In A Legend in the Baking, the new romance from Jamie Wesley, a cupcake-baking football player gets assistance from a social media maven―and his best friend’s little sister―to help promote his new bakeryafter accidentally going viral online.
August Hodges was supposed to be the silent partner in Sugar Blitz Cupcakes. Emphasis on silent. That is until his impromptu feminist rant about how women bakers are the backbone of the industry and baking cupcakes isn’t a threat to masculinity goes viral, making him the hottest bachelor in town. With a new location in the works, August and his partners decide to capitalize on this perfect opportunity to help cement their place in the community. But the hiring of his best friend’s younger sister, the woman who has haunted some of his best dreams for years, was as much of a shock as his new-found fame.
Social media manager Sloane Dell fell hard for her brother’s best friend the moment she met him more than a decade ago, but that teenage infatuation cost her dearly. Still, she accepts her brother’s request to revamp the bakery’s social media presence to take advantage of August’s newfound popularity, knowing it’s the big break her fledgling career needs. She’ll just ignore the fact that August is still August, i.e. sexier and sweeter than any man has a right to be. And that he drives her crazy with his resistance to all her ideas.
They vow to leave the past in the past. But when an explosive make-out session makes it clear their attraction burns hotter than ever, Sloane and August are forced to reconsider what it means to take a risk and chase your dreams.
As they’re both about to find out, all’s fair in love and cupcakes.
“Wesley delivers a delectable mash-up of rom-com tropes in her adorable follow-up to Fake It Till You Bake It.“ – Publishers Weekly
“A fun twist on the culinary romance with both characters reliving a lot of past regrets and discovering the need to work on themselves if they are to find their happily-ever-after.” – Booklist
“A sweet romance with a very slow burn.” – Kirkus
“This fast-paced second-chance romance from Wesley (Fake It Till You Bake It) is sweet and hot, with a sexy cinnamon-roll hero and a determined, strong-willed heroine.” – Library Journal
This was a terrific follow-up to Fake It Till You Bake It, but it easily stands alone. Three professional football players own a bakery together. It is not just an investment; they actually do the baking and work there. Not sure how that happens during football season, but I was willing to just go with it. One of the owners has a sister, Sloane, who is a social media marketing genius, but she doesn’t want to work for her uber-successful brother, she wants to make it on her own. But when she loses her job, she applies for a new one at a company she is dying to work for. The only hiccup in the hiring process is that they want to see what she can do in real time. So she ends up working for her brother and his friends anyway, even if it is just temporary.
August is one of the owners, but he considers himself to be the silent partner. The other guys are gregarious and happy to do publicity and meet and greet the public. August prefers to bake in the kitchen. But when a few bros come in and start spouting off, he ends up going viral when he talks about how women are the backbone of baking. August has always had a thing for Sloane, but he is shy and not sure how she feels about him. Working together as Sloane makes August the star of the social media for the bakery brings them pretty close, especially as they get to know one another.
This is a slow-burn, sweet romance with a bit of spice and a really good read. This is turning into one of my favorite series – I love sports romances, close proximity romances, and foodie culture, so this hits on all counts for me. Can’t wait to see what’s next!
12/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
A LEGEND IN THE BAKING by Jamie Wesley.St. Martin’s Griffin (November 19, 2024). ISBN: 978-1250801876. 336p.
The all-new renovated edition with expanded scenes and bonus content!
They say love and construction don’t mix. By that logic, hate and construction may as well be condemned.
LaRynn Lavigne and Deacon Leeds had one short and contentious summer fling when they were teens―certainly nothing to build a foundation on. But a decade later, when their grandmothers have left them with shared ownership of their dilapidated Santa Cruz building, they’re thrust back together and have to figure out how to brace up the pieces.
LaRynn has the money, but in order to access her trust, she has to be married. Deacon has the construction expertise, but lacks the funds. A deal is struck: Marry for however long it takes to fix up the property, collect a profit, and cut ties.
Thrust into a home without walls, LaRynn and Deacon quickly learn that it’s easy to hide behind emotional ones, even in a marriage. But with all the exposure and pitfalls that come with living with the opposite sex (and none of the perks, much to their growing mutual frustration) they’ll also have to learn what it means to truly cooperate as a team.
Filled with crackling tension, The Co-op is a steamy second chance romance about restoration and renovation, and uncovering all the things that build character within ourselves. It’s about the never-ending construction project that partnership is, and finding enjoyment at every stage.
“DeWitt delivers a sensitive marriage of convenience romance…[tackling] tough issues without ever losing sight of the fun. This satisfies.” – Publishers Weekly
“An atmospheric tale of second chances.. Fans of slow-burn, emotionally charged romances, such as those by Kate Clayborn, Yulin Kuang, and Emily Henry, will enjoy DeWitt’s novel immensely.” – Library Journal
The fake marriage is a standard in romance tropes, and this one is handled quite matter-of-factly. LaRynn and Deacon’s grandmothers were married and left them equal shares of the beachfront home they shared. They also left them with a house in shambles and no money to fix it.
