Romance | Stacy Alesi's BookBitch.com™

MY SEASON OF SCANDAL by Julie Anne Long

May 24, 2024

The Palace of Rogues, Book 7

From the publisher:

In USA Today bestselling author Julie Anne Long’s latest installment in the Palace of Rogues series, a notorious rake meets his match in a lovely girl from the country, changing the course of both of their futures…

A London season is the chance of a lifetime for Catherine Keating. But the ton’s glitter and decadence and casual cruelty threaten to crush her hopes of finding a husband before her season even begins…until she accidentally acquires one of the most scandalous men in England as a secret chaperone.

Famously fiery Lord Dominic Kirke can hold the House of Commons—and any woman he chooses— in thrall. But when his house goes up in flames in the dead of night, he finds himself at the Grand Palace on the Thames. And there he discovers his cynical armor is no match for another guest: an innocent country girl with a crackling wit and eyes like a summer sky.

He’s maddening, elusive, hopelessly charismatic, wrong in every way—perfectly designed to break her heart. But she doesn’t know she holds his battered heart in her hands. And though it will destroy him, Dominic knows loving her means setting Catherine free for the life—and man—she deserves.

“Catherine and Dominic’s story builds wonderfully through conversations—held in corners of ballrooms, in front gardens, over group dinners—so that by the time the two take a step that Dominic fully knows is dangerous to them both, Catherine is already there. As would be expected from the vapidly inclined ton, danger indeed arrives—in the form of a scandal that the two resolve in heart-sweeping fashion. Long writes romances for romance novel lovers.” –Library Journal
https://amzn.to/3yt8p8Z

I’ve really been enjoying this series loosely set around the Grand Palace on the Thames, a boardinghouse owned by two women who board guests if they pass inspection, and who are expected to abide by the somewhat strict house rules; dinner with all the guests at least four times a week, time spent after dinner as well, and so forth. The first couple of books were centered around the women who own the property, but since then guests have become the central characters, and they get their happy ending, as is the case here.

My only quibble with this book is the cover! Catherine wears several dresses that are described, and one that is at the center of the scandal, but none of the dresses are red. I hate to be picky about stuff like that but seriously, would it have ruined the cover to have her in her blue dress???

Catherine’s father is a doctor in the country, and her mother passed away years earlier. Catherine and her father are close, but he is growing older and wants to see his daughter settled. In Regency England, that means married. They don’t have a lot, but he has enough for a small dowry and to cover her living expenses in London, staying at the Grand Palace on the Thames. This is her one chance at having a season, so she hopes to make a happy match.

Lord Dominic Kirke had a bit of a kerfuffle with his mistress that ended with her practically burning down his house. While repairs are underway, he moves into the Grand Palace on the Thames as well. Kirke is well known to the whole of England as he is a fierce advocate of the poor, working to save children from horrible orphanages, sweatshops, and mines. He was born in poverty himself. One of seven children who all shared a bed, he determined early on to make his fortune, and he does, with the King recognizing his efforts and granting him the title.

Catherine is chaperoned by a woman who has more interest in gambling than keeping an eye on her protégées, but she is the only reason Catherine is even invited to a few balls. All she wants to do is meet a kind man who will be good to her, who wants a family, and if he has a bit of money and a home, so much the better. Catherine has never dealt with the ton, and her naivete is sweet, but she quickly is hurt by the vicious comments hurled her way by young women who think her too pretty and, therefore, competition.

Kirke sees what is happening and asks Catherine to dance. He has a reputation as a rogue for good reason; the housefire mistress is just one in a string of them. He hasn’t danced at a ball in over a decade, so when he does with Catherine, all eyes are upon them and her season is now made. Lots of single young men are now vying to dance with her despite her two-year-old dresses. But that infuriates the young women of the ton even more.

Since they both live in the boardinghouse, they spend a lot of time together and get to know one another. Catherine is such an innocent that Kirke doesn’t know quite how to handle her. But they quickly become each other’s confidante, and a relationship of sorts is born.

The scandal here was creative and original rather than the usual, being caught kissing or whatever. Kirke offers to marry her to save her reputation, but Catherine refuses. She loves him but doesn’t want to be his burden. On the other hand, Kirke has never planned on marrying so when Catherine leaves London for the countryside, he doesn’t intercede. But as the days go by, he realizes he misses her and finally confronts his feelings for her, and they get their happily ever after.

This is a fun series, well written with interesting characters and plotlines. My Season of Scandal is another terrific addition to this series.

5/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

MY SEASON OF SCANDAL by Julie Anne Long. Avon (April 23, 2024). ISBN: 978-0063280953. 384p.

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Spotlight Review: THE PARADISE PROBLEM by Christina Lauren

May 21, 2024

From the publisher:

Christina Lauren, the instant New York Times bestselling and “reigning romance queens” (PopSugar), returns with a delicious new romance between the buttoned-up heir of a grocery chain and his free-spirited artist ex as they fake their relationship in order to receive a massive inheritance.

Anna Green thought she was marrying Liam “West” Weston for access to subsidized family housing while at UCLA. She also thought she’d signed divorce papers when the graduation caps were tossed, and they both went on their merry ways.

