From the New York Times bestselling author of Practice Makes Perfect and The Cheat Sheet comes an expanded edition of The Enemy—a laugh-out-loud romance about rekindling old flames, with a never-before-seen chapter.
Enemies should never get a second chance. But this one might…
It’s been twelve years since June Broaden has seen her high school enemy (and secret crush), Ryan Henderson. That’s a long time to hold a grudge over some petty feud, but the sharp memory of him dangling a kiss at graduation, then pulling away at the last second, has fueled many angry fantasies since. Now’s her chance to get even.
Ryan, along with most of her high school class, is back in town for her best friend’s wedding, and June is eager to show the former bully exactly what he missed out on. A lot has changed since their high school days; June is the Southern queen of gourmet donuts now, not to mention one of the most desired bachelorettes in her small town.
What’s she’s not expecting, though, is for Ryan to show up looking like Adonis and touting his own career success as the youngest chef to ever win three Michelin stars. How dare he try to one up her revenge plot? Luckily June never backs down from a challenge…
“As they are thrust back together by a friend’s wedding, high school “enemies” June and Ryan are brought to life by narrators Connie Shabshab and Lee Samuels . . . The story is set in Charleston, and both narrators provide just the right level of Southern accents. – AudioFile Reviews
This was such a cute romance! This novel follows the blossoming romance between Ryan and June, characters whose relationship evolves over time. I loved the first book, “The Match,” and June is one of Jake’s sisters. The narrators are really engaging and helped bring the story to life.
From the start, Ryan and June’s interaction is charming, with their witty banter and undeniable chemistry making for a compelling read. It becomes apparent that both characters view each other as the one who got away, a realization that eventually prompts them to act on their feelings. The progression of their relationship is satisfying, even if it takes time for them to acknowledge their mutual attraction.
The development of Ryan and June’s relationship is heartwarming, and their eventual union feels well-deserved. Adams excels at the sweet, closed-door romance, and the heat between Ryan and June is palpable nonetheless. The book is captivating and hard to put down – I’m looking forward to the next book in this terrific series!
3/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
THE ENEMY by Sarah Adams.Narrators: Connie Shabshab & Will Damron. Dreamscape Media, LLC; May 10, 2022. Listening Length: 8 hours and 38 minutes
The Perfect Summer Beach Read about Found Family, Secrets and Betrayal on the Sun-Kissed Beaches of Malibu
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery comes an unforgettable beach read about love, secrets, betrayal and the family we’re born into—and the one we choose for ourselves, perfect for fans of Emily Giffin and Mary Kay Andrews.
What would you do if you caught your brother cheating on your best friend?
While Beth is proud of her Malibu beach shop, Surf Sandwiches, she’s even prouder of her charismatic brother Rick, who rose from foster care through surgical residency. She makes subs, he saves lives. Life takes a turn for the happy after she finds out Rick is dating her new best friend, Jana. Then Jana’s handsome brother adds even more sparkle to Beth’s days…and nights.
But when she catches Rick with another woman—like, with-with—her visions of an idyllic family future disappear in one awful instant. Either she betrays her brother, or she keeps his secret and risks losing the man she loves and her best friend.
Love and loyalty collide with secrets and betrayal in this witty and emotional tale about the lengths we’ll go to for family, from Susan Mallery, New York Times bestselling author of The Boardwalk Bookshop.
Beth is lonely. She has a successful business that she loves, a sandwich shop on the beach, but her only friends are her employees and her brother, Rick. Rick is a surgeon and doesn’t have a lot of time for Beth, but she always makes time for him. Beth and Rick have been through so much; they lost their parents and ended up separated in foster care until their mother’s estranged sister found them. Beth still lives with her aunt, and her aunt isn’t very close with Rick. Beth has spent her life taking care of her smart younger brother, and she loves feeling needed, but he isn’t always kind to her even though she makes excuses for him.
Beth decides to start volunteering one afternoon a week at the local food bank. There she meets Jana, another volunteer who helps train her, and they become friends. Beth brings leftover sandwiches from her shop for them to eat after their shift, and she learns that Jana is a single mom living with her brother, a widower with three young children. They help each other out while Jana works in medical billing and is going to community college with an eye on getting into a nursing program. Busy as she is, Jana doesn’t date much so when this gorgeous surgeon helps her out one morning, she can’t help but wonder what it would be like to date someone as kind as he appears to be. He has an office in the same medical building, and he stops by her desk every so often to chat. Finally she agrees to go out with him. and while she really enjoys his company, there is something in her gut that just feels wrong about him. She pushes that feeling aside and continues to date him.
