Vine

Island Love #3

by Fearne Hill

Caspian Pumkin-Watts is at the end of his rope. Miserably divorced and facing a career crossroads, when he’s offered a chance to spend nine months filming a reality TV show on a French holiday island, he grabs it with both hands.

There are only two problems. His co-star is his ex-husband, and the producer is Caspian’s replacement in his ex-husband’s bed.

Max La Forge of La Forge Oyster Farms knows he’s peculiar. He has a penchant for blue rubber and only drinks from a blue mug. He loves driftwood and seashells and hates being touched without his permission. Living alone in his little octagonal house suits him perfectly, until he finds a young Englishman unconscious on his driveway. Inexplicably drawn to the stranger, he sets out on a romantic exploration which turns his whole world upside down.

Author’s note: as always, I write with a light touch, but please heed the trigger warnings for anxiety disorder and deliberate self-harm (on page).

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Mental Health, Contemporary, Disability, Dark, LGBT

266 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 10, 2024

About the author

Fearne Hill resides far from the madding crowds in the county of Dorset, deep in the British countryside. She likes it that way.
Her novel, Oyster, is a 2025 Lambda Literary Award winner. Two Tribes is a 2023 Lambda Literary Award finalist..
Her popular Rossingley series was nominated in nine separate categories of the 2021 Goodreads M/M Romance awards and received an Honourable Mention in the 2021 Rainbow Awards.

Be sure to follow her on Bookbub for the latest sales and releases! https://www.bookbub.com/profile/fearn...

Join her Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/11724...

On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fearnehill_...

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/FearneHill

She also writes very brief and not especially insightful book reviews here on GR...

Finally, she also writes straight contemporary romance under the pseudonym Coco Chambers.

Reviews

[~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semicolons~✡~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

~4.5~

Vine is not an easy read. It's quite brutal in fact. If self-harm is a trigger for you, avoid at all costs. Caspian cuts himself with razor blades, and the act is described in some detail on page.

Trapped in an abusive relationship with his cheating ex-husband, who has a hold over him as they are partners on a reality TV show, Caspian is on the brink of a breakdown.

When Caspian arrives at a vineyard on a peaceful French island, he meets Max and Max's three-legged dog. And also Max's snake. The last meeting doesn't go well, but Max takes Caspian in, looks after him, and makes him hot chocolate.

Max is on the spectrum, but that doesn't deter him from living his best life. He's self-confident and strong.

"Do I look like I'm struggling? Do I? With my house and my dog and my responsible job? Does someone struggling bring blankets on romantic dates? And sext his boyfriend and learn about salmon?"

Max is not struggling.

And he is absolutely the best thing about this book.

The men's relationship evolves organically, not with words but with gestures and time and affection.

Caspian's mental health isn't magically cured, but I believe that being with Max, away from cameras and those who would use him as ratings fodder, will calm Caspian's frantic anxiety. Plus, Max needs someone to obsess over ... um, I mean, care for.

I didn't read the second book in the series since it's M/F, but Vine stands on its own.

Fearne Hill's writing is evocative and lyrical. This is a melancholy story in some ways, but Max's presence bings so much joy that I found myself smiling more often than not.

"Pale cheeks are important. Shells, oysters, and vines, too. Earlobes, mean gestation periods for Alsatians. The weather report. Finding a perfect peach and having good teeth ... But who has what, and who owns what. None of that stuff matters at all. Except that you're mine. That matters. A lot."

I would love an epilogue for these two.

[Iz · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful third installment in this gem of a series. I freaking adored "Vine".

Fearne Hill is one of the best romance authors out there: I know I say this every time, but I seriously have yet to find/read an author, a contemporary MM romance one at that, who manages to balance out the lightheartedness and the romance feels with emotional depth and just the perfect amount of angst. I'm seriously in awe of her writing, and I'm kicking myself for still not inhaling the rest of her backlog yet. Oh well, more books to love, yes?!

Anyway, back to "Vine"... I've been waiting for Max's story since the very first time he appeared on page: sullen and quiet and bitter and sad. Finally being in his head was absolutely priceless.
I admit, I wasn't expecting what Fearne Hill had in mind for him, but I think the way his story turned out was even better than my expectations: I thought he'd be the one needing to be cherished, but I love Max in his "loves to be needed and excels at cherishing and looking after" phase even more. Max cherishes the fuck out of Caspian, and I loved that for him, and I loved him. I loved his dry humour, his steadfastness, his stubbornness, and I adored being in his head.

Caspian, on the other hand, was a bit more trickier for me to love wholeheartedly: I still loved him, don't get me wrong, but being in his head was grueling because it hit a little to close to home, I think. I still adored him to bits though, and I loved his snarky porcupine personality, and I loved how Fearne portrayed his mindset and his anxieties and his mental health struggles. I could totally relate and I'm so glad he found someone as good as Max to take care of him.

I loved their relationship to BITS: it was beyond adorable and so damn sweet, and I think I might have highlighted half of their interactions. So cute 😭

I also adored seeing Èti again. "Oyster" is my favourite Fearne Hill book to date I think, and I'm still sooooooo obsessed with both her and Nico. I loved seeing her again, and I loved her bond with Max. Gah, so adorable.

If I had to find a small niggle with this book, it's the sheer amount of page time dedicated to Leigh and Jonas. They both deserve to die PAINFUL HORRIBLE DEATHS, and I despised seeing Caspian give them any time of his day. Also, I so wish they'd have some sort of comeuppance ugh, but nevermind...

Apart from those two worms, I adored all side characters, especially Emma.
I'm not sure if the author has any plans to write a fourth book (I've no idea who it could be about though!), but I sincerely hope so. This "Island Love" series is fantastic, and I'm not ready to say goodbye to the paradise these characters call home.

TWs/CWs: self-harm (on page) with suicidal thoughts, disordered eating, anxiety and panic attacks, infidelity, emotional abuse and gaslighting, drug use, death of a parent.

Thanks GRR for the ARC. This is my honest review.

[NicoleR.M.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fearne Hill knows how to write a romantic lovestory. I admire the ways in which she handles tough topics. Because some of the topics in this book are really heavy and still somehow they don't feel like they are. And that's because of her amazing writing skills. Still, if you have any triggers, you should definitely check them out for this book, because I can imagine there would be some for sensitive readers.

I'm not one of those, and so I was happy I could read this book and receive an early copy of it. I must admit that I didn't read the second book in this series, but that never felt like something I should have done before reading this one.
This book is about Caspian, a British TV show host, and Max, a resident of the French island where this series takes place. Caspian is not in a right place, mentally speaking. He divorced his husband, whom he is supposed to work with, and the producer of the show is his ex's new bed partner. Add that Caspian has had mental problems before all that, and you can imagine he pretty much is a mess. His coping mechanisms aren't very healthy and despite the fact he has seen several therapists in his past, his anxiety and lack of self worth has not gotten any better.
Until he meets Max. Max, this bear of a man, who has a neurodivergent brain and who is the most protective MC you can meet. He grows very fond of Caspian and wants to help him get rid of his anxiety and his bad coping habits. And with just his calming presence, he seems to be able to do just that. Caspian has never felt like that with someone ever before, and Max has never met anyone, outside his own family, who seems to take him just as he is.

I loved watching their relationship grow, I loved to see how they slowly fell for each other, accepting that there was more to them than just friendship. I loved how Max was able to get past Caspian's walls and with simple being himself managed to get through and get to the root of Caspian's insecurities and his mechanisms.
And even if it takes a while before Caspian understands his own positive effect on Max, I loved how they complemented each other in every scene they were together.
All in all this was a very lovely, caring, touching and at times funny story and I really enjoyed spending my time in this world Fearne Hill has created so well.

