Fiction | Stacy Alesi's BookBitch.com™

THE FAKE OUT by Sharon M. Peterson

July 7, 2023

From the publisher:

I can’t lock up the library until the guy asleep at his desk leaves. Thank the universe for audiobooks because I could be here all night. But I see his mouth twitch at the exact moment a steamy kiss takes place. My face burns when I realize my headphones aren’t plugged in and my phone is at full volume.

It’s not every day you see a new face in my small hometown of Two Harts, let alone one belonging to an annoyingly handsome all-star NFL player. But for some reason Chris Sterns has decided that the library where I work is his go-to spot to hide from his mega-fans, and unfortunately, winding me up is his new favorite sport.

Being crowned “world’s sexiest man” has done little to curb his confident charm and when he somehow ropes me into his two-person book club, I can’t help warming to his endless positivity.

But when a photo of him stumbling out of a Las Vegas club with a woman in tow is leaked to the press, I can’t help but question whether his good boy persona is just an act.

And that’s far from the only answer I’m left searching for when Chris pops the question I’ve only ever heard in my favorite romance books. Did he really just ask me to marry him?

It’s not the proposal I was expecting, but with my mom’s medical bills piling up faster than I can pay them, and with the scandal threatening to ruin everything Chris has worked for; could an engagement be the perfect fake out for us both? Or is this a game we’ll both lose?

A totally uplifting and addictive friends-to-lovers romance full of laugh-out-loud moments. Perfect for fans of Emily Henry, Sarah Adams and Olivia Dade.
https://amzn.to/3PJbWGV

This author was new to me, and I think this is just her second novel after The Do Over, (which I will be reading for free thanks to Kindle Unlimited!)

This is a sweet romance between a grumpy girl, our librarian heroine Mae, and the man of sunshine and forever in a good mood, star football player Chris. He is hiding out in this small town and the meet-cute happens in the library, where he is napping when Mae is trying to close up. Turns out Chris is a reader, and he talks her into joining his romance book club. This two-member club brings them together, but when a video of Chris and a half-naked woman goes viral, Mae suspects he might not be completely forthcoming with her.

Chris is one of the good guys of football, spending his off time helping raise funds for a children’s hospital and pediatric cardiac research. But the hospital is having doubts about having him as their spokesperson in light of the recent video. His agent and publicist cook up an idea; get him a fiancee stat. Who better than the sweet librarian, Mae, to turn around his reputation? Turns out Mae is more than a librarian, she moonlights on weekends at a Hooters-type restaurant. Her mother had a severe stroke, and even with insurance, the medical bills are astronomical. Chris offers her money to be his fake fiancee for three months and not being an idiot, she takes him up on his offer and takes a leave of absence from her waitressing job.

The more time they spend together, the more real their feelings grow, but Chris isn’t going to force himself on her – he wants Mae to want him for real too. Once their families get involved, things really get complicated, especially when an anonymous source is keeping the viral video in the spotlight.

This is a sweet romance, and I liked the juxtaposition of grumpy girl versus happy guy. For some reason, it’s usually the men who are the grumps in contemporary romcoms, so I liked that Peterson turned that on its head. I didn’t quite understand why Chris freezes Mae out before their happy ending, but I went with it. This was a laugh-out-loud yet heartfelt romance, and a thoroughly delightful read, perfect for summer.

One last comment: each chapter is titled with a bad pickup line, but I really loved some of them!

–Life without you would be like a broken pencil. Pointless

–Even if there was no gravity on Earth, I’d still fall for you

–Our love is like Pi, irrational and endless

7/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE FAKE OUT by Sharon M. Peterson. Bookouture (June 30, 2023). ISBN:‎ 978-1803149370. 384p.

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Spotlight Review: THE SECRET BOOK OF FLORA LEA by Patti Callahan Henry

July 4, 2023

From the publisher:

When a woman discovers a rare book that has connections to her past, long-held secrets about her missing sister and their childhood spent in the English countryside during World War II are revealed.

In the war-torn London of 1939, fourteen-year-old Hazel and five-year-old Flora are evacuated to a rural village to escape the horrors of the Second World War. Living with the kind Bridie Aberdeen and her teenage son, Harry, in a charming stone cottage along the River Thames, Hazel fills their days with walks and games to distract her young sister, including one that she creates for her sister and her sister alone—a fairy tale about a magical land, a secret place they can escape to that is all their own.

But the unthinkable happens when young Flora suddenly vanishes while playing near the banks of the river. Shattered, Hazel blames herself for her sister’s disappearance, and she carries that guilt into adulthood as a private burden she feels she deserves.

