Spotlight Review: THE BREAKAWAY by Jennifer Weiner 

August 29, 2023

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From the publisher:

From  New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Weiner comes a warmhearted and empowering new novel about love, family, friendship, secrets, and a life-changing journey.

Thirty-three-year-old Abby Stern has made it to a happy place. True, she still has gig jobs instead of a career, and the apartment where she’s lived since college still looks like she’s just moved in. But she’s got good friends, her bike, and her bicycling club in Philadelphia. She’s at peace with her plus-size body—at least, most of the time—and she’s on track to marry Mark Medoff, her childhood summer sweetheart, a man she met at the weight-loss camp that her perpetually dieting mother forced her to attend. Fifteen years after her final summer at Camp Golden Hills, when Abby reconnects with a half-his-size Mark, it feels like the happy ending she’s always wanted.

Yet Abby can’t escape the feeling that some­thing isn’t right…or the memories of one thrilling night she spent with a man named Sebastian two years previously. When Abby gets a last-minute invi­tation to lead a cycling trip from NYC to Niagara Falls, she’s happy to have time away from Mark, a chance to reflect and make up her mind.

But things get complicated fast. First, Abby spots a familiar face in the group—Sebastian, the one-night stand she thought she’d never see again. Sebastian is a serial dater who lives a hundred miles away. In spite of their undeniable chemistry, Abby is determined to keep her distance. Then there’s a surprise last-minute addition to the trip: her mother, Eileen, the woman Abby blames for a lifetime of body shaming and insecurities she’s still trying to undo.

Over two weeks and more than seven hundred miles, strangers become friends, hidden truths come to light, a teenage girl with a secret unites the riders in unexpected ways…and Abby is forced to reconsider everything she believes about herself, her mother, and the nature of love.

Incredibly fun . . . A lovely, compulsively readable story about finding your path and believing in your own worth.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“This is a winning combination of a light read with serious emotional depth, the very mix Weiner’s many fans have come to expect from her. Weiner’s annual summer release is a welcome (and highly anticipated) treat for readers of relatable relationship fiction.” —Booklist, starred review

“Charming…lively banter reels the reader in…this breezy outing goes down easy.” —Publishers Weekly

“What do women get to do with their bodies? may be the central question of “The Breakaway,” and Weiner answers it brilliantly…sexy and suspenseful and so much fun”—New York Times

https://amzn.to/3LmFKq3

I was working for Borders Books & Music when Weiner’s first book, Good in Bed, came out and I was smitten. That has turned into a deeper love for her writing over 20+ books, and I’m happy to say that I absolutely loved The Breakaway! I even loved the movie based on In Her Shoes, and let’s face it, it’s rare when a movie does justice to a book.

Abby is in her early thirties but still trying to find herself. She’s walking dogs to pay the rent and has been in a two-year relationship with Mark, a Jewish doctor, and now he wants her to move in with him. They met at fat camp, and he was her first love, so everything should be great, right? It kind of is, but Abby feels a little overwhelmed about moving in with him. He’s a good man, he’s kind, he’s crazy about her, all the good things, but Abby feels like maybe there should be more. And then she feels guilty for thinking that.

Mark had surgery to get the weight off, and now he’s half the size he used to be. He’s determined to stay thin, too, by eating all lean protein and running six miles a day, no matter what. On the other hand, Abby is fairly comfortable in her body, which her doctor calls obese, and she just calls fat. She loves to ride her bike and belongs to a bicycle club in Philadelphia. When one of her friends begs her to lead a two-week bike trip through New York State on the Empire State Trail, she decides it’s the perfect way to get out of her head and think about her future.

Two years earlier, before she was in a committed relationship with Mark, she went barhopping for a friend’s bachelorette party. She met Sebastian at a club and spent the most memorable, fulfilling night of her life with him. But he lives in NY, she lives in Phillie, and she snuck out at dawn before either of them could exchange any info. So, it is no great surprise that one of the two single men on the bike ride is Sebastian.

