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True North #5
Speakeasy
With a bonus epilogue! Sometimes you fall for Mr. Right. And sometimes for Mr. Right Now…
May
Did you hear the one about the girl who walks into a bar and catches her live-in lover kissing someone else? No? You’re the only one in town who missed it.
Luckily Alec is there to wrap me up in strong arms and carry me out the door before things get too ugly. And that’s not all Alec is good at. Our unexpected chemistry makes him the perfect rebound guy.
Alec
I should know better than to hook up with my rival’s little sister, but the fiery look in May’s eyes really turns my crank. She needs cheering up, and I’m just the guy for the job.
It’s not like I’ll fall in love. Not even after a string of scorching hot trysts, and the realization that we’re good at the same things: wild nights and familial disappointment. I don’t do love, never have, never will. So this is the perfect arrangement, for both of us.
Nobody would approve, but nobody has to know…
This is a stand-alone novel set in the True North world.
May
Did you hear the one about the girl who walks into a bar and catches her live-in lover kissing someone else? No? You’re the only one in town who missed it.
Luckily Alec is there to wrap me up in strong arms and carry me out the door before things get too ugly. And that’s not all Alec is good at. Our unexpected chemistry makes him the perfect rebound guy.
Alec
I should know better than to hook up with my rival’s little sister, but the fiery look in May’s eyes really turns my crank. She needs cheering up, and I’m just the guy for the job.
It’s not like I’ll fall in love. Not even after a string of scorching hot trysts, and the realization that we’re good at the same things: wild nights and familial disappointment. I don’t do love, never have, never will. So this is the perfect arrangement, for both of us.
Nobody would approve, but nobody has to know…
This is a stand-alone novel set in the True North world.
288 pages, Paperback
First published May 29, 2018
973 people are currently reading
5066 people want to read
About the author
Sarina Bowen
105 books18.8k followers
Sarina Bowen is the 24-time USA Today bestselling and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of contemporary fiction, including: The Five Year Lie, the True North series, and the Brooklyn Hockey series. She's the co-author of Him/Us and the WAGs series with Elle Kennedy. And more!
You can find a complete reading order list of Sarina's books on her website. Or see what's coming next from Sarina, and sign up for her newsletter so you don't miss a new book or a deal.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 895 reviews
May 27, 2018
4 Stars!!!
Sarina Bowen has done it again! Her True North series is strong and I've enjoyed every book! I was excited to get to May Shipley's story. She's one I've been curious about since Zach and Lark's story. Boy did she meet her match with Alec! I absolutely loved their pairing!
The last place May Shipley expects to be is a bar. As a recovering alcoholic, she tends to avoid them. When she sees her girlfriends car in the parking lot, she figures she'll just stop in and say hi. What she doesn't expect to see is her girlfriend kissing another woman. May is upset, but thankfully, Alec, the bar owner and a family friend, is there to have her back and help her out. Alec is funny, sweet, and makes this whole situation a little less awful.
Alec has big dreams and goals when it comes to his business. Starting a relationship with anyone isn't really in those plans. But then comes May Shipley walking into his life, and he can't stay away. May and Alec are friends. Then they're friends with benefits. Then, it turns into something else entirely.
Alec is SO GOOD for May. She needs someone like him in her life. Someone that supports her, treats her well, and doesn't walk on egg shells around her, like so many in her family do. I loved this couple together. Not only did they have an insane amount of chemistry, but they were just so sweet together. I couldn't love Alec more than I did in this book, and May was great as well.
Speakeasy is a fantastic addition to the True North series. It has some heavy issues, but it's fun and light hearted at the same time. It made me laugh, smile, and swoon all the way through! Alec just might be my new favorite character of this series. I was completely enamored by him and I loved his and May's story! This book was a win for me, and I can't wait to read more about the True North gang! I hope Sarina doesn't stop writing these books any time soon.
Sometimes you fall for Mr. Right. And sometimes for Mr. Right Now…
Sarina Bowen has done it again! Her True North series is strong and I've enjoyed every book! I was excited to get to May Shipley's story. She's one I've been curious about since Zach and Lark's story. Boy did she meet her match with Alec! I absolutely loved their pairing!
The last place May Shipley expects to be is a bar. As a recovering alcoholic, she tends to avoid them. When she sees her girlfriends car in the parking lot, she figures she'll just stop in and say hi. What she doesn't expect to see is her girlfriend kissing another woman. May is upset, but thankfully, Alec, the bar owner and a family friend, is there to have her back and help her out. Alec is funny, sweet, and makes this whole situation a little less awful.
Alec has big dreams and goals when it comes to his business. Starting a relationship with anyone isn't really in those plans. But then comes May Shipley walking into his life, and he can't stay away. May and Alec are friends. Then they're friends with benefits. Then, it turns into something else entirely.
Alec is SO GOOD for May. She needs someone like him in her life. Someone that supports her, treats her well, and doesn't walk on egg shells around her, like so many in her family do. I loved this couple together. Not only did they have an insane amount of chemistry, but they were just so sweet together. I couldn't love Alec more than I did in this book, and May was great as well.
Speakeasy is a fantastic addition to the True North series. It has some heavy issues, but it's fun and light hearted at the same time. It made me laugh, smile, and swoon all the way through! Alec just might be my new favorite character of this series. I was completely enamored by him and I loved his and May's story! This book was a win for me, and I can't wait to read more about the True North gang! I hope Sarina doesn't stop writing these books any time soon.
Love is messy, unpredictable, and occasionally loud. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
May 29, 2018
READ MY REVIEW ON THE BLOG
The best recipe for a book slump is a Sarina Bowen book. I said it before and I'll say it again. And again. And...again. She's one of my favorite authors. She's dependable to deliver an engaging, beautiful story with lovable characters and even if it's a well used trope, she always puts her own twist on it. I don't think I've rated a book by this author below four stars.
With Speakeasy we are back with the Shipley family. May is the child that causes the Shipleys constant worry. She's a recovering alcoholic and everyone, especially her mother and her brother Griff. They handle her with kid gloves and May's had enough. She feels like a failure as it is and her family doesn't make it any better. When she walks into the Gin Mill, the town's new hot spot for premium beer, to surprise her girlfriend the joke's on her. She finds her in a liplock with Daniela's ex. Alec Rossi is her knight in shining armor who also saves her from herself and her righteous anger.
This story focuses a lot on May's addiction and she finds a long list of reasons why Alec and her won't work. Alec is the resident man whore and nobody expects him to be serious. None of his friends give him much credit, not even his own family. He thinks he's a failure too and he really wants to turn around everybody's opinion of him by making the Gin Mill a success. When the long-legged, beautiful May Shipley walks into his bar he didn't anticipate this to be a life changing moment. They start a friends-with-benefits relationship that is supposed to be fun. Alec, the man who takes little seriously, soon finds himself more than tempted to change the rules of their arrangement.
May Shipley scratches an itch that I didn’t know I had.
Alec was such a fun character. Lighthearted, but good to the core and not as shallow as everybody seemed to think by far. I loved his silliness, how earnest he could be when he knew that something was important to one of his loves ones. He's exactly the type of man I'd fall for too. I was laughing my ass off with his so totally not funny bar jokes. For some reason the mushroom joke he told in the end had me in stitches and I couldn't stop laughing although I'm sure it wasn't really that funny.
Alec had me wrapped around his finger with his carefree and positive outlook on life, his sexuality and how he adored May. And don't get me started how cute he was with his niece. He also made me melt when he told May all the reasons why he wanted to be with her. He was so tender and sweet with her, yet showed her that she wasn't weak.
“I want all of this. I want the whispered late-night conversations. And the holidays where we have to touch each other quietly in a bed that’s too small so we don’t become one of your grandfather’s jokes at the table.”
May is a complicated young woman. She struggles daily with her cravings but it's so important to her to stay sober. Rebound sex with Alec isn't really a great idea from her point of view. May second-guesses herself a lot and she's never sure if Alec is only a rebound lay or if there is something real. How can she know he won't run if she tells him that her struggle with alcohol is a daily occurrence? She doesn't trust herself, and how can she if her family doesn't seem to trust her?
I loved May as Alec's love interest although I have to say that the belief that they belong together was a little harder earned than I'd like to. She always thought she'd end up with a woman and along comes Alex. Half of her life she has been in love with her best friend Lark, who will marry the love of her life soon. May had to grow into the woman who was also into men first again and it took a little too long for that to happen. But when she finally accepted her feelings for Alec it was so, so sweet. I admired her so much, she was stronger than she thought.
We get to catch up with my favorite characters from this series. I loved Audrey and Jude in particular for being such good friends to May and Alec. Grandpa Shipley was a hoot, he's such a character! I didn't remember that he was so funny in Griffin and Zach's book!
“Hello, beautiful,” I say to her. “Who’s your favorite uncle?”
“Ack,” Nicole says.
“That’s right, babyliscious. Ack is the man. Now— remind me. What’s his name?” I point at Benito.
“Bimbo,” she says.
Everyone laughs. God, I love this kid. “Don’t ever change, Nicole.”
I enjoyed every word of Speakeasy. It was lighthearted despite the sensitive subject of alcoholism. It has humor, the affectionate family dynamics of the Shipleys and a good portion of steam. This series has a warm, familiar feel to it, it's like coming home every time I read a new installment. Now the waiting begins for the next in the True North series and I'm super-curious who this book will be about!
October 17, 2019
It’s easy to exceed low expectations…
A wee bit spoilerish if you haven't read this series yet, please, proceed with caution.
I can truly sympathise with both May and Alec because I too suffer from…Middle Child Syndrome. Scoff all you like, but it’s a known fact that we, the middle child, are overlooked, forgotten and misjudged. I too have seen the shock on relatives faces when, surprise, surprise, I do something well. For me - *Oh, you’re a book reviewer? I didn’t even know you could read…* - NICE!! (slight exaggeration) For Alec, he’s a good-looking guy who likes to party, so, of course, he should hang out in a bar. If he owns and works the bar and it succeeds, it’s only because a partier knows what a partier wants…not because of long hours and hard work. In May’s case, she’s a recovering alcoholic which means she’ll always be A RECOVERING ALCOHOLIC.
You’re probably all doing one of those soft chuckles, shaking your head at us poor middle children. But honestly, we get it tough. I’ll give you an example…growing up I had to do whatever activity my sister did. I was a tomboy, she was a girly girl. My mother made me do JAZZ BALLET…I still have nightmares. Both my older and younger sisters are DRAMA QUEENS (in the nicest possible ways), me, I get nervous answering the telephone. Guess who was signed up for a singing ensemble?
I better stop here, or the rest of the review will be about… It’s the Hard-knock Life…for a middle child.
So, I get it, I really and truly get it. Alec and May have to face life’s battles while also prove that they are more than the partier or the alcoholic. I don’t know why but it seems that friends and families have low expectations of a middle child. Even funnier, we tend to live up to those low expectations. Why try harder if all you expect is mediocre? Maybe, it’s because we love to, occasionally, surprise the bugger out of you.
In Speakeasy, we are treated to another visit with the Shipley family and the True North gang. I loved feeling like I was visiting old friends and having a catch-up. These characters have grown so much since the beginning and we get to witness them grow even further. Instead of cider, it was all about the beer this time.
You may be asking, well Sassy, how does a recovering alcoholic end up in a relationship with a bar owner? Well, my book reading friends, it certainly wasn’t an easy journey. It all came down to how much you want it.
IT, you ask?
A relationship will work if both parties want it enough. Sobriety works if you never forget where you’ve been and keep on keeping on, walking the path to where you want to go. I loved that it wasn’t easy for either Alec or May. If it was easy, I’m not sure I would have believed it. Sarina Bowen gives it to us real, and that’s why she’s a master at her craft.
Speakeasy was real and at times emotional. I loved the storyline, the characters and the feelings this story provoked in me. Yes, I understood the characters better because of our shared battles of living the life of a Middle Child, but it was more than that. I recognised May’s feelings of failure and hating to disappoint loved ones. I could sympathise with Alec when bad choices in your younger years seem to be a name tag you’ll wear for the rest of your life. I loved that by the end of the story, you couldn’t help but look at May and Alec in a new light. They are more than their pasts and their bad choices. Both want to move forward together and once they start to trust their feelings, it was obvious they were perfect for each other.
I’ll be a little honest here…I think I may love Alec a little more than May. Seriously, wait until you meet this guy. He’s far from perfect but he’s sweet, kind, thoughtful, hard-working, lovable, good with kids, sexy and honest.
Anyways…MIDDLE CHILDREN UNITE!!
I highly recommend Speakeasy and if you haven’t started the True North series yet, get to it.
Stacey is Sassy, received an advanced copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.
A wee bit spoilerish if you haven't read this series yet, please, proceed with caution.
I can truly sympathise with both May and Alec because I too suffer from…Middle Child Syndrome. Scoff all you like, but it’s a known fact that we, the middle child, are overlooked, forgotten and misjudged. I too have seen the shock on relatives faces when, surprise, surprise, I do something well. For me - *Oh, you’re a book reviewer? I didn’t even know you could read…* - NICE!! (slight exaggeration) For Alec, he’s a good-looking guy who likes to party, so, of course, he should hang out in a bar. If he owns and works the bar and it succeeds, it’s only because a partier knows what a partier wants…not because of long hours and hard work. In May’s case, she’s a recovering alcoholic which means she’ll always be A RECOVERING ALCOHOLIC.
You’re probably all doing one of those soft chuckles, shaking your head at us poor middle children. But honestly, we get it tough. I’ll give you an example…growing up I had to do whatever activity my sister did. I was a tomboy, she was a girly girl. My mother made me do JAZZ BALLET…I still have nightmares. Both my older and younger sisters are DRAMA QUEENS (in the nicest possible ways), me, I get nervous answering the telephone. Guess who was signed up for a singing ensemble?
I better stop here, or the rest of the review will be about… It’s the Hard-knock Life…for a middle child.
So, I get it, I really and truly get it. Alec and May have to face life’s battles while also prove that they are more than the partier or the alcoholic. I don’t know why but it seems that friends and families have low expectations of a middle child. Even funnier, we tend to live up to those low expectations. Why try harder if all you expect is mediocre? Maybe, it’s because we love to, occasionally, surprise the bugger out of you.
In Speakeasy, we are treated to another visit with the Shipley family and the True North gang. I loved feeling like I was visiting old friends and having a catch-up. These characters have grown so much since the beginning and we get to witness them grow even further. Instead of cider, it was all about the beer this time.
You may be asking, well Sassy, how does a recovering alcoholic end up in a relationship with a bar owner? Well, my book reading friends, it certainly wasn’t an easy journey. It all came down to how much you want it.
IT, you ask?
A relationship will work if both parties want it enough. Sobriety works if you never forget where you’ve been and keep on keeping on, walking the path to where you want to go. I loved that it wasn’t easy for either Alec or May. If it was easy, I’m not sure I would have believed it. Sarina Bowen gives it to us real, and that’s why she’s a master at her craft.
Speakeasy was real and at times emotional. I loved the storyline, the characters and the feelings this story provoked in me. Yes, I understood the characters better because of our shared battles of living the life of a Middle Child, but it was more than that. I recognised May’s feelings of failure and hating to disappoint loved ones. I could sympathise with Alec when bad choices in your younger years seem to be a name tag you’ll wear for the rest of your life. I loved that by the end of the story, you couldn’t help but look at May and Alec in a new light. They are more than their pasts and their bad choices. Both want to move forward together and once they start to trust their feelings, it was obvious they were perfect for each other.
I’ll be a little honest here…I think I may love Alec a little more than May. Seriously, wait until you meet this guy. He’s far from perfect but he’s sweet, kind, thoughtful, hard-working, lovable, good with kids, sexy and honest.
Anyways…MIDDLE CHILDREN UNITE!!
I highly recommend Speakeasy and if you haven’t started the True North series yet, get to it.
Stacey is Sassy, received an advanced copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.
May 25, 2023
Don't Miss Out, It's FREE!!!
4 Do Not Underestimate Stars
* * * * Spoiler Free
You know you are a hardcore fan when a specific author's book lands on your Kindle and you drop everything to read it...That's what happens when Sarina Bowen graces me with her words. I have found she handles universal human issues so incredibly well...She takes the ugly, the insecurities, and the questioning thoughts we all have experienced at some point and shows how we are all in this together... no one is immune.
In all of the True North books, our characters have had to deal with all sorts of issues... and each time I felt they were handled with authenticity and frankness of how it would feel to deal with them.... never a sugarcoating.
This time Bowen takes two people who are seen by others as either a player and not serious about anything or as fragile and needs to be watched and monitored for their own good.
Alec Rossi comes from a big family that never lived on the right side of the tracks...His father worked for Shipley Farms and would imbibe and bicker with his wife. This would lead to his going on benders and disappearing from the family. There were cheating and bad feelings. Alec knew things were bad but then one night after he lost his Shipley job, the father decided not to come back.
This change in the family dynamic caused a number of things to happen...The mother held them all together and the kids supported each other. Each took on a part and Alec's was the good time, the honest middle child. Keeper of the Peace.
This persona took on a life of its own during the teenage years that went by... need a player to have a bonfire...ask Alec. Need a Keg or place to party... Alec will figure it out...
Alec was easy going and the women were more than happy to be easygoing with him...
But as the years continued... Alec took on more responsibility for purchasing an old warehouse in disrepair and not wanted. Alec worked with his own hands and brought it to life... he made it a bar that became a mecca for Craft Beer Fans in Vermont. He worked almost seven days a week to make a go of it... but no one, especially Uncle Otto sees him as being the responsible person he has become. They still see the easy-going guy who can make you smile with silly bar jokes.
May Shipley has dealt with her own image issues...As the sister of dynamic siblings, she had felt lost in her own family. College was a challenge and her experiences there turned her away from guys... they were just Ugh. She decided she liked guys ok...but maybe life would be easier taking a dip in the Lady Pond...
May was accomplished and did law school. There she met a woman who she thought was her possible forever. At first, things were great...but then not so much. This partner also wasn't supportive of May's sobriety. Her sobriety wasn't a game... her meetings were real and she wasn't going to backtrack for anything.
May is driving back from a meeting and sees her girlfriend's car at Alec's Bar. She figures she will go in and say hey...Only to walk in and see her girlfriend at a table in the corner sucking face with her ex...
Now Alec had been watching this happen from the bar and was conflicted by it... no one likes a cheater and May was the only Shipley he liked. She was a few years younger than him but he always thought kindly of her.
When time stops and May sees the cheater at the table with her ex...Alec is there to make sure May does nothing to jeopardize her legal career...Getting in a knockdown drag-out fight wouldn't be good for May or the bar...So he steps in and holds May back. Words are said and before May realizes it... she is out of the bar via Alec and he is helping her move out.
May is so annoyed she has to move back to the family farm. Her family means well but ever since May came to terms with her drinking, they treat her like she is made of glass. She hates it. She is a licensed Lawyer, for Gawd's sake.
Alec checks in with May once he leaves the farm...a quick text to see if she is alright. May appreciated the concern and texted back...a few silly bar jokes are exchanged.
A few back-and-forth exchanges happen and then May decides to ask Alec to help her out. She has to go to this law school event and the ex-girlfriend will be there... Alec is happy to assist and when he sees May looking quite hot, he lets her know how great she looks. A game plan is discussed as to how they are going to deal with the ex and before May realizes it... she is responding to all the yummy maleness of Alec...
This story is something special because it addresses so many things all at the same time. It handles the fear we all have in allowing ourselves to lay bare to one another... emotionally as well as physically. When we are fighting preconceived images or fighting our own belief in how ugly our challenges are...it can be very difficult to trust and share how we feel. We can present a mask of what we think others want when we think we are not worthy to show true fears. Bowen brings all of this front and center.
She also takes two people who are so good together, you root for them once things start happening... Oh and happening they do...Did I mention Alec is yummy...
Well, May is totally up for the challenge and I suggest laundry being done before reading.
As you can tell, I read this quickly and enjoyed it all. Both of these characters were wanting more out of their lives. Both of them were able to achieve it by being who they were together.
Bittersweet (True North, #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Steadfast (True North, #2)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Keepsake (True North #3)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Bountiful (True North #4)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Speakeasy (True North, #5)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Fireworks (True North, #6)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Heatland (True North, #7)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Waylaid (True North, #8)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~
Take Me Back...
Please Take Me Back to Bowen's True North Vermont...
Where Craft Beer and Complex Love Flows...
Where Sarina Bowen leads our hearts...
Through a perfect maze...
To the HEA we all want...
Going in and will report back...
Speakeasy (True North #5)-May 29th 2018
A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
4 Do Not Underestimate Stars
* * * * Spoiler Free
You know you are a hardcore fan when a specific author's book lands on your Kindle and you drop everything to read it...That's what happens when Sarina Bowen graces me with her words. I have found she handles universal human issues so incredibly well...She takes the ugly, the insecurities, and the questioning thoughts we all have experienced at some point and shows how we are all in this together... no one is immune.
In all of the True North books, our characters have had to deal with all sorts of issues... and each time I felt they were handled with authenticity and frankness of how it would feel to deal with them.... never a sugarcoating.
This time Bowen takes two people who are seen by others as either a player and not serious about anything or as fragile and needs to be watched and monitored for their own good.
Alec Rossi comes from a big family that never lived on the right side of the tracks...His father worked for Shipley Farms and would imbibe and bicker with his wife. This would lead to his going on benders and disappearing from the family. There were cheating and bad feelings. Alec knew things were bad but then one night after he lost his Shipley job, the father decided not to come back.
This change in the family dynamic caused a number of things to happen...The mother held them all together and the kids supported each other. Each took on a part and Alec's was the good time, the honest middle child. Keeper of the Peace.
This persona took on a life of its own during the teenage years that went by... need a player to have a bonfire...ask Alec. Need a Keg or place to party... Alec will figure it out...
Alec was easy going and the women were more than happy to be easygoing with him...
But as the years continued... Alec took on more responsibility for purchasing an old warehouse in disrepair and not wanted. Alec worked with his own hands and brought it to life... he made it a bar that became a mecca for Craft Beer Fans in Vermont. He worked almost seven days a week to make a go of it... but no one, especially Uncle Otto sees him as being the responsible person he has become. They still see the easy-going guy who can make you smile with silly bar jokes.
May Shipley has dealt with her own image issues...As the sister of dynamic siblings, she had felt lost in her own family. College was a challenge and her experiences there turned her away from guys... they were just Ugh. She decided she liked guys ok...but maybe life would be easier taking a dip in the Lady Pond...
May was accomplished and did law school. There she met a woman who she thought was her possible forever. At first, things were great...but then not so much. This partner also wasn't supportive of May's sobriety. Her sobriety wasn't a game... her meetings were real and she wasn't going to backtrack for anything.
May is driving back from a meeting and sees her girlfriend's car at Alec's Bar. She figures she will go in and say hey...Only to walk in and see her girlfriend at a table in the corner sucking face with her ex...
Now Alec had been watching this happen from the bar and was conflicted by it... no one likes a cheater and May was the only Shipley he liked. She was a few years younger than him but he always thought kindly of her.
When time stops and May sees the cheater at the table with her ex...Alec is there to make sure May does nothing to jeopardize her legal career...Getting in a knockdown drag-out fight wouldn't be good for May or the bar...So he steps in and holds May back. Words are said and before May realizes it... she is out of the bar via Alec and he is helping her move out.
May is so annoyed she has to move back to the family farm. Her family means well but ever since May came to terms with her drinking, they treat her like she is made of glass. She hates it. She is a licensed Lawyer, for Gawd's sake.
