Audiobook Sunday: SAFE HAVEN by Kristen Proby

February 22, 2026

Narration by Savannah Peachwood & Connor Crais

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Triple Creek Ranch, Book 1

From the publisher:

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kristen Proby comes an emotional romance where two best friends reunite at Triple Creek Ranch, proving that home is where love finds its way.

Fifteen years ago, my best friend found salvation at the Triple Creek Ranch, transforming from an angry foster kid into a hockey legend. Now, with his adoptive father’s death forcing him home, Ryker’s trading his hockey stick for ranch life—and I’m not sure my heart can handle having him this close again.

I’ve spent the past decade raising my troubled nephew alone while building my career as an audiobook narrator. When my boy needs a fresh start, Ryker offers us sanctuary at the ranch. But living under the same roof with the man who’s always owned my heart ignites feelings I’ve tried hard to bury.

Between helping manage a struggling ranch, watching my nephew find his way, and dealing with the shadows of Ryker’s fame, we discover our connection is stronger than ever. But when threats from his past surface, we’ll have to decide if our second chance is worth fighting for.

Ryker and Gideon are fifteen-year-old foster kids who luck into a life-changing placement with Ray and Deb, owners of the Triple Creek Ranch. The couple also frequently cares for their niece, Willow, and when they adopt the boys a year later, the three kids become inseparable. Growing up on the ranch, they learn the value of hard work and responsibility — and watching Ray and Deb together, they learn what love is supposed to look like.

Years later, Gideon is a Secret Service agent and Ryker is a star NHL player, but they drop everything when Ray is hospitalized. They make it in time to say goodbye, and his loss hits them both hard — this man who became their father in every way that mattered. Having already lost Deb a few years earlier, they know Ray spent his remaining time missing her terribly, and that knowledge softens their grief, just a little; Ray and Deb are together again.

At thirty-five and nearing the end of his playing days, Ryker takes Ray’s passing as his cue to retire from hockey and come home to the ranch. Meanwhile, Willow has become the legal guardian of her teenage nephew, Aiden, who has been testing her patience and her limits. When he gets suspended for fighting at school, she reaches out to Ryker and asks if Aiden can spend the summer working on the ranch. He agrees without hesitation — but quickly realizes that Willow driving an hour each way every day isn’t going to work for anyone. So while he’s already in the middle of remodeling the house, he quietly adds something extra: a professional recording studio, built out for Willow.

Willow is a successful audiobook narrator who works from a studio she had built into a closet at home, so when Ryker first suggests she stay at the ranch for the summer, she turns him down flat. That changes the moment she sees what he’s created for her — a beautiful, fully equipped studio tucked into one of the ranch house’s spare bedrooms. She agrees to move in, Aiden gets set up in the bunkhouse with the other ranch hands, and suddenly the arrangement works perfectly for everyone. Well, almost everyone. Willow’s feelings for Ryker have shifted into territory that is decidedly unsisterly, and to her surprise, she’s not the only one struggling with that.

The more time they spend together, the harder it becomes to pretend otherwise. Aiden is thriving — so much so that Willow starts wondering whether leaving at summer’s end makes any sense. Gideon watches it all unfold with nervous eyes, knowing that if things go sideways between Ryker and Willow, the fallout will ripple through all of them. But happily, no such disaster comes. They find their way to each other and to the life that was always waiting for them on the ranch.

Crais and Peachwood bring these characters to life with warmth and depth, making it easy to fall into this story and hard to leave it. I loved every minute, and I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series, due out in April.

2/2026 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

SAFE HAVEN by Kristen Proby. Narrators: Connor Crais & Savannah Peachwood. Brilliance Audio (February 17, 2026). ASIN: B0FGF9JQFV. Listening Length: 7 hours and 44 minutes.

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Audiobook Sunday: THE WRONG GAME by Kandi Steiner

February 15, 2026

Narration by Nelson Hobbs & Virginia Rose

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Love of the Game, Book 1

From the publisher:

Two season tickets. One genius idea. Zero interest in a relationship.

The plan is simple: a brand-new, hot, preferably funny, definitely single male will fill one of those seats for every Bears game at Soldier Field. And I’ll fill the other.

I can’t think of a better way to use the season passes I’d bought for my ex-husband. I am a woman of plans, and this one’s foolproof. Until Zach Bowen offers to be my practice round.

