Two broken hearts discover an unpredictable path to healing in an emotional romance about fate and second chances by New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst.
It’s been two years since Chiara Kennedy lost her dearest friend, Rory. Chiara misses everything about her. Rory’s widowed husband is another story. Sebastian Ryder is a man Chiara had secretly wanted, let slip away, and hoped to never see again. Then fate throws them together for an unexpected one-night stand and a morning after of new challenges.
Sebastian had a soul mate in Rory. Shutting down after his tragic loss, he kept a cool distance from everyone—including Chiara, with whom he once shared a deep if fleeting affection. That was over and done with a long time ago. But when they meet again, old emotions resurface along with a heart-wounding past that haunts them both.
As Chiara and Sebastian grow closer, finally getting to know each other, Chiara struggles with feelings of guilt even as she cherishes her second chance with Sebastian. Will fate allow them to overcome the past, or are they destined to always wonder if they are truly meant to be?
This is a terrific start to a new series! Chiara and Sebastian met a bar and spend the whole night just talking. But Chiara was not looking for any kind of relationship; she, along with her three best friends, were starting up a new business. They created a website for women, a sort of lifestyle/self help kind of place, and Chiara was completely devoted to making it successful. A year or so later, her best friend and business partner, Rory, introduced her boyfriend to the group. It was Sebastian, and in a moment of bad decision making, Chiara pretended she was just meeting him for the first time, and he went along with it. After that, Chiara tried to keep her distance, leading her friends to think she didn’t like him much.
In actuality, she thought he was perfect for Rory and thought if Rory knew they had any kind of history, she would push him away. Rory and Sebastian got married, then tried to start a family, but were unsuccessful and immersed themselves in the treatments available to them. Then Rory suddenly dies. Drowning in grief, Sebastian walked away from her friends and family and drowned himself in his work as a high school guidance counselor and volunteer at a youth center.
Two years later, Chiara was at a bar, trying to help a co-worker with research on a story about how to get rid of creepy guys in a bar while not actually leaving. It wasn’t going well, the creepy guy wouldn’t take a hint. But Sebastian happened to be there that night and saw what was happening. He swooped in, grabbed the drink creepy guy bought for Chiara, and downed it. Creepy guy took off, so mission accomplished. Except the drink was roofied, and Sebastian was going down.
This was no meet-cute but Chiara spent most of the night watching over him, making sure he was breathing. She finally goes to bed and a short while later dreams she is having amazing sex with Sebastian. It turns out that it wasn’t a dream, and guess what happens next.
Chiara and Sebastian both have a lot of issues with their families and difficult childhoods, and they bond over that. Eventually their relationship deepens, but Chiara is ever mindful that he was Rory’s husband, and they both have a lot of guilt.
This book was unputdownable – I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I loved these characters and can’t wait to see what happens next. But no worries, Chiara and Sebastian get their happy ending.
Just have to add that I hate the cover of this book. If I saw this on the shelf, I wouldn’t touch it. It’s just so generic and boring, and the book is anything but! Amazon Publishing needs to step up its cover game.
4/2022 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
MEANT TO BE by Jennifer Probst. Montlake (April 19, 2022). ISBN: 978-1542034807. 319p.
Number-one New York Times best-selling author Colleen Hoover returns with a new heart-wrenching love story.
When Tate Collins meets airline pilot Miles Archer, she doesn’t think it’s love at first sight. They wouldn’t even go so far as to consider themselves friends. The only thing Tate and Miles have in common is an undeniable mutual attraction. Once their desires are out in the open, they realize they have the perfect set-up. He doesn’t want love, she doesn’t have time for love, so that just leaves the sex. Their arrangement could be surprisingly seamless, as long as Tate can stick to the only two rules Miles has for her:
Never ask about the past.
Don’t expect a future.
They think they can handle it, but realize almost immediately they can’t handle it at all.
I thought I had read all of Hoover’s adult books, but somehow I missed this one. I’m very happy I stumbled across it from my library.
Tate is a nurse pursuing a graduate degree, so she moves in with her brother while she is in school. She meets Miles on move-in day when he is dead drunk and passed out at the front door of the apartment. Miles is a good friend of her brother, and is very good looking, and the chemistry between Tate and Miles is off the chart. They start a sexual relationship as he is not interested in getting involved – his rules: ‘Don’t ask about my past, and never expect a future.’ Tate is all in as she doesn’t have time for anything more than work and school. So win-win. Until things change.
There is another storyline set in the past about Miles and Rachel’s relationship, which is what causes him to avoid relationships at all. It takes some time to get there, and all I’ll say is the “ugly” in the title may refer to the “ugly crying” this book caused! But it is also heartwarming, heartwrenching, and all in all, a terrific read.
Hoover is definitely one of my favorites. Her books are all well written with characters that come to life on the page. If you love emotional romances that really draw the reader in, then this is your book. I loved it.
4/2022 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
UGLY LOVE by Colleen Hoover. Atria (August 5, 2014). ISBN: 978-1476753188. 336p.
The “sweet, sexy, and utterly fun” (Emily Henry, author of People We Meet on Vacation) Regency Vows series continues with a witty, charming, and joyful novel following a seasoned debutante and a rakish theater owner as they navigate a complicated marriage of convenience.
Lady Emily Turner has been a debutante for six seasons now and should have long settled into a suitable marriage. However, due to her father’s large debts, her only suitor is the persistent and odious owner of her father’s favorite gambling house. Meanwhile, Lord Julian Belfry, the second son of a marquess, has scandalized society as an actor and owner of a theater—the kind of establishment where men take their mistresses, but not their wives. When their lives intersect at a house party, Lord Julian hatches a plan to benefit them both.
With a marriage of convenience, Emily will use her society connections to promote the theater to a more respectable clientele and Julian will take her out from under the shadows of her father’s unsavory associates. But they soon realize they have very different plans for their marriage—Julian wants Emily to remain a society wife, while Emily discovers an interest in the theater. But when a fleeing actress, murderous kitten, and meddlesome friends enter the fray, Emily and Julian will have to confront the fact that their marriage of convenience comes with rather inconvenient feelings.
With “an arch sense of humor and a marvelously witty voice that rivals the best of the Regency authors” (Entertainment Weekly), Martha Waters crafts another fresh romantic comedy that for fans of Julia Quinn and Evie Dunmore.
This is my first time reading this author, so I haven’t read the first two books in the series – but I could tell I was missing information. Nevertheless, the story pulled me in and the characters came to life on the page.
Lady Emily was an interesting character; a dutiful daughter, an intelligent woman, and a woman always in complete control of her emotions. When Lord Julian proposes this marriage of convenience, Emily is thrilled to escape from under her parents iron-fisted rule, and happy to jilt the man who’s been squiring her about for a few years, without a proposal in sight. Not that she wants to marry the odious man, but the scandals that have befallen her family leave her out of the running for most men.
But Julian is different. He owns a somewhat disreputable theater and is estranged from his family because of it, especially his father who gave him an ultimatum to either sell the theater or he would be cut off. Julian is making tons of money from the theater and doesn’t need his father’s money, but deep down he would like his approval. So he hatches this plan to marry a proper society woman in hopes of getting the ton to come to his theater – the wives, not just the mistresses.
Of course they fall in love, but both are afraid to admit it, and to admit what it might mean for their plans. But no worries, Julian and Emily mend fences, support one another, and get their happily ever after. Now I have to find the first two books in the series!
4/2022 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
TO MARRY AND TO MEDDLE by Martha Waters. Atria Books (April 5, 2022). ISBN: 978-1982190484. 336p.
Three women who seemingly have nothing in common find that they’re involved with the same man in this smart new rom-com by Beth O’Leary, best-selling author of The Flatshare.
Siobhan is a quick-tempered life coach with way too much on her plate. Miranda is a tree surgeon used to being treated as just one of the guys on the job. Jane is a soft-spoken volunteer for the local charity shop with zero sense of self-worth.
These three women are strangers who have only one thing in common: They’ve all been stood up on the same day, the very worst day to be stood up—Valentine’s Day. And, unbeknownst to them, they’ve all been stood up by the same man.
Once they’ve each forgiven him for standing them up, they are all in serious danger of falling in love with a man who may have not just one or two but three women on the go….
Is there more to him than meets the eye? Where was he on Valentine’s Day? And will they each untangle the truth before they all get their hearts broken?
This was a slow start for me, but I stuck with it and ended up loving this story of a good guy acting badly, who may not be as bad or good as he seems at first glance. This book surprised me, and that rarely happens, especially a romance. Most are very formulaic: boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back and happily ever after. This story was quite a bit more complicated than that.
These three women are all very different, but all are involved with the same man. Jane is volunteering at a thrift shop in the small town outside of London where she grew up. She is hiding from the world after something happened at her job. We don’t find out what it was until the end, we just know that her self esteem is nonexistant, and she is dealing with her issues by carefully monitoring her behavior. She seems a bit OCD, wearing the same outfit every Monday, a different outfit on Tuesday, and so forth. She allows herself to read one book per week. But then she meets Joseph in a coffee shop, and they form a book discussion group of sorts: just the two of them discussing a different book each week. They read all sorts of things, but when Joseph suggests she might want to read another book during the week, Jane is horrified at the thought of such an interruption to her carefully regimented life. Joseph is not deterred; he starts leaving her books on her doorstep, and she finds it almost thrilling to read another book during the week. Jane starts falling for Joseph, but they remain just friends. Until he stands her up on Valentine’s Day.
Siobhan, Shiv to her friends, runs a very popular women’s empowerment website with her best friends from college. Shiv doesn’t have time for a relationship. Early on, she meets Joseph in a club, and the spend the entire night talking. But she knows she has to invest all her time into her new business, and she ghosts him. She likes having a friend with benefits though, and pencils herself in for the first Friday of every month to have sex with him. He wants more but when he suggests it, she ghosts him again.
Miranda is a tree surgeon, a female rarity who works with a team of men. One of the men, AJ, is known to be a womanizer and when he starts flirting with her, she quickly shuts him down, telling him she has a boyfriend. Carter is a good boyfriend, a nice guy, but there is something a bit off there and she isn’t sure what it is. Eventually, she is also stood up on Valentines’ Day and that sets Miranda on a path to find out what is really going on with him.
This is a gentle romance that moves seamlessly between these three women, weaving together three disparate parts into a shocking whole story. It is an emotional read, often funny but other times inducing tears. I loved it!
4/2022 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
THE NO-SHOW by Beth O’Leary. Berkley (April 12, 2022). ISBN: 978-0593438442. 352p.
I actually started and read this series in order. After I read the Hockey Hotties series by this author, I checked Hoopla (from the public library) to see what other Piper Rayne books were available. They had this entire series, so down the rabbit hole I went. There are all fairly short, fast sexy reads and a lot of fun.
The Rooftop Crew are a bunch of friends who live in an apartment building in Clifton Heights. I’m not clear on where that is exactly. On the map of NY, it’s upstate and they mention Peekskill, which I know is Westchester, so on the way upstate and five hours from Clifton Heights. But they also mention “the city,” and as far as I know, the only place in New York that is referred to as “the city” is Manhattan. I guess it doesn’t really matter but that is how my brain works. Anyway, these friends often hang out on the roof of their apartment building; hence, the Rooftop Crew.
Here’s a little fun fact: Piper Rayne is actually a pseudonym for two women writing together: Elizabeth Grace is “Piper” and Michelle Lynn is “Rayne.” And honestly, those “real” names sound fake, too, like maybe their first & middle names??
I can’t borrow him. He’s not a sweater or a skirt. He’s not even her favorite dress—the lucky one she wears on first dates. The one she probably wore on her first date with him.
In my defense, I didn’t know who he was. To me, he was a cool, calm, confident stranger. He was perfection for the entire hour and a half train ride while the concrete jungle turned into a rolling green landscape.
To an outsider, we probably appeared more friends than hopeful lovers. But my blush came quickly, and his dimples indented with every smile. We definitely shared a spark of what could be.
Too bad I didn’t know who he was before I fell for him, because he can’t be mine.
This is Blanca and Ethan’s story. The ex in the title is Blanca’s friend Sierra. Sierra and Ethan had a very volatile relationship until they broke up. Now they are just enemies. Well, at least Sierra sees it that way. When Sierra runs into her old friend, it is right after Blanca has lost her job and needs a place to live. Sierra invites her to Clifton Heights, and on the day Blanca moves there, she meets this hot guy on the train ride in. There is great chemistry there, and when they run into each other again, they start dating. Things get pretty hot and heavy fairly quickly. Meanwhile, whenever Sierra’s ex, Sigmund, is mentioned, flames shoot out of her eyes. So when it turns out the Sigmund is actually Ethan’s nickname, and Sierra finds out Blanca is dating him, things get a little messy. But no worries, they get their happily ever after!
He’s not your average Joe from the corner bar. He’s the heir to the crown.
I should know, I’ve followed him for years. Not in a stalkerish way. Magazines and online gossip blogs are fair game when you’re royalty. But I do know every detail about him, down to the brand of boxer briefs he wears.
All my studying of the man who plays a starring role in my dreams pays off when I win a dinner with him. As if that wasn’t enough, he barters a deal with me that has him moving into my spare guest room.
I forgot that fairy tales don’t exist though because just as I’m about to get everything I want, including the prince, I find out there’s someone in Prince Adrian Marx’s life I don’t know—his fiancée.
A Royal Mistake features Sierra and Prince Adrian. Adrian is prince of Sandsal, some country that doesn’t exist, and their rules state that the country must be ruled by a King but he also must be married. Unfortunately, his parents are getting divorced so that will force him to be king, but only if he marries. Adrian has no desire to be king, and his sister would love to rule, but she cannot. That leaves his youngest brother who is way too young to rule. He escapes to America (think “Coming to America” only much, much whiter) and Sierra, who is obsessed with the good looking prince, wins a date with him. That ends up with him moving in until he has to return home. He gets a part time job in a bagel bakery, and the next thing you know, Sierra and Adrian are an item. Of course his parents don’t approve, nor does his country, complicating things further. But this is a romance so they do end up together.
I’ve loved him from afar. Though most times he’s only a foot away.
I’m smart enough to know he’ll never be anyone’s forever.
He checks all the bad boy boxes. Tattoos. Check. Motorcycle. Check. Chip on his shoulder. Check check.
If he wasn’t my neighbor and friend I may have thrown myself at him. Okay, yeah. I wouldn’t. Because guys like Dylan don’t want a woman who writes kid’s math textbooks under him in bed. Instead, I pathetically savor morsels of moments where I have his sole attention.
That was until his archenemy moved in with me. Now suddenly, Dylan’s moving in too and warning off the first guy in a long time who’s showing me interest. Could he finally see me as more than a friend, or am I just a prize to win and show off to his enemy?
Book three is about Rian and Dylan, and introduces Jax. Rian has had a big crush on Dylan for a long time and everyone knows it but him. Dylan also has a crush on Rian but instead of acting on it, he goes out with lots of different women. Until Jax moves in. He’s been away for a while, but Dylan and Jax were good friends until they had a falling out over a girl and some professional jealousy. So when Jax is invited to move in with Rian, Dylan immediately moves his stuff across the hall to the other empty bedroom. Rian loves to bake, but she is also a math genius. So when her parents start bugging her to enter this mathematical contest and actually sign her up, she decides to go for it. The first person to solve the math problem wins $25,000. As Jax flirts with Rian and they even go out on a date, it drives Dylan mad until he finally succumbs and asks Rian out. Dylan always liked Rian but thought he wasn’t good enough for her. Turns out they are very good for each other.
She’s got two strikes against her. Her name is Erickson and her parents own The Bagel Place.
It wasn’t always that way. When we were nine, we were best friends. But then a feud between our dads ripped their successful business apart—and my best friend was ripped away too.
Our paths were bound to cross again. When both our families vie for the same spot on a Food Channel’s reality show, the producers decide to change the format, aligning us as allies.
In order to get our parents to agree to work together, Evan asks me to pretend to be her boyfriend, but I dare her to up the ante—be my fiancée. Fake fiancée… obviously.
As usual, I didn’t think things through. Turns out our parents have a lot of demands neither one of us expected. And all those demands lead to things feeling more real than fake.
Our Star-Crossed Kiss is Seth and Evan’s story, and is a riff on Romeo and Juliet. Their fathers were once business partners in a bagel shop until they had a major falling out. Seth and Evan were best friends as children until they were forbidden to see one another after the fight. Each of the father’s opened their own bagel shop – Evan’s dad specialized in fantastic shmears (cream cheese) while Seth’s dad made the best bagels. When a TV show wants to feature both of their shops, Evan and Seth decide they want to do it. Neither one really wants to run a bagel shop and this could be their way out of it. They come up with this plan for a fake engagement, forcing the families together again, but the dads aren’t buying it. If you’ve ever read a romance novel, you know that the fake engagement always ends up with a happy ending and this is no exception.
She was always the one. Or so I thought. Turns out my instincts were dead wrong.
Years ago I was faced with the choice between two women. Both were perfect in opposite ways. One was carefree and against commitment. The other was a woman you’d bring home to mom.
I was young, naïve and stupid. I’m sure you can guess who I chose.
Now, I’m older, wiser and know what the hell I want.
So, when the same two women pop back into my life it’s my chance for a do-over. But they flipped the script. Just like me, they want different things now. Leaving me with one choice—convince the woman I want that she wants me too.
This book centers on Knox and Kamea. They met several years earlier when Kamea was waitressing in a bar. Knox flirted with her all night, but one of his friends told him that she was the kind of girl you take home to meet your mom, not a one night stand. That scared him off, and he ended up taking Leilani home. She was trouble, but the savior in Knox, a cop, led him to believe she was the one he would save. Their on again, off again relationship really hurt him, but it has been months since he’s seen her and he’s over her. Kamea was hurt that he took off with Leilani that night. They were childhood friends but Leilani was a real user – the only time Kamea heard from her is when she wanted something. Like bail money. Kamea bails her out and Leilani disappears, but not before she and her friends get Kamea kicked out of her apartment. Now she’s broke and homeless, and when Knox finds her with the homeless, he insists on taking her home with him. It’s time for them to have a do-over and find their happily ever after.
Three tattoo guns. Five motorcycle tires. Countless T-shirts.
That’s what I lost before I realized nothing good comes from dating my co-workers.
Usually, I don’t have much self-control. So, the fact that Frankie Grant is a hot, talented tattoo artist means it’s a damn miracle she hasn’t already been in my bed. But nothing can happen between us because Frankie comes with Jolie, her young daughter, and a crap load of baggage from her ex. And those are two things I never entertain.
Anyone who knows me—the screwed up foster kid from the wrong side of the tracks—knows I’m not the guy you take home to meet your parents, let alone your kid. But I also know what it’s like not to have parents, so things get complicated when Jolie asks me to be her daddy.
I might as well just slash my own tires now.
This is the last book in the series and centers on Jax and Frankie. Frankie is a single mom to Jolie, her sweet five year old daughter. Jax and Frankie are tattoo artists who work together and constantly butt heads. Jax has a lot of baggage and is leery of relationships, to say the least. But he loves Jolie, and consequently when Jolie asks Santa to make Jax her daddy, or get her a puppy, he panics and buys her the dog. This leads to more fights but utlimately they co-parent the dog, bringing them closer. The more they get to know one another, the closer they get, fighting it all the way. But they find their happy ending, and I was sad to end this series.
Luckily, I have a few hundred more books to read so I’m good! But if you like steamy romances, this is a fun series. I read them all in a week and was happy to spend time with the Rooftop Crew.
Comments Off on ROOFTOP CREW SERIES by Piper Rayne | Fiction, Romance | Permalink Posted by Stacy Alesi
That’s what my teammate’s sister-in-law told me after our one-night stand. I didn’t expect to see Hollis again, let alone end up raising a child with her.
We set some ground rules—we’ll raise the baby together, but that’s it. No relationship, no future, and definitely no kissing.
But the more time we spend together, the harder it is to keep track of where the lines were once drawn.
I’m known for my one-timer on and off the ice, but this game with Hollis just got a lot more complicated…
ONE-TIMER is a standalone hockey romance. There is a one-night stand, an accidental pregnancy, wit, steam, and lots of fun!
I am loving this series! I am not usually a fan of the pregnancy romance, but Hunter does such a good job with it she’s made me a convert.
Hollis recently got divorced after finding out her husband was cheating on her. Her sister is getting married to a hockey player, so Hollis has to be in the wedding even though all she wants to do is go off by herself and cry. Pity party for one, please! But an understandable pity party for sure.
Lowell is her future brother-in-law’s teammate and a man who has been burnt once himself. His girlfriend told him she was pregnant and he was ready to marry her until he found out she was lying. He is determined to avoid relationships and stick to one night stands where his heart won’t get involved.
Hollis and Lowell have a one night stand at the wedding, and a big oops occurs. When she finally gets hold of Lowell to tell him, he feels like history is repeating itself. Except Hollis doesn’t seem like the type to be after his money or his fame. He cautiously agrees to be involved with the baby but insists on them just co-parenting. No relationship allowed!
Best laid plans and all…Hollis and Lowell spend a lot of time together. He falls in love with his baby almost from the get go but is cautious around Hollis, and she is cautious as well. She loves the support he is giving her – the emotional and physical support because she is having a pregnancy that sends her sex drive roaring, and he is happy to help out.
You can guess what happens but this was such a fun, sexy read it didn’t matter. I wanted them to find their happily ever after, and they do. Looking forward to the next book in the series, Sin Bin, publishing in July.
3/2022 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
ONE-TIMER by Teagan Hunter. Independently published (March 24, 2022). ASIN: B09QH91PQN. 263p.
Returning to Magnolia Sound was never part of the plan. Then again, Parker Bishop rarely had one. Yet after confessing her love to her best friend right before his wedding, she needs time to lick her wounds from the disastrous scene that unfolds. After the unsympathetic welcome she receives from her parents and siblings, Parker finds herself absentmindedly driving through town in search of a place to stay.
That’s when she spots the flier and a familiar name…
Ethan Harlow enjoys the peace and quiet. Unfortunately, finding a moment of it becomes impossible when the flier he posts for a roommate brings Parker crashing into his life. Of course, he remembers her from high school. It’s impossible to forget little miss popular who was always the center of attention. All he wanted was to split the rent and keep to himself. Instead, Parker transforms his home and makes him question the dreams he gave up out of fear of stepping out of his comfort zone.
The attraction they feel to one another makes crossing the line from roommates to lovers seem inevitable. But the more Parker encourages Ethan to pursue his dreams, the less likely it becomes that they can have any kind of future together. Can they find a way to claim their happily ever after or will their individual paths make a future impossible?
I have read several books by this author and I always like the book and hate the cover. I didn’t hate this one! It is probably the best cover for one of her books that I’ve seen, so feel free to judge this book by its cover.
Having recently moved back to her hometown of Magnolia Sound, Parker is bouncing from one relative to another until she finds Ethan’s flier in the library. Her whole family lives here, and while she vaguely remembers Ethan from high school, her cousin, the librarian, vouches for him. She basically steamrolls Ethan into renting her a room in his house, and he isn’t sure this is going to work at all.
The funny thing was I had no idea this was part of a series when I read it, never mind the tenth book! Looking back I can see it, so kudos to Chase for doing such a good job with that.
Ethan is an introvert, a nerd, and completely intimidated Parker when they were in high school together and he was class valedictorian. Parker has the lowest self esteem of anyone I’ve read about in quite a while, but is so charming and self-deprecating that I couldn’t help but root for her. Ethan and Parker become roommates, then friends, then more while Parker tries to figure out her life.
Small town charm is abundant here, as are a lot of laughs from Parker’s crazy large family. I really enjoyed watching both these characters grow and bring out the best in one another. Not much sex either, if that is a factor for you. All in all, a very enjoyable read and yep, I’m looking for the earlier books in this series.
3/2022 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
ALWAYS ON MY MIND by Samantha Chase. Chasing Romance, Inc. (March 22, 2022). ASIN: B09QD5FV3C. 277p.
A chef’s journey to success leads to discovering the perfect recipe for love in this delicious romantic comedy.
Sadie is a rising star in the trendy Seattle restaurant scene. Her dream is to create unique, modern, and mouthwatering takes on traditional Jewish recipes. But after a public breakup with her boss, a famous chef, she is sure her career is over—until she lands a coveted spot on the next season of her favorite TV show, Chef Supreme.
On the plane to New York, Sadie has sizzling chemistry with her seatmate, Luke, but tells him that she won’t be able to contact him for the next six weeks. They prolong their time together with a spontaneous, magical dinner before parting ways. Or so she thinks. When she turns up to set the next day, she makes a shocking discovery about who Luke is….
If Sadie wants to save her career by winning Chef Supreme, she’s going to have to ignore the simmering heat between Luke and her. But how long can she do that before the pot boils over?
Sadie was working as a sous chef for her boyfriend, who dumps her and fires her. Just when she thinks she’ll never get another job, she gets something even better; a call from Chef Supreme (think Top Chef) and the opportunity to be on national TV and get her reputation back. Sadie knows if she can make it through to the semifinals, everything will be golden – she may even get the opportunity to realize her dream of opening her own restaurant.
On the flight from Seattle to New York City, where the show is filmed (one of the small variations on the Top Chef formula) she is seated next to Luke, a good looking man who has the hands of a chef. Sure enough he is a chef, and they really get to know one another on the long flight. When they land, he goes with her to Queens where she will be staying and takes her to a Korean speakeasy of sorts. They have a magical date, but she is going to be untouchable for the next six weeks. She promises to call when she can, and she heads off.
Turns out Luke’s father is one of the most celebrated chefs in New York, and Luke has been tapped to judge on the TV show when the regular judge has a medical emergency. Sadie is shocked to see him there, and even more shocked when he calls her “Sandy” as if he doesn’t remember her.
Sadie is of Jewish descent, and her goal is to let people know there is more to Jewish food than just bagels and latkes. She puts a gourmet spin on many of the most familiar dishes, and works her way towards her goal. Meanwhile, spending time with Luke is hard on her, and as it turns out, on him as well. But no worries, there is a happy ending in sight for both of them.
I loved this book so much! I am a huge Top Chef fan, and this felt like a peek behind the curtains of that iconic show. Having a Jewish protagonist was also a plus for me, not something I see very often in romcoms but that seems to be changing, very slowly for sure, but I’m always hopeful. While this is the first “Amanda Elliot” book and the author’s debut novel for adults, the author has several Young Adult books under the name Amanda Panitch. This was a terrific, one night read for me and I look forward to seeing what “Elliot” does next.
3/2022 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
SADIE ON A PLATE by Amanda Elliot. Berkley (March 15, 2022). ISBN: 978-0593335710. 352p.
Book 0.5Book 1Book 2Book 3Book 3.5Book 4Book 5Book 6
I started reading this series in the middle, as I often do, with SNEAKING AROUND WITH #34. I liked it, but in a weird coincidence, I read another hot hockey romance by a different author right before this one. They both published on the same date, so it led to immediate comparison, and the other book won. But not by much. And I liked this book enough that I began the hunt for the rest of the books in the series.
The first book, or 0.5 as it is labeled, Countdown to a Kiss, is actually a novella introducing the series. It was free from Amazon, so I downloaded it and read it immediately. I am not always a fan of novellas, but this was a good entry into a new series and I was glad to have read it. Some of it is repeated in the first book, in case you don’t read this one. The “countdown” refers to New Years Eve, and it is set at a New Years Eve party. We meet three of the hockey players, but the central romance is on one of the players, Tweetie (they all have nicknames) and Tedi, the woman he meets there.
Tedi is a fun character. She is basically obsessed with hockey players and has a “fuck it bucket list” and Tweetie heads the list. Neither one of them is relationship material and both are looking for a one night stand. But Tedi surprises herself by going back for more, and so does Tweetie. And before they know it, they are in a relationship.
That novella leads to the first book in the series, My Lucky #13, which was also free from Amazon. This story centers around Aiden, the team captain, and Saige, a social media manager for professional athletes. They meet at the New Year’s Eve party in Countdown to a Kiss, when Aiden’s manager brings Saige as his date to the party. Then he basically abandons her, and Aiden moves in. Wanting to date his manager’s girlfriend puts him in an awkward situation, and that is one of the major plotlines here.
When Aiden goes to kiss Saige at midnight, she suddenly backs up and throws her glass of wine in his face. Aiden has been in an eight game slump without scoring. He knows his neck is on the chopping block to get traded unless he can get back his mojo. He never believed in superstitions or the rituals that many professional athletes believe in, but after that night, he scores a hat trick (3 goals) in his next game. Deciding that Saige throwing that wine was the change he needed, he arranges for her to repeat it before the next game, and he scores again. His game is back, but Aiden decides that Saige needs to throw wine in his face before every game. A new ritual is born, plus Aiden gets to spend time with a woman he is falling for fast.
Saige has been burnt before and keeps Aiden thinking she is still dating his manager long after she dumps him to protect herself, but eventually the truth comes out and yes, they find their happily ever after.
Then I moved on to book 2, The Trouble with #9, which I found on CloudLibrary. Hoopla had the first two books but that was it. This one centers around Maksim, the Russian defender for the team. Maksim sees himself as the protector for his teammates, and every time the refs miss a call, he is there to remind the other team that he is watching. His temper is fierce on the ice, and the penalties he’s getting aren’t making the team owner happy. The owner decides to bring in Paisley, his daughter’s best friend, who is a psychologist. He wants her to work with Maksim, but all he does is flirt like crazy with her. Eventually, the owner decides every member of the team needs at least three sessions with the shrink and they all follow through except Maksim.
Ethically, Paisley is torn but decides since he isn’t talking to her anyway, she might as well date him. Maksim is really a sweet guy, and Paisley adores that side of him. Eventually she finds out why he is such a protector, and knows he needs therapy to work through his issues. But it isn’t until she dumps him that he learns that lesson. No worries, they find a happy ending as well.
I wasn’t able to get book 3, Faking It with #41 through my library so I requested they purchase it. They have the digital audiobook, but I’d much rather read it than listen. So I moved on to the next book, which is another novella, Tropical Hat Trick. I also couldn’t get that one from my library (again they had the audiobook though) so I used a credit I had on Amazon to buy it for $.99. I know, I splurged! This was a good story set at one of the team’s destination wedding – I guess from book 3?
This story is told from several points of view of the various team members at the wedding, plus a couple more who just happen to be there on vacation. One of them is Corey, a rookie, who meets Ande on the shuttle ride from the airport to the hotel. They have a steamy few days together, but he is the center of book 5, Second Shot with #76, so I suspect we will see more of Ande as well. That book comes out 4/19/2022. We also see the beginnings of something brewing with Kane, a new teammate who is one of the best in hockey, but has been around long enough that this will probably be his last season, and Jana, the team owner’s daughter. We also see Warner and Imogen meet up for the first time in years – which brings us to book 4, the one I read first in this series, Sneaking Around With #34, that feature this couple.
I will beg the publicist for the next two books in the series, or hope that my library gets them and reviews will follow. I am being very optimistic here! If you like sexy sports romances, or are a hockey fan, try this series. They are so engaging that I read all these books over a weekend, so enjoy!
Three professional hockey players from the Florida Fury attend a New Year’s Eve party at the team owner’s mansion and spend time with three very different women. As the countdown to midnight begins, each of them is hoping to start the new year off right with a kiss. But if that happens, does it mean they’re destined to see these women again? A sneak peek into Piper Rayne’s upcoming series, Hockey Hotties!
The one adjective used to describe my entire hockey career. I prefer to call it hard work, at least I did until my game went to complete crap. I haven’t scored in eight games and the team owner is talking about trading me.
I’ve never believed in superstitions. Never needed one. I suppose I was “lucky” in that way. But now the best way to refer to me is desperate. I’d wear the same socks for an entire year just to be the high-scoring center I used to be.
Imagine my surprise when after spending New Year’s Eve with a woman, I score a hat trick in the next game—that’s three goals in one game for you non-hockey lovers. Now, I have to track her down and bribe her to do it again before every game. Get your mind out of the gutter, I’m not talking about it.
I find her and when I get to know her better, I end up spending more time thinking about her than my game, but she’s made it clear she wants no part of me. She’s going to learn that I didn’t become a professional hockey player without having to fight for what I want.
One word that comes to mind when someone talks about me. I like to think of it as protection, watching out for the ones I love. But now I’m spending more time in the penalty box than on the ice and the team owner isn’t happy.
Finding myself across the room from the hot therapist I kissed on New Year’s Eve only makes me push my problems down further. I want couch time with her but not the kind she’s used to.
I decide to lie to her just to finish off my therapy so I can do what I really want—date her—even if she says she doesn’t date hockey players. Just when my therapy sessions are up and I’ve made some headway with Paisley, it’s my parents who throw another wrench in my plans.
If I abide by my parent’s wishes to marry the one they’ve chosen, I’ll lose Paisley forever. But if I go against my parents, I’m failing my deceased best friend all over again.
It’s Ford and Lena’s destination wedding and every professional hockey player joining them for the big day are ready to let loose. But between vacation hook-ups, one player falling into bed with the boss and a surprise guest at the resort, there’s more action—and complications—than any of them could have predicted.
Note to Readers: This is a companion piece to the Hockey Hotties series but does not have to be read to enjoy any of the books in that series.
I have a reputation for being tight-lipped. You learn quick when you become a professional hockey player to be guarded with the media, so I’ve worked hard to cover up the mistakes of my youth.
But when I’m traded to the Florida Fury, where my ex–best friend is the starting right wing, I’m forced to confront my past. Ford and I have a lot of history, especially when it comes to his little sister, Imogen.
My heart still lurches in my chest when I see her. My hands want to reach out and touch her. My mouth wants to keep apologizing.
She’s the only woman who ever made me want more. But she’s also the one who fell victim to my most regrettable decision.
I’m not a believer in fate, but I must be back in her world for a reason. I’ve fought for everything I’ve gotten and I’m not backing down from what I know will be the best thing in my life.
My mom always said you don’t get a second shot at making a first impression. I’ve remembered that my entire career. Especially since I’m one of the few black men who play professional hockey.
I’m calculated and respectful in the way I speak to my coaches, the owners, and the media. I’ve never taken a risk… until her.
I could blame it on the fact that for once I pushed away the pressure of my career for the ocean waves, the sand, and good times with my new teammates. But those are excuses because the minute I saw her at the airport, something lit up inside me and the best week of my life was spent with her in my bed.
After our week in paradise, we said goodbye, exchanged phone numbers and both assumed that unless one of us was flying through the other’s city on the opposite side of the country, our vacation fling was over.
Then one night after practice I see her. She’s here. In my city. Telling me she moved here for a job. If that’s not fate tell me what is.
I’ve never wanted a second shot more than I do this time, but she’s determined to leave what we were on the island we left behind.
The last thing any professional hockey player wants is to be the old man in the game. The guy who doesn’t know when it’s time to retire. Still, I can’t bear the thought of leaving the game.
This past year I’ve reflected on all my regrets, and I told myself that once I retire it’ll be the time to settle down and start a family. But this is where it gets tricky.
I think I’ve found her—my Mrs. Although she’ll deny our connection to anyone who asks. We’ve been sleeping together casually and since I’m still playing hockey, I’ve let her get what she wants—me—whenever she wants.
After being told my career as a player is over, the owner of Florida Fury grants me a shot to stay in the game. A coaching position I didn’t know I wanted until it was offered. The catch? He’s also passing the family business down to his daughter.
Who’s his daughter?
The woman who’s been in and out of my bed for the past year. Which means the woman I intend to make my wife is now my new boss.
Things get textual when a steamy message from a random wrong number turns into an anonymous relationship in this hilarious rom-com by Lynn Painter.
Bad luck has always followed Olivia Marshall…or maybe she’s just the screw-up her family thinks she is. But when a “What are you wearing?” text from a random wrong number turns into the hottest, most entertaining—albeit anonymous—relationship of her life, she thinks things might be on the upswing….
Colin Beck has always considered Olivia his best friend’s annoying little sister, but when she moves in with them after one of her worst runs of luck, he realizes she’s turned into an altogether different and sexier distraction. He’s sure he can keep his distance, until the moment he discovers she’s the irresistible Miss Misdial he’s been sort of sexting for weeks—and now he has to decide whether to turn the heat up or ghost her before things get messy.
Olivia, her brother, and Colin are sharing an apartment because Olivia’s apartment building burned down. Because of her – an accident, certainly, but nonetheless it was her fault. Believe it or not, being accident prone is part of her charm and she is a delightful, memorable character. She is constantly getting herself into all sorts of trouble, but nothing compares with the relationship she ends up in with Colin.
One night, Olivia gets a text from an unknown number; classic fare of the “what are you wearing” variety. She replies with a smart ass answer, and a text relationship is born. Dubbed Mr. Wrong Number and Miss Misdial, they continue their banter over text, never taking it any further.
Meanwhile, Olivia has been forced to move in with her brother who rents a room from his friend Colin. She sleeps on a crappy air mattress on the floor of the office, and Colin barely tolerates her. As soon as she finds a new job, she’ll move out. That’s the plan and Olivia finds the job of her dreams – writing a parenting column. Except she doesn’t have kids. She knows this isn’t going to end well, but she loves what she’s doing and her boss, and that is rare.
Meanwhile, somehow things are heating up with Colin. Even her brother is on board, but the course of true love never runs smoothly, and when someone like Olivia is involved, there is bound to be one dilemma after another. This is a really funny romcom with a lot of heart and occasional steaminess. I loved Olivia and couldn’t wait for her to get her happy ending. If you want a thoroughly entertaining book, pick up Mr. Wrong Number!
3/2022 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
MR. WRONG NUMBER by Lynn Painter. Berkley (March 1, 2022). ISBN: 978-0593437261. 352p.
Posted by Stacy Alesi 
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