JETT by Lily Zante

March 27, 2026

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Knight Empire, Book 1

From the author:

She’s been in love with her grumpy billionaire boss for years. Quitting should be easy. So why can’t she walk away?

Cari’s done. Three years of running Jett Knight’s life—dodging his moods, cleaning up his messes, and watching him date women who aren’t her—has finally pushed her over the edge. She’s handing in her resignation.

But Jett Knight doesn’t take orders. He gives them. And there’s no way in hell he’s letting Cari go.

He needs her—more than he’ll ever admit. His billion-dollar empire runs smoother when she’s by his side. His five-year-old daughter adores her. And the thought of Cari walking away? Unacceptable.

So he makes her an offer. One she should refuse.

But resisting Jett? That’s never been Cari’s strong suit…

JETT is an age gap, single dad, steamy billionaire boss romance. It’s the first book in a scorching billionaire series featuring six powerful brothers, a ruthless family empire, and the cold, calculating father who rules it all.

https://amzn.to/485rCMX

This is a self-published book, and my first read by this author.

Jett, 33, is the eldest of the Knight brothers. His personal assistant, Cari, is 24 years old, and he treats her abominably. Somehow, she has a massive crush on him, despite him sending her out to buy gifts for his girlfriend of the month, pick up his dry cleaning, and so forth. His only redeeming quality is his five-year-old daughter. Cari feels stuck in her job because she is taking care of her mother, who is ill, but when she passes, her priorities change. She finally summons up the courage to turn in her resignation. Unfortunately, Jett doesn’t even see it in the pile of mail he is neglecting.

When Jett’s nanny refuses to cut her vacation short because he forgot about a business trip, he fires her. Then he finds Cari’s letter of resignation and talks her into staying on for just a few weeks and working as his temporary nanny. She acquiesces, and they fly off on a business trip/vacation to Bermuda. Meanwhile, Jett’s father has arranged a marriage for him with a business deal in mind, but Jett is appalled and refuses to even consider it. His father, however, isn’t taking no for an answer.

Cari enjoys spending time with her young charge, even though the people she has to deal with at various social events for the kids are incredibly rude and unkind, even to the child. When Jett sees how Cari stands up for his daughter, he is truly touched.

Eventually, Jett starts falling for Cari, and their relationship takes a steamy turn. While there is a happy ending, it’s more of a happy for now than forever – at least until the next book unfolds. I dislike romance books with ambiguous endings, and the push-pull between the main characters eventually got old. Not my favorite, and I won’t be searching out the rest of this series.

3/2026 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

JETT by C. Self-published. ( February 25, 2025). ASIN: B0DTJ88NF6. 462p.

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LUCKY COWBOY by Heatherly Bell

March 27, 2026

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The Cowboys of Stone Ridge, Book 1

From the author:

In a small Texas town where cowboys outnumber women, one rule keeps the peace: Don’t fall for your best friend’s sister.

He’s the grumpy one—the steady, hard-working cowboy who keeps his head down and his feelings locked tight. She’s the one woman he’s never been allowed to want. Off-limits. Untouchable. Completely wrong.

In a town where everyone knows everyone’s business, temptation is everywhere—and so are the consequences.

Breaking the rule could cost him his best friend.

Following his heart could cost him everything else.

Because in a place this small, secrets don’t stay hidden…and love has a way of rewriting every rule.

A slow-burn, small-town cowboy romance featuring a grumpy hero, forbidden feelings, forced proximity, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

https://amzn.to/4lu01KO

This is a self-published ebook I got through BookBub. I don’t review many self-published books, but they are a huge part of the book market now, and the numbers keep growing. There are a few self-published authors I review regularly (Piper Rayne and Amy Dawes spring to mind), and many of them are being picked up by mainstream publishers as well, with the authors often keeping the digital rights and selling print rights, like Lucy Score. It’s all changing rapidly, not to mention the influx of AI into the publishing realm, especially in romance. But I’ll leave those thoughts for another day.