He’s infuriating. Presumptuous and overbearing. And absolutely, undeniably gorgeous. Any woman with a heartbeat would be attracted to him, and mine picks up speed every time he speaks. But as I said, I’m a woman of plans – and I’m not backing down on this one.

One night. One game. And then, his time’s up. He can try to change the rules, but here’s the truth: He can’t win if he’s playing the wrong game.

Contains mature themes.

https://amzn.to/45WH8da

This book is a fun and surprisingly emotional read. I absolutely loved the main characters, and the sharp, heartfelt, and effortlessly engaging writing brings a fresh spin to the sports-romance trope.

Gemma is a planner to her core. After a devastating betrayal, she rebuilds her life around rules, structure, and one unbreakable promise: never risk her heart again. A die-hard Chicago Bears fan with season tickets, she decides to ease back into dating by bringing a different “date” to each home game—strictly casual, strictly for fun, and absolutely no feelings allowed. Then she meets Zach.

Zach volunteers to be her “practice guy” for the first game, and from the moment they meet, he’s impossible not to love. He sees straight through Gemma’s carefully built walls and is determined to chip away at them—even if he doesn’t yet understand what put them there. Patient, charming, and endlessly swoony, Zach balances Gemma’s strength and vulnerability perfectly. Their chemistry crackles, their banter sparkles, and their connection feels genuine and earned. The side characters—especially Belle and Micah—add humor and warmth that make the story even richer.

At its heart, Gemma’s journey is about rebuilding. Newly single at 29, she’s learning how to reclaim her life after everything she trusted fell apart. Her dating-at-the-games plan is meant to be safe and controlled—until Zach becomes the exception she never anticipated. He lives boldly, loves openly, and pursues what he wants with his whole heart. And what he wants is her.

Terrified to trust again, Gemma is slowly drawn out of her comfort zone and into something real. Their story is a reminder that love always involves risk—but sometimes the reward is worth every bit of fear. Sweet, sexy, emotional, and just angsty enough to keep you hooked, this story is a perfect fall read and a must for sports-romance lovers.

I adored this emotional, funny, chemistry-packed romance, and if you enjoy sports romances, give it a try. This was my first read by this author, but I am now hunting down the next book in this series, The Right Player.

2/2026 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

Audiobook Sunday: THE WRONG GAME by Kandi Steiner. ASIN: B07P83FN5R. Narrators: Nelson Hobbs & Virginia Rose. Tantor Media. March 12, 2019. Listening Length: 10 hours and 47 minutes.

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CATCH HER IF YOU CAN by Tessa Bailey

February 6, 2026

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Big Shots, Book 5

From the publisher:

New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey is back with an all-new marriage of convenience, friends-to-lovers sports romance about a baseball catcher and the burlesque club owner he can’t get out of his head.

Madden Donahue, the newest catcher for the Yankees, has been in love with Eve Mitchell since high school, but for some mysterious reason, the burlesque club owner always turns him down. That never stopped him from being her self-appointed protector. Case in point, now that Eve’s sister has left Eve with her two children indefinitely, Madden steps in with a proposition—marry him for the much needed health benefits.

Eve has secretly harbored feelings for Madden all along, but there’s one problem—her best friend Skylar called dibs on him when they were fourteen. Eve has always put their friendship above all else, and she’s not willing to risk losing Skylar over a man. Raised by the local strip club owner, Eve is woefully short on friends and treasures the ones she has. But with Skylar happily paired off, Eve finds herself accepting Madden’s proposal—on the condition that their marriage remains strictly private. She’s not about to let her unique profession and maligned reputation destroy Madden’s shiny new career.

Madden won’t let Eve get away that easily, though. What starts as a marriage of convenience soon ignites into something much hotter, and now it’s up to Madden to convince Eve that their connection is far more than a business arrangement. As the passion builds, can their fake marriage become the real deal?

https://amzn.to/4jSAgTE

Madden Donahue is the newest catcher for the New York Yankees—and he’s been hopelessly in love with Eve Mitchell since high school. Back then, Eve kept her distance, partly because her best friend had a crush on him and partly because she’d spent her entire life trying to avoid unwanted attention. As the daughter of a strip club owner in a small town, she’s been judged and tormented for as long as she can remember.

When her father decides to retire, Eve takes over the business and rebrands it as a burlesque club, convinced she can make an honest, successful living on her own terms. It quickly becomes clear that the reality is far more complicated than she expected.

