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Audiobook Sunday: TWO WRONGS MAKE A RIGHT by Chloe Liese

March 9, 2025

Read by Charlotte North & Stephen Dexter

The Wilmot Sisters, Book 1

From the publisher:

One of Amazon’s Best Romances of 2022!

Opposites become allies to fool their matchmaking friends in this swoony reimagining of Shakespeare’s beloved comedy, Much Ado About Nothing.

Jamie Westenberg and Bea Wilmot have nothing in common except a meet-disaster and the mutual understanding that they couldn’t be more wrong for each other. But when the people closest to them play Cupid and trick them into going on a date, Jamie and Bea realize they have something else in common after all—an undeniable need for revenge.

Soon their plan is in place: Fake date obnoxiously and convince the meddlers they’re madly in love. Then, break up spectacularly and dash everyone’s hopes, putting an end to the matchmaking madness once and for all.

To convince everyone that they’ve fallen for each other, Jamie and Bea will have to nail the performance of their lives. But as their final act nears and playing lovers becomes easier than not, they begin to wonder: What if Cupid’s arrow wasn’t so off the mark? And what if two wrongs do make a right?

“From a meet-cute that crackles with wit and humor to pages upon pages of scorching tension, Liese has crafted a warm, delightful novel that emphasizes acceptance, communication, and the self-worth we can discover by both daring to love and letting ourselves be loved…An effervescent reimagining of the Bard packaged in an opposites-attract romance.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“In this lighthearted rom-com riff on Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing from Liese… the banter is easy and the heat level is high.”—Publishers Weekly

“In this exceptionally smart and charming romance… Liese’s writing is crisp and funny, the characters are fully engaging, and the story is delightful.”—Booklist

“Liese (Everything for You) nods to Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing here, and readers will enjoy the snarky banter and other similarities to the play, along with the enemies-to-lovers plot, solid character development, and a little heat. Perfect for fans of The Hating Game by Sally Thorne.”—Library Journal

https://amzn.to/41umz5L

I actually read the third book in this series, Once Smitten, Twice Shy, and loved it, so I hunted down the first book, and I’m very glad I did. This is a contemporary retelling of “Much Ado About Nothing,” with inclusiveness, which I loved. The female main character, Bea, is neurodivergent, and the male main character, Ben, has anxiety issues. We get the enemies-to-lovers and fake dating, the witty banter, and the happy ending – not to mention a super fun read! The narrators were wonderful and really helped draw me into the story.

The premise is that Bea’s sister and her boyfriend set up Bea and Ben without telling them. Their first meeting is a disaster; it’s hate at first sight. Their second meeting is a disaster; more hate. But once they figure out they are being set up, they decide the best way to handle it is to get revenge by fake dating and then breaking up. If you’ve ever read a romance, or Shakespeare, you know that they fall in love while fake dating and live happily ever after.

The fake dating did seem forced at times, but not in a good way. They were obviously attracted to one another and understood each other’s social anxiety, which was heartwarming. I reached the point where I wanted to shout at them, enough already. Just admit you have feelings and move on. But it took many, many pages until that finally happened. Luckily, that witty banter helped move the story along anyway.

This was a fun, sexy read with a lot of humor. I’m hunting down book two next.

3/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

TWO WRONGS MAKE A RIGHT by Chloe Liese. Narrators: Charlotte North & Stephen Dexter. Penguin Audio; November 22, 2022. Listening Length: 11 hours and 30 minutes

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ASA by Jay Crownover

March 7, 2025

Marked Men, Book 6

From the publisher:

A Police Officer Falls for a Bad Boy Criminal in this Spicy Romance Novel
from the Series That Inspired the Upcoming Film “Marked Men: Rule and Shaw“

Jay Crownover’s New York Times and USA Today bestselling Marked Men series continues with the much anticipated story of southern charmer and certified criminal Asa Cross.

Starting over in Denver with a whole new circle of friends and family, Asa Cross struggles with being the man he knows everyone wants him to be and the man he knows he really is. A leopard doesn’t it change its spots and Asa has always been a predator. He doesn’t want to hurt those who love and rely on him, especially one luscious arresting cop who suddenly seems to be interested in him for far more than his penchant for breaking the law. But letting go of old habits is hard, and it’s easy to hit bottom when it’s the place you know best.