Three years later, Anna is a starving artist living paycheck to paycheck while West is a Stanford professor. He may be one of four heirs to the Weston Foods conglomerate, but he has little interest in working for the heartless corporation his family built from the ground up. He is interested, however, in his one-hundred-million-dollar inheritance. There’s just one catch.

Due to an antiquated clause in his grandfather’s will, Liam won’t see a penny until he’s been happily married for five years. Just when Liam thinks he’s in the home stretch, pressure mounts from his family to see this mysterious spouse, and he has no choice but to turn to the one person he’s afraid to introduce to his one-percenter parents—his unpolished, not-so-ex-wife.

But in the presence of his family, Liam’s fears quickly shift from whether the feisty, foul-mouthed, paint-splattered Anna can play the part to whether the toxic world of wealth will corrupt someone as pure of heart as his surprisingly grounded and loyal wife. Liam will have to ask himself if the price tag on his flimsy cover story is worth losing true love that sprouted from a lie.

“Witty banter and a well-paced plot make this novel an enjoyable must-read…Readers will be rooting for Liam and Anna in this heartfelt, sexy novel, Lauren’s (The True Love Experiment) best to date.” Library Journal, starred review

“The stakes set upon Anna and Liam’s relationship create juicy tension, and their chemistry is great. Both are charming and compelling romantic leads; their dual narration only reinforces that these two people should be together.” Booklist

“There are just as many emotionally charged moments as sizzling sex scenes, and readers will adore down-to-earth Anna, who’s the perfect match for uptight Liam. Lauren’s fans will be swept away.” Publishers Weekly

“Artistic Anna and uptight Liam make for a perfect case of opposites attract, and the island setting creates a wonderfully escapist mood. Steamy, fun, full of family drama.” Kirkus Reviews
https://amzn.to/3UGOWt8

This writing duo’s hit another home run with The Paradise Problem. A marriage of convenience with an unusual twist – Liam and Anna get married so they can live in subsidized campus housing, and it works out great. They barely see one another, and when their two-year lease is up, they go their separate ways. Liam gives Anna some legal documents and she signs them without even looking at them, assuming they are divorce papers. But they are not.

It turns out that Liam isn’t just an academic; he is heir to the sixth largest grocery chain in the U.S., only he wants no part of it. Both his brothers work there and that should be good enough for their controlling father, but he is convinced that Liam needs to be the next CEO when he retires. Liam has kept away from his family for five years, but his baby sister is getting married and he loves her, so he will put up with his family for her. Except that his family thinks he is still married to Anna, and legally he is.

Turns out there is a stipulation in his grandfather’s will – all the grandchildren must be married to get their 100 million dollar inheritance. So he tracks down Anna and begs her to be his wife for two weeks at the destination wedding. Anna has just lost her job, is dead broke, and clearly needs money, so they negotiate a $100,000 deal, along with Liam’s unlimited credit card so Anna can shop for appropriate clothes and grooming essentials for the exclusive wedding on a private island.

Legally, they are still married but they haven’t been in touch in years. When they first met, Anna was pre-med, so he’s been telling his family that she’s in medical school all along. What he doesn’t know is that she changed majors to art, and is now your basic starving artist working multiple jobs to pay the rent. No matter, she can fake that, too. Liam’s family is awful, and boy, could I relate! This was a wealthier family than mine, but the same roles applied – a dominating father who believed he could control everyone with money and siblings who would do anything Daddy wanted because all they cared about was money, too. Except Liam. Yes, he wants his inheritance, but not for the reasons his siblings do and they know it.

Anna doesn’t look like anyone else at the wedding with her striking pink hair, but Liam is entirely smitten with his fake wife and thinks she’s a knockout. The more time they spend together on this idyllic island, the more they realize they have feelings for one another. But everything blows up when Liam’s father demands he take over the company, and it turns out some of his family already knew that the marriage was fake.

This is a sizzling romance with a lot of laughs and heart – I loved it! Christina Lauren never disappoints, and this may be their best book yet. Don’t miss it.

5/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE PARADISE PROBLEM by Christina Lauren. Gallery Books (May 14, 2024). ISBN:‎ 978-1668017722. 352p.

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THE CHEAT SHEET by Sarah Adams

May 17, 2024

From the publisher:

Is it ever too late to leave the friend zone? Discover the heartwarming friends to lovers romance that became a sensation on TikTok—now with a new chapter and a Q&A with the author!

The friend zone is not the end zone for Bree Camden, who is helplessly in love with her longtime best friend and extremely hot NFL legend, Nathan Donelson. The only problem is that she can’t admit her true feelings, because he clearly sees her as a best friend with no romantic potential, and the last thing Bree wants is to ruin their relationship. But those abs . . .

Nope! Nothing but good old-fashioned, no-touching-the-sexiest-man-alive, platonic friendship for Bree. In any case, she has other things to worry about. After a car accident ended her chance at becoming a professional ballerina, Bree changed paths and now owns her own dance studio, with big dreams to expand it. But one more rent increase could mean the end of the studio entirely.

Then, as usual, Nathan comes to the rescue and buys the entire building. A stubborn Bree is not happy about it and decides to rebel with a couple—okay, maybe more than a couple—of tequila shots. Then her plan backfires as she spills her deepest, darkest secret to a TMZ reporter. One viral video later, the world thinks Nathan and Bree are the perfect couple. Before they can really talk about her confession, Nathan’s publicist proposes a big opportunity that could mean financial security for Bree. The catch? They have to pretend to be in love. For three whole weeks.

