Sloth Goes Places - Massachusetts

 

Sloth Goes Places is a feature where I share books I have tracked from previous Literary Escapes reading challenge hosted by Escape With Dollycas Into a Good Book.

Today we are looking at books set in ....

Massachusetts

I have visited this state many times as my family used to frequently vacation on Cape Cod. We did a college visit there, too, which may have been my last visit to Massachusetts. It's a beautiful state with lots of history to explore and lobster to eat. Sloth very much enjoyed his time there. The first author that comes to mind when I think of this state is Kristan Higgins. She set many of her books there (as well as in New England). But it's never a tough state to check off for my challenge as it is fairly popular. 

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The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey
Published by Avon on July 16, 2024
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Goodreads

A sports rom-com about a burly, surly, single dad who falls head-over-hockey-stick for his quirky live-in nanny...

Tallulah is smart, vivacious, and studying to be a marine biologist. She’s also twenty-six and broke. So when Burgess, a battle-scarred hockey veteran and newly single dad, offers her a job as his live-in nanny, she jumps at the opportunity to get paid while living in a super fancy neighborhood and being around Lissa, his cool but introverted tween.

Her tween charge isn’t the only one who could use some help fitting in, though. According to…well, everyone except Burgess, he needs to get back on the dating scene, and adventurous Tallulah is just the girl to show him how. But as boundaries are slowly crossed and Burgess finds himself pulled between his daughter, who wants her parents back together, and his insane chemistry with Tallulah, a huge rift is formed, and Tallulah does the “right” thing—breaks her own heart and walks away.

Though Burgess knows it’s for the best—he’s too jaded, with too much baggage—a chance meeting, and a new push from his daughter, forces him to put everything on the line and fight to prove he learned his lessons well and is worthy of a happily ever after with Tallulah.

This was a fun book, but also, a great comeback story. There were challenges for Tallulah which took us out and about to see some sites which is always appreciated. It was great to catch up with Wells and Josephine from Fangirl Down, while also getting to meet Sig and Chloe who will be featured in the next Big Shots book. Great characters, fun rom-com moments, emotional depth, and a wonderful romance made this a win for me. I hope there are many more Big Shots books to come.

[review]

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Holiday Hideaway by Mary Kay Andrews
Published by Amazon Original Stories on October 29, 2024
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Fiction

Goodreads

From New York Times bestselling author Mary Kay Andrews comes a charming holiday romance about a newly single thirtysomething whose unauthorized vacation rental turns into a hilarious game of hide-and-seek when the new owner unexpectedly shows up.

Tilly Farriday isn’t feeling very jolly this season. Recently divorced and broke, she’s squatting in one of her rental agency’s properties until her new home is ready. The sprinkles on top of the burnt Christmas cookie that is her life? The new owner shows up early, forcing Tilly to hide in the attic to save her job…and what remains of her dignity.

George Holloway is here to sell his granduncle’s house—and to reconsider whether he and his fiancée are right for each other. Amid home repairs, George notices strange noises and missing food, but as much as he gets his rental agent on the phone, Tilly dodges every invitation to meet. He’s sure that someone’s here with him, and it’s certainly not the Ghost of Christmas Past, Present, or Future.

As Tilly and George circle each other, they both wonder where their lives are headed and if, maybe, meeting each other is just the Christmas miracle they need.

Here we got a taste of winter in New England delivered with MKA's usual charm and humor. I was amused by all the initial hijinks, but also loved when a friendship developed between Tilly and George. I will admit that the dog stole the show (precious!) and made this fun holiday tale even better.

[review]

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The Game Changer by Lana Ferguson
Published by Berkley on July 9, 2024
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Goodreads

A hockey player and a baker shoot their shot in this steamy romance.

When a very public breakup becomes a PR nightmare for Ian Chase's team, he hopes to focus on his game, but that suddenly seem less likely than a hat trick. With his career and the team’s image in jeopardy, Ian is surprised to find a solution through none other than Delilah Baker, his best friend and teammate's little sister…who isn’t so little anymore.

Delilah Baker is known as “the darling of baking” on her local cable show, and being in the public eye is her bread and butter. But with her numbers dwindling and her producers turning up the heat, Delilah offers up the half-baked idea to collaborate with her brother’s team to entice the hockey fans of Boston to tune in to her show. Delilah thinks it will be a piece of cake—until the team sends Ian Chase, her brother’s best friend and the object of a decade-long crush that she’s never quite gotten over.

Delilah's and Ian’s teams think it’s a true win-win situation—gaining higher numbers for Delilah’s show and casting Ian in a more positive light. And viewers are eating them up like a cupcake, sparking the idea to play up their relationship for the goal of good press. With more than just their careers on thin ice, the line between what’s real and what’s for show begins to blur, but one thing’s for certain: This PR stunt will either be a total game changer—or leave them both totally pucked.

This was another Boston book. Though there weren't many outings of note, there was a definte flavor of the city's sports fans injected into the story. This was a sweet brother's best friend romance with a fun reality cooking show twist that I enjoyed. Overall, this was wonderful, fun, and sweet fake-dating, friends-to-lovers romance that delivered lots of laughs and feels, as well as a fantastic grand gesture that had me smiling my face off.

[review]

Have you read any books set in Massachusetts?
Let us know in the comments!