THE MOST WONDERFUL CRIME OF THE YEAR by Ally Carter 

January 3, 2025

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From the publisher:

Knives Out gets a holiday rom-com twist in this rivals-to-lovers romance-mystery from New York Times bestselling author Ally Carter.

The bridge is out. The phones are down. And the most famous mystery writer in the world just disappeared out of a locked room two days before Christmas.

Meet Maggie Chase and Ethan Wyatt:

She’s the new Queen of the Cozy Mystery.

He’s Mr. Big-time Thriller Guy.

She hates his guts.

He thinks her name is Marcie (no matter how many times she’s told him otherwise.)

But when they both accept a cryptic invitation to attend a Christmas house party at the English estate of a reclusive fan, neither is expecting their host to be the most powerful author in the world: Eleanor Ashley, the Duchess of Death herself.

That night, the weather turns, and the next morning Eleanor is gone.

She vanished from a locked room, and Maggie has to wonder: Is Eleanor in danger? Or is it all some kind of test? Is Ethan the competition? Or is he the only person in that snowbound mansion she can trust?

As the snow gets deeper and the stakes get higher, every clue will bring Maggie and Ethan closer to the truth—and each other. Because, this Christmas, these two rivals are going to have to become allies (and maybe more) if they have any hope of saving Eleanor.

Assuming they don’t kill each other first.

The laugh out loud holiday “romystery” that you’ve been waiting for!

“Full of tongue-in-cheek humor, excellent dialogue, and fantastic characters, this expertly crafted story from Carter (The Blonde Identity) is a heart-melting rivals-to-lovers romance combined with a delightful locked-room mystery.” — Library Journal (starred review)

“Perfect for fans of “Knives Out” and “The Hating Game,” this enemies-to-lovers cat-and-mouse game boasts serious stakeouts and charged make-outs.” — Washington Post

“Carter spins a clever romantic mystery with a Christmassy twist. [Her] impressive plotting means the final, Agatha Christie–esque reveal is a genuine surprise, and she pulls off the enemies-to-lovers trope beautifully. Romantic suspense fans on the hunt for something festive will want to snap this up.” — Publishers Weekly

“The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter blends genres with the expert hand of a bartender crafting the perfect gingerbread martini.” — People

https://amzn.to/3DMQTz8

I know Christmas is over but I don’t care – this was such a great read! It may be my favorite holiday read this season.

I love a good locked-room mystery, and this one goes above and beyond because in addition to the mystery, there are a lot of laughs and a romance, making this an unputdownable read.

Maggie is our heroine, a best selling cozy mystery writer who has a bit of a bump in her career when she dumps her husband after finding him in bed with her best (and only) friend. He manages to get his hands on her copyrights, and she is working her butt off, writing several books under a variety of pseudonyms to make enough money to buy him out. When she reluctantly attends her publisher’s holiday party, her editor tells her she has been invited to spend the holidays with her biggest fan, but won’t say who it is. She decides to go as she has no family and no one to spend the holidays with. She is shocked to find a private jet waiting to whisk her off to England, but before she can enjoy it too much, the “leather jacket” she hates shows up to make the trip as well.

Ethan is the “leather jacket”, a best selling thriller writer with the obligatory author photo on the back of the book with the very good looking Ethan wearing a leather jacket. Look at most thrillers and you will see a similar author photo, men and women alike. It’s a thing for sure. Maggie detests Ethan; for one thing he always calls her Marcie which she finds maddening. But off they go and it turns out the fan is Eleanor Ashley. Maggie has read every one of her 99 books, most more than once, and is shocked to find her own books in Eleanor’s library. After greeting her guests, she goes to work in her office, locking herself in. The next morning, the door is still locked but Eleanor is gone.

Maggie thinks that this is some sort of contest, possibly to pick her successor. There are several other guests there for the holidays, and everyone is a suspect to Eleanor’s disappearance. Maggie finds a clue in the library, but when she follows her instincts, she ends up outdoors with Ethan hot on her trail. When shots are fired at her, Ethan saves her and Maggie decides maybe he isn’t as bad as she thought.