Weiner never takes the easy way in any of her books. Relationships are complicated, people are complicated, and such is the case here. I loved Abby and wanted her to be happy – one of Weiner’s gifts is getting us so involved with her characters that you just can’t put down the book, and you can’t stop thinking about it when you finally do. This was a book that tempted me to call in sick to work just so I could finish it! But, ugh, I am way too responsible to do that. Unfortunately, it did keep me up half the night, and I was very happy when I finally turned that last page. That’s the best possible outcome from reading a book, don’t you think?

8/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE BREAKAWAY by Jennifer Weiner. Atria Books (August 29, 2023). ISBN:‎ 978-1668033425. 400p.

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AN EARL TO REMEMBER by Stacy Reid

August 25, 2023

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Unforgettable Love, Book 2

From the publisher:

Miss Georgianna Eleanor Heyford may be naught but a gentleman’s daughter, but even she’s heard the rumors about the Earl of Stannis’s exceptional charm and good looks. Surely she can cater his luxurious yacht party without getting swept away. But a terrible misunderstanding leaves Georgianna fired, furious, and with little recompense. Which is precisely when her opportunity for vengeance washes ashore…

Daniel Rutherford, the Earl of Stannis, has absolutely no memory of who he is. They tell him he must have fallen overboard, and the only person he seems to recognize is the lovely Georgianna―who strikes a chord of familiarity…and the faintest memory of heating his blood. Only now this inelegant, poorly dressed woman claims to be his wife!

But the truth is, Georgianna is finally getting her revenge. The dashing earl will work off the money he owes her and no one will be the wiser. Except the longer he stays with her and her younger sisters, the more it feels like he belongs there. And that perhaps he’d find a forever place in Georgianna’s heart…at least, until his memory returns…

Each book in the Unforgettable Love series is STANDALONE:
* A Matter of Temptation
* An Earl to Remember

https://amzn.to/44nbFNI

This is a historic rendering of the film Overboard. This book is closer to the characteristically-reversed remake with Anna Faris and Eugenio Derbez rather than the original with Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, but either way, it is a fun read.

Georgiana has lost her parents and is basically parenting her younger sisters and running the household. Money is very tight, but Georgiana loves to cook and decides to try it as a paid position. She lands a gig for the Earl of Stannis, cooking for a hedonistic party aboard his yacht. Unfortunately, he is very attracted to her, which his mistress notices. She insists that he fire the chef, and he does, and in the ensuing argument with his mistress, she pushes him overboard. He bangs his head on the ship, and the next thing you know, he floats ashore in the small town where Georgiana lives. When he wakes up, he has amnesia.

Georgiana had been promised £300 to cook for the weekend, but only receives a small portion of the money. She is quite upset as that money would have carried her family for a year. So when she realizes who the man is who washed up on shore, she claims he is her husband. She takes him home with her and puts him to work, fixing up the house that had fallen into disrepair. Earls don’t work with their hands, or work much at all, but with no memory, all the Earl can go on is his gut feeling that something isn’t adding up here. But the more time he spends with Georgiana and her family, the more he feels like he belongs there.

When his memory suddenly returns, the Earl leaves for London and his home. There his mother and grandmother are bound and determined to get him married, but he shocks them when he says he is married. Yes, they are in love, but there are so many deceptions and other obstacles to overcome that it just feels impossible. They get their happy ending, and I can’t wait for the next book in this series. I loved it.

8/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

AN EARL TO REMEMBER by Stacy Reid. Entangled: Amara (August 22, 2023). ISBN: 978-1649372727. 400p.

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THE SWEETEST REVENGE by Lizzy Dent

August 25, 2023

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From the publisher:

Bridesmaids meets Emily in Paris—in London—in this hilarious and heartfelt story of one handsome neighbor, one no-good ex, and the summer Amy Duffy makes the comeback of her life.

Her past is a mess. But her present is about to get delicious.