LaRynn was devasted when her grandmother passed, and hasn’t been back, not even when her wife passed. But Deacon has been sending stressed-out emails, hoping to get some response, and finally, LaRynn shows up. She’s dropped out of school, her father has turned off all the money she was used to, and she’s had to sell everything she owns to just stay afloat. She can access her trust fund if she’s married, so that’s what they do in order to get enough money to fix up the house. They figure they’ll stay married until it’s done, then sell it and split the very hefty profits. Deacon has other irons in the fire, but he can’t finish the house himself so it works for both of them.
Having had a fling one summer when they were teens has left them both with some baggage, and they have to work through it to find their way back to one another. It’s the journey to get there that is so much fun, and working and living together speeds it up just a bit.
This wasn’t as fast-paced as I expected, and there was a pretty major hole in the story that irked me, but all in all, I enjoyed this novel, and I’m looking forward to DeWitt’s next.
12/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
THE CO-OP by Tarah DeWitt.St. Martin’s Griffin (November 12, 2024). ISBN: 978-1250329387. 352p.
From USA TODAY bestselling author of The Book Club Hotel, Sarah Morgan returns with a heartfelt story of friendship, finding yourself, and the surprising ties that bring us together. Perfect for fans of Rebecca Serle and Jennifer Weiner.
To the outside world, Imogen is a marketing dynamo. Her colleagues don’t know that while her high-achieving professional image is real, the happy childhood stories she spins are as fake as her pretend enthusiasm for Christmas. Working 24/7 has always been her solution to surviving the festive season—until burnout leads to a catastrophic blunder.
Suddenly, Imogen is handed a holiday gift she definitely doesn’t want: enforced time off work to recuperate. Then an invitation arrives from her favorite client, Dorothy, to stay at her guest cottage in the Cotswolds. From the thatched roof to the cozy open fireplace, Holly Cottage is a picture-perfect haven… Can it provide the fresh start Imogen so desperately needs?
For Dorothy, helping Imogen offers a longed-for chance to make reparations for her own past. But as her daughter Sara keeps reminding her, it brings risks, too. Yet Dorothy knows that only a leap of courage will allow her family to grow and heal. And perhaps this Christmas, with Dorothy’s help, the new life that Imogen is slowly piecing together could be better than anything either of them could imagine…
Perfect for fans of: Rebecca Serle and Jojo Moyes The Book Club Hotel by Sarah Morgan Strong, hardworking women Complex family relationships Christmas Hallmark movies
“Morgan’s latest is sure to serve up some holiday cheer as Imogen learns the meaning of family and friendship and finds her own love story. This delightful Christmas tale is the perfect antidote to loneliness and feeling overwhelmed over the busy holiday season.”—Booklist Reviews
“Imogen will find that there’s much more to life than work and that perhaps she’s able to have love and family after all . . . Though the pacing is a bit uneven, this latest from Morgan is a poignant holiday novel with a touch of romance.”—Library Journal
Imogen is all about her work. She has no other life outside of work, although she does have a couple of photos on her desk of a fake family and a fake dog, neither of which is hers. As an event planner, she excels, but she keeps taking on more and more clients until the unthinkable happens and an important event implodes. Imogen’s boss isn’t mad about that so much as she fears Imogen is going to burn out in flames, so she orders her to take the month of December off, and suggests she spend it with her family.
Unfortunately, that’s not an option. Imogen was raised by a single mother who was extremely abusive and unstable, and she avoids her as much as possible. But when her favorite client, Dorothy, offers her the use of her Cotswold country cottage, Imogen decides to take her up on it and get a much-needed rest. Dorothy invites her to lunch, but a visit to the restroom reveals family photos that turn Imogen’s world upside down. Learning about her own family is an eye opening experience, but Imogen is helped along by a neighboring veterinarian. They all spend that month together, and Imogen finally finds the happiness she never knew she was missing.
I found parts of the story confusing at times, but eventually, it all made sense. I liked seeing Imogen come out of her shell and finding family and love was just a bonus. A perfect read for the holidays!
11/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
THE HOLIDAY COTTAGE by Sarah Morgan.Canary Street Press; Original edition (September 24, 2024). ISBN: 978-1335499097. 352p.
Lizzie Shane’s Pine Hollow series is a contemporary romance series about the residents of Pine Hollow, Vermont, and their love of animals. The series follows the characters as they adopt rescue dogs and find their happily-ever-afters.
I did a full review of the first book in the series, The Twelve Dogs of Christmas, and here are my thoughts on the rest of the series.See my comments below each book.
Pine Hollow has everything Ally Gilmore could wish for in a holiday break: gently falling snow in a charming small town and time with her family. Then she learns some Grinch has pulled the funding for her family’s rescue shelter, and now she has only four weeks to find new homes for a dozen dogs! But when she confronts her Scroogey councilman nemesis, Ally finds he’s far more reasonable – and handsome – than she ever expected.
As the guardian of his dog-obsessed ten-year-old niece, Ben West doesn’t have time to build a cuddly reputation. But he does feel guilty about the shelter closing. So he proposes a truce with Ally, agreeing to help her adopt out the pups. As the two spend more time together, the town’s gossip is spreading faster than Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve. And soon Ben is hoping he can convince Ally that Pine Hollow is her home for the holidays…and the whole year through.]
From the BookBitch: I really enjoyed this romantic romp. If you like your Christmas stories with a side of puppies, as I do, this is your book. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Full review
Opposites attract when a straitlaced lawyer and whimsical party planner must fake-date as co-parents of a rambunctious Irish wolfhound in the second book of this im-paw-ssibly charming small-town romance series.
Once upon a time, an unruly puppy was looking for a place to call home…
Connor Wyeth has a plan for everything. But when he adopts Maximus, an unruly Irish wolfhound mix, he gets more than he bargained for. The only person Max ever listens to is the volunteer who used to walk him at the shelter – a perpetually upbeat woman whose day job is planning princess parties for little kids. Connor can’t believe she’ll be able to tame such a beast as Max, but he’s desperate enough to try anything.
Deenie Mitchell isn’t looking forward to spending more time with uptight, rules-orientated Connor – no matter how attractive he is. But when her sister announces her engagement, Deenie realizes he’s the perfect person to impress her type-A family. When she learns he needs a plus-one for his law firm’s work events, an unlikely alliance is formed. But then playing the perfect couple unexpectedly begins to feel all too…real.
Opposites may attract, but can this rule-maker and rule-breaker find a way to each other’s hearts?
From the BookBitch: I loved this romcom that takes you back to the small town of Pine Hollow, and into the lives of the happy-go-lucky yet sassy Deenie, and the straight-laced yet impassioned Connor, as they find out that opposites do attract. There is definitely more to their relationship than dog training, fake dating, and office politics.
Sometimes a second chance at first love requires a little push…
The last person Elinor Rodriguez wants to spend time with is her first love, Levi Jackson. The quietly intense lawman broke Elinor’s heart once before, and she’s determined to never risk trusting him again. Unfortunately, her mischievous rescue dog seems to have other plans. Somehow Dory always manages to escape Elinor at the worst possible moment. And in the small town of Pine Hollow, Levi is the man to call when a dog is disrupting traffic.
As the kid who barely graduated – and still struggles to hide his dyslexia – Levi always believed that Elinor was way out of his league. Even though he ended their engagement all those years ago, Elinor continues to take Levi’s breath away whenever he sees her. Now, with a little help from a four-legged friend, Levi and Elinor may just get the second chance they deserve.
From the BookBitch: I love a second chance romance, and this was a good one. Levi and Eleanor were engaged, and a couple of weeks before the wedding, he called it off – with no reason. Living in a small town means there is no escape, and finding their way back to one another is a sometimes painful, yet promising journey.
In this fun small-town romance, a Jane Austen fan struggling to find her modern-day Mr. Darcy gets more than she bargained for when she swears off men and adopts an adorable puppy.
Dr. Charlotte Rodriguez is single—again—and she blames Jane Austen. She made brooding, aloof men sound oh so dreamy. But after years of failing to find her own Mr. Darcy, Charlotte decides it’s time to swear off dating. She’s going to lavish all her love and affection on someone who actually deserves it: her new puppy, Bingley.
And there’s no one better to give her pet advice than her neighbor and coworker George Leneghan. He’s quiet and patient and, best of all, way too sweet to ever be her type. But as their friendly banter turns flirty, the unimaginable happens—Charlotte starts catching feelings.
Just as Charlotte is trying to untangle what it is she truly wants, George announces he’s contemplating a cross-country move. Suddenly, Charlotte wonders if she’s kept her soulmate in the friend zone so long that she’s entirely missed her chance at a happily ever after. Dear Reader, could it be possible she’s had it wrong all this time?
From the BookBitch: This contemporary take on Jane Austen goes one step further with a family obsessed with everything Austen, including their names. George is so perfect for Charlotte but it takes them both a while to figure it all out. This was a sweet romance sure to please any Austen fan.
In this uplifting small-town romance, a rambunctious puppy gives two childhood friends a second chance at love.
When her Olympic downhill dreams were crushed by an injury, Kendall Walsh retreated to Pine Hollow to help her parents run the local ski resort—and watched from a distance as her childhood best friend took the winter sports world by storm. Now nearly a decade later, Brody James has suddenly retired and returned to Pine Hollow for his sister’s wedding, but he isn’t the same carefree daredevil Kendall remembers (and had a secret crush on as a teen).
Haunted by the recent death of his fiercest rival, and struggling to regain his footing in a life after sports, Brody finds himself trailing after Kendall at the resort as eagerly as her golden retriever puppy. Kendall had promised herself she wasn’t going to bother with things like romance until she’d proven herself as the ski resort’s new events coordinator, but Brody has always been her kryptonite and maybe they both need to remember how to be a little more daring…
From the BookBitch: Kendall was supposed to follow in her father’s footsteps and become an Olympic champion skier. She was well on her way when she had a terrible accident, and hasn’t been up on skis since. Her childhood best friend, Brody, did make it all the way but when his arch rival dies, it really throws him off kilter. He comes home and tries to figure out his next move, helping Kendall out at the ski resort her family owns. Lots of family drama ensues, but Kendall and Brody find their happy ending.
A small-town baker faces off against her longtime nemesis on a reality TV competition in this delightful romantic comedy.
Magda Miller’s feud with rival baker Mackenzie Newton is so old, folks in tiny Pine Hollow, Vermont forgot how it started. But Magda remembers: Ten years ago, she offered Mac her heart—instead, he ran off with her grandmother’s maple cake recipe. Now, Mac traipses all over Magda’s baking territory, just like his oversized tabby keeps sneaking into her house to claim her dog’s favorite bed. So, when Magda gets the call to compete on The Great American Cake-Off, she’s thrilled to finally shine in a Mac-free zone. But when she arrives on set, her devilishly handsome nemesis is already there . .
It turns out, Mac and Magda’s story has inspired the first ever Arch Rivals edition of Cake-Off, and of course Mac has to raise the stakes with a wager. The winner takes all—the Cake-Off title, the contested recipe, and control of the narrative. Magda is more than ready to kick Mac’s Bundt. But as they spar, on-screen and off, Mac and Magda reveal the best in each other…and the sizzling attraction fueling their rivalry. Only one of them can win, so why does it suddenly feel like they both stand to lose?
From the BookBitch: I think this may be my favorite book in the series, which is really saying something. Set in the world of a competitive baking reality TV show just amped up my interest for sure. Mac and Magda have been sworn enemies in the tiny town of Pine Hollow for years, so when they compete on TV things really take a turn – and then another turn, when they fall in love. This enemies-to-lovers romance was everything I wanted – relatable characters, slow-burn romance, and, of course, the happily ever after.
Two very indoor people rough it on a remote island after getting swept up in an archaeologist’s hunt for a famed jewel in this dazzling new adventure rom-com by Kerry Rea, author of Lucy on the Wild Side.
If Emily Edwards knows one thing, it’s that you don’t go to a remote island by yourself. Ever the type A personality, Emily doesn’t want to hike around an unfamiliar island, but she’s determined to fulfill her late father’s national park bucket list, starting with Isle Royale National Park—home to wolves, bears, and hundred-year-old shipwrecks. She has no choice but to hire a tour guide, and there is only one that isn’t booked solid.
Ryder Fleet, co-owner of Fleet Outdoor Adventures, wouldn’t call himself a wilderness expert, and he definitely doesn’t know how to find true north. But when his dormant adventure guide business suddenly finds life again after a random inquiry, Ryder somehow finds himself on a ferry to Isle Royale with a very beautiful, no-nonsense woman. What this woman doesn’t know is that his brother Caleb, who died two years ago, was the outdoorsman of their business, while Ryder just did the marketing. But how hard could it be to hike up a few mountains?
Pretty difficult, actually, when murder is involved. Emily’s perfectly planned trek turns disastrous when she and Ryder witness a brutal crime and are suddenly forced to evade a group of archaeologists on the hunt for a jewel. As they spend nights together too close for comfort, they realize their shoddily built fire isn’t the only thing that’s kindling, and that they must trust each other if they want to escape the island with their lives—and hearts—intact.
“The great outdoors brings peril and passion in this high-octane rom-com…Rea ramps up the suspense, but never races through the relationship itself, allowing it to develop at a natural pace amid the drama. The characters slowly reveal their hidden depths…igniting an attraction that inspires them to want to save each other. It’s the perfect mix of danger and delight.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Rea takes readers on a delightful adventure that’s packed with action, twists, and humor in this forced-proximity rom-com. Hand to fans of Jo Segura and Sarah Hawley.”—Library Journal
“This hilarious novel doesn’t take itself too seriously and is a quick, fun read.”—Booklist
Emily lost her father over a year ago, but is still feeling guilty that she kept putting off going to national parks with him. Now that he’s gone, she feels it is her mission to spread his ashes at the top park on his bucket list, Isle Royale National Park. Emily much prefers a five star resort to doing anything outdoors, but guilt is a powerful motivator. This particular park requires some outdoor survival skills for sure, and since she doesn’t have any, she invites her boyfriend along. But two weeks before their trip, he dumps her.
Frantic, Emily tries every tour guide she can find until she reaches Fleet Outdoor Adventures, and miraculously, they have a guide available. What they don’t tell her is that her guide, Ryder, is actually the marketing person at this company but since his brother, the actual guide, passed away, the company has sort of fallen apart and is on the verge of going under. This is the last attempt to try and save it, so off Ryder goes into the wilderness on a truly madcap adventure.
Things don’t start off well when he almost misses the ferry that takes them to the park. Emily is not impressed with Ryder, to say the least, and the more they hike the less impressed she is. Ryder can only fake it for so long until he admits he is just as clueless as she is.
