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Midnight Wine
Welcome aboard the
Maiden Voyage
, where the all-female crew navigates more than just turbulent waters. This series of novellas follows the romantic adventures of these queer women, where every charter brings new possibilities.
When a mysterious guest boards the luxury yacht Maiden Voyage, chef Lindsay Brewin expects nothing more than another routine week of five-star service in the Bahamas. What she doesn't expect is Maddie McDean—global superstar, tabloid sensation, and the woman currently accused of assaulting her husband.
Falsely accused and hounded by the media, Maddie seeks refuge on a yacht where she hopes to find some peace. But when sleepless nights lead to midnight wine sessions with the yacht's chef, their intimate conversations over candlelit meals ignite a dangerous attraction.
Lindsay has built her life around responsibility—supporting her sister's family and maintaining her spotless professional reputation. She's never been the type to fall for a guest, let alone a married celebrity embroiled in scandal. But Maddie's vulnerability beneath her fame, and the chemistry that sparks between them, makes Lindsay break every rule she's ever lived by. Will the price of being together prove too high to pay?
Midnight Wine is a forbidden romance that explores the collision between ordinary life and extraordinary fame.
When a mysterious guest boards the luxury yacht Maiden Voyage, chef Lindsay Brewin expects nothing more than another routine week of five-star service in the Bahamas. What she doesn't expect is Maddie McDean—global superstar, tabloid sensation, and the woman currently accused of assaulting her husband.
Falsely accused and hounded by the media, Maddie seeks refuge on a yacht where she hopes to find some peace. But when sleepless nights lead to midnight wine sessions with the yacht's chef, their intimate conversations over candlelit meals ignite a dangerous attraction.
Lindsay has built her life around responsibility—supporting her sister's family and maintaining her spotless professional reputation. She's never been the type to fall for a guest, let alone a married celebrity embroiled in scandal. But Maddie's vulnerability beneath her fame, and the chemistry that sparks between them, makes Lindsay break every rule she's ever lived by. Will the price of being together prove too high to pay?
Midnight Wine is a forbidden romance that explores the collision between ordinary life and extraordinary fame.
137 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 3, 2025
About the author
Lise Gold
60 books713 followersLise Gold is an author of lesbian romance. Her romantic attitude, enthusiasm for travel and love for feel good stories form the heartland of her writing. Born in London to a Norwegian mother and English father, and growing up between the UK, Norway, Zambia and the Netherlands, she feels at home pretty much everywhere and has an unending curiosity for new destinations. She goes by 'write what you know' and is often found in exotic locations doing research or getting inspired for her next novel.
Working as a designer for fifteen years and singing semi- professionally, Lise has always been a creative at heart. Her novels are the result of a quest for a new passion after resigning from her design job in 2018.
When not writing from her kitchen table, Lise can be found cooking, at the gym or singing her heart out somewhere, preferably country or blues. She lives in London with her dogs El Comandante and Bubba.
Working as a designer for fifteen years and singing semi- professionally, Lise has always been a creative at heart. Her novels are the result of a quest for a new passion after resigning from her design job in 2018.
When not writing from her kitchen table, Lise can be found cooking, at the gym or singing her heart out somewhere, preferably country or blues. She lives in London with her dogs El Comandante and Bubba.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 21, 2026
3.5 ⭐
March 27, 2026
Pleasant fun with 2 nice leads. This is a series of 5 novellas, with the first 2 already released, and so I would expect progressive character development among the crew members that will add some nice depth.
August 6, 2025
Very good first book of the new "Maiden Voyage" series. Now I need more, much more. How will Lindsay and Maddie's story continue? What new adventures will the crew have? And the captain? Mmm...
March 16, 2026
3:5 ⭐️
April 24, 2026
Lindsay is chef on a luxury charter yacht, a part of a totally female - and totally lesbian - crew. She lives for her work and also for her sister and children. When each charter ends, she co-parents with her sister, and then returns to the ship.
Maddie is a world famous musician, currently in a public argument with her husband who is trying to ruin her. He has controlled her for years, but finally she is fighting back.
This is a lovely story where we see their relationship begin, compressed into a few days on board the yacht. We don’t see much of the Caribbean where they are cruising, or very much of anything else. It’s an extremely insular environment. Just stolen moments, usually during the night, Lindsay hiding everything from the other crew members.
My only reservation is how abrupt the ending is, and how short the story. I wish we could get to know the women outside the confines of the yacht, see Maddie meet Lindsay’s family, and how their relationship goes from there, and the reactions of the other crew members to their beginning relationship. We only really see the first half of their story.
Maddie is a world famous musician, currently in a public argument with her husband who is trying to ruin her. He has controlled her for years, but finally she is fighting back.
This is a lovely story where we see their relationship begin, compressed into a few days on board the yacht. We don’t see much of the Caribbean where they are cruising, or very much of anything else. It’s an extremely insular environment. Just stolen moments, usually during the night, Lindsay hiding everything from the other crew members.
My only reservation is how abrupt the ending is, and how short the story. I wish we could get to know the women outside the confines of the yacht, see Maddie meet Lindsay’s family, and how their relationship goes from there, and the reactions of the other crew members to their beginning relationship. We only really see the first half of their story.
August 12, 2025
4 stars. Always excited for new Lise Gold and this novella was so worth the read. Just a lovely little romance between a chef and a famous actress going through a huge scandal. It’s also a toaster oven romance and it takes place on a cruise ship. Maddie and Lindsay were both incredibly likable characters and I loved the chemistry between them. So romantic. I thought the side characters were fun as well and I can’t wait for book two.
