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THE GAME CHANGER by Lana Ferguson

August 23, 2024

From the publisher:

An instant USA Today bestseller

A hockey player and a baker shoot their shot in this steamy new romance by Lana Ferguson, USA Today bestselling author of The Nanny.

When a very public breakup becomes a PR nightmare for Ian Chase’s team, he hopes to focus on his game, but that suddenly seem less likely than a hat trick. With his career and the team’s image in jeopardy, Ian is surprised to find a solution through none other than Delilah Baker, his best friend and teammate’s little sister…who isn’t so little anymore.

Delilah Baker is known as “the darling of baking” on her local cable show, and being in the public eye is her bread and butter. But with her numbers dwindling and her producers turning up the heat, Delilah offers up the half-baked idea to collaborate with her brother’s team to entice the hockey fans of Boston to tune in to her show. Delilah thinks it will be a piece of cake—until the team sends Ian Chase, her brother’s best friend and the object of a decade-long crush that she’s never quite gotten over.

Delilah’s and Ian’s teams think it’s a true win-win situation—gaining higher numbers for Delilah’s show and casting Ian in a more positive light. And viewers are eating them up like a cupcake, sparking the idea to play up their relationship for the goal of good press. With more than just their careers on thin ice, the line between what’s real and what’s for show begins to blur, but one thing’s for certain: This PR stunt will either be a total game changer—or leave them both totally pucked.
https://amzn.to/3yNL7eH

Ian was Delilah’s brother’s best friend and her teenage crush, and now they are both professional hockey players in Boston, where they take their hockey very seriously. When Ian’s reputation takes a hit, his PR team is trying to find a way to make him look good again. Enter Delilah and her local cooking show. Her ratings are in freefall, and she comes up with the idea of baking with a hockey player. Her brother is a pro, and his teammates are askable. Ian is perfect – it will help both of them, and it does, except for that crush that is surprisingly still lingering.

Viewers love seeing Ian and Delilah together, and Ian is surprised at how much he enjoys Delilah’s company. Then things really heat up.

Ferguson writes steamy romances, and this is a good one. The hockey is just the “icing” on the cake! (sorry, I couldn’t help myself and hockey fans will get it!) There are a lot of good romance tropes here, including fake dating, friends to lovers, brother’s best friend, and also a lot of laughs. This is a fun, fast-paced rom-com, and I totally enjoyed it.

8/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE GAME CHANGER by Lana Ferguson. Berkley (July 9, 2024). ISBN:‎ 978-0593816837. 400p.

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THE AU PAIR AFFAIR by Tessa Bailey

August 16, 2024

Big Shots, Book 2

From the publisher:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey returns with an all-new sports rom-com about a burly, surly, single dad who falls head-over-hockey-stick for his quirky live-in nanny…

Tallulah is smart, vivacious, and studying to be a marine biologist. She’s also twenty-six and broke. So when Burgess, a battle-scarred hockey veteran and newly single dad, offers her a job as his live-in nanny, she jumps at the opportunity to get paid while living in a super fancy neighborhood and being around Lissa, his cool but introverted tween.

Her tween charge isn’t the only one who could use some help fitting in, though. According to…well, everyone except Burgess, he needs to get back on the dating scene, and adventurous Tallulah is just the girl to show him how. But as boundaries are slowly crossed and Burgess finds himself pulled between his daughter, who wants her parents back together, and his insane chemistry with Tallulah, a huge rift is formed, and Tallulah does the “right” thing—breaks her own heart and walks away.

Though Burgess knows it’s for the best—he’s too jaded, with too much baggage—a chance meeting, and a new push from his daughter, forces him to put everything on the line and fight to prove he learned his lessons well and is worthy of a happily ever after with Tallulah.

“Come for the buzzy hockey romance trope, stay for the unique spins and swoon-worthy leading man that Bailey has become famous for crafting.” — USA Today

“Bailey writes banter and rom-com scenarios with aplomb, but for those who like their romance on the spicier side, she’s also the Michelangelo of dirty talk. She wields filth like Da Vinci does a paintbrush, and there’s a lot to be said for an author who can fill such exchanges with all the requisite heat, enthusiastic consent, and yes, even humor, of such a scenario without veering into corny territory.” — Entertainment Weekly
https://amzn.to/3Awn5VR

Bailey is one of my favorite writers, and I loved her latest! I was already halfway there with the hockey player storyline, and the single dad, grumpy-sunshine, forced proximity, age difference, and all the other romantic subgenres just brought this together in one terrific read for me.

Falling for the nanny is a time-honored romance tradition – not sure how often it happens in real life (forget Hollywood, I mean real people life!) but it was definitely believable here – maybe because Burgess falls first? And fortunately, he is already divorced (I hate any nanny marriage breakups.) He has to work to sweep Tallulah off her feet, and he does. But then comes the tween-age daughter. She adores Tallulah until she realizes that her dad is involved with the nanny. Like most kids, she wants her parents to get back together and Tallulah refuses to be the reason they don’t.

There is a lot of turmoil and angst before they reach their happy ending, and a lot of very steamy sex, making this an emotional yet fun read. I enjoyed getting to know these characters, and I was invested enough to root for their happily ever after. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series!

Note: Like most romance series, you do not need to read these in order. Each book is about a different couple, and while the couple from book one is mentioned, it wouldn’t matter if you hadn’t read it. That said, I think the first book, Fangirl Down, a golf romance, may have been even better than this one, so why not read both!

8/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE AU PAIR AFFAIR by Tessa Bailey. Avon (July 16, 2024). ISBN:‎ 978-0063308428. 384p.

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Spotlight Review: THE LOVE OF MY AFTERLIFE by Kirsty Greenwood

August 13, 2024

From the publisher:

A recently deceased woman meets “the one” in the afterlife waiting room, scoring a second chance at life (and love!) if she can find him on earth before ten days are up…

If she wasn’t dead already, Delphie would be dying of embarrassment. Not only did she just die by choking on a microwaveable burger, but now she’s standing in her ‘shine like a star’ nightie in front of the hottest man she’s ever seen. And he’s smiling at her.

As they start to chat, everything else becomes background noise. That is until someone comes running out of a door, yelling something about a huge mistake, and sends the dreamy stranger back down to earth. And here Delphie was thinking her luck might be different in the afterlife.

When Delphie is offered a deal in which she can return to earth and reconnect with the mysterious man, she jumps at the opportunity to find her possible soulmate and a fresh start. But in a city of millions, Delphie is going to have to listen to her heart, learn to ask for help, and perhaps even see the magic in the life she’s leaving behind…

A GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK! AN INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER!

“Greenwood offers a charming, unique twist on a plethora of the best romance tropes. Sure to be a favorite of readers who love Sophie Cousens and Katy Birchall.” —Library Journal

“[T]he emotions are sweeping, the humor feels straight out of a network sitcom…. Fans of The Good Place should snap this up.” —Publishers Weekly

“Greenwood weaves themes of loneliness, grief and self-discovery into a romance filled with laugh-out-loud moments.” —USA Today
https://amzn.to/3SkMQPi

I kept hearing about this book so I finally picked it up – I’m so glad I did! I don’t care for a lot of woo-woo paranormal type romances, but I can deal in limited doses. An occasional witch. I do like time travel, and this sort of falls into that category, but with a twist. The afterlife twist.

Delphie is alone and very lonely, although it seems like she doesn’t even realize it. One day, she choked to death on a microwaveable hamburger, with no one there to Heimlich her. She arrives in what appears to be a laundromat but is actually the waiting room of heaven. There, a strange woman is trying to explain all of this to her when someone else pops in. A good-looking man who takes one look at Delphie and appears smitten – and she is as well. Except it turns out he is in the wrong place – not that place, but he’s not really dead and needs to be sent back. She’s told that he is her soulmate, and if she can get him to kiss her in ten days, she’ll be returned to life as well. All Delphie knows about him is that he lives in London and his first name, so not a whole lot to go on. But certainly worth a shot!

Delphie enlists the aid of her downstairs grumpy neighbor, Cooper. She thinks he is a computer programmer of some sort, and he does have some skills in that regard. They finally find out his full name, where he works, and Delphie has several attempts at trying to meet him. All are hilarious! Of course, spending time with Cooper has them growing closer and causing Delphie to wonder about her “soulmate”. Lots of hijinks ensue in this missing person’s type case, and everyone gets the happy ending they need.

This was such a fun read! It had many laugh-out-loud moments, some steamy sex, and a lot of heart. I loved it.

8/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE LOVE OF MY AFTERLIFE by Kirsty Greenwood. Berkley (July 2, 2024). ISBN: 978-0593816134. 384p.

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Spotlight Review: HAPPILY NEVER AFTER by Lynn Painter

March 19, 2024

From the publisher:

Their name? The objectors.
Their job? To break off weddings as hired.
Their dilemma? They might just be in love with each other.

When Sophie Steinbeck finds out just before her nuptials that her fiancé has cheated yet again, she desperately wants to call it off. But because her future father-in-law is her dad’s cutthroat boss, she doesn’t want to be the one to do it. Her savior comes in the form of a professional objector, whose purpose is to show up at weddings and proclaim the words no couple (usually) wants to hear at their ceremony: “I object!”

During anti-wedding festivities that night, Sophie learns more about Max the Objector’s job. It makes perfect sense to her: he saves people from wasting their lives, from hurting each other. He’s a modern-day hero. And Sophie wants in.

The two love cynics start working together, going from wedding to wedding, and Sophie’s having more fun than she’s had in ages. She looks forward to every nerve-racking ceremony saving the lovesick souls of the betrothed masses. As Sophie and Max spend more time together, however, they realize that their physical chemistry is off the charts, leading them to dabble in a little hookup session or two—but it’s totally fine, because they definitely do not have feelings for each other. Love doesn’t exist, after all.

And then everything changes. A groom-to-be hires Sophie to object, but his fiancée is the woman who broke Max’s heart. As Max wrestles with whether he can be a party to his ex’s getting hurt, Sophie grapples with the sudden realization that she may have fallen hard for her partner in crime.

“A rom-com for the cynics…The supporting cast is equally funny and helps to round out an entertaining yarn that doesn’t take itself too seriouslly.”—Library Journal

“Painter delivers a charmer of a rom-com with this lively tale of professional wedding objectors…Rom-com fans will find this scratches the itch.”—Publishers Weekly
https://amzn.to/3wV2iK2

This was such a fun read! Having someone object during the wedding ceremony frees up the bride and/or groom from having to do cancel the wedding at the last minute. Paying someone to do it for you is just a tiny expense in the scheme of things, but so worth it.

Sophie is a bit of a cynic. She’s never had a relationship and not been cheated on. Even her fiance cheated once, but she decides to forgive and forget. Until she finds out he is still cheating! But if she cancels the wedding, her father-in-law to be will most likely fire her father, who works for him. Complications for sure, all easily solved by Max, the wedding “objector.”

Max helps break off Sophie’s wedding without getting her father fired, so that worked well. Both Max and Sophie are love cynics; he’s had his heart broken and isn’t going to be putting it out there again. And Sophie is just done with cheating men. She is so relieved at how Max solved her wedding dilemma, she wants to help other couples, too, so she teams up with Max to attend weddings that were not destined to be and helps with the objecting.

Of course, spending all that time together has Sophie and Max develop feelings for one another. But neither one will admit it, not even after they start hooking up. These are two damaged souls crying out to be together, but it isn’t until Max’s ex wants to hire them to object that everything comes to a head.

Painter creates an original storyline (at least to me) and I bought into it completely. This is a terrific romcom with all the angst and laughter needed to make the pages fly by; a thoroughly enjoyable read.

3/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

HAPPILY NEVER AFTER by Lynn Painter. Berkley (March 12, 2024). ISBN:‎ 978-0593638019. 304p.

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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.

©Library Journal, 2023

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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Spotlight Review: CHRISTMAS AT THE SHELTER INN by RaeAnne Thayne

November 28, 2023

From the publisher:

Get cozy with this heartwarming holiday story!

