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2024 HOLIDAY READS

November 8, 2024

I have read quite a few holiday books this year, so here are some of my favorites! In no particular order…

CHRISTMAS SWEATER WEATHER by Jaqueline Snowe

Christmas is both naughty and nice this year when a single dad and his best friend’s sister celebrate with some secret (steamy) romance and festive fun, perfect for fans of Maggie Knox and Lyssa Kay Adams.

Charlotte Calhoun has avoided Hayden Porter, her older brother’s sexy-as-sin best friend, ever since that mortifying night when he flat-out rejected her. Fine. Except this Christmas season, they’re thrown together at a snowy ski resort for her brother’s bachelor party, complete with mistletoe, cozy fireplaces, and adjoining rooms. She can tell herself to get over Hayden, but holiday cheer is turning to holiday lust every time he is within ten feet of her.

Between being a full-time single father and his high-pressure college coaching job, a romantic relationship is off the table for Hayden. But he’s fought his attraction to Charlotte for as long as he can. A one-night stand is starting to sound like a good idea—as long as her brother never finds out. But with two long weeks until the wedding, hiding their growing feelings is going to take a Christmas miracle.

From the BookBitch: This was a fun, sexy Christmas romance and completely entertaining – everything I want in a Christmas romance.

A CHRISTMAS EVE LOVE STORY by Ginny Baird

Annie Jones is stuck repeating Christmas Eve until she finds everything she’s been missing in life in this heartwarming time travel Christmas romance for fans of Miracle on 34th Street, Groundhog Day, and Josie Silver’s A Winter in New York.

Annie Jones works hard designing windows for iconic New York City department store Lawson’s Finest. So when her Christmas window display gets upended by some rambunctious kids on Christmas Eve, the all-too-realistic store Santa gives Annie a little decorating tip on how to start over. With help from friendly security guard Braden Tate, Annie repairs the damage and heads home. But when she wakes the next morning, she’s bewildered to find that it isn’t Christmas day at all, but Christmas Eve all over again.

Trapped in a time loop, Annie doesn’t know how she’ll ever make it back to the present. Luckily, she has an infinite number of chances to get things right. As little everyday choices bring her closer to Braden and to Christmas day, Annie starts to picture what her new life― one full of friendship, love, and community―could look like.

From the BookBitch: “Groundhog Day” is one of my favorite movies, and this book has a similar premise around Christmas Eve instead. Annie was a sweet character, as was Braden, and as the days keep repeating, they learn more about one another and themselves – and how much reaching out to strangers can matter.

THE DECEMBER MARKET by RaeAnne Thayne

The magic of Christmas—and a second shot at romance—is in the air in Shelter Springs this holiday season…

Amanda Taylor isn’t a fan of Christmas, but as the owner of a local soap shop, ignoring the holiday season isn’t an option. To forget the pain of Christmases past, Amanda focuses on making the season bright for her customers at the Shelter Springs Holiday Giving Market. But when her beloved grandmother, Birdie, starts dating the dashing new resident of the Shelter Inn retirement community, Amanda smells trouble. Fortunately, Rafe Arredondo, the grandson of Birdie’s charming suitor, is equally dubious of the match. Unfortunately, he’s just as fiery as his grandfather—and Amanda has zero interest in getting burned.

As a single father, paramedic and assistant fire chief, Rafe has more than enough on his plate. Sure, he and Amanda share a common goal in keeping their grandparents apart. Still, that doesn’t mean he should allow himself to feel as drawn to her as he does. Even if she is great with his young son. Even if she does help the burden of his own painful past feel a little lighter… But when their paths keep crossing at the holiday market, it starts to feel like fate, prompting them both to wonder if taking a chance on love might gift them everything they’ve been wishing for.

From the BookBitch: This is the second book in the Shelter Springs series, and I loved it. Not sure why the publisher is harping on the grandparents relationship; that is really a subplot. It’s the heat between Rafe and Amanda that makes this story fiery and unputdownable.

A HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS by Taylor Hahn

A witty, warmhearted novel about coming to terms with grief, taking a chance on unexpected connections, and finding family in time for the holidays

For wedding singer Mel Hart, the holidays have always retained a certain magic. Her mother, Connie, always managed to pull off spectacular Santa hijinx that convinced Mel to keep believing in Santa way longer than other kids. Those moments meant everything to Mel because the rest of the year, life was unpredictable because of her mother’s alcohol use.

But two weeks before Christmas, Mel gets a call from the hospital: her mother has died.

Then a woman shows up on Mel’s doorstep, claiming to be Connie’s estranged best friend, promising to tell Mel a different narrative—one in which Connie was almost a famous country music star, if only a man hadn’t gotten in the way. Instead of spending Christmas alone in her dead mother’s house, Mel agrees to stay with Barb for the holidays, finding herself in the middle of Barb’s complicated family and uncovering secrets while fighting an attraction to Barb’s in-the-middle-of-a-divorce son. As Christmas approaches, Mel reckons with how little she knew about her mother’s past while reexamining her own future.

A Home for the Holidays is a moving exploration of complicated grief, mother-daughter relationships, loving someone with addiction, and the redemptive power of opening one’s heart to love in all its forms.

From the BookBitch: I loved learning with Mel about her mother’s life, and seeing her relationship blossom. While not your typical Christmas romance, the additional depth here was welcome.

AN AMISH CHRISTMAS MATCH by Winnie Griggs

Can one Amish woman give a struggling widower with five rowdy boys a helping hand—and chance at love—this Christmas season?

