Stacy Alesi's BookBitch.com™

Read by Connie Shabshab & Will Damron

It Happened in Charleston, Book 2

From the publisher:

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

https://amzn.to/4imfKcz

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

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Read by Alex Picard

Oaks Sisters, Book 1

From the publisher:

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

https://amzn.to/4hyfRR8

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.

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Hardcover

Read by Jason Clarke & Victoria Connolly

Oaks Sisters, Book 1

From the publisher:

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

https://amzn.to/41umz5L

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.

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Read by Charlotte North & Stephen Dexter

The Wilmot Sisters, Book 1

From the publisher:

One of Amazon’s Best Romances of 2022!

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

https://amzn.to/41umz5L

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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Read by Alex Finke

Dial Delights*

From the publisher:

A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: The Washington Post, NPR, Elle

Eve Hatch lives for surprises! Just kidding. She expects every tomorrow to be pretty much the same as today. She loves her cozy apartment in Brooklyn that’s close to her childhood best friend Willa, and far from her midwestern, traditional family who has never really understood her. While her job is only dream-adjacent, it’s comfortable and steady. She always knows what to expect from her life . . . until she finds herself expecting after an uncharacteristic one-night stand.

The unplanned pregnancy cracks open all the relationships in her life. Eve’s loyal friendship with Willa is feeling tense, right when she needs her the most. And it’s actually Willa’s steadfast older brother, Shep, who steps up to help Eve. He has always been friendly, but now he’s checking in, ordering her surprise lunches, listening to all her complaints, and is . . . suddenly kinda hot? Then, as if she needs one more complication, there’s the baby’s father, who is (technically) supportive but (majorly) conflicted.

Up until this point, Eve’s been content to coast through life. Now, though—maybe it’s the hormones, maybe it’s the way Shep’s shoulders look in a T-shirt—Eve starts to wonder if she has been secretly desiring more from every aspect of her life.

Over the course of nine months, as Eve struggles to figure out the next right step in her expanding reality, she begins to realize that family and love, in all forms, can sneak up on you when you least expect it.

“Accidental pregnancy is a love-it-or-hate-it construct for most romance fans, which could leave Cara Bastone’s friends-to-lovers entry in a tough position. But for those willing to jive with that particular plot twist—and trust me, it’s worth it—Ready or Not is an absolutely buoyant read. Vivacious and funny, Bastone’s first-person perspective through protagonist Eve traces the tricky threads of single parenthood, long-term friendship, infertility, grief, and (yes) sex with skill.”—Elle

“I’ve never read a contemporary romance novel quite like this one. This friends-to-lovers trope centers on a surprise pregnancy that’s filled with heartfelt dialogue, unexpected love and a slow burn. It’s incredible and I found myself not wanting to put it down. This story is endearing, life-affirming, and left me feeling buoyed and hopeful.”—New York Post, “The 15 Best Books We Read in February”

“Sure, this is a love story. But it’s also about all the ways love shows up. . . . And at the end of the day, that’s the ideal family, right? Never perfect but always trying.”—NPR

“This pitch-perfect rom-com . . . could be the guidebook on how to successfully execute the ‘friends-to-lovers’ trope. Bastone carefully captures the slow-burning magic of seeing someone familiar in a new light, and Shep is so wonderful he deserves a place in the Book Boyfriend Hall of Fame.”—The Washington Post

https://amzn.to/41umz5L

I have to start this review by saying I loved the narrator – Alex Finke made me understand why audiobook readers often follow narrators even more than authors. I am looking forward to listening to more Finke!

Eve is a young woman in her twenties with a crappy job but living her dream in New York City. She’s trying to find her path forward when she gets a sharp dose of reality; her one night stand has left her pregnant. Her best friend, Willa, is not happy with her, but Willa’s brother, Shep, becomes someone she can lean on.

I often wonder about these romances that begin in pregnancy because, let’s face it, most women are not always themselves while pregnant; those hormones are no joke! But Shep is such a sweet, supportive guy that I couldn’t help but root for them. The baby daddy, Ethan, turns out to be more than just a one night stand, too, so lucky Eve in that regard.

This is a slow-burn, sweet romance, and I really enjoyed it. Sometimes, you just want to feel good escaping into a book, and this certainly filled that need for me. As the world around me is burning to the ground, books remain my escape, and I am most grateful for it.

