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Blend
When the widowed owner of the wine bar Vineyard decides she wants to take some time off and travel abroad, she leaves her business in the very capable hands of the two women she trusts most: her daughter Piper and Vineyard's general manager, Lindsay.
For Lindsay Kent, Vineyard is her dream job. She’s thrilled when her boss leaves her in charge (well, half charge) and tells her to feel free to make changes. Lindsay has tons of ideas that she's been dying to put into action, and this is her big chance to increase the success of the business and prove she’s more than ready to run things solo. But getting the boss's daughter on board is harder than expected. The uptight and annoyingly attractive Piper is blocking her every move.
For Piper Bradshaw, Vineyard is not her job. She already has one. She's VP at a large tech company, and she's damn good at it. Who cares if people say she’s a workaholic and an icy bitch? She didn't get to the top by being prone to whims and experiments. She's not happy when her mother suddenly decides to gallivant all over the country and furious that the family business has been left in the hands of the happy-go-lucky, born-a-generation-too-late hippie who manages it. Good thing Lindsay can't make any changes unless they both agree, because Piper doesn't intend to.
Lindsay and Piper are like night and day. Working together won’t be easy, but not falling in love might prove the hardest job of all.
For Lindsay Kent, Vineyard is her dream job. She’s thrilled when her boss leaves her in charge (well, half charge) and tells her to feel free to make changes. Lindsay has tons of ideas that she's been dying to put into action, and this is her big chance to increase the success of the business and prove she’s more than ready to run things solo. But getting the boss's daughter on board is harder than expected. The uptight and annoyingly attractive Piper is blocking her every move.
For Piper Bradshaw, Vineyard is not her job. She already has one. She's VP at a large tech company, and she's damn good at it. Who cares if people say she’s a workaholic and an icy bitch? She didn't get to the top by being prone to whims and experiments. She's not happy when her mother suddenly decides to gallivant all over the country and furious that the family business has been left in the hands of the happy-go-lucky, born-a-generation-too-late hippie who manages it. Good thing Lindsay can't make any changes unless they both agree, because Piper doesn't intend to.
Lindsay and Piper are like night and day. Working together won’t be easy, but not falling in love might prove the hardest job of all.
240 pages, Paperback
First published April 13, 2018
69 people are currently reading
999 people want to read
About the author
Georgia Beers
61 books1,505 followersLambda and Golden Crown Literary Award-winning author Georgia Beers lives in Rochester, New York. She has been writing for as long as she can remember, and published her first lesbian novel in 2000.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 176 reviews
March 24, 2018
3.75 Stars. I’m a Beers fan. It’s pretty hard not to be as she has had such an awesome career. I think this is the 10th book I have read by her. I have to admit I have not been as crazy about some of her more recent books. But I’m happy to say this felt much more like the classic Beers that we are used too. I believe romance fans will enjoy this one.
The story is about Lindsay Kent (great last name) who is given the opportunity to run a wine bar when her boss goes off on sabbatical. The only catch is she must run any financial decisions by the boss’ daughter before she can implement them. The reason this is an issue is the boss’ daughter Piper, does not seem to like her. Piper is not happy her mother has taken off to travel. Not only that but she has left a women who seems flighty, in charge. Piper realizes she needs to keep a close eye on Lindsey and her family’s business. But what if in being close to Lindsey feeling start to develop? Can these two strong women work together in wine and love?
This was a really nice slow burn romance. It went from two people who could hardly stand each other, to a chemistry filled romance. I want to be clear on this, the chemistry was turned way up in this book and I really enjoyed that. It went from these two women wanting to yell at each other, to ripping each other’s clothes off. I love books where the sparks are so brilliant you can actually see them. The romance was well written and classic Beers.
As much as I really enjoyed this read, I do have to mention my one main complaint. I was reading this book, loving all the characters, the storyline, the romance, everything was going great, but I was waiting for something bad to happen. I was looking down at my Kindle and it was getting closer and closer to the end. All of a sudden I got excited. It’s too late now to throw in some crazy angst for these characters to overcome. I started thinking if there is conflict, it won’t be much and maybe the characters were work together and it will strengthen their relationship. Yay, this is going to be one of those books filled with good feels. Nope, all those happy thoughts hit a wall, very close to the end. Wow, if felt super late to throw in all this forced conflict. And forced it really seemed as half of it didn’t even make sense. Unfortunately, because of this late conflict, the ending felt extremely rushed and the HEA balloon was slowly leaking all over the place. I really was so disappointed because this was going to be at least a 4.5 star book before the rushed ending.
While I was personally quite disappointed towards the end, I still really enjoyed this read. We all have some pet peeves, and this book just ended up hitting some of mine. However, I really think overall, romance fans are going to enjoy this book. Most of it was wonderful and classic Beers. So while I’m a bit bummed, I still recommend this to Beers and romance fans.
An ARC was given to me by BSB, for a honest review.
The story is about Lindsay Kent (great last name) who is given the opportunity to run a wine bar when her boss goes off on sabbatical. The only catch is she must run any financial decisions by the boss’ daughter before she can implement them. The reason this is an issue is the boss’ daughter Piper, does not seem to like her. Piper is not happy her mother has taken off to travel. Not only that but she has left a women who seems flighty, in charge. Piper realizes she needs to keep a close eye on Lindsey and her family’s business. But what if in being close to Lindsey feeling start to develop? Can these two strong women work together in wine and love?
This was a really nice slow burn romance. It went from two people who could hardly stand each other, to a chemistry filled romance. I want to be clear on this, the chemistry was turned way up in this book and I really enjoyed that. It went from these two women wanting to yell at each other, to ripping each other’s clothes off. I love books where the sparks are so brilliant you can actually see them. The romance was well written and classic Beers.
As much as I really enjoyed this read, I do have to mention my one main complaint. I was reading this book, loving all the characters, the storyline, the romance, everything was going great, but I was waiting for something bad to happen. I was looking down at my Kindle and it was getting closer and closer to the end. All of a sudden I got excited. It’s too late now to throw in some crazy angst for these characters to overcome. I started thinking if there is conflict, it won’t be much and maybe the characters were work together and it will strengthen their relationship. Yay, this is going to be one of those books filled with good feels. Nope, all those happy thoughts hit a wall, very close to the end. Wow, if felt super late to throw in all this forced conflict. And forced it really seemed as half of it didn’t even make sense. Unfortunately, because of this late conflict, the ending felt extremely rushed and the HEA balloon was slowly leaking all over the place. I really was so disappointed because this was going to be at least a 4.5 star book before the rushed ending.
While I was personally quite disappointed towards the end, I still really enjoyed this read. We all have some pet peeves, and this book just ended up hitting some of mine. However, I really think overall, romance fans are going to enjoy this book. Most of it was wonderful and classic Beers. So while I’m a bit bummed, I still recommend this to Beers and romance fans.
An ARC was given to me by BSB, for a honest review.
October 16, 2018
I really like the way Georgia Beers writes. I love the way she develops characters that are interesting, dynamic and well, hot. It's been a while since I have read her stuff, the reasoning, I have not a clue why, but I am so glad I picked up her latest novel, Blend. This is a fantastic romance novel. So good, fabulous!
Lindsey Kent is the general manager of a wine bar, Vineyard. Lindsey is likable, cheerful and always has something positive to say. She loves her job. She lives and breathes wine and has an amazing relationship with Ellen Bradshaw, the owner of Vineyard. When Ellen tells her she is taking a sabbatical to explore the world, Lindsey is truly excited for the widow. What is is not excited about is learning that she will need to run all of Vineyard's business decisions through Ellen's youngest daughter, Piper.
Piper Bradshaw is the direct opposite of Lindsey. She is an ice queen with a hard, no-nonsense personality. Her job is in the financial sector, and she has learned to be hard-nosed and closed off to thrive in this male-dominated field. Piper's work and the loss of her father two years ago has hardened Piper's heart. She is a closed off control freak. Having to work with Lindsey throws her orderly world off-kilter.
These two get off on the wrong foot. Neither is excited about working with the other. Lindsey has big ideas of how to take Vineyard to the next level and draw in a younger hipper crowd. Piper is hesitant to change anything, not wanting to change anything her father created when opening the business. The butt heads, but as their time together increases the begin to see each other in a new light. The walls fall, and perceptions fall away. The chemistry between these to is dynamic and sexy.
You know a book is good, first when you don't want to put it down. Second, you know its damn good, when you're reading it and thinking, I'm totally going to read this one again. Great read and is absolutely a 5-star romance.
Lindsey Kent is the general manager of a wine bar, Vineyard. Lindsey is likable, cheerful and always has something positive to say. She loves her job. She lives and breathes wine and has an amazing relationship with Ellen Bradshaw, the owner of Vineyard. When Ellen tells her she is taking a sabbatical to explore the world, Lindsey is truly excited for the widow. What is is not excited about is learning that she will need to run all of Vineyard's business decisions through Ellen's youngest daughter, Piper.
Piper Bradshaw is the direct opposite of Lindsey. She is an ice queen with a hard, no-nonsense personality. Her job is in the financial sector, and she has learned to be hard-nosed and closed off to thrive in this male-dominated field. Piper's work and the loss of her father two years ago has hardened Piper's heart. She is a closed off control freak. Having to work with Lindsey throws her orderly world off-kilter.
These two get off on the wrong foot. Neither is excited about working with the other. Lindsey has big ideas of how to take Vineyard to the next level and draw in a younger hipper crowd. Piper is hesitant to change anything, not wanting to change anything her father created when opening the business. The butt heads, but as their time together increases the begin to see each other in a new light. The walls fall, and perceptions fall away. The chemistry between these to is dynamic and sexy.
You know a book is good, first when you don't want to put it down. Second, you know its damn good, when you're reading it and thinking, I'm totally going to read this one again. Great read and is absolutely a 5-star romance.
June 30, 2018
Mm, I devoured this one and I wish I had a glass of sweet red wine to wash it down.
Georgia Beers is back with the kind of romance I needed as the "spring" weather fails again. In this lovely story, we follow Lindsay and Piper (MARRY ME) as they butt heads over the regulation of Vineyard, a hip wine bar, until they decide to bump their lips together instead.
The characters are solid. Piper is a super sexy ice queen, even when her bad choices make me want to drink more wine than the characters (just kidding, that'd kill me). Millenials like myself are all about the wine life, so I appreciate Beers' immense research. Another hipster interest of hers conquered!
On a random note, the names of Blend's mcs are tremendously well-done and attractive. Piper Bradshaw and Lindsay Kent. Hot. Also: their pets are TOO cute.
If you're on a search for a romance to curl up with and savor like a fine Malbec, look no further.
Georgia Beers is back with the kind of romance I needed as the "spring" weather fails again. In this lovely story, we follow Lindsay and Piper (MARRY ME) as they butt heads over the regulation of Vineyard, a hip wine bar, until they decide to bump their lips together instead.
The characters are solid. Piper is a super sexy ice queen, even when her bad choices make me want to drink more wine than the characters (just kidding, that'd kill me). Millenials like myself are all about the wine life, so I appreciate Beers' immense research. Another hipster interest of hers conquered!
On a random note, the names of Blend's mcs are tremendously well-done and attractive. Piper Bradshaw and Lindsay Kent. Hot. Also: their pets are TOO cute.
If you're on a search for a romance to curl up with and savor like a fine Malbec, look no further.
