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Dual narration by Carly Robins & Tim Paige

The Legacy Series, Book 0.7

From the publisher:

From USA Today bestselling author Rebecca Yarros comes a friends to lovers romance novella set in her Legacy world.

It only takes a spark . . .

In Legacy, Colorado, I buried my father alongside his elite Hotshot team. Ten years later, I’ve followed in his footsteps—fighting fires in the mountains of Alaska with my brother.

Amid the flames, nothing ignites me like Avery Claire. She’s stubborn, strong, sexy as hell, and my best friend. She also has no idea that I’m in love with her.

But Colorado is calling me home, needing every Legacy-born firefighter to successfully rebuild our fathers’ team.

One night will change everything between us, but she’s tied to Alaska, and my future is in Colorado. Now I’m torn between what my honor demands, and what my heart can’t live without.

Contains mature themes.

https://amzn.to/44GTjt8

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After their father died fighting a fire, River and his brother left Legacy behind. Though they followed in their father’s footsteps as hotshots, they relocated to Alaska to escape painful memories and start fresh. When they learn they’re needed to help resurrect the Legacy Hotshot team, they realize it’s finally time to go home.

Avery, River’s best friend, has long wished their friendship could become something more—unaware that River feels the same way. But Avery is bound to the small town by the responsibility of caring for her abusive, alcoholic father. When she and River finally confess their feelings, Avery finds herself torn between staying to care for her father and following her heart. There is a way forward, but the path is anything but smooth.

Even shorter than the series’ first novella, Point of Origin, this book felt rushed because of its brevity. While I generally prefer full-length novels over novellas, I enjoyed this story despite feeling it would have benefited from more development and expansion.

7/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

IGNITE by Rebecca Yarros. Narrators: Carly Robins & Tim Paige. Tantor Audio. March 26, 2024. Listening Length: 3 hours and 37 minutes.

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Dual narration by Meg Sylvan & Tim Paige

The Legacy Series, Book 0.5

From the publisher:

From USA Today bestselling author Rebecca Yarros comes a small-town, second chance romance novella set in the Legacy world . . .

In Legacy, Colorado, our inheritance is simple: Fire and Heartbreak. Sebastian Vargas . . . he’s both.

He was my best friend. My first love. My everything.

Until he was my nothing.

It’s been ten years since the wildfire that turned our small town to ashes, taking the lives of our fathers and their elite hotshot crew. Six years since Bash disappeared with my heart. No explanation. No goodbye.

But now he’s home, fighting to resurrect the very thing that destroyed us both. One look, and I’m breathless. One touch, and he’s relentless. And if I’m not careful, he’ll burn me to the ground again.

Contains mature themes.

https://amzn.to/46z9wD6

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Sebastian “Bash” disappeared from Emerson’s life the night he took her virginity, leaving her heartbroken and confused. Years later, both are still haunted by the tragedy that changed everything: the fire that killed their hotshot firefighter fathers and devastated their small town.

Now Bash has returned with a fortune made from app development and a singular mission—to rebuild the elite hotshot team their fathers died serving. With only one surviving member from the original team, Bash knows it won’t be easy.

Emerson thought she’d moved on until she sees Bash again. Working as the Mayor’s assistant, she finds herself caught between professional duty and personal history when the town meeting about Bash’s proposal turns heated. Bash has built a new compound for the team, but he needs the town’s support to move forward. Emerson can’t stomach the town’s board members, none of whom had personal losses, questioning Bash, and she quits her job on the spot, determined to support preserving her father’s memory alongside the other fallen heroes.

The rekindled proximity forces both to confront their unresolved feelings. While Bash quickly realizes Emerson is his endgame, convincing her proves to be the hardest fight he’s faced.

The town ultimately agrees to the new hotshot team, but with conditions. The most challenging is that 60% of the squad must be Legacy blood—children of the fallen firefighters. This means every eligible adult must commit, including Bash, who had planned to return to his California life after establishing the team.

