Love the Wine You're With

Vineyard Pleasures Series #2

by Brooke E. Wayne

SPRINKLE an emotionally unavailable woman, a lovelorn man, and some delicious chemistry into the middle of the holidays then candy coat it with a whole lotta passion when a friends-with-benefits arrangement turns a vacation into an unexpected journey.

Blanca Grazia, queen of calm, has it all under control. Headstrong. Self-reliant. Determined. She thrives on an intriguing challenge.

So when Blanca's bestie, Maxine Novaline, begs her to distract Maxie's boyfriend's cousin while he's visiting them in Napa Valley, California, Blanca is all about stepping it up for her BFF. Hot French guy? Yes, please.

All Blanca plans on doing is the—ehem—favor. Then she'll just friend-zone Julien L'Angevin's butt all the way back home to France where he belongs.

… Until that wrecking ball of a man decides to cash in on a favor of his own.

All Julien wants is another opportunity to see what this wild, pint-sized, fireball of independence is actually made of. Sugar? Spice? Everything nice?

Counting on Blanca's wanderlust for worldly adventures, Julien invites her to his home in Champagne for Christmas. A traveling opportunity the American beauty can't resist.

So what if they decide to add a little pinch of friends-with-benefits to the mix after they come face to face once more and realize their physical chemistry can't be denied?

Besides, their arrangement is only for one week. Then they'll be continents apart again, and life will go on. Right?

LOVE THE WINE YOU'RE WITH is about a young woman falling in love one
scintillating wine tasting at a time.

Genres: Romance

Unknown Binding

Published November 1, 2017

About the author

BROOKE E. WAYNE writes novels for lovers of laughter and romance, giving them an escape from life's hullabaloo. She also produces poetry workbooks to help creative writers sharpen their craft.

Brooke is married to South Philly-born, Eagles-obsessed YouTuber Philly.500, who she met online and fell in love with long before that kind of meet cute was cool. They have two young daughters who flood their happily-ever-after lives with girly giggles and immeasurable love.

Brooke holds a BA in English with a minor in Theology, a MA in Humanities with an emphasis in Literature, two Clear CLAD credentials, and an unofficial PhD in the Art of Snark.

Never without a journal on hand, Brooke has been writing stories and poetry since she was eleven years old. She’s had everything from poetry to articles for an encyclopedia set published over the last thirty years. Her romance novels are available on Amazon.
When she is not crafting sensual, contemporary romances with lighthearted, witty twists, she teaches English Language Arts, inspiring others to read classic literature and write from the heart.

Reviews

[☆Dani☆ ☆Touch My Spine Book Reviews☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! When the story first started out I really was just so unsure if I was going to like it. As I continued to read this book not only was it a swoon worthy romance but it also made me giggle quite often. I loved the characters and thought it was well written. This was the second in the series but that's okay because this book can be easily read as a standalone. At the time I read this book I was down in the dumps but this hilarious and sweet romance is just what the doctor ordered to lift my mood.

If you are a rom com fan, I highly recommend this story! I can't wait to get the chance to read the author's other books and I won't soon forget Love the Wine You're With by Brooke E. Wayne!💖❄

[Allyson Abbott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this story. It took me a few chapters to get into the story and to connect with the characters, but as soon as I did I was hooked. I loved Blanca, even if she was a little crazy, her can do, will do determination added a spark to the already glitzy storyline.

[Alina · Rating 3 out of 5]

RTC It was alright...

[Brooke Wayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sorry I’m countering a troll’s rating. 😊

