From the publisher:

She returned to prove her father’s innocence, but there’s no telling what she’ll find…

It’s been fifteen years since Lucy Sinclair saw her father. Fifteen long years since she sat in a courtroom and watched him sentenced to life in prison. He murdered three victims—all people she knew—which ruined her life at just seventeen. But now she’s back in Virginia to talk to him, wondering if there’s more to the story of what happened that fateful night.

An old flame, Ford Wagner, makes his own return to North Hampton Beach, fleeing a marriage that seems destined for divorce. He’s wary of Lucy and her digging into the past, but the more time they spend together, the closer they get and the more he finds himself reconsidering the truth behind the death of their mutual friend that summer. Problem is, there are plenty of those in this small coastal town who would prefer things stay quiet…

https://amzn.to/3H9av2B

Lucy was seventeen when her father was convicted of murdering three people in their small town. The conviction shattered her world—the townspeople turned against her, and she felt forced to flee. She hasn’t returned home or spoken to her father in fifteen years.

Now, haunted by unanswered questions about that terrible summer, Lucy decides to return to uncover the truth she’s never understood.

The town has always drawn wealthy summer residents to their sprawling beachfront homes, and Ford is among them this year. He’s come back to prepare his family’s house for sale while grappling with his impending divorce. Fifteen years ago, he and Lucy had shared an intense but brief romance during that fateful summer. Though they’d fallen hard for each other, Ford abandoned Lucy when his family pressured him to cut ties after her father’s arrest—a decision that has haunted him ever since.

When Ford discovers Lucy has returned, his protective instincts flare. The townspeople make their hostility clear, especially as Lucy begins asking dangerous questions about the past. What begins as renewed friendship deepens into something more as Ford joins Lucy’s search for answers.

While a bit slow and somewhat repetitive in the beginning, as the story unfurls, it becomes much more engaging. This second-chance romance weaves together mystery and passion as two former lovers investigate the crimes that tore their world apart. The combination of coastal intrigue and rekindled love creates a compelling story of redemption, truth, and the courage to face the past.

8/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE SUMMER THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING by Brenda Novak. MIRA (June 3, 2025). ISBN: 978-0778360162. 368p.

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From the publisher:

A millionaire and a house cleaner are a match maid in heaven in this sparkling new romantic comedy by Lynn Painter, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Happily Never After.

As a professional cleaner, Abi Mariano never thought her apartment would have any sort of infestation, but because of a building-wide outbreak, she now needs somewhere to stay for a week. As a part-time student with two jobs, she doesn’t have many options. Then the solution presents itself: the owner of the penthouse she cleans is out of town for the week. She normally wouldn’t consider it, but he’s literally never around (she hasn’t even met him). It goes great…until one morning she finds two strangers in the kitchen. They’re the parents of the penthouse owner and they seem to think they’ve heard all about Abi—not as their son’s maid, but as his girlfriend.

Declan Powell has always put his career first, working his way up to become an executive at his company, but he still has his sights set on the next level. When his parents mention that they met his girlfriend, “Abby,” he all but chokes on his escargot. As wonderful as it sounds that she was just darling, he doesn’t actually have a girlfriend—he made her up to get everyone off his back. When Dex finds out who Abi really is, he makes her a proposition: pretend to date him, and he’ll provide everything she needs during their little arrangement. What harm would it do? It’s purely business, no pleasure…right?

“Painter injects a familiar trope with both levity and genuine emotion. Readers will especially be drawn to Abi, whose smarts and sass make her the perfect match for the more staid but driven Declan. This is a treat.”—Publishers Weekly

“Filled with laughs and a warmhearted spirit, this quick-reading romance from Painter is a charmer.”—Library Journal

https://amzn.to/3GNjtm7

Leave it to Lynn Painter to take the classic billionaire fake-dating trope and turn it into something fresh and magical.

Abi is juggling two jobs—one at a grocery store that offers health benefits and another as an overnight cleaner—while working toward her MFA in creative writing. Her dream is to become a professor who writes on the side, but money is always tight. When she has to leave her apartment for a week and can’t afford a hotel, she comes up with an idea: she’ll stay at the luxurious penthouse she cleans each week. The owner is never there, so what could go wrong?

