Fiction | Stacy Alesi's BookBitch.com™

THE DACHSHUND WEARS PRADA by Stefanie London

July 28, 2023

Paws in the City, Book 1

From the publisher:

How do you start over when the biggest mistake of your life has more than one million views?

Forget diamonds—the internet is forever. Social media consultant Isla Thompson learned that lesson the hard way when she went viral for all the wrong reasons. A month later, Isla is still having nightmares about the moment she ruined a young starlet’s career and made herself the most unemployable influencer in Manhattan. But she doesn’t have the luxury of hiding until she’s no longer Instagram poison. Not when her fourteen-year-old sister, Dani, needs Isla to keep a roof over their heads. So, she takes the first job she can get: caring for Camilla, a glossy-maned, foul-tempered hellhound.

After a week of ferrying Camilla from playdates to pet psychics, Isla starts to suspect that the dachshund’s bark is worse than her bite—just like her owner, Theo Garrison. Isla has spent her career working to make people likable and here’s Theo—happy to hide behind his reputation as a brutish recluse. But Theo isn’t a brute—he’s sweet and funny, and Isla should not see him as anything but the man who signs her paychecks. Because loving Theo would mean retreating to his world of secluded luxury, and Isla needs to show Dani that no matter the risk, dreams are always worth chasing.

“London’s characters leap off the page… It’s a delightful start to a series that promises to be good fun.”—Publishers Weekly
https://amzn.to/3XWGFlN

Stefanie London is on my must read list – this rom-com is a prime example of why. Camilla is a long-haired dachshund with a serious attitude. Her owner was a famous, wealthy New Yorker who has passed away, leaving her beloved Camilla to the grandson she raised and loved – but neglected to tell him. Camilla is none too fond of Theo, to say the least, and her behavior has gone from bad to worse in her grief. Theo is a famous New York City recluse who has no patience for, well, much of anything. He likes his hermit status and has no plans of changing it.

After losing so many dog walkers that the agency refuses to help him anymore, he dons a disguise – hat, sunglasses – and takes Camilla on a walk through Central Park. There he runs into Isla and her sister. Isla was a professional social media influencer, or rather she worked for a management company that helps influencers raise their standing and their income. When she accidentally broadcasts her latest client, an underage Disney princess, drinking champagne, voicing some terribly un-Disney-like words with the grand finale of vomiting all over herself, that video goes viral, and Isla is fired.

Theo is amazed that Camilla goes right up to Isla and seems to like her – the dog likes no one, unless she is biting them. He offers Isla the dogsitting job on the spot. Desperate for some income, she jumps on the opportunity to restock her coffers while figuring out her next step.

There is something about Isla that gets under Theo’s defenses and he finds himself incredibly drawn to her. They both realize it isn’t the greatest idea, the power imbalance alone is a huge hurdle. But they can’t stop their feelings and they take things to the next level.

Meanwhile, slightly bored with her dogsitting job, Isla starts taking pictures of Camilla – not anything where she or Theo could be identified, and creates a social media account for the dog she calls “C” online. She is amusing herself and a few others, that is until the number of followers starts climbing and climbing. Inspired by her success, Isla sees this as the opportunity she has been looking for. She will start her own influencer marketing company for animals. Then she can quit dogsitting for her boss/lover and their relationship can move forward.

Of course, nothing goes quite the way Isla was hoping. Theo finds out about the social media account before she can tell him what she’s been doing, and he feels completely betrayed. The happy ending seems to be completely out of reach, but nonetheless Theo and Isla get their happily ever after. And we get a whole lot of laughs along the way. Looking forward to the next book in the series, Pets of Park Avenue, which I found through my library. I have the third book, Confessions of a Canine Drama Queen, ready to go – it comes out August 1.

7/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE DACHSHUND WEARS PRADA by Stefanie London. HQN; Original edition (May 3, 2022). ISBN:‎ 978-1335639837. 336p.

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THE HAPPINESS PLAN by Susan Mallery

July 28, 2023

From the publisher:

A USA TODAY BESTSELLER!

Three women search for joy in #1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery’s new novel of hope, heartache, and the power of friendship.

Heather is happy . . . ish. She has a successful business, a cute but contemptuous cat, and best friends Daphne and Tori who know where she’s broken and love her anyway. So why does she feel crushed when her ex gets serious about someone new? No problem, she has a plan. More connections will hold her together while her world falls apart, so she finally reaches out to the stranger who might be her dad.