Phoebe Kropf knows everyone thinks she’s a bit odd—and more than a little accident-prone. She doesn’t understand why they fuss over her at home rather than see her as a bright, independent Amish woman. So when a friend asks Phoebe to help care for a house full of young men in nearby Sweetbrier Creek, she leaps at the chance to prove she’s more than her shortcomings . . .

Widower Seth Beiler is in over his head with his five orphaned brieder to care for and all the Christmas orders his woodworking shop needs to fulfill. When he asked for help with some cooking and cleaning, he wasn’t expecting a housekeeper as unconventional—or lovely—as Phoebe. Yet her warm care and holiday traditions win their hearts one by one. And soon the farmhouse finally starts to feel like home again. When the Christmas season and Phoebe’s time there is nearly at an end, will Seth convince her that the greatest gift would be her staying . . . as part of their familye?lationships come into play here when team captain Beckett’s sister moves into the same building as his teammate, Garrett. Garrett is tasked with watching out for Jennie, and he does, happily. But as they grow closer, their friendship soon turns into a more physical relationship. When big brother finds out, that happy ending seems in jeopardy.

From the BookBitch: I love Amish romances, and this was a good one – light on the preaching/religion, but heavy on the character development. I loved seeing Phoebe realize her self-worth.

Previously reviewed this season:

ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY by Susan Mallery

WINDOW SHOPPING by Tessa Bailey

LOVE YOU A LATKE by Amanda Elliot

THE CHRISTMAS TREE FARM by Laurie Gilmore

LOVELIGHT FARMS by B.K. Borison

11/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

Comments Off on 2024 HOLIDAY READS | Book Reviews, Fiction, Romance | Tagged: Christmas, Holiday | Permalink
Posted by Stacy Alesi

Spotlight Review: EIGHT NIGHTS TO WIN HER HEART by Miri White

November 5, 2024

From the publisher:

Bask in the warm glow of the menorah in this debut Jewish romantic comedy featuring a hard-of-hearing hero and a Chanukah meet-cute, perfect for fans of Rachel Lynn Solomon and Jean Meltzer.

Andie Williams is not looking forward to spending her first Chanukah alone after her father’s death. About to lose her job, with her only prospect across the country for another work opportunity, she could use some chutzpah to make it through the eight nights alone.

Leo Dentz has had a crush on the girl across the hall from his apartment for years but has never had the courage to say anything—until she drops her grocery bags and he notices her drug store Chanukah candles. Ready to take a chance outside of his comfort zone, Leo offers to join Andie on the first night, sharing his dinner with her.

As Andie and Leo fall for each other one night at a time, and the clock ticks down on Andie’s move, will this season of miracles light their way forward?

“White combines scrumptious descriptions of comfort food, massive winter lights displays, and believable family drama in her entertaining holiday contemporary.” —Publishers Weekly

https://amzn.to/4ebJ2Yo

Yes, it’s a Hanukkah miracle – another holiday romance set around Hanukkah instead of Christmas. Now my regular readers know I LOVE Christmas romance; in fact, I’ve read so many this year I’m going to have to do a compilation review (coming soon!) But I am thrilled to be reading my second (or third?) Hanukkah romance this season, and it’s a good one. It’s also a debut novel, so hopefully more to come.

Andie is one of those amazing preschool teachers you wish for but rarely get. Sadly, her school has lost its funding so she’s looking for another job. Preschool teachers usually make bupkis (nothing much) and tend to burn out, so you wouldn’t think it would be hard to find another job. Yet Andie would like a job that pays more than minimum wage, and benefits would be nice, too. And she finds it – unfortunately, that job is in Ohio, precipitating a real soul-searching decision. She loves living in Boston, but as a young single woman with no family, she has no obligations to stay there. Except the memories of her father, and she is torn about leaving their apartment and all the memories it holds.

Leo lives down the hall from Andie and has had a crush on her for a couple of years now. He had a bunch of ear infections as a child that he never outgrew, and eventually lost his hearing, and he wears hearing aids. It was interesting to see a young person with that issue.

Their meet-cute happens when Andie drops a bag of groceries, revealing Hanukkah candles. Leo finally gets up the courage to ask her to spend her first night of Hanukkah with him. Leo finally realizes this is his big break, his chance to get to know her better and see where it goes. When he finds out she is moving for a new job, he realizes he has eight nights to get her to stay.

Leo has some family issues of his own. He works with his brother, both working for their father in their grandfather’s antique business. When Leo and his brother were teenagers, they were fooling around in the shop and broke some valuable pieces. Their father has never forgiven them. Now that he is getting ready to retire, his sons want to buy the business from him, but he doesn’t think they deserve it and is entertaining offers from outsiders.

Andie and Leo grow closer, but problems arise when he offers to fix her beloved mother’s desk. It is an antique and in terrible shape. But Andie lost her mother as an infant, and it is all she has of her so she very reluctantly lets Leo take it to the shop. You can see what happens next from Mars, but this is a romance so a happy ending is guaranteed.

There is some humor here, and some steamy sex. But mostly, it is about family and love and Hanukkah, and it is a terrific holiday read. I can’t wait to see what comes next from this new author.

11/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

EIGHT NIGHTS TO WIN HER HEART by Miri White. Alcove Press (October 15, 2024). ISBN:‎ 978-1639108923. 304p.

Kindle

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BookBitch Diary: November 1, 2024

November 1, 2024

Heading into the election!

Election Day is a mere five days away! In case you are new here, I just want to make it clear which way I am voting. Feel free to disagree with me; this is America, and we are all entitled to vote however we want.

