Contemporary | Stacy Alesi's BookBitch.com™

THE TWELVE DOGS OF CHRISTMAS by Lizzie Shane

October 30, 2020

Pine Hollow, Book 1

From the publisher:

A delightful holiday romance about a small-town single dad and an animal rescue owner as they try to find forever homes for a dozen lovable pups before Christmas.

Pine Hollow has everything Ally Gilmore could wish for in a holiday break: gently falling snow in a charming small town and time with her family. Then she learns some Grinch has pulled the funding for her family’s rescue shelter, and now she has only four weeks to find new homes for a dozen dogs! But when she confronts her Scroogey councilman nemesis, Ally finds he’s far more reasonable — and handsome — than she ever expected.

As the guardian of his dog-obsessed ten-year-old niece, Ben West doesn’t have time to build a cuddly reputation. But he does feel guilty about the shelter closing. So he proposes a truce with Ally, agreeing to help her adopt out the pups. As the two spend more time together, the town’s gossip is spreading faster than Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve. And soon Ben is hoping he can convince Ally that Pine Hollow is her home for the holidays. . . and the whole year through.

A Christmas book with puppies? Sign me up! This author was new to me but the title alone sold the book for me. I really liked these characters and the Vermont small town setting.

Ally thinks she is swooping in to help save her grandparents’ home and animal shelter. The town council has a budget crisis and needs to make some quick cuts, the shelter seems like the most painless route to take. Except for the dogs who haven’t found homes yet.

Ben cast the deciding vote on the budget cut, so he is feeling a tiny bit guilty about it, even though logically it was the right thing to do. Ben is the guardian of his niece, and feels the weight of that responsibility. He is also the type to think he can do everything himself, but it is proving to be a lot harder than he thought it would be.

Ben takes his guilt to the shelter and offers to help Ally find homes for all the dogs. He comes up with this great idea of a Christmas-dog promotion and it starts to work fairly quickly. Meanwhile, all that working together has Ben and Ally falling in love, but both are fighting it; Ben, because of the weight of his responsibilities, and Ally, because this is supposed to be a pit stop in her life, not her permanent destination. But happily-ever-afters often come with sacrifice. After a lot of ups and downs, Ben and Ally find theirs. As do the dogs.

I really enjoyed this romantic romp. If you like your Christmas stories with a side of puppies, as I do, this is your book. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

For something fun, take the “Who Is Your Furry Friends Rescue Match” quiz!

10/2020 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

THE TWELVE DOGS OF CHRISTMAS by Lizzie Shane. Forever (September 29, 2020). ISBN 978-1538735879. 368 pages.

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IN A HOLIDAZE by Christina Lauren

October 24, 2020

From the publisher:

One Christmas wish, two brothers, and a lifetime of hope are on the line for hapless Maelyn Jones in In a Holidaze, the quintessential holiday romantic novel by Christina Lauren, the New York Times bestselling author of The Unhoneymooners.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…but not for Maelyn Jones. She’s living with her parents, hates her going-nowhere job, and has just made a romantic error of epic proportions.

But perhaps worst of all, this is the last Christmas Mae will be at her favorite place in the world—the snowy Utah cabin where she and her family have spent every holiday since she was born, along with two other beloved families. Mentally melting down as she drives away from the cabin for the final time, Mae throws out what she thinks is a simple plea to the universe: Please. Show me what will make me happy.

The next thing she knows, tires screech and metal collides, everything goes black. But when Mae gasps awake…she’s on an airplane bound for Utah, where she begins the same holiday all over again. With one hilarious disaster after another sending her back to the plane, Mae must figure out how to break free of the strange time loop—and finally get her true love under the mistletoe.

Jam-packed with yuletide cheer, an unforgettable cast of characters, and Christina Lauren’s trademark “downright hilarious” (Helen Hoang, author of The Bride Test) hijinks, this swoon-worthy romantic read will make you believe in the power of wishes and the magic of the holidays.

The writing duo known as Christina Lauren is (are?) a definite favorite. They write compelling stories with characters that spring to life on the page, with just enough sex to keep it real. It was a real joy to see their latest is a Christmas story, but not just any Christmas story, a “Groundhog Day” version.