April 16, 2018
I haven't read anything by Georgia Beers in a while so it was a treat to read this entertaining love story filled with women I’d like to meet and a wine bar I would love to frequent.
Lindsey Kent is all optimism and great ideas when Vineyard’s owner decides to take a sabbatical leaving Lindsey in charge of the wine bar. She knows she can grow the business and attract a younger, hipper crowd. Too bad she is handcuffed by Ellen’s request that her daughter Piper be included in financial decisions involving Vineyard. Piper has a pretty low opinion of Lindsey and is less than enthusiastic about any changes she wants to make to the wine bar designed by her late father. The clashes are inevitable and sparks do fly when Lindsey and Piper are forced to work together.
No spoilers when it's obvious these two strong independent women will eventually learn to respect and admire one another. Lindsey has to wear the Teflon undies for a good portion of their story while Piper reins in her anger and bitterness towards just about everyone. At first I thought two years was a long time to mourn the loss of her father but then I remembered how devastating the loss of a parent and confidant can be. Kudos to Beers for giving us characters we can relate to, even if we don’t match their beautiful bodies and athletic pastimes.
Tuck into Blend and pair it with a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon and some appropriate cheeses and enjoy this sweet traditional romance.
ARC received with thanks from publisher via NetGalley for review.
Lindsey Kent is all optimism and great ideas when Vineyard’s owner decides to take a sabbatical leaving Lindsey in charge of the wine bar. She knows she can grow the business and attract a younger, hipper crowd. Too bad she is handcuffed by Ellen’s request that her daughter Piper be included in financial decisions involving Vineyard. Piper has a pretty low opinion of Lindsey and is less than enthusiastic about any changes she wants to make to the wine bar designed by her late father. The clashes are inevitable and sparks do fly when Lindsey and Piper are forced to work together.
No spoilers when it's obvious these two strong independent women will eventually learn to respect and admire one another. Lindsey has to wear the Teflon undies for a good portion of their story while Piper reins in her anger and bitterness towards just about everyone. At first I thought two years was a long time to mourn the loss of her father but then I remembered how devastating the loss of a parent and confidant can be. Kudos to Beers for giving us characters we can relate to, even if we don’t match their beautiful bodies and athletic pastimes.
Tuck into Blend and pair it with a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon and some appropriate cheeses and enjoy this sweet traditional romance.
ARC received with thanks from publisher via NetGalley for review.
April 4, 2018
This is my 13th book by this author and as it turns out an unlucky choice. Although the book started off good and I liked the introduction of all the characters well enough, I was immediately wary of Piper. Normally I'm a huge fan of the ice queen character but she was just a straight up judgmental snob and I found myself really disliking her.
However as the story progressed I began to really like her and Lindsey as a potential couple. They have great chemistry together and their relationship seemed to be moving along fairly well. Of course Piper being Piper and lesfic being what it is lately all hell was about to break loose.
I won't go into details but I am really disappointed at the way this book turned out. The ending was super rushed and I found myself even disliking Lindsey at the very end. Thank goodness for the dog, he's the only character I ended up really liking.
However as the story progressed I began to really like her and Lindsey as a potential couple. They have great chemistry together and their relationship seemed to be moving along fairly well. Of course Piper being Piper and lesfic being what it is lately all hell was about to break loose.
I won't go into details but I am really disappointed at the way this book turned out. The ending was super rushed and I found myself even disliking Lindsey at the very end. Thank goodness for the dog, he's the only character I ended up really liking.
April 18, 2018
Well it’s Georgia Beers so the writing is very good as expected :) the storyline though, not as much.
I loved both characters, I loved reading about wine, and the connection between the characters was great.
The reason why I couldn’t go more than a 3 rating is because the storyline was somehow predictable and very slow. I just hoped there was something more interesting in the middle!
If you want an easy, romantic and smooth read on the beach without any complications, go for it :)
I loved both characters, I loved reading about wine, and the connection between the characters was great.
The reason why I couldn’t go more than a 3 rating is because the storyline was somehow predictable and very slow. I just hoped there was something more interesting in the middle!
If you want an easy, romantic and smooth read on the beach without any complications, go for it :)
April 30, 2018
“Blend” is a very enjoyable sweet romance, narrated wonderfully by Paige McKinney – she’s so lyrical!
A year after their first, and only meeting, MC Piper and MC Lindsay are forced to work together when Piper’s mother, the owner of Vineyards wine bar, decides to take time off to travel. Contrary to the book blurb, btw, she travels to Florida and other states, she does not travel abroad. Lindsay is put in charge of day-to-day management and running of the wine bar, but Piper controls the bank account and must approve of any significant changes, which essentially puts Piper in charge.
Lindsay considers Piper to be ”uptight, snobbish and fucking hot” , whereas Piper considers Lindsay to be a hippie, remembering her as ”very friendly, and smiling too much”. Much of the book is very fun, as Piper and Lindsay continue to be attracted to each other, and yet battle over changes to Vineyards.
Piper is highly adverse to change in general, and to changes in the wine bar in particular. For her, it’s the embodiment of her deceased father, whom she misses terribly. Lindsay, though, is excited and anxious to implement changes and to grow the business by making enjoyment of wine less stuffy. Their interplay is very fun, and the title “Blend” is perfect as Piper comes to accept and then embrace blending in wine, and as a metaphor for life.
Two humorous (to me, anyway) things I just have to point out, though. Piper is portrayed initially as a wine snob, insisting on a glass of fine wine instead of a blend. So she orders a Castle Rock Pinot Noir 😂. Sorry to sound like a wine snob myself, but that’s a very mediocre, low-priced wine; hardly something a high-end wine bar would have on offer, or that someone like Piper would order! The other flaw is when Beers refers to kayaking Piper as wearing a “life jacket”. Sorry, Beers – it’s a PFD (Personal Flotation Device). Ok, these are quibbles, but I enjoy wine and I enjoy kayaking, and I loved that both played significant roles in our characters getting to know each other, and their slow burn romance, and it just struck me as humorous that Beers wrote so well of wine and kayaking, yet doesn’t appear to do either herself.
