Audiobook Sunday: THE COMPLICATION WITH THE BEST MAN by Piper Rayne

August 3, 2025

Duet narration by Scott Rose & Willa Jaymes

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Lake Starlight, Book 5

From the author:

One wild night turns into two pink lines.

Sleeping with the best man at my cousin’s wedding felt right at the time—he was a hot, available firefighter, and I was the tipsy maid of honor. It’s a rite of passage.

No regrets… until two pink lines flipped my world upside down.

Now I’m wildly unprepared and trying to hide my pregnancy in my small Alaskan town where privacy is a myth and gossip spreads faster than frostbite.

But wait, it gets worse.

Baby Daddy just came back to town—with a fiancée in tow.

And guess who she wants to plan their wedding?

Me.

Keeping the secret was hard enough.

Keeping my distance from the father of my baby? Impossible.

Just when I think I have it all figured out, he reveals his own secret that changes everything.

Authors Note: There is no cheating in this book. Gasp! We would never.

https://amzn.to/40GTe7v

Harper Bailey runs a thriving wedding planning business in the small Alaskan town of Lake Starlight. After serving as maid of honor at her cousin’s wedding, she has an unforgettable one-night stand with Finn, the best man. Despite taking precautions, Harper discovers she’s pregnant. With Finn living thousands of miles away in Vermont, Harper knows she has to tell him, even though she expects nothing in return.

While summer keeps her busy with destination weddings, Harper never expected fall and even winter to become so popular for Alaskan weddings, with couples choosing Alaska’s scenic beauty over traditional sunny destinations. When a new client arrives for a consultation, Harper is stunned to see that the woman’s fiancé is Finn. Unable to risk losing clients in her growing business, Harper decides to stay quiet about their situation for now.

During the couple’s return visit to tour venues, only Finn shows up—his fiancée is swamped with work and has left the wedding decisions to him. As Harper guides him through potential locations, she finally reveals her pregnancy. Finn’s reaction is far more supportive than she anticipated from what was supposed to be just a one-night encounter.

After returning to Vermont and telling his fiancée the truth, Finn’s engagement ends. The relationship had complications from the start, involving a family inheritance and his family’s struggling ski resort that needed financial help. Determined not to be an absent father, Finn decides to relocate to Alaska. As a firefighter, he’s confident he can find work there.

Harper is amazed when Finn expresses his desire to be actively involved in their child’s life. Though the attraction between them remains strong, they agree to focus on friendship and co-parenting rather than complicate things further. In tiny Lake Starlight, Finn struggles to find long-term housing, so Harper offers her guest room as a temporary solution. She also asks her uncle, an Anchorage firefighter, to recommend Finn to both his station and the local Lake Starlight department.

Living under the same roof intensifies their connection and the undeniable chemistry between them. Pregnancy hormones add fuel to the fire, and eventually, they give in to their physical attraction. When Finn gets hired at the local fire station, a colleague mentions his rental property becoming available. As they tour the place together, Harper impulsively admits she doesn’t want him to move out.

In the end, Harper and Finn choose to be together and find their happily ever after.

The narrators brought this story to life brilliantly and kept me engaged throughout. It’s an entertaining tale with just the right amount of heat, and now I’m eager to find the earlier books in this series. Piper Rayne never disappoints!

8/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE COMPLICATION WITH THE BEST MAN by Piper Rayne. Narrators: Scott Rose & Willa Jaymes. Piper Rayne Inc. June 20, 2025. Listening Length: 7 hours and 32 minutes.

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Spotlight Review: THESE SUMMER STORMS by Sarah MacLean

July 29, 2025

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From the publisher:

From New York Times bestselling author Sarah MacLean, a razor-sharp, wildly sexy novel about a wealthy New England family’s long-overdue reckoning . . . and the one week that threatens to tear them apart.

Alice Storm hasn’t been welcome at her family’s magnificent private island off the Rhode Island coast in five years—not since she was cast out and built her life beyond the Storm name, influence, and untold billions. But the shocking death of her larger-than-life father changes everything.

Alice plans to keep her head down, pay her final respects (such as they are), and leave the minute the funeral is over. Unfortunately, her father had other plans. The eccentric, manipulative patriarch left his family a final challenge—an inheritance game designed to upend their world. The rules are clear: spend one week on the island, complete their assigned tasks, and receive the inheritance.

