Women’s Fiction | Stacy Alesi's BookBitch.com™

Spotlight Review: P.S. YOU’RE THE WORST by Chloe Seager

November 18, 2025

From the publisher:

In this effervescent millennial coming-of-age novel, a woman accidentally upends her entire life after a disconcerting tarot reading

Everyone knows the death card in a tarot reading isn’t a literal death sentence. Well, everyone except Becky.

Becky is not doing well. Her dreaded thirtieth birthday is looming, and she can’t help thinking she’s falling behind in life. Her (smug) friends are all planning weddings, buying houses, or starting their own businesses, but not Becky. She still lives with her mom, hates her job, doesn’t speak to her father, and—despite numerous dates—hasn’t moved on from her ex-boyfriend. Things can’t get much worse.

Becky doesn’t believe in the arcane, but armed with a gift card and a desperate need for guidance, she visits a tarot reader… who tells her she’s going to die. Convinced she’s a goner and panicked about having done nothing with her life, Becky finally takes action. She writes a series of letters to the people she loves unloading all the things she’s been holding back. And she waits.

But in the morning, she’s not dead. And worse, the mail is already reaching people’s doorsteps. Will the letters be the wake-up call Becky needs, or just the next step in a never-ending downward spiral?

With sparkling wit and compassionate insight, Chloe Seager chronicles the ups and downs of figuring out how you wants to show up in life—for yourself and for the people you love.
https://amzn.to/43b1mih

In this sharp and heartfelt new novel from Seager (Open Minded), we meet Becky, a twenty-something still living at home with her mother—ostensibly to save for a down payment on a house, though she’s mostly stuck in place. She hates her job, feels left behind by her peers, and is convinced everyone else has life figured out. After a disastrous tarot card reading predicts her imminent demise, Becky impulsively writes brutally honest, critical letters to her friends and family, mails them, and sets off to travel the world before her supposed end arrives. But nothing goes as planned; now jobless, homeless, and estranged from everyone she knows, Becky is forced to rebuild her life from the ground up. Along the way, she discovers—with humor and surprising grace—that money can’t buy happiness, that apologizing takes strength, and that what we think we want isn’t always what we truly need. Her journey is a chaotic, emotional rollercoaster—raw and relatable—but it makes her growth all the more satisfying.

VERDICT A witty and moving millennial coming-of-age story, perfect for fans of The Midnight Library by Matt Haig and The Dinner List by Rebecca Serle.

©Library Journal, 2025

11/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

P.S. YOU’RE THE WORST by Chloe Seager. William Morrow Paperbacks (November 18, 2025). ISBN: 978-0063307209. 320p.

Kindle

Audible

Comments Off on Spotlight Review: P.S. YOU’RE THE WORST by Chloe Seager | Book Reviews, Fiction, Women's Fiction | Tagged: Book Discussion | Permalink
Posted by Stacy Alesi

Spotlight Review: HER ONE REGRET by Donna Freitas

November 4, 2025

From the publisher:

From the author of the book club favorite The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano comes a riveting feminist thriller that tackles an unspeakable taboo: regretting motherhood.

When successful Rhode Island real estate agent Lucy Mendoza vanishes, leaving her baby behind in a grocery store parking lot, the news quickly makes national headlines. Lucy’s best friend, Michelle, is devastated, and terrified that Lucy’s life is at stake. But she knows something that could complicate the police investigation. Lucy had confessed something unspeakable: She regretted becoming a mother so much that she’d fantasized about faking her own kidnapping. If the police and media were to find out, Lucy would become a monster in public opinion. Michelle is sure Lucy would never abandon her daughter. But could she be wrong? Could Lucy have been so desperate she chose to escape her life?