Twenty years later, Hazel is in London, ready to move on from her job at a cozy rare bookstore to a career at Sotheby’s. With a charming boyfriend and her elegantly timeworn Bloomsbury flat, Hazel’s future seems determined. But her tidy life is turned upside down when she unwraps a package containing an illustrated book called Whisperwood and the River of Stars. Hazel never told a soul about the imaginary world she created just for Flora. Could this book hold the secrets to Flora’s disappearance? Could it be a sign that her beloved sister is still alive after all these years?

As Hazel embarks on a feverish quest, revisiting long-dormant relationships and bravely opening wounds from her past, her career and future hang in the balance. An astonishing twist ultimately reveals the truth in this transporting and refreshingly original novel about the bond between sisters, the complications of conflicted love, and the enduring magic of storytelling.

“[A]ffecting…Henry’s offering shines most in its exploration of the ways relationships grow and adapt to time and trauma, making for a poignant meditation on the bonds of sisterhood. This captivates.”—Publishers Weekly

“Magical…an enchanting tribute to the power of storytelling.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“A charming story that weaves fairy tale, mystery, and historical importance with a good dose of romance, The Secret Book of Flora Lea will appeal to all ages, as the author unfurls a fantastic story about ‘an invisible place right here with us.’” New York Journal of Books

“In this heartfelt novel, Henry deftly examines the bonds of sisterhood while seamlessly melding the horrors of war with the comfort of fairy tales, reminding us that “telling stories is one of the greatest powers we possess.” The Washington Post
https://amzn.to/3Ptlhma

This was my first book by this author, and I’m not sure how she has escaped me! This was such a lovely book about storytelling and families and sisters and first loves, set in a backdrop of war but moving back and forth in time. It is a wonderful book, and everyone should read it.

I had never heard of Operation Pied Piper, but it was a real program where children from London were sent to live with strangers out in the English countryside to keep them safe from all the bombings during WWII. They packed up a few clothes, their gas masks, and were packed onto busses. In this story, Hazel, a young teenager, and her little sister Flora get lucky and a warm, loving woman agrees to house them during the War. That was not always the case; they meet another girl in the same village who was taken in by a “hag,” a nasty woman who, like some foster parents, took her in for the money she would be paid and to put her to work. But Hazel and Flora were very lucky, and Bridie is such a warm, loving mother figure to them, it makes the transition that much easier. She has a son, Harry, who is around the same age as Hazel, and he is an artist. He draws beautiful pictures of Flora and the lovely countryside and slips them under their bedroom door each night.

But that is only part of this story. Hazel has a vivid imagination, and she invents a fairytale for her younger sister, set in a small enchanted town with a “river of stars” running through it. She begins every story the same way, and the two girls are always in the story, sometimes as girls, but often as other fanciful beings, fairies, owls, etc. But then tragedy strikes; Flora goes missing and is never found. Hazel was with Harry at the time, and she can’t forgive herself or Harry for not keeping an eye on Flora, and she vows to never see him again.

Fast forward many years to 1960, and Hazel is working for a rare books dealer. It’s her last day on the job; she has gotten a new position at Sotheby’s. On her last day of work, her boss asks her to unpack a new shipment, which she does. To her shock, it is a fairytale about the place she invented as a child. The author’s name is unfamiliar, and she lives in the United States. Along with the book are some illustrations, and before she even realizes she’s done it, Hazel has taken them all and gone home.

Hazel has never accepted that Flora died. A few years later, a body of a young girl is found not that far from where they lived and the police consider the case closed, but Hazel does not. So when she finds this book, she is convinced more than ever that Flora must still be alive.

It’s a beautifully written, totally engrossing story that I hated to end. Book groups will find lots to discuss here. Put it on your summer reading list and enjoy!

7/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE SECRET BOOK OF FLORA LEA by Patti Callahan Henry. Atria Books (May 2, 2023). ISBN:‎ 978-1668011836. 368p.

