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THINGS WE NEVER GOT OVER by Lucy Score

January 5, 2024

Knockemout Series, Book 1

From the publisher:

Bearded, bad-boy barber Knox prefers to live his life the way he takes his coffee: Alone. Unless you count his basset hound, Waylon.

Knox doesn’t tolerate drama, even when it comes in the form of a stranded runaway bride.

Naomi wasn’t just running away from her wedding. She was riding to the rescue of her estranged twin to Knockemout, Virginia, a rough-around-the-edges town where disputes are settled the old-fashioned way…with fists and beer. Usually in that order.

Too bad for Naomi her evil twin hasn’t changed at all. After helping herself to Naomi’s car and cash, Tina leaves her with something unexpected. The niece Naomi didn’t know she had. Now she’s stuck in town with no car, no job, no plan, and no home with an 11-year-old going on thirty to take care of.

There’s a reason Knox doesn’t do complications or high-maintenance women, especially not the romantic ones. But since Naomi’s life imploded right in front of him, the least he can do is help her out of her jam. And just as soon as she stops getting into new trouble he can leave her alone and get back to his peaceful, solitary life.

At least, that’s the plan until the trouble turns to real danger.

Book 1: Things We Never Got Over

Book 2: Things We Hide from the Light

Book 3: Things We Left Behind
https://amzn.to/47nikJ7

Being me, I started reading this series with book 3 (the last book?) and I liked it so much that I immediately sought out the first two books. This is the first book of the Knockemout series – Knockemout is a small town in Virginia, close to Washington D.C. This is not your stereotypical sweet, everyone loves and looks out for one another small town. This small town has some very rough edges, lending an interesting layer to this series.

Knox owns the nicest bar and barber shop in town, plus his name is on the municipal building that houses the sheriff’s department and library. His brother, Nash, is the sheriff, and they butt heads on the regular. When Naomi arrives in town, she hits the first coffee shop she sees, and is not completely surprised to see a picture of her twin on the wall with a do not serve notice on it. She orders her coffee and the barista asks her to leave, until she produces her drivers license that shows she is Naomi, not Tina. Never have twins been so biblical! Tina is evil, self destructive, and is always trying to keep one step ahead of the law. Naomi is the good daughter, striving to do the right thing at all times to make up for her horrible sister. But when Tina calls and says she’s in trouble, Naomi can’t help but come riding in for the rescue. But things don’t work out exactly the way she planned.

While Naomi is getting yelled at by Knox, her car, phone, and most of her belongings are stolen. Her sister is the thief, and to Naomi’s shock, Tina leaves behind a young daughter that no one in their family knew about. Of course Naomi steps up, but doesn’t alert her parents to their first grandchild since they are out of the country on their dream vacation.

Knox can’t help but feel bad for Naomi and arranges a place for her to stay and a job, at least temporarily. Knox and Naomi keep on fighting until they both give in to the explosive chemistry between them. Meanwhile, Naomi is falling in love with both her niece and Knox, maddening though they both are.

There are ups and downs galore here and a bit of suspense as well, making this a real page-turner. I loved these characters, and I’m happy to say it didn’t ruin things at all that I read the last book first; these books can easily stand alone. I highly recommend this series.

1/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THINGS WE NEVER GOT OVER by Lucy Score. Bloom Books (January 12, 2022). ISBN: 978-1945631832. 570p.

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THINGS WE HIDE FROM THE LIGHT by Lucy Score

January 5, 2024

Knockemout Series, Book 2

From the publisher:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lucy Score returns to Knockemout, Virginia, following fan-favorite Things We Never Got Over with Knox’s brother Nash’s story.

Nash Morgan was always known as the good Morgan brother, with a smile and a wink for everyone. But now, this chief of police is recovering from being shot and his Southern charm has been overshadowed by panic attacks and nightmares. He feels like a broody shell of the man he once was. Nash isn’t about to let anyone in his life know he’s struggling. But his new next-door neighbor, smart and sexy Lina, sees his shadows. As a rule, she’s not a fan of physical contact unless she initiates it, but for some reason Nash’s touch is different. He feels it too. The physical connection between them is incendiary, grounding him and making her wonder if exploring it is worth the risk.

