Pitcher Perfect by Tessa Bailey

 Boston Bearcats rookie Robbie Corrigan is living the dream. He’s made it to the NHL, his best friend/teammate and fellow “orgasm donor” is his roomie—and the women of Boston love them both. Life is sweet. That is, until he meets Skylar Paige, division 1 softball pitcher, girl least likely to take anyone’s bull…and the one member of the opposite sex immune to his charms. Robbie might be dazzled by the badass pitcher, but Skylar pegs him as a filthy player and wants nothing to do with him.

When he discovers she’s carrying a serious torch for her brother’s best friend, Robbie knows he should just go back to clubbing and whipped cream bikini parties, but he can’t seem to leave Skylar to flounder on her romantic quest to land another man. Nor can he miss out on the opportunity to spend time with her and hopefully redeem himself. Before Robbie knows it, he’s agreed to be Skylar’s fake boyfriend/love coach at an upcoming family wilderness competition where her crush will be in attendance. What could go wrong?

Through a series of contests that require them to trust each other, Robbie and Skylar grow closer and closer until their fake relationship starts to feel like the realest thing they’ve ever known and the sizzling lessons in sensuality burn out of control.

But it’s all just pretend…right?

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Amazon.com: Pitcher Perfect: A Spicy Fake-Dating Sports Romance of a Playboy Hockey Rookie and the Disciplined Softball Pitcher Completely Immune to His Charms (Big Shots, 4): 9780063380837: Bailey, Tessa: Books

New York Times Bestselling author Tessa Bailey can solve all problems except for her own, so she focuses those efforts on stubborn, fictional blue collar men and loyal, lovable heroines. She lives on Long Island avoiding the sun and social interactions, then wonders why no one has called. Dubbed the “Michelangelo of dirty talk,” by Entertainment Weekly, Tessa writes with spice, spirit, swoon and a guaranteed happily ever after. Catch her on TikTok at @authortessabailey or check out tessabailey.com for a complete list of books.

This is a quick, fun read. Bailey never disappoints she is on top of her game. No curve balls here.

Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

Kindling by Bonnie Woods

 A cosy autumnal retreat in the Scottish Highlands is the perfect escape for city girl, Harper… Until she is stranded in the forest with nowhere to stay.

Fraser, a gruff local woodcutter, reluctantly offers her his lumberjack’s cabin on one condition – she mustn’t distract him from his duties.

But Fraser is finding his beautiful guest annoyingly hard to ignore. And the way he chops firewood – dogged, powerful and precise – is distracting Harper too. Soon, as the flame-red leaves fall overhead, Harper and Fraser are both forced to wonder: Am I falling faster?

Pick up your copy here...                                                                                                                                     Kindling: The bestselling spicy grumpy-sunshine lumberjack funny romance, set in Scotland (Scottish Spice) (Book 1): Woods, Bonnie: 9780008702144: Amazon.com: Books

Rachel Bowdler is a freelance writer, editor, and sometimes photographer from the UK. She spends most of her time away with the faeries. When she is not putting off writing by scrolling through Twitter and binge-watching sitcoms, you can find her walking her dog, painting, and passionately crying about her favourite fictional characters. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram @RachelBowdler.

Fan Favorite by Adrienne Gunn

 Thirty-five year old Edie Pepper, a rosé loving, reality TV obsessed copywriter from Chicago, dreams of plucking her soulmate from the depths of Hinge (or Tinder or Bumble). Following yet another dumpster fire of a date, Edie is consoling herself with boxed wine and E! News when Ryan Seacrest drops a bomb: Edie’s high school sweetheart has been cast as the lead in America’s most beloved reality dating show, The Key, and wow, does he look different. Charlie Bennett, Edie’s chubby cheeked, cosplay loving high school boyfriend has had a serious glow up, and is now a world traveling, extreme sports hunk.  

 
Desperate to reclaim her One True Love, Edie DMs the show’s conniving producers, who are more than happy to shove Edie headfirst into the competition. But Charlie isn’t quite who she remembers, and he’s as desperate to hide his past as Edie is to reveal it. Further complicating matters is Peter Kennedy, The Key‘s cranky showrunner, who, despite his best efforts, finds himself drawn to Edie’s everywoman charm. 
 
Navigating increasingly absurd dates, Edie starts to rethink everything she thought she knew about love. Is the biggest risk she’s ever taken about to culminate in disaster? Or is Edie about to secure the Happily Ever After she’s always wanted?  

Find out this season on The Key.

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Fan Favorite: Gunn, Adrienne: 9781538768259: Amazon.com: Books

Adrienne Gunn is a writer and podcaster obsessed with pop culture. When she’s not busy watching reality TV, Adrienne works as a content strategist, performs as a storyteller and comedian, and hangs out with her adorable son and adorabler puppy. Learn more about her at adriennegunn.com.

Lucky Break Jaclyn Westlake

 Eliza hasalways had a plan…until her seamlessly plotted life implodes, and her engagement falls apart. At thirty-two, she suddenly finds herself second-guessing the picture-perfect future she had always envisioned—one that included raising 2.5 children nearby her tight-knit Italian family in San Francisco.

Then Eliza is offered the chance to start over: in Juneberry Lake, a small Midwestern town eager to lure remote workers to their picturesque community. Shocking her family and friends (and herself), Eliza packs up her apartment and buys a lake house sight unseen.

Juneberry Lake is as delightful as it looked in the pictures. And the pictures didn’t even include Joel, a fellow new arrival who works alongside her every day in an adorable coffee shop. But if Eliza is hoping to spy her uncertain future in the shimmering waters of Juneberry Lake, she’ll find herself out of luck. Because her friendly Midwestern neighbors are keeping a marvelous secret—one that will help Eliza see that her recent spate of bad luck was never her fault…and that the tide can turn when you least expect it. With the help of her friends and family, new and old, Eliza is finally ready to build a new future that’s entirely her own. 

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Lucky Break: An Uplifting Novel of Self-Discovery, Unexpected Friendship, and Hidden Secrets in a Charming Midwestern Lake Town―Perfect for Summer Reading: Westlake, Jaclyn: 9780063340763: Amazon.com: Books

Jaclyn Westlake is an alumna of the Stanford Continuing Studies Novel Writing Program. A former recruiter turned career advice columnist, her work has appeared in Forbes, Business Insider, and Inc. She lives in California with her husband and their dachshund mix, Indiana Jones (but you can call him Indy). Dear Dotty is her first novel. Pickles are her favorite food.

Amish Friends Farm to Table Cookbook

 Bring Home the Fresh Taste of the Local Countryside

If you believe in sourcing food as close to home as possible while supporting small family farms, you’ll love this cookbook with contributions from Amish and Mennonite cooks. This new collection of recipes from New York Times bestselling author of Amish fiction, Wanda E. Brunstetter, celebrates sourcing fresh meat and produce from farms in your own local area. Sprinkled with tips for growing, harvesting, and preserving, the cookbook is divided into traditional categories from main dishes and sides to desserts and snacks. Encased in a lay-flat binding and presented in full color, it is a must-have cookbook for anyone who is interested in where their food comes from, participates in a CSA, or enjoys farmers’ markets.

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Wanda E. Brunstetter's Amish Friends Farm-To-Table Cookbook: 280 Amazing Recipes Help Encourage Local Farming Networks: Brunstetter, Wanda E: 9798891510975: Amazon.com: Books

Wanda Brunstetter is an award-winning romance novelist who has led millions of readers to lose their heart in the Amish life. She is the author of over 100 books with more than 12 million copies sold. Many of her books have landed on the top bestseller lists, including the New York Times, USA Today, Publisher's Weekly, CBA, ECPA, and CBD. Wanda is considered one of the founders of the Amish fiction genre, and her work has been covered by national publications, including Time Magazine and USA Today.

Wanda's fascination with the Amish culture developed when she met her husband, Richard, who grew up in a Mennonite church, and whose family has a Pennsylvania Dutch heritage. Meeting her new Mennonite sister-in-laws caused Wanda to yearn for the simpler life. In their travels, she and her husband have become close friends with many Amish people across America. Wanda's desire to explore their culture increased when she discovered that her great-great grandparents were part of the Anabaptist faith.

All of Wanda's novels are based on personal research intended to accurately portray the Amish way of life. Many of her books are well-read and trusted by the Amish, who credit her for giving readers a deeper understanding of the people and their customs.

Wanda's primary attraction to the Amish is their desire to live a devout Christian life that strives to honor God, work hard, and maintain close family ties. Whenever she visits her Amish friends, Wanda finds herself drawn to their peaceful lifestyle, sincerity, and close family ties, which is in stark contrast to the chaos and busyness that plagues so many modern "Englishers." Time and time again, Wanda loses her heart in the Amish life, and she hopes her readers will, too. For more information, visit: www.WandaBrunstetter.com

For those of us who grow our food or support the farmers market this is nice easy recipes. It would make a nice gift for those who love cookbooks or are new to cooking.

Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

Ink & Ambition by Emily Bellas

 Ambition brought them together, but could it tear them apart?

Journalism major Margot Davis has one thing on her mind - winning the New York Times internship competition. And her idea of a campus advice podcast could be her ticket to success. There's just one problem: she needs a co-host who can draw a crowd. Enter Alex Prescott, the most popular guy on campus and the very last person she'd ever choose to work with.

While Alex agrees to help, the deal is not without it's strings. Margot must assist in the annual fraternity prank war. Reluctantly teaming up, the pair dive into their projects with clashing personalities and no shortage of sparks.

As recording sessions draw them closer, Margot starts to see there's more to Alex than his carefree reputation and likewise, Alex warms up to his icy co-host. But can they pull off their wild plan without letting their own ambitions get in the way?

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Amazon.com: Ink & Ambition: 9798998595400: Bellas, Emily R: Books

Emily R Bellas is a new indie author but long time recreational writer and reader. She currently teaches middle school in the Bronx, NY and has earned her bachelors and two masters in the education field of study. Emily lives in Brooklyn with her long-term partner and their stubbornly adorable puppy. Stuck is Emily's debut novel, followed closely by He Found Her.

Check out her newsletter at authoremilyrbellas.substack.com if you're interested in learning more! Also, if you want to connect with Emily, she is active on instagram and tiktok @authoremilyrbellas

My Thoughts.. 

Fiorst time I have read this author; I am going on the lookout for all her backlist. The romance was so cute, I couldn't put the book down. I love a romcom it's best served with a side of great banter. This book did not disappoint.

Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.

The Unwedding by Ally Condie

 A Reese's Book Club Pick!

Ellery Wainwright is alone at the edge of the world.   She and her husband, Luke, were supposed to spend their twentieth wedding anniversary together at the luxurious Resort at Broken Point in Big Sur, California. Where better to celebrate a marriage, a family, and a life together than at one of the most stunning places on earth? But now she’s traveling solo. To add insult to injury, there’s a wedding at Broken Point scheduled during her stay.

Ellery remembers how it felt to be on the cusp of everything new and wonderful, with a glimmering future just ahead. Now, she isn’t certain of anything except for her love for her kids and her growing realization that this place, though beautiful, is unsettling.  

When Ellery discovers the dead groom, she realizes that she is not the only one whose future is no longer guaranteed. Before the police can reach Broken Point, a mudslide takes out the road to the resort, leaving the guests trapped. When another guest dies, it’s clear something horrible is brewing. Everyone at Broken Point has a secret. And everyone has a shadow. Including Ellery.

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Amazon.com: The Unwedding: Reese's Book Club Pick (A Novel): 9781538757598: Condie, Ally: Books

Ally Condie is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Matched trilogy and its companion novel, The Last Voyage of Poe Blythe. She is also the author of the novel Summerlost, an Edgar Award Finalist for Best Juvenile Mystery, the New York Times bestselling novel Atlantia, and the co-author of the Darkdeep middle grade series. A former English teacher, Ally lives with her family outside of Salt Lake City, Utah. She has an MFA from the Vermont College of Fine Arts, and is the founder and director of the nonprofit WriteOut Foundation.

My thoughts...

A well written mystery. I love a good whodunit and this one did not disappoint me at all. Well done Reese great pick. I am going to be on the lookout for more by this author.

Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required, and all views expressed are our own.