Vintage Hearts

The Sweet Hearts Rom-Com #1

by Ellie Hartwood

A Sweet Friends-To-Lovers Small-Town Romantic Comedy

Things can’t possibly get worse than your boyfriend dumping you for a French baguette. Right?

When Bree Carlyle's boyfriend leaves for Paris, taking the rent money with him, all she has left are boxes of old books and a gift from her friendly, pothead neighbor. Desperate for a place to lick her wounds, Bree heads to her family's once-thriving Napa vineyard. After all, where better to drown her sorrows than a small town with lots and lots of alcohol?

Gideon Donnelly is a sheriff's deputy with eyes on a law career . . . and on his teenage crush, Bree. He's hot stuff, knows his way around fine wine, and can’t say no to a pretty face, be it human or canine. He's also a man with secrets. Something Bree can relate to.

When Bree and Gideon cross paths after years of no contact, sparks begin to fly. But Bree has sworn off men.

Can a quirky BFF, a not-yet-housebroken Golden Retriever, and a sexy old friend help Bree get her life back on track and turn sour grapes into fresh-squeezed, newfound love?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Friends To Lovers, Rom Com, Contemporary Romance, Clean Romance, He Falls First

202 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 28, 2023

Reviews

[Maven_Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vintage Hearts by Ellie Hartwood is a sweet, small-town friends-to-lovers romantic comedy about Bree Carlyle, who returns to her family’s struggling Napa vineyard after being dumped by her boyfriend who literally leaves her for a French baguette and takes their rent money with him, only to collide again with her childhood crush, Gideon Donnelly, now a sheriff’s deputy with dreams of law school and a secret or two that color his calm exterior. It’s a heart-light romance full of quirky friends, a lovable not-quite-trained Golden Retriever, and the messy, tender journey of someone trying to rebuild her life while rediscovering old sparks.

Right from Bree’s chaotic fresh start amid dusty vines and boxes of old books, I felt pulled into a story that’s as much about healing and hope as it is about falling in love again. Bree’s witty self-reflection made me laugh and sympathize with her frustration at losing so much at once, and Gideon’s steady warmth and shared history with her gave their budding connection a depth that felt genuine, not rushed. The small-town Napa setting dripped comfort and charm, like a favorite playlist playing softly in the background of every scene, and I loved how family bonds and personal growth were woven into the romance without ever overshadowing the central fluttering of emotions between Bree and Gideon.

I’m giving Vintage Hearts 3 out of 5 stars because it made me feel genuinely invested in Bree’s path back to confidence and warmth, and because the slow-burn friends-to-lovers arc wrapped up in a way that left me grinning, cozy from head to heart, and ready to explore more stories from this author.

[Jennifer F · Rating 3 out of 5]

Needs some reviewing

This was a cute read, but factual errors made the author unreliable, and the main character needs more depth. She is so quick to judge and give up. Factual errors: talking about when Gideon decides to go to law school, he claims he started studying for the LSAT, went to Law School, and took the bar all within three years. Full time Law School is usually 3 years, let alone the year it usually takes to take the LSAT, apply, and get accepted and the additional 6-8 months+ after Law School to take the BAR and get your results. Also, when discussing his degrees, there is no mention of his JD, while you do not need a JD to take the bar in California (1 of 4 states where this is allowed), it is often mentioned that he went to Law School . Finally the discussion about the chocolate torte…it keeps being called a cake, and then they FEED IT TO THE DOG! There were also several typos in the text.
While I did find it a cute read, these things took away from the story. I would read something else by the author, I just hope they have better editors.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was OK until the end when the heroine was just plain idiotic. I was so disgusted I stopped reading.
Her ex boyfriend dumped her at the beginning of the book plus stole her money and caused her to be evicted from their supposedly shared apartment.

He goes off on a vacation (on her money) to France and post on social media pictures with a hook up. He so obviously has been taking advantage of her and none of her friends or family like him.

Right at the end, he appears at her doorstep and she accepts him (!!!!), hurting the H. What the?!!! Of course it ends in a HEA but I was so disgusted I didn't bother to read anymore.

[Moni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. This is the second book of the author's that I've read ,Frozen Hearts: An Enemies-To-Lovers Sweet Rom-Com being the first, and I'm liking the author's writing style. It's a part of The Sweet Hearts Rom-Com Series but is a standalone. The synopsis lets you know what to expect. It's a sweet friends to lovers romance told mostly through Bree's pov, though there are other povs shared.

After ending her relationship & being left with nowhere else to go, Bree returns to her family's Napa vineyard to live there while she finds somewhere more permanent to live at. However, before she can get too comfortable, she learns her family is about to lose the vineyard. As she struggles to come up with ways to keep her family home, she is reunited & becomes close again with Gideon, her childhood friend & crush. However, she is still dealing with her breakup & wonders if she can risk losing Gideon's friendship again.

From what Bree remembers, Gideon hasn't changed much - he's still a "straight as an arrow" type of guy, which his career choice supports. & the fact that he's the complete opposite of her ex soothes her pain from the breakup a bit. He's helpful, gives her his attention, and is respectful of what she wants from him. However, he also has a past that he hasn't told her about and could make her see him differently.

Readers who like seeing friends reconnect and become lovers will like seeing that happen with Bree & Gideon. Sure, you may not like Bree's decisions all the time but they get their happy ending. Aside from the romance, I liked seeing them remember their past, make new memories, & work together. I wasn't too crazy about the other povs shared, besides Gideon's, & the ending felt rushed. But, overall, I enjoyed it & think others will too.

[Anonymous 5 · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can't go wrong with a small town, friends to lovers romantic comedy, and Ms. Hartwood really nailed it with this one! The writing was really well done and grabbed my attention from the very start and kept my interest all the way through. After Bree's relationship ends, she decides to go back home to her family's vineyard and lick her wounds. She learns they are struggling to keep it afloat, and tries to come up with ways to save the business and her home. She's also reunited with her childhood crush, Gideon. They start to grow close, but Gideon has his own past that she knows nothing about which may change how she sees him.
This was a sweet and charming story and the characters were well fleshed out and endearing and I couldn't help but fall in love with them. I enjoyed following Gideon and Bree's story and look forward to reading more books by this author.
I received a complimentary copy from StoryOrigin and am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

More than a sweet romance

4.25 stars

This went way beyond a sweet romance. There were so many layers and storylines that it was a very complex story, which I found interesting. There was stuff with the vineyard that added so much flavor and atmosphere. Plenty of family drama and secrets that added another complexity as Bree was trying to figure out. There were other people’s perspectives that completed pieces of the puzzle. Just the overall arc of the story was very engaging and sucked me in.

As for the romance between Bree and Gideon, it was very sweet, but I did wish they got a more prominent role of them developing their romance. They did have their moments were just utterly precious and full of affection, and I wanted more of that throughout. However I did like their romance, and the fact they had a history together. I thought it was sweet they were pen pals. I thought they worked really well as a couple.

[Catarina Águas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to give it 3.5 stars only because of Bree. The way she pushed him away without letting him explain something that happened to him when they were just friends was freaking stupid. And when her ex came back (who robbed her, only used her money and left her without a roof over her head) and she let him stay and let Gideon go, hard NO. The actual hell???!! And when she said, more than once, that Gideon was the same as her ex because he lied to her? Woman he didn't lie, he just didn't say something about his past that had NOTHING to do you. Her only positive point is the fact that both times she went after him. Despite playing "the woe is me" prior and not making a d*mn effort. I feel like Gideon could get and deserved better. He was always there for her, he liked her and respected her decision to just be friends, playing the long game because he knew she needed time

[Noreen Hussain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Bree and Gideon.
Bree has been dumped by her boyfriend and is leftvwith nothing.The only place she can think of to go to is to her grandma's vineyard in the small town of Napa,she has good memories of spending the summer there with her grandma,brother and best friend Gideon.
As soon as she enter's town the first person she meets is Gideon.They both had a crush on each other and the feelings are even stronger now.Their feelings grow more and more as they spend time together,but will their secrets keep them from admitting those feelings.
A sweet small town romance with warmth,humour,lots of emotions and a happily ever after.
I recieved an ARC of this book for free from the author and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

[Lcr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vintage Hearts is a stand-alone romcom.
When Bree suddenly finds herself dumped, broke and alone she decides that she needs somewhere to lock her wounds. The old family vineyard seems like the perfect place.
The first person she meets there is her old high school crush who is now a super sexy deputy sheriff.

This is a good book but for me it was more a romance rather than a rom com, It had its moments though. The characters are likelable and the dog adorable. It is an enjoyable read but nothing makes it stand out amongst other books in this genre. If you are looking for an easy to read, light hearted romcom then I definitely recommend this book.

[Anne Strine · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read!!!

This book surprised me. When I first started reading it, I thought Bree was pretty wimpy for putting up with her lazy and entitled boyfriend. I was actually glad when he left for Paris. Bree’s desperation at being evicted, and then finding out that her grandmother‘s vineyard was in foreclosure was heart wrenching. Running into her old childhood friend was fortuitous, even though the timing wasn’t great. The path to resolution with the vineyard, the old boyfriend and the new love was intriguing and kept my interest with each twist and turn. Really enjoyed this book!

[Linda Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book of many secrets that draws you in

So many people in this book have secrets That I almost lost. Each secret affected the younger generation in my opinion. The secrets were unveiled by the author throughout the story And I have caught on to the main big secret Before it was revealed in the book. I like the characters they meshed I like the characters they meshed well even though those that weren't supposed to the other pulled off the sorry I like the characters they meshed well even though those that weren't supposed to the other pulled off the sorry casting Attitude of some of them. I like to the way this author right and look forward to reading more for books.

[riana · Rating 3 out of 5]

everything was going so well until bree did a fucking dumb thing and accepted colin back ???

i hate the colin conflict. bree was even saying how she was so excited to see gideon and what happened?? she panicked and did a stupid dumb thing. i hate that the ending gave me that kind of feeling. the colin conflict could've been settled in a better way than that.

overall this was a great book. i enjoyed it a lot, was hooked right up to the last moment. such a pity it got bumped down because of that last conflict.

3.5 stars

[Anne-Claire De Sousa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't love the several POV - Bree, Gideon, Rosa, Sarah, Juan Carlos - as sometimes I ended up a bit confused as whose POV I was reading and felt detracted from the main story, even though we could get a glimpse on the lives of other characters, other than the main ones.

It was an OK read. I felt that the dialogues were a bit stiff at times. Bree and Gideon's story is a sweet one, but I didn't really connect with them, unfortunately. I liked that Sarah got her HEA too.

[Angie · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️½

Very short book at just over 200 pages.
Just eh. This was my first time reading Ellie Hartwood, and I’m not sure if the book didn’t land because she’s a newer author or if I’m just in a bit of a reading rut.

The premise had potential, but the pacing was uneven and the characters never really clicked for me.

It wasn’t bad, just forgettable. Might give her another try down the road, but this one didn’t leave much of an impression.

[Suze82 · Rating 4 out of 5]

second time charm
I enjoyed Bree and Gideon´s story tremedously, there is nothing better than a man trying to convince his secret crush that love can come true and if you add a cute puppy to the mix nothing can go wrong...
This is the first book I´ve read frome this author but it surely won´t be the last.
I received this book as a review copy.

[Anna Shulzhenko · Rating 4 out of 5]

All in all I liked this book. It's sweet, nice and intresting. That's what I usually expect from sweet romances.

But for me, Bree's actions in the end made me hate her a little.

If you are looking for a light reading with lovable characters (or almost lovable), this one is for you. 4.5*

I've received an ARC copy and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kristen Shane · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really confused when the MC automatically took back her ex when he showed up, and in front of Gideon? That really threw me off and made me feel like the rest of the story didn’t matter. The insta-marriage ending did not fit for me after the incident with the ex. I couldn’t trust the MC or her decision making after that.

[Cc · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bree and Gideon

Left by her boyfriend and finding out she’s being evicted Bree moves back to her Grandmother’s winery in Napa. There she finds out the house has deteriorated from standing empty so long and the bank is about to foreclose.

Of course, the farm is saved, love is found, old feuds are settled and there’s an HEA

Ok story, ok characters and town.

[D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story of Bree and Gideon. There was a lot of good laughs and a lot of good romance. The story of the history of these two and watching the fun path to bring them together became a great story.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good

This was such a fun story. I liked the characters, especially Gideon. Watching Bree was like seeing someone self inflict themselves. Ouch. Good thing she had people in her corner that were looking out for her.

[Angel Graham · Rating 2 out of 5]

One, needs editing. It's here, not hear when talking about a place.

Two, she did what at the end!

Three, I just really didn't like the MC'S very much.

I don't really recommend this w, but, you may like it.

[Helen McCormick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Predictable but okay

Completely predictable but a comforting read because of it. Good characters but it was a bit too unrealistic. The dog for one.. a few weeks old? Being left on its own, or not mentioned and just other such things making it unbelievable. But still a nice read

[Michelle Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Confusing format with main POV and then it randomly throws in third party POV.
The ending was wrapping up nicely and it was ruined!! So much crap thrown in that didn't follow the growth of the story and really ruined the book for me.

[whimsical reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was enjoying the book. I wasn’t loving it, but I got super upset at the end when she made a really dumb decision and I didn’t even want to finish the book. And it made the love story afterwards and not very great.

[Natalie L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The courage to not settle for a mediocre relationship

Vineyard, vintage wine and old flames. And very amusing near-kiss moments which kept getting thwarted by cute poodle, enthusiastic friends, and surprise family visits...till the end.
Love this read!

[PollyAnna Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartfelt

Bree and Gideon are so sweet. My favorite part is when she holds her hands out for him to put hand-cuffs on her! What a great re-meet-cute!!

[Laura Perttula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute.

[Yvonnia Woeger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friends to lovers a hope filled dream come true.

Good clean romance!
Great second chance at love! I especially liked the hope and renewed friendships as well as new friends.

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring af. Again, I have to remember I don’t like friends to lovers, Fuck Colin. Bree is an idiot. Don’t recommend.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. The title says it all.

The characters are very relatable in some circumstances. There is lots of twists and turns. The book fills my heart with joy.