[Lana Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another hit by Brooke Wayne. If you like romcoms you're going to love this book. It is the second in a series, but it stands alone which I love. Gawwd I hate cliffhangers. Anyway, this sweet tale is about an emotionally unavailable mid-twenties girl named Blanca. She tries to do her best friend, Max a favor by distracting her besties boyfriend's cousin, Julien, when he comes to visit his cousin in California wine country. Both men are in the wine business, Julien in France and Chase, Max's boyfriend in Napa. The reason for the distraction is the cousins sort of have a feud going. Long story.
Blanca thinks she's just going to have a date with Julien and that will be that, but the two hit it off so well they have a night of passion.
Blanca is a hair stylist and has to travel to France on business. She hooks up there with Julien for an entire week. Julien quickly falls for her but Blanca who had her head terribly broken by her ex-fiance wants to keep things casual. She goes back to California and they become text buddies. But that isn't enough for either of them. As much as Blanca wants to keep Julien at arms length she can't and when she and Max have a BFF meltdown Julien soon becomes her best friend. But their journey to happily ever after isn't so easily realized. Blanca makes some big mistakes that involve Max but what's so sweet is how Julien stands by and loves her through it all. She also makes things very hard on him with her live for the now, happily ever afters are blah, etc. I like Julien though. His character is strong and steady like a man should be. Blanca starts out very immature with her thinking being: I'll never love again I've been hurt too bad routine. She matures though and it's through Julien's steadfastness in their relationship that she's able to accomplish this.
I read the first book in this series and liked it so much I had to read this one too. Can't wait for the next book to come out.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maxie and Blanca have been best friends since they shared a cookie back in high school. Not only are they best friends but they are very competitive. They are always making bets and competing. Things in their lives start changing when Maxie falls in love with Chase. Blanca is scared of love, but when she starts spending time with Julien as a favor to Maxie, she starts developing feelings that scare her. But when a bet at writing a novel takes a turn for the worst, Blanca is faced with the reality that everything she has worked towards will be ripped from her and she will end up broken-hearted. Can Julien and Blanca survive her biggest screw up of all?

A Rom-Com of perfection! It is the perfect blend of romance and comedy that is laugh out loud fun. With engaging and fun characters this book is sure to grab your attention. Even though this is book two in the series, it can be read as a standalone. There is enough character and world building, that you will not feel lost. The story flows smoothly and at a steady pace.

I loved how the book did not just focus on the main characters all the time. The main characters in book on play a big role in book two. You get to follow them along in their happily ever after as well. The characters are unique and fun. I love the banter and chemistry between Blanca and Julien. They are a steamy couple that light up the pages. Don't worry this book may be PG-13 but it is still hot.

A worthy read that could be a wonderful Hallmark movie. . I highly recommend this book to all you cozy romance book geeks out there. So grab a glass of wine and Love The Wine Your With.

[Brigitte · Rating 3 out of 5]

I must admit that I have mixed feelings about this novel. It's an unusual concept.

Blanca has just moved to Napa Valley with her best friend Maxie. She is single and has no plans to change her status anytime soon. If ever!

Julien lives in Champagne where he helps to run the family business. He is on a visit in Napa Valley for his cousin’s birthday celebration.

Julien and his cousin Chase, have been in this battle of wit ever since there was a "misunderstanding" between them. When Maxie asks Blanca to distract Julien in order to avoid further conflicts between the cousins, she is happy to oblige. He is only around for a short stay before he jets back to his own country. They have a tryst with mutual understanding. No harm done!

Blanca and Maxie have made a deal and Blanca finds herself contacting Julien for advice. The long distance friendship works fairly well until she is invited to Champagne for Christmas. They become friends with benefits, but Julien wants more. In his zeal to win her over, he takes it upon himself to take her project further. Is he doing the right thing or will everything go pear shaped?

I can't say that I am a fan of Blanca. She is deceitful and that green eyed monster of hers is incredible. It causes no end of problems. I find it hard to believe that she carries this façade for so long whilst calling Maxie her bestie! Julien is a fun guy with the patience of a saint. Even though Blanca redeems herself at the end, I still can't get my head around her mentality. I enjoyed most of the story and could relate to the characters, except for the heroine. This might appeal to fans of romantic comedies, but unfortunately I didn't find it funny. Quite likely my sense of humour or lack of!

I was kindly issued with an eARC via NetGalley and the views expressed are my personal opinion.

[Trudie Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has some very interesting characters. It is really enjoyable to read. I loved that some of the sentences (mainly speech) are in French. I enjoyed trying to understand them before reading the English translation (for those who don’t speak any French, don’t worry – everything is translated).

This book is amusing, but that doesn’t mean it is all fun and games – there is also a more serious side and emotions come into play in a big way. There are times when you will want to shake the main female character and tell her to stop being stupid and just let herself go with it (or maybe that’s just me). This goes to show how well written she is and the reasons for her doubts are made clear.

I will be honest. It did get to a point where I felt like it was dragging a bit, but I’m glad I stuck with it. It lead to a great twist that I didn’t see coming and I couldn’t put the book down. The parts that I found a little slow and unnecessary were all build up to the twist so I then understood why they were there and why they were needed. This is a very well thought out plot and is well written.

Although this is book 2, it is possible to read this before book 1, though personally I think it would be better to read book 1 first. This one definitely makes you want to go back and read the first one if you haven’t already done so. I know I am going to.