Bestselling author Donna Freitas has drawn from ground-breaking research to bring readers this unforgettable novel. Her One Regret is at once a pulse-pounding feminist thriller, a moving depiction of the realities of motherhood, and a rich exploration of a subject our culture and society have rendered nearly verboten—the possibility that for some women, motherhood is an unfixable mistake.
https://amzn.to/3YbzdVn

Freitas (The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano) pens both a gripping mystery and a provocative social commentary that is an emotional rollercoaster of a read. When Lucy Mendoza vanishes from a supermarket parking lot, leaving her infant daughter behind, her husband becomes the prime suspect. Despite Lucy’s hints about escape, her best friend Michelle knows something darker is at play. As the investigation unfolds, secrets surface and public opinion turns vicious, casting Lucy as a mother who abandoned her child. Lucy becomes a monster in the media—a woman who dared to regret motherhood. What begins as a missing person case becomes a searing examination of maternal ambivalence, female friendship, and society’s ruthless judgment of women who don’t conform to the motherhood myth that all women long to be mothers. The story exposes the impossible standards placed on mothers and the taboo reality that some women struggle with maternal feelings they are not supposed to have. The book’s most poignant moment may be Freitas’s final note, where she explains her personal struggle with this issue and how she was too afraid to tell this story – until now.

VERDICT Sure to appeal to book groups, this emotionally charged feminist thriller holds up a mirror reflecting the impossible expectations placed on women, inspiring a necessary conversation about choice and regret.

©Library Journal, 2025

11/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

HER ONE REGRET by Donna Freitas. Soho Crime (November 4, 2025). ISBN: 978-1641296380. 384p.

Kindle

1 Comment | Book Reviews, Fiction, Women's Fiction | Tagged: Book Discussion, Crime Fiction, feminist, Thriller | Permalink
Posted by Stacy Alesi

Spotlight Review: CHRISTMAS AT THE NANTUCKET RESTAURANT by Pamela M. Kelley

October 7, 2025

The Nantucket Restaurant Series, Book 2

From the publisher:

USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller Pamela Kelley invites readers to experience the warm glow of family, friends, and festivities this Christmas. Come spend the holidays on Nantucket.

Nantucket’s famous Christmas Stroll is always the first week of December and this year Mimi’s Place co-owners want to do something extra special for the restaurant. It will be Emma and Paul’s first Christmas together as a couple and Mandy’s first holiday as a newly divorced mother of two. Although Mandy does have a promising new relationship, she wants to take things very slow, and the holidays are for sure not the time to dive in too deep.

Their sister Jill and her new husband, Billy, are planning to spend the whole month of December on Nantucket too, juggling remote work for the executive search firm they own together in Manhattan with relaxing, spending time with family, and helping out at the restaurant too.

Gina Caruso, the awesome bar manager, is spending her first winter on Nantucket after having lived for years in Boston. It’s a bit of an adjustment―winters on Nantucket are so much quieter than the city life she was used to. She’s even more confused when someone she had a major crush on back in the city moves to Nantucket, while Jared Hawthorne, the new sous chef at Mimi’s Place makes it his mission to introduce Gina to all of Nantucket’s holiday festivities. Suddenly her boring winter is starting to look a lot more interesting.
https://amzn.to/3HG5kHn

In this heartwarming sequel to The Restaurant, Kelley returns to her beloved Nantucket to blend romance, family ties, and holiday charm. The story centers on three sisters—Jill, Emma, and Mandy—who come together to celebrate Christmas. Jill and her husband, who run a successful executive search firm in New York, have temporarily relocated to Nantucket for a month of remote work while helping out at the family restaurant they inherited from their grandmother. Along with the restaurant came its gifted chef, Paul—now Emma’s husband—as they share their first Christmas as newlyweds. Meanwhile, bar manager Gina is spending her first winter on the island, caught in a romantic tangle between her longtime crush and the restaurant’s new sous chef.

Kelley’s trademark love for food comes through in her vivid, mouthwatering descriptions, and her depiction of a wintry Nantucket—complete with locals, visitors in fur coats, and the festive Christmas Stroll—feels authentic and inviting. Though a sequel, this cozy, feel-good novel easily stands on its own and makes for a delightful holiday read.

VERDICT: A perfect pick for fans of Elin Hilderbrand, Debbie Macomber, and Hallmark Christmas movies.

©Library Journal, 2025

10/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

CHRISTMAS AT THE NANTUCKET RESTAURANT by Pamela M. Kelley. Sourcebooks Landmark (October 7, 2025). ISBN: 978 1464246210. 272p.