“Groundhog Day” is one of my favorite movies, so this aspect really appealed to me. I had to laugh out loud when Mae’s confidant, Benny, points this out to her and she is just drawing a blank. This Millennial has never seen the movie! Personal note: shame on her parents for that oversight.

It did take me a bit to figure out all the characters, as there are three families sharing the Christmas holiday. They are the kind of friends who become family, and family of the best kind – the ones you pick are the ones you love best. They have traditions born of spending decades of holidays together, and Mae is the traditionalist of the bunch, always wanting everything to be exactly the same, year to year.

Except for one thing: when she turned 13, she realized that she was majorly crushing on Andrew, the elder brother of her contemporary, Theo. The families always sort of expected Theo and Mae to get together as they have been best friends all their lives. But friendship is all it is meant to be, so when one night a drunken Mae & Theo make out, it changes the relationship. But not as much as when on the way to the airport for the ride home, Mae & her family are in a car accident, or so she thinks. When she wakes up, she finds she is on the plane heading to Utah for the Christmas vacation.

As in the movie, Mae understands that something has to change to get her back to real life, whatever that turns out to be. She keeps reliving the holiday until she finally gets it right – or so she thinks. Lots of angst mellowed by a lot of laughs make this a really fun holiday read. Don’t miss it!

10/2020 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

IN A HOLIDAZE by Christina Lauren. Gallery Books (October 6, 2020). ISBN 978-1982123949. 336 pages.

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SNAPPED by Alexa Martin

October 22, 2020

The Playbook, Book 4

From the publisher:

A PopSugar Must-Read for October!

With the stakes this high, it’s no longer just a game for the Mustang’s quarterback in this romance by the author of Blitzed.

Elliot Reed is living her best life—or pretending to. She owes it to her dad’s memory to be happy and make the most of her new job as Strategic Communications Manager for the Denver Mustangs. Things are going well until star quarterback Quinton Howard Jr. decides to use the field as his stage and takes a knee during the national anthem.

As the son of a former professional athlete, Quinton knows the good, the bad, and the ugly about football. He’s worked his entire life to gain recognition in the sport, and now that he has it, he’s not about to waste his chance to change the league for better. Not even the brilliant but infuriating Elliot, who the Mustangs assign to manage him, will get Quinton back in line.

A rocky initial meeting leads to more tension between Quinton and Elliot. But as her new job forces them to spend time together, Elliot realizes they may have more in common than she could’ve imagined. With her job and his integrity on the line, this is one coin toss that nobody can win.

This is one of my favorite series and I’m happy to report Alexa Martin nailed it once again with her latest, Snapped. If you are not familiar with this series, I urge you to read them all, and read them in order. If that sounds too overwhelming, they all stand alone beautifully so read what you will.

Martin is the wife of a former NFL player and brings that experience to her fictional team, the Denver Mustangs. Just like in real life, some of the characters have been traded to other teams, and not like real life, all these football players are great men: honest, loving, monogamous, kind, and generous. Like I said, not real life. But that’s the fun of a romance!

There is a new quarterback on the Mustangs, and he is Black. If you don’t follow football, just know that while the league is majority Black players, not so with the quarterback position. Or the coaches. Or the owners. Martin brings these inequities to the forefront, in addition to CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy,) and the problems the older, retired players have with minimal pensions and no health coverage. That changed for the newer players, and I love how Martin makes a point of discussing how these old guys are trotted out for honors at games, while left to rot on the sidelines for the rest of their lives. Sorry, this really upsets me.

Anyway, it’s a great romance between Quinton, the new quarterback, and Elle, the new publicist for the Mustangs. Quinton starts taking a knee and causing the sort of backlash that used to be a problem, AKA Colin Kaepernick. And the owner of the Mustangs decides that Elle, who is biracial but looks Black, should take him on and make it all go away. Oh, and just for shits and giggles, there is a trump-like bigot running for president and making Quinton’s taking a knee a political statement.