*Dial Delights is a series put together by Random House. All the books are contemporary romances but written by different authors, so they do not need to be read in any order. There are a few more books coming out later this year, including Promise Me Sunshine (3/3/2025), also by Cara Bastone and read by Alex Finke. I am especially looking forward to that one!

3/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

READY OR NOT by Cara Bastone. Narrator: Alex Finke. Random House Audio; February 13, 2024. Listening Length: 10 hours and 50 minutes

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

The Nest, Book 1

From the author:

I made a deal with my brother a long time ago to never date his teammates.

Technically, Rowan Landry, the hot as hell center for the Chicago Falcons, is no longer my brother’s teammate. Or his best friend. Their college days are long behind them, and they barely talk now.

Also, I’m not dating him—we’re just sleeping together. There’s a difference.

Except there’s not a lot of sleeping going on, and neither one of us wants to stop what we’re doing.

It’s all fun and games until my brother is traded to the Falcons, because Rowan doesn’t know I’m the new goalie’s little sister. Oops.

https://amzn.to/3EJVNxm

The Hoopla algorithm sent me this hockey romance, and I was thrilled. I love all the Piper Rayne books and have never been disappointed by anything they’ve written.

This is a flirty, steamy hockey romance that scores big! This story hooked me from the very first page. The romance kicks off with an irresistible setup: a chance meeting at a wedding. For Kyleigh, attending is more of a chore to appease her mother, but bumping into her brother’s old college teammate, Rowan, now a star player for the Falcons, is an unexpected twist she can’t resist.

Rowan doesn’t recognize her, especially as she introduces herself as Leigh; she was just a kid the last time he saw her. Kyleigh really wants an unforgettable one-night stand. After all, what are the odds she’ll ever see him again? And bonus—her brother doesn’t have to know.

But fate has other plans. Their sizzling chemistry doesn’t end with that night. Rowan isn’t ready to let her go, and when they run into each other at a diner just hours later, he decides to pursue her. One thing leads to another, and soon their connection deepens into something neither of them can ignore. The only problem? Kyleigh’s keeping their relationship under wraps—especially from her brother. That seems manageable until her brother gets traded to the Falcons. Cue the drama.

This story is packed with humor, likeble characters, and plenty of steamy moments. While this was a truly enjoyable read, I did feel that the “big secret” dragged on longer than necessary. It seemed like such a minor issue to create such a major conflict. Still, the chemistry between her and Rowan more than made up for it.

This is a Full Cast production in Duet Style, which I am learning about through my audiobook journey. All I can say is that it was phenomenal. Sean Masters and Erin Mallon lead an incredible cast featuring JF Harding, Connor Crais, Troy Duran, Teddy Hamilton, and CJ Bloom. Their performances brought the story to life in such an engaging way that I can’t recommend this audiobook highly enough. If you’re looking for an entertaining escape with heat, heart, and humor, this one’s a winner!

2/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

MR. HEARTBREAKER by Piper Rayne. Narrators: Sean Masters, Erin Mallon, Connor Crais, JF Harding, Troy Duran, Teddy Hamilton, & CJ Bloom. Piper Rayne Inc.; October 11, 2024. Listening Length: 7 hours and 13 minutes.

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Read by Kelli Tager & Will Watt

Sinful Manor, Book 1

From the publisher:

Killian Barclay is a grumpy Scottish billionaire who hates me…and now I’m his wife.

Their marriage of convenience is anything but…

All Killian Barclay wants is to be left the hell alone. He’s had enough heartache to last a lifetime, and he has no more need for love—earning him the reputation of a broody Scot and eventually turning his famous ancestral home into a den of iniquity. It doesn’t take long for tales of his raunchy house parties to reach the rest of his family, though, inspiring them to hatch a plan to shake Killian out of his routine.

New Yorker Sylvie Devereaux is tough as nails—as the daughter of famous yet neglectful parents, she’s grown a hard shell and keeps everyone at arm’s length. So when she sneaks into Barclay Manor during a trip to Scotland to get a glimpse of a famous heirloom, she doesn’t anticipate facing off against the brutish, maddening highlander who lives there. And she certainly didn’t expect to ever see the bastard again.