Amy is more than one disastrous night of drunken revenge on her boss/ex-boyfriend’s Audi—the night that tanked her rising TV producer career and led to a hasty move to London for a fresh start. She is thirty years of awesomeness. At least, that’s what Amy tells herself every morning before trekking to her mediocre job making trailers at a failing British TV channel.

Two years later, she’s finally starting to believe it. Sparks are flying between her and Jake, her handsome new downstairs neighbor, and there’s a competition at work that just might get her career back on track while bringing her and Jake even closer. But then, in a twisted turn of fate, the ex-boyfriend who wrecked her life is hired as her new boss and past and present are about to epically, hilariously collide.

https://amzn.to/3QRIdMo

Amy was on the fast track as a television development producer until her boyfriend/boss gave her some bad news. Instead of going to her cousin’s wedding and standing up for her as a bridesmaid, Amy gets drunk at a local watering hole and gets her revenge on the now ex’s car. Someone videos the whole thing, it goes viral, and Amy is humiliated and out of a job. She escapes across the pond and lands a job several rungs below where she was, but at least she has an income.

Amy’s co-workers are all abuzz with the latest reality TV show, Fantasy Island, and she’s hooked, too. Then a bombshell drops at work; her new interim boss is none other than her ex. She takes off from the office only to bump into Jake Jones, her new neighbor. Amy doesn’t know Jake; she just knows him as the guy who humiliated himself on Fantasy Island and got kicked off and has all his packages delivered to her apartment for some reason. She has a bit of experience with public humiliation herself, not that she is going to share that with Jake.

When her ex announces a contest at work to come up with a new reality TV show, Amy teams up with Jake, a writer, to put together something that will get her back on top. But can she trust her ex? Would you?

I enjoyed this light-hearted romp through England and the very happy ending. The language is a bit coarse, so if that sort of thing bothers you, look elsewhere for your next read. But you will be missing out!

8/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE SWEETEST REVENGE by Lizzy Dent. G.P. Putnam’s Sons (July 25, 2023). ISBN: 978-0593545478. 368p.

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Spotlight Review: WITH LOVE, FROM COLD WORLD by Alicia Thompson

August 22, 2023

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From the publisher:

USA Today Bestseller!
One of Amazon’s Best Romances of August!

She has a to-do list a mile long and falling for her coworker isn’t on it—yet somehow he’s become her top priority in this romantic comedy from the national bestselling author of Love in the Time of Serial Killers.

Lauren Fox is the bookkeeper for Cold World, a tourist destination that’s always a winter wonderland despite being located in humid Orlando, Florida. Sure, it’s ranked way below any of the trademarked amusement parks and maybe foot traffic could be better. But it’s a fun place to work, even if “fun” isn’t exactly Lauren’s middle name. 

Her coworker Asa Williamson, on the other hand, is all about finding ways to enliven his days at Cold World—whether that means organizing the Secret Santa or teasing Lauren. When the owner asks Lauren and Asa to propose something (anything, really) to raise more revenue, their rivalry heats up as they compete to come up with the best idea. But the situation is more dire than they thought, and it might take these polar opposites working together to save the day. If Asa thought Lauren didn’t know how to enjoy herself, he’s surprised by how much he enjoys spending time together. And if Lauren thought Asa wasn’t serious about anything, she’s surprised by how seriously he seems to take her. 

As Lauren and Asa work to save their beloved wintery spot, they realize the real attraction might be the heat generating between them.

“With this swoony enemies-to-lovers rom-com, Thompson gets in well ahead of the annual slew of Christmas romances, taking readers to Florida’s Cold World amusement park, where the winter holidays are celebrated year-round….This will have readers dreaming of sugarplums at any time of year.”—Publishers Weekly

https://amzn.to/3YJKCe3

Since I live in Florida, I am quite familiar with all the theme parks that abound here. And while there isn’t a “Cold World,” there is ICE! at the Gaylord Palms Hotel. It is not year-round, but rather a holiday event that is very popular with tourists and locals alike. My family visited several years ago, and I get the appeal for sure. They do a beautiful job, and to be honest, it seems lightyears better than Cold World, but that is at the heart of this story. (There is also an Icebar in Orlando, but I haven’t been, and it is open year-round.)

Cold World is in trouble. The owner has kept it going for many years, but she really needs an infusion of cash to keep it going. To that end, she asks her son, vice president in name only, her long-time employee Asa, and her bookkeeper, Lauren, who’s been there for just a few years to try and come up with some ideas about ways to increase the business.

While Lauren has a bit of a crush on the good looking VP, her and Asa have been butting heads since she started work there. He teases her endlessly, and she tries to ignore him and most of her co-workers; she’s a head down, all work and no play kind of girl, while Asa is her extreme opposite. While Lauren jumps at the chance to spend time with VP, she blows off Asa, until the night they get accidentally locked in to Cold World.

Asa is bisexual and open about it, and Lauren isn’t quite sure what to think about that. But as they get to really know one another, their differences seem to fall away. They both have had difficulties in their past and have learned to deal with it in very different ways, but together they are stronger and can more easily deal with their pasts.

These characters were complex individuals, and I really wanted both of them to find their happily ever after. This was a fun read and surprisingly fast for a 400-page book! If you like the opposites-attract, enemies-to-lovers themes in your romance, then this is the book for you. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

8/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

WITH LOVE, FROM COLD WORLD by Alicia Thompson. Berkley (August 1, 2023). ISBN: 978-0593438671. 400p.

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THE NANNY by Lana Ferguson

August 18, 2023

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From the publisher:

A woman discovers the father of the child she is nannying may be her biggest (Only)Fan in this steamy contemporary romance by Lana Ferguson.
 
Suddenly unemployed and on the brink of eviction, Cassie Evans is left with two choices: get a new job (and fast) or fire up her long-untouched OnlyFans account. But the job market is terrible, and as for OnlyFans. . . . Well, there are reasons she can’t go back. Just when all hope seems lost, an ad for a live-in nanny position seems like the solution to all her problems. It’s almost too perfect—until she meets her would-be employer.
 
Aiden Reid, executive chef and DILF extraordinaire, is far from the stuffy single dad Cassie was imagining. He shocks her when he tells her she’s the most qualified applicant he’s met in weeks, practically begging her to take the job. With hands that make her hindbrain howl and eyes that scream sex, the idea of living under the same roof as Aiden feels dangerous, but with no other option, she decides to stay with him and his adorably tenacious daughter, Sophie.
 
Cassie soon discovers that Aiden is not a stranger at all, but instead someone who is very familiar with her—or at least, her body. Given that he doesn’t remember her, Cassie is faced with what feels like an impossible situation. As their relationship heats to temperatures hotter than any kitchen Aiden has ever worked in, Cassie struggles with telling Aiden the truth, and the more terrifying possibility—losing the best chance at happiness she’s ever had.

“Ferguson makes the will-they-won’t-they sing with complex emotional shading and a strong sense of inevitability to her protagonists’ connection…Rosie Danan fans should snap this up.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

“This steamy, romantic comedy puts a modern spin on traditional tropes, bringing the falling-for-the-nanny and secret-past storylines into the 21st century…Readers who enjoyed Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone’s A Merry Little Meet Cute will adore this positive, upbeat, sex-filled romp.”—Library Journal

https://amzn.to/45ojT9e

Cassie had a successful career on OnlyFans until one of her clients became way too important to her. When he suggested they meet, then ghosts her, she deletes her account. She is working her way through occupational therapy school, and when she loses her job, panic sets in. She could start up her OnlyFans account again, but she really doesn’t want to. Instead, the perfect job materializes – a live-in nanny for a single father with a precocious young daughter.

Aidan is a chef, and his hours are terrible. He hasn’t been able to keep a nanny as his daughter keeps scaring them off. But she’s met her match with Cassie, and before you know it, they are thick as thieves. Meanwhile, Cassie has a huge crush on Aidan, a definite no-no. No dating the boss, plus she thinks he is way out of her league anyhow. Aidan thinks she’s hot but way out of his league. Their chemistry is combustible, and when they finally get together, the sex is off-the-charts hot.

Cassie quickly realizes that Aidan is her mystery man from OnlyFans. As they grow closer, she fears telling him because she thinks it will ruin what they have. Eventually, he finds out anyway, and to her surprise, he is over the moon about it. When she deleted her account, he thought she was lost to him forever, but Cassie and Aidan find their happily ever after.

This is one of the steamiest romances I’ve read in a while, and it’s very well done. The nanny-boss thing is as old as the hills, but it works here. My only complaint was that this chef could not cook pancakes, a running gag throughout. That struck me as silly and unbelievable, but that is a minor quibble. This was a fast-paced, steamy story and a very entertaining read.

8/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE NANNY by Lana Ferguson. Berkley (April 11, 2023). ISBN: 978-0593549353. 432p.

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THE DO-OVER by Sharon M. Peterson

August 18, 2023

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From the publisher:

“Look, you’re a nice girl but I don’t think we should see each other anymore.” The voicemail ends and I freeze in the dentist’s chair as I realize… I’ve just been dumped on live radio.

It took the most humiliating break-up for me to see that my life is in serious need of a do-over. Cue my anti New Year’s resolutions that even I can’t fail at:

  1. Stop dating. (Men are the worst.)
  2. Stop trying to lose weight. (I’m never giving up chocolate.)
  3. Stop working so hard. (Selling mortgages is not my dream career.)
  4. Stop trying to live up to unrealistic expectations. (Start living my best life.)
  5. Stop trying to please my mother. (It’s not possible.)

But it turns out number five is harder than I thought, as she begins her campaign to get me back with my ex. So, what’s the perfect solution to keep her out of my love life? An imaginary boyfriend—at least he was supposed to be imaginary until I blurted out my neighbor’s name…

Nate, the bad boy next door with gorgeous hazel eyes, a razor-sharp jawline and a mysterious scar, might be hot, but he’s definitely not my boyfriend. Now all I need to do is stick to my resolutions while also keeping my interfering family away from my non-existent lover who has no idea that we’re fake dating. What could possibly go wrong?

A completely addictive, feel-good rom-com perfect for fans of TikTok sensations The Love Hypothesis, The Unhoneymooners, and Sarah Adams. An absolutely hilarious page-turner for anyone who feels they need to start living life to the fullest.

https://amzn.to/3rNhSow

I read Peterson’s second book, The Fake Out, and loved it so I hunted this one down. It is available on Kindle Unlimited so I grabbed it!

Perci, like a lot of young women, has many insecurities which are being fed by her well-meaning mother. She works for her father, her boyfriend is her boss and her dad’s favorite employee, and her mother constantly points out everything wrong with her, and as an added bonus, tells her where to get her hair done, picks out her clothes, and, well, you get the idea. But Perci isn’t happy. Especially when her boyfriend, the one her mother was convinced was about to propose, instead dumps her on a live radio talk show.

Her best friend, Mathias, is always there to help pick up the pieces, and he’s her strongest cheerleader. He makes a list of resolutions for her, and they hang it on her fridge, but it’s not easy for a people pleaser like Perci to stand up to anyone, much less her mother. But nonetheless, having that list in plain sight gives her a certain amount of courage as she works to change herself into someone she truly wants to be.

Nate is the hottie that lives next door, and in a moment of panic, Perci lies and says he’s her new boyfriend. Much to her surprise, when she admits to him what she did, he agrees to play the part for her family. While Perci thinks he is just being nice and couldn’t possibly be truly interested in her, we all know what happens when you fake date someone!

Perci’s grandmother, Mimi, loves her for herself and constantly shares her “mimi-isms;” adulterated sayings we all know. She adds some comic relief to the story and is another cheerleader for Perci. I loved watching Perci grow and learn to assert herself. While this is definitely a romance, it is also about learning to love yourself, which really got me invested in these characters. This was a fun read, and I’m sorry it took me so long to get to it! Sharon M. Peterson is a new author to watch for me, and I can’t wait to see what she does next.

8/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE DO-OVER by Sharon M. Peterson. Bookouture (July 27, 2022). ISBN:‎ 978-1803146386. 328p.

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Spotlight Review: REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES by Shelby Van Pelt

August 15, 2023

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From the publisher:

For fans of A Man Called Ove, a charming, witty and compulsively readable exploration of friendship, reckoning, and hope that traces a widow’s unlikely connection with a giant Pacific octopus

After Tova Sullivan’s husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she’s been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over thirty years ago.

Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn’t dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors—until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova.

Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova’s son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it’s too late. 

Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel is a gentle reminder that sometimes taking a hard look at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible.

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

A Read With Jenna Today Show Book Club Pick!

NAMED A BEST BOOK OF SUMMER by: Chicago Tribune * The View * Southern Living * USA Today

“Remarkably Bright Creatures [is] an ultimately feel-good but deceptively sensitive debut. . . . Memorable and tender.” — Washington Post 

“A debut novel about a woman who befriends an octopus is a charming, warmhearted read.” — Kirkus Reviews

“A unique and luminous book.” — Booklist (starred review)

https://amzn.to/3O7wmqB

What an incredible read! My friend Nora recommended this book to me while we were on a *mini-vacay, and I’m so happy she did! There are two main characters, Tova, an elderly woman who cleans the small town aquarium, and Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus.

Tova has had a hard life. She’s lost everyone she loves, including her husband and her son, but she keeps putting one foot in front of the other and keeps moving on. Marcellus has come to terms with his captivity, but he enjoys sneaking out of his tank after hours. Tova knows this but figures live and let live, and she doesn’t rat him out. In fact, she saves him one night after he becomes ensnarled in a bunch of cords beneath a table. Marcellus is quite bright, and his observations of the humans who enter his world are often thoughtful, snarky, and just delightful as the book meanders back and forth from his viewpoint to Tova’s.

When Tova’s son was lost at sea, it was assumed a suicide, but Tova never accepts that. Turns out Marcellus may have information that will help Tova only he has to figure out how to communicate this to her. When Tova has a nasty fall, she is put on bed rest and the aquarium hires a young man new to town to help fill in while she’s out. But she can’t stay away; as soon as she is somewhat mobile, she starts sneaking into the aquarium, helping out her replacement but keeping it all on the down low.

This was such a charming book, and I’m sure it will stay with me for a very long time. It is an incredible debut filled with memorable characters and an unusual yet believable storyline; Remarkably Bright Creatures is bound for my best books of 2023 list. Don’t miss it! 

*mini-vacay: only visited two bookstores and no libraries (other than a Little Free Library)!

8/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES by Shelby Van Pelt. Ecco (May 3, 2022). ISBN: 978-0063204157. 368p.

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THE BACKUP PLAN by Jill Shalvis 

August 11, 2023

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The Sunrise Cove Series, Book 3

From the publisher:

New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis returns to Sunrise Cove with a heartwarming tale of three people who are brought together when they’re bequeathed an old Wild West inn that has the potential to pull their lives apart, but instead turns into the gift of a lifetime.

When Alice receives a call about an unexpected windfall, she’s stunned to learn the gift is a falling-apart-at-the-seams old Wild West B&B she once considered home—and she’s inherited it along with two strangers. Except they weren’t always strangers. Once upon a time, they were friends. One is her ex-BFF Lauren. The other is Knox, the only guy to ever break her heart, all while never even knowing she existed.

It turns out their lives are unknowingly entangled because they once separately helped the same woman without expecting anything in return. Years later, Alice, Lauren, and Knox are broken in their own way, with their own history—and secrets— causing them to start out on the wrong foot with each other. But according to the will, they must renovate and be partners in the inn for one year or else lose their inheritance.

Stuck together, they make a list of rules to keep the peace—rules that end up doing the opposite, but by some miracle they find what they didn’t even know they were looking for—acceptance, true friendship, and in a case (or two!), true love.

https://amzn.to/3QzbrzO

This is the third book of the series, but there are no cross-over characters, so it easily stands alone. In fact, I read the fourth book before this one – no harm, no foul.

Eleanor was a retired actress when she passed away. She left her famous Wild West inn in the small town of Sunrise Cove on Lake Tahoe to three young people she cared about. Only Lauren was related, but they were estranged even though Lauren was the only one who stayed in town (as a librarian!) Alice pretty much grew up at the inn, and she and Lauren were best friends, but that was a long time ago before she lost her brother and moved away. Knox had a troubled childhood, and Eleanor took him under her wing. Alice had a huge crush on Knox, but it went unrequited. The three of them haven’t seen one another in years, but this bequest came with strings attached; they have to agree to work together to restore the dilapidated inn or lose out on their inheritance.

Knox and Alice both feel the chemistry between them, and Lauren finds herself interested in a newcomer to town, a single dad with a precocious daughter. But the romances almost take a back seat to the three becoming friends again. It takes time and a lot of hard work, both physically and emotionally, to get to their happy endings. It was a joy to go along for the ride!

8/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE BACKUP PLAN by Jill Shalvis. Avon (January 17, 2023). ISBN:‎ 978-0063095557. 384p.

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CHANGE OF PLANS by Dylan Newton 

August 11, 2023

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From the publisher:

In this charming romantic comedy, a hometown hero comes to the rescue of a chef unexpectedly left to care for three little girls—who may end up saving him too.

When disaster strikes and chef Bryce Weatherford is given guardianship of her three young nieces, her life goes from cooking with fire…to controlling a dumpster fire. Five‑year‑old Addison refuses to remove her fairy wings, eight‑year‑old Cecily won’t bathe, and tween June is majoring in belligerence. With all this chaos, Bryce jettisons hope for a life outside of managing her family and her new job.

It’s been years since Ryker Matthews had his below‑the‑knee amputation, yet the phantom pain for his lost limb and Marine career haunts him. To cope, he focuses on his vehicle restoration business. He knows he’s lucky to be alive. Yet, “lucky” feels more like “cursed” to his lonely heart.  

When Ryker literally sweeps Bryce off her feet in the grocery store’s baby aisle, they both feel sparks. But falling in love would be one more curveball neither is ready to deal with… or is it exactly the change of plans they need?

“Newton skillfully combines pathos and humor in a first-rate small-town romance. … Newton handles heavy topics—including PTSD, death, and grief—with grace, and readers will be utterly sucked in by her lovable and believably flawed leads. This deeply felt love story proves irresistible.”―Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Hilarity and heartwarming moments… a charming, candid romance.”―Kirkus

“Big on tenderness, and readers looking for depth and substance in their romance will find much to delight in here. Highly recommended.”―Library Journal, starred review

https://amzn.to/3rNhSow

This is the third book of an unnamed series (which I found odd) and I didn’t know that. I didn’t read the first two books but I will hunt them down! I really loved this story and these characters.

Ryker Matthews is a former Marine who lost part of his leg and suffers from PTSD. He meets the completely overwhelmed Bryce in the supermarket. After her brother and sister-in-law perished in an accident, Bryce had to quit her sous chef job at a prestigious restaurant to move to this small town and care for her nieces – all three of them. Talk about going from the frying pan into the fire!

Bryce is barely holding it together between working full-time at a bakery and taking care of the kids, all of whom are still grieving. She doesn’t have time for romance, yet something about Ryker and his steadfastness and kindness really draws her in. Ryker hasn’t felt comfortable with anyone until he meets Bryce; something about her honesty and empathy draws him in – not to mention their physical attraction to one another!

I loved all these characters with their baggage and their insecurities and how raw and real they felt, even the kids. This is a terrific small-town romance with a lot of laughs despite all the tragedy. Highly recommend.

8/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

CHANGE OF PLANS by Dylan Newton. Forever (August 1, 2023). ISBN:‎ 978-1538703724. 368p.

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Spotlight Review: THE DÉJÀ GLITCH by Holly James

August 8, 2023

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From the publisher:

To break out of a 24-hour time loop, all Jack needs is for Gemma to fall in love with him in a single day. All Gemma needs is to remember him first . . .

Gemma Peters is doing fine. She’s making a name for herself in the L.A. music biz as a radio producer. She’s got a ride-or-die best friend in Lila, and she gets to come home to Rex, her loving Labrador, every night. But ever since her rock star ex-boyfriend used her to get a record deal from her rock legend dad, she’s made a “no musicians” rule when it comes to dating that’s becoming more like a “no dating” rule, period.

So, when Gemma crashes (literally) into Jack one Thursday morning, at first she feels like fate might finally be doing her a favor. After all this guy is cute and, wait, is she imagining it, or is he staring a little too deeply into her eyes? And how does he know her name? Even harder to explain is the funny feeling of déjà vu she gets every time she looks at him. It’s not at all like Gemma to kiss a man and forget him completely, so then how can she explain the dreamlike memory of his lips on hers?

The truth is this is no ordinary Thursday. Not for them. In fact, they’ve lived this day over and over for months. And while Gemma has been totally oblivious to the time loop, Jack has been agonizingly aware of every single iteration. Luckily, Jack has a theory to bring his own personal Groundhog Day to an end. And it’s simple. Before the day is over, he just has to get Gemma to fall in love with him.

“James combines humor and heart in this sparkling story of love and friendship that is sure to enchant fans of Emily Henry and Rebecca Serle. Likable characters and a charming, funny premise elevate James’ latest above the crowded pack of contemporary rom-coms.”—Booklist

“James does a laudable job emphasizing Jack’s desperation and adoration, the sparks that fly between him and Gemma, and the way they make each other’s lives better….Readable and sweet.”—Kirkus Reviews

“With this cleverly constructed romance, James puts a fresh spin on the concept of a time loop…. This is a cute romp.”—Publishers Weekly

“Readers will love getting stuck in James’s uniquely sweet and heartfelt love story.”—Library Journal

https://amzn.to/3qikVEz

This terrific rom-com is based on a time loop à la Groundhog Day, probably the most recognizable iteration of the concept and one of my favorite movies, so I should have been all in on this book. Except there was another book with this construct, Cassandra in Reverse, which came out in June. I was very excited to read it – it was a Reese Whitherspoon Book Club pick, and I almost always love those books. But I got about a third of the way through and had to put it down – I found it confusing, unwieldy, and tough to read. Maybe I’ll go back to it sometime, but for now, I can only say that this book was the time loop romance I wanted; I loved it.

Gemma is the progeny of Hollywood music royalty, but when her wannabe rockstar boyfriend meets her father and gets the record deal he was after, he dumps Gemma. Brokenhearted at being so used, she can’t bring herself to start dating again even though a year has passed. Until she bumps into Jack causing them both to be covered in coffee. But there’s something about him, some déjà vu-ish thing or maybe she’s just reading too much into a hot guy who seems really interested in her.

What Gemma doesn’t know is that Jack has been reliving the same day over and over again, and so has she. Jack is convinced he won’t be able to break out of the pattern until he gets her to fall in love with him – in one day. While Gemma is disbelieving, as one would be, eventually, he starts to wear her down, and she starts remembering a bit more each day.

I don’t want to give anything else away here, so suffice it to say this is a kinder, gentler version of Groundhog Day but the requisite happy ending. It is laugh-out-loud funny and sweet and all in all, a terrific read and I loved it.

8/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE DÉJÀ GLITCH by Holly James. Dutton (August 1, 2023). ISBN: 978-0593471586. 352p.

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