Eve has always cherished the small circle of people who stand by her—including Madden. When her best friend falls for a hockey player, Eve’s guilt over her own long‑standing crush on Madden finally begins to ease. She feels free to acknowledge the truth she’s been hiding for years: she’s been in love with Madden, too. At the same time, her life takes another unexpected turn when her sister checks into rehab for a drug addiction and asks Eve to care for her two young children. Eve doesn’t hesitate—she’s relieved her sister is getting the help she needs and happy to step up for her niece and nephew.

But things spiral when her nephew is diagnosed with asthma. Without health insurance, Eve is overwhelmed by the cost of treatments she can’t afford. When Madden learns what she’s facing, he immediately offers a solution: marriage. By marrying him, the kids would be covered under his excellent health insurance.

Eve is torn. She worries that her reputation as a burlesque club owner could reflect poorly on the Yankees—and on their newest star player. Madden doesn’t care. He refuses to back down, and eventually, Eve agrees, but only under strict conditions: the marriage must remain secret, and they’ll divorce after six months.

Madden hates the terms but accepts them anyway, determined to use those six months to prove that what they share is real—and that their chemistry can’t be ignored. As with the best marriages-of-convenience romances, feelings deepen, secrets unravel, and in this case, they have the added pressure of the relentless paparazzi, bringing plenty of drama before the couple earns their happily ever after.

This was another terrific installment in a series I adore. While Amazon lists it as book five of five, I’m holding out hope for more. This is one of my favorite series by one of my favorite authors—and it ends on a high note.

2/2026 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

CATCH HER IF YOU CAN by Tessa Bailey. Avon. (January 20, 2026). ISBN: 978-0063380882. 336p.

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IT HAPPENED ON A SUNDAY by Tracy Wolff

February 6, 2026

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From the publisher:

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Tracy Wolff comes a fierce, emotional romance about two people surviving the spotlight and choosing love when everything says they shouldn’t.

They call her the Black Widow. A pop star. A tabloid tragedy. A girl who set the world on fire—and got burned in return.

But Sloane Walker doesn’t care what they say. Not anymore. The headlines, the hashtags, the rumors that never die? Let them come. She’s survived worse—like the betrayal that nearly destroyed her and the fans who blamed her for surviving. These days, she’s armor and eyeliner, singing songs that hurt and pretending they don’t.

She’s halfway through a sold-out tour and dangerously close to unraveling when a meet-and-greet throws her into the path of Mateo Sylvester—a media darling with a magnetic smile, a thriving career of his own, and a grandmother who happens to be Sloane’s biggest fan. He knows exactly how brutal the spotlight can be. He’s lived it. He’s got the press eating from his hand. She’s got a flask full of sweet tea, a voice full of ghosts, and no patience for golden boys with good intentions.

She tells herself it’s just a photo op. Just another handshake. Just another public face with private secrets and no idea what it means to bleed for your art.

But Mateo sees more than the stage persona. He sees the cracks in her smile. The songs she’s too scared to write. The girl underneath the glitter, still fighting to stay.

They weren’t supposed to fall. Not in the spotlight. Not when the world is watching. And definitely not when the people closest to them would do anything to keep them apart.

“Over the course of Wolff’s novel, both Sloane and Sly are revealed to be well-developed characters, and the plot moves briskly….An emotionally grounded romantic thriller with enough steam to satisfy genre fans.”―Kirkus Reviews

https://amzn.to/3NJ0QCO

This is a Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce inspired romance that pairs a chart-topping pop star with an NFL star.

Twenty-seven-year-old Matteo “Sly” Sylvester is the quarterback for the Austin Twisters. Raised by his grandmother, Abuela Ximena, alongside his three sisters, Sly’s life revolves around family. To surprise his grandmother, he splurges on concert tickets—and a meet-and-greet—for her favorite artist: pop superstar Sloane Walker, better known as Black Widow. That brief encounter changes everything. A photo Sloane takes with Abuela Ximena accidentally captures Sly in the background, igniting an instant media frenzy. The attraction between Sly and Sloane is undeniable, but Sloane is convinced a relationship would be a mistake. Sly is too kind, too genuine, and far too good to be dragged into her chaotic, hyper-scrutinized world. Sly, however, is all in—and determined to prove they are worth the risk.