Royal Hastings is quickly learning what the bottom looks like after a tragic situation at work threatens not only her career but her partner’s life. As a woman who has only ever had a few real friends she’s trying to muddle through her confusion and devastation all alone. Except she can’t stop thinking about the sexy southern bartender she locked up. Crushing on Asa is the last thing she needs but his allure is too strong to resist. His long criminal record can only hurt her already shaky career and chasing after a guy who has no respect for the law or himself can only end in heartbreak.

A longtime criminal and a cop together just seems so wrong . . . but for Asa and Royal, being wrong together is the only right choice to make.

“Crownover wraps up her Marked Men series in safe mode, giving Asa Cross—maybe the baddest of her bad-boy heroes—a convenient redemption plot . . . What might have been an edgy plot with spiky sex is instead predicable and tame.” –Publishers Weekly

“The final book in Crownover’s popular Marked Men series tells the story of the cop and the criminal . . . Crownover has created a well-developed cast of strong and realistic characters who are living interesting lives and dealing with compelling contemporary issues.” –Booklist

https://amzn.to/41EXbus

This is the last book of the Marked Men series, and I’m sorry to say it ended with a whimper. “The Marked Men” series is based around a group of friends, most of whom work in a tattoo shop in the Denver area and have various body modifications. This book centers around Asa and Royal.

Royal is a cop so that automatically makes her of no interest to Asa. Asa’s sister, Ayden, is married to one of the Marked Men, Jet, but Asa and Ayden had a terrible childhood that carried over to adulthood. Asa had spent most of his adult life as a con man and crook, and his past finally catches up with him when he steals from a drug cartel. They beat him senseless and leave him for dead, but somehow, he survives. He moves to Denver to recuperate, and Ayden’s friend hires him to bartend. He’s good at it and finally realizes he needs to change, or he will die. It’s not easy, but Asa becomes a straight-up good citizen, despite all the drama thrown in his direction.

Royal has issues of her own. Her best friend/partner was hurt on the job, and she is trying to deal with her feelings of guilt about it. She doesn’t really have any other friends until she befriends her neighbor’s girlfriend, or rather, she is befriended. Royal has the hots for Asa, but after she arrests him for fighting, he is just not interested. Turns out the charges against him were phony and were dropped. Royal starts hanging out in the bar where he works, and the more time they spend together, the more difficult it becomes for Asa to resist the gorgeous woman in uniform.

This book felt drawn out and somewhat repetitive to me. There wasn’t enough drama here, and what there was just felt manufactured rather than real. I loved this series, but if this is the way it ended, I’m glad it did. I’m hoping that the next series, The Saints of Denver, will be more in line with the first several books of this series.

The Marked Men Series:

2/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

ASA by Jay Crownover. Avon (March 30, 2015). ISBN: 978-0062333070. 379p.

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Spotlight Review: THE LIFE CYCLE OF THE COMMON OCTOPUS by Emma Knight

March 4, 2025

From the publisher:

A witty, atmospheric, and brilliantly told novel that offers compelling portraits of womanhood, motherhood and female friendship, along with the irresistible intrigue surrounding an extraordinary British family

Arriving at the University of Edinburgh for her first term, Pen knows her divorced parents back in Canada are hiding something from her. She believes she’ll find the answer here in Scotland, where an old friend of her father’s—now a famous writer known as Lord Lennox—lives. When she is invited to spend the weekend at Lord Lennox’s centuries-old estate with his enveloping, fascinating family, Pen begins to unravel her parents’ secret, just as she’s falling in love for the first time . . .

As Pen experiences the sharp shock of adulthood, she comes to rely on herself for the first time in her life. A rich and rewarding novel of campus life, of sexual awakening, and ultimately, of the many ways women can become mothers in this world, The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus asks to what extent we need to look back in order to move forward.

READ WITH JENNA BOOK CLUB PICK AS FEATURED ON TODAY

“Knight’s gorgeously intimate, cleverly insightful wordsmithing will certainly impress and entertain.”—Booklist

https://amzn.to/42fXg8H

Two friends from Toronto, Pen and Alice, begin their first year at the University of Edinburgh. Over the course of the year, the novel explores their journey as they grow both together and apart, forming new friendships and navigating romantic relationships. Pen also delves into her family’s past by tracing one of her father’s old university friends in Scotland from the 1980s, seeking answers about her parents’ divorce and her unusual middle name.