What will happen when Bree gives in to the feelings she’s been desperately hiding for so long, and could she be imagining that Nathan is actually enjoying it? Sarah Adams scores more than touchdowns in this exciting romantic comedy.
https://amzn.to/3UYHYAM

After reading The Rule Book, I went back and searched out Sarah Adams’ books that I missed and found this one. It is more of a sweet romance without any sex to speak of, and it features friends-to-lovers and fake dating tropes. It is told from both points of view, his and hers, so we know more than they do.

Bree and Nathan meet on the track in high school. Her shoe is untied, and instead of telling her, he just pops a squat and ties it for her. They become the best of friends. Nathan is a football star, and Bree is on her way to becoming a professional ballerina. He goes off to college on a football scholarship, and she gets into a car accident, ending her ballet dreams. Eventually, she opens her own dance school but is on precarious financial footing.

Meanwhile, Nathan is now an NFL football star and is living his dream. Bree had cut off contact with Nathan while she was recovering from her accident, but they are now thick as thieves again. Except there is one tiny little problem; they are in love with one another, but neither will admit to it in hopes of saving their friendship. This stretches throughout the book, almost to the breaking point.

Bree gets drunk at a club one night and pours her heart out to a woman in the ladies’ room. It turns out that the woman is a reporter who takes a picture and posts the story, which goes viral. Mortified, Bree will agree to anything to get Nathan out of trouble. Turns out his agent is cashing in on it – she finds a sponsor willing to put them in a Superbowl commercial if they will fake date in public for the few weeks leading up to it. And you know where this goes…

This was a very enjoyable romcom, but also frustrating at times. We, the reader, know that they are both in love with each other, but are also afraid of killing their friendship. A professional NFL player has to beat women off with a stick, and Nathan is no different, but his heart remains true to Bree. Eventually, they figure it all out and get their happy ending. These books do not have to be read in order; I read The Rule Book first and didn’t even realize it was related to another book.

5/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE CHEAT SHEET by Sarah Adams. Dell; Special Edition (April 26, 2022). ISBN: 978-0593500767. 336p.

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THE TEMPORARY ROOMIE by Sarah Adams

May 17, 2024

It Happened in Nashville, Book 2

From the publisher:

From the New York Times bestselling author of Practice Makes Perfect comes an expanded edition of The Temporary Roomie—a witty and relatable romantic comedy about finding joy in the unexpected, with a never-before-seen chapter.

No one said fair trade needed to be “fair.”

As the owner of Honeysuckle Salon, Jessie Barnes usually has everything managed and on track, but now in her third trimester of an unexpected pregnancy, she feels a bit lost and increasingly desperate after faulty plumbing floods her apartment. Unfortunately, her knight in shining armor is actually Dr. Drew Marshall, her best friend’s brother, and also the man she chewed out not too long ago for being a chauvinistic dirtbag.

Every moment Drew’s had to prove her wrong since then has failed, so Jessie’s opinion of him hasn’t improved. That remains the case when he agrees to let her stay with him during renovations, under one condition: she pretends to be his girlfriend for upcoming work festivities. For the sake of her brother, Jessie is willing to make the tough situation work, and giving Drew a taste of his own medicine sounds . . . intriguing.

But when their rivalry sparks a deeper connection, Jessie’s future gets even more unclear—and with a baby on the way, she’ll have to make a decision soon.
https://amzn.to/3UYijIE

My deep dive into all books by Sarah Adams led me here, and I listened to the audiobook. I think the author has improved over the years as her newer books seem better plotted and better written to me. Nonetheless, I enjoyed this rom-com.

Jessie is entering her third trimester of pregnancy. The baby daddy dumped her when he found out she was pregnant, so she is leery of any new relationship for sure. When her house suffers a major disaster, she is forced to move out while repairs are done. She moves in with her best friend, but that becomes a real hardship as her little boy is not allowing Jessie to get the rest she needs. Her friend offers up her brother’s house as a refuge. He’s a family doctor – OB/GYN – and his roommate recently moved out so he has the space. Jessie takes one look at him and decides the only way to deal with this super hot doctor is to just hate him on sight.

Drew is happy to help out his sister’s friend, but when Jessie’s grandfather is coming to visit, she asks him to pretend to be her boyfriend. Unfortunately, he has a tough, all night long delivery, and oversleeps, forgetting about Jessie. But she is never going to let him forget that he let her down, even though her grandfather canceled and he wasn’t even needed.

The biggest problem I had with this book was how immature Jessie was. I understand she’d had a lot of trauma in her life, which is slowly explained, but her behavior was better suited to a young teenager than a grown woman on the verge of becoming a mother. Eventually, she accepts that Drew is as kind and nice as he is good-looking, and they find their happy ending. I liked this well enough to search out the first book in this series, The Off-Limits Rule, review to follow.

5/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE TEMPORARY ROOMIE by Sarah Adams. Dell (November 5, 2024)*. ISBN: 978-0593500767. 336p.

*The paperback isn’t coming out until November, but the ebook and audiobook are available now. I got the audiobook through Hoopla from my public library.