Too bad Lina’s got secrets of her own, and if Nash finds out the real reason she’s in town, he’ll never forgive her. Besides, she doesn’t do relationships. Ever. A hot, short-term fling with a local cop? Absolutely. Sign her up. A relationship with a man who expects her to plant roots? No freaking way. Once she gets what she’s after, she has no intention of sticking around. But Knockemout has a way of getting under people’s skin. And once Nash decides to make Lina his, he’s not about to be dissuaded…even if it means facing the danger that nearly killed him.

Book 1: Things We Never Got Over

Book 2: Things We Hide from the Light

Book 3: Things We Left Behind
https://amzn.to/3tzIdrp

Being me, I started reading this series with book 3 (the last book?) and I liked it so much that I immediately sought out the first two books. I’m happy to say it didn’t ruin things at all that I read the last book first; these books can easily stand alone, and I highly recommend this series.

Book 2 centers around the local sheriff, Nash, in this small town outside of Washington D.C. Nash generally spends most of his time breaking up fights and giving out tickets. But on a traffic stop, he gets shot at point-blank range. Luckily, he survives but he finds himself spiraling into a severe depression, and even more fun, he’s having panic attacks. He also can’t remember anything from that night, including who the shooter was. He doesn’t tell anyone about the depression and hides it as well as he can, but he has a new neighbor, Lina, and she finds him on the floor mid-panic attack.

Lina has her own issues, and she is quite familiar with these types of attacks. She gets him into his apartment, and they both find themselves strongly attracted to one another. For some reason, Lina’s touch grounds Nash, makes him feel more like himself. Plus she’s hot as hell, and he can’t stop thinking about her. Lina thinks he’s hot as hell, too, and wouldn’t mind a brief fling.

Lina’s been in town for a few weeks, and all anyone really knows about her is that she works in insurance. What she really does is locate missing property, a sometimes dangerous job that is best kept secret. She also has no room in her life for relationships; she’s a one-night stand sort of girl, and that works for her. Until she meets Nash. She fights it every step of the way, and he’s fine with that – until he starts coming back to himself. He’s always been a traditional kind of guy, wanting the wife, the home, the white picket fence, the kids. But Lina is scared to death of domesticity.

As Nash tries to remember who shot him and Lina keeps searching for the missing property, their paths keep crossing and their attraction cannot be denied. There is quite a bit of suspense here, and the romance sizzles. This is another terrific entry into this series. Highly recommend!

1/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THINGS WE HIDE FROM THE LIGHT by Lucy Score. Bloom Books (February 21, 2023). ISBN: 978-1728276113. 592p.

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Spotlight Review: NEXT-DOOR NEMESIS by Alexa Martin

January 2, 2024

From the publisher:

ONE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES’ BEST ROMANCES OF THE YEAR!

“Martin’s prose is a live wire: There are little shocks of pleasure on every page.”—New York Times

Two rival candidates for a homeowner’s association presidency are about to find out how dirty suburbanites fight in this steamy new romantic comedy from Alexa Martin.

After years of hustling, Collins Carter has finally made it…back to her parents’ house. Between tending to the compost with her newly retired dad and running into her high school nemesis at the only decent coffee shop in town, Collins realizes this subdivision from hell she swore she’d never return to is her rock bottom.

Then the homeowner’s association complaint arrived.

Nathaniel Adams always dreamed of a nice, quiet life in his suburban hometown. Or at least that’s what he thought until Collins moved back and sent his quaint, organized life into a tailspin. He thought Collins was infuriating ten years ago, but when she announces she’s running against him for HOA president, all bets are off.

From secret board meetings to vicious smear campaigns whispered over backyard fences, Collins and Nate sink to levels their sleepy suburb has never seen before. But as hate turns into lust, these two enemies are forced to reckon with the feelings they’ve ignored for years. If only there were bylaws for real life.