This book is a nostalgic read, filled with themes of female friendship, empowerment, first love, and family secrets. Both Pen and Alice’s storylines showcase their development as young women in the early 2000s. The author tackles complex issues such as sexual misconduct through a student-professor affair, infidelity, single motherhood, and more, weaving these narratives into a rich tapestry of life and relationships.

Unfortunately, the book really dragged for me. I kept picking it up and putting it down, and that’s never a good sign. It was very slow, but because it was a book recommended by Jenna Bush and was published by Pamela Dorman, whose books I usually adore, I plodded on, but it wasn’t worth it.

Finally, the title kinda pissed me off – it made me think of the fabulous Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt, which I’m sure was a deliberate choice, and trust me, it had nothing in common with that book. The octopus doesn’t even show up until almost the end, and it is no Marcellus! The octopus is used as a metaphor over the course of a page or two, and that’s it. So, if you are looking for charm, look elsewhere.

Normally, I wouldn’t even have finished this book and I should have trusted my instincts. I really hate to pan a first novel, but with all the marketing and buzz this book has gotten, I’m going to live with it. I know some people love it, but I am not one of them.

1/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE LIFE CYCLE OF THE COMMON OCTOPUS by Emma Knight. Pamela Dorman Books (January 7, 2025). ISBN: 978-0593830451. 384p.

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Audiobook Sunday: READY OR NOT by Cara Bastone

March 2, 2025

Read by Alex Finke

Dial Delights*

From the publisher:

A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: The Washington Post, NPR, Elle

Eve Hatch lives for surprises! Just kidding. She expects every tomorrow to be pretty much the same as today. She loves her cozy apartment in Brooklyn that’s close to her childhood best friend Willa, and far from her midwestern, traditional family who has never really understood her. While her job is only dream-adjacent, it’s comfortable and steady. She always knows what to expect from her life . . . until she finds herself expecting after an uncharacteristic one-night stand.

The unplanned pregnancy cracks open all the relationships in her life. Eve’s loyal friendship with Willa is feeling tense, right when she needs her the most. And it’s actually Willa’s steadfast older brother, Shep, who steps up to help Eve. He has always been friendly, but now he’s checking in, ordering her surprise lunches, listening to all her complaints, and is . . . suddenly kinda hot? Then, as if she needs one more complication, there’s the baby’s father, who is (technically) supportive but (majorly) conflicted.

Up until this point, Eve’s been content to coast through life. Now, though—maybe it’s the hormones, maybe it’s the way Shep’s shoulders look in a T-shirt—Eve starts to wonder if she has been secretly desiring more from every aspect of her life.

Over the course of nine months, as Eve struggles to figure out the next right step in her expanding reality, she begins to realize that family and love, in all forms, can sneak up on you when you least expect it.

“Accidental pregnancy is a love-it-or-hate-it construct for most romance fans, which could leave Cara Bastone’s friends-to-lovers entry in a tough position. But for those willing to jive with that particular plot twist—and trust me, it’s worth it—Ready or Not is an absolutely buoyant read. Vivacious and funny, Bastone’s first-person perspective through protagonist Eve traces the tricky threads of single parenthood, long-term friendship, infertility, grief, and (yes) sex with skill.”—Elle

“I’ve never read a contemporary romance novel quite like this one. This friends-to-lovers trope centers on a surprise pregnancy that’s filled with heartfelt dialogue, unexpected love and a slow burn. It’s incredible and I found myself not wanting to put it down. This story is endearing, life-affirming, and left me feeling buoyed and hopeful.”—New York Post, “The 15 Best Books We Read in February”

“Sure, this is a love story. But it’s also about all the ways love shows up. . . . And at the end of the day, that’s the ideal family, right? Never perfect but always trying.”—NPR

“This pitch-perfect rom-com . . . could be the guidebook on how to successfully execute the ‘friends-to-lovers’ trope. Bastone carefully captures the slow-burning magic of seeing someone familiar in a new light, and Shep is so wonderful he deserves a place in the Book Boyfriend Hall of Fame.”—The Washington Post

https://amzn.to/41umz5L

I have to start this review by saying I loved the narrator – Alex Finke made me understand why audiobook readers often follow narrators even more than authors. I am looking forward to listening to more Finke!

