From the publisher:

A magical cookbook and a summer on her family’s Italian olive farm help a brokenhearted social media chef cook up a satisfying new life in this delectable novel from the bestselling author of Recipe for a Charmed Life.

Rising star Jules Costa loves re-creating vintage recipes for her popular online cooking show. But when personal and professional disaster strikes, her only chance to save her career is to complete her new cookbook before the end of the summer. Panicked, Jules returns to her family’s beloved olive farm on the shores of Italy’s stunning Lake Garda. Seeking culinary inspiration, she’s hoping to convince her spunky eighty-year-old Nonna Bruna to share her precious collection of family recipes.
 
Jules’s plans quickly go awry as she discovers that Nonna’s cookbook has magical and unpredictable powers. It reveals only one recipe at a time, offering a cooking experience guaranteed to satisfy the chef’s palate and bring clarity to their life. Yet the pages remain stubbornly blank for Jules. To make matters worse, the olive farm is in deep financial trouble, and Jules soon uncovers a web of family secrets involving the cookbook and a lost recipe for orange blossom cake that holds the key to everything. Then there’s Nicolo, the boy next door, who broke her young heart years ago. He is now all grown up, even more attractive, and the only person poised to help Jules find answers. 
 
In a whirlwind summer beyond her imagination, Jules begins to unravel the mysteries baked into her family’s history and discovers the essential ingredients to create the future of her dreams.

“Filled to the brim with comfort and coziness… A super sweet, food-filled family story with a side of romance.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Fans of cozy romances and magical realism will not be disappointed in Linden’s latest.”—Booklist

https://amzn.to/48Hlr1h

Juliana Costa never expected her pandemic pastime to change her life. Alongside her roommate Drew, she began posting fifteen-minute Instagram reels re‑creating vintage recipes under the name The Bygone Kitchen. The quirky show quickly attracted attention, and soon a publisher offered Jules an advance for a cookbook. She spent it upgrading her kitchen—only to discover the publisher wanted something different: family recipes. Meanwhile, a producer dangles the promise of streaming her show to a wider audience, but instead, he steals Drew away for another project entirely.

With her career teetering, Jules accepts an unexpected opportunity: spending the summer at her grandmother’s olive farm on the shores of Italy’s Lake Garda, while chaperoning her teenage half‑sister Alex, whom she doesn’t know very well. Jules hasn’t returned in fifteen years, not since her father drowned in the lake. But she hopes Nonna Bruna’s treasured recipes, passed down through generations, will be the key to finishing her cookbook.

When Jules arrives, she finds the family cookbook mysteriously blank. As a child, she had learned to cook by opening its pages at random, preparing whatever recipe appeared. Now, the book reveals nothing—until she discovers its secret. The cookbook is magical, offering only one recipe at a time. For Jules, it reveals the recipe for orange blossom cake, said to grant whoever takes the first bite a vision of the sweetest happiness still awaiting them, only the page is torn, and half the recipe is missing.

Life at the farm is not simple. The olive groves are in financial trouble, and her Nonna’s decades-long feud with the neighboring matriarch has left scars. Jules’s first romance with Nicolo, the boy next door, ended badly many years earlier, but he is still working his family’s very successful farm, and helping out her Nonna, too.

As Jules cooks under her grandmother’s watchful eye, reconnects with her surly sister, and rekindles feelings for Nicolo, she realizes the summer may hold more than just recipes. To save the farm, heal old wounds, and decide her own future, she must recover the missing half of the orange blossom cake recipe—and dare to taste what happiness still lies ahead.

This is another charming, sweet, food-centric romance and an enchanting, magical read.

12/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE SECRET OF ORANGE BLOSSOM CAKE by Rachel Linden. Berkley. (September 30, 2025). ISBN: ‎ 978-0593816639. 384p.

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From the publisher:

‘Tis the season for a little white lie…

Christmas has always been single mom Holly Goodwin Moore’s favorite time of year. The twinkly lights on the tree, the cookies in the oven, the snow on the ground. But she’s just not feeling it this year. The wedding in her ex’s family is almost here, her daughter, Lydia, is bursting at the seams to be a flower girl…and Holly couldn’t be dreading it more. She told a little white lie about having a new boyfriend as her plus-one, hoping to save face. She needs a date for the wedding…and she needs it now.

Ryan Caldwell wants to be free this holiday season. So even he isn’t sure how he landed in Shelter Springs, looking after his niece, Audrey, with his estranged father down the road. But when he meets Holly, she makes him want to belong for the very first time. So they make a deal: he’ll be her date if she’ll help him give Audrey a true Christmas to remember while her mom is away.

