama-free. Why would she want to spend her time stroking the ego of an arrogant athlete?
But once Carter meets Olivia, he can’t think of anything else. Too bad for him, Olivia is hellbent on keeping him at arm’s length, with no intention of giving into his charms. Perhaps it’s time for Carter to up his game…after all, nobody said he had to play fair.
Sparks will fly as Carter does whatever it takes for Olivia to consider him.
From the BookBitch: Consider having plenty of Oreos around for this delicious read! Full review
In the sizzling hockey romance that has taken TikTok by storm, a dedicated player struggles with the number one team rule: don’t go near the captain’s sister.
He’s found the perfect person—but she’s the only one he can’t be with…
Garrett Andersen knows that playing professional hockey requires absolute dedication to the rules. There’s just one rule he’s finding difficult to follow: stay away from his captain’s younger sister.
As a professional dancer, Jennie Beckett knows what it takes to excel. She prides herself on being every bit as confident and bold as her brother, sassy as hell, and the only person in charge of her pleasure. No wonder Garrett can’t stay away from her—even if he forgets how to form sentences whenever she’s around.
Jennie would rather avoid her brother’s teammate, especially after several embarrassing run-ins, but suddenly they’re neighbors. And as the connection between them grows, Garrett and Jennie decide to have some fun, no strings attached. Between their busy schedules and her brother’s disapproval, they know keeping things casual and low-key is the smartest play.
But what if their feelings get in the way? After all, they’re only supposed to be playing with each other…
From the BookBitch: Forbidden love is always a fun trope, and family relationships 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.
In the sizzling hockey romance that has taken TikTok by storm, the star goalie discovers the family he’s always wanted when he falls in love with a single mother.
Can he leave the past behind to forge the future he’s always wanted?
When it comes to dating, Adam Lockwood wouldn’t know luck if it hit him in the face. After a failed relationship and a string of dates gone wrong, the thought of being vulnerable with someone is terrifying—most women only see his fame. But when his dog runs into Rosie Wells, a beautiful woman with a blush as pink as her hair, she doesn’t seem to have a clue who he is, and Adam seizes the opportunity as a chance to finally be himself.
Rosie has her hands full as a single mother and fourth-year veterinary student, and she certainly wouldn’t know a hockey player if she ran into one. She doesn’t have time to date, and she’s fiercely protective of her little family. But when a chance encounter leads her to Adam, she knows it’s worth risking her heart.
The only problem? Adam is used to wearing a mask—he’s a goalie, after all. And as he holds onto a secret that threatens to unravel him and destroy his new family, they’re both at risk of losing more than ever before.
NOTE: Unravel Me contains emotional references to the past death of parents and its surrounding grief, as well as brief discussions of foster care, depictions of child neglect (not by the main character), and the death of an animal (minimal descriptions and as it pertains to the FMC’s training as a veterinarian student; not main character’s pet). If you are sensitive to these subjects, please use this information to make an informed decision about whether to proceed with this story.
From the BookBitch: I loved this story! After a bad breakup with a woman who wanted Adam for everything he has monetarily, and a string of one-night stands with puck bunnies, Adam is done dating. He is a genuinely nice guy, and all he wants is a woman who loves him for himself. Convinced that is never going to happen, he meets Rosie while out walking his dog. She is a single mom, a veterinerary school student, and helps out at the local animal shelter. And best of all, she has no idea who he is other than this really sweet guy who also loves animals, and kids. Especially hers. Theirs is a rocky road to their happy ending, but I loved every page on the way there. This may be my favorite book of the series.
From bestselling author and TikTok sensation Becka Mack comes the next book in her sizzling hockey romance series about a playboy defenseman and the team photographer who reforms him.
It was supposed to be a one-night stand. But what if they can’t leave it in the past?
Jaxon Riley is exceptional at three things: starting fights on the ice, picking up women post-game, and going home to fulfill his role as the world’s best cat dad. Relationships, unfortunately, missed the list.
Lennon Hayes is supposed to be on her honeymoon. Instead, she’s alone and single, vacationing next door to a surly tattooed man who ran his date off the resort. When a run-in at the bar results in a night of bickering and cocktails, she finds herself tumbling into bed with the enemy next door, then sneaking out before the sun comes up.
Lennon’s plan to start over in a new city is going great, until she starts her new job. The job? The Vancouver Vipers’ new photographer. And the defenseman scowling at her from across the room? The one-night stand she wasn’t supposed to see again. Good thing neither of them are looking for anything serious… right?
Jaxon may not be used to falling, but if he’s going to go, he refuses to go alone. If he falls, he wants Lennon to fall with him.
From the BookBitch: Jaxon is the newest team member, but after being traded pretty much every year of his hockey career, he knows better than to grow attached to his teammates. But their captain, Beckett, his close group of teammates, and their wives happily ignore his standoffishness and embrace him as their newest family member. Lennon, thinking she is starting over in a new country after a bad breakup at her wedding rehearsal, is shocked to see the one-night stand she had on her “honeymoon.” But the WAGS (wives and girlfriends of the team) really love her and are including her in all their fun, keeping Jaxon and Lennon together whether they like it or not. And it turns out they like it, a lot.
She’s a small-town schoolteacher, he’s a hotshot creative director. Together, it’s hate at first sight.
Sophie Taylor has a secret and Joe Walsh is the last person she’d tell. He’s devilishly handsome, incredibly hot – and far too sure of himself.
But Sophie desperately needs his help.
Because she’s not just hiding something small. She is Este Cox, the mysterious romance author the entire world is desperate to unmask.
When a trip to the countryside means sharing a cottage with only one bed, it’s a short step to sharing a whole lot more besides… Can Sophie trust Joe with the truth – and be herself?
“What can you say about a 25-year-old girl who died?”
Oops, wrong Love Story. But that’s what I think of with that title. I know the Erich Segal book is decades old, but so am I. I read it over and over again when I was in junior high school. Teen girls always love a good tear jerker! And I loved the movie, too. Now it is looked on as something of a joke (“Love means never having to say you’re sorry) but in my defense, it was nominated for several Academy Awards, including Best Picture. But I digress.
Kelk’s Love Story is a whole different kettle of fish. Sophie Taylor grew up in the publishing business. Her mother is a revered literary critic, and her father edits some of the best writers in the world. Her brother is a literary agent, and Sophie is an elementary school teacher. Yep, missed the family business all together. Or did she? Turns out Sophie has written one of the bestselling romances; it reminded me of the brouhaha with Fifty Shades of Grey. with a little less kink. But she published it under a pseudonym, Este Cox, and everyone is dying to meet her. Her brother is her agent, her uncle is her publisher, and they’re not telling, as much as they want to. Everything comes to a head at her father’s 60th birthday weekend lollapalooza.
Sophie’s young sister, who has just turned 18, is also in the family business – she’s opening a bookstore and is a social media book influencer. And Butterflies by Este Cox is her favorite book. Sophie meets Joe Walsh at the party. Turns out he is her father’s best friend/nemesis’s son and is good-looking and quite the charmer. There is a strong attraction between Sophie and Joe, but Sophie has been hurt before and is leery of letting anyone get close. But this is a rom-com, so due to the over capacity crowd, Joe is invited to share the guest cottage with Sophie, against her wishes, may I add.
Forced proximity is always a fan fave, as is sharing the one bed. And falling fast, especially when he falls first. As the literati gather for the party – many, many famous names are dropped here – the talk turns to the publishing sensation that is Este Cox. Turns out Joe has figured out Sophie’s secret, but he won’t out her. Instead, he declares that he is Este Cox, making everyone rethink what they know of the bestselling romance.
Lots of hijinks ensue, the truth eventually comes out, and family relationships are buoyed, but Joe and Sophie have hit a brick wall. Can this relationship be saved? You’ll have to read it, but it is a romance so….yes. This was an enjoyable read; I especially loved all the literary name-dropping, but I would have liked a bit more depth to the actual romance.
9/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
LOVE STORY by Lindsey Kelk.HarperCollins (September 17, 2024). ISBN: 978-0008695484. 384p.
From the author of the viral TikTok phenomenon, The Pumpkin Spice Cafe, comes a brand new spicy romance!
When a secret message turns up hidden in a book in the Cinnamon Bun Bookstore, Hazel can’t understand it. As more secret codes appear between the pages, she decides to follow the trail of clues… she just need someone to help her out.
Gorgeous and outgoing fisherman, Noah, is always up for an adventure. And a scavenger hunt sounds like a lot of fun. Even better that the cute bookseller he’s been crushing on for months is the one who wants his help!
Hazel didn’t go looking for romance, but as the treasure hunt leads her and Noah around Dream Harbor, their undeniable chemistry might be just as hot as the fresh-out-of-the-oven cinnamon buns the bookstore sells…
The Cinnamon Bun Book Store is a cozy romantic mystery with a HEA guaranteed!
Dream Harbor is a small New England town filled with quirky residents, much like Stars Hollow of “Gilmore Girls” fame. I’m willing to bet the farm that the author’s name is a pseudonym.
Our heroine this time around is Hazel, who manages the Cinnamon Bun Book Store. She is turning thirty in a couple of months, which is causing her some anxiety. Hazel has always been level-headed and would never describe herself as fun-loving or the life of any party. In fact, she fears turning thirty because she hasn’t done anything fun in her twenties, and is determined to change that.
When she finds a book shelved backwards in the romance section, she notices someone has dogeared a page, and when she opens to that page, a sentence is highlighted. At first she’s upset that someone defaced a book without buying it, but then she decides it is a clue, and she is going to follow it and maybe have some fun. To that end, she recruits Noah, the local fisherman and tour guide. He is a few years younger than she and has the reputation of a love-em-and-leave-em kinda guy. He hits on the summer tourists and never pursues anyone more than that. But he’s been hanging around the bookstore quite a bit, constantly seeking recommendations from Hazel and enjoying his newfound hobby of reading.
When Hazel approaches him about the clue in the book, he is all in and they start to spend time together. Hazel has never had a one-night stand or a summer fling; there were just a few relationships that went nowhere. But she is determined to have a fling before her birthday, and Noah seems like the perfect guy for that. Of course, once they start hanging out and fooling around, Hazel catches herself falling for the guy who doesn’t do relationships. Noah has been crushing on Hazel for so long that he finds himself falling as well, but neither one will admit to it.
Noah and Hazel follow several more clues that culminate in a birthday party for Hazel. By this time, she is fairly convinced that Noah has been the one leaving her the clues. No spoilers here other than Hazel and Noah find their happy ever after together, and I was so glad they did. This second book of the series was just as much fun as the first.
Note: I read a digital galley of this book, also known as an uncorrected proof. There is a line about “burying the lead” which is used incorrectly – it is “burying the lede,” a newspaper term. Lede and lead are homonyms, words that sound alike but are spelled differently and have different meanings. My bachelor’s degree is in English, and mistakes like this immediately rip me out of a story. It should have been caught prior to publication, so I emailed the publicist to check, but I never got a reply. Hopefully, it was corrected, but I don’t have a finished copy to check.
9/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
THE CINNAMON BUN BOOK STORE by Laurie Gilmore.One More Chapter (September 3, 2024). ISBN: 978-0008641580. 384p.
“The author masterfully blends heat and sweet in a fast-paced plot helmed by a charming hero and heroine. The result is exactly the heartwarming happily ever after that Foster’s fans expect.” —Publishers Weekly on The Little Flower Shop
How did her love life become a community affair?
Since her divorce, Emily Lucretia—affectionately known as the flower lady to the people of Cemetery, Indiana—has been focused on her flower shop and taking care of her aging aunt and uncle. Her love life is hardly the centerpiece of her busy days.
Saul Culver, the town’s favorite bachelor and owner of the local barbecue joint, has been interested in Emily for a while. But as much as Emily knows about flowers, she can be a little oblivious to her own appeal. Saul is determined to show her just how special she is.
Saul isn’t the only one trying to get Emily out of her shell. Well-meaning locals have started tagging photos of Emily with #theflowerlady on social media—and now the entire town is involved in finding her Mr. Right. Saul won’t give up easily. He’s finally caught her attention, and he’s determined to convince Emily—and the town—that this is the real deal and not just some passing trend.
Don’t miss The Love Shack, an all-new heart-stirring romance from New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster about Berkley Carr, who, while running her animal haven, must confront her past and the undeniable chemistry she shares with her neighbor in a small town determined to play matchmaker.
“The author masterfully blends heat and sweet in a fast-paced plot helmed by a charming hero and heroine. The result is exactly the heartwarming happily ever after that Foster’s fans expect.” —Publishers Weekly
I’m filling in the gap here – I read the first and third books of this series before hunting this one down. I didn’t have it on my Kindle for some reason, so in the spirit of chasing my audiobook dreams, I listened to it – thank you, Hoopla! And I really enjoyed it; no surprise, if Lori Foster writes it, I like it. It is narrated by Marni Penning, for those keeping tabs, and she did an excellent job. Didn’t lose me for a minute.
This is set in the small town of Cemetery, Indiana, named for the family that founded it. Saul runs the local BBQ joint, and is one of the town’s most eligible men. But he only has eyes for Emily, the flower lady. Emily owns the flower shop in this small town. She is “perfect” to everyone in town, but she really hates that descriptor. She earned that reputation easily by being friendly, nonjudgmental, and most of all, kind. She is also somewhat oblivious to Saul’s growing interest in her.
Emily had been married before, and it hadn’t lasted. Her ex did a number on her self-esteem, and she hasn’t dated since. But when Saul starts coming around, she realizes she may have feelings for him as well. Things go really fast, emotionally anyway, for this couple but it takes a while for them to become a couple. Meanwhile, rumors are abounding about Emily and her employee, another very good-looking man who she thinks is way too young for her, and she would never date an employee. But this small town likes butting in, and they have a lot of fun in the process.
There’s a secondary romance here as well, and some fun times with Kathleen, the town mascot – a mannequin that various people “kidnap” and dress up, moving her around the local businesses downtown. This is a fairly sweet romance, and while I would have liked more buildup to the Emily-Saul story, in a way, it made sense that it moved so quickly since Emily is 40 years old, with no time or inclination to play games. It was another very enjoyable read by this reliable author.
9/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
THE LITTLE FLOWER SHOP by Lori Foster.Canary Street Press; Original edition (May 9, 2023). ISBN: 978-1335506382. 336p.
A story of second chances and new beginnings, this is a love letter to books—and a love letter to life
Still reeling from a recent tragedy, Erin Connolly knows she needs to start living, but has no idea how. When she accidentally donates her favorite book—a heavily annotated copy of To Kill a Mockingbird containing a memento she can’t be without—to a local little community library, she’s devastated. But then the book turns up a week later, back in the library with fresh notes in the margins, along with an invitation in a copy of Great Expectations to meet her newfound pen pal.
A life-changing conversation, written only in the margins of beloved classic books, begins between Erin and her Mystery Man. Following each other through the pages of their favorite novels as the book exchange continues, they both begin to open up, falling into a friendship…and maybe something more.
But Erin and her pen pal have a shared history that neither of them has guessed. Faced with painful reminders of the past—and the one person she swore never to forgive—Erin finds herself at a crossroads. One that could change her life forever.
A book-lovers dream! References to the following classics can be found in The Book Swap:
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
WUTHERING HEIGHTS
MANSFIELD PARK
THE GREAT GATSBY
MIDDLEMARCH
BELOVED
ON THE ROAD
THE BELL JAR
“A lovely and lively tale of second chances, following one’s dreams, and books. Bickers deals with sensitive topics with a deft and delicate hand…Highly recommended.” – Booklist starred review
“Bickers charms in her depiction of how James and Erin bond through literature, and how literature changes their lives. This will have bookworms swooning.” – Publishers Weekly
This debut novel borrows heavily from “You’ve Got Mail” but takes it in a slightly more bookish direction. Erin has lost her best friend, and when she accidentally leaves her favorite book along with the last gift from her friend in the local Little Free Library, she is understandably upset. She returns daily until luckily, someone brings it back. Erin loves writing in the margins of books, and this one is no different. But when she gets it back, she realizes someone else has added to the marginalia, and invited her to read his favorite book.
James always had a love of literature and wanted to be a writer when he was young. Instead, he changed majors and ended up a corporate trainer, raking in the big bucks but not especially liking the work. Sharing thoughts about great works of literature is awakening his inner writer though, and he finds himself at a crossroads.