Turns out her date is Beth’s brother, and when Beth runs into Rick kissing another woman, she is torn. He profusely apologizes and tells her that he broke up with the other woman and that he wants to make things work with Jana. Reluctantly, Beth agrees to keep his secret.
Meanwhile, Beth meets Jana’s brother Teddy and they have an instant connection. Teddy hasn’t dated at all since his wife died unexpectedly, so Jana is thrilled that he likes her friend. But when the truth about Rick comes out, it turns out he has way more problems than just cheating, and Beth is devastated. It costs her her friendship with Jana and her relationship with Teddy.
This was such an emotional rollercoaster of a read for me. I understand estrangement between a brother and sister as I have lived it for more than thirty years, so I also know that sometimes it is for the best. The ending happens probably a bit too quickly, but it ends as it should. Mallery delivers another enjoyable, heartfelt read about family and love. Don’t miss it.
3/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
BEACH VIBES by Susan Mallery.Canary Street Press; Original edition (March 18, 2025). ISBN: 978-1335402530. 384p.
One fake prime minister, one ridiculously hot handler, and one Italian summer collide in this thrilling adventure rom-com.
Max is just your average girl. She works odd jobs, has a soul-crushing amount of debt, and happens to bear an uncanny resemblance to Europe’s youngest female prime minister, Sofia Christensen. Sofia is powerful, beautiful—and unfortunately, someone is trying quite hard to assassinate her.
When the CIA approaches Max with a deal, a life-changing amount of money if she pretends to be Sofia on the prime minister’s annual Italian vacation, Max packs her bags for the Amalfi Coast. The delicious food, the breathtaking views—this trip would be a dream if it weren’t for those pesky assassins and Flynn, the handler assigned to Max’s case. Flynn, who has an unexpected history with Max, from another sun-drenched summer years and years ago. Now he’s instructed to stay in Max’s suite to protect her, as old passions and assassins collide.
Losing herself in the role of a prime minister is one thing. But losing her heart to Flynn again? Now that’s a risk she isn’t willing to take . . .
“A sharply written novel with surprise comedic twists. Readers will enjoy this tale of two ex-lovers who are reunited by espionage and who ultimately find true love as they race through the beautiful streets of Italy, trying to stay alive.”—Library Journal (STARRED)
“The tightly plotted mystery is leavened by moments of laugh-out-loud humor and endearing supporting characters, especially the scene-stealing Giorgio, a bumbling but jolly hotelier. Walker’s sophomore novel is sure to please existing fans and win her plenty of new ones.”—Publishers Weekly
Max, an ordinary young woman facing severe financial difficulties due to her restaurant’s failure during the pandemic, bears a striking resemblance to Sofia Christensen, Europe’s youngest female prime minister. When a credible death threat is made against the prime minister, the CIA approaches Max with a lucrative offer to impersonate Sofia during her annual Italian vacation.
The assignment, while financially attractive, is complicated by the presence of assassins and Max’s handler, Flynn, who Max fell in love with one summer several years earlier. When Flynn dumped her, she was heartbroken. Max finds herself in a precarious situation, balancing the need to convincingly portray the prime minister while safeguarding her emotions from Flynn.
This book presents a unique blend of high-stakes espionage and second-chance romance. The narrative skillfully combines elements of a spy thriller with a romantic comedy, creating an engaging and multifaceted story. Max’s commitment to her role as the prime minister is commendable, adding depth to her character development.
The novel’s pacing is enhanced by its mystery elements and plot twists, maintaining reader engagement throughout. The author successfully integrates action, humor, and romance, resulting in a reading experience reminiscent of a cinematic action-romance hybrid. This book is particularly recommended for readers who appreciate spy-themed narratives and romances set in Italian locales. Its distinctive premise and well-balanced combination of genres make it a noteworthy addition to contemporary romantic fiction.
3/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
CODE WORD ROMANCE by Carlie Walker.Berkley (March 18, 2025). ISBN: 978-0593640418. 320p.
Fake dating, enemies to lovers, and a wonderfully unique forced proximity debut romance, perfect for fans of Elena Armas’s The American Roommate Experiment and Drew Barrymore’s classic rom-com Fifty First Dates.
Elle’s grandmother Lovie has always taken care of her, as long as she can remember. But remembering is just the problem. With Lovie’s Alzheimer’s progressing fast, it’s Elle’s turn to step up.
Leaving Chicago behind, the last thing she expects when she walks through the door of her childhood home is Adam Wheeler—in her bed. Live-in nurse and pain in the ass, Adam is here to do his job. Eat, sleep, nurse, repeat.
Thrown together to care for Lovie, tensions rise and lines are drawn, but there’s a bigger problem: in her Alzheimer’s riddled mind, Lovie’s convinced that Elle and Adam are madly in love.