There are lots of red herrings and suspects galore, but as Ethan and Maggie work together, it turns out they have more in common than she thought and feelings are burgeoning. This was a fast read with lots of laughs and a terrific mystery with a totally unexpected ending, and I loved it!

1/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE MOST WONDERFUL CRIME OF THE YEAR by Ally Carter. Avon (September 24, 2024). ISBN: 978-0063276680. 304p.

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HOW MY NEIGHBOR STOLE CHRISTMAS by Meghan Quinn 

January 3, 2025

From the publisher:

A new holiday enemies-to-lovers romance from USA Today bestselling author Meghan Quinn.

Every Kringle in Kringletown celebrated Christmas a lot.

But Cole Black on Whistler Lane, unfortunately, did not.

As his fellow citizens decorate their quaint town, brimming with carols and glad tidings, Cole wants nothing more than to hibernate the winter away. But his dreary plans are thwarted when his Christmas nemesis, Storee Taylor, moves in next door to care for her Aunt Cindy. Immediately, the new neighbor turns his life into a real nightmare before Christmas, especially when she decides to enter the town Christmas Kringle contest in honor of Cindy. And better yet, Storee is determined to win.

Over Cole’s dead body, she will. With help from his friend Max, Cole decides to enter the competition as well, to beat Storee at her own game by pretending that this hometown grump’s heart has grown three sizes this season and he’s fallen for the girl next door. And unfortunately for Storee, she has to follow his lead to have a chance at the Christmas Kringle title.

But the competition isn’t the only thing that heats up. Cole and Storee’s fake relationship becomes very real, and before they know it, they’re attempting to hide it from Aunt Cindy. Things get complicated, the competition gets tough, and all it takes is one single night for someone to steal it all…

This book has gotten so much buzz, granted mostly from TikTok, but I heard it was really cute and funny so I went for it. The thirty-second elevator pitch is a contemporary rom-com based on The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, replete with chapter introductory bad Seuss-like poetry. Really bad. Seuss-spinning-in-his-grave bad. But the poetry was just a tiny part of the story.

Theoretically, this is a small-town romance with the always popular enemies-to-lovers trope as well as a smidge of fake dating, and it is Christmas all the way in this small town of Whoville, I mean Kringletown. The town leader is Bob Krampus, and this whole town celebrates Christmas all year long, culminating in the annual Christmas Kringle contest, a series of holiday-themed challenges from home decor to crafting to caroling and more. Storee’s favorite Aunt Cindy is recovering from hip replacement surgery and needs help. Storee’s sister is a nurse and she corrals Storee into spending the holidays in Kringletown and helping Aunty Cindy out.

Storee is surprised to find out that while her sister will be doing the actual caregiving, including a long-running and not-funny joke about cleaning her “crevices”, Cindy wants Storee to enter the contest. Cindy came in second the previous year and is determined to take the crown this year. Storee reluctantly agrees and it looks like it will be a fun time for all until the next-door neighbor, Cole, also decides to enter. Storee and Cole were friends when they were younger, but Storee hasn’t been back in Kringletown for ten years and for some reason, Cole is really pissed about it. These enemies resolve their issues rather quickly but don’t tell anyone, hence the “fake-dating” that is really only fake to probably Storee’s sister and aunt. It’s not as complicated as it sounds, but it leads to a lot of sex including the TikTok infamous candy cane sex scene. The Christmas contest challenges are adorable but it just went on forever.

This author was new to me, and I’m sorry to say that this book was too over the top for me; three-quarters of the way through I felt like I was overdosing on Christmas cutesiness. I slogged through the rest to get to the happy ending. Not my favorite Christmas romance.

1/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

HOW MY NEIGHBOR STOLE CHRISTMAS by Meghan Quinn. Bloom Books (October 15, 2024). ISBN: 978-1464230158. 480p.

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SEASON’S SCHEMINGS by Katie Bailey

December 20, 2024

Read by Austin Rising & Melissa Moran

Cyclones Christmas, Book 1

From the publisher:

 A Holiday Hockey Rom Com

‘Tis the season to get even…

When Maddie Grainger’s longtime boyfriend dumps her on TV for the entire world to see, she thinks she’s hit rock bottom.