Most of the book is just really delightful, and there are lots of very funny moments, such as when Lindsay introduces her dog “Rocket” to Piper…using her Rocket dog voice…”My name is Rocket”!!
There are also some very sweet moments, such as when Piper accompanies Lindsay to her step-sister’s graduation party. Family gatherings are very anxious times for Lindsay, until this event!
Most of the time, I felt like the MCs were in their mid-twenties, but Piper is 38yo, and I think Lindsay is around 35yo. Still, both characters are very likable…until. Yep, at the 85% mark, Beers succumbs to a common, yet annoying, theme in lesfic – an artificial angst moment created by non-communication and/or a wrong assumption by one of the characters. Sigh. In this case, drunk Piper says and does something hurtful. I didn’t like that, and for me, the inevitable reconciliation and HEA felt unsatisfying. For me, the problem is that I��ve found that what people say and do while inebriated often reveals more about their true character than what they say and do while sober. It’s hard to forgive hurtful words if you can’t be sure that a sober apology might reflect more of who a person wants to be, than who they are.
So, what was a very enjoyable and highly entertaining sweet book derailed for me. I still recommend it, and I probably will even listen to it again one day…so much of it was so very fun, lighthearted and even silly. But, it’s not a 5* book because of the last 15%, and even my 4* rating is the result of rounding up, not rounding down.
A year after their first, and only meeting, MC Piper and MC Lindsay are forced to work together when Piper’s mother, the owner of Vineyards wine bar, decides to take time off to travel. Contrary to the book blurb, btw, she travels to Florida and other states, she does not travel abroad. Lindsay is put in charge of day-to-day management and running of the wine bar, but Piper controls the bank account and must approve of any significant changes, which essentially puts Piper in charge.
Lindsay considers Piper to be ”uptight, snobbish and fucking hot” , whereas Piper considers Lindsay to be a hippie, remembering her as ”very friendly, and smiling too much”. Much of the book is very fun, as Piper and Lindsay continue to be attracted to each other, and yet battle over changes to Vineyards.
Piper is highly adverse to change in general, and to changes in the wine bar in particular. For her, it’s the embodiment of her deceased father, whom she misses terribly. Lindsay, though, is excited and anxious to implement changes and to grow the business by making enjoyment of wine less stuffy. Their interplay is very fun, and the title “Blend” is perfect as Piper comes to accept and then embrace blending in wine, and as a metaphor for life.
Two humorous (to me, anyway) things I just have to point out, though. Piper is portrayed initially as a wine snob, insisting on a glass of fine wine instead of a blend. So she orders a Castle Rock Pinot Noir 😂. Sorry to sound like a wine snob myself, but that’s a very mediocre, low-priced wine; hardly something a high-end wine bar would have on offer, or that someone like Piper would order! The other flaw is when Beers refers to kayaking Piper as wearing a “life jacket”. Sorry, Beers – it’s a PFD (Personal Flotation Device). Ok, these are quibbles, but I enjoy wine and I enjoy kayaking, and I loved that both played significant roles in our characters getting to know each other, and their slow burn romance, and it just struck me as humorous that Beers wrote so well of wine and kayaking, yet doesn’t appear to do either herself.
Most of the book is just really delightful, and there are lots of very funny moments, such as when Lindsay introduces her dog “Rocket” to Piper…using her Rocket dog voice…”My name is Rocket”!!
There are also some very sweet moments, such as when Piper accompanies Lindsay to her step-sister’s graduation party. Family gatherings are very anxious times for Lindsay, until this event!
Most of the time, I felt like the MCs were in their mid-twenties, but Piper is 38yo, and I think Lindsay is around 35yo. Still, both characters are very likable…until. Yep, at the 85% mark, Beers succumbs to a common, yet annoying, theme in lesfic – an artificial angst moment created by non-communication and/or a wrong assumption by one of the characters. Sigh. In this case, drunk Piper says and does something hurtful. I didn’t like that, and for me, the inevitable reconciliation and HEA felt unsatisfying. For me, the problem is that I��ve found that what people say and do while inebriated often reveals more about their true character than what they say and do while sober. It’s hard to forgive hurtful words if you can’t be sure that a sober apology might reflect more of who a person wants to be, than who they are.
So, what was a very enjoyable and highly entertaining sweet book derailed for me. I still recommend it, and I probably will even listen to it again one day…so much of it was so very fun, lighthearted and even silly. But, it’s not a 5* book because of the last 15%, and even my 4* rating is the result of rounding up, not rounding down.
May 30, 2018
This book is in my list of recommended books of the month:
https://lezreviewbooks.wordpress.com/...
'Blend' is set in Vineyard, a wine bar property of Piper Bradshaw's mother who decides to take an extended vacation and leave her daughter in charge along with general manager Lindsay Kent. Piper has a full time corporate job and very little interest to liaise with Lindsay as they seem to be completely opposites. Piper is a control freak, distant person while Lindsay is creative and cheerful. Will they be able to manage Vineyard without conflicts? And what if opposites attract?
Lately I've been a bit disappointed with Georgia Beers's novels, I rated her previous one 'Right here, right now' 3.5 stars and I've never got invested in her Puppy love series either. Fortunately for her many fans, Ms. Beers is back! 'Blend' is a fantastic book with lovable but realistic characters, slow build-up sizzling romance and an expertly crafted plot. The book is a perfect blend (pun intended) of wit, humour, romance and conflict that keeps the reader turning pages and wanting more. The dog character is superb with his own personality and 'voice'. The landscape descriptions are picturesque and the wine metaphors are strong and well rounded, like a good Malbec. This is an easy 5 stars book for me and will be in my list of best lesfic books of this year.