[Sue Ouellet-Cofsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll be honest, when I first started reading this, I almost didn't finish. I'm not sure what it was but it really was getting on my nerves. I think maybe because Julian seemed like a cartoon character to me. But I don't like not finishing books so I plugged away at it and was pleasantly surprised at the depth that Julian AND Blanca finally were given. There was so much more to their indecisiveness and their freefall into love. I enjoyed the premise that sometimes, trying to do something great for someone can really go awry in the most difficult and unexpected ways. Max and Blanca are great friends, but I'm not sure I could stay friends with someone who can so easily get jealous and wash their hands as both did throughout the book. All in all those I liked the story and would read the author again.
I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley for an honest review

[M.T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than book 1! Fun and full of life, but there were darker notes, too. Perceptive character writing! And those plot twists towards the end? Ooh, I did not see them coming! I’ll be looking out for book 3, apparently soon to come out! P.S. I would love to see Grandma Mimi and Millicent get their own book, too, showing more of their artsy adventures back in the day—I wonder if the author will indulge us? Perhaps there would be a story in there, too? To avoid spoilers, I won’t say more, but I will say one of my favourites scenes was Grandmere Mimi having a serious talk with her grandson (and was sad to hear some news related to Mimi), and I was shocked over Millicent— what intriguing characters! Also, Bianca and Julien’s love story was such a roller coaster ride! And Max and Chase weren’t forgotten, either. All in all, fantastic, 4,5 stars!

[Ellie Midwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the first book in the series, I couldn’t wait to find out what happens to Max and Chase and was only too happy to see another couple steal the spotlight. Blanca and Julien’s initial flirtation, their witty dialogues, and sparkling personalities reminded me of the bubbly wine all characters drink in abundance. Max and Blanca’s friendship is also worth mentioning; I absolutely adored following their progress with the book writing, laughed with them and cheered them on even when Blanca was more than ready to give up on herself and her story. The settings (there were a few - European and American) were a superb addition to an already compelling plot and I enjoyed traveling together with our heroes and seeing the world through their eyes. Fans of romcom, grab this series - you won’t regret it, I promise!

[MillsyLovesBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this is my first read from Brooke E. Wayne and although this is the second book in the Vineyard Pleasures Series i had no problem reading as a standalone. It did leave me wanting to read Whine with Cheese #1 because i wanted more of Max and Chase's story.

For me this starts off quite slow, but the more and more you read the more depth we get from Blanca and Julian in this this quirky fun read. Love the Wine You're With is packed with detail that you really don't want to miss. It's a read you can curl up with relax and just enjoy the the ride of Blanca and Julien its full of smart and sassy wit and twists and turns i didn't expect.

Brooke E. Wayne is definitely an author i would love to read from again her detail in writing combined with wit and humour was definitely a hit for me.

[Sherrie Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Wine the One You're With just as much as I did Whine With Cheese. Brooke E. Wayne's writing style makes the characters seem completely believable and achingly real. Julien is the perfect hero, and Blanca exactly the right kind of challenge - a strong, independent woman worth fighting for. It was great fun to catch up with Chase and Maxine, who played into the plot very predominantly. The story is sweet and sexy, with catchy twists that came as a complete surprise and the perfect setting. The writing is excellent, with a storyline and setting that are charming and enticing to anyone who loves the wine country of California and the vineyards of France. A sparkling story of love and friendship - highly recommended!

[Mei Li · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, I really like the title of the book. It was subtle and made me wonder what the story was about. As soon as I started to read it, I became captured by the author's voice. It was very mellow and made me want to keep on reading. The story doesn't have lots of drama, which suits me well, and there are many enjoyable details. I like the vineyard settings in both California and France, the humorous dialogues, and also Blanca's writing experience. I like the Characters as well. Blanca is carefree, not ready for love in the beginning but open to a casual relationship, very French until she meets Julien, a French gentleman. A fine book that goes with a bottle of fine wine.

[Bena Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Good
I loved the title of this book and couldn't wait to start reading it! I enjoyed Blanca and the friendships in the book and giggled my way through it.

The Bad
OK. This is just a me thing. After 12 years of French at school.. I just don't get the sexy #frenchie. I am sure Julien is wonderful - but I couldn't get into him as much as I normally do...

The Ugly
This is a classic funny rom-com. I haven't read the first one, but I didn't feel as though I had missed out on anything. The friends, Max the gossip, lives etc of everyone kept my interest till the end.

