Stacy Alesi's BookBitch.com™

Magnolia Sound, Book 10

From the publisher:

Returning to Magnolia Sound was never part of the plan. Then again, Parker Bishop rarely had one. Yet after confessing her love to her best friend right before his wedding, she needs time to lick her wounds from the disastrous scene that unfolds. After the unsympathetic welcome she receives from her parents and siblings, Parker finds herself absentmindedly driving through town in search of a place to stay.

That’s when she spots the flier and a familiar name…

Ethan Harlow enjoys the peace and quiet. Unfortunately, finding a moment of it becomes impossible when the flier he posts for a roommate brings Parker crashing into his life. Of course, he remembers her from high school. It’s impossible to forget little miss popular who was always the center of attention. All he wanted was to split the rent and keep to himself. Instead, Parker transforms his home and makes him question the dreams he gave up out of fear of stepping out of his comfort zone.

The attraction they feel to one another makes crossing the line from roommates to lovers seem inevitable. But the more Parker encourages Ethan to pursue his dreams, the less likely it becomes that they can have any kind of future together. Can they find a way to claim their happily ever after or will their individual paths make a future impossible?

https://amzn.to/36ey6vZ

I have read several books by this author and I always like the book and hate the cover. I didn’t hate this one! It is probably the best cover for one of her books that I’ve seen, so feel free to judge this book by its cover.

Having recently moved back to her hometown of Magnolia Sound, Parker is bouncing from one relative to another until she finds Ethan’s flier in the library. Her whole family lives here, and while she vaguely remembers Ethan from high school, her cousin, the librarian, vouches for him. She basically steamrolls Ethan into renting her a room in his house, and he isn’t sure this is going to work at all.

The funny thing was I had no idea this was part of a series when I read it, never mind the tenth book! Looking back I can see it, so kudos to Chase for doing such a good job with that.

Ethan is an introvert, a nerd, and completely intimidated Parker when they were in high school together and he was class valedictorian. Parker has the lowest self esteem of anyone I’ve read about in quite a while, but is so charming and self-deprecating that I couldn’t help but root for her. Ethan and Parker become roommates, then friends, then more while Parker tries to figure out her life.

Small town charm is abundant here, as are a lot of laughs from Parker’s crazy large family. I really enjoyed watching both these characters grow and bring out the best in one another. Not much sex either, if that is a factor for you. All in all, a very enjoyable read and yep, I’m looking for the earlier books in this series.

3/2022 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

ALWAYS ON MY MIND by Samantha Chase. Chasing Romance, Inc. (March 22, 2022). ASIN: B09QD5FV3C. 277p.

From the publisher:

Things get textual when a steamy message from a random wrong number turns into an anonymous relationship in this hilarious rom-com by Lynn Painter.

Bad luck has always followed Olivia Marshall…or maybe she’s just the screw-up her family thinks she is. But when a “What are you wearing?” text from a random wrong number turns into the hottest, most entertaining—albeit anonymous—relationship of her life, she thinks things might be on the upswing….

Colin Beck has always considered Olivia his best friend’s annoying little sister, but when she moves in with them after one of her worst runs of luck, he realizes she’s turned into an altogether different and sexier distraction. He’s sure he can keep his distance, until the moment he discovers she’s the irresistible Miss Misdial he’s been sort of sexting for weeks—and now he has to decide whether to turn the heat up or ghost her before things get messy.

https://amzn.to/3I4AFy7

Olivia, her brother, and Colin are sharing an apartment because Olivia’s apartment building burned down. Because of her – an accident, certainly, but nonetheless it was her fault. Believe it or not, being accident prone is part of her charm and she is a delightful, memorable character. She is constantly getting herself into all sorts of trouble, but nothing compares with the relationship she ends up in with Colin.

One night, Olivia gets a text from an unknown number; classic fare of the “what are you wearing” variety. She replies with a smart ass answer, and a text relationship is born. Dubbed Mr. Wrong Number and Miss Misdial, they continue their banter over text, never taking it any further.