I watched in complete disbelief last month as Alex Wagner on MSNBC spent some time with a group of UA (The United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry) union members in Lansing, Michigan, an important swing state. Some were solidly Trump or Harris, but most were undecided. Most also had no idea what was going on in the world. Many of them were getting all their [dis]information via social media. Some knew nothing about Trump and all the court cases he’s involved with, and even worse, the ones who knew didn’t seem to care. Some didn’t have any opinions on Jan. 6th or didn’t understand why it was a big deal. Many were concerned with immigration, but none were very clear on what the problems were. These were union members with good jobs, and one young man said that immigrants were taking “all the jobs.” Not his, apparently.

A couple of weeks ago I watched Jimmy Kimmel send a “reporter” to a Trump rally at Coachella. The “reporter” asked people their opinions on a variety of issues, from critical race theory to fracking to D.E.I. All the Trump supporters had strong opinions on these topics, so the reporter followed up by saying, “What is “critical race theory [or whatever the topic was] for people who don’t understand it?” Not one of those people with strongly held beliefs could explain them; they just knew they were bad. To be fair, there probably were people there who could explain some of these topics, but for comedy’s sake, they didn’t show any of them. It’s funny as hell if you’re not a Trump supporter, and Kimmel is playing to his audience. I point this out because this is the type of disinformation that is so prevalent today.

As an academic librarian, I try to teach my students how to determine the trustworthiness of their sources. How to tell the difference between information, misinformation, and disinformation. It is becoming more difficult to parse through all the noise and find the kernels of truth. AI has made it exponentially more complicated, which is why information literacy is so vitally important.

I realize that most people don’t follow the news like I do. I read three newspapers a day, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post. I don’t read them cover to cover, but I get their newsletters and feel I have a pretty good idea of what is happening in the world. I watch probably too much MSNBC, some CNN, and some YouTubers like David Pakman and The Young Turks. I also follow late-night comedians like Jimmy Kimmel, John Oliver, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, and Seth Meyers – all are available on YouTube, and when the news is especially brutal (looking at you, Netanyahu,) they make me laugh.

I am a “super voter,” a term I had never heard until I worked for the Obama campaign. It was the second campaign I ever worked on; my first was Jimmy Carter, and I didn’t turn 18 until a month after his election so I couldn’t even vote for him! But I have voted in every election since. Local and national. And apparently, that makes me a “super voter.” I love that! We are so privileged in this country, and it kills me that so many people don’t vote. This is from the Pew Research Center:

The elections of 2018, 2020 and 2022 were three of the highest-turnout U.S. elections of their respective types in decades. About two-thirds (66%) of the voting-eligible population turned out for the 2020 presidential election – the highest rate for any national election since 1900. The 2018 election (49% turnout) had the highest rate for a midterm since 1914. Even the 2022 election’s turnout, with a slightly lower rate of 46%, exceeded that of all midterm elections since 1970.

I also find it interesting that other democracies around the world have much higher voter turnout than we do. The Institute for Responsive Government, “composed of industry-leading experts, the Institute’s team works across disciplines to build a new approach to governance that centers efficiency, efficacy, and accessibility” put out this report: What Other Countries Can Teach Us About Turnout

Their report investigates the roles different voting structures around the world play in increasing turnout among eligible voters. The purpose is to surface several alternatives the United States could explore as a way of confronting its voting challenges and increasing turnout. Instead, we have Republicans suppressing as many voters as possible – especially voters of color. The rulebook on winning fairly has been incinerated; the sickening new way to win? Any means possible.

Please vote! Our future depends on it.

We Put 12 Strangers in a Group Chat About the Economy . . . It Got Personal

The Wall Street Journal did a little something out of their lane – a sort of social experiment. I found it completely fascinating! The reporter, Rachel Wolfe, chose twelve people she felt were representative of a broad swath of America, but who didn’t know one another.

“What would happen, we wondered, if we asked 12 people diverse in thought, background and identity to talk to each other every day about the economy?”

Then she fed them prompts and recorded the results.

“Over five weeks and 1,300 text messages, our recruits sparred over student loans, presidential candidates and inflation. They also shared their successes, painful stories—and drink coupons.”

Hope you find it worth reading as well.

Book News

For ‘Perfect Couple’ author Elin Hilderbrand, book organization is optional

At her home in Nantucket, the bestselling author keeps her collection personal, including where she puts her books: “Nobody else has to understand it.” [I love looking at other people’s bookshelves!]

Warner Bros pulls plug on Harry Potter events at library

This is so sad! The Harry Potter books get so many kids to read. For years, the publisher encouraged these types of events, but no longer. This library got a “cease and desist” letter from the movie studio so they had to cancel one of their most popular events.

Elizabeth Benedict, 10, gives a salute with her wand during 2018’s A Night at Hogwarts at Teton County Library. The library said Thursday that it was canceling all of its 2024 Harry Potter-themed events due to copyright issues. RYAN DORGAN/Jackson Hole Daily FILE

What Is a Shadow Library?

Millions of books circulating in the shadows of the internet are shedding light on the current realities of accessing information.

Food News

Frozen spinach deserves more respect. Here’s how to best use it.

Pack nutrition into a wide range of dishes with this budget-friendly staple. [I use it all the time!]

*Frozen spinach is sold bagged and in a block. (Scott Suchman for The Washington Post; food styling by Lisa Cherkasky for The Washington Post)*

Stanley Tucci wants to cook for you

How the actor built a culinary identity, one project at a time.