Kindle

Audible

Comments Off on Spotlight Review: CHRISTMAS AT THE NANTUCKET RESTAURANT by Pamela M. Kelley | Book Reviews, Fiction, Romance, Women's Fiction | Tagged: Christmas, Holiday | Permalink
Posted by Stacy Alesi

THE CAPTAIN’S COOK by Victoria Vanransom

October 3, 2025

From the publisher:

“The wind is like a dance partner, always changing, always leading us in a different direction . . .”

When an ad for a luxury yacht searching for a chef crosses Jessica Kline’s eyes, she knows this it it: the chance for a fresh start. Broke, divorced, uninspired in her career, and unlucky in love in her late fifties, she finds herself at Marina del Rey’s California Yacht Club, staring down the Slow Dance as it waits to embark on a voyage to Tahiti and beyond. It is time for her interview to be the captain’s cook.

Jess’s culinary skills aren’t in question. The real test is whether she’s willing to take the leap of rediscovery into unchartered waters-with no guarantee this time she’ll make it out unharmed. But as soon as Jess meets Captain Cliff Reed, she begins to get the sense she’s not the only one who’s been tossed around by life’s waves . . .

Once upon the high seas, Jess must balance her ship duties with navigating the unpredictable winds of the skies and her crewmates alike-her enigmatic captain not excluded. But as she becomes filled with the breath of adventure and the fire of renewal, she soon realizes that it will be up to her to find the courage to face what lies ahead with an open heart and a sense of wonder.
https://amzn.to/43KXS6l

Vanransom’s debut novel unfolds like a sailor’s journal, charting a course from port to port, introducing an ever-changing crew, and weathering emotional and literal storms along the way. Jess Kline, a divorced woman in her fifties, is eager for a new adventure. A seasoned professional chef, she applies for a position aboard the Slow Dance, a large yacht heading for Tahiti. She joins Captain Reed, a charming, seasoned sailor with a reputation as a playboy, and his poodle, along with a crew of attractive young women, most of them novice sailors, which adds tension and unpredictability to the journey. As they cross the Pacific, each port of call is vividly described, along with the revolving door of crew members; however, the novel’s flow is occasionally disrupted by stilted dialogue. A slow-burning attraction builds between the Captain and his cook, but Jess values connection in intimacy, while the Captain resists commitment. Despite moments of jealousy and emotional turbulence, they eventually find common ground—and a happy ending.

VERDICT This detailed maritime journey may appeal to fans of nautical adventures and travelogues, but its slow pace and uneven dialogue may test some readers’ patience. Recommended only where there is strong demand.

©Library Journal, 2025

8/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE CAPTAIN’S COOK by Victoria Vanransom. Brown Books Publishing Group (September 30, 2025). ISBN: 978-0593639153. 368p.

Comments Off on THE CAPTAIN’S COOK by Victoria Vanransom | Book Reviews, Fiction, Women's Fiction | Tagged: Foodie Fiction | Permalink
Posted by Stacy Alesi

THE LAST ONE AT THE WEDDING by Jason Rekulak

September 19, 2025

From the publisher:

From the author of the runaway hit, Hidden Pictures, comes a stunning new work of domestic suspense

“Part conspiracy thriller, part family drama, The Last One at the Wedding kept my heart racing and my mind reeling.” ―Riley Sager

“The ultimate middle-class Dad battles the 1% for his daughter’s soul in the best thriller I’ve read all year.” ―Grady Hendrix

Frank Szatowski is shocked when his daughter, Maggie, calls him for the first time in three years. He was convinced that their estrangement would become permanent. He’s even more surprised when she invites him to her upcoming wedding in New Hampshire. Frank is ecstatic, and determined to finally make things right.

He arrives to find that the wedding is at a private estate―very secluded, very luxurious, very much out of his league. It seems that Maggie failed to mention that she’s marrying Aidan Gardner, the son of a famous tech billionaire. Feeling desperately out of place, Frank focuses on reconnecting with Maggie and getting to know her new family. But it’s difficult: Aidan is withdrawn and evasive; Maggie doesn’t seem to have time for him; and he finds that the locals are disturbingly hostile to the Gardners. Frank needs to know more about this family his daughter is marrying into, but if he pushes too hard, he could lose Maggie forever.