Eve is a young woman in her twenties with a crappy job but living her dream in New York City. She’s trying to find her path forward when she gets a sharp dose of reality; her one night stand has left her pregnant. Her best friend, Willa, is not happy with her, but Willa’s brother, Shep, becomes someone she can lean on.

I often wonder about these romances that begin in pregnancy because, let’s face it, most women are not always themselves while pregnant; those hormones are no joke! But Shep is such a sweet, supportive guy that I couldn’t help but root for them. The baby daddy, Ethan, turns out to be more than just a one night stand, too, so lucky Eve in that regard.

This is a slow-burn, sweet romance, and I really enjoyed it. Sometimes, you just want to feel good escaping into a book, and this certainly filled that need for me. As the world around me is burning to the ground, books remain my escape, and I am most grateful for it.

*Dial Delights is a series put together by Random House. All the books are contemporary romances but written by different authors, so they do not need to be read in any order. There are a few more books coming out later this year, including Promise Me Sunshine (3/3/2025), also by Cara Bastone and read by Alex Finke. I am especially looking forward to that one!

3/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

READY OR NOT by Cara Bastone. Narrator: Alex Finke. Random House Audio; February 13, 2024. Listening Length: 10 hours and 50 minutes

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ROWDY by Jay Crownover

February 28, 2025

Marked Men, Book 5

From the publisher:

A Spicy Forbidden Ex’s Older Sister Romance
from the Series That Inspired the Upcoming Film “Marked Men: Rule and Shaw“

The New York Times and USA Today bestselling Marked Men series continues with this sizzling, sexy story of love, heartbreak, fate, and second chances.

After the only girl he ever loved told him that he would never be enough, Rowdy St. James knocked the Texas dust off his boots and set out to live up to his nickname. A good ol’ boy looking for good times and good friends, Rowdy refuses to take anything too seriously, especially when it comes to the opposite sex. Burned by love once, he isn’t going to let himself trust a woman again. But that’s before his new co-worker arrives, a ghost from the past who’s suddenly making him question every lesson he ever learned.

Salem Cruz grew up in a house with too many rules and too little fun—a world of unhappiness she couldn’t wait to forget. But one nice thing from childhood has stayed with her; the memory of the sweet, blue-eyed boy next door who’d been head over heels in love with her little sister.

Now, fate and an old friend have brought her and Rowdy together, and Salem is determined to show him that once upon a time he picked the wrong sister. A mission that is working perfectly—until the one person that ties them together appears, threatening to tear them apart for good.

“The characters of Crownover’s Marked Men series are all outlandishly colorful and irresistably passionate, while still being so genuine that their stories become unforgettable. This fifth installment, which reunites old friends and lovers, is no exception.” — RT Book Reviews (top pick)

“Full of intimate yet spicy scenes, this novel takes readers on an emotional ride. Though it is mostly lighthearted, Crownover’s frank novel does addresses domestic violence and abuse.” — Booklist

https://amzn.to/41gvGpk

This is the fifth book of the Marked Men series and I just can’t stop reading them. “The Marked Men” series is based around a group of friends, most of whom work in a tattoo shop in the Denver area and have various body modifications. This book centers around Salem and Rowdy.

Rowdy is a tattoo artist, and Salem is hired on to run their new store. Rowdy and Salem, and Salem’s younger sister Poppy, all grew up together and all had unhappy childhood homes. Salem ran away when she turned 18, leaving her sister and Rowdy behind to struggle along as best as they could. They ended up going to college together, but then a rift occurred, and Salem doesn’t know why. Rowdy acts like Poppy was the love of his life, but he is Salem’s true love, so she is happy to be working with him. Until she finds out he proposed to her sister.

I don’t generally like sisters vying for the same man, but even though it sounds like that, it isn’t. Crownover takes it in a different direction, and it makes sense. Salem’s parents were super religious, and she was a constant disappointment to them, while Poppy did everything they wanted of her, with some dire results. Salem and Rowdy find their way to friendship and more, with a lot of heat and fun interactions until they reach their happy ending. But there is a lot of drama before that happens, making this another unputdownable read. I can’t wait to read the last book in the series, but I’m also sad it is ending. Luckily, Crownover has many more series to explore.