Alec checks in with May once he leaves the farm...a quick text to see if she is alright. May appreciated the concern and texted back...a few silly bar jokes are exchanged.
A few back-and-forth exchanges happen and then May decides to ask Alec to help her out. She has to go to this law school event and the ex-girlfriend will be there... Alec is happy to assist and when he sees May looking quite hot, he lets her know how great she looks. A game plan is discussed as to how they are going to deal with the ex and before May realizes it... she is responding to all the yummy maleness of Alec...
This story is something special because it addresses so many things all at the same time. It handles the fear we all have in allowing ourselves to lay bare to one another... emotionally as well as physically. When we are fighting preconceived images or fighting our own belief in how ugly our challenges are...it can be very difficult to trust and share how we feel. We can present a mask of what we think others want when we think we are not worthy to show true fears. Bowen brings all of this front and center.
She also takes two people who are so good together, you root for them once things start happening... Oh and happening they do...Did I mention Alec is yummy...
Well, May is totally up for the challenge and I suggest laundry being done before reading.
As you can tell, I read this quickly and enjoyed it all. Both of these characters were wanting more out of their lives. Both of them were able to achieve it by being who they were together.
Bittersweet (True North, #1)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Steadfast (True North, #2)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Keepsake (True North #3) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Bountiful (True North #4) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Speakeasy (True North, #5)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Fireworks (True North, #6)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Heatland (True North, #7)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Waylaid (True North, #8)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~
Take Me Back...
Please Take Me Back to Bowen's True North Vermont...
Where Craft Beer and Complex Love Flows...
Where Sarina Bowen leads our hearts...
Through a perfect maze...
To the HEA we all want...
Going in and will report back...
Speakeasy (True North #5)-May 29th 2018
A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
July 29, 2018
Oh yeah, I love when a book character makes me feel well-adjusted.
May is a girl that is a complete hot mess. She's been a background character throughout this series and was previously in love with her best friend, who was a female (and straight), and then decided she is bisexual. Then, she became a drunken mess and realized she is an alcoholic. Oh, an alcoholic with a cheating, bitchy girlfriend.
I had an alcoholic friend once. Great designated driver!
I remember this one time we went out to a comedy club and since she couldn't drink her two-drink minimum, I had to drink all four drinks. Then, we met up with this bartender who thought we were cute and he made us free drinks all night - which I had to drink them all too. I think he was hoping to be the filling in a blonde/red head sandwich because he kept making me sex-on-the-beaches, screaming orgasms, etc. Okay, he wasn't that subtle. And, no, we didn't take him home, we took off in her little convertible and yeah, maybe I vomited in her assigned parking spot, and sure, maybe I woke up to the smell of her spraying air freshener because I was seeping alcohol out of my pores from my passed-out position on her couch. But, gosh that was fun. Well, after I had a mysterious bout of the flu the next day. It was completely gone by that night. Huh. That was strange. I wonder what ever happened to my friend. We lost touch for some reason.
Anyway, what was my point? Oh yeah, May is a hot mess.
At least she's hot. Because of this, she attracts the attentions of Alec, who was also a background character. He's a party boy, who owns a bar.
Yeah. The bi-sexual alcoholic and the party-bartender. This is gonna be good.
But, it was good. I have really liked this series because they have the perfect blend of angst, romance, and smut. If it were too angsty, I would be running far away. If they were too gooey on the romance, same. And, thankfully, the smut doesn't have those creepy genitalia descriptions going. Thank you, Sarina Bowen, for not using the words "satin", "turgid member", or "cream". Eww. Just writing those words are the equivalent of a cold shower with a picture of my dead grandma on the wall.
It's bad enough that she's on my cell phone. Makes sexting with the hubs a little awkward.
What I'm really looking forward to is the hopes of a male/male romance in the future. There is a potential couple in the background. Fingers crossed!
May is a girl that is a complete hot mess. She's been a background character throughout this series and was previously in love with her best friend, who was a female (and straight), and then decided she is bisexual. Then, she became a drunken mess and realized she is an alcoholic. Oh, an alcoholic with a cheating, bitchy girlfriend.
I had an alcoholic friend once. Great designated driver!
I remember this one time we went out to a comedy club and since she couldn't drink her two-drink minimum, I had to drink all four drinks. Then, we met up with this bartender who thought we were cute and he made us free drinks all night - which I had to drink them all too. I think he was hoping to be the filling in a blonde/red head sandwich because he kept making me sex-on-the-beaches, screaming orgasms, etc. Okay, he wasn't that subtle. And, no, we didn't take him home, we took off in her little convertible and yeah, maybe I vomited in her assigned parking spot, and sure, maybe I woke up to the smell of her spraying air freshener because I was seeping alcohol out of my pores from my passed-out position on her couch. But, gosh that was fun. Well, after I had a mysterious bout of the flu the next day. It was completely gone by that night. Huh. That was strange. I wonder what ever happened to my friend. We lost touch for some reason.
Anyway, what was my point? Oh yeah, May is a hot mess.
At least she's hot. Because of this, she attracts the attentions of Alec, who was also a background character. He's a party boy, who owns a bar.
Yeah. The bi-sexual alcoholic and the party-bartender. This is gonna be good.
But, it was good. I have really liked this series because they have the perfect blend of angst, romance, and smut. If it were too angsty, I would be running far away. If they were too gooey on the romance, same. And, thankfully, the smut doesn't have those creepy genitalia descriptions going. Thank you, Sarina Bowen, for not using the words "satin", "turgid member", or "cream". Eww. Just writing those words are the equivalent of a cold shower with a picture of my dead grandma on the wall.
It's bad enough that she's on my cell phone. Makes sexting with the hubs a little awkward.
What I'm really looking forward to is the hopes of a male/male romance in the future. There is a potential couple in the background. Fingers crossed!
October 31, 2024
4.5 stars
Wow!! Not only did the book-cover completely enchant me, the story on its own was absolutely stunning!!!
Speakeasy is honestly next to Bittersweet my most favorite True North story to date.
May and Alec were a stunning couple. And I can only applaud the author for writing a story that embraced May's sexuality, her believes, and her beautiful soul in such an amazing way. The way May connected with Alec was entirely genuine, and surprisingly sexy. She was a wild one. And I absolutely loved her for that.
Throughout the True North series, May's journey has been an emotional rollercoaster ride and deeply touching. It was a true pleasure to see her find her own HEA. And for me, her love for Alec, was a beautiful thing to witness.
Her new found interest in the male form, was quite the illuminating discovery for May. Nevertheless she embraced it with laughter, joy and utter contentment. And Alec, couldn't have been a better partner for her. His goofy, kind and funny side, was the right bandaid for May's broken heart. Together they found a kindred spirit in each other.
I truly adored Alec. His struggle felt real, and his less than perfect personality made him even more charming and likable. Although his reputation was everything else than stellar, his personality was an adorable mix of goofyiness and hardworking businessman. With his steadfast and supporting demeanor he was exactly what May needed. Someone that didn't treat her with kid gloves, and took what she offered without dissecting everything she did.
Together they were a wonderful couple, confident enough in each other to overcome minor hurdles in a mature and kind manner.
I honestly feel like this series has only been getting better with each book. Which is on its own quite the feat. There aren't that many series that keep getting better. So, I'm beyond excited that Speakeasy was more than I could have ever wished for. It shouldn't come as a surprise that I hope the author keeps on writing this series, there are more Shipley children that need their HEAs.
Wow!! Not only did the book-cover completely enchant me, the story on its own was absolutely stunning!!!
Speakeasy is honestly next to Bittersweet my most favorite True North story to date.
May and Alec were a stunning couple. And I can only applaud the author for writing a story that embraced May's sexuality, her believes, and her beautiful soul in such an amazing way. The way May connected with Alec was entirely genuine, and surprisingly sexy. She was a wild one. And I absolutely loved her for that.
Throughout the True North series, May's journey has been an emotional rollercoaster ride and deeply touching. It was a true pleasure to see her find her own HEA. And for me, her love for Alec, was a beautiful thing to witness.
Her new found interest in the male form, was quite the illuminating discovery for May. Nevertheless she embraced it with laughter, joy and utter contentment. And Alec, couldn't have been a better partner for her. His goofy, kind and funny side, was the right bandaid for May's broken heart. Together they found a kindred spirit in each other.
I truly adored Alec. His struggle felt real, and his less than perfect personality made him even more charming and likable. Although his reputation was everything else than stellar, his personality was an adorable mix of goofyiness and hardworking businessman. With his steadfast and supporting demeanor he was exactly what May needed. Someone that didn't treat her with kid gloves, and took what she offered without dissecting everything she did.
Together they were a wonderful couple, confident enough in each other to overcome minor hurdles in a mature and kind manner.
I honestly feel like this series has only been getting better with each book. Which is on its own quite the feat. There aren't that many series that keep getting better. So, I'm beyond excited that Speakeasy was more than I could have ever wished for. It shouldn't come as a surprise that I hope the author keeps on writing this series, there are more Shipley children that need their HEAs.
May 29, 2018
NOW LIVE!
Amazon US * Amazon UK
Speakeasy started off a little confusing for me since at the beginning May is dating a woman, and then even has an inner dialogue about her female best friend. It seemed a little odd to me to have that much attention on the fact that she was into girls all while the hero was more of a background character. I'm in no way, shape, or form saying I had a problem with her being bisexual, just that it had questioning if she was even going to end up liking the hero in a romantic way.
Once I got past those parts though, and Alec started to get more of the attention focused on him, I became entranced with his and May's story. Seeing them together was so fun and I loved the dialogue between them. Alex could be a little immature at times but it always made me laugh at how silly he could be and I thought his personality mixed perfectly with May's more stern one.
Overall, this is a great book and one I think anyone would enjoy. It had a really light vibe to it all while dealing with more serious subject matters, mainly May's alcoholism, and I thought it was great that this author blended the seriousness with a more lighthearted feeling. This book can definitely be read as a standalone without feeling lost or confused about secondary characters that are mentioned.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
Amazon US * Amazon UK
Speakeasy started off a little confusing for me since at the beginning May is dating a woman, and then even has an inner dialogue about her female best friend. It seemed a little odd to me to have that much attention on the fact that she was into girls all while the hero was more of a background character. I'm in no way, shape, or form saying I had a problem with her being bisexual, just that it had questioning if she was even going to end up liking the hero in a romantic way.
Once I got past those parts though, and Alec started to get more of the attention focused on him, I became entranced with his and May's story. Seeing them together was so fun and I loved the dialogue between them. Alex could be a little immature at times but it always made me laugh at how silly he could be and I thought his personality mixed perfectly with May's more stern one.
Overall, this is a great book and one I think anyone would enjoy. It had a really light vibe to it all while dealing with more serious subject matters, mainly May's alcoholism, and I thought it was great that this author blended the seriousness with a more lighthearted feeling. This book can definitely be read as a standalone without feeling lost or confused about secondary characters that are mentioned.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
May 12, 2020
Eins der besten Bücher, die ich dieses Jahr gelesen hab! Und eins der besten aus dem Genre! Und für mich bisher das beste Buch der Reihe!
Sarina Bowen hat es also mal wieder getan: mich voll vom Hocker gehauen. Ich hab dieses Buch einfach nur geliebt, ohne Ende geliebt. Habe mir extra versucht Zeit zu lassen beim Lesen, hat aber nur so semi geklappt. Aber ich wollte das Buch einfach nicht aus der Hand legen. Vor allem weil es Sarina Bowen wieder ganz ohne unnötiges Drama geschafft hat.
Familie Shipley fühlt sich einfach immer an wie heim kommen! Unsere beiden Protagonisten mochte ich auch sehr. Vor allem in May konnte ich mich sehr gut reinversetzen und fand ihre Hintergrundstory sehr außergewöhnlich.