Despite being a novella—a format I typically avoid—this prequel delivers remarkable emotional depth. Yarros proves once again why she’s such a gifted storyteller, creating fully realized characters and compelling drama within a compact narrative. The dual narration in the audiobook version brings the story to life, and it was unputdownable. Highly recommended for fans of second-chance romance and stories that honor sacrifice while celebrating new beginnings.

7/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

POINT OF ORIGIN by Rebecca Yarros. Narrators: Meg Sylvan & Tim Paige. Tantor Audio. October 24, 2023. Listening Length: 4 hours and 20 minutes.

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Dual narration by Carly Robins & Tim Paige

The Legacy Series, Book 1

From the publisher:

“I’ll take them!”

That’s what I tell the social worker when my pre-K student and his baby brother need an emergency foster placement. I’ll do anything to keep the brothers from being split up. But my apartment’s flooded and there’s only one house I can take them to on such short notice . . . his.

Knox Daniels, my brother’s best friend, offers his new place without hesitation. He’s not moving back to our town until next month—that’s when all our hotshot firefighters are returning for their only chance to rebuild our father’s fallen, iconic crew.

It doesn’t matter that I’ve been in love with Knox since we were kids. It can’t matter that we pretend that prom night kiss never happened. It won’t matter that my feelings for him could destroy his lifelong friendship with my brother and threaten the certification of their crew. Because I’ll be out of his house long before he gets back.

Except Knox just walked in . . . a month early. He’s gorgeous as always and I’m covered in baby puke. He takes one look at the boys and tells me we can make this work—we can temporarily fake a relationship to keep them from being separated by the system.

Suddenly, everything matters.

Contains mature themes.

https://amzn.to/44FxaMR

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Knox and Ryker have been best friends for years. They work side by side as firefighters and share the painful bond of having lost their fathers to the same profession. There’s always been a spark between Knox and Ryker’s younger sister, Harper, but Ryker made it crystal clear: Harper is off-limits. That unspoken boundary shatters the night of Harper’s senior prom, when she kisses Knox. It’s just one kiss—but it ruins both of them for anyone else.

Seven years later, Knox has bought a house in their small hometown, though he’s not planning to move back for another month. Harper now runs her own preschool, and when one of her favorite students, Liam, loses his mother unexpectedly, she steps up to foster him and his baby brother until their father can be located. The father took off during the second pregnancy—he’s never even met his younger son.

There’s just one problem: Harper’s apartment was recently flooded, leaving her temporarily homeless. She’s staying with Ryker, but there’s no room for two young children. Desperate, she texts Knox to ask if she can crash at his empty house for a few days. She figures she’ll be gone before he even returns.

What she doesn’t know is that Knox is already on his way home.

Knox may not understand why there are suddenly two little boys in his house, but when Harper needs him, he doesn’t hesitate. He agrees to help her foster the children, but their plan hits an unexpected snag in court. The judge refuses to grant them custody unless they’re a real couple, insisting that without this, the boys will be separated and sent to different foster homes in another town. Though the social worker supports their case and no law actually requires foster parents to be married, the judge remains inflexible.

Knox’s grandmother saves the moment by slipping him her engagement ring, allowing them to claim they’re engaged. Even this isn’t enough for the demanding judge, who insists they must actually marry before he’ll grant custody. Despite the far-fetched situation, they go through with an immediate courthouse wedding to keep the brothers together.

Knox’s house is spacious enough for everyone to have their own room, but the emotional boundaries are harder to navigate. Neither realizes their feelings are mutual—both secretly longing for the other while believing it’s one-sided. Ryker is furious about the marriage, but as Knox and Harper spend time together as a makeshift family, their connection deepens naturally.

As the months pass without any sign of the boys’ father, Harper and Knox continue to care for them as a team. When the father is finally found, he’s granted only supervised visits due to his abandonment. Meanwhile, Knox and Ryker are working toward getting their team certified as hotshots*—an elite firefighting crew. It’s a tribute to the fathers they lost, and a grueling commitment that often leaves them out of reach for long stretches during fire season.

