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Christmas in Wine Country
It's Lila's big debut as an event planner and the company holiday party is going to be her chance to shine. At a Tuscan-style vineyard near the Northern California coast in the perfect little black dress she's sure to impress commitment-phobe Phillip. What could go wrong?
Seventy-two hours later with no job and no boyfriend, Lila finds herself with all kinds of answers to that question. Like mistaking the glowering Jake Endicott of Endicott Vineyards for the groundskeeper. Or a new video on YouTube featuring Lila pawing her way through drunken karaoke of "Hungry Like the Wolf."
Solo on the romantic holiday getaway she'd booked for her and Phillip near the vineyard, Lila at least gets to visit with her old friend Annie who lives nearby in the coastal town of Redwood Cove. Drawn into the local bookstore with gleaming wooden floors and welcoming armchairs, Lila chats with the owner and impulsively accepts a job offer.
Sleepy, misty Redwood Cove is the perfect place for Lila to take a break from her horrible track record with guys. The only one she finds even remotely attractive knows her as the holiday party crazy lady. Ranked in Bay Area magazine's 10 hottest bachelors, Jake Endicott is just the type Old Lila would have wasted years pining after.
Join Lila on her year of comedy, adventure and self-discovery on the Northern California coast, with all kinds of ups, downs and misadventures and a full cast of small-town wine country characters. Thankfully, even the greatest misunderstandings can all be worked out with a little Frank Sinatra and mistletoe.
Seventy-two hours later with no job and no boyfriend, Lila finds herself with all kinds of answers to that question. Like mistaking the glowering Jake Endicott of Endicott Vineyards for the groundskeeper. Or a new video on YouTube featuring Lila pawing her way through drunken karaoke of "Hungry Like the Wolf."
Solo on the romantic holiday getaway she'd booked for her and Phillip near the vineyard, Lila at least gets to visit with her old friend Annie who lives nearby in the coastal town of Redwood Cove. Drawn into the local bookstore with gleaming wooden floors and welcoming armchairs, Lila chats with the owner and impulsively accepts a job offer.
Sleepy, misty Redwood Cove is the perfect place for Lila to take a break from her horrible track record with guys. The only one she finds even remotely attractive knows her as the holiday party crazy lady. Ranked in Bay Area magazine's 10 hottest bachelors, Jake Endicott is just the type Old Lila would have wasted years pining after.
Join Lila on her year of comedy, adventure and self-discovery on the Northern California coast, with all kinds of ups, downs and misadventures and a full cast of small-town wine country characters. Thankfully, even the greatest misunderstandings can all be worked out with a little Frank Sinatra and mistletoe.
303 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 18, 2012
36 people are currently reading
235 people want to read
About the author
Addison Westlake
2 books19 followersAddison Westlake made her debut as an author at age 13 by rewriting the "Sweet Valley High" series. Despite copyright violations, she maintains that her rendition of Elisabeth and Jessica Wakefield as preteens in a British orphanage is a classic. Between then and now she went to some fancy schools, swapped out the East Coast for the West Coast, and had oodles of kids. Some of her favorite things in life include coffee, Aretha Franklin's inauguration hat and the sleepwalking scene in "Step Brothers."
Addison published her first romantic comedy, "Christmas in Wine Country," in 2012. It won first prize in the single title division of the Romance Writers of America's 2010 Stilletto Contest and spent six weeks on Amazon's best seller list.
Addison published her first romantic comedy, "Christmas in Wine Country," in 2012. It won first prize in the single title division of the Romance Writers of America's 2010 Stilletto Contest and spent six weeks on Amazon's best seller list.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
February 21, 2013
While belting out "It's Raining Men" during a Karaoke session at the company's Christmas party, Lillian's life took on a life of its own, never turning back to see if she had bothered to jump on board.
"Lila pulled the blanket over her head. But, still the memories found her. She and the intern had gone down with the karate kick. Her stiletto heel hadn't. It had sailed smack into the forehead of the CEO of a hot new Silicon Valley tech company, leaving a dark, red welt."
"I'm sure it wasn't as bad as all that." "I kicked my shoe off into a guy's forehead." At this, even Gram had to pause. "Did he need stitches?"
"On the counter her iPhone made a little chirp. A new text message. It was from Alison, her friend from work: "OMG U R on youtube!!!"
If I were to write a book that I would enjoy reading, this book would be it. It has "sipping chocolate" and a hunk who owns a local vineyard; 80's music and a hunk who owns a local vineyard; and a quaint book store to work in and a hunk who owns a local vineyard. , and the best part is that it located on the coast of California. How many times did I just wish I could hop into the pages of this book - let's just say many.
"Annie's profile was lit warmly as she deftly maneuvered a large chef's pastry tube to fill oval moulds with dark chocolate. A luscious aroma of vanilla, hazelnut and chocolate filled the air and Lila knew she would happily follow it into a candy house in the forest, even after having read Hansel and Gretel."