Overall, a very entertaining and beautiful novel for all lesfic romance fans. Georgia Beers at her best. 5 stars.
ARC provided by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
See all my reviews at
www.lezreviewbooks.wordpress.com
https://lezreviewbooks.wordpress.com/...
'Blend' is set in Vineyard, a wine bar property of Piper Bradshaw's mother who decides to take an extended vacation and leave her daughter in charge along with general manager Lindsay Kent. Piper has a full time corporate job and very little interest to liaise with Lindsay as they seem to be completely opposites. Piper is a control freak, distant person while Lindsay is creative and cheerful. Will they be able to manage Vineyard without conflicts? And what if opposites attract?
Lately I've been a bit disappointed with Georgia Beers's novels, I rated her previous one 'Right here, right now' 3.5 stars and I've never got invested in her Puppy love series either. Fortunately for her many fans, Ms. Beers is back! 'Blend' is a fantastic book with lovable but realistic characters, slow build-up sizzling romance and an expertly crafted plot. The book is a perfect blend (pun intended) of wit, humour, romance and conflict that keeps the reader turning pages and wanting more. The dog character is superb with his own personality and 'voice'. The landscape descriptions are picturesque and the wine metaphors are strong and well rounded, like a good Malbec. This is an easy 5 stars book for me and will be in my list of best lesfic books of this year.
Overall, a very entertaining and beautiful novel for all lesfic romance fans. Georgia Beers at her best. 5 stars.
ARC provided by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
See all my reviews at
www.lezreviewbooks.wordpress.com
February 23, 2019
Girl meets girl. Girl hated Girl then liked girl, bedded her, had a fallout, girl realised her mistake and finally got back together. That’s the story of Lindsay and Piper. A slow build-up to the romance with not too much angst. Book was well-written and enjoyable - a sweet love story.
4.25 🌟
4.25 🌟
March 18, 2018
I think at this point I need a template to write all my Georgia Beers reviews. Phrases like "she has done it again", "she doesn't disappoint", "can't wait until the next one" are usually what I write on my reviews for her books. And what can I say this time? She has done it again, she doesn't disappoint and I can't wait until the next one :)
Georgia Beer's characters always feel like "real people" with "real chemistry" and after you finish the novel you wish you could spend more time with them and this time is no exception.
Great read as usual, it was nice to spend a weekend with these characters. Again, I can't wait until her next one :)
Georgia Beer's characters always feel like "real people" with "real chemistry" and after you finish the novel you wish you could spend more time with them and this time is no exception.
Great read as usual, it was nice to spend a weekend with these characters. Again, I can't wait until her next one :)
March 15, 2018
3.5 stars
Georgia Beers is one of the reliable lesbian romance writers. Beers can write a good plot, infuse it with enough detail to be believable, and embed characters appropriate to the story. She’s done all that in this book too.
Lindsay Kent is the general manager of Vineyard, a wine bar. Trusted by the owner to run everything while they go on extended leave, Lindsay is busy making changes to improve the business she loves.
Piper Bradshaw is the super organised daughter of the owner of Vineyard. A VP at a large tech company, Piper hasn’t shown any interest in the business since her dad died a few years ago. For her, Vineyard is intimately tied up with memories of her dad, and she’s been avoiding it. Now she has to face those memories, as she is tasked with financially guiding Lindsay in the management of the wine bar.
When Piper and Lindsay are thrown together, sparks fly, and not all of them in a good way. Will they realise that under the prickly outside is warmth between them?
It took me a little while to get into this book. The plot felt awfully familiar, as I’ve possibly read a few too many of these types of books for this one to be fresh. However, Beers has a good grasp on what is needed and the characters naturally seem to gravitate towards one another. It is still a romance with a fairly common storyline, but the characters lift the book above the mundane. The book seemed to improve as I read it, largely due to my increasing connection to the characters. It started as a 3 star read, but finished as a solid 4. It is worth sticking with this book as it improves page by page.
Advanced reading copy provided by NetGalley for an honest review.
Georgia Beers is one of the reliable lesbian romance writers. Beers can write a good plot, infuse it with enough detail to be believable, and embed characters appropriate to the story. She’s done all that in this book too.
Lindsay Kent is the general manager of Vineyard, a wine bar. Trusted by the owner to run everything while they go on extended leave, Lindsay is busy making changes to improve the business she loves.
Piper Bradshaw is the super organised daughter of the owner of Vineyard. A VP at a large tech company, Piper hasn’t shown any interest in the business since her dad died a few years ago. For her, Vineyard is intimately tied up with memories of her dad, and she’s been avoiding it. Now she has to face those memories, as she is tasked with financially guiding Lindsay in the management of the wine bar.
When Piper and Lindsay are thrown together, sparks fly, and not all of them in a good way. Will they realise that under the prickly outside is warmth between them?
It took me a little while to get into this book. The plot felt awfully familiar, as I’ve possibly read a few too many of these types of books for this one to be fresh. However, Beers has a good grasp on what is needed and the characters naturally seem to gravitate towards one another. It is still a romance with a fairly common storyline, but the characters lift the book above the mundane. The book seemed to improve as I read it, largely due to my increasing connection to the characters. It started as a 3 star read, but finished as a solid 4. It is worth sticking with this book as it improves page by page.
Advanced reading copy provided by NetGalley for an honest review.
August 19, 2020
3.5/5 stars
I really enjoyed this one. I’ve just started getting into Georgia Beers’ books and I’m so excited to read more from her impressive catalogue. It’s been a while since I’ve read a enemies-to-lovers type book (although I wouldn’t say they were completely enemies at the start), and the subtle angst of it was very much fun. I really don’t have too much to say about this book other than I really enjoyed it. As someone who’s knows nothing about wine, I was afraid that I would be very lost with all the wine-talk, but I actually quite enjoyed it. The wine bar felt like a character itself with so much life and I really adored how it brought our two heroines together.
