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The Sunrise Cove Series, Book 3

From the publisher:

New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis returns to Sunrise Cove with a heartwarming tale of three people who are brought together when they’re bequeathed an old Wild West inn that has the potential to pull their lives apart, but instead turns into the gift of a lifetime.

When Alice receives a call about an unexpected windfall, she’s stunned to learn the gift is a falling-apart-at-the-seams old Wild West B&B she once considered home—and she’s inherited it along with two strangers. Except they weren’t always strangers. Once upon a time, they were friends. One is her ex-BFF Lauren. The other is Knox, the only guy to ever break her heart, all while never even knowing she existed.

It turns out their lives are unknowingly entangled because they once separately helped the same woman without expecting anything in return. Years later, Alice, Lauren, and Knox are broken in their own way, with their own history—and secrets— causing them to start out on the wrong foot with each other. But according to the will, they must renovate and be partners in the inn for one year or else lose their inheritance.

Stuck together, they make a list of rules to keep the peace—rules that end up doing the opposite, but by some miracle they find what they didn’t even know they were looking for—acceptance, true friendship, and in a case (or two!), true love.

https://amzn.to/3QzbrzO

This is the third book of the series, but there are no cross-over characters, so it easily stands alone. In fact, I read the fourth book before this one – no harm, no foul.

Eleanor was a retired actress when she passed away. She left her famous Wild West inn in the small town of Sunrise Cove on Lake Tahoe to three young people she cared about. Only Lauren was related, but they were estranged even though Lauren was the only one who stayed in town (as a librarian!) Alice pretty much grew up at the inn, and she and Lauren were best friends, but that was a long time ago before she lost her brother and moved away. Knox had a troubled childhood, and Eleanor took him under her wing. Alice had a huge crush on Knox, but it went unrequited. The three of them haven’t seen one another in years, but this bequest came with strings attached; they have to agree to work together to restore the dilapidated inn or lose out on their inheritance.

Knox and Alice both feel the chemistry between them, and Lauren finds herself interested in a newcomer to town, a single dad with a precocious daughter. But the romances almost take a back seat to the three becoming friends again. It takes time and a lot of hard work, both physically and emotionally, to get to their happy endings. It was a joy to go along for the ride!

8/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE BACKUP PLAN by Jill Shalvis. Avon (January 17, 2023). ISBN:‎ 978-0063095557. 384p.

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From the publisher:

In this charming romantic comedy, a hometown hero comes to the rescue of a chef unexpectedly left to care for three little girls—who may end up saving him too.

When disaster strikes and chef Bryce Weatherford is given guardianship of her three young nieces, her life goes from cooking with fire…to controlling a dumpster fire. Five‑year‑old Addison refuses to remove her fairy wings, eight‑year‑old Cecily won’t bathe, and tween June is majoring in belligerence. With all this chaos, Bryce jettisons hope for a life outside of managing her family and her new job.

It’s been years since Ryker Matthews had his below‑the‑knee amputation, yet the phantom pain for his lost limb and Marine career haunts him. To cope, he focuses on his vehicle restoration business. He knows he’s lucky to be alive. Yet, “lucky” feels more like “cursed” to his lonely heart.  

When Ryker literally sweeps Bryce off her feet in the grocery store’s baby aisle, they both feel sparks. But falling in love would be one more curveball neither is ready to deal with… or is it exactly the change of plans they need?

“Newton skillfully combines pathos and humor in a first-rate small-town romance. … Newton handles heavy topics—including PTSD, death, and grief—with grace, and readers will be utterly sucked in by her lovable and believably flawed leads. This deeply felt love story proves irresistible.”―Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Hilarity and heartwarming moments… a charming, candid romance.”―Kirkus

“Big on tenderness, and readers looking for depth and substance in their romance will find much to delight in here. Highly recommended.”―Library Journal, starred review

https://amzn.to/3rNhSow

This is the third book of an unnamed series (which I found odd) and I didn’t know that. I didn’t read the first two books but I will hunt them down! I really loved this story and these characters.

Ryker Matthews is a former Marine who lost part of his leg and suffers from PTSD. He meets the completely overwhelmed Bryce in the supermarket. After her brother and sister-in-law perished in an accident, Bryce had to quit her sous chef job at a prestigious restaurant to move to this small town and care for her nieces – all three of them. Talk about going from the frying pan into the fire!