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THE BEAST AND THE BOOKSELLER by Eva Devon

June 30, 2023

Once Upon a Wallflower, Book 1

From the publisher:

She’s about to make a beast of a bargain in this clever and deliciously engaging fairytale twist, from USA Today bestselling author Eva Devon…

All of London gossips about the Duke of Montrose. A recluse. Inflicted with a terrible disease. A gargoyle with a terrible temper. But he’s also the most important patron of the centuries-old book shop that belongs to Miss Elizabeth Sharpe’s family. Now she’s been charged with delivering books to the Gargoyle of London herself—or risk their shop falling into ruin. But surely a duke can’t be that ghastly…

Garrett Maximilian doesn’t give a tinker’s damn what society says about him. Most of them are sycophants, bowing and scraping in his presence. But not this proud, redheaded spitfire of a woman standing before him. In fact, nothing makes him feel more alive than Miss Elizabeth tartly criticizing his books. Perhaps he just needs a plan to keep her close…

The duke’s glower doesn’t terrify Elizabeth as much as it fascinates her. And worse, he looks at her with a dark hunger that should make her shake with fear—not desire. But Elizabeth’s father has sinister plans in store for his daughter…and this beastly duke might be her only salvation.
https://amzn.to/3XkswyO

I love when I start a new series with a book as good as this one. I’ve enjoyed other books from this author, so it was a no-brainer to pick up this one.

Elizabeth helps her father run their family-owned business, a bookstore. In reality, ever since her mother died, her father has taken to the bottle, leaving Elizabeth to do everything in the store. Much to her amazement, one day the Duke of Montrose comes to the store. Her father has been delivering books every week to the Duke’s home forever, so she can’t imagine why he’s come to the shop. Until he tells her – her father hasn’t been making his deliveries, and Elizabeth wasn’t aware of that. The Duke is their biggest and best client – he basically keeps the store afloat, so without his patronage, there is little hope for the store to remain solvent.

Out of desperation, Elizabeth starts making the deliveries herself and thoroughly enjoys discussing books with the Duke. He has a terrible reputation as a recluse and a man of little to no patience. But to his amazement, she has no qualms about standing up to him, and he greatly enjoys their conversations. As they get to know one another, other feelings emerge, and while Elizabeth knows that nothing could ever happen with their class differences, nonetheless, she falls for the Duke.

Then her father gets the idea of marrying her off for enough money to keep the shop going a little longer. Elizabeth is horrified by the man he wants her to marry but doesn’t seem to have much say in the matter. But then her father gets an even worse idea.

It’s easy to see that the solution to Elizabeth’s dilemma would be if the Duke offered for her, but forcing him into that position is next to impossible. Until he decides it’s the best idea he’s ever had…

This was a good story – I’m all in any time there are books central to the plot! There are some steamy scenes between the Duke and Elizabeth, but their romance is what makes the pages sing. This is a short book at 240 pages, but the characters come to life on the page, and while it’s a fast read, it never feels like anything is missing. That is no easy feat for a short book like this, but Devon has the story-telling chops to pull it off. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series; The Duke and the Dressmaker comes out in August.

6/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE BEAST AND THE BOOKSELLER by Eva Devon. Entangled: Amara (June 5, 2023). ISBN: 979-8397765213. 240p.

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A LOVE CATASTROPHE by Helena Hunting

June 30, 2023

From the publisher:

The fur is about to fly between a cheerful cat sitter and a grumpy hockey nerd in this hilarious and charming rom-com by the New York Times bestselling author of Meet Cute.

Kitty Hart has become internet famous as the Kitty Whisperer for her expertise on all things feline, and as a result, her cat-sitting business is booming. But lately, she has a terrible feeling that maybe her life isn’t quite going where it’s supposed to—especially after falling face-first into her newest client. Not exactly the best first impression.

Fortunately, Miles Thorn is just as bad at first impressions. Strike one: he doesn’t like cats, especially Prince Francis, the haughty and mischievous Sphynx his mom left in his care. Strike two: tackling Kitty to the floor in a misguided attempt to save the pet he continually calls “the gremlin.”

As awkwardness slides into attraction and things start to turn purr-sonal, will these two complete opposites ever be able to find their furry-tail ending?

“Hunting tugs at the heartstrings with this thoroughly charming and unexpectedly deep contemporary romance. …This fresh, fun, and at times heartbreaking tale will stay with readers long after the last page is turned.”―Publishers Weekly

“A delightful tale that will appeal to animal and romance lovers alike.”―Library Journal
https://amzn.to/3JzbBTf

I’ve read several of Hunting’s novels, and she is a good storyteller, but this one really pushes the boundary of cuteness. If you read the publisher’s synopsis, you will get an idea of what you are in for, more cutesy puns on cats than I even knew existed. And I am a cat person! However, cutesiness aside, the romance at the heart of this book is a good one. Plus there are some serious issues, so a break from that is welcome.