“Martin’s prose is a live wire: There are little shocks of pleasure on every page. It’s incredible how epic this contest feels, even though the stakes are extremely local…Martin has a knack for layering vast emotional geographies onto cozy physical spaces.”—New York Times

“Martin’s (Better Than Fiction) sexy friends-to-lovers rom-com is full of endearing characters and emotional plotlines, set against a whimsical Midwestern backdrop. Will appeal to readers of feel-good contemporary romances.”—Library Journal (starred review)

“Martin’s latest is a witty, humorous rom-com that doesn’t skimp on the comedy; Collins and Nate’s conversational clashes are as engaging as their vulnerability…”—Kirkus
https://amzn.to/473HNHe

This book hits several of my favorite tropes; second chance romance, enemies to lovers, and small town romance. Martin is one of the best contemporary romcom romance writers out there, and I have loved every one of her books. This one is no exception.

Nate and Collins grew up in this small town as best friends, and then something more. Until the summer Nate ghosted her. Collins never understood why, and that hurt turned into hate. So when Collins ends up moving back in to the house she grew up in, she is shocked to find out that Nate not only still lives there (in his own house,) but that he is the president of the homeowner’s association. And he’s out to get her.

To retaliate, Collins decides to run against him in the next association election and then things really get ugly. Except their chemistry keeps veering between hate and lust, and eventually lust wins out. But can the hate turn into love? Of course, it does, but it is so much fun getting there! This was a terrific read with enough laughs, lust, and drama to keep those pages flying by. It was a great read to start the new year!

1/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

NEXT-DOOR NEMESIS by Alexa Martin. Berkley (November 14, 2023). ISBN: 978-0593337257. 368p.

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Spotlight Review: THINGS WE LEFT BEHIND by Lucy Score

December 26, 2023

Knockemout Series, Book 3

From the publisher:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Lucy Score returns to spicy-sweet Knockemout, Virginia with Lucian and Sloane’s story.

There was only one woman who could set me free. But I would rather set myself on fire than ask Sloane Walton for anything.

Lucian Rollins is a lean, mean vengeance-seeking mogul. On a quest to erase his abusive father’s mark on the family name, he spends every waking minute pulling strings and building his empire. The more money and power he gains, the safer he feels.

Except when it comes to one feisty small-town librarian…

Bonded by an old, dark secret from the past and their current mutual disdain, Sloane Walton trusts Lucian about as far as she can throw his designer-suited body.

When bickering accidentally turns to foreplay, the flames are fanned, and it’s impossible to put them out again. But with Sloane more than ready to start a family and Lucian refusing to even consider the idea of marriage and kids, these enemies-to-lovers are stuck at an impasse.

Until Lucian learns the hard way that leaving Sloane is impossible―the very least he can do is to keep her safe.

Book 1: Things We Never Got Over

Book 2: Things We Hide from the Light
https://amzn.to/3TpSII9

December is usually a very slow month in publishing, so I’ve always used it to catch up on the books I missed during the year. I’m doing that, but there are still a handful of new books that I am reading as well. One of the nicest perks of my job is that I get 2 weeks off over the holidays, and I’m spending them baking, cleaning, reading, and watching Hallmark Christmas (& their one Hanukkah) movies!

This was my first read in this series, although I’ve read Lucy Score before and really enjoyed her. I did find this a bit slow going in the beginning, and I’m going to blame that on missing the first two books (which I’m definitely going to read sooner rather than later!) Our two protagonists have a past, and it’s not pretty. Sloane doesn’t trust Julian at all, but no one can deny their chemistry is off-the-charts hot. They both have a lot of baggage, and honestly, Julian is drowning in it, but even he realizes that Sloane is offering a hand up.

There were a lot of laughs and a lot of tears produced by this story, not to mention the heat! It is a long book, but once I got past the first 50 pages or so, I couldn’t put it down. And I can’t wait to read the first two books in this series.

12/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THINGS WE LEFT BEHIND by Lucy Score. Bloom Books (September 5, 2023). ISBN: 978-1728276120. 592p.

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MOM COM by Adriana Mather

December 22, 2023

From the publisher:

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author Adriana Mather comes a heartwarming tale of love, family, and pastry perfection.