“[Thayne] engages the reader’s heart and emotions, inspiring hope and the belief that miracles are possible.” —Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author

Come home to Shelter Springs this Christmas, where hearts are warm and hopes are bright…

Growing up at the Shelter Inn hotel, Natalie Shepherd envied guests who could come and go as they pleased. So when it was time to finally leave for college and put the lush green mountains around Shelter Springs—along with the cloud of loss that seemed to follow her family—behind her, she swore she’d never come back. But now her sister McKenna needs a favor. On pregnancy bed rest at doctor’s orders, McKenna needs a helping hand with her two young daughters and someone to take over the inn during the hectic holiday season, and Nat can’t refuse. And just when things can’t get worse, she runs into her late brother’s best friend, Griffin Taylor…

Griff has mixed feelings about Natalie’s return. She’s just as beautiful and full of life as he remembered, but there’s a secret he’s carried for years about her brother—and the guilt is eating away at him. Still, Christmas in this small town is filled with treasured traditions and new adventures that hold the promise of something sweet and lasting. From matchmaking seniors to rambunctious nieces, it seems everyone is hoping Nat and Griff will put loss behind them and find a happy new beginning…

“The magic of the Christmas season comes alive in bestseller Thayne’s poignant latest holiday romance…Thayne’s depiction of the Christmas season is timeless, complete with marshmallows and a Christmas Eve snowstorm, while her characters’ emotions feel authentic and often painful. The result is a good balance of light and dark.” —Publishers Weekly
https://amzn.to/3Rey5gK

This is my favorite kind of Christmas romance – some laughs, some drama, an impossible romance that leads to the inevitable happy ending. A sweet romance touched by the holiday is like a gift for me, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I can’t imagine growing up in a hotel, but Natalie and her sister McKenna did just that. Now their parents are gone, Natalie is a digital nomad, pet-sitting around the world, and her sister has turned the hotel into a home for seniors. But McKenna’s young daughters can be a handful, and after a couple of miscarriages, her doctor has put her on bedrest for her latest pregnancy. Her husband is forced to work overtime through the holiday season, so McKenna sends Natalie a plea for help. Without giving it a second thought, Natalie heads home to help out.

Natalie doesn’t know her nieces very well beyond Facetime chats but is quickly thrust into her new parenting role. Meanwhile, her late brother’s best friend, Griffin, is now a family doctor practicing in the small town. After an unfortunate jingle bell up the nose incident, Natalie is drawn to the doctor she always had a crush on growing up. And he is drawn to her as well.

They both have a lot of pain in their pasts that they deal with as best as possible. Together, they feel stronger but Natalie makes it clear she has no intention of staying in town once her sister’s baby is born. And Griffin has too many ties to this small town to consider leaving, so their romance seems doomed.

As Natalie gets to know her nieces and the seniors who live in Shelter Inn, as well as all the people in this small town, it becomes clear that leaving will not be as easy as she originally thought, and Griffin is a big part of that.

If you like sweet holiday romances, this is the book you’ll want to read this holiday season – don’t miss it! I loved it.

11/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

CHRISTMAS AT THE SHELTER INN by RaeAnne Thayne. Canary Street Press; Original edition (October 10, 2023). ISBN: 978-1335009258. 304p.

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THE DANCE DECEPTION by Becky Ward

November 17, 2023

From the publisher:

There’s about to be fire on – and off – the dance floor…

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Kate Wareing is astonished when she secures a place in a televised dance competition. Especially as it means she’ll be paired with a professional dancer to compete for a life-changing cash prize.

When she’s matched with gorgeous French dancer Merle it quickly becomes clear that he’s just as keen to work on their chemistry as their routine. But when the competition is rocked by a scandal, Kate’s forced to switch to a new partner, Aleksis, who is just as devastatingly attractive as Merle – but seems to hate her.

With the odds stacked against them, Kate and Aleksis embark on a showmance to try and win over the public. But what happens when Kate’s feelings for her fake boyfriend become all too real? And how far will Merle go to sabotage her chances – both in the competition and in love?

Tropes:
• Enemies-to-lovers
• Fake Dating
• Spicy romance

Funny, feel-good and oh-so-steamy, this is the perfect read for the Strictly-obsessed and anyone who loved The Spanish Love Deception and The Love Hypothesis
https://amzn.to/3QXJxx2

This was a riff on Dancing With the Stars, but instead of D-list celebrities competing, anyone can audition. Kate is accepted even though she isn’t much of a dancer, which seems to be the point. Out of all the “regular” people competing, only one has real dance experience. They are each paired up with a professional dancer, and Kate ends up with Merle, a super hot dancer that quickly leads them into an affair. And it is an affair, as it turns out Merle is married.

The scandal forces the producers to swap out Kate for another partner, Alexis. He is cold and really seems to hate Kate, but she pushes through and eventually they find a way to get along – and then much more. The relationship helps because viewers get to vote on who stays and who goes, and the prize money at the end is a very big deal to Kate, and most of the contestants. The professionals, especially Merle, want the win for their resumes.

This was an enjoyable read with enough tension in the dance competition plus the romance to make it a real page turner. I’ve never watched DWTS, although I’ve seen clips over the years, so while I had a bit of an idea of how the show works, I don’t know how far off this book veers from that model. If you are a fan, I’d love to know what you think in the comments.

11/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE DANCE DECEPTION by Becky Ward. Avon (October 24, 2023). ISBN: 978-0008609344. 384p.

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Spotlight Review: THE ROM CON by Devon Daniels

November 14, 2023

From the publisher:

A modern battle of the sexes about a journalist who hatches an elaborate plan to take down her professional rival, in a rom-com perfect for fans of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.

After a particularly brutal breakup, Cassidy Sutton has had it with dating. So when her grandmother gives her a 1950’s dating guide entitled 125 Tips to Hook a Husband, she decides to turn the retro advice into an ironic “What not to do” article for Siren, the popular online women’s publication she writes for. And who better to secretly test the old-fashioned tips on than Jack Bradford, chauvinistic creator of rival men’s site Brawler? She’ll write an article that will entertain female readers everywhere and embarrass their sexist nemesis at the same time. Two birds, one stone.

But her perfect plan soon proves to be anything but. Those vintage courtship tips Cassidy was so quick to poke fun at? They actually seem to work, calling her most closely-held beliefs into question. Even worse? Jack isn’t falling for any of her tricks—and it’s not long before their ‘fake’ relationship starts to feel like the realest one of her life. As her cat and mouse game starts to spiral out of control, Cassidy has to decide if she’s playing to win, or if she’s willing to lose it all for love.

“Full of likable characters, bizarre and antiquated dating tips inspired by real lifestyle magazines and books, examples of healthy relationships, and ample steam, Daniels’ tale will find fans among readers who recall those crazy Cosmo tips or who have seen the sour side of dating apps.” —Booklist
https://amzn.to/46a4fxU

I loved the Kate Hudson/Matthew McConaughey romcom How To Lose a Guy in Ten Days, so when they used that comparison in the publicity, I was all in. The author even references it in the book!

Cassidy is a senior editor at Siren, a women’s focused website filled with clickable content. She writes several articles each day and assigns several more to the dozens of writers who report to her. She loves her job but secretly wishes to write a book.

Cassidy is dating Brett for a few months, until she invites him to her grandmother’s 90th birthday party. He turns her down, citing “sacred Saturdays”, a bro term embraced by the misogynistic men at rival website Brawler. She dumps him and complains to her grandmother who in turn, presents her with an old article from the 1950’s on how to “hook a husband.”

The article inspires Cassidy to try out some of these dating tips to see how they fare more than a half-century later, figuring it will be a fun series of articles. Her co-worker/best friend/roommate is all in on the idea, as is their boss. First up: a party for a celebrity cologne launch where Cassidy literally bumps into Jack, the co-founder of Brawler. Cassidy decides to narrow her dating tips to him, hoping to bring him and his frat-boy website down. But a funny thing happens while she is implementing the old-fashioned dating tips; Jack isn’t falling for any of it, and he seems like a really great guy. The kind of guy Cassidy has been waiting to meet all her life.