Having said all that, I have to add that there is something about the way authors often write neurodivergent people that just doesn't sit well with me. And that's probably just all on me, so if you just want to leave this review with all I said about it above these lines, you can just go on and skip this part. And in case you are interested, well, here's the thing.
I am neurodivergent myself, and if there is something I have learned in these past few years (late diagnosis) is that there are no 2 similar neurodivergent persons. Add to this that Max is a man and I am not, which means the difference is probably even bigger. But that's not what I mean. Every neurodivergent person has their own copings so they are able to keep being a part of society and to act according society's expectations and rules. That's just how it works. And the way Max's mind works, is something I absolutely recognise, it was very easy to identify myself with him. But my major complaint is that it was too obvious. I prefer it to be more subtle because with subtlety you avoid making your neurodivergent MC sound like a child at times. There were moments I had a hard time picturing Max as a fully grown up man and not the younger, childish version of him. His mind works the way it works, but I don't want to be in that mind all the time when he continues to tell himself the things that are in no doubt obvious to non-neurodivergent people. And yes, sometimes it made for some funny moments, but I prefer for me, as a reader, to have to guess how his mind works, to have to see him struggle without hearing him explain things to himself, the things that he has been taught by his brother, by Éti. Like for instance how he doesn't understand euphemisms, how people explained them to him. I'm not even sure if I explain this right, so I hope I don't sound like some rambling reviewer. But anyway, that's my only complaint. For the rest this was a very sweet romance between 2 troubled MC's, who find their very well deserved HEA.

I was kindly provided an advanced copy by Gayromancereviews, and this is my honest, unbiased review

[Amina · Rating 2 out of 5]

✰ 2.5 stars ✰

“And, as I made my own love in return, I decided taking a chance on loving him might turn out to be the best thing I never planned.”

I had high hopes for Vine - I did. Set five years after Eti & Nico got together, Nico's younger brother, twenty-five-year old Max is content with the simple life as an oyster farmer with his faithful dog, Noir, and learning about relationship dynamics with a self-guide book Plucking a Perfect Peach (This title!! 😅🙊), till Caspian and the bane of his existence arrive at his family vineyard to film the latest season of his television series My Gay Adventures. With his hard-wired social difficulties exponentially raising the bar for any lucrative friendships, he's not too sure he can build a relationship with someone who he can't stop obsessing about, sorry, thinking about. But, as Caspian starts to make his presence known, it soon becomes impossible for Max not to want to help this beautiful and sad Englishman that stirred a sensation in his heart and belly that was impossible to ignore. 🥺

But before I begin...

“Oh, for God’s sake. Jonas is right. You really need to try to move on, Casp.”

Why do authors work so hard to paint characters as such vile and horrible creatures, only to never have them meet their due justice? Not a trace of comeuppance or justice for the sheer amount of disgusting and cruel twisted torment they inflicted upon Caspian? 😣 The lack of closure and redemption at the end left me so visibly frustrated and emotionally distraught that I felt like crying.

Why would you do that? It's not enough that Leigh and Jonas take the villain of the month award - although that is left to be determined - but the way they mistreated Caspian? The spiteful comments they hurled at him - 'why can’t you admit your brain’s fried too?' Taunted him and ridiculed him - belittled him - guilt-shamed him so thoughtlessly and without remorse or abandon - that sick pleasure of deliberately hurting him with their actions and words! Argh, I don't even want to remember the details. 😢😢😢 A traumatized part of myself feels that perhaps the way Caspian sought relief from these painful experiences was justified. 💔💔

That is the wrong mentality, I know, and the dismissive way in which Caspian regarded what he did to himself was also a cut to the heart. So, after all that, I could not believe the author just ended it like that. All that build-up and no amount of closure or vindication hurt more than anything. I wanted Leigh and Jonas to pay! 😡 Jonas, especially. How come Caspian had no manager, no one in his ring, no one to speak up for him. At thirty-five, he's been all alone all this time, and no one was looking out for him - for his career, at least. And to just let Jonas get away with revealing his own inner and most personal mental health issues like that and no one bothered to say how wrong that was - how unjustified even for the ratings! Argh, I feel like throwing something. 😫

I really just felt so bad. So bad and helpless. So sorry for Caspian that the way he and Max's relationship even developed - let alone started - was hard for me to agree with. I mean, it was insta-lust right from the start. 😭😭 I was hoping for a slow and gradual way in which they could get to know each other, but the sudden and unexpected turn in which they threw themselves at each other - left me momentarily blindsided and stunned. So much so that everything that progressed their relationship after was with a dull taste in my mouth. 😕

“Tell me what to do, la mer Caspienne,” he whispered. “What you want me to do now.”

I want you to love me. To make love to me. Care for me. Kiss me like this every morning. Keep me safe.”

The validating point, though, was that they both knew where they stood in their relationship. That I liked. To be, at least, self-aware - while knowing it could raise issues or be problematic at being so dependent on the other to be able to handle each other's struggles was the promising side to their connection. 'You seem to be an indispensable piece of my life... And I… I’m not sure if that will prove to be a good thing.' 😟 That neither knew that this maybe-love was something they both wanted, but was in fact, something they both needed - for both their benefits to fit the nature of themselves. As Caspian slowly got over his initial fear and doubt at how safe and comforted he felt in Max's warmth - he starts to see just how helpful his honest truths are that heal the wounded parts of himself. ❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹

It is a very emotionally wrought relationship - at times, a little too much; calling it a romance so soon doesn't quite feel right. But, the way Max was there for Caspian and was this reassuring and helpful and supportive force at his side through his dark and lonely clouds that led him to self-loathing and self-inflicted pain of misjudging his own self-worth was portrayed believably so. 🫂🫂'I’m going to make sure you’re safe.' Even when Max struggled to understand Caspian's reasons for hurting himself, he at least knew and believed he could be enough to guide him towards the light. How they saw in each other the true worth of themselves was what made it so special. There were some tender and sweet moments that showed Max's heartfelt concern and intense protectiveness - placating touches that soothed and calmed the terror inside of him - 'from every angle and in every light, Max’s true colours were beautiful...'. 💮💮

“The most astonishing people are the ones you never anticipated could astonish you.”

I really struggle with commenting about characters on the autistic spectrum; everyone is different, and it is not fair of me to judge how they are described. Sometimes Max behaved like a man when he was initiating sex with Caspian - rough and hot sex that Caspian totally wanted, true - but then, when Caspian would pass comments calling him a boy and Max would correct him that he is a man - I did not know why there was a need to have this dialogue... Was it to show that Caspian did not still see Max as a complete man? Was it foreplay? I could not get a handle on that and that left me at odds... 😥

One thing that made the first two books stand out was the care and attention to detail provided to each respective profession - oysters or salt - there was a depth to them that enriched the setting by their involvement and presence. Perhaps due to Caspian's own negative thoughts and the harmful aura spread around the vineyard, itself - I did not get that same feeling here. I did not feel the charm and beauty of the place translate into Caspian's drive to be committed to it for a long-term future. 🙍🏻‍♀️ It was lacking and how its eventual involvement played out needed a little more development for me to believe that it was even possible for it to happen. But, that's just me being difficult, I guess.