Certain she’ll forget by morning, Elle and Adam play along. The only snag? She doesn’t forget.
Lovie is the only person who thinks this fake dating scheme is real…so why is Elle fantasizing about Adam when he’s not around? And why is it getting harder to pretend?
Fake It Like You Mean It is the perfect blend of romance, laugh-out-loud comedy, and heartbreaking beautiful moments.
“The fake dating trope takes on unexpected emotional depth in Murphy’s utterly endearing debut . . . [With] perfect pacing and chemistry that leaps off the page.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Elle and Adam have so much chemistry . . . A moving romance that balances the heartbreak of slowly losing a relative to Alzheimer’s with the thrill of falling in love.” —Kirkus Reviews
This is a heartwarming yet emotionally charged romance that balances laughter, sizzle, and poignant moments. The story follows Elle, who returns home to care for her grandmother, Lovie, as Alzheimer’s takes its toll. Elle’s life is complicated by Adam, Lovie’s live-in nurse, with whom she shares a dynamic that evolves from sharp banter to a deep connection. When Lovie mistakenly believes they are a couple, they play along, leading to an intimate and tension-filled fake relationship.
As they care for Lovie together, their bond grows naturally through shared vulnerability, humor, and care. The novel compassionately portrays Alzheimer’s, making Lovie a central figure in the narrative. Beyond romance, it explores the pain of losing a loved one and Elle’s journey of self-discovery amidst grief and family responsibilities. This book is a gem for fans of fake dating and slow-burn romances, offering a blend of light-hearted moments and emotional depth.
This was the first romance I’ve listened to in a while with only one narrator, and Picard does a great job with it. Murphy’s debut is a winner, and I’m looking forward to her next book!
3/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
FAKE IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT by Megan Murphy.Narrator: Alex Picard. Dreamscape Media; March 18, 2025. Listening Length: 10 hours.
Rekindle your belief in the magic of first love and the charm of small towns with Annie England Noblin’s delightful friends-to-lovers romantic comedy, perfect for readers of Jill Shalvis and Sarah Adams.
Spring is in the air and Myliehas everything she could ever want: her tackle shop is thriving and employs a third of Clay Creek, Arkansas, and she lives with her beloved Granny and little sister Cassie, who both keep her on her toes. As tourists pour into town for the annual fishing tournament, Mylie is in her element and ready to bring her all-women team to victory.
After moving to Chicago, Ben never thought he would return to Clay Creek. But with both his grandfather and mother gone, he’s left to deal with their estate. His plan is simple: come in quietly, fix up his lakeside childhood home, sell it quickly, and get out. He underestimates how quickly his arrival will stir up the local gossip, and how intensely his unresolved feelings for Mylie, his childhood best friend, will resurface.
Amid the buzz of competition and the rhythm of small-town life, Mylie and Ben find themselves unable to ignore their shared history. They tentatively explore a future together, despite the impending sale of Ben’s house and Mylie’s insistence on staying put in Clay Creek. Flings are easier said than done, and Mylie and Ben will have to address their clashing lifestyles before their feelings get away from them.
Told with Annie England Noblin’s signature wit, cozy charm, and a dash of spice, Spring Fling is the perfect friends-to-lovers read.
This is a small-town, second-chance romance that follows Mylie and Ben. They grew up together and were good friends through high school, but after graduation, Ben and his mom moved to Chicago, where he attended college, and he and Mylie lost touch.
Mylie is a big deal in the small town of Clay Creek, Arkansas. She owns a company that creates fishing lures and is probably the town’s largest employer. Her company is also the largest sponsor of the town’s biggest event, a fishing tournament that brings in people from all over to compete for a cash prize.
When they meet, Ben and Mylie quickly find they have something in common; both their fathers have passed away and a friendship is formed. But at least Ben has his mom; Mylie’s mom is a flake and basically dumps her and her much younger sister on their grandmother, who everyone in town calls Granny. Mylie becomes a mother-substitute to her baby sister Cassie, and even though Cassie is in high school now, they all still live together and are very close.
It’s been ten years since Ben has been in Clay Creek. His grandfather had retired there, but instead of staying retired, he opened a small clinic and saw to the medical needs of the town. When he passed away, Ben’s mom moved them into his home. Before his mom passed away, she made him promise he would return to Clay Creek before he sells the family home there. Despite their prolonged separation, Mylie and Ben swiftly rekindle their friendship and seize the opportunity to explore their relationship in ways they previously hadn’t.