Three dates later, Cassidy is done with the idea of the article and taking Jack down. She wants to keep dating him, and as they get closer, they fall in love. Until Jack finds out what started their relationship – and his humiliating way of ending it.

This was such a fun read! I loved these characters and all they went through to find their happy ending, and all the secondary characters did their part to round out the story. There is so much to enjoy here. Lots of laugh-out-loud moments, some serious chemistry bringing the heat, and all the vintage clothes are just an added bonus. Don’t miss it!

11/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE ROM COM by Devon Daniels. Berkley (November 7, 2023). ISBN: 978-0593199237. 384p.

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SNOWED IN FOR CHRISTMAS by Jaqueline Snowe

November 10, 2023

From the publisher:

Fans of Christina Lauren and Maggie Knox will adore this fun and festive romcom featuring a grumpy/sunshine duo who find themselves stuck together over the holidays, where the weather outside is frightful—but inside, things are heating up in this sexy holiday story.

Sorority mom Becca Fairfield is used to guys not taking her seriously. She’s too blond, too quirky, or Just. Too. Much. So she’s ditched dating to focus on her job and a house filled with drama and plenty of tea. Now with the holidays and a major blizzard on her doorstep, Becca has everything she needs to survive the next two weeks on her own. Hot cocoa, plenty of books . . . and the memory of a steamy kiss with a certain sexy, grumposaurus next-door neighbor to keep her warm.

Only Becca’s seriously underestimated this Snowpocalypse. So when the power goes out and Harrison Cooper—football coach, master crank, and the guy who acted mega-awkward after said steamy kiss—offers her shelter, it only makes sense to accept. They’ll just be Blizzard Buddies. Hang out, stay safe, and maybe indulge in a little R-rated cuddling. Becca knows that Harrison isn’t the dating kind, and what happens during the storm lasts only as long as the storm. But are they keeping warm . . . or playing with fire?

“A superbly satisfying holiday romance with lots of witty banter, adorable protagonists, and expertly choreographed romantic moments.”―Booklist

“Snowe’s grumpy/sunshine pairing delves beyond stereotypes and offers up a sweet story of growth and understanding, interspersed with plenty of hot moments.”―Library Journal
https://amzn.to/3ucfGYE

This is such a fun holiday read! Becca is a house mother in a sorority house, and she loves her job, the girls, and all the peccadillos they get into. She doesn’t have much of a social life since her date with the coach next door. It was a great date followed by a great kiss, and then he ghosted her – not easy to do since he lives a few yards away. Nonetheless, they haven’t spoken since that night.

As the holidays draw near, the girls are all packed up and heading home for the holidays. Becca is staying and keeping things in order at the sorority house, except a blizzard is heading their way. When Harrison, the coach next door, offers her shelter in the storm, Becca gratefully accepts. They lose power almost immediately, but Harrison has cut up enough wood to see them through the storm if they huddle in front of the fireplace.

As they spend more time together, their attraction comes rearing back. Becca is scared of getting hurt again, but eventually, they talk about what happened and why, and decide to be “blizzard buddies” and have some fun during the storm. Afterward, everyone will go back to their neutral corners. But best laid plans and all that lead to a very happy ending, and make this a super fun, sexy Christmas read. Snowe is turning into an author not to be missed!

11/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

SNOWED IN FOR CHRISTMAS by Jaqueline Snowe. Forever (October 3, 2023). ISBN: 978-1538739815. 336p.

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Posted by Stacy Alesi

LET’S GET QUIZZICAL by Kelly Ohlert

November 3, 2023

From the publisher:

For fans of Lyssa Kay Adams and Jen DeLuca comes this fresh, funny take on second chances that proves love is anything but trivial.

For family-focused Charlotte, the chance to compete on her favorite trivia game show is a dream come true—the prize money could ensure the best care for her aging grandmother. But when she arrives on set, who does she see among the other contestants? Eli, her high school first love, at least until their shattering breakup. He has his own reasons for competing, not least of which is the stress of multiple jobs, college courses, and a father who has had multiple run-ins with the law.

