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Dr. Spencer
He knows exactly what kind of woman destroys a marriage.
Josie Dempsey is the kind a man risks everything to keep.
Alex
My ex-wife wanted the polished version of my life.
Toronto. Money. Connections. The Spencer name attached to hers.
But Paradise bored her. Motherhood trapped her. And one day she decided she wanted out of both.
Since then, I’ve kept my life controlled down to the hour. My daughter comes first. My patients come second. Everything else stays at a distance where it can’t wreck the life I rebuilt.
Then Josie Dempsey walks into my life and flips it on it's side.
The town is tearing her family apart in public. Her vineyard is drowning in scandal. And every time the pressure gets worse, she somehow digs in deeper instead of running.
I can’t stop watching her.
And the more time I spend with her, the more I realize the biggest danger isn’t the investigation surrounding her family.
It’s how quickly she’s becoming the one thing in my life I can’t control.
Josie
People in Paradise love watching the Dempseys bleed.
Every problem at the vineyard becomes gossip before breakfast. Every mistake becomes proof that my family deserves what’s happening to us.
The smart thing would be keeping my head down until the storm passes.
Instead, I end up tangled up with Dr. Alex Spencer.
He’s calm in the middle of chaos, unfairly attractive, and so good with his daughter it hurts to look at him too long. And every time I tell myself not to lean on him, he gives me another reason to.
A late dinner becomes another.
Then another.
Suddenly he’s part of my routine. Part of my decisions. Part of the only moments lately that don’t feel heavy.
But Paradise destroys fragile things fast, and the closer Alex gets to me, the more attention we attract.
Because small towns don’t let people reinvent themselves.
And they definitely don’t forgive Dempseys for falling in love.
Dr. Spencer is a standalone romance with a guaranteed happily ever after. It’s the third book in the Dempsey Follies series and continues the saga of the unforgettable Dempsey family and the rivals who keep turning into something more. Start here—but once you meet Josie, you’ll want the whole family.
What you can expect from Dr.
small-town romancesingle daddoctor herohigh family tensionvineyard scandalslow-burn romancehigh heatprotective herohe falls firstemotionally mature romancesmall-town gossipfamily legacy dramafound familytouch-her-and-die energywine country settingwoman under pressureman obsessed before he admits it
Josie Dempsey is the kind a man risks everything to keep.
Alex
My ex-wife wanted the polished version of my life.
Toronto. Money. Connections. The Spencer name attached to hers.
But Paradise bored her. Motherhood trapped her. And one day she decided she wanted out of both.
Since then, I’ve kept my life controlled down to the hour. My daughter comes first. My patients come second. Everything else stays at a distance where it can’t wreck the life I rebuilt.
Then Josie Dempsey walks into my life and flips it on it's side.
The town is tearing her family apart in public. Her vineyard is drowning in scandal. And every time the pressure gets worse, she somehow digs in deeper instead of running.
I can’t stop watching her.
And the more time I spend with her, the more I realize the biggest danger isn’t the investigation surrounding her family.
It’s how quickly she’s becoming the one thing in my life I can’t control.
Josie
People in Paradise love watching the Dempseys bleed.
Every problem at the vineyard becomes gossip before breakfast. Every mistake becomes proof that my family deserves what’s happening to us.
The smart thing would be keeping my head down until the storm passes.
Instead, I end up tangled up with Dr. Alex Spencer.
He’s calm in the middle of chaos, unfairly attractive, and so good with his daughter it hurts to look at him too long. And every time I tell myself not to lean on him, he gives me another reason to.
A late dinner becomes another.
Then another.
Suddenly he’s part of my routine. Part of my decisions. Part of the only moments lately that don’t feel heavy.
But Paradise destroys fragile things fast, and the closer Alex gets to me, the more attention we attract.
Because small towns don’t let people reinvent themselves.
And they definitely don’t forgive Dempseys for falling in love.
Dr. Spencer is a standalone romance with a guaranteed happily ever after. It’s the third book in the Dempsey Follies series and continues the saga of the unforgettable Dempsey family and the rivals who keep turning into something more. Start here—but once you meet Josie, you’ll want the whole family.
What you can expect from Dr.
small-town romancesingle daddoctor herohigh family tensionvineyard scandalslow-burn romancehigh heatprotective herohe falls firstemotionally mature romancesmall-town gossipfamily legacy dramafound familytouch-her-and-die energywine country settingwoman under pressureman obsessed before he admits it
423 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2026
About the author
Grace Maxwell
107 books37 followersLibrarian Note: There are multiple authors by this name in the Goodreads database. This profile may contain works from multiple authors.