Sloane, though, is no stranger to scandal. Both of her former serious partners died tragically—one in a drunk driving accident, the other in a drowning—fueling obsessive fandom, conspiracy theories, and relentless online hate. Deeply traumatized and emotionally guarded, she hides behind a carefully constructed persona, pretending that her flask of sweet tea is bourbon while keeping the world firmly at arm’s length. That armor begins to crack when she meets Sly and his warm, loving grandmother.

Sly is immediately drawn to Sloane’s magnetic yet closed-off nature. Haunted by the trauma of discovering that a teammate assaulted his sister, he carries a fierce protective instinct. When Sloane begins receiving disturbing threats—complete with eerie dolls and escalating danger—his determination to keep her safe only intensifies. As their relationship grows under constant media scrutiny, Sloane must decide whether she is willing to let him in, even as a stalker shadows her tour. With the press tracking their every move and the stalker growing bolder, Sly and Sloane must decide if their connection can survive the pressure.

I wanted to feel more emotionally connected to the characters, but the insta-love element lost me early on, and it took me a while to fully invest in their story. Their backstories unfold slowly, making the first half feel sluggish. That said, both Sly and Sloane are engaging characters, and once the story gains momentum, the tension, drama, and emotional depth come through.

As the plot progresses, it becomes increasingly crowded with crime-thriller elements—including FBI involvement—which distracts from the central romance. Still, one of the novel’s strengths lies in its pop culture nods, especially the clever use of Taylor Swift song titles like “Getaway Car,” “Willow,” “August,” and “Wildest Dreams.”

This is very much a he-falls-first romance, blending a slow-burn romance with some steam. There is plenty of playful banter and a handful of delightfully cheesy, swoon-worthy moments. Ultimately, this is a story about more than romance. It is about healing, standing back up after life knocks you down, piecing yourself together, and learning to accept the joy you deserve.

2/2026 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

IT HAPPENED ON A SUNDAY by Tracy Wolff. Entangled: Amara. (September 2, 2025). ISBN: 978-1649379184. 465p.

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Audiobook Sunday: MERRY KISSMAS by Piper Rayne

December 7, 2025

Read by Shane East &  Stella Hunter

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Standalone Holiday Romance

From the author:

Six years ago, he was her one-night stand, and now they’re sharing a villa for the holidays.

I thought I was over him. That his good looks and British accent couldn’t affect me anymore. But the minute our eyes lock across the elevator, all those feelings come roaring back to life.

Then I find out we’re competing for the same job.

Next comes the realization that we have to spend a week together on a ski vacation because of some six-degree-of-separation nonsense.

The real kicker is when I find out the two of us have to share a villa. A very small, very cozy villa.

Needless to say, this Christmas getaway is starting off rockier than the mountains we’ll be skiing down.

I’ve stayed away for years, what’s one week? But I forgot how much easier it is to ignore him with an ocean separating us—especially when he’s determined to win me back.

https://amzn.to/4pK2Ok1

Suspend your disbelief and dive into this sweet and spicy holiday rom-com! Six years ago, Brynn was studying abroad in the UK when she met Pierce at a local pub the weekend before classes began. Their chemistry was instant, and they spent a whirlwind weekend together—until Brynn walked into her first class and discovered he was the teaching assistant. Wanting to maintain professionalism, Pierce kept his distance, leaving Brynn confused and hurt.

Years later, they cross paths again—first in an elevator while interviewing for the same job, and then on a flight to Utah. In a twist of holiday coincidence, they realize their families are connected through mutual in-laws and friends, and they are headed to the same vacation destination. Cue the forced proximity: they’re assigned to share a villa.

For Pierce, Brynn is the one who got away, and he’s determined not to waste his second chance. Brynn does her best to keep her guard up, but it’s only a matter of time before Pierce’s charm wears her down. Between festive family antics and cozy holiday moments, old wounds resurface, but so does their undeniable connection—leading Brynn to finally embrace the happy ending she once thought impossible.

The narrators do a terrific job bringing the story to life. I especially loved Pierce’s British accent—crisp, clear, and deliciously charming. (I often need subtitles for British TV, so East’s narration was a delight: authentic but perfectly understandable!) This isn’t trying to be great literature; it’s a fun, feel-good holiday rom-com. If that’s your jam, you’ll have a great time. I borrowed my copy through my library’s Hoopla app.