Maddi DeLuca is coming home for the holidays with her nine-year-old son, only it’s not the triumphant return she might have hoped for. She recently broke down on a reality TV baking show, letting the entire country know she feels like a colossal failure. And she can be certain her mother will remind her of all the ways she hasn’t lived up to expectations over the years.

Ten years ago, all Maddi dreamt of was running her father’s beloved bakery in their tiny coastal town of Haverberry Cove, MA. Her best friend, Wilder Buenaventura, had his own dream–a life with Maddi. And for one brilliant moment when they were seventeen, those dreams collided. They baked together. They loved each other insatiably. But like a fallen soufflé, their relationship imploded, taking their lifelong friendship with it.

If she had her way, Maddi would have stayed in California, hiding her head in its beautiful white sands. But at her mother’s request, she has returned to her hometown to help deal with an urgent matter concerning her father’s will and his nostalgia-filled bakery. What Maddi doesn’t know is that this issue also mysteriously involves the one person she’s spent forever trying to forget–Wilder. Now she finds herself forced to make an impossible decision: give up her father’s bakery and her lifelong dream, or find a way to coexist with Wilder without murdering him with a cookie cutter.

“Mather makes her adult debut with this delightful tale…Romance fans will delight in the story, the addition of sweet bakery treats, and the showdown between the judgmental town, the snooty Buenaventuras, and the pull of the love that got away.” —Library Journal (starred review)

“A delicious second-chance romance…[Mom Com] is a heartfelt tale about learning to forgive both oneself and others. Readers will not want to miss Maddi and Wilder’s second chance at love.” —Publishers Weekly
https://amzn.to/3NpMBzR

This was my first read by Mather, and considering this is her adult novel debut, I guess that makes sense. The cover appealed to my foodie sensibility, I always like a good second-chance romance, and I love finding new authors, so this book was a win-win-win for me!

Maddi adored her father and grew up helping out in his bakery. But they had a falling out, and she moved away. She and her son come home for the holidays, and she’s not sure how long she’ll stay – she had a very public breakdown and needs to reset. There’s no place like home for that, except she finds out her father left his beloved bakery to her and her arch nemesis, Wilder.

They have a history together but went their separate ways. Wilder’s family is wealthy, and he works in the family business. I don’t want to give too much away, so I’ll just say Wilder and Maddi need to work together or lose the bakery, and neither wants that. As Maddi learns what’s been happening in Wilder’s life and he gets to know her all over again, feelings develop.

This was a completely engrossing story, and I couldn’t put it down. I loved these characters and how they finally found their happy ending, and the bakery was just an extra treat!

12/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

MOM COM by Adriana Mather. Blackstone Publishing Inc; Paperback edition (November 14, 2023). ISBN: 979-8212877176. 350p.

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Spotlight Review: A HOLLY JOLLY EVER AFTER by Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone

December 19, 2023

Christmas Notch, Book 2

From the publisher:

From the authors of A Merry Little Meet Cute comes a steamy holiday rom-com cowritten by #1 New York Times bestselling author Julie Murphy and USA Today bestselling author Sierra Simone—about an actress and a perpetually single former boy-band member reunited as costars on a steamy holiday film!

Kallum Liebermanis the funny one™. As the arguably lesser of the three former members of the boy band INK, he enjoyed his fifteen minutes of fame and then moved home where he opened a regional pizza chain called Slice, Slice, Baby! He’s living his best dad bod life, hooking up with bridesmaids at all his friends’ weddings. But after an old one-off sex tape is leaked and quickly goes viral, Kallum decides he’s ready to step into the spotlight again, starring in a sexy Santa biopic for the Hope Channel.

Winnie Baker did everything right. She married her childhood sweetheart, avoided the downfalls of adolescent stardom, and transitioned into a stable adult acting career. Hell, she even waited until marriage to have sex. But after her perfect life falls apart, Winnie is ready to redefine herself—and what better way than a steamier-than-a-steaming-hot-mug-of-cider Christmas movie?