Until her parents announce that they’re spending the holidays with her ex’s family… And he’ll be bringing the woman he left her for.

All Maddie wants for Christmas is to stick it to her cheating ex. But how?

Enter Sebastian Slater, the NHL’s most infamous player.

On a drunken night out in Vegas, Maddie asks the superstar athlete to pose as her new boyfriend. She’s kidding, mostly. But Seb shocks her by making a counter offer: he doesn’t want to date Maddie for the holidays… he wants to marry her.

Show up at her ex’s cabin alone, or with a surprise new hockey-playing husband? Maddie opts for the ultimate level up.

Because maybe, just maybe, revenge is a dish best served betrothed.

Sparks fly and Christmas cheer is abundant in this festive marriage of convenience rom com. Season’s Schemings is a closed door/fade to black romance that includes mild language, innuendo, and tons of sizzle without the spice..

https://amzn.to/4inzwF0

This holiday hockey rom-com was the perfect read for me! Everything I like all rolled up into one terrific read. I consider myself still a somewhat new audiobook reader, and as many as I have enjoyed, this one had me popping in my airPods all the time. I even watched a hockey game on TV while listening; it was a very meta experience!

Maddie entered a baking competition along with her boyfriend of over ten years in order to help him with his career as a pastry chef. Maddie cooks too, but her emphasis is on healthy treats. The boyfriend dumps her on national TV, she shoves his face into red frosting, and we are off to the races!

Maddie lands a good job as a nutritionist/kitchen help for a fictional NHL team in Atlanta, the Cyclones. Having a bit of a meltdown because the ex has become engaged to the woman he was cheating on her with, she ducks into the public restroom at the stadium. Except she doesn’t realize it’s the men’s room until Seb walks in.

Sebastian is the star center for the Cyclones, and only been with the team a year. Their meet-cute ratchets up a notch when he wanders into the kitchen looking for a snack, and there’s Maddie again. They chat for a while, then it’s back to work for both of them. Seb has been singularly focused on hockey for most of his life. He hooks up with the puck bunnies now and then, but he barely has time for his family much less a relationship.

The team flies to Las Vegas for a game, and Maddie gets to go. When it turns out Seb’s visa has expired (he’s Canadian) he is benched and really upset. He runs into Maddie in the hotel bar where she is already three sheets to the wind. Tearfully, she tells him that her parents are expecting her to spend Christmas with her ex, his family and new fiancée. She comes up with the wild idea that Seb should come with her and pretend to be her boyfriend. He is her ex’s favorite hockey player. But Seb has a better idea – he proposes – literally. If she marries him, he can continue to play while the immigration paperwork is in process, and he will accompany her to the family nightmare of a Christmas. They’re in Vegas, so a drunk Elvis marries the drunk couple Seb also invites her to move in with him. She’s been sleeping on the couch in her brother’s apartment since the breakup, so it’s a win-win all the way around.

It turns out Seb is the perfect husband, especially when they reach Aspen, the family, and her ex. Seb is surprised by how much he enjoys Maddie’s company and living with her. He looks forward to coming home after work, which is a first for him. And their relationship moves to the next level. Maybe this marriage shouldn’t be temporary? While I was thinking that the ‘Canadian marrying an American for citizenship’ plot was reminiscent of one of my favorite rom-com movies, The Proposal, up pops a mention of it in the book!

Happy endings are why I read so many romances, and this was such a fun read. I loved these characters and watching their relationship bloom and grow. The narrators were terrific, too, they really made the story come alive. Can’t wait for the next book in this new series.

12/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

SEASON’S SCHEMINGS by Katie Bailey. Narrators: Austin Rising & Melissa Moran. Dreamscape Media; February 27, 2024. ASIN: B0CQ18T61Q. Listening Length: 7 hours and 38 minutes

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Spotlight Review: A FIVE-LETTER WORD FOR LOVE by Amy James

December 17, 2024

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From the publisher:

A heartwarming and humorous romance in which an unlikely couple fall in love over Wordle.

Twenty-seven-year-old Emily doesn’t have a lot going well in her life right now. She dreams of a creative career but works as a receptionist in an auto shop. She longs for big city life but lives in a small town on Prince Edward Island. She craves a close group of friends but is stuck with irritating, car-obsessed coworkers.

What Emily does have is a 300+ day streak on the New York Times Wordle. But one day, with only one guess left and no clue what the answer is, she’s forced to turn to one of her irritating, car-obsessed coworkers, John, for help—and in doing so, realizes that he might not be so irritating after all.

As they make their way, word by word, toward a 365-day streak, Emily is drawn into a surprising romance that will take her outside of her comfort zone—and challenge everything she thought she knew about happiness, success, and love.

“Readers will find the snappy dialogue and genuine enthusiasm of the main character very endearing. An easy read for fans of puzzles and breezy romance, this book is also a great choice for those who prefer their romances on the lighter side.” -Booklist

“James’ debut is a sweet small-town romance that revolves around Emily’s journey of self-discovery and personal improvement . . . Wordplay and romance collide in this charming debut.” -Kirkus Reviews

“Emily is living on autopilot on Prince Edward Island in James’s debut. The best thing in her life is a 300-plus-day streak on Wordle. When she is forced to turn to her coworker John for help with a puzzle, the two pair up and push to 365 days, finding love in and beyond the squares . . . This heartfelt novel will surely garner an enthusiastic following for debut author James.” -Library Journal

“James debuts with a lighthearted coming-of-age romance . . . James shines depicting the simple joys of small-town life.” -Publishers Weekly

https://amzn.to/49Ow8PF

This has to be my favorite debut of the year! I love Wordle, and this is a romance where the two main characters find love when they start playing together at lunch. There is a lot of humor here, and I found myself laughing out loud, and telling my family all about this book. Emily is a quirky yet loveable character, and I truly enjoyed watching her grow.

Emily is a receptionist at a small auto repair shop on Prince Edward Island (one of my favorite settings, thanks to Anne of Green Gables!) The owner of the shop is ready to retire and rarely comes in to work. There are two mechanics, an older man and John, a very good-looking young man. But in the several months that Emily has worked there, John has pretty much ignored her and Emily has decided that his name, John Smith, really suits his taciturn personality. Until he sees her playing Wordle at lunch one day, and everything changes.

Turns out that John also enjoys Wordle. They start playing together every day at lunch, and eventually texting over Wordle on the weekends, too. Emily has an interesting style of play, which I found fun to read, as would any fans of the game. But Emily has big dreams, and they don’t include living in this small town and working as a receptionist. She struggles with what she truly thinks will make her happy, and while she is happy with John, she feels like there is a bigger life out there for her.

Emily starts volunteering at the small barrel-making museum in town. The woman who runs it inherited her job, and obviously couldn’t care less about the museum. She stays in her office scrolling Facebook all day and lets the volunteers run the place. Emily loves the museum and wishes more people would visit. To that end, she has some great ideas for drumming up more business, which her boss takes full credit for. She also helps out her elderly neighbor with grocery shopping and really enjoys talking to the elderly. This small town is full of old people and tourists, and Emily accidentally stumbles onto a part time job caregiving for her elderly neighbor, which leads to a couple more jobs like it.

Emily is searching for something bigger though, and decides to apply to NYU for a graduate degree in museum studies. She also applies to the Met in New York City for an internship, never really thinking she’d land either one of those. Meanwhile, she grows closer with John and she’s pretty sure she’s falling in love with him. The only drawback to this book is that because we see everything through Emily’s eyes, John remains something of an enigma.

Emily has been making friends in this small town and really loves living there. She’s sure her happiness lies elsewhere though. Her pursuing happiness elsewhere does not bode well for her relationship with John, but everything falls into place by the end of the book; Emily is heading for a 365-day Wordle streak, and a happily ever after. I loved this sweet and funny romance, and can’t wait to see what this new author comes up with next!