The Marked Men Series:

2/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

ROWDY by Jay Crownover. William Morrow Paperbacks (October 21, 2014). ISBN: 978-0062333056. 416p.

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NASH by Jay Crownover

February 28, 2025

Marked Men, Book 4

From the publisher:

A Second Chance, Former School Bully Romance
from the Series That Inspired the Upcoming Film “Marked Men: Rule and Shaw“

From New York Times bestselling author Jay Crownover comes the fourth book in the Marked Men series.

Saint Ford has worked hard to achieve her childhood dream of becoming of nurse. Focused on her work and devoted to her patients, there’s no room for love. She doesn’t need a guy making waves in her calm, serene life—especially when he’s the unforgettable hottie who nearly destroyed her in high school. Dark, brooding Nash Donovan might not remember her or the terrible pain he caused. But he turned her world upside down . . . and now he’s trying to do it again.

Saint has no idea that Nash isn’t the cocky player he once was. Uncovering a devastating family secret has rocked his world, and now he’s struggling to figure out his future. He can’t be distracted by the pretty nurse he seems to meet everywhere. Still, he can’t ignore the sparks that fly between them—or how she seems so desperate to get away from him. But the funny, sweet, and drop-dead gorgeous Saint is far too amazing to give up on—especially since she’s the only thing in his life that seems to make sense.

When Nash discovers the truth about their past, he realizes he may have lost her heart before he could even fight for it. Now, Saint has to decide: is Nash worth risking herself for all over again?

https://amzn.to/41vgAOn

This is the fourth book of the Marked Men series and I just can’t stop reading them. “The Marked Men” series is based around a group of friends, most of whom work in a tattoo shop in the Denver area and have various body modifications. This book centers around Nash and Saint. Nash is one of the tattoo artists in the shop, and Saint is a nurse in the hospital where Nash’s Uncle Phil has been taken. He has cancer, which he neglected to mention to Nash, and he is devastated. He runs into Saint and doesn’t really remember her at first, but boy, does she remember him. They went to high school together, but ran in very different crowds. Saint was overweight and bookish, and Nash ran with the wild bunch. But senior year their lockers were next to each other, and Nash, unlike the rest of his crowd, was always friendly and kind to her.

What Saint doesn’t know is that Nash always thought that she was out of his league – too smart for the likes of him. What Nash doesn’t know is that Saint had so few friends that his kindness was a big deal to her, and she had a major crush on him. When he asked her if she would be at a party one Friday night, she took that to be an invitation and said yes. But when she got there, he was drunk and making out with someone else. Distraught, she took off, only to overhear him talking to his friends. He made some very disparaging remarks about a girl, and she assumed it was her he was talking about. It devastated her to the point where she still had no self-confidence, even though she was a grown woman. Childhood traumas can be lasting, that’s for sure, especially during the teen years.

Nash is strongly attracted to the beautiful nurse, but she wants no part of him. But they keep running into one another, and the kindness that she can’t help but show him leads to real sexual tension between them. They are at Rule and Shaw’s wedding when Saint has a bit of a panic attack and leaves. Nash goes after her, and the next thing you know, they are in bed together. He gets her off, and she is so shocked that she orgasmed with a man that she bursts into tears and takes off, leaving him, shall we say, unfulfilled.

Nash is the only man Saint has ever had real feelings for. There is a great scene when her boss pressures her into going out to a party with the hot doc at the hospital, and she agrees, only to walk out on him and his pretentious friends. I liked seeing Saint grow a bit of a spine, which carries over to her relationship with Nash. Eventually, they find their way to one another, but it is a difficult journey for both of them.

This book wasn’t as good a read for me as the previous books in the series, but it was still very enjoyable. I’m looking forward to Rowdy’s story next!

The Marked Men Series:

2/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

NASH by Jay Crownover. William Morrow Paperbacks (April 29, 2014). ISBN: 978-0062333032. 400p.

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Spotlight Review: CLOSE YOUR EYES AND COUNT TO TEN by Lisa Unger

February 25, 2025

From the Publisher:

An extreme game of hide-and-seek turns deadly in this riveting new thriller from New York Times bestselling author Lisa Unger

When the real game begins, who will make it to the count of 10?