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SUMMERS AT THE SAINT by Mary Kay Andrews

May 10, 2024

From the publisher:

Book your summer escape with a “mesmerizing mix of mystery and romance” (Publishers Weekly, starred) from the New York Times bestselling author of The Homewreckers and The Newcomer.

Welcome to the St. Cecelia, a landmark hotel on the coast of Georgia, where traditions run deep and scandals run even deeper. . . .

Everyone refers to the St. Cecelia as “the Saint.” If you grew up coming here, you were “a Saint.” If you came from the wrong side of the river, you were “an Ain’t.” Traci Eddings was one of those outsiders whose family wasn’t rich enough or connected enough to vacation here. But she could work here. One fateful summer she did, and married the boss’s son. Now, she’s the widowed owner of the hotel, determined to see it return to its glory days, even as staff shortages and financial troubles threaten to ruin it. Plus, her greedy and unscrupulous brother-in-law wants to make sure she fails. Enlisting a motley crew of recently hired summer help―including the daughter of her estranged best friend―Traci has one summer season to turn it around. But new information about a long-ago drowning at the hotel threatens to come to light, and the tragic death of one of their own brings Traci to the brink of despair.

Traci Eddings has her back against the pink-painted wall of this beloved institution. And it will take all the wits and guts she has to see wrongs put to right, to see guilty parties put in their place, and maybe even to find a new romance along the way. Told with Mary Kay Andrew’s warmth, humor, knack for twists, and eye for delicious detail about human nature, Summers at the Saint is a beach read with depth and heart.

“Andrews perfectly balances the second chance-romance with the twisty mystery against a beachy backdrop that will please any armchair traveler.” —Publishers Weekly

“A fun, heart-warming, and intriguing summer read. For readers who’d enjoy a blend of friendships (old and new), budding romance, and secrets held within the walls of a hotel that needs rescuing, as in Elin Hilderbrand’s The Hotel Nantucket.” –Library Journal
https://amzn.to/3QxLAHI

I have been starting my beach reading with Mary Kay Andrews for more years than I care to think about, and I must admit I was surprised by this book – I think it may be her best yet. And that is really saying something!

The Saint is a luxury resort with some full time members who live in beautiful homes on the grounds, other members who live nearby but have full use of the facilities, and the guests, visitors who come for a week or two or the summer. This is a family run business, with Traci running the hotel and resort, and her brother-in-law running the real estate side of things. Her sister-in-law is the design specialist, in charge of redecorating as needed, the floral arrangements throughout the resort, and so forth. Traci’s husband, Hoke, has passed away a few years before the book begins, and she misses him. The people who live over the causeway, many of whom work at the Saint, are called the “aint’s,” as in not rich enough to be Saints.

Things haven’t been going all that well at the Saint. It’s difficult to find help because they can’t afford to live in the community, and her chef and guest relations manager, a married couple, are lured away by another resort with “stupid money” and Traci can’t compete with that. In desperation, she turns an old, falling-apart building into a dorm for a handful of staff. She talks her niece, Parrish, into taking the guest relations job, and hires a new waitress, Olivia, away from a neighboring resort. Livvy, as she prefers to be called, is actually the daughter of Traci’s best friend, Shannon, but they’ve been estranged Livvy’s whole life.

Traci and Shannon were definitely “ain’t” and worked as lifeguards at the pool. One summer when they were about 16 years old, a young boy, Hudson, drowned in the pool. Shannon and Traci did everything they could, but Shannon was blamed and fired. There wasn’t much of an investigation as the owners of the property wanted it kept quiet.

Everything is coming together for a successful summer season at the Saint. There are a lot of characters here, but they are well developed, even the secondary characters. I thought the mystery here was going to be an investigation of Hudson’s drowning. His much older half brother has blown into town, gotten a job on the gardening staff, and is asking a lot of questions. But then Parrish is found dead in the party area of the property that the staff has been using since Traci was a teen. The suspense really gets upped after Parrish’s death, and all sorts of people are coming under suspicion.

There is also a romance brewing here that comes to fruition eventually, but it’s the people at the Saint that make this book so compelling. I was so caught up in their lives that I really hated to turn the last page. There are some unexpected twists, lots of red herrings, and Kathy Trochek’s mystery roots* are on full display here. This was a weekend read for me, fast-paced and totally irresistible. I loved it!

*Mary Kay Andrews is actually a pseudonym for Kathy Hogan Trochek. In the 1990s, Trochek wrote a terrific cozy mystery series featuring Callahan Garrity, a cleaning business owner, set in Atlanta, before she morphed into a chick lit, romance, romantic suspense author as MKA. I highly recommend all of her books!

5/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

SUMMERS AT THE SAINT by Mary Kay Andrews. St. Martin’s Press (May 7, 2024). ISBN: 978-1250278388. 448p.

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THIS SUMMER WILL BE DIFFERENT by Carley Fortune

May 10, 2024

From the publisher:

A glorious and tantalizing new escape from #1 New York Times bestselling author Carley Fortune.

This summer they’ll keep their promise. This summer they won’t give into temptation. This summer will be different.

Lucy is the tourist vacationing at a beach house on Prince Edward Island. Felix is the local who shows her a very good time. The only problem: Lucy doesn’t know he’s her best friend’s younger brother. Lucy and Felix’s chemistry is unreal, but the list of reasons why they need to stay away from each other is long, and they vow to never repeat that electric night again.