See also: Romance author Grace Maxwell
See also: Romance author Grace Maxwell
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 3, 2026
🍷❤️ He Fell for Josie Before He Knew She Was a Dempsey ❤️🍷
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 Stars
Three books into the Dempsey Follies series and Grace Maxwell has officially given me THREE five-star reads.
At this point, if Grace Maxwell is writing it, I am reading it!! ❤️
I have become so attached to Paradise, the Dempsey family, their never-ending chaos, and all the people getting pulled into their orbit, and Dr. Spencer did not disappoint.
This time we get Josie Dempsey, the hardworking vintner helping run her family's Black Bear Vineyards while dealing with everything happening around the ongoing feud with Paradise Hills. Between the vineyard, her grandmother's trial, family tension, small-town gossip, and the uncertainty hanging over the Dempsey name, Josie has A LOT on her shoulders.
Then she meets Dr. Alex Spencer at the hospital's annual fundraiser.
And I absolutely loved how their story begins.
Alex is a divorced single dad and oncologist who has carefully rebuilt his life after a difficult marriage. His daughter comes first, his patients come second, and everything else fits neatly into the controlled life he's created.
Josie Dempsey certainly wasn't part of the plan. 😂
When they meet, Alex has absolutely no idea who Josie is. Even better, he tastes the wine from Black Bear Vineyards and declares it the best pinot in the region without realizing he's talking to the woman responsible for making it.
I LOVED that.
In a town where everyone seems to have an opinion about the Dempseys before they even walk into the room, Alex meets Josie without any of that baggage.
He sees Josie first.
Not her last name.
Not her family's reputation.
Not the feud.
Just her. ❤️
Their first dinner at the vineyard was such a great way to bring these two together too. Josie gives Alex a personal tour and introduces him to her world of winemaking before dinner leads to a very promising kiss and the realization that neither of them is particularly interested in pretending there isn't something between them.
I really enjoyed all the vineyard and wine-making details throughout this story. Black Bear isn't simply a pretty backdrop for the romance. You can feel how much work Josie and her sister Sera have put into it and how deeply connected Josie is to what she does. Those details made the vineyard and the entire Paradise setting feel even more alive.
And Alex? Oh, I loved Dr. Spencer. 🩺❤️
He's steady, successful, controlled, protective, and such a devoted father.
Basically, he's everything the Dempseys are not. 😂
Josie's description of her family as essentially a television show with better wine and worse boundaries might be one of the most accurate descriptions possible.
Alex has spent years deliberately keeping unnecessary complications out of his life, only to fall for a woman whose family seems to generate them hourly.
But what I loved is that he doesn't try to rescue Josie from being a Dempsey.
He simply becomes someone she can depend on while she's dealing with everything happening around her.
A dinner becomes another dinner.
Then another.
Before either of them really realizes what's happening, they've started becoming part of each other's routines and decisions.
There was something so satisfying about watching Alex, a man who controls his life down to the details, slowly make more and more room for Josie.
And I especially loved seeing him as a dad. 🥹
His seven-year-old daughter adds so much heart to the story. Alex clearly adores her, and seeing how important Josie gradually becomes in their lives made the single-dad aspect of this romance even sweeter.
Of course, nothing involving a Dempsey can remain peaceful for very long. 😂
The ongoing vineyard feud and investigation continue creating plenty of family drama, the town is still happily choosing sides, and Alex's past brings complications of its own when his ex-wife and mother enter the picture.
There were twists I didn't see coming, plenty of moments where I wondered how much more this family could possibly handle, and enough ongoing Dempsey drama to keep me completely invested without taking the focus away from Alex and Josie's relationship.
What I really loved about these two is how well Alex's steadiness complements Josie's life without changing who she is.
Josie is capable. She's hardworking. She's committed to her vineyard and her family. She doesn't need someone to swoop in and take over.
She needs someone willing to stand beside her.
And Alex does.
That makes Josie's realization toward the end of her journey even more meaningful. She spent so much time searching and wondering what her future would look like, only to realize that it was right there beside her.
Three books. Three five-star reads. 🍷❤️
I love Josie and Alex, I adore the secondary characters, I'm completely invested in this wonderfully chaotic family, and after getting a glimpse of what's coming for Sera, I'm already excited to return to Paradise.
Grace Maxwell has absolutely made the Dempsey Follies one of those series where I will happily show up for whatever this family gets themselves into next.