When the casting department pairs them on a team, both Charlotte and Eli are determined to grit their teeth and make the best of it. That’s easier said than done, of course, and before long a national audience is breathlessly watching them bicker and air years-old grudges. Far from being angry, the program’s producers are ecstatic—the ratings are positively soaring.

As they compete together over several episodes of the show, Charlotte and Eli begin to suspect that old wounds might actually heal. Touring L.A. in their free time has given them the opportunity to get to know each other again—and reawakened feelings that are hard to resist. Until the show’s producers throw a wrench in their hopeful plans that will compromise everything Charlotte and Eli have worked so hard for.

Kelly Ohlert’s warm, witty second novel proves that the best thing to know is always your own heart.

“A whip-smart second-chance romance . . . Readers will be hooked.” —Publishers Weekly

“[A] clever and charming second-chance romance . . . Perfect for fans of rom-coms looking for a story with lots of heart and fun.” —Library Journal
https://amzn.to/3QD87TS

This author was new to me, but I can’t help picking up any book based on the trivia game show world. I’m a lifelong Jeopardy! fan, so I was all in. Unfortunately – or maybe fortunately for the plot of this book – the game show here is a world away from my beloved favorite.

Charlotte and Eli were high school sweethearts, but he ghosted her and she never knew why. He broke her heart, and even though many years have passed, she’s never felt anything like that for anyone else. Her family moved an hour away from the town where she went to school, and life went on.

Charlotte grew up with her parents and was especially close with her grandmother, a single mother when that was really looked down upon. The missing grandfather turned out to have a wife and another family, so when he learned about the baby, he chose the family he already had. This affected Charlotte’s grandmother throughout her life, and the lives of her family as well. She was all about honesty to a fault; no white lies, no prevaricating of any kind. It’s not as easy as one would assume to be 100% honest all the time.

The other thing Charlotte enjoyed with her family was watching the Game Show channel, with trivia games a family favorite. Charlotte had applied to be a contestant, but as the months passed by, she gave up on her dream. Until she got the phone call.

The way this trivia game works is that there are six competitors in a speed round. The last two left standing form a partnership, and compete each week with the latest partners until they lose.

Eli is still living with his father, who has spent most of his life in and out of prison. They are barely holding on with his father working two jobs and Eli working as a personal trainer. They are one major catastrophe away from losing their home or their cars and well, everything. So when Eli gets the call to be on the gameshow, he is hoping he wins enough money to put a new roof on the house and maybe allow his father to cut back to one job.

Of course, Eli and Charlotte are on the same game show and yes, the last two standing. They form a partnership to compete for the money. Unfortunately, when Charlotte sees him, she sees red. Their obvious connection and her dislike of her new partner are great for ratings, which the show desperately needs or it will be canceled. The producer is a slimeball and sees the potential here, especially as Eli and Charlotte move ahead in the game and it appears in their relationship. He offers them a deal; he will provide the answers and they can keep winning, thus helping the ratings and possibly securing him the emcee job. Charlotte is furious, but Eli is tempted – he really needs the money. But he won’t disappoint Charlotte again, so they both refuse.

Things get complicated after that, but as Eli and Charlotte get closer, she is able to finally forgive him for their bad breakup. But what she doesn’t know is that the producer has blackmailed Eli into taking the answers; he threatens to have Eli’s father put back in jail while he’s still on probation. And he follows through.

This is a second-chance romance with an enemies-to-lovers trope, and I enjoyed it. I hated the intimation that cheating is still going on in the game show world, but I am secure in the knowledge that Jeopardy! is not part of that world. This book had some laughs and some drama for sure, but what I think I enjoyed most was seeing the growth of these characters, especially Eli. And I loved all the trivia sprinkled throughout.

11/2023 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

LET’S GET QUIZZICAL by Kelly Ohlert. Alcove Press (October 17, 2023). ISBN: 978-1639105052. 288p.