12/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

A FIVE-LETTER WORD FOR LOVE by Amy James. Avon (December 3, 2024). ISBN:‎ 978-0063399013. 368p.

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ELIZABETH OF EAST HAMPTON by Audrey Bellezza & Emily Harding  

December 13, 2024

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For the Love of Austen, Book 2

From the publisher:

This fresh and whip-smart modern retelling of Jane Austen’s classic Pride and Prejudice—from the authors of the “great beach read” (Bookreporter) Emma of 83rd Street—transports you to summer in the Hamptons, where classes clash, rumors run wild, and love has a frustrating habit of popping up where you least expect it.

It’s a truth universally acknowledged—well, by Elizabeth Bennet anyway—that there’s nothing worse than summer in the Hamptons. She should know: she’s lived out there her whole life. Every June, her hometown on the edge of Long Island is inundated with rich Manhattanites who party until dawn and then disappear by September. And after twenty-five years, Lizzy wants to leave, too.

But after putting her own dreams on hold to help save her family’s failing bakery, she’s still surfing the same beach every morning and waiting for something, anything, to change. She’s not holding her breath though, not even when her sister starts flirting with the hot new bachelor in town, Charlie Pierce, and he introduces Lizzy to his even hotter friend.

Will Darcy is everything Lizzy Bennet is not. Aloof, arrogant…and rich. Of course, he’s never cared about money. In fact, it’s number one on his long list of things that irk him. Number two? His friend Charlie’s insistence on setting him up with his new girlfriend’s sharp-tongued sister. Lizzy Bennet is all wrong for him, from her money-hungry family to her uncanny ability to speak to him as bluntly as he does everyone else. But then maybe that’s why he can’t stop thinking about her.

Lizzy is sure Will hates everybody. He thinks she willfully misunderstands them. Yet, just as they strike an uneasy truce, mistakes threaten Charlie and Jane’s romance, with Will and Lizzy caught in the undertow. Between a hurricane and a hypocritical aunt, a drunken voicemail and a deceptive party promoter, the two must sift through the gossip and lies to protect the happiness of everyone they love—even if it means sacrificing their own. But when the truth also forces them to see each other in an entirely new light, they must swallow their pride to learn that love is a lot like surfing: sometimes the only way to survive is to let yourself fall.

“Bellezza and Harding put a beachy spin on Pride and Prejudice… Austenites will be over the moon.”
—Publishers Weekly

https://amzn.to/49sHf0D

There are a ton of updated Pride & Prejudice retellings, but this is a really good one. Elizabeth “Lizzy” Bennett is the glue of the family, holding their bakery business together while her father recovers from a serious health scare. The bakery was an inherited family business and is barely hanging on. Her mother goes from one get-rich-quick scheme to the next; her latest is a bedazzled leggings pyramid scheme.

Charlie and his two sisters have rented a local McMansion on the beach for the summer. His best friend, Will Darcy, is spending weekends with them while his summer home in Montauk is under renovation. Charlie meets Lizzy’s older sister, Jane, and is smitten. Much to Lizzy’s surprise, Jane falls head over heels for Charlie. They keep pushing Lizzy and Will together, but it’s hate at first sight for those two.

Lizzy’s best friend, Piper, works at her family business, a local dive bar. Piper’s father has a dream of putting together a Hamptons music festival, but hasn’t managed it for many years. A visiting Manhattanite and supposed friend of Charlie and Will convinces him that he has the connections to make it happen, as long as he is paid very well.

Nothing goes according to plan, but Lizzy and Will go from enemies to lovers, and a happy ending is guaranteed for all. I loved it!

12/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

ELIZABETH OF EAST HAMPTON by Audrey Bellezza & Emily Harding. St. Martin’s Griffin (November 12, 2024). ISBN: 978-1250329387. 352p.

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BAKING IT MERRY by Samantha Chase

December 13, 2024

Read by Melanie Mendez

CLICK TO PURCHASE AUDIOBOOK

From the publisher:

A Small Town, Enemies to Lovers, Holiday Romance from New York Times bestselling author, Samantha Chase!