As their marriage of convenience transforms into something real, both Knox and Harper must confront their emotional baggage. Knox carries deep wounds that Harper helps him heal without him even realizing her influence. Harper, who has loved Knox for most of her life, initially accepts whatever relationship she can have with him. Fortunately, Knox eventually recognizes his true feelings, and both find their way to happiness.

Their journey isn’t without genuine challenges that test their ability to function as a couple facing life’s difficulties together. The story’s resolution is so satisfying that the epilogue feels essential rather than merely added—a perfect conclusion to their hard-won love story.

There are a couple of novella-length prequels to this book—not usually my favorite format—but Yarros is a terrific storyteller, so I’m all in.

*Hotshots are elite wildland firefighters, officially known as Interagency Hotshot Crews (IHCs), renowned for their high level of training, experience, and physical fitness. They are deployed to the most challenging parts of wildfires, often in remote areas, and work long hours with minimal logistical support. (Google AI)

7/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

REASON TO BELIEVE by Rebecca Yarros. Narrators: Tim Paige & Carly Robins. Tantor Audio. February 6, 2024. Listening Length: 11 hours and 5 minutes.

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Dual narration by Carly Robins & Tim Paige

From the publisher:

Told in alternating timelines, THE THINGS WE LEAVE UNFINISHED examines the risks we take for love, the scars too deep to heal, and the endings we can’t bring ourselves to see coming.

Twenty-eight-year-old Georgia Stanton has to start over after she gave up almost everything in a brutal divorce―the New York house, the friends, and her pride. Now back home at her late great-grandmother’s estate in Colorado, she finds herself face-to-face with Noah Harrison, the bestselling author of a million books where the cover is always people nearly kissing. He’s just as arrogant in person as in interviews, and she’ll be damned if the good-looking writer of love stories thinks he’s the one to finish her grandmother’s final novel…even if the publisher swears he’s the perfect fit.

Noah is at the pinnacle of his career. With book and movie deals galore, there isn’t much the “golden boy” of modern fiction hasn’t accomplished. But he can’t walk away from what might be the best book of the century―the one his idol, Scarlett Stanton, left unfinished. Coming up with a fitting ending for the legendary author is one thing, but dealing with her beautiful, stubborn, cynical great-granddaughter, Georgia, is quite another.

But as they read Scarlett’s words in both the manuscript and her box of letters, they start to realize why Scarlett never finished the book―it’s based on her real-life romance with a World War II pilot, and the ending isn’t a happy one. Georgia knows all too well that love never works out, and while the chemistry and connection between her and Noah is undeniable, she’s as determined as ever to learn from her great-grandmother’s mistakes―even if it means destroying Noah’s career.

“Yarros masterfully weaves two love stories—one in the present day and one during WWII—into an ambitious story of family, sacrifice, and trust . . . [the] characters are vibrant and her story gripping. Readers will be wowed.”—Publishers Weekly

“With two equally engrossing storylines, this book will draw in even seasoned romance readers . . . A charming dual-timeline romance about learning from past mistakes.”—Kirkus Reviews

https://amzn.to/3TKm6ru

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I read Rebecca Yarros’s mega-bestseller Fourth Wing, a fierce, fast-paced romantasy, and while I enjoyed it, it didn’t compel me to continue with the rest of the trilogy. I can only take romantasy in small doses, but even though the genre isn’t my favorite, it was clear Yarros is an exceptional writer.

Looking for something new to listen to, I remembered hearing that she had written more traditional romances before Fourth Wing. I checked Hoopla, my go-to library app, and sure enough, several of her earlier titles were available. Some leaned more into the New Adult category, featuring college-age protagonists I wasn’t in the mood for—but then I found this one and decided to give it a try. I’m so glad I did—I loved it.

The novel follows two intertwined storylines. In the present day, we meet Noah, a bestselling author known for writing emotional, Nicholas Sparks–style tearjerkers, and Georgia, the granddaughter of Scarlett, a legendary romance novelist. After Scarlett’s death, Georgia inherits her home, her wealth, and her literary legacy.