4 Stars

[Billie Kowalewski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a bit confused in the beginning of this story. The beginning is very complex. There’s a lot going on and I had to reread the first 2 chapters to make sure I understood the “who is who” and where this story might be going. Once I got it all straight, I found this story to be quite enjoyable. The dynamics between the characters were fun to read, as well as their situations. I loved reading about Blanca and Maxie’s writing challenge. And of course, Blanca’s blossoming relationship with Julien. I highly recommend adding this to your TBR list.

[Louise Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this second book in the series. A really great romance with our hero Julien realising at last that his competition days with his cousin are over and some things are worth fighting for, namely the fiesty heroine of the book, Bianca.

Great storyline. Love the competetiveness of the two women, the twists in the tale, and Julien's huge 'faux pas' that nearly ruins it all for them. There are plenty of vivid descriptions, some brilliant character development and a thoroughly enjoyable story in this book. Highly recommend.

[Sandy Quinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful sequel but this time the story centers around Maxine's sidekick Blanca and her on-off long distance relationship with hottie Julian. The men in this series are really impossibly perfect being rich, good looking and they bake & cook too! What would have being otherwise a rather clean fun borderline saccharine romance book shone with an unexpected twist towards the end. If you like clean happy ever after romance this book is for you.

[Diane Garner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lip enhancers anyone? Now that made me laugh out loud. No worries I'll say no more on the subject.

Blanca and Julien are the centres of the book. Two unlikely people are set up by friend/family as they hit it off long distance style, of course, one always wants more than the other. That can
This book was witty and clever. A little dry humour and little sarcasm kept it light and comfortable. It took me a handful of chapters before I was hooked but totally worth the wait.

[J.C. Paulson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blanca and Julien are both smarting from previous problems with love, so it takes a while for them to really get rolling. But trust and love do take time, and sometimes extreme measures. Love the Wine You’re With takes the long view of two people falling in love, with a really well-done twist that seriously tests their commitment. Mix in vineyards, international travel and Blanca’s personal journey of discovery, and you have a lovely (very contemporary) romantic read.

[Fabia Scali-Warner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Following up on the love story between Maxine and Chase we discover in the first book of the series, Whine with Cheese, we are now dragged into the whirlwind of passion between her best friend Blanca and Chase's cousin Julien. Things are not always what they seem, and expect some unexpected drama all along! All of it garnished with luscious descriptions of desserts and wines. It's a fun read, and I really appreciated the differences between Maxine's and Blanca's characters.

[Susan Underbrink · Rating 4 out of 5]

A big thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. This is the 2nd book in a series, but it reads well as a stand alone book. First time reading this author. I gave this 4 stars.I found it quirky, and fun-a different storyline. I didn't love it but did enjoy it. I just didn't click with the characters. I feel most romance readers would enjoy this book.

[Shade Rachea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clean, yet passion filled!

I loved this book from the very beginning! The author did a fantastic job with the characterization and making everything realistic. I especially loved Blanca and Julian’s relationship and how it progressed naturally. This is a perfect read for people who like sweet romances that aren’t too steamy. Check it out! It’s really good!

[Yvette Bostic · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a light-hearted, fun and easy-to-read contemporary romance. I thoroughly enjoyed Blanca and Julien's interactions. I loved the BFF relationship between Blanca and Max. The characters are real and relatable. Being that I read these out of order, I'll definitely be picking up the first in the series.

[Marina Osipova · Rating 5 out of 5]

An easy read, populated with playful characters, the story kept me turning pages. It is hot, sweet, and loaded with “sexcapades”.
Every chapter begins with a snippet of wisdom then escalates into the narrative that will make you LOL and that is until the end when a curveball will be thrown at you.
I loved it. You’ll love it too.

[India Kells · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rom-com, fun and laughter
It may be a sequel, but this book can be read as a standalone without problem. I loved the way the author draw such a witty and interesting characters. I think that were the two high points of the story. Quite an entertaining story, I recommend!

[Brandy L Cunningham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, entertaining romance

I found it funny the way Blanca liked to compete with her friend as far as relationships, and often laughed at the witty sarcasm in the book. The characters are likable...though at times you want to yell at them. I found this book fun and enjoyable.

[The Endless Unread · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's okay I guess. Very unusual storyline to say the least. I don't think I would ever read this again.

[ReD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great characters. A fun romp that can be read in one sitting. Yummy.