Thank you to Grace Maxwell and Booksprout for the gifted advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 Stars
Three books into the Dempsey Follies series and Grace Maxwell has officially given me THREE five-star reads.
At this point, if Grace Maxwell is writing it, I am reading it!! ❤️
I have become so attached to Paradise, the Dempsey family, their never-ending chaos, and all the people getting pulled into their orbit, and Dr. Spencer did not disappoint.
This time we get Josie Dempsey, the hardworking vintner helping run her family's Black Bear Vineyards while dealing with everything happening around the ongoing feud with Paradise Hills. Between the vineyard, her grandmother's trial, family tension, small-town gossip, and the uncertainty hanging over the Dempsey name, Josie has A LOT on her shoulders.
Then she meets Dr. Alex Spencer at the hospital's annual fundraiser.
And I absolutely loved how their story begins.
Alex is a divorced single dad and oncologist who has carefully rebuilt his life after a difficult marriage. His daughter comes first, his patients come second, and everything else fits neatly into the controlled life he's created.
Josie Dempsey certainly wasn't part of the plan. 😂
When they meet, Alex has absolutely no idea who Josie is. Even better, he tastes the wine from Black Bear Vineyards and declares it the best pinot in the region without realizing he's talking to the woman responsible for making it.
I LOVED that.
In a town where everyone seems to have an opinion about the Dempseys before they even walk into the room, Alex meets Josie without any of that baggage.
He sees Josie first.
Not her last name.
Not her family's reputation.
Not the feud.
Just her. ❤️
Their first dinner at the vineyard was such a great way to bring these two together too. Josie gives Alex a personal tour and introduces him to her world of winemaking before dinner leads to a very promising kiss and the realization that neither of them is particularly interested in pretending there isn't something between them.
I really enjoyed all the vineyard and wine-making details throughout this story. Black Bear isn't simply a pretty backdrop for the romance. You can feel how much work Josie and her sister Sera have put into it and how deeply connected Josie is to what she does. Those details made the vineyard and the entire Paradise setting feel even more alive.
And Alex? Oh, I loved Dr. Spencer. 🩺❤️
He's steady, successful, controlled, protective, and such a devoted father.
Basically, he's everything the Dempseys are not. 😂
Josie's description of her family as essentially a television show with better wine and worse boundaries might be one of the most accurate descriptions possible.
Alex has spent years deliberately keeping unnecessary complications out of his life, only to fall for a woman whose family seems to generate them hourly.
But what I loved is that he doesn't try to rescue Josie from being a Dempsey.
He simply becomes someone she can depend on while she's dealing with everything happening around her.
A dinner becomes another dinner.
Then another.
Before either of them really realizes what's happening, they've started becoming part of each other's routines and decisions.
There was something so satisfying about watching Alex, a man who controls his life down to the details, slowly make more and more room for Josie.
And I especially loved seeing him as a dad. 🥹
His seven-year-old daughter adds so much heart to the story. Alex clearly adores her, and seeing how important Josie gradually becomes in their lives made the single-dad aspect of this romance even sweeter.
Of course, nothing involving a Dempsey can remain peaceful for very long. 😂
The ongoing vineyard feud and investigation continue creating plenty of family drama, the town is still happily choosing sides, and Alex's past brings complications of its own when his ex-wife and mother enter the picture.
There were twists I didn't see coming, plenty of moments where I wondered how much more this family could possibly handle, and enough ongoing Dempsey drama to keep me completely invested without taking the focus away from Alex and Josie's relationship.
What I really loved about these two is how well Alex's steadiness complements Josie's life without changing who she is.
Josie is capable. She's hardworking. She's committed to her vineyard and her family. She doesn't need someone to swoop in and take over.
She needs someone willing to stand beside her.
And Alex does.
That makes Josie's realization toward the end of her journey even more meaningful. She spent so much time searching and wondering what her future would look like, only to realize that it was right there beside her.
Three books. Three five-star reads. 🍷❤️
I love Josie and Alex, I adore the secondary characters, I'm completely invested in this wonderfully chaotic family, and after getting a glimpse of what's coming for Sera, I'm already excited to return to Paradise.
Grace Maxwell has absolutely made the Dempsey Follies one of those series where I will happily show up for whatever this family gets themselves into next.
Thank you to Grace Maxwell and Booksprout for the gifted advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 1, 2026
Josie Dempsey runs her family’s Black Bear Vineyards and is concerned about the cold weather, but her greater concern is for her grandmother who is on trial for sabotaging Paradise Hills vineyard next door.