It’s easier said than done.

Each year, Lucy escapes to PEI for a big breath of coastal air, fresh oysters and crisp vinho verde with her best friend, Bridget. Every visit begins with a long walk on the beach, beneath soaring red cliffs and a golden sun. And every visit, Lucy promises herself she won’t wind up in Felix’s bed. Again.

If Lucy can’t help being drawn to Felix, at least she’s always kept her heart out of it.

When Bridget suddenly flees Toronto a week before her wedding, Lucy drops everything to follow her to the island. Her mission is to help Bridget through her crisis and resist the one man she’s never been able to. But Felix’s sparkling eyes and flirty quips have been replaced with something new, and Lucy’s beginning to wonder just how safe her heart truly is.

“The leads have undeniable magnetism, and Fortune avoids the pitfalls of a typical Hallmark ending, instead delivering a truly satisfying happily ever after. Romance fans will devour this.” —Publisher’s Weekly, starred review
https://amzn.to/3wnl8cI

This was a good romance if you can deal with jumping back and forth to different years, which, to be honest, I found a bit confusing at times. But I liked these characters so much that I put that very minor annoyance aside, not to mention I loved the setting – mostly Prince Edward Island, the setting of Anne of Green Gables (and on my bucket list to visit,) with brief forays to Toronto.

Bridget and Lucy are best friends since they met several years earlier. Bridget’s family has a home on Prince Edward Island, and she can’t wait to show Lucy her favorite place, but it comes with a warning – do not fall in love with Bridget’s younger brother, Wolf.

Their first trip there has a bumpy start when Bridget has to leave a day later. She sends Lucy to the island, tells her where to find the hidden key, and plans on meeting her the next morning. Except when Lucy gets to the island, she stops off for a drink and something to eat. There is a gorgeous man shucking oysters at the bar, and their chemistry is off the charts. Lucy ends up going home with Felix and has the best sex of her life. But when she gets up in the morning, she quickly realizes that she is in Bridget’s family home and yep, Felix may be his real name, but everyone calls him Wolf. Lucy is upset and swears Felix to keep it to himself, and he understands.

Felix lives on the island all year round, but his parents have retired and are traveling for most of the time. Eventually, he builds his own home and along with his best friend, builds several cabins to rent out for the summer to the tourists that flock to the island. Meanwhile, Lucy and Bridget come back to the island fairly regularly, and even though Lucy tries to keep her distance from Felix, they inevitably fall back into bed again and again and again. Lucy feels guilty keeping it from Bridget, but she and Felix have an understanding. They both see other people when Lucy is in Toronto, but after a while it just isn’t working for her.

Things come to a head a week before Bridget’s wedding when she runs away to the island. Lucy is a florist whose business is doing her best friend’s wedding, but when Bridget calls, Lucy goes. Hoping she can spend the weekend and then go home to Toronto and get back to work, those plans quickly fall by the wayside. Something is going on with Bridget, but she’s not talking and it’s driving both her brother and her best friend crazy.

Lucy and Felix end up spending quite a bit of time together, and Lucy realizes that she is in love – the one promise she made to Bridget has gone up in flames. But Bridget is so deep into her own issues, she barely notices. With Lucy’s business in Toronto, and Felix’s in PEI, there doesn’t seem to be a way for them to find a future together.

I don’t want to give away any more than to say everyone finds their happy ending here, and it wasn’t altogether unexpected. I really enjoyed this story, and I highly recommend it!

5/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THIS SUMMER WILL BE DIFFERENT by Carley Fortune. Berkley (May 7, 2024). ISBN: 978-0593638880. 368p.

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THE SUMMER WE STARTED OVER by Nancy Thayer

May 3, 2024

From the publisher:

Two sisters reconnect and pursue their dreams on the beautiful island of Nantucket, overcoming life’s challenges and finding new love, in this heartwarming and hopeful novel by New York Times bestselling author Nancy Thayer.

Eddie Grant is happy with her life and her work as a personal assistant to Dinah Lavender, one of the most famous and renowned romance authors in the business. But being a spectator to notoriety and glamour isn’t as fulfilling as she once thought. Thankfully, Eddie has the perfect excuse for a vacation: Her hardworking younger sister, Barrett, is opening her gift shop on Memorial Day weekend, and could use all the help she can get.

But going home to the beautiful island of Nantucket means facing the family’s difficult past. Shortly after the death of Eddie and Barrett’s brother, their mother left them and their father made the spontaneous decision to buy a small farm. Eddie stayed there for only a year before her family’s grief threatened to consume her as well, and had been living in Manhattan ever since. Now that she is back, Eddie must face all she left behind: her father’s increased eccentricities, which has led to a house bursting at the seams with books; her sister’s resentment over Eddie’s escape; and a past love connection, one that is still undeniable and complicated, all these years later. But the Grant sisters are nothing if not resilient and capable, opening a used bookstore in their father’s abandoned barn to manage his hoarding, and navigating the discovery of a long-buried family secret that will change all of them forever.

In The Summer We Started Over, beloved storyteller Nancy Thayer transports readers with a moving story about family, courage, and the resiliency of young women.