Die Beziehung zwischen den beiden habe ich auch zu 100% gefühlt, davon lebt dieses Genre eben einfach. Ich könnte jetzt noch jede Menge Sachen aufzählen, die mir an dem Buch gefallen haben (sei es Schreibstil, Humor oder auch die expliziteren Szenen), aber ich finde alle Fans des Genres sollten sich davon lieber selbst überzeugen und diese grandiose Reihe lesen :)
Sarina Bowen hat es also mal wieder getan: mich voll vom Hocker gehauen. Ich hab dieses Buch einfach nur geliebt, ohne Ende geliebt. Habe mir extra versucht Zeit zu lassen beim Lesen, hat aber nur so semi geklappt. Aber ich wollte das Buch einfach nicht aus der Hand legen. Vor allem weil es Sarina Bowen wieder ganz ohne unnötiges Drama geschafft hat.
Familie Shipley fühlt sich einfach immer an wie heim kommen! Unsere beiden Protagonisten mochte ich auch sehr. Vor allem in May konnte ich mich sehr gut reinversetzen und fand ihre Hintergrundstory sehr außergewöhnlich.
Die Beziehung zwischen den beiden habe ich auch zu 100% gefühlt, davon lebt dieses Genre eben einfach. Ich könnte jetzt noch jede Menge Sachen aufzählen, die mir an dem Buch gefallen haben (sei es Schreibstil, Humor oder auch die expliziteren Szenen), aber ich finde alle Fans des Genres sollten sich davon lieber selbst überzeugen und diese grandiose Reihe lesen :)
June 8, 2018
ALL THE STARS!!!!!!!!!!
True story. When I discovered that this one wasn't going to feature Roderick and Kieran I had a sad, because something is up with those two! But I soldiered on and guess what happened?
I fell in love with this book! I might even like this better than Bittersweet! Bold statement I know, but this book filled up my love tank to bursting.
And now I’m going to squee. A lot. So brace yourselves.
This series always feels like coming home. I love the atmosphere in this sleepy little Vermont town called Tuxbury that SB has created. I love the Shipleys and look forward to catching up with them every time a new book comes out. Tuxbury is really more of an extended family than made up of merely neighbors. They love their craft beers, baked goods, whatever Audrey cooks up in the Shipley kitchen for Thursday dinner, organic farming and the sense of community that pervades the True North series are what make it special for me.
May is the oldest Shipley daughter. She calls herself a hot mess for many reasons; she’s an alcoholic, made mistakes aplenty and she generally feels like she’s always fucking something up. In short, no one is harder on May than May. She’s bisexual and been in love with her best friend Lark for years, but Lark does not reciprocate her feels. She actually went and fell for the nicest of nice guys Zach in Keepsake. That probably sent May into a bad "rebound" relationship with Daniela. Who is a bitch. A controlling, abusive and awful bitch.
Coming home from work one night May spots Daniela’s car at The Gin Mill and in an effort to be a nice girlfriend goes in and finds her putting on a show in a booth. With her ex. Who is also awful. Alec, The Gin Mill’s proprietor, intervenes before blood is shed. Good thing since I'm guessing the Vermont Bar Association would frown upon one of its members being charged with assault.
Alec Rossi is the boy your momma always told you to stay away from. He's made a lifestyle out of partying. He’s the fun guy that found a way to hold a kegger in high school. Every weekend. He’s allergic to relationships and commitment, an allergy which has earned him a rep as a sex wizard. The ladies are never in short supply. Oozing charisma with an aura of laid back that borders on zen makes him VERY popular. He’s also a Rossi. There’s been bad blood between the Shipleys and Rossis since forever, so there’s a certain Romeo and Juliet vibe about Speakeasy that's extremely appealing. There's something sexy about sneaking around, isn't there? Adds to the excitement or something.
Naturally both of these characters have more depth than they believe themselves to have. Both are well constructed and infinitely likable. The banter between them put a smile on my face and kept it there for the majority of the book.
They have sizzling chemistry and embark on a friends with bennies relationship which of course segues into deeper feelings. They both have baggage but that baggage felt genuine, honest. I never felt that mountains were being made out of molehills or that their angst was contrived. As I watched them fall in love I could see how well they compliment one another which is guaranteed to make me swoon.
May’s addiction is still very much a part of her life and isn’t downplayed. I wouldn’t say that I enjoy reading about addiction but if it’s going to be integral to the character then I applaud when it's portrayed authentically and SB not only did that for May but she again addressed the opioid epidemic that's plagued the northeast for several years now and is now spreading like wildfire through the rest of the country.
May’s bisexuality wasn’t sidestepped either. She truly believed that her future lay with another woman but once she realizes that she’s fallen for Alec she doesn’t hold back. She fully commits to him and the possibilities of a future with him, but it’s made clear that doing so doesn’t make her any less bisexual.
The fact that Alec isn’t intimidated by her bisexuality and is prone to “perving” on her lesbian fantasies made me adore him. Well, that and that he’s not afraid to show emotion. He wears his heart on his sleeve and is honest with both himself and May where his feelings are concerned. He's a refreshingly honest male character who is alpha in many ways without being an alpha-hole. As much as he likes to believe he’s the antithesis of Griff, I noticed a lot of similarities between them. Alec’s just not as grumpy.
The backdrop of their love story is The Gin Mill and its future. It's Alec's baby and he has designs on expanding, just not the capital to do it. The way this storyline evolved put May and Alec’s connection front and center. It also showcased what makes me love the Shipleys and this little town so much. It made me a little verklempt a couple times to see it unfold. Maybe it was a little “too easy” but I do not even care. Not. One. Care. It was perfect to me in every single way and I can’t wait to reread it.
I have nothing else to say on this long and rambling road other than I LOVE GRANDPA SHIPLEY AND HIS OLD SCHOOL WORDS! Can’t wait to catch up with everyone in the next installment *side mouths* which I’m rully hoping is about Kieran and Roderick. Please don't make me beg, SB.
An ARC was provided.
True story. When I discovered that this one wasn't going to feature Roderick and Kieran I had a sad, because something is up with those two! But I soldiered on and guess what happened?
I fell in love with this book! I might even like this better than Bittersweet! Bold statement I know, but this book filled up my love tank to bursting.
And now I’m going to squee. A lot. So brace yourselves.
This series always feels like coming home. I love the atmosphere in this sleepy little Vermont town called Tuxbury that SB has created. I love the Shipleys and look forward to catching up with them every time a new book comes out. Tuxbury is really more of an extended family than made up of merely neighbors. They love their craft beers, baked goods, whatever Audrey cooks up in the Shipley kitchen for Thursday dinner, organic farming and the sense of community that pervades the True North series are what make it special for me.
May is the oldest Shipley daughter. She calls herself a hot mess for many reasons; she’s an alcoholic, made mistakes aplenty and she generally feels like she’s always fucking something up. In short, no one is harder on May than May. She’s bisexual and been in love with her best friend Lark for years, but Lark does not reciprocate her feels. She actually went and fell for the nicest of nice guys Zach in Keepsake. That probably sent May into a bad "rebound" relationship with Daniela. Who is a bitch. A controlling, abusive and awful bitch.
Coming home from work one night May spots Daniela’s car at The Gin Mill and in an effort to be a nice girlfriend goes in and finds her putting on a show in a booth. With her ex. Who is also awful. Alec, The Gin Mill’s proprietor, intervenes before blood is shed. Good thing since I'm guessing the Vermont Bar Association would frown upon one of its members being charged with assault.
Alec Rossi is the boy your momma always told you to stay away from. He's made a lifestyle out of partying. He’s the fun guy that found a way to hold a kegger in high school. Every weekend. He’s allergic to relationships and commitment, an allergy which has earned him a rep as a sex wizard. The ladies are never in short supply. Oozing charisma with an aura of laid back that borders on zen makes him VERY popular. He’s also a Rossi. There’s been bad blood between the Shipleys and Rossis since forever, so there’s a certain Romeo and Juliet vibe about Speakeasy that's extremely appealing. There's something sexy about sneaking around, isn't there? Adds to the excitement or something.
Naturally both of these characters have more depth than they believe themselves to have. Both are well constructed and infinitely likable. The banter between them put a smile on my face and kept it there for the majority of the book.
They have sizzling chemistry and embark on a friends with bennies relationship which of course segues into deeper feelings. They both have baggage but that baggage felt genuine, honest. I never felt that mountains were being made out of molehills or that their angst was contrived. As I watched them fall in love I could see how well they compliment one another which is guaranteed to make me swoon.
May’s addiction is still very much a part of her life and isn’t downplayed. I wouldn’t say that I enjoy reading about addiction but if it’s going to be integral to the character then I applaud when it's portrayed authentically and SB not only did that for May but she again addressed the opioid epidemic that's plagued the northeast for several years now and is now spreading like wildfire through the rest of the country.
May’s bisexuality wasn’t sidestepped either. She truly believed that her future lay with another woman but once she realizes that she’s fallen for Alec she doesn’t hold back. She fully commits to him and the possibilities of a future with him, but it’s made clear that doing so doesn’t make her any less bisexual.
The fact that Alec isn’t intimidated by her bisexuality and is prone to “perving” on her lesbian fantasies made me adore him. Well, that and that he’s not afraid to show emotion. He wears his heart on his sleeve and is honest with both himself and May where his feelings are concerned. He's a refreshingly honest male character who is alpha in many ways without being an alpha-hole. As much as he likes to believe he’s the antithesis of Griff, I noticed a lot of similarities between them. Alec’s just not as grumpy.
Making her happy makes me happy.
The backdrop of their love story is The Gin Mill and its future. It's Alec's baby and he has designs on expanding, just not the capital to do it. The way this storyline evolved put May and Alec’s connection front and center. It also showcased what makes me love the Shipleys and this little town so much. It made me a little verklempt a couple times to see it unfold. Maybe it was a little “too easy” but I do not even care. Not. One. Care. It was perfect to me in every single way and I can’t wait to reread it.
I have nothing else to say on this long and rambling road other than I LOVE GRANDPA SHIPLEY AND HIS OLD SCHOOL WORDS! Can’t wait to catch up with everyone in the next installment *side mouths* which I’m rully hoping is about Kieran and Roderick. Please don't make me beg, SB.
An ARC was provided.
September 9, 2025
Where do I even start?
I just can’t get enough of this series. Sarina Bowen is my favorite author because I enjoy her writing style immensely. You can count on her to tell you a beautiful story with down to earth characters facing real life problems. It is easy to relate to these characters and come to love them. She creates a world you want to live in, and characters you want to be friends with.
Speakeasy is the story of how May Shipley and Alex Rossi fall in love. They are a very unusual match, if you take into consideration that May is a recovering alcoholic and Alec owns a bar. May craves a stable relationship with a woman, and Alec is a commitment-phobe. And male. A match made in heaven they are not. On paper.
But.
There is no accounting for fate.
May is going through a rough patch. Her girlfriend cheated on her, her job is somewhat boring, she still has strong feelings for Lark, and finds herself forced to move back home. She is feeling embarrassed for staying in a bad relationship, and her family is not helping matters treating her like a ticking bomb about to explode. She is feeling vulnerable and lonely, and has been doubting her ability to form meaningful relationships. She is basically experiencing an identity crisis, and fears her sobriety is on the line.
Alec is a good guy. He is a loving son, brother and uncle. His reputation as a party boy precedes him, but he is trying to break out of the role eveybody has cast him in and prove he is a capable businessman. He has goals in life, but those don’t include relationships. He is happy playing the field.
One day, Alec accidentally helps May deal with her breakup and feels the need to follow up with a favor to accompany her to a school event. He feels a strong attraction to her, and while hanging out, they form a connection that soon turns combustible.
Alec brings out May’s long-lost wild side, which helps her feel better about herself at first. They begin hooking up regularly, sneaking around, nobody the wiser. Or so they thought. They become friends, and soon realize they have many things in common, like the way the are underestimated by their families, and how the lack of understanding makes them feel like fuck-ups. When their feelings for each other start getting complicated and real, they move in different and unexpected directions.
