Stacy Alesi's BookBitch.com™

Narration by Stella Hunter & Jason Clarke

The Blackwells of Montana, Book 4

From the publisher:

From New York Times bestselling author Kristen Proby comes When You Blush, a small–town, forced–proximity romance set in Bitterroot Valley!

Blake

I don’t do relationships, but I’m excellent at casual hookups. That’s not to say I’m a jerk. Not at all. I respect women—all women—and I know the value of love. But I’m married to my job as a physician. In fact, I’m married to the hospital, having a full–time affair with the clinic, and my family is my side piece. I don’t have time for a relationship with a woman. But then the most beautiful human I’ve ever laid eyes on walks onto my plane, and my world tilts. Thanks to a Montana snowstorm, I spend one incredible night with Harper, but wake up alone. She never told me her last name. She’s just . . . gone. It would figure that the one woman I could see myself breaking my own rules for is the one I can’t have.

Harper

It’s time for me to come home to Montana to help take care of my dad and pick up the slack for my siblings. I’ve been gone for a long time, but this beautiful corner of the world is my home. I’m excited to start my job as a NICU nurse at Bitterroot Valley General and begin a new chapter in my life. A fresh start. A clean slate. Then he walks into the room, and it’s suddenly hard to breathe. Blake was the one–night stand who still haunts my dreams. The man can do things. Amazing things. But I never thought I’d see him again. Okay, that’s a lie. I knew he worked at this hospital, but he’s an ER doctor. I’m in a different department, so I planned to avoid him. Yet that didn’t last more than the first hour of my first shift. Now, he’s pursuing me and saying things like forever. But with a past like mine, can I trust that he won’t tire of me and leave? Or is this finally my happily ever after?feeling like I’m the most important woman in his world. But being with a high-profile billionaire comes with a price. Can we withstand the storm headed our way, or are we destined to fall apart like delicate blooms in the wind?

https://amzn.to/49HXM2m

This is the fourth book in the series, but each installment works perfectly as a standalone. If you haven’t started the series yet, this is a great place to jump in—it may even be my favorite so far.

Blake and Harper meet on a flight and share one unforgettable night together, only for Harper to ghost him the next morning. When Harper later moves to Bitterroot Valley to help her adoptive father and family, she ends up working as a NICU nurse in the same hospital where Blake is an ER doctor. Blake is stunned to see the woman he’s never been able to forget. Despite his long-standing habit of avoiding relationships, Blake falls fast and hard—and with Harper, he’s all in, determined to win her heart.

Their chemistry is undeniable, and their connection is genuinely beautiful, even as their demanding careers keep them busy. Harper is still carrying emotional baggage from a past relationship, but Blake meets her with patience, steadiness, and unwavering support. She tries to push him away, yet he remains grounded and present for her every step of the way.

I also found it utterly believable that Blake’s family embraces Harper so quickly. If Blake loves her, they love her too—It really can be that simple, and that complicated. Families can be like that; I’ve seen it myself.

The heat between Blake and Harper definitely sizzles, so if you prefer low‑spice romances, you may want to skim those scenes—or skip ahead in the audio. But the story is absolutely worth it. The narrators are fantastic, bringing these characters to life in such a vivid way, and I loved watching their relationship unfold. Another wonderful read from one of my favorite authors.

1/2026 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

WHEN YOU BLUSH by Kristen Proby. Narrators: Stella Hunter & Jason Clarke. Dreamscape Media. October 02, 2025. Listening Length: 8 hours and 50 minutes.

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Narration by Emma Wilder & Connor Crais

The Blackwells of Montana, Book 2

From the publisher:

From New York Times bestselling author Kristen Proby comes Where We Bloom, an Age Gap, Billionaire, Best Friend’s Brother romance set in Bitterroot Valley!

Connor

After an explosive night together, I thought I’d never see the gorgeous bookstore owner again. We didn’t exchange names and numbers, and when I left her asleep the following morning, I didn’t intend to pursue her. I don’t have time for relationships or entanglements.