Everyone in the building loved the bake shop a lot.

Except for the guy on the top floor, who most certainly did not.

If it were up to him, there wouldn’t be a hint of Christmas in the building.

For two months out of the year, Daphne Noelle got to live her dream of owning a bakery. Her little pop-up bake shop—one that looked just like a gingerbread house—brought joy to every customer who stopped by to enjoy her sweet treats. She loved meeting people and making them smile, and being in such a festive setting every day was just the icing on the cake! For the last three years, everything had gone smoothly, but this year, there was one guy who was determined to ruin it all.

One of the things Tristan appreciated most about the office complex where his architecture firm was located is how upscale and elegant it was. Unfortunately, every year for eight long weeks, a holiday shop set up in the lobby, turning it into the equivalent of a traveling circus, and the bake shop booth was the worst offender. The giant gingerbread house was an eyesore and the woman running it was too cheery for his liking. This year, he was determined to do everything he could to have her and her booth removed.

When Tristan finds himself in the middle of a delicate family situation, only Daphne can help him. Now, he’ll have to beg and plead and promise to be on his best behavior while dealing with her exuberant holiday joy. But the more time he spends with her—and the more awkward situations she saves him from—he begins to realize there’s more to her than over-the-top holiday cheer. And maybe, when you’re with the right person, Christmas can mean a little bit more.

“Narrator Melanie Mendez brings warmth to the holiday romance that develops between Daphne, a baker, and Tristan, an architect . . . Listeners will delight in this holiday romance as Tristan and Daphne find happiness together.” –AudioFile Reviews

https://amzn.to/4inzwF0

This is an enemies-to-lovers Christmas romance that is so much fun to read – or listen to, as I did. Daphne’s dream is to have her own bakery someday, but for now, she has a holiday pop-up bakery in the lobby of an office building. She’s been doing this for years and most of the people who work in the building love having her there. All except one – Scrooge. Not really. His name is Tristan, and he is not a fan. He finds the gingerbread house look of the bakery to be tacky and unbefitting the lobby of his architectural company, and he files a complaint with the landlord. It doesn’t do anything but piss off Daphne, and our enemies are established.

Tristan’s assistant thinks the bakery is great, and she is constantly bringing muffins to the office. Surprisingly, Tristan loves the muffins but still hates the baker. They may be bumping heads, but when he needs a last-minute caterer for his family holiday party and a few work functions, Daphne comes through for him. The more time they spend together, the more Tristan realizes her worth, but he has a long way to go to get past her protective armor.

Daphne is Christmas personified, and surprising even himself, Tristan really falls for her. It takes a lot before Daphne thaws enough to let him in, but their happy ending is just the icing needed on this delicious confection of a read. A wonderful holiday romance!

12/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

BAKING IT MERRY by Samantha Chase. Narrator: Melanie Mendez. Dreamscape Media; November 19, 2024. ASIN: B0DH5982GT. Listening Length: 6 hours

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Spotlight Review: A LEGEND IN THE BAKING by Jamie Wesley 

December 10, 2024

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Sugar Blitz, Book 2

From the publisher:

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 bakery after 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

https://amzn.to/4ilmEPY

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.

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THE CO-OP by Tarah DeWitt  

December 6, 2024

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From the publisher:

A Library Reads Pick!

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.

“Incredibly satisfying.” – Kirkus (Starred Review)

“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

https://amzn.to/3ODoA8x

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.

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THE HOLIDAY COTTAGE by Sarah Morgan 

November 29, 2024

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From the publisher:

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

https://amzn.to/3V38t7U

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.

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 THE PINE HOLLOW SERIES by Lizzie Shane

November 29, 2024

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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.

Book 1: THE TWELVE DOGS OF CHRISTMAS

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

Book 2: ONCE UPON A PUPPY

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.

Book 3: TO ALL THE DOGS I’VE LOVED BEFORE

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.

Book 4: PRIDE AND PUPPIES

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.

Book 5: FOUR WEDDINGS AND A PUPPY

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.

Book 6: LIKE CATS AND DOGS

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.

11/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

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