Fiction | Stacy Alesi's BookBitch.com™

Spotlight Review: UNFORTUNATELY YOURS by Tessa Bailey

June 13, 2023

Vine Mess, Book 2

From the publisher:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey is back in Napa Valley with this hilarious rom-com about a down-on-her-luck heiress who suggests a mutually beneficial marriage of convenience to a man she can’t stand… only to discover there’s a fine line between love and hate.

After losing her job and her fiancé in one fell swoop, Natalie Vos returned home to lick her wounds. A few months later, she’s sufficiently drowned her sorrows in cabernet and she’s ready to get back on her feet. She just needs her trust fund to finance her new business venture. Unfortunately, the terms require she marry before she can have the money. And well, dumped, remember?

But Natalie is desperate enough to propose to a man who makes her want to kill him—and kiss him, in equal measure.

August Cates may own a vineyard, but he doesn’t know jack about making wine. He’s determined to do his late best friend proud, no matter what it takes. Except his tasting room is empty, his wine is disgusting (seriously, he once saw someone gag), and his buddy’s legacy is circling the drain. No bank will give him the loan he needs to turn the business around… and then the gorgeous, feisty heiress knocks on his door.

Natalie has haunted August’s dreams since the moment they met, but their sizzling chemistry immediately morphed into simmering insults. Now, a quickie marriage could help them both. A sham wedding, a few weeks living under the same roof, and then they can go their separate ways—assuming they make it out alive. How hard could it be?

There’s just one thing they didn’t account for: their unfortunate, unbearable, undeniable attraction.

“This enemies-to-lovers, fake-marriage romance is brimming with witty banter and sizzling with chemistry. The protagonists are fully realized, with painful backstories and emotional growth throughout the novel… Bailey’s fans won’t be disappointed with this hilarious, heartfelt follow-up to Secretly Yours.” — Library Journal

“The latest addition to the author’s Vine Mess books, which follows Secretly Yours (2023), is vintage Bailey with heady notes of earthy sensuality and smoldering sexual chemistry neatly balanced by deliciously dry hints of sassy humor.”— Booklist
https://amzn.to/3J4bgHV

Tessa Bailey is one of my must-read authors; if you haven’t read her, this is as good a place to start as any. Yes, it is the second book of the series after Secretly Yours, but I think this book stands alone beautifully. But I loved the first one, so read that one too!

The setting is a vineyard in Napa, so what’s not to like about that! The winery at the center of the story is owned by August Cates. He is a new, struggling winemaker whose wine is so bad he can’t give it away. But he is nothing if not determined. His best friend from the military was killed in service, and it was always his dream to own a winery, and August is determined to fulfill his friend’s dream.

Natalie Vos is Napa royalty; her father is a much-revered vintner, but he divorced her mother and took off for Italy. Natalie’s mother and brother run the winery, and Natalie, always feeling like a third wheel, took off for New York to work in the hedge fund industry. Unfortunately, she flames out in a big way and loses her fiancé, so she’s back in Napa again, still feeling unworthy and ignored by her family. She hopes to convince her mother to release her trust fund but can’t. Her father made two conditions for her to collect her money – she must be employed and married. His best friend is a banker and the trust administrator, and he will stick to the exact terms, as he should.

August and Natalie have a contentious relationship at best. They really drive each other crazy, and can’t have a civil conversation. But they each have something the other needs. Natalie wants her trust money, and August needs a loan from the bank. The banker will not approve a loan for the struggling winemaker.

Natalie approaches August with a proposition; they should marry. If they are married, she can go with him to the bank, and her presence will be enough to secure him the loan he needs. If they are married, she will gain the proceeds of the trust and can return to NY to start her own hedge fund. A bargain is made for these two enemies to have a fake marriage.

Natalie’s mom instantly realizes the sham marriage for what it is, but nevertheless plans a wedding for her daughter. But something is shifting between August and Natalie, and pretty soon their attraction to one another, despite the bickering or perhaps even because of it, leads them to add sex to the marriage. And with sex comes feelings.

They had decided to stay married for a month, long enough for Natalie to get her trust fund and August to get his loan. But they are both keeping secrets about their businesses, their money, and their growing feelings for one another. There is a lot of drama going on between the laughter and the sex!

This was another terrific read from one of my favorite authors. If you love a good romcom, this one is laugh-out-loud funny, along with steamy sex and a happy resolution. Don’t miss it.

6/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

UNFORTUNATELY YOURS by Tessa Bailey. Avon (June 6, 2023). ISBN: 978-0063239074. 384pp.

Kindle

Audible

Ha r dcove r

Comments Off on Spotlight Review: UNFORTUNATELY YOURS by Tessa Bailey | Book Reviews, Romance | Tagged: Contemporary, enemies-to-lovers, fake marriage, romcom | Permalink
Posted by Stacy Alesi

A LITTLE RAY OF SUNSHINE by Kristan Higgins

June 9, 2023

From the publisher:

A kid walks into your bookstore and… Guess what? He’s your son. The one you put up for adoption eighteen years ago. The one you never told anyone about. Surprise!

And a huge surprise it is.

It’s a huge surprise to his adoptive mother, Monica, who thought she had a close relationship with Matthew, her nearly adult son. But apparently, he felt the need to secretly arrange a vacation to Cape Cod for the summer so he could meet his birth mother…without a word to either her or his dad.

It’s also a surprise— to say the least—to Harlow, the woman who secretly placed her baby for adoption so many years ago. She’s spent the years since then building a quiet life. She runs a bookstore with her grandfather, hangs out with her four younger siblings and is more or less happily single, though she can’t help gravitating toward Grady Byrne, her old friend from high school. He’s moved back to town, three-year-old daughter in tow, no wife in the picture. But she’s always figured her life had to be child-free, so that complicates things.

When Matthew walks into Harlow’s store, she faints. Monica panics. And all their assumptions—about what being a parent really means—explode. This summer will be full of more surprises as both their families are redefined…and as both women learn that for them, there’s no limit to a mother’s love.

“An uplifting story of love and gratitude—not to mention frustration, fear, and failure—in all forms of family.” —Kirkus Reviews

Higgins returns with her signature writing style that will make readers laugh, possibly cry, and think deeply about the role of family and motherhood… [This] is a perfectly done novel. Higgins tackles what it means to be part of a family and how family can look very different from person to person. Her signature humor sprinkled into a heavy topic makes this a must-read.” —Library Journal

“Higgins returns to Cape Cod in this multigenerational story about the enduring bonds of family…Higgins deftly navigates her characters’ complex emotions, including both Harlow and Monica’s points of view throughout the book. The women’s inner lives are presented authentically, allowing the reader to understand the mixed feelings of joy, fear, love, and guilt that both women experience. Side stories and romantic subplots add depth and humor, but the emotional journey is the star of this comforting-as-a-cozy-sweater story. Hand this one to fans of Susan Wiggs and Jennifer Weiner.” —Booklist
https://amzn.to/3MU4p4V

When Harlow was a 17-year-old college freshman, she accidentally got pregnant. Her boyfriend of a few weeks was horrible to her, so she had him sign away his parental rights, she had the baby, and gave it up for adoption. She didn’t take this decision lightly; she worked with an adoption agency, viewing over a hundred videos of prospective parents, and when she saw Monica and Sanjay’s video, she just knew these were the people she wanted to raise her baby. The adoption was closed, but she allowed the agency to pass along her information if he wanted it, after he turns 18. She never told her family, and it was Rosie, her best friend, who helped get her though it.

Harlow has spent every day since thinking about her son, hoping he is healthy and happy. Higgins explores what it is like to give up a child with great sensitivity here, and neither the birth mother nor the adoptive mother are portrayed in a negative light.

Harlow is one of the owners of a family-run business, a bookstore, and she loves her job. She lives above the bookshop and shares the space with her grandfather, who she adores. He is also a part owner along with Cynthia, who is his goddaughter. Cynthia is a bit of a cold fish, but they all get along reasonably well. One day a teenager comes into the store with his father. Harlow starts feeling a bit woozy; the young man looks exactly like her brother. She passes out, and when she comes to, she realizes her son has found her.

Mathew is not quite 18 yet and never told his parents what he was up to. They live in California, where his mother, Monica, works in tech security and makes a very healthy income, and his father is an elementary school teacher with summers off. The family has rented a home on Cape Cod for the summer, but they didn’t know Mathew was seeking his birth mother when they made these plans. Monica will have to commute back to California several times over the summer to keep her job, and she is devastated when she finds out what Mathew has done without even discussing it with them.

This book explores how each family deals with the adoption and the current situation, plus a bit of romance for Harlow. It is, at times, a heartbreaking, sometimes funny, but always a heartfelt story. I especially loved how the birth mother and the adoptive mother handled everything, emotions and all. This is an engaging read and the perfect book for someone wanting a bit more substance from their beach read.

6/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

A LITTLE RAY OF SUNSHINE by Kristan Higgins. Berkley (June 6, 2023). ISBN:‎ 978-0593547601. 512p.

Kindle

Audible

Comments Off on A LITTLE RAY OF SUNSHINE by Kristan Higgins | Book Reviews, Fiction, Romance, Women's Fiction | Permalink
Posted by Stacy Alesi

SUMMER READING by Jenn McKinlay

June 9, 2023

From the publisher:

When a woman who’d rather do anything than read meets a swoon-worthy bookworm, sparks fly, making for one hot-summer fling in New York Times bestselling author Jenn McKinlay’s new rom-com.

For Samantha Gale, a summer on Martha’s Vineyard at her family’s tiny cottage was supposed to be about resurrecting her career as a chef, until she’s tasked with chaperoning her half-brother, Tyler. The teenage brainiac is spending his summer at the local library in a robotics competition, and there’s no place Sam, who has dyslexia, likes less than the library. And because the universe hates her, the library’s interim director turns out to be the hot-reader guy whose book she accidentally destroyed on the ferry ride to the island.

Bennett Reynolds is on a quest to find his father, whose identity he’s never known. He’s taken the temporary job on the island to research the summer his mother spent there when she got pregnant with him. Ben tells himself he isn’t interested in a relationship right now. Yet as soon as Sam knocks his book into the ocean, he can’t stop thinking about her.

An irresistible attraction blossoms when Ben inspires Sam to create the cookbook she’s always dreamed about and she jumps all in on helping him find his father, and soon they realize their summer fling may heat up into a happily ever after.

“Add to this McKinlay’s flair for capturing just how family and friends can make us feel both vulnerable and strong, conveyed in breezy writing buoyed by quippy banter and sizzling sexual chemistry, and you have a book that is pure reading bliss in any season.” —Booklist (Starred Review)

“With a picturesque setting and plenty of entertaining storylines and well-developed characters, this fast-paced, steamy rom-com from McKinlay will enchant book lovers and foodies looking for an upbeat beach read.” —Library Journal (Starred Review)
https://amzn.to/3ITzmVE

The title caught my attention (of course!) as did the author – I enjoyed a couple of her previous books, Wait for It and Paris is Always a Good Idea, so I was excited for this one and it really delivered.

The meet-cute happens on the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard when Sam, a chef who recently quit her job after being passed over for promotion, accidentally knocks the book Ben is reading into the sea. This great looking guy is a librarian, and Sam doesn’t read. Ever. Sam is dyslexic and embarrassed about it.

Sam is not only licking her wounds after the job debacle, she is going to the Vineyard to take care of her younger half-brother while their parents take a long vacation. Sam and Tyler don’t really know each other very well as Sam has been out of the house while Tyler was growing up. Now he’s in high school and is planning on spending his summer in robotics camp, which, much to Sam’s chagrin, is located in the land of endless books, the library. On the other hand, her best friend works there and so does the hot guy from the ferry.

Ben is the interim director, helping out for the summer until they find a more permanent solution. Ben is also there because he is trying to find out who his father is. There is nothing on his birth certificate, and his mother, a famous artist, refuses to discuss it.

Sam has this secret dream of writing a cookbook – her Portuguese grandmother had shared many recipes from her home country (several included in the back of the book!) Ben and Sam keep bumping into one another and the next thing you know, they are helping one another pursue their goals and having a fine time getting to know one another. Meanwhile, Sam is enjoying spending time with Tyler, and they form a much-appreciated strong sibling bond.

I loved the neurodivergent subplot, especially when Ben started reading to Sam – even recording the rest of the book for her when he knows he won’t be around to finish it. A note in the book explains that the publisher chose a dyslexic-friendly font, and used bold type instead of italics, so kudos for that!

Like many romances, this follows the basic formula of boy meets girl, they fall in love, then boy loses girl over his stupidity, and eventually, they make up and have their happy ending. This was a fun summer read with some serious issues, and I liked that it wasn’t just another fluffy read yet still gave me the happily ever after I wanted.

6/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

SUMMER READING by Jenn McKinlay. Berkley (May 16, 2023). ISBN:‎ 978-0593545720. 480p.

Kindle

Audible

Comments Off on SUMMER READING by Jenn McKinlay | Book Reviews, Fiction, Romance | Tagged: Contemporary | Permalink
Posted by Stacy Alesi

Spotlight Review: JANA GOES WILD by Farah Heron

June 6, 2023

From the publisher:

The highly acclaimed author of Accidentally Engaged delivers a delightful rom-com of one woman trying to shed her perfect image at a destination wedding with hilarious—and moving—results, perfect for fans of Abby Jimenez and Jasmine Guillory.

Jana Suleiman has never really fit in—everyone always sees her as too aloof, too cool, too perfect. The one time she stepped out of her comfort zone she ended up with a broken heart and a baby on the way. Aaaand lesson learned. Now she’s a bridesmaid for a destination wedding in Serengeti National Park, and almost everyone she knows will be there. Her five-year-old daughter. Her mom. Her friends. Even her potential new boss. And of course (because who doesn’t love surprises!) her gorgeous-but-not-to-be-trusted ex.

Fortunately, Anil Malek is a great dad, even if Jana hasn’t quite forgiven him for lying to her all those years ago. Determined to show he has no effect on her whatsoever, she and the bridesmaids concoct a go-wild list to get Jana through the week. Sing karaoke? Sure. Perform their high school dance routine in front of strangers? Okay. But the more she lets down her guard, the less protection she has against her attraction to Anil. And Jana soon realizes it’s one thing to walk on the wild side . . . and quite another to fall for her ex all over again.

“A beautiful, compelling romance celebrating second chances and forgiveness.”―Kirkus, starred review

“The unique setting and delightful dynamic within the rest of the wedding party add to the charm. This is a treat.” ―Publishers Weekly

“This satisfying second-chance romance offers a big-hearted, clear-eyed examination of parenting and rekindling of old flames.” ―Library Journal, starred review
https://amzn.to/3IRgs21

I loved the setting of this book, it was super interesting and almost felt like another character; a wedding in Tasmania. The only thing I knew about Tasmania was based on the Tasmanian Devil, a cartoon character that may or may not be based on an actual animal. I am a great reader but, I’m sorry to say, geographically ignorant. So anytime I get to learn about someplace new to me is always going to heighten my interest. But let’s face it, if it was just a book on Tasmania I never would have picked it up. It’s the romance and the family drama here that made this book unputdownable for me.

A few years earlier, Jana had a relationship with Anil, that ended when she found out he was married. That wasn’t the worst of it, though – she had a child and was managing on her own with some family help. She interviews for a new job with much less traveling that seemed like it would be a great place to work, plus she really liked the man who interviewed her, her potential boss.

While waiting to hear about the job, she packs up herself and her daughter and heads off to Tasmania, where she is a bridesmaid in a destination wedding, and her daughter is the flower girl. To her shock, Anil is one of the groomsmen, and her potential new boss is also attending the wedding. What Jana doesn’t know is that her mother has been telling everyone, all her friends and relatives, that Jana is divorced when the truth is, she never married.

The more time Jana spends with Anil and her boss-to-be, the harder it is to protect her mother from her own lies. It turns out Anil may not be the bad guy Jana believes him to be, and she’s never really sure if this wedding will help or hinder her chances at that new job. But it is so much fun to find out!

This is a terrific story with warm, engaging characters, a lot of laughs, some steamy bedroom moments, and of course, the happy ending. I loved it.

6/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

JANA GOES WILD by Farah Heron. Forever (May 2, 2023). ISBN: 978-1538725450. 352pp.

Kindle

Audible

Comments Off on Spotlight Review: JANA GOES WILD by Farah Heron | Book Reviews, Romance | Tagged: #ownvoices, Contemporary, romcom | Permalink
Posted by Stacy Alesi

MEET ME AT THE LAKE by Carley Fortune

June 2, 2023

From the publisher:

THE INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!

A random connection sends two strangers on a daylong adventure where they make a promise one keeps and the other breaks, with life-changing effects, in this breathtaking new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Every Summer After.

Fern Brookbanks has wasted far too much of her adult life thinking about Will Baxter. She spent just twenty-four hours in her early twenties with the aggravatingly attractive, idealistic artist, a chance encounter that spiraled into a daylong adventure in the city. The timing was wrong, but their connection was undeniable: they shared every secret, every dream, and made a pact to meet one year later. Fern showed up. Will didn’t.

At thirty-two, Fern’s life doesn’t look at all how she once imagined it would. Instead of living in the city, Fern’s back home, running her mother’s lakeside resort—something she vowed never to do. The place is in disarray, her ex-boyfriend’s the manager, and Fern doesn’t know where to begin.

She needs a plan—a lifeline. To her surprise, it comes in the form of Will, who arrives nine years too late, with a suitcase in tow and an offer to help on his lips. Will may be the only person who understands what Fern’s going through. But how could she possibly trust this expensive-suit wearing mirage who seems nothing like the young man she met all those years ago. Will is hiding something, and Fern’s not sure she wants to know what it is.

But ten years ago, Will Baxter rescued Fern. Can she do the same for him?

“Fortune (Every Summer After) shines in this beautiful tale of love, loss, and forgiveness. This searing story of hard-won second chances is not to be missed.” —Publishers Weekly

“This contemporary romance is an immersive second-chance love story that will transport readers with its dual evocative settings of stunning rural Ontario and thrilling Toronto.” —Library Journal (starred review)

A Most Anticipated Book by Today ∙ Oprah Daily ∙ Katie Couric Media ∙ BuzzFeed ∙ SheReads ∙ Zibby Mag ∙ PopSugar ∙ BookRiot ∙ Culturess ∙ Her Campus ∙ The Everygirl ∙ and more!
https://amzn.to/42ydo1P

Do you believe in love at first sight? That is where the story begins. Fern and Will meet, then spend 24 amazing hours together. They both have things to take care of, so they agree to meet again in one year. Will needs to end his current relationship, and Fern is working towards opening her own cafe. On the appointed date, Fern shows up, but Will does not. This is where you really have to suspend your disbelief; Fern yearns for him for ten years, never meeting anyone else that could erase Will from her heart.

The story moves between present day, the magical day they spent together ten years earlier, and her mother’s diary, which all helps to keep those pages turning. Fern is on the brink of owning her own business when her mother suddenly passes away, leaving the family business, a resort, to Fern. She returns home and finds that the resort is not doing well financially. To her surprise, Will shows up and offers to help. He tells her he had made arrangements with her mother to consult on how to improve the business.

Fern still feels that incredible attraction to Will, despite the fact he is no longer the dreamy artist she remembers but instead is some sort of business tycoon in a suit. The more time they spend together, the more they want to spend together. But Will is being a bit secretive, taking calls away from her, and acting a bit shifty in general. Something is going on, but Fern can’t determine what it is. Meanwhile, she is slowly turning the resort around, and is rethinking her original plan to sell it.

The drama arises in the form of secrets slowly revealed, but not to worry, there is a happy ending. This was a very enjoyable read, sure to be seen in many a beach bag.

6/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

MEET ME AT THE LAKE by Carley Fortune. Berkley (May 2, 2023). ISBN:‎ 978-0593638477. 336p.

Kindle

Audible

Paperback

Comments Off on MEET ME AT THE LAKE by Carley Fortune | Book Reviews, Fiction, Romance | Tagged: Contemporary | Permalink
Posted by Stacy Alesi

HIS STUDY IN SCANDAL by Megan Frampton

June 2, 2023

School for Scoundrels, Book 2

From the publisher:

Megan Frampton’s deliciously witty A School for Scoundrels series follows the adventures of five gentlemen who navigate life—and love—in London. Here, a dashing young businessman enters into a liaison with a widowed Duchess. Perfect for fans of Sarah MacLean and anyone who loves Bridgerton!

Alexandra, Duchess of Chelmsworth, is tired of pretending to mourn a husband who squandered a fortune and never bothered to give her the time of day, much less any attentions at night. So, the still-beautiful duchess cuts up her mourning gowns, deciding to experience the pleasures long denied her by daringly visiting the Garden of Hedon. It is there the ton anonymously gives in to their deepest desires, and where Alexandra finds herself in the arms of a mysterious man. She willingly gives in to the passion he offers her, fully believing she would never see him again.

But she is shocked to soon discover he is none other than Theo Osborne, who is continually being pushed forward as a husband—for Alexandra’s own daughter! While his wealth would save the family from financial ruin, his intentions are clear: he has no interest in anyone but Alexandra. And though he tempts and teases her, she is determined not to give her heart to any man. But what started as a sensuous game turns into something much more…

“Frampton serves up both spicy sex scenes and hefty emotions that will leave readers wanting more. This passionate love story keeps the series going strong.” — Publishers Weekly

“Frampton follows up the first “School for Scoundrels” book, Her Lessons in Persuasion, with another scorching pairing. Recommended for romance fans who like it hot, hot, hot.” — Library Journal
https://amzn.to/43CYvw4

Frampton writes steamy historicals, and this one is no exception. The sex starts early on and continues, on and off, for what feels like most of the book. Not that I’m complaining – she writes great sex scenes.

Alexandra is a duchess who has been in mourning for two years since the death of her husband. Well, she looks and acts like she’s in mourning, but in actuality, she is glad to be rid of her arrogant, domineering, despot of a husband. Unfortunately, his son is now the Duke, and he learned well from his father. If anything, he is even worse because he has mismanaged the family’s money to the point where he is arranging a marriage for Alexandra’s daughter, his half-sister, based solely on finding someone willing to forgo a dowry and pay off his debts.

The day her mourning is up, Alexandra destroys her black clothing and her stepdaughter, who is older than she is, takes her to the Pleasure Garden for the evening. There, Alexandra meets Theo, and he introduces her to sex for pleasure. Theo is a self-made wealthy man who comes from humble beginnings. He was orphaned as a baby, and was eventually adopted by Mr. Osborne, who was alone and longed for a family. Theo is part of a group of men from similar backgrounds; they were children in the same orphanage and have stayed friends. He is also an owner of the pleasure garden and often spends time there.

Theo, who is 32, is completely smitten with Alexandra, who is 40. I loved that May-December aspect to this romance. Unfortunately, it is his last night at the pleasure garden, as he is going to be engaged soon and he is a most honorable man. Much to their surprise, it turns out that Theo is the man set to marry Alexandra’s daughter. Talk about a nightmare!

I don’t want to ruin the story, so I’ll just say that everything gets resolved with the requisite happy ending, but there are a lot of twists and turns, drama and more drama, plus all that sex before it gets there, and that is half the fun!

6/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

HIS STUDY IN SCANDAL by Megan Frampton. Avon (May 23, 2023). ISBN:‎ 978-0063224223. 352p.

Kindle

Audible

Comments Off on HIS STUDY IN SCANDAL by Megan Frampton | Book Reviews, Fiction, Romance | Tagged: Historical | Permalink
Posted by Stacy Alesi

Spotlight Review: LOVE BUZZ by Neely Tubati-Alexander

May 30, 2023

From the publisher:

In this spectacularly enjoyable and serendipitous adventure, a chance romantic encounter during a wild night at a Mardi Gras bachelorette party sends strait-laced Serena Khan’s carefully constructed life into chaos.