"...Annie snapped her fingers in front of Lila's glazed eyes. "No mooning in here! This is a place of chocolate. Show it proper respect."
This was the first book I've read by Addison Westlake and Christmas in Wine Country was a delightful quick read full of humour that made me laugh out loud. The characters were everyday people that we might have in our own lives, it might even be us.
Lila, after a disastrous attempt at taking over the planning of the company's Christmas bash, finds herself out of a job and minus a boyfriend. The upside is, she still has her best friend, and she eventually winds up in a lovely little ocean side town where that best friend, Annie, lives.
Lila ends up with the perfect job in a quaint little book store not far from the chocolate store where Annie works. Annie introduces her to "sipping chocolate" and the friendship quickly rekindles over chocolate. There are loads of mishaps and odd people (the bookstore geek, the obnoxious party planner, the yoga instructor) throughout the book which make it a fun read.
"Annie would arrive at the store tomorrow morning and turn on the lights to find Lila guiltily bathing in a big vat of sipping chocolate."
"All Lila wanted was a quiet little job in a quiet little book store and a whole lot of sipping chocolate. That couldn't be too much to ask for, could it?"
Technically speaking, I thought the book had a good story line and the characters were wonderfully eccentric people. The author incorporated the local flavour of the area into the book and painted the scenes so that you felt you were visiting the little town of Sonoma. The comedy in the book was well written and had me laughing at the antics of Lila's friends. It was charming and witty and while the book was a quick read, the story meandered just enough to allow you to enjoy the scenery.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased opinion.
January 15, 2013
This review was originally posted on Melissa's Midnight Musings on December 17, 2012.
Christmas in Wine Country is wonderfully funny, sweet, always brimming with one kind of adventure or another.
Lila is a 28 year old woman who is stuck in a job that she doesn't like, dating a man that barely even acknowledges her presence, and barely living life outside of her job. Then in one drunken, karoke filled evening, she loses her job, her semi-relationship and is forced to finally make some real choices about what she wants to do with herself and her life.
She drags herself to a B&B that she had reserved for her and her boyfriend's holiday getaway. While there she wanders into a charming book shop named Cover to Cover. After talking with the owner, she is hired on the spot, and with that she leaves big city life for small town life.
I admired Lila's guts in making the move to Redwood Cove. I think everyone wishes they could make moves like this, completely transform themselves, start over somewhere new. It has to be fun to do, and Lila really seems to enjoy herself.
She embraces being single for a while, giving herself time to get over Phillip. He's a huge jerk, and easily the least likeable character in the story. He tells Lila that they were never really dating and that he and a woman named Axcell are ready to take things to a new level. I laughed every time I read the name because I kept thinking about the computer program.
The surrounding characters in this story are so much fun. There's Lila's loving, patient, wise Gram, who always knows just what to say. Then there's Annie, Lila's college roomate, who supports her, but also gives her healthy doses of reality when she needs it. There's also Zoe, whose a lot of fun. She's a yoga teacher in Red Cove, who's very into naturalistic thought and ways of life. And there's also Godfrey, a somewhat dramatic, (but well meaning) co-worker from the bookstore.
I think Zoe is actually my favorite of the characters because she's got this double persona. You mainly read about her as hippie-ish, vegan, yoga teacher Zoe. But about halfway through you learn that she grew up in the privileged lifestyle and used to be a debutante. It just goes to to show that not everyone is what they seem and they don't always keep the same path that they start life out on.
The same is true for Lila's love interest in the story, Jake. She assumes that he grew up in the hills of wine country, when in reality he grew up with a single mother who died of breast cancer when he was a teenager and a father who sent him to boarding school.
The romance between he and Lila is perfect. Definitely not insta-love, (their first meeting definitely does not go smoothly) the tension throughout their relationship is the perfect balance of nice moments and awkward ones, as they start the complicated dance of trying to figure out just what they are to each other. They definitely have their work cut out for them with interfering presences like Vanessa (I'll just let you discover her for yourselves) and some serious misunderstandings.
In addition to the great characters, there's also great food. Lila learns to cook and goes through periods of making soups and desserts, most of which sound delicious. I'm always a sucker for books with food. A book about food and a bookstore? Even better.
The overall message of the book is about embracing life, and doing what makes you happy. It's also about following your dreams, sticking up for yourself, and letting yourself be comfortable with who you are and what you want out of life. It teaches the reader that you don't have to let other people's perception of you or what you do for a living make you feel any less worthy. As long as you love what you're doing (and isn't that what we all really want anyway) then the title really doesn't matter, and who cares if you don't fit in to the cookie cutter world of fancy job titles or marketing?
I'd rather be passionate about what I do than a person who's only in their job for the money any day and Lila becomes just that. Passionate, happy, and sure of herself.
This is the perfect holiday comfort read.
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
Christmas in Wine Country is wonderfully funny, sweet, always brimming with one kind of adventure or another.