I’m the CEO of Gallagher Hotels, and my life is spent traveling around the world, focusing on my business, not a small town in Montana. Even if my thoughts keep returning to the most incredible woman I’ve ever met.

It turns out, my mystery woman, Billie, is my sister’s best friend, and she’s suddenly everywhere I turn. She’s become my obsession and all I think about. She’s become the only thing that means more to me than running my empire. And I’m determined to have her.

Billie

Owning a bookstore in my hometown of Bitterroot Valley has been my lifelong dream since I was a little girl. The only thing that brings me more joy is my love of thrift stores and coffee.

And, maybe, the sexy Irishman with intense emerald-colored eyes that take my breath away. His charming accent, how he looks at me, and the way he spoils me with lavish gifts are just the icing on the cake. I’ve tried to stay away from him, but my resolve is slipping. Nothing is better than being in Connor’s arms and feeling like I’m the most important woman in his world. But being with a high-profile billionaire comes with a price. Can we withstand the storm headed our way, or are we destined to fall apart like delicate blooms in the wind?

https://amzn.to/49HXM2m

Where We Bloom is Book 3 in The Blackwells of Montana series and tells Connor and Billie’s long-anticipated story. One explosive night between them is meant to be a no-strings encounter—until Connor realizes Billie is his sister’s best friend. Suddenly, avoidance becomes impossible, and their undeniable chemistry refuses to stay buried. With Connor’s high-profile billionaire life adding pressure, staying away proves harder than either expected.

Connor, the CEO of a global hotel chain, insists relationships don’t fit into his life. Billie tries to enforce boundaries once the truth comes out, but stolen moments and unresolved feelings keep pulling them back together. The push-and-pull tension is delicious, and watching Connor slowly abandon his “no attachments” rule is incredibly satisfying.

I’ve been waiting for Billie’s book since her story was first teased, and it did not disappoint. Their romance is sweet, sexy, and swoony, filled with sneaky kisses, mounting tension, and genuine emotional growth. Billie stands out as a confident, strong woman who handles drama from Connor’s ex and flirty admirers with impressive grace. As a plus-sized heroine, her self-assuredness feels particularly relatable and inspiring. She’s a thrift-shopping, designer-loving bookworm with sass and honesty that make her irresistible. Connor is completely smitten—protective, generous, and devoted, spoiling her endlessly with eyes only for her.

The audiobook elevates the story even further. Dual narration by Connor Crais and Emma Wilder is excellent. Connor’s Irish accent is spot-on, bringing depth and longing to his performance, while Emma perfectly captures Billie’s sass, confidence, and vulnerability. Their character transitions are seamless and engaging throughout.

As always, the author delivers a well-balanced mix of plot, spice, and character development. The chemistry between Connor and Billie is electric, the family dynamics are strong, and the return to Bitterroot Valley feels like coming home. While each book stands alone, longtime readers will appreciate the payoff after seeing their connection build across the earlier installments.

Where We Bloom is a sexy, age-gap, best friend’s brother romance with just the right amount of tension, heart, and heat—made even better by an irresistible Irish hero. I loved it!

1/2026 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

WHERE WE BLOOM by Kristen Proby. Narrators: Emma Wilder & Connor Crais. Dreamscape Media. July 17, 2025. Listening Length: 10 hours and 17 minutes.

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Narration by Stephanie Németh-Parker & Connor Crais

The Blackwells of Montana, Book 2

From the publisher:

From New York Times Bestselling author Kristen Proby comes When We Break, a small-town, cowboy, heroine-in-danger romance, set in Bitterroot Valley!

Beckett

I’ve seen the gorgeous redhead with the big black dog that never leaves her side around town. She’s impossible to miss with that lush red hair and perfect green eyes. But it’s when she opens her plump lips and the sound of Ireland comes out of her kissable mouth that I know I’m a goner. I know she’s the one for me and I’ll do whatever it takes to make Skyla Gallagher mine. I can be a patient man and all I want in the world is to worship every bit of her, inside and out.