Stone Ridge, Texas—still clinging to its Old West roots—has one big problem: men outnumber women five to one. It’s a close-knit community where everyone knows everyone’s business and has an opinion about it.

Sadie Stephens, the town’s new schoolteacher, has loved her older brother’s best friend, Lincoln Carver, since she was sixteen, but to him she was always just her brother Beau’s little sister. Back then, he barely noticed her. Lincoln grew up fast after his mother walked out on the family, leaving him to raise his younger siblings and teaching him not to trust love or permanence. Sadie, meanwhile, left Stone Ridge for college, only to have her confidence shattered by a cheating boyfriend. Now she’s back home, wary of men and trying to rebuild her life.

Her best friend, Eve, once engaged to Lincoln’s younger brother Jackson, fled on their wedding day. The Carver family blamed Sadie for not talking Eve out of it, and the fallout cracked something between the two families that never fully healed. Eve has since become a veterinarian and carries her own scars, including partial hearing loss and unresolved feelings for Jackson. But that’s a story for another book.

Sadie’s return to Stone Ridge isn’t smooth. She’s back, teaching at a start-up school for the town’s youngest children, so they won’t have to ride a bus halfway across the county. On her first day, a student pushes her to the brink of exasperation, and her frustrated stomp sends her foot straight through the rotting floorboards. Repairs are needed immediately, and in a town full of men eager to help, Lincoln is one of the first to step up. A rancher and former rodeo star, he’s respected, capable, and determined to keep his distance from anything resembling emotional entanglement—especially with Sadie.

But everything shifts when Sadie invites him to speak to her students about rodeo life. The kids convince him to demonstrate his lasso skills, and in the chaos, Sadie—true to her klutzy nature—trips, hits her head, and ends up with a concussion. Lincoln feels responsible and refuses to leave her alone when she declines a hospital visit. Dinner and a reluctant checkup follow, giving them their first real chance to see each other clearly.

Their chemistry is undeniable, but both carry deep‑rooted fears. Sadie doesn’t trust easily anymore. Lincoln doesn’t trust love at all. Her mother has opinions about cowboys and financial futures. The road to their happy ending takes more than a few wrong turns — but in a town like Stone Ridge, the community has a way of closing ranks around the people who need it most. Through missteps, misunderstandings, and a few emotional detours, Sadie and Lincoln slowly learn to let go of old wounds and take a chance on something real.

3/2026 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

LUCKY COWBOY by Heatherly Bell. Heatherly Bell Books. (April 6, 2021). ASIN: B08L1HMYM4. 318p.

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TAKE A NUMBER by Amy Daws

March 20, 2026

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Wait With Me, Book 4

From the author:

A brand new standalone romantic comedy from Amazon Top 13 bestseller, Amy Daws!

Norah is certain that fake dating the cocky silent investor of her bakery could be messy…but that’s what aprons are for.

Norah Donahue wants to run bakeries not have babies, but her matchmaking mother won’t stop trying to play Cupid. She has her hands full getting her new business off the ground while dealing with her frustratingly flirty financial partner, Dean.

Dean Moser is a cocky stock market savant whose friends are all settling down, leaving Boulder’s infamous ladies’ man all alone. Recently he’s set his sights on Norah, who brushes off his advances like flour from her apron.

But when Norah needs a fake date for her parents’ anniversary party, her new silent investor might be just the guy for the job. He’s charismatic, successful, and too much of a playboy to take it seriously. It seems like a foolproof plan…

That is, until Norah decides to break her biggest rule and lock lips with Dean in the middle of the party.

Turns out that Dean and Norah’s chemistry is sizzling hot, but mixing business with pleasure could turn out to be a recipe for disaster.

Or maybe they can have their cake and eat it too.

Take A Number is a 92,000 word full-length rom com best enjoyed with lots of pastries.

https://amzn.to/4lu01KO

Norah Donahue grew up learning to bake at her mother’s side, and the moment she sold her first box of homemade cookies, she knew she’d found her calling. Culinary school sharpened her instincts, and her creativity led her to invent her own croissant–donut hybrid—distinct from the famous Cronut—which helped launch her thriving bakery, Rise and Shine. Now she’s opening a second location in Denver with franchise ambitions on the horizon.

Norah is driven, hilarious, and fiercely independent, though she undersells herself — she doesn’t see how remarkable she is. What should be a triumphant moment is complicated by her mother, who dismisses Norah’s success and focuses instead on her lack of a husband and children. Norah has poured everything into her business and has zero interest in dating, convinced her work is enough.

Dean Moser is a charming, flirtatious hedge fund guy who has coasted on casual hookups since his two best friends, Kate and Lynsey, paired off and left him behind. Lately, though, the easy lifestyle feels hollow. The one constant brightening his days is his morning ritual at Rise and she decides to expand to a second shop in Denver, he becomes her silent partner—partly because it’s a smart business move, partly because he can’t resist helping her succeed.

When Norah’s mother tries to set her up with an old flame at an upcoming family anniversary party, she goes into a panic. Dean needs a credible date for a friend’s wedding, and the solution is obvious: a fake relationship, complete with Norah’s carefully drafted list of rules.

What follows is the classic slow burn — two people with real reasons to avoid love who find that their chemistry and connection keep undermining their best intentions. Dean won’t risk becoming his emotionally damaging father; Norah won’t sacrifice her empire for anyone.

As their fake dating arrangement blurs into something real, both must confront the emotional baggage holding them back. Dean’s missteps can be maddening, but his heart is genuine. Norah’s growth—from list‑making perfectionist to someone willing to take emotional risks—is both funny and inspiring.

Take a Number blends humor, heat, and heart as Norah and Dean navigate meddling friends, overbearing parents, and their own fears. It’s a swoony, sexy rom‑com with surprising depth, a hero you’ll want to shake and hug in equal measure, and a heroine who discovers she can build an empire and open herself to love.

3/2026 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

TAKE A NUMBER by Amy Daws. Stars Hollow Publishing. (October 8, 2020). ISBN: 978-1944565336. 300p.

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Audiobook Sunday: IN THE WEEDS by B.K. Borison

March 15, 2026

Narration by Pippa Jayne & Dane Anderson

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Lovelight, Book 2 

From the publisher:

One incredible weekend in Maine, and Beckett Porter is officially a distracted man. He’s not unfamiliar with hot and heavy flings. He knows how it goes. But Evie wove some sort of magic over him during their tumble in the sheets. He can’t stop thinking about her laugh, her hand pressed flat against his chest, her smiling mouth at his neck, her eyes, her legs.

So when she suddenly appears on his farm as part of a social media contest, he is confused. He had no idea that the sweet and sexy woman he met at a bar is actually a global phenomenon: social media influencer Evelyn St. James. When she disappears again, Beckett resolves to finally forget her and move on.

But Evelyn St. James has a problem.

Feeling disconnected from her work and increasingly unhappy, she’s trying to find her way back to something real. She returns to the last place she was happy, Lovelight Farms and the tiny town of Inglewild.

It has absolutely nothing to do with the hot farmer she spent two incredible nights with—nothing at all.

In the Weeds is a sweet and steamy second-chance romance about finding your happiness. It features a grumpy farmer, a no-nonsense social media influencer, a small town of busybodies, and four very cute kittens. This is the second book in a series of interconnected standalones following the three Lovelight owners.

Read an excerpt: https://amzn.to/4b8tWEZ

Beckett has everything he loves — his farm, his cats, his quiet life — and yet he’s lonely. A brief, exhilarating fling with Evelyn St. James in Maine was the most fun he’s had in years, but she ghosted him, and he can’t stop thinking about her.

When Evie turns up at Lovelight Farms as part of a social media contest, Beckett is understandably bewildered. Evie had just as good a time with Beckett, but didn’t think anything would ever come of it.

When the contest ends, and Evie goes back to her real life, she’s deeply unhappy — restless in a way she can’t quite figure out. What she does know is that she felt genuinely happy at Lovelight Farms, so that’s where she needs to be. She has bigger questions to sort out, too: Is she done with social media? What does she actually want from life? It’s worth noting that Evie defies the influencer stereotype entirely — she’s kind, gentle, and thoughtful, which makes her easy to root for.

When Evie comes back to the farm, to the small town of Inglewild, to the last place she remembers feeling like herself, she’s very clear that it has absolutely nothing to do with the hot farmer she spent two nights with. Nothing at all. Beckett reluctantly agrees to let her stay in the Airstream on his farm and tries hard to keep his distance. He fails miserably – his feelings for Evie are impossible to deny, as are hers for him.

Their relationship strikes a satisfying balance between tension and angst, with genuinely sweet moments and plenty of spice. Watching them find their way to each other was a pleasure and a welcome escape. Yes, there’s a third-act breakup, and yes, there’s way more miscommunication than two grown-ass adults really have any excuse for — but both are standard romance fodder, and neither derailed my enjoyment.

I enjoyed the dual narration. Both readers brought a lot to these characters and to the story. Bottom line: likable characters, a charming small town, and a fast, fun read. Working through Borison’s backlist, I can say her growth as a writer is clear in her later work. This isn’t her best, but I’d recommend it without hesitation.

3/2026 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

IN THE WEEDS by B.K. Borison. Narrators: Pippa Jayne & Dane Anderson. Dreamscape Media (September 20, 2022). ASIN: B0B61YZCD8. Listening Length: 10 hours and 46 minutes.

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AND THE CROWD WENT WILD by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

March 13, 2026

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Chicago Stars, Book 11

From the publisher:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Elizabeth Phillips is back with the latest novel in her beloved Chicago Stars series, featuring a romance between a star quarterback and one of the country’s most beautiful—and misunderstood—actresses.

After a mortifying—and very public—humiliation, Dancy Flynn is desperate to find sanctuary far from the crowd. But where can a washed-up sex symbol hide? How about making an unannounced appearance at the secluded lake house of the sweet, sensitive high school boyfriend she hasn’t seen in almost twenty years?

But Chicago Stars quarterback Clint Garrett is no longer the kid Dancy remembers. Now he’s a gridiron superhero, still holding a massive grudge against her for breaking his teenage heart. With no room in his life for either complexity or distractions, he banishes Dancy to a refurbished old railroad caboose tucked away in the woods…and out of his sight.

Except Dancy’s not good at staying invisible. Her efforts to rebuild her career clash with Clint’s desperation to regain his focus, all made more challenging by a rescue dog, a local woman in trouble, a meddling mother, an ex with an agenda…and the sizzle of rekindled emotions. 

As Dancy attempts to get her life on track and Clint tries to get his groove back, can these two one-time lovers navigate their rocky pasts and complicated present to find themselves…and each other? 

Tropes include:

childhood sweethearts
second-chance romance
enemies to lovers
forced proximity

“From the insightful characterization to the wit-infused dialogue to the smoking-hot chemistry between the book’s marvelously original protagonists, everything in Phillip’s latest addition to her Chicago Stars series is done with a seemingly effortless ease that belies the true literary skill needed to produce this swoon-worthy masterpiece.”—Booklist, starred review

https://amzn.to/3NiiFst

SEP is the original sports‑romance queen, and two decades later, her books still land exactly where they should. The execution is flawless.

At its core, this is a story about heart, hope, and rebuilding.

Dancy Flynn — a former Hollywood Bond Girl and the ex-wife of a famous action hero — hits rock bottom when her glamorous comeback attempt at a gala ends in public humiliation. The moment is made worse when her ex shows up with his pregnant new girlfriend after insisting for years that he never wanted children. Desperate to escape the spotlight, Dancy flees to the last place anyone would expect to find her: the lake house of her high-school boyfriend, Clint, now an NFL quarterback struggling through his own career slump.

Their shared history is complicated, and Clint wants nothing to do with reopening old wounds. Still, he offers her the refurbished caboose on his property as a temporary refuge. From there, two wounded people slowly begin to piece their lives back together.

Dancy’s story is the emotional heart of the novel. She’s truly at rock bottom — depressed, neglecting herself, numbing the pain with alcohol, and feeling utterly alone. Despite her beauty and fame, she carries deep scars from her divorce, a miscarriage, and years of being dismissed as a blonde bimbo instead of being taken seriously. Watching her slowly reclaim her sense of self — through an unlikely friendship with a kindergarten principal and a stray dog she rescues from the road — is deeply moving. Her mental-health crisis is portrayed with honesty and compassion, and her path forward is rooted in acceptance, self-worth, and learning to choose herself again.

This isn’t just a romance; it’s a story about female empowerment and rediscovering your own strength before opening your heart to someone else.

Clint is equally compelling, though his presence is quieter by design. Controlled, gentlemanly, and outwardly perfect, he’s still carrying the hurt from their teenage breakup while quietly battling his own depression under the pressure of being a star athlete. His characterization is intentionally understated. Clint matters, but he’s not the center of the story — he’s the steady presence who supports Dancy without overshadowing her. This is her story first, and the romance rekindles alongside her recovery rather than driving it.

This story is an exceptional addition to the series. It has everything: palpable tension, emotions that sneak up on you, and moments of joy that linger long after the final page. Dancy and Clint’s journey from heartbreak to healing completely pulled me in — witty banter, forced proximity, sizzling second-chance romance, a rescue dog, and a meddling family all woven together into something impossible to put down.

One of my favorite elements was the emotional maturity of the relationship. Clint communicates like an adult, respects boundaries, and creates a sense of emotional safety without ever feeling boring. These are characters in their thirties navigating real-life transitions with nuance and growth. There’s no manipulation, no contrived misunderstandings, and no cheap miscommunication drama.

I laughed, and I cried. Just a spectacular read.

Trigger warning: The heroine experienced sexual violence at age 17; the story takes place when she is 35.

3/2026 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

AND THE CROWD WENT WILD by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. Avon. (February 10, 2026). ISBN: 978-0063248625. 352p.

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Audiobook Sunday: WHERE YOU BELONG by Kristen Proby

March 8, 2026

Narration by Samantha Brentmoor & Sebastian York

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The Blackwells of Montana, Book 5 

From the publisher:

From New York Times bestselling author Kristen Proby comes the final installment of the Blackwells of Montana series, Where You Belong, a small-town, second-chance romance set in Bitterroot Valley!

Brooks

Fifteen years ago, I’d planned a romantic proposal, but that was the day Juliet walked out of my life and never looked back. I never wanted to see her again and decided that love wasn’t for me. But now, Juliet has returned to Bitterroot Valley and opened a restaurant. Catching glimpses of her around town makes my heart ache. I want to hate her. I wish she’d do what she does best and go away. Instead, I find myself wanting to be near her. Helping her. Touching her perfect skin. I don’t want to love her. I don’t want to need her.

Juliet

Coming home to Bitterroot Valley might have been a mistake. Just because I grew up here doesn’t mean I belong here. Honestly, I’ve never felt like I belong anywhere. But once I was finally free from the man who lied and controlled me, I knew I needed to be in Montana. My new restaurant, Sage & Citrus, is a big hit, and I’m making friends. But more importantly, Brooks is here. I know he doesn’t want me, but having him nearby is a balm to my jagged heart. The more I see him, the more I’m reminded that Brooks Blackwell is my soulmate. But has too much time passed? Or will we finally get our happily ever after?

Where You Belong by Kristen Proby is a second-chance romance fifteen years in the making. Juliet walked out on Brooks just as he was ready to propose, and the wounds from that separation never fully healed for either of them. Now she’s back in the same small town — both of them small business owners, him a mechanic, her a chef — and in a place this size, there’s no avoiding each other.

What makes their reunion so compelling is the layers beneath it. This isn’t just two people rekindling old feelings; it’s two people carrying years of harbored anger, unspoken hurt, and a longing neither has ever been able to shake. The push and pull between them is immediate — shifting from tension to frustration to something neither can deny — and it never feels rushed or superficial. Brooks slowly lowers his walls as he watches Juliet quietly rebuild her life, while Juliet wrestles with old regrets and the fragile possibility of something new. Their chemistry is sweet, slow-burning, and deeply earned.

The little details make it even better: her secret tattoo, the dream home he bought and planned to fill with a library just for her. These two were made for each other, and the story doesn’t make you wait until the final pages to feel it. You actually get to spend real time with them together, which makes the emotional payoff that much more satisfying.

Juliet carries secrets that complicate her path forward, but her quiet resilience makes her incredibly easy to root for. Brooks’s devotion — even when he’s hurting — is the kind that makes you swoon. The surrounding family adds warmth and well-timed humor that balances the heavier emotional moments, and the small-town setting gives everything a cozy, grounded feel without sacrificing depth.

The audio experience elevated the whole thing. Narrated by Samantha Brentmoor and Sebastian York, their dual performance captures every ounce of longing, frustration, and tenderness. Their narration is captivating, and together they bring out the full weight of this couple’s history. I felt every word.

If you love a slow-burn, second-chance romance with real emotional stakes and a warm community at its heart — this one is it. I am so sad this series is over, but Proby’s new series, Triple Creek Ranch, started off great with Safe Haven, so something to look forward to!

3/2026 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

WHERE YOU BELONG by Kristen Proby. Narrators: Samantha Brentmoor & Sebastian York. Dreamscape Media (December 11, 2025). ASIN: B0FFBQ1CY9. Listening Length: 8 hours and 43 minutes.

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I’LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS by Jenny Bayliss

March 6, 2026

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From the publisher:

From Putnam’s beloved holiday author comes another charming, British wintertime tale following one dejected woman’s trip home to her eccentric great-aunts, her wayward mother . . . and her first love.

Fred Hallow-Hart isn’t in love with the idea of returning home to Pine Bluff. But after a bad breakup and a subsequent eviction, she’s fresh out of options. God knows she loves her mum and her eccentric aunts—and who could forget their Christmas Cracker family business?—but she’s always felt a little out of place in her small town.

Quickly roped in by her mother to help with the cracker shop, Fred decides throwing herself into work might actually be what’s best for her. Until she reconnects with her old best friend Ryan, who is suddenly making her heart flutter in ways she’s never known; and unexpectedly finds a spark with Warren, a charming journalist covering the Pine Bluff Christmas Market for the Daily News.

But as these connections slowly lead Fred back to her heart, she’s forced to confront some harsh truths, which, if she doesn’t find a way through, might just ruin the holidays for those dearest to her. Can Fred let go of the past enough to recognize real love? And when she does, how far will she go to protect it?

https://amzn.to/4biIdim

At 35, Fredericka “Fred” Hallow-Hart returns to her tiny Scottish hometown with her life in pieces—no job, no relationship, and no choice but to move back in with her mother and the two aunts who helped raise her. She insists she’s only passing through, “perching” until she finds her footing again, but the town has other plans.

Living again with her mother and two eccentric aunts—who run the family’s Christmas cracker business—is the last thing she wants, especially given her long-standing tension with her mom. Their relationship has never been easy, and coming home forces Fred to face wounds she’s long ignored.

A chance reunion with her childhood best friend—and former love—Ryan sparks something she thought she’d outgrown. Then a handsome stranger, Warren, enters her life through a simple mail mix-up, adding another layer of confusion to an already tangled return.

But beneath the festive lights and snowy streets, Fred must confront the emotional abuse she endured in her last relationship. Only by facing it can she heal, reconnect with her family, and open herself to the possibility of love again.