Georgia was once a successful glass artist, but gave up her career to work with her husband, a film producer. Together, they adapted several of Scarlett’s novels for the screen. But after one betrayal too many, Georgia divorces him, walking away from their company and their New York City apartment, moving into Scarlett’s house in Colorado. There, she discovers a manuscript—part novel, part memoir—based on Scarlett’s real-life romance with an American pilot stationed in England during World War II. The manuscript is unfinished, and Scarlett’s publisher wants Noah to finish it, guaranteeing a blockbuster hit.

Georgia isn’t a fan of Noah’s work—she prefers her grandmother’s uplifting endings—but she can’t deny her attraction to him. Noah, on the other hand, is a longtime admirer of Scarlett’s writing and wants to do the manuscript justice. But there’s a conflict: Scarlett wants the book to reflect the truth, no matter how painful, while Noah wants to preserve her legacy with a happily-ever-after. As the two spend more time together, romance blossoms, though Noah quickly realizes he must tread carefully with the deeply wounded Georgia.

The story alternates between Scarlett’s wartime romance and Georgia and Noah’s present-day relationship. Both timelines are easy to follow, filled with twists, and one shocking revelation near the end that made me go back and re-listen to that entire chapter.

My only gripe? Noah says he grew up in the Bronx and is required to be a Mets fan—except the Mets play in Queens! The Yankees are the “Bronx Bombers”, and while I was thrilled Noah was a Mets fan, I wasn’t thrilled that no one picked up on that error. A minor detail, but it irked my Mets-loving heart.

Both storylines were completely captivating and easy to follow, brought to life by phenomenal narrators who kept me engaged throughout. Though this was longer than most audiobooks I tackle, I savored every minute. Highly recommend!

7/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE THINGS WE LEAVE UNFINISHED by Rebecca Yarros. Narrators: Tim Paige & Carly Robins. Tantor Audio. February 23, 2021. Listening Length: 14 hours and 32 minutes.

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Duet narration by Patricia Santomasso & Sean Patrick Hopkins

From the publisher:

From a New York Times bestselling author, a second-chance rom-com about a debut author who unexpectedly goes viral when readers discover her hero was inspired by a beloved pro hockey player—and her high school crush.

Debut author Gemma Stanton knows romance readers love a bad boy—and she has the perfect prototype for her novel: Mason Moretti. High school hockey god-turned-pro player, Mason was Gemma’s first crush, but she couldn’t forget the sting of his very public rejection. So, she casts him as a hot-headed Highlander in her spicy new historical romance. She never expected readers would find out on live TV when a morning show host invites Mason for a surprise on-air reunion…

As an aging hockey player with a rep for being ruthless on the ice—and roguish off of it—Mason has an image problem. So, when his meet-cute with Gemma goes viral, Mason proposes they build on the momentum with a few fake dates to boost her book sales…and his sagging profile. But when the fictional flirting gets a little too real, Mason realizes Gemma actually makes him want to become a better man—someone worthy of her trust and her love.

Will Gemma give him a second chance? Mason knows it’s a long shot, but taking shots is sorta his thing, and besides, who loves a redemption arc more than a romance author?

https://amzn.to/3ZLIjcl

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Gemma is finally releasing her debut romance novel, featuring an alpha hero inspired by her high school crush, now a pro hockey player with a notorious playboy reputation. The twist? Her book is a historical romance set in Scotland, so no one is supposed to know the hero is based on Mason Moretti. That is, until her publicist schedules a segment on a local morning talk show, hosted by none other than her high school nemesis.

The host has pieced everything together and orchestrates an ambush by bringing Mason on as a surprise guest. Suddenly, Gemma finds herself trapped in a narrative where she’s the sweet romance writer who penned what amounts to fanfiction about her famous hockey player ex—and now they’re getting a second chance at love. The interview goes viral, and both their publicists see dollar signs, pressuring the pair to date publicly to rehabilitate his reputation and boost her book sales.

Gemma agrees to fake dating reluctantly, haunted by memories of high school heartbreak. Mason, however, is all in—he’s determined to win back the girl he let slip away. What starts as a publicity stunt becomes something deeper as they navigate their complex history and present circumstances.