This holiday season, escape to Shelter Springs for a heartwarming story of unexpected romance, festive charm, and the joy of finding love where you least expect it. Perfect for fans of Jill Shalvis and Susan Mallery.

https://amzn.to/4pRkhXU

Holly is a single mom raising her daughter, Lydia—who has Down syndrome—in the charming small town of Shelter Springs, Idaho. Her husband walked out years ago, unable to handle parenting a neurodivergent child, and he’s since remarried and started a new family.

Holly’s best friend is battling alcohol and drug addiction, and when her brother Ryan—a naval helicopter pilot sidelined by an injury and temporarily on desk duty—returns home, it feels like the right moment for her to enter rehab. Ryan agrees to look after his teenage niece, Audrey, during that time. Audrey normally watches Lydia after school while Holly works, so when Ryan steps in, he and Holly meet. Their connection is immediate and undeniable, even though neither is looking for romance.

When Lydia is asked to be the flower girl in Holly’s ex-husband’s sister’s wedding, Holly is invited too—and she desperately needs a plus-one. Her twin sister, Hannah, suggests the perfect solution: ask Ryan. Meanwhile, Ryan wants Audrey to have a wonderful Christmas despite her mom’s absence, but he could use some help with the holiday magic. It’s the ideal trade: he’ll be Holly’s date, and she’ll help him create a warm, festive Christmas for his niece.

As Ryan and Holly spend more time together, their bond grows stronger, and Ryan’s tenderness toward Lydia is especially moving. With Christmas charm woven through every moment, this sweet, heartwarming romance is a true seasonal delight. I love RaeAnne Thayne’s books—especially her holiday stories—and this one is another uplifting read sure to fill anyone with the joy of the season.

12/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

SNOW KISSED by RaeAnne Thayne. Canary Street Press (October 7, 2025). ISBN: 978-1335013170. 320p.

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From the publisher:

A twisty, tender and wise look at how secrets can transform the powerful—and sometimes problematic—bond between mothers and daughters, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery.

When Shannon gets engaged, her beloved mom, Cindy, is the first person she wants to tell—and the last. Cindy’s engaged, too, and has already hinted at a double wedding. The image of a synchronized bouquet toss with her mom fills Shannon with horror. She’ll keep her engagement a secret until Cindy’s I-dos are done.

Victoria has never been proper enough for her mother, Ava, so she stopped trying. She lives on her own terms and amuses herself by pushing Ava’s buttons. Ava loves but doesn’t understand her stuntwoman daughter. When a movie-set mishap brings Victoria home, Ava longs to finally connect.

Chance brings the four women together at a wedding venue, where a shocking secret comes tumbling out. Twenty-four years ago, desperate teenager Cindy chose wealthy Ava to adopt her baby—then changed her mind at the very last second. The loss rocked Ava’s world, leaving her unable to open her heart to the daughter she did adopt, Victoria. As Shannon and Victoria deal with the fallout from the decisions their mothers made, they wrestle with whether who they are is different than who they might have become.

https://amzn.to/4itg2PN

Cindy and her daughter Shannon share a close, loving bond. Cindy raised Shannon on her own and is now happily engaged, while Shannon is in a long-term relationship—prompting Cindy to joke about having a joint wedding. So when Shannon’s boyfriend finally proposes, she’s ecstatic but hesitant to tell her mom. She’s pretty sure Cindy wasn’t joking about the dual ceremony, and that’s the last thing she wants. Cindy, meanwhile, is in a good place after years of struggling as a single mother.

Ava and her daughter, Victoria, couldn’t be more different. Their relationship is tense and distant, with Victoria often openly hostile and Ava constantly feeling like she can’t do anything right. Though they come from wealth—Victoria’s family has money—their emotional connection is lacking. Victoria works as a stuntwoman, but when she’s injured on the job, she reluctantly returns home.

The two mother-daughter pairs meet up at a potential wedding venue, where we learn that Cindy and Ava share a complicated history. When Cindy became pregnant as a teenage, unmarried woman, she planned to give her baby up for adoption. She chose Ava, and the two grew close throughout the pregnancy. But at the last moment, Cindy changed her mind, leaving Ava heartbroken. Soon after, a maid in Ava’s household became pregnant and offered her baby to Ava, but even that couldn’t fill the void or repair the emotional fallout. Ava and Victoria’s strained relationship carries echoes of that loss.