Lila is a 28 year old woman who is stuck in a job that she doesn't like, dating a man that barely even acknowledges her presence, and barely living life outside of her job. Then in one drunken, karoke filled evening, she loses her job, her semi-relationship and is forced to finally make some real choices about what she wants to do with herself and her life.
She drags herself to a B&B that she had reserved for her and her boyfriend's holiday getaway. While there she wanders into a charming book shop named Cover to Cover. After talking with the owner, she is hired on the spot, and with that she leaves big city life for small town life.
I admired Lila's guts in making the move to Redwood Cove. I think everyone wishes they could make moves like this, completely transform themselves, start over somewhere new. It has to be fun to do, and Lila really seems to enjoy herself.
She embraces being single for a while, giving herself time to get over Phillip. He's a huge jerk, and easily the least likeable character in the story. He tells Lila that they were never really dating and that he and a woman named Axcell are ready to take things to a new level. I laughed every time I read the name because I kept thinking about the computer program.
The surrounding characters in this story are so much fun. There's Lila's loving, patient, wise Gram, who always knows just what to say. Then there's Annie, Lila's college roomate, who supports her, but also gives her healthy doses of reality when she needs it. There's also Zoe, whose a lot of fun. She's a yoga teacher in Red Cove, who's very into naturalistic thought and ways of life. And there's also Godfrey, a somewhat dramatic, (but well meaning) co-worker from the bookstore.
I think Zoe is actually my favorite of the characters because she's got this double persona. You mainly read about her as hippie-ish, vegan, yoga teacher Zoe. But about halfway through you learn that she grew up in the privileged lifestyle and used to be a debutante. It just goes to to show that not everyone is what they seem and they don't always keep the same path that they start life out on.
The same is true for Lila's love interest in the story, Jake. She assumes that he grew up in the hills of wine country, when in reality he grew up with a single mother who died of breast cancer when he was a teenager and a father who sent him to boarding school.
The romance between he and Lila is perfect. Definitely not insta-love, (their first meeting definitely does not go smoothly) the tension throughout their relationship is the perfect balance of nice moments and awkward ones, as they start the complicated dance of trying to figure out just what they are to each other. They definitely have their work cut out for them with interfering presences like Vanessa (I'll just let you discover her for yourselves) and some serious misunderstandings.
In addition to the great characters, there's also great food. Lila learns to cook and goes through periods of making soups and desserts, most of which sound delicious. I'm always a sucker for books with food. A book about food and a bookstore? Even better.
The overall message of the book is about embracing life, and doing what makes you happy. It's also about following your dreams, sticking up for yourself, and letting yourself be comfortable with who you are and what you want out of life. It teaches the reader that you don't have to let other people's perception of you or what you do for a living make you feel any less worthy. As long as you love what you're doing (and isn't that what we all really want anyway) then the title really doesn't matter, and who cares if you don't fit in to the cookie cutter world of fancy job titles or marketing?
I'd rather be passionate about what I do than a person who's only in their job for the money any day and Lila becomes just that. Passionate, happy, and sure of herself.
This is the perfect holiday comfort read.
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
December 25, 2012
Contrary to what the title suggests, Addison Westlake's Christmas in Wine Country is more than a story about a holiday in one of America's most scenic settings. It is about a young woman undergoing major transformation in her life professionally, personally and romantically.
After taking over responsibility for her major advertising company's annual holiday party at last minute, Lila finds herself in crisis. The company's usual event planner, who is out on maternity leave, accidentally sent the directions for her annual Cinco de Mayo party instead of the company's usually swanky preferences, and the colleague she has secretly dated for two years is all over a French hussy. To make matters worse, Lila can't get over worrying about the potential tripping hazard the icy cobblestone walkway creates. Lila snaps, and after drunkenly singing karaoke and accidentally kicking a party guest in the head, she finds herself without a job and without a boyfriend.
Lila finds herself solo in wine country on the weekend getaway she planned for her ex in wine country. Instead of romance, Lila reconnects with her college roommate, lands a job at a bookstore and finds an adorable apartment that overlooks the water. During the next year, Lila learns to find happiness, discovers good guys are worth waiting for and true friends are the best kind.
This book was a big hit with me. From the get-go, I was instantly bonded with Lila. Imperfect, but in a sweet way, her greatest flaws come from wanting to find acceptance from her mother, resolution with her long-absent father and love with someone who is willing to give as much as her. Sometimes, her efforts to achieve these goals leave her to do somewhat crazy things -- like going on a salad-only diet and bleaching and ironing her hair to impress a man. But haven't we all been there?
The characters surrounding her are charming. Lila has a wonderful relationship with her grandmother, who was completely adorable. Everyone should have such a sweet and supportive grandma to say, "I'm proud of you," in the midst of a personal makeover.
In addition, the townspeople are charming and hilarious instead of overly involved and annoying. Even when some of Lila's new friends try their hand at meddling, it comes off as funny instead of irritating. That's a tough balance to strike, and Westlake did it well.