Charismatic daredevil and extreme adventurer Maverick Dillan invites you to the ultimate game of hide-and-seek. But as the players gather on Falcao Island, the event quickly spirals into a chilling test of survival. A storm rages as a deadly threat stalks the contestants, turning the challenge into something far more sinister than the social media stunt it was intended to be.

Enter Adele, a single mother with a fierce determination to protect her children at all costs. When she begins the game, she unwittingly enters a twisted web of deception and intrigue. Can she maneuver through the treacherous storm and the relentless competition and get home to her family? In a ruthless battle for survival where the stakes are higher than ever, the blurry line between the virtual and the real proves that the only person we can trust is ourselves.

“Unger plunges the reader right into a sense of dread, then skillfully ratchets up the physical terrors of the challenge while revealing one disturbing secret after another. The perils of the real and virtual worlds collide effectively in this relentlessly paced thriller.” —Kirkus, starred review

“Twists arrive relentlessly, keeping readers on edge and guessing until the final, breath-stealing twist.” —The Seattle Times

“Unger’s latest is a fast-paced, atmospheric, locked-room thriller…Readers of Lucy Foley and Ruth Ware will surely enjoy this nail-biter.” —Booklist

https://amzn.to/42OrnEm

This was an interesting premise for a thriller. Let me preface this by saying I don’t watch reality TV shows – I used to watch some, most recently “Love is Blind” and “Married at First Sight,” but I couldn’t get through their last seasons, so I just gave it up. I haven’t watched Survivor since the first season, or any of the Beast Games, or whatever else is out there, so I am not that familiar with how these things work lately. I pretty much went into this book just believing whatever the author told me, and that worked just fine. I also need to add that I really hated the title of this book; it’s too long, and while I understand the implication, I just didn’t care for it. On the other hand, I loved the cover.

Dylan Maverick is the star of the Extreme games that he produces for an online audience. He is a young white man, and his best friends and girlfriend all work with him. He cheats on his girlfriend quite a bit, and that becomes a problem. He slept with Chloe supposedly before he hooked up with Angeline, his girlfriend, but he actually slept with her a few times, ghosting her after each occasion. She ends up on one of his challenges, a Hide & Seek event where she hides and is never found. Chloe has gone missing, and while the Extreme team are all questioned, they are pretty much cleared of her disappearance. There are supposed sightings of the young woman, but none are proven, and she become fodder for a true crime podcast.

This new Extreme Hide & Seek event is set on Falcao Island, a fictional island owned by Portugal, loosely based on the Azores. There is an old abandoned hotel on the island, and that is where the event is taking place. There is an old woman who tries to warn them off, and they ignore her and her private security force. There are supposed to be four contestants: a wildlife animal TV star who has been canceled due to his supposedly killing a lion; a young woman with a large following on social media; a mystery contestant; and Adele, a single mom whose husband embezzled millions of dollars from his company and disappeared with all the money, abandoning his wife and children. Adele has created a social media channel following her rebuilding her life and her body. Her kids are in high school, and it is her son who finds out about the contest as he is a huge fan of Dylan and Extreme. He convinces his mom to enter the competition, and when she sees the prize is a million dollars, she decides to go for it. To her surprise, she is selected, and her kids convince her that they can take care of themselves for the few days she will be gone.

These characters are skillfully brought to life, and the setting is basically another character. There is a hurricane-type storm moving onto the island, making everything that much more difficult for the contestants and the Extreme team. Some weird things start happening, adding to the drama, and the tension becomes almost unbearable. There is a lot more going on than anyone realizes at first, and as the mystery deepens, so does the danger.

This is a fast-paced thriller with great characters and enough pressure and strain on them to take this to a very dark place. Fans of these types of reality shows will probably love this, and even if you aren’t (like me,) it is still an unputdownable locked-room thriller. Don’t miss it!

2/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

CLOSE YOUR EYES AND COUNT TO TEN by Lisa Unger. Park Row; Original edition (February 25, 2025). ISBN: 978-0778333364. 384p.

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Audiobook Sunday: MR. HEARTBREAKER by Piper Rayne

February 23, 2025

Read by Sean Masters, Erin Mallon, Connor Crais, JF Harding, Troy Duran, Teddy Hamilton, & CJ Bloom

The Nest, Book 1

From the author:

I made a deal with my brother a long time ago to never date his teammates.

Technically, Rowan Landry, the hot as hell center for the Chicago Falcons, is no longer my brother’s teammate. Or his best friend. Their college days are long behind them, and they barely talk now.

Also, I’m not dating him—we’re just sleeping together. There’s a difference.

Except there’s not a lot of sleeping going on, and neither one of us wants to stop what we’re doing.

It’s all fun and games until my brother is traded to the Falcons, because Rowan doesn’t know I’m the new goalie’s little sister. Oops.

https://amzn.to/3EJVNxm

The Hoopla algorithm sent me this hockey romance, and I was thrilled. I love all the Piper Rayne books and have never been disappointed by anything they’ve written.

This is a flirty, steamy hockey romance that scores big! This story hooked me from the very first page. The romance kicks off with an irresistible setup: a chance meeting at a wedding. For Kyleigh, attending is more of a chore to appease her mother, but bumping into her brother’s old college teammate, Rowan, now a star player for the Falcons, is an unexpected twist she can’t resist.

Rowan doesn’t recognize her, especially as she introduces herself as Leigh; she was just a kid the last time he saw her. Kyleigh really wants an unforgettable one-night stand. After all, what are the odds she’ll ever see him again? And bonus—her brother doesn’t have to know.

But fate has other plans. Their sizzling chemistry doesn’t end with that night. Rowan isn’t ready to let her go, and when they run into each other at a diner just hours later, he decides to pursue her. One thing leads to another, and soon their connection deepens into something neither of them can ignore. The only problem? Kyleigh’s keeping their relationship under wraps—especially from her brother. That seems manageable until her brother gets traded to the Falcons. Cue the drama.

This story is packed with humor, likeble characters, and plenty of steamy moments. While this was a truly enjoyable read, I did feel that the “big secret” dragged on longer than necessary. It seemed like such a minor issue to create such a major conflict. Still, the chemistry between her and Rowan more than made up for it.

This is a Full Cast production in Duet Style, which I am learning about through my audiobook journey. All I can say is that it was phenomenal. Sean Masters and Erin Mallon lead an incredible cast featuring JF Harding, Connor Crais, Troy Duran, Teddy Hamilton, and CJ Bloom. Their performances brought the story to life in such an engaging way that I can’t recommend this audiobook highly enough. If you’re looking for an entertaining escape with heat, heart, and humor, this one’s a winner!

2/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

MR. HEARTBREAKER by Piper Rayne. Narrators: Sean Masters, Erin Mallon, Connor Crais, JF Harding, Troy Duran, Teddy Hamilton, & CJ Bloom. Piper Rayne Inc.; October 11, 2024. Listening Length: 7 hours and 13 minutes.

Kindle

Paperback

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MOST VALUABLE PLAYBOY by Lauren Blakely

February 21, 2025

Ballers and Babes, Book 1

From the publisher:

When the hot new quarterback desperately needs a fake girlfriend he turns to his best friend’s sister, only to find that she may turn out to be the woman of his dreams even though she’s been right there all along…

When I enter the Most Valuable Playboy charity auction, my goal is simple―be the player who goes for the most dough. But when trouble shows up at the auction, I need a whole new play.

Enter Violet―she’s my best friend’s sister and she’s my close friend too. With a smile as sweet as cherry pie and a mind that runs quicker than the 40-yard-dash, Violet saves the day with the highest bid. I don’t even give her a two-minute warning before I kiss her in front of the whole crowd and then announce that she’s my girlfriend.

Which would be fine except my agent tells me we’ve got to keep up the act while he’s negotiating my contract. Violet takes one for the team and pretends to be mine, and soon our boyfriend-girlfriend scrimmage quickly turns into a full contact sport.

But falling for her wasn’t in the playbook…

“A Lauren Blakely book is a guarantee of a good time.” ―Meghan Quinn, New York Times bestselling author

https://amzn.to/3QbC0JU

Cooper doesn’t mind being auctioned off for charity. In previous years, the NFL star was the top money draw, and he had interesting one-night stands with the winners. But this year he is in trouble. There is a local radio talk show host who has been talking about him in terms that make him very uncomfortable. Cooper is panicking that she might win him in the auction, and he really needs to avoid that.