Yet just weeks later, she’s approached by Killian’s family with a proposal—move to Scotland and marry Killian to improve his playboy reputation, and after one year, she’ll walk away with ten million dollars. Sylvie agrees, even knowing that their plan is more deceptive than he realizes. But as she grows closer to Killian and the end of their year together, she has to decide: Is the love of a good man with a dark soul worth keeping, or is she willing to break Killian’s heart now that it’s well and truly hers?

“Cate pairs a feisty American with a reclusive Scottish billionaire in the red-hot enemies-to-lovers romance that opens her Sinful Manor series . . . with scorching chemistry and real feelings. The kinky sex scenes between this pair of sparring hearts scorch the pages. Readers who like their romances on the extra spicy side will want to check this out.” —Publishers Weekly

“This sexy enemies-to-lovers story is filled with biting dialogue and page-melting chemistry. A great start to Cate’s new “Sinful Manor” series.”—Library Journal

https://amzn.to/3EMI9JO

This was the steamiest romance I’ve ever listened to, and despite some convoluted familial machinations at play, I was completely drawn into this story.

Sylvie is visiting Scotland with her boyfriend, and he takes her to see a beautiful manor house. She wants to see the inside, but it’s someone’s home, and her boyfriend isn’t going to take one step inside. But Sylvie is headstrong, and when the front door is unlocked, she takes it as an invitation to enter. The owner of the house, Killian, is shocked to find this woman in his home and they have words. She takes off, and that’s that. Until…

Sylvie lives in New York City. Her parents are famous artists, and she had an unusual upbringing. She has a very difficult relationship with them, and things come to a head at one of their gallery openings. Sylvie destroys a piece of art, enraging her parents, and they cut her off. She also loses her job. Broke, and soon to be homeless, things are dire.

A woman from Scotland visits her, and she turns out to be Killian’s sister. She has a proposition for Sylvie. The family wants Killian out of the house. This was a bit confusing for me. They are afraid he’s become agoraphobic, and they are also concerned about his reputation. He has been having BDSM sex parties at the house, and in this small town, everyone knows. Sylvie is offered a crazy proposition; she is to return to Scotland and marry Killian. If they stay married and don’t have any extramarital affairs for one year, the house will go to Sylvie, and she, in turn, will have to sign it over to the family, thus forcing Killian out. She can return to NY with enough money to make distance from her parents a reality. It makes no sense, but I just went with it anyway.

The fake marriage is off to a rocky start. Killian is told a completely different story – he is somehow coerced into marrying Sylvie to restore his reputation. He thinks staying married to her will get his family off his back, so he also agrees to this crazy plan. But when Sylvie gets there, Killian is openly hostile to her. Eventually, they find a way to get along, and he slacks off on the BDSM parties.

It takes some time, but real feelings start to grow, and Sylvie is torn. She has to go along with the contract she signed; she needs the money, and the only way out of it will cost her more money than she has. By the end of the year, they are in love but still need to get the paperwork all in order and get a divorce. Sylvie goes back to NY, and Killian stays in Scotland. But that is not the end! After a lot of trauma and drama, they eventually get their happy ending.

The narrators were excellent – I can still hear Killian’s voice in my head. There is a lot of sex, and the power dynamic is at play here as well. If you liked Fifty Shades of Grey and want something just as dark but well-written, try this. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

2/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

KEEP ME by Sara Cate. Narrators: Kelli Tager, Will Watt. Dreamscape Media; December 03, 2024. Listening Length: 10 hours and 39 minutes.

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Read by Dane Anderson & Alex Picard

D.C. Eagles Hockey, Book 1

From the publisher:

I’m the notoriously angry, grouchy D.C. Eagles defenseman who just can’t keep his temper in check—a temper that leads to a fifteen-game suspension from the NHL.

As if that’s not bad enough, I’m forced into a short-term youth-hockey coaching gig—which my manager swears will “rebuild my image.”

But what I didn’t expect was for a gorgeous, spunky blonde to stomp onto the ice on day one and lecture me about being rude to her little brother.

Something about this spitfire of a woman, and the boy she’s so protective of, has my defenses melting.

And if I’m not careful, I’ll burst into flames, forever melting the ice I’ve carefully kept around my heart.