With decade old Hollywood history between them, Winnie and Kallum are both feeling hesitant about their new situation as costars…especially Winnie who can’t seem to fake on screen pleasure she’s never experienced in real life. She’s willing to do the pleasure research—for science and artistic authenticity, of course. And there’s no better research partner than her bridesmaid sex tape hall of fame costar, Kallum. But suddenly, Kallum’s teenage crush on Winnie is bubbling to the surface and Winnie might be catching feelings herself.

They say opposites attract, but is this holly jolly ever after really ready for its close-up?

“Well-developed protagonists with immediate chemistry and witty dialogue balance the emotional story as characters process big life changes and family trauma. Skillful, sympathetic writing weaves the conflict seamlessly into the storyline, creating a novel that will make readers laugh, cry, and cheer. This sexy, joyful romantic comedy from Murphy and Simone (A Merry Little Meet Cute) is a delightful read.” — Library Journal (starred review)

“Murphy and Simone present another superbly written, splendidly witty holiday romance featuring another pair of expertly nuanced protagonists and a plot that flawlessly balances sizzling sensual heat and sweet romantic affection while joyfully celebrating body positivity.” — Booklist (starred review)
https://amzn.to/3TlL3KS

This book really appealed to me as a former Hallmark Christmas movie fan. I pretty much stopped watching them a few years ago when Netflix started making their own Christmas movies. The Netflix movies just felt more modern and realistic, and frankly, I was tired of the same half-dozen actors making the same movie over and over again. I hear they moved them to Europe this year, and that’s a nice change but not enough to bring me back. On the other hand, the Lifetime channel has a new Christmas movie with sex scenes!* I’ll be checking that out for sure.

Anyway, back to this book: a really fun, super sexy Christmas tale set in the world of made for cable Christmas movies. The Hope Channel is starting a new venture, turning their traditional Hallmark-style Christmas movies into adult versions. Soft porn, if you will. Talk about going to extremes! Their new female lead is Winnie, one of their mainstay Christmas movie stars who has had some disruption in her life and career and needs to start over. The male lead is Kallum, a former boy band member with a past that has come back to haunt him – an old sex tape has gone viral. Both think this is their opportunity to get on the right side of fame – sort of.

Winnie was brought up in a strict Christian home, married the man of her parents’ dreams, and divorced him when she caught him cheating. Her parents think she should forgive him and get back to making sappy movies, so they are really incensed when they find out she will be starring in this adult flick. The only problem is that Winnie has no sexual experience beyond her husband, and he was more about wham-bam-thank-you-mam than seeing to her pleasure. Embarrassed, she decides to ask her new co-star for help as he seems to have the experience she lacks.

Lots of laughs, some drama, and a whole lot of heat make this a terrific holiday read. I loved that there is an actual small town centered around Christmas all year long that everyone flocks to make these movies. I hope that’s a real thing! This was a fast, steamy read with a lot of heart and a thoroughly enjoyable read.

*Lifetime stuffs viewers’ stockings for the holidays with Christmas movie sex scene: “A Cowboy Christmas Romance” endorses the suggestion “Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy.”

12/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

HOLLY JOLLY EVER AFTER by Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone. Avon (October 10, 2023). ISBN: 978-0063222649. 432p.

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LOVE, THEORETICALLY by Ali Hazelwood

December 15, 2023

The Love Hypothesis, Book 3

From the publisher:

“The reigning queen of STEM romance.”—The Washington Post

An Indie Next and Library Reads Pick!

Rival physicists collide in a vortex of academic feuds and fake dating shenanigans in this delightfully STEMinist romcom from the New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis and Love on the Brain.

The many lives of theoretical physicist Elsie Hannaway have finally caught up with her. By day, she’s an adjunct professor, toiling away at grading labs and teaching thermodynamics in the hopes of landing tenure. By other day, Elsie makes up for her non-existent paycheck by offering her services as a fake girlfriend, tapping into her expertly honed people-pleasing skills to embody whichever version of herself the client needs.

Honestly, it’s a pretty sweet gig—until her carefully constructed Elsie-verse comes crashing down. Because Jack Smith, the annoyingly attractive and arrogant older brother of her favorite client, turns out to be the cold-hearted experimental physicist who ruined her mentor’s career and undermined the reputation of theorists everywhere. And he’s the same Jack Smith who rules over the physics department at MIT, standing right between Elsie and her dream job.