Skyla

I moved to the lovely town of Bitterroot Valley, Montana, because I needed a safe place. I left my life in New York as a prima ballerina after an injury that I never fully healed from, and to escape the obsession of a madman. I adore this new community, but I must admit that Beckett Blackwell is the very best part. I love his kindness, his patience, and his thoughtfulness. But most of all, I can’t get enough of the way he worships my body, and then does everything he can to pamper me afterwards. Beckett is a drug that I’ve become addicted to. But will my stalker find me in Montana, ruining everything we’ve started together, before we have had our chance at forever?

https://amzn.to/3N0D6df

Skyla was once a prima ballerina in New York, until crossing paths with the wrong man changed everything. His obsession with her escalated into violence, leaving Skyla with a career-ending injury and forcing her to flee the city she loved. She finds refuge in Montana’s Bitterroot Valley, where she opens her own dance studio and slowly builds a new life. In this small town, she makes genuine friends and finally begins to feel safe again—especially with her loyal guard dog, Riley, by her side.

Originally from Ireland, Skyla and her protective brother, Connor, come from a family of billionaires, but Skyla has always been fiercely independent and determined to earn her own success. Connor shares that strong work ethic and makes it a priority to check in on his sister often, quietly watching over her.

One night at a local bar, Skyla meets the Blackwell brothers, and Beckett immediately catches her attention. He asks her out, but Skyla—haunted by her past—hesitates and turns him down. Beckett is instantly taken with her, yet he recognizes her emotional scars and approaches her with patience and care.

Despite her fears, Skyla can’t help but fall for a man who so clearly cherishes her. Beck is a natural caretaker, and his love language is unmistakably acts of service. He shows up for Skyla in countless thoughtful ways—from reading to her to making sure Riley feels completely at home. The man even buys five dog beds, so her dog will always have a place to sleep—thoughtful doesn’t even begin to cover it. Beckett is the ultimate caretaker.

Proby delivers a perfect blend of small-town heat and gripping suspense, even giving us chilling glimpses into the stalker’s mind. The audiobook experience is elevated by fantastic narration; Stephanie Németh-Parker delivers an Irish lilt for Skyla that is both authentic and perfectly clear. This is a standout in the series, and I’m already eager for the next installment.

1/2026 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

WHEN WE BREAK by Kristen Proby. Narrators: Stephanie Németh-Parker & Connor Crais. Dreamscape Media. May 08, 2025. Listening Length: 8 hours and 45 minutes.

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Duet narration by Erin Mallon & Teddy Hamilton

Mountain Men Matchmaker, Book 3

From the publisher:

Fact or fiction: proposing to your best friend so she can inherit her family business is a great idea.

When Addison “Roe” Monroe tells me she’s going on a husband hunt at the local lumberjack competition so she can inherit her father’s lumberyard, desperate times call for desperate measures.

She’s sworn off romance. Says she’s been through enough tragedy. So I offer myself as an alternative, ’cause that’s what best friends are for.

But my stubborn friend, who would rather drive a forklift than get her nails done, refuses to accept my help, and now I find myself training to become a lumberjack.

I refuse to let Roe hitch her wagon to some hulking ax wielder who might be a serial killer. She means too much to me.

And I swear there are moments where she looks at me like I mean something more to her, too.

On the surface, I’m offering a marriage of convenience to protect her. But the truth is…I’m hopelessly in love with my best friend.

So if I have to marry her and move her up to Fletcher Mountain just to see if she could love me back, so be it.

Because my only regret would be losing her forever, and that’s a fact.

Mountain Men Matchmaker:
Book 1: Nine Month Contract
Book 2: Seven Year Itch
Book 3: Honeymoon Phase

https://amzn.to/3MrNtX3

I’m so glad I gave this series another chance! I liked the first book, wasn’t crazy about the second, but this third installment might be my favorite yet.