Meanwhile, Emily met an archaeology professor from Harvard on the ferry who tells her about a shipwreck he is researching. When they run into him in the woods, he claims his mentor tried to kill him because they found a rare blue diamond on board the wreck. Turns out to be the other way around, and Emily and Ryder realize they are in deep trouble when they witness a murder. And then they become the hunted.
This is more silly than serious, despite the guns and goons. Ryder and Emily slowly find a way to get along, and then more feelings develop. This was a really fun read with a lot of laughs between the murder attempts, and the forced proximity trope works really well here. Rea has become a must-read author for me, if only for the laughter – and what could be better than laughing?
11/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
THE JEWEL OF THE ISLE by Kerry Rea.Berkley (November 26, 2024). ISBN: 978-0593815649. 336p.
A hilarious love story about a disillusioned divorcée who agrees to let her children play matchmaker.
Columnist Anna Appleby has left her love life behind after a painful divorce. Who needs a man when she has two kids, a cat, and uncontested control of the TV remote? Besides, she’d rather be single than subject herself to the hell of online dating. But her office rival is vying for her column, and no column means no stable source of income. In a desperate attempt to keep her job, Anna finds herself pitching a unique angle: seven dates, all found offline, chosen by her children.
From awkward encounters to unexpected connections, Anna gamely begins to put herself out there, asking out waiters, the mailman, and even her celebrity crush. But when a romantic connection appears where she least expected it, will she be brave enough to take another chance on love?
One of Bustle’s Best New Books of Fall 2024 One of BookBub’s Best Books of Fall 2024 One of Nerd Daily’s Most Anticipated Books of 2024 One of SheReads’ Most Anticipated Books of Fall 2024 One of LitHub’s Ultimate Fall 2024 Reading List One of theSkimm‘s Most Anticipated Books of Fall 2024
“Another bright and gratifying love story from Cousens. . . . She tackles the enemies-to-lovers trope with characteristic humor and thoughtfulness, while injecting it with complex characters and realistic situations.” —Library Journal (starred review)
“[Cousens] delivers another refreshing novel that takes readers on an unexpected journey…Through a series of chaotic, charming, and surprising rendezvous, Anna begins to find herself again. . . . Complete with a cast of well-developed and memorable characters, Cousens expertly weaves together themes of self-discovery, romance, motherhood, and friendship, resulting in a rich story that is engrossing to the end with high appeal to women’s lit readers.” —Booklist (starred)
“Cousens has a well-earned reputation for writing delightful love stories, and this one more than delivers. The enemies-to-lovers chemistry between Anna and Will is both believable and steamy, and Cousens deftly plays with rom-com tropes while crafting a journey of self-discovery in the wake of divorce. It’s also refreshing to read a slightly older heroine—Anna is in her late 30s, an age that often seems nonexistent in romances—with an established life, career, and children. A supremely satisfying love story with all the charm readers have come to expect from Cousens.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred)
Cousens writes reliably excellent stories, and this is no exception. Anna is in her late thirties, divorced, a mom of two, and works as a columnist for a local homestyle magazine. Like most print magazines, this one is in trouble, and there is a new owner in town. He wants more clicks, more likes, more social engagement, and Anna fears her column may be cut. Then her work nemesis, Will, offers up his own idea for a column to replace hers, and Anna’s competitive streak blooms. They each commit to writing personal columns about their dating life.
Will is a few years younger than Anna and drop-dead gorgeous. He is known for his regular hookups with a different girl every week. Anna hasn’t been on a date since before she was married. A couple of co-workers help create a profile for her on an online dating app, but the dates are horrible. When she mentions that her son wants to fix her up with a classmate’s divorced dad, her new boss jumps at the idea, and a new column is hatched; Anna’s kids will find her six dates from the local men in their community, and she’ll write about them. While these dates aren’t fabulous, Anna is making new friends at least and trying new things.
Will tries to help, although she doesn’t see it that way. But when he books them a weekend getaway at a camp where phones are banned and they stay in the woods, Anna finds herself falling for Will. The weekend is a big success, until a family emergency calls Anna home.
It’s an enemies-to-lovers romance, with a lot of laughs along the way. The setting in Bath, England adds some interest as well, but it’s the characters that truly drive this story. If you enjoy a fun romp of a romance, don’t miss this one.
11/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
IS SHE REALLY GOING OUT WITH HIM? by Sophie Cousens.G.P. Putnam’s Sons (November 19, 2024). ISBN: 978-0593718902. 368p.
In USA Today bestselling author Julie Anne Long’s latest installment in the Palace of Rogues series, an estranged couple decide to fake their way through the London season to repair their good name… but neither are prepared for the genuine sparks that begin flying between them.
A blue-blooded beauty bartered to a Beast…
He would pay any price to possess her. But even though Alexandra Bellamy sacrifices herself to save her family’s fortunes, a shocking betrayal sunders her marriage to a taciturn brute of a war hero, Colonel Magnus Brightwall, before it even begins. Five years of icy separation later, a scandal—with Alexandra at the middle—reunites them, and Magnus issues an edict: they will confront the ton, rescue their reputations, then Magnus will banish her to another continent—forever.