While I was really enjoying the romantic build-up, great chemistry and sexual tension, my one gripe about this book was I didn’t feel the progression from lovers to in-love if you know what I mean. While I thought they had great chemistry and had some really heartfelt scenes, I still don’t quite feel like Beers completely sold me on the love story. I really just wanted to see more of our characters together. Nonetheless, still a really sweet, entertaining and heartfelt book that I definitely recommend.
I really enjoyed this one. I’ve just started getting into Georgia Beers’ books and I’m so excited to read more from her impressive catalogue. It’s been a while since I’ve read a enemies-to-lovers type book (although I wouldn’t say they were completely enemies at the start), and the subtle angst of it was very much fun. I really don’t have too much to say about this book other than I really enjoyed it. As someone who’s knows nothing about wine, I was afraid that I would be very lost with all the wine-talk, but I actually quite enjoyed it. The wine bar felt like a character itself with so much life and I really adored how it brought our two heroines together.
While I was really enjoying the romantic build-up, great chemistry and sexual tension, my one gripe about this book was I didn’t feel the progression from lovers to in-love if you know what I mean. While I thought they had great chemistry and had some really heartfelt scenes, I still don’t quite feel like Beers completely sold me on the love story. I really just wanted to see more of our characters together. Nonetheless, still a really sweet, entertaining and heartfelt book that I definitely recommend.
March 20, 2018
It’s hard to find a Georgia Beers book I’ve not enjoyed but this one blew the rest out of the water. I absolutely loved it.
Lindsey loves her job as manager at the local wine bar. She has big ideas that could really bring in the younger demographic and now that the owner is taking an extended trip and leaving her in charge, she has free reign to turn her ideas into reality. The only issue is that the boss’s daughter, Piper has to sign off on any big changes to the bar and she’s already not a fan of Lindsey…
I adored this book. Firstly the characters were written beautifully and the whole opposites attracts thing always does it for me. Piper gives off the air of being an uptight ice queen but she’s really tormented by her fathers death, which when she describes their relationship I could really understand her cold personality. Lindsey is the complete opposite; she’s fun, social and loves her job. She’s a little closed off to love but definitely has her reasons. On paper these two should not work but they do… they really do! And the connection is palpable. You can feel the chemistry, it radiated off the page.
I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say Georgia Beers writes the best kisses in Lesbian Fiction. I mean they are sensual while being extremely hot so I kind of knew that would be the case and she didn’t let me down. What I was blown away by was the sex scenes in this book. Wowser! I mean it came out of left field but it was amazing. Best Beers sex scene to date. Period.
I really enjoyed the secondary characters in this book especially Bridget and Angela. I think these ladies need a happy ending of their own… but that gives us two more books (one at a bare minimum).
All in all, I was blown away.
5 stars.
Lindsey loves her job as manager at the local wine bar. She has big ideas that could really bring in the younger demographic and now that the owner is taking an extended trip and leaving her in charge, she has free reign to turn her ideas into reality. The only issue is that the boss’s daughter, Piper has to sign off on any big changes to the bar and she’s already not a fan of Lindsey…
I adored this book. Firstly the characters were written beautifully and the whole opposites attracts thing always does it for me. Piper gives off the air of being an uptight ice queen but she’s really tormented by her fathers death, which when she describes their relationship I could really understand her cold personality. Lindsey is the complete opposite; she’s fun, social and loves her job. She’s a little closed off to love but definitely has her reasons. On paper these two should not work but they do… they really do! And the connection is palpable. You can feel the chemistry, it radiated off the page.
I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say Georgia Beers writes the best kisses in Lesbian Fiction. I mean they are sensual while being extremely hot so I kind of knew that would be the case and she didn’t let me down. What I was blown away by was the sex scenes in this book. Wowser! I mean it came out of left field but it was amazing. Best Beers sex scene to date. Period.
I really enjoyed the secondary characters in this book especially Bridget and Angela. I think these ladies need a happy ending of their own… but that gives us two more books (one at a bare minimum).
All in all, I was blown away.
5 stars.
February 23, 2019
ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I like Georgia Beers, and I’ve read most of her books. This one was ok, but not great. I liked both main characters, but for some reason they didn’t click for me as a couple.
The plot is fairly formulaic. Lindsay is a nice, sweet woman who manages a wine bar, and Piper is the owner’s (corporate big wig) daughter, when said owner decides to go on a months long holiday she leaves them both in charge, but they don’t like each other (mostly Piper doesn’t like Lindsay) but are attracted to each other anyway. I’m sure you can figure out what happens from there. I know I could.
Their relationship does unfold over a good length of time, but it still felt superficial. Even though the two characters do interact a fair bit, they still don’t really get to know each other, and yet they manage to fall in love. There’s also a ridiculously contrived breakup that involves a storyline that does not get wrapped up, it was literally just shoehorned in to provide ‘drama’.
There’s also a boring corporate storyline for Piper (in place only to show her ‘emotional growth’) and both women seem to talk to their respectively pets more than to each other. Secondary characters mainly show up just to give pep talks to the MC’s.
And then there’s the wine. A lot of wine. So. Much. Wine. Drinking wine, talking about wine, talking about the people drinking the wine, talking about the place where you drink the wine. I don’t drink, and I don’t know anything about wine, which isn’t an issue, lots of books have characters working at or doing stuff that’s not familiar, and if done right, it can be interesting and you feel like you learned something. Here I just felt like I read more about wine than I did about the characters.
All in all, this is average, it’s not Beer’s best book by far (Starting from Scratch), if you like wine, then maybe you’ll enjoy it more than I did.