Elsie is prepared for an all-out war of scholarly sabotage but…those long, penetrating looks? Not having to be anything other than her true self when she’s with him? Will falling into an experimentalist’s orbit finally tempt her to put her most guarded theories on love into practice?

“The reigning queen of STEMinist rom-coms returns with a tale set in the cutthroat world of elite academia full of delightful humor, realistic emotions, and the messy search for self-acceptance.”—Booklist, starred review

“A decidedly quirky and thoroughly charming tale…Geeky science jokes, humorous student emails, and expertly delivered snarky banter enhance the narrative. Readers will cheer for Jack and Elsie and their bumpy road to happily ever after.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Hazelwood’s latest STEM-set novel may be her best yet, addressing not only discrimination among different realms of physics, but the unconscious bias Elsie has to continually fight as a woman in her field…A dynamic rivals-to-lovers romance.”—Kirkus, starred review
https://amzn.to/473qshW

I love this series so I was shocked to see I missed the summer release of this latest offering. But no worries, I hunkered down and read it over the weekend and I’m so glad I did!

I am the least STEM person around – I even had to look up what STEM stands for (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). I went to grad school at the University of South Florida because I didn’t have to take the GRE (my GPA was high enough) and there’s MATH on that test! Tech I’m okay with, but that’s it. Nonetheless, I love these books even if I don’t understand a lot of the back story. Like there are two schools of physicists? I can spell physicists but that’s about the extent of my knowledge of physics. So now I know there are theorists and experimentalists, and I sort of understand the difference. But it doesn’t really matter. All you really need to understand is that the difference is the main reason for this enemies-to-lovers romance.

I also really enjoyed the university setting of the story as I work in one, even if we don’t have a physics major (I don’t think??) Elsie is an adjunct professor, which means she is basically part time and paid by the class – and they don’t get paid much. There are no benefits, no insurance, no vacation. It’s a really sucky job, to be honest. And Elsie is an adjunct at a few schools (also not uncommon) to try and make ends meet. So when she gets the opportunity to apply for a faculty position at M.I.T., with benefits and a lab, she is over the moon. Until she meets one of the professors on the hiring committee.

Jack Smith turned the theoretical physics world on its head when he was in high school, and Elsie’s mentor was the target. Once he hears where she is interviewing, he is not too happy. And I loved that her mentor calls her Elise – so typical that he can’t even bother to get her name right. As Elsie goes through the hiring process, she spends time with Jack and the next thing you know, feelings are developing. But there are major roadblocks here, and it takes quite a bit of time for them to work past them to their happy ending.

I loved the humor here, the setting, and of course, the characters. This was another unputdownable read from one of my favorite authors. I love these books and I swear I feel smarter when I finish one! Don’t miss it.

12/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

LOVE, THEORETICALLY by Ali Hazelwood. Berkley (June 13, 2023). ISBN: 978-0593336861. 400p.

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THE FAKE MATE by Lana Ferguson

December 15, 2023

From the publisher:

Two wolf shifters agree to be fake mates but unexpectedly find something real in this steamy paranormal romantic comedy by Lana Ferguson.

Mackenzie Carter has had some very bad dates lately. Model train experts, mansplainers, guys weirdly obsessed with her tail—she hasn’t had a successful date in months. Only a year out of residency, her grandmother’s obsession with Mackenzie finding the perfect mate to settle down with threatens to drive Mackenzie barking mad. Out of options, it feels like a small thing to tell her grandmother that she’s met someone. That is, until she blurts out the name of the first man she sees and the last man she would ever date: Noah Taylor, the big bad wolf of Denver General.

Noah Taylor, interventional cardiologist and all around grump, has spent his entire life hiding what he is. With outdated stigmas surrounding unmated alphas that have people wondering if they still howl at the moon, Noah has been careful to keep his designation under wraps. It’s worked for years, until an anonymous tip has everything coming to light. Noah is left with two options: come clean to the board and risk his career—or find himself a mate. The chatty, overly friendly ER doctor asking him to be her fake boyfriend on the same day he’s called to meet the board has to be kismet, right?

