Romance | Stacy Alesi's BookBitch.com™

FALLING INTO BED WITH A DUKE by Lorraine Heath

October 30, 2015

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Hellions of Havisham, Book 1

This is the first book of a new series, and I can’t wait for the rest. This author was new to me, although I have heard of her from patrons who love her books, and now I know why.

Minerva Dodger has been on the marriage market for six seasons but the only men interested in her are after her large dowry. She has been holding out for love, but given that her looks are on the plain side she is giving up.

Determined to have some fun, she finagles entrance to the Nightingale club, where women are masked and ready for sexual liaisons with men who are not. Respect for privacy is the rule, and Minerva finds herself with the very eligible Duke of Ashebury. She wants to lose her virginity, and he is happy to oblige…but things don’t go exactly as planned.

They meet up at a ball, but the Duke doesn’t realize who he is so intrigued with. She knows, but has a hard time believing someone as eligible as the Duke would want anything to do with her.

This was a fun albeit predictable read, although really, pretty much all romances are. And that’s what keeps drawing me back for more. Looking forward to the next book in this series.

10/15 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

FALLING INTO BED WITH A DUKE by Lorraine Heath. Avon (October 27, 2015). ISBN 978-0062391018. 384p.

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FOOD WHORE by Jessica Tom

October 29, 2015

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A Novel of Dining and Deceit

I do love me some foodie fiction so I was very excited to hear about this debut novel. Jessica Tom is a food blogger from Brooklyn, NY who blogs about dining in New York and also posts her own recipes. I poked around her site and found out the original title was “Bad Taste” which I have to say I much prefer. Food Whore will be a turnoff for some people and I wasn’t particularly enamored of it. But the publisher was, so there you go.

The book centers around Yale graduate Tia Monroe who has been accepted into a graduate food studies program at NYU. She moves to NYC as does her boyfriend, a botanist, who lands the job of his dreams. Tia has applied for an internship with her idol, Helen Lansky (think Ruth Reichl) and brings a gift of cookies for her. She is waylaid by Michael Saltz, the uber powerful NY Times restaurant critic, who tosses the cookies and keeps her from Helen.

Saltz is enamored of her palate and facility with language and offers her a deal she can’t refuse. His palate has gone awry; he has lost all sense of taste. He offers her an unlimited budget and access to a personal shopper at Bergdorfs, lunches and dinners at the best and hottest restaurants in NY in exchange for her writing his reviews (that he revises at will) and she is sucked in. He dangles the internship with Helen as she struggles to resolve the internship she’s been assigned at one of New York’s finest restaurants – in the coat room.

This tangled web eventually closes in on Tia, but not before she ruins several relationships along the way. The publisher is promoting this as “The Devil Wears Prada meets Kitchen Confidential,” which certainly got me to read it, but it is more about the evils of ambition then what really goes on…where? In a restaurant? At the New York Times? At the graduate school of New York University? Really none of those, so that was a bit disappointing. Nonetheless this was a good story, it drew me in even though I really didn’t like any of the characters. I know I was supposed to forgive Tia, even understand why she did what she did, but maybe I’m not the most forgiving person because I couldn’t.

10/15 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

FOOD WHORE by Jessica Tom. William Morrow Paperbacks (October 27, 2015). ISBN 978-0062387004. 352p.

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I’LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS by Lori Wilde

October 26, 2015

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A Twilight, Texas Novel

Now this was a Christmas romance worth celebrating. Wilde makes no bones that this is loosely based on the rom-com movie The Holiday, in which Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet trade homes over the Christmas holiday.

Gabi doesn’t want to be home for the holidays because she’s dropped out of law school. Her parents are two high powered attorneys, and expected her to move right into the family business but after one semester, Gabi realizes she is not cut out for the law. Kate lives in Twilight, Texas, but she wants a break from the over-the-top, Christmas extravaganza year after year. So they agree to exchange homes and lives for a few weeks over the holidays.

Gabi’s never really celebrated Christmas. Her brother died on Christmas eve when she was just six years old, and her parents through themselves into their work to cope. His last gift to her was a snow globe of an old fashioned town square during Christmas, and Twilight feels like she’s walked into her snow globe. When she meets Joe, Kate’s brother, the sparks fly.

Turns out Kate’s home is a yurt, which definitely takes some getting used to. Good thing Joe is around to help out – he lives next door, taking care of his grandfather’s Christmas tree farm while the old man is in rehab. Gabi is thrust into the town’s Christmas festivities, taking Kate’s place on all the committees and volunteer gigs in town. Gabi and Joe keep running into each other, but it takes a while before they admit what everyone else sees – these two are made for each other.

I loved this sentimental, sweet story that had enough distractions to keep things interesting, and enough sex to keep things hot, plus all the Christmas traditions were a terrific added bonus. There are at least half a dozen Twilight, Texas novels, and that should keep me busy for a while.

10/15 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

I’LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS by Lori Wilde. Avon (October 27, 2015). ISBN 978-0062311412. 416p.

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ANYONE BUT YOU by Jennifer Crusie

October 23, 2015

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Jennifer Crusie writes great contemporary romances, and I wish she’d write a new one. This book is from 1996, released as an eBook a few years ago. But it’s a great story and a quick read.

Nina Askew just turned 40. Newly divorced after she realized she hated being married to a high powered lawyer who wanted her to be his socialite. She didn’t hate the guy, just the marriage and is happily working for a small nonfiction press as an editor.

She gets herself a birthday present, the dog she always wanted and her husband wouldn’t let her have, and she decides to teach Fred how to climb out the window and down the fire escape into the fenced in yard to do his business. But he ends up in the 2nd floor apartment below hers, and Alex brings the dog back.

Alex just turned thirty. He’s an emergency room doctor from a family of doctors, all with high paying, high stress specialties, and they think he is hopeless. Alex and Nina form a friendship, watching old movies and playing with Fred. Nina is very drawn to him but is not comfortable with her 40 year old body and can’t imagine that Alex would be interested. Alex is very interested, but afraid of scaring Nina off.

Eventually they get together, with a lot of laughter and some great sex along the way. Terrific characters, lots of laughs, hot sex and a good story line are Crusie’s hallmarks, and this one is no exception. She hasn’t had a new book for a few years, and I miss her.

10/15 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

ANYONE BUT YOU by Jennifer Crusie. Harlequin HQN (October 15, 2012). ASIN: B0098ISVMY. 288p.

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DASHING THROUGH THE SNOW by Debbie Macomber

October 19, 2015

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A Christmas Novel

I know Macomber is beloved for her sweet stories filled with charming locations, strong friendships and romantic love, and Christmas novels in general are over the top, which I don’t mind, but this book just bordered on the wrong side of silly for me.

Ashley Davidson is a graduate student in California who unexpectedly gets Christmas week off. Determined to go home to Seattle to visit her widowed mother, she is frantic when the airlines tell her they can’t sell her a ticket.

The guy behind her in line is Dash Sutherland, former military, now heading for Seattle for a job interview. He is offered a stand by ticket, but this interview is too important to count on luck.

They both end up at the car rental counter, but there is only one car left in the lot. They end up sharing the car and the ride to Seattle turns into the road trip of a lifetime. Dash and Ashley deal with mistaken identity, puppies dumped by a rest stop, teenage thieves, a motorcycle gang and a crazed FBI agent, yet somehow they find themselves falling in love on the way home. Chaste love, may I add.

Macomber fans will undoubtedly love it but I guess I was looking for a little more substance in my Christmas read. This is an original Hallmark movie, airing on Sunday, 12/13/15 at 9:00 pm.

10/15 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

DASHING THROUGH THE SNOW by Debbie Macomber. Ballantine Books (October 6, 2015). ISBN 978-0553391695. 256p.

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FAN THE FLAMES by Michele Dunaway

October 17, 2015

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Scarlett Harrison is widowed when her husband, Todd, a member of Seal Team 6, gets killed saving his men. His best friend, Brad Silverman, didn’t re-up with Todd and is feeling survivor’s guilt. To make things worse, Todd left instructions with Brad to take care of his wife. The guilt keeps coming though – Brad has been in love with Scarlett since high school.

Scarlett and her daughter move back to St. Louis when Brad offers her his house rent-free. She needs the help to get back on her feet. Slowly they form a friendship and then much more.

The characters were engaging and the story compelling. This is a contemporary romance/erotica and is a quick read. eBook only.

10/15 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

FAN THE FLAMES by Michele Dunaway. St. Martin’s Paperbacks (August 18, 2015) ASIN: B00WRESJ6O. Print Length: 180 pages

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AFTER YOU by JoJo Moyes

September 29, 2015

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The sequel to the hugely popular Me Before You

Like millions of other readers, I loved Me Before You, so I was excited to hear there was a sequel. If you want the thirty second review, I liked it but not nearly as much as its predecessor.

The author has asked that reviewers not give away anything in reviewing the second book, so the major plot point is kept secret. I have wrestled with how to do that as I would like to honor that request. So I’m not going to give a synopsis.

Instead I will tell you that the story is about Louise Clark, the protagonist of MBY. This is her story, and the people that are in her life and those that come into her life. It starts out one way, which I thought was going to be a sentimental ripoff, but instead veers in an unexpected direction which I much preferred. Love is the predominating factor, but it is more a story about family than romantic love, but no fear, there is still romance here.

I did enjoy the book; the characters were engaging and I cared about what happened to them. If you like dysfunctional family stories, there is much to like here. If you are looking for a great romance and all that implies, keep looking.

That’s the best I can do under these restraints.

9/15 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

AFTER YOU by Jojo Moyes. Pamela Dorman Books (September 29, 2015). ISBN 978-0525426592. 368p.

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THIS HEART OF MINE by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

September 11, 2015

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Chicago Stars Book 5

I don’t know why but I generally just don’t care for the covers of Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ books, and this one is no exception. But I was looking for a fast read and I love her books and somehow missed this one so I went for it. Turns out this was her first hardcover book, although now it is available in paperback and eBook, which is how I read it.

The Chicago Stars are a fictional football team owned by Phoebe Calebow and run by her husband Dan. Phoebe inherited the team from her father and the rest of his 15 million dollar estate went to her younger sister Molly. After going on a shopping spree, Molly decided she didn’t like the life of the idle rich and gave away all her money, turning her hand to writing children’s books to make her living.

Molly is barely making ends meet but she’s happy until her publisher informs her they want some changes in her latest book due to political pressure. She decides to go off to the family cabin to console herself but is surprised to find Chicago Stars quarterback Kevin Tucker already there. Molly’s had a crush on him for a while and does something rather shocking, then has to live with the consequences. Molly is pregnant and Tucker, the son of a minister, does the obligatory thing and marries her.

Things don’t turn out as she planned but then what would the fun be in that. Kevin and Molly have a lot of ups and downs as they work towards an annulment and then a divorce, except that there has to be a happy ending and there is.

Phillips’ trademark humor is here as are her hot sex scenes, including some with a (gasp!) middle aged couple. I loved these characters and couldn’t help rooting for all of them. This is another charmer from the queen of contemporary romance. Now I have to go back and see if I missed any other books in this series!

9/15 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

THIS HEART OF MINE by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. Avon (February 5, 2002). ISBN 978-0380808083. 420p.

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THE COINCIDENCE OF COCONUT CAKE by Amy E. Reichert

August 27, 2015

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One of my favorite movies is You’ve Got Mail, the Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan romcom written by Nora & Delia Ephron that is set around NYC bookstores. Much as You’ve Got Mail was a love letter to New York City, Coconut Cake is a love letter to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Reichert did an amazing job – I want to go! The Coincidence of Coconut Cake is the foodie equivalent of Mail, and that completely worked for me.

Lou is a talented chef who is sweating away trying to make a success of her small French restaurant, Luella’s, named after her beloved grandmother. She has a core group of regulars, and is just making ends meet. Her personal life is a little bit better; her fiancé is successful but not entirely supportive of her endeavors. And then everything falls apart.

Lou walks in on her fiancé with another woman and she dumps him. She’s off to work, heartbroken, humiliated and angry, not the best way to cook. She alienates most of her staff, and the food suffers terribly.

Of course this is the night that the new food critic in town visits the restaurant. Al is quite acerbic in his reviews and is building a nice following. One meal at Luella’s is all that he needs to eviscerate the restaurant, sounding the death knoll for the struggling restaurant.

Meanwhile, Lou and Al literally run into each other and she decides to show him around Milwaukee, a city he is sorry he landed in. By the time she’s through with him, he loves the city and Lou – but it takes a while before he realizes who she is and she finds out who he is. Fireworks ensue, but it is the journey that is so delicious.

This was a fast moving story with warm, likeable characters and a fun plot.

8/15 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

THE COINCIDENCE OF COCONUT CAKE by Amy E. Reichert. Gallery Books (July 21, 2015). ISBN 978-1501100710. 336p.

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2 Comments | Book Reviews, Fiction, Romance, Women's Fiction | Tagged: Book Discussion, Food | Permalink
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WHEN A SCOT TIES THE KNOT by Tessa Dare

August 26, 2015

Castles Ever After Series

This was such a fun read! I admit, I have a thing for Scots – at least Scots men in kilts – thank you, Diana Gabaldon. And I love Tessa Dare. So when I heard about this at ALA (the American Library Association annual conference) I knew I had to get my hands on it. And I was so glad I did.

The premise of the book was creative and original. Madeline Gracechurch was supposed to be “coming out” but is so shy and awkward, not to mention smart in the science sort of way not heavily favored by the English gentry, she makes up a suitor, “Captain MacKenzie,” sends him off to war, avoids English society and starts a correspondence with her imaginary lover.

Imagine her shock when years later Captain MacKenzie shows up at her door, ready to claim her for his wife. He’s been at sea, and all of her letters have landed in his lap. His lands have been taken by the British, and here is a convenient way to get something back for him and his men.

He convinces her to marry him or risk exposure and humiliation, and one thing leads to another and the oh so happy ending. But not before lots of angst, sex and a bit of history are thrown into the mix. I haven’t had this much fun reading a romance in a while, and I highly recommend it.

8/15 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

WHEN A SCOT TIES THE KNOT by Tessa Dare. Avon (August 25, 2015). ISBN 978-0062349026. 384p.

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