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The Influencer Series, Book 3
From the publisher:
A grumpy lobster fisherman tosses a fashion influencer’s impeccably curated life overboard in the next romantic comedy from international bestselling author Amy Lea.
In a last-ditch effort to rescue her brand from the brink of irrelevance, Boston fashion influencer Melanie Karlsen finds herself in a rural fishing village on the east coast of Canada. The only thing scarier than nature itself? The burly and bearded bed-and-breakfast owner and fisherman, Evan Whaler—who single-handedly disproves the theory that Canadians are “nice.”
After a boating accident lands Evan unconscious in the hospital, Mel is mistaken for his fiancée by his welcoming yet quirky family, who are embroiled in a long-standing feud over the B&B. In a bold attempt to mend family fences, Mel agrees to fake their engagement for one week in exchange for Evan’s help with her social media content.
Amid long hikes and campfire chats, reeling in their budding feelings for each other proves more difficult by the day. But is Mel willing to sacrifice her picture-perfect life in the city for a chance at a true, unfiltered love in the wild?“Lea’s talent for writing complicated but ultimately likable characters is on full display as things between Melanie and Evan become more and more comically disastrous before they start to get better, and her expert knack for comedy makes this story a standout. This last chapter in Lea’s Influencer series is a heartwarming wrap-up with a strong sense of place and hilarious side characters. A sweet conclusion to a swoony contemporary romance trilogy.”—Kirkus (starred review)
https://amzn.to/3uxFfEg
“Lea tugs heart strings in her final Influencer romance… Lea handles these heavy themes with grace, never allowing them to overpower the fun, or vice versa. Readers will both laugh and cry.”—Publishers Weekly
“Snarky bickering between the main characters makes for enjoyable dialogue, and the romantic development is wonderful despite Melanie and Evan’s opposing personalities and different backgrounds… Lea’s final “Influencer” novel is a fabulous rom-com brimming with magnetic chemistry and delightful tropes.”—Library Journal
Much to my surprise, this is the final book of a trilogy, and I had no idea reading it that I was missing anything. It took me a little while to get into this, but once I did, I couldn’t put it down. Turns out I read the second book, EXES AND O’S, and it even made my best books of 2023 list!
Melanie is a social media influencer in Boston, but she’s been losing followers and branding partners. When she is offered an opportunity to partner with a swanky resort in Nova Scotia, she jumps at the chance. But when she arrives, she is told they gave her the wrong date; they weren’t expecting her for another week and have no rooms available. It’s the height of tourist season, and it takes a while before she finally finds a place to stay, a bed and breakfast more than an hour away. Nonetheless, she books it through Airbnb, but when she arrives, things are not off to a great start.
The big grumpy guy, Evan, who greets her, tells her she is mistaken; they are not open for business. As they argue, his sister Lucy turns up, takes matters into her own hands, and gets Melanie situated. But the B&B is a mess, with all sorts of projects going on, and a lot more fixing up is needed. But it’s a bed, and she needs one.
The constant bickering between Melanie and Evan takes a turn when he agrees to take her whale-watching out on his boat. But when he falls overboard and loses consciousness, Mel is beside herself. He is rescued, and she goes with him in the ambulance to the hospital, with no way to contact any of his family. At the hospital, things go a bit “While You Were Sleeping” when the only way they will let her in is by telling them she is Evan’s fiancée. Eventually his family shows up en masse, and they are thrilled to meet her. She doesn’t have to heart to tell them she isn’t really engaged to Evan, and when his sister begs her to keep the secret for another day, the guilt lets her agree.
That day turns into a week, and it also turns into a bit of a family reunion for Evan’s family. There had been a major falling out between his mother and aunt, but they pulled together to help Evan and his fiancée. The more time Evan and Mel spend together, the more they realize they have feelings for one another, but Mel has to get back to the resort and then home to Boston. Evan is a lobster fisherman, so he can’t leave. They are in a bit of a pickle – first, Mel decides to blow off the resort and spend another week with Evan. But she still has to return home, and just when you think that’s that, they find a way to make it work and get their happy ever after. Lots of fun, snarky dialogue, some heat, and an ensemble cast of terrific secondary characters make a good read. Now I must find the first book in this series, Set on You! Read an excerpt below.