11/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

MERRY KISSMAS by Piper Rayne. Narrators: Shane East &  Stella Hunter. Piper Rayne Inc.; November 18, 2024. ASIN: B0DNFXRWKG. Listening Length: 4 hours and 53 minutes

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Audiobook Sunday: CHASING LOVE by Piper Rayne

November 30, 2025

Read by Erin Mallon & JF Harding

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Plain Daisy Ranch, Book 5

From the author:

It was over between Bennett Owens and me—until I had no place to go but back to Willowbrook.

Seven years ago, he walked away, and I built a new life for myself, swearing never to look back. But when my husband is arrested, that life collapses, leaving my daughter and me with nothing but a three-month plan to return to the small ranch town before disappearing again.

Bennett’s a single dad now. Our girls become inseparable on sight, making it impossible to keep him at arm’s length. Especially when I end up working alongside him, where every glance chips away at the walls I’ve built.

The years apart haven’t dulled the pull between us. Bennett remains protective and patient, determined to prove that we deserve a second chance. But he has no idea about the secret I’ve kept since the day he left.

Because once he learns the truth, he may never forgive me. And like it or not, we’ll be bound together forever—by the daughter he never knew was his.

https://amzn.to/3Xbn69V

This one was a bit of a tough read for me. I’m not comfortable with cheating—it’s a personal trigger, thanks to my father being a manwhore. Still, I love this series, so I pushed through. There was also some controversy around this book when it first came out: an AI prompt was accidentally left in the text, and people lost their minds over it. I’m not getting into all that, just mentioning it. Google can fill in the details if you’re curious.

So…this is Bennett’s story. He’s been hovering around the edges of the entire series. He’s a single dad to a seven-year-old daughter, Wren, who he raises with plenty of help from his family. His high school sweetheart, Delainey, has moved back to town after her husband was arrested. She’s divorcing him and returned so her parents can help support her and her own seven-year-old daughter, Leia. She ends up working for the town florist—who happens to be Bennett’s sister—and discovers that Bennett works out of the shop too. He’s a landscape architect, and that shared love for growing things is one of the many threads connecting him and Delainey.

But Delainey is keeping a huge secret: Leia isn’t her husband’s child—she’s Bennett’s. Years ago, Bennett had left his wife and moved away, eventually landing at the same company where Delainey worked. Their reunion was intense and fast. But then Bennett’s wife showed up at Delainey’s door, claiming she was pregnant and hoping Delainey wouldn’t keep Bennett from returning home. Bennett did what he thought was the right thing; he went back to his wife, but ultimately, she died in childbirth. Delainey remained where she was, met her husband, and he raised Leia as his own. After his arrest, though, he and his family cut ties with both Delainey and Leia, prompting her to return home.

When Delainey finally tells Bennett the truth about Leia, everything becomes strained. He’s angry and hurt; she’s guilty but still believes she made the best choice for her daughter at the time. Now they all have to adjust to their new reality. I understood why Delainey stayed silent, though obviously she shouldn’t have. In the end, they manage to find their way back to each other and finally get their long-awaited happily ever after.

The duet narration was excellent and helped me through the parts I struggled with. I may have even skipped ahead a few times—which is very unlike me. Overall, this was my least favorite book in the series.

11/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

CHASING LOVE by Piper Rayne. Narrators: Erin Mallon & JF Harding. Piper Rayne Inc.; October 17, 2025. ASIN: B0FWS27CR1. Listening Length: 7 hours and 45 minutes

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Audiobook Sunday: THE BOOK CLUB BOYFRIEND by Kendall Ryan

November 23, 2025

Read by Ryan West & CJ Bloom

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Must Love Hockey, Book 2

From the publisher:

She doesn’t believe in love. He doesn’t believe in losing. Let the games begin.

Scarlett “Scottie” Calloway built her career writing books about why women don’t need men. Romance? Overrated. Soulmates? A marketing ploy. The last thing she wants is to spend a summer co-hosting a romance book club with an arrogant, insufferably handsome hockey player who thinks he knows a thing or two about love. Immediate no. Chase Remington lives for three things: hockey, winning, and pushing Scarlett’s buttons. He’s never met a challenge he couldn’t charm his way through—until her. The queen of anti-romance loathes him, and frankly? He’s having the time of his life getting under her skin.