Mackenzie will keep her grandmother off her back, and Noah will get a chance to prove he can continue to work without a real mate—a mutually beneficial business transaction, they both rationalize. But when the fake-mate act turns into a very real friends-with-benefits arrangement, lines start to blur, and they quickly realize love is a whole different kind of animal.

“This fun, steamy romance has interesting, well-drawn characters who happen to be shifters…Fans of fake relationships will appreciate Ferguson’s paranormal twist on the trope.”—Library Journal

“What begins as a typical fake relationship story quickly slides into a delightfully endearing study of two people overcoming expectations.”—Publishers Weekly

“Charming. Funny. Primal. Ferguson’s paranormal romance manages to be sweet and spicy at the same time, with two likable leads who can’t ignore their wolfish urges…Readers will tear through this omegaverse novel.”—Booklist
https://amzn.to/3tfucik

I have never read a paranormal romance like this. In fact, I rarely read any paranormal romance but this past year I decided to give it a go and read a couple of witchy romances, which I enjoyed. But I’ve never read about shifters or wolves or whatever this is. I’m still not totally clear about it – are they werewolves? I’ve heard of those at least, but it doesn’t seem like an exact match. But I pushed on through and it was a super fun read, even if I was a tiny bit confused about it all.

Mackenzie is a young doctor working in the emergency room of a hospital. She is an omega, a special kind of wolf/shifter (I really don’t know what I’m talking about!), and is well liked by the staff and her colleagues. Noah is a cardiac surgeon and has the arrogance that sometimes goes along with those positions. He is feared more than liked, and rumors about him flow through the hospital. His only friend is the former head of cardiology, who recommended Noah to take his place. Another cardiologist was really angry about that – he thought the job should be his by virtue of him being there longer.

Noah is also a wolf/shifter, but he an alpha which apparently means he is prone to be violent or something. It wasn’t quite clear to me, but he kept that a secret. I found it interesting that everyone just accepts these shifters working and living among them. But an anonymous tip lets the hospital board know that Noah is an alpha, and he is afraid they will let him go because of deep seated prejudices.

Noah and Mackenzie find themselves in the staff lounge one day. Mackenzie is constantly being setup on blind dates by her grandmother, and one is worse than the next. She gets the idea of asking Noah to take a selfie with her that she can show her grandmother in hopes of getting her to back off. He agrees, but has his own favor to ask. If he can tell the board that he is mated, they won’t care if he’s an alpha. They both agree to the deal, and the fake dating begins. They find they have a lot in common and begin to have real feelings for one another, but there is trouble afoot in the hospital that appears to be destructive to their relationship.

Honestly, the only reason I even read this was because I liked Ferguson’s first book, The Nanny, so much. She is a good writer, builds interesting characters, and they inevitably have steamy sex. In this case, the alpha-omega thing means something very specific in the bedroom, and that adds another dimension to the story. Ferguson has made a paranormal romance reader out of me!

There is some humor here as well, and it was a thoroughly enjoyable read. If anyone reads it or can explain shifters to me, please leave a comment!

12/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE FAKE MATE by Lana Ferguson. Berkley (December 5, 2023). ISBN: 978-0593549377. 400p.

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MEET THE BENEDETTOS by Katie Cotugno

December 8, 2023

From the publisher:

The Kardashians meets Pride and Prejudice in this charming comical follow-up to Birds of California, in which an A-list movie star moves to Los Angeles—and next door to a family of five eligible sisters.

Every family is complicated, and the Benedettos are no exception. A few years after a reality show skyrocketed them to pop culture fame, the five twenty-something sisters are living together in their parent’s crumbling McMansion, almost broke and teetering towards rock bottom. Their fortunes brighten when Charlie Bingley, the dashing star of Captain Fantastic, moves into the neighborhood with Will Darcy, his best friend from Julliard, in tow.

Charlie immediately falls for warm and lovely June, the oldest Benedetto sister. While the Benedetto’s flighty matriarch, Cinta, brashly encourages the potential match, there are plenty of others determined to steer Charlie away from this ridiculous family of reality show has-beens.