I did like Éti - she was a good friend to Max and she did light up the pages with her presence. 🤍🤍

So, it was not quite what I was expecting. I felt like it could have been treated differently, and I may have felt something other than... Let me just put it this way. When it ended - I felt as bad as Caspian felt at the start of the book - simply because of the utter lack of feeling like he gained anything. Yes, one will argue that Max's affections and devotion makes up for ALL the awful way his professional television career ended - that what he gained in the form of love and affection and comfort and a home and a sense of belonging is all that matters. But, not for me. 😮‍💨 And if you saw how emotionally distraught he was before, and how at peace - if not safer and content he felt by the end of it - then, perhaps I would have been better off not reading it, at all. 🙆🏻‍♀️

[Kathleen in Oslo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fearne Hill's latest series have been hit-or-miss for me, but I quite liked this one. The setup is agonizing, but not unbelievably so; Caspian and Max are flawed, likable, and have a sincere, if unusual, connection; and it's all done in Hill's characteristically breezy, efficient style, even while dealing with some heavy material (Caspian's anxiety, self-harm, and one scene of suicidal ideation).

Hill has a tendency to really double down on horrible exes in her books, and I know that some readers I really respect find this misogynistic since many of the exes are women. I've always read this more from the lens of Hill wanting to make these characters deeply unsympathetic (verging on cartoonishly villainous), but when I see readers I usually agree with calling it out so strongly as misogynistic, it makes me doubt my initial judgement. Like, have I got so much internalized misogyny that I can't even recognize it when it happens on page? Have my critical faculties failed me? Am I doing feminism wrong? (I'm kind of joking here. But also, kind of not.)

So imagine my relief that, in this case, all the terrible people (the ex-husband and the ex-best friend) are both men -- and, in keeping with doubling-down-on-horrible-exes theme, absolute douchebags -- while the women characters are uniformly wonderful, clear-headed, and supportive while also having, you know, inner lives. This isn't to say that people who have been put off by misogyny in Hill's other work are wrong, or that my way of reading that work (or for that matter, this book) is right. It's simply to acknowledge that I had all this in my mind as I read this latest book, and was particularly attuned to how the women were written and how the exes/ villains were written. And while Jonas, the ex-best friend, was less nuanced, I thought the way Leigh was characterized -- or more precisely, the way Caspian's understanding of Leigh and his motives changed over the course of the book -- was quite interesting. Leigh was a slippery creature, because he's driven overwhelmingly by ambition and by what's advantageous -- and convenient -- for him; and as that changes, so too does he.

On the point of villains being villainous, though -- while the Caspian-Max relationship feels solid at the end (with a last-act blowup that was needed to move their footing from, in Caspian's mind, holiday fling to real relationship, rather than just being superfluous drama), I would have loved an epilogue that was basically just 5 pages of Leigh and Jonas dealing with the karma and career fallout of their shittiness, because I'm a petty, petty person. The seeds for their comeuppance are laid, but we don't fully reap the benefits. I want public humiliation!

Anyway, this feels less like a review and more like me working through some shit. But I liked it! It's very Fearne Hill, so if you like this author, you'll probably like this too. Or not! I'm not the boss of you!

I got an ARC from GRR and this is my honest review.

[The Secret Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4
Steam: 3
PoV: dual, 1st person
Genre: contemporary romance, MM
Tropes / tags: hurt / comfort, first time, mental health issues

I was thrilled when I found out that Max was getting his own book, and I loved to see Max and Caspian slowly find their way to each other!

Max was so sweet and I adored how badly he wanted to take care of Caspian, even if he wasn't entirely sure how to do it. Caspian was struggling a lot throughout the story, his PoV was difficult to read at times - the pain and struggles felt very realistically portrayed and were heartbreaking to read. It was quite an emotional story, and Max and Caspian certainly had their fair share of obstacles and uncertainties to get past before things started to feel a bit more settled between them.

It wasn't all heartbreak through - I enjoyed seeing how Caspian started to reclaim his life and the positive effects he and Max had on each other. Max's calm and unwavering support was something Caspian sorely needed after years of abuse from his ex-husband and co-worker. There was no magic fix, but it was great to see him beginning to heal and moving on together with Max. Their relationship development was sweet and swoony, and even if Max struggled with social codes and came across at awkward at times, his affection and feelings for Caspian were crystal clear.

While there was a lot of things I loved about Max and Caspian's story, I couldn't help but feel like the ending was a bit too sudden and unsatisfactory. There were some things I was hoping to see resolved and there were too many uncertainties for it to feel like the solid ending that I wanted and needed for these two after everything they'd been through.

Vine was overall a beautiful and emotional romance - Fearne Hill is amazing at writing these stories full of feels with realistic characters, vulnerabilities and struggles! Max and Caspian's story was a great addition to the series and I loved spending more time on this little island with these characters.

-
Thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for the opportunity to read and review this book. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

[Mal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sigh, loved Caspian and Max’s love story. I absolutely adore the signature writing style Fearne Hill brings to the story: poetic, deeply emotional and vulnerable. I loved Max’s stoic character, always pushing himself to understand and navigate the greys with so much grace and the sweet unsure teasing that comes through was sublime. Caspian couldn’t have asked for a better man to forge a connection with during a time he is literally trapped in a nightmare created by two characters who literally put my teeth on edge.

It’s the swooniest of swoon and the scorchiest of hot times between these two as they meet and develop a relationship, transitioning smoothly with some angst but no drama. That wrap up towards the end was stellar and so very satisfying.

I also loved seeing Nico and Eti and Florian, form the first two books in the series - I highly recommend those two, definitely please read and tell me what you thought of them

Oh and also Jonas and Leigh might possibly be the worst ever!!

If you’re looking for a story that’ll just pull you in, tons of romance and beautiful characters you can’t help but be invested in (I needed to see their Maybe love come to life) I really feel you should check this out.

Expect:
* Opposites attract
* Size difference
* Mental Health rep
* Hurt comfort
* Slow burn
* Virgin MC
* Found family
* Neurodivergent rep
* Small Town

[Kazza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love and Finding A Home Among the Vines and Oysters.

Fearne Hill writes with compassion and love of her characters and the circumstances they find themselves in. Max and Caspian were a joy, although there is a significant mental health issue, including self-harm, beware if that is a trigger, and there’s also neurodiversity in the mix. It made it all the more wonderful to see love win out over some other character’s petty, woeful behaviour. Caspian had a huge win in the end. We’re not responsible for other’s behaviour but we can choose to take charge of our own. Personally, I gained immense satisfaction from the ending. Another wonderful book set in a location I feel is my second home.
Blog review

[Arta reads at night · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5⭐️
This series is like a warm blanket. Honestly I don’t want to part with it. Alas, I must. The third book is read.
This one is heavy on mental health rep. And I really liked it. It’s lovely.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid entry by Fearne Hill in her Island Love series. Lot of mental health issues with the two MC's but both were lovable, funny and unique. The book was stretched out a little bit but I enjoyed it a lot.

[Caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A-/4.5 stars rounded up.

Fearne Hill’s Island Love series wraps up with Vine, a heartrending and heartwarming story about a young man struggling with serious mental health issues and the neuro-divergent (or “differently normal”, as he puts it) gentle giant who helps him find his way towards a brighter future. The author’s presentation of mental illness is honest - sometimes brutally so - and rings very true; never at any time does she write love as a cure-all, but she does show how finding someone who can provide the right kind of support and understanding can help someone in crisis face their problems and move towards dealing with them in a more positive, healthful way.

Several years before this story begins, Caspian Pumkin-Watts and his husband, Leigh, hit on a winning TV reality show formula. My Big Gay Adventures has run for five seasons, and Capsian has tackled things from working as a plumber’s mate to being a chef in a Michelin started restaurant to driving in Formula 3 racing to hoofing it in a Broadway show. But during that last season, his marriage fell apart when he realised that not only was Leigh cheating on him with their long-time friend and producer, Jonas, but that the affair had been going on for much longer than Caspian had realised. Unfortunately, the three of them are locked into making another season of the show, and no matter how much he wants to just crawl into bed and stay there, Caspian simply can’t afford not to do it.

The sixth season of MBGA is going to be centred around resurrecting an overgrown vineyard on the small island of Ré off the southwest coast of France. It sounds lovely, but nine months spent in close proximity with his cheating ex and the guy he cheated with is going to be sheer hell. Caspian’s mental health has already taken a nosedive since the break-up, and as well as being prescribed more poweful anti-depressants, he’s returned to the use of more… painful coping methods to try to quiet the rounds of anxiety and negativity that have become his constant companions.

Max La Forge, younger brother of Nico ( Oyster ), inherited a small vineyard from his mother, but doesn’t have time to work it as he’s fully engaged working with Nico on the family’s oyster farm. He rents the place out but over the years, it has been somewhat neglected, so he certainly doesn’t object to having it put to rights for free and being paid for it at the same time when a TV company wants to film a series there. Readers of Oyster will recall that Max is neuroatypical, and here we learn that he’s on the autistic spectrum – and thanks to having people around him who love him exactly as he is, he’s developed an unshakeable belief in his own self-worth and knows that what others might see as ‘quirks’ make him special and unique.

Max and Caspian meet when Caspian, already on edge and furious at having to listen to Leigh and Jonas having sex in the next room, tries desperately to find somewhere else to sleep but ends up flat on his face outside on the gravel drive in the middle of a downpour. That’s where Max finds him, and, after a brief moment of uncertainty, carries him inside his home in one of the gatehouses on the property. As Max puts the stranger to bed to get him warm, he can’t help but notice the pale perfection of his cheek, the thinness of his frame, the healing wounds on his arms and the narrow threads adjacent… the scars of a million tears, faded over time. He hopes the shame and sadness that had caused them have faded along with them… although the newest dressings indicate they probably haven’t.

Vine is the gently moving story of two very different people – and I mean different in the sense of being different from each other, and being different from many of the people around them – finding one another and falling in love. Their relationship is beautifully developed; it’s not without its ups and downs, but their connection feels very real and is clearly something they both need a great deal. Max is a such a sweet guy; he’s big-hearted, quiet and thoughtful, and his neurodiversity – which is presented in such a kind, positive way, as an asset rather than a limitation – means he is often able to put a different spin on things and find solutions to problems that others might miss. Max has a lot of love to give and yearns to be needed; when he recognises Caspian as someone in pain and in need of help, he longs to be the one to provide that help and is determined to do whatever he can to keep Caspian on an even keel – and to keep Caspian, full-stop.

Despite the almost constant presence of the two people he dislikes most in the world, Caspian finds he enjoys working with the vines, that there’s something about working the land and with nature that soothes him and helps quiet the constant clamouring of the negative voices in his head, even if it’s only for a little while. The trouble is that he can’t escape Leigh or Jonas if he doesn’t want to get sued, and that relationship is utterly toxic. Leigh is weak and malleable and Jonas is a self-centred, manipulative arsehole – I wish I could think of a stronger word to describe him than that, but it’ll have to do. The awful things he says and does to and about Caspian are despicable, so be ready for it – those parts made my blood boil, and watching Caspian spiralling so badly was hard to read.

Fortunately for Caspian, he has Max in his corner, the calm, comforting vibes the big man exudes exactly what Caspian needs to bring the quietude and perspective he so desperately needs. It’s Max who, with a single, astute observation, brings the root of Caspian’s current problems into crystal-clear focus and helps him make some important decisions. One of those is to go to see Colette, the local psychologist who helped Max after his mother died (and who is now his dad’s girlfriend), who also gives Caspian plenty of food for thought.

There’s a small but superbly developed secondary cast here, most notably Emma, the viticulturalist employed as a consultant and to show Caspian the ropes, who becomes his good friend and confidante. Nico, Florian and Éti all make cameo appearances; Éti is now retired and married to Nico, and is as vivacious and wise as ever, and Leigh and Jonas are just… awful. It’s a testament to the author’s skill that Leigh, at least, is more than a cartoon villain, and the way Caspian's dawning understanding of his personality and his motives (that he's ambitious, goes whichever way the wind is blowing and does whatever is most convenient for him) is very well written.

I enjoyed Vine very much, although I occasionally felt that the mental health storyline was in danger of overshadowing the romance, and the ending, while satisfying, is rather abrupt. Nevertheless, it’s a terrific read; brilliantly characterised, sexy, funny, poignant and more proof, if needed, that Fearne Hill is among the best writers of queer contemporary romance around.

Note: this story contains discussions of anxiety disorder, suicidal ideation, and on page scenes of self-harm.

[M L R · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tough one for me… I am not triggered by written descriptions of self harm but I am an empathetic reader. I found the mental anguish instilled by Leigh and Jonas (ex-husband and friend) to be brutal… for Caspian to be locked by contract into their words and blatant displays also brutal… and Caspian’s incessant hurt from betrayal, coping by cutting and self-neglect was brutally sad to read.

Max was interesting, big, confidant, comfortable with self, and endearing at times…if not the sacrificial lamb of social awkwardness for comedic sake or a stereotypical showing of neurodiverse thought, speech, and actions. Relationship did blossom into more of a heart-warming romance as they both accepted the other completely as is.

In the very very end, Caspian did take back his life from Leigh and Jonas… of course after further betrayal, and still, I felt sad. It was too little too late to lift the sad. Sad Leigh and Jonas faced no repercussions for their cruelty, sad we gave page time to such horrible people, and even though Caspian found solace with Max, he still had many unknowns. I was sad it really wasn’t enough for all he dealt with. I needed to see Caspian championed and Leigh and Jonas take a fall.
3* as you can’t deny it’s well written and blurb and TW giving a fair picture of what was in store.

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4 stars

I really like visiting this small French island where Fearne Hill’s Island Love series takes place. Vine is the third book and Caspian is new to the series, but Max has been introduced as Nico’s brother from Oyster. Most of the other characters appear as well in some capacity and it worked for me to have had the background of not only the characters, but of the island.

This is a slower moving book with a heavier tone. Both men have so much to sort through on a daily basis and their lives are mostly somber. But they find a light and a home together on this magical French island and it was rewarding to see them find happiness. If the series continues, I will definitely revisit for the atmosphere, as well as for the well-written characters.

Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.

[Lelyana's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG this one is way better than the previous one (Salt).
I really liked how this story develop. And Max is soooooo adorable and genuine. You'll want to cuddle him and bring him home!
I loved the story and cannot get enough of them.
Full review to follow.
This is just so good! Recommended.

[Showarst · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I pick up a Fearne Hill novel, I know that I am in for a story of complicated hurting people, scenic locations, gorgeous writing, and an ending that makes it all worth it. The Island Love series has been one that I have adored since first picking up Salt. Each time I kept telling myself that this one couldn’t be as good as the last one. But in the end, each couple has a place in my heart.

In Vine, we meet Caspian. He is a hot mess. He is recently divorced having found out that his ex-husband and producer have been cheating on him. To make matters worse, he has to continue working with them. It has triggered his mental health struggles with anxiety, shame, and cutting. The portrayal of someone who suffers with cutting themselves seemed very realistic and not glossed over. It was very well done. I hated Jonas and Leigh with a passion and hope terrible things happen to them. I cannot understand treating someone you used to care about so poorly.