I like Georgia Beers, and I’ve read most of her books. This one was ok, but not great. I liked both main characters, but for some reason they didn’t click for me as a couple.
The plot is fairly formulaic. Lindsay is a nice, sweet woman who manages a wine bar, and Piper is the owner’s (corporate big wig) daughter, when said owner decides to go on a months long holiday she leaves them both in charge, but they don’t like each other (mostly Piper doesn’t like Lindsay) but are attracted to each other anyway. I’m sure you can figure out what happens from there. I know I could.
Their relationship does unfold over a good length of time, but it still felt superficial. Even though the two characters do interact a fair bit, they still don’t really get to know each other, and yet they manage to fall in love. There’s also a ridiculously contrived breakup that involves a storyline that does not get wrapped up, it was literally just shoehorned in to provide ‘drama’.
There’s also a boring corporate storyline for Piper (in place only to show her ‘emotional growth’) and both women seem to talk to their respectively pets more than to each other. Secondary characters mainly show up just to give pep talks to the MC’s.
And then there’s the wine. A lot of wine. So. Much. Wine. Drinking wine, talking about wine, talking about the people drinking the wine, talking about the place where you drink the wine. I don’t drink, and I don’t know anything about wine, which isn’t an issue, lots of books have characters working at or doing stuff that’s not familiar, and if done right, it can be interesting and you feel like you learned something. Here I just felt like I read more about wine than I did about the characters.
All in all, this is average, it’s not Beer’s best book by far (Starting from Scratch), if you like wine, then maybe you’ll enjoy it more than I did.
March 15, 2018
I have to say I'm becoming aficionado of Georgia Beers' books with all the credits. I was always a fan, she was always in my Top 5 lesbian fiction writers, but, unlike some that go from great books to mediocre at best, she's getting better with each book. I can honestly say that "Blend" goes up on my Beers' books, and very high on the list! Piper and Lindsey are such great characters, with so much chemistry between them! Plus, you know, it's always the little things that makes your heart warm up towards the certain book. Here, I was in love with descriptions of Lindsey, seen through Piper's eyes - the little details about her hair, her smile, her moves when she touches the hair... Those parts are the ones that give a book depth, soul, attraction...
Well done, Georgia Beers, well deserved 5 stars!
Well done, Georgia Beers, well deserved 5 stars!
March 23, 2018
Mrs B, owner of wine bar Vineyard, calls Lindsay in and tells her that she is taking an extended holiday and is leaving Lindsay in charge of the wine bar in her absence. There is one catch though; every change that needs financial input needs to be agreed upon by Mrs B’s daughter, Piper. Piper hates Lindsay, Lindsay thinks Piper is a stuck-up control freak. Any hopes Lindsay had of making changes are waning right before her eyes.
This is well-written with a great cast of characters. Lindsay is fairly easy-going as well as motivated and professional. Piper is beautiful, highly-polished but not particularly nice to Lindsay. There is a nice tension which builds into great chemistry between them. All round this is a good read with a lovely comfort in its predictability.
Book received from Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
This is well-written with a great cast of characters. Lindsay is fairly easy-going as well as motivated and professional. Piper is beautiful, highly-polished but not particularly nice to Lindsay. There is a nice tension which builds into great chemistry between them. All round this is a good read with a lovely comfort in its predictability.
Book received from Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
November 29, 2018
Warning, if you're a fan of Ms.Beers then skip this and look for the 4/5 stars rating reviews.
Mine, Too Close To Touch, Zero Visibility, and Blend - these books are quite similar, strong, competent, easy on the eyes girl next door hs.
Their potential soulmates are usually quite similar, minus the girl next door personality + add in angsty, judgmental, stupidly stupid and someone you might love to pull out from your reading devices and throw them into the Colosseum to face the gladiators.
The kissing scenes in this book - worth checking out / rereading, Piper's stupidity - inexcusable, the secondary characters - love them all, Lindsay - you're perfect just the way you are but you should have made Piper grovel harder as you sing I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor to her, repeatedly if possible.
Recommended? If you're allergic to stupidity then you might need to proceed with caution.. However, the kissing scenes are not to be missed.
Mine, Too Close To Touch, Zero Visibility, and Blend - these books are quite similar, strong, competent, easy on the eyes girl next door hs.
Their potential soulmates are usually quite similar, minus the girl next door personality + add in angsty, judgmental, stupidly stupid and someone you might love to pull out from your reading devices and throw them into the Colosseum to face the gladiators.
The kissing scenes in this book - worth checking out / rereading, Piper's stupidity - inexcusable, the secondary characters - love them all, Lindsay - you're perfect just the way you are but you should have made Piper grovel harder as you sing I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor to her, repeatedly if possible.
Recommended? If you're allergic to stupidity then you might need to proceed with caution.. However, the kissing scenes are not to be missed.
March 24, 2018
3.5 stars
This is a great story, told in third person and from both heroine’s viewpoints. While I absolutely adored Lindsay, it took me a longtime to warm to Piper, but I suspect it was a conscious choice by the author for one character to be more likable than the other.
The story follows a common ARC, couple meet, they clash, sparks fly, conflict drives them apart, then they get their HEA. The conflict in this story is very late to the party. I personally found it rather convoluted and it lowered my overall enjoyment of an otherwise engaging plot.
Rocket deserves a special mention. I’m not a doggie person, but he really came to life and stole a piece of my heart.
The writing style is solid, there are few typos, but as the story progressed, the dropping of words became hugely distracting for me.
Copy provided by the publisher, Bold Strokes Books, via NetGalley
This is a great story, told in third person and from both heroine’s viewpoints. While I absolutely adored Lindsay, it took me a longtime to warm to Piper, but I suspect it was a conscious choice by the author for one character to be more likable than the other.