This second-chance romance works so well because both Gemma and Mason are grounded, mature characters. She’s working to rebuild her confidence, and he’s grappling with the uncertainty of an aging sports career. There’s no forced miscommunication here—just two adults navigating their baggage and reconnecting through open, honest conversations. It’s refreshing.

As their faux relationship plays out in public—complete with hand-holding and carefully staged selfies—their old friendship quietly rekindles. Neither addresses where this relationship might be heading, but the sexual tension is palpable from the start, building into a satisfying slow-burn romance that eventually sizzles.

I usually skim my reviews to remind myself what I’ve read by an author, and I was stunned to see how many genres Armstrong has mastered—fantasy, urban fantasy, thrillers, horror, romance, YA. Having read her work in a few of these categories, I was truly impressed by her versatility; the woman has mad skills!

The audiobook production deserves special mention. The dual narration is excellent, enhanced by a first for me, a sound effect—a text message “ding” whenever characters read texts. This small detail adds remarkable authenticity and immediacy to the experience. The production quality is exceptional and elevates the entire experience. I absolutely loved it.

6/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

WRITING MR. WRONG by Kelley Armstrong. Narrators: Patricia Santomasso & Sean Patrick Hopkins. Forever. June 24, 2025. Listening Length: 9 hours and 4 minutes.

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Read by Patti Murin

From the author:

You’ve Got Mail meets The Hating Game! Vying for a promotion against a bitter rival as the only female data analyst for a professional baseball team, Emmy finds solace in the text-flirting relationship that started as a wrong number exchange—unaware that the man she’s texting is the one she’s fighting for the promotion.

Emmy Jameson lives by three rules: no dating, no sharing personal news at work, and baseball above everything. As the only female data analyst for a professional baseball team, Emmy is constantly trying to prove herself.

Especially when she’s put up for a senior analyst position against her arrogant, infuriating coworker Gabe Olson. Sure, he’s gorgeous and smart and he was a baseball star in college who knows the sport inside and out, but so does Emmy. She is not going to lose to him again. There will be no distractions this summer. Not even her sister’s pending destination wedding in Mexico for which she needs to find a plus one.

But then she receives a text from an unknown number with a simple message: “Last night was fun.” When she strikes up a conversation with the mystery texter, they realize that he was given a fake phone number after a bad date that just so happened to be Emmy’s. Despite her rules, Emmy can’t deny the instant connection she feels and soon finds herself falling for the stranger on the other side of the screen…and inviting him to her sister’s wedding.

Emmy’s world turns upside down when her mystery man turns out to be none other than Gabe Olson. They are left having to travel to the wedding together while trying to sort out which version of their relationship is real: their in-person rivalry or the deep connection they found in their messages.

https://amzn.to/4jTzqoo

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This book opens with a charming meet-cute: Emmy Jameson receives a mysterious text from an unknown number saying, “Last night was fun!” It doesn’t take long to figure out that the sender was ghosted by his date and given a fake number.  But instead of ending the conversation, they keep texting. Their connection is immediate—he’s sweet, funny, and endearingly awkward. Emmy playfully saves his contact as “Axe Murderer” while he dubs her “Bird Girl,” since she is delighted by his bird/music puns, establishing their quirky dynamic from the start.

At work, Emmy faces a different kind of challenge. Emmy is a statistician for a professional baseball team, and the only woman in her department. She’s locked in professional combat with Gabe “Ruthless” Olson, a charismatic former baseball player turned sports statistician who constantly undermines her efforts. He talks over her in meetings and somehow manages to get the credit for her hard work. With a major promotion on the line in their male-dominated field, Emmy is determined to fight for what she deserves without letting him intimidate her. Fortunately, one of the department directors—an influential woman—is rooting for her.

The pressure intensifies when Emmy’s sister begins planning her dream destination wedding to Mexico and insists Emmy bring a plus one. The situation becomes even more complicated when Emmy learns her ex-boyfriend—who always resented her career—will be attending with his new girlfriend. In a moment of desperation, she takes a bold leap and asks her mystery texter to be her wedding date. After all, he’s become the unexpected bright spot in her days, and she loves their texting relationship.

When they finally agree to meet at a local park, Emmy discovers her texting companion is none other than Gabe—her workplace nemesis. Looking back, all the signs were there, but they both missed the obvious clues. Faced with the prospect of attending her sister’s wedding alone, Emmy decides that she is desperate enough to make this work. What could possibly go wrong?

Patti Murin’s narration was absolutely outstanding. She completely drew me in, and I found myself unable to stop listening. Despite the book’s nearly 12-hour length, the time flew by. This story delivered all my favorite romance tropes: workplace romance, forced proximity, enemies to lovers, and a nod to my favorite romcom “You’ve Got Mail”. The witty dialogue and undeniable chemistry between Gabe and Emmy kept me hooked, and I loved the refreshing twist of featuring a female sports statistician navigating a male-dominated field. This was a complete winner!

6/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

LAST NIGHT WAS FUN by Holly Michelle. Narrator: Patti Murin. HarperAudio: June 10, 2025. Listening Length: 11 hours and 50 minutes.

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Read by Troy Duran, Christine Lakin, Sean Masters, JF Harding, Connor Crais, Teddy Hamilton, & CJ Bloom

The Nest, Book 4

From the author:

Three years ago, I swore to myself we were done.

Since then, Tweetie Sorenson has embraced the professional hockey player bachelor lifestyle—his social media is a highlight reel of clubs, friends, and a never-ending stream of different women.

It’s hard to believe he’s the same man who stole my heart the very night we met. With him, everything felt wild, spontaneous, and absolutely perfect. I thought he was my forever.

Then, he broke my heart. Or maybe we broke each other’s. Either way, it was over.

I’ve moved on—new city, dream job—until my boss throws me back into Tweetie’s world. I’m sent to Chicago to manage the Falcons’ social media, which means working alongside the one man I never truly let go of. FML.

https://amzn.to/455UpjS

Tedi has finally landed her dream job as the social media manager for the National Hockey League in New York City, but when the Chicago team starts complaining about their social media presence, Tedi is sent there to fix it. The problem? The love of her life, Tweetie Sorensen, is playing for Chicago—and she hasn’t seen him since their breakup.

The story fills in their backstory through journal entries, which I found a bit odd. I think flashbacks would have worked better and felt more natural. From what I gathered by the end of the book, their original breakup happened when Tweetie was traded to Nashville, and Tedi refused to give up her career to follow him. Now, though, he’s in Chicago, playing the best hockey of his career.

To cope with the awkwardness of seeing Tweetie again, Tedi ropes her brother’s best friend, Decker—a pro baseball player for a Chicago team—into pretending to be her boyfriend. She basically blackmails him into it, which felt like a clunky plot device to me. Meanwhile, she does an impressive job revamping the team’s socials… until the team manager accuses her of making Tweetie look too good. His bizarre plan is to cut Tweetie from the team right after he helps them win the Stanley Cup. Honestly, this made no sense to me. I mean, I’ve seen teams pull shady moves like that before (looking at you, Florida Marlins, who sold off two World Series championship teams!), but it still felt forced.

As expected, Tedi and Tweetie’s feelings for each other are still intense, and seeing her with Decker drives Tweetie crazy. They eventually find their way back to each other, but it looks like they’re headed for the same obstacles as before—until Tedi finally decides that her happily ever after has to include Tweetie, even if it means sacrificing her career.

I enjoyed listening to this one, but it was definitely my least favorite book in the series. That said, I’m glad I read it for the closure—and because it introduces Decker, who’s set to be the main character in a new spinoff series, The Chicago Colts. The narrators were excellent, and I really enjoyed the full-cast performance.

6/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

MR. CHARMING by Piper Rayne. Narrators: Troy Duran, Christine Lakin, Sean Masters, JF Harding, Connor Crais, Teddy Hamilton, & CJ Bloom. Piper Rayne Inc.: April 18, 2025. Listening Length: 8 hours and 54 minutes.

