Stacy Alesi's BookBitch.com™

From the publisher:

Two exes reach a new level of awkward when forced to take a road trip together in this endearing and humorous novel by the author of the international bestseller The Flatshare.

What if the end of the road is just the beginning?

Four years ago, Dylan and Addie fell in love under the Provence sun. Wealthy Oxford student Dylan was staying at his friend Cherry’s enormous French villa; wild child Addie was spending her summer as the on-site caretaker. Two years ago, their relationship officially ended. They haven’t spoken since.

Today, Dylan’s and Addie’s lives collide again. It’s the day before Cherry’s wedding, and Addie and Dylan crash cars at the start of the journey there. The car Dylan was driving is wrecked, and the wedding is in rural Scotland—he’ll never get there on time by public transport.

So, along with Dylan’s best friend, Addie’s sister, and a random guy on Facebook who needed a ride, they squeeze into a space-challenged Mini and set off across Britain. Cramped into the same space, Dylan and Addie are forced to confront the choices they made that tore them apart—and ask themselves whether that final decision was the right one after all.

I loved The Flatshare so I was very excited for this book. Until I started reading it. Then I found myself putting it down and reading another book. Went back to this one then put it down again and read something else. I did that a few times but eventually I finished it and I ended up liking it a lot, but it was slow going and hard to get into for me. Sometimes it’s my mood, but sometimes it’s the book. I think this time it was the book.

I liked the characters as I got to know them. It’s one of those books that is told from various viewpoints, usually the two main characters, and goes back and forth in time from before the breakup to two years later when they are stuck in a car for an 8 hour drive to a mutual friend’s wedding. The road trip itself has some hilarious moments for sure, and the backstory to the romance was good, but I felt the characters were difficult to know. If I don’t love the characters, it’s hard for me to become invested in their romance. That finally happened about halfway through the book.

The humor here is great and there are a lot of really funny, laugh out loud moments, but the romance is a very slow build. The second half of the book was a much faster read for me and after all my complaining, I ended up liking it a lot.

This is only O’Leary’s third book and I will definitely seek out her next.

6/2021 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE ROAD TRIP by Beth O’Leary. Berkley (June 1, 2021). ISBN: 978-0593335024. 400 pages.

Kindle

Audible

Chicago Stars, Book 9

From the publisher:

#1 New York Times bestseller Susan Elizabeth Phillips returns to her beloved Chicago Stars series with a romance between a Chicago Stars quarterback and one of the world’s greatest opera singers—and a major diva.

“Re-entering the world of the Chicago Stars is like a beloved friend come to call.” — #1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr

Thaddeus Walker Bowman Owens, the backup quarterback for the Chicago Stars, is a team player, talented sideline coach, occasional male underwear model, and a man with a low tolerance for Divas.

Olivia Shore, international opera superstar, is a driven diva with a passion for perfection, a craving for justice, too many secrets—and a monumental grudge against the egotistical, lowbrow jock she’s been stuck with.

It’s Mozart meets Monday Night Football as the temperamental soprano and stubborn jock embark on a nationwide tour promoting a luxury watch brand. Along the way, the combatants will engage in soul-searching and trash talk, backstage drama and, for sure, a quarterback pass. But they’ll also face trouble as threatening letters, haunting photographs, and a series of dangerous encounters complicate their lives. Is it the work of an overzealous fan or something more sinister?

This is the emotional journey of a brilliant woman whose career is everything and a talented man who’ll never be happy with second place.  Tender and funny, passionate and insightful, this irresistible romantic adventure proves that anything can happen…when two superstars collide.

Susan Elizabeth Phillips (SEP) is one of my favorite authors and I’ve read all her books. She does this series, which I love, and standalones, which are also excellent. SEP is a great storyteller, she reels in the reader, usually on page one, and doesn’t let go until the last page is turned. This was a one night read for me; I couldn’t put it down. Besides the romance aspect, there is also some suspense.

Thad is a backup quarterback for the Chicago Stars. He is a bit past his prime, but he is happy to mentor the newer, younger QB. Does he still want to start? Sure, but he is professional enough to understand his limitations. Let’s just say he’s no Tom Brady, but then again, no one is.

During the off season, Thad is recruited by a luxury watch company to go on tour promoting their watches. It seems like a good gig until he meets the woman he’ll be traveling with, a literal diva, an opera star. Olivia has no patience for dumb jocks, but turns out Thad is pretty smart. Thad doesn’t have much patience for divas, but Olivia is much more down to earth than Thad expected. Of course, protecting her voice is of the utmost importance, that is until she starts getting threats. Thad realizes she is being stalked and he can’t help but feel protective of her.

As they travel together, they get to know one another and fall in love. But logistics are definitely going to be a hindrance to their budding romance. Once the tour is over, Thad will be back to football and traveling with the team, while Olivia will be performing all over the world. Some big hurdles for sure, not to mention the stalker. It seems the threatening messages are coming from Olivia’s dead ex-fiancé, and Olivia is so frightened that is affecting her voice and she can’t sing, so that adds another layer to the story.

But this is a romance, so the happy ending is guaranteed. I’m just sad that now I have to wait another year (or more!) for another SEP book. If you haven’t read this series, this book stands alone just fine. But I highly recommend reading the entire series (because it’s one of my favorites.) You don’t have to be a football fan to love these books as long as you love a hot, sexy romance, as I do. If you are looking for a terrific summer read, look no further.

6/2021 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

WHEN STARS COLLIDE by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. William Morrow (June 29, 2021). ISBN: 978-0062973085. 384 pages.

Kindle

Audible

Blue Moon Bay, Book 1

From the publisher:

They have different ideas about the fate of an old inn…until it brings them together.

When Sarah Lewis inherits a run-down B&B from her late grandmother in coastal Blue Moon Bay, the logical thing to do is sell it and focus on her life in L.A. But when she learns that interested buyers will only tear it down in its current state, she feels a sense of obligation to her grandmother to get it back to the landmark tourist destination it once was…even if that means hiring the best contractor for the job, who happens to be her old high school crush.

Wes Sharrun’s life has continued to unravel since the death of his wife three years before. Now with a struggling construction company and a nine-year-old daughter, he sees the B&B as an opportunity to get back on his feet. Unfortunately, despite trying to keep his distance, his daughter has taken a liking to Sarah, and his own feelings are tough to deny.

As they spend more time together painting, exploring a forgotten treasure trove of wine in a basement cellar, and arguing over balcony placement, the more the spark between them ignites. But will saving the B&B be enough to convince them both to take a second chance at love?

This book is a charmer; Wes is a single dad, but he and his brilliant 9-year-old daughter are a package deal. That hasn’t worked out for him in the past, but Sarah may be different. For one thing, she is an old friend from high school. In fact, Wes wouldn’t have made it through without her tutoring him in math the final two years. But he graduated and went on to a short career in the NFL until an injury took him out. He married his high school sweetheart but a bout with cancer took her life.

Sarah hasn’t been back to her hometown for a while. She’s a successful coder in Los Angeles, but when her grandmother dies and leaves Sarah her bed & breakfast, Sarah is forced to come back to figure out why. Her first instinct is to just sell it, but it is in serious disrepair. Luckily, Wes is a contractor who already had given her grandmother a quote to fix up the place, and it will be worth a lot more than the dilapidated state it’s currently in.

Sarah knows she can do most of her work remotely, so she decides to fix it up before selling. Plus she has some of her own ideas to implement, and although Wes doesn’t approve, he needs the money. His football savings were spent on medical bills for his wife, so he agrees to all the updates Sarah wants.

Sarah had a major crush on Wes back in high school, but he didn’t know that. Now that they are working on the B&B together, those feelings come rushing back to Sarah and Wes is really drawn to her, especially when she offers his daughter an internship. Sarah needs help developing an app that will appeal to kids, and this kid is a coding genius who already has developed her own app.

There are stumbles along the way for sure, but Ethan and Sarah get their happy ending. I would have liked a bit more detail about the reno and that fabulous wine cellar, but that is a minor quibble. This was a heartwarming read with enough heat to make it interesting. Highly recommend!

6/2021 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

A LOT LIKE LOVE by Jennifer Snow. Entangled: Amara (June 29, 2021). ISBN:  978-1649370242. 320 pages.

Kindle

From the publisher:

What happens when two people who’ve given up on forever find it in each other…?

Single men are as scarce in Forever Falls as a vegetarian at a barbecue. That is, until Ethan Hammersmith moves in. After his fiancée gave him an ultimatum, he left Australia and never looked back. He isn’t in America to find a new girlfriend, though. He’s searching for the father he never knew. But now it’s like he has a flashing sign above his head that says “available.” Thankfully, the manager of the local diner is willing to give him cover―if only she weren’t so distractingly adorable.

Monroe Roberts, town misanthrope and divorcée, knocked “forever” permanently off her wish list ever since the love of her life skipped town with the cliché yoga instructor. And good riddance. She’s got this struggling diner to keep her busy, trying anything to boost sales…until a hot Australian strolls in and changes everything. Monroe’s restaurant is packed full of women who aren’t there to order food, unless Ethan is on the menu. This could sink her business faster than ever. So―light bulb―what if they pretend to be together?

It sounds like the perfect plan. Until they realize there is some very real chemistry in this fake relationship. But is it enough to heal two hearts that have been so deeply wounded?

The fake relationship is always a fun trope in romance, and when the guy involved is a dead ringer for Chris Hemsworth, including the Australian accent, it adds another layer of fun. His real name is Ethan, but all the women in this small town are convinced he is the actor/superhero and they are stalking him. Monroe takes pity on him and feeds him breakfast in the back of the diner’s kitchen, and a friendship is forged.

Ethan has spent a year in America seeking out the father he never knew. As mother was dying, she confessed that the man who raised him was not his father. She gave him a name, Matthew Brewer, and said he had died, but that was all he had to go on. He had been crossing the country, investigating every dead Matthew Brewer until he landed in the tiny town of Forever Falls. This Brewer seems the most likely yet, but the townspeople are very close mouthed, and it turns out Brewer was not well liked, to say the least.

Monroe has her own troubles. She caught her fiancé sleeping with her cousin, and the whole family took sides, creating an irreparable rift. It’s been a while, and now her sisters are pushing her to start dating again but she is not in the mood. Ethan and Monroe decide to form a fake relationship; it will get her sisters off her back and the women of Forever Falls will back off of their stalking if they think Ethan is taken by one of their own. It’s a perfect plan, except of course they develop real feelings for one another.

Ethan is not willing to commit. He’s been burned by his former ultimatum-wielding fiancée and his mother, and pretty much decided against forming any kind of relationship. When he finds the info he needs about his father, he’s heading back to Australia.

Monroe realizes that the fake relationship is no longer fake, but when she confesses her feelings to Ethan, he does not reciprocate; or rather, he is fighting off those feelings as well. This was such a compelling romance, the heat practically flies off the page and I couldn’t wait for Ethan to come to his senses. Everyone gets their happy ending here, especially the reader. A most enjoyable escape.

6/2021 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

FOREVER STARTS NOW by Stefanie London. Entangled: Amara (June 29, 2021). ISBN: 978-1649370235. 352 pages.

Kindle

From the publisher:

A charming and heartwarming new romantic comedy by the acclaimed author of Waiting for Tom Hanks, Kerry Winfrey.

Teddy Phillips never thought she would still be spending every day surrounded by toys at almost thirty years old. But working at a vintage toy store is pretty much all she has going on in her life after being unceremoniously dumped by her longtime boyfriend. The one joy that she has kept is her not-so-guilty pleasure: Everett’s Place, a local children’s show hosted by Everett St. James, a man whom Teddy finds very soothing . . . and, okay, cute.

Teddy finds the courage to write to him, feeling slightly like one of the children who write to him on his show. He always gives sound advice and seems like he has everything figured out—and he pretty much does: Everett has a great support system, wonderful friends, and his dream job. But there is still that persistent feeling in the back of his mind that something is missing.

When a woman named Theodora starts writing to Everett, he is drawn to her honesty and vulnerability. They continue writing to each other, all the while living their lives without meeting. When their worlds collide, however, they must both let go of their fears and figure out what they truly want—and if the future they want includes each other.

Romances based on “You’ve Got Mail” are making a big comeback lately and I couldn’t be happier. This book has the email thing happening, but there is more to the story than just that.

Teddy has a bit of a crush on a young Mr. Rogers type named Everett who has a successful local children’s show. When her boyfriend dumps her, she finds out none of her friends liked him and he really did a number on her self esteem. She writes Everett for advice, and he is surprised to hear from an adult like that – he usually gets propositions from the moms who watch with their kids. He is touched, and writes her back, and they form an email relationship.

Meanwhile, they run into one another but don’t realize who each other is, a familiar plot line that works really well here. They have terrific chemistry, and one thing leads to another.

Teddy works in a vintage toy store. It’s not her dream job, but her boss treats her like a daughter, and she enjoys talking to the people that come into the store. She especially enjoys a precocious young girl who turns out to be a somewhat important character.

This is a really fun romcom. Kerry is a big Tom Hanks fan (the first book of hers that I read was Waiting for Tom Hanks) so obviously diving into his romcoms is a great source of material, and I think Winfrey really hit it out of the ballpark with this story. There is a sweetness to these characters that feels genuine, and I couldn’t wait for their happy ending. Don’t miss it!

6/2021 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

VERY SINCERELY YOURS by Kerry Winfrey. Berkley (June 15, 2021). ISBN: 978-0593333419. 384 pages.

Kindle

Audible

From the publisher:

Fans of Susan Mallery, Jill Shalvis, and the Netflix hit series Virgin River will love this unforgettable summer romance about family, friendship, and the magic of finding true love from the USA Today bestselling author of The Summer House! 

Hallie Flynn’s favorite place in the world is her aunt Clara’s beautiful beachside house, with its inviting wraparound porch and enchanting views across the sparkling turquoise ocean. For Hallie, going to Firefly Beach, filled with magical childhood memories, feels like coming home. But when her adored aunt passes away, Hallie is left brokenhearted—until she discovers Aunt Clara’s last letter and her final wish. 

Hallie is astonished to find the bucket list she wrote as a young teenager and reluctant to step away from her adult responsibilities to fulfill her youthful dreams. But to honor her beloved aunt, Hallie agrees to embrace Clara’s last words and abandon her predicable schedule for the summer.

As she spends sun-filled days at Firefly Beach, Hallie begins to remember the things that matter most to her. Best of all, her childhood friend Ben Murray is there, supporting her every step of the way. But when a run-in with wealthy newcomer Gavin leaves her questioning her future, Hallie is forced to face the truths buried deep in her heart. Can Hallie complete the bucket list and change her life? Or will the secret she’s been keeping destroy her new beginning—and her second chance at love?

I don’t know how I missed her, but I haven’t read Jenny Hale before and she has a lot of books! But better late than never, I suppose.

This is a sweet romance with interesting characters and the friends-to-lovers trope that I always enjoy. When Hallie’s favorite aunt passes away, she leaves letters and inheritances for each of her relatives, except Hallie. Instead, Hallie gets a note telling her to complete her “bucket list”, a list she wrote as a child. What does Hallie’s aunt know that Hallie doesn’t? Apparently quite a bit.

This is a family story as well as a romance, and love abounds. It has the feel of a Debbie Macomber book, so if that is your jam, enjoy.

This is a very emotional read; there are parts that made me cry, but more parts that made me laugh. Hale does a very good job with plot and characters, and that isn’t always easy to do. If you are looking for a good beach read, look no further.

SUMMER AT FIREFLY BEACH by Jenny Hale. Forever (May 25, 2021). ISBN: 978-1538718896 320 pages.

Kindle

Audible

From the publisher:

After the local French teacher scandalizes the fishing village of Little Cove, Newfoundland, by running off with a priest, the school looks to the mainland to fill the job quickly. They want someone who can uphold their Catholic values and keep a motley group of largely unwilling students in line.

The position is filled by mainlander Rachel O’Brien—technically a Catholic (baptized!), technically a teacher (honors degree!)—who’s desperate to leave her current mess of a life behind. She isn’t surprised that her students don’t see the value of learning French. But she is surprised that she can barely understand their English… Is it a compliment or insult to be called a sleeveen? (Insult.) And the anonymous notes left on her car, telling her to go home, certainly don’t help to make her feel welcome.

Still, she is quickly drawn into the island’s traditional music and culture, and into the personal lives of her crusty but softhearted landlady, Lucille, her reluctant students and her fellow teacher Doug Bishop. But when her beliefs clash with church and community, she makes a decision that throws her career into jeopardy. In trying to help a student, has she gone too far?

Full of warmth, humor, romance and the quirkiest community of characters… Get ready to be charmed by this impossibly delightful debut, perfect for fans of Kristan Higgins and Susan Elizabeth Phillips.

One of the interesting things about reading advance digital galleys is that often, there is no cover art available. Had I seen this cover, I probably wouldn’t have read the book and that would have been a shame. Judging this book by its cover, to me it looks like some sort of children’s book about a young girl who moves to a new town. But that’s not it at all.

First of all, the setting is in Newfoundland, a place I know very little about. Like the fact they speak a very distinctive dialect – still English, but often with a few words thrown in that are not. I loved learning about this area in the most easterly province of Canada. Plus it takes place in a small town, which I always enjoy.

Rachel needs to get away and when this teaching job opens, she grabs it. One of her co-workers is Doug, and while they both sense the attraction, it takes a while for them to form a relationship. I loved all the quirky characters in this story, they brought a lot of love and laughter to the mix. The romance may have built slowly, but in this case, it works just fine and doesn’t slow down the story at all. That said, I couldn’t wait until they got together, I was very invested in these people and wanted them to get their happy ending. And they did.

This is a debut novel and I cannot wait to see what comes next. By the way, the author’s name, Damhnait, is pronounced pronounced “Downith,” per her Twitter feed.

NEW GIRL IN LITTLE COVE by Damhnait Monaghan. Graydon House; Original edition (May 11, 2021). ISBN: 978-1525811500. 336 pages.

Kindle

Audible