“Thayer, known for her best-selling Nantucket-set novels, offers a heartwarming story timed to kick off the season of beach reads. This newest keeps to Thayer’s key themes, following a family as they reunite and confront the past, along with long-held secrets.”–Library Journal
https://amzn.to/4a0NCHa

Reading a Nancy Thayer book is like hanging out with friends. The characters may be new, but the island of Nantucket is never changing, and the relationships are always heartwarming.

Eddie loves books (anyone relate to that?!) She has landed an awesome job as the personal assistant to a Nora Roberts type romance author, Dinah Lavender, who has written over a hundred books, has a legion of fans, and more money than she knows what to do with. Lucky for Eddie, she is the recipient of some of that spending; first-class vacations (albeit working vacations) around the world, designer clothes and shoes and bags, and the best Manhattan has to offer in fine dining. It’s not a bad life, and Eddie is pretty happy.

Eddie has not had the easiest life; her mom took off, and her brother died in an accident. Her father coped with it all by buying an old farmhouse on Nantucket. Her sister, Barrett, also lives there and has been working and saving her money for years to open her dream business, a high-end shop she calls Nantucket Blues. As opening weekend approaches, Barrett is a nervous wreck, but her sister Eddie is on the way. Eddie convinces Dinah that she is entitled to her own non-working vacation, but she is more than happy to help her sister with the new store. Dinah reluctantly agrees, and Eddie returns to Nantucket.

Shortly thereafter, Dinah becomes obsessed with the idea that she is being stalked until Eddie finally agrees that Dinah can come and stay on Nantucket. Dinah is a big flirt, loves men but hasn’t settled down with anyone. She loves her life and her flings, but meeting Eddie’s father may change that. He is a retired professor trying to write a book and has become something of a hoarder of books in doing his research. A nice touch was Eddie turning their barn into a used bookstore to relieve the clutter in the house.

Eddie runs into her first big flame and is surprised to find those feelings are still there – for both of them. Barrett also has an admirer, actually two, and spends the summer trying them both out. The romances here are sweet and take a back seat to the story of the sisters and their relationship, making this much more women’s fiction than romance.

As with most of Thayer’s books, not a whole lot happens beyond living day to day in a beautiful location with everyone eventually finding their happily ever after. Nantucket is pretty much the star of all of her books, and she writes about it with such love and detail that it makes me feel like I’m there. Maybe someday I’ll get to Cape Cod or Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket, but until then, at least I have Elin Hilderbrand, Kristan Higgins, and Thayer’s books to transport me. If you enjoy Debbie Macomber or Brenda Novak, Thayer fits in well in their company.

5/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE SUMMER WE STARTED OVER by Nancy Thayer. Ballantine Books (April 23, 2024). ISBN: 978-0593724002. 320p.

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TRULY, MADLY, DEEPLY by Alexandria Bellefleur

May 3, 2024

From the publisher:

Sparks fly when a lovelorn romance novelist and a divorce lawyer who has sworn off relationships agree to cohost a podcast series offering dating advice to viewers, in Truly, Madly, Deeply, the next steamy queer rom-com from Lambda Literary Award winner and national bestselling author Alexandria Bellefleur.

As a bestselling romance novelist, everyone thinks Truly Livingston is an expert on happily-ever-afters. She’s even signed on to record a podcast sharing relationship advice. Little do they know she feels like an imposter—her parents just announced they’re separating, she caught her fiancé cheating, and her entire view on love has been shaken to the core. Truly hopes the podcast will distract her… until she meets her cohost.

Her first impression of Colin McCory is…hot. But then he opens his extremely kissable mouth. Colin’s view on love just pisses Truly off, even if he does have an annoyingly attractive face. Bickering with a cynical divorce lawyer is the last thing she needs—so she walks out, with no plans to return.

A few days later, Truly is surprised when Colin tracks her down, asking for a fresh start. Truly can’t deny the little thrill she gets from Colin begging, so she reluctantly agrees. As they go from enemies to friends to something else entirely, Truly discovers they have more in common than she ever imagined, including their shared queerness. He’s a genuinely good guy—charming, sweet, and equally as unlucky in love as herself—and there’s something about Colin that drives Truly a little wild. When their attraction reaches a fever pitch, Truly is happy for the first time in years. Yet she can’t help but wonder… is Colin truly, madly, deeply in love with her? Or is it all too good to be true?

“Bellefleur leans gently into the opposites attract trope in this playful contemporary romance. . . The romance itself is swoon-worthy and Bellefleur sensitively handles both protagonists’ bisexuality. The results are both incendiary and super sweet.” — Publishers Weekly

“Bellefleur’s knack for snappy dialogue and engaging character dynamics is on display. . . An irresistible, banter-filled romance.” — Kirkus Reviews
https://amzn.to/3wk2Lpe

Truly Livingston is a bestselling author of a very specific subgenre of romance – queer, historical romance, to be exact. Truly considers herself bisexual, so when she meets Colin, who is also bisexual, they have that in common. Or do they?