The romantic element in this story was also sweet. Though it had me worried more than a few times, and I spent a good chunk of the book saying, "get it together already," the payoff was worth it. I am a big fan of the still waters run deep type of leading man, and Jake, the mysterious son of the local vineyard owner, offers plenty of complexity. He kept me curious and suspicious of his motives, even while I liked him. I also enjoyed the douchey ex. He was so much fun to dislike.
This was a fast-paced, fun book to read. With each chapter sporting a title taken from an 80s pop song -- did I mention Lila is a huge fan of 80s music just like me? -- and the year moving quickly, the story started off quickly. Though it did slow down toward the end, the story concluded with a cute and satisfying resolution.
Though the title of this book drew me to read it -- it is Christmas season -- and the holiday moments were cute, the majority of the story took place in between two Christmases, making it a worthwhile read any time of year.
Originally published at www.change-the-word.blogspot.com.
After taking over responsibility for her major advertising company's annual holiday party at last minute, Lila finds herself in crisis. The company's usual event planner, who is out on maternity leave, accidentally sent the directions for her annual Cinco de Mayo party instead of the company's usually swanky preferences, and the colleague she has secretly dated for two years is all over a French hussy. To make matters worse, Lila can't get over worrying about the potential tripping hazard the icy cobblestone walkway creates. Lila snaps, and after drunkenly singing karaoke and accidentally kicking a party guest in the head, she finds herself without a job and without a boyfriend.
Lila finds herself solo in wine country on the weekend getaway she planned for her ex in wine country. Instead of romance, Lila reconnects with her college roommate, lands a job at a bookstore and finds an adorable apartment that overlooks the water. During the next year, Lila learns to find happiness, discovers good guys are worth waiting for and true friends are the best kind.
This book was a big hit with me. From the get-go, I was instantly bonded with Lila. Imperfect, but in a sweet way, her greatest flaws come from wanting to find acceptance from her mother, resolution with her long-absent father and love with someone who is willing to give as much as her. Sometimes, her efforts to achieve these goals leave her to do somewhat crazy things -- like going on a salad-only diet and bleaching and ironing her hair to impress a man. But haven't we all been there?
The characters surrounding her are charming. Lila has a wonderful relationship with her grandmother, who was completely adorable. Everyone should have such a sweet and supportive grandma to say, "I'm proud of you," in the midst of a personal makeover.
In addition, the townspeople are charming and hilarious instead of overly involved and annoying. Even when some of Lila's new friends try their hand at meddling, it comes off as funny instead of irritating. That's a tough balance to strike, and Westlake did it well.
The romantic element in this story was also sweet. Though it had me worried more than a few times, and I spent a good chunk of the book saying, "get it together already," the payoff was worth it. I am a big fan of the still waters run deep type of leading man, and Jake, the mysterious son of the local vineyard owner, offers plenty of complexity. He kept me curious and suspicious of his motives, even while I liked him. I also enjoyed the douchey ex. He was so much fun to dislike.
This was a fast-paced, fun book to read. With each chapter sporting a title taken from an 80s pop song -- did I mention Lila is a huge fan of 80s music just like me? -- and the year moving quickly, the story started off quickly. Though it did slow down toward the end, the story concluded with a cute and satisfying resolution.
Though the title of this book drew me to read it -- it is Christmas season -- and the holiday moments were cute, the majority of the story took place in between two Christmases, making it a worthwhile read any time of year.
Originally published at www.change-the-word.blogspot.com.
December 14, 2012
I loved this 15 chapter book. It was told through Lila’s third person point-of-view. Addison Westlake had a fantastic talent with voice. The character’s narration had a cool flow to it, her wit mixed with dialogue and observations. I could relate to Lila in a lot of ways. That’s probably why I enjoyed the story so much. She reflected on if she attaches to guys she can’t have, she’s 28 with a college degree but couldn’t quite find the right career path to go (her mom never approved), her mom was constantly on her case (which her grandma revealed was the mom’s way of showing she loved her daughter). Her mom gave birth to Lila when she was 19, having to drop out of college. I got lost in the story and rooted for Lila throughout the novel.
When the book started, life was so-so for Lila. She had a career in AdSales that she didn’t really care for. A boyfriend that she had to keep secret (no one in company was allowed to date each other). Eventually, she got lay-offed. Phillip dumped her for another woman. Lila and Phillip had been intimate for 2 years, and he had the nerve to tell her they were never more than just a “thing.” Ouch.
She decided to visit her best friend Annie in a new town and eventually moved there. She found a job at an independent bookstore. The story was great with teaching life lessons and encouraging someone to pick themselves up; things eventually get better. It was cool seeing Lila fail, learn something from it, motivate herself to live a happy life instead of just settling, and succeed.
I laughed at all the funny moments. I thought bad things happen to me, but Lila had me beat LOL. She was reluctant to allow Annie to set her up on a date. When she finally agreed, she and the guy weren’t compatible at all (Tom was hilarious). The karaoke scene had me rolling. Her friends provided comedy relief.
This story managed to be sweet on the romance. Her crush on Jake was cute even though her best friend didn’t approve of him. Lila reminded me of a girl in junior high falling in love for the first time. I enjoyed guessing when Jake started to develop feelings as well. The author was great with showing rather than telling–his body language said it all. The book managed to show a realistic love story without any sex scenes.
I liked Jake; in ways, I could relate to him too. He was an introvert who got mistaken for a snob. He had resented his father but finally learned something–you just gotta let things go.
My favorite scenes: 1) Lila and Jake bump into each other at a coffee shop 2) when Lila accidentally locks herself out of her car 3) when Vanessa comes into the shop, threatening Lila to stay away. Lila’s comebacks were funny 4) when Lila bruises her ankle and Jake comes to the rescue, having her ice it down at his place 5) the argument at the vineyard’s event. Lila’s getaway was amusing
As you can tell, I was really sold on the romance. Since the author was very descriptive, I could picture it as a movie–a romantic comedy. Lila was a character I could see Kate Hudson play.
I RECOMMEND this book to read.
When the book started, life was so-so for Lila. She had a career in AdSales that she didn’t really care for. A boyfriend that she had to keep secret (no one in company was allowed to date each other). Eventually, she got lay-offed. Phillip dumped her for another woman. Lila and Phillip had been intimate for 2 years, and he had the nerve to tell her they were never more than just a “thing.” Ouch.
She decided to visit her best friend Annie in a new town and eventually moved there. She found a job at an independent bookstore. The story was great with teaching life lessons and encouraging someone to pick themselves up; things eventually get better. It was cool seeing Lila fail, learn something from it, motivate herself to live a happy life instead of just settling, and succeed.
I laughed at all the funny moments. I thought bad things happen to me, but Lila had me beat LOL. She was reluctant to allow Annie to set her up on a date. When she finally agreed, she and the guy weren’t compatible at all (Tom was hilarious). The karaoke scene had me rolling. Her friends provided comedy relief.
This story managed to be sweet on the romance. Her crush on Jake was cute even though her best friend didn’t approve of him. Lila reminded me of a girl in junior high falling in love for the first time. I enjoyed guessing when Jake started to develop feelings as well. The author was great with showing rather than telling–his body language said it all. The book managed to show a realistic love story without any sex scenes.
I liked Jake; in ways, I could relate to him too. He was an introvert who got mistaken for a snob. He had resented his father but finally learned something–you just gotta let things go.
My favorite scenes: 1) Lila and Jake bump into each other at a coffee shop 2) when Lila accidentally locks herself out of her car 3) when Vanessa comes into the shop, threatening Lila to stay away. Lila’s comebacks were funny 4) when Lila bruises her ankle and Jake comes to the rescue, having her ice it down at his place 5) the argument at the vineyard’s event. Lila’s getaway was amusing
As you can tell, I was really sold on the romance. Since the author was very descriptive, I could picture it as a movie–a romantic comedy. Lila was a character I could see Kate Hudson play.
I RECOMMEND this book to read.
November 24, 2013
This was a quick and easy read. Things I liked: the setting of coastal CA and Gram's character and advice. Things I did not like: the typos and the less than believable story line. All in all, this was just ok for me but a good option if you're looking for a frivolous read.
June 6, 2015
I love this little book! I've read it twice. It's a sweet, fun, beach read. Love the characters, and related to the main character, Lila, I guess reminds me of me in several ways right after college. It's a very light, romantic story, told by a writer with a great voice. Pure fun!
March 13, 2018
Wrong Title; Very Little Romance; Dragged on.
Christmas in Wine Country is the wrong title for this book because there is no Christmas until the end of the book! I kept reading wondering when will Christmas holiday appear? This book should've been called Life in Redwood Cove. It probably would've made a better Hallmark film than book. The scenery described was very vivid and that kept me reading, feeding my imagination, however, the romance(?)
Between the hero.and heroine was almost nonexistent. There was more time spent on the heroine's inner conflict which was fine but I would've liked to.see more plotline development of the relationship.Between the two main characters.
Christmas in Wine Country is the wrong title for this book because there is no Christmas until the end of the book! I kept reading wondering when will Christmas holiday appear? This book should've been called Life in Redwood Cove. It probably would've made a better Hallmark film than book. The scenery described was very vivid and that kept me reading, feeding my imagination, however, the romance(?)
Between the hero.and heroine was almost nonexistent. There was more time spent on the heroine's inner conflict which was fine but I would've liked to.see more plotline development of the relationship.Between the two main characters.
December 8, 2017
I could spend a lot of time in Redwood Cove. THIS IS A great book reminiscent of Debbie Macomber or Robyn Carr. If there were a sequel or a series I would definitely read it. This book isn't all about Christmas or wine but both are significant. It could be read at any time of the year. I love how Lila finds herself in this small town. I love the descriptions of wine county and NoCal in general. Great book, please write more!!
November 13, 2013
Synopsis: "It's Lila's big debut as an event planner and the company holiday party is going to be her chance to shine. At a Tuscan-style vineyard near the Northern California coast in the perfect little black dress she's sure to impress commitment-phobe Phillip. What could go wrong?
Seventy-two hours later with no job and no boyfriend, Lila finds herself with all kinds of answers to that question. Like mistaking the glowering Jake Endicott of Endicott Vineyards for the groundskeeper. Or a new video on YouTube featuring Lila pawing her way through drunken karaoke of "Hungry Like the Wolf."
Solo on the romantic holiday getaway she'd booked for her and Phillip near the vineyard, Lila at least gets to visit with her old friend Annie who lives nearby in the coastal town of Redwood Cove. Drawn into the local bookstore with gleaming wooden floors and welcoming armchairs, Lila chats with the owner and impulsively accepts a job offer.
Sleepy, misty Redwood Cove is the perfect place for Lila to take a break from her horrible track record with guys. The only one she finds even remotely attractive knows her as the holiday party crazy lady. Ranked in Bay Area magazine's 10 hottest bachelors, Jake Endicott is just the type Old Lila would have wasted years pining after.
Join Lila on her year of comedy, adventure and self-discovery on the Northern California coast, with all kinds of ups, downs and misadventures and a full cast of small-town wine country characters. Thankfully, even the greatest misunderstandings can all be worked out with a little Frank Sinatra and mistletoe."
My Review: While this story started off with a bang, things got a little lost and drawn out in the middle. I loved the characters, they were full of life and fun to be around. It is amazing the people that can be drawn together in a small town. I enjoyed the setting as well, and the little book store makes me wish it was real and I could hang out there. Like I said, things seemed to get a little drawn out, there really wasn't a need for so many things to come between the two main characters. I did really love the big climactic scene with Sven and Olga (or was it Helga), it was epic and had me laughing so hard that I was in tears.
Seventy-two hours later with no job and no boyfriend, Lila finds herself with all kinds of answers to that question. Like mistaking the glowering Jake Endicott of Endicott Vineyards for the groundskeeper. Or a new video on YouTube featuring Lila pawing her way through drunken karaoke of "Hungry Like the Wolf."
Solo on the romantic holiday getaway she'd booked for her and Phillip near the vineyard, Lila at least gets to visit with her old friend Annie who lives nearby in the coastal town of Redwood Cove. Drawn into the local bookstore with gleaming wooden floors and welcoming armchairs, Lila chats with the owner and impulsively accepts a job offer.
Sleepy, misty Redwood Cove is the perfect place for Lila to take a break from her horrible track record with guys. The only one she finds even remotely attractive knows her as the holiday party crazy lady. Ranked in Bay Area magazine's 10 hottest bachelors, Jake Endicott is just the type Old Lila would have wasted years pining after.
Join Lila on her year of comedy, adventure and self-discovery on the Northern California coast, with all kinds of ups, downs and misadventures and a full cast of small-town wine country characters. Thankfully, even the greatest misunderstandings can all be worked out with a little Frank Sinatra and mistletoe."
My Review: While this story started off with a bang, things got a little lost and drawn out in the middle. I loved the characters, they were full of life and fun to be around. It is amazing the people that can be drawn together in a small town. I enjoyed the setting as well, and the little book store makes me wish it was real and I could hang out there. Like I said, things seemed to get a little drawn out, there really wasn't a need for so many things to come between the two main characters. I did really love the big climactic scene with Sven and Olga (or was it Helga), it was epic and had me laughing so hard that I was in tears.
October 15, 2013
Much like trying to force a square peg into a round hole, Lila just doesn't fit in this world she is trying to climb the corporate ladder in. It culminates with blow up cacti, a baby Jesus pinata, and a margarita cart toting donkey in an event she is supposed to be coordinating. While this party goes horribly wrong, she also notices her boyfriend, who wouldn't label himself as her boyfriend, is getting pretty friendly with a gorgeous woman in a backless red dress. After too many drinks and a YouTube worthy video of howling Kareoke, the final stone of humiliation is thrown when she returns to her job to be laid off. Thinking she can slip away with her boyfriend to a romantic vacation she booked, he delivers the final blow. He breaks off their "relationship" for the woman in red.
Completely miserable, with an implied eating disorder forcing herself to be extremely thin, a career going nowhere that she didn't really care for anyway, and a horrible track record of being a door mat for any man who would take her for granted, she misses the cancellation time frame and slinks off to the romantic weekend getaway by herself in Redwood Cove.
A job in the local book store brings out her inner Mr. Meows, a puppet character for the story hour. She is a local celebrity among the children of the area, aka "Cat Lady". She recaptures her friendship with her college room mate and gains new friendships along the way. She works out her habit of pining after unattainable men while forming a relationship with Bachelor #7, Jake Endicott. He would usually be on the newly formed "Do Not Date List", but first impressions can be deceiving.
I liked the book, appreciated the story, laughed at some of the characters, loved wise old Gram. It was an enjoyable read.
I was given this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
Completely miserable, with an implied eating disorder forcing herself to be extremely thin, a career going nowhere that she didn't really care for anyway, and a horrible track record of being a door mat for any man who would take her for granted, she misses the cancellation time frame and slinks off to the romantic weekend getaway by herself in Redwood Cove.
A job in the local book store brings out her inner Mr. Meows, a puppet character for the story hour. She is a local celebrity among the children of the area, aka "Cat Lady". She recaptures her friendship with her college room mate and gains new friendships along the way. She works out her habit of pining after unattainable men while forming a relationship with Bachelor #7, Jake Endicott. He would usually be on the newly formed "Do Not Date List", but first impressions can be deceiving.
I liked the book, appreciated the story, laughed at some of the characters, loved wise old Gram. It was an enjoyable read.
I was given this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
November 30, 2012
Also on http://sillymelody.blogspot.com
rating: 3 1/2 stars
So, the last couple days I have been reading Christmas in Wine Country by Addison Westlake. I guess I will share what this story is about and what I thought of the story.
Lillian Clark (Lila) gets her big opportunity to do the work Christmas party. What could go wrong, after all the plans have been made at a vineyard? Well, a lot can. When Lila gets there she finds its not the sophisticate Christmas party, but a Cinco de Mayo theme. Yep, a Christmas party catastrophe.
Come Monday morning, it's never good to get called in the boss' office and getting fired. On top of that, finding out your boyfriend of two years never consider you a couple. Now needing a fresh start, Lila uproots her self from the city to Redwood Cove.
Honestly, it was a good story, but I guess I was looking for more comedy. I mean the beginning was hilarious with Christmas party fiasco. However, with the rediscovering herself kind of made the story drag. I understand that Lila was looking for a fresh start after getting fire and losing the guy she was dating. Half way the book, the story started to pick and I found myself chuckling at parts. I liked how she changed into someone she could recognize and I did like the ending. Overall, it was an all right for me. So, you can always check this story out and see what you think of it.
I hope you all have a wonderful day and I hope you are enjoying your reads.
Copy provided by the author
rating: 3 1/2 stars
So, the last couple days I have been reading Christmas in Wine Country by Addison Westlake. I guess I will share what this story is about and what I thought of the story.
Lillian Clark (Lila) gets her big opportunity to do the work Christmas party. What could go wrong, after all the plans have been made at a vineyard? Well, a lot can. When Lila gets there she finds its not the sophisticate Christmas party, but a Cinco de Mayo theme. Yep, a Christmas party catastrophe.
Come Monday morning, it's never good to get called in the boss' office and getting fired. On top of that, finding out your boyfriend of two years never consider you a couple. Now needing a fresh start, Lila uproots her self from the city to Redwood Cove.
Honestly, it was a good story, but I guess I was looking for more comedy. I mean the beginning was hilarious with Christmas party fiasco. However, with the rediscovering herself kind of made the story drag. I understand that Lila was looking for a fresh start after getting fire and losing the guy she was dating. Half way the book, the story started to pick and I found myself chuckling at parts. I liked how she changed into someone she could recognize and I did like the ending. Overall, it was an all right for me. So, you can always check this story out and see what you think of it.
I hope you all have a wonderful day and I hope you are enjoying your reads.
Copy provided by the author
December 24, 2012
I picked this up as a piece of Christmas fluff but it turned out to be much more than that. More 'A Year in the Life' story than a Christmas one, it follows Lila as she rebuilds her life from the one she thought she wanted to the one she really did though of course she didn't know it at the time. Maybe I enjoyed it so much because Lila's new life appealed to me so much~ leaving the 'big city' for a small coastal town, a job in a local bookstore and an apartment in an old Victorian house...sounds pretty good to me. It would probably be considered 'chic~lit' but Christmas in Wine Country was fun and funny and very satisfying. I totally enjoyed it.
January 6, 2017
PG13 - language (I hate the F-bomb! Also g/d), nothing sexy, some kisses.
I liked *Facebook Jeannie* by Addison Westlake, and I enjoyed this one, as well. I thought it was kind of slow in the beginning, but I realize now that the person Lila was in the beginning was supposed to bug us to pieces with her rotten self-esteem. In retrospect, I appreciated her journey all the more as she stopped trying to please others and be true to herself.
I thought this was super humorous, as well. Lila had some crazy friends and relatives and got into even crazier situations. Of course, Jake, the H is right along with his foibles, but a goodie, nevertheless. Super cute!
I liked *Facebook Jeannie* by Addison Westlake, and I enjoyed this one, as well. I thought it was kind of slow in the beginning, but I realize now that the person Lila was in the beginning was supposed to bug us to pieces with her rotten self-esteem. In retrospect, I appreciated her journey all the more as she stopped trying to please others and be true to herself.