Meanwhile, Olivia has been forced to move in with her brother who rents a room from his friend Colin. She sleeps on a crappy air mattress on the floor of the office, and Colin barely tolerates her. As soon as she finds a new job, she’ll move out. That’s the plan and Olivia finds the job of her dreams – writing a parenting column. Except she doesn’t have kids. She knows this isn’t going to end well, but she loves what she’s doing and her boss, and that is rare.

Meanwhile, somehow things are heating up with Colin. Even her brother is on board, but the course of true love never runs smoothly, and when someone like Olivia is involved, there is bound to be one dilemma after another. This is a really funny romcom with a lot of heart and occasional steaminess. I loved Olivia and couldn’t wait for her to get her happy ending. If you want a thoroughly entertaining book, pick up Mr. Wrong Number!

3/2022 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

MR. WRONG NUMBER by Lynn Painter. Berkley (March 1, 2022). ISBN: 978-0593437261. 352p.

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Las Vegas Vipers, Book 2

From the publisher:

A Steamy Accidental Marriage Romance 

Hooking up with my best friend’s little sister is one thing, getting drunk and marrying her in Vegas is another…

My team just won the Stanley Cup. I should be out on the town celebrating. Instead, I’m nursing a broken heart, courtesy of my ex-wife.

Next thing I know, I’m waking up with my teammate’s sister in my bed wearing a rock the size of the Grand Canyon on her finger. Neither of us remembers saying, I do… but turns out the marriage is as real as the diamond on her finger.

The press is going crazy. The team is pissed. And her brother… well he just might kill me. So, at the advice of my agent, we do the only thing that makes sense—make a plan to stay married until this madness blows over.

It might have started out fake, but Gabby is the one making my dreams come true and showing me what real love is.

Now I just need convince her to stay my wife forever.

https://amzn.to/3sYTCOc

I don’t quite understand why but I always enjoy the fake marriage romances, and this is a good one. I can suspend my disbelief to this trope without any problems. Plus it’s a hockey/sports romance, one of my favorites, although that doesn’t always guarantee a good read. I like Lynn’s books as a rule, and really enjoyed this one.

Gabby’s brother Garrett, who we met in the first book of this series, Game Changer, is Joey’s best friend and teammate, so when they wake up and realize they are married with no memory of the wedding, they know they are in trouble. They are friendly, but never dated so how they ended up married is a bit of a mystery. But if they break up, it will hurt the team, not to mention Garrett will kill Joey.

Joey is recently divorced, and is barely over it. But as he spends time with Gabby, he realizes that she may be the one for him. It takes her a little longer to get there, and there is some drama along the way, but nothing unsurmountable. Joey and Gabby have a lot of steamy sex before they reach their happily ever after, so if that isn’t your thing, skip this book. But if you like sports romances and fake marriages, or aren’t sure, but you do like hot romances, this is a terrific read. I loved it.

3/2022 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

DREAM MAKER by Stacey Lynn. Independently published (March 8, 2022). ASIN: ‎B09KTCKXHX. 280p.

Paperback

Hockey Hotties, Book 4

From the publisher:

I have a reputation for being tight-lipped. You learn quick when you become a professional hockey player to be guarded with the media, so I’ve worked hard to cover up the mistakes of my youth.

But when I’m traded to the Florida Fury, where my ex–best friend is the starting right wing, I’m forced to confront my past. Ford and I have a lot of history, especially when it comes to his little sister, Imogen.

My heart still lurches in my chest when I see her.

My hands want to reach out and touch her.

My mouth wants to keep apologizing.

She’s the only woman who ever made me want more. But she’s also the one who fell victim to my most regrettable decision.

I’m not a believer in fate, but I must be back in her world for a reason. I’ve fought for everything I’ve gotten and I’m not backing down from what I know will be the best thing in my life.

https://amzn.to/35HKncD

I just read two hockey romances back to back, so that inevitably led to comparisons. I thought the Stacey Lynn book, Dream Maker, was a tiny bit better, but honestly I probably would have enjoyed this book even more had I read something else in between – if that makes sense?

This book has a former-lover-to-enemy trope at its center. Warner and Imogen were inseparable in high school, until something happens that causes him to react badly and breaks them up. Imogen’s brother Ford plays professional hockey in Florida, and when his former best friend and Imogen’s ex shows up to join the team, he is pissed, to say the least. Imogen has recently been hired by the team to handle their social media as the team’s “hype girl,” and guess who they want her to hype.

Warner is thrilled and he tries very hard to talk to her, but she’s pushing him away as hard as she can, especially considering she still has feelings for him. Eventually, he wears her down and she finally listens to him, and she forgives him and they start seeing one another again. But Ford doesn’t know and if he finds out, heads will roll. As it is, his attitude towards Warner is hurting the team.

Eventually, Warner and Imogen reach their happily ever after, and Warner and Ford find their way towards friendship again. This is a steamy romance set in the hockey world, and is a fun read for sure. This was my first book by this author, and now I want to go back and read the earlier books in this series. Luckily, I found them on Hoopla!

3/2022 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

SNEAKING AROUND WITH #34 by Piper Rayne. Independently published (March 8, 2022). ASIN: ‎B09D2CKW3D. 249p.

Paperback

From the publisher:

We stand there on the brink of something we both feel but neither of us is ready to identify, and the little half grin he shoots me is nearly as devastating as his full-blown smile….

One of the few bright lights in Rachel Beck’s life is her job at a Miami Beach luxury hotel – until she’s fired for something she didn’t do. As a single mom, Rachel knows she needs stability, and fast. On impulse, Rachel inquires about a position at a brewery hotel on a tiny island in Lake Erie called Kelleys Island. When she’s offered the job, not even the grumpy voice on the line can dissuade her from packing up her whole life and making the move.

What she finds on Kelleys Island is Mason, a handsome, reclusive man who knows everything about brewing beer and nothing about running a hotel. Especially one that’s barely more than foundation and studs. It’s not the job Rachel was looking for, but Mason offers her a chance to help build a hotel – and rebuild her life – from the ground up.

Trish Doller’s The Suite Spot is about taking a chance on a new life and a new love.

“A perfect brew of humor and heart.” – USA Today

https://amzn.to/3J0RUSg

Rachel Beck is a single mom to a three year old daughter. She lives with her mom, works the overnight shift as concierge at an exclusive Miami Beach hotel, and wishes things would be different with the baby daddy – he’s irresponsible, pays no child support, and tends to dump his daughter when he has a date.

When Rachel gets fired from her job after a “Me Too” moment goes badly, she is desperate. She really loved that job and now she has to settle for the night clerk position at a nearby seedy motel. Then she finds her dream job as a manager at a new hotel in Ohio. She decides to take the job, packs up her life and her daughter and moves to Ohio. Except when she gets there, the hotel isn’t built yet and the owner, Mason, is a bit of a grump and more interested in brewing beer than hotel building.

Mason had this idea for a specialty hotel on this remote island near Sandusky. His family owned an old, abandoned winery and house there, and he buys it with the idea of building a brewery and hotel on the property. But in the process, he loses his family, which devastates him. Unsure how to progress, he is hoping that Rachel will be the impetus he needs to get things moving.

For Rachel, this is the dream job. It wasn’t what she was expecting, but the opportunity to help build a new hotel from the ground up is too tempting to walk away from. Plus Mason is very good looking and kind, despite the occasional grumpiness.

As Rachel and Mason get to know one another, they eventually fall in love. But then disaster strikes in the form of the baby daddy suing for joint custody. Heartbroken, Rachel knows she has to move back to Florida to give her daughter a chance at spending time with her father. As a child, her father abandoned the family and Rachel never wants to be the cause of that for her daughter.

But Mason isn’t giving up that easily. It’s a struggle but Rachel and Mason find a way to be together by the end of this charming, sweet story. Set on Kellys Island, this is a lovely small town romance and an unputdownable read for me. I loved it!

3/2022 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE SUITE SPOT by Trish Doller. ‎St. Martin’s Griffin (March 8, 2022). ISBN: 978-1250809476. 288p.

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Last Chance Scoundrels, Book 1 

From the publisher:

In USA TODAY bestselling author Eva Leigh’s new novel a notorious rake and an innocent debutante strike a scandalous bargain…

When Kieran Ransome’s latest antics result in a massive scandal, his father issues an ultimatum: find a respectable wife or inherit nothing. But as one of London’s most inveterate scoundrels, Kieran doesn’t know any ladies who fit the bill. Or does he?

Celeste Kilburn is a society darling, beloved by influential members of the ton. But keeping a spotless reputation leaves little room for adventure and she longs to escape her gilded cage, especially with her impending engagement to a stuffy earl. When Kieran—her older brother’s best friend and an irresistibly attractive rogue—begs for her help, Celeste makes a deal: she’ll introduce him to the right social circles if he’ll show her the scandalous side of London.

In between proper teas and garden parties, Kieran escorts Celeste—disguised as “Salome”—to rowdy gaming hells, wild fêtes, and sensual art salons. As they spend more time together, their initial attraction builds to a desperate desire that neither can ignore. But when someone discovers their midnight exploits, Celeste’s freedom and reputation are endangered, and Kieran must save the woman he loves… respectable or not. 

https://amzn.to/35LFq1O

Leigh writes compelling, page turning, sexy historicals and does it again here. I didn’t quite understand the beginning premise of Kieran and Finn helping their sister’s fiance escape the alter, but with their sister sent abroad to recover from being jilted, her ex and the brothers are in big trouble with their families. They’ve been playing fast and loose for years, and their parents threaten to cut them off if they are all not married to respectable women within a year. First up, Kieran.

Kieran has been avoiding respectable society for so long he doesn’t know how to find his way back. Unless their third’s completely-respectable-beyond-reproach sister, Celeste, will help him. She agrees but with terms; she wants to experience some of London’s seedier side as her brother has done for years. Desperate, he agrees and she agrees to introduce him to polite society once again.

Kieran’s obsession with Celeste’s neck only increases as they start spending time together. Her father was a longshoreman who made his fortune and is determined to see his daughter married into a fine family. She is engaged-to-be-engaged to a Lord, and her father is deliriously happy. Celeste, on the other hand, is miserable. But women have no rights to speak of in 1818, so marry him she will. But she falls in love with Kiernan and things become dicey. Especially when they have sex.

There doesn’t seem to be a way out of this mess and Celeste resigns herself to being unhappy for the rest of her life, but Kieran refuses to allow it – if only there was a way out. It is tense until the happy ending is reached, and it looks like Finn or Dom will be getting hitched next.

This was a fast, fun read with a lot of heat. Don’t miss it!

3/2022 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE GOOD GIRLS GUIDE TO RAKES by Eva Leigh. Avon (February 22, 2022). ISBN: 978-0063086272. 384p.

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It Happened One Summer, Book 2

From the publisher:

In the follow-up to It Happened One Summer, Tessa Bailey delivers another deliciously fun rom-com about a former player who accidentally falls for his best friend while trying to help her land a different man…

King crab fisherman Fox Thornton has a reputation as a sexy, carefree flirt. Everyone knows he’s a guaranteed good time—in bed and out—and that’s exactly how he prefers it. Until he meets Hannah Bellinger. She’s immune to his charm and looks, but she seems to enjoy his… personality? And wants to be friends? Bizarre. But he likes her too much to risk a fling, so platonic pals it is.

Now, Hannah’s in town for work, crashing in Fox’s spare bedroom. She knows he’s a notorious ladies’ man, but they’re definitely just friends. In fact, she’s nursing a hopeless crush on a colleague and Fox is just the person to help with her lackluster love life. Armed with a few tips from Westport’s resident Casanova, Hannah sets out to catch her coworker’s eye… yet the more time she spends with Fox, the more she wants him instead. As the line between friendship and flirtation begins to blur, Hannah can’t deny she loves everything about Fox, but she refuses to be another notch on his bedpost. 