It’s probably safe to say that all romance authors love romance themselves, but Truly isn’t in the best place. She was engaged but found out her fiance was cheating, so she ended that relationship. She admires her parents marriage, considers it perfect and something to aspire to, but I had my first inkling that maybe her parents weren’t living in paradise when she mentioned that they never fight. Never. Sure enough, she is heartbroken to learn that they are separating

Truly was invited to be on a hugely successful podcast hosted by Caitlin, a young woman who was really making a name for herself. Caitlin’s brother Colin was also on the podcast with her. Colin is a divorce lawyer, or as he calls himself, a family lawyer. Their banter is off the charts engaging, and Caitlin begs them both to come back on a regular basis to give relationship advice; their differing viewpoints are interesting, and their flirting is next level fun to listen to. Truly is still reeling from her broken engagement and her parents separation, so she doesn’t entirely trust her feelings for Colin, who she thinks is too good looking, if that’s a thing. Nonetheless, they start dating in addition to doing the podcast, and feelings are soon emerging.

Truly comes up with a cute Parent Trap plan to get her parents back together, which added a bit of fun to this romance. I really liked how Truly and Colin were introspective enough to examine their feelings, and watching them grow together into something that feels like it could be forever brings us to the happy ending. This is a steamy romance and a fun one with real emotional depth; another excellent romance from this very popular author.

5/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

TRULY, MADLY, DEEPLY by Alexandria Bellefleur. Avon (April 30, 2024). ISBN: 978-0063258532. 336p.

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JUST FOR SUMMER by Abby Jimenez

April 26, 2024

From the publisher:

Instant #1 New York Times bestseller and a Good Morning America Book Club Pick!

Justin has a curse, and thanks to a Reddit thread, it’s now all over the internet. Every woman he dates goes on to find their soul mate the second they break up. When a woman slides into his DMs with the same problem, they come up with a plan: They’ll date each other and break up. Their curses will cancel each other’s out, and they’ll both go on to find the love of their lives. It’s a bonkers idea… and it just might work.

Emma hadn’t planned that her next assignment as a traveling nurse would be in Minnesota, but she and her best friend agree that dating Justin is too good of an opportunity to pass up, especially when they get to rent an adorable cottage on a private island on Lake Minnetonka.

It’s supposed to be a quick fling, just for the summer. But when Emma’s toxic mother shows up and Justin has to assume guardianship of his three siblings, they’re suddenly navigating a lot more than they expected–including catching real feelings for each other. What if this time Fate has actually brought the perfect pair together?

“An emotional tour de force.” ―Publishers Weekly, starred review

“With a perfect sense of literary aplomb and an abundance of deliciously sharp wit, Jimenez continues on an extraordinary upward trajectory with another gorgeously crafted contemporary romance. From moments of irresistible comic charm (a date with rescue kittens from the Bitty Kitty Brigade) to a compelling and compassionate story line that deftly and delicately deals with the impact of trauma on a person’s emotional and physical well-being, Jimenez expertly balances humor and heart in this sublimely satisfying love story.”―Booklist, starred review

This witty, emotion-filled novel from Jimenez isn’t one to just read, it’s one to sink into.―Library Journal, starred review
https://amzn.to/3UdDmFu

Jimenez’s latest may be her best yet, and that’s really saying something. Our main character, Emma, has dealt with so much trauma in her life, mostly from her mother abandoning her over and over again. Eventually, she ends up in foster care and lucks out. Her foster sister, Maddy, becomes her best friend and while Maddy’s moms want to adopt Emma, she is holding out in hopes of her mother coming back.

Over the years, her mother reappears in her life when she needs money, than vanishes again. Emma has no one to rely on besides herself and Maddy. They both become nurses, and they work as traveling nurses. They take short contracts, 6-8 weeks or so, and travel the country that way. Everything Emma owns fits into two suitcases and that’s just how she likes it.

Then, in a weird coincidence, she reads about a man whose ex-girlfriends always find the love of their lives after they break up. He becomes an internet meme and it turns out that Emma has had the same experiences. She messages him, and they start talking and find they really enjoy each other. Emma persuades Maddy to switch their next trip to Hawaii for Minneapolis, so she can meet Justin. They decide to date four times and break up, thereby forcing fate to lead them to their perfect partners. Except, of course, they are perfect for one another. But they both have a lot of baggage to sort through.

Justin lost his father several years earlier, and his mother has recently been convicted of embezzlement and will be leaving for prison shortly. He has three much younger siblings and has taken on guardianship while his mother is away. On the other hand, Emma never dates men with children, it is one of her firm and fast rules. But all the rules seem to fly out the window with this man.

In a horrible turn of events, it turns out their landlord is Neil, the head of surgery at the hospital where they will be working. The women are told he is really awful to the nursing staff. And to complicate things further, Emma’s mom, Amber, shows up and, in the blink of an eye, has moved in with Neil and is back to ignoring Emma. Maddy knows just how bad Emma’s mom can be, and they try to warn Neil but he his happy with her. For now.

Eventually, everything converges into one big dramatic mess, and it seems impossible for anyone to get out unscathed. But just when it seemed like an impossibility for anyone to get a happy ending, Justin and Emma find theirs.

This was such an emotional read. I loved these characters and the way they fit together was just inspiring. There is an author’s note at the end about writing a character with mental illness, and personally, I think she really nailed it here. I loved this book.

4/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

JUST FOR SUMMER by Abby Jimenez. Forever (April 2, 2024). ISBN: 978-1538704431. 432p.

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PART OF YOUR WORLD by Abby Jimenez

April 26, 2024

From the publisher:

A refreshingly modern fairy tale and instant New York Times bestseller that Love Hypothesis author Ali Hazelwood hails as “an uplifting, feel-good, romantic read.”