Everything, as it turns out. On her first morning, she wakes up to find the owner’s parents in the kitchen, happily eating the muffins she baked. They assume Abi is their son’s girlfriend, and before she can correct them, Declan himself walks in. Declan is young, wealthy, and furious to find a stranger posing as his girlfriend. But his parents seem to adore her, and Declan has a crucial weekend ahead: the shareholders’ annual meeting in Omaha, where he hopes to convince America’s richest man (his boss) that he’s ready for a promotion. A girlfriend would definitely add the gravitas he needs.

Abi has $40,000 in student loans, so she asks Declan for the cash and to stay in his apartment for the week. In return, she’ll keep up the charade for his family and accompany him as his pretend girlfriend to the shareholder event. Knowing Abi doesn’t have the means to dress for the occasion, Declan arranges for a stylist and hair and makeup team to help her. When Declan sees the stunning results, he’s speechless. At the function, Abi charms everyone, including his boss.

As they fake their relationship, real feelings blossom. But when Declan’s best friend offers a similar proposition to Abi, she’s hurt and calls the whole thing off—a moment that is reminiscent of a scene in Pretty Woman. Thankfully, Abi and Declan find their way back to each other, leading to a truly happy ending.

While the destination is familiar, the journey is pure delight. Painter delivers another excellent romantic comedy that belongs on your must-read list. A super fun read!

7/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

MAID FOR EACH OTHER by Lynn Painter. Berkley (July 15, 2025). ISBN: 978-0593638033. 368p.

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From the publisher:

 A Shakespearean Fanfic Spicy Enemies to Lovers Rom Com

Enemies by day. Spicy fanfic author and devoted reader by night.

Things are about to get downright Shakespearean.

All’s fair in love. And war. And fandom.

Financial auditor Micah Mila is used to being the bearer of bad news, and her latest assignment in the local university’s English department has been especially taxing—no thanks to a literature professor who clashes with her at every turn. Thankfully, she has an after-hours escape: reading spicy Shakespearean fanfic.

Professor Aidan Scott is damn good at his job. But Micah has been a thorn in his side since the moment he laid eyes on her—eyes that really like what they see. Yet, with his job on the line, there’s no room for distractions. At least, not beyond the sexy fanfic he secretly writes.

When Micah discovers the man getting under her skin is the writer heating her up, their enemy vibe turns steamy. But with Micah’s audit due and Aidan’s career at risk, separating fantasy from reality becomes more than a little complicated…

https://amzn.to/4fmaVzz

Aidan Scott, an English professor with a secret passion for writing steamy Shakespeare fanfiction on a Wattpad-style platform, has an immediate problem when financial auditor Micah Mila arrives at his university. Hired to audit the English department and identify cost-cutting opportunities, Micah poses a direct threat to everything Aidan holds dear—his beloved teaching position and the students who adore his classes.

When Aidan and Micah first meet, sparks fly—but not in a good way. In the elevator, Aidan makes a snide remark about the incoming auditor, unaware that Micah is standing right beside him. The resulting animosity creates an immediate barrier between two people whose substantial egos prevent them from moving past their initial antagonism.

What neither realizes is that they’ve already formed a connection through the very fanfiction site where Aidan publishes his work. In the anonymous comment sections, they’ve found solace in venting about their real-world nemesis, completely unaware they’re confiding in each other. Their online dynamic is playful and open in stark contrast to their tense real-life interactions.

The novel attempts to navigate the enemies-to-lovers trope, working toward an inevitable romantic resolution despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles. However, the execution falls short of its ambitious premise. The character development lacks depth, making it difficult to invest in their constant bickering and eventual romance. Both Aidan and Micah remain frustratingly surface-level throughout most of the story.

While the book includes steamy scenes, they feel more like obligatory additions than meaningful moments that advance the relationship or deepen our understanding of the characters. The romance ultimately ends with a resolution that strains credibility rather than satisfying the emotional journey.

Despite an intriguing setup that cleverly combines academic drama with digital-age romance, this novel disappoints by prioritizing conflict over character growth, leaving readers with a love story that never quite convinces, making for a disappointing read.

Note: I never heard of this imprint, Afterglow Books by Harlequin, and now I will be leery of any other books they publish. Harlequin has several imprints, but this is the first time I’ve felt this way.

7/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

MUCH ADO ABOUT HATING YOU by Sarah Echavarre Smith. Afterglow Books by Harlequin (May 27, 2025). ISBN: 978-1335574992. 288p.

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