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From the publisher:

From the author of the runaway hit, Hidden Pictures, comes a stunning new work of domestic suspense

“Part conspiracy thriller, part family drama, The Last One at the Wedding kept my heart racing and my mind reeling.” ―Riley Sager

“The ultimate middle-class Dad battles the 1% for his daughter’s soul in the best thriller I’ve read all year.” ―Grady Hendrix

Frank Szatowski is shocked when his daughter, Maggie, calls him for the first time in three years. He was convinced that their estrangement would become permanent. He’s even more surprised when she invites him to her upcoming wedding in New Hampshire. Frank is ecstatic, and determined to finally make things right.

He arrives to find that the wedding is at a private estate―very secluded, very luxurious, very much out of his league. It seems that Maggie failed to mention that she’s marrying Aidan Gardner, the son of a famous tech billionaire. Feeling desperately out of place, Frank focuses on reconnecting with Maggie and getting to know her new family. But it’s difficult: Aidan is withdrawn and evasive; Maggie doesn’t seem to have time for him; and he finds that the locals are disturbingly hostile to the Gardners. Frank needs to know more about this family his daughter is marrying into, but if he pushes too hard, he could lose Maggie forever.

An edge-of-your-seat thriller that delves deep into the heart of one family, The Last One at the Wedding is a work of brilliant suspense from a true modern master.

“Engrossing. . . . Rekulak’s characters feel real, and the unwavering pace will keep readers up all night.” ―Publishers Weekly

“Rekulak has a freakishly fertile imagination.” ―The New York Times

https://amzn.to/46k1psr

Frank Szatowski is the definition of steady. He’s driven for UPS for 26 years without a single accident and served honorably in the Gulf War. But when it comes to his daughter Maggie, his life has been anything but stable. They haven’t spoken in three years—not since a painful falling-out that neither of them has managed to mend.

Frank raised Maggie mostly on his own, with occasional help from his sister Tammy, who juggles caring for elderly patients and foster kids. So when Maggie unexpectedly calls, tells him she’s getting married, and asks him to walk her down the aisle, Frank is stunned. It feels like a second chance—a shot at redemption.

But there’s a catch: her fiancé, Aidan Gardner, sets off every alarm in Frank’s gut. Aidan is a quiet, brooding artist known for painting disturbing portraits. His father is a powerful tech billionaire, and the whole Gardner family seems… off. Frank’s unease deepens after an awkward dinner at Aidan’s sleek Boston penthouse—especially when he discovers something unsettling hidden in the bathroom.

As the wedding draws near, Frank starts digging. What he uncovers is chilling. An art teacher expresses concern about Aidan’s past, and Aidan’s mother is conspicuously absent from the wedding festivities. Then Frank hears whispers linking Aidan to a missing 21-year-old woman. When chaos erupts at the wedding itself, Frank realizes he’s running out of time. He must uncover the truth about the Gardners—and protect Maggie before it’s too late.

This story is a slow-paced read with lots of twists and red herrings – not quite a thriller, but more of a mystery. Frank isn’t always easy to root for—he’s stubborn, gruff, and prone to missteps, but his flaws make him human. And when it counts, Frank shows up.

9/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE LAST ONE AT THE WEDDING by Jason Rekulak. Flatiron Books (October 8, 2024). ISBN: 978-1250895783. 352p.

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From the publisher:

A Fast-Paced Spy Adventure of Amnesia, Identical Twins, and Unraveling Deadly Secrets in Europe—The Perfect Romantic Addition to Your … List 

The New York Times bestselling YA author of the beloved Gallagher Girls series bursts onto the adult scene with a fast-paced, hilarious road trip rom-com about a woman with amnesia who discovers she’s the identical twin sister of a rogue spy… and must team up with a rugged, grumpy operative to stay alive.

It’s the middle of the night in the middle of Paris and a woman just woke up with no memory.

She only knows three things for certain:

1. She has a splitting headache.

2. The hottest guy she has (probably) ever seen is standing over her, telling her to run.

And oh yeah…

3. People keep trying to kill her.

She doesn’t know who. Or why. But when she sees footage of herself fighting off a dozen men there’s only one explanation: obviously. . . she’s a spy!

Except, according to Mr. Hot Guy, she’s not. She’s a spy’s identical twin sister.

Too bad the only person who knows she’s not the woman they’re looking for is this very grouchy, very sexy, very secret agent who (reluctantly) agrees to help her disappear. Which is easier said than done when a criminal organization wants you dead and every intelligence service in the world wants you caught.

Luckily, no one is looking for a pair of lovesick newlyweds on their honeymoon. And soon they’re lying their way across Europe—dodging bullets and faking kisses as they race to unravel a deadly conspiracy and clear her sister’s name.

But with every secret they uncover, the truth shifts, until she no longer knows who to trust: the twin she can’t remember or the mysterious man she can’t let herself forget…

“Carter serves up an irresistible cocktail of danger and passion in her un-put-downable adult debut . . . This snappy and suspenseful romance fires on all cylinders.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“This hilarious romantic comedy is unputdownable. The characters have instant chemistry, and their well-written dialogue is peppered with witty banter. Readers will be riveted through all of the twists and turns as the protagonists race across Europe with the bad guys hot on their heels. Those who grew up reading Carter’s Gallagher Girls teen series will tear through her adult romance debut and clamor for more.” — Library Journal

https://amzn.to/4oUnfLq

This book is an absolute blast! With its perfect blend of humor, spice, and non-stop action, it delivers a genre-bending experience that keeps the adrenaline pumping from start to finish. I hadn’t read the author’s Gallagher Girls YA series, so I came in fresh—not yet part of the Carter cult. But after this adult debut? Consider me converted by its smart writing, engaging plot, and truly unputdownable narrative.

The story kicks off with a gender-flipped Bourne Identity twist: a woman wakes up injured on the streets of Paris, with no memory of who she is or why she’s there. Before she can process anything, the hottest guy she’s ever seen is shouting at her to run—because a pack of motorcycles is barreling toward them, and the riders look deadly serious. She bolts, only to see her own face splashed across TV screens.

Her mysterious, brooding, and undeniably charming companion explains the chaos: she’s not the infamous spy everyone is hunting. That would be her identical twin sister—the one she doesn’t remember having. In fact, she can’t even recall her own name. But now, thanks to their shared face, she’s caught in the crosshairs of multiple intelligence agencies and a ruthless Russian gang.

With no other choice, she throws her trust—and her fate—into the hands of her reluctant protector. Together, they embark on a wild, high-stakes journey across Europe, dodging danger at every turn. Their enemy? One of the most powerful and merciless figures in global crime. Her mission? Stay alive long enough to uncover the truth and clear her sister’s name.

From motorcycles to trains to boats to ski lifts, the European tour is exhilarating, and the action is perfectly balanced by laugh-out-loud moments and witty banter. A total joy to read—highly recommended for anyone looking for a smart, high-octane adventure with heart, heat, and humor.

8/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE BLONDE IDENTITY by Ally Carter. Avon. (August 8, 2023). ISBN: 978-0063276642. 304p.

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From the publisher:

From New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne comes a brand-new story about two women, a family secret and a lost manuscript that changes everything…

Raised by her literary icon father Carson Wells, Alison Wells always felt loved, even though her mother died when she was a teen. But when she takes a DNA test on a whim and discovers she has a sister she never knew about, it’s clear there are things her father didn’t tell her before he died. Determined to meet Juniper—her half sister—and unravel the truth of what happened all those years ago, Ali finds herself taking a job as Juniper’s intern. She’ll eventually figure out a way to tell Juniper the truth of their relationship. But she never could have imagined what would happen next…

Juniper Connolly has always been incredibly healthy…until she wakes up in the hospital after experiencing cardiac arrest, with her new—and recently fired—intern to thank for saving her life. It’s clear June needs to de-stress her life a little, so when Ali offers her the use of her family’s cabin in a small Wyoming town, June has no reason not to go. But when she arrives, her life will never be the same.

Under the wide-open spaces of the Wyoming summer sun, Ali and June will untangle the secrets and lies their lives were built on to discover who they really are and what family really means. But even more than that, they’ll build a real relationship with one another and finally become sisters.

https://amzn.to/47p9H4i

This heartwarming story explores themes of family and second chances through the journey of two unlikely sisters.

When Allison’s famous author father passes away, she discovers through DNA testing that she has a half-sister named Juniper living in Seattle. Fresh out of law school and studying for the bar exam, Allison decides to get to know Juniper before revealing their connection. She secures an internship with Juniper, planning to work alongside her sister while figuring out how to share the truth.

However, Allison proves to be a disaster as an intern. Just as Juniper is about to fire her, she suddenly collapses from a heart attack. Allison’s quick thinking with CPR saves her sister’s life until paramedics arrive.

Facing a long recovery from her heart condition, Juniper needs time away from her high-powered executive lifestyle. Allison seizes the opportunity, convincing Juniper to recuperate at the Wyoming cottage where her father wrote his books—an offer the literary fan can’t refuse. Life on the ranch is a stark contrast to Juniper’s fast-paced world.

The peaceful ranch setting forces Juniper to slow down and confront her new health limitations. As she helps Allison sort through their father’s papers for donation to the university library, she also encounters Beck Hunter, Allison’s neighbor. Beck is a former San Francisco trial lawyer with a formidable reputation, and Juniper initially despises him based on her preconceptions. However, she gradually discovers he’s far more complex and caring than she first believed.

Meanwhile, Allison struggles with finding the right moment to reveal their sisterhood. The truth becomes more complicated as Juniper grows attached to the ranch and its people, particularly Beck. When Allison finally shares their family connection, Juniper is shocked but ultimately able to embrace the news positively, having already formed deep emotional bonds with her new life in Wyoming.

As the sisters navigate their newfound relationship, Allison makes her own romantic discovery—realizing she has feelings for Xander, her childhood best friend who now works as a travel vlogger.

While romance weaves through the narrative, the true heart of the story lies in the sisterhood that blossoms between Juniper and Allison. This charming tale will appeal to fans of Hallmark movies, combining small-town warmth, found family dynamics, and closed-door romance into an engaging read.

8/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE LOST BOOK OF FIRST LOVES by RaeAnne Thayne. Canary Street Press. (June 3, 2025). ISBN: 9978-1335476067. 352p.

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