An intoxicating romance with a strong lead.
The new CEO of a winery seeks to prove herself to her co-owner brother but fears her carefully crafted professionalism may crumble after she has a one-night stand with a new employee.
Since 34-year-old Margot Noble inherited half of her uncle Stan’s winery three years ago, she has been determined to prove her worth in the family business. After overhearing her brother, Elliot, say she didn't deserve her share of Noble Family Vineyards, she quit her marketing job and headed to Napa with a mission. With Elliot’s decadelong experience as a winemaker, Margot must work extra hard on the business side to prove her worth. Still, her competence as CEO doesn’t prevent Elliot from making decisions without her, like when he hires a new employee for the tasting room without consulting Margot first. Desperately in need of a vacation and a drink after confronting Elliot, Margot finds solace at The Barrel, her best friend Sydney’s bar. There, Sydney dares Margot to strike up a conversation with a handsome younger man. His name is Luke Williams, and he's a former software engineer who’s only temporarily in Napa to help his friend Avery get over a nasty breakup. One thing leads to another, and Margot and Luke spend a passionate night (and morning!) together. At work the next day, Margot is more than content to daydream about her memories with Luke…until he walks into her office as the winery’s new hire. Suddenly, Margot and Luke must navigate a relationship where Margot is Luke’s boss—a position she doesn’t have the luxury to jeopardize—while they try to deny feelings for one another that prove stronger than any wine. Guillory’s latest romance is bursting with mouthwatering sexual tension and desire: “But now he had to work under Margot Noble, while all the time thinking about what it had been like to be literally under Margot Noble.” Despite plenty of moments overrun with miscommunication, Margot is a powerful protagonist, and her dedication to her career, despite the numerous challenges, is absolutely refreshing.
An intoxicating romance with a strong lead.Pub Date: Sept. 20, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-10088-2
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Berkley
Review Posted Online: June 21, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2022
SEEN & HEARD
Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over.
The sequel to It Ends With Us (2016) shows the aftermath of domestic violence through the eyes of a single mother.
Lily Bloom is still running a flower shop; her abusive ex-husband, Ryle Kincaid, is still a surgeon. But now they’re co-parenting a daughter, Emerson, who's almost a year old. Lily won’t send Emerson to her father’s house overnight until she’s old enough to talk—“So she can tell me if something happens”—but she doesn’t want to fight for full custody lest it become an expensive legal drama or, worse, a physical fight. When Lily runs into Atlas Corrigan, a childhood friend who also came from an abusive family, she hopes their friendship can blossom into love. (For new readers, their history unfolds in heartfelt diary entries that Lily addresses to Finding Nemo star Ellen DeGeneres as she considers how Atlas was a calming presence during her turbulent childhood.) Atlas, who is single and running a restaurant, feels the same way. But even though she’s divorced, Lily isn’t exactly free. Behind Ryle’s veneer of civility are his jealousy and resentment. Lily has to plan her dates carefully to avoid a confrontation. Meanwhile, Atlas’ mother returns with shocking news. In between, Lily and Atlas steal away for romantic moments that are even sweeter for their authenticity as Lily struggles with child care, breastfeeding, and running a business while trying to find time for herself.
Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over.Pub Date: Oct. 18, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-668-00122-6
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Atria
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2022
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
A wallowing, emotionally wrenching family drama that leaves little time for romance.
Two people with bad luck in relationships find each other through a popular Reddit thread.
Emma Grant and her best friend, Maddy, are travel nurses, working at hospitals for three-month stints while they see the country. Just a few weeks before they’re set to move to Hawaii, Emma reads a popular “Am I the Asshole” Reddit thread from a Minnesota man who thinks he’s cursed—women he dates find their soulmates after breaking up with him, and the latest one found true love with his best friend! Emma has had a similar experience, which inspires her to DM the man and commiserate. She’s delighted by her witty, lively interactions with software engineer Justin Dahl, and is intrigued when he suggests that if they date each other, maybe they’ll each find their soulmate afterward. Emma upends the Hawaii plan and convinces Maddy to move to Minneapolis for the summer so she can meet Justin in person. The overly complex setup brings Emma and Justin together and the two hit it off, with Justin immediately falling head over heels for Emma. Jimenez then pivots to creating romantic roadblocks and melodramatic subplots centering on each character’s family of origin. Justin’s mother is about to serve six years in prison for embezzlement, which means Justin must move back home to care for his three much younger siblings. Emma was traumatized by her own mother for much of her childhood, left to fend for herself and eventually abandoned in the foster system. When her mother shows up in Minnesota, Emma must face her traumatic childhood and admit that she has prioritized her mother’s well-being over her own. There is little time devoted to Emma’s painful efforts to heal herself enough to accept Justin’s love, which leaves the novel feeling unsatisfying.
A wallowing, emotionally wrenching family drama that leaves little time for romance.Pub Date: April 2, 2024
ISBN: 9781538704431
Page Count: 432
Publisher: Forever
Review Posted Online: Feb. 3, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2024
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
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