Daphne isn’t having an emotional affair, despite what her husband believes. He started the rift in their marriage when he said they weren’t ready for a baby. They used to be the closest couple she knew. Can they find their way back to one another before it’s too late?

When Tori forms an inconvenient crush on Daphne’s brother-in-law, she suppresses her feelings. Until her apartment floods, and she moves in with the dog-loving doctor. If things go wrong, she could lose her friends. . . but if they go right, she could lose her heart.

“This novel of emotional honesty and found family will appeal to readers of Jill Shalvis and Kristan Higgins…Mallery is a reliable star of relationship fiction, and her latest is a great choice for beach-read season.”–Booklist
https://amzn.to/43wvuRY

Mallery excels at female friendship and romance; the combination is irresistible here. Heather didn’t have the greatest childhood, partly because she never knew her father. But when one of the online DNA websites confirms a match for her father, she is torn about what to do with the info. Daphne is married and a great step-mom to her husband’s kids from his first marriage, and they always agreed to having a child of their own. Daphne is a high powered lawyer who works a lot of hours. When one of her colleagues sends her flowers, she finds it a bit unusual but doesn’t think much of it. But when her husband finds out, he is terribly hurt and angry, and immediately assumes she is having an affair.

Tori has no family to speak of, and her two best friends fill that void in her life. She has strong feelings for one of her friend’s brothers, but is afraid to act on it because she’s afraid if things go wrong, she’ll lose her friends.

All three women work through their problems, helping one another until they reach their happily ever afters. I was immediately drawn into these characters and their stories, and couldn’t put the book down! Another terrific read from one of my favorite authors.

7/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE HAPPINESS PLAN by Susan Mallery. MIRA; Original edition (June 20, 2023). ISBN:‎ 978-0778333555. 400p.

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Spotlight Review: EVERYONE HERE IS LYING by Shari Lapena

July 25, 2023

From the publisher:

Another thrilling domestic suspense novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Couple Next Door

“Lapena is a master of manipulation.” —USA Today

Welcome to Stanhope. A safe neighborhood. A place for families.

William Wooler is a family man, on the surface. But he’s been having an affair, an affair that ended horribly this afternoon at a motel up the road. So when he returns to his house, devastated and angry, to find his difficult nine-year-old daughter, Avery, unexpectedly home from school, William loses his temper.

Hours later, Avery’s family declares her missing.

Suddenly Stanhope doesn’t feel so safe. And William isn’t the only one on his street who’s hiding a lie. As witnesses come forward with information that may or may not be true, Avery’s neighbors become increasingly unhinged.

Who took Avery Wooler?

Nothing will prepare you for the truth.

“As usual, Lapena offers a clever, disturbing page-turner with deeply flawed characters and a stunning conclusion.” —Booklist

“The suspense here is real; Lapena does a great job of exposing layers of domestic dishonesty and betrayal one conversation at a time…[Everyone Here Is Lying] succeeds as a domestic thriller and procedural.” —Kirkus
https://amzn.to/44rsyYo

Shari Lapena has truly perfected the domestic thriller. She takes suburbia to the dark, twisted places that fill our nightmares and the local evening news. This story is based on a missing child, which seemingly happens way too often.

Avery Woolery is a nine-year-old problem child. She’s difficult, headstrong, and disobedient and has caused a lot of trouble in her parent’s marriage. Her mother only sees the good in her and is oblivious to her lying, manipulative ways. Her older brother is 12, and he recognizes how manipulative she can be, as does her father. He is a well-respected surgeon and is having an affair with a neighbor, Nora, who volunteers at the hospital where he works. Nora is also married with two children, and the guilt is really getting to her. She finally tells William that she can’t do this anymore and ends things.

William is upset and decides to go home so he can be alone for a little while. But when he gets home, Avery is there by herself. She is supposed to be at school, and her brother is supposed to walk her home. But she tells William she got ejected from choir practice for misbehaving and decided to walk home alone. She is very mouthy to him, and in his bad mood, he snaps and slaps her so hard that she falls to the floor. He is immediately contrite and begs her forgiveness, but she won’t even look at him. He takes off, leaving her home alone, and drives around for another hour or so.