As the women begin spending more time together, long-buried secrets resurface, and emotions run high. Victoria, especially, struggles with jealousy toward Shannon. While everything ultimately resolves, the journey is rocky—filled with mother-daughter blowups, wedding chaos, and unresolved pain. I usually adore Mallery’s books, but this one landed as just an okay read for me.

12/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

OTHERWISE ENGAGED by Susan Mallery. MIRA. (November 4, 2025). ISBN: ‎ 978-0778387268. 368p.

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The Windsors, Book 5

From the publisher:

The fifth arranged-marriage billionaire romance in the #1 Amazon Kindle and USA Today bestselling Windsors series. With one-night stands, secrets, angst, and high heat, this is contemporary romance at its best.

When Lex finds Raya Lewis’s name hidden behind countless security measures on his own family’s servers, he knows it can only mean one thing.

Determined to take control of the situation, he sets out to find her ― only for Raya to spill her drink all over him within seconds of meeting.

Much to her surprise, the notoriously unattainable tech billionaire asks for only one thing as compensation: six rounds of Truth or Dare.

An evening filled with laughter leads to Raya sneaking out of his bed in the morning, not expecting to ever see him again…

…until he shows up as her professor, offering her class the opportunity of a lifetime: an internship at Windsor Motors.

What Raya doesn’t realize is that their meeting wasn’t coincidental ― and she’s the sole reason he took up a teaching position at all.

After all, Lex knows something she doesn’t: the two of them are arranged to be married.

https://amzn.to/4idwPq1

This was my first book by this author, and I happened to start with the fifth in the series. I’m sure I would have gotten more out of it had I read the earlier installments, since I would have been familiar with the characters, their families, and the whole concept of arranged marriages in 2025. Still, I suspended my disbelief and went with it.

Lex is a billionaire tech prodigy whose home is run by robots and whose company leads the industry. His grandmother rules the family with an iron will, arranging marriages for each of his siblings—and Lex knows he’s next. These pairings are all about expanding the family business, but he has no intention of letting his grandmother surprise him. Instead, he hacks into the family’s computer system to learn who his intended match will be. The arrangement isn’t official yet, since the woman’s father hasn’t signed the contract, but Lex takes matters into his own hands. He engineers a meet-cute at a local bar, and his charm does the rest.

Raya, like Lex, is a gifted computer mind, though she’s just beginning her career. She’s enrolled in a special program at a small private college owned by Lex’s closest friends. When Lex steps in to teach her course, Raya is stunned to realize that the man she met at the bar is now her professor. His offer of internships at his company excites the entire class, but it’s Raya who finds herself most affected.

As Raya and Lex spend more time together, her feelings intensify, even though he insists he isn’t capable of love. Eventually, the families reach an agreement, and the marriage is arranged.

I liked this book, though I didn’t love it. For me, the premise was simply too implausible to become fully invested in these characters. I liked them and they definitely had chemistry, but there were just too many hurdles for me to overcome to really care about their happily ever after. I might try tracking down an earlier book to see if that helps.

11/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE SECRET FIANCÉE by Catharina Maura. Bloom Books. (November 18, 2025). ISBN: ‎ 978-1464237492. 368p.

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From the publisher:

It’s hate-at-first-sight when a jilted Irish chef returns home to Inishmore and immediately clashes with a mouthy American tourist.

This steamy romance novel from the author of the New York Times bestselling Jewel series “checks all the boxes for a steamy Irish summer holiday escape.” —Abby Jimenez, author of Just for the Summer

Cordelia James was once at the top of her game—a renowned street photographer with a massive social media following, gallery showings in Chelsea, and a lucrative book deal. But after the sudden death of her father, Cordelia can barely force herself to leave her apartment. That is, until she sees an ad for a summer gig at a cozy cottage on Ireland’s picturesque Inishmore island. Cordelia is on a plane before she can talk herself out of it.

The moment she steps off the boat, she crashes—literally—into Niall O’Connor, a grumpy local who’s just returned home to Inishmore from Dublin. Niall is nursing a broken heart and trying to patch up a broken life, and he has no time for posh American tourists. The more Cordelia’s and Niall’s paths cross, the more they make each other’s lives hell. But as with all rivalries, their hatred is about to reach a tipping point—and it’s going to heat up their cool coastal nights.

Featuring a lovable band of quirky supporting characters, The Irish Goodbye is a steamy, emotionally gripping tale of love, passion, art, food, and finding where you belong.