Next we have Max. Sweet, sweet Max. He is neurodiverse and is doing fairly well after his mother’s death (this takes place 5 years after). He has his routines, his coping strategies, and his family and friends who are always there for him. But he wants someone for his own–someone to love and take care of. I adored him. I loved his relationship with Eti and Nico. I loved being in his mind and seeing how he took things in. I loved the way he wanted to care for and treat Caspian, who needed a special and tender touch. It was beautiful to watch.

If I had one complaint, it would be that it ended far too soon. There was no epilogue to tie everything together especially since this seems like the last one. I wanted to get one more glimpse of Florian and Charles, Eti and Nico, and of course, Caspian and Max. What does their happily ever after look like? I adore this whole series and will reread it very soon.

I received an ARC from GRR for my honest review

[Molly Otto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let's start this off by saying this is by no means a light read. It is a true, beautifully gut-wrenching, truthful read on living with anxiety. Caspian has been through the ringer this past year that elevated his past mental health issues. What he doesn't expect is Max. Max is a man on the nuerospicy spectrum who is truly happy as he is. He knows his issues and embraces them fully, and helps Caspian be able to settle into his. These two are an odd pair that on paper may be too much for the other, yet aren't because they accept and help the other. Caspian knows he will never fully be past his issues but learns to be okay with them. He learns it's okay to not be okay, and for me, that's truly magical. Max, the beautiful soul that he is, takes on this with open arms and enables them to move forward to a better future. One of if not the best representations of controlled cutting I have read. More often than not, it bothers me how it's treated, but in this case, it felt real and beautiful and well life. Another amazing addition to this already beautiful series.

[Claire Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

This whole series has been fabulous, each one an emotional journey covering some important and sometimes heavy topics, they each managed to both rip my heart out and fill it with joy. Self Harm and emotional abuse are the heavy topics in Vine and there are on-page details a few times of the self-harm.

Vine is Max's story and despite meeting him in Oyster, I really didn't get a good feel of him until this book. Max is different, it's how he describes himself, he is on the spectrum and has many quirks as well as social issues that keep him pretty isolated, by choice. He is a lovely person, someone who needs to be needed but he can also be obsessive and he tried hard to not let his interest in Caspian become an obsession, I'm not sure he completely succeeds but I think they were made for each other so it doesn't really matter. Max has the kind of sense of self and self-worth I wish I had and I liked that he knew who he was and appreciated his differences.

Caspian's sense of self and self-worth are at the opposite end of the spectrum to Max's. After being cheated on by his husband and now stuck in an abusive business relationship with his ex and his ex-friend who are now together, Caspian's mental health is in a bad state.

I really felt for Caspian, having my own struggles with mental health I had a great deal of compassion and understanding for what he lived with and a great deal of anger for how his ex and ex-friend treated him.

Max and Caspian's journey to love wasn't an easy one, but Max managed to get under Caspian's skin and wiggle his way into his heart. While Caspian's mental health issues don't miraculously get fixed (true to how real life is) Max has the ability to calm him and help with his self-harming.

I loved seeing Eti again and I enjoyed the relationship she's built with Max and her ability to see and understand him better than anyone else. I'm glad Max has a friend like her.

I'm going to miss the island and the characters I have become attached to over this past week as I read all 3 books.

[Vintage · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seriously great

This series has been special and I’m not sure if there are more coming, but they have all been so emotionally engaging. Max is such an awesome soul and Caspian really needs Max’s ability to cut through the BS…what a match.

[Bess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so excited to see that the next book in the series I just started was coming out, so I sprinted my way through this. Just like the other book I've read in the series (Salt), it deals with heavy subject matter and you need to read through the content warnings before getting started. I really enjoyed Salt, and I also really enjoyed this book. Caspain and Max meet when Caspian is going through something unimaginable, and Max is every ounce of the protector that you want him to be. This is not instalove where one MMC sweeps in and saves the other; it's a book exploring two people growing together. There is a lot of hurt to go with the comfort, so be prepared going in. I do wish that there was an epilogue so we can see a bit more of what happens after, but the book does still feel complete without it.

[Xanthe · Rating 5 out of 5]

**please read the trigger warnings from the author**
Not a story for the faint of heart but so well written by Fearne. I've loved this series from the start and this is yet another book that isn't afraid to hit some of the harder topics that people deal with. In this one we have mental health rep including anxiety, self harm and possible eating disorder, as well as neuro diversity.
Caspian and Max are the unexpected positives in each other's lives when Caspian, along with a film crew, his ex-husband/co-star and now ex-best friend/ex's new boyfriend. It's one big pile of doo that he could really do without, but with a signed contract, he has no choice. Max's hulking figure and clear and to the point way of talking is a breath of fresh air to Caspian and there is no denying his attraction. Max finds himself drawn to the Englishman but is determined to not become obsessed, as he has done with things several times in the past.
Caspian's mental health is a big part of this story and I like how open Fearne's writing is about it. There is still the shame and fear those who self harm experience but I didn't feel that way about him. What I did hate and was disgusted by were the two people trying to use Caspian to their advantage. In that regard, they were also well written. I was very happy that Caspian had Emma, their professional assistant on the current vineyard project.
Fans of the series will know Max as Nico's brother from Oyster, and I'm so happy that he has found someone who loves him for exactly who he is. No time is spent trying to change Max or make him feel less than for how he lives his life. I love that we get appearances from Eti, who loves and understands Max for who he is.
It's a story that is hard to read in places but is a perfect HEA for two men who thought it might not have been for them. Worth the hard scenes to get to the heartfelt moments of Max ensuring Caspian's safety, walking him home, to the heated scenes where he finally sees what all of the fuss is about. Having that person who is there for you, regardless of the circumstances, maybe someone who needs to be needed, is found in the unlikeliest of places.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 1 didn't blow me away but I could feel in my bones that Fearne Hill was an author I would love. This story absolutely cemented it for me. These characters are just everything I love in a contemporary romance. From the outside, I expected to think that Max was going to be the character who needed to be protected at all costs, but I was so so wrong. Max is the fierce protector and Caspian just is yearning for someone to take care of him (even if he wont admit it). The villains are a OTT villainous (I keep fearing a redemption, but am so glad there wasn't one) which makes the hurt just so much bigger. But everything about how Max and Caspian come together is beautiful and real and fits who they are. You do not need to read any other books in the story to enjoy this one (the middle book is MF so I know some will want to skip it), this one stands on its own and is one I will come back to often. It was one of those books that when I finished, I was bereft, but only because I was hoping my kindle was lying and there were a couple more pages.

[Maryann Kafka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Max La Forge at thirty, has moved to the gatehouse on the vineyard property he inherited from his beloved mother. The property has a larger house and two small gatehouses and he chose one to live in. It’s just right for him and his dog Noir along with Kaa. Dealing with hyper fixation and having pervasive developmental disorder on the autism spectrum, Max still works on coping with his disorder and has support of family. He has always known he was different. He likes the quiet and there was a time that he didn’t speak at all and there are still times when he hardly speaks. He has social difficulties and people tend to avoid him as they thought he was strange. Max misses his mother, in fact the family all struggled with her loss but Max most of all. He still has a loving father, younger sister Zoe and older brother Nico. They own and work the La Forge Oyster farm together on the island of Re’ France. He also sees his father’s lady friend, Collette who is a psychologist and grief counselor who helps him. She and Max have a good understanding that Collette would never replace his Mum. Max also has a wonderful friend and support system in Eti, his sister-in-law.

Max has made a decision to allow a television crew to come film on the vineyard.
A reality show and it will benefit the small vineyard to flourish and then he has plans for it in nine months when the show is finished filming.