But a whole week on Storm Island is no easy task for Alice. Every corner of the sprawling old house is bursting with chaos: Her older sister’s secret love affair. Her brother’s unyielding arrogance. Her younger sister’s constant analysis of the vibes. Her mother’s cold judgment. And all under the stern, watchful gaze of Jack Dean, her father’s intriguing and too-handsome second-in-command. It will be a miracle if Alice manages to escape unscathed.

A smart and tender story about the transformative power of grief, love, and family, this luscious novel explores past secrets, present truths, and futures forged in the wake of wild summer storms.

“A gripping inheritance drama, wrapped around a swoony summer romance.”—The New York Times Book Review

“Longtime fans of MacLean’s historical novels will recognize her singular romance prowess in this tale of twisted family drama and unfortunate connections.”—The Washington Post

“In her contemporary fiction debut, a glamorous, scandalous picture of a messy family whose wealth has given them everything except for love.”—Library Journal, starred review

“MacLean’s dedicated readers will recognize her strong characterization and her ability to spin a tight plot with enough surprises to keep the pages turning.”—Booklist, starred review

“MacLean’s first foray into contemporary family drama has notes of Succession along with the steamy romance she’s known for in her historical novels.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

https://amzn.to/4nHVmWu

Alice Storm has been estranged from her ultra-wealthy family for five years, but when her father dies, she’s summoned back to the family’s private island. She hasn’t spoken to her parents or siblings in all that time, but plans to pay her respects and leave quickly—or so she thinks. But her father has one final surprise waiting.

Jack Dean, her father’s trusted second-in-command, delivers shocking news to the assembled family. Their patriarch has left explicit instructions for the week ahead: everyone must remain on the island and complete specific assigned tasks. If anyone fails or leaves early, no one inherits a dime. With so much money at stake, everyone reluctantly agrees—except for Alice, who has built a life completely independent of the family’s fortune. Yet, under pressure and guilt, she stays to see her father’s strange, week-long challenge through.

The setup creates fertile ground for exploring years of unresolved emotional baggage. The story dives deep into the tangled web of family resentments and secrets, reminiscent of the power struggles in Succession. But unlike the rest of the family, Alice is a grounding force—practical, self-aware, and resistant to the family’s toxic pull. Meanwhile, Jack is there to judge the competition, but sparks fly between him and Alice, leaving her uncertain whether getting close to him is wise. The novel expertly balances intense family drama with a compelling romantic subplot that never overshadows the main story.

This is MacLean’s first novel outside the historical romance genre, and she absolutely nailed it. The premise is fresh and compelling, the characters vividly drawn, and the story itself impossible to put down. Highly recommend!

Personal note: This book brought back a lot of memories for me. It was reminiscent of my family dynamic, in particular my father, who had money and thought he could control everyone that way. It worked, for the most part, except with me. We didn’t get along; our values, morals, and ethics were just too disparate. In fact, I hadn’t spoken to him in more than thirty years when he passed away.

Unlike the father in the book, mine didn’t leave behind a set of challenges after his death. Instead, a few years earlier, when his wife was seriously ill, she convinced him to give her children a lot of money. Not sure how much, but one of my step-siblings described it as “never having to work again” money, so not insignificant.

As for me, I never cared about his money, and he could never understand that. I used to joke that my father’s side of the family put the “dys” in dysfunctional, and truthfully, I was much happier living my life without them.

Fortunately, I had a wonderful mother, and when she eventually remarried, her husband became so much more than just a stepfather—he truly was my dad in every way that mattered. He also became my husband’s best friend. I miss them both terribly.

7/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THESE SUMMER STORMS by Sarah MacLean. Ballantine Books (July 8, 2025). ISBN: 978-0593972250. 400p.

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Audiobook Sunday: IGNITE by Rebecca Yarros

July 27, 2025

Dual narration by Carly Robins & Tim Paige

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The Legacy Series, Book 0.7

From the publisher:

From USA Today bestselling author Rebecca Yarros comes a friends to lovers romance novella set in her Legacy world.

It only takes a spark . . .

In Legacy, Colorado, I buried my father alongside his elite Hotshot team. Ten years later, I’ve followed in his footsteps—fighting fires in the mountains of Alaska with my brother.

Amid the flames, nothing ignites me like Avery Claire. She’s stubborn, strong, sexy as hell, and my best friend. She also has no idea that I’m in love with her.

But Colorado is calling me home, needing every Legacy-born firefighter to successfully rebuild our fathers’ team.

One night will change everything between us, but she’s tied to Alaska, and my future is in Colorado. Now I’m torn between what my honor demands, and what my heart can’t live without.

Contains mature themes.

https://amzn.to/44GTjt8

After their father died fighting a fire, River and his brother left Legacy behind. Though they followed in their father’s footsteps as hotshots, they relocated to Alaska to escape painful memories and start fresh. When they learn they’re needed to help resurrect the Legacy Hotshot team, they realize it’s finally time to go home.

Avery, River’s best friend, has long wished their friendship could become something more—unaware that River feels the same way. But Avery is bound to the small town by the responsibility of caring for her abusive, alcoholic father. When she and River finally confess their feelings, Avery finds herself torn between staying to care for her father and following her heart. There is a way forward, but the path is anything but smooth.

Even shorter than the series’ first novella, Point of Origin, this book felt rushed because of its brevity. While I generally prefer full-length novels over novellas, I enjoyed this story despite feeling it would have benefited from more development and expansion.

7/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

IGNITE by Rebecca Yarros. Narrators: Carly Robins & Tim Paige. Tantor Audio. March 26, 2024. Listening Length: 3 hours and 37 minutes.

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MAID FOR EACH OTHER by Lynn Painter

July 25, 2025

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From the publisher:

A millionaire and a house cleaner are a match maid in heaven in this sparkling new romantic comedy by Lynn Painter, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Happily Never After.

As a professional cleaner, Abi Mariano never thought her apartment would have any sort of infestation, but because of a building-wide outbreak, she now needs somewhere to stay for a week. As a part-time student with two jobs, she doesn’t have many options. Then the solution presents itself: the owner of the penthouse she cleans is out of town for the week. She normally wouldn’t consider it, but he’s literally never around (she hasn’t even met him). It goes great…until one morning she finds two strangers in the kitchen. They’re the parents of the penthouse owner and they seem to think they’ve heard all about Abi—not as their son’s maid, but as his girlfriend.

Declan Powell has always put his career first, working his way up to become an executive at his company, but he still has his sights set on the next level. When his parents mention that they met his girlfriend, “Abby,” he all but chokes on his escargot. As wonderful as it sounds that she was just darling, he doesn’t actually have a girlfriend—he made her up to get everyone off his back. When Dex finds out who Abi really is, he makes her a proposition: pretend to date him, and he’ll provide everything she needs during their little arrangement. What harm would it do? It’s purely business, no pleasure…right?

“Painter injects a familiar trope with both levity and genuine emotion. Readers will especially be drawn to Abi, whose smarts and sass make her the perfect match for the more staid but driven Declan. This is a treat.”—Publishers Weekly

“Filled with laughs and a warmhearted spirit, this quick-reading romance from Painter is a charmer.”—Library Journal

https://amzn.to/3GNjtm7

Leave it to Lynn Painter to take the classic billionaire fake-dating trope and turn it into something fresh and magical.

Abi is juggling two jobs—one at a grocery store that offers health benefits and another as an overnight cleaner—while working toward her MFA in creative writing. Her dream is to become a professor who writes on the side, but money is always tight. When she has to leave her apartment for a week and can’t afford a hotel, she comes up with an idea: she’ll stay at the luxurious penthouse she cleans each week. The owner is never there, so what could go wrong?

Everything, as it turns out. On her first morning, she wakes up to find the owner’s parents in the kitchen, happily eating the muffins she baked. They assume Abi is their son’s girlfriend, and before she can correct them, Declan himself walks in. Declan is young, wealthy, and furious to find a stranger posing as his girlfriend. But his parents seem to adore her, and Declan has a crucial weekend ahead: the shareholders’ annual meeting in Omaha, where he hopes to convince America’s richest man (his boss) that he’s ready for a promotion. A girlfriend would definitely add the gravitas he needs.

Abi has $40,000 in student loans, so she asks Declan for the cash and to stay in his apartment for the week. In return, she’ll keep up the charade for his family and accompany him as his pretend girlfriend to the shareholder event. Knowing Abi doesn’t have the means to dress for the occasion, Declan arranges for a stylist and hair and makeup team to help her. When Declan sees the stunning results, he’s speechless. At the function, Abi charms everyone, including his boss.