2/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
THE CATCH by Amy Lea. Berkley (February 13, 2024). ISBN: 978-0593336618. 416p.
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Excerpt: Thanks, Amy Lea, for sharing this!
THE CATCH Nonexclusive excerpt
“Put me down! My underwear is showing,” I demand as a gust of wind hits my ass cheeks. At least I’m wearing a cute lace thong.
“Rest assured, I’m not looking,” he mutters as I flail like an eel the entire ascent up the staircase. He doesn’t put me down until we’re outside my bedroom.
“I’m taking a star off your Airbnb review for manhandling,” I warn as he attempts to steady me against the wall just as Lucy passes by with a mini garbage can.
“Double bagged. Just in case. Looks like she might need it,” she says, giving Evan a troubled look as she turns to get out of my vicinity. “Sorry, I’m out. I don’t do puke. Night, guys.”
“I won’t puke. I’m feeling fan-tas-tic!” I shout after her with unfounded confidence. I push the door open the tiniest crack, revealing the disaster I left my room in. My cheeks flush with embarrassment. I’m a secret slob—someone who looks neat and tidy to others but is most comfortable in my own chaos (when no one’s looking).
“I can take it from here,” I assure Evan, righting myself.
His expression is quizzical. “No. You can barely stand.”
“I’m great. You can retire to your underground candlelit lair now.” I take an eager stride into my room, which to me was pretty smooth, but apparently I’m useless.
He leads me to the bench at the foot of the bed, where I proceed to topple face-first into the mattress, legs spread like a mannequin. The compromising position isn’t lost on me.
“I feel the need to warn you, I have some pretty lethal hair spray. Just as effective as bear mace, according to Cosmo,” I say, voice muffled by the mattress.
“What are you gonna do? Blind me with it?” he asks, bending over to retrieve it from under the bed.
“If you try anything, I’ll have no choice.”
“You don’t have to worry about that, Mel.” He softens his tone considerably, which is comforting. I’m pretty sure this is the first time he’s ever referred to me by name.
Any lingering appreciation is short lived when he jabs my shoulder without an ounce of delicacy. I must have drifted out of consciousness for a minute or two, because when I open my eyes again, Evan is placing a garbage bin next to me.
“It’s right beside the bed if you need it,” he says slowly, like I’m a small child. “Do you need me to ask Lucy to help you change? A glass of water?”
“No. I’m perfectly fine,” I mumble, flopping over onto my side. He’s weirdly attractive from a horizontal perspective, and I don’t like it one bit.
He watches me for a couple of peaceful breaths before abruptly pivoting on his heel. “This is going in your Airbnb guest review, by the way.”
I glare at him, blowing at the hair stuck to my lip gloss. “The intoxication? Or my veiled threat?”
“Both. Mostly the drunk part. I did warn you about the Screech,” he reminds me, hands flexing at his sides.
“It wasn’t the Screech. Your friends were the ones pouring shots down my throat. Who am I to deny Canadian hospi-taly?”
He cocks his head. “Hospitality, you mean. And you’re wasted.”
“Perfectly sober,” I mumble, sliding under the covers without taking my shoes off.
“Wears shoes in bed. Another star off,” he mutters.
“Mean host. One and a half stars off,” I retort, squeezing my eyes shut when the room starts to spin.
“Scratched the shit out of me with those claws. Minus two stars,” he says, pretending to rub a hand over his shoulder. I definitely scratched him while holding on for dear life as he hauled me up the stairs.
“Hey, I paid a lot for these nails.”
Despite my questionable eyesight in my current state, I’m pretty sure I catch his lips draw upward into the tiniest smile before my eyes close.
Excerpted from The Catch by Amy Lea Copyright © 2024 by Amy Lea. Excerpted by permission of Berkley. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Posted by Stacy Alesi 
Stacy Alesi's BookBitch.com™ 