“Compulsively readable . . . The magical atmosphere of Inishmore and its residents will captivate readers.”
—Library Journal, starred review 

https://amzn.to/4itg2PN

Cordelia is a successful New York City street photographer whose world is upended by the devastating loss of her father. Hoping for a fresh start, she accepts a summer job on Inishmore Island in Ireland. The work is simple enough: maintain a small cottage—where she can stay rent-free—and keep an eye on the elderly woman living next door.

Though I’ve never been to Ireland, the author’s vivid descriptions of Inishmore made me want to book a trip immediately, rain and all. Getting to the island is no easy feat and requires a full day of travel, but when Cordelia finally arrives, we’re treated to a meet-cute that’s really more of a meet-disaster, perfectly setting the tone for this enemies-to-lovers romance.

As Cordelia steps off the ferry, she literally runs into Niall—sending her beloved camera, a treasured gift from her father, crashing to the ground. Furious and heartbroken, she lashes out at him. But Niall, burdened by his own troubles, barely reacts. He has just returned to Inishmore after losing both his dream business and the woman he thought he’d marry.

A talented chef who moved to Dublin to chase his ambitions, Niall fell hard for Deirdre, who encouraged him to believe in a future they could build together. But when he discovers Deirdre in a shocking betrayal, his dreams collapse. Defeated, he retreats to Inishmore to work in his father’s pub, though their strained relationship makes the return anything but easy. His father had always expected Niall to take over the pub, but their conflicting visions had driven Niall away in the first place. Returning home feels like a step backward, and Niall doesn’t bother hiding his misery.

On a small island like Inishmore, Cordelia and Niall’s paths keep crossing. Their initial hostility gives way to an uneasy friendship, and eventually, something deeper develops. But there is a long, bumpy road to get there.

One of the novel’s highlights is its strong sense of community, and I loved learning about the local foods and customs. The secondary characters are richly drawn and play an essential role in the story, even if I couldn’t pronounce most of the names! My only quibble (and it’s minor) is the so-called “epilogue.” Rather than offering a glimpse into the future, it takes place the very next day after the final chapter. I would have preferred a more expansive conclusion.

Overall, I adored this book. It lingered with me so much that I couldn’t pick up another novel for a full day—I just wanted to savor the memories of it. I’m eager to see what this author writes next.

11/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE IRISH GOODBYE by Amy Ewing. Alcove Press. (June 4, 2024). ISBN: ‎ 978-1639107810. 336p.

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A Heartwarming Christmas Holiday Romance

From the publisher:

This Christmas, the Balfour family will have more secrets to unwrap than presents…

Becky is stranded at the airport, so when she bumps into her brother’s best friend, Will, and he suggests they drive home together, Becky reluctantly agrees. For the first time, Becky is dreading Christmas, and only Will knows why. Can she trust him to keep her secret?

Her twin sister, Rosie, married Declan after a whirlwind romance, and now the cracks are starting to appear. Rosie and Declan have agreed to hide their problems from her family, but Rosie’s insecurities are growing. Will this Christmas bring them closer or drive them apart?

Hayley can’t wait for her first Balfour family Christmas with Jamie. The Balfour Christmas traditions sound wonderful, but she’s worried about her place in this close-knit family. Will there be room for her too? And how will they react to the secret she and Jamie have been keeping?

Despite everyone’s best intentions, all the chaos and confusion could derail their normally happy holidays. Can they tell each other the truth in time to enjoy a perfect family Christmas?

Perfect for fans of:

• The Book Club Hotel by Sarah Morgan
• Strong, hardworking women
• Complex family relationships
• Christmas Hallmark movies
• Rebecca Serle and Meghan Quinn

https://amzn.to/49UzXF1

The Balfours’ Christmases are always full of love and chaos, but this year the holiday feels especially tense as everyone seems to be in the middle of a crisis. Each member arrives at the holiday gathering with private struggles and unspoken fears, turning what should be a joyful reunion into something far more complicated. Morgan creates an immersive, heartfelt portrait of three generations gathering under one roof, complete with secrets, surprises, and all the complications that come with family.

At the center of the story are the siblings, each carrying burdens that threaten to unravel the festive spirit. Becky and Rosie, once inseparable twins, have grown apart since Rosie’s wedding. Becky has deliberately kept her distance, wanting to give her sister space to settle into married life, but beneath her restraint lies a longing to reconnect. Rosie, meanwhile, is quietly questioning the choices she made, wondering if she rushed into marriage before truly knowing her husband.