March 10, 2026
3.5 stars
September 21, 2025
Short Novella but first in a promising series, with inevitable brick wall ending. Fun, out of 4*s as not a full book. Will look at the rest of series.
September 23, 2025
Good book
Lindsey is a simple gal, likes her kitchen more than than other things. She loves to prepare and make beautiful dishes that people love to eat. She not one to fan girl over celebrity its just not her thing. Maddie is a world wide celebrity that has book a tour for five days to hide for the world. Things have gone wrong in her marriage and just wants to be left alone. A beautiful story of how two people only see the other person inside not fame or just a chef but a wonderful caring person.
Lindsey is a simple gal, likes her kitchen more than than other things. She loves to prepare and make beautiful dishes that people love to eat. She not one to fan girl over celebrity its just not her thing. Maddie is a world wide celebrity that has book a tour for five days to hide for the world. Things have gone wrong in her marriage and just wants to be left alone. A beautiful story of how two people only see the other person inside not fame or just a chef but a wonderful caring person.
October 9, 2025
Lindsay, head chef of the ship, doesn't recognize the VIP passenger, Maddie Mae. The singer is in the midst of a PR fiasco, and wanted to get away for awhile. Lindsay sees how sad she is and reaches out to her, both on duty and at night when Maddie can't sleep.
They talk, share midnight snacks, and Maddie confesses both that she was in a abusive relationship, and that she's been hiding a attraction to women.
They sleep together on Maddie's last night aboard, and Maddie wants them to continue on after the voyage.
3.5 stars, solidly good if short.
They talk, share midnight snacks, and Maddie confesses both that she was in a abusive relationship, and that she's been hiding a attraction to women.
They sleep together on Maddie's last night aboard, and Maddie wants them to continue on after the voyage.
3.5 stars, solidly good if short.
September 16, 2025
A ship full of lesbians you say…
I’ve never seen a single episode of Below Decks, reality TV is something I just can’t get behind.
Having said that, I thoroughly enjoyed this story, yes it’s kind of short, I want to say rushed? But also not…
I’m looking forward to getting to know the characters, especially the captain! Talk about mysterious…
I’m guessing that all the stories in this series will be similar, ending in one hell of a final book. And you know what? I can’t wait 😛
I’ve never seen a single episode of Below Decks, reality TV is something I just can’t get behind.
Having said that, I thoroughly enjoyed this story, yes it’s kind of short, I want to say rushed? But also not…
I’m looking forward to getting to know the characters, especially the captain! Talk about mysterious…
I’m guessing that all the stories in this series will be similar, ending in one hell of a final book. And you know what? I can’t wait 😛
August 23, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. It was a very quick and short read. Far too short. That was the only downside. And the open ending. I didn't like that much either. But I know this is only the first book in the Maiden Voyage series, so I'm confident there's more to this story in the next installments.
4.5⭐️
4.5⭐️
September 21, 2025
Protection at Any Cost
Ok, now this was great. Characters ah yes, I should be lucky to go on a vacation with an all women crew. But hopefully the next book is about our elusive Captain Jordan. She definitely needs a fling.
Ok, now this was great. Characters ah yes, I should be lucky to go on a vacation with an all women crew. But hopefully the next book is about our elusive Captain Jordan. She definitely needs a fling.
January 21, 2026
Cute story
I loved this book! It has the most adorable love story and I loved reading about them. If you're looking for a short cute story that you can read in a few hours, this book is for you!
I loved this book! It has the most adorable love story and I loved reading about them. If you're looking for a short cute story that you can read in a few hours, this book is for you!
January 24, 2026
enjoyable
I lived in the Florida Keys for almost 30 years. I also worked in the marine industry. It was nice to have an author that could get 98% of the details correct. It's unheard of. Looking forward to the next book.
I lived in the Florida Keys for almost 30 years. I also worked in the marine industry. It was nice to have an author that could get 98% of the details correct. It's unheard of. Looking forward to the next book.
February 7, 2026
Three and a half stars for this sweet romance novel about an all female luxury yacht. I liked that it was little drama , just a nice book about two women falling in love. The background of being on a yacht crew like Below Deck was interesting too.
August 28, 2025
Cute novella that could've been extended into a novel. I'm hoping to learn more about this relationship in the rest of the series.
August 31, 2025
i really love Lise's writing style so much. i just hope that there's a continuation of Lindsay and Maddie story? i get that this is an open ending so maybe there's much more (hoping).
4.0 stars
4.0 stars
September 12, 2025
For a novella, this is very well paced and realistic - though oftentimes it fell flat.
September 14, 2025
Loving this series
I can hardly wait to see where this goes!
Thoroughly enjoying the story line and cast of characters.
This series will be another Lise Gold success
I can hardly wait to see where this goes!
Thoroughly enjoying the story line and cast of characters.
This series will be another Lise Gold success
April 2, 2026
A great story like all of hers that I have read but I felt like it didn't really end so I shall patiently await a Midnight Wine part II Lise Gold.
January 18, 2026
This book was a random pick and I’m really glad that I picked it. I love the idea of strong women on a boat and decided to take a chance. What I really liked about the story, is you have the two characters with two totally different responsibilities coming together and getting to know each other. One is famous, going thru a divorce and the other is just trying to take care of her family. I felt like there was undeniable chemistry that the characters and you were rooting for them. This was a super short read and worth it!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews