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

THE MISTRESS EXPERIENCE by Scarlett Peckham

July 12, 2024

Society of Sirens, Book III

From the publisher:

The scandalous women of the USA Today bestselling author Scarlett Peckham’s Society of Sirens are back with the final stage in their fight for female rights—and this time the battle is to be waged in bed…

She’s the most infamous harlot in London…and she’s up for auction.

Thaïs Magadalene is a legend. The nation’s most notorious courtesan, she sells herself once a week, for one night only, and never to the same patron twice. Until now. To raise money for the cause of women’s rights, she has auctioned herself off for one month as mistress to the highest bidder.

But the winner is not who he seems.

Lord Alastair Eden is an earl, a radical politician, and a perfectionist in all things—except one. His confidence belies an unexpected secret: he doesn’t know how to please a woman in bed. He’s determined to change that before he marries. And who could be better than the most skilled lover in the country to teach him?

And love is never for sale.

Thaïs dreams of finding a man who will love her unconditionally, never mind her past and reputation. Eden dreams of finding a perfectly bred young lady to be his wife and helpmeet. But when a steamy month in the countryside breeds a connection both in and out of the bedchamber, the two of them must decide how much can be sacrificed for love—one’s dreams, or one’s reputation.

“This plot is a perfect match for Peckham’s mastery of erotic writing, providing multiple opportunities for breathtakingly intimate scenes and providing rich emotional development alongside the steam. Readers who like their historical romances big, bawdy, and over the top will be thrilled by the conclusion to Peckham’s Society of Sirens series, especially as it ties up some loose ends from the first two books. A scorching and compelling historical romance.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Peckham pairs polar opposites in a sexy, bawdy, fun, and yet deeply compassionate romance. A fitting end (after The Portrait of a Duchess) to the “Society of Sirens” series.” — Library Journal (starred review)
https://amzn.to/3XWRvu7

After reading Just Some Stupid Love Story by Katelyn Doyle, I wanted to try one of this author’s historical romances, written as Scarlett Peckham. I’m not sure which is her real name (and I’m not feeling well or I’d be doing a bit of research on that.) This book got rave reviews, so I gave it a try. It reminded me why I started reading historical romances back in the 1970’s – the sex! And lots of it.

Thaïs Magadalene is a renowned prostitute who has a complicated backstory. She is involved with a group of women who are determined to help other women by giving them options besides marriage or whoredom. They want to educate them, train them, and get them jobs, not an easy feat by any means in Regency England. They have raised a lot of money, and Thaïs decides that she will help put them over the top.

Thaïs has strict rules – she never sees a man more than once, and they are not allowed to spend the night. Her plan is to auction herself off as a mistress for one month to the highest bidder. Luckily, a man she knows wins the bidding for a hefty sum, and sends his carriage to take her to the country for their month together. Except when she arrives, it is at a tiny cottage, not an English country manor. And the man waiting for her is Lord Eden, not the man who won her. Eden explains that his friend did the bidding for him to keep his identity secret. Eden has a plan; he is almost 40 years old and has decided it is time to marry. But he has very little sexual experience, and what he had wasn’t great. Determined to be a perfect lover for his wife-to-be, he enlists Thaïs’s help.

Thaïs is touched and amused and agrees to help. Things start off slowly as Eden needs to feel somewhat comfortable with Thaïs before taking her to bed. Eventually, they get there and Thaïs teaches him everything he needs to know and more. The only problem is that she feels herself getting attached, a definite no-no in her line of work. Eden is also getting attached, but a whore is not suitable marriage material for an Earl.

You can guess where this goes but it is so much fun getting there. As we get to know these characters, we can’t help but want a happily ever after for them. This is a very spicy novel, so if that is not your thing, look elsewhere. I loved it.

7/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE MISTRESS EXPERIENCE by Scarlett Peckham. Avon (June 25, 2024). ISBN: 978-0062935656. 368p.

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Spotlight Review: TANGLED UP IN YOU by Christina Lauren

July 9, 2024

Meant To Be, Book 4

From the publisher:

A witty and deeply romantic modern reimagining of Disney’s Tangled, by the New York Times bestselling author duo Christina Lauren, part of the acclaimed and bestselling Meant to Be collection.

She has a dream. He has a plan. Together they’ll take a leap of faith.