Addison “Roe” Monroe has spent her life working at her family’s lumberyard, and with her father thinking about retirement, she’s poised to take over. There’s just one complication: her grandfather’s will stipulates that only married family members can inherit. Roe has never been interested in marriage, but if a wedding is what it takes to secure the business, she’s willing to make it happen. Her plan is simple: find someone willing to marry her for a year, fulfill the estate’s terms, then divorce amicably.

Her best friend, Luke Fletcher, is horrified. He’s been secretly in love with Roe for years, but has accepted friendship as all she’ll offer. After the longtime lumberyard workers politely decline her proposal plan, Roe turns her sights to the annual lumberjack competition, assuming she can easily find a willing candidate there.

Luke, determined not to lose her to a stranger, writes Roe a heartfelt letter offering to marry her. She refuses, afraid of jeopardizing their friendship—he’s the only friend she has. Undeterred, Luke enters the competition himself, with the full support of his family and the enthusiastic matchmaking schemes of his niece, Everly.

The competition doesn’t go Luke’s way, but ultimately, he wins where it matters: Roe agrees to marry him. She abandons her plan to wed a stranger and instead chooses the man she trusts most. She moves up to Fletcher Mountain so their marriage will look legitimate. Roe believes she can divorce him after the required year and return to their friendship, while Luke sees the year as his chance to prove his love and make their marriage last.

Their courthouse wedding doesn’t sit well with Roe’s father, who insists on giving her a proper ceremony in six weeks before he retires to Florida. Roe is completely overwhelmed, but fortunately, her new mother-in-law is thrilled to take over the planning.

Meanwhile, Everly warns Luke that when Roe sees his face as she walks down the aisle, she’ll know that he’s truly in love with her—and she needs to feel the same for the marriage to have a future. The following weeks are full of highs and lows, but in the end, Roe and Luke get their well-earned happily ever after.

This was such a fun read with characters I genuinely cared about. The narrators did a fantastic job bringing them to life, which really speaks to the material they had to work with since they also narrated the first two books. Now that all the Fletcher brothers are happily married, it looks like it’s finally Everly’s turn to find her happily ever after, and I can’t wait to read her story.

12/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

HONEYMOON PHASE by Amy Daws. Narrators: Erin Mallon & Teddy Hamilton. Harlequin Audio. November 11, 2025. Listening Length: 11 hours and 40 minutes.

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Narration by Stacy Gonzalez

Texas Forever After, Book 1

From the publisher:

The new head coach is about to get schooled

A hero’s welcome awaits NFL bad boy Jackson Knight in Bishop Falls. The Texas town lives and breathes football, and they’re thrilled to have Jackson as their temporary high school coach while he rehabs his torn ACL—and his battered image. But one person isn’t rolling out the red carpet. Journalist Calla Dunne knows the damage football can do, and she’s not cutting the coach any slack. Jackson’s trained all his life to push through every obstacle stacked against him. But conquering Calla’s heart will take a fight like none he’s ever faced…to claim a reward sweeter than any prize.

Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.

https://amzn.to/4oc8LFO

This book stirred up memories for me. When my husband and I moved to the Dallas area in the early 1980s shortly after getting married, we drove past an enormous football stadium on the way to our rental house. Naturally, we assumed it was where the Dallas Cowboys played. We couldn’t have been more wrong—it was a high school stadium! That was our first introduction to the almost religious fervor surrounding high school football in the Dallas suburbs. Friday night games were community events where everyone showed up, whether they had kids on the team or not, whether they’d attended that school or not.

This book captures that same football obsession in the small Texas town of Bishop Falls, where football rules everything and the booster club holds serious power. Injured NFL star Jackson Knight is at a crossroads in his career. After tearing his ACL, he’s struggling through a difficult recovery, and his playboy reputation isn’t doing him any favors. His agent secures him a temporary high school coaching position, hoping to salvage both his career and his public image.

Enter Calla Dunne, a journalist at the local paper who secretly hates football—with good reason. She keeps her opinions to herself as she knows better than to challenge the town’s obsession. She covers football while dreaming of writing features instead.

Jackson’s arrival is marked by a parade in his honor, but Calla happens to overhear him on a phone call, desperately trying to wriggle out of the coaching job. From that moment, she’s skeptical. She doubts he’ll help the team or provide any positive influence. I particularly appreciated how the author addressed bullying among team members and showed Jackson genuinely rising to the challenge.

As Jackson struggles with his recovery and faces the possibility that his NFL days might be over, he begins to see how empty his life was before Bishop Falls. His growing connection with Calla forces him to reevaluate everything.

This enemies-to-lovers, small-town sports romance delivers on every level. The narrator brought excellent vocal variety to the audiobook, making the story truly come alive. This is the first book in a series, and I can’t wait to see what comes next.. If you loved “Friday Night Lights”, this is for you.

10/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE PERFECT PASS by Teri Wilson Narrator: Stacy Gonzalez. Harlequin Audio. (September 30, 2025.) Listening Length: 7 hours and 35 minutes.

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Narration by Lynn Norris & David Brenin

White Collar Brothers, Book 1

From the author:

IHe’s the sexy alpha male in the corner office who goes through assistants faster than free donuts in the break room.

I’m the assistant who was chosen to cover for his last fire.

The owner of the company is clear – hook the biggest client in our firm’s history and there’s a partnership for him and a promotion for me. Stipulation – we do it together.

It doesn’t take a tarot card-reading psychic to figure out where our story is headed…late nights, trips out of town, and more than a few awkward moments filled with sexual tension.

No worries though. I pride myself on my willpower. I can totally ignore his sexy grin, his rock-hard body, and his dreamy brown eyes. I will not become the woman other women hate.

But it turns out that Enzo Mancini has a lot of layer,s and if I don’t stop peeling, I’m going to lose everything, including my dignity.

https://amzn.to/4mnwrpq

I’d nominate this book for Worst Title Ever, but the algorithm knew what it was doing when it recommended it to me—I’m a devoted Piper Rayne reader who’ll tackle anything they write. Despite being put off by the title, I gave it a chance and ended up genuinely enjoying it.

Annie works as an assistant at a male-dominated advertising firm, hoping to climb the corporate ladder. Her sweet but unhelpful boss keeps her stuck in a support role, making it impossible to prove her capabilities. Enter Enzo Mancini, a fellow ad executive notorious for burning through assistants at lightning speed. When his latest quits, Annie’s boss desperately asks her to fill in temporarily. Though reluctant to take on extra work—especially for someone like Enzo—she agrees.

Everything changes when Enzo includes her in his latest campaign for a diaper company. This potential account could be the firm’s biggest win and Enzo’s ticket to partnership. As they work together, their professional relationship evolves into something deeper.

Enzo is drop-dead gorgeous but emotionally unavailable, preferring one-night stands over relationships. However, working with Annie awakens unfamiliar feelings. His close-knit family adds another layer—their widowed mother desperately wants grandchildren, especially since her sister’s kids are already reproducing. The three single Mancini brothers hatch a plan to set up their baby sister, hoping for future grandbabies.

Though that matchmaking effort doesn’t quite succeed, Enzo and Annie’s connection intensifies. I loved Annie’s backbone—she refuses menial tasks and demands meaningful work, which Enzo genuinely respects. Their growing attraction builds naturally to its steamy conclusion, and based on the cover and title, you know these two will generate serious heat.

The family dynamics shine throughout. Enzo’s seamless integration into Annie’s family feels authentic, while his own family’s closeness adds warmth to the story. A running gag about the brothers settling everything through Rock, Paper, Scissors—with Enzo always losing—provides perfect comic relief.

The dual narration elevated this audiobook significantly, with both narrators bringing their characters to vivid life. It was compelling enough to send me hunting for the rest of the series. Enzo’s brother Carm is up next, and I’m here for it.

10/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

SEXY FILTHY BOSS by Piper Rayne Narrators: Lynn Norris & David Brenin. Piper Rayne Inc.. June 19, 2019. Listening Length: 7 hours and 42 minutes.

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As my long time readers know, I have been having trouble with my eyes for years now. I have a somewhat unusual form of glaucoma, called Narrow Angle Glaucoma, that has been treated fairly successfully. I’ve had numerous surgeries along the way, and my next is scheduled for mid-October. That one is a fairly common procedure, but with a twist – I have a cataract in my left eye, but it has somehow attached itself to my iris. My surgeon says it’s just a few more steps for him to take, and that he can do it in his sleep – which I begged him not to do!

Due to surgery to repair a hole in my macula, I ended up with a small blind spot in my right eye. It is due to scar tissue, which I discovered when I had to take the vision test to renew my driver’s license. I had to read some lines, and when I finished, the woman at the DMV asked me to please read the last column. But I didn’t see another column! I had to get a letter from the eye doctor to renew my license, in which I learned a somewhat scary fact – you can actually be legally blind and still allowed to drive, provided you have a note from the doctor.

I know as I age, it is only going to get worse, not better. I have pretty much given up on reading print books, and thank God for the Kindle. I feel so blessed that this is happening to me now, when there are digital options available. If this had happened to me in a previous generation, I would have been screwed. With all that, I decided I had best learn to listen to audiobooks.

Over the years, I’ve tried many times to listen, but I always found my mind wandering. I would be driving along and realize I had no idea what was happening in the book I was listening to. I ended up successfully listening to some children’s books, and read the entire Harry Potter series on Audible. Then I graduated to the Outlander series. I had read all the print books, but my BFF Judy told me to try the audiobooks, too – she loved the reader. Davina Porter is the narrator, and she is Scottish but completely understandable (not always the case!), and she really added depth to the stories. Not only did I listen to them all, but so did my husband! I also watched the series on Starz, with subtitles because Scottish/British accents are not always understandable to me. Porter has retired with only one book left in the series, so the publisher has entrusted it to one of the stars of the TV series, Kristin Atherton, who plays the new Jenny, starting in season 7 (IYKYK). Not only will she read the last book in the series when (???) it comes out, but she has reread the entire series. You can now listen to either narrator. I haven’t tried them yet, though I will definitely be listening to the last book in the series that she reads.

Meanwhile, I have finally found that I can listen to romances on audio successfully. Makes sense, that’s what I read, primarily, so why not listen to them too? That said, I have found many books that I love, and several others that I just couldn’t listen to. Sometimes it was the narrators, sometimes it was the story itself.

Recently, my friend Nora suggested I try the Lucky River Ranch series by Jessica Peterson. I snagged the first book, Cash, from Hoopla, my favorite library audiobook app. I listened to the first few chapters and had to stop. I love Western romances, but apparently, I don’t like Western accents! I grabbed the ebook instead and loved it. I haven’t tried that with most of the audiobooks I’ve stopped, however, because they weren’t recommended by someone I trust but rather suggested by the publisher or algorithm.

I am privileged to have access to advance copies of upcoming titles and have started many audiobooks that way. I have also not finished many of them. There are also many audiobooks that I borrowed from my library but didn’t finish, but unfortunately, I didn’t keep records of those.

They are divided into two camps: books that I just didn’t like the story enough to keep going, and you can tell those by how far I got. And books that I didn’t like the narrator, and you can tell those by how far I didn’t get.

Coming in Hot by Josie Juniper, narrated by Max Rauch & Cecily Foster: 53%

Crash Landing by Annie McQuaid, narrated by Emma Love: 47%

Joy Ride by Ellen Meister, narrated by Sarah Naughton: 27%

Santa Overboard by Carolyn McBride, narrated by Maria Marquis: 47%

32 Days in May by Betty Corrello, narrated Joy Nash: 2%

The Carsons of Lone Rock Books 1-4 by Maisey Yates, narrated by Samantha Cook: 3%

Claire Casey’s Had Enough by Liz Alterman, narrated by Stephanie Rose: 1%

The Four Engagement Rings of Sybil Rain by Hannah Brown, narrated by Cherami Leigh: 1%

If you’ve read my audiobook reviews, you know that there are some narrators who irritated me, but I pushed on and listened to them anyway. I guess sometimes I have more patience than other times.

I remember when I worked for the public library prior to listening to audiobooks, I had patrons who selected audiobooks by the narrator and didn’t really care about the author or even the genre. I haven’t tried that yet, but it seems like most of the narrators I like generally read in the romance genre, so maybe that wouldn’t help me spread my wings, so to speak.

Is there a narrator that you love? Will listen to anything they read? Or a narrator you hate and wouldn’t listen to even if your favorite author had the narrator reading their book? I’d love to hear about your audiobook experiences! I am looking for suggestions as I travel along my audiobook journey. Please leave comments below. I read them all. Thanks!

9/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

Narration by Vanessa Edwin & Stephen Dexter

Plain Daisy Ranch, Book 4

From the author:

It was a fun Vegas getaway—until I woke up married to my ex-fiancé’s brother.

After Watson brother #1 ditched me at the altar, I stopped believing in happily-ever-afters. So I have no clue how I ended up saying “I do” to Brooks—Watson brother #2—somewhere between tequila shots and bad decisions.

Okay, that may not be true.

Sheriff Watson has been a charming thorn in my side ever since his brother left our small ranch town in his rearview mirror. He’s a little too steady, a little too sweet, and way too intuitive because he sees through my facade. But no matter how tempting he is, he’s still a Watson.

I demand an annulment. He refuses, bargaining four real dates before he signs.

Fine. I’ll sabotage each one and keep my heart safely locked away. It’s easier this way because he has no idea the secret I’m keeping.

Of course, Brooks doesn’t go down easy—he has enough faith for both of us. He tackles my fears at every turn, making me wonder what would happen if I went all in.

But trusting the wrong man once nearly ruined me—doing it again might finish the job.

https://amzn.to/3I47tgr

I first read the third book in this series, The One I Didn’t See Coming, and intended to circle back to the earlier ones—but forgot. Then this newest installment popped up in my Hoopla feed—bless the algorithm, because it turned out to be an absolute delight.

The drunken Vegas wedding is romance novel gold, and this story executed the trope perfectly. Lottie’s backstory provides the emotional foundation: Holden Watson left her at the altar, devastating her ability to trust—both men and herself. So when she wakes up married to his brother, Brooks, after a night she can’t remember, mortification doesn’t begin to cover it. An immediate annulment seems like the only solution.

Brooks, however, has secretly harbored feelings for Lottie for years. Once Holden claimed her, Brooks stepped aside. But now that fate has thrown them together, he’s not letting go without a fight. His parents are furious, hers are curious, and Brooks—small-town sheriff and son of the mayor—is determined to prove he’s the right man for her. He negotiates four dates before he’ll agree to an annulment. Those four dates change everything.

This is a slow-burn romance packed with angst, humor, heart, and heat—plenty to keep the pages flying. My only complaint is the cover design, which I found genuinely off-putting. But Piper Rayne, the writing duo behind the book, never disappoints—and this one’s no exception. I’ve downloaded the first two books in the series, so expect those reviews soon!

9/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

CHASING FOREVER by Piper Rayne. Narrators: Vanessa Edwin & Stephen Dexter. Piper Rayne Inc.. August 22, 2025. Listening Length: 8 hours and 35 minutes.

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