Divorced single dad Dr. Alex Spencer, an oncologist at the local hospital, is attending the annual fundraiser for the hospital where he meets Josie, but he doesn’t know that she is the vintner for Black Bears when he proclaims it to be the best pino in the region, followed by an invitation to her for dinner. Dinner, it turns out, is served at the vineyard after Josie gives him a personal, extensive tour of wine making, then at the end, they share a very promising kiss and agree to more, which happens very soon as they consummate their relationship. Then her grandmother dies suddenly, and the whole Pradise world changes.
I look forward to each release from Grace Maxwell and am particularly fond of the Paradise books, and heavens above, Dr. Spencer does not disappoint. Between the ongoing feud, the trial, the interfamilial discords, the whole town taking sides, and a burgeoning love interrupted by an ex-wife, the chaos in this story knows no bounds. I love Josie, Alex, Eloise, and the secondary cast of characters and so appreciate the detailed information about life in a vineyard and the production of wine. This is another winning gem for the Dempsy Follies series and highly recommend it to fans of this genre.
I received this book as an ARC reviewer and voluntarily leave my honest opinion.
Divorced single dad Dr. Alex Spencer, an oncologist at the local hospital, is attending the annual fundraiser for the hospital where he meets Josie, but he doesn’t know that she is the vintner for Black Bears when he proclaims it to be the best pino in the region, followed by an invitation to her for dinner. Dinner, it turns out, is served at the vineyard after Josie gives him a personal, extensive tour of wine making, then at the end, they share a very promising kiss and agree to more, which happens very soon as they consummate their relationship. Then her grandmother dies suddenly, and the whole Pradise world changes.
I look forward to each release from Grace Maxwell and am particularly fond of the Paradise books, and heavens above, Dr. Spencer does not disappoint. Between the ongoing feud, the trial, the interfamilial discords, the whole town taking sides, and a burgeoning love interrupted by an ex-wife, the chaos in this story knows no bounds. I love Josie, Alex, Eloise, and the secondary cast of characters and so appreciate the detailed information about life in a vineyard and the production of wine. This is another winning gem for the Dempsy Follies series and highly recommend it to fans of this genre.
I received this book as an ARC reviewer and voluntarily leave my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Dempsey Follies Indeed! (with a side of Dr Spencer)
There is a lot going on in this book.
Yes, Dr Alex Spencer is an amazing and delicious single Dad. He has a sassy daughter and an indispensable live-in Nanny (serious props to Zara).
Josie Dempsey has her hands full with Black Bear and a bit of a chip on her shoulder. She is laser focused on Black Bear and not really willing/ready to give in to the temptation that is Alex.
They both have good reason to keep their distance and guard their hearts, but are drawn together nonetheless. And they both have family complications to try to manage.
I enjoyed their romance, but at times it felt like the Dempsey family drama overshadowed their story.
I am also glad that I have kept up with all the Paradise and Dempsey series so all the characters were familiar. I thought the feud had calmed a bit with the siblings but oddly Josie still jumped to assume the worst of the Paradise family (Max notwithstanding).
All in all, a good story but in my opinion the subplots took away from the romance. I will probably re-read the book and re-imagine a few scenes.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
There is a lot going on in this book.
Yes, Dr Alex Spencer is an amazing and delicious single Dad. He has a sassy daughter and an indispensable live-in Nanny (serious props to Zara).
Josie Dempsey has her hands full with Black Bear and a bit of a chip on her shoulder. She is laser focused on Black Bear and not really willing/ready to give in to the temptation that is Alex.
They both have good reason to keep their distance and guard their hearts, but are drawn together nonetheless. And they both have family complications to try to manage.
I enjoyed their romance, but at times it felt like the Dempsey family drama overshadowed their story.
I am also glad that I have kept up with all the Paradise and Dempsey series so all the characters were familiar. I thought the feud had calmed a bit with the siblings but oddly Josie still jumped to assume the worst of the Paradise family (Max notwithstanding).
All in all, a good story but in my opinion the subplots took away from the romance. I will probably re-read the book and re-imagine a few scenes.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The continuing saga of the the Dempsey clan, follows Josie the hardworking Vintner of Black Bear Winery.
Alex a single dad Oncologist that’s works at the same hospital her brother-in-law. Meeting Josie at a hospital fundraiser starts off a slow burn romance.
In the background her grandmothers trial for sabotage in the long running feud with the Paradise family continues.
When some evidence is brought into question it gives the family hope that things won’t be as bad as they thought. But there is a twist in the tale that I certainly didn’t see and Evie being Evie complications follows in its wake.