I thought this was super humorous, as well. Lila had some crazy friends and relatives and got into even crazier situations. Of course, Jake, the H is right along with his foibles, but a goodie, nevertheless. Super cute!
October 22, 2013
This was a fun book to read, and I did laugh out loud several times. However, I could only give it three stars because: 1.) It was VERY poorly edited. Not sure if it's just the kindle edition, but there were several repeated words, grammatical errors, and other obvious mistakes. It was very distracting. 2.) The ending was awful. It felt like an abrupt stop - no closure to all the build-up. 3.) It had almost nothing to do with Christmas. The title is 'Christmas in Wine Country' - I really would have liked some Christmas in the story.
May 1, 2015
Christmas in Wine Country was funny from beginning to end. The main character, Lila, also know to all the preschools as 'The Cat Lady' found out when she let herself go, had fun she enjoyed life and found her special place with a group of unique friends who enjoyed her personality quirks along with a really hot guy. It was funny with one ridiculous crazy scene after another and people kept looking at me when I kept laughing when I read. The German couple and the get away at top speed was also very funny.
January 23, 2013
I really enjoyed reading this book. I thought the characters were well developed. I cried and I laughed as Lila grew up during her year in Redwood Cove. I was sad to see the story end as I would have loved to see if the cafe was a success; and if her and Jake got married. A great little story that was set during the Christmas season; but was a whole lot more. I envy Lila as she made the most of her new life.
February 22, 2013
I absolutely loved this book! I don't think it was a romantic comedy though. I think it was chick-lit all the way. I loved getting to see the progression of Lila. At the beginning of the book she really annoyed me. But by the end I totally was routing for her. I also loved the fact that 2 days after she and her love interest met they weren't head over heels in love with each other. It was more about Lila finding out who she is and coming into her own skin than it was romance. Loved it.
March 21, 2014
I received this novel from the author, in exchange for my honest opinion, and I really enjoyed it! The story is about an Event Planner, who finds herself job-less and boyfriend-less within a matter of 72 hours. Over the next year, Lila learns more about herself, happiness, true friends, and good guys. Although it took me a little while to get into the book, it ended up being a fun, loving, enjoyable read!
November 26, 2013
A delightful seasonal read set in a seaside setting along the coast of southern California. A book store, a vineyard, quirky characters, and romance in bloom … these are all the elements that just might get you into the Christmas spirit this year. A fun and easy read for women who enjoy a developing love story. Not sure the title suits the subject matter but nevertheless, it’s a feel good theme worth the effort during the holiday season. Enjoy!
March 11, 2013
I loved Addison Westlake's "Christmas in Wine Country." Lila is a character I instantly connected with, and the writing flowed so effortlessly that I was completely sucked in by the first word. Funny, sweet and heartwarming, this book is one that I will remember. I can't wait for Addison Westlake's next book!
January 27, 2013
I enjoyed this read, although it was a lot longer than most of the books I've been reading lately -- which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I did feel like it was dragged out a bit longer than needed. However, I loved the characters, laughed at several parts throughout the book, and would definitely recommend this as a good read! I love Mr. Meows and Sven and Olga, hilarious! :)
February 23, 2013
I enjoyed this book. I started to read this around christmas but put it down because I was too busy. It was the kind of book you read when you have a lot going on. But the characters came to life and I enjoyed the time I spent entertaining myself with it. It made me laugh out loud. Some parts are just silly. (like when they tell the characters dress size) But overall it was fun.
November 9, 2013
Unsure how to rate this one. On one hand it's your usual chick-lit format. So 3 stars.
But on the other hand, they're like-able characters, who don't overdo the stupidity (like is often irritating in this genre), and there are some quite funny moments.
So maybe a 3.5, maybe even close to a 4.
But on the other hand, they're like-able characters, who don't overdo the stupidity (like is often irritating in this genre), and there are some quite funny moments.
So maybe a 3.5, maybe even close to a 4.
January 24, 2013
Christmas in Wine Country is a great read, a definite holiday treat. I was impressed to learn this was the author's first book as the writing was polished and very well done. I understand she has a new book coming soon, Facebook Jeanie, which sounds like a fun read too.
December 13, 2013
I did enjoy this book a lot, and it was nice to get back to a longer book. I really liked the descriptions of the small California town and the wine operation there. It was a sweet romance with some humor thrown in.
December 12, 2012
I loved the story and characters. This would have been a 4 1/2 star but because of the many spelling and grammatical errors it is a 3 star. I look forward to another book from this author.
December 27, 2012
The book is a little slow with several errors. Overall, it is a good book with a nice love story.
December 13, 2012
It was ok. A cute story but dragged a bit at times. I did HOWEVER like the main character introspection on herself. That was very relatable as I'm going through a similar situation myself.
September 26, 2014
This book was such a cute little romantic book. Perfect for that quick read back to the roots real romantic kind of book. I loved it!
December 24, 2012
Really fun, natural dialog, interesting characters. Very sweet.
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