This is a closed-door romcom with mild language. Trigger warnings include parental substance abuse and dealing with grief/loss of parents.

https://amzn.to/4h6YkQt

I had to suspend my disbelief here; a hockey suspension for fifteen games is most unusual, but it does happen so I was able to go with it. Happily, it was worth it because I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book. And no worries if you are not a hockey fan, it will not affect your reading of this sweet romance.

Andie lost her parents and is raising her much younger, 12-year-old brother. Mitch is a defenseman for a fictional pro hockey team who gets this huge suspension for fighting. His coach orders him to therapy, and to help with a peewee hockey team as part of his penance for letting his team down. That’s where he meets Andie, whose brother plays in this league.

This isn’t instalove, but there is definite attraction from the start. Andie and Mitch have similar traumas in their backgrounds, but there is a lot of cute banter that keeps the story light. There was a really funny scene where Mitch is listening to an audiobook that turns out to be quite a spicy romance, which this book is not. This is a closed-door romance, but that said, there is still plenty of innuendo, and you can definitely feel the sexual chemistry between Andie and Mitch.

This was a fun read, and the narrators did a great job bringing me into the story. This was one of those books that I really couldn’t put down. While the narrators often make the difference, in this case, it was the collaboration between the writer and the narrators that made this such a good listen.

Note: there is a novella that starts before this, even though this is the first book in the series. I was able to borrow it from Hoopla through my library. Hopefully, I’ll be able to get all the books in this series that way.

2/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

DESIRE OR DEFENSE by Leah Brunner. Narrators: Dane Anderson, Alex Picard. Dreamscape Media; August 15, 2023. Listening Length: 7 hours and 52 minutes.

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Read by Leanne Woodward & Rusty Mewha

 It Happened in Charleston, Book 1 

From the publisher:

From the New York Times bestselling author of Practice Makes Perfect comes an expanded edition of The Match—a charming romance novel about second chances and the healing power of love, with a never-before-seen chapter.

Sometimes love finds you when you least expect it.

Evie Jones has dedicated her life and very limited funds working for Southern Service Paws, the company that matched her with the love of her life: Charlie, a service dog trained to assist with her epilepsy. But it’s no secret that the company has been struggling to make ends meet. It’s up to her and her longtime mentor and boss to throw the fundraiser of the century to keep the doors open.

Then, Evie meets Jacob Broaden at a client consultation meeting. There are instant sparks—but not the good kind, because Jacob’s daughter set up the meeting without his knowledge. Ten-year-old Sam has been recently diagnosed with epilepsy and has wanted a service animal ever since. While he has hesitations at first, it doesn’t take long for Jacob to be convinced that a service dog and possibly Evie, with her magical, woodland-green eyes, might just be the best thing for him and his daughter.

As Evie spends more time with Jacob and helps Sam find her perfect match with a lovable golden retriever named Daisy, she starts longing for something she’s never had before—a loving family. For Jacob, falling in love with Evie is the last thing he should be doing, but love has a way of finding those who need it most.

https://amzn.to/4hnPL3F

I have read most of Sarah Adams’ books, so when the algorithm showed me this one that I hadn’t read, I was all in. And I loved it! Apparently, this is an expanded edition of the original book with an extra chapter. I couldn’t tell you where or why though, it all flowed seamlessly to me.

Evie comes from old Southern money, but she is not too fond of her parents or their lifestyle. Her mother is super critical and pushy, and her father just goes along with her mother. When Evie is diagnosed with epilepsy as a teen, it changes her life. Her long-time boyfriend makes fun of her seizures, and she dumps him, much to her parent’s chagrin. Their fathers are lawyers and partners, and they hoped their children would marry one day. But that’s not going to happen if Evie has anything to say about it.

One day Evie meets a woman about her mother’s age, maybe older, who has a beautiful service dog with her. They get to talking and Evie is lucky enough to be able to purchase a service dog who can sense her oncoming seizures and take care of her. It’s a rather remarkable relationship, and it empowers Evie to move out on her own. Her parents cut her off, hoping that will force her home, but she is determined. She gets a job with the service dog company, and becomes great friends with her boss, who wants to retire and let Evie run the place.