A wretched maid of honor. A hangover from hell. Raucous Mardi Gras crowds. There isn’t much Serena Khan is enjoying about this four-day New Orleans destination bachelorette party for her semi-estranged cousin, the bride-to-be.

UNTIL sparks fly with a handsome stranger, who—like her—is also from Seattle, at the ladies’ last stop of the evening, a Bourbon Street bar. After their conversation is cut short, Serena is overwhelmed by the desire to find the charming man with the brooding eyebrows, but her list of clues is pretty short:

His name is Julian

He lives on Chamber Hill

He works at a tech company

He loves Lil Wayne and Nirvana

The need to find him is, for Serena, both irresistible and totally irrational. In a few short weeks, her college alumni magazine is featuring her in a “Life at Thirty” feature, cementing her as a success story. She will have officially achieved the safe, stable life her late mother insisted upon. Julian is not part of the plan.

As she combs Seattle for her New Orleans flame, stripping away the perfectly curated life that would have made her mother proud, Serena must decide if the pursuit of real passion is worth it, and fast, before she destroys the life she always thought she wanted.

In a sharply funny, thoughtful, and romantic debut combining the wistfulness of Rebecca Serle with the witty sizzle of Emily Henry, Neely Tubati Alexander prompts us all to ask if the life we’re living is a life worth loving.

“[An] outstanding debut . . .. Readers will be swept away . . . Alexander’s inclusive representation of diverse backgrounds and sexual identities in lovingly crafted characters with rich and unique personalities is truly impressive. Readers will hope for more from this exciting new romance writer.” — Booklist (Starred Review)

“A charming debut. . . . Endearing side characters that readers won’t get enough of round out this moving tale of embracing life’s imperfections. Tubati-Alexander will win plenty of fans with this.” — Publishers Weekly

“Growth, change, and a little bit of luck are at the center of Alexander’s romantic debut. . . . well-written. . . . emotionally satisfying . . . . Will appeal to romance readers who like their books with a hefty dose of personal growth and women’s fiction aficionados seeking a happily-ever-after.” — Library Journal
https://amzn.to/3OBziO4

I love finding new authors and this debut has put Neely Tubati-Alexander firmly onto my “must read” list! Do you believe in love at first sight? Maybe reading this book will convince you. Serena is our heroine and the book opens during Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Serena is there as a bridesmaid for her cousin (and former best friend’s) bachelorette weekend. Coral, the bride to be, and Serena grew up together and their mothers were best friends as well as sisters. But when Serena loses her mother, she doesn’t feel supported by Coral or her mother, and they become estranged. But Coral invites Serena to be a bridesmaid, and that opens the door for the women to work their way back to one another.

But that is just part of the story here. The other part is the romance – their last night in New Orleans, Serena meets a man at a bar. In a surprise coincidence, Julian is from Seattle, not too far from where Serena lives. There is a really strong attraction there, but then Julian’s friend is being escorted out of the bar by security, and Julian has to go with him. They never got to exchange phone numbers or even last names, and Serena can’t stop thinking about him.

Growing up with a single mother made Serena frugal and practical. She got her degree in accounting and has a good job with a top-tier accounting firm. But after meeting Julian, she feels unsettled and decides to try and find her happiness. And Julian.

Without much to go on other than the neighborhood he lives in, Serena starts exploring that part of Seattle. She ends up in a new job and finds a new cafe to get her coffee fix – and there she finally runs into Julian, or so she thinks. He is with a beautiful blond, and Serena is pissed. He told her he had never been in love, but he sure looked like he was. She storms out and refuses to hear what he has to say.

This book reminded me of a Nora-Ephron-type romcom. The couple meet very briefly, then spend most of the book apart, only to find one another towards the end. Yes, there is a happy ending of the best kind. Don’t miss this amazing debut novel full of charm, pathos, & lots of laughs!

Bonus: This is a fun interview – the author interviews her main character!

Authors Interview Characters: Neely Tubati Alexander interviewing Serena Khan

5/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

LOVE BUZZ by Neely Tubati-Alexander. Harper Perennial (May 2, 2023). ISBN: 978-0063292918. 304p.

Kindle

Audible

Comments Off on Spotlight Review: LOVE BUZZ by Neely Tubati-Alexander | Fiction, Romance | Tagged: Contemporary, Debut, romcom | Permalink
Posted by Stacy Alesi

ON FIRE ISLAND by Jane L. Rosen

May 26, 2023

From the publisher:

A book editor spends one last summer on Fire Island in this sparkling and surprising new novel from the author of A Shoe Story.

As a book editor, Julia Morse lived and breathed stories. Whether with her pen to a manuscript or curled up with a book while at her beloved Fire Island cottage, her imagination alight with a good tale, she could anticipate practically any ending. The ending she’d never imagined was her own.

To be fair, no one expects to die at thirty-seven. So when the unthinkable happens to Julia, rather than following the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel, she chooses to spend one last summer near those she loves most.

As she follows her adoring, novelist husband Ben to their—unexpectedly full—home on Fire Island, she discovers the ripple affect her life has had on the trajectory of so many: her baseball loving, young-at-heart neighbor who believes it’s best not to go it alone, two bright-eyed teenagers eager to become adults, and her best friend who must shake off heartbreak for a new chance at love.

With poignant comedy and insight, On Fire Island is an ode to the stories all around us and to the brightest types of loves…for the people closest to you and the places that shape you.

“Rosen has a winning sense of humor, bringing levity not to awkward and painful moments, and she packs the narrative with vivid details of beach life and city life. This is a treat.” – Publisher’s Weekly

“A sometimes tough read that will appeal to readers wondering if those who die can stick around for just a little longer.” – Kirkus Reviews
https://amzn.to/43iiQXf

Jane Rosen writes such interesting stories! I loved Nine Women One Dress and A Shoe Story, and this book lived up to my high expectations. Our main character is Julia Morse, a young woman who has died. That is not a spoiler! The dead Julia narrates the book from the get go. A young woman dying is always traumatic, and we meet her husband, Ben, a famous author, who is grieving. Her family insists on sitting shiva for the full week, and Ben can’t bear it. He takes the dog and walks out without a word to anyone, and moves into their beach home on Fire Island. This summer resort setting is as much of a character as everyone else.

Julia goes along for the ride, metaphorically speaking that is. She is an observer here, and shares her insight into her husband and friends. Her best friend, Renee, just got divorced after their teenage son catches his father in bed with another woman. Other characters include Renee’s son, Matty, and Shep, a neighbor who used to own the house Ben & Julia bought. Shep is also a widower, but much older than Ben, so when Ben finds him sleeping in his bed, he figures the old guy just got confused. But it turns out he doesn’t want to stay in his new, much larger house, so they become roommates.

The summer on Fire Island is healing for everyone, eventually, but there is a lot of unhappiness as well. Fortunately for us, Rosen manages to infuse humor among even the saddest of moments, and I was invested enough in these characters to make this a one night read. I also was intrigued by the notion of Julia being able to hang around her family and friends until she felt ready to go to that great beyond…which turns out to be, well, no spoilers here. I loved this book, despite its slightly morbid premise, and highly recommend it.

5/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

ON FIRE ISLAND by Jane L. Rosen. Berkley (May 23, 2023). ISBN:‎ 978-0593638071. 320p.

Kindle

Audible

Comments Off on ON FIRE ISLAND by Jane L. Rosen | Book Reviews, Fiction, Women's Fiction | Tagged: Book Discussion, Contemporary, women's fiction | Permalink
Posted by Stacy Alesi

HIGHLAND BEAST by Heather McCollum

May 26, 2023

Sons of Sinclair, Book 4

From the publisher:

Bàs Sinclair is the cold and brutal hand―and sword―of justice across the Highlands. He has one destiny: to bring fear into the hearts of guilty men. But when he is called to execute a midwife for her crimes, he cannot raise his weapon. For Bàs already knows this lovely, part-wild creature. After all, she gave him his first and only kiss…

Shana Drummond will do anything to protect her beloved sister. Now her cruel, merciless brother-in-law has called upon Bàs to have Shana killed for crimes she didn’t commit. She can’t reconcile the cold, lethal warrior before her with the gentle one she met―nay, kissed―only days before.

But mercy from Bàs can only lead to one thing: war among the clans. A war that will test allegiances, tear families apart, and challenge everything Bàs knows about himself and his heart. Because once this Highlander knows love, nothing will stop him from keeping Shana safe…even if it means destroying his own destiny.

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

Coming Oct 2023: Highland Surrender

https://amzn.to/3Ll3udk

I really enjoy the setting of this series and they can each be read as a standalone. That said, the stories are built around these four brothers, whose father has named as the Four Men of the Apocolypse. There is a sister, too, and I guess her story will be the last book in the series.

This book focuses on Bas, who name means Death. He was named Death because his mother died when he was born, not an unusual circumstance in the 16th century. He is the executioner of the family. He has been brought up to kill those who have been found guilty and condemned to death. It’s his job, and he is very good at it. But because he is feared by everyone who sees him, he has never met a woman who didn’t cower or hide from him. Until Shana.

Bas discovers Shana as she enters his property with a newborn baby in her arms. Turns out it is her sister’s baby, and they think the father is going to kill the newborn because he found out his wife was cheating on him. There is much more to the story than that, and it takes a lot of finagling before the whole story comes out. Meanwhile, Bas is determined to keep them safe.

Bas has been with a woman, his brothers paid for the privilege, but Shana is the first woman who seems unafraid of him. In fact, she is really drawn to the gentle giant. She has no knowledge of his job, only sees that is kind and good natured and takes care of all sorts of animals in his care. He adopts any kind of stray and as long as he names them, they will be safe with him.

They have a lot of hurdles to get over in this story, and there is a lot of action and fighting before they reach their happily ever after. I love the way the family are always backing each other up, even when Bas declares war, which is not his role in the family. Nonetheless, they all fall in behind him.