Other News

Doctor running half marathon sees woman collapse, saves her, finishes race

*Chrystal Rinehold, left, with Shane Naidoo and the half marathon medal he cut in half and presented to her on Oct. 3. (Friends of Shane Naidoo)*

I got to spend Rosh Hashanah with my family in New York. My grandson is three and was lucky enough to get into the “3K” program that the city runs – it’s a lottery process for preschool through the city school system. It’s not perfect – he cries sometimes during the day, and he got sick a week or two into it, but there has been some improvement since he started going in early September. The plus side is they got to keep their fabulous nanny, whose primary job is now my six-month-old granddaughter. They are coming to visit for Thanksgiving, and I can hardly wait!

As always, thanks for reading, and stay safe.

Thanks to The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal for allowing me to “gift” my readers with free access to these articles, a lovely perk for subscribers.

Comments Off on BookBitch Diary: November 1, 2024 | Ramblings | Permalink
Posted by Stacy Alesi

Spotlight Review: BE READY WHEN THE LUCK HAPPENS by Ina Garten

October 29, 2024

From the publisher:

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In her long-awaited memoir, Ina Garten—aka the Barefoot Contessa, author of thirteen bestselling cookbooks, beloved Food Network personality, Instagram sensation, and cultural icon—shares her personal story with readers hungry for a seat at her table.

Here, for the first time, Ina Garten presents an intimate, entertaining, and inspiring account of her remarkable journey. Ina’s gift is to make everything look easy, yet all her accomplishments have been the result of hard work, audacious choices, and exquisite attention to detail. In her unmistakable voice (no one tells a story like Ina), she brings her past and her process to life in a high-spirited and no-holds-barred memoir that chronicles decades of personal challenges, adventures (and misadventures) and unexpected career twists, all delivered with her signature combination of playfulness and purpose.

From a difficult childhood to meeting the love of her life, Jeffrey, and marrying him while still in college, from a boring bureaucratic job in Washington, D.C., to answering an ad for a specialty food store in the Hamptons, from the owner of one Barefoot Contessa shop to author of bestselling cookbooks and celebrated television host, Ina has blazed her own trail and, in the meantime, taught millions of people how to cook and entertain. Now, she invites them to come closer to experience her story in vivid detail and to share the important life lessons she learned along the way: do what you love because if you love it you’ll be really good at it, swing for the fences, and always Be Ready When the Luck Happens.

“[Ina Garten] has created an inviting and relaxing world that’s the equivalent of one of her cocktail recipes. To use a Barefoot Contessa catchphrase, How great is that?”—The New York Times

“Simplicity is at the core of [Ina Garten’s] appeal . . . her approachability, charisma and close connection to the sensibilities of the home cook have given her a devoted following.”—The Wall Street Journal

“Though a good deal of luck often came through for her along the way, Garten’s lively memoir emphasizes how hard work and unrelenting tenacity were what made the magic happen. An entertaining foray into this well-loved cooking host’s illustrious life.”—Kirkus Reviews
https://amzn.to/3Umaqfr

I’m a long time Ina Garten fan, so I was delighted to hear she was working on a memoir. While it took a few years, it was ultimately worth the wait. I chose to listen to the audiobook, and I’m very glad I did. Read by the author herself, it lends an intimacy to the reading experience and I highly recommend reading it that way.

By now the media around this book has been extensive. We’ve learned about her difficult childhood, her abusive father, and her mother, who cooked tasteless, healthy food and kept Ina out of the kitchen. We’ve heard about Jeffrey and Ina’s separation, their equal partnership marriage, and why they never had children. But most importantly, we learned how Ina became the success that she is.

It’s a good listen, especially if you’re a fan. I have a few quibbles – her constant refrain of how poor she and Jeffrey were did not come across as especially truthful. Jeffrey went to one of the best prep schools in the country (not cheap) and to Princeton (also not cheap.) Ina’s father was a surgeon who made a good living. No matter what Ina and Jeffrey wanted to do, they always had family money to count on. A healthy chunk of the book is about the real estate she bought and renovated, again not something a couple with no money could afford to do. We go from her cries of poverty to Jeffrey working for Lehman Brothers in Japan and insisting on first-class airfare for both of them to travel back and forth every other week. Her weekly jaunts to Paris to find an apartment. The Hamptons homes. A lot of this book is about how the rich (Ina & Jeffrey) spend their time and money, and all the celebrities she pals around with. While I didn’t find it inspirational, it is aspirational.

A good deal of the book concerns her business and career; after all, that is how we know her! From purchasing The Barefoot Contessa store in Westhampton, to growing the business and moving it to East Hampton (don’t ask me why the former is one word and the latter is two, it just is) while buying real estate, renovating houses, building new houses, moving to a larger store and renovating it, to finally selling the business. Then she did nothing for a year until she started writing her first cookbook. She had definite ideas about what she wanted it to look like and how it should be laid out, and she found a champion at her publisher who eventually let her do what she wanted. She had a team helping her, something very few (if any) unpublished cookbook writers get – she paid for it herself. A lot of her “luck” was actually hard work, making smart choices, having the financial support to take chances, and being fearless, which is never easy. The book was a bestseller and really changed the cookbook industry.

Ina did not want a career in television, but she was writing a column for Martha Stewart’s magazine, and eventually, Martha wore her down. She filmed a short season, hated it, and swore off TV. Then a friend turned her on to Nigella Lawson, and she really loved that show. When her production company came calling, she finally gave in and The Barefoot Contessa became a hit on the Food Network. She especially loves her new show, where she cooks with her celebrity friends.