It can’t be easy dealing with subjects as sensitive as bisexuality and addiction, but once again, Sarina Bowen does a fantastic job. I really like the delicate balance she achieves between heartbreak and laughter. It is a heartfelt story with serious issues, but mixed with really funny moments that will have you laughing out loud. Grandpa Shipley has many of the best lines, it is hilarious.
Seriously. This book is worthy of your time.
I just can’t get enough of this series. Sarina Bowen is my favorite author because I enjoy her writing style immensely. You can count on her to tell you a beautiful story with down to earth characters facing real life problems. It is easy to relate to these characters and come to love them. She creates a world you want to live in, and characters you want to be friends with.
Speakeasy is the story of how May Shipley and Alex Rossi fall in love. They are a very unusual match, if you take into consideration that May is a recovering alcoholic and Alec owns a bar. May craves a stable relationship with a woman, and Alec is a commitment-phobe. And male. A match made in heaven they are not. On paper.
But.
There is no accounting for fate.
May is going through a rough patch. Her girlfriend cheated on her, her job is somewhat boring, she still has strong feelings for Lark, and finds herself forced to move back home. She is feeling embarrassed for staying in a bad relationship, and her family is not helping matters treating her like a ticking bomb about to explode. She is feeling vulnerable and lonely, and has been doubting her ability to form meaningful relationships. She is basically experiencing an identity crisis, and fears her sobriety is on the line.
Alec is a good guy. He is a loving son, brother and uncle. His reputation as a party boy precedes him, but he is trying to break out of the role eveybody has cast him in and prove he is a capable businessman. He has goals in life, but those don’t include relationships. He is happy playing the field.
One day, Alec accidentally helps May deal with her breakup and feels the need to follow up with a favor to accompany her to a school event. He feels a strong attraction to her, and while hanging out, they form a connection that soon turns combustible.
Alec brings out May’s long-lost wild side, which helps her feel better about herself at first. They begin hooking up regularly, sneaking around, nobody the wiser. Or so they thought. They become friends, and soon realize they have many things in common, like the way the are underestimated by their families, and how the lack of understanding makes them feel like fuck-ups. When their feelings for each other start getting complicated and real, they move in different and unexpected directions.
It can’t be easy dealing with subjects as sensitive as bisexuality and addiction, but once again, Sarina Bowen does a fantastic job. I really like the delicate balance she achieves between heartbreak and laughter. It is a heartfelt story with serious issues, but mixed with really funny moments that will have you laughing out loud. Grandpa Shipley has many of the best lines, it is hilarious.
Seriously. This book is worthy of your time.
May 29, 2018
🍎🍺🍏🍺🍎🍺🍏🍺🍎🍺🍏🍺🍎🍺🍏
We all remember May from the first books. She's the Shipley's 'problem' child. She's an alcoholic. And nobody in the family really trusts her to make sensibly decisions about her love life and her life in general. Now she's living with a girl - Daniela - and hoping that for the first time in her life something is going her way. Hopefully forever. BUT, of course it's not - Daniela is cheating on her.
Poor May packs her bags and with the help of bar owner and her teenage crush Alec (who is the brother of the girl from book #4 and a little bit of a Shipley family nemesis - as in he hates them!) she moves back in with her parents. Just what any 27 year old lawyer wants.
Alec is busy with his bar. He needs money to make some changes; like brew his own beer, add a restaurant. But now he's horribly distracted by beautiful May.
But of course she's gay, right?
What will happen to May & Alec?
Will there be a Happily Ever After?
READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT! ☺
══════════════════════
Eeep - I was so glad when I found out that this series was not over yet!
I loved Griffin and the other guys ... and now here's finally May's story.
She pretty quickly starts something with Alec...
And both know that it's only sex and only for a little while. Nobody can know. Griffin would probably kill Alec.
But it's not only for a little while. It becomes serious pretty fast. But poor May doesn't know if she can trust herself and she doesn't know that Alec really understands what it means to be with an alcoholic. But of course Alec is mega adorable about everything! Even though he has his own problems!
Such a sweet & moving & sexy & fun romance. With a lot of very serious topics.
I just adored it!
I soooo want this series to be on Netflix one day! PLEASE!
♡
♡
♡
♡
We all remember May from the first books. She's the Shipley's 'problem' child. She's an alcoholic. And nobody in the family really trusts her to make sensibly decisions about her love life and her life in general. Now she's living with a girl - Daniela - and hoping that for the first time in her life something is going her way. Hopefully forever. BUT, of course it's not - Daniela is cheating on her.
Poor May packs her bags and with the help of bar owner and her teenage crush Alec (who is the brother of the girl from book #4 and a little bit of a Shipley family nemesis - as in he hates them!) she moves back in with her parents. Just what any 27 year old lawyer wants.
Alec is busy with his bar. He needs money to make some changes; like brew his own beer, add a restaurant. But now he's horribly distracted by beautiful May.
But of course she's gay, right?
What will happen to May & Alec?
Will there be a Happily Ever After?
READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT! ☺
══════════════════════
Eeep - I was so glad when I found out that this series was not over yet!
I loved Griffin and the other guys ... and now here's finally May's story.
She pretty quickly starts something with Alec...
And both know that it's only sex and only for a little while. Nobody can know. Griffin would probably kill Alec.
But it's not only for a little while. It becomes serious pretty fast. But poor May doesn't know if she can trust herself and she doesn't know that Alec really understands what it means to be with an alcoholic. But of course Alec is mega adorable about everything! Even though he has his own problems!
Such a sweet & moving & sexy & fun romance. With a lot of very serious topics.
I just adored it!
I soooo want this series to be on Netflix one day! PLEASE!
SPEAKEASY was such an adorable & moving & sexy & funny love story!
Will May & Alec get that happily ever after? Run to your nearest amazon to find out!!! ☺
♡
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December 18, 2018
There is just something so heartwarming about this whole series, even when the premise doesn't necessarily speaks to me from the get go, I always—ALWAYS— end up swooning my heart out.
It's about the quiet, easy, light and tender moments.
It's about the real, honest, messy feelings.
It's about the awkward, non-reharsed, spontaneous sex scenes.
And it's about friendship, lovable family, endearing secondary characters.
All in all, Sarina Bowen creates very relatable characters, engaging dialogues, a sweet, shy but solid romance in an all too charming setup. Vermont seems like a dream destination of all sudden and I'm left craving craft beers, apple ciders, lemon poppy seed muffins, farmers and bartenders.
May Shipley and Alec Rossi had a rocky and uncertain start, a handful of issues we're used to read about in romance but addressed here in the most honest and non-dramatic way.
It's super refreshing.
An all winning romance series for me.
Sarina Bowen writes, I feel. Easy.
More reviews and book talk at :
You can find me here too ☞
It's about the quiet, easy, light and tender moments.
It's about the real, honest, messy feelings.
It's about the awkward, non-reharsed, spontaneous sex scenes.
And it's about friendship, lovable family, endearing secondary characters.
All in all, Sarina Bowen creates very relatable characters, engaging dialogues, a sweet, shy but solid romance in an all too charming setup. Vermont seems like a dream destination of all sudden and I'm left craving craft beers, apple ciders, lemon poppy seed muffins, farmers and bartenders.
May Shipley and Alec Rossi had a rocky and uncertain start, a handful of issues we're used to read about in romance but addressed here in the most honest and non-dramatic way.
It's super refreshing.
An all winning romance series for me.
Sarina Bowen writes, I feel. Easy.
More reviews and book talk at :
You can find me here too ☞
May 31, 2018
4 STARS !
June 4, 2018
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I loved this book! May and Alec were just great together and I really loved that this story was a little different. I only recently stumbled upon this series when I read the fourth book, Bountiful, and immediately fell in love with the characters, the setting, and the style of storytelling. I have since went back and read the first book in the series but I can assure you that each book in this series works well as a stand alone story. Readers of the series will enjoy getting to catch up with favorite characters but anyone new to the series will have no problem jumping in with this book.
I was hooked by this book from the very beginning. Alec sees someone he thinks he knows kissing the wrong person in his bar one night and knows he has to do something about it. He doesn't get the chance to figure out what he should do because the person being cheated on walks in a sees everything for herself. Alec stops things from getting out of control and helps May move back home that very night.
I thought that the chemistry between Alec and May was very well done. Even when May has just been hurt by her girlfriend's betrayal, I thought that these two worked very well together on the friend level. Alec just seemed to know how to be the support that May needed at that point in her life and she accepted him in that role. I liked how open these two were with each other from the very beginning and how they just seemed to have a lot of fun together.
When things heat up and they decide to act on their attraction, Alec and May just seemed to fit each other perfectly. On paper, these two shouldn't work. May is a recovering alcoholic while Alec owns a bar. May is bisexual and always thought she would end up with a woman but Alec is definitely all man. I had such a good time watching them try to figure things out and was cheering them towards their happily ever after.
I would highly recommend this book to fans of contemporary romance. I had a fantastic time with this book filled with wonderful characters, steamy moments, a few laughs, and scenes that melted my heart. I can't wait to read more from Sarina Bowen very soon!
I received a digital review copy of this book from the author.
Initial Thoughts
I loved this! May and Alec were great together and I liked that the story was a little different than the norm. The chemistry between them was amazing and I really enjoyed watching them figure things out. Getting a chance to visit with the other character from the series was a nice plus as well.
I loved this book! May and Alec were just great together and I really loved that this story was a little different. I only recently stumbled upon this series when I read the fourth book, Bountiful, and immediately fell in love with the characters, the setting, and the style of storytelling. I have since went back and read the first book in the series but I can assure you that each book in this series works well as a stand alone story. Readers of the series will enjoy getting to catch up with favorite characters but anyone new to the series will have no problem jumping in with this book.
I was hooked by this book from the very beginning. Alec sees someone he thinks he knows kissing the wrong person in his bar one night and knows he has to do something about it. He doesn't get the chance to figure out what he should do because the person being cheated on walks in a sees everything for herself. Alec stops things from getting out of control and helps May move back home that very night.
I thought that the chemistry between Alec and May was very well done. Even when May has just been hurt by her girlfriend's betrayal, I thought that these two worked very well together on the friend level. Alec just seemed to know how to be the support that May needed at that point in her life and she accepted him in that role. I liked how open these two were with each other from the very beginning and how they just seemed to have a lot of fun together.
When things heat up and they decide to act on their attraction, Alec and May just seemed to fit each other perfectly. On paper, these two shouldn't work. May is a recovering alcoholic while Alec owns a bar. May is bisexual and always thought she would end up with a woman but Alec is definitely all man. I had such a good time watching them try to figure things out and was cheering them towards their happily ever after.
I would highly recommend this book to fans of contemporary romance. I had a fantastic time with this book filled with wonderful characters, steamy moments, a few laughs, and scenes that melted my heart. I can't wait to read more from Sarina Bowen very soon!
I received a digital review copy of this book from the author.
Initial Thoughts
I loved this! May and Alec were great together and I liked that the story was a little different than the norm. The chemistry between them was amazing and I really enjoyed watching them figure things out. Getting a chance to visit with the other character from the series was a nice plus as well.
June 1, 2021
favorite one so far
This book handled so many difficult conversations in such a beautiful and careful way. I love how May was both this carefree fun person but also had a dark past that she was dealing with. This was also a very interesting look at the Shipley family. In the previous books, we saw them as perfect so it was interesting to see them through someone else’s eyes. I’m obsessed with this series and would highly recommend it to anyone interested!
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This book handled so many difficult conversations in such a beautiful and careful way. I love how May was both this carefree fun person but also had a dark past that she was dealing with. This was also a very interesting look at the Shipley family. In the previous books, we saw them as perfect so it was interesting to see them through someone else’s eyes. I’m obsessed with this series and would highly recommend it to anyone interested!
June 7, 2018
DNF @24%
This hurts my heart. I enjoyed all of Sarina Bowen's previous books but unfortunately, this one didn't work for me.