But when a PR stunt forces them together, their battle of wits turns into something far more dangerous—an attraction neither can afford. She swears she won’t fall. He bets she will. By summer’s end, only one will be right.

And if there’s one thing they do have in common? Neither likes to lose.

The Book Club Boyfriend is a slow burn, enemies-to-lovers sports romance featuring professional athletes, shameless flirting, and a hero who falls first—and hard. Expect banter, chemistry, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

https://amzn.to/47JheuE

Scarlett “Scottie” Calloway is a best-selling author known for her sharp, witty books about how romance is a scam and how women don’t need men to be happy. But with the deadline for her latest manuscript looming, she finds herself stuck and uninspired. Hoping a change of scenery will spark her creativity, she rents a house on Lake Michigan for a month.

Meanwhile, Chase Remington—a professional hockey player for a (fictional) Dallas team—has his own reasons for escaping. With a reputation that precedes him, he decides to lay low and rents a house on Lake Michigan as well. By coincidence, his place is right next door to Scottie’s. The two cross paths in a grocery store, unaware they’re neighbors, and their meet-cute sets the stage for what’s to come.

Chase falls first—and falls hard—for Scottie. Despite his so-called bad-boy image, he radiates Golden Retriever energy: loyal, eager, and endlessly sweet. His lovable dog wins Scottie over even faster than he does. As they spend more time together, Scottie finds herself questioning the very beliefs that made her famous, all while still struggling to write..

Everything comes to a head when Scottie’s publisher ropes her into co-leading the hockey team’s romance book club—with none other than Chase by her side.

The result is a light, heartwarming romance filled with sharp banter, palpable chemistry, and plenty of charm. The narrators bring both the characters and the story to life, making it fun to listen to. Highly recommended!

11/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE BOOK CLUB BOYFRIEND by Kendall Ryan. Narrators: Ryan West & CJ Bloom. Dreamscape Media; November 11, 2025. ASIN: B0FR5X3ZSR. Listening Length: 7 hours and 30 minutes

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Audiobook Sunday: ROUGHING THE KICKER by Emily Silver

November 16, 2025

Read by Rose Dioro & Teddy Hamilton

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Denver Mountain Lions, Book 1

From the publisher:

He’s my best friend. He’s a pro football player. He’s famous. I’m just the girl next door.

And I’ve been in love with him since I was thirteen.

He doesn’t know. He can never know. But will I be able to hide my feelings when I move in with him?

Jackson Fields. Denver’s star kicker. My best friend since ninth grade.

When an injury sidelines him, I step up. Living with him will be easy. I can hide my feelings long enough to take care of him. Piece of cake.

Except he depends on me for everything. Every touch, every move he makes has butterflies swarming my stomach. I can’t fall for him. Because he’s my friend. And he doesn’t see me as anything else.

But when his situation changes, and he sees me in a new light? Am I willing to risk everything to see if we’ll be good together? Or will we always be destined to be just friends? What’s a girl to do?

https://amzn.to/4oU6HSY

Roughing the Kicker is a charming, feel-good friends-to-lovers romance that kicks off Emily Silver’s newest series with heart and humor. From the very first page, you can’t help but fall for Tenley and Jackson — two lifelong friends whose chemistry has been simmering beneath the surface for years. Add in the easy camaraderie and brotherly banter of Jackson’s Denver Mountain Lions teammates, and you’ve got a story that’s as playful as it is heartwarming.

Tenley and Jackson have known each other since childhood. Both are now living the lives they once dreamed of — Tenley as a beloved kindergarten teacher, and Jackson as the star kicker for the Denver Mountain Lions professional football team. For Jackson, their friendship has always been a steady constant: Tenley is the girl next door, always there when he needs her.

For Tenley, though, it’s been years of secretly loving him from afar — ever since a fateful high school party. Playing Seven Minutes in Heaven in a dark closet gave Tenley the secret kiss she’s never forgotten. Jackson thinks he was in the closet with Rachel, leading to a thirteen-year, on-and-off-again romance. With the wrong girl.

When Jackson suffers a knee injury during the preseason, his world is upended. He quickly realizes his self-centered, self-serving girlfriend, Rachel, isn’t the support he needs. He ends the relationship and turns to Tenley—the one person he knows he can count on. She’s there for him in an instant, moving in to help him through recovery. The close quarters and unexpected intimacy begin to stir something new in Jackson — or maybe it’s something that’s been there all along.

As the two navigate late-night talks, laughter, and Tenley’s lingering memory of that long-ago kiss, Jackson starts to see Tenley in a new light. Thirteen years after that fateful kiss, Jackson finally learns the truth: it was Tenley in the closet that night. The revelation ignites a slow-burn romance that’s both sweet and sensual.

Tenley has a heart full of love and a quiet strength that shines through. Jackson is charming, driven, and unexpectedly tender once he realizes how much Tenley means to him. Their journey isn’t without bumps—Jackson’s doubts and emotional walls add tension—but the payoff is a deeply satisfying happily-ever-after.

This is a quick, heartwarming read filled with humor, tenderness, and plenty of team camaraderie. The glimpses of Jackson’s teammates — and their hilarious, supportive banter — promise even more delights as the series continues.

The only negative was that it felt a bit rushed, given its brevity. I would have liked to see more development between the characters and their relationship. That said, this is a quick, feel-good read that blends flirty fun with emotional depth. If you love friends-to-lovers romances with heart, humor, and a swoon-worthy hero finally waking up to the love that’s been in front of him all along, this one’s for you.

11/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

ROUGHING THE KICKER by Emily Silver. Narrators: Rose Dioro & Teddy Hamilton. Tantor Audio; February 06, 2024. ASIN: B0CRZTCTRV. Listening Length: 4 hours and 50 minutes

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Spotlight Review: CLOSE YOUR EYES AND COUNT TO TEN by Lisa Unger

February 25, 2025

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From the Publisher:

An extreme game of hide-and-seek turns deadly in this riveting new thriller from New York Times bestselling author Lisa Unger

When the real game begins, who will make it to the count of 10?

Charismatic daredevil and extreme adventurer Maverick Dillan invites you to the ultimate game of hide-and-seek. But as the players gather on Falcao Island, the event quickly spirals into a chilling test of survival. A storm rages as a deadly threat stalks the contestants, turning the challenge into something far more sinister than the social media stunt it was intended to be.

Enter Adele, a single mother with a fierce determination to protect her children at all costs. When she begins the game, she unwittingly enters a twisted web of deception and intrigue. Can she maneuver through the treacherous storm and the relentless competition and get home to her family? In a ruthless battle for survival where the stakes are higher than ever, the blurry line between the virtual and the real proves that the only person we can trust is ourselves.

“Unger plunges the reader right into a sense of dread, then skillfully ratchets up the physical terrors of the challenge while revealing one disturbing secret after another. The perils of the real and virtual worlds collide effectively in this relentlessly paced thriller.” —Kirkus, starred review

“Twists arrive relentlessly, keeping readers on edge and guessing until the final, breath-stealing twist.” —The Seattle Times

“Unger’s latest is a fast-paced, atmospheric, locked-room thriller…Readers of Lucy Foley and Ruth Ware will surely enjoy this nail-biter.” —Booklist

https://amzn.to/42OrnEm

This was an interesting premise for a thriller. Let me preface this by saying I don’t watch reality TV shows – I used to watch some, most recently “Love is Blind” and “Married at First Sight,” but I couldn’t get through their last seasons, so I just gave it up. I haven’t watched Survivor since the first season, or any of the Beast Games, or whatever else is out there, so I am not that familiar with how these things work lately. I pretty much went into this book just believing whatever the author told me, and that worked just fine. I also need to add that I really hated the title of this book; it’s too long, and while I understand the implication, I just didn’t care for it. On the other hand, I loved the cover.

Dylan Maverick is the star of the Extreme games that he produces for an online audience. He is a young white man, and his best friends and girlfriend all work with him. He cheats on his girlfriend quite a bit, and that becomes a problem. He slept with Chloe supposedly before he hooked up with Angeline, his girlfriend, but he actually slept with her a few times, ghosting her after each occasion. She ends up on one of his challenges, a Hide & Seek event where she hides and is never found. Chloe has gone missing, and while the Extreme team are all questioned, they are pretty much cleared of her disappearance. There are supposed sightings of the young woman, but none are proven, and she become fodder for a true crime podcast.

