Stacy Alesi

HIGHLAND HERO by Cynthia Breeding

June 14, 2021

Children of the Mist, Book 2

From the publisher:

If Juliana Caldwell said the sky was blue, Rory MacGregor would tell her it was gray with a storm due any minute. No man gets under her skin more than the arrogantly handsome Scot. When she is abducted by a rival clan, Rory is the last person she expects or wants to call her hero.

Rory is the best tracker the MacGregors have, so when his brother’s sister-by-marriage goes missing, he’s ordered to find her. But binding himself to the fiery English redhead with an opinion about everything is not how he saw this rescue going. To save her from the clutches of the villainous Cameron laird’s son, though, he must declare them handfasted.

When their escape goes horribly awry, Juliana and Rory are forced to take the long way home. Surviving blizzard conditions, meddling clanspeople, and a near-fatal ambush on the trail, nothing compares to the unexpected and unlikely passion that ignites between the rugged Highlander and his English warrior princess.

Each book in the Children of the Mist series is STANDALONE:
* Highland Renegade
* Highland Hero

Juliana was a wonderful heroine, feisty and strong. There is a warning at the beginning of this book that it deals with rape, and I have to say I found the way it was handled was with compassion and empathy. Nonetheless, I’m sure it is a trigger for some people and if that’s you, find another book.

Rory is determined to find his new sister-in-law, despite how they butt heads constantly. She’s been kidnapped by Neal, who’s in a rival clan, and he has a terrible reputation for cruelty, especially towards women. But the law in Scotland says he can force her to marry him if he so chooses, and he does.

Rory finds Juliana but the only way to convince Neal to let her go is by saying she is handfasted to him. Handfasting is sort of an engagement, except with all the rights and privileges of marriage. The only difference is that after a year has passed, they can end the relationship without a divorce or any kind of trouble. She agrees, and they make their escape. But Neal quickly learns he’s been duped, and he vows to get his bride back.

Meanwhile, Juliana comes to rely on Rory as they make their way home through blizzard conditions. And Rory can’t help but admire the strength Juliana exhibits, especially as she’s English, not Scottish. But when he kisses her, he can’t help but notice her reaction is one of fear, and he knows something is wrong there. He is so careful of her feelings and I just loved the way he treated her.

I really enjoyed this romance, and while there wasn’t a lot of sex what there was is pretty graphic so if you don’t like that, find another book. I liked these characters and their story, and I am always a sucker for anything Scotland.

6/2021 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

HIGHLAND HERO by Cynthia Breeding. Entangled: Amara (June 14, 2021). ASIN : B094GSXWNF. 264 pages.

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ANNE OF MANHATTAN by Brina Starler

June 13, 2021

From the publisher:

L. M. Montgomery’s classic tale, Anne of Green Gables, gets a romantic, charming, and hilarious modern adaptation, set in New York City.

After an idyllic girlhood in Avonlea, Long Island, Anne has packed up her trunk, said goodbye to her foster parents, Marilla and Matthew, and moved to the isle of Manhattan for grad school. Together with her best friend, Diana Barry, she’s ready to take on the world and find her voice as a writer.

When her long-time archrival Gilbert Blythe shows up at Redmond College for their final year, Anne gets the shock of her life. Gil has been in California for the last five years—since he kissed her during a beach bonfire, and she ghosted him. Now the handsome brunette is flashing his dimples at her like he hasn’t a care in the world and she isn’t buying it.

Paired with the same professor for their thesis, the two former competitors come to a grudging peace that turns into something so much deeper…and sexier than either intended. But when Gil seemingly betrays her to get ahead, Anne realizes she was right all along—she should never have trusted Gilbert Blythe.

While Gil must prove to Anne that they’re meant to be together, she must come to terms with her old fears if she wants a happily-ever-after with the boy she’s always (secretly) loved.

Anne of Green Gables is one of my favorite books, so I tend to like stories based on those characters. This was a pretty good update to the story.

Avonlea has been moved to the Hamptons from its rightful place on Prince Edward Island, Canada, which I was fine with. The thing I was most concerned with was the integrity of these characters, and Starler did them justice. I haven’t read the sequels to Anne of Green Gables since I was a child, so I don’t really remember them which probably stood me well now; the fewer details I remember means a better book for me. So I was happy. I liked seeing this 21st century Anne!

Anne and Gilbert are still at odds, but they are old enough now to realize their attraction to one another. But all that baggage has left Anne leery, no matter what her heart wants. They have obstacles to overcome to reach their happily every after, and there are many of them. The story is fast paced and for me, emotional, as I love these characters so much. I may have a few quibbles with minor details, but all in all, I really liked this book. If you haven’t read the Montgomery books, it won’t matter, this book certainly stands alone. But do yourself a favor and at least read the original.

6/2021 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

ANNE OF MANHATTAN by Brina Starler. William Morrow Paperbacks (June 1, 2021). ISBN: 978-0063020740. 336 pages.

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MAYBE ONE DAY by Debbie Johnson

June 12, 2021

From the publisher:

In the spirit of Ruth Hogan and Adriana Trigiani, bestselling British author Debbie Johnson brings us the ultimate in “happy tears”: a heartfelt story about a woman seizing the chance to reconnect with her lost love.

The truth changes everything.

For years Jess believed that Joe—the father of her child and the only man she ever loved—had abandoned her during her greatest time of need. That belief nearly destroyed her. Seventeen years later, when cleaning out her mother’s house, Jess unpacks a box of cards and letters hidden in the attic and makes a discovery that changes everything about life as she knows it.

Shaken but empowered, Jess—and her two stalwart best friends—set out on a remarkable journey to follow a set of faded postmarks around the world. Is Joe still alive? Does he know that Jess never forgot him? Maybe their love story isn’t over.

Maybe one day they’ll find each other again…

A comparison to Adriana Trigiani always grabs my attention (Note to Ade: babe, you are way overdue for your next book!)

This was such an emotional read. There is so much heart to this story and sorrow and even some laughs that it just feels completely captivating. I couldn’t help but get involved with these characters.

Having parents do something despicable is very much in my world view having lived that, so it was not at all far fetched for me to believe the basic premise of the story. The road trip to romance was appropriate and really well done. The characters come to life on the page and their story was terrific. This isn’t a light read, but a well thought out plot with believability, always a good combination, and a lot of heart. I loved it.

I didn’t recall reading this author before, so I dug around on my Kindle and found one of the books from an earlier series, The Comfort Food Cafe, but I need the earlier books. I think I’d like to read them in order. I love finding new authors, even if they are only new to me!

6/2021 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

MAYBE ONE DAY by Debbie Johnson. William Morrow Paperbacks (March 2, 2021). ISBN: 978-0063003651. 384 pages.

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THE INVITATION by Vi Keeland

June 11, 2021

From the publisher:

A new, sexy standalone from #1 New York Times Bestseller, Vi Keeland.

The first time I met Hudson Rothschild was at a wedding. I’d received an unexpected invitation to one of the swankiest venues in the city.

Hudson was a groomsman and quite possibly the most gorgeous man I’d ever laid eyes on. He asked me to dance, and our chemistry was off the charts.

I knew it wasn’t a good idea to get involved with him, considering the wedding I was at. But our connection was intense, and I was having a great time.

Though the fun came to a screeching halt when Hudson figured out I wasn’t who I’d said I was. You see, that unexpected invitation I received? Well, it hadn’t actually been addressed to me—it was sent to my ex-roommate who’d bounced a check for two months’ rent and moved out in the middle of the night. I figured she owed me an expensive night out, but I guess, technically, I was crashing the wedding.

Once caught, I couldn’t get out of there fast enough. As I bolted for the door, I might’ve plucked a few bottles of expensive champagne off the tables I passed, all while the gorgeous, angry groomsman was hot on my tail.

Outside, I jumped into a taxi. My heart ricocheted against my ribs as we drove down the block—but at least I’d escaped unscathed.

Or so I thought.