Number one reason is I didn't really feel the chemistry between May and Alec. I loved May. I wanted her story since book 1. Her struggles and her bisexuality were handled wonderfully by Sarina Bowen, but I just didn't feel invested in her romance with Alec, maybe because I wanted to turn back time and have her be together with Lark. :(
Number two reason is Alec. I didn't dislike him, I think he's just there. He's okay, I guess but meh.
So DNF.
An ARC was provided by the author.
This hurts my heart. I enjoyed all of Sarina Bowen's previous books but unfortunately, this one didn't work for me.
Number one reason is I didn't really feel the chemistry between May and Alec. I loved May. I wanted her story since book 1. Her struggles and her bisexuality were handled wonderfully by Sarina Bowen, but I just didn't feel invested in her romance with Alec, maybe because I wanted to turn back time and have her be together with Lark. :(
Number two reason is Alec. I didn't dislike him, I think he's just there. He's okay, I guess but meh.
So DNF.
An ARC was provided by the author.
June 4, 2018
4.5 stars
Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Read Speakeasy
1. The cover is gorgeous! I know they say you can’t judge a book by its cover, but seriously. It’s sexy yet classy. Both the cover and the story make me proud to be a romance reader.
2. Alec. From his corny bar jokes to his extreme loyalty, I loved every inch of this underestimated man. Despite his ambition and hard work, he can’t seem to shake his slutty party boy image or the voices in his head that tell him he’s not smart enough to succeed.
3. May. This refreshing woman fully embraces her sexuality and faces her vices head on. I’ve never read a romance where one of the main characters is bisexual. Sex between two people can be a beautiful exchange of physical and emotional connections, regardless of gender. However, May’s sexual orientation creates a fascinating kaleidoscope of insecurity, confusion, heartache, and optimism.
4. Alex and May make a terrific couple. They have a common bond since both come from large families, and they consider themselves to be the black sheep among their siblings. Their attraction takes them both by surprise, but they fit so well together. Their easy friendship, late night texts, playful teasing, and spectacular chemistry checked all my boxes.
5. It’s my favorite book in the series. I’m amazed by the diversity of the books in the True North series. Each story is unique, but this one has the perfect balance of humor and emotion, with enough meat to keep me interested.
Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Read Speakeasy
1. The cover is gorgeous! I know they say you can’t judge a book by its cover, but seriously. It’s sexy yet classy. Both the cover and the story make me proud to be a romance reader.
2. Alec. From his corny bar jokes to his extreme loyalty, I loved every inch of this underestimated man. Despite his ambition and hard work, he can’t seem to shake his slutty party boy image or the voices in his head that tell him he’s not smart enough to succeed.
3. May. This refreshing woman fully embraces her sexuality and faces her vices head on. I’ve never read a romance where one of the main characters is bisexual. Sex between two people can be a beautiful exchange of physical and emotional connections, regardless of gender. However, May’s sexual orientation creates a fascinating kaleidoscope of insecurity, confusion, heartache, and optimism.
4. Alex and May make a terrific couple. They have a common bond since both come from large families, and they consider themselves to be the black sheep among their siblings. Their attraction takes them both by surprise, but they fit so well together. Their easy friendship, late night texts, playful teasing, and spectacular chemistry checked all my boxes.
5. It’s my favorite book in the series. I’m amazed by the diversity of the books in the True North series. Each story is unique, but this one has the perfect balance of humor and emotion, with enough meat to keep me interested.
*I received an early copy of this book.*
April 18, 2020
this book in the series didn't interest me from the start...
couldn't connect or care about the characters
skipped a lot...
2,5 stars
couldn't connect or care about the characters
skipped a lot...
2,5 stars
July 11, 2018
Five stars for Grandpa Shipley! He's like my favourite character.
In all seriousness, though, this is the first True North I've really liked since STEADFAST. Sure, there were parts maybe I wasn't too fond of, but my favourite Bowen is the Bowen who goes dark. And she tackles some heavy in SPEAKEASY (May's alcoholism) but then offers us a character like Alec. Who is just one big loveable delightful charming unflappable goofball. Other than Grandpa Shipley, he gets my stars.
I want more of May than the naked parts. Although the naked parts are pretty great.
But May was great, too, because it's so wonderful to have more bisexual representation in romance. While she was definitely holding onto her recovery hangups and I didn't always like how she treated Alec, I can totally understand where she thought she was coming from as far as being reluctant to put herself, and her recovery, through more upheaval by becoming romantically entangled.
The Shipleys don't pair up with the Rossis,I once told my heartbroken sister. That's now how it works. The joke is on me now.
Also I'm glad someone finally told Griffin where to shove it.
But yeah, this was fun, adorable, and perfectly weighted by real and relevant issues.
3.75 stars
In all seriousness, though, this is the first True North I've really liked since STEADFAST. Sure, there were parts maybe I wasn't too fond of, but my favourite Bowen is the Bowen who goes dark. And she tackles some heavy in SPEAKEASY (May's alcoholism) but then offers us a character like Alec. Who is just one big loveable delightful charming unflappable goofball. Other than Grandpa Shipley, he gets my stars.
I want more of May than the naked parts. Although the naked parts are pretty great.
But May was great, too, because it's so wonderful to have more bisexual representation in romance. While she was definitely holding onto her recovery hangups and I didn't always like how she treated Alec, I can totally understand where she thought she was coming from as far as being reluctant to put herself, and her recovery, through more upheaval by becoming romantically entangled.
The Shipleys don't pair up with the Rossis,I once told my heartbroken sister. That's now how it works. The joke is on me now.
Also I'm glad someone finally told Griffin where to shove it.
But yeah, this was fun, adorable, and perfectly weighted by real and relevant issues.
3.75 stars
May 31, 2018
Actual rating 3.5 ☆
This is a mixed bag of I don’t know, I really love it and well why I feel as if something is missing. I love Ms. Bowen’s work especially the True North Series but I really did see how this was going to work. In the end it did but it felt one sided sometimes.
Characters & Chemistry.
May Shipley is the apparent black sheep of the family. Okay so none of her life choices have been ideal but she has picked herself back up time and time again. Now a lawyer she is trying to live up to everyone’s expectations. The only one’s she needs to fulfil are her own. She comes from a big interfering we mean well family and as the middle child as fell short between the older and younger siblings.
I really liked May, she is strong, she is open with her bi sexuality, and she has fights each day to keep her sobriety. There were times she needed to pull up her big girl panties and I feel as if that didn’t quite happen.
Alec Rossi bar owner of the Gin Mill, the life of any party since he’s been a teenager is trying to keep his business but he needs money to invest. But at every turn he is being cut off. He within the Rossi family is also the middle child although as a middle child you can get away with more I think it still sucks to be the middle child.
I think I liked Alec more although he was open about his benefits with the beer distributor Chelsea and he was a right coward when it came to being honest with Chelsea. Dick move Alec. He tells May that is only being a rebound but then he changes the rules. But what he really needed to start was being a bar owner and not a bartender. He dropped the ball on so many things. There is no f/m/f sex. Sorry if my review is confusing.
When it comes to the chemistry this is where it gets fickle for me. They have chemistry and I feel as if Alec was more into the relationship then May. Whereas she was wide open for women she was so closed off for dating men and although it was because of her ex. It doesn’t matter what gender even f/f can have shitty relationships. As May has experienced with her now girlfriend cheating on her.
We get to see most of the characters of the previous books which is always a bonus.
Writing, Plot & Pace.
Ms. Bowen has the knack for taking difficult topics and making them work. Showing the pitfalls that can come. What the life on an addict can be like and what families think what they are doing is helping but it isn’t. She gives you RL situations, the good, the bad and the ugly. That is what I need in a read.
I love the world building here ever since I read book one I have been captivated with Vermont. It’s like coming home. Sarina has a subtlety to her writing that kept me interested all the way through the book. I know what was going to happen to these truly unique characters. They are flawed they aren’t perfect. They are real. Hell, they could be some of my friends.
I wanted some closure with her ex that just felt so open ended. There was a confrontation but as adults you’d think that they’d sit down and give each other closure. Maybe that is just me though. Another thing that should have been addressed is the crush that she has always had on Lark. It was mentioned a couple of times throughout the book and that at the end I felt it was just brushed under the carpet.
Verdict.
I love the True North Series and I would love to see more of Vermont. I never thought that there would be 5 books in the series. Although this one is a mixed bag for me I still like it. It’s not my favourite but it is solid and a series that I can only recommend.
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This is a mixed bag of I don’t know, I really love it and well why I feel as if something is missing. I love Ms. Bowen’s work especially the True North Series but I really did see how this was going to work. In the end it did but it felt one sided sometimes.
Characters & Chemistry.
May Shipley is the apparent black sheep of the family. Okay so none of her life choices have been ideal but she has picked herself back up time and time again. Now a lawyer she is trying to live up to everyone’s expectations. The only one’s she needs to fulfil are her own. She comes from a big interfering we mean well family and as the middle child as fell short between the older and younger siblings.
I really liked May, she is strong, she is open with her bi sexuality, and she has fights each day to keep her sobriety. There were times she needed to pull up her big girl panties and I feel as if that didn’t quite happen.
Alec Rossi bar owner of the Gin Mill, the life of any party since he’s been a teenager is trying to keep his business but he needs money to invest. But at every turn he is being cut off. He within the Rossi family is also the middle child although as a middle child you can get away with more I think it still sucks to be the middle child.
I think I liked Alec more although he was open about his benefits with the beer distributor Chelsea and he was a right coward when it came to being honest with Chelsea. Dick move Alec. He tells May that is only being a rebound but then he changes the rules. But what he really needed to start was being a bar owner and not a bartender. He dropped the ball on so many things. There is no f/m/f sex. Sorry if my review is confusing.
When it comes to the chemistry this is where it gets fickle for me. They have chemistry and I feel as if Alec was more into the relationship then May. Whereas she was wide open for women she was so closed off for dating men and although it was because of her ex. It doesn’t matter what gender even f/f can have shitty relationships. As May has experienced with her now girlfriend cheating on her.
We get to see most of the characters of the previous books which is always a bonus.
Writing, Plot & Pace.
Ms. Bowen has the knack for taking difficult topics and making them work. Showing the pitfalls that can come. What the life on an addict can be like and what families think what they are doing is helping but it isn’t. She gives you RL situations, the good, the bad and the ugly. That is what I need in a read.
I love the world building here ever since I read book one I have been captivated with Vermont. It’s like coming home. Sarina has a subtlety to her writing that kept me interested all the way through the book. I know what was going to happen to these truly unique characters. They are flawed they aren’t perfect. They are real. Hell, they could be some of my friends.
I wanted some closure with her ex that just felt so open ended. There was a confrontation but as adults you’d think that they’d sit down and give each other closure. Maybe that is just me though. Another thing that should have been addressed is the crush that she has always had on Lark. It was mentioned a couple of times throughout the book and that at the end I felt it was just brushed under the carpet.
Verdict.
I love the True North Series and I would love to see more of Vermont. I never thought that there would be 5 books in the series. Although this one is a mixed bag for me I still like it. It’s not my favourite but it is solid and a series that I can only recommend.
═══ PLEASE SUBSCRIBE / LIKE / FOLLOW US ════
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May 24, 2018
There's something about the True North series that resonates with me - every book, every time. Perhaps the fact that these are real life people dealing with real life issues. Perhaps that the friendships and family relationships are written so authentically that by this, the fifth book in the series, I actually feel like I'm part of it all. Perhaps it's just Ms. Bowen's gift of storytelling in such a way that draws you in, holds you captive, and leaves you - in the end - feeling a little breathlessly jubilant.