Bryce is barely holding it together between working full-time at a bakery and taking care of the kids, all of whom are still grieving. She doesn’t have time for romance, yet something about Ryker and his steadfastness and kindness really draws her in. Ryker hasn’t felt comfortable with anyone until he meets Bryce; something about her honesty and empathy draws him in – not to mention their physical attraction to one another!

I loved all these characters with their baggage and their insecurities and how raw and real they felt, even the kids. This is a terrific small-town romance with a lot of laughs despite all the tragedy. Highly recommend.

8/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

CHANGE OF PLANS by Dylan Newton. Forever (August 1, 2023). ISBN:‎ 978-1538703724. 368p.

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Paws in the City, Book 3

From the publisher:

Can you ever really forget the one who got away?

August Merriweather has always been good with animals. In fact, she’s known as Manhattan’s Dog Whisperer. Men, on the other hand? Not so much. She’s been falling for the wrong guys ever since her regrettable crush on Keaton Sax, older brother of her best friend, Leah, and the biggest jerkface this side of the Hudson.

Now an emotionally closed off widower, Keaton has become one of the most formidable men on Wall Street, but August knows his secret. He’s not driven by sales targets and bonus checks—Keaton just wants to give his family the security they never had. So when Leah asks Keaton to wrangle her over-the-top, dramatic husky at a weekend talent competition, Keaton says yes…and begs August to help him win the event for Leah.

Between obstacle courses, Molly’s husky temper tantrums and a cabin with just one bed, August is having a blast. Away from the pressure to have a “perfect life” with the “right guy,” she finds herself relaxing and getting to see the softer side of the man she once loved. Is this just a temporary truce? Or could Keaton finally be the right guy at the right time?

https://amzn.to/3q27I2P

August has had a crush on her best friend Leah’s older brother Keaton since high school. But the one time he kissed her, she bolted and lived to regret it – he married someone else a short time later. Now he’s a widower and has closed himself off from love, other than for his family. Leah has Multiple Sclerosis, and he is always there to help her out. So when she has a relapse just before an important event, she asks him to fill in for her.

Leah has entered her dog Molly into a social media contest. There is no way she will be able to drive upstate for a few hours, then show off her dog for the next three days. Keaton just can’t say no to her, despite how much he and Molly don’t get along. He gets inspired to beg her best friend August, dog groomer to the stars in New York City, to help him out, and she can’t say no either. So off they go to the contest.

By the time they get there, there is only one cabin with one bed still available. Forced proximity, anyone? Leah has been trying to set them up together on several occasions, without much luck. They quickly figure out that Leah never reserved a second cabin for them. These two are so competitive that they deal with it like a contest, only neither is sure what winning will look like. But we know!

It looks like this may be the last book of the series, and it was so much fun to read. I’m looking forward to whatever London does next!

8/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

CONFESSIONS OF A CANINE DRAMA QUEEN by Stefanie London. Canary Street Press; Original edition (August 1, 2023). ISBN:‎ 978-1335498212. 320p.

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Paws in the City, Book 2

From the publisher:

The perfect romcom for dog lovers! Pets of Park Avenue is the story of a self-confessed hot mess who learns that life is more fun when things don’t go according to plan.

What do you do when The One is also the one who broke your heart?

Self-proclaimed hot mess Scout Myers is determined to prove she’s finally got her act together. Raised by grandparents who saw her as her wayward mother’s wayward daughter, Scout’s used to being written off. So when the opportunity for a promotion arises at Paws in the City, the talent agency where she works, Scout is desperate to rise to the occasion. With shared custody of her little sister also on the line, Scout can’t afford a single mistake…like suddenly needing a canine stand-in for an important photoshoot. Luckily (or not) she knows the owner of the perfect pup replacement: the estranged husband she walked out on years ago.

On the surface, it appears Lane Halliday’s life has been blissfully drama free without Scout, but she suspects her handsome-as-ever not-quite-ex-husband doth protest too much. Working together even feels like old times—except for all that lingering, unresolved tension. But Scout’s not sure she’s ready to confront the reasons she left Lane, and when their plans to finalize the divorce become very real, Scout starts to wonder whether second chances might be worth a little hot mess.

“London pairs…satisfying romance with a deep dive into dysfunctional family dynamics, the corrosive power of secrets, and the importance of communication. This is sure to win hearts.” —Publishers Weekly 

https://amzn.to/453T1eb

This is such a fun series! You can tell from the title of the series, Paws in the City, that this will especially appeal to readers who love animals. In this second book of the series, the focus is on Scout, the best friend and employee of Isla, who was featured in the first book. Isla has opened her own social media company for pets, and Scout is her only employee.