Caspian Watts fell in love with Leigh at the age of twenty. They had everything going for themselves and married. But Leigh, now ex, cheated and married ex-bf, Jonas. The divorce was hard on Caspian. It all lead to chronic anxiety, prescription drugs, many different therapist and the worst self-harm. Even when all was so hurtful, Caspian continued to pretend he and Leigh were a loving couple for their reality shows.
Caspian could never find his self-worth or stand-up for himself and was verbally and mentally abused by both Leigh and Jonas. All their actions were unforgivable and just ugly. Caspian did the shows for earning money and career, but did he really have to? Now Caspian has agreed to go to France to do a show on vines/vineyards.
Just maybe, after nine months he could find a way to escape the the nightmare of Leigh and Jonas. A good thing has happened for Caspian he made a friend of Emma. Emma is a viticulturist and shares her knowledge with Caspian. They have no problem working side by side. At twenty-seven she’s dealing with her own complicated issues but is slowly making a plan. But she is a much needed shoulder for Caspian.

When Caspian can no longer deal with being in the large house and the ridiculous noises coming from the ex’s room, he finds his way to the other gatehouse. It’s a little dusty but he just wanted a quiet place to sleep and a drink of water. Even though the water was turned off he knew how to handle that until he encounters a critter. Of course, panic sets in and Caspian just makes his situation worse and with a cry finds himself in the snow. Max here’s the sound and goes through his minds system and heads outside with Noir. When he looks the stranger over he realizes it’s one of the TV people. Once again, Max goes through his process and does the best thing and takes the man to his gatehouse.

Caspian is a man, who needs someone to care and protect him. Max needs someone to care and he is a man that has the need to protect. Will these two very different minds find a way to blend and create something beautiful.

Fearne Hill does it again and brings another delightful story from France with “Vine” the third installment in “Island Love” series. Hill created the most wonderful character in Max La Forge who has been in the series from the start and now we get his full story.
Hill does a spectacular and clear take on Max’s thought process that he constantly goes through with each situation, it’s needed so he doesn’t over react. His dry sense of humor is sweet and there’s no gray areas for him. He has all the right emotions: empathy, sympathy, loyalty as long has he sticks with his mind process and not panic he can figure anything out. Hill does a spectacular job with the conversations with Caspian and I really liked the ones he has with Nico and their Dad about being homosexual. Max has a one track mind at times and just sticks to the subject of what he needs to discuss.

Caspian is sort of a sad individual. Even though his ex cheated, he struggles with the “love” feeling. He continues to hurt himself by being involved, even in the pretend sense. He let’s his ex and ex-friend Jonas continually use him for their own benefit.
It’s hard to see Caspian self-harm himself and Max really tries to get through to him to stop.

As for Eti and Emma they are an important part in the lives of Max and Caspian. Eti has been there for Max whenever he needs clarification or a better understanding of things that he doesn’t know how to cope with. They get along excellently. Emma has really supported Caspian and taught him much about the cultivation of the vines. Even with her own situation, she and Caspian find a comfort zone to help them both through their dilemmas.

Max is surrounded by family and good friends and he lets them into his story: Florian, (my favorite) who Max had a long time crush on, is still with his partner Charles. Of course Nico, who is married to Eti, and Dad La Forge and Collette.

I’m giving a double recommendation for “Vine.” With the first book “Salt” I learned: a little French, a lot about salt farming and enjoyed Florian. The second book is “Oyster” and I learned about the La Forge’s and oyster farming and Eti in the soccer world.
With “Vine” I already know about growing and cultivating vines, but Max makes this entire novel outstanding! I don’t know what Fearne Hill has planned next for “Island Love” but I know it will be and entertaining read!

[Sandy Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hurt-comfort, size difference, neurodivergence, unique setting.

I love Fearne Hill’s Island Love series, and this third installment is another engaging journey into this world. I had a quibble with this one, but that didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the MCs and their connection to each other.

MC Max is the younger brother of a previous MC, who we met in Oyster 5 years ago (book timeline) when his mother was dying of cancer. MC Caspian is new to this world, a celebrity reality TV star who’s come to the island to film a new season of a show he’s forced to perform in with his now ex-husband, a character who began sleeping with their producer (director?), who’s also with them on the island. The setup is fraught with juicy tension and potential mishaps. They’re there to manage a run-down vineyard and bring it back to life.

Cas lives with a severe anxiety, and he is a cutter. TW for that; it happens on page and is a big focus of his conflict. Max is neurodivergent and has unique ways of thinking and speaking, and manages himself well. I enjoyed his unique perspective and reactions all the way through. His immediate realization that he could potentially fixate on Cas, and the steps he takes to try not to, even as you see him kinda fooling himself into thinking he’s not, are fun to experience. Max also secretly owns the vineyard where they’re filming, though that’s not a big part of the story.

What I loved most was seeing Cas and Max meet and their reactions to each other, how they connected, through touch and sex, and also through calm acceptance and kindness to each other. Their initial meeting is kind of farcical and contrived, but I didn’t really care. Seeing them together made the book joyful and poignant, and while it does focus a lot on the physical, for me there was a balance of that along with truly getting to know each other, especially they vulnerabilities each thinks might turn the other off but instead strengthen their connection and shows each that he can be himself safely around the other man. That was beautiful, and is the author’s specialty.

My biggest issue with this book is that the antagonists—the ex-husband and the lover/director he cheated on Cas with, instigating their divorce—never face any consequences for how egregiously and dangerously they bully Cas. They could have influenced him to suicide, and that was beyond not okay, and was not resolved or addressed in any satisfactory manner. It left me upset and less able to enjoy the promise for HEA. They deserved jail time, frankly. Okay not literally, but, they at least deserved public shaming and a big hit to their careers. The lack of consequences was probably realistic, but, I don’t read romance for reality; I read for ideality. I want the ideal.

I also would have loved to see more of Max working; part of what I loved in the previous books was seeing both MCs of each book practicing their callings, and I learned so many intriguing things organically without it taking over. Here, Cas is probably doing some of what Max would be to restore the vineyard, since that’s what they’re filming, but we see little of what Max is doing too, it’s less balanced than previous. I wanted to know more about how Max is working with his dad and Nico. But we do see a lot of him working out his feelings for Cas, and oh, how I loved his nickname for Cas, comparing him to the sea! So lovely.

As mentioned, there is focus on Cas’s struggles with his anxiety and cutting, and the story goes to bleak places with him. Not quite as bleak as book 1 did with MC Charles, but pretty bleak. As far as this layperson can tell, his experience is treated respectfully and authentically. Max talking with Cas about the cutting and his efforts to understand and support Cas worked well for me, I appreciated that part of their journey.

The secondary characters add strong layers to the story; having Eti, Nico, Florian, and Nico and Max’s dad appear was great, and the antagonists are truly awful, almost to the point of caricature, but still sadly this side of believable.

Overall, despite the baddies not getting theirs, I loved the love story and will probably re-read in the future. This series has been wonderful, as usual for this author.

HFN that promises HEA. Hurt-comfort, size difference, neurodivergence, mental health elements. No cheating or others in any romantic/sexual way; there is strong OM drama due to Cas’s ex being a main secondary character, but not in a way that impacts the romantic relationship; it’s clear they are very, very over. Recommended.

My thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for the ARC; this is my free and impartial opinion.

[Kaje Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here we get to see Max, Nico's younger brother from Oyster. He's grown into a big burly young man, which takes a bit of reframing from the teen he was. His elective mutism has improved but he still struggles to find words and his personality is colored and informed by his autism. I appreciated his literal-mindedness (with the inability to recognize metaphors and jokes at times) and also his certainties, fixations, and kindness. He finds an attractive stranger who has tripped and hurt himself, who is unhappy and in need of care, and is sure he can provide that. His path to love is his own, (guided by an amusing reference) but it worked for me.