The first meeting, the “meet-cute” that we all love, is a good one. Elle’s name is actually Elliot, so when Quinton is told to meet Elliot for a lunch meeting, it’s no surprise that when she approaches him, he blows her off. Badly. He just assumes she is a groupie and tells her in no uncertain terms that she is not his type. By the time he figures out what is really happening, it is too late and they are on a path of enemies to lovers. Martin takes this familiar trope and runs with it.

Of course there is a happy ending, but I couldn’t put this book down until I got there. I was completely immersed in their world. I love all the characters Martin has introduced me to over the course of this series, and Quinton and Elle fit right in. Martin has given us another terrific romance with a perfect helping of reality. Don’t miss it!

NOTE: ‘Intercepted’ Drama Series From 50 Cent & La La Anthony In Works At Starz, based on this series. I can’t wait!

10/2020 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

SNAPPED by Alexa Martin. Berkley (October 20, 2020). ISBN 978-0593102503. 352 pages.

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THE WHITE COAT DIARIES by Madi Sinha

October 18, 2020

From the publisher:

Grey’s Anatomy meets Scrubs in this brilliant debut novel about a young doctor’s struggle to survive residency, love, and life.

Having spent the last twenty-something years with her nose in a textbook, brilliant and driven Norah Kapadia has just landed the medical residency of her dreams. But after a disastrous first day, she’s ready to quit. Disgruntled patients, sleep deprivation, and her duty to be the “perfect Indian daughter” have her questioning her future as a doctor.

Enter chief resident Ethan Cantor. He’s everything Norah aspires to be: respected by the attending physicians, calm during emergencies, and charismatic with his patients. And as he morphs from Norah’s mentor to something more, it seems her luck is finally changing.

But when a fatal medical mistake is made, pulling Norah into a cover-up, she must decide how far she’s willing to go to protect the secret. What if “doing no harm” means putting herself at risk?

The publisher had me at Grey’s Anatomy, one of my favorite shows. This book was a great substitute for me since there aren’t any new episodes. If you like medical dramas, and to be honest, I don’t usually, but the personalities, the humor, and the romance of Grey’s really drew me in so that I put up with the medical stuff that I know some people love. I am squeamish so it is way easier for me to read about medical stuff than have to watch it.

The main character, Norah, lost her father who was a well-known physician, and she is determined to follow in his footsteps. On the other hand, her mother wants her to marry a nice Indian boy and pop out a few grandchildren. Norah has spent years with her head buried in books, studying to achieve her goals, and she is not about to throw that away no matter what her mother wants. She is a good Indian daughter though; has never had a drink or a date to speak of.

Her internship at Philadelphia General Hospital is her dream job, but it soon turns into a nightmare when a patient dies. Norah realizes she knows the truth about what happened, but she is being asked to cover it up and protect the residents and the hospital.

Lots of drama but also some comic relief, I’m happy to say. This was a very enjoyable read, especially for a debut novel! I am looking forward to more from this talented author.

THE WHITE COAT DIARIES by Madi Sinha. Berkley (September 15, 2020). ISBN 978-0062854384. 336 pages.

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THE LEGAL AFFAIR by Nisha Sharma

October 16, 2020

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The Singh Family Trilogy, Book 2

From the publisher:

Rajneet Hothi built her empire with sweat, blood, and information. She knows everything there is to know about Ajay Singh, the future CEO of Bharat, Inc., as well as how crucial he is in securing her future. But she didn’t expect the passion that burst between them the first time they went head-to-head. She’d never felt anything like it before, especially during her marriage to her soon-to-be-ex-husband. When her company is blamed for her ex’s dirty dealings with Bharat, she’s forced to prove that Ajay is no match for her in the art of business or seduction.

Ajay shouldn’t trust Raj or her company. He’s on the verge of losing everything his family has worked to achieve, but he can’t stop thinking about the breathtaking way Raj opens her mind, body and heart to him. Throwing his infamous caution to the wind, he tempts the gorgeous CEO into his bedroom and boardroom. He soon realizes he wants Raj by his side and he’s willing to fight the people he’s always protected to be with her.

When Raj and Ajay discover the source behind Bharat’s leak, they must trust each other and work together to defy the odds and save the Singh legacy.

This is book two of a series and I haven’t read the first one (for a change!) but I will. This was really good. I loved the characters and learning about these South Asian families (and their food!)

Our hero and heroine are both brilliant in business and uber-successful. Raj is a strong, independent woman who is finalizing her divorce. Ajay is getting ready to take over his family’s company but Raj’s ex really screws them both over. Trust issues abound, for good reasons. But Raj is a smart, tough woman and Ajay has his moments as well. Together, they could be unstoppable, if only they can get past everything in their way.

There is a lot of angst and many obstacles to overcome, and I couldn’t put it down until I got to the last page. I was invested! This is a quick read, and a terrific romance.

Note: Some of the reviews I read said you have to read the first book to understand this one. I didn’t, and I didn’t even know I should have until I finished it. So I’m going to say maybe you will get more out of this one if you have read the first, but I thought it stood by itself beautifully.

THE LEGAL AFFAIR by Nisha Sharma. Avon Impulse (August 18, 2020). ISBN 978-0062854384. 336 pages.

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THE TWELVE DATES OF CHRISTMAS by Jenny Bayliss

October 14, 2020

From the publisher:

‘Tis the season for finding romance in this hilarious and uplifting holiday read

When it comes to relationships, thirty-four-year-old Kate Turner is ready to say “Bah, humbug.” The sleepy town of Blexford, England, isn’t exactly brimming with prospects, and anyway, Kate’s found fulfillment in her career as a designer, and in her delicious side job baking for her old friend Matt’s neighborhood café. But then her best friend signs her up for a dating agency that promises to help singles find love before the holidays. Twenty-three days until Christmas. Twelve dates with twelve different men. The odds must finally be in her favor . . . right?

Yet with each new date more disastrous than the one before–and the whole town keeping tabs on her misadventures–Kate must remind herself that sometimes love, like mistletoe, shows up where it’s least expected. And maybe, just maybe, it’s been right under her nose all along. . . .

October is chock full of Christmas stories and I love them. This one is British, too, set in a small, quaint village where all the characters know one another. But for a single woman, there just aren’t a parade of single men passing through so it’s hard to meet someone. A dating app comes up with the idea of “12 Dates of Christmas” and pricy though it is, Kate signs up. At least the fee includes all the activities, and there are some really fun ones.

The book is divided into chapters by date, but there is more to the story than just that. Bayliss does a really good job bringing her characters to life, and I felt like I could have lived there by the end. Except for the snow, of course! Me and snowy winter do not get along.

Kate is a fabric designer, which I found fascinating. She also bakes for the local cafe, which is owned by her childhood friend, Matt. We know that there was a falling out at some point, but that storyline is secondary – until it isn’t. Meanwhile, Matt and Kate love giving each other a hard time, and the dating app is great fodder for Matt to tease Kate about.

Kate’s first date is a no show, so not off to a great start! The people running this promotion make all the dates so it’s not like you can just swipe on who you want. Then there is the “crying vegan,” a couple of men still in love with their exes, a highly wound, super competitive architect, and well, you get the idea. There are a couple of men who seem promising and Kate remains hopeful, but there are more dates ahead…

This is a super fun romance, and I think it would make a great rom-com (hello, Netflix!) The town is charming, Christmas is almost another character, and I highly recommend!

10/2020 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

THE TWELVE DATES OF CHRISTMAS by Jenny Bayliss. G.P. Putnam’s Sons (October 13, 2020). ISBN 978-0593085387. 368 pages.

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SIMMER DOWN by Sarah Smith

October 13, 2020

BLOG TOUR!

From the publisher:

A PopSugar Must-Read for October!

In this finger-licking good rom-com, two is the perfect number of cooks in the kitchen.

Nikki DiMarco knew life wouldn’t be all sunshine and coconuts when she quit her dream job to help her mom serve up mouthwatering Filipino dishes to hungry beach goers, but she didn’t expect the Maui food truck scene to be so eat-or-be-eaten—or the competition to be so smoking hot.

But Tiva’s Filipina Kusina has faced bigger road bumps than the arrival of Callum James. Nikki doesn’t care how delectable the British food truck owner is—he rudely set up shop next to her coveted beach parking spot. He’s stealing her customers and fanning the flames of a public feud that makes her see sparks.