Ren has never held an iPhone, googled the answer to a question, or followed a crush on social media. What she has done: Read a book or two, or three (okay, hundreds). Taught herself to paint. Built a working wind power system from scratch. But for all the books she’s read, Ren has never found one that’s taught a woman raised on a homestead and off the grid for most of her twenty-two years how to live in the real world. So when she finally achieves her lifelong dream of attending Corona College, it feels like her life is finally beginning.

Fitz has the rest of his life mapped out: Graduate from Corona at the top of his class, get his criminal record wiped clean, and pass himself off as the rich, handsome player everyone thinks he is. He’s a few short months from checking off step one of his plans when Ren Gylden, with her cascading blonde hair and encyclopedic brain, crashes into his life, and for the first time Fitz’s plan is in jeopardy.

But a simple assignment in their immunology seminar changes the course of both their lives, and suddenly they’re thrown out of the frying pan and into the fire on a road trip that will lead them in the most unexpected directions. Out on the open road, the world somehow shifts, and the unlikely pair realize that, maybe, the key to the dreams they’ve both been chasing have been sitting next to them the whole time.

“I dare you to not fall wildly in love with Ren and Fitz! Christina Lauren as a writing duo is a national treasure.” — Jesse Q. Sutanto

“This is a delight.” –Publishers Weekly
https://amzn.to/3VI4gWE

I was surprised to see a new Christina Lauren book a month after the publication of The Paradise Problem. Then I realized that this new book is part of an unusual series, Meant to Be. It’s unusual in that each book in the series has been written by a different author. I’ve read three out of the four so far, and I’ve enjoyed them all. They are based on various Disney movies; this one is based on Tangled (which I must admit I haven’t seen, but probably should – my grandson is really into all the Disney movies now!)

Ren has grown up on a homestead; a farm where they worked and raised all their food, and she was homeschooled as well. But she is incredibly bright, fluent in several languages (all self taught) so when she decides to go to college, she isn’t sure how her parents are going to react. They agree that she can go, but she is under the same strict rules she had at home. She is not allowed to go off campus, use the internet or computers for anything other than classwork, and her parents will pick her up every Friday afternoon and bring her back on Sunday night. She has to continue to do all her chores on the farm, and Ren is happy to go along with it. Until her science professor asks them all to do a DNA test.

Fitz is the fair-haired boy of Corona College; an athlete, top of his class, good-looking, and rich. Except everything is not as it seems. When Ren shows up, he realizes she may edge him out as the top student, and without that, he won’t get his criminal record expunged. His childhood was not the idyllic upbringing that most people assume.

Ren returns to the lab late one night to double-check that her DNA test results are accurate. There is a match for paternity, but she knows there is no way her father would have ever done such a test. Flummoxed, she does a bit of research and finds out this paternal match lives in Atlanta, Georgia, clear across the country. When she catches Fitz in unsavory circumstances, she blackmails him into driving her to Nashville, where he is headed for spring break. Aggrieved, he can’t see a way out of it. That road trip leads to a lot of feelings that they both try to push away.

I have to say I figured out what was happening fairly early on, not that I was looking, but it didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the story. It’s a fast-paced, sweet romance with some serious family drama. Christina Lauren for the win!

7/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

TANGLED UP IN YOU by Christina Lauren. Hyperion Avenue (June 25, 2024). ISBN:‎ 978-1368100649. 320p.

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JUST SOME STUPID LOVE STORY by Katelyn Doyle

July 5, 2024

From the publisher:

For fans of Emily Henry, a debut about a rom-com screenwriter who doesn’t believe in love and a divorce attorney who does, forced together at their high school reunion fifteen years after their breakup

Molly Marks writes Hollywood rom-coms for a living—which is how she knows “romance” is a racket. The one and only time she was naive enough to fall in love was with her high school boyfriend, Seth—who she ghosted on the eve of graduation and hasn’t seen in fifteen years.

Seth Rubinstein believes in love, the grand, fated kind, despite his job as, well…one of Chicago’s most successful divorce attorneys. Over the last decade, he’s sought “the one” in countless bad dates and rushed relationships. He knows his soulmate is out there. But so far, no one can compare to Molly Marks, the first girl who broke his heart.