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Read by Eunice Wong

From the publisher:

“Crazy Rich Asians” meets “Always Be My Maybe” in this deliciously sugar-free rom-com from debut author Cynthia Timoti.

Ellie Pang has had enough of her controlling family​ who has been micromanaging her life since her type 1 diabetes diagnosis​. When her parents orchestrate a public proposal from their business partner’s son, a proposal that goes humiliatingly viral, Ellie escapes to the other side of the country to put her dream of opening a sugar-free bakery into action. After all, she’d done her research. How hard can it be?

She hits a snag when her storefront turns out to be a dump and in need of major renovations. Worse, the only person who can help her turn things around is Alec Mackenzie, her brother’s best friend and the man responsible for crushing her teenage heart ten years ago.

But Alec has a proposal of his own: he needs a pretend girlfriend in order to cement a business deal. All they need to do is feign love and affection, while trying not to maim each other. But when the thin line between hate and fake-madly-in-love starts to blur, and buried secrets resurface, Ellie must learn to trust her heart, and choose between love and family.

“Timoti skillfully blends romance with meaningful discussions about family expectations, chronic illness, and cultural identity in her strong debut.”—Library Journal

“A woman finds the courage to rebuild her life in Timoti’s touching debut . . . Though there are perhaps one too many plot contrivances easing the way of their enemies-to-lovers relationship, the push and pull between the leads feels both authentic and electric, and it’s a joy to witness Ellie come into her own. Timoti is an exciting new voice in romance.”—Publishers Weekly

https://amzn.to/4m4EsAB

Ellie has always been a devoted daughter to her wealthy, traditional Chinese-Indonesian parents—but her mother is driving her to the brink. Determined to unite their fortunes, her mother pressures Ellie into dating the son of a business associate, one of the country’s most eligible bachelors. But when he proposes just a few months into their relationship—on New Year’s Eve, no less—Ellie turns him down. He’s kind, but she doesn’t love him. A video of the proposal goes viral, and the fallout is swift.

Furious, Ellie’s mother retaliates by bribing Ellie’s boss to fire her, hoping to force her into joining the family business. But Ellie longs for independence and is chafing under her mother’s dictatorial thumb. She decides to pursue her true dream: opening a bakery that specializes in sugar-free, low-carb treats. As a Type 1 diabetic, Ellie has a personal connection to the concept—diagnosed after a childhood hospitalization, she’s managed her condition well, despite the challenges.

Seeing her job loss as an opportunity, Ellie researches small towns and finds one on the west coast that seems like the perfect place for her bakery. She rents a shop online, sight unseen, packs up her car, and drives cross-country. When she arrives, the location is everything she hoped for—except for one major issue: a fallen tree has damaged the roof, and the necessary repairs will strain her budget.

Enter Alec—her brother’s best friend, her childhood crush, and the guy who once broke her heart. He now owns a local construction business and offers to renovate the bakery and let Ellie live in his guest bedroom in exchange for a favor: Ellie must pretend to be his girlfriend. Alec is on the verge of forming a partnership with a large national firm, but the woman behind the deal seems more interested in him than his business, and he wants to make his boundaries clear.

Though Ellie has resented Alec for the past decade—ever since he rejected her, saying he could never see her as more than his best friend’s little sister—she reluctantly agrees. With no other contractors available for months, and no way to legally or safely live in the damaged shop, she has little choice.

Their relationship is complicated, marked by past wounds, family pressures, business entanglements, and Ellie’s health. But as they navigate these obstacles, they begin to rediscover each other, and what started as a pretend romance slowly turns into something real.

The narrator does a wonderful job bringing the story to life. While Ellie’s tendency to catastrophize can be a bit much at times, it fits her character: young, sheltered, and thrust into unfamiliar territory. The portrayal of chronic illness is both realistic and respectful. Overall, this is an impressive debut from a promising storyteller, and I’m excited to see what comes next.

5/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

SALTY, SPICED, AND A LITTLE BIT NICE by Cynthia Timoti. Narrator: Eunice Wong. Spotify Audiobooks: May 06, 2025. Listening Length: 10 hours and 36 minutes.

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