An edge-of-your-seat thriller that delves deep into the heart of one family, The Last One at the Wedding is a work of brilliant suspense from a true modern master.

“Engrossing. . . . Rekulak’s characters feel real, and the unwavering pace will keep readers up all night.” ―Publishers Weekly

“Rekulak has a freakishly fertile imagination.” ―The New York Times

https://amzn.to/46k1psr

Frank Szatowski is the definition of steady. He’s driven for UPS for 26 years without a single accident and served honorably in the Gulf War. But when it comes to his daughter Maggie, his life has been anything but stable. They haven’t spoken in three years—not since a painful falling-out that neither of them has managed to mend.

Frank raised Maggie mostly on his own, with occasional help from his sister Tammy, who juggles caring for elderly patients and foster kids. So when Maggie unexpectedly calls, tells him she’s getting married, and asks him to walk her down the aisle, Frank is stunned. It feels like a second chance—a shot at redemption.

But there’s a catch: her fiancé, Aidan Gardner, sets off every alarm in Frank’s gut. Aidan is a quiet, brooding artist known for painting disturbing portraits. His father is a powerful tech billionaire, and the whole Gardner family seems… off. Frank’s unease deepens after an awkward dinner at Aidan’s sleek Boston penthouse—especially when he discovers something unsettling hidden in the bathroom.

As the wedding draws near, Frank starts digging. What he uncovers is chilling. An art teacher expresses concern about Aidan’s past, and Aidan’s mother is conspicuously absent from the wedding festivities. Then Frank hears whispers linking Aidan to a missing 21-year-old woman. When chaos erupts at the wedding itself, Frank realizes he’s running out of time. He must uncover the truth about the Gardners—and protect Maggie before it’s too late.

This story is a slow-paced read with lots of twists and red herrings – not quite a thriller, but more of a mystery. Frank isn’t always easy to root for—he’s stubborn, gruff, and prone to missteps, but his flaws make him human. And when it counts, Frank shows up.

9/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE LAST ONE AT THE WEDDING by Jason Rekulak. Flatiron Books (October 8, 2024). ISBN: 978-1250895783. 352p.

Kindle

Audible

Comments Off on THE LAST ONE AT THE WEDDING by Jason Rekulak | Book Reviews, Fiction, Romance, Women's Fiction | Tagged: Contemporary, sweet romance | Permalink
Posted by Stacy Alesi

THE SWEET LIFE by Debbie Mason

September 5, 2025

Sunshine Bay, Book 3

From the publisher:

Sometimes you can go home again . . .

Attorney Sage Rosetti is a force to be reckoned with. Work/life balance? Never heard of it. But when the unexpected loss of her mentor sends her spiraling, she’s prescribed a healthy dose of time off. Luckily, she’s just inherited the perfect home where she can recover. Unluckily, she’s now co-owners with her high school crush/nemesis, Jake Walker. How can she truly relax when her heart is at risk?

Sage’s mother, Gia, is dealing with a crisis of her own. A new book is about to reveal their family’s biggest secret—and Gia’s devasting heartbreak. The only person she can confide in is the one man she shouldn’t be getting close to: her sister’s ex.

But just as Sage and Gia are starting to find their paths, someone from Gia’s past resurfaces who could ruin everything they’ve worked so hard to build.

Book 1: Summer on Sunshine Bay
Book 2: Three Little Wishes

https://amzn.to/46dTkXi

Sage Rosetti is a driven attorney whose life is consumed by her work advocating for the abused and mistreated. Her dedication leaves little room for anything else—no relationships, no vacations, no personal time. But everything changes with one unexpected loss.

When Sage learns that her beloved mentor, Alice, has gone missing, she rushes back to the small town of Sunshine Bay. There, she’s devastated to discover that Alice has passed away. In her will, Alice leaves Sage her home, law practice, and lavender farm. Sage plans to retreat into this inherited sanctuary—but she soon learns the house comes with a surprise co-owner: someone from her past.

Jake, once a troubled teen with abusive parents, was taken in by Alice, who gave him love, stability, and the tools to succeed. He also happens to be Sage’s high school crush—and to her surprise, the feeling was mutual. As Sage and Jake navigate their shared inheritance, old emotions, lingering insecurities, and outside pressures threaten to unravel the fragile bond they’re beginning to rebuild.

Meanwhile, Sage’s mother, Gia, is rediscovering her passion for painting. She’s also developing feelings for Flynn—her sister’s ex. But just as Gia begins to embrace happiness, her sister publishes a tell-all book exposing long-buried family secrets. The resurfacing of old wounds and familiar faces threatens to shatter the peace Gia has fought to reclaim.

This story weaves together family dynamics, romance, laughter, tears, passion, and a touch of mystery—all the beautiful chaos that makes up life’s sweetest moments. It’s a heartwarming family saga with romantic elements that creates a comforting, deeply satisfying read. Now I need to track down the earlier books in the series and catch up on all the drama I’ve missed.

9/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE SWEET LIFE by Debbie Mason. Forever. (June 10, 2025). ISBN: 978-1538768792. 336p.

Kindle

Comments Off on THE SWEET LIFE by Debbie Mason | Book Reviews, Fiction, Romance, Women's Fiction | Tagged: Contemporary | Permalink
Posted by Stacy Alesi

Spotlight Review: STORY OF MY LIFE by Lucy Score

September 2, 2025

Story Lake, Book 1

From the publisher:

Brand new small town romance from #1 New York Times bestseller Lucy Score.

A Gilmore Girls meets Schitt’s Creek redemption romcom. What’s more inspiring to a romcom author than a hot, grumpy contractor literally knocking down walls?

Hazel Hart was a successful romance novelist until a breakup drives her straight into writer’s block. Having failed (and failed some more) to deliver her new manuscript, she’s hiding from the world behind a wall of old takeout containers until her publisher lays down the law. If she misses her next deadline it’s The End.

Desperate for inspiration, Hazel impulse-buys a historic home online and flees Manhattan to tiny Story Lake, PA. Upon her dramatic arrival―involving an incident with a bald eagle―she discovers the charm of her new home may have been slightly exaggerated.

The house is a wreck and the town is struggling after their biggest employer shut down. Also, since her raccoon-infested home came with a seat on the town council our introverted heroine is stuck with a front row seat to all the small-town shenanigans.

But Hazel isn’t worried. Not since all six-feet-three inches of grouchy contractor Campbell Bishop slapped a bandage on her forehead and unintentionally inspired the heck out of her. There’s only one thing to do: Hire Cam and his equally gorgeous brothers to renovate her new spider museum…er…house.

Okay two things. A fake date for “research purposes” will really put her work-in-progress on track. Before Hazel knows it, she’s writing a romance novel and living one. At least until the drywall dust settles, the town she’s falling in love with faces bankruptcy, and growly Cam remembers why he can’t live happily ever after.

Author’s Note: “This series is my love letter to every reader who said they wanted to move to a fictional town.”

**Don’t miss out on the stunning, limited DELUXE EDITION, while supplies last, featuring gorgeous designed edges, spot gloss on the cover, a map and chapter POV art.
https://amzn.to/47me4xj

This is the first book of a new series and was the start of my reading block! I loved this book, and when I was finished, I tried to move on to the next new book I had for review. I kept picking up new books and putting them down. Nothing was holding my attention, so I did a deep dive into Lucy Score’s backlist – reviews to follow! It took half a dozen books or so until I was ready to move on to a new author.

Hazel, a bestselling romance writer, finds herself facing a perfect storm of life changes: a fresh divorce, the loss of her New York City apartment, and a devastating case of writer’s block. In a moment of impulse, she dips into her savings to purchase a house in a tiny Pennsylvania hamlet—a purchase that unexpectedly comes with a seat on the town council.

Reality hits hard when Hazel arrives to discover her new home bears little resemblance to the charming fixer-upper she imagined. It’s a dilapidated mess, complete with a resident raccoon and more spiders than she’d care to count. Still, the town has one saving grace: a highly recommended contractor.

Enter Cam, the local contractor who’s as gorgeous as he is grumpy. Despite his surly attitude, his presence seems to unlock Hazel’s creative block. Desperate to keep her writing mojo flowing, she proposes they fake date. Cam thinks the idea is ridiculous, but Hazel’s charm gradually wears down his resistance.

What starts as a pretend romance soon turns into something real, filled with sizzling tension, hilarious moments, and heartwarming growth. This is a delightful fish-out-of-water romantic comedy where their fake relationship turns steamy, and the quirky townsfolk provide endless entertainment in the best possible way. The story builds to a satisfying happy ending that left me eager for more.

This is classic Score—fun, heartwarming, and populated with lovably eccentric small-town characters. Fair warning: like her other books, this one includes explicit intimate scenes, so readers who prefer fade-to-black romance might want to look elsewhere or skip those pages. For me, it was pure enjoyment from start to finish, and I’m already anticipating the sequel.

9/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

STORY OF MY LIFE by Lucy Score. Bloom Books (March 11, 2025). ISBN: 978-1728297057. 528p.

Kindle

Audible

Comments Off on Spotlight Review: STORY OF MY LIFE by Lucy Score | Book Reviews, Fiction, Romance, Women's Fiction | Tagged: 1, Christmas, Holiday | Permalink
Posted by Stacy Alesi

THE BLONDE IDENTITY by Ally Carter

August 29, 2025

From the publisher:

A Fast-Paced Spy Adventure of Amnesia, Identical Twins, and Unraveling Deadly Secrets in Europe—The Perfect Romantic Addition to Your … List

The New York Times bestselling YA author of the beloved Gallagher Girls series bursts onto the adult scene with a fast-paced, hilarious road trip rom-com about a woman with amnesia who discovers she’s the identical twin sister of a rogue spy… and must team up with a rugged, grumpy operative to stay alive.

It’s the middle of the night in the middle of Paris and a woman just woke up with no memory.

She only knows three things for certain:

1. She has a splitting headache.

2. The hottest guy she has (probably) ever seen is standing over her, telling her to run.

And oh yeah…

3. People keep trying to kill her.

She doesn’t know who. Or why. But when she sees footage of herself fighting off a dozen men there’s only one explanation: obviously. . . she’s a spy!

Except, according to Mr. Hot Guy, she’s not. She’s a spy’s identical twin sister.

Too bad the only person who knows she’s not the woman they’re looking for is this very grouchy, very sexy, very secret agent who (reluctantly) agrees to help her disappear. Which is easier said than done when a criminal organization wants you dead and every intelligence service in the world wants you caught.

Luckily, no one is looking for a pair of lovesick newlyweds on their honeymoon. And soon they’re lying their way across Europe—dodging bullets and faking kisses as they race to unravel a deadly conspiracy and clear her sister’s name.

But with every secret they uncover, the truth shifts, until she no longer knows who to trust: the twin she can’t remember or the mysterious man she can’t let herself forget…

“Carter serves up an irresistible cocktail of danger and passion in her un-put-downable adult debut . . . This snappy and suspenseful romance fires on all cylinders.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“This hilarious romantic comedy is unputdownable. The characters have instant chemistry, and their well-written dialogue is peppered with witty banter. Readers will be riveted through all of the twists and turns as the protagonists race across Europe with the bad guys hot on their heels. Those who grew up reading Carter’s Gallagher Girls teen series will tear through her adult romance debut and clamor for more.” — Library Journal

https://amzn.to/4oUnfLq

This book is an absolute blast! With its perfect blend of humor, spice, and non-stop action, it delivers a genre-bending experience that keeps the adrenaline pumping from start to finish. I hadn’t read the author’s Gallagher Girls YA series, so I came in fresh—not yet part of the Carter cult. But after this adult debut? Consider me converted by its smart writing, engaging plot, and truly unputdownable narrative.

The story kicks off with a gender-flipped Bourne Identity twist: a woman wakes up injured on the streets of Paris, with no memory of who she is or why she’s there. Before she can process anything, the hottest guy she’s ever seen is shouting at her to run—because a pack of motorcycles is barreling toward them, and the riders look deadly serious. She bolts, only to see her own face splashed across TV screens.

Her mysterious, brooding, and undeniably charming companion explains the chaos: she’s not the infamous spy everyone is hunting. That would be her identical twin sister—the one she doesn’t remember having. In fact, she can’t even recall her own name. But now, thanks to their shared face, she’s caught in the crosshairs of multiple intelligence agencies and a ruthless Russian gang.

With no other choice, she throws her trust—and her fate—into the hands of her reluctant protector. Together, they embark on a wild, high-stakes journey across Europe, dodging danger at every turn. Their enemy? One of the most powerful and merciless figures in global crime. Her mission? Stay alive long enough to uncover the truth and clear her sister’s name.

From motorcycles to trains to boats to ski lifts, the European tour is exhilarating, and the action is perfectly balanced by laugh-out-loud moments and witty banter. A total joy to read—highly recommended for anyone looking for a smart, high-octane adventure with heart, heat, and humor.

8/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE BLONDE IDENTITY by Ally Carter. Avon. (August 8, 2023). ISBN: 978-0063276642. 304p.

Kindle

Hardcover

Audible

Comments Off on THE BLONDE IDENTITY by Ally Carter | Book Reviews, Fiction, Romance, Women's Fiction | Tagged: Contemporary, sweet romance | Permalink
Posted by Stacy Alesi

Spotlight Review: LOVE IS A WAR SONG by Danica Nava

August 26, 2025

From the publisher:

A Muscogee pop star and a cowboy who couldn’t be more different come together to strike a deal in this new romantic comedy by Danica Nava, USA Today bestselling author of The Truth According to Ember.

Pop singer Avery Fox has become a national joke after posing scantily clad on the cover of Rolling Stone in a feather warbonnet. What was meant to be a statement of her success as a Native American singer has turned her into a social pariah and dubbed her a fake. With threats coming from every direction and her career at a standstill, she escapes to her estranged grandmother Lottie’s ranch in Oklahoma. Living on the rez is new to Avery—not only does she have to work in the blazing summer heat to earn her keep, but the man who runs Lottie’s horse ranch despises her and wants her gone.

Red Fox Ranch has been home to Lucas Iron Eyes since he was sixteen years old. He has lived by three rules to keep himself out of trouble: 1) preserve the culture, 2) respect the horses, and 3) stick to himself. When he is tasked with picking up Lottie’s granddaughter at the bus station, the last person he expected to see is the Avery Fox. Lucas can’t stand what she represents, but when he’s forced to work with her on the ranch, he can’t get her out of his sight—or his head. He reminds himself to keep to his rules, especially after he finds out the ranch is under threat of being shut down.

It’s clear Avery doesn’t belong here, but they form a tentative truce and make a deal: Avery will help raise funds to save the ranch, and in exchange, Lucas will show her what it really means to be an Indian. It’s purely transactional, absolutely no horsing around…but where’s the fun in that?

https://amzn.to/4lbWQ99

Avery Fox, a pop sensation and former child star in the vein of Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus, finds herself at the center of a media firestorm after appearing on the cover of Rolling Stone in stereotypical Native American attire. The backlash is swift and unforgiving. In an effort to salvage her image—and perhaps her sense of self—her mother, who also serves as her manager, sends her to stay with the grandmother she’s never met at the family’s Red Fox Ranch in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

Avery has never met any of her extended family, so arriving at the ranch is a revelation. She’s stunned to discover a community of relatives who genuinely care about her. There she also meets Lucas Iron Eyes, who has lived and worked on the ranch since he was sixteen. With quiet patience, Lucas introduces Avery to the rhythms of ranch life and the deeper meaning of family, belonging, and identity.

The novel’s portrayal of ranch life and Indigenous family dynamics feels deeply rooted and sincere. It’s a story that matters because it gives space to Indigenous characters living full, nuanced lives, rather than reducing them to symbols or confining them to history. In a genre like mainstream romance, where Indigenous representation is still painfully rare, this book stands out. Too often, cowboy romances romanticize rural life while ignoring the cultures that have always existed on that land. This story doesn’t fall into that trap—it centers Indigenous voices, and that makes for a powerful story.

8/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

LOVE IS A WAR SONG by Danica Nava. Berkley. (July 22, 2025). ISBN: 978-0593642627. 336p.

Kindle

Audible

Comments Off on Spotlight Review: LOVE IS A WAR SONG by Danica Nava | Book Reviews, Fiction, Romance, Women's Fiction | Tagged: #ownvoices, Contemporary, Romance, sweet romance | Permalink
Posted by Stacy Alesi

THE LOST BOOK OF FIRST LOVES by RaeAnne Thayne

August 22, 2025

From the publisher:

From New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne comes a brand-new story about two women, a family secret and a lost manuscript that changes everything…

Raised by her literary icon father Carson Wells, Alison Wells always felt loved, even though her mother died when she was a teen. But when she takes a DNA test on a whim and discovers she has a sister she never knew about, it’s clear there are things her father didn’t tell her before he died. Determined to meet Juniper—her half sister—and unravel the truth of what happened all those years ago, Ali finds herself taking a job as Juniper’s intern. She’ll eventually figure out a way to tell Juniper the truth of their relationship. But she never could have imagined what would happen next…

Juniper Connolly has always been incredibly healthy…until she wakes up in the hospital after experiencing cardiac arrest, with her new—and recently fired—intern to thank for saving her life. It’s clear June needs to de-stress her life a little, so when Ali offers her the use of her family’s cabin in a small Wyoming town, June has no reason not to go. But when she arrives, her life will never be the same.

Under the wide-open spaces of the Wyoming summer sun, Ali and June will untangle the secrets and lies their lives were built on to discover who they really are and what family really means. But even more than that, they’ll build a real relationship with one another and finally become sisters.

https://amzn.to/47p9H4i

This heartwarming story explores themes of family and second chances through the journey of two unlikely sisters.

When Allison’s famous author father passes away, she discovers through DNA testing that she has a half-sister named Juniper living in Seattle. Fresh out of law school and studying for the bar exam, Allison decides to get to know Juniper before revealing their connection. She secures an internship with Juniper, planning to work alongside her sister while figuring out how to share the truth.

However, Allison proves to be a disaster as an intern. Just as Juniper is about to fire her, she suddenly collapses from a heart attack. Allison’s quick thinking with CPR saves her sister’s life until paramedics arrive.

Facing a long recovery from her heart condition, Juniper needs time away from her high-powered executive lifestyle. Allison seizes the opportunity, convincing Juniper to recuperate at the Wyoming cottage where her father wrote his books—an offer the literary fan can’t refuse. Life on the ranch is a stark contrast to Juniper’s fast-paced world.

The peaceful ranch setting forces Juniper to slow down and confront her new health limitations. As she helps Allison sort through their father’s papers for donation to the university library, she also encounters Beck Hunter, Allison’s neighbor. Beck is a former San Francisco trial lawyer with a formidable reputation, and Juniper initially despises him based on her preconceptions. However, she gradually discovers he’s far more complex and caring than she first believed.

Meanwhile, Allison struggles with finding the right moment to reveal their sisterhood. The truth becomes more complicated as Juniper grows attached to the ranch and its people, particularly Beck. When Allison finally shares their family connection, Juniper is shocked but ultimately able to embrace the news positively, having already formed deep emotional bonds with her new life in Wyoming.

As the sisters navigate their newfound relationship, Allison makes her own romantic discovery—realizing she has feelings for Xander, her childhood best friend who now works as a travel vlogger.

While romance weaves through the narrative, the true heart of the story lies in the sisterhood that blossoms between Juniper and Allison. This charming tale will appeal to fans of Hallmark movies, combining small-town warmth, found family dynamics, and closed-door romance into an engaging read.

8/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE LOST BOOK OF FIRST LOVES by RaeAnne Thayne. Canary Street Press. (June 3, 2025). ISBN: 9978-1335476067. 352p.