When Molly’s friends drag her to Florida for their fifteenth high school reunion, it is poetic justice that she’s forced to sit with Seth. Too many martinis and a drunken hookup later, they decide to make a whoever can predict the fate of five couples before the next reunion must declare that the other is right about true love. The catch? The fifth couple is the two of them.

Molly assures Seth they are a tale of timeless heartbreak. Seth promises she’ll end up hopelessly in love with him. She thinks he’s delusional. He has five years to prove her wrong.

Wickedly funny, sexy, and brimming with laughs and heart like the best romantic comedies, Just Some Stupid Love Story is for everyone who believes in soulmates—even if they would never admit it.

“A flirty, sexy read…Fresh and fun as hell―Katelyn Doyle is absolutely an author to watch.” ―People Magazine

“Refreshing…A joy to read…Much like When Harry Met Sally but with way more angst (and sex). Doyle creates a strong, winning chemistry between Molly and Seth…A smart, slightly meta romance that plays out like the best movies.” ―Kirkus (starred review)

“Doyle, who writes historical romance as Scarlett Peckham (“Society of Sirens” series), pens her first contemporary, a unique, sizzling second-chance rom-com with an HEA that will leave readers cheering.” ―Library Journal

And this is fun – “Featuring bright purple sprayed edges!” on the hardcover edition.
https://amzn.to/4ck9YoZ

This is the author’s first contemporary romance, and as far as I’m concerned, she hit it out of the park. The timeline is occasionally bouncy, but it was done in a way that made it very clear, which is not always accomplished in fiction. The story takes place over five years, with a glimpse back fifteen years earlier when Molly and Seth were inseparable, and in love. But Molly dumps Seth with no explanation and ghosts him for the next fifteen years.

Molly has left Florida for the spoils of California; she has become a screenwriter, writing romcoms and hoping to the the new Nora Ephron. She has some success, but is sort of stuck lately. Her oldest friends convince her to attend their 15 year high school reunion, and she reluctantly agrees. Her doubts about this adventure come home to roost when she ends up sitting next to her ex.

Seth moved to Chicago and became a very successful family lawyer, AKA a divorce lawyer. Molly’s parents had divorced when she was a kid and he knew how devastating that was for her, so she is shocked to learn he is practicing in that area. So we have the woman who writes happily every afters, but who doesn’t believe in them, and the divorce lawyer who actually does.

Seth has dated a lot – he tends to rush his relationships to the next level in hopes of finding his soulmate. It never works out for him, maybe because he believes deep in heart and subconscious that you only get one soulmate, and Molly was his.

Molly and Seth end up having a very hot one night stand during the reunion weekend, and make a bet about the outcome of five couples currently in relationships. They are one of the couples. The next five years are a rollercoaster ride for both of them, and just when I was convinced that there was no way for this couple to ever get together and move forwards. the author takes me there.

This was a bit of an emotional read for me; my parents also divorced when I was a kid, and I still have issues with it. But it was also a fun and funny romcom – I wouldn’t mind seeing this on the big screen! I don’t think I’ve read her historical romances (written by Scarlett Peckham,) but I will be seeking those out.

7/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

JUST SOME STUPID LOVE STORY by Katelyn Doyle. Flatiron Books (June 4, 2024). ISBN:‎ 978-1250328090. 336p.

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Spotlight Review: A HAPPIER LIFE by Kristy Woodson Harvey

July 2, 2024

From the publisher:

“New York Times bestselling author and southern sensation Kristy Woodson Harvey” (Good Morning America) presents a touching novel about eternal love and the places we call home.

The historic houses in the seaside town of Beaufort, North Carolina, have held the secrets of their inhabitants for centuries. One of the most enduring refuses to be washed away by the tide: What happened to Rebecca and Townsend Saint James on that fateful night of their disappearance in 1976?

Now, the granddaughter they never knew, Keaton Smith, is desperate for a fresh start. So when her mother needs someone to put her childhood home in Beaufort on the market, she jumps at the chance to head south. But the moment she steps foot inside the abandoned house, which has been closed for nearly fifty years, she wonders if she’s bitten off more than she can chew. Wading through the detritus of her grandparents’ lives, Keaton finds herself enchanted by their southern traditions—and their great, big love. As she gets to know her charming next-door neighbor, his precocious ten-year-old son, and a flock of endearingly feisty town busybodies, Keaton begins to wonder if the stories she has been told about her grandparents are true.