Meanwhile, Avery’s brother goes to pick her up, but since she’s not there, he hurries home. When he can’t find her, he calls his mom. She starts panicking, running out of her office and heading home. Then William arrives, and there is still no sign of Avery. William figures she must have run away to teach him a lesson, but when a frantic search of the area is fruitless, the police are called. But he doesn’t tell anyone that he had been home and had struck Avery.

The two detectives are fairly new partners, but seem to work well together. They find some inconsistencies with William’s story of leaving work early and driving around for a few hours, ending up treating the home as a crime scene, with William as their prime suspect. But as they canvas the neighborhood and the parents do their TV plea for help, they start chasing down all the info they gleam. There is a lot of finger-pointing from the neighbors, and yes, everyone is lying – or at least appears to be.

The ending was a bit rushed, and not everything is tied up neatly at the end, but it is a page-turner for sure. Pamela Dorman Books never disappoints. Be prepared to see copies of this book everywhere this summer; it is the quintessential beach read, unputdownable, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

7/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

EVERYONE HERE IS LYING by Shari Lapena. Pamela Dorman Books (July 25, 2023). ISBN:‎ 978-0593489932. 336p.

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LAST BRIDE STANDING by Ginny Baird

July 21, 2023

Majestic Maine, Book 3

From the publisher:

Opposites attract―and go head-to-head―in this cheerfully irresistible small-town romance.

With just ten days left till her folks’ loan comes due, ever-pragmatic Charlotte Delaney is officially throwing in the towel on the bet that she made with her sisters. It looks like it’s up to her to save their parents’ café and beloved home with a marriage of convenience to her family’s rival. It’s time to get the in-name-only nuptials over with. Of course, Charlotte’s never been one to easily admit defeat…

Aidan Strong has exactly zero intentions of marrying one of the Delaney sisters―even Charlotte, his first crush. He’s come to Majestic, Maine, to make things right…only Charlotte has other plans.

She’s challenging Aidan to a new wager. And the prize? His billion-dollar coffee empire. Now the tiny seaside town of Majestic is about to witness the ultimate game of hearts…and winner takes all.

Each book in the Majestic Main series is STANDALONE:
* First Bride to Fall
* Second Bride Down
* Last Bride Standing

“There’s no denying the appeal of this quaint Maine town and the loves that blossom within it.”-Publishers Weekly
https://amzn.to/3D0O1es

At one time, Aidan and Charlotte’s parents were best friends and business partners, but that time is long past. While Aidan’s parents turned their half of the business into a global empire, Charlotte’s parents ended up with a coffee shop. After a death in the family, the moms have cooked up a plan to marry off Aidan to Charlotte, as she is the only sister not engaged already. Charlotte is ready to do her part in saving her parent’s business, so she is shocked when Aidan arrives from England to announce he is not marrying anyone. He offers them half his business, but that’s not good enough for Charlotte. She challenges him to a wager: whoever sells the most cups of coffee at the upcoming town festival gets the entire company. And a bet is made.

What Aidan and Charlotte didn’t count on was falling in love. Spending all that time together has brought them closer than ever, but Charlotte is stubborn and has dug her heels into this competition. The happy ending is inevitable, and it is easy to suspend your disbelief until they get there. This is the third book in the series (somehow, I missed the second one,) and it is a good ending to the series. I’m looking forward to whatever Baird does next.

7/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

LAST BRIDE STANDING by Ginny Baird. Entangled: Amara (June 27, 2023). ISBN:‎ 978-1649373724. 384p.

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SATISFACTION GUARANTEED by Lauren Blakely

July 21, 2023

Always Satisfied, Book 1

From the publisher:

Indulge in a second chance standalone romance by #1 NYT bestseller Lauren Blakely!