Caspian is part of a TV reality series duo. Once, it was him and his husband Leigh as the onscreen faces, and their best friend Jonas as producer. But a year and a half ago, Leigh cheated on Caspian with Jonas, and they got divorced. Now, contracts and money mean that there's still a market for "gay couple tackles new challenges" and so here they are at an island vineyard, still pretending to be together on camera. Off camera, Leigh has Jonas, but Caspian has no one. And Jonas is gloating and unkind, in his possession of Leigh and his control of the on-screen narrative. Caspian's coping strategies are maladaptive, but they work. Somewhat. In the sense that he's still on his feet, saying his lines, but miserable.

When Caspian trips and knocks himself out, and Max brings him into his small gatehouse home to warm up, for the first time, Caspian has a champion. One he doesn't feel he deserves, and doesn't always understand. But for the first time in a long time, there's someone in his corner who cares nothing at all for Leigh or the show or anything but Caspian. With Max, the bleak depression and need to self-harm recede, if only for a while.

This is opposites attract in a way that worked really well for me. The two men's strengths and weaknesses were an excellent complement to each other. Caspian's mental health struggles are dark at times. I wanted him to walk away from the show and all its pain, but his inability to let go of Leigh and his hurt could be explained by the economic realities that kept them so tied together. Leigh is self-centered and oblivious, making him no buffer at all for Jonas's petty cruelties to Caspian. (And I was disappointed we didn't see more of a justified comeuppance for those two, particularly Jonas, at the end.) I appreciated some positive and supportive women secondary characters.

The other two books had one gorgeous charm that this one didn't - the deep love of the island MC for the work they were doing. Here, although Max owns the vineyard, he is not involved with it and doesn't express an affection for it. Caspian comes to like the place and the work, but I didn't get quite the same vivid sense of place as the first tw0. That certainty of belonging was still muted at the end, which perhaps made this feel less settled at its closure.

I always enjoy Fearne Hill's writing style and this book was no exception. Her stories are immersive and a smooth, fast read. I like that her characters get therapy when needed, although IMO Caspian was barely beginning that journey and there was a bit of conflict of interest there. Max's love is a big stabilizing influence in Caspian's life, but is not presented as a cure for his mental health issues. I felt there was still a lot for these guys to figure out in how their lives were going to work at the end, but I also believed they were solid and would get there.

[ivanareadsalot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank GRR for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Vine was an astounding read from start to finish, and i knew that it would be a mega star win by the end of the prologue.

THIS was THE Fearne Hill magic i'd expected from since Book 1. full disclosure, i thought Salt's narrative style was quite clunky and dissonant and never fully elevated itself, and unfortunately i could not even get through Oyster for the exact same reason!

But here we are at Book 3 with this amazing, gorgeous, oh-so-achy read, and i'm just so happy that my intuition had me giving this series another chance because this was an outstanding gem!

The narrative flow was smooth, deep and weighty, with a solid foundation in some remarkable characterization. The chemistry was off the charts, the story itself was intensely poignant and deeply affecting, and I finally got the extra oomph I'd wanted from this series in the first place, which was to learn a bit about salt and oyster farming and in this book, restoring a vineyard.

The vibe was everything and I'm so happy with how much i really loved this book!!

Right off the bat the drama was arresting! Caspian, contractually obligated to work with his ex-husband and the producer of their tv show -who his ex had cheated on him with- suffered immensely with his mental health, for obvious reasons. My gawd the emotionally manipulative insults and snide remarks Caspian was subjected to made me so mad! It was soooo heart-wrenching to read at times, him buffeted by turmoil while facing down those two vicious bastards with the last vestiges of his unraveling edges.

Then Max came on the scene and both Caspian and I exhaled.

I just loved how rooted in his strength Max was. The contrast between Max owning his "foibles" and Caspian's fragility was a meaningful exploration of a vulnerability that most humans share...which is the feeling of being burdensome to others when things get rough.

And this feeling of being "too much" and "not enough" at the same time was made worse for Caspian, because of his history of being demeaned and rejected by the people closest to him who were supposed to love him enough to shore him up. That lack of security and that kind of inconsideration is very insidious, and would without question realistically chip away at anyone's foundation of self-worth.

Hill wrote such evocative narrative that i could not help but feel very big feelings for Caspian, who was so very isolated in his terror and the demise of his peace of mind.

Caspian's troubled POV was offset by Max's endearing determination to understand the mechanics of "normal" social interactions, and his unique pursuit of a romantic relationship in the sweetest, most sincere and wholehearted way, just boosted his quality beyond measure, and i could not get enough of him!

This marvelous, beautiful and powerful love story, focused on healing, restoration, acceptance and the art of owning your authenticity, and though challenging at times to read, this has been one of the more impactful and important stories i've read all year!

[Babara-Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE BEST OF THE SERIES BY FAR!💕

Oh I absolutely love this series and the unique sexy Frenchmen of Ré and now it’s Max La Forge’s turn- Max who crept deep into his sister in law Éti’s heart in Oyster and now our hearts♥️!

Max is a unique literal, highly intelligent somewhere on the autism spectrum Teddy bear oyster farmer and vineyard owner who listens to nature podcasts, whittles and lives with a three legged dog called Noir and a snake called Kaa!

Max first nurses Caspian-Pumkin-Watts back to health after a nightmare evening and then charms and grounds the poor morose, neurotic yet funny ycv presenter suffering from mental health issues from a toxic past relationship and current tv environment…

These two characters were just perfect together the way that Max just wanted to help Caspian take his mind off cutting and the way he goes about it with hilarious endearing sweet consequences that makes Caspian laugh and forget to cut…

Caspian was a complex character who was funny without trying to be and sassy when needed and swept poor Max off his wader feet!

It was beautiful to see how Max came out of his shell like a blooming grape flower on a vine with Caspian and became the confident, sexy anchor and sun that Caspian needed to bloom and how he courted Caspian without Caspian realising it with a relationship guide book-Plucking a perfect Peach 🍑!

Florian and Nico (Max’s older brother) and Éti make cameo appearances with their wit and banter but no Charles?…

Mental Health issues and Autism were depicted beautifully with these two wonderful endearing, funny and sweet characters from a series I can definitely recommend! THE BEST OF THE SERIES BY FAR!💕

Oh I absolutely love this series and the unique Frenchmen of Ré and now it’s Max La Forge’s turn- Max who crept deep into his sister in law Éti’s heart in Oyster and now our hearts♥️!

Max is a unique literal, highly intelligent somewhere on the autism spectrum Teddy bear with a three legged dog called Noir and a snake called Kaa who charms and grounds poor morose, neurotic yet funny Caspian-Pumpkin-Watts suffering from mental health issues from a toxic past relationship and current tv environment…

These two characters were just perfect together the way that Max just wanted to help Caspian take his mind off cutting and the way he goes about it with hilarious endearing sweet consequences that makes Caspian laugh and forget to cut…

Caspian was a complex character who was funny without trying to be and sassy when needed and swept poor Max off his wader feet!

It was beautiful to see how Max came out of his shell like a blooming grape flower on a vine with Caspian and became the confident, sexy anchor and sun that Caspian needed to bloom and how he courted Caspian without him realising it with a relationship guide book-Plucking a perfect Peach 🍑 !

Florian and Nico (Max’s older brother) and Éti make cameo appearances with their wit and banter but no Charles?…

Mental Health issues and Autism were depicted beautifully with these two wonderful endearing, funny and sweet characters from a series I can definitely recommend!