After a wild bet, gourmet grilled-cheese sandwich, and cuddle with a baby goat, Alexis Montgomery has had her world turned upside down. The cause: Daniel Grant, a ridiculously hot carpenter who’s ten years younger than her and as casual as they come—the complete opposite of sophisticated city-girl Alexis. And yet their chemistry is undeniable.

While her ultra-wealthy parents want her to carry on the family legacy of world-renowned surgeons, Alexis doesn’t need glory or fame. She’s fine with being a “mere” ER doctor. And every minute she spends with Daniel and the tight-knit town where he lives, she’s discovering just what’s really important. Yet letting their relationship become anything more than a short-term fling would mean turning her back on her family and giving up the opportunity to help thousands of people.

Bringing Daniel into her world is impossible, and yet she can’t just give up the joy she’s found with him either. With so many differences between them, how can Alexis possibly choose between her world and his?

“The perfect embodiment of romantic joy… This book is an emotional experience that will tick all the boxes for passionate romance fans. A must-read.”―Kirkus, Starred Review

A “layered, soul-stirring romance… Jimenez dexterously tackles class difference and shades her endearing side characters with as much care as her lovable leads. The result is an emotional roller coaster centered on love as a source of empowerment.”―Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

This “flawlessly written contemporary romance is another perfectly calibrated synthesis of richly nuanced characters, blazing sexual chemistry, and sizzling wit deftly infused into an empowering story line …while also offering a subtle wink and nod to the enduring charm of Disney fairy tales.”―Booklist, Starred Review

Book of the Month Club Best Book of the Year finalist

Goodreads Choice Awards finalist

BookPage Magazine Best Books of the Year

Booklist Best Romances of the Year

SheReads Romance Book of the Year Award nomination

https://amzn.to/4dckAag

I cannot believe I missed this book! I’ve read all of her books, including the second book in this series, Yours Truly, and loved it so I’m not sure why I didn’t go back and find this one. It was on my Kindle – I wouldn’t have had to look too hard. The third book in the series, Just for the Summer, just came out (review to follow) and that was the impetus that led me here, to Part of Your World. Better late than never – this is one terrific read.

Alexis is on her way home from a funeral when she swerves to miss a raccoon and ends up in a ditch. She is in the middle of nowhere, a small, rural town two hours from her home in Minneapolis. Luckily, a guy in a truck stops to help, and he tows her out of the ditch. She decides to stop and get something to eat, but this is a seasonal town, and season is over. Nothing is open except a bar featuring lots of golden brown fried food, which she is not in the mood for. Her hero, Daniel, offers to make her something to eat, so she follows him home, where he has a rescue dog in desperate need of training and a baby goat wearing pajamas. Alexis is charmed, and his grilled cheese is delicious.

Alexis is not the type to have a one night stand, as in she’s never had one. But she is coming out of a bad breakup; Daniel is sweet and kind and so good-looking and the complete opposite of her ex. They end up in bed, and she finds out why people do crazy things for great sex, but panics and takes off in the middle of the night.

Daniel is a carpenter and an innkeeper. Alexis is the progeny of Minneapolis’s power couple – both her parents are world-renowned surgeons, as is her twin brother. While Alexis graduated top of her class from Stanford, she is merely an ER doctor, which makes her a failure in her parents’ eyes. The only thing that redeems her is her chief of surgery boyfriend, Neil. Turns out he has been emotionally abusive for most of the seven years they’ve been together, and when he cheats on her, that is the final straw, and she breaks up with him. Her father is incensed and insists they go to couples therapy, but Alexis is done. Her twin will take up the mantle of the latest generation of world-class doctors, and she will do what she loves – help people.

But then her brother informs the family that he has married a pop star and they are living in Cambodia and creating a nonprofit there. That leaves Alexis in charge of the family legacy at the hospital, and her parents think she is failing. Meanwhile, she can’t stop thinking about Daniel.

Alexis escapes her life and goes back to visit Daniel. One thing leads to another and they are seeing each other regularly, talking on the phone daily, and really enjoying one another. Except she always goes to see him, he never gets to visit her world. Alexis decides this is a fling – if her parents wouldn’t accept a rock star daughter-in-law, they certainly will never accept a carpenter. Not to mention that he is ten years younger than she is. But every time she tried to end it, she can’t help but go back to him. They are in love, and she is fighting it every step of the way.

It all comes to a head when she is named chief of the ER, slightly redeeming her to her parents. Daniel shows up with flowers to congratulate her, and her family is aghast by this young, tattooed man in a t-shirt. He leaves, and that is the end. Or is it?

This was a one day read for me, I really loved it. Can’t wait to start Just for the Summer!

On a more personal note, I really related to this relationship. My father was a very wealthy businessman, and he and his wife were snobs of the worst kind. They never approved of my husband, the son of a police officer and a housewife, who came from a different religion, and a very middle-class existence. Except that I did as well; for all his money, I grew up with my single mom who got $100 a month in child support, while my stepbrother and stepsisters reaped the benefits and the money. I cut ties with them more than thirty years ago, and I’ve been very happy and secure in the knowledge that I did what was best for me. Plus I got my happily ever after!

4/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

PART OF YOUR WORLD by Abby Jimenez. Forever (April 19, 2022). ISBN: 978-0593723678. 368p.