Until I realized I’d left my cell phone behind at the table.

Take one guess who found it?

This is the crazy story of how Hudson Rothschild and I met. But trust me, it’s only the tip of the iceberg.

This author was new to me but I am so glad I found her! I loved this story. It was completely captivating; I couldn’t put the book down until I (sadly) turned the last page. Not your usual romance trope either, but closest to the enemies-to-lovers plotline. Usually that involves a lot of history between the characters, but not here. Stella meets Hudson when she crashes a fancy wedding. He’s one of the groomsmen, she’s stolen her ex-roommate’s invitation after she ghosted her. Their relationship has a ton of potential if Stella can worm her way out of what she did.

This is a charming, terrific romcom, with a lot of heat. The story was believable and romantic, and these characters were interesting and fun. I will be looking for more of Keeland’s books. I got this one through my public library after I read a glowing review, and I’m so glad I did. I love finding new authors and Keeland is now on my radar.

6/2021 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE INVITATION by Vi Keeland. C. Scott Publishing Corp. (January 18, 2021). ISBN: 978-1951045401. 300 pages.

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LIFE’S TOO SHORT by Abby Jimenez

June 10, 2021

The Friend Zone, Book 3

From the publisher:

THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

“A hilarious, tender, and altogether life-affirming gem of a book.” –Emily Henry, bestselling author of Beach Read

A brilliant and touching romantic comedy about two polar opposites, one adorable dog, and living every day to its fullest.

When Vanessa Price quit her job to pursue her dream of traveling the globe, she wasn’t expecting to gain millions of YouTube followers who shared her joy of seizing every moment. For her, living each day to its fullest isn’t just a motto. Her mother and sister never saw the age of 30, and Vanessa doesn’t want to take anything for granted.

But after her half sister suddenly leaves Vanessa in custody of her baby daughter, life goes from “daily adventure” to “next-level bad” (now with bonus baby vomit in hair).

The last person Vanessa expects to show up offering help is the hot lawyer next door, Adrian Copeland. After all, she barely knows him. No one warned her that he was the Secret Baby Tamer or that she’d be spending a whole lot of time with him and his geriatric Chihuahua.

Now she’s feeling things she’s vowed not to feel. Because the only thing worse than falling for Adrian is finding a little hope for a future she may never see.

Letting your hot neighbor help you out with a crying baby in the middle of the night doesn’t seem like the best idea Vanessa has, but she is desperate and out of options. She got to take a much needed shower, plus he got the baby to stop crying. And he is hot, so there’s that.

Vanessa has some serious baggage. She lost her mom and her sister to a horrible, debilitating disease, and she is too scared to even get tested for it. Instead, she lives her life as if each day may be her last, traveling the world and entertaining her millions of followers. But her drug addicted half-sister is in no shape to take care of her baby, and Vanessa can’t say no so her life has taken a drastic turn here.

Adrian is amazing, and Vanessa is no fool so it is no surprise that they fall in love. But Adrian doesn’t understand her family medical history, mostly because she hasn’t told him. Vanessa has lived with it all her life, so she knows the difficult decisions that most likely lay ahead of her but she’s not sharing that with Adrian either. In a way, it reminded me of Jojo Moyes’ Me Before You, but a slightly more upbeat version.

While this novel does have a more serious undertone, there are still a lot of laughs in this emotionally charged romance. The characters are well defined, and their relationship believable. Bottom line is that Jimenez writes excellent stories that really draw you in and this is no exception.

6/2021 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

LIFE’S TOO SHORT by Abby Jimenez. Forever (April 6, 2021). ISBN: 978-1538715666. 384 pages.

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EAGLES OVER BRITAIN by Lee Jackson

June 9, 2021

The After Dunkirk Series, Book 2

From the publisher:

The Battle of Dunkirk might be finished, but the war isn’t over.

The saga of the Littlefield family continues with this rich and evocative second installment in the AFTER DUNKIRK series.

The German Luftwaffe attacks Britain from the skies.
With no allies, she stands alone.
Her fate hangs in the balance.

As the first Axis aircraft streak across English Channel airspace, so begins a battle for the ages; one that will determine the trajectory of the war. Braced for engagement on their individual fronts, the Littlefields plumb the depths of courage and ingenuity to defend their beloved Britain.

Fresh from the slaughter of Dunkirk, youngest brother Jeremy is called upon to create a French Resistance network composed of former naval officers.

At MI-9 headquarters, Claire Littlefield has devised an intelligence coup that could change the tide of the war. But will it work?

Lance, captured and far from home, puts his resiliency and resolve to the test.

And frustrated at being sidelined from active combat, Paul is unaware that he is being groomed for a role beyond his imagination.

A sweeping story of war filled with intimate, day-to-day details of those closest to danger, EAGLES OVER BRITAIN is a captivating tale of bravery, sacrifice, and one family’s fight to bring Britain to victory.

Utilizing persona from the Littlefield family, a group that had lived and prospered on one of the Channel Islands belonging to Great Britain, the author has taken his readers full tilt into the opening events of World War II. The first novel in the series leads the family into the retreat from France culminating in the saving of thousands of lives by many small boats picking up soldiers from Dunkirk and taking them across the English Channel to safety. In the current novel the events of the Battle of Britain are described and shown why it led to the famous declaration by than Prime Minister Churchill, “Never has so much been owed by so many to so few.”

The Littlefield family, both men and women, are all taking part in activities designed to fight the invaders coming to France, England and the Channel Islands as part of Hitler’s plans to become the leading power in Europe. Jackson brings the group into the defensive action against the Luftwaffe’s attacks on England. His research showcases groups of pilots that overcome shear exhaustion day after day to take off and repel the bombing runs of the German air force. Men that took off ,fought the invaders and if surviving returned to base, handed over often shot up planes to maintenance crews and then staggered into bed until the next sortie.

The power of the book is in its concentration on the courage of a nation that wouldn’t give up and stood up against the Nazi design to invade England once their air force had destroyed English air power. People heard alarms, ran to shelters. Upon ending the attack they came out and pitched in with the first responders to help those that were hurt and somehow comfort those people losing loved ones to the enemy bombs.

Love still finds a way and the book ends with members of the family forming attachments which we know will follow up into the next planned novel of the series. The ending also sets up the following book which will be positively received and enjoyed by faithful readers.

6/2021 Paul Lane

EAGLES OVER BRITAIN by Lee Jackson. Severn River Publishing (April 9, 2021). ISBN: 978-1648750717. 456 pages.

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HOW NOT TO MESS WITH A MILLIONAIRE by Regina Kyle

June 8, 2021

Mediterranean Millionaires, Book 1

From the publisher:

Interior decorator Zoe Ryan’s life resembles a bad country song. Her boyfriend dumped her, her car died, and she was recently handed a pink slip. What’s a girl to do? Leave everything behind for a bit….in Positano, Italy. And when she gets there, she finds a surprising extra—millionaire restaurateur Dante Sabbatini in the kitchen. In his underwear. Making coffee. It’s suddenly not only hot outside, but exactly what is he doing inside, in her temporary kitchen?

Dante’s plan was to escape to his family’s beach house for some quiet and privacy. What he didn’t know was that his meddling, matchmaking nonna rented the entire house to a sexy stranger at the exact same time as his stay. It took him months to clear his schedule—there’s no way he’s leaving now.

With both refusing to leave, Zoe and Dante agree to be temporary roomies, but secretly aim to try to drive the other out. He plays his music as loud as he wants and will wear as little clothing as possible, and she’ll just go ahead and adopt that pig she fell in love with in town. But suddenly their game of one-upmanship takes a very sexy detour, and they can’t believe what happens next.

Blame it on Fifty Shades of Grey, but so many romances revolve around millionaire/billionaire men. Personally, I find it a bit tiresome, but it worked okay here. Zoe and Dante had chemistry, and that chemistry makes for a very steamy read. Being forced to share living quarters happens often enough in romances, but this is set in Positano, Italy so that immediately made me want to read it. I would have liked more description of the area but this is a very short, very fast read and that would have slowed it down for sure. Just knowing they were on the beach in Italy was enough to get me involved though.

Zoe is an interior designer, and she rents this villa on the beach because she is enamored of the designer who did the home. She lost her job because her boss was basically a turd, stealing her ideas and presenting them as his own, and she decides a month in Italy is just what she needs before looking for a new job.

Dante owns a few very successful restaurants, but he had a traumatic event in his life that he is barely recovering from a year later. He clears his very busy schedule to stay at the beach house, but his nonna (grandma) doesn’t take that into account when she rents it to Zoe. I knew I was going to like this book when Zoe walks in to find a naked Dante coming out of the pool.

Neither one wants to leave, so they start playing a game of who can be a crappier roommate. But eventually they form an alliance, mostly based around a miniature pig, which added a bit of comic relief. This is an erotic romance, and there is explicit sex along with the hearts and flowers. The author is new to me, but she did a really good job with this story. Really my only complaint was the cheesy cover. I look forward to the next book in this series.

6/2021 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

HOW NOT TO MESS WITH A MILLIONAIRE by Regina Kyle. Independently published (June 2, 2021). ISBN: 979-8513918646. 230 pages.

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WISHING FOR A COWBOY by Victoria James

June 7, 2021

Wishing River, Book 3

From the publisher:

From New York Times bestselling author Victoria James comes a heartwarming love story about family, forgiveness, and the true meaning of “home.”

Janie Adams has been a single parent to her nephew since he was a baby. Fifteen years later, she’s finally found out who his father might be, so the two of them travel across the country to find him. She’d do anything for this kid. But when they arrive in the small town of Wishing River, Montana, and Janie finally meets the ruggedly handsome cowboy she’d been told had abandoned his son, his shocked response changes everything.

Aiden Rivers can’t dispute this is his kid when he sees his own features staring back at him, but he had no idea Janie’s sister was pregnant when she left him. He didn’t even know she had a sister―clearly they’d all been lied to. Now he has fifteen years of fatherhood to make up for and no idea how to be a dad. This was never in his plans.

Janie sticks around to help him ease into parenting, everything from showing him how to lure a sulky kid out of his bedroom to keeping up with the latest teen-speak. Together, they surprisingly make a good team, this city girl and country boy. But when the past catches up with them, Aiden and Janie must decide what’s best for the boy who’s connecting them, not only for each other…which could mean splitting them apart.

Each book in the Wishing River series is STANDALONE:
* The Trouble with Cowboys
* Cowboy for Hire
* Wishing For A Cowboy

I love a good cowboy romance, and James’s latest entry into her series is a really good one. Janie has raised her sister’s son as if he was her own. Her sister is bad news, and has only appeared sporadically since his birth. But Janie gives up everything to take care of him, so when she runs out of money, she knows she has to do something. She tracks down the father and shows up on his ranch.

Aiden remembers Janie’s sister, and also remembers what a flake she was. But he is still shocked to find out he has a teenage son. Determined to do right by him, and his guardian, Aiden takes them in and starts getting to know them both. Janie is beyond happy that he is willing to acknowledge his son.

While they get to know one another, Janie and Aiden fall in love. There are a bunch of obstacles to get around, including her sister showing up and deciding to “take back” her ex. It’s a mess but everyone gets what they deserve in the end. Another excellent addition to the series.

6/2021 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

WISHING FOR A COWBOY by Victoria James. Entangled: Amara (March 9, 2021). ISBN: 978-1682815670. 364 pages.

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FIRST COMES LIKE by Alisha Rai

June 6, 2021

Modern Love, Book 3

From the publisher:

The author of The Right Swipe and Girl Gone Viral returns with a story about finding love in all the wrong inboxes…

Beauty expert and influencer Jia Ahmed has her eye on the prize: conquering the internet today, the entire makeup industry tomorrow, and finally, finally proving herself to her big opinionated family. She has little time for love, and even less time for the men in her private messages—until the day a certain international superstar slides into her DMs, and she falls hard and fast.

There’s just one wrinkle: he has no idea who she is.

The son of a powerful Bollywood family, soap opera star Dev Dixit is used to drama, but a strange woman who accuses him of wooing her online, well, that’s a new one. As much as he’d like to focus on his Hollywood fresh start, he can’t get Jia out of his head. Especially once he starts to suspect who might have used his famous name to catfish her…

When paparazzi blast their private business into the public eye, Dev is happy to engage in some friendly fake dating to calm the gossips and to dazzle her family. But as the whole world swoons over their relationship, Jia can’t help but wonder: Can an online romance-turned-offline-fauxmance ever become love in real life?

I really liked The Right Swipe, so I’m not sure how but I missed Girl Gone Viral. I will be looking for that soonest! Because I liked this book a lot as well.

Rai writes charming, sweet romances set in her Muslim culture, which I find very interesting. In this story, our heroine, Jia, is a wannabe beauty influencer. She’s getting to where she wants to go and isn’t in the market for love. Except her family is driving her crazy, and she may have met someone.

Dev is Bollywood royalty, and when he DMs Jia, she falls fast and thinks he has, as well. She pushes for a meeting but he’s holding her off. Then she ends up at an event where she finally meets him – except he has no idea who she is. Apparently she’s been catfished. But there is an attraction there, so when Jia asks Dev to be her fake boyfriend to keep her family off her back, he agrees.

Fake relationships always turn into the real thing – it is a classic trope of the romance genre and one that I enjoy. On the other hand, I’ve never known anyone who was in a fake relationship or fake engagement, but I’m not one to rule it out. I choose to believe.

I like the strong, feminist characters here and the sweet romance that is culturally appropriate. An excellent addition to the Modern Love series.

6/2021 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

FIRST COMES LIKE by Alisha Rai. Avon (February 16, 2021). ISBN: 978-0062878151. 432 pages.

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SANDCASTLE BEACH by Jenny Holiday

June 5, 2021

From the publisher:

From the USA Today bestselling “master of witty banter” (Entertainment Weekly) comes a hilarious and heartwarming romance about two enemies whose feud turns red-hot.

Maya Mehta will do anything to save her tiny, beloved community theater. Put on musicals she hates? Check. Hire an arrogant former-pop-star-turned-actor? Done. But what Maya really needs to save her theater is Matchmaker Bay’s new business grant. She’s got some serious competition, though: Benjamin “Law” Lawson, local bar owner, Jerk Extraordinaire, and Maya’s annoyingly hot arch nemesis. Let the games begin.

Law loves nothing more than getting under Maya’s skin, and making those gorgeous eyes dance with irritation. But when he discovers the ex-pop star has a thing for Maya, too, Law decides he’s done waiting in the wings-starting with a scorching-hot kiss. Turns out there’s a thin line between hate and irresistible desire, and Maya and Law are really good at crossing it. But when things heat up, will they allow their long-standing feud to get in the way of their growing feelings?

I feel like I’ve read this story before (because I have) but I don’t care, Holiday does her usual good job of building believable characters that I actually cared about, a warm, wonderful setting, and enough angst to keep those pages turning.

Maya has a big heart. She loves the theater but understands that the tiny beach town is not really enough to keep it going. So to bring in outsiders, she snares a former boy band member to star in her new production. She has barely enough money to keep going, so she gives him her apartment to stay in and gets down to work.

The town meeting reveals a pleasant surprise; they are offering a grant to a local business, Maya desperately needs that money, but she has some competition. A local bar owner is also vying for the grant. Law is well liked in town, but he is not as desperate as Maya, and she’s sure she has it in the bag. But the road to success is paved with many speedbumps, least of which is the hot boy band member trying to date her and her increasing attraction to Law.

This was a fun read and a good escape for a few hours. I ask for nothing more than that!

6/2021 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

SANDCASTLE BEACH by Jenny Holiday. Forever (March 9, 2021). ISBN: 978-1538716571. 432 pages.