Shana and Bas make a perfect couple; if he’s death, then she is life as she is a midwife and Bas loves that about her. All in all, this was a very fast paced story and the main characters are brought to life on the page. Another excellent entry into this Scottish series.

5/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

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

Kindle

Audible

1 Comment | Book Reviews, Fiction, Romance | Tagged: Historical | Permalink
Posted by Stacy Alesi

Spotlight Review: MRS. NASH’S ASHES by Sarah Adler

May 23, 2023

From the publisher:

A Most Anticipated Book by BookRiot ∙ Culturess ∙ and more!

A starry-eyed romantic, a cynical writer, and (the ashes of) an elderly woman take the road trip of a lifetime that just might upend everything they believe about true love.

Millicent Watts-Cohen is on a mission. When she promised her elderly best friend that she’d reunite her with the woman she fell in love with nearly eighty years ago, she never imagined that would mean traveling from D.C. to Key West with three tablespoons of Mrs. Nash’s remains in her backpack. But Millie’s determined to give her friend a symbolic happily-ever-after, before it’s (really) too late—and hopefully reassure herself of love’s lasting power in the process.

She just didn’t expect to have a living travel companion.

After a computer glitch grounds flights, Millie is forced to catch a ride with Hollis Hollenbeck, an also-stranded acquaintance from her ex’s MFA program. Hollis certainly does not believe in happily-ever-afters—symbolic or otherwise—and makes it quite clear that he can’t fathom Millie’s plan ending well for anyone.

But as they contend with peculiar bed-and-breakfasts, unusual small-town festivals, and deer with a death wish, Millie begins to suspect that her reluctant travel partner might enjoy her company more than he lets on. Because for someone who supposedly doesn’t share her views on romance, Hollis sure is becoming invested in the success of their journey. And the closer they get to their destination, the more Millie has to admit that maybe this trip isn’t just about Mrs. Nash’s love story after all—maybe it’s also about her own.

“Debut author Adler combines heat and sweet in this charmingly offbeat rom-com….Adler’s well-drawn characters leap off the page, and she handles difficult topics with grace. She also shows off her comedy chops in some laugh-out-loud road trip mishaps…This delightful debut is sure to find fans.” —Publishers Weekly

“With a road trip, only one bed, and giant misunderstandings, Adler perfectly deploys her novel’s abundant romance tropes. Alternating between Millie’s and Mrs. Nash’s stories, this laugh-out-loud funny contemporary will have readers swooning over and cheering for Millie and Hollis….Adler’s delightful opposites-attract debut is perfect for fans of Tessa Bailey and Christina Lauren.” —Library Journal (starred review)
https://amzn.to/3M6vUI9

This was one of the best debuts I’ve read in a while; great characters, interesting settings, and a double storyline that moves seamlessly from one to the other.

Millie is a former child star that hasn’t worked in the business since she was a teen, but she still gets recognized fairly often. She has learned to deal with it, but some of the encounters can be off-putting, to say the least. One such meeting occurs at the airport when a computer glitch cancels all the flights. To her surprise, a friend of her ex is there and rescues her from an uncomfortable situation. Hollis is a bit of a grump while Millie provides the sunshine in this opposites attract, forced proximity romance.

Hollis ends up driving from Washington D.C. to Florida, and Millie goes along for the ride. She is under a real time crunch. She is taking some of the ashes of her best friend, an elderly woman, Mrs. Nash, who passed away recently to Key West to reunite her with the love of her life. Mrs. Nash was a WAVE during the war, stationed in Key West. There she met Elsie, a nurse on the base. They fell in love, but there was no way for them to be together at that time. When the war ended, Elsie sent her back to the boy she was supposed to marry, and to live the life she was supposed to live. But neither of these women ever forgot the other.

The reason for the rush is that it’s taken Millie quite a bit of time to locate Elsie, and she’s in hospice so her days are numbered. Millie is determined to reunite the two women, and Hollis gets invested in the journey as well. The more time Millie spends with Hollis, the more she realizes what a fine man he is, despite his curmudgeonly ways. Meanwhile, Hollis is fighting his attraction to Millie. He has been badly burned by romance and is not looking for any more trouble. He has decided there is no such thing as everlasting love, but of course, Millie is going to change that.

This book is laugh out loud funny, despite the underlying drama of the separated lovers’ reunion that is planned. The road trip makes for great romcom fodder and the happily ever after is just the icing on the cake. I love finding new authors and Sarah Adler is now firmly on my must-read list. Don’t miss this sparkling debut!

5/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

MRS. NASH’S ASHES by Sarah Adler. Berkley (May 23, 2023). ISBN: 978-0593547793. 352p.

Kindle

Audible

Comments Off on Spotlight Review: MRS. NASH’S ASHES by Sarah Adler | Fiction, Romance | Tagged: Contemporary, romcom | Permalink
Posted by Stacy Alesi