What I found most interesting was when she talked about her relationship with Jeffrey. They were so young when they met, but they both fell pretty fast. She talks about how Jeffrey helped her to grow up, and how their partnership works. While they were officially separated for about a year, they have spent a great deal of their marriage living apart. Jeffrey has had jobs in other countries, in New York City, Washington DC, Connecticut, and various other places while Ina bought the Barefoot Contessa and lived out in the Hamptons for many years. They saw each other on weekends and when they had time off from work. Fans of the show revere what appears to be a perfect marriage, and it definitely works for them.

Aside from her difficult childhood, Ina has lived a charmed life, at least according to this memoir. Any fan of the Barefoot Contessa will undoubtedly enjoy this book, and I especially recommend the audio version.

10/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

BE READY WHEN THE LUCK HAPPENS by Ina Garten. Crown (October 1, 2024). ISBN: 978-0593799895. 320p.

Kindle

Audible

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THE CHRISTMAS TREE FARM by Laurie Gilmore

October 25, 2024

Dream Harbor, Book 3

From the publisher:

From the author of the viral TikTok sensation, The Pumpkin Spice Cafe and The Cinnamon Bun Book Store, comes the only spicy grumpy x sunshine Christmas romcom you need this year!

Kira North hates Christmas. Which is unfortunate since she just bought a Christmas tree farm in a town that’s too cute for its own good.

Bennett Ellis is on vacation in Dream Harbor taking a break from his life in California. And most importantly, taking a break from his latest run of disastrous dates.

After a run in with Kira in her fields, Ben has no intention of offering to help the grumpy owner set up her tree farm, despite the fact she’s clearly got no idea what she’s doing.

Kira knows she should stop being so stubborn, but her farm is not all cute and cozy like people always show on social media, it’s borderline dangerous with no heating, and she’d rather no one saw it.

But somehow fate finds Ben at Kira’s farm once more, and as Kira watches him swing an ax at the first tree, she finds herself appreciating his strength and questioning why she refused help in the first place…

The Christmas Tree Farm is a spicy romantic mystery with a HEA guaranteed!

Tropes:

Grumpy x Sunshine

Small Town

Forced Proximity

One Bed

“A charming break from reality”– Publishers Weekly

https://amzn.to/3UjYUkw

I’m not really a TikTok girl – I prefer reading to viewing videos, so I wasn’t aware of these books until they were traditionally published. This is a fun series though, and I especially love the ties to the Gilmore Girls, one of my favorite TV shows that I watch repeatedly. I do like long-form videos, like TV shows and movies; apparently, I don’t like the 30-second videos. Anyway, while this isn’t set in the Gilmore world, it is set in a small New England town full of quirky but loveable characters, and that works for me.

Kira has grown up in the lap of luxury in Georgia, but when her sister meets her true love and moves to Denmark with him, she decides it’s time for her to move on, too. She impulsively buys a Christmas tree farm in New England with the last of her trust fund and moves into the farmhouse, which is badly in need of renovation. It’s freezing and needs a new heating system, among other things. She avoids town and is living a hermit-like existence until she realizes if she doesn’t get some income from this place, she’s going to either freeze to death or have to move back home, and neither option is the least bit palatable.

Bennett is in town visiting his family. He followed a girlfriend to California, but she dumped him, Repeatedly. His family is thrilled he’s back, even temporarily. Their meet-cute happens when Bennett walks his dogs through Kira’s fields. She’s not happy with him, but they keep running into one another and it turns out he is a bit of a fixer. A nice guy who likes to help. And even though she hates to admit it, Kira needs help.

Eventually, she opens her Christmas tree farm to the public, and business takes off. Kira is intrigued by this nice guy, but even more so once they really get to know one another. Turns out Mr. Nice Guy isn’t exactly nice in bed, which works for Kira. But Bennett is going home to California so geographically, this isn’t going to work. Until they make it work.

I love the setting, the characters are believable and interesting, and the romance sizzles. This was another fun read in a series I’ve really been enjoying. Looking forward to whatever comes next!

THE CHRISTMAS TREE FARM by Laurie Gilmore. One More Chapter (October 22, 2024). ISBN: 978-0008610746. 368p.

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Audible

1 Comment | Book Reviews, Fiction, Romance | Tagged: Christmas, Contemporary, Holiday, romcom, steamy | Permalink
Posted by Stacy Alesi

TOUGHER IN TEXAS by Kari Lynn Dell

October 25, 2024

Texas Rodeo, Book 3

From the publisher:

He’s got five rules and she’s aiming to break them all.

Rodeo producer Cole Jacobs has his hands full running Jacobs Livestock. He can’t afford to lose a single cowboy, so when Cousin Violet offers to send along a more-than-capable replacement, he’s got no choice but to accept. He expects a grizzled Texas good ol’ boy.

He gets Shawnee Pickett.

Wild and outspoken, ruthlessly self-reliant, Shawnee’s not looking for anything but a good time. It doesn’t matter how quickly the tall, dark and intense cowboy gets under her skin―Cole deserves something real, and Shawnee can’t promise him forever. Life’s got a way of kicking her in the teeth, and she’s got her bags packed before tragedy can knock her down. Too bad Cole’s not the type to give up when the going gets tough…

“In Dell’s incredibly realistic third Texas Rodeo contemporary, a rodeo producer meets the woman of his dreams when he least expects it. Cole Jacobs has Asperger’s, which makes social situations challenging for him . . . Dell takes the reader deep into the fascinating world of rodeo, and her effortless storytelling, three-dimensional characters, and heartwarming romance bring the novel to life.” —Publishers Weekly

https://amzn.to/3BSXE1E

My first read from this author was Tangled in Texas, the second book in this series, and I really enjoyed it. This follow up is another good read, especially if you have any interest in rodeo. From what I can remember, there isn’t any reason to read them in order, I think both books stand alone beautifully.

