Cherise E. (CherryDuck) reviewed Summer in Napa (St. Helena Vineyard, Bk 2) on + 150 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Lexi caught her husband getting serviced by their Sous-Chef. Now she is returning to her home town feeling defeated after having lost both her husband and her restaurant. The one sunny side of things is that she and her grandmother can now work on the bistro they always dreamed of having together.
Marco has had a crush on his best friends girl since they were teens. Now that Lexi is back and she and Jeff are no longer married he still feels the need to keep things platonic, but hes having trouble staying away from the girl who was his friend first.
I loved the first book in this series, Kissing Under the Mistletoe, so I had high hopes for this second story. It not only met my expectations, but exceeded them. The characters are rich, the writing keeps you enthralled and the romance made my heart pitter patter. I freakin love the DeLuca brothers and I could eat Marco with a spoon. He is positively yummy. Lexi and Marc manage to remain sweet while creating enough sparks to light up the night sky. Sexy.
Marina Adair has created a colorful group of people and a town that anyone can relate to. These books are keepers, for sure, and I can see myself reading and reaching for them when I need a little pick me up. I laughed, I cried and I melted a bit. I am seriously antsy to read Autumn in the Vineyard, though I am not sure that the long wait wont make me crazy. These are seriously terrific books, easy to enjoy - I wouldnt change a thing!
Cherise Everhard, April 2013
Book provided by and reviewed for The Amazon Vine Program
Marco has had a crush on his best friends girl since they were teens. Now that Lexi is back and she and Jeff are no longer married he still feels the need to keep things platonic, but hes having trouble staying away from the girl who was his friend first.
I loved the first book in this series, Kissing Under the Mistletoe, so I had high hopes for this second story. It not only met my expectations, but exceeded them. The characters are rich, the writing keeps you enthralled and the romance made my heart pitter patter. I freakin love the DeLuca brothers and I could eat Marco with a spoon. He is positively yummy. Lexi and Marc manage to remain sweet while creating enough sparks to light up the night sky. Sexy.
Marina Adair has created a colorful group of people and a town that anyone can relate to. These books are keepers, for sure, and I can see myself reading and reaching for them when I need a little pick me up. I laughed, I cried and I melted a bit. I am seriously antsy to read Autumn in the Vineyard, though I am not sure that the long wait wont make me crazy. These are seriously terrific books, easy to enjoy - I wouldnt change a thing!
Cherise Everhard, April 2013
Book provided by and reviewed for The Amazon Vine Program
Susan F. (scoutmomskf) -
Good starting over/friends to lovers story. Lexie grew up in St. Helena and dreamed of turning her grandmother's bakery into a bistro. Instead, she followed her high school sweetheart to New York, where they opened their restaurant, Pairings. But somehow, all the things she wanted took second place to Jeff's plans, until the day she found him indulging in his own pairings with her sous-chef. Now she's back home, ready to follow her long-delayed dreams. Only it hasn't started out the way she planned.
If it weren't for bad luck, Lexi would have no luck at all. From her late night arrival and sneaking into the apartment over the bakery, to locking herself out on her way to get her suitcase from her car, she has a rough morning. Then she gets stuck in the window of the bakery as she tries to sneak in without being spotted by anyone out on the street, only to be discovered by Marco DeLuca, her ex-husband's best friend and currently the last person she wants to see.
Marc had been looking forward to Lexi's arrival, even though he shouldn't. He's been crushing on her since he was fourteen, but his buddy Jeff asked her out before he could. Now, the "bro-code" says you don't poach your friend's girl, even after they've broken up, but his heart isn't listening.
I enjoyed the development of their relationship. Marc and Lexi had been friends for a long time, except for the period since the divorce. Marc had been unable to figure out what to say to Lexie, and as a result said nothing, leaving her feeling hurt. Now that she's back in town, he has a chance to make it up to her. He begins by trying to be just the friend and supporter that she needs, but his attraction to her keeps growing. I loved his inner conversations as he reminds himself over and over that she's off limits, only to forget everything the minute he's with her. Lexi doesn't want to get involved with anyone right now; she just wants to concentrate on her plans. Unfortunately, her grandmother has a bazillion dates already lined up for her, plus she's trying to fight the crazy things she feels around Marc.
I loved their interactions. Lexi has seen Marc as a player all these years. He's well-known for the variety and short tenure of his women. She gives him a hard time about his current problem, even as she tries to help him. Marc may be a player, but with Lexie, he is completely different. I loved how closely he watched her and saw her struggles. Jeff's actions had done a number on her self-confidence, but Marc had an unexpected sensitivity and seemed to know just what to say or do to give her the boost she needed. He also could think on his feet and came up with a brilliant idea - a faux romance to get her grandmother to lay off the matchmaking and protect him from his more aggressive pursuers. It wasn't long before the "faux" was dropped from the romance, as they began to drop their guards. Marc also has to deal with his reputation within his own family. Because of his actions after the deaths of their parents, his siblings still look at him as the family screw-up. However, he has worked hard to make his hotel a success, and Lexi recognizes that immediately. I loved the way that she gave him the same belief and support that he gave her.
There is also a lot going on around them. The town is getting ready for the Great Wine Showdown, a huge event. Marc has stuck his neck way out in using his recently renovated hotel as the site. There are many issues creating headaches for him. The longstanding feud between the DeLucas and the Baudouins threatens the wine-tasting itself. Marc's brothers are constantly on his case about one thing or another. Marc's sister Abby is running newspaper ads about her "missing Dick" of a husband, the battle for the caterer has come down to Lexi versus the woman who wants Marc for her own, and Marc is keeping a huge secret from Lexi. I loved the small town politics and personalities that brought all of this to life. The grandmothers were a hoot with their mix of modern and traditional values. I loved the food showdown between Lexi and Natasha, as Lexi strives to regain her mojo when it comes to unique dishes.