The solution? Let the upcoming Maui Food Festival decide their fate. Winner keeps the spot. Loser pounds sand. But the longer their rivalry simmers, the more Nikki starts to see a different side of Callum…a sweet, protective side. Is she brave enough to call a truce? Or will trusting Callum with her heart mean jumping from the frying pan into the fire?

Anytime a romance is centered around food, I’m a happy reader. The setting in Hawaii just added more interest.

Nikki’s parents retired and moved to Maui. Their retirement dream wasn’t to lay on the beach, but rather to have their own food truck featuring their Filipino family recipes. When Nikki’s dad suddenly passes away, she leaves her life on the mainland behind and swoops in to stay with her mother and make her parents’ dream a reality.

A couple of years in, a new food truck shows up right next to theirs. Island etiquette dictates that is encroachment and severely looked down upon. It happened to Nikki when they first started out, so she decides to offer a little friendly advice to their encroaching neighbor. At first things are great, that is until the owner, British hottie Callum, realizes that Nikki isn’t an inspector. At that point, he basically tells her to piss off, and walks away.

Nikki is infuriated, and it is quickly apparent that this is going to be an enemies-to-lovers romance, and it’s a good one. It takes quite a while to get to the romance, but once it does the book flies.

I loved learning about Filipino food (as I didn’t know anything about it,) and I loved how these characters eventually worked through their difficulties. I especially liked how Nikki was the hard ass, and Callum was more emotionally available, a nice role reversal.

This was a slow moving romance, but a good story with interesting characters and setting. Take a ride on a food truck with Nikki & Callum and you won’t be disappointed.

10/2020 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

SIMMER DOWN by Sarah Smith. Berkley (October 13, 2020). ISBN 978-1984805447. 336 pages.

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TOOLS OF ENGAGEMENT by Tessa Bailey

October 3, 2020

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Hot And Hammered, Book 3

From the publisher:

In Tessa Bailey’s latest rom-com, two enemies team up to flip a house… and the sparks between them might burn the place down or ignite a passion that neither can ignore!

Hair, makeup, clothing, decor… everything in Bethany Castle’s world is organized, planned, and styled to perfection. Which is why the homes she designs for her family’s real estate business are the most coveted in town. The only thing not perfect? Her track record with men. She’s on a dating hiatus and after helping her friends achieve their dreams, Bethany finally has time to focus on her own: flip a house, from framework to furnishings, all by herself. Except her older brother runs the company and refuses to take her seriously.

When a television producer gets wind of the Castle sibling rivalry, they’re invited on Flip Off, a competition to see who can do the best renovation. Bethany wants bragging rights, but she needs a crew and the only member of her brother’s construction team willing to jump ship is Wes Daniels, the new guy in town. His Texas drawl and handsome face got under Bethany’s skin on day one, and the last thing she needs is some cocky young cowboy in her way.

As the race to renovate heats up, Wes and Bethany are forced into close quarters, trading barbs and biting banter as they remodel the ugliest house on the block. It’s a labor of love, hate, and everything in between, and soon sparks are flying. But Bethany’s perfectly structured life is one kiss away from going up in smoke and she knows falling for a guy like Wes would be a flipping disaster.

I loved the first two books in this series – and yes, I even read them in order. But this one was a bit of a letdown for me. I think it’s because I didn’t really like the main protagonist, Bethany. When I’m thinking Wes could do better, that’s never a good sign.

I was so excited when I got this book because I loved Bailey’s other books, I am an HGTV junkie, and the book is set on Long Island in an area not far from where I went to high school. But it felt like it was missing something. I drive myself crazy when I don’t love a book I was hoping to, and I can’t exactly explain why. I guess it was just a culmination of little things, but certainly not enough to say skip it. I liked it, I just didn’t love it but you can be sure I will read the next one!

10/2020 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

TOOLS OF ENGAGEMENT by Tessa Bailey. Avon (September 22, 2020). ISBN 978-0062872937. 368 pages.

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CHRISTMAS ON REINDEER ROAD by Debbie Mason

September 30, 2020

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From the publisher:

Fans of RaeAnne Thayne and Debbie Macomber will love this USA Today bestselling author’s latest holiday romance about two single parents whose holiday wishes come true in the small town of Highland Falls.

Can the magic of mistletoe bring together two busy single parents?

Mallory Maitland knows all too well what it’s like to feel abandoned, which is why she’s sworn never to give up on her two stepsons — her late husband’s children. But when the teens land in hot water, she’s got a whole new problem: how to resist the caring and incredibly hot Chief of Police Gabriel Buchanan. All Mallory wants is to give the boys a magical holiday. She doesn’t need the distraction of wondering what it would be like to kiss Gabriel under the mistletoe.

After his wife died, Gabriel left his job as an adrenaline-chasing New York City homicide detective to focus on raising his three sons. But back in Highland Falls, he doesn’t have to go looking for trouble. It finds him — in the form of a beautiful neighbor and her troublemaking stepchildren. With Gabriel’s mother-in-law looking for any excuse to gain custody of his sons, Gabriel can’t risk getting involved with Mallory, even though she’s the only woman capable of making this Christmas — and all the rest to come — his best ever.

‘Tis the season! Yes, I have embarked on my holiday reading with this charming new romance set in a small town with lots of Christmas cheer. Mallory is a young widow with two teenage stepsons. The boys had been sent to boarding school in England until their father passed. Mallory has given up any claim on the very wealthy estate in order to keep the boys with her. But they are not loving that option. They want to go back to England, but the wife who holds the money won’t pay and it is way out of Mallory’s price range. She decides that what they need is a Christmas miracle of sorts, and where better to find that then in the small town of Highland Falls.

Gabriel, her next-door neighbor is the police chief, a widower struggling to raise his own three sons. There is instant attraction between Gabriel and Mallory, but both are dealing with bigger issues than making themselves happy. But in making their boys happy, everything comes together in a Christmas miracle sorta way.

I enjoyed my first holiday book of the year, and even though I’m not sure if I read the first book in the series, I never felt like I was missing anything. I definitely need to escape reality these days, and this was a lovely way to spend a few hours outside the bubble.

9/2020 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

CHRISTMAS ON REINDEER ROAD by Debbie Mason. Forever (September 29, 2020). ISBN 978-1538716960. 368 pages.

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KISS MY CUPCAKE by Helena Hunting

September 11, 2020

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From the publisher:

As two neighborhood shop owners battle for business, they prove opposites attract in this “deliciously sweet and savory new romantic comedy” (USA Today bestselling author Abby Jimenez).

Blaire Calloway has planned every Instagram-worthy moment of her cupcake and cocktails shop launch down to the tiniest detail. What she didn’t plan on? Ronan Knight and his old-school sports bar next door opening on the very same day. He may be super swoony, but Blaire hasn’t spent years obsessing over buttercream and bourbon to have him ruin her chance at success.

From axe throwing (his place) to frosting contests (hers), Blaire and Ronan are constantly trying to one-up each other in a battle to win new customers. But with every clash, there’s also an undeniable chemistry. When an even bigger threat to their business comes to town, they’re forced to call a temporary time-out on their own war and work together. And the more time Blaire spends getting to know the real Ronan, the more she wonders if it’s possible to have her cupcake and eat it too.

Food and romance? Count me in. Blaire comes from an über-successful restaurant family. They are also whacko. But when she starts selling cupcakes out of a truck, they think she has lost her mind. Blaire has a dream; she wants to open a dessert bar. A place to get yummy desserts and exotic cocktails and she finally achieves her dream. But as she’s setting up the store, the wall starts shaking. The wall between her shop and the bar next door.

Turns out Ronan, Blaire’s neighbor, is installing an ax-throwing area in his bar to drum up more business. His is a family business as well, but it’s just the one bar run by his grandfather, and now Ronan. Ronan also has a dream; he wants to open his own brewery. His grandfather is willing to stake him if he can turn the bar around.

Ronan and Blaire keep butting heads in this enemies-to-lovers story. This read is as light and yummy as the buttercream on Blaire’s cupcakes. If you are looking for a fast, sweet, escapist read, look no further.

8/2020 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch™

KISS MY CUPCAKE by Helena Hunting. Forever; Illustrated Edition (August 11, 2020). ISBN 978-1538734674. 368 pages.