But alone in a suite at the Grand Palace on the Thames, a new battle begins—between pride and the unexpected volcanic passion stirring between them. The danger is real: Magnus rediscovers why Alexandra is the only woman who could ever break him. And even as she lays bare the beautiful heart beating beneath the battered hide of the near-stranger she married, Alexandra knows she may have already lost him—even as she finally falls fatally, irrevocably in love.
“The eighth entry in Long’s wonderful “Palace of Rogues” series (following My Season of Scandal) is another lovely read . . . This latest from Long showcases her sharp skill for character detail, dialogue, pacing, and tone. A book to treasure.”—Library Journal
“A marriage of estrangement becomes real just as it’s ending . . . This “Beauty and the Beast” rewrite is evocative of some of Lisa Kleypas’ and Sherry Thomas’ historical romances, where marriages must be rebuilt by two complicated people healing the wrongs they did to each other and baring their true selves . . . A keeper, fusing the beauties of historical romance with present-day ideas of individual happiness.” —Kirkus Reviews
This is the latest addition to one of my favorite series, and it’s a good one. Heart wrenching, in fact. The “beast” is Colonel Magnus Brightwall, a soldier who has been away for five years, leaving the morning after he got married. His wife is Alexandra Bellamy, whose father basically sold her into marriage. It would have worked out, except that Alexandra had a bit of a crush on another man, and he kisses her goodbye as he is leaving town. Unfortunately, her only kiss was also her last, because it happened shortly after the wedding and was witnessed by her husband.
Magnus never thought he would marry, but something about Alexandra strongly appealed to him. But he is devastated by what he saw, and he returns to war, leaving his bride behind. She makes a life for herself, but when he returns, things have to change. He readies the house for sale, and they move into the Grand Palace on the Thames. Determined to resist the irresistible proves much more difficult than Magnus expected, and as they spend time together, feelings start to emerge. But he is stubborn, and she feels helpless to change anything.
This was such an emotional read for me. These characters and their story were incredibly engaging, and I couldn’t wait for their happy ending, but it didn’t seem like they would get one until the very end. While theoretically these books don’t need to be read in order, I think they make more sense if you have the backstory created in the previous books. Another excellent read from Julie Anne Long.
THE BEAST TAKES A BRIDE by Julie Anne Long. Avon (October 22, 2024).ISBN: 978-0063281172. 368p.
This year Macomber has THREE Christmas romances out; one novel, and two novellas packaged together in one book. They are exactly what her fans expect – sweet and happy holiday reads!
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A solo holiday trip inspires one woman to rediscover her passion—and remember that, sometimes, duets are more fun—in this romantic Christmas novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber. “A perfectly delicious Christmas bonbon of a novel.”—Mary Kay Andrews, New York Times bestselling author of The Santa Suit and Bright Lights, Big Christmas
Hailey Morgan’s life has always revolved around music. She once had big dreams of becoming a professional songwriter, but the reality of life has led her to working as an assistant high school band teacher in Portland. As the holidays approach, Hailey dreads the annual tradition of spending Christmas with her family and dodging her mother’s meddling questions about her love life.
When Hailey’s close friend offers her the use of her family’s empty cabin for a rejuvenating solo holiday retreat, Hailey finally decides to do something to make herself happy. However, her arrival in the small town of Podunk, Oregon, is anything but peaceful when she discovers the cabin has been invaded by several wild animals. Luckily, Jay, the son of the town’s main store proprietor—and an incredibly handsome and charming former musician to boot—is more than willing to help.
Soon Hailey and Jay are nearly inseparable, chopping down and decorating a Christmas tree, sipping hot cocoa in front of a cozy fire, and best of all, playing music together. Jay’s positive feedback and encouragement inspire Hailey to believe she might succeed as a songwriter after all. But even in her snow-dusted oasis, family holiday drama still finds Hailey, interrupting and threatening her newfound peace and confidence. Meanwhile revelations from Jay present complications of their own. Suddenly her Christmas paradise has become a winter storm and Hailey must weather through the challenges to stand up for herself and embrace the holiday spirit.
Two stories to celebrate the holiday season with the good people of Cedar Cove…
A Cedar Cove Christmas
Mary Jo Wyse finds herself in Cedar Cove on Christmas Eve, stranded, pregnant and alone. And there’s no room at the local inn… So Grace Harding brings Mary Jo home to her ranch, where they’ve got a spare room over the stable. And luckily a paramedic named Mack McAfee is there to help when Mary Jo goes into labor. The people of Cedar Cove join them in celebrating the birth of baby Noelle. But no one has more to celebrate than Mack…because this Christmas brings him faith, hope and love.
1225 Christmas Tree Lane
Beth Morehouse expects this Christmas to be one of her best. But someone leaves a basket of puppies on her doorstep, and now she’s determined to find them all good homes. Also complicating things is the invitation her daughters extended to their dad…whom Beth divorced a long time ago. As always in life, there are surprises. More than one family’s going to have a puppy under the tree. More than one scheme will go awry. And more than one romance will have a happy ending!