It was interesting to see the male lead character has Asperger’s. For some reason, the romances I can remember with characters on the spectrum, it is usually the woman. Cole has learned to adapt so he can manage his crew, but it isn’t always easy. When Shawnee is sent to replace an injured crew member, Cole isn’t sure how they are going to get along. But to his surprise, she really seems to understand what he needs.

Shawnee usually competes in the rodeo, but the money for this temporary job was too good to pass up. Turns out she really likes the work, and especially her boss, Cole. The next thing you know, they are falling in love.

There is a lot of information about rodeos and the different jobs that make up the crew behind the successful shows. I literally knew nothing about rodeos, other than what I’ve read, so I found it all interesting. Combining an interesting setting with unusual characters and lots of conflict makes for a terrific read. This appears to be is a reissue of a 2017 book, so there may be other books in the series out there. I am going to look for them for sure.

10/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

TOUGHER IN TEXAS by Kari Lynn Dell. Sourcebooks Casablanca (September 3, 2024). ISBN: 978-1464220128. 464p.

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Spotlight Review: IN TOO DEEP by Lee Child & Andrew Child

October 22, 2024

Jack Reacher, Book 29

From the Publisher:

The gripping new Jack Reacher thriller from the #1 New York Times bestselling authors Lee Child and Andrew Child

Reacher had no idea where he was. No idea how he had gotten there. But someone must have brought him. And shackled him. And whoever had done those things was going to rue the day. That was for damn sure.

Jack Reacher wakes up alone, in the dark, handcuffed to a makeshift bed. His right arm has suffered some major damage. His few possessions are gone. He has no memory of getting there.

The last thing Reacher can recall is the car he hitched a ride in getting run off the road. The driver was killed.

His captors assume Reacher was the driver’s accomplice and patch up his wounds as they plan to make him talk.

A plan that will backfire spectacularly . . .

“This 29th installment of the Jack Reacher series is the first one primarily written by Andrew Child, Lee’s brother. The plot is structured like a game of three-card monte; Reacher knows he can’t trust anyone, but he can’t figure out which player is the mastermind. It’s entertaining enough, but the story feels basic compared to Reacher’s previous complex and complicated adventures. A series downshifts to simpler and less thrilling storytelling.” —Kirkus Reviews

“The twenty-ninth Jack Reacher novel (and the fifth to be credited to Lee and his brother Andrew) has perhaps the most kick-ass opening of all the Reachers . . . Explosively violent and written in the familiar unadorned prose that drives the reader through the story, the book is sure to appeal to the Reacher series’ many fans.”–Booklist

“Lee Child hands the Jack Reacher franchise over to his brother, Andrew, with this solid series entry . . . Though the plot is too busy by half, Reacher fans old and new will be perfectly satisfied by the familiar bone-crunching and world-saving in this fast-paced adventure. The series is in good hands.”–Publishers Weekly

https://amzn.to/3UhHmWd

The good news is that I was drawn into the story on page one. The bad news is that if you aren’t familiar with this series, you may not be. There is an excerpt on the Amazon page of the beginning of the book so take a look!

I loved the Lee Child series; it was a must read for me. A never miss. But when Lee decided to step back, he asked his brother, then known as Andrew Grant, to take over the series. Why not keep it in the family, a much better alternative than what Lee originally wanted, which was to kill off Jack Reacher (I’m not pulling this out of thin air; I’ve met Lee on several occasions and he talked about this more than once at conferences.) But I didn’t love the first book of the collaboration, and I hated the one that followed. I stopped reading. Then the last book, The Secret, got great reviews, so I tried again, and I loved it. This time I’m squarely back into “eh” territory.

The usual Reacher components are here; his unfailing sense of right and wrong and his determination on the side of right, no matter what. A rogue female law enforcement officer, who he sleeps with. Lots of fighting, occasional torture, the usual brutality and violence. But the ending felt forced and abrupt, and even worse, I’m not sure I bought it.

Then there are the little things, like Reacher with amnesia, which I just found odd. The fact he never changes his clothes in this book, despite discussing his unusual predilection for not owning anything besides the clothes on his back, a weapon when needed, and his trusty toothbrush. His FBI friend, who keeps saying don’t call me again but keeps answering every call. Too many bad guys which meant not enough character development. I didn’t really get any sense of who these people were besides the obvious interest of all bad guys, money.

I didn’t love this book, and I wanted to. I even put it down about a third of the way in for a day, then went back to it. I’m not sorry I finished it, but I expected more. Lee’s name is still on these books, but he has said that Andrew is writing on his own now. I believe they kick around the plot, but Andrew is doing the heavy lifting here. I will undoubtedly read the next book, but if I don’t feel it is a big improvement, I may give up one of my favorite series again. Only time will tell – so many books, so little time!

10/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

IN TOO DEEP by Lee Child & Andrew Child. Delacorte Press (October 22, 2024). ISBN:‎ 978-0593725801. 336p.

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LOVE YOU A LATKE by Amanda Elliot

October 18, 2024

From the publisher:

Love comes home for the challah-days in this sparkling romance.

Snow is falling, holiday lights are twinkling, and Abby Cohen is pissed. For one thing, her most annoying customer, Seth, has been coming into her café every morning with his sunshiny attitude, determined to break down her carefully constructed emotional walls. And, as the only Jew on the tourism board of her Vermont town, Abby’s been charged with planning their fledgling Hanukkah festival. Unfortunately, the local vendors don’t understand that the story of Hanukkah cannot be told with light-up plastic figures from the Nativity scene, even if the Three Wise Men wear yarmulkes.

Desperate for support, Abby puts out a call for help online and discovers she was wrong about being the only Jew within a hundred miles. There’s one other: Seth.

As it turns out, Seth’s parents have been badgering him to bring a Nice Jewish Girlfriend home to New York City for Hanukkah, and if Abby can survive his incessant, irritatingly handsome smiles, he’ll introduce her to all the vendors she needs to make the festival a success. But over latkes, doughnuts, and winter adventures in Manhattan, Abby begins to realize that her fake boyfriend and his family might just be igniting a flame in her own guarded heart.

“This novel will melt everybody’s hearts, but Jewish romance readers in particular will be thrilled to see Hanukkah reflected so authentically and lovingly. … This holiday treat is as wonderfully sweet and gooey as the traditional Hanukkah doughnut.”—Library Journal (starred review)

“Latkes and jelly donuts (sufganiyot) are a must for this read!”—Booklist (starred review)

“Reads like a dream of a Hanukkah Hallmark movie. I bet it would make an excellent holiday gift for a reader in your life.”—Deb Perelman, creator of Smitten Kitchen

https://amzn.to/485HQo4

Elliot has created a niche for herself, writing terrific Hanukkah romances. I’m sorry to say this book sort of got lost in the shuffle with so many holiday reads in October, until I got my newsletter from Deb Perelman of Smitten Kitchen, one of my favorite recipe websites. Turns out Elliot has a day job helping Deb with her newsletter and possibly the website as well. Not totally clear on what she does, but Deb mentioned this new book was out and sure enough, I found it on my Kindle. Thanks for the reminder, Deb!

Abby grew up in New York City but had a rough childhood with parents who were emotionally abusive. She escaped to a small town in Vermont and bought a small cafe there, with an apartment above. She’s on the small business committee in this small town, so when they decide to have a Hanukkah festival to bring in tourists, they turn to Abby, the only Jew in town. Unfortunately, what this town knows about Hanukkah is that it’s a Jewish holiday, and that’s about it. When they suggest to Abby she decorate the large Christmas tree with blue and white lights and slap some yarmulkes on the three Wise Men, she realizes this is not going to be easy.

Desperate for help, she jumps on a dating app, looking for any Jews in the area. She gets an immediate reply from Seth, her most annoying customer. He’s such a morning person, and Abby isn’t, and his smiling face every morning drives her crazy. He’s willing to help with the Hanukkah festival, but he has an ulterior motive. They strike a deal; he’ll help her find vendors, and she will spend Hanukkah with his family. All his mother wants is for him to bring home a nice Jewish girl and Abby fits the bill.

The Hanukkah festival isn’t happening during Hanukkah, but rather between Christmas and New Year’s because the small town in Vermont doesn’t know any better. Abby’s business is barely breaking even, so she’s all in on bringing in more tourists, even if the festival isn’t exactly what she envisions it to be.

Abby and Seth stay with his family on the Upper West Side of New York City for the eight days of Hanukkah. There, Abby reconnects with the Jewish community and realizes how much she’s missed that connection. This really brought back memories for me – when I was first married, my husband and I moved to Dallas for his job. In the early 1980’s, there was a very small Jewish community there. We had to drive half an hour to get a bagel. We joined a temple, and that helped a bit, but it wasn’t ideal for a Jewish woman who grew up in New York and went to school in South Florida. I worked with a woman who thought I had horns growing out of my head. She was kind, just ignorant, and had never met a Jew before. So I truly related to this Vermont issue in the book.

As Abby and Seth fake date for his parents, Abby starts seeing the good in Seth and finds he isn’t quite as annoying as she first thought. And when she accidentally runs into her parents, he’s there for her, and that makes all the difference. They meet lots of Hanukkah vendors, and even though the town wants her to use Christmas vendors, she stands firm, and the festival is a huge success. And Seth and Abby find their happy ending, too.

This was a terrific holiday romance, and I’m thrilled it was about Hanukkah for a change. I loved it!

LOVE YOU A LATKE by Amanda Elliot. Berkley (October 8, 2024). ISBN: 978-0593815830. 368p.

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WINDOW SHOPPING by Tessa Bailey

October 18, 2024

From the publisher:

A sizzling, feel-good, opposites-attract holiday romance from Tessa Bailey, #1 New York Times bestselling author of It Happened One Summer and Wreck the Halls!

Two weeks before Christmas and all through Manhattan, shop windows are decorated in red and green satin. Stella is standing alone outside a famous department store, when a charming man asks her opinion on the décor.

It’s a tragedy in tinsel, she says, unable to lie. Then he asks for a better idea, with a twinkle in his eye. She didn’t know he owned the place, when he put her on the spot, and now she’s working for that man, trying to ignore that he’s hot.

But as a down-on-her-luck girl with a difficult past, Stella knows how to make a good opportunity last. So she gives it her all, working without stopping. Trying to resist temptation, because she’s just window shopping.

https://amzn.to/4eFlwV5

I love Bailey’s books, and this one is a reissue of a book originally published a couple of years ago. Maybe it was self-published? Not sure of the whys or hows, but I’m sure I enjoyed reading it!