Living with his best friend should have been easy. Except now she’s walking around in a towel, sleeping right across the hall, and Fox is fantasizing about waking up next to her for the rest of his life and… and… man overboard! He’s fallen for her, hook, line, and sinker. Helping her flirt with another guy is pure torture, but maybe if Fox can tackle his inner demons and show Hannah he’s all in, she’ll choose him instead?

https://amzn.to/3KauLNl

I always enjoy a romance when it’s the man who’s all insecure, probably because it is somewhat unconventional. That is the case here, and Fox is a terrific male lead. Strong, good looking, and has a reputation for never getting serious with anyone but always leaving the ladies happy. Until he meets Hannah.

Ever since last summer when they met, Fox doesn’t seem to get any pleasure from anything except their daily texts. Hannah is in California, Fox is in this small fishing village in Washington state. They are friends now, and Fox has never been friends with a woman. Never even thought it was possible. But they had fun hanging out together, and the texting has brought them even closer. So when Hannah convinces the director of the film she’s assisting on to move the production to Washington, he loves the idea and she is secretly thrilled. Her sister Piper is engaged and living in that small town and she misses her terribly.

But Piper’s future in-laws have come for a visit, taking the guest room. They arrange for Hannah to stay in Fox’s guest room. That brings them closer than ever, and Fox is in a real quandary. He knows he can’t be in any kind of relationship. His one long term relationship in college turned out to be a lie; he was her “hall pass”, a guy to have sex with and he never really recovered from that.

Hannah is trying to move ahead in her career but lacks some self-esteem; she wants to be the “leading lady” of her life and Fox tries to help convince her that she is. He is offered a promotion to captain the fishing boat he works on but is against it. Hannah tries to convince him he is deserving and to go for it. I love how these characters both learn and grow and help one another to reach their goals.

Falling in love is an unfamiliar feeling for the both of them, but they manage to work through all their issues to reach that happy ending, but there are a lot of laughs and a lot of angst before they get there. This was a terrific, sexy follow up to It Happened One Summer, and hopefully there will be more!

3/2022 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

HOOK, LINE, AND SINKER by Tessa Bailey. Avon (March 1, 2022). ISBN: 978-0063045699. 400p.

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The Hideaway Harbor, Book 1

From the publisher:

Workaholic Lillian Mahoney has given everything to her job. The hugely popular lifestyle show she helped create monopolizes her time, energy, creativity, and anything remotely resembling a life. But all it takes is the show’s womanizing, egomaniac star throwing a massive hissy on live TV to utterly implode Lillian’s career in a New York minute.

Now Lillian’s hiding out in the gorgeous and completely unknown seaside village of Blink, Maine. Out of gas. A stolen wallet. A broken heel. And worse, she’s somehow managed to completely piss off the town’s resident hunk, Caleb Wright. She’ll show that hot, grumpy single father exactly what she’s made of.

But Blink isn’t quite what Lillian expects―and neither is Caleb…or his feisty teen daughter she can’t help but love. And while her entire life and career are in shreds, Lillian might just discover what happens when she gives her bad first impression a second chance…

https://amzn.to/3KauLNl

This is a lovely, small town romance with interesting characters and setting. Blink is a small town on the coast of Maine, population just over 200 and falling fast. There is not much here anymore; the mill closed, most of the businesses, too. Lillian’s sister bought a cottage out of foreclosure here, sight unseen, so when everything in NY blows up, Lillian decides to hide out in Blink.

Lillian had this idea of a lifestyle business but needed the perfect face for the company. She found Niles in a college bar and recruited him. Unfortunately, he isn’t very interested in what he’s actually doing, like cooking or decorating. He’s more interested in meeting women and enjoying his new found wealth and celebrity. Lillian and her sister keep him in check, for the most part, but he has to do a live cooking segment. They rehearse of course, but he still manages to screw it up and loses his temper with Lillian. This is live on the streets of Manhattan, and several of his fans are filming the blow up which goes viral. Everyone assumes Lillian work for Niles, and she is quick to point out that they work together, when in reality she is his boss. But he is the face of the company, she is behind the scenes.