The first rule of working together? Don’t fall for the boss’s daughter. Definitely don’t fall for her when you’re trying to buy the business.
The trouble is Sloane is smack dab next me from 9 to freaking 5. And she’s as captivating, brilliant, and sexy as ever, which means I’m taking more than the recommended dosage of office romance temptation every day. Make that every single second, because she’s not only “the one” — she’s the one who got away.
But she’s the very definition of off-limits, so I keep my hands to myself. Fine, we might flirt. Okay, we do indulge in the occasional dirty text. And there was that one time when we kissed on the street. But we’ve been good since then.
Until the night she issues me a challenge — seven nights of O lessons and then we walk away. Sounds like a simple arrangement.
But I was never good with those kind of rules
https://amzn.to/43oJAVL

I love Lauren Blakely’s books – she is a great storyteller, writes great sex scenes, and imbues her romances with enough angst, drama, and laughs to make the pages flow. She is mostly (entirely?) a self-published author, and I have yet to find advance copies of her books on either of the mainstream egalley providers. That means I either have to buy them, a big no-no for a reviewer with access to thousands of egalleys, or get them from my library when they have them (on occasion) or through Kindle Unlimited. I grabbed the three-month free trial of Kindle Unlimited right before Prime Days, and I plan to utilize it as much as I can (see former comment about thousands of egalleys!) This was one of the first books I grabbed.

This is a super steamy, second-chance romance in a work setting. Malone is a veterinarian, like his father was before he passed away. Even though his father is gone, he feels a strong desire to please him, to follow the career path that would have made his father proud. He lands a job in an upscale clinic in Manhattan, and his boss becomes his mentor.

Just before landing this job, he met Sloane, and they shared an incredible week together. But when Malone interviews for this job, he notices a picture of Sloane on his new boss’s desk – he’s her father. Malone ends things with Sloane because he’s pretty sure his new boss wouldn’t like it. One of the things they had in common was their love of animals – Sloane has her own foundation and animal rescue.

Meanwhile, Malone is hoping his mentor retires so he can take over the practice, but it is happening on a much longer timeline than he envisioned. As Sloan comes around the office and eventually moves her office there, they are both sure they did the right thing by ending it seven years earlier. But it is impossible to work next to one another and ignore their explosive chemistry. Eventually, they both get everything they want and their happy ending. Blakely is always a sure thing for a fast-paced, sexy romance.

7/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

SATISFACTION GUARANTEED by Lauren Blakely. Little Dog Press (June 10, 2019). ISBN:‎ 978-1732575561. 302p.

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Spotlight Review: THE SUMMER OF SONGBIRDS by Kristy Woodson Harvey

July 18, 2023

From the publisher:

Four women come together to save the summer camp that changed their lives and rediscover themselves in the process in this moving new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Wedding Veil and the Peachtree Bluff series.

Nearly thirty years ago, in the wake of a personal tragedy, June Moore bought Camp Holly Springs and turned it into a thriving summer haven for girls. But now, June is in danger of losing the place she has sacrificed everything for, and begins to realize how much she has used the camp to avoid facing difficulties in her life.

June’s niece, Daphne, met her two best friends, Lanier and Mary Stuart, during a fateful summer at camp. They’ve all helped each other through hard things, from heartbreak and loss to substance abuse and unplanned pregnancy, and the three are inseparable even in their thirties. But when attorney Daphne is confronted with a relationship from her past—and a confidential issue at work becomes personal—she is faced with an impossible choice.

Lanier, meanwhile, is struggling with tough decisions of her own. After a run-in with an old flame, she is torn between the commitment she made to her fiancé and the one she made to her first love. And when a big secret comes to light, she finds herself at odds with her best friend…and risks losing the person she loves most.

But in spite of their personal problems, nothing is more important to these songbirds than Camp Holly Springs. When the women learn their childhood oasis is in danger of closing, they band together to save it, sending them on a journey that promises to open the next chapters in their lives.

From an author whose “writing coats your soul with heart” (E! Online), The Summer of Songbirds is a lyrical and unforgettable celebration of female friendship, summertime freedom, and enduring sisterhood—and a love letter to the places and people that make us who we are.

“Harvey reminds us that sisterhood can take many forms…With a strong dose of nostalgia and multiple narrations from Daphne, Lanier, and June, the book will appeal to Mary Kay Andrews and Katherine Center fans, who will revel in the support the women demonstrate for one another.”—Booklist

“Equal parts moving and nostalgic, Kristy Woodson Harvey’s latest novel is a story of four friends who unite to save a summer camp and find out much more about friendship, love, and their own lives in the process.”—Southern Living

“Anyone in the sleepaway camp mood? Now that our kids’ trunks are in their cabins, it’s the perfect time to dive into this beautiful, heartwarming narrative by New York Times bestselling author and southern sensation Kristy Woodson Harvey. [An] ode to female friendship and the places that shape us into who we are.”—Good Morning America
https://amzn.to/46KqcoW

This author was new to me, but I’ve heard great things about her over the years and I’m not sure why it took me so long to get here. Better late than never, and this was a glorious read, especially if you have fond memories of sleepaway camp.

I did not have the experience of returning to the same camp summer after summer, but I did attend a variety of sleepaway camps, mostly in upstate New York. I loved the escape of camp, to be away from my divorced but still warring parents, to spend so much time outdoors in the freezing mornings and hot afternoons, to learn new skills like diving, rowing, water-skiing (ok, I never quite learned how to water-ski but it wasn’t for lack of trying!) archery, horseback riding, making lanyards (the only craft I mastered!) and of course, boys. But I have wandered way off course here, and if you attended camp, you probably will, too. This book brought back a lot of memories.

The three women at the heart of this story met their first summer at camp when they were six-years-old; their age group was called Songbirds, and the girls became lifelong friends. When the camp is in danger of going under, they flock together to try and save it. That is the basic premise of the story, and that’s all you really need to know about the plot.

What you should know is that these characters are fully realized on the page – I felt like if I took a trip to their small North Carolina town, I’d recognize them all. This was a nostalgic read and brought back so many wonderful summer memories. I loved watching their friendships grow from childhood to adulthood, and how much these women cared about one another and their families. Not everything was an easy ride though; they deal with serious topics like drug abuse, death, single motherhood, and much more. There is also a touch of romance, which I appreciated, and a happy ending. And one of the characters owns a bookstore, which was just the icing on this delicious cake. If you are looking for a charming, beautifully written, nostalgic summer read, look no further. I loved it.

7/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE SUMMER OF SONGBIRDS by Kristy Woodson Harvey. Gallery Books (July 11, 2023). ISBN:‎ 978-1668010822. 368p.

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BUSINESS OR PLEASURE by Rachel Lynn Solomon

July 14, 2023

From the publisher:

A ghostwriter and a struggling actor help each other on the page and in the bedroom in this steamy romantic comedy from the New York Times bestselling author of The Ex Talk.

Chandler Cohen has never felt more like the ghost in “ghostwriter” until she attends a signing for a book she wrote—and the author doesn’t even recognize her. The evening turns more promising when she meets a charming man at the bar and immediately connects with him. But when all their sexual tension culminates in a spectacularly awkward hookup, she decides this is one night better off forgotten.

Unfortunately, that’s easier said than done. Her next project is ghostwriting a memoir for Finn Walsh, a C-list actor best known for playing a lovable nerd on a cult classic werewolf show who now makes a living appearing at fan conventions across the country. Chandler knows him better from their one-night stand of hilarious mishaps.

Chandler’s determined to keep their partnership as professional as possible, but when she admits to Finn their night together wasn’t as mind-blowing as he thought it was, he’s distraught. He intrigues her enough that they strike a deal: when they’re not working on his book, Chandler will school Finn in the art of satisfaction. As they grow closer both in and out of the bedroom, they must figure out which is more important, business or pleasure—or if there’s a way for them to have both.

ABOUT BUSINESS OR PLEASURE

An Indie Next Pick
A LibraryReads Hall of Fame Pick

Named a Most Anticipated Summer Read by Buzzfeed, Glamour, Town & Country, BookRiot, and more!

“Solomon consistently balances spicy and sweet, making her romance novels a sure bet for a good read. A must-read modern romance that emphasizes silliness and sexiness in equal parts. Solomon’s best yet.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Solomon delights with this hot and heartfelt rom-com…This is a joy.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Sweet, steamy, and satisfying, this is sure to please readers.”—Library Journal

“Fans of comic conventions and Hollywood crushes will adore Solomon’s sexy celebrity romance…Finn is exactly the book-boyfriend readers will adore.”—Booklist
https://amzn.to/3D0O1es

I loved Solomon’s earlier books and this one is another winner! It is also one of the sexiest romances, so if you are not a fan of sex on the page, look elsewhere.

Chandler and Finn meet at a bar next door to the bookshop where she attended a signing. The author didn’t recognize Chandler, which she found really off-putting since she was the actual ghostwriter of the book. Finn seems like a nice guy and there is some real chemistry there, so they end up in his hotel room where sadly, Chandler fakes an orgasm before sneaking out of the room.

When Chandler’s agent calls with her next ghostwriting job, it turns out to be a memoir of a TV cult classic star who has spent most of his career since that show doing Hallmark movies and traveling the Comic-Con circuit. And he is also her one-night stand.

Chandler takes the job; the money is too good to pass up, plus she’ll get to travel to all the Comic-Cons with Finn. As they get to know one another, Chandler tells him she faked it with him. A blow to the male ego for sure, but then he asks his former long-time girlfriend, and she concurs. Humbled, Finn asks Chandler if she would perhaps help him learn how to please a woman in bed. She agrees, and as they travel the country, she learns more about him and his definite ideas about what he wants his book to say. They fall in love, but as always, there are obstacles in their way.

What I loved about this book was how they both learned from one another, and helped each other grow and achieve more than they dreamed possible. There are a lot of laughs along the way as well. This was a fast, fun, sexy read, and I highly recommend it.

7/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

BUSINESS OR PLEASURE by Rachel Lynn Solomon. Berkley (July 4, 2023). ISBN:‎ 978-0593548530. 384p.

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BETTING ON A GOOD LUCK COWBOY by Sara Richardson

July 14, 2023

Star Valley, Book 2

From the publisher:

A former SEAL and his best friend’s widow find that the path of healing leads to forbidden feelings in this emotional western romance for fans of Maisey Yates and Jennifer Ryan!

For widow Tess Valdez, there are two things keeping her husband’s memory alive: her daughters and the ranch he loved. And Tess has thrown herself into caring for both. But when the wild horses that roam her land are threatened, Tess seizes the opportunity to become their advocate—and finds a new purpose that is hers alone. She expects resistance from some of the locals, but what she doesn’t anticipate is needing the one man she can’t have by her side…

No one understands Tess’s pain better than SEAL Silas Beck. He lost his best friend on the battlefield, and he’s spent every day since living up to the promise he’d made Jace to take care of the family he left behind. Falling for Tess was never supposed to happen, and Silas knows he should leave for both of their sakes—but he can’t say no when she asks him for one last favor. Even if staying means confronting feelings they’d both rather ignore . . .

“This is a must-read for cowboy romance fans.”—Publishers Weekly
https://amzn.to/3JRQ8oF

I’ve read many of Sara Richardson’s books and enjoyed them all, but somehow I miss books in every series. I need to pay closer attention! This is the second book of a series, and I have the first book but haven’t read it yet – but I will.

This is a good cowboy romance with a strong storyline besides the romance – saving wild mustangs. In this small ranching town, Tess is shocked to learn that some of her neighbors are killing the wild horses. Tess is a widow whose husband was a Navy SEAL. His friends and fellow SEALs have returned to town and have a construction company. When Tess finds an injured mustang and Silas, her husband’s best friend, helps bring the horse back to the ranch so he can heal.

Silas has strong feelings for Tess but thinks she wouldn’t be interested. Until they have a one-night stand. There is a lot of chemistry there but Tess thinks they shouldn’t let anyone know and that pisses Silas off. Nevertheless, he’s on board to help with the injured animal and helps her try and rally the town to stop hurting these horses. Most of the ranchers agree except one…

Meanwhile, Silas thinks he’s not good enough for Tess and decides to re-up with the SEALs. Tess finds out who is shooting at the horses, and things heat up between Silas and Tess. There are a lot of hurdles before these two can find their happy ending, and I couldn’t put the book down until everything was resolved. This is another good read from a terrific author.

7/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

BETTING ON A GOOD LUCK COWBOY by Sara Richardson. Forever (June 6, 2023). ISBN:‎ 978-1538725900. 480p.

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Spotlight Review: GOOD FORTUNE by C.K. Chau

July 11, 2023

From the publisher:

A whip-smart and charming debut novel that brilliantly reimagines Pride and Prejudice, set in contemporary Chinatown, exploring contemporary issues of class divides, family ties, cultural identity, and the pleasures and frustrations that come with falling in love.

When Elizabeth Chen’s ever-hustling realtor mother finally sells the beloved if derelict community center down the block, the new owners don’t look like typical New York City buyers. Brendan Lee and Darcy Wong are good Chinese boys with Hong Kong money. Clean-cut and charismatic, they say they are committed to cleaning up the neighborhood. To Elizabeth, that only means one thing: Darcy is looking to give the center an uptown makeover.

Elizabeth is determined to fight for community over profit, even if it means confronting the arrogant, uptight man every chance she gets. But where clever, cynical Elizabeth sees lemons, her mother sees lemonade. Eager to get Elizabeth and her other four daughters ahead in the world (and out of their crammed family apartment), Mrs. Chen takes every opportunity to keep her investors close. Closer than Elizabeth likes.

The more time they spend together, the more conflicted Elizabeth feels…until a shocking betrayal forces her to reconsider everything she thought she knew about love, trust, and the kind of person Darcy Wong really is.
https://amzn.to/3SIxNOb

This debut novel by the pseudonymous C.K. Chau is an updated retelling of Pride and Prejudice with an Asian American twist, set in New York City’s Chinatown around the turn of the 21st century. The protagonists are Elizabeth Chen, Darcy Wong, and their families and friends, all with similar Austen-like names. Elizabeth’s mother is a realtor who has finally sold her white whale, the community center of Chinatown. Darcy heads the company that purchased the building, putting him in direct conflict with Elizabeth, who’s determined to keep the community center from becoming an upscale mall.

Darcy and Elizabeth come from different worlds; his, a wealthy Hong Kong family, and hers, a large family all crammed into a tiny NYC apartment, adding humor amid the chaos. The plot line of Pride and Prejudice remains intact here, and the story reaches its denouement with Darcy to the rescue, causing Elizabeth to reexamine her prejudices and forcing Darcy to set aside his pride. While it takes a while to get there, the rest of the novel speeds by until everyone gets their happy ending.

Verdict: Jane Austen fans should enjoy this, especially those who like the modern, multicultural reimaginings of her novels, such as Sonali Dev’s Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors and Uzma Jalaluddin’s Ayesha at Last.

7/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

GOOD FORTUNE by C.K. Chau. HarperVia (July 11, 2023). ISBN: 978-0063293762. 416p.

Kindle

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THE LITTLE BOOKSTORE ON HEART LAKE LANE by Sarah Robinson

July 7, 2023

Heart Lake, Book 2

From the publisher:

In this charming installment of the Heart Lake series, a grumpy single dad and a small-town bookseller—who’s secretly an advice columnist—find love when they least expect it.

As chaotic as it can be, Rosie Dean loves her unruly life. But between raising twins alone, running her struggling bookshop, and secretly writing a parenting advice column, the single mom can’t think about dating. At least that’s what she tells herself . . . until her high school crush (and his incredible blue eyes) return to Heart Lake for the summer. Even though Evan has grown into a huge grump, he’s still a super sexy one, and soon sparks begin to fly.

Single dad and widower Evan Mills is used to hearing he’s too serious. But with a grieving tween daughter to raise on his own, the graphic designer is just trying to stay strong for her. He hopes a few weeks at the lake will be the fresh start they both need. Evan never anticipated reconnecting with Rosie, or that she could make him feel whole again—if he’d give her the chance. Will one steamy summer with Rosie be long enough to melt Evan’s heart?
https://amzn.to/44hgSHH

I think this was my first time reading this author, and this book is part of a series. To be honest, I never would have known that so I think it’s fair to say it stands alone. And it was a really good read!

Sometimes I just want complete fluff, an escape from everything going on in the world that terrifies me, but other times I want my happy ending but with a bit more substance. I think this books falls into the latter category.

Evan is a widower with a young daughter and both are still grieving their loss. He decides to move home to this small town for the summer, thinking a change of scenery will do them both good. He was so very right about that.

Rosie is a single mom raising her twins on her own. She is definitely not one to feel sorry for herself; instead, she works hard to give her kids all the love they need, struggles to make her bookstore a success, and on the side, she writes a parenting column, which of course Evan stumbles upon. They start a correspondence while in real life, Evan and Rosie reconnect. Evan was her high school crush, so it’s been a while, but the attraction is still there. On both sides.

It is easy to see where the romance is heading, but it’s the complications of being a single parent and grieving in a small town that really makes this story stand out. It’s also a story about blending families and dating while also being a parent. Highly recommend, and I will be looking for the first book in this series, Dreaming of a Heart Lake Christmas. Robinson also writes a lesbian romance series, and I may be checking those out as well.

7/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE LITTLE BOOKSTORE ON HEART LAKE LANE by Sarah Robinson. Forever (May 23, 2023). ISBN:‎ 978-1538755129. 336p.

Kindle

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