Keaton’s grandmother, Rebecca “Becks” Saint James’s annual summer suppers are the stuff of legend, and locals and out-of-towners alike clamor for an invitation to her stunning historic home. But, in the summer of 1976, she’s struggling behind the facade of the woman who can do it all—and facing a problem that even she can’t solve.

As Keaton and Becks face new challenges and chapters, they are connected through time by the house on Sunset Lane, which has protected the secrets, hopes, and dreams of their family for generations.

“The novel to read this year” (Annabel Monaghan) explores the power of family, the boundless nature of love, and the idea that discovering where we came from just might lead us to A Happier Life.

“This is women’s fiction at its best.” ― Publisher’s Weekly

“Harvey delivers another beautiful and heartfelt novel filled with romance, mystery, and her signature Southern charm. A multigenerational story told through dual timelines, A Happier Life invites readers to deeply savor its pages.”—Library Journal
https://amzn.to/3RQR6pv

What a compelling read! I started reading it Sunday morning and finished it Sunday evening – and I hated turning that last page. And I’ think ‘m pretty sure I still have a load of towels in the dryer…

The dual timelines really worked here – I wish other authors had this kind of finesse. Keaton never knew her mother’s parents, they died in a car crash before she was born. She also didn’t know that they had a beautiful home in Beaufort, North Carolina, until her uncle asked her to go down there, clean it out and get it ready for sale. The house was essentially abandoned fifty years earlier. Since she just got fired from her job and simultaneously found out her ex and her boss were having a baby, it seemed like a great idea to get out of town.

This home has been in the family for generations; it is older than America, built in the 1700’s. But when Keaton arrives, she is in for a shock. The house has been left a shrine to the 1970’s – it’s as if the family went out one day and never came back. And that is exactly what happened.

Much to her surprise, Keaton is having a hard time throwing anything away. She loves learning to get to know her grandparents, especially her grandmother, Becks, through a book she left for Virginia, Keaton’s mom. The book contains life hacks and recipes, lists of dinner parties, what was served, and who attended. There are tips on conversation starters, how to pick a good mix of people for a successful dinner party, and so on.

Keaton is also getting to know the hunky single dad next door and his amazing son, as well as a group of older women who knew and loved her grandparents. The story moves between what was happening in the 1970’s with Becks, and what Keaton is learning.

I really don’t want to give anything more away except to say Keaton’s grandparents’ death is something of a mystery. The romance, while secondary to the story, adds something special as do the descriptions of the area, the historic homes, and the southern charm. As a bonus, there are a couple of recipes at the end that I can’t wait to try. This is only the second book I’ve read by Harvey, but she is most definitely on my must-read list now, and I’m seeking out her older books as well. If you love multigenerational family stories that really resonate and are filled with charm and lots of heart, you won’t want to miss this glorious read!

7/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

A HAPPIER LIFE by Kristy Woodson Harvey. Gallery Books (June 25, 2024). ISBN:‎ 978-1668012192. 384p.

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Spotlight Review: HEY, ZOEY by Sarah Crossan

June 25, 2024

From the publisher:

Dolores O’Shea’s marriage collapses when she discovers her husband’s AI sex doll in the garage. When she moves “Zoey” into the house, they become oddly bonded, opening the door to a lifetime of repressed feelings and memories. “Brilliant, provocative, and darkly funny, Sarah Crossan’s Hey, Zoey explores the impossibility of connection, and the things we hide from ourselves and the people we love.” (Sarah Dunn)

43-year-old Dolores O’Shea is logical, organized, and prepared to handle whatever comes her way. She keeps up with her job and housework, takes care of her mentally declining mother, and remains close with her old friends and her younger sister who’s moved to New York. Though her marriage with David, an anesthesiologist, isn’t what is used to be, nothing can quite prepare her for Zoey, the $8,000 AI sex doll that David has secretly purchased and stuffed away in the garage. At first, Zoey sparks an uncharacteristically strong violence in Dolores, whose entire life is suddenly cast in doubt.

But then, Dolores and Zoey start to talk…and what surfaces runs deeper than Dolores could have ever expected, with consequences for all of the relationships in her life, especially her relationship to herself. Provocative, brilliant, and tender, Hey, Zoey is an electrifying new novel about the painful truths of modern-day connection and the complicated and unexpected forms that love can take in a lifetime.
https://amzn.to/40Ioy4r

Sarah Crossan (Here Is the Beehive) delivers a darkly comic, wholly original novel steeped in artificial intelligence, in this case, a sexbot named Zoey, who communicates using AI. David and Delores have been married for several years, but this is not a marriage of passion; their relationship seems more like two friends who are living together, but things come to a head when Delores finds the sexbot in their garage. David refuses to discuss it when she confronts him, and he moves out, leaving Zoey behind. More frustrated than heartbroken, Delores drags the doll into the house and sets up the app, making Zoey her new roommate and confidante. Delores’s mother is suffering from dementia, and she misses her sister, who has moved across the pond to New York City. As we learn more about Delores and all her relationships, it is easy to understand her fascination with Zoey; Zoey is a good listener and can hold her own in a conversation. What once seemed like science fiction is now reality.

Verdict: In light of the proliferation of AI into all aspects of life, this is a timely read, sure to appeal to book groups who enjoy Gary Shteyngart, Ottessa Moshfegh, or Dave Eggers.

©Library Journal, 2024

6/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

HEY, ZOEY by Sarah Crossan. Little, Brown and Company (June 25, 2024). ISBN: 978-0316428606. 304p.

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Spotlight Review: THE MEMO by Rachel Dodes & Lauren Mechling

June 18, 2024

From the publisher:

If you could rewrite your life story, would you dare? That’s the question at the heart of this charming and propulsive debut novel about love, life, and a woman finding herself and what it means to be happy and successful.

Do you ever feel like your life doesn’t measure up to everyone else’s—and wonder if you just didn’t get the memo helping you make the right choices?

Jenny Green dreads her upcoming college reunion. Once top of her class, the thirty-five-year-old finds herself stuck in a life that isn’t the one she expected. Her promising career has flamed out (literally) and her deadbeat boyfriend is cheating on her (again). All her friends seem to have it all figured it out, enjoying glittering lives and careers that she can only envy from the sidelines. Did she just not get the memo they all did?

As it turns out, she didn’t!

When she arrives at her alma mater for the festivities, she receives a text from an unlisted number.

“Jenny Green: please collect your memo.”

Somewhere on campus, a discreet female-led organization provides comprehensive memos to select students, a set of instructions that are a blueprint for success.

The first time around, Jenny didn’t receive hers. Now, she’s being given the second chance she wants—an opportunity to relive her life and make all the right decisions this time around. But at what price?

Smart, addictive, bittersweet, and ultimately triumphant, The Memo will enchant readers of In Five Years and Cassandra in Reverse as well as fans of Emma Straub and Maria Semple.

“Do you ever wonder if everyone else somehow got a secret leg up, insider knowledge, or even just a map to navigate the proverbial lay of the land? Such is the premise of Rachel Dodes and Lauren Mechling’s charming new novel. . . . A modernized Sliding Doors set amid a delightfully specific milieu, this is a paranormal parable with a very relatable heart.” — Vogue
https://amzn.to/3xKJvkO

This writing duo’s debut is a tribute to a world of possibility. When her college career counselor suggests to Jenny Green that she quit school a few weeks before graduation, she does not take that advice. While her friends move on to uber-successful careers, Jenny feels like she is stagnating. She wonders if everyone else got the memo and learned to succeed, and why she did not. She’s not thrilled with her assistant job, she’s pretty sure her boyfriend is cheating on her, and she has to deal with her upcoming fifteen year college reunion. Then she receives an anonymous text message urging her to take the memo and follow the instructions; she does, and her whole world starts shifting on its axis. With a whiff of time travel Jenny bounces between her old life and this possible new life, but eventually, she has to make a not inconsiderable decision and face that life head-on.

Verdict: Millennial women, in particular, may be drawn to this story. Readalikes for this original literary debut include The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano by Donna Freitas, Cassandra in Reverse by Holly Smale, or The Good Part by Sophie Cousens.

©Library Journal, 2024

6/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE MEMO by Rachel Dodes & Lauren Mechling. Harper Perennial (June 18, 2024). ISBN:‎ 978-0063319356. 336p.

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THE SUMMER ESCAPE by Jill Shalvis

June 14, 2024

The Sunrise Cove, Book 6

From the Publisher:

Secrets are revealed and forbidden sparks ignited in this sizzling Sunrise Cove standalone, a tale of enemies to lovers, redemption, missing treasures, and love—by romance superstar and New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis.

Anna Moore didn’t just wake up one day and decide to go on a wild quest—especially since her life no longer lends itself to wild anything—so how in the world does she end up racing against the clock with Owen Harris, a sexy, enigmatic adventurist, to prove her beloved dad innocent of stealing a million-dollar necklace?

It’s all Wendy’s fault. Her older, bossy sister, who’s seven months pregnant and on bed rest in their small Lake Tahoe hometown, is desperate to clear their departed dad’s name. Owen, though, is convinced he’s guilty as hell and wants to return the jewelry back to its rightful owner—his elderly great aunt. Together Anna and Owen go on a scavenger hunt for clues to the past (with Wendy remotely along for the ride via an earbud, supplying a running wry commentary to boot).

On opposing sides and suspicious of each other as they are, Anna and Owen still can’t deny the inexplicable and explosive chemistry between them on this heart-stopping adventure, the outcome of which will prove the necklace isn’t the only thing stolen—their hearts have been as well.
https://amzn.to/4e9GnA1

I adore this series, and this latest entry is a real pageturner!

Anna and Wendy are as close as two sisters can be. But with Wendy pregnant with triplets and on bed rest, she is living vicariously through Anna via an ear piece for her phone, which adds a lot of humor to the story.

They lost their father a few years earlier, and while cleaning out some things, they find an old and valuable coin. That opens a Pandora’s box as their father was considered a suspect in the robbery of the set of coins and a ruby necklace. No one was ever arrested, and the stolen items were never found, until this one coin.

The items were stolen from Owen’s great-aunt, who is now suffering from dementia. Owen is devoted to her, and thinks if the necklace could be found, maybe it would give her some peace of mind. He approaches Anna and they agree to work together to try and find the rest of the stolen items. This lends some suspense to this romance, and it is a heartstopper of an ending. Meanwhile, as Owen and Anna work together, real feelings emerge and Wendy is loving listening in on it all.

This was a fun read, and the suspense and the romance built naturally. I loved how Anna and Wendy got along, and how Anna and Owen moved from distrust to love. This book stands alone beautifully, as do all the books in the series, although I do recommend reading them all – I highly recommend this series and this book.

6/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE SUMMER ESCAPE by Jill Shalvis. Avon (June 11, 2024). ISBN: 978-0063235816. 336p.

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FOR THE LOVE OF SUMMER by Susan Mallery

June 14, 2024

From the publisher:

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery comes an unforgettable beach read about the unbreakable bond between mothers and daughters and finding friendship with the unlikeliest person, perfect for fans of Elin Hilderbrand and Emily Giffin…

As the owner of Twisted, Seattle’s best salons, Erica knows that the sharpest cuts come from the people we love. She’s terrified that she’s losing her teen daughter, Summer, to her “other” family, especially to her stepmom, Allison.

All it takes to blow up Allison’s happy life is one collect call. From prison. Her beloved husband, Peter, has been arrested, leaving Allison pregnant, broke, scared and alone with a toddler. But when her stepdaughter ferrets out the truth, the teen rushes to the last person Allison wants to ask for help—her husband’s battle-ax ex.

Erica would do anything for Summer, even take in the woman her daughter loves like a second mom. Allison feels intimidated by Erica—a woman who would never let herself become so dependent on a man. But the more time they spend together, the more Allison realizes what Erica truly needs is a friend. Can two women who married the same man move beyond their complicated past and rethink what it means to be family?

“Beautifully illustrates the power of female friendship and the importance of reaching for one’s dreams”-Publishers Weekly
https://amzn.to/3XgXsll

Erica has the career of her dreams, and she’s worked damned hard to get it. As the owner of Twisted, a small chain of high-end, full service spas that include hair salons, she is big on giving back, especially to single moms. Top-tier stylists at her salons make six figures, and many of them came through her scholarship and training programs. But her personal life isn’t quite as full as her professional life.