Miles Thorn is stuck taking care of his mother’s Sphynx cat, and apparently, there is no love lost between them. The cat attacks him on the regular, so when he learns about the “Kitty Whisperer,” he is thrilled to find a catsitter to help out. Their first meeting is a disaster, but it’s the meet-cute that gets the story going.

As Kitty and Miles become closer, a romance starts to brew and these two really complement one another. Miles is dealing with the fact that his mother has pretty bad dementia, and the way she confuses him with his younger brother, who died in a terrible accident as a teen, isn’t making things any easier. The only light in his life is Kitty.

This was a fast read, and despite the seriousness of the storyline, there are still a lot of laughs here, along with a bit of heat. There was a lot of interesting cat information in this book as well, which I really enjoyed. I’ve heard of cats being toilet trained to literally use a toilet and flush it, which is mentioned here, but I didn’t know about cats being trained to ask for things (treats, pets) by stepping on corresponding buttons on something like a toy. I’ve heard about dogs being trained this way, but not cats, so that was interesting.

I did have a personal problem with a minor plot point. Miles drives a Tesla, which is great, except Kitty has to drive it in a few instances, so he gives her the keys. The first time she has to drive his car, he tells her you don’t need keys, which is correct. But two times after that, he gives her the key so she can drive it. This immediately pulled me out of the story. Teslas don’t have keys; they run off of an app on your phone, or a credit card looking thing for valets, or you can purchase a key fob from the company. As I read an early galley, I asked the publisher if this was corrected in the final copy. She asked for page numbers, which the egalley did not provide, so I sent her locations and screenshots of the text in question. This was her response:

“My sister actually works for Tesla so good questions – they don’t need an actual key to drive but they do need something to access the car. Although a lot of people just use their phones to access the car. (I can see why that wouldn’t work here.)”

She admitted it was a legitimate question, but just sort of intimated that it probably wasn’t changed because it wouldn’t have worked in the story. Which is just some lazy ass bullshit, so I’m calling her on it. Ms. Hunting, your publisher should have been on top of this.

If you don’t drive a Tesla, or don’t care about these kinds of details, please feel free to ignore it. Obviously, it bothered me, probably because I drive a Tesla! Other than that, it is a really good read.

6/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

A LOVE CATASTROPHE by Helena Hunting. Forever (June 13, 2023). ISBN:‎ 978-1538720066. 384p.

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Spotlight Review: THE BOYFRIEND CANDIDATE by Ashley Winstead

June 27, 2023

From the publisher:

A Sizzling Slow-Burn Romantic Comedy

A laugh-out-loud rom-com about learning to embrace living outside your comfort zone.

As a shy school librarian, Alexis Stone is comfortable keeping out of the spotlight. But when she’s dumped for being too meek—in bed!—she decides she needs to change. And what better way to kick-start her new more adventurous life than with her first one-night stand?

Enter Logan, the gorgeous, foul-mouthed stranger she meets at a hotel bar. Audacious and filterless, Logan is Alexis’s opposite—and boy, do opposites attract! Just as she’s about to fulfill her hookup wish, the hotel catches fire in a freak lightning storm. In their rush to escape, Logan is discovered carrying her into the street, where people are waiting with cameras. Cameras Logan promptly—and shockingly—flees.

Alexis is bewildered until suddenly pictures of her and Logan escaping the fire are all over the internet. Turns out Logan is none other than Logan Arthur, the hotshot candidate challenging the Texas governor’s seat. The salacious scandal is poised to sink his career—and jeopardize Alexis’s job—until a solution is proposed: he and Alexis could pretend to be in a relationship until election day…in two months. What could possibly go wrong?

“Winstead brings both hilarity and heartfelt moments to this rousing rom-com. Readers will cheer Alexis on her path to discovering her inner strength and swoon over idealistic Logan. This is a winner.”—Publishers Weekly, *STARRED review*

“This is a fast-paced, hard-to-put-down novel whose happily-ever-after isn’t what readers will expect; it’s better.”—Library Journal, *STARRED review*

“Mixing political and romantic intrigue, Winstead’s novel combines the darker side of politics with the lighter side of life. With a few steamy encounters and a ripped-from-the-headlines feel, The Boyfriend Candidate will appeal to fans of Lianne Moriarty, Ellen Meister, Amy Mason Doan, and anyone looking for a little more escapism in their political diet.”—Booklist

https://amzn.to/42OjJ9m

While I wouldn’t say I like politics, I am assiduously invested in what is happening in this country. I am well aware of the Texas governor and the contempt he holds for people who are BIPOC or immigrants and the man who tried (unsuccessfully) to take him down, Beto O’Rourke. This book is a true delight with a kinder, gentler view of Texas politics.

Alexis is devastated when her boyfriend dumps her and tells her she is lousy in bed. She decides the best way to get over him is to get under someone else, a one-night-stand, something she has never done before. She meets Logan in a bar and there is a really strong attraction between them. She goes with him to a hotel, prepared to take the plunge into sex with a stranger, when the fire alarm goes off and everyone is forced to evacuate. What she doesn’t understand is why he takes off as soon as he sees the cameras, but it’s too late. A photo of him carrying her out of the building is everywhere.

Turns out Logan is a young, good-looking politician running against the Republican governor. Being caught out like this could detonate his political future, so he and his team come up with a plan, if they can get Alexis on board, Logan and Alexis will pretend to be in a relationship until election day, two months down the road.

I always enjoy the fake dating trope, especially because I know where it will end, and this one has a bit more depth than most. Alexis is a shy, introverted librarian who is not used to being in the spotlight at all. She agrees to the fake dating but is soon feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the attention. Logan has a reputation as a player, but in truth, he is over it. Alexis is the first woman to grab his attention in a while.

As the race heats up, so does their relationship. There are hurdles galore and a lot of laughs along with the heat, making this a terrific, fast-paced, unputdownable romance. Don’t miss it!

6/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE BOYFRIEND CANDIDATE by Ashley Winstead. Graydon House; Original edition (May 9, 2023). ISBN:‎ 978-1525804960. 384p.

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THE PARIS DAUGHTER by Kristin Harmel

June 23, 2023

From the publisher:

From the bestselling author of the “heart-stopping tale of survival and heroism” (People) The Book of Lost Names comes a gripping historical novel about two mothers who must make unthinkable choices in the face of the Nazi occupation.

Paris, 1939: Young mothers Elise and Juliette become fast friends the day they meet in the beautiful Bois de Boulogne. Though there is a shadow of war creeping across Europe, neither woman suspects that their lives are about to irrevocably change.

When Elise becomes a target of the German occupation, she entrusts Juliette with the most precious thing in her life—her young daughter, playmate to Juliette’s own little girl. But nowhere is safe in war, not even a quiet little bookshop like Juliette’s Librairie des Rêves, and, when a bomb falls on their neighborhood, Juliette’s world is destroyed along with it.

More than a year later, with the war finally ending, Elise returns to reunite with her daughter, only to find her friend’s bookstore reduced to rubble—and Juliette nowhere to be found. What happened to her daughter in those last, terrible moments? Juliette has seemingly vanished without a trace, taking all the answers with her. Elise’s desperate search leads her to New York—and to Juliette—one final, fateful time.

An “exquisite and gut-wrenching novel” (Lisa Barr, New York Times bestselling author) you won’t soon forget, The Paris Daughter is also a sweeping celebration of resilience, motherhood, and love.

The friendship between two American expats in WWII Paris leads to life-altering events in the powerful latest from Harmel…Harmel brings the novel’s historical moments to life through deep research and enriching historical facts, and she conveys an acute sense of her characters’ emotions as they face tragedy upon tragedy. This is Harmel’s best to date. Publishers Weekly, starred review
https://amzn.to/3p3v7jP

I don’t read a lot of these WWII/Holocaust novels because I find them upsetting, more so now in light of the rise of right-wing neo-Nazis and antisemitic attacks, and their embrace by our former twice impeached, twice indicted president. But it’s been a while and I heard good things about this book so I dove in.

I like that the two main characters aren’t Jewish, although a strong secondary character is. The book opens just as hints of the war in neighboring Germany are intensifying. As the Nazis move into France, tough decisions have to be made.

Elise is married to an artist with a good reputation, and she is an artist herself. Her husband doesn’t think much of her work, and her studio is shoved into a small, windowless room leaving the room with light for his studio. The marriage isn’t great, to say the least, but Elise is fairly content, if not happy. But as the war escalates, her husband becomes increasingly involved with an underground group of communists. Then Elise gets pregnant.

While walking through a park, she meets a young mother, Juliette, who is also pregnant. When Juliette realizes that Elise may be going into labor, she insists on bringing her to her nearby shop, a bookstore, and summons the doctor. It turns out to be false labor, but a real friendship is formed.

The women become best friends. Their daughters are born close together, and the little girls become best friends as well. And then the war moves in. Elise gets some devastating information and is forced to flee, but she will be easily recognized if she has her daughter with her. She begs Juliette to keep her daughter until she can safely return.

When the Americans start bombing the nearby car factory, many shops in the neighborhood are “accidentally” flattened as well, including the bookshop. When Elise finally arrives to claim her daughter, all she finds is the rubble of the store, and no one seems to know where Juliette is or what happened to her family.

This was an engaging story for sure, although the conflicts and resolutions can be seen from miles away. Even so, I shed a few tears along the way. Harmel is a good storyteller, and this was a really good read. This was the first book I’ve read from this popular author, and I am looking forward to seeing what she does next. If you like historical fiction, especially WWII fiction, give this book a try.

6/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE PARIS DAUGHTER by Kristin Harmel. Gallery Books (June 6, 2023). ISBN:‎ 978-1982191702. 384p.

Note: Amazon lists a paperback for sale, but it costs more than the hardcover. That usually means it is a large print edition, but it doesn’t explicitly say that.

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ALWAYS HER COWBOY by Addison Fox

June 23, 2023

Rustlers Creek, Book 3

From the publisher:

Back in Rustlers Creek, one cowboy discovers that a lifelong feud could become his forever romance…

Charlotte Wayne has detested Chance Beaumont since the fourth grade. Her bickering with the big, rugged cowboy has become legendary around their small Montana town. But little does anyone know, Charlotte’s animosity masks unspoken feelings… because underneath it all, Chance is the only man who ever truly claimed her heart.

Chance has spent his whole life in Rustlers Creek, but he’s always been on the outside looking in. He needs to focus on keeping his ranch afloat amid the massive debt left by his late father, and the feelings he harbors for Charlotte don’t make it any easier. She’s ranching royalty and he’s perpetually scrubbing mud off his boots. It’s safer to push her away than hope for something he can never have.

When a business opportunity forces Charlotte and Chance to work together, they share a heated moment in each other’s arms. The simmering attraction they’ve fought for years can no longer be ignored, but will Chance’s doubts stand in the way of their happiness? Or will he finally declare his love and prove to Charlotte that he’s always been her cowboy?

“Steamy sex scenes… Charlotte’s loyalty, however, is admirable and Chance’s big heart shines through all the drama. It’s a worthy addition to the series.” — Publishers Weekly
https://amzn.to/445ZvZI

This was my first time reading this author, so here I am again, starting a series completely out of order. I don’t think it mattered much, as I didn’t realize it was part of a series when I read it! There were no weird gaps or references to things I didn’t know about, or if there were, I didn’t notice, so kudos to Ms. Fox. Well done.

Chance and Charlotte grew up together and always had a special closeness. But Charlotte is the daughter of the most successful rancher in this small town, and Chance’s father was a bad businessman and a terrible father. Chance inherits a debt-ridden ranch and doesn’t feel worthy of Charlotte, no matter how much they adore one another. Men and their foolish pride make up many male protagonists in romance novels, and probably in life, for that matter.

Charlotte is a strong, smart young woman, and even though this is a chauvinistic culture she is working in, she is nonetheless taken seriously because she works hard at it. I really liked how the idea of using drones for land surveying was introduced here; it made the book seem really up-to-date, at least in regards to ranching. But she still has to deal with small-town gossip, and that’s never fun.

When Chance finds out his land is worth way more than the debt his father ran up, you would think he may feel like things could work out with Charlotte, but it still takes a long time for him to get there. I really liked that money wasn’t the cure-all, it lent some realism to the story. I loved how connected I felt to these characters and couldn’t help but want them to find their happy ending. It was a struggle to get there, but it was all worth it in the end. If I can find the earlier books in this series in my library’s ebook collections, I’ll be back with more reviews. Meanwhile, I’m adding Addison Fox to my must-read list.

6/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

ALWAYS HER COWBOY by Addison Fox. Avon (May 23, 2023). ISBN:‎ 978-0063135307. 384p.

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Spotlight Review: THE SWEETHEART LIST by Jill Shalvis

June 20, 2023

Sunrise Cove Series, Book 4

From the publisher:

What makes life sweet?

Freshly baked bread

A cool lake on a hot summer day

The comfort of a cozy bookstore

Second chances and new beginnings

When Harper Shaw’s life falls apart, she knows it’s time for a change. She removes everything that doesn’t spark joy—from her soul-sucking job to eating kale to making lists—and sets off for the last place she was happy, Lake Tahoe (who wouldn’t feel good there, right?) to fulfill her dream of opening her own bakery.