This novel is a tender, heartwarming holiday story. I loved how it blends romance with themes of family, forgiveness, and rediscovering home. Fred’s journey is emotional without ever feeling heavy, and her mother’s second-chance love adds richness and warmth.

This tender holiday novel beautifully blends romance with themes of family, forgiveness, and rediscovering home. Fred’s journey is emotional without feeling heavy, and her mother’s second-chance love story adds depth and warmth. With its cozy setting—snowy lanes, a bustling Christmas market, and a close-knit community—this is a feel-good story about finding your way back to yourself and remembering that love, in all its forms, endures.

Why a Christmas novel now? In March? Why not! I didn’t get to read all the holiday books I wanted last year, so I’m sneaking one in whenever I can. The holiday is background noise, but I love it.

3/2026 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

I’LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS by Jenny Bayliss. G.P. Putnam’s Sons. (September 23, 2025). ISBN: 978-0593717929. 448p.

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GAME CHANGER by Rachel Reid

February 27, 2026

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Game Changers, Book 1

From the publisher:

THE SERIES THAT INSPIRED HEATED RIVALRY • NOW A #1 STREAMING SHOW

Enter the world of Game Changers, the series behind the epic enemies-to-lovers hockey romance Heated Rivalry, streaming on Crave in Canada and on HBO Max in the U.S.

It all starts here with Scott and Kip’s steamy secret-relationship romance by New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Rachel Reid.

New York Admirals captain Scott Hunter takes his pregame rituals very seriously. When a particular smoothie precedes Scott’s breaking his on-ice slump, he’s desperate to recreate the magic…and to get to know the sexy, funny guy behind the counter.

Kip Grady knew there was more to Scott’s frequent visits than blended fruit, but he never let himself imagine being invited back to Scott’s penthouse. Or kissed with reckless abandon—and more. What goes on between them is hot, incredible and frequent…but also only on Scott’s terms and always behind his closed apartment doors.

Scott needs Kip in his life, but with playoff season approaching, the spotlight on him is suddenly brighter than ever. He can’t afford to do anything that might derail his career or the public’s image of what a hockey captain should be. Kip is ready to go all in with Scott—but how much longer will he have to remain a secret?

Game Changers:

  • Book 1: Game Changer
  • Book 2: Heated Rivalry
  • Book 3: Tough Guy
  • Book 4: Common Goal
  • Book 5: Role Model
  • Book 6: The Long Game
  • Book 7: Unrivaled

https://amzn.to/3ZzwoOb

I came to this series through the HBO Max adaptation of Heated Rivalry. I only made it through two episodes, but that was enough to send me straight to the books — which turned out to be much more my speed.

Game Changer follows Scott Hunter, a closeted star hockey player and team captain in New York who’s struggling to find his footing on the ice. Everything shifts when he ducks into a smoothie shop and meets Kip, a 25‑year‑old history major with no real direction and an irresistible blend of sweetness and snark. Their connection is instant, their chemistry electric. Still, the first half dragged a bit for me. The two jump into bed immediately, and the story lingers there for a long stretch. I don’t mind spice, but it started to feel like wall‑to‑wall sex when I wanted more plot to balance it out.

The heart of the conflict is Scott’s fear of coming out. Kip doesn’t push at first, but as Scott’s team heads into the playoffs, he starts to feel like a secret — left out of team dinners, erased from Scott’s public life. Scott loves him deeply, but his fear keeps him frozen. Kip, meanwhile, gives everything without asking much in return, and when it becomes too painful, he runs rather than communicate. Both men have blind spots, and the book doesn’t shy away from showing them.

The story really finds its rhythm in the second half, once their relationship deepens and the world outside Scott’s bedroom finally comes into focus. I really liked the secondary characters as they added a lot to the story. Scott’s best friend, Carter, was a sweetheart, and Kip’s friends Elena and Maria brought a lot of humor to the story. The team camaraderie is warm and believable, but there was surprisingly very little focus on hockey.

There’s definitely some angst, but it never overwhelms the sweetness. I loved how supportive Kip’s family was, and the ending was spot on. Readers who prefer their romances soft and heartfelt will feel right at home. Those craving something grittier might find it a bit too cozy, but there’s real emotional honesty in watching two men slowly learn to stop hiding and choose each other. I am looking forward to the next book in the series, the much beloved Heated Rivalry.

2/2026 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

GAME CHANGER by Rachel Reid. Carina Press. (November 26, 2024). ISBN: 978-1335534620. 368p.

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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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WESTERN HEAT by Caroline Richardson

February 20, 2026

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West Line Ranch, Book 1

From the author:

A fish-out-of-water story about a New York City chef who inherits a ranch, discovers a family he never knew, and finds unexpected love with a fiercely loyal woman.

For fans of western romance superstars like Lyla Sage and Elise Silver.

New York City chef Jake West had it all, but a few strokes of a pen meant no more marriage. No more restaurant. No more big city lifestyle. Then he receives a letter explaining that his long-estranged father, Brett, has died, and he needs to return to the Canadian ranch he left as a child. Jake expects to go, sign more papers, and return to the city and rebuild his future.

Instead Jake learns that Brett’s left the ranch to him—and only him. Things might have been hot in his restaurant’s kitchen, but that’s nothing compared to what he faces now: a family he didn’t know existed, and a property he doesn’t want. Tanner and Brady, his half-brothers, don’t want him around. And while his stepmother, Peony, welcomes him, there’s Liz, Peony’s daughter. She’s not a West, but her loyalties lie with the family, not an outsider.

However, as Jake settles into the rhythms of the ranch, he wonders if he’s finally found something that’s been missing in his life—especially as he and Liz grow closer. At first, it’s just attraction, but when a sudden kiss ignites a heat in both of them, they can’t ignore this raging inferno. Maybe Brett West knew what he was doing when he summoned his eldest son back home–and gave him a chance to change his life forever.

Readers who love a spicy “enemies-to-lovers” romance combined with family drama will want to add this to their “to be read” shelves.

https://amzn.to/4rghOaE

Western Heat kicks off the West Line Ranch series with a premise that hooked me immediately. Jake is in the middle of a complete life reset. He’s sold his New York City restaurant, finalized his divorce, and is suddenly summoned to Canada for the reading of a will. There, he learns that his estranged father has died and left him a ranch he never knew existed—along with two half-brothers who had no idea he existed either. The revelation throws all three men into an emotional and logistical mess. Jake is burned out from city life, and absolutely not prepared for any of this.

Liz grew up on the ranch when her mother married the boys’ father. She, along with her mother, became the glue holding this newly formed family together. Liz and Jake are thrown into each other’s orbit from the moment he steps onto the property, and their chemistry sparks long before either of them is willing to acknowledge it.

What really pulled me in were the quiet, intimate moments—sharing food, talking through the chaos, finding pockets of calm in the middle of family upheaval. Those scenes made their connection feel real and earned, even when the bigger conflicts kept tugging them apart.

The setting is vivid and alive: dusty roads, small-town gossip, wide-open skies. It feels like stepping into a western daydream without ever slipping into cliché. And the romance is a delicious slow burn that builds and builds until it finally breaks open in a way that’s tender, steamy, and deeply satisfying.

Both characters carry emotional baggage, and the story gives them room to grow. Jake’s struggle with identity and obligation is compelling, and while Liz could use a bit more polish as a lead, their dynamic still shines.

Caroline Richardson’s writing is warm, vivid, and easy to sink into. The pacing never drags, and I found myself reading “just one more chapter” long past when I meant to stop.

Western Heat is charming, sexy, emotional, and full of rugged western heart. If you love cowboy romance with family drama, forced proximity, and characters who feel imperfect in all the right ways, this one is absolutely worth picking up.

2/2026 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

WESTERN HEAT by Caroline Richardson. W by Wattpad Books. (January 6, 2026). ISBN: 978-1998341375. 352p.

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