Violet is Cooper’s best friend’s sister, and the three of them have been friends for most of their lives. Violet is at the auction to do hair for the players, so when Cooper realizes what is afoot with the auction, he begs her to bid on him with his own money. Once Vi sees what’s happening, she’s happy to step up, and she wins the auction. To really seal the deal, Cooper kisses her in front of the crowd and announces that she is his girlfriend, hoping to keep that talk show host at bay.

Cooper’s contract is up for renewal at the end of the season, and his agent thinks he needs to keep Violet as his girlfriend to help with the negotiations. Since she won him at the auction, Violet’s hair salon has been super busy with people trying to catch a glimpse of the football star, but her landlord is giving her a hard time about a new lease. They come to an agreement; they will fake-date until his contract is signed and her lease is renewed. But of course, pesky feelings get in the way.

This was a super flirty read with terrific banter and some steamy sex. Another hit for Blakely!

2/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

MOST VALUABLE PLAYBOY by Lauren Blakely. Sourcebooks Casablanca (February 18, 2025). ISBN: 978-1464228865. 336p.

Kindle

Audible

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ROME by Jay Crownover

February 21, 2025

Marked Men, Book 3

From the publisher:

A Sweet and Spicy Grumpy Military Hero Romance
from the Series That Inspired the Upcoming Film “Marked Men: Rule and Shaw“

Sometimes the wrong choice can be just right . . .

Fun and fearless, Cora Lewis knows how to keep her tattooed “bad boy” friends at the Marked in line. But beneath all that flash and sass is a broken heart. Cora won’t let herself get burned again. She’s waiting to fall in love with the perfect man—a baggage-free, drama-free guy ready for commitment. Then she meets Rome Archer.

Rome Archer is as far from perfect as a man can be. He’s stubborn, rigid, and bossy. And he’s returned from his final tour of duty more than a little broken. Rome’s used to filling many roles: big brother, doting son, supersoldier—but none of those fit anymore. Now he’s just a man trying to figure out what to do with the rest of his life while keeping the dark demons of war and loss at bay. He would have been glad to suffer through it alone, until Cora comes sweeping into his life and becomes a blinding flash of color in a sea of gray.Perfect may not be in the cards, but perfectly imperfect could just last forever . . .

New York Times and USA Today Bestseller

https://amzn.to/4hzaVfN

This third book of the Marked Men series is just as compelling a read as the first two. “The Marked Men” series is based around a group of friends, most of whom work in a tattoo shop in the Denver area and have various body modifications. This book centers around Rome and Cora. Rome’s brother Rule (first book in the series) is a tattoo artist, and Cora manages the store and does all the body piercing for their customers.

Rome is an Army veteran, recently retired and not sure what to do next. He had a big fight with his parents and hasn’t spoken to them in a while, but he and Rule are tight. Rome is suffering from PTSD and is mostly choosing vodka as a coping mechanism. Cora and Rome get off to a rocky start; she calls him Captain No-Fun and dumps a beer over his head. He takes off and finds himself in a dive bar, and the owner, Brite, recognizes something of himself in Rome. Rome gets pretty drunk, ends up in a fight with some bikers, and Brite calls the tattoo shop, hoping that Rule will take him home. Rule isn’t there; Cora is alone, closing up, and she decides she’ll pick up Rome so he can avoid more family drama with his brother.

Rome is a big guy, and Cora is tiny but strong, and somehow she maneuvers him into her bed. She’s planning on sleeping on the couch, but somehow Rome passes out on top of her, pinning her to the bed, and that’s how they stay. Until he wakes up and kisses her. Cora thinks Rome is the hottest guy she’s ever seen, and she is fine with a one-night stand. Cora had a bad breakup in her past, and she is determined to find what she calls Mr. Perfect; Rome is a long way from that.

Rome is smitten with the little pixie, who is nicknamed Tink, short for Tinkerbell. She is inked and pierced all over, and is surprised that Rome finds her attractive as he is straightlaced Army as they come. They continue sleeping together because the sex is so good, and he knows he is not her Mr. Perfect. But the more time they spend together, the more Cora realizes that perfection comes in many forms, and maybe Rome is perfect for her.

There is a lot of drama going on with the bikers and the bar, which adds a lot of tension to the story. This was another unputdownable read, and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!

The Marked Men Series:

2/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

ROME by Jay Crownover. William Morrow Paperbacks (January 7, 2014). ISBN: 978-0062302427. 384p.