Divorced for many years, she had pushed her ex-husband to start his own accounting business. And when he shocked her by demanding a divorce that she never saw coming, she pulls her business from his firm. Eventually, he meets and marries Allison, and fills her head with tales of his horrible ex-wife. But when she gets a call from him that he’s in prison, she is completely lost. All their bank accounts have been frozen, she’s six months pregnant and has a toddler. With no formal education, Allison works part time at the day care center to earn enough to cover daycare while she works her other job as a grocery store cashier. Both jobs are becoming more difficult as the physical aspects of her pregnancy make it hard to be on her feet all day or to get up and down from the floor at the preschool.

Erica’s daughter, Summer, is a pretty good kid for a sixteen-year-old. Erica doesn’t know her ex’s wife, but Summer adores her and her little half-brother. So when Summer finds out what happened to her dad, she goes into savior mode and convinces her mother to let Allison and her little boy move in with them. She has no family and no other resources, and Erica reluctantly agrees.

Erica and Allison slowly get to know one another, and while their worlds are completely different, they were both married to the same man, so they have that in common. As her pregnancy progresses, Erica starts doing more for Allison, from buying nursery furniture and having her mother, Summer’s grandmother, help out with the little boy. As the days move on, they become pretty close friends.

Erica has a boyfriend, or rather a man who takes her out for lovely dinners, and she accompanies him to business social events. And they have sex. But after being burned by her ex, Erica has refused to put her heart on the line. Eventually, everyone can see that he is besotted with her, but she is burying her feelings so deep she can’t even find them.

This was such a good read! I loved all these characters and all the little moments that made up their lives. The romance takes a back seat to the women’s burgeoning friendship, but in the end, everything works out the way it is supposed to. Another terrific read by one of my favorite authors.

6/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

FOR THE LOVE OF SUMMER by Susan Mallery. MIRA; Original edition (June 4, 2024). ISBN: 978-0778305521. 400p.

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Spotlight Review: SEVEN SUMMER WEEKENDS by Jane L. Rosen

June 11, 2024

From the publisher:

A woman inherits a beach house, along with a series of weekend guests, while butting heads with the irritable (and irritatingly handsome) man next door, in this sparkling new escape from Jane L. Rosen.

When a Zoom disaster upends Addison Irwin’s decade-long career at a posh Manhattan advertising agency, things look bleak for the thirty-something mid-western transplant. But an unexpected inheritance from an aunt she barely remembers—a property on Fire Island, complete with guest house and artist’s studio—changes everything.

While debating whether to stay or sell, Addison learns that she’s also inherited her aunt’s list of eclectic guests, tying her to the island for seven summer weekends. Eager to convince Addison to keep the house rather than let a new buyer build a monstrosity in its place, the neighbors welcome her to their laid-back community. Well, all except the moody guy next door, who seems intent on glowering his way through life.

Steadfast in her path since college, Addison is determined not to let this detour on Fire Island throw her off track. But soon, between the revolving door of weekend visitors and the up-and-down relationship with her neighbor (and his adorable dog), she finds herself in unfamiliar territory. Should she try to pick up where she left off—or embrace entirely new possibilities?
https://amzn.to/3x4BG9G

I have read and loved every one of Rosen’s books and I am happy to say that this one is stellar. I wish I had some long-lost relative to leave me a beach house, but it’s Airbnb for me if I want that beachy life. But for Addison, inheriting her aunt’s house is a timely and welcome surprise.

After a misdirected comment about her boss goes viral, Addison gets fired instead of the promotion she was seeking. She had spent years with the advertising company, and while it wasn’t the most fulfilling job, it was one she excelled at and in which she poured all her energy and passion. Feeling somewhat lost, her aunt’s final gift is just what she needs. The house is on Fire Island in New York, and while she hadn’t seen her aunt since the Big Terrible Thing happened when she was a young child, she does remember her. But she really gets to know her deceased aunt when she moves to the island for the summer. The island realtor lets her know that the guest house on the property is rented out for seven weekends over the summer, and the income is generally enough to cover all the expenses for the year. Her aunt was universally beloved, and everyone, including the regular summer renters, had a story for her. Even the grumpy guy next door.

That guy is Ben, one of the main characters in Rosen’s previous book, On Fire Island (a truly excellent read, but this book stands alone beautifully.) Ben is a young widower and a bestselling author, and Addison doesn’t know anything about that – but she learns. Ben has been grieving for a few years now but is finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. He and Addison meet and flirt on the ferry over to Fire Island, and as he lives next door to her, they keep bumping into one another, and not always in a good way.

The heart of the matter is this: is Ben too damaged for another relationship? It’s a bumpy road for Addison and Ben. Addison is also dealing with her anger at her parents for keeping her aunt from her. Staying at the beach house changes Addison’s life in many ways, and I loved seeing her growth.

The Fire Island of Rosen’s books is idyllic, but the relationships are fraught, making for a compelling read. I loved it.

6/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

SEVEN SUMMER WEEKENDS by Jane L. Rosen. Berkley (June 4, 2024). ISBN:‎ 978-0593640913. 320p.

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LOVE, LIES, AND CHERRY PIE by Jackie Lau

June 7, 2024

From the publisher:

Jackie Lau, author of the “full of heart” (Ali Hazelwood, New York Times bestselling author) The Stand-Up Groomsman, returns with a charming rom-com about a young woman’s desperate attempts to fend off her meddling mother…only to find that maybe mother does know best.

Mark Chan this. Mark Chan that.

Writer and barista Emily Hung is tired of hearing about the great Mark Chan, the son of her parents’ friends. You’d think he single-handedly stopped climate change and ended child poverty from the way her mother raves about him. But in reality, he’s just a boring, sweater-vest-wearing engineer, and when they’re forced together at Emily’s sister’s wedding, it’s obvious he thinks he’s too good for her.

But now that Emily is her family’s last single daughter, her mother is fixated on getting her married and she has her sights on Mark. There’s only one solution, clearly: convince Mark to be in a fake relationship with her long enough to put an end to her mom’s meddling. He reluctantly agrees.

Unfortunately, lying isn’t enough. Family friends keep popping up at their supposed dates—including a bubble tea shop and cake-decorating class—so they’ll have to spend more time together to make their relationship look real. With each fake date, though, Emily realizes that Mark’s not quite what she assumed and maybe that argyle sweater isn’t so ugly after all…

“Heartfelt and hilarious . . . Lau brings the goods.” ― Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Lau’s books have some of the best effort-to-emotional-payoff ratios in romance.” ― The New York Times Book Review
https://amzn.to/4c0Hgsy

I loved Lau’s last book, Donut Fall in Love, so I was super excited to get this one, and it was a heartwarming, joyous and rollicking read!

Emily is the last of her sisters to remain single, and her over-the-top pushy mom is determined to fix that pronto. She talks up Mark Chan until Emily can barely stand hearing his name, then seats them together at the youngest sister’s wedding. Mark and Emily do not get along at that wedding, so when her mom asks her to brunch the following week, Emily figures she’ll go and tell her to lay off. But when she shows up for brunch, her mother isn’t there but guess who is? Mark Chan, of course.

This time things go a tiny bit better than at the wedding, but Emily is convinced he is so not the man for her. But to get her mother off her back, she asks Mark if they could fake date to keep her mother happy for a while. But by fake date she means to just tell her mom they are dating but not actually go anywhere together. Mark reluctantly agrees, but things get complicated when her mother’s network of spies/friends/relatives report they haven’t seen Emily and Mark together anywhere. Emily caves and asks Mark if they can fake date for real, by which she means meet up for dinner or whatever just so they can be seen together. Pictures are taken and shared, but her mother is still somewhat suspicious.

Then something odd happens. Emily realizes she is starting to really like Mark, even though he is not her type and really, what does her mother know. As it turns out, her mother knows quite a lot about her daughter and what she needs. After several fake dates, they decide to really date but things come to a head when her older sister accuses her of faking the relationship and spills the beans. Emily is humiliated and ghosts Mark, but their feelings are strong enough that she decides to stop cutting off her nose to spite her face (one of my mother’s favorite expressions!) and just live with the controversy, as long as she gets to do it with Mark.

There were many, many laugh-out-loud moments here, but I also wanted to wake Emily up to the possibility she was missing out on. Luckily, she figured that out for herself, and they got their happy ending. This was such a fun, compelling read that I couldn’t put it down and finished it in one night. Another terrific read from Jackie Lau and Emily Bestler books.

6/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

LOVE, LIES, AND CHERRY PIE by Jackie Lau. Atria/Emily Bestler Books (May 7, 2024). ISBN: 978-1668030769. 352p.