I found the narrative somewhat lacking and ultimately underwhelming. The plot itself is not fundamentally flawed, but beyond the engaging characters and the charming town setting, the romance feels rushed and underdeveloped. Although Mylie and Ben were endearing together, their relationship progressed too quickly. Where was the emotional connection, tension, and build-up typically associated with second-chance romances? Not here.
Overall, while the small-town charm was present, the romance was overshadowed by secondary characters and subplots, leaving me desiring more depth and development in the central relationship. It is still an enjoyable read, a testament to Noblin’s skills as an author, but I really wanted more.
3/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
SPRING FLING by Annie England Noblin.Avon (March 18, 2025). ISBN: 978-0063427587. 304p.
“Much like fine wine, battle-hardened assassins grow better with age.”—#1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Gardner
Four women assassins, senior in status—and in age—sharpen their knives for another bloody good adventure in this riotous follow-up to the New York Times bestselling sensation Killers of a Certain Age.
After more than a year of laying low, Billie, Helen, Mary Alice, and Natalie are called back into action. They have enjoyed their time off, but the lack of excitement is starting to chafe: a professional killer can only take so many watercolor classes and yoga sessions without itching to strangle someone…literally. When they receive a summons from the head of the elite assassin organization known as the Museum, they are ready tackle the greatest challenge of their careers.
Someone on the inside has compiled a list of important kills committed by Museum agents, connected to a single, shadowy figure, an Eastern European gangster with an iron fist, some serious criminal ambition, and a tendency to kill first and ask questions later. This new nemesis is murdering agents who got in the way of their power hungry plans and the aging quartet of killers is next.
Together the foursome embark on a wild ride across the globe on the double mission of rooting out the Museum’s mole and hunting down the gangster who seems to know their next move before they make it. Their enemy is unlike any they’ve faced before, and it will take all their killer experience to get out of this mission alive.
“The Golden Girls of murder are back—bickering Natalie and Mary Alice, classy Helen, and, of course, ruthless Billie . . . In between the action scenes, they also snipe at each other in a way only lifelong friends can while also admitting their fears, such as pursuing relationships as a widow or the looming guilt of a mission gone wrong. Fans of the first book will be eager to return to this gang of kick-butt ladies.” —Booklist
“Fans of Killers of a Certain Age will enjoy the return of the four senior assassins whose escapades from the past and present are intermixed in a fast-paced, humorous adventure. The books stand out for their wit and unlikely friendships.”—Library Journal
“Four talented assassins combine their skills in order to survive what they’d expected to be a peaceful retirement . . . Delighted to be back at their old job despite their bickering and squabbling, they relive past cases as they travel to several unsavory European and Egyptian spots . . . and end up involved in an art theft case that dates back to the Third Reich. A nonstop-action thriller that’s often disconcertingly funny in posing moral questions about the murder of horrible people.”—Kirkus Reviews
I was excited to dive into the second installment of Deanna Raybourn’s Killers of a Certain Age series. This thriller is the perfect blend of friendship, humor, tension, risk, and nonstop action. The story follows Billie, Mary Alice, Helen, and Natalie, retired assassins who are pulled back into their former careers by the Museum’s new director, Naomi Ndiaye. The Museum is the name of this shadow international spy agency. A mole has leaked critical information, and the quartet must stop a killer targeting Museum employees linked to an Eastern European gangster. Former Nazis make an appearance as art theft is still a leftover issue from World War II that the Museum is keenly focused on, much like the Monuments Men.
The novel, largely told from Billie’s perspective, includes flashbacks to their past missions. Raybourn skillfully crafts dynamic, relatable characters with complex backgrounds. While there isn’t quite as much humor as was in the first book, the narrative remains captivating with its global settings, engaging characters, and unpredictable twists. The story explores themes beyond assassination, focusing on friendship, age, trust, and ethics, which add a lot of depth to the story.
Overall, Kills Well with Others is a compelling, fast-paced thriller that combines mature characters with plenty of action and humor. If you enjoy unique series with strong characters, this is definitely worth reading. I loved it.
3/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
KILLS WELL WITH OTHERS by Deanna Raybourn.Berkley (March 4, 2025). ISBN: 978-0593638514. 368p.
A swoony, steamy, STEM romance in which two curators at a science museum—a handsome but grumpy astronomer and an anxious but sunshine-y entomologist—realize they are the perfect match. Now with exclusive bonus content!
Millie has never taken the expected path. Her childhood love for bugs and science led her to entomology, and her role as a curator, inspiring museum visitors every day. It’s her dream to run her own department—so when a rare director position opens, she is determined nothing will distract her from her goal. Especially not Finn, her grumpy coworker with his permanent scowl, electric blue eyes, and endless supply of astronomy ties.
. . . Not that she’s spent time noticing any of those things.
Finn doesn’t mean to glare at everyone, but he’s juggling his role at the museum, navigating the grief of losing his sister, attempting to make his nieces smile, and trying not to ruin dinner for the fifth night in a row. He can’t afford to let anything slip, and certainly doesn’t need more to deal with—especially not Millie literally stumbling into him, with her bright smile and sunny optimism.
He bugs her. She’s too starry-eyed for him. They want nothing to do with each other. But with Finn on the interview committee, avoidance is impossible. And Millie soon realizes it’s one thing when a job is on the line. It’s quite another when it’s her heart.
Give Me Butterflies is a sweet and sexy STEM romance, featuring:
Grumpy x Sunshine
Heroine in STEM
Slow burn
Open door spice
Found family
Nerdy banter
“Meadows wows with a contemporary that’s funny, sexy, sweet, and deliciously nerdy all at the same time…Fans of Ali Hazelwood’s STEMinist series should snap this up.” — Publishers Weekly *STARRED* review
“Collectors of perfectly executed grumpy sunshine love stories will want to snare a copy of Meadows’ superbly written romance in their reading nets. With an intriguing STEM-centered storyline, an abundance of steamy sexual chemistry, and plenty of sharp wit, the start of Meadows’ ‘Oak Sisters’ series is a rare specimen indeed.” — Booklist *STARRED* review
“A companionable romance that emphasizes family and friends, support and mental wellbeing, and building a happy life.” —Library Journal
“Narrators Victoria Connolly and Jason Clarke enchant listeners in this heartfelt contemporary romance . . . Both narrators use authentic-sounding voices in the delivery of dialogue, making this a memorable audio experience that will leave listeners smiling.” — AudioFile Reviews
This was such a fun, nerdy read! Millie and Finn both work at a science museum; she’s a curator of the entomology department and he’s the director of astronomy. Finn’s face is permanently etched with a scowl, and Millie is all sunshine and rainbows, at least in public. Turns out Finn has good reason for his unhappy face – his only sister died a few months earlier, and he is now guardian to her twin girls. He loves the girls, but it is a lot and it cost him his last relationship when his girlfriend didn’t want to deal with kids.
Millie was in a long-term relationship with Kyle, a man who was manipulative and cruel to her. Eventually, she ends things but is still recovering and certainly not looking to start anything new. But then she runs into Finn, literally, and spills coffee all over him. Then she hits his car. This is a very damaging meet cute, but he is so kind about it all that it really surprises her.
Millie has applied for the open director position in her department, and Finn is on the hiring committee. She works hard to ace her first interview, and it goes really well. But the more she runs into Finn, the more she sees the man behind the scowl, and when he brings his nieces in for a week-long camp program, it totally changes her opinion of him. She adores the girls, and they love her, too. Next thing you know Finn and Millie are hanging out, usually with the girls, and they start developing feelings for one another. This is a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance, and I was completely drawn into their story.
There is a lot of humor and some sizzling sex once they get together. I loved the way they dealt with their respective families – Millie’s is the type of family most people wish for, loving, caring, and close, while Finn’s parents are stuffy and incredibly rude, even to their grandchildren. They are pissed that their daughter left Finn her daughters to raise, but it is easy to understand once they enter the story.
The narrators were great, and I was very excited to recognize Jason Clarke’s voice from another book I listened to. They both do a great job drawing me in and more importantly, keeping my attention. This is a dual narration, with each of them reading their respective chapters as the story moves between Finn and Millie’s viewpoints. There is some added drama with a second candidate vying for the director position, and I loved how Finn handled all that. I couldn’t wait for their happy ending, but the epilogues (plural!) went on too long. The first epilogue was great, but the second one was like a sex scene had been cut from the book and added back on at the end. There are also recipes – well, at least one for Snickerdoodles, but I stopped listening at that point, so there may be more.
All in all, this was a really good story, and I’m looking forward to the next book in the series, which, going by the title of the series, will be based on one of Millie’s sisters.
3/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
GIVE ME BUTTERFLIES by Jillian Meadows.Narrators: Jason Clarke & Victoria Connolly. HarperAudio; January 21, 2025. Listening Length: 10 hours and 45 minutes.
I lost my beloved cat, Loki, on March 11. I am beyond heartbroken. I’ve been crying for days, and sleep eludes me. I miss him so much. Please allow me this space to grieve. It helps me to work through my feelings by writing about them.
Loki was sixteen years old and, until the last year, was in perfect health. Last year, he started having seizures, at first tiny seizures, but then a couple of grand mal seizures. It appeared to be something called Feline Audiogenic Reflex Seizures, or FARS, a type of epilepsy that usually occurs in older cats where seizures are triggered by specific sounds. There’s not a whole lot known about it, but we could see it. The sound of a metal spoon hitting the ceramic bowl when I fed him made him flinch; a tiny seizure. Ice coming out of the refrigerator into a metal cup made him cower and shake. I bought silicon spoons to use when I fed him, and we put a plastic cup next to the ice maker; it was still noisy but not troublesome. I was never sure what caused the grand mal seizures, but it never appeared to be sound-related. He hadn’t had a seizure since late last year; then, a few weeks ago, it appeared he had another full seizure. He had peed on the rug, and he only ever did that during a grand mal seizure. But it turns out the seizures weren’t the problem; it was his heart.
A few weeks ago I started noticing he wasn’t eating very much, and he was sleeping even more. Cats typically sleep 12-16 hours a day, and he was probably hitting 20. Then he started getting these episodes where he was breathing heavily with his mouth open. Dogs pant, cats do not, so I started researching. It’s a well-kept secret that there is a lot of good information on animals on the National Institutes of Health website. The lethargy, loss of appetite, and panting fit the symptoms of congenital heart failure, which is not uncommon in older cats.
I had been in touch with his breeder when he started having seizures, and she told me that she had never had a cat with that issue. She also told me his mother had passed away at 17 of what she called natural causes; she was getting older, slower, wasn’t eating as much, and eventually passed away. That seemed like maybe what was happening with Loki. We kept a close eye on him. I had read that some cats can live for a while with this heart issue, anywhere from a couple of months to a couple of years. My husband and I discussed it, but he seemed to think if we took him to the vet, the only option would be to put him to sleep. So we didn’t take him.
Truly a gift
Then the episodes of heavy breathing started becoming more frequent, at least once a day, that we saw, then a few times a day. He didn’t like being held anymore; we thought he might be in pain. He wasn’t moving around much, either, and didn’t jump up on the furniture to hang out with us anymore. He didn’t come to bed with us anymore. He was sleeping on a rug in the dining room or near his food. He went to the litter box, but that was about it.
I was getting more concerned as his breathing seemed to worsen, and at his loss of appetite. I weighed him, and he had lost over a pound since November. Alarmed, I again suggested we talk to the vet. My husband was afraid that the stress of taking him there would kill him – cats, as a rule, hate getting into the carrier, hate car rides, and hate going to strange places with strange smells, and Loki hated all three of those stressors. But I thought if there was any way the vet could help him, any kind of medication, maybe it was worth a shot.
Twisty!
It turned out that my husband was right. The vet couldn’t find anything wrong other than his heart was racing. We hung out there for a while, discussing options, but Loki seemed to be getting worse, instead of calming down. He could go on Lasix, but the longer we stayed, the more the vet was convinced it wouldn’t help. He couldn’t hear any fluid in his lungs. He said we could take him to a veterinary cardiologist for scans and more sophisticated testing, but he didn’t think he would even make it there. He pointed out that it is a horrible feeling to not be able to breathe normally and he was right. It was an agonizing decision, but we all agreed he was in too much distress at this point, and we were going to put him to sleep.
Loki & the 5 lb lobster
The vet said he would sedate him first, then give him something to stop his heart. I couldn’t bear the thought of watching that, and neither could my husband. We held him to say goodbye, and his beautiful blue eyes were just solid black, all pupil. He didn’t appear to be cognizant of what was happening or even who we were. The vet took him from us, and we left. We had barely left the parking lot when he texted us that Loki had died before he could even sedate him.
My heart broke. I spent the day crying and looking at pictures of him.
He brought so much joy into my life! We had another cat, Edgar, who we adopted from the shelter, as we had all the cats in my life. But Edgar had some issues; he was hearing and visually impaired, and startled easily. He was an orphan, a specific term for kittens taken from their mothers too young, before being socialized. And worst of all, he was a biter. Not little nips, we are talking teeth sunk into the skin, drawing blood. Cat bites are much more dangerous than dog bites and almost always cause serious infections. My husband was nearly hospitalized a few times, and my daughter was hospitalized once. The morning I woke up with him biting my ankle and blood all over the bed, I’d had it. He moved out onto my back porch and never even tried to get into the house again.