With her Sugar Pine Bakery in between a tavern, owned by sexy, grumpy Bodie Campbell, and a bookstore, run by her new BFF, she feels a peace she’s never experienced since…well, forever.. Then she meets Ivy, a teenage runaway, who barrels into her heart. She sees a lot of herself in Ivy and takes her under her wing, but the teenager has secrets…

When those secrets explode, it changes Harper’s new world, and she’ll learn, it’s never too late to start over, it’s never too late to figure out your life, and best of all, it’s never too late to let yourself believe in love.

“This charming tale is just as welcoming as the cozy small-town community within which it’s set, and Shalvis hits the perfect blend of sweet and spicy. Readers will be thrilled.” — Publishers Weekly
https://amzn.to/3X6TiKX

This is the fourth book of a planned five-book series. I read the first two and somehow missed the third, but I found it on my Kindle and will get to it shortly. I now have over 6000 books on my Kindle, so I’ve gotten much better at keeping it organized, but I’m sorry to say I have let some books fall through the cracks. Each of these books stand alone beautifully.

Harper has had some serious losses in her life. The worst was losing her mother. She inherits a nice chunk of change and decides to open her own bakery. She wants to return to Sunrise Cove in Lake Tahoe, where she and her mom spent several summers together when she was young.

Harper arrives to a freak July snow, and her car gets stuck, and while she’s trying to figure out how to put the chains on her tires, a bear lumbers along and starts eating the popcorn that fell on the seat of her car. A man comes over, chases off the bear, and offers to help, but she is determined not to rely on a man for anything. She is a strong woman and can take care of herself. Brodie owns the bar next door to her bakery-to-be, and there is chemistry right from their inauspicious start.

Determined not to spend a penny she doesn’t have to, Harper is sleeping in the store even though the utilities aren’t on yet. During the night, she hears a noise and finds a young woman who has come in through the back door, looking for a place to sleep. Ivy claims she’s an emancipated minor, and she reminds Harper of herself, so she takes her in.

It turns out Brodie and his brothers are actually her landlords, and Harper and Brodie start spending a lot of time together getting the bakery ready to open. They quickly determine that neither of them is looking for a relationship, but nonetheless, they end up in one.

This is a heartwarming family story and a sweet romance set in a small town on Lake Tahoe. The main characters are fully realized; the secondary characters are interesting and often add humor to the story. I didn’t know there were small towns on Lake Tahoe – I’ve never been, and always just thought of it as a resort area.

Personal note: The epilogue was extremely touching to me – it turns out that Brodie had helped Harper climb down a wall at the summer camp she attended. They ran into each other for the four summers or so that Harper spent there, until her mother passed away. This was so meaningful to me because it mirrored something from my own childhood. Helayne was my best friend in elementary school. Her parents owned a fabric store in the town where my husband grew up. His mother, like Helayne’s mother, was an excellent seamstress and made a lot of clothes for her family. I hung out in that store on occasional Saturdays with Helayne, and we often played with the other kids who came by with their moms. I can’t say I remember playing with a boy who was a couple of years older than us, but the odds are pretty good…

Sunrise Cove Series in order:

1. The Family You Make (2022)
2. The Friendship Pact (2022)
3. The Backup Plan (2023)
4. The Sweetheart List (2023)
5. The Bright Spot (2024)

6/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE SWEETHEART LIST by Jill Shalvis. Avon (June 13, 2023). ISBN: 978-0063235700. 352pp.

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Ha r dcove r

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PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT by Sarah Adams

June 16, 2023

When in Rome, Book 2

From the publisher:

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A small-town sweetheart and an emotionally unavailable bad boy try to find some common ground in this chemistry-filled romance from the author of The Cheat Sheet and When in Rome.

Annie Walker is on a quest to find her perfect match—someone who complements her happy, quiet life running the local flower shop in Rome, Kentucky. But finding her dream man may be harder than Annie imagined. Everyone knows everyone in her hometown, and the dating prospects are getting fewer by the day. After she overhears her latest date say she is “so unbelievably boring,” Annie starts to think the problem might be her. Is it too late to become flirtatious and fun like the leading ladies in her favorite romance movies? Maybe she only needs a little practice . . . and Annie has the perfect person in mind to be her tutor: Will Griffin.

Will—the sexy , tattooed, and absolutely gorgeous bodyguard—is temporarily back in Rome, providing security for Amelia Rose as excitement builds for her upcoming marriage to Noah Walker, Annie’s brother. He has one personal objective while on the job: stay away from Annie Walker and any other possible attachments to this sleepy town. But no sooner than he gets settled, Will finds himself tasked with helping Annie find the love of her life by becoming the next leading lady of Rome, Kentucky. Will wants no part in changing the sweet and lovely Annie. He knows for a fact that some stuffy, straitlaced guy won’t make her happy, but he doesn’t have the heart to say no.

Amid steamy practice dates and strictly “educational” tutoring lessons, Annie discovers there are more layers to Will’s usual stoic attitude. As the lines of their friendship become dangerously blurred, Annie reconsiders her dream guy. Maybe her love life doesn’t need to be perfect—it just needs to be real.
https://amzn.to/3NtO5tv

This is the sequel to When In Rome, which I adored. This one stands alone just fine, and it hits several romance tropes that I love, like opposites attract, small town, and fake dating.

Annie Rose is reeling after being told she is too boring to date. There are not a lot of options in the small town where Annie owns a flower shop, so she decides she needs to up her game. And the best person to help her with that is Will Griffin, her soon-to-be sister-in-law’s bodyguard. He has a lot of downtime, plus he’s seriously hot with those bad boy vibes, and she knows he would never really be interested in her, so he feels safe. Best laid plans…

Will is convinced to be Annie’s fake dating coach, but he has some personal issues with that – mostly, he thinks she is perfect just as she is. And he has an overwhelming urge to annihilate the guy who called her boring. But date her he does, and it takes most of the book for them to admit to their feelings. It is worth the wait – this was such a light, charming read, I truly hated for it to end. A perfect summer read!

6/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT by Sarah Adams. Random House Publishing Group (May 2, 2023). ISBN:‎ 978-0593500804. 352p.

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HIGHLAND WARRIOR by Heather McCollum

June 16, 2023

Sons of Sinclair, Book 2

From the publisher:

Joshua Sinclair was once the fiercest and most notorious warrior of the mighty Sinclair clan of Northern Scotland. But now there’s nothing and no one that can make him take up arms again. Except a beautiful woman, it seems.

When Kára Flett, daughter of a fallen Norse chief, finds herself unexpectedly sheltering the strongest, most brutal warrior in the land, she throws together a risky and outrageous plan to bring him to her side. Threats of violence bounce right off him. Offers of gold seem to entice him even less. Desperate enough to use the pleas of the village children to sway him, she’s shocked when he’s completely unmoved. There’s only one tactic left for her: seduction.

Her hasty proposition falls completely by the wayside, though, as she and the Highlander come together in a carnal inferno. But bringing him into her life also brings his enemies to her clan’s doorstep―the very clan Kára is trying to protect. And as their feelings deepen, Joshua will have to decide between duty and love once and for all.

Each book in the Sons of Sinclair series is a STANDALONE:
* Highland Conquest
* Highland Warrior
* Highland Justice
* Highland Beast

Coming Oct 2023: Highland Surrender

https://amzn.to/43GRyu0

I really enjoy the setting of this series and they can each be read as a standalone. The stories are built around these four brothers, whose father has named them after the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Their sister will probably be the heroine in the last book of the series.

This book focuses on Joshua, the Warrior. He has been fighting for most of his life, but the last battle he fought was terrible, with too many losses on both sides. He is especially affected by a young man who was just too young to die. So instead of warring, he is training the men in this small isle on how best to defend themselves from attack, and the best way to fortify their castle.

As he is heading home, he passes through the small village where he learns that the men he was training were actually tormenting and enslaving these people. They fear their chief is dead, as he was taken by force to the castle. His daughter, Kára, is now head of these people and desperate to keep them safe.

Kára became a widow when her husband was killed, and she was almost killed herself. Somehow, she survived along with her baby, who is now about 9 years old. But her people are starving and scared, and she begs Joshua to help them defeat the men he just helped train. He refuses, and she seduces him, hoping to get him to change his mind.

Joshua wants to help but knows this small village will be massacred if they attack the castle. Then Kára’s son is kidnapped and held at the castle. Desperate, he agrees to help get him back and devises an intricate plan that just may work.

There are some politics involved, adding to the tension, and as Kára and Joshua work together, they become very close, to the point where Joshua can’t imagine living his life without her. Some real obstacles are in the way, but they eventually reach their happy ending.

I missed this book in the series, so I hunted it down. These truly can be read in any order, so if you like historical Highland romances, grab any book in the series and hunker down for a good, sexy read.

6/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

HIGHLAND WARRIOR by Heather McCollum. Entangled: Amara (April 25, 2023). ISBN:‎ 978-1649370778. 384p.

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