Evie gets an email requesting a meeting for a man and his recently diagnosed young daughter. Evie is very excited; this is the first time she’s met someone else with epilepsy who needs a service dog. Except when she gets there, it turns out the child scheduled the meeting and manipulated her father into going. He is divorced; his ex-wife wanted to be an actress and took off for Hollywood, leaving him a single dad with his own successful architecture firm. It’s not easy and he probably hasn’t slept since his daughter’s diagnosis. He doesn’t know anything about service dogs but he knows he can’t handle the responsibility of one more thing.

Eventually, he sees the importance of the dog and makes amends with Evie. She spends a week with them acclimating them to their new dog. The more time they spend together, the more they realize how much they enjoy each other’s company. It’s a rocky road to a happy ending, and I loved every stumble along the way. The narrators were great and really pulled me into the story. Can’t wait to read the sequel, The Enemy!

2/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE MATCH by Sarah Adams. Narrators: Rusty Mewha & Leanne Woodward. Dreamscape Media; November 07, 2024. Listening Length: 9 hours and 7 minutes

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Read by Kate Handford

From the publisher:

A bookshop romance with a hunky hockey love interest and a pinch of spice from USA Today Bestseller Amy Andrews!

A bookshop face-off!

NHL hot shot, Nick Hawkeye Hawke has 4 months to recuperate from a potentially career-ending injury. All he has to do is take it easy and keep things low-key. So, looking after his grandmother’s beloved second-hand romance bookshop and working very closely with the ruthlessly efficient Samantha Evans is just what he needs right? Wrong!

Career-driven Sam has impulsively decided to swap her highly stressful corporate job for a slower pace in her favourite bookshop at the exact time her biological clock has started to tick. And she wants absolutely none of that. But when your boss is a hot hockey superstar and you can’t stop daydreaming of him being your baby daddy, forced proximity takes on a whole new meaning.

With temptation around every bookshelf, Nick and Sam find themselves skating on thin ice until they put themselves firmly in the friend zone. But the more they try to resist their slow burn, the more they want each other. How long can they stay in the zone until one of them breaks the ice?

Perfect for fans of Elle Kennedy, Bal Khabra, Emily Rath, and Hannah Grace.

Previously published as Risky Business

https://amzn.to/4a5SXP7

A professional ice hockey player and a bookstore? Count me in! When the owner of Sam’s favorite romance bookstore passes away, she is shocked to find the owner’s grandson taking over. Nick is a pro athlete; what could he possibly know about a romance bookstore?

Sam is in finance and setting the world on fire, that is until her boss decides to give all her accounts to his loser nephew. Sam is furious and quits her job. When Nick finds out she is unemployed, he offers her a job in the bookstore. She takes it, thinking it will be a nice break while she waits for the nephew to bomb out and her old boss to beg her to come back.

Sam and Nick find they have more in common than either originally thought. Sam has some body image issues (shocking, I know) and can’t understand why Nick is flirting with her. On the other hand, he thinks she’s gorgeous and loves her curves; he can’t understand why she puts herself down. The more time they spend together, the more feelings start to grow.

This is a slow-burn, friends-to-lovers romance, and there is a lot of cute banter and a bit of heat, making this a fast and fun read. The narrator was really good, too; she totally brought me into this world, and I hated to leave.

Note: I’ve mostly been listening to audiobooks through Hoopla, a fantastic resource available through many public libraries. Like everything else online, they have an algorithm that suggests other books I may like based on what I’ve checked out. The next thing I knew, I was knee-deep in ice hockey romances! Some are definitely better than others, and I thought this was a good one, although, frankly, hockey had no real part in it! I will be reviewing a few others that I enjoyed.

On the other hand, Pucking Around by Emily Rath was a DNF for me, I got about three quarters of the way through and finally gave it up. It started out good but soon devolved into what just felt like bad porn to me. The plot was pretty thin; the story revolved around the female team doctor for a new hockey team and the men she was hooking up with. It started with a one-night stand leading to more encounters with that man, followed by a throuple. When it turned into a foursome, I gave it up. At that point, it was just descriptions of one sexual encounter after another, and all pretense at a plot was forgotten. It just didn’t feel like a romance anymore.

1/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

BREAKING THE ICE by Amy Andrews. Narrator: Kate Handford. Boldwood Books; November 07, 2024. ASIN: B0DHWD1TC3. Listening Length: 8 hours and 23 minutes

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