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has quickly become a favorite series for me, and another favorite author for my list. The characters are so realistic and relatable, and so well developed you feel like you know them personally as good friends. The world building of this little French island brings the different settings to life while educating the reader at the same time. So far I’ve learned a lot about salt farming (book 1, Salt) and resurrecting a vineyard and viticulture in this book, and expect to learn a lot about oyster farming in book 2, Oyster. There is also education on the topics of depression and mental illness which Caspian suffers from, as well as vivid descriptions of the thought process and actual steps he goes through as he self harms. DO be sure to read the triggers, as it is explicit. Max has his own challenges, described as “a pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified, but which now falls under the umbrella of autism spectrum disorders” with examples of how the behaviors he exhibits on the spectrum affect him and his interactions with Caspian and others. Reading about what the two experience, you wouldn’t think they would click or be good for each other, but each is able to fulfill a need for the other, and together both do well.

The slow development of the romantic relationship between these two men is beautiful to see. Max is able to calm Caspian in an unexpected way, protecting him, caring for him, and always checking for consent. Max’s “bible”, Finding the Perfect Peach, serves him well as he applies the advice offered in the book, and it works well for him with Caspian. Meanwhile, Caspian is able to give Max experience with his sensual side, introducing him to things Max never thought he would learn from another with his challenges interacting with other people. Their relationship develops from Max’s need to care for someone and Caspian’s need to be cared for, even though he doesn’t believe he deserves it.

There is unexpected humor, usually between Max and Caspian, that had me suddenly laughing out loud, and the interactions between them, especially Max’s care and concern for Caspian gave me warm, fuzzy feelings for the two together. The attitude of Leigh and Jonas toward Caspian had me seeing red and hoping for some karmic justice at the end. The story pulled me in and I couldn’t put it down, I got so wrapped up in the lives of these two. Parts are dark and depressing, but there are also happy, positive and uplifting ones too. A compelling read with a series I definitely recommend.

I received a copy of the book and this is my voluntary review.

[Ulysses Dietz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 5 stars
Review By Ulysses Dietz, Member of the Paranormal Romance Guild Review Team
Name of Book: Vine
Series: Ré Island series
Author: Fearne Hill
Publisher: the author
Release date: 2024
Page Count: 236
Genre: m/m romance

This is the third book set on the Ile de Ré, north of Bordeaux on the west coast of France. Aside from the salt flats and the oyster beds of Ré, there are the vineyards, and it is in this locale that the third romance takes place.

I loved the premise of this: a popular English cable-TV series called “My Big Gay Adventures,” has zeroed in on a five-acre vineyard that has not been harvested in a while. Having followed a gay couple—Caspian Watts and his husband Leigh Pumkin—for several highly successful years as they undertake a wide range of skill-building adventures (French chef, Formula 3 racecar drivers, master plumbers), the show’s producers have decided that Caspian needs to become a vintner. The unseen premise of the show is that Caspian and his husband have divorced over Leigh’s adultery with Jonas, the show’s main producer and Caspian’s former best friend.

The flip side is Max LaForge, who, unbeknownst to the Brits, owns the vineyard. We met max in the earlier two books, but never learned much about him. Here the author lets us get to know him well. Max lives in one of the gatehouses to the property, and works with his father and brother managing the family’s generations-old oyster beds. But Max is also on the autism spectrum, and copes with the challenges of life among the “normal” in various creative ways.

It's a great set-up. Almost predictably, as Caspian seeks to distance himself from his ex-husband and ex-friend, during what is intended to be the reality show’s final season, he manages to quite literally stumble across Max late one rainy night.

These two oddly-matched men forge a bond—Max huge and powerful, but with a brain that works differently from everyone else’s; and Caspian, petite and fragile, with profound anxiety and an addiction to cutting himself. We move back and forth between their two perspectives, rooting for them all the way.
There is painful darkness in this story, but not a huge amount of suspense—and that’s fine by me. There are some plot twists, mostly due to the unexpected nastiness of a couple of the characters—a distinct lack of candor is revealed most painfully, and it adds a sharpness to the otherwise charming arc of the romance.

It’s a wonderful series from a very fine author.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fearne Hill has yet to write a book that doesn’t consume me, emotionally drain me and want to do really horrible things to at least one character, two in this case!

The first two books in this series SALT and OYSTER were so good I couldn’t wait to read Max’s story. We met him, albeit briefly, in Oyster as he is Nico’s younger brother and he was only 19 when their mother died in that book.

Here is where Fearne excels. Max is neurodivergent, a big gorgeous bear of a man with lots of unruly hair on his head and face. When everyone was grieving Max had to find his own way of coping without his mother, the person who loved him unconditionally and understood him best, Max went into himself and didn’t speak.

Max knows he’s peculiar but he embraces his differences and learns routine and consistency reduces his stress, manages his sensory difficulties, and occasional meltdowns. Far from Max needing to be loved and protected, he is the protector, needing to care for and cherish someone and that someone turns out to be Caspian when Max’s 3 legged dog Noir, he embraces imperfections, finds him out cold on the path outside Max’s gatehouse.

Caspian certainly needs love. He has anxiety issues and self harms, on page, read the trigger warnings. This book, like many of this authors books deals with heavy topics but she writes with such sensitivity it doesn’t feel overwhelming, it just makes you feel.

The author takes us inside Max’s head and shows us his routines and coping strategies, his protectiveness, stubbornness, dry sense of humour, creativity and love of all things blue, especially his blue rubber waders and his favourite mug. He wants to protect and love Caspian and help break the cycle of his self harming. Caspian is trapped in his own hell and all I will say is that I wish a slow and painful death for Leigh and Jonas, I just wish it had been on page!

It takes Caspian a little longer to see just how good this man is for him and how well they compliment each other, but when he sees what’s right in front of him they are perfect together.

I particularly loved the bond he has developed with Èti, now his sister in law, and loved that we got to see the gorgeous Florian again although I missed Charles.

I highly recommend this wonderful book and did I mention that Max has good teeth😂

[Lady Macbeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
Third beautiful installment of Island Love series.
We left Max in the previous book, when he was 19 and struggling to cope with his mother's death, and we find him now, at 25, living a calm life with his lovely dog and his steady routines. Even if Max is in the autism spectrum, he created a seren environment around him that allows him to live fully and independently.
Caspian, on the contrary, is a big giant mess: he's forced to work with his TV partner and ex husband, who cheated on him with their producer. Being in forced proximity with them, it's stressing Caspian out so much that he started to daily cut himself again.

Max and Caspian meet at the vineyard one night when a scared Caspian trips and falls hurting himself. Max takes care of him, bringing him to his home and bed and nursing him back to health.
They develop a routine made with night strolls and kisses on the cheeck, until they get more physical and way more emotionally invested.

Max is a precious wonderful man, he's sure of what he wants and he stands up for himself with his family and friends (I adore his relationship with Eti), he's not scared to express his feelings, even if in his own particular way and he's determined to win Caspian's heart. He's also confident he can help him.
Caspian is quite the opposite: while is very good at his job (despite not liking it), he struggles hard with his mental health problems, and even if he knows very well what triggers his anxiety and his need to self-harm, he's not able to cut ties with said things.

The journey of their relationship is tentative and unsure: Max reminds himself to be patient and his steady presence on Caspian's life will be the only thing that will help the other man to stay sane.

What prevented me from giving 5 full stars:
I didn't like how the jonah&Leigh's situation was resolved, I didn't find it satisfying. And the end seemed quite abrupt.
I also missed Charles.

I don't know if the author wrote this series as just a trilogy or if she's planning to write more books, but I really really hope so. I'm not ready to say goodbye to this beautiful island and its people.

I received an ARC of this book from ForewordPR and this is my honest review