The biggest obstacle is one that Lexie knows nothing about, except for the jerking around she's been getting from Jeff. He is a man I detested from the get-go. His treatment of Lexi during and after the divorce is scum-of-the-earth worthy, as he made it impossible for her to use the recipes she developed for Pairings in her new place. Jeff has also been lying like a rug to Marc to gain his cooperation for his expansion plans - plans that once again will stick it to Lexie. Unfortunately, Marc doesn't figure this out until he's in deep with Lexie, and then he doesn't know how to fix it. I ached for Lexie when she found out, as her feelings of betrayal nearly leveled her. I loved the support she got from her friend Abby, and how she picked herself up yet again and went on. I ached for Marc too, as he realized just how badly he had screwed up. Though he can have major problems with his brothers, when the chips are down, they are there to support him when he needs it. I loved Gabe's comment "you don't fuck with our family, our wine, or our women." Marc's "go big" moment at the end is amazing, and he comes through for Lexie in a big way.
This was my first book by this author, but it won't be my last. Her other books are now on my "plan to read" list. I'm especially looking forward to reading Frankie and Nate's book.
If it weren't for bad luck, Lexi would have no luck at all. From her late night arrival and sneaking into the apartment over the bakery, to locking herself out on her way to get her suitcase from her car, she has a rough morning. Then she gets stuck in the window of the bakery as she tries to sneak in without being spotted by anyone out on the street, only to be discovered by Marco DeLuca, her ex-husband's best friend and currently the last person she wants to see.
Marc had been looking forward to Lexi's arrival, even though he shouldn't. He's been crushing on her since he was fourteen, but his buddy Jeff asked her out before he could. Now, the "bro-code" says you don't poach your friend's girl, even after they've broken up, but his heart isn't listening.
I enjoyed the development of their relationship. Marc and Lexi had been friends for a long time, except for the period since the divorce. Marc had been unable to figure out what to say to Lexie, and as a result said nothing, leaving her feeling hurt. Now that she's back in town, he has a chance to make it up to her. He begins by trying to be just the friend and supporter that she needs, but his attraction to her keeps growing. I loved his inner conversations as he reminds himself over and over that she's off limits, only to forget everything the minute he's with her. Lexi doesn't want to get involved with anyone right now; she just wants to concentrate on her plans. Unfortunately, her grandmother has a bazillion dates already lined up for her, plus she's trying to fight the crazy things she feels around Marc.
I loved their interactions. Lexi has seen Marc as a player all these years. He's well-known for the variety and short tenure of his women. She gives him a hard time about his current problem, even as she tries to help him. Marc may be a player, but with Lexie, he is completely different. I loved how closely he watched her and saw her struggles. Jeff's actions had done a number on her self-confidence, but Marc had an unexpected sensitivity and seemed to know just what to say or do to give her the boost she needed. He also could think on his feet and came up with a brilliant idea - a faux romance to get her grandmother to lay off the matchmaking and protect him from his more aggressive pursuers. It wasn't long before the "faux" was dropped from the romance, as they began to drop their guards. Marc also has to deal with his reputation within his own family. Because of his actions after the deaths of their parents, his siblings still look at him as the family screw-up. However, he has worked hard to make his hotel a success, and Lexi recognizes that immediately. I loved the way that she gave him the same belief and support that he gave her.
There is also a lot going on around them. The town is getting ready for the Great Wine Showdown, a huge event. Marc has stuck his neck way out in using his recently renovated hotel as the site. There are many issues creating headaches for him. The longstanding feud between the DeLucas and the Baudouins threatens the wine-tasting itself. Marc's brothers are constantly on his case about one thing or another. Marc's sister Abby is running newspaper ads about her "missing Dick" of a husband, the battle for the caterer has come down to Lexi versus the woman who wants Marc for her own, and Marc is keeping a huge secret from Lexi. I loved the small town politics and personalities that brought all of this to life. The grandmothers were a hoot with their mix of modern and traditional values. I loved the food showdown between Lexi and Natasha, as Lexi strives to regain her mojo when it comes to unique dishes.
The biggest obstacle is one that Lexie knows nothing about, except for the jerking around she's been getting from Jeff. He is a man I detested from the get-go. His treatment of Lexi during and after the divorce is scum-of-the-earth worthy, as he made it impossible for her to use the recipes she developed for Pairings in her new place. Jeff has also been lying like a rug to Marc to gain his cooperation for his expansion plans - plans that once again will stick it to Lexie. Unfortunately, Marc doesn't figure this out until he's in deep with Lexie, and then he doesn't know how to fix it. I ached for Lexie when she found out, as her feelings of betrayal nearly leveled her. I loved the support she got from her friend Abby, and how she picked herself up yet again and went on. I ached for Marc too, as he realized just how badly he had screwed up. Though he can have major problems with his brothers, when the chips are down, they are there to support him when he needs it. I loved Gabe's comment "you don't fuck with our family, our wine, or our women." Marc's "go big" moment at the end is amazing, and he comes through for Lexie in a big way.
This was my first book by this author, but it won't be my last. Her other books are now on my "plan to read" list. I'm especially looking forward to reading Frankie and Nate's book.