Scout has a terrible work history; losing so many jobs has fed into her low self-esteem. But Isla is more than willing to give her a chance and Scout is determined to do the best job possible. When she has to step in for Isla at the last minute, everything that can go wrong does, and Scout feels awful. She is determined to make it up to Isla and she knows exactly how to do that.

After accidentally dying the fur on their biggest doggie star hot pink, Scout quickly realizes that her husband’s dog is a dead ringer for the now pink one. The only drawback? Scout snuck out in the middle of the night just one month after getting married – five years earlier. She hasn’t had any contact with her husband, Lane, since, and neither one has bothered filing for divorce. They are both brokenhearted, but this may be a chance for them to get closure.

Lane agrees to help Scout out by subbing in his dog for the up-and-coming star. Turns out there are several events scheduled, and before you know it, they are spending a lot of time together, revisiting their past and possibly creating a future. But Scout has other problems she is dealing with; the grandparents that raised her and threw her out of the house when she turned 18 now have custody of her much younger half-sister, and they severely limit the time the sisters can spend together. Scout is afraid that if she doesn’t do exactly as she thinks they want, she’ll lose all visitation rights. This is a pretty serious hurdle to get over, but the happy ending is worth it all.

8/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

PETS OF PARK AVENUE by Stefanie London. HQN; Original edition (December 6, 2022). ISBN:‎ 978-1335498199. 336p.

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Paws in the City, Book 1

From the publisher:

How do you start over when the biggest mistake of your life has more than one million views?

Forget diamonds—the internet is forever. Social media consultant Isla Thompson learned that lesson the hard way when she went viral for all the wrong reasons. A month later, Isla is still having nightmares about the moment she ruined a young starlet’s career and made herself the most unemployable influencer in Manhattan. But she doesn’t have the luxury of hiding until she’s no longer Instagram poison. Not when her fourteen-year-old sister, Dani, needs Isla to keep a roof over their heads. So, she takes the first job she can get: caring for Camilla, a glossy-maned, foul-tempered hellhound.

After a week of ferrying Camilla from playdates to pet psychics, Isla starts to suspect that the dachshund’s bark is worse than her bite—just like her owner, Theo Garrison. Isla has spent her career working to make people likable and here’s Theo—happy to hide behind his reputation as a brutish recluse. But Theo isn’t a brute—he’s sweet and funny, and Isla should not see him as anything but the man who signs her paychecks. Because loving Theo would mean retreating to his world of secluded luxury, and Isla needs to show Dani that no matter the risk, dreams are always worth chasing.

“London’s characters leap off the page… It’s a delightful start to a series that promises to be good fun.”—Publishers Weekly

https://amzn.to/3XWGFlN

Stefanie London is on my must read list – this rom-com is a prime example of why. Camilla is a long-haired dachshund with a serious attitude. Her owner was a famous, wealthy New Yorker who has passed away, leaving her beloved Camilla to the grandson she raised and loved – but neglected to tell him. Camilla is none too fond of Theo, to say the least, and her behavior has gone from bad to worse in her grief. Theo is a famous New York City recluse who has no patience for, well, much of anything. He likes his hermit status and has no plans of changing it.

After losing so many dog walkers that the agency refuses to help him anymore, he dons a disguise – hat, sunglasses – and takes Camilla on a walk through Central Park. There he runs into Isla and her sister. Isla was a professional social media influencer, or rather she worked for a management company that helps influencers raise their standing and their income. When she accidentally broadcasts her latest client, an underage Disney princess, drinking champagne, voicing some terribly un-Disney-like words with the grand finale of vomiting all over herself, that video goes viral, and Isla is fired.

Theo is amazed that Camilla goes right up to Isla and seems to like her – the dog likes no one, unless she is biting them. He offers Isla the dogsitting job on the spot. Desperate for some income, she jumps on the opportunity to restock her coffers while figuring out her next step.

There is something about Isla that gets under Theo’s defenses and he finds himself incredibly drawn to her. They both realize it isn’t the greatest idea, the power imbalance alone is a huge hurdle. But they can’t stop their feelings and they take things to the next level.

Meanwhile, slightly bored with her dogsitting job, Isla starts taking pictures of Camilla – not anything where she or Theo could be identified, and creates a social media account for the dog she calls “C” online. She is amusing herself and a few others, that is until the number of followers starts climbing and climbing. Inspired by her success, Isla sees this as the opportunity she has been looking for. She will start her own influencer marketing company for animals. Then she can quit dogsitting for her boss/lover and their relationship can move forward.

Of course, nothing goes quite the way Isla was hoping. Theo finds out about the social media account before she can tell him what she’s been doing, and he feels completely betrayed. The happy ending seems to be completely out of reach, but nonetheless Theo and Isla get their happily ever after. And we get a whole lot of laughs along the way. Looking forward to the next book in the series, Pets of Park Avenue, which I found through my library. I have the third book, Confessions of a Canine Drama Queen, ready to go – it comes out August 1.

7/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE DACHSHUND WEARS PRADA by Stefanie London. HQN; Original edition (May 3, 2022). ISBN:‎ 978-1335639837. 336p.

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Majestic Maine, Book 3

From the publisher:

Opposites attract―and go head-to-head―in this cheerfully irresistible small-town romance.

With just ten days left till her folks’ loan comes due, ever-pragmatic Charlotte Delaney is officially throwing in the towel on the bet that she made with her sisters. It looks like it’s up to her to save their parents’ café and beloved home with a marriage of convenience to her family’s rival. It’s time to get the in-name-only nuptials over with. Of course, Charlotte’s never been one to easily admit defeat…

Aidan Strong has exactly zero intentions of marrying one of the Delaney sisters―even Charlotte, his first crush. He’s come to Majestic, Maine, to make things right…only Charlotte has other plans.

She’s challenging Aidan to a new wager. And the prize? His billion-dollar coffee empire. Now the tiny seaside town of Majestic is about to witness the ultimate game of hearts…and winner takes all.

Each book in the Majestic Main series is STANDALONE:
* First Bride to Fall
* Second Bride Down
* Last Bride Standing

“There’s no denying the appeal of this quaint Maine town and the loves that blossom within it.”-Publishers Weekly

https://amzn.to/3D0O1es

At one time, Aidan and Charlotte’s parents were best friends and business partners, but that time is long past. While Aidan’s parents turned their half of the business into a global empire, Charlotte’s parents ended up with a coffee shop. After a death in the family, the moms have cooked up a plan to marry off Aidan to Charlotte, as she is the only sister not engaged already. Charlotte is ready to do her part in saving her parent’s business, so she is shocked when Aidan arrives from England to announce he is not marrying anyone. He offers them half his business, but that’s not good enough for Charlotte. She challenges him to a wager: whoever sells the most cups of coffee at the upcoming town festival gets the entire company. And a bet is made.

What Aidan and Charlotte didn’t count on was falling in love. Spending all that time together has brought them closer than ever, but Charlotte is stubborn and has dug her heels into this competition. The happy ending is inevitable, and it is easy to suspend your disbelief until they get there. This is the third book in the series (somehow, I missed the second one,) and it is a good ending to the series. I’m looking forward to whatever Baird does next.

7/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

LAST BRIDE STANDING by Ginny Baird. Entangled: Amara (June 27, 2023). ISBN:‎ 978-1649373724. 384p.

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Always Satisfied, Book 1

From the publisher:

Indulge in a second chance standalone romance by #1 NYT bestseller Lauren Blakely!

The first rule of working together? Don’t fall for the boss’s daughter. Definitely don’t fall for her when you’re trying to buy the business.
The trouble is Sloane is smack dab next me from 9 to freaking 5. And she’s as captivating, brilliant, and sexy as ever, which means I’m taking more than the recommended dosage of office romance temptation every day. Make that every single second, because she’s not only “the one” — she’s the one who got away.
But she’s the very definition of off-limits, so I keep my hands to myself. Fine, we might flirt. Okay, we do indulge in the occasional dirty text. And there was that one time when we kissed on the street. But we’ve been good since then.
Until the night she issues me a challenge — seven nights of O lessons and then we walk away. Sounds like a simple arrangement.
But I was never good with those kind of rules

https://amzn.to/43oJAVL

I love Lauren Blakely’s books – she is a great storyteller, writes great sex scenes, and imbues her romances with enough angst, drama, and laughs to make the pages flow. She is mostly (entirely?) a self-published author, and I have yet to find advance copies of her books on either of the mainstream egalley providers. That means I either have to buy them, a big no-no for a reviewer with access to thousands of egalleys, or get them from my library when they have them (on occasion) or through Kindle Unlimited. I grabbed the three-month free trial of Kindle Unlimited right before Prime Days, and I plan to utilize it as much as I can (see former comment about thousands of egalleys!) This was one of the first books I grabbed.

This is a super steamy, second-chance romance in a work setting. Malone is a veterinarian, like his father was before he passed away. Even though his father is gone, he feels a strong desire to please him, to follow the career path that would have made his father proud. He lands a job in an upscale clinic in Manhattan, and his boss becomes his mentor.

Just before landing this job, he met Sloane, and they shared an incredible week together. But when Malone interviews for this job, he notices a picture of Sloane on his new boss’s desk – he’s her father. Malone ends things with Sloane because he’s pretty sure his new boss wouldn’t like it. One of the things they had in common was their love of animals – Sloane has her own foundation and animal rescue.

Meanwhile, Malone is hoping his mentor retires so he can take over the practice, but it is happening on a much longer timeline than he envisioned. As Sloan comes around the office and eventually moves her office there, they are both sure they did the right thing by ending it seven years earlier. But it is impossible to work next to one another and ignore their explosive chemistry. Eventually, they both get everything they want and their happy ending. Blakely is always a sure thing for a fast-paced, sexy romance.

7/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

SATISFACTION GUARANTEED by Lauren Blakely. Little Dog Press (June 10, 2019). ISBN:‎ 978-1732575561. 302p.

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From the publisher:

A ghostwriter and a struggling actor help each other on the page and in the bedroom in this steamy romantic comedy from the New York Times bestselling author of The Ex Talk.

Chandler Cohen has never felt more like the ghost in “ghostwriter” until she attends a signing for a book she wrote—and the author doesn’t even recognize her. The evening turns more promising when she meets a charming man at the bar and immediately connects with him. But when all their sexual tension culminates in a spectacularly awkward hookup, she decides this is one night better off forgotten.

Unfortunately, that’s easier said than done. Her next project is ghostwriting a memoir for Finn Walsh, a C-list actor best known for playing a lovable nerd on a cult classic werewolf show who now makes a living appearing at fan conventions across the country. Chandler knows him better from their one-night stand of hilarious mishaps.

Chandler’s determined to keep their partnership as professional as possible, but when she admits to Finn their night together wasn’t as mind-blowing as he thought it was, he’s distraught. He intrigues her enough that they strike a deal: when they’re not working on his book, Chandler will school Finn in the art of satisfaction. As they grow closer both in and out of the bedroom, they must figure out which is more important, business or pleasure—or if there’s a way for them to have both.

ABOUT BUSINESS OR PLEASURE

An Indie Next Pick
A LibraryReads Hall of Fame Pick

Named a Most Anticipated Summer Read by Buzzfeed, Glamour, Town & Country, BookRiot, and more!

“Solomon consistently balances spicy and sweet, making her romance novels a sure bet for a good read. A must-read modern romance that emphasizes silliness and sexiness in equal parts. Solomon’s best yet.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Solomon delights with this hot and heartfelt rom-com…This is a joy.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Sweet, steamy, and satisfying, this is sure to please readers.”—Library Journal

“Fans of comic conventions and Hollywood crushes will adore Solomon’s sexy celebrity romance…Finn is exactly the book-boyfriend readers will adore.”—Booklist

https://amzn.to/3D0O1es

I loved Solomon’s earlier books and this one is another winner! It is also one of the sexiest romances, so if you are not a fan of sex on the page, look elsewhere.

Chandler and Finn meet at a bar next door to the bookshop where she attended a signing. The author didn’t recognize Chandler, which she found really off-putting since she was the actual ghostwriter of the book. Finn seems like a nice guy and there is some real chemistry there, so they end up in his hotel room where sadly, Chandler fakes an orgasm before sneaking out of the room.

When Chandler’s agent calls with her next ghostwriting job, it turns out to be a memoir of a TV cult classic star who has spent most of his career since that show doing Hallmark movies and traveling the Comic-Con circuit. And he is also her one-night stand.

Chandler takes the job; the money is too good to pass up, plus she’ll get to travel to all the Comic-Cons with Finn. As they get to know one another, Chandler tells him she faked it with him. A blow to the male ego for sure, but then he asks his former long-time girlfriend, and she concurs. Humbled, Finn asks Chandler if she would perhaps help him learn how to please a woman in bed. She agrees, and as they travel the country, she learns more about him and his definite ideas about what he wants his book to say. They fall in love, but as always, there are obstacles in their way.

What I loved about this book was how they both learned from one another, and helped each other grow and achieve more than they dreamed possible. There are a lot of laughs along the way as well. This was a fast, fun, sexy read, and I highly recommend it.

7/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

BUSINESS OR PLEASURE by Rachel Lynn Solomon. Berkley (July 4, 2023). ISBN:‎ 978-0593548530. 384p.

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