When Alex’s ex wife and mother turn up, the effect on his daughter leads him to talking to Josie’s brother Ric, to help his daughter.
Comments from his mother leave Josie fearing their relationship was not as strong as she thought but a visit from the little girl puts everything into perspective.
I’m looking forward to Sera, Josie’s sister’s story to complete the Dempsey’s story.
Alex a single dad Oncologist that’s works at the same hospital her brother-in-law. Meeting Josie at a hospital fundraiser starts off a slow burn romance.
In the background her grandmothers trial for sabotage in the long running feud with the Paradise family continues.
When some evidence is brought into question it gives the family hope that things won’t be as bad as they thought. But there is a twist in the tale that I certainly didn’t see and Evie being Evie complications follows in its wake.
When Alex’s ex wife and mother turn up, the effect on his daughter leads him to talking to Josie’s brother Ric, to help his daughter.
Comments from his mother leave Josie fearing their relationship was not as strong as she thought but a visit from the little girl puts everything into perspective.
I’m looking forward to Sera, Josie’s sister’s story to complete the Dempsey’s story.
September 1, 2026
Josie runs the family vineyard with her sister and has no time for a life outside of it. However, when she meets doctor, Alex at a hospital fundraiser the connection is instant. But he has his own baggage as he is divorced and looking after his adorable daughter and wary of getting involved with another woman. Josie's evil grandmother, Evie is also still a problem for her family and the vineyard. The chemistry between them is too intense for them to ignore and it is very satisfying to follow these two as they navigate a way to have a future together.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Just went I thought Evie couldn’t get any worse, she does. Josie and Sera have been working their butts off for years at the winery but with their futures still up in the air last thing either are looking for is more things to worry about. While at a dinner for the hospital one night Josie meets a man who has no clue who she is but once he finds out she realizes her last name doesn’t mean much to him. After the sneak peek of book 4, Dr. Pierce, I can’t wait for Sera’s book. I have a feeling it’s going to be great. 🖤🔥🍇🔥🖤
My favorite quotes:
• Alex: There is no world better organized than the moral one inhabited by seven year olds. Everyone is sorted quickly. Motives are obvious. Solutions are immediate. Kindness is good, cruelty is bad, and anyone who fails to understand that is either foolish or in need of correction.
• Josie: Alex Spencer is steady. Successful. Controlled. He does not sign up for disasters, and the Dempseys are not a family so much as a television show with better wine and worse boundaries.
• Josie: A year ago, I was searching for my future.
Now it’s standing beside me.
And I’ve never been more certain I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.
My favorite quotes:
• Alex: There is no world better organized than the moral one inhabited by seven year olds. Everyone is sorted quickly. Motives are obvious. Solutions are immediate. Kindness is good, cruelty is bad, and anyone who fails to understand that is either foolish or in need of correction.
• Josie: Alex Spencer is steady. Successful. Controlled. He does not sign up for disasters, and the Dempseys are not a family so much as a television show with better wine and worse boundaries.
• Josie: A year ago, I was searching for my future.
Now it’s standing beside me.
And I’ve never been more certain I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.
September 1, 2026
This is book three in this series and there is a lot going on in this onr, Evie being one of these things, but would you expect anything less from that woman? I thought that Josie and Alex had good connection and chemistry, with family drama and personal baggage they had plenty to deal with and I liked seeing them navigate everything and come out the other side.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 2, 2026
Dr. Spencer Book 3 of Dempsey Follies by Grace Maxwell is a shocker with the unexpected death of Evie, was so not ready for that! There's a lot going on with Alex and Josie's slow-burn romance, his ex and mom popping up, his adorable daughter in the mix and of course the ongoing feud. Looking forward to reading what happens next.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 5, 2026
Dr Spencer
I usually really like Grace Maxwell doctor books. This one for me, fall a little short. It should have been Evies book. The content was spread all over the place. Still entertaining enough to enjoy.
I usually really like Grace Maxwell doctor books. This one for me, fall a little short. It should have been Evies book. The content was spread all over the place. Still entertaining enough to enjoy.
Review of advance copy
I’ve read the first 2 books in the series and loved them. The third book is just as good. I love the family story lines. I’m ready for Dr. Pierce.
September 6, 2026
Book 3
Brilliant couldn't put it down loved the story from start to finish well written love all this series hope there is more to come.
Brilliant couldn't put it down loved the story from start to finish well written love all this series hope there is more to come.
September 14, 2026
Boring. No great love between the 2. Disappointing.
September 14, 2026
Why does he treat her badly but SHE apologises.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews