When a wounded soldier and self-proclaimed “beast” finds unlikely friendship with a headstrong and unconventional beauty, they quickly find themselves weaving a tale as old as time…
Despite a hero’s return to England from the Napoleonic Wars, Wesley Audley isolates from the ton. Deep wounds from the horrors of combat—and the despair of a broken heart—left him scarred. As he struggles to cope and resume his place in Polite Society, Wesley is quick to cut himself off from everyone…except for Ellie Balfour.
Independent and strong-willed, Ellie has dreams of captaining her own husband-free life and a penchant for meddling in other’s business. She knows befriending Wesley is a risk but Ellie can’t bear to see his heartache. Nor can she seem to silence all the temptingly intimate thoughts his nearness provokes.
But Ellie is yet to face a battle she can’t win—and Wesley’s heart is worth the fight. If only her campaigns ever went to plan…
“A must-read for both fans and newcomers to Caldwell’s work.”—Library Journal
This latest entry into All the Duke’s Sins series is pretty good. The storyline definitely held my attention, I liked the characters, and the passion just leapt off the page.
Wesley Audley has returned from the Napoleonic wars just a shell of a man. He has suffered physical injuries and what today would be called post-traumatic stress disorder. He is in a great deal of pain due to an injury to his leg that the finest doctors in Regency England simply cannot help. His family tiptoes around him, and aren’t sure what to do, but they try their best because they love him.
Lady Eleanor “Ellie” Balfour has recently lost her abusive father, so she’s not mourning the loss. But she has decided to never marry. The thought of another man having control of her life is just not bearable. When Wesley returns home, she stops by to pay a visit. She is only one who will actually look him in the eye and talk to him. He’s very rude to her, but she doesn’t let that bother her; she understands where it is coming from.
The more time they spend together, the more their feelings grow, despite both of them trying to avoid marriage at all costs. I also really liked the medical side of things, it added some depth to this story. Any reader of romance will know how it ends, but it is the journey here that is so emotionally wrought and wonderful.
You’ve Got Mail meets Abbott Elementary in this sweet, sexy romantic comedy for fans of Lynn Painter and Lyssa Kay Adams.
School counselor Lucy Galindo has a secret.
To her coworkers, friends, and even family, she’s shy, sweet, and constantly struggling to hold off disaster (read: manage her anxiety and depression). But online? She’s bold, confident, and always knows what to say—it’s how she’s become the wildly popular @TheMissGuidedCounselor. It’s also why she keeps her identity anonymous. Her followers would never trust the real Lucy with their problems.
History teacher Aldrich Fletcher thought a new job would give him some relief from his drama-filled family. Instead, he’s dodging his ex-girlfriend and pining over his new co-worker—who only ever seems to see him at his worst. Thankfully, he can count on his online confidant for advice . . . until he discovers @TheMissGuidedCounselor is Lucy.
Now Fletcher has a secret too. And while Lucy can’t deny there’s something between them, she’s not sure she can trust him. Can they both find the courage to share the truth and step out from behind their screens?
“This sparkling debut marks Lepe as a writer to watch when it comes to modern rom-coms.”―Kirkus, Starred Review
“The romance plays out as a fresh, diverse twist on You’ve Got Mail . . . Fans of Abbott Elementary will be especially charmed.”―Publishers Weekly
“Unputdownable; will leave readers clamoring for more.”―Library Journal
I love reading debut novels, but I’ve been burned before by publicists creating “debuts” under a new name for a previously published author, so I’m just going to ignore that. This is a good read, and that’s the most important thing to know.
“You’ve Got Mail” is one of my favorite movies, and I enjoy “Abbott Elementary,” so this mashup of the two sounded promising; I’m happy to say it lived up to the hype. Lucy is a guidance counselor who truly loves her job, but with her depression and anxiety disorders, she feels like a fraud most of the time, except when she is posting on her anonymous Instagram account. Hiding behind a pseudonym, gives Lucy the courage of her convictions, and she offers great advice to her followers. One follower is also hiding behind a pseudonym, but he and Lucy become great internet penpals. Neither knows the others true identity, or where they live, or where they work. But they know other more intimate details of their lives.
Aldrich Fletcher is a new history teacher at the public high school where Lucy is a guidance counselor. He is also her secret penpal, and neither knows who the other is. He and Lucy have a hot meet-cute when she trips and spills tea down the front of his pants. On his first day at the new school. She compounds the problem when she tries wiping down the front of his pants, never a good idea to do to a stranger. Nevertheless, Fletcher finds her extremely attractive and the feelings are returned, except Lucy is pretty sure that he couldn’t possibly be interested in someone who is such a hot mess.
As Lucy and Fletcher get to know one another, they start sharing some of the past with one another. A new Instagram post from Lucy triggers Fletcher to realize who she is, but he’s afraid to let he know. Their relationship is tenuous at best, as both have a lot of baggage to work through.
This book delivered on the hype and was a thoroughly enjoyable, one-night read for me. I am looking forward to whatever Lepe puts out next.
4/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
FLIRTY LITTLE SECRET by Jessica Lepe.Forever (March 19, 2024). ISBN: 978-1538739341. 384p.
If you are curious as to the origin of the holiday and where it is celebrated, check out this article, courtesy of the Library of Congress:
Scan your favorite newspapers or news websites this April 1, and chances are you’ll see some headlines that look suspicious. Read further, and you’ll probably find that some of those stories are complete hoaxes. After all, it’s April Fools’ Day.
But where do we get the strange custom of playing pranks on April 1? The short answer is that nobody knows for sure. All we know is that the custom was known in Renaissance Europe, and probably has roots older than that. Read on
Good News
File this under who knew??
Book News
I started reading King when Carrie, his first novel, came out. I read every book he wrote under his name, then the books written under his pseudonym, Richard Bachman (recommend Thinner!), and his collaborations with Peter Straub, (who also wrote the incredible Ghost Story.) I stopped with Misery, at least for several years, because it was so gripping and so horrifying that I read it in one night (as usual) but it left me feeling so uncomfortable it turned me off to the horror genre in general. I’ve read a few of King’s books since, but I still tend to avoid the horror genre for the most part.
So what I’m really saying is that King scared the crap out of me! That said, the NY Times offers the Essential Stephen King. If you haven’t read him, you really should. Let me add that not all of his books are considered horror – in fact, he writes all over the spectrum and honestly, I can say the man has never written a bad book. His On Writing has pretty much become a classic, and it’s nonfiction.
My daughter meeting the late, great Tim Dorsey
I went back to college when my daughter was in school, and there were times I had to bring her with me to class. She never minded, and one semester I was taking a class on noir books (English major – anyone surprised?) those classic pulp mysteries of the Raymond Chandler/Dashiell Hammett era and it was an afternoon, after middle school let out, class. My professor loved that she read all the books for class, plus many more. She would come to class and sit and read. He jokingly threatened to make her take the final, then told the class it probably wouldn’t be fair as he was sure she’d ruin the bell curve. Aside from all that, one of my best Stephen King memories came in that class. She was deeply immersed in Cell, when a classmate’s cell phone went off. She jumped about a foot in the air and the whole class cracked up!
Some King books are better than others, not that he’s ever written a bad book, and many have been made into films, for better or worse. The man is an American icon, a legend, and a brilliant storyteller.
The Morning is my favorite NYT daily newsletter, and a few weeks ago they did this story about how the Whitney Museum of Art is doing storytimes on Sundays. They are trying to fill the gap since the NY Public Library system is closed on Sundays due to budget cuts.
Best story of an author visit that I’ve heard in a long time!
López-Alt and Perelman have each amassed millions of followers online for their food insights. Now, they’ve joined forces to launch a biweekly podcast where they obsess over finding the perfect recipe. I’m loving it!
Other News
My family flew to New York for my grandson’s third birthday. This time, I found great airfare with JetBlue – we usually fly either JetBlue or Delta, depending on price. We are fortunate to live between two major airports, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, and only 40 minutes or so from the Miami airport. So it’s fairly easy to shop around, especially as New York City has three airports to choose from as well. LaGuardia is gorgeous now, and the closest airport to my son in Brooklyn, but JFK and Newark are only five miles further away.
JetBlue offers a stripped-down, no carry-on, no seat selection fare, BlueBasic, that competes with the horrible discount airlines like Frontier and Spirit, but it’s worth the extra money to fly Blue and select our seats and bring carry-on luggage on board. Usually, it’s just $20-30 or so. So that’s what I did, I selected our seats and waited for our trip.
When I went to check in 24 hours before our flight, I noticed our seats had moved. They had my husband sitting in the middle seat across the aisle from my daughter and me. I was able to switch our seats so we all sat together, and I remember thinking it a bit odd that there were so many available seats. The same thing happened on our return flight, only this time the flight was maybe half full.
We fly to New York a few times a year to visit my family, and 99% of the time, we are waiting at the gate when they announce they’ve overbooked and ask people to move to a different flight and basically threaten everyone waiting to board that there’s a good chance there won’t be room in the overhead bins. That is the norm, for both JetBlue and Delta. Only this time, a half-empty plane.
The first thing we noticed was the TV screens on the seatbacks were smaller than we are used to, and a bunch of them weren’t working. In our row, only one TV worked, and same in the row in front of us. That row was empty, so my husband moved there to a TV that worked.
The next thing we noticed was that we had legroom. Like my giant feet weren’t smushed under the seat in front of me. And finally, we noticed that the seats themselves were more comfortable, maybe a bit wider and definitely a lot more padded. I have a big butt so I notice these things! As we were getting ready to take off, the pilot came on the PA system and told us this was an old plane just put back into service, and it would be making some weird whiny noises that we may not be used to. He also said the air conditioning wouldn’t kick in until we took off. He assured us it was perfectly normal and not to worry, and he was right. Take off and landing went just fine, with some additional noises.
I’m just guessing here but I think switching to an old Airbus plane may have something to do with the Boeing plane issues? With all the problems with Boeing planes, I was thrilled that we were on an Airbus. And frankly, I had forgotten how much more comfortable those old planes were. You hear that the airlines are making the seats smaller and closer together to fit more seats in and using less padding in the seats themselves, probably to save a few cents per seat. Flying on that old plane was such a stark contrast to the many flights we’ve been on these past several years, and it was so much more comfortable. I wouldn’t mind if they flipped all their flights to old Airbuses! It felt way safer than flying Boeing, too. More and more horror stories are coming out, from employees sharing how lax Boeing’s quality control is and how they wouldn’t fly on one of their own planes, to news stories about damaged, unrepaired Boeing planes still flying. Loose bolts. Missing bolts and other missing pieces. This is scary stuff!
More than two decades after the Concorde’s last flight, several private companies are competing to bring supersonic travel to the masses
I am old enough to remember the Concord. My father and stepmother flew it to Paris back in the day, and I think the tickets cost $10,000 per person. That is 1970’s dollars, which translates to about $78,000 today. I can’t imagine what the costs will be if these start flying regularly. One of the reasons they grounded the Concord was that when it took off, it spawned a sonic boom, and the people who lived on the flight path were subject to that noise. Now they are saying it’s quieter, and even better, there are several companies looking at building these things. Competition helps pricing so we’ll see, but it’s not happening anytime soon.
As always, thanks for reading, and stay safe.
Thanks to The New York Times and The Washington Post for allowing me to “gift” my readers with free access to these articles, a lovely perk for subscribers.
It took 32 seconds to end his career, but it only took 1 to change his life.
Thirty-two seconds. That’s how long it took for Delon Sanchez’s life to end. One minute he was the best bronc rider in the Panhandle and the next he was nothing. Knee shattered, future in question, all he can do is pull together the pieces…and wonder what cruel trick of fate has thrown him into the path of his ex, the oh-so-perfect Tori Patterson.
Tori’s finally come home, intent on escaping the public eye. It’s just her luck that Delon limps into her physical therapy office, desperate for help. All hard-packed muscle and dark-eyed temptation, he’s never been anything but a bad idea. And yet, seeing him again, Tori can’t remember what made her choose foolish pride over love…or why, with this second, final chance to right old wrongs, the smartest choice would be to run from this gorgeous rodeo boy as fast as her boots can take her.
“A sexy, engaging romance set in the captivating world of rodeo.”―Kirkus
“Illuminating…a standout in western romance.”―Publishers Weekly
This author was new to me, and her spin on the Western romance was interesting. Usually when there are cowboys and rodeos, the cowboy is hurt and retired and his family/girlfriend is glad and willing to do whatever it takes to keep them from that dangerous sport. But not here!
Delon is an up and coming star in the rodeo, expected to win it all until a bad accident sidelines him. He goes home to recuperate in this tiny Montana town, but when he checks in for his physical therapy, he is shocked to find the one who got away. Delon and Tori had a hot and heavy relationship for a long while, but it was always superficial. He’d show up and she was always happy to see him, but each thought the other was only interested in hooking up, when in fact it was quite the opposite. Once Tori disappeared on him, he had a one night stand with the woman who was his best friend. They both knew they didn’t belong together, but the night produced a son they both fiercely love. They are co-parenting and things are working out just fine. But when Tori shows up in town, all those feelings come rushing back.
Their history keeps them apart for sure, but as he improves, so does their relationship. I loved that Tori was also a rodeo rider; that was a nice twist! There are a lot of obstacles to overcome, but a happy ending is guaranteed. This is a slow-building romance with interesting characters and a lot of insight into the rodeo as a career, which I found really interesting. If you’re looking for a quick read, this isn’t that, but it is a very good read.
3/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
TANGLED IN TEXAS by Kari Lynn Dell.Sourcebooks Casablanca (February 6, 2024). ISBN: 978-1728280080. 480p.
New York Times bestselling author Lorraine Heath’s next novel in The Chessmen: Masters of Seduction series where the price is always high…
American Leonora Garrison has come to England in desperate search of investors to keep her family business afloat but instead finds surprising pleasure when she visits an exclusive ladies’ club and dares to kiss a stranger, who leaves her yearning for more.
With a libertine for a father, Viscount Wyeth, more commonly known as Rook, vowed to live his life above reproach, with nary a hint of disgrace. Until one night, he takes a mysterious beauty into his arms, a lady who tempts him to cast his sterling reputation aside in favor of more wicked pursuits.
When fate reunites the couple, they are torn between desire and duty. Leonora may want the viscount, but she needs a stakeholder not a lover. When caught in a compromising situation that places everything they hold dear at risk, they must determine how best to win. However, in this scandalous game, nothing except love takes all.
“Featuring a strong, independent heroine to break down Rook’s walls, this slow-burn romance from Heath (The Notorious Lord Knightley) pays off, and the appearance of endearing series characters will please fans. Hand to readers who like Sarah MacLean and Christy Carlyle.” — Library Journal
“This final book in Heath’s Chessman series, like the others, features a brainy woman who wouldn’t make a traditional bride for a nobleman, and it’s a pleasure to watch Rook appreciate the very qualities in Leonora that many men find odd. Heath fans will enjoy spending time with the Chessmen . . . A delightful fantasy for awkward, intrepid women. —Kirkus Reviews
I’ve really enjoyed this series that requires a leap to suspend your disbelief. These are probably best read in order, although they each stand alone. There are also references to the Trewlove series with some overlapping characters. I always enjoy Heath’s books – she writes interesting stories with unique characters and enough heat and drama to keep those pages turning.
This book centers of one of the three life long friends known as the Chessmen – this is Rook’s story. His father was a terrible womanizer, and he is determined to steer clear of any women who could harm his fragile reputation. But when his brother asks him to fill in at the women’s club and grant this American visitor a kiss, he obliges. But she is not the shrinking violet he was expecting.
Leonora has come to England from America to find investors for her father’s company. He has passed away, but she is determined to see his invention, a typewriter, come to fruition. Her mother, an obnoxious social climber, is more interested in seeing Leonora marry someone with a title, and her brother really hates the business and is happily making his way through all the clubs in London.
Leonora has little interest in getting married, though. She is not the marrying kind – she has more interest in inventions and how things work than in men. But that man who kissed her at the club has definitely intrigued her. Will she settle for an investment or does she want more? Will he put up the money she needs and forget about that kiss? A happy ending is assured, but it is so much fun getting there. This is another terrific read by an author who consistently turns out good stories. Don’t miss it!
What should have been a family celebration of Chinese New Year descends into chaos when longtime foes crash the party in this hilariously entertaining novel by Jesse Q. Sutanto, bestselling author of Dial A for Aunties.
After an ultra-romantic honeymoon across Europe, Meddy Chan and her husband Nathan have landed in Jakarta to spend Chinese New Year with her entire extended family. Chinese New Year, already the biggest celebration of the Lunar calendar, gets even more festive when a former beau of Second Aunt’s shows up at the Chan residence bearing extravagant gifts—he’s determined to rekindle his romance with Second Aunt and the gifts are his way of announcing his courtship.
His grand gesture goes awry however, when it’s discovered that not all the gifts were meant for Second Aunt and the Chans—one particular gift was intended for a business rival to cement their alliance and included by accident. Of course the Aunties agree that it’s only right to return the gift—after all, anyone would forgive an honest mistake, right? But what should have been a simple retrieval turns disastrous and suddenly Meddy and the Aunties are helpless pawns in a decades-long war between Jakarta’s most powerful business factions. The fighting turns personal, however, when Nathan and the Aunties are endangered and it’s up to Meddy to come up with a plan to save them all. Determined to rescue her loved ones, Meddy embarks on an impossible mission—but with the Aunties by her side, nothing is truly impossible…
“Sutanto packs in loads of local color, and gives the aunties ample opportunity to let their freak flags fly.”—Publishers Weekly
“Sutanto delivers another addictive romp, managing to negotiate a thrilling (multi) happily-ever-after finale because, alas, this concludes the Aunties series.”—Booklist
“Sutanto’s hilarious triptych ends with a finale that could just as well have been titled ‘An Auntie You Can’t Refuse.’”—Kirkus Reviews
This was such a fun series that is probably best read in order. I’m sad to say this is the final book – but I look forward to seeing what Sutanto does next!
This book is set in Jakarta, Indonesia and I learned quite a bit about the culture and beauty of the city which just added to my enjoyment of this story. The aunties are all here, and one of them is getting their happy ending – but not before a lot of confusion with a gift. To celebrate Chinese New Year, the elders give out red envelopes with cash in them to all the kids. There are extra gifts to give away this year because Abi, a wealthy “businessman” or mafioso, depending on who you ask, has come bearing gifts. He is trying to make an impression on Second Aunt, who he has been in love with since they were kids. She is impressed, but things go awry when Abi realizes that there is one special envelope that shouldn’t have been given away.
Meddy and the aunts go through all the pictures to find out who got it, but it turns out to be a friend of one of the teenage girls. And the friend not only won’t give it back, she mouths off to the Aunties! They manhandle her and get it back, but it turns out that her father is another wealthy “businessman” who is in direct competition with Abi. Abi, in turn, needs to give the contents of that gift envelope to the third criminal, in this case, a woman. By the way, the names are a hoot! They take famous American names like Abi is short for Abraham Lincoln and the woman is Julia Child.
When Meddy’s Second Aunt is kidnapped, the whole family comes together to rescue her, and as usual, Meddy figures out what the real problems are and manages to save the day. There are a lot of laughs before that happens, and some suspense, but it is the love of this family that makes this series so worthwhile and so good.
Besties Laurel and Paris are excited to welcome Cassie to the group. This year, the book club is all about fill-your-heart reads, an escape from the chaos of the everyday—running a business, raising a family, juggling a hundred to-dos. Even the dog is demanding (but the bestest boy).
Since Laurel’s divorce, she feels like the Worst Mom Ever. Her skepticism of men may have scarred her vulnerable daughters. Cassie has an unfortunate habit of falling for ridiculous man-boys who dump her once she fixes them. Paris knows good men exist. She’s still reeling after chasing off the only one brave enough—and foolish enough—to marry her.
Inspired by the heroines who risk everything for fulfillment, Laurel, Paris and Cassie begin to take chances—big chances—in life, in love. Facing an unwritten chapter can be terrifying. But it can be exhilarating, too, if only they can find the courage to change.
“Fans of Jill Shalvis and Robyn Carr won’t be able to put Mallery’s latest down. Readers who flock to Mallery’s heartfelt stories will be clamoring for her feel-good latest.” —Booklist
Mallery writes about women, their friendships, their romances, and their lives and she does such a good job of it. She has found her niche for sure and I look forward to every one of her books.
Paris and Laurel are best friends and really have each other’s backs. Both are independent business women and Laurel has kids, too. Laurel owns a business where she buys used things like from thrift shops, fixes what needs fixing and resells the stuff. She has a store and an online presence as well, and she has grown the business tremendously. Paris owns a farm stand that draws customers from all around their small town.
Cassie moves to town and finds a job at the wine bar/bookstore, a terrific combination if I’ve ever heard one! Paris and Laurel have a book club, and they invite Cassie to join them. The three women quickly become good friends. They all have baggage they have to work through to find their happiness, but it’s the journey that makes this such a rewarding read. I loved how they each had an obstacle to overcome and how they had each other’s backs. Another terrific read from one of my favorite authors!
3/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
THE SUMMER BOOK CLUB by Susan Mallery.Canary Street Press; Original edition (February 13, 2024). ISBN: 978-1335448668. 416p.
In this sizzling, sassy western romance, she’s been burned by too many cowboys—but can this rodeo rider convince her he’s worth the risk?
Retired SEAL Thatch Hearst never thought he’d put down roots, but four years in Star Valley as a bronc rider has him calling the town home. All he needs now is to earn some real money by competing in the big leagues. He’ll have his chance with the town’s upcoming rodeo days, but first he needs to improve his scores. Running out of time—and ideas—Thatch enlists the help of a local yoga instructor, hoping to gain an extra edge.
Lyric Valenza has worked with difficult clients, but this ruggedly handsome cowboy might just be her biggest challenge. Marrying a cowboy was the biggest mistake of her life, and after her divorce, she vowed she’d never again need a man. Only the more time she spends with Thatch, the more she realizes there’s a difference between needing and wanting someone—and this cowboy may just be the one person she doesn’t want to be without.
“Fans of emotional cowboy romance will not be disappointed.”―Publishers Weekly
I missed the first book in this series, Wishing on a Christmas Cowboy, but I read book 2. These do stand alone but the couples from the first two books are in this story, so probably best to read in order. Guess I have to go find the first book now!
The series centers around a few retired Navy SEALS, and this book is about Thatch Hearst. He loves the thrill he gets from bull riding, but if he is going to become a top tier bull rider, he needs some additional training. Yoga seems to be the way to go as it will make him more limber while riding. Thatch likes Lyric, the yoga instructor in this small town, but she’s turned him down a couple of times when he’s asked her out. But this is business, and she has no trouble with teaching him yoga one-on-one.
Lyric is wary of cowboys but she is happy to teach this cowboy yoga. As they spend time together, she gets to know him better. When two teens have a fight and he breaks it up, somehow she ends up telling people that they are dating. Thatch is fine with it, that was his goal after all, but he isn’t comfortable with lying to their friends. Those that know him also can see that something is going on with Lyric and Thatch, and eventually they realize they are no longer fake dating.
There is a secondary plot about women being abused, and I like how that was discussed and resolved here. The small town stepping up to help is heartwarming, the characters are interesting and compelling, and the love story is a good one. This was a good break for me from reality and is highly recommended.
3/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
COUNTING ON A COWBOY by Sara Richardson.Forever (February 20, 2024). ISBN: 978-1538725924. 320p.
Their name? The objectors. Their job? To break off weddings as hired. Their dilemma? They might just be in love with each other.
When Sophie Steinbeck finds out just before her nuptials that her fiancé has cheated yet again, she desperately wants to call it off. But because her future father-in-law is her dad’s cutthroat boss, she doesn’t want to be the one to do it. Her savior comes in the form of a professional objector, whose purpose is to show up at weddings and proclaim the words no couple (usually) wants to hear at their ceremony: “I object!”
During anti-wedding festivities that night, Sophie learns more about Max the Objector’s job. It makes perfect sense to her: he saves people from wasting their lives, from hurting each other. He’s a modern-day hero. And Sophie wants in.
The two love cynics start working together, going from wedding to wedding, and Sophie’s having more fun than she’s had in ages. She looks forward to every nerve-racking ceremony saving the lovesick souls of the betrothed masses. As Sophie and Max spend more time together, however, they realize that their physical chemistry is off the charts, leading them to dabble in a little hookup session or two—but it’s totally fine, because they definitely do not have feelings for each other. Love doesn’t exist, after all.
And then everything changes. A groom-to-be hires Sophie to object, but his fiancée is the woman who broke Max’s heart. As Max wrestles with whether he can be a party to his ex’s getting hurt, Sophie grapples with the sudden realization that she may have fallen hard for her partner in crime.
“A rom-com for the cynics…The supporting cast is equally funny and helps to round out an entertaining yarn that doesn’t take itself too seriouslly.”—Library Journal
“Painter delivers a charmer of a rom-com with this lively tale of professional wedding objectors…Rom-com fans will find this scratches the itch.”—Publishers Weekly
This was such a fun read! Having someone object during the wedding ceremony frees up the bride and/or groom from having to do cancel the wedding at the last minute. Paying someone to do it for you is just a tiny expense in the scheme of things, but so worth it.
Sophie is a bit of a cynic. She’s never had a relationship and not been cheated on. Even her fiance cheated once, but she decides to forgive and forget. Until she finds out he is still cheating! But if she cancels the wedding, her father-in-law to be will most likely fire her father, who works for him. Complications for sure, all easily solved by Max, the wedding “objector.”
Max helps break off Sophie’s wedding without getting her father fired, so that worked well. Both Max and Sophie are love cynics; he’s had his heart broken and isn’t going to be putting it out there again. And Sophie is just done with cheating men. She is so relieved at how Max solved her wedding dilemma, she wants to help other couples, too, so she teams up with Max to attend weddings that were not destined to be and helps with the objecting.
Of course, spending all that time together has Sophie and Max develop feelings for one another. But neither one will admit it, not even after they start hooking up. These are two damaged souls crying out to be together, but it isn’t until Max’s ex wants to hire them to object that everything comes to a head.
Painter creates an original storyline (at least to me) and I bought into it completely. This is a terrific romcom with all the angst and laughter needed to make the pages fly by; a thoroughly enjoyable read.
3/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
HAPPILY NEVER AFTER by Lynn Painter.Berkley (March 12, 2024). ISBN: 978-0593638019. 304p.
A steamy, opposites-attract romance with undeniable chemistry between a grumpy retired footballer and his fabulous and very sunshine-y ghostwriter.
When grumpy ex-footballer Alfie Harding gets badgered into selling his memoirs, he knows he’s never going to be able to write them. He hates revealing a single thing about himself, is allergic to most emotions, and can’t imagine doing a good job of putting pen to paper.
And so in walks curvy, cheery, cute as heck ghostwriter Mabel Willicker, who knows just how to sunshine and sass her way into getting every little detail out of Alfie. They banter and bicker their way to writing his life story, both of them sure they’ll never be anything other than at odds.
But after their business arrangement is mistaken for a budding romance, the pair have to pretend to be an item for a public who’s ravenous for more of this Cinderella story. Or at least, it feels like it’s pretend―until each slow burn step in their fake relationship sparks a heat neither can control. Now they just have to decide: is this sizzling chemistry just for show? Or something so real it might just give them their fairytale ending?
“Upbeat, engaging, witty, and funny, this book from Stein… will captivate readers.” Library Journal, starred
“This, children, is how the professionals do it… It’s the difference between seeing choreography laid out in footprints on the floor, and being swept away by the dance. ” – New York Times
The grumpy/sunshine trope is a fan favorite, and it is right there in the title – I couldn’t pass this one up! Alfie Harding is the grump (think Ted Lasso’s Roy Kent) – a newly retired footballer with quite the reputation, all based on rumors and innuendo. He is convinced to write a memoir, but he needs a ghostwriter for sure. He rejects a parade of them until he meets Mabel Willicker. Somehow, this cheery, plus-size, bright-as-sunshine woman makes an impact, and she lands the gig.
Alfie is reticent to reveal much of anything, but Mabel has her ways and before he realizes what’s happened, his book is underway. But when the public spots them together, a fake romance is born in order to keep the ghostwriter secret, at least to the public. But as usually happens with fake dating, real feelings start to develop.
The banter is quick and funny, the sex is steamy, and the pages just fly by in this heartwarming romance. The characters are so likeable, even the grump, that I couldn’t help but root for their happily ever after, and it is delivered. This author was new to me, but I will be reading more of her for sure!
3/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
WHEN GRUMPY MET SUNSHINE by Charlotte Stein.Griffin (February 6, 2024). ISBN: 978-1250867933. 336p.
Posted by Stacy Alesi 
Stacy Alesi's BookBitch.com™ 