I became afraid of cats. I’ve always had cats, but he really freaked me out. One day, my husband came home from helping one of his customers – he helped people with their computer issues. This particular customer had a couple of Birman cats, which I had never heard of, and he said they were the sweetest, friendliest cats he’d ever seen. While he was working on the computer, they just hung out with him. He got the name of a couple of breeders, and suggested we look into it. She had told us that this one breeder was very particular about where she placed her cats, and in fact, she hadn’t been able to get one and instead used a different breeder. We visited both, and it was no contest. If the breeder approved, we would get a kitten from her. I sat down with her and told her about my experiences with cats, and how Edgar had made me afraid of them. She had half a dozen Birmans roaming around, and they were all so calm and so sweet. She agreed we could have a kitten from her next litter. This was a first-time mom, so she only had two kittens.
I never had any experience dealing with a breeder. We were animal shelter people all the way. These cats were also very expensive, which made me uncomfortable. My husband argued that we could afford it (sort of) and then stipulated that Loki would be my fiftieth birthday present. He knows how to play me, and that worked. The timing was perfect; Loki was born on November 1, and a few weeks later, I turned fifty.
Left to right: Loki, his mom, and his brother
We started visiting the breeder when the kittens were just a few days old and had just opened their eyes. We visited regularly, at least once a week. She gave them temporary names, Lewis & Clark, and originally, I was going to take Clark, I thought he was cuter. But as they got older, he got a little more rambunctious, and I got scared because of the horrible experience we had with Edgar. Kittens are very playful! The breeder told us to take Lewis, that he had a very sweet nature. I’m not sure how on earth she knew that about kittens that were just a few weeks old, but she was right. Lewis became Loki, and we lived happily ever after.
Loki was the sweetest, most loving cat I’ve ever had. He wasn’t a lap cat, but he loved to sleep on the hassock with his head on my ankle, or on the arm of the chair cuddled up with my husband. He slept in our bed for most of his life until the very end.
He would be waiting by the front door when I got home from work and would follow me all over the house, often getting underfoot while I was cooking. He always seemed to know when I was sad, and he would come sit with me. Loki was also a talker – he always had something to say. Birmans were bred from Siamese cats a long time ago, but if you look up the breed, it says they are quiet. We used to kid around and say guess he never read the book on Birmans. Their fur is also supposed to be easy to maintain because they don’t have an undercoat, so they are not supposed to be prone to matting. But he was – another instance of him not reading the book.
Bring out the turkey, I’m ready!
I was able to teach him to ‘give me five!’ When I brushed him, I would say, “put your keppe back” (keppe is Yiddish for head) and he would throw his head back so I could brush his neck. The funniest thing was that he never really liked playing with toys, and we tried them all! He would play for thirty seconds, then just walk away. He liked these little crunchy-sounding foil balls, and he would swat them around and chase them, but after a few swats, he was done. Laser? No reaction. He was scared of this fish toy that moved if he touched it, so he avoided it. The dangly toys didn’t interest him; really, nothing did. He just wanted to hang out with us, and he was happy.
The day we lost Loki, the New York Times ran this article:
I miss him so much, my heart hurts. We are talking about retiring to Portugal in a couple of years, and my husband said once we get settled, we can get another cat. But I can’t imagine wanting another cat. I don’t think any other cat would ever measure up to Loki, and that would break my heart all over again.
Every book in the Dream Harbor series can be read as a standalone.
As a world-renowned chef, single dad Archer never planned on moving to a small town, let alone running a pancake restaurant. But Dream Harbor needs a new chef, and Archer needs a community to help raise his daughter, Olive.
Irishas never managed to hold down a job for more than a few months. So when it’s suggested that Archer is looking for a live-in nanny, she almost runs in the opposite direction.
Now, Iris finds herself in a whole new world. One where her gorgeous new boss lives right across the hall and likes to cook topless… Keeping everything strictly professional should be easy, right?
The Strawberry Patch Pancake House is a cozy romance with a single dad and found family dynamic, a small-town setting and a HEA guaranteed!
This is such a fun series, and I love that each book stands alone. This story centers around Archie, a renowned chef, who discovers he is the father of a five-year-old girl named Olive after her mother’s untimely passing. To secure full custody, Archie relinquishes his prestigious career in Paris and relocates to Dream Harbor, where he takes a position at a local diner. His goal is to demonstrate his ability to provide a stable environment for Olive.
However, Archie faces numerous challenges as he adjusts to his new life. The townspeople resist the changes he makes to the diner’s menu, Olive initially refuses to talk to him, and the elderly ladies of the town frequently visit – daily – to assess his parenting skills. Overwhelmed, Archie desperately needs assistance.
Enter Iris, who is struggling to maintain employment, is facing financial difficulties, and is about to be evicted. Becoming Olive’s nanny seems like an ideal opportunity for her, despite the challenges of working with Archie, who is both gruff and captivating, and the fact she’s never worked with or really been around children; Iris figures her experience dealing with senior citizens is close enough. Iris has never had a serious relationship, or really any kind of relationship, past a couple of weekends of sex. Archie has been so focused on his career that he, too, has never been in a relationship.
