When a woman who’d rather do anything than read meets a swoon-worthy bookworm, sparks fly, making for one hot-summer fling in New York Times bestselling author Jenn McKinlay’s new rom-com.
For Samantha Gale, a summer on Martha’s Vineyard at her family’s tiny cottage was supposed to be about resurrecting her career as a chef, until she’s tasked with chaperoning her half-brother, Tyler. The teenage brainiac is spending his summer at the local library in a robotics competition, and there’s no place Sam, who has dyslexia, likes less than the library. And because the universe hates her, the library’s interim director turns out to be the hot-reader guy whose book she accidentally destroyed on the ferry ride to the island.
Bennett Reynolds is on a quest to find his father, whose identity he’s never known. He’s taken the temporary job on the island to research the summer his mother spent there when she got pregnant with him. Ben tells himself he isn’t interested in a relationship right now. Yet as soon as Sam knocks his book into the ocean, he can’t stop thinking about her.
An irresistible attraction blossoms when Ben inspires Sam to create the cookbook she’s always dreamed about and she jumps all in on helping him find his father, and soon they realize their summer fling may heat up into a happily ever after.
“Add to this McKinlay’s flair for capturing just how family and friends can make us feel both vulnerable and strong, conveyed in breezy writing buoyed by quippy banter and sizzling sexual chemistry, and you have a book that is pure reading bliss in any season.” —Booklist(Starred Review)
“With a picturesque setting and plenty of entertaining storylines and well-developed characters, this fast-paced, steamy rom-com from McKinlay will enchant book lovers and foodies looking for an upbeat beach read.” —Library Journal (Starred Review)
The title caught my attention (of course!) as did the author – I enjoyed a couple of her previous books, Wait for It and Paris is Always a Good Idea, so I was excited for this one and it really delivered.
The meet-cute happens on the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard when Sam, a chef who recently quit her job after being passed over for promotion, accidentally knocks the book Ben is reading into the sea. This great looking guy is a librarian, and Sam doesn’t read. Ever. Sam is dyslexic and embarrassed about it.
Sam is not only licking her wounds after the job debacle, she is going to the Vineyard to take care of her younger half-brother while their parents take a long vacation. Sam and Tyler don’t really know each other very well as Sam has been out of the house while Tyler was growing up. Now he’s in high school and is planning on spending his summer in robotics camp, which, much to Sam’s chagrin, is located in the land of endless books, the library. On the other hand, her best friend works there and so does the hot guy from the ferry.
Ben is the interim director, helping out for the summer until they find a more permanent solution. Ben is also there because he is trying to find out who his father is. There is nothing on his birth certificate, and his mother, a famous artist, refuses to discuss it.
Sam has this secret dream of writing a cookbook – her Portuguese grandmother had shared many recipes from her home country (several included in the back of the book!) Ben and Sam keep bumping into one another and the next thing you know, they are helping one another pursue their goals and having a fine time getting to know one another. Meanwhile, Sam is enjoying spending time with Tyler, and they form a much-appreciated strong sibling bond.
I loved the neurodivergent subplot, especially when Ben started reading to Sam – even recording the rest of the book for her when he knows he won’t be around to finish it. A note in the book explains that the publisher chose a dyslexic-friendly font, and used bold type instead of italics, so kudos for that!
Like many romances, this follows the basic formula of boy meets girl, they fall in love, then boy loses girl over his stupidity, and eventually, they make up and have their happy ending. This was a fun summer read with some serious issues, and I liked that it wasn’t just another fluffy read yet still gave me the happily ever after I wanted.
The highly acclaimed author of Accidentally Engaged delivers a delightful rom-com of one woman trying to shed her perfect image at a destination wedding with hilarious—and moving—results, perfect for fans of Abby Jimenez and Jasmine Guillory.
Jana Suleiman has never really fit in—everyone always sees her as too aloof, too cool, too perfect. The one time she stepped out of her comfort zone she ended up with a broken heart and a baby on the way. Aaaand lesson learned. Now she’s a bridesmaid for a destination wedding in Serengeti National Park, and almost everyone she knows will be there. Her five-year-old daughter. Her mom. Her friends. Even her potential new boss. And of course (because who doesn’t love surprises!) her gorgeous-but-not-to-be-trusted ex.
Fortunately, Anil Malek is a great dad, even if Jana hasn’t quite forgiven him for lying to her all those years ago. Determined to show he has no effect on her whatsoever, she and the bridesmaids concoct a go-wild list to get Jana through the week. Sing karaoke? Sure. Perform their high school dance routine in front of strangers? Okay. But the more she lets down her guard, the less protection she has against her attraction to Anil. And Jana soon realizes it’s one thing to walk on the wild side . . . and quite another to fall for her ex all over again.
“A beautiful, compelling romance celebrating second chances and forgiveness.”―Kirkus, starred review
“The unique setting and delightful dynamic within the rest of the wedding party add to the charm. This is a treat.” ―Publishers Weekly
“This satisfying second-chance romance offers a big-hearted, clear-eyed examination of parenting and rekindling of old flames.” ―Library Journal, starred review
I loved the setting of this book, it was super interesting and almost felt like another character; a wedding in Tasmania. The only thing I knew about Tasmania was based on the Tasmanian Devil, a cartoon character that may or may not be based on an actual animal. I am a great reader but, I’m sorry to say, geographically ignorant. So anytime I get to learn about someplace new to me is always going to heighten my interest. But let’s face it, if it was just a book on Tasmania I never would have picked it up. It’s the romance and the family drama here that made this book unputdownable for me.
A few years earlier, Jana had a relationship with Anil, that ended when she found out he was married. That wasn’t the worst of it, though – she had a child and was managing on her own with some family help. She interviews for a new job with much less traveling that seemed like it would be a great place to work, plus she really liked the man who interviewed her, her potential boss.
While waiting to hear about the job, she packs up herself and her daughter and heads off to Tasmania, where she is a bridesmaid in a destination wedding, and her daughter is the flower girl. To her shock, Anil is one of the groomsmen, and her potential new boss is also attending the wedding. What Jana doesn’t know is that her mother has been telling everyone, all her friends and relatives, that Jana is divorced when the truth is, she never married.
The more time Jana spends with Anil and her boss-to-be, the harder it is to protect her mother from her own lies. It turns out Anil may not be the bad guy Jana believes him to be, and she’s never really sure if this wedding will help or hinder her chances at that new job. But it is so much fun to find out!
This is a terrific story with warm, engaging characters, a lot of laughs, some steamy bedroom moments, and of course, the happy ending. I loved it.
6/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
JANA GOES WILD by Farah Heron. Forever (May 2, 2023). ISBN: 978-1538725450. 352pp.
A random connection sends two strangers on a daylong adventure where they make a promise one keeps and the other breaks, with life-changing effects, in this breathtaking new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Every Summer After.
Fern Brookbanks has wasted far too much of her adult life thinking about Will Baxter. She spent just twenty-four hours in her early twenties with the aggravatingly attractive, idealistic artist, a chance encounter that spiraled into a daylong adventure in the city. The timing was wrong, but their connection was undeniable: they shared every secret, every dream, and made a pact to meet one year later. Fern showed up. Will didn’t.
At thirty-two, Fern’s life doesn’t look at all how she once imagined it would. Instead of living in the city, Fern’s back home, running her mother’s lakeside resort—something she vowed never to do. The place is in disarray, her ex-boyfriend’s the manager, and Fern doesn’t know where to begin.
She needs a plan—a lifeline. To her surprise, it comes in the form of Will, who arrives nine years too late, with a suitcase in tow and an offer to help on his lips. Will may be the only person who understands what Fern’s going through. But how could she possibly trust this expensive-suit wearing mirage who seems nothing like the young man she met all those years ago. Will is hiding something, and Fern’s not sure she wants to know what it is.
But ten years ago, Will Baxter rescued Fern. Can she do the same for him?
“Fortune (Every Summer After) shines in this beautiful tale of love, loss, and forgiveness. This searing story of hard-won second chances is not to be missed.” —Publishers Weekly
“This contemporary romance is an immersive second-chance love story that will transport readers with its dual evocative settings of stunning rural Ontario and thrilling Toronto.” —Library Journal (starred review)
A Most Anticipated Book by Today ∙ Oprah Daily ∙ Katie Couric Media ∙ BuzzFeed ∙ SheReads ∙ Zibby Mag ∙ PopSugar ∙ BookRiot ∙ Culturess ∙ Her Campus ∙ The Everygirl ∙ and more!
Do you believe in love at first sight? That is where the story begins. Fern and Will meet, then spend 24 amazing hours together. They both have things to take care of, so they agree to meet again in one year. Will needs to end his current relationship, and Fern is working towards opening her own cafe. On the appointed date, Fern shows up, but Will does not. This is where you really have to suspend your disbelief; Fern yearns for him for ten years, never meeting anyone else that could erase Will from her heart.
The story moves between present day, the magical day they spent together ten years earlier, and her mother’s diary, which all helps to keep those pages turning. Fern is on the brink of owning her own business when her mother suddenly passes away, leaving the family business, a resort, to Fern. She returns home and finds that the resort is not doing well financially. To her surprise, Will shows up and offers to help. He tells her he had made arrangements with her mother to consult on how to improve the business.
Fern still feels that incredible attraction to Will, despite the fact he is no longer the dreamy artist she remembers but instead is some sort of business tycoon in a suit. The more time they spend together, the more they want to spend together. But Will is being a bit secretive, taking calls away from her, and acting a bit shifty in general. Something is going on, but Fern can’t determine what it is. Meanwhile, she is slowly turning the resort around, and is rethinking her original plan to sell it.
The drama arises in the form of secrets slowly revealed, but not to worry, there is a happy ending. This was a very enjoyable read, sure to be seen in many a beach bag.
6/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
MEET ME AT THE LAKE by Carley Fortune.Berkley (May 2, 2023). ISBN: 978-0593638477. 336p.
Megan Frampton’s deliciously witty A School for Scoundrels series follows the adventures of five gentlemen who navigate life—and love—in London. Here, a dashing young businessman enters into a liaison with a widowed Duchess. Perfect for fans of Sarah MacLean and anyone who loves Bridgerton!
Alexandra, Duchess of Chelmsworth, is tired of pretending to mourn a husband who squandered a fortune and never bothered to give her the time of day, much less any attentions at night. So, the still-beautiful duchess cuts up her mourning gowns, deciding to experience the pleasures long denied her by daringly visiting the Garden of Hedon. It is there the ton anonymously gives in to their deepest desires, and where Alexandra finds herself in the arms of a mysterious man. She willingly gives in to the passion he offers her, fully believing she would never see him again.
But she is shocked to soon discover he is none other than Theo Osborne, who is continually being pushed forward as a husband—for Alexandra’s own daughter! While his wealth would save the family from financial ruin, his intentions are clear: he has no interest in anyone but Alexandra. And though he tempts and teases her, she is determined not to give her heart to any man. But what started as a sensuous game turns into something much more…
“Frampton serves up both spicy sex scenes and hefty emotions that will leave readers wanting more. This passionate love story keeps the series going strong.” — Publishers Weekly
“Frampton follows up the first “School for Scoundrels” book, Her Lessons in Persuasion, with another scorching pairing. Recommended for romance fans who like it hot, hot, hot.” — Library Journal
Frampton writes steamy historicals, and this one is no exception. The sex starts early on and continues, on and off, for what feels like most of the book. Not that I’m complaining – she writes great sex scenes.
Alexandra is a duchess who has been in mourning for two years since the death of her husband. Well, she looks and acts like she’s in mourning, but in actuality, she is glad to be rid of her arrogant, domineering, despot of a husband. Unfortunately, his son is now the Duke, and he learned well from his father. If anything, he is even worse because he has mismanaged the family’s money to the point where he is arranging a marriage for Alexandra’s daughter, his half-sister, based solely on finding someone willing to forgo a dowry and pay off his debts.
The day her mourning is up, Alexandra destroys her black clothing and her stepdaughter, who is older than she is, takes her to the Pleasure Garden for the evening. There, Alexandra meets Theo, and he introduces her to sex for pleasure. Theo is a self-made wealthy man who comes from humble beginnings. He was orphaned as a baby, and was eventually adopted by Mr. Osborne, who was alone and longed for a family. Theo is part of a group of men from similar backgrounds; they were children in the same orphanage and have stayed friends. He is also an owner of the pleasure garden and often spends time there.
Theo, who is 32, is completely smitten with Alexandra, who is 40. I loved that May-December aspect to this romance. Unfortunately, it is his last night at the pleasure garden, as he is going to be engaged soon and he is a most honorable man. Much to their surprise, it turns out that Theo is the man set to marry Alexandra’s daughter. Talk about a nightmare!
I don’t want to ruin the story, so I’ll just say that everything gets resolved with the requisite happy ending, but there are a lot of twists and turns, drama and more drama, plus all that sex before it gets there, and that is half the fun!
6/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
HIS STUDY IN SCANDAL by Megan Frampton. Avon (May 23, 2023). ISBN: 978-0063224223. 352p.
June first is the official start of hurricane season. I live in southeast Florida, and we have been very, very lucky the past several years – but other areas haven’t been as lucky. Storms have landed on the west coast of Florida or up the coast to South Carolina, North Carolina, and even up to New Jersey and New York. That being said, I’m so sorry that anyone has to deal with these massive storms. And even though we haven’t taken a direct hit these last few years, we always take precautions.
Several years ago, a new product came out – windows that are strong enough to withstand hurricane-strength winds and rain. But they are very expensive; a friend told me it cost her $70,000 to update her 6 sliding glass doors (I have 7!) plus windows last year. I’m a librarian, and my husband is an engineer; we do not have that kind of money lying around! My husband is looking into doing it himself, it brings the cost down considerably, and Home Depot and Lowes both sell the windows and sliding glass doors we need.
Meanwhile, at least for this season, it looks like we will use the hurricane shutters we’ve used for years, if necessary. The good thing about hurricanes, if there can be a good thing, is that we always get advance notice that one is coming. It may or may not hit us, but we usually have enough time to store extra water, and canned goods, charge up the phones and portable phone chargers, gas up the grill and the cars and the generator, and, of course, clear the yard of everything and put up the shutters. It’s a big pain in the butt and worth it, even if the storm passes us by. Hell, some years, it’s the only way I can get my husband to clean out the backyard!
We were spared when Hurricane Andrew hit in 1992, but a week later, a small tropical storm blew through my neighborhood, and we were without power for almost a week! (Hurricanes are often followed by tropical storms, they are like the remnants of a hurricane.) My daughter was just a few weeks old, and my next-door neighbor had lent me a baby carriage – the kind the English call prams. It was bigger than the bassinet but on wheels, so I could always keep her with me. I remember the hospital had given me cases of formula & diapers, and one of my neighbors was collecting stuff to take to Miami, which was devastated by the storm. I sent everything I had. I could go to the store and get more; they didn’t have that option for weeks.
We had several hurricanes that came close after that, but we didn’t take a direct hit until 2005. Hurricane Wilma hit us dead on – we lost the roof of our house, the fence around our yard, the screening around the porches, and our power and water for several days. But the house stood, and we were luckier than many others. Hurricane Ian hit the west coast of Florida last year, and they are still trying to recover from it. I’ve lived through many hurricanes over the years, and I am so grateful I am still here to tell you about it. You just never really know what will happen, but at least we can be prepared. Here’s hoping for a mild storm season!
With a lawsuit filed last week, Pen America, Penguin Random House, authors, and parents began fighting book bans. Other publishers should help. (Scholarly Kitchen)
Collaborating on his memoir, “Spare,” meant spending hours together on Zoom, meeting his inner circle, and gaining a new perspective on the tabloids. Work with Prince Harry on the book proceeded steadily—until the press found out about it. In The New Yorker. By J. R. Moehringer
I subscribe to the Washington Post Book Club Newsletter, written by Ron Charles. They recently did an informal survey of their readers, asking them about “the best movie made from the worst novel.” I was happy to see my number one choice made the list: The Devil Wears Prada*. I loved the movie and hated the book. I quibble about The Godfather and Jaws – I loved both of those books and while The Godfather (I & II) are incredible films, I am not a horror movie fan. My husband, who was my boyfriend when the film came out, insisted I would love Jaws, the movie. I went and ended up hiding under a jacket, occasionally peering out through the sleeve, until I finally fell asleep. Not for me! I would never defend either of those books as great literature, but they were exciting, fast-paced reads. I read The Godfather several times, but I’ve seen the films even more – if I’m flipping channels and run across either Godfather movie or TDWP, I will watch it, no matter where in the story it is.
The other books that made the bad book, good movie list: Forrest Gump by Winston Groom, and Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick. Apparently, someone actually nominated Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, but that was just ridiculous, which Charles acknowledged. There have been many remakes/updates of the book and several films based on the book, and while I may enjoy the more modern-day versions, I also deeply respect the source. As Meg Ryan’s character noted in “You’ve Got Mail,” I, too, love the language. As far as I’m concerned, Austen invented the romance genre, but feel free to disagree!
Food News
The Food of Portugal!
In April, my husband and I visited Portugal. One of the things we were looking at was affordability for our retirement. We spent almost two weeks exploring Portugal from Lisbon north to Braga and east to Coimbra. We drove around the various towns that we had discovered online and in YouTube videos. I fell in love with Braga, about thirty minutes north of Porto. It was important to me that we be near a major city and airport. This is the downtown pedestrian walkway through the main street of Braga and one of the many cafes in the area.
My husband liked Castelo Branco, but it is over two hours from Lisbon and such a small town that when we tried to Uber back to our hotel after dinner, there were no drivers available! The hostess at the restaurant called us a cab, which was quick (and even cheaper than Uber,) but the fact there were no drivers made me uncomfortable. On the bright side, it was our best meal in Portugal, at AKASushi!
Many of the towns and villages we visited have amazing green markets with lots of local produce, fresh fish and meat, and flowers. I loved checking out the supermarkets, too. There are a few different chains there – Lidl, Aldi, and Continente are the biggest, and a new chain from Spain, Mercadona, is starting up in Portugal. I didn’t go to any Aldis because I go to them here, and while their prices are good, what they have in stock is always a crapshoot. I go there occasionally without a list because I cannot count on them to have what I need, like cucumbers or lemons or cornmeal or sugar. Instead, I view Aldi as a serendipitous shopping adventure; I go, wander around, and buy whatever looks good.
We went to one Lidl and weren’t impressed. It didn’t have that great a selection of produce or fish or meat, and didn’t seem quite as clean as some of the other markets we went to. They have opened several stores in the US along the east coast from Georgia through New York, but not in Florida yet. If you have been to a Lidl in the US, I’d love to hear what you think!
Continente was definitely my favorite. They had a beautiful bakery, produce section, and fish and meats. At first, I thought the fish wasn’t priced as low as I had thought it would be. Shrimp were €8-15, depending on size, sea bream was €12, cod was about €8 fresh, less for the famous bacalhau (salt dried cod available everywhere) so maybe a few dollars less than here. But then I realized those prices weren’t per pound but were per kilo – 2.2 pounds, and that made a big difference.
They also love their canned fish there – not just tuna, anchovies. and sardines, but cod, octopus, squid, clams, mackerel, mussels, and more. They are often packed with more than just olive oil, too; some have tomatoes, spices, etc. You can get squid in a sauce based on tomatoes, onions, peppers, and olive oil in a can. The supermarket had an entire row of canned fish. We even saw some canned tuna with gold leaf in it for €20 a can, but that was in a touristy canned fish store.
This is an interesting little video about one of the canning fisheries in Portugal.
Bacalhau
There was a pretty large selection of wine (and hard liquor) and it was very well priced. I don’t think we spent more than $20 on a bottle of wine while we were in Portugal, and those were restaurant prices. The supermarket had lots of bottles for under $5! I fell in love with Vinho Verde, a lightly sparkling white wine that goes great with all the seafood. Other items of interest: the eggs and the milk are mostly shelf stable. They don’t process their eggs the same way we do in the US, so they don’t need refrigeration. They use a different type of pasteurization of the milk, which lets it last longer and doesn’t require refrigeration either. The only things that were comparably priced to the U.S. were paper goods (paper towels, toilet paper) and cleaning supplies, most of which are imported, I guess.
Most Portuguese follow what we think of as a Mediterranean diet – lots of fish, fresh fruits and vegetables, walnuts and almonds, and olive oil is king! It seems like most home gardens have a few olive trees and some fruit trees. It is amazing to me that the same garden can grow almonds, walnuts, oranges, apples, cherries, grapes, and olives, not to mention all the usual salad greens, herbs, and veggies. Oh, and lest you think it is an entirely healthy diet, pretty much every dish we ordered in every restaurant came with fries, and most came with fries and rice! They do love their carbs. They also love their pastries – there are bakeries and cafes everywhere. Their most famous dessert is the Pastel de Nata, which is delicious! Trader Joe’s sells frozen ones they call Portuguese Custard Tarts which come pretty close, especially if you heat them in the air fryer – get them while they last! It is not something they stock year-round.
They have lots of other pastries, too; croissants, brioche croissants, and something called travesseiro. It’s a cigar shaped pastry made from phyllo dough wrapped around a sweet egg filling. Not my favorite – I hate eggs! We didn’t notice many cookies though. Most bakeries also sell these savory stuffed brioche; some have ham & cheese, or just one or the other, or prosciutto, but my husband’s favorite was a “pizza” stuffed brioche. He said it was like the best “hot pocket” ever!
Portugal is also famous, especially in Porto, for the francesinha sandwich. Eater has a great little video about Porto, and included a good description of the francesinha: “the traditional francesinha sandwich manages to stuff two types of homemade sausage, ham, steak, bologna, and cheese between two thick layers of bread; that’s then topped with a fried egg and beer gravy” and served with fries intended for dipping. The sauce is a bit spicy and the sandwich truly requires a fork and knife to eat!
francesinhapastel de natatravesseiro
Other News
*I was assigned The Devil Wears Prada for review in Library Journal back in the day. Here is my review:
Part two, The Devil Wears Prada: I was working for the public library when I reviewed TDWP. Several months later, I was sitting at the checkout desk on a very quiet weeknight. I was reading a galley, an advanced reader copy of a book I would be reviewing. This couple came up to the desk to checkout, and I swiped their library card and proceeded to check out their books.
The woman says to me, “Is that a review copy?”
I said, “Yes, I review for my blog and for Library Journal.”
Then she says, “Oh, are you going to review the new Lauren Weisberger book?”
I replied, “Not if I can help it.”
Then the husband says to the wife, I don’t think she looked at the screen to see our name, so of course I looked. Sure enough, it was Weisberger – they were Lauren’s parents! That was one of my top two most embarrassing “reviewer” moments. If I had noticed the name, I would have been much more diplomatic (I hope!)
As always, thanks for reading, and stay safe.
Thanks to The New York Times for allowing me to “gift” my readers with free access to these articles, a lovely perk for subscribers.
Comments Off on BookBitch Diary: June 1, 2023 | Ramblings | Permalink Posted by Stacy Alesi
In this spectacularly enjoyable and serendipitous adventure, a chance romantic encounter during a wild night at a Mardi Gras bachelorette party sends strait-laced Serena Khan’s carefully constructed life into chaos.
A wretched maid of honor. A hangover from hell. Raucous Mardi Gras crowds. There isn’t much Serena Khan is enjoying about this four-day New Orleans destination bachelorette party for her semi-estranged cousin, the bride-to-be.
UNTIL sparks fly with a handsome stranger, who—like her—is also from Seattle, at the ladies’ last stop of the evening, a Bourbon Street bar. After their conversation is cut short, Serena is overwhelmed by the desire to find the charming man with the brooding eyebrows, but her list of clues is pretty short:
His name is Julian
He lives on Chamber Hill
He works at a tech company
He loves Lil Wayne and Nirvana
The need to find him is, for Serena, both irresistible and totally irrational. In a few short weeks, her college alumni magazine is featuring her in a “Life at Thirty” feature, cementing her as a success story. She will have officially achieved the safe, stable life her late mother insisted upon. Julian is not part of the plan.
As she combs Seattle for her New Orleans flame, stripping away the perfectly curated life that would have made her mother proud, Serena must decide if the pursuit of real passion is worth it, and fast, before she destroys the life she always thought she wanted.
In a sharply funny, thoughtful, and romantic debut combining the wistfulness of Rebecca Serle with the witty sizzle of Emily Henry, Neely Tubati Alexander prompts us all to ask if the life we’re living is a life worth loving.
“[An] outstanding debut . . .. Readers will be swept away . . . Alexander’s inclusive representation of diverse backgrounds and sexual identities in lovingly crafted characters with rich and unique personalities is truly impressive. Readers will hope for more from this exciting new romance writer.” — Booklist (Starred Review)
“A charming debut. . . . Endearing side characters that readers won’t get enough of round out this moving tale of embracing life’s imperfections. Tubati-Alexander will win plenty of fans with this.” — Publishers Weekly
“Growth, change, and a little bit of luck are at the center of Alexander’s romantic debut. . . . well-written. . . . emotionally satisfying . . . . Will appeal to romance readers who like their books with a hefty dose of personal growth and women’s fiction aficionados seeking a happily-ever-after.” — Library Journal
I love finding new authors and this debut has put Neely Tubati-Alexander firmly onto my “must read” list! Do you believe in love at first sight? Maybe reading this book will convince you. Serena is our heroine and the book opens during Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Serena is there as a bridesmaid for her cousin (and former best friend’s) bachelorette weekend. Coral, the bride to be, and Serena grew up together and their mothers were best friends as well as sisters. But when Serena loses her mother, she doesn’t feel supported by Coral or her mother, and they become estranged. But Coral invites Serena to be a bridesmaid, and that opens the door for the women to work their way back to one another.
But that is just part of the story here. The other part is the romance – their last night in New Orleans, Serena meets a man at a bar. In a surprise coincidence, Julian is from Seattle, not too far from where Serena lives. There is a really strong attraction there, but then Julian’s friend is being escorted out of the bar by security, and Julian has to go with him. They never got to exchange phone numbers or even last names, and Serena can’t stop thinking about him.
Growing up with a single mother made Serena frugal and practical. She got her degree in accounting and has a good job with a top-tier accounting firm. But after meeting Julian, she feels unsettled and decides to try and find her happiness. And Julian.
Without much to go on other than the neighborhood he lives in, Serena starts exploring that part of Seattle. She ends up in a new job and finds a new cafe to get her coffee fix – and there she finally runs into Julian, or so she thinks. He is with a beautiful blond, and Serena is pissed. He told her he had never been in love, but he sure looked like he was. She storms out and refuses to hear what he has to say.
This book reminded me of a Nora-Ephron-type romcom. The couple meet very briefly, then spend most of the book apart, only to find one another towards the end. Yes, there is a happy ending of the best kind. Don’t miss this amazing debut novel full of charm, pathos, & lots of laughs!
Bonus: This is a fun interview – the author interviews her main character!
A book editor spends one last summer on Fire Island in this sparkling and surprising new novel from the author of A Shoe Story.
As a book editor, Julia Morse lived and breathed stories. Whether with her pen to a manuscript or curled up with a book while at her beloved Fire Island cottage, her imagination alight with a good tale, she could anticipate practically any ending. The ending she’d never imagined was her own.
To be fair, no one expects to die at thirty-seven. So when the unthinkable happens to Julia, rather than following the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel, she chooses to spend one last summer near those she loves most.
As she follows her adoring, novelist husband Ben to their—unexpectedly full—home on Fire Island, she discovers the ripple affect her life has had on the trajectory of so many: her baseball loving, young-at-heart neighbor who believes it’s best not to go it alone, two bright-eyed teenagers eager to become adults, and her best friend who must shake off heartbreak for a new chance at love.
With poignant comedy and insight, On Fire Island is an ode to the stories all around us and to the brightest types of loves…for the people closest to you and the places that shape you.
“Rosen has a winning sense of humor, bringing levity not to awkward and painful moments, and she packs the narrative with vivid details of beach life and city life. This is a treat.” – Publisher’s Weekly
“A sometimes tough read that will appeal to readers wondering if those who die can stick around for just a little longer.” – Kirkus Reviews
Jane Rosen writes such interesting stories! I loved Nine Women One Dress and A Shoe Story, and this book lived up to my high expectations. Our main character is Julia Morse, a young woman who has died. That is not a spoiler! The dead Julia narrates the book from the get go. A young woman dying is always traumatic, and we meet her husband, Ben, a famous author, who is grieving. Her family insists on sitting shiva for the full week, and Ben can’t bear it. He takes the dog and walks out without a word to anyone, and moves into their beach home on Fire Island. This summer resort setting is as much of a character as everyone else.
Julia goes along for the ride, metaphorically speaking that is. She is an observer here, and shares her insight into her husband and friends. Her best friend, Renee, just got divorced after their teenage son catches his father in bed with another woman. Other characters include Renee’s son, Matty, and Shep, a neighbor who used to own the house Ben & Julia bought. Shep is also a widower, but much older than Ben, so when Ben finds him sleeping in his bed, he figures the old guy just got confused. But it turns out he doesn’t want to stay in his new, much larger house, so they become roommates.
The summer on Fire Island is healing for everyone, eventually, but there is a lot of unhappiness as well. Fortunately for us, Rosen manages to infuse humor among even the saddest of moments, and I was invested enough in these characters to make this a one night read. I also was intrigued by the notion of Julia being able to hang around her family and friends until she felt ready to go to that great beyond…which turns out to be, well, no spoilers here. I loved this book, despite its slightly morbid premise, and highly recommend it.
5/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
ON FIRE ISLAND by Jane L. Rosen. Berkley (May 23, 2023). ISBN: 978-0593638071. 320p.
Bàs Sinclair is the cold and brutal hand―and sword―of justice across the Highlands. He has one destiny: to bring fear into the hearts of guilty men. But when he is called to execute a midwife for her crimes, he cannot raise his weapon. For Bàs already knows this lovely, part-wild creature. After all, she gave him his first and only kiss…
Shana Drummond will do anything to protect her beloved sister. Now her cruel, merciless brother-in-law has called upon Bàs to have Shana killed for crimes she didn’t commit. She can’t reconcile the cold, lethal warrior before her with the gentle one she met―nay, kissed―only days before.
But mercy from Bàs can only lead to one thing: war among the clans. A war that will test allegiances, tear families apart, and challenge everything Bàs knows about himself and his heart. Because once this Highlander knows love, nothing will stop him from keeping Shana safe…even if it means destroying his own destiny.
Each book in the Sons of Sinclair series is a STANDALONE: * Highland Conquest * Highland Warrior * Highland Justice * Highland Beast
I really enjoy the setting of this series and they can each be read as a standalone. That said, the stories are built around these four brothers, whose father has named as the Four Men of the Apocolypse. There is a sister, too, and I guess her story will be the last book in the series.
This book focuses on Bas, who name means Death. He was named Death because his mother died when he was born, not an unusual circumstance in the 16th century. He is the executioner of the family. He has been brought up to kill those who have been found guilty and condemned to death. It’s his job, and he is very good at it. But because he is feared by everyone who sees him, he has never met a woman who didn’t cower or hide from him. Until Shana.
Bas discovers Shana as she enters his property with a newborn baby in her arms. Turns out it is her sister’s baby, and they think the father is going to kill the newborn because he found out his wife was cheating on him. There is much more to the story than that, and it takes a lot of finagling before the whole story comes out. Meanwhile, Bas is determined to keep them safe.
Bas has been with a woman, his brothers paid for the privilege, but Shana is the first woman who seems unafraid of him. In fact, she is really drawn to the gentle giant. She has no knowledge of his job, only sees that is kind and good natured and takes care of all sorts of animals in his care. He adopts any kind of stray and as long as he names them, they will be safe with him.
They have a lot of hurdles to get over in this story, and there is a lot of action and fighting before they reach their happily ever after. I love the way the family are always backing each other up, even when Bas declares war, which is not his role in the family. Nonetheless, they all fall in behind him.
Shana and Bas make a perfect couple; if he’s death, then she is life as she is a midwife and Bas loves that about her. All in all, this was a very fast paced story and the main characters are brought to life on the page. Another excellent entry into this Scottish series.
A Most Anticipated Book by BookRiot ∙ Culturess ∙ and more!
A starry-eyed romantic, a cynical writer, and (the ashes of) an elderly woman take the road trip of a lifetime that just might upend everything they believe about true love.
Millicent Watts-Cohen is on a mission. When she promised her elderly best friend that she’d reunite her with the woman she fell in love with nearly eighty years ago, she never imagined that would mean traveling from D.C. to Key West with three tablespoons of Mrs. Nash’s remains in her backpack. But Millie’s determined to give her friend a symbolic happily-ever-after, before it’s (really) too late—and hopefully reassure herself of love’s lasting power in the process.
She just didn’t expect to have a living travel companion.
After a computer glitch grounds flights, Millie is forced to catch a ride with Hollis Hollenbeck, an also-stranded acquaintance from her ex’s MFA program. Hollis certainly does not believe in happily-ever-afters—symbolic or otherwise—and makes it quite clear that he can’t fathom Millie’s plan ending well for anyone.
But as they contend with peculiar bed-and-breakfasts, unusual small-town festivals, and deer with a death wish, Millie begins to suspect that her reluctant travel partner might enjoy her company more than he lets on. Because for someone who supposedly doesn’t share her views on romance, Hollis sure is becoming invested in the success of their journey. And the closer they get to their destination, the more Millie has to admit that maybe this trip isn’t just about Mrs. Nash’s love story after all—maybe it’s also about her own.
“Debut author Adler combines heat and sweet in this charmingly offbeat rom-com….Adler’s well-drawn characters leap off the page, and she handles difficult topics with grace. She also shows off her comedy chops in some laugh-out-loud road trip mishaps…This delightful debut is sure to find fans.” —Publishers Weekly
“With a road trip, only one bed, and giant misunderstandings, Adler perfectly deploys her novel’s abundant romance tropes. Alternating between Millie’s and Mrs. Nash’s stories, this laugh-out-loud funny contemporary will have readers swooning over and cheering for Millie and Hollis….Adler’s delightful opposites-attract debut is perfect for fans of Tessa Bailey and Christina Lauren.” —Library Journal (starred review)
This was one of the best debuts I’ve read in a while; great characters, interesting settings, and a double storyline that moves seamlessly from one to the other.
Millie is a former child star that hasn’t worked in the business since she was a teen, but she still gets recognized fairly often. She has learned to deal with it, but some of the encounters can be off-putting, to say the least. One such meeting occurs at the airport when a computer glitch cancels all the flights. To her surprise, a friend of her ex is there and rescues her from an uncomfortable situation. Hollis is a bit of a grump while Millie provides the sunshine in this opposites attract, forced proximity romance.
Hollis ends up driving from Washington D.C. to Florida, and Millie goes along for the ride. She is under a real time crunch. She is taking some of the ashes of her best friend, an elderly woman, Mrs. Nash, who passed away recently to Key West to reunite her with the love of her life. Mrs. Nash was a WAVE during the war, stationed in Key West. There she met Elsie, a nurse on the base. They fell in love, but there was no way for them to be together at that time. When the war ended, Elsie sent her back to the boy she was supposed to marry, and to live the life she was supposed to live. But neither of these women ever forgot the other.
The reason for the rush is that it’s taken Millie quite a bit of time to locate Elsie, and she’s in hospice so her days are numbered. Millie is determined to reunite the two women, and Hollis gets invested in the journey as well. The more time Millie spends with Hollis, the more she realizes what a fine man he is, despite his curmudgeonly ways. Meanwhile, Hollis is fighting his attraction to Millie. He has been badly burned by romance and is not looking for any more trouble. He has decided there is no such thing as everlasting love, but of course, Millie is going to change that.
This book is laugh out loud funny, despite the underlying drama of the separated lovers’ reunion that is planned. The road trip makes for great romcom fodder and the happily ever after is just the icing on the cake. I love finding new authors and Sarah Adler is now firmly on my must-read list. Don’t miss this sparkling debut!
5/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
MRS. NASH’S ASHES by Sarah Adler. Berkley (May 23, 2023). ISBN: 978-0593547793. 352p.
Enemies-to-lovers has never been more enchanting in this witchy romantic comedy from the New York Times bestselling author of Go Hex Yourself.
Penny Roundtree wants nothing more than to be a familiar to a witch. She’s been a member of the Society of Familiars ever since she was old enough to join the Fam. There’s just a small problem—no one’s hiring. Witches and warlocks are so long-lived that there are far more familiars available than witches to train them. So when an unorthodox arrangement to apprentice under the table to a forbidden warlock presents itself, she takes it.
Willem Sauer is banned from having a familiar due to past transgressions, thereby limiting his magic-casting abilities. Unfortunately for the surly, Prussian warlock, he has no choice but to work with enthusiastic Penny as a familiar. They immediately clash like dried roan horsehair and honeycomb gathered by moonlight (it’s a terrible spell combination, ask anyone).
Casting spells has delightful perks Penny never could have dreamed of, but also greater dangers. Someone is targeting Penny. Willem and Penny must work together to catch their enemy, and if their ploy requires a little kissing on the side, who is to question the rules of magic?
“Fans of Clare’s Go Hex Yourself will be happy with this follow-up in which Willem and Penny continue the enemies-to-lovers arc, with their own twist. Hand to readers who love witty banter, the fake-dating trope, and couples who fall hard fast.”—Library Journal
“Clare makes it easy to see why these two characters work together—and Penny’s feisty pet squirrel adds some laughs. Series fans will be pleased.”—Publishers Weekly
“Clare continues her delightful Hex series, introducing Penny, who is ultra-girly in “ruffles and pink,” with a “bubblegum and glitter” energy and an overwhelming desire to become a familiar for a witch or warlock…Willem’s iciness and aloof nature are belied by how he cares for Penny with cookies, milk, and great sex.”—Booklist
I really enjoyed Go Hex Yourself, so I was ready to love this next book in the series, and I did! The publicist had told me that the books stand alone, and she was right. You don’t need to read the first book to thoroughly enjoy this new one, but it was so good that you should probably read it anyway.
This one is an opposite attracts romance. Willem is a curmudgeon for sure, and Penny is a ray of sunshine. All Penny wants is to become a familiar, like her parents. But those jobs are really hard to come by, so she is working in a shop that sells ingredients for spell casting while she waits. When her good friends ask her if she would be willing to work as a familiar, but in secret, she jumps at the chance.
It seems that Willem has had some trouble in his life, and his punishment is another decade of no spell-casting or familiars. But he has work to do and decides to ask his friends for a recommendation. It’s all hush-hush, but these are people who know how to keep a secret and while Penny is way too flashy and outgoing for him, Willem knows his options are severely limited. If they get caught, neither one of them will escape the wrath of the witches’ council.
Penny loves her new job, but because it is a secret, she must keep working her other job. Spell casting is exhausting work, and Willem isn’t thrilled that he has to work around Penny’s schedule, but he has no other options. There is an interesting side effect to his spells, and Penny doesn’t know if it’s normal or not and keeps it to herself.
Meanwhile, they have to come up with some sort of ruse as to why they are spending time together. Willem has a reputation as being standoffish, to say the least. He is not well liked by his community, but doesn’t really care what anyone thinks. On the other hand, Penny is going to have to somehow convince her friends that she has fallen for the aloof warlock, and that’s not easy either. But the more time they spend together, the more they start caring about one another.
There is enough drama to keep things interesting in this steamy romance, and of course there’s a very happy ending. This was a fast, fun read and while I am not always enamored of paranormal romances (in fact, I rarely read any) I am thoroughly enjoying this series.
Note: New York Times bestselling author Jessica Clare writes under three pen names. As Jessica Clare, she writes erotic contemporary romance. As Jessica Sims, she writes fun, sexy shifter paranormals. Finally, as Jill Myles, she writes a little bit of everything, from sexy, comedic urban fantasy to zombie fairy tales.
5/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
WHAT THE HEX by Jessica Clare.Berkley (April 4, 2023). ISBN: 978-0593337585. 336p.
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