As they fake their relationship, real feelings blossom. But when Declan’s best friend offers a similar proposition to Abi, she’s hurt and calls the whole thing off—a moment that is reminiscent of a scene in Pretty Woman. Thankfully, Abi and Declan find their way back to each other, leading to a truly happy ending.

While the destination is familiar, the journey is pure delight. Painter delivers another excellent romantic comedy that belongs on your must-read list. A super fun read!

7/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

MAID FOR EACH OTHER by Lynn Painter. Berkley (July 15, 2025). ISBN: 978-0593638033. 368p.

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MUCH ADO ABOUT HATING YOU by Sarah Echavarre Smith

July 25, 2025

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From the publisher:

 A Shakespearean Fanfic Spicy Enemies to Lovers Rom Com

Enemies by day. Spicy fanfic author and devoted reader by night.

Things are about to get downright Shakespearean.

All’s fair in love. And war. And fandom.

Financial auditor Micah Mila is used to being the bearer of bad news, and her latest assignment in the local university’s English department has been especially taxing—no thanks to a literature professor who clashes with her at every turn. Thankfully, she has an after-hours escape: reading spicy Shakespearean fanfic.

Professor Aidan Scott is damn good at his job. But Micah has been a thorn in his side since the moment he laid eyes on her—eyes that really like what they see. Yet, with his job on the line, there’s no room for distractions. At least, not beyond the sexy fanfic he secretly writes.

When Micah discovers the man getting under her skin is the writer heating her up, their enemy vibe turns steamy. But with Micah’s audit due and Aidan’s career at risk, separating fantasy from reality becomes more than a little complicated…

https://amzn.to/4fmaVzz

Aidan Scott, an English professor with a secret passion for writing steamy Shakespeare fanfiction on a Wattpad-style platform, has an immediate problem when financial auditor Micah Mila arrives at his university. Hired to audit the English department and identify cost-cutting opportunities, Micah poses a direct threat to everything Aidan holds dear—his beloved teaching position and the students who adore his classes.

When Aidan and Micah first meet, sparks fly—but not in a good way. In the elevator, Aidan makes a snide remark about the incoming auditor, unaware that Micah is standing right beside him. The resulting animosity creates an immediate barrier between two people whose substantial egos prevent them from moving past their initial antagonism.

What neither realizes is that they’ve already formed a connection through the very fanfiction site where Aidan publishes his work. In the anonymous comment sections, they’ve found solace in venting about their real-world nemesis, completely unaware they’re confiding in each other. Their online dynamic is playful and open in stark contrast to their tense real-life interactions.

The novel attempts to navigate the enemies-to-lovers trope, working toward an inevitable romantic resolution despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles. However, the execution falls short of its ambitious premise. The character development lacks depth, making it difficult to invest in their constant bickering and eventual romance. Both Aidan and Micah remain frustratingly surface-level throughout most of the story.

While the book includes steamy scenes, they feel more like obligatory additions than meaningful moments that advance the relationship or deepen our understanding of the characters. The romance ultimately ends with a resolution that strains credibility rather than satisfying the emotional journey.

Despite an intriguing setup that cleverly combines academic drama with digital-age romance, this novel disappoints by prioritizing conflict over character growth, leaving readers with a love story that never quite convinces, making for a disappointing read.

Note: I never heard of this imprint, Afterglow Books by Harlequin, and now I will be leery of any other books they publish. Harlequin has several imprints, but this is the first time I’ve felt this way.

7/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

MUCH ADO ABOUT HATING YOU by Sarah Echavarre Smith. Afterglow Books by Harlequin (May 27, 2025). ISBN: 978-1335574992. 288p.

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Spotlight Review: HOW TO SELL A ROMANCE by Alexa Martin

July 22, 2025

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From the publisher:

Romance is the biggest scheme of them all in this laugh-out-loud romantic comedy from beloved author Alexa Martin.

Emerson Pierce loves everything about being a kindergarten teacher except the painfully low salary. It isn’t until she hears about Petunia Lemon—an opportunity to sell makeup products, make some extra money, and meet a group of skin-care aficionados—that she begins to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Sure, it sounds a little too good to be true, but what’s the worst that could happen?

Investigative reporter Lucas Miller didn’t always have a chip on his shoulder…until his wife joined Petunia Lemon, drained their savings, and filed for divorce. Now he’s a little bitter, a lot single, and determined to expose the company. After infiltrating their largest convention yet, the last thing he expects is to lose sight of his mission for one night with the gorgeous woman at the bar.