MISTLETOE AND MISCHIEF by Debbie Macomber. MIRA; Reissue edition (October 1, 2024). ISBN: 978-0778368212. 368p.
I enjoyed both of these books! Reading Mistletoe and Mischief was like visiting an old friend. I was happy to be back in Cedar Cove again, even if I didn’t remember a lot of the characters. I thought maybe this was Macomber’s way of ending the series, but it didn’t feel like an ending. There are at least a dozen books in this series, and I’ve enjoyed them all. Please note that these have been previously published as individual books.
The Christmas Duet was a fun read about an aspiring songwriter who escapes her overbearing family for a Christmas alone – but it doesn’t turn out that way. A sweet romance blooms during most of the book, followed by family and a happy ending. Pure entertainment the way Macomber does it!
Amira Khan has no plans to break her no-dating rule.
Thirty-year-old engineer Amira Khan has set one rule for herself: no dating until her grad-school thesis is done. Nothing can distract her from completing a paper that is so good her boss will give her the promotion she deserves when she returns to work in the city. Amira leaves campus early, planning to work in the quiet basement apartment of her family’s house. But she arrives home to find that her grandmother has rented the basement to . . . a barbershop quartet. Seriously? The living situation is awkward: Amira needs silence; the quartet needs to rehearse for a competition; and Duncan, the small-town baritone with the flannel shirts, is driving her up the wall.
As Amira and Duncan clash, she is surprised to feel a simmering attraction for him. How can she be interested in someone who doesn’t get her, or her family’s culture? This is not a complication she needs when her future is at stake. But when intolerance rears its ugly head and people who are close to Amira get hurt, she learns that there is more to Duncan than meets the eye. Now she must decide what she is willing to fight for. In the end, it may be that this small-town singer is the only person who sees her at all.
I’ve read a few of Heron’s books and enjoyed them, so when this one popped up as a recommendation, and I saw it was her debut novel, I decided to give it a read. There’s a theme of dealing with racism that just seemed appropriate at this time in our country, I’m sorry to say. But not to worry, there is plenty of humor, some heat, and an opposites attract, forced proximity romance at the heart of this story.
Amira runs into a little problem on the way home. A man on the train is making her feel uncomfortable, and another man who looks like a lumberjack comes to her rescue. But Amira is not the type who wants to be rescued. She needs to finish her master’s thesis in hopes of a promotion at work, so she decides to come home and make use of the solitude of her grandmother’s basement apartment. But when she gets there, she finds out the other bedrooms have been rented to a barbershop quartet, and all she knows about that is they need to sing. All the time. Not exactly conducive to studying.
One of the quartet turns out to be her lumberjack rescuer – Duncan Galahad (that name is a bit on the nose for me.) Amira can’t fault her grandmother; after all, she is staying there rent-free. She gets the quartet to agree to a schedule, and they fall into an easy friendship, despite their different backgrounds and cultures. Two of the men are a couple, the third is engaged, but Duncan is single. As he and Amira get to know one another, a physical attraction becomes apparent, leading to some suggestive sex. Amira likes to take charge in the bedroom, and Duncan finds that really hot, but it all takes place behind closed doors so we are not privy to that.
I enjoyed this – I like reading about different cultures, and these characters were all interesting. This was a terrific debut and as good a read as I expected from this author. Highly recommend.
11/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
THE CHAI FACTOR by Farah Heron.HarperCollins Publishers (June 11, 2019). ISBN: 978-1464220128. 464p.
Christmas is both naughty and nice this year when a single dad and his best friend’s sister celebrate with some secret (steamy) romance and festive fun, perfect for fans of Maggie Knox and Lyssa Kay Adams.
Charlotte Calhoun has avoided Hayden Porter, her older brother’s sexy-as-sin best friend, ever since that mortifying night when he flat-out rejected her. Fine. Except this Christmas season, they’re thrown together at a snowy ski resort for her brother’s bachelor party, complete with mistletoe, cozy fireplaces, and adjoining rooms. She can tell herself to get over Hayden, but holiday cheer is turning to holiday lust every time he is within ten feet of her.
Between being a full-time single father and his high-pressure college coaching job, a romantic relationship is off the table for Hayden. But he’s fought his attraction to Charlotte for as long as he can. A one-night stand is starting to sound like a good idea—as long as her brother never finds out. But with two long weeks until the wedding, hiding their growing feelings is going to take a Christmas miracle.
From the BookBitch: This was a fun, sexy Christmas romance and completely entertaining – everything I want in a Christmas romance.
Annie Jones is stuck repeating Christmas Eve until she finds everything she’s been missing in life in this heartwarming time travel Christmas romance for fans of Miracle on 34th Street, Groundhog Day, and Josie Silver’s A Winter in New York.
Annie Jones works hard designing windows for iconic New York City department store Lawson’s Finest. So when her Christmas window display gets upended by some rambunctious kids on Christmas Eve, the all-too-realistic store Santa gives Annie a little decorating tip on how to start over. With help from friendly security guard Braden Tate, Annie repairs the damage and heads home. But when she wakes the next morning, she’s bewildered to find that it isn’t Christmas day at all, but Christmas Eve all over again.
Trapped in a time loop, Annie doesn’t know how she’ll ever make it back to the present. Luckily, she has an infinite number of chances to get things right. As little everyday choices bring her closer to Braden and to Christmas day, Annie starts to picture what her new life― one full of friendship, love, and community―could look like.
From the BookBitch: “Groundhog Day” is one of my favorite movies, and this book has a similar premise around Christmas Eve instead. Annie was a sweet character, as was Braden, and as the days keep repeating, they learn more about one another and themselves – and how much reaching out to strangers can matter.
The magic of Christmas—and a second shot at romance—is in the air in Shelter Springs this holiday season…
Amanda Taylor isn’t a fan of Christmas, but as the owner of a local soap shop, ignoring the holiday season isn’t an option. To forget the pain of Christmases past, Amanda focuses on making the season bright for her customers at the Shelter Springs Holiday Giving Market. But when her beloved grandmother, Birdie, starts dating the dashing new resident of the Shelter Inn retirement community, Amanda smells trouble. Fortunately, Rafe Arredondo, the grandson of Birdie’s charming suitor, is equally dubious of the match. Unfortunately, he’s just as fiery as his grandfather—and Amanda has zero interest in getting burned.
As a single father, paramedic and assistant fire chief, Rafe has more than enough on his plate. Sure, he and Amanda share a common goal in keeping their grandparents apart. Still, that doesn’t mean he should allow himself to feel as drawn to her as he does. Even if she is great with his young son. Even if she does help the burden of his own painful past feel a little lighter… But when their paths keep crossing at the holiday market, it starts to feel like fate, prompting them both to wonder if taking a chance on love might gift them everything they’ve been wishing for.
From the BookBitch: This is the second book in the Shelter Springs series, and I loved it. Not sure why the publisher is harping on the grandparents relationship; that is really a subplot. It’s the heat between Rafe and Amanda that makes this story fiery and unputdownable.
A witty, warmhearted novel about coming to terms with grief, taking a chance on unexpected connections, and finding family in time for the holidays
For wedding singer Mel Hart, the holidays have always retained a certain magic. Her mother, Connie, always managed to pull off spectacular Santa hijinx that convinced Mel to keep believing in Santa way longer than other kids. Those moments meant everything to Mel because the rest of the year, life was unpredictable because of her mother’s alcohol use.
But two weeks before Christmas, Mel gets a call from the hospital: her mother has died.
Then a woman shows up on Mel’s doorstep, claiming to be Connie’s estranged best friend, promising to tell Mel a different narrative—one in which Connie was almost a famous country music star, if only a man hadn’t gotten in the way. Instead of spending Christmas alone in her dead mother’s house, Mel agrees to stay with Barb for the holidays, finding herself in the middle of Barb’s complicated family and uncovering secrets while fighting an attraction to Barb’s in-the-middle-of-a-divorce son. As Christmas approaches, Mel reckons with how little she knew about her mother’s past while reexamining her own future.
A Home for the Holidays is a moving exploration of complicated grief, mother-daughter relationships, loving someone with addiction, and the redemptive power of opening one’s heart to love in all its forms.
From the BookBitch: I loved learning with Mel about her mother’s life, and seeing her relationship blossom. While not your typical Christmas romance, the additional depth here was welcome.
Can one Amish woman give a struggling widower with five rowdy boys a helping hand—and chance at love—this Christmas season?
Phoebe Kropf knows everyone thinks she’s a bit odd—and more than a little accident-prone. She doesn’t understand why they fuss over her at home rather than see her as a bright, independent Amish woman. So when a friend asks Phoebe to help care for a house full of young men in nearby Sweetbrier Creek, she leaps at the chance to prove she’s more than her shortcomings . . .
Widower Seth Beiler is in over his head with his five orphaned brieder to care for and all the Christmas orders his woodworking shop needs to fulfill. When he asked for help with some cooking and cleaning, he wasn’t expecting a housekeeper as unconventional—or lovely—as Phoebe. Yet her warm care and holiday traditions win their hearts one by one. And soon the farmhouse finally starts to feel like home again. When the Christmas season and Phoebe’s time there is nearly at an end, will Seth convince her that the greatest gift would be her staying . . . as part of their familye?lationships come into play here when team captain Beckett’s sister moves into the same building as his teammate, Garrett. Garrett is tasked with watching out for Jennie, and he does, happily. But as they grow closer, their friendship soon turns into a more physical relationship. When big brother finds out, that happy ending seems in jeopardy.
From the BookBitch: I love Amish romances, and this was a good one – light on the preaching/religion, but heavy on the character development. I loved seeing Phoebe realize her self-worth.
Posted by Stacy Alesi 
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