Stella has served her sentence for armed robbery and is looking to start over. Easier said than done when every job application has a little box to check off if you’re a felon. But Stella is lucky; while her parents don’t really want anything to do with her, her uncle is letting her stay in his empty apartment in New York City, so at least she has a roof over her head.

While wandering through the city, she stops at a fancy department store, horrified by their Christmas window displays. Window dressing is something Stella has always dreamed of doing, and took several classes in design while she was in prison. But what retail store would hire a felon? A man approaches her and asks what she thinks of the window display. Stella holds nothing back, and the man seems to agree with her. Then he asks her what she would do differently. Turns out that man owns the department store and is looking to hire someone to redo their windows.

Stella gets the job despite human resources not liking her application. As she spends more time with her new boss, they start developing feelings for one another, but there are rules about subordinates dating their supervisor, and for good reason. But this is a romance, so they overcome all the obstacles including his overbearing family and HR to find their happily ever after.

Bailey is known for her steamy sex scenes and she does not disappoint here, so if that makes you uncomfortable, you may want to skip those pages or find another book. This is a fast-paced story with interesting characters that have unusual backstories, and it was a really fun holiday read.

WINDOW SHOPPING by Tessa Bailey. Avon (October 1, 2024). ISBN: 978-0063330085. 256p.

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Spotlight Review: THE WAITING by Michael Connelly

October 15, 2024

A Renée Ballard and Harry Bosch Novel, Book 6

From the Publisher:

LAPD Detective Renée Ballard tracks a serial rapist whose trail has gone cold, and enlists a new volunteer to the Open-Unsolved Unit: Patrol Officer Maddie Bosch, Harry’s daughter.

Renée Ballard and the LAPD’s Open-Unsolved Unit get a hot shot DNA connection between a recently arrested man and a serial rapist and murderer who went quiet twenty years ago. The arrested man is only twenty-four, so the genetic link must be familial: His father was the Pillowcase Rapist, responsible for a five-year reign of terror in the city of angels. But when Ballard and her team move in on their suspect, they encounter a baffling web of secrets and legal hurdles.

Meanwhile, Ballard’s badge, gun, and ID are stolen—a theft she can’t report without giving her enemies in the department ammunition to end her career as a detective. She works the burglary alone, but her mission draws her into unexpected danger. With no choice but to go outside the department for help, she knocks on the door of Harry Bosch.

At the same time, Ballard takes on a new volunteer to the cold case unit: Bosch’s daughter Maddie, now a patrol officer. But Maddie has an ulterior motive for getting access to the city’s library of lost souls—a case that may be the most iconic in the city’s history. Complex, satisfying, and full of dexterous twists, The Waiting demonstrates once more that “you can’t do better than Michael Connelly” (Forbes).

“Unputdownable . . . White-hot suspense guaranteed to please his fans. This ranks with Connelly’s best.”―Publishers Weekly (starred)

“A Hawaiian coda provides the best news of all: This distinguished series has plenty of miles to go. Aloha, and hooray.”―Kirkus Reviews

“Connelly’s name on the cover guarantees a great read; his latest is no exception. The story follows the cases methodically and realistically, and the characters continue to grow. With a TV series on Amazon Prime coming soon starring Maggie Q as Renée Ballard, this novel will generate more interest than usual.” ―Library Journal (starred)

https://amzn.to/4eUnYqw

Let me start by saying this: Michael Connelly has never phoned it in, or slacked or in any way. Every one of his books is carefully researched and written with the sort of sensibility we expect from Connelly, yet he never panders. If you haven’t read Connelly, you are in for a treat. If you have, this book is everything you would expect; totally engrossing and fast-paced, with twists and red herrings laid out much like the freeways in Los Angeles with its extensive network of interconnected highways, until the supremely satisfying ending.

While Harry Bosch has his name on the front cover, he has but a few pivotal scenes. On the other hand, his daughter, Maddie, is more prominent. Maddie has a significant lead on the infamous Black Dahlia murder, which was never solved. She takes what she knows to Renée Ballard, head of the Open-Unsolved unit in the Los Angeles Police Department, and asks to volunteer for the unit. But because she is already a cop, the union insists she must be paid and cannot work as a volunteer. Luckily, Ballard has a grant with enough discretionary money to pay Maddie, plus she welcomes having another badge in the unit. But politics rears its ugly head when the District Attorney won’t close the Black Dahlia case.

The squad has been working on an old serial rapist case as well, and they get a jolt when a DNA match comes up – not for the perpetrator, but for a family member, almost certainly his son. They follow every lead which takes some interesting turns along the way.

Ballard is also working on another case, but she is keeping it to herself and Harry Bosch. Ballard is a surfer; that’s where she finds peace in her life. But after a morning ride, she gets back to her car to find her badge, gun, wallet, etc have been stolen. The thief was kind enough to leave her hide-a-key on the seat so she could at least get herself to work. But she is afraid if she reports her badge and gun have been stolen, her job will be in jeopardy. So she investigates on her own, eventually with a little help from Harry.

All these cases keep the pages turning, and these characters bring life to the investigations. I don’t read many mysteries or thrillers these days; I prefer to escape into the silliness of romcoms and the happy endings of romance. That said, there are a couple of authors I won’t miss, and Connelly leads the list. This is another excellent read from one of my favorite authors.

10/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE WAITING by Michael Connelly. Little, Brown and Company (October 15, 2024). ISBN:‎ 978-0316563796. 416p.