When Emerson and Lucas learn that she’s his daughter’s teacher, they decide to ignore their scorching chemistry. Until things with Petunia Lemon turn downright diabolical and Emerson turns to Lucas for help. They work together to bring the company down but can the two come out on top in this pyramid scheme of love?

https://amzn.to/4lHZaFU

Emerson is a young kindergarten teacher who genuinely loves her job — so much so that I couldn’t help wishing my own kids had a teacher like her. But teaching, like many professions dominated by women, is notoriously low-paying. So when her principal enthusiastically invites her to a Petunia Lemon meeting, promising she’ll have a great time, Emerson decides to give it a try.

The event is a high-energy affair that sweeps Emerson up in its excitement, and she signs up on the spot. Petunia Lemon sells skincare products through multi-level marketing, but like most MLMs, it requires a substantial upfront investment and ongoing costs that Emerson can barely afford. She makes her first payment with her emergency credit card—already a red flag.

After the meeting, Emerson heads to the hotel’s rooftop bar. She loves Old Fashioneds and heard this place makes exceptional ones. The crowded bar offers only a tiny corner table, but before her drink even arrives, a gorgeous man asks to share her space. He introduces himself as Luke Miller, and Emerson is immediately smitten. That Old Fashioned gives her more courage than usual, and soon she and Luke are heading to his room for what she assumes will be a one-night stand—one that will change her life in ways she never imagined.

The next morning, Emerson finds Luke working on his laptop. When he reveals he’s writing an exposé about Petunia Lemon, she’s furious and storms out, convinced she’ll never see him again. So much for the best sex of her life.

As the new school year approaches, Emerson busily prepares her classroom. To her complete shock, Luke walks in with his adorable daughter Isla, who will be in Emerson’s kindergarten class. Luke is divorced and shares custody with his ex-wife—a difficult woman who happens to be close friends with Emerson’s principal. It turns out his ex-wife’s involvement with Petunia Lemon contributed to their marriage’s collapse, which sparked Luke’s investigation into the company.

Meanwhile, Emerson’s financial situation deteriorates as she gets deeper into Petunia Lemon. While she enjoys the friendships she’s formed at the weekly parties, months pass without a single sale or new recruit. When she tries to invoke the company’s “money-back guarantee,” she wastes days on fruitless phone calls that lead nowhere.

As Luke and Emerson see more of each other through his daughter, their attraction reignites. When Luke asks her to spy on Petunia Lemon from the inside, Emerson is fed up enough to agree.

Once Luke’s exposé is published, chaos ensues. When Emerson’s principal discovers she was the informant, she tries to have Emerson fired. But while Emerson is a people-pleaser by nature, she refuses to be a pushover. She fights back — and with Luke by her side, they get the happy ending they deserve.

This was an entertaining read with just the right amount of spice. Martin is one of my favorite contemporary romance authors, and this book showcases her talents beautifully. If you haven’t discovered her work yet, this is an excellent starting point. My only minor complaint is the book’s title, which doesn’t seem to connect to the story in any meaningful way—but that’s a very small quibble with an otherwise terrific read.

7/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

HOW TO SELL A ROMANCE by Alexa Martin. Berkley (July 15, 2025). ISBN: 978-0593816356. 384p.

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Audiobook Sunday: POINT OF ORIGIN by Rebecca Yarros

July 20, 2025

Dual narration by Meg Sylvan & Tim Paige

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The Legacy Series, Book 0.5

From the publisher:

From USA Today bestselling author Rebecca Yarros comes a small-town, second chance romance novella set in the Legacy world . . .

In Legacy, Colorado, our inheritance is simple: Fire and Heartbreak. Sebastian Vargas . . . he’s both.

He was my best friend. My first love. My everything.

Until he was my nothing.

It’s been ten years since the wildfire that turned our small town to ashes, taking the lives of our fathers and their elite hotshot crew. Six years since Bash disappeared with my heart. No explanation. No goodbye.

But now he’s home, fighting to resurrect the very thing that destroyed us both. One look, and I’m breathless. One touch, and he’s relentless. And if I’m not careful, he’ll burn me to the ground again.

Contains mature themes.

https://amzn.to/46z9wD6

Sebastian “Bash” disappeared from Emerson’s life the night he took her virginity, leaving her heartbroken and confused. Years later, both are still haunted by the tragedy that changed everything: the fire that killed their hotshot firefighter fathers and devastated their small town.