Unbeknownst to them, James and Erin have a history together, and it is not a good one. As books are shared, eventually James finds out who his mystery pen pal of the books is, and he is torn about what to do about it. When Erin finds out, things really come to a head and they both have to deal with the consequences.
A romance in letters is the fun part of this read, but the story moves back and forth in time as their back story and current story collide. I can understand why librarians voted it one of their favorite reads for September, but unfortunately, I loved the concept more than the actual book. I found it very slow, especially the first half, and the ending wasn’t entirely satisfactory to me. Maybe an epilogue would have helped there. While it’s not the best debut I’ve ever read, I would definitely pick up another book by this author.
9/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
THE BOOK SWAP by Tessa Bickers.Graydon House; Original edition (September 3, 2024). ISBN: 978-1525836701. 336p.
Is he the real deal…or did she truly summon a golem?
Faye Kaplan used to be engaged. She also used to have a successful legal practice. But she much prefers her new life as a potter in Woodstock, New York. The only thing missing is the perfect guy.
Not that she needs one. She’s definitely happy alone.
That is, until she finds her town papered with anti-Semitic flyers after yet another failed singles event at the synagogue. Desperate for comfort, Faye drunkenly turns to the only thing guaranteed to soothe her—pottery. A golem protector is just what her town needs…and adding all the little details to make him her ideal man can’t hurt, right?
When a seriously hot stranger mysteriously turns up the next day, Greg seems too good to be true—if you ignore the fact that Faye hit him with her bike. And that he subsequently lost his memory…
But otherwise, the man checks Every. Single. Box. Causing Faye to wonder if Greg’s sudden and spicy appearance might be anything but a coincidence.
“A laugh-out-loud funny romance with depth and heart, readers will love this spellbinding novel!” —Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“Meltzer’s timely exploration of antisemitic propaganda is sensitive while never overshadowing the cute romance that blossoms between Faye and Greg. This is Meltzer’s best yet.” —Publishers Weekly
“Meltzer’s (Kissing Kosher) latest is a page-turner, and readers won’t be able to stop until they have all the answers.” —Library Journal
“The slow burn of their romance along with plenty of humor amid the serious concerns make Meltzer’s latest an excellent blend of Jewish culture and romance.” —Booklist
I have really enjoyed all of Meltzer’s books, and as serious an issue as this one covers, it is my least favorite. The story revolves around Faye, a “Jewitch”, and Greg, the perfect man for Faye except for one tiny flaw – she believes she created him from a Golem. If you are not familiar, a Golem is a Jewish mystical creature created out of clay or mud and brought to life, usually to protect Jews from antisemitism.
Faye is upset when the small, upstate New York town where she lives is the subject of an antisemitism campaign. Antisemitic flyers are plastered all over the streets, and the flyers include names and addresses of Jewish people and their businesses. Faye is a ceramicist, and owns a small store where she sells her wares. Frightened, she breaks into the wine and ends up creating a clay man that she buries in her garden. The next day, she is riding her bike when she hits a man. He goes down hard, ends up in the hospital, and has a case of amnesia. Feeling guilty, Faye decides to take him home with her so he can convalesce until his memory returns.
Greg and Faye form a strong bond, but they are leery of getting too close because they don’t know if he has a family, a wife, or someone else. The antisemitism problem starts escalating, as does the romance, but I found the book slow going and somewhat repetitive for the first couple of hundred pages. I was tempted to put it down more than once, but because I’ve always enjoyed her books, I stayed with it. It does pick up in the second half, with a somewhat unbelievable ending to the antisemitism plotline and a happy ending for Faye and Greg.
This was the first contemporary romance I’ve read that addresses the rising antisemitism in this country, so I believe it is an important story woven into the romance. It never felt preachy at all, but rather showed how these acts make people feel and some of the consequences of these actions. There are so many Christian romances that Meltzer’s books always feel special to me, especially since there is a dearth of Jewish romance novels out there. I wish there were more.
9/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
MAGICAL MEET CUTE by Jean Meltzer.MIRA; Original edition (August 27, 2024). ISBN: 978-0778334415. 400p.
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