Lilly Benedetto, the sensible second oldest sister, is all too aware that her family is viewed as a spectacle. She usually doesn’t care what the world thinks because she faces deeper sorrows. And she most certainly does not have the patience for the likes of Will Darcy, a man plagued by his own private demons. Lilly finds Will to be stuck-up, arrogant, and judgmental. Will thinks Lilly is loud, brash, and defensive. And while the two clash at every turn, they can’t seem to stay away from each other . . .

Katie Cotugno brings a big, boisterous cast of characters to life in this deliciously sprawling Los Angeles story—a thoroughly fresh and modern tale about a family that’s “famous for being famous,” the ways that preconceived notions make fools of us all, and how unexpected romance can bloom despite the odds.
https://amzn.to/45eyWT8

Katie Cotugno (Birds of California) brings us the latest modern-day retelling of Pride & Prejudice. The Benedetto family is at the heart of the story; think of them as a failed Kardashian clan with five sisters. They had a reality show for a couple of years and are now struggling to further their careers while the bills pile up. June, the eldest, falls for their new neighbor, action film star Charlie Bingley, while the next oldest, Lilly, keeps squabbling with Charlie’s best friend, Will Darcy. Then Lilly meets Nick, and he tells her an awful story about Will. Will tries to warn Lilly about Nick but doesn’t give her any details, so it’s just a matter of time before Nick shows his true colors and everything comes to a head. If you are familiar with any of the iterations of the Austen masterpiece, all the players will be recognizable. It is also a commentary on reality television programming and the Hollywood lifestyle, all wrapped up in a lighthearted read with a rather abrupt ending.

Verdict: Jane Austen fans will enjoy this new spin on what has become a franchise; think Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld, Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors by Sonali Dev, or Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding.

12/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

MEET THE BENEDETTOS by Katie Cotugno. Harper Perennial (December 5, 2023). ISBN: 978-0063324145. 256p.

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THE PUMPKIN SPICE CAFE by Laurie Gilmore

December 8, 2023

Dream Harbor, Book 1

From the publisher:

When Jeanie’s aunt gifts her the beloved Pumpkin Spice Café in the small town of Dream Harbor, Jeanie jumps at the chance for a fresh start away from her very dull desk job.

Logan is a local farmer who avoids Dream Harbor’s gossip at all costs. But Jeanie’s arrival disrupts Logan’s routine and he wants nothing to do with the irritatingly upbeat new girl, except that he finds himself inexplicably drawn to her.

Will Jeanie’s happy-go-lucky attitude win over the grumpy-but-gorgeous Logan, or has this city girl found the one person in town who won’t fall for her charm, or her pumpkin spice lattes…

The Pumpkin Spice Cafe is a cozy romantic novel for fans of Gilmore Girls, with a grumpy x sunshine dynamic, a small-town setting and a HEA guaranteed!
https://amzn.to/3MDheBh

My friend Caitlin recommended this book to me, and since it wasn’t available through my usual sources or the library, I purchased the Kindle edition and it was money well spent! Caitlin never steers me wrong, plus she said it was reminiscent of the small town in the Gilmore Girls, one of my favorite TV shows (that I constantly rewatch), and then when I saw the author’s name is Laurie Gilmore (is that name for real???) Well, I definitely had to read it, and I’m very glad I did.

Dream Harbor is a small New England town filled with quirky residents, much like Stars Hollow. Our heroine, Jeanie, inherits the Pumpkin Spice Cafe and jumps at the chance to start over. She moves in and finds a small town full of people who rely on the cafe and want her to succeed. Then she meets Logan, a grumpy but gorgeous farmer who can’t help but be drawn to the always cheerful Jeanie. Theirs is a match made in this small town, and watching them fall in love was so much fun that this turned into a one-night read for me. I loved these characters and this town, and I can’t wait for the next book in this new series!

12/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE PUMPKIN SPICE CAFE by Laurie Gilmore. One More Chapter (August 31, 2023). ISBN: 978-0008610678. 384p.