On her way to Blink, her wallet gets stolen and she runs out of gas just at the edges of town. A good looking young man, Caleb, stops to help her, but she is a New Yorker and isn’t getting into a strange man’s car. She walks the rest of the way to town, the high heel on her shoe breaks, and she has $20 to her name. At the diner, she buys a cup of coffee and an old guy starts chatting to her. He fills up her car for her and she meets his friend, another old guy who is miserable and failing at life since he lost his wife the year before. Since she really doesn’t have much to do, she offers to help him get organized. Caleb is immediately suspicious; the old guy is the richest man in town. In fact, he owns most of the town.

Enemies to lovers is always a good storyline and Caleb and Lillian eventually stop fighting and find their way to each other. But Lillian has a life and a business back in NY. Before she leaves, she is determined to fix this dying town. She works hard at it, and eventually gets her way in that, and in love.

This is a sweet romance from an author who is new to me. I loved these characters and the fairy tale ending. The next book doesn’t come out until next year, and I can hardly wait!

3/2022 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

ACCIDENTALLY PERFECT by Marissa Clarke. Entangled: Amara (March 1, 2022). ISBN: 978-1649371898. 400p.

Kindle

From the publisher:

Everything went wrong. And then she went gray.

At 47, newly divorced makeup artist Lela Bennett is dreading her next steps. Dating. Meeting people. Not letting herself go. But then she runs into Donovan James and tries something different-sleeping with her sexy crush from college. Unfortunately, in a post-orgasm stupor, Lela confesses she was in love with Donovan all those years ago. He responds by leaving while she sleeps. The next morning, her gray hairs are practically taunting her. She knows she has to get it together. Forget men. Embrace her age. Own her gray.

Donovan James is a marketing genius, but his ex-wives will tell you-nothing freaks him out like feelings. Three years after his one-night stand with Lela, he’s focused on his daughter’s lifestyle company, but unprepared to meet the face of their new beauty brand. It’s Lela. With stunning silver locks and new confidence, she’s no longer swayed by his charms. When business starts booming, the universe seems intent on throwing them together time and again. And suddenly, two people convinced that romance was behind them are wondering if love could be what’s next.

https://amzn.to/3pdeU8E

This was such a cute premise, and as someone who has been covering the gray for more years than I care to think about, I was ready to love this. But I didn’t.

I liked that Lela embraced her silver hair, which sounds much prettier than gray. I must admit I have one friend who embraced her gray and I thought it aged her terribly. Some women look fantastic, but not all do.

Lela has been in love with Donovan since their college days. They were great friends, but once he got engaged, his fiancée felt threatened by Lela, and it turns out she had good reason. Donovan has been married a few times and they lost touch over the years, but follow one another on social media. Until they bump into each other in NYC. They end up reminiscing and sleeping together, but during the night Lela admits she was in love with him. Once she falls asleep, he panics and leaves.

That night gives Lela the impetus to change her life. She embraces her gray hair and decides to take her makeup artistry into a new direction – her own line of cosmetics. Business is doing well and then she is bought out by a conglomerate. She still is running her company but within the behemoth.

Donovan has one daughter, a brilliant young woman who is running her own beauty company. She, too, is bought out and then the conglomerate folds Lela’s company under hers. Oh, and Donovan is a semi-retired successful entrepreneur who is working for his daughter now. So Lela and Donovan have to work together as well.

You can guess what happens as the book is entirely predictable. The characters are likeable but there just isn’t enough tension or drama here to make it a real page turner. As a matter of fact, since I read on my Kindle I had no idea how many pages this book was and I was shocked that it was under 300 pages, it felt much longer. I think this book would have been helped by a good editor. I liked seeing a 40something woman as protagonist in a love story and wish there were more books like that. Romance isn’t only for the young!

2/2022 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

GRAY HAIR DON’T CARE by Karen Booth. ‎Karen Booth (February 2, 2021). ISBN: 978-0578826288. 276p.

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