As Iris navigates her role, she finds herself increasingly drawn to Archie, but both are aware that pursuing a romantic relationship could jeopardize their goals. Archie is committed to being a good father and securing full custody, while Iris cannot afford to lose another job, especially one that offers stability. However, a purely physical relationship could be an option…
As time passes, the attraction between them intensifies despite the promise of trouble if they continue. The question arises whether this connection could evolve into something more meaningful, potentially forming the kind of family neither had envisioned nor really ever wanted. Could these two individuals, each facing their own struggles, come together to create a lasting and fulfilling family unit?
The story incorporates the forced proximity, grumpy meets sunshine, and opposites attract tropes. Additionally, the themes of a single dad, found family and slow-burn romance are skillfully woven throughout, making it incredibly engaging and impossible to put down – I read it on a Sunday, and it was the highlight of my weekend! (To be fair, the bar was set pretty low; my usual highlights are cooking, cleaning, and laundry.) If you haven’t read this series, this is a good place to start, although reading the first book that introduces the town, the element that ties these books together, is also a good idea. If you like small-town romances with a bit of heat, give this series a look. I love it!
3/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
THE STRAWBERRY PATCH PANCAKE HOUSE by Laurie Gilmore. HarperCollins (March 13, 2025). ASIN: B0DDSVS6MY. 345p.
Paperback (note: paperback doesn’t come out until 3/18/25)
Opposites become allies to fool their matchmaking friends in this swoony reimagining of Shakespeare’s beloved comedy, Much Ado About Nothing.
Jamie Westenberg and Bea Wilmot have nothing in common except a meet-disaster and the mutual understanding that they couldn’t be more wrong for each other. But when the people closest to them play Cupid and trick them into going on a date, Jamie and Bea realize they have something else in common after all—an undeniable need for revenge.
Soon their plan is in place: Fake date obnoxiously and convince the meddlers they’re madly in love. Then, break up spectacularly and dash everyone’s hopes, putting an end to the matchmaking madness once and for all.
To convince everyone that they’ve fallen for each other, Jamie and Bea will have to nail the performance of their lives. But as their final act nears and playing lovers becomes easier than not, they begin to wonder: What if Cupid’s arrow wasn’t so off the mark? And what if two wrongs do make a right?
“From a meet-cute that crackles with wit and humor to pages upon pages of scorching tension, Liese has crafted a warm, delightful novel that emphasizes acceptance, communication, and the self-worth we can discover by both daring to love and letting ourselves be loved…An effervescent reimagining of the Bard packaged in an opposites-attract romance.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“In this lighthearted rom-com riff on Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing from Liese… the banter is easy and the heat level is high.”—Publishers Weekly
“In this exceptionally smart and charming romance… Liese’s writing is crisp and funny, the characters are fully engaging, and the story is delightful.”—Booklist
“Liese (Everything for You) nods to Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing here, and readers will enjoy the snarky banter and other similarities to the play, along with the enemies-to-lovers plot, solid character development, and a little heat. Perfect for fans of The Hating Game by Sally Thorne.”—Library Journal
I actually read the third book in this series, Once Smitten, Twice Shy, and loved it, so I hunted down the first book, and I’m very glad I did. This is a contemporary retelling of “Much Ado About Nothing,” with inclusiveness, which I loved. The female main character, Bea, is neurodivergent, and the male main character, Ben, has anxiety issues. We get the enemies-to-lovers and fake dating, the witty banter, and the happy ending – not to mention a super fun read! The narrators were wonderful and really helped draw me into the story.
The premise is that Bea’s sister and her boyfriend set up Bea and Ben without telling them. Their first meeting is a disaster; it’s hate at first sight. Their second meeting is a disaster; more hate. But once they figure out they are being set up, they decide the best way to handle it is to get revenge by fake dating and then breaking up. If you’ve ever read a romance, or Shakespeare, you know that they fall in love while fake dating and live happily ever after.
The fake dating did seem forced at times, but not in a good way. They were obviously attracted to one another and understood each other’s social anxiety, which was heartwarming. I reached the point where I wanted to shout at them, enough already. Just admit you have feelings and move on. But it took many, many pages until that finally happened. Luckily, that witty banter helped move the story along anyway.
This was a fun, sexy read with a lot of humor. I’m hunting down book two next.
3/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
TWO WRONGS MAKE A RIGHT by Chloe Liese.Narrators: Charlotte North & Stephen Dexter. Penguin Audio; November 22, 2022. Listening Length: 11 hours and 30 minutes
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