In case I haven't already made it clear - I crazy love the Shipley family. I was so excited for May's story and the fact that it blended the Shipley and Rossi families just ratcheted up that excitement. As is usually the case in these stories, there are some heavy issues confronted here and I felt like Ms. Bowen did an excellent job of capturing the confusion and conflict that surrounded May and Alec as they worked through their issues. These are two beautifully flawed characters - perfectly wrong for each other on paper - and yet so irresistibly adorable together that it was impossible not to root for them.
I also have a deep appreciation of the way Ms. Bowen threads humor through the more emotional storylines. Between the impossible-not-to-love banter (and um, can we talk for a second about Alec's sense of humor and the ooey gooey damage it did to my heart? Like, for real. This guy...*giant heart eyeballs*) and the achingly sweet tender moments they share - I spent a lot of time giggling and smiling like a loon. They truly are adorable together and that's on top of the heated physical chemistry sparking between them the entire time. And I don't want to undersell that heated chemistry because - hoo boy. *fans self*.
This whole thing - once again - is just a nearly perfect package of engaging storytelling, clever writing, and these genuinely lovable characters who owned my heart immediately. I loved every single minute. ~ Shelly, 5 Stars
*******
You Guys!! Anyone who knows me knows that
Sarina Bowen is a desert island author. I absolutely run to everything she writes as I feel like she has a finger on the pulse of what people love and want to read about. I absolutely adore her True North series and could not wait for May Shipley's book!! And honestly her and Alec? SOO adorable and fun. They brought out facets in one another that no one else did. But while I thought this book was such a fantastic addition to the series, I did have some mixed feelings about their connection.
If you have read this series from the beginning, then your May Shipley obsession is real. I loved her feistiness and loyalty to her family and friends and the fact that she had struggles and turmoil in her life she was dealing with. I think she is one of my favorite characters this author has written purely because of her relateabilty factor. Now my main man Alec Rossi? He gives Jude a run for his money (sorry Jude!) I absolutely loved that he was an absolute sweetheart who only saw the fun and flirty in life. At first he was the perfect playboy distraction for May while dealing with a painful breakup and a turning point in her life. But as they got closer and emotional boundaries were crossed, would May be able to see past Alec's playboy persona to want something real?
Gah!! This story was fabulous. So utterly fabulous as I loved Alec. He was just so real and honest and himself. There was no artifice. He was who he was. His struggles about his own self worth and everyone's (false) perception of his reputation and limitations made my heart ache for him. Likewise, May was amazing and so loving. She was at a point in her life where she needed to figure herself out. For that reason while I appreciated and understood her struggle and the rough patch she was at in life, unfortunately, I didn't really feel her connection and feelings for Alec until the very end. It felt like she was struggling so much with figuring herself out that her feelings for him were almost *lackluster* and an afterthought and could have been fleshed out a bit more.
All in all though, let's be real. This series has been a solid gold star in my book and one of my favorites from this author. This family feels more like friends to me and ones I will miss and revisit often. Here's hoping we receive more of the Rossi family's books (*cough* Benito *cough*) as I will read anything this author writes. Dictionaries included! Bravo! 4 stars! ~Ratula
In case I haven't already made it clear - I crazy love the Shipley family. I was so excited for May's story and the fact that it blended the Shipley and Rossi families just ratcheted up that excitement. As is usually the case in these stories, there are some heavy issues confronted here and I felt like Ms. Bowen did an excellent job of capturing the confusion and conflict that surrounded May and Alec as they worked through their issues. These are two beautifully flawed characters - perfectly wrong for each other on paper - and yet so irresistibly adorable together that it was impossible not to root for them.
I also have a deep appreciation of the way Ms. Bowen threads humor through the more emotional storylines. Between the impossible-not-to-love banter (and um, can we talk for a second about Alec's sense of humor and the ooey gooey damage it did to my heart? Like, for real. This guy...*giant heart eyeballs*) and the achingly sweet tender moments they share - I spent a lot of time giggling and smiling like a loon. They truly are adorable together and that's on top of the heated physical chemistry sparking between them the entire time. And I don't want to undersell that heated chemistry because - hoo boy. *fans self*.
This whole thing - once again - is just a nearly perfect package of engaging storytelling, clever writing, and these genuinely lovable characters who owned my heart immediately. I loved every single minute. ~ Shelly, 5 Stars
*******
You Guys!! Anyone who knows me knows that
Sarina Bowen is a desert island author. I absolutely run to everything she writes as I feel like she has a finger on the pulse of what people love and want to read about. I absolutely adore her True North series and could not wait for May Shipley's book!! And honestly her and Alec? SOO adorable and fun. They brought out facets in one another that no one else did. But while I thought this book was such a fantastic addition to the series, I did have some mixed feelings about their connection.
If you have read this series from the beginning, then your May Shipley obsession is real. I loved her feistiness and loyalty to her family and friends and the fact that she had struggles and turmoil in her life she was dealing with. I think she is one of my favorite characters this author has written purely because of her relateabilty factor. Now my main man Alec Rossi? He gives Jude a run for his money (sorry Jude!) I absolutely loved that he was an absolute sweetheart who only saw the fun and flirty in life. At first he was the perfect playboy distraction for May while dealing with a painful breakup and a turning point in her life. But as they got closer and emotional boundaries were crossed, would May be able to see past Alec's playboy persona to want something real?
Gah!! This story was fabulous. So utterly fabulous as I loved Alec. He was just so real and honest and himself. There was no artifice. He was who he was. His struggles about his own self worth and everyone's (false) perception of his reputation and limitations made my heart ache for him. Likewise, May was amazing and so loving. She was at a point in her life where she needed to figure herself out. For that reason while I appreciated and understood her struggle and the rough patch she was at in life, unfortunately, I didn't really feel her connection and feelings for Alec until the very end. It felt like she was struggling so much with figuring herself out that her feelings for him were almost *lackluster* and an afterthought and could have been fleshed out a bit more.
All in all though, let's be real. This series has been a solid gold star in my book and one of my favorites from this author. This family feels more like friends to me and ones I will miss and revisit often. Here's hoping we receive more of the Rossi family's books (*cough* Benito *cough*) as I will read anything this author writes. Dictionaries included! Bravo! 4 stars! ~Ratula
February 2, 2023
May & Alec
I think this might have been my favorite of the series, you see May is a character I loved through all the books. This book shows us her struggles but also how much she truly cares about everyone in her life. She doesn’t want them to worry about her. Even if she needs it.
Alec sees May for who she is, he is there for her even when she doesn’t want him to be. He is also going through a lot and is learning what it means to ask for help.
These two together is explosive, love is love people I loved that a Bi we had a character who is female and Bi! It just goes to show you that anyone can be anything and like who they like who cares about the body parts.
Then we have the addiction and how hard it was kind of on everyone and how May has to deal with it but also how she can’t do it alone. I really enjoyed getting to see that she has support. This book just had all the feels for me.
Narrators – I am a huge fan of Lance, his voice oh sweet baby Jesus it just does it for me, I can hear his humor I love it. Seraphine is fast becoming a female narrator I am seeking out she makes it effortless to listen to.
I think this might have been my favorite of the series, you see May is a character I loved through all the books. This book shows us her struggles but also how much she truly cares about everyone in her life. She doesn’t want them to worry about her. Even if she needs it.
Alec sees May for who she is, he is there for her even when she doesn’t want him to be. He is also going through a lot and is learning what it means to ask for help.
These two together is explosive, love is love people I loved that a Bi we had a character who is female and Bi! It just goes to show you that anyone can be anything and like who they like who cares about the body parts.
Then we have the addiction and how hard it was kind of on everyone and how May has to deal with it but also how she can’t do it alone. I really enjoyed getting to see that she has support. This book just had all the feels for me.
Narrators – I am a huge fan of Lance, his voice oh sweet baby Jesus it just does it for me, I can hear his humor I love it. Seraphine is fast becoming a female narrator I am seeking out she makes it effortless to listen to.
May 27, 2018
❝But love is messy, unpredictable, and occasionally loud.❞
Sarina Bowen's True North series makes me want to explore Vermont! With each book, she gives us new information about small town living and beautiful imagery of the North Eastern part of the US. This city girl needs to get go out and explore!
Sarina Bowen is a one-click author for me. I never read a blurb because I couldn't care less what it's about, I just know that if she writes it, I want to read it.
❝The minute I let myself want someone, I always wreck it.❞
May Shipley has always been a character in the background of the True North series. A little mysterious and a lot misunderstood. A recovering alcoholic, she feels she's always under the scrutiny of her family. She feels their distrust as if they lay in wait for her to mess up. In reality, I think it is May who awaits her destruction. She doesn't trust herself nor her decisions. It wasn't until Alec Rossi showed unadulterated interest in her, despite her flaws, that she begins to trust and even like herself.
❝May Shipley scratches an itch that I didn't know I had.❞
Alec Rossi has always been the fun, happy-go-lucky, party guy. It is this reputation that causes people, including his family, to never take him too seriously. Now grown up, he has grown up plans and dreams and he needs people to believe in them and him. May sees Alec for more than his reputation. He's smart, sensitive, and caring. Her faith in him gives him strength.
Another reason I love this series is the strong family dynamic present in each book. It's refreshing. There isn't a character I don't want to know more about. But I REALLY want grandpa's story!! He is hilarious!!! I want to know his past and how he ended up where he is today.
❝Get a room!❞ Grandpa yells. ❝Oh wait, you did. Right over my head last night ... ❞
❝Grandpa!❞ several people say at once.
❝Well, nobody refilled my coffee. I'm not responsible for the things I say.❞
'Speakeasy' is a sexy, heart-warming tale of a passionate one-night stand that turns from forbidden love to acceptance, trust and a change of heart!
I was provided a review copy by the author. This did not influence my opinion of the book nor my review.
May 7, 2018
A straight-out confession here: ‘Speakeasy’ isn���t my favourite in Sarina Bowen’s ‘True North’ series, unlike Jude’s and Sophie’s story that wore me to the ground.
I’m lukewarm about May and Alec—that is to say, I wasn’t invested very much in them for some reason—with the former’s issues getting me to shake my head while I winced at the latter’s lack of substance. May Shipley, however, was a more fleshed-out character than Alec Rossi and in turn, I felt that I could understand and appreciate her more than I could the easy-going party playboy who owned a bar and pretty much flailed at everything else. Alec’s lack of balls as he juggled May and his other hookup didn’t win him any points on my end however and I was still left by the end of things wondering why he’d picked May to signal the end of his commitment-free life.
But I’ll say this in defence of Sarina Bowen, who isn’t an author who shies away from the difficult topics while using the ‘softly softly’ approach. She handles all forms of sexuality/addiction with a confidence (and a lot of heart) that I admire and here, taking on the fluidity of this concept with May Shipley is yet another shining example of how she does it. Her characters are flesh-and-bone real and they far from have things together, yet ‘Speakeasy’ still manages to rank low on the angst scale, with the characters pretty much working themselves out without the high emotional spikes.
No book in this series has however, come close to how much I loved Bowen’s ‘Steadfast’, and I guess I’m still waiting for one to outdo that.
*ARC by the author
I’m lukewarm about May and Alec—that is to say, I wasn’t invested very much in them for some reason—with the former’s issues getting me to shake my head while I winced at the latter’s lack of substance. May Shipley, however, was a more fleshed-out character than Alec Rossi and in turn, I felt that I could understand and appreciate her more than I could the easy-going party playboy who owned a bar and pretty much flailed at everything else. Alec’s lack of balls as he juggled May and his other hookup didn’t win him any points on my end however and I was still left by the end of things wondering why he’d picked May to signal the end of his commitment-free life.
But I’ll say this in defence of Sarina Bowen, who isn’t an author who shies away from the difficult topics while using the ‘softly softly’ approach. She handles all forms of sexuality/addiction with a confidence (and a lot of heart) that I admire and here, taking on the fluidity of this concept with May Shipley is yet another shining example of how she does it. Her characters are flesh-and-bone real and they far from have things together, yet ‘Speakeasy’ still manages to rank low on the angst scale, with the characters pretty much working themselves out without the high emotional spikes.
No book in this series has however, come close to how much I loved Bowen’s ‘Steadfast’, and I guess I’m still waiting for one to outdo that.
*ARC by the author
September 28, 2019
4/5 ⭐️
Ich bin unheimlich traurig, dass dies der vorerst letzte Band der auf Deutsch übersetzten Reihe ist. Sie gehört einfach zu meinen absoluten Lieblingsreihen & Band 6 kann gar nicht früh genug erscheinen 😍
Band 5 konnte mich wie seine Vorgänger auch wieder total packen. Als ich den Klappentext gelesen hatte, war ich direkt begeistert. Beim Lesen von Band 4 habe ich mich dann aber immer weniger auf den nächsten Band gefreut, weil ich den Protagonisten Alec einfach nicht mochte.
Zum Glück hat sich das gebessert. Er wurde sympathisch & man konnte ihn total gut nachvollziehen, obwohl es mir bei ihm an Tiefe gefehlt hat. Die Protagonistin May dagegen fand ich toll! Nicht nur, dass sie endlich mal eine große Protagonistin ist - sie ist 1.82 groß & ich 1.80, deshalb konnte ich mich sehr gut mit ihr identifizieren - sondern sie macht auch eine harte Zeit durch. Sie war total cool & ich habe ihre Geschichte sehr gerne gelesen ❤️
Die Storyline hat mir sonst auch gut gefallen, aber sie war nichts besonders. Die Reihe ist einfach pures Wohlfühlen & nicht Spannung pur. Es gab ein, zwei kleine Plottwists, die super waren, aber damit hatte es sich dann auch ☺️
Das Buch war nicht super lang, was ich gut fand. Es wurde nichts in die Länge gezogen & war genau richtig. Allerdings sind mir am Ende, was May betrifft zu viele Fragen offen geblieben. Alecs Probleme, die sich im Laufe des Buches gebildet hatten, wurden schön gelöst. Aber bei May war ich enttäuscht, denn ich hatte noch so einiges was es zu beantworten gilt! 😱
Aber dennoch ein super Buch 😍
Ich bin unheimlich traurig, dass dies der vorerst letzte Band der auf Deutsch übersetzten Reihe ist. Sie gehört einfach zu meinen absoluten Lieblingsreihen & Band 6 kann gar nicht früh genug erscheinen 😍
Band 5 konnte mich wie seine Vorgänger auch wieder total packen. Als ich den Klappentext gelesen hatte, war ich direkt begeistert. Beim Lesen von Band 4 habe ich mich dann aber immer weniger auf den nächsten Band gefreut, weil ich den Protagonisten Alec einfach nicht mochte.
Zum Glück hat sich das gebessert. Er wurde sympathisch & man konnte ihn total gut nachvollziehen, obwohl es mir bei ihm an Tiefe gefehlt hat. Die Protagonistin May dagegen fand ich toll! Nicht nur, dass sie endlich mal eine große Protagonistin ist - sie ist 1.82 groß & ich 1.80, deshalb konnte ich mich sehr gut mit ihr identifizieren - sondern sie macht auch eine harte Zeit durch. Sie war total cool & ich habe ihre Geschichte sehr gerne gelesen ❤️
Die Storyline hat mir sonst auch gut gefallen, aber sie war nichts besonders. Die Reihe ist einfach pures Wohlfühlen & nicht Spannung pur. Es gab ein, zwei kleine Plottwists, die super waren, aber damit hatte es sich dann auch ☺️
Das Buch war nicht super lang, was ich gut fand. Es wurde nichts in die Länge gezogen & war genau richtig. Allerdings sind mir am Ende, was May betrifft zu viele Fragen offen geblieben. Alecs Probleme, die sich im Laufe des Buches gebildet hatten, wurden schön gelöst. Aber bei May war ich enttäuscht, denn ich hatte noch so einiges was es zu beantworten gilt! 😱
Aber dennoch ein super Buch 😍
June 4, 2018
Sarina Bowen’s True North series, encompasses everything I love about small town romances, and easily become one of my top series. The Shipley’s, are humble, relatable characters, who live their lives not all that different from the rest of us, complete with all the drama and relationship dynamics that stem from them.
I’ve been watching May’s backstory unfold and was unsure how much I’d enjoy reading about her and love interest from the previous books. I just didn’t ever feel like I was attached to her, and it seems Sarina had that all lined up in her masterplan!! May’s crush on her best friend Lark (from book 3) came to light and laid foundation for May to come out to her family as bisexual, and an alcoholic. She has a black sheep idea of her place in the Shipley clan. In SPEAKEASY she’s been doing well with her recovery, but this breakup at the start of the book has everyone in her orbit concerned she’ll relapse.
Alec, oh my goodness, ever since I met him I’ve wanted to know more about Zara’s brother and how sweet he was with baby Nicole. And now, because of the great descriptions of him, I keep seeing Dr. Doug Ross from ER flirting with the nurses. 😉 (sigh) Alec, is the life of the party, the always up for a good time, never seems to take life too seriously. Random girls fall at his feet and he is always up for a casual hookup. He is seriously so easy to love. I mean he’s rational, he’s calm, and he’s just such a great balance to May’s more tightly wound personality. Sarina has a way of writing men, that I’m enamored with, and I’d be falling all over Alec’s feet too.
There’s one quote though from Alec’s POV, I just wanted to include because it made me laugh so much, because I felt it:
I’ve known the Shipleys my whole life. They’re like a postcard family—two boys and two girls—everyone smiling and wearing hand-knit sweaters and singing campfire songs together.
They probably do that for real.
The Rossi clan, on the other hand, is a rougher, trailer-park version of the Shipley family. There are four boys and one girl. We’re louder, and—to my lovely mother’s dismay—a little cruder. We have tattoos and punk-rock T-shirts instead of knit sweaters. We smile, too, but usually while we’re pummeling each other.
Now they both seem to be typecast by their families into roles that no longer fit them. May, is truthfully much stronger than she seems, but also struggling to keep on her game face and her path to sobriety is an on going internal battle she tries to conceal from those around her. Alec, has become a serious business man with plan for the Gin Mill and future of his business… but no one seems to look past the party boy throwing keggers in highschool. They try to keep it casual, and keep it underwraps, but you know that never works out 😉 I think May is really conflicted getting involved with Alec after coming out to her family as Bi.
Together May and Alec see more in each other than those around them, and the easy going way of their interactions is refreshingly absent of angsty behavior. As always there some drama, and some challenges to overcome, but Sarina always keeps it so relevant. Both in the real world and this safe one she’s created just for our enjoyment. I never want to leave Vermont.
November 18, 2018
Release Date: May 29, 2018
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Actual Rating: 2 stars
Unfortunately, I didn't care for this one. The previous books in the series were great but this one didn't work for me at all. First and foremost, I loved May when she was a secondary characters in the books before this one. She seemed like a woman with a heart of gold and a deep love for her family. I didn't feel this AT ALL in Speakeasy. In fact, I felt that she had a lot of disdain for them even though they clearly were there for her during her struggles. It was sad to see. Secondly, she flip-flopped from liking women to men so quickly that it made my head spin! I understand bisexuality and rooting for both teams. I feel for those who have a hard time with their sexuality and everything in between. But she moved on so quickly from being with a woman for nearly a year to sleeping with a man who she barely knows way to fast. I think this made it hard for me to connect with her because she didn't feel real to me because of it. Finally, everything seemed really rushed in the story. I like a book that takes its time and builds up the romance an characters together but I didn't get it in this book. Therefore, it was a complete bust for me. The only reason I gave it two stars instead of 1 is because no matter the problems I had with the book I still love the author and her writing. Plus, I read this one and didn't let it fall in the DNF pile.
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Actual Rating: 2 stars
Unfortunately, I didn't care for this one. The previous books in the series were great but this one didn't work for me at all. First and foremost, I loved May when she was a secondary characters in the books before this one. She seemed like a woman with a heart of gold and a deep love for her family. I didn't feel this AT ALL in Speakeasy. In fact, I felt that she had a lot of disdain for them even though they clearly were there for her during her struggles. It was sad to see. Secondly, she flip-flopped from liking women to men so quickly that it made my head spin! I understand bisexuality and rooting for both teams. I feel for those who have a hard time with their sexuality and everything in between. But she moved on so quickly from being with a woman for nearly a year to sleeping with a man who she barely knows way to fast. I think this made it hard for me to connect with her because she didn't feel real to me because of it. Finally, everything seemed really rushed in the story. I like a book that takes its time and builds up the romance an characters together but I didn't get it in this book. Therefore, it was a complete bust for me. The only reason I gave it two stars instead of 1 is because no matter the problems I had with the book I still love the author and her writing. Plus, I read this one and didn't let it fall in the DNF pile.
September 19, 2018
Speakeasy was the fifth book in the True North series by Sarina Bowen.
May Shipley was the sister to Griffin (Bittersweet, book one). She was an attorney and had several issues that were played out in previous books. It was good to see her come full circle with her own story - as painful as it was at times.
Alec Rossi was the brother to Zara (Bountiful, book four.) He was the fun, irresponsible sibling that most didn’t take seriously. However, he was so much more underneath and I enjoyed getting to know him to his core. I totally fell in love with him.
Alec and May were an unlikely couple. I liked how they fell into a friendship with benefits. It had the typical push and pull because logically they didn’t mesh but in reality they were more alike than they initially realized. Bowen also included several facets to their individual lives that were primary to the plot which added depth, dimension and complexity to the overall storyline. It was well written, well developed and entertaining.
In the end, I loved the full story and how it came together. It was slow at times, but I loved how the ending played out for several aspects of their journey. Benito, Alec and Zara’s brother, is up next in Fireworks and I expect nothing less than a wonderful explosion!
May Shipley was the sister to Griffin (Bittersweet, book one). She was an attorney and had several issues that were played out in previous books. It was good to see her come full circle with her own story - as painful as it was at times.
Alec Rossi was the brother to Zara (Bountiful, book four.) He was the fun, irresponsible sibling that most didn’t take seriously. However, he was so much more underneath and I enjoyed getting to know him to his core. I totally fell in love with him.
Alec and May were an unlikely couple. I liked how they fell into a friendship with benefits. It had the typical push and pull because logically they didn’t mesh but in reality they were more alike than they initially realized. Bowen also included several facets to their individual lives that were primary to the plot which added depth, dimension and complexity to the overall storyline. It was well written, well developed and entertaining.
In the end, I loved the full story and how it came together. It was slow at times, but I loved how the ending played out for several aspects of their journey. Benito, Alec and Zara’s brother, is up next in Fireworks and I expect nothing less than a wonderful explosion!
February 20, 2019
Alec, our hero, was by far the gem of this installment of Sarina Bowen's True North series. He was a young, good looking guy so he didn't really have to work when he wanted female company but by no means did he have a revolving door on his apartment. He had never been in love, so he had no idea what would happen when he fell. I loved that Alec had big dreams. He opened his bar but was constantly looking for ways to improve and expand. Alec was a good reliable guy who cared about his friends and neighbors.
And then there is May Shipley. She had to work hard to get back in my good graces. In previous books, she made big bold statements and had a horrible girlfriend, all which backfire in this installment of the series. May is wishy washy and lets everyone around her dictate her mood and how she sees herself, well all except Alec. I really liked them together.
So, no earth shattering suspense or big dark secrets, just a nice little love story with an awesome hero.
And then there is May Shipley. She had to work hard to get back in my good graces. In previous books, she made big bold statements and had a horrible girlfriend, all which backfire in this installment of the series. May is wishy washy and lets everyone around her dictate her mood and how she sees herself, well all except Alec. I really liked them together.
So, no earth shattering suspense or big dark secrets, just a nice little love story with an awesome hero.
July 4, 2018
Really enjoyed this addition to the True North series. Sweet, sassy, and oh so very sexy! Great story that deals with some real life issues and addictions. A Must Read!
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