Their brother Jamie arrives with his new girlfriend, Hayley, and a promise of a big announcement. For Hayley, who has never experienced the comfort of a close-knit family, the Balfours’ bustling Christmas is both thrilling and intimidating. She longs to belong, yet fears she won’t measure up to their traditions and expectations. Her perspective offers a tender glimpse into what it means to crave connection and to find it in unexpected places.

Meanwhile, Jennifer, the family’s matriarch, faces her own quiet crisis. She had imagined her husband’s retirement as a season of ease and companionship, but instead finds herself unsettled by his struggle to adjust. His obvious depression leaves her feeling helpless, and she wonders how to support him.

The novel unfolds through the voices of Becky, Rosie, Hayley, and Jennifer, each chapter peeling back layers of vulnerability and resilience. Their stories intertwine to reveal the complexities of family life—the misunderstandings, the silences, the moments of tenderness that break through the tension. As the Balfours navigate their secrets and begin to open up to one another, the narrative transforms into a moving exploration of love, forgiveness, and the courage it takes to be truly seen.

Morgan’s depiction of the Balfour Christmas is immersive and heartfelt, capturing the messy beauty of family gatherings where joy and conflict coexist. With surprises around every corner and emotions running high, this is not just a holiday story—it’s a portrait of a family learning that even in the midst of chaos, connection can be the greatest gift of all. With themes of family drama, hidden secrets, and a sprinkle of romance, this is a tantalizing tale of forgiveness and hope, and a terrific start to the holiday season.

11/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

A MERRY LITTLE LIE by Sarah Morgan. Canary Street Press. (October 7, 2025). ISBN: ‎ 978-1335013224. 368p.

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Fixer Series, Book 2

From the publisher:

From the #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Things We Never Got Over

She’ll save Christmas just to spite him…

There’s only one thing standing in the way of Cat King saving Merry, Connecticut’s Christmas festival: Grumpy town manager Noah Yates.

Single dad Noah takes his responsibilities seriously. When a late season hurricane turns his town into a disaster, he’s left scrambling to pick up the pieces of the town he loves.

At least, until home renovation expert and reality TV star Catalina King arrives with a camera crew and a budget big enough to put the town back together again. But Noah doesn’t want a celebrity diva capitalizing on their tragedy or filling his young daughter’s head with visions of glitz and glam.

Blonde bombshell Cat is used to being underestimated, but Noah has an uncanny knack for getting under her skin. They can’t be in a room together without rubbing each other the wrong way…except that time in the dark alley where the rubbing was just right. Can these enemies work together to pull off a Christmas miracle or will their fighting leave them both on the naughty list?

Author’s Note: These enemies-to-lovers deliver the holiday feels with a dirty-talking hero, ballsy blonde who never backs down, steamy hot break-the-dining-room-table sexy times, and a small town that still believes in the magic of Christmas.

https://amzn.to/47CASIJ

The Hallmark-worthy town of Merry, Connecticut, has just weathered a hurricane and severe flooding. Reality TV home renovation star Cat King, who once worked on a house there, sees an opportunity to return and help with the recovery. It’s a win-win: she gets to do some good, and the ratings promise to be spectacular. But Noah Yates, the town’s manager and a single dad, isn’t thrilled about turning their misfortune into entertainment. Cue the sparks—and the classic enemies-to-lovers tension.

There’s something irresistibly magical about a holiday romance, and this story captures that spirit with a perfect blend of humor, heart, and festive charm. The setup—a spirited TV personality swooping in to save a small town’s Christmas festival while clashing with its grumpy, no-nonsense manager—is pure swoon material.

At the heart of the story is Cat King, whose vibrant energy and unshakable optimism light up the storm-drenched town of Merry. Opposite her is Noah Yates, the quintessential holiday grump: serious, protective, and emotionally guarded. Their chemistry crackles from the moment they meet, with Cat’s exuberance clashing deliciously against Noah’s grounded pragmatism.

Set against the backdrop of a town rebuilding after disaster, the narrative explores themes of resilience, healing, and rediscovering joy. As Noah struggles to protect his daughter and restore his community, Cat brings not only financial support but a fresh, festive spirit that challenges his worldview. Lucy Score delivers a story filled with laugh-out-loud moments and tender emotional beats, proving that even the most unlikely pairings can lead to the most unforgettable love stories.

This is the second book of a two-part series, which I didn’t realize until I started reading. Both books can stand alone, but are probably more enjoyable when read in order. I loved the first book, Mr. Fixer Upper, and highly recommend both!

11/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE CHRISTMAS FIX by Lucy Score. Bloom Books. (October 10, 2023). ISBN: ‎ 978-1728295145. 384p.

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