This new Extreme Hide & Seek event is set on Falcao Island, a fictional island owned by Portugal, loosely based on the Azores. There is an old abandoned hotel on the island, and that is where the event is taking place. There is an old woman who tries to warn them off, and they ignore her and her private security force. There are supposed to be four contestants: a wildlife animal TV star who has been canceled due to his supposedly killing a lion; a young woman with a large following on social media; a mystery contestant; and Adele, a single mom whose husband embezzled millions of dollars from his company and disappeared with all the money, abandoning his wife and children. Adele has created a social media channel following her rebuilding her life and her body. Her kids are in high school, and it is her son who finds out about the contest as he is a huge fan of Dylan and Extreme. He convinces his mom to enter the competition, and when she sees the prize is a million dollars, she decides to go for it. To her surprise, she is selected, and her kids convince her that they can take care of themselves for the few days she will be gone.

These characters are skillfully brought to life, and the setting is basically another character. There is a hurricane-type storm moving onto the island, making everything that much more difficult for the contestants and the Extreme team. Some weird things start happening, adding to the drama, and the tension becomes almost unbearable. There is a lot more going on than anyone realizes at first, and as the mystery deepens, so does the danger.

This is a fast-paced thriller with great characters and enough pressure and strain on them to take this to a very dark place. Fans of these types of reality shows will probably love this, and even if you aren’t (like me,) it is still an unputdownable locked-room thriller. Don’t miss it!

2/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

CLOSE YOUR EYES AND COUNT TO TEN by Lisa Unger. Park Row; Original edition (February 25, 2025). ISBN: 978-0778333364. 384p.

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Spotlight Review: THREE DAYS IN JUNE by Anne Tyler

February 18, 2025

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From the Publisher:

A new Anne Tyler novel destined to be an instant classic: a socially awkward mother of the bride navigates the days before and after her daughter’s wedding.

Gail Baines is having a bad day. To start, she loses her job—or quits, depending on whom you ask. Tomorrow her daughter, Debbie, is getting married, and she hasn’t even been invited to the spa day organized by the mother of the groom. Then, Gail’s ex-husband, Max, arrives unannounced on her doorstep, carrying a cat, without a place to stay, and without even a suit.

But the true crisis lands when Debbie shares with her parents a secret she has just learned about her husband to be. It will not only throw the wedding into question but also stir up Gail and Max’s past.

Told with deep sensitivity and a tart sense of humor, full of the joys and heartbreaks of love and marriage and family life, Three Days in June is a triumph, and gives us the perennially bestselling, Pulitzer Prize–winning writer at the height of her powers.

“Sweet, sharp, and satisfying. . . . Tyler’s touch is as delicate, her empathy for human beings and all their quirks as evident in her 25th work of fiction as it was in her first, published an astonishing 60 years ago.” —Kirkus Reviews

https://amzn.to/4jNVqCa

This story is literally set over three days in the life of Gail Baines. It doesn’t start off too auspiciously; she finds out her boss is retiring, and instead of the promotion she is sure she deserves, she is told that someone from outside the school is being hired, and bringing their own assistant. Her job is now redundant.

The timing couldn’t be worse. Gail’s daughter, Debbie, is getting married the next day. Gail is a bit of a prickly person, and when her boss tells her she doesn’t have the people skills for the job, she clearly demonstrates that her boss is right. Gail isn’t especially close with her daughter, but even so, she appears to be hurt that she wasn’t invited to the spa day before the wedding that Debbie’s future mother-in-law had arranged. Her in-laws are also hosting the wedding at their private club, leaving Gail to feel like a guest at her daughter’s wedding.

To complicate things further, her ex-husband, Max, shows up at her door with a foster cat. He was supposed to stay with Debbie, but her fiance is highly allergic to cats, so Gail takes in both her ex and his cat. Then he tries to convince her to keep the cat.

There is a lot happening in these three days in June. The day before the wedding, Debbie comes over and tells her parents that she thinks her fiance cheated on her – at least, that’s what her future sister-in-law has told her. Nevertheless, the rehearsal dinner goes more or less smoothly. The day of the wedding, Debbie decides her father needs to wear a suit, and takes him shopping. The wedding goes as well as these things usually go, and the day after the wedding there is a family reckoning of sorts.

It’s amazing how much Tyler can pack into such a short book (it’s under 200 pages.) The characters are well-drawn and interesting, the timeline moves things along rapidly, and there is enough drama to keep the pages turning. Another excellent read from one of America’s most treasured writers.

2/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THREE DAYS IN JUNE by Anne Tyler. Knopf (February 11, 2025). ISBN: 978-0593803486. 176p.

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