Now Bash has returned with a fortune made from app development and a singular mission—to rebuild the elite hotshot team their fathers died serving. With only one surviving member from the original team, Bash knows it won’t be easy.

Emerson thought she’d moved on until she sees Bash again. Working as the Mayor’s assistant, she finds herself caught between professional duty and personal history when the town meeting about Bash’s proposal turns heated. Bash has built a new compound for the team, but he needs the town’s support to move forward. Emerson can’t stomach the town’s board members, none of whom had personal losses, questioning Bash, and she quits her job on the spot, determined to support preserving her father’s memory alongside the other fallen heroes.

The rekindled proximity forces both to confront their unresolved feelings. While Bash quickly realizes Emerson is his endgame, convincing her proves to be the hardest fight he’s faced.

The town ultimately agrees to the new hotshot team, but with conditions. The most challenging is that 60% of the squad must be Legacy blood—children of the fallen firefighters. This means every eligible adult must commit, including Bash, who had planned to return to his California life after establishing the team.

Despite being a novella—a format I typically avoid—this prequel delivers remarkable emotional depth. Yarros proves once again why she’s such a gifted storyteller, creating fully realized characters and compelling drama within a compact narrative. The dual narration in the audiobook version brings the story to life, and it was unputdownable. Highly recommended for fans of second-chance romance and stories that honor sacrifice while celebrating new beginnings.

7/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

POINT OF ORIGIN by Rebecca Yarros. Narrators: Meg Sylvan & Tim Paige. Tantor Audio. October 24, 2023. Listening Length: 4 hours and 20 minutes.

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THE GUEST COTTAGE by Lori Foster

July 18, 2025

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Firefly Summer, Book 1

From the publisher:

Love, forgiveness, and renewal take center stage in the haven of a quiet lakeside town when two very different women bond over one man’s betrayals in this uplifting new series from New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster.

Marlow Heddings is starting over. She’s carried the outrage of her husband Dylan’s affair with a younger woman—and the expectations of his family’s powerful Chicago holdings company—long enough. Now, after another devastating twist of fate, she’s unapologetically moving on.

Arriving in tiny Bramble, Kentucky, Marlow revels in her freedom, swapping her executive suits for sundresses . . . and scouting places to open her dream boutique. Best of all is her new residence, an adorable cottage with gorgeous lake views—and a breathtaking landlord, former Marine Cort Easton. Soon they’re sharing dockside morning coffee and nighttime firefly gazing. Marlow’s new life feels like a dream.

Then Pixie Nolan arrives on her doorstep. With a shocking secret.

To Marlow’s astonishment, Dylan’s “other woman” is a desperate girl of nineteen, destitute, exhausted, and disowned by her family. Defying her manipulative in-laws’ demands, and surprising even herself, Marlow vows to lay down roots in Bramble and help Pixie get on her feet. Then they’ll part ways. But empathy has a way of forging bonds. As Marlow grows close to the hard-working, devoted young woman, she becomes something of a big sister to Pixie.

Now, with each sunrise, Marlow awakens to the life she was truly meant to live, one filled with deepening connections, supportive friendship . . . and even a second chance at love.

https://amzn.to/4eKTgRK

This is a sweet, small-town romance with interesting characters who grow and change. Marlow thought she had her future figured out—until her husband cheated on her. They were in the process of divorcing when he died unexpectedly in an accident. His overbearing parents refuse to believe he ever did anything wrong and smother Marlow with denial and blame. Feeling trapped and emotionally exhausted, Marlow knows it’s time to start over and leave Chicago.

She finds a charming cottage for rent in the quiet town of Bramble, Kentucky, and sets out to rebuild her life. With dreams of opening a boutique and hope for a fresh start, Marlow begins to settle into her new surroundings. The cottage’s owner, Cort Easton—a retired Marine who is as kind as he is handsome—helps make Bramble feel like home.

Just as Marlow starts to feel at peace, a surprise visitor throws everything into turmoil. Pixie, a 19-year-old woman her late husband had an affair with, shows up pregnant and alone after being disowned by her family. Desperate, she turns to Marlow for help. Even Pixie is stunned by the compassion Marlow shows her. Their unlikely alliance blossoms into a sisterhood that withstands threats from Marlow’s hostile in-laws. Marlow stands firm in supporting Pixie.

What follows is a touching story of love, forgiveness, and chosen family, set against the backdrop of a welcoming small town. Foster draws readers into Bramble with warmth and depth, making it hard to leave. Thankfully, this is just the first in a new series—and I can’t wait to return.

7/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE GUEST COTTAGE by Lori Foster. Kensington (May 27, 2025). ISBN: 978-1496752352. 304p.

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Audiobook Sunday: REASON TO BELIEVE by Rebecca Yarros

July 13, 2025

Dual narration by Carly Robins & Tim Paige

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The Legacy Series, Book 1

From the publisher:

“I’ll take them!”

That’s what I tell the social worker when my pre-K student and his baby brother need an emergency foster placement. I’ll do anything to keep the brothers from being split up. But my apartment’s flooded and there’s only one house I can take them to on such short notice . . . his.

Knox Daniels, my brother’s best friend, offers his new place without hesitation. He’s not moving back to our town until next month—that’s when all our hotshot firefighters are returning for their only chance to rebuild our father’s fallen, iconic crew.

It doesn’t matter that I’ve been in love with Knox since we were kids. It can’t matter that we pretend that prom night kiss never happened. It won’t matter that my feelings for him could destroy his lifelong friendship with my brother and threaten the certification of their crew. Because I’ll be out of his house long before he gets back.

Except Knox just walked in . . . a month early. He’s gorgeous as always and I’m covered in baby puke. He takes one look at the boys and tells me we can make this work—we can temporarily fake a relationship to keep them from being separated by the system.

Suddenly, everything matters.

Contains mature themes.

https://amzn.to/44FxaMR

Knox and Ryker have been best friends for years. They work side by side as firefighters and share the painful bond of having lost their fathers to the same profession. There’s always been a spark between Knox and Ryker’s younger sister, Harper, but Ryker made it crystal clear: Harper is off-limits. That unspoken boundary shatters the night of Harper’s senior prom, when she kisses Knox. It’s just one kiss—but it ruins both of them for anyone else.

Seven years later, Knox has bought a house in their small hometown, though he’s not planning to move back for another month. Harper now runs her own preschool, and when one of her favorite students, Liam, loses his mother unexpectedly, she steps up to foster him and his baby brother until their father can be located. The father took off during the second pregnancy—he’s never even met his younger son.

There’s just one problem: Harper’s apartment was recently flooded, leaving her temporarily homeless. She’s staying with Ryker, but there’s no room for two young children. Desperate, she texts Knox to ask if she can crash at his empty house for a few days. She figures she’ll be gone before he even returns.

What she doesn’t know is that Knox is already on his way home.

Knox may not understand why there are suddenly two little boys in his house, but when Harper needs him, he doesn’t hesitate. He agrees to help her foster the children, but their plan hits an unexpected snag in court. The judge refuses to grant them custody unless they’re a real couple, insisting that without this, the boys will be separated and sent to different foster homes in another town. Though the social worker supports their case and no law actually requires foster parents to be married, the judge remains inflexible.

Knox’s grandmother saves the moment by slipping him her engagement ring, allowing them to claim they’re engaged. Even this isn’t enough for the demanding judge, who insists they must actually marry before he’ll grant custody. Despite the far-fetched situation, they go through with an immediate courthouse wedding to keep the brothers together.

Knox’s house is spacious enough for everyone to have their own room, but the emotional boundaries are harder to navigate. Neither realizes their feelings are mutual—both secretly longing for the other while believing it’s one-sided. Ryker is furious about the marriage, but as Knox and Harper spend time together as a makeshift family, their connection deepens naturally.

As the months pass without any sign of the boys’ father, Harper and Knox continue to care for them as a team. When the father is finally found, he’s granted only supervised visits due to his abandonment. Meanwhile, Knox and Ryker are working toward getting their team certified as hotshots*—an elite firefighting crew. It’s a tribute to the fathers they lost, and a grueling commitment that often leaves them out of reach for long stretches during fire season.

As their marriage of convenience transforms into something real, both Knox and Harper must confront their emotional baggage. Knox carries deep wounds that Harper helps him heal without him even realizing her influence. Harper, who has loved Knox for most of her life, initially accepts whatever relationship she can have with him. Fortunately, Knox eventually recognizes his true feelings, and both find their way to happiness.

Their journey isn’t without genuine challenges that test their ability to function as a couple facing life’s difficulties together. The story’s resolution is so satisfying that the epilogue feels essential rather than merely added—a perfect conclusion to their hard-won love story.

There are a couple of novella-length prequels to this book—not usually my favorite format—but Yarros is a terrific storyteller, so I’m all in.

*Hotshots are elite wildland firefighters, officially known as Interagency Hotshot Crews (IHCs), renowned for their high level of training, experience, and physical fitness. They are deployed to the most challenging parts of wildfires, often in remote areas, and work long hours with minimal logistical support. (Google AI)

7/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

REASON TO BELIEVE by Rebecca Yarros. Narrators: Tim Paige & Carly Robins. Tantor Audio. February 6, 2024. Listening Length: 11 hours and 5 minutes.

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COURTROOM DRAMA by Neely Tubati Alexander 

July 11, 2025

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From the publisher:

Legally Blonde and Jury Duty meet The Real Housewives in this high-stakes courtroom love story—a sexy and sweet but heartfelt novel about friendship, romance, and reality television from the acclaimed author of Love Buzz and In a Not So Perfect World.

Sydney Parks thinks she might be the first person in the world to look forward to serving jury duty. When Margot Kitsch, an OG cast member of the hit reality show Authentic Moms of Malibu is arrested after the untimely death of her cast member husband, Joe, Sydney knows being selected for the jury is the most interesting thing that ever happened to her. 

However, it doesn’t take long for Sydney to realize that being part of a sequestered jury in a high-profile case is not at all what legal dramas had led her to expect—especially when she learns that her childhood best friend, Damon, whom she hasn’t seen in ten years, is also a jury member.

As the trial wears on, Sydney realizes there’s a lot more to the case than she first thought. And there’s also a lot more to Damon—she soon finds herself falling under his spell despite the court’s instructions not to fraternize. His tendency to break the rules and find adventure is hard to resist in their otherwise dull juror’s world. But getting close to Damon also means having to face the complicated reasons their friendship abruptly ended just when they were on the precipice of something more.

With all the drama in and out of the courtroom, how is Sydney supposed to ignore the fraught history between them? How is she supposed to avoid him when he’s sitting next to her in the jury box every day with his broad shoulders and intoxicating smell? And how is she supposed to ensure Margot gets a fair trial if her unfinished business with Damon causes the mistrial of the century?

“Taking the forced proximity trope to the limit, Tubati Alexander (In a Not So Perfect World) delivers a wildly entertaining romance between two members of a sequestered jury. . . . Tubati Alexander impressively drives forward both the murder trial and the romance, conjuring real chemistry between her leads and soapy, salacious intrigue in the courtroom. This is pure popcorn.” — Publishers Weekly

“A good pick for all romance collections, Alexander’s (In a Not-So-Perfect World) funny and moving novel is likely to be popular with reality television fans and those who enjoy the estranged friends-to-lovers trope.” —Library Journal

https://amzn.to/447l5Qo

Sydney Parks is obsessed with Authentic Moms of Malibu, a reality TV show in the vein of Real Housewives. When one of the show’s stars, Margot, gets arrested for murdering her husband Joe, Sydney can hardly contain her excitement to see how the drama unfolds.

That excitement reaches new heights when Sydney receives a jury summons and discovers she’s been selected for Margot’s murder trial. But the biggest surprise comes when she spots a familiar face among her fellow jurors: Damon, her childhood best friend who mysteriously vanished from her life years ago without explanation.

As the trial progresses and her old friendship rekindles, Sydney finds herself torn between loyalties. She desperately wants to believe in Margot’s innocence, but the mounting evidence begins to shake her faith. Meanwhile, being sequestered with the other jurors in an abandoned hotel gives Sydney and Damon plenty of time to reconnect and uncover the secrets that drove them apart. Their renewed friendship quickly blossoms into romance, but they must keep their relationship hidden to avoid causing a mistrial. As tensions rise both in the courtroom and between the sheets, Sydney faces increasingly difficult choices about justice, loyalty, and love.

This compelling blend of courtroom drama, reality TV satire, and forbidden romance creates an irresistible page-turner that keeps readers guessing until the very end. A super fun read!

7/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

COURTROOM DRAMA by Neely Tubati Alexander. Harper Perennial (May 20, 2025). ISBN: 978-0063428287. 352p.

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