The story follows a common ARC, couple meet, they clash, sparks fly, conflict drives them apart, then they get their HEA. The conflict in this story is very late to the party. I personally found it rather convoluted and it lowered my overall enjoyment of an otherwise engaging plot.
Rocket deserves a special mention. I’m not a doggie person, but he really came to life and stole a piece of my heart.
The writing style is solid, there are few typos, but as the story progressed, the dropping of words became hugely distracting for me.
Copy provided by the publisher, Bold Strokes Books, via NetGalley
March 3, 2018
This is probably one of my favorite books that Georgia has written over the last few years. The chemistry between Piper and Lindsay was perfect. I felt the sexual tension through the pages and liked the gradual change in their relationship. It was one of those books that I was surprised I was towards the end because it was such an easy read and that I was completely lost in the story.
My one thing that I always struggle with Georgia Beers is her endings tend to be quick. I found that there were things that I wanted to know how things turned out but never found out. A little more details to tie up the storyline for me would have made it a 5 star book.
Really good read that I highly recommend, honestly I'm not sure if you can go wrong with a Georgia Beers book!
I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review.
My one thing that I always struggle with Georgia Beers is her endings tend to be quick. I found that there were things that I wanted to know how things turned out but never found out. A little more details to tie up the storyline for me would have made it a 5 star book.
Really good read that I highly recommend, honestly I'm not sure if you can go wrong with a Georgia Beers book!
I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review.
April 17, 2018
I just love Georgia Beers books. This was my 17th book by her. Her writing just works for me, and it appears to be getting better with every book. I enjoyed her earlier works, but I love her newer books. It isn’t a new idea but the whole dislike to love romance really worked with Lindsay and Piper. Lindsay’s character was awesome. She was trusting and full of ideas to bring the Vineyard back to life, while Piper is trying to hold on to the past. I loved the setting, I loved the buildup of the relationship and for me this one just worked. Chemistry is well written and I had trouble putting it down once I started. Saved this one for my weekend read, so if you want to relax with an awesome book written by a never fails to deliver author this is the one.
April 21, 2018
Wow, I liked everything about the book -> it's setting, te slow-build story and the chemistry between the two main characters is like drinking a good bottle of wine. Once you uncork the bottle of wine, you will enter a world of infinite possibilities that will delight your senses and the magic starts to happen ;)
June 10, 2018
Ok I'll admit straight away my relationship with this author is a little hit and miss. I much prefer her earlier works but then this book seemed to be showing the author I liked.
But then I'm not so sure. I know confusing right? This is a romance novel so I guess I'm at a slight disadvantage. I'm not a keen romance fan unless it's fast paced and this isn't.
But saying that I did find it a good read. One for a sunny Sunday afternoon. Enjoy!
*ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley*
But then I'm not so sure. I know confusing right? This is a romance novel so I guess I'm at a slight disadvantage. I'm not a keen romance fan unless it's fast paced and this isn't.
But saying that I did find it a good read. One for a sunny Sunday afternoon. Enjoy!
*ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley*
April 2, 2018
This is pretty standard Beers and while I enjoyed it enough to say I’d recommend it to fans, I think I’ve read too many of her books and feel like sometimes her characters blend together and are actually all the same person. These two could have been too-many-of-Beers’-other-pairings-to-list just thrown into a different set of circumstances. She really likes her bitchy (poor misunderstood) execs and sweet girl next door pairings. She also likes using business associations as a way to build tension and as a reason for two people not to get together.
The chemistry here was good. I don’t generally think of Beers books as sexy, but she is really good at creating sexual tension. So, of course, she did a really good job ramping up the physical chemistry between Piper and Lindsay. The chemistry develops at a good pace and promises good stuff to come. I don’t know, though; when that good stuff finally happened it just fell a little flat.
Beers upped her game in making the hard-ass a sympathetic character. Often, I’ve had a hard time finding her ‘ice queen-ish’ (‘ish’ because really, I can’t think of one Beers character that’s really that hard core...and neither is this one) characters to be much more than whiny and self-entitled. I generally tend to wonder why the sweet one is even interested. I didn’t necessarily feel that way about Piper; she had a struggle that was written sympathetically enough where her pain felt real.
While there was good physical chemistry, the emotional chemistry here was off. There was no build up really and every emotion shared between these two was hormonal. Simple: they wanted to rip one another’s clothes off. Cool. I am definitely down with that if that’s what’s the author’s going for, but I’m pretty sure we’re supposed to believe these two fell in love. I didn’t believe it, unfortunately. This frustrated me because, instead of using too many pages for unnecessary and silly drama, the later pages of this book could have been used to create an actual emotional connection.
I enjoyed ‘Blend’ in that it was a nice read for a relaxing Sunday and didn’t require me to think. My main issue is that if I took a few of Beers’ other works and melded them all together, I think I’ve read this book before. This one is done better up until the drama unfolds, though. Unfortunately, once all of that happened, I was completely lost.
March 27, 2018
When Lindsey's boss announces she'll be taking a vacation for up to a year, she leaves Lindsay in charge along with her daughter, Piper. Lindsay has been working at the wine bar, Vineyard, for three years now, and she's fallen in love with the place. She has a lot of ideas to bring in more people, maybe cater to a younger crowd, and her boss gives her more or less full rein while she's away to make the place everything it can be. There's only one problem, any change that costs money must be run by Piper first, and Piper hates Lindsey. Piper is a VP at a tech company, her world is perfectly controlled and calculated. It has to be. She doesn't have time to deal with this "hippie" Lindsey, who seems dead set on changing everything about her family wine bar that meant so much to her late father. Will the two women be able to work together? Will close quarters make their attraction impossible to ignore?
I loved that this was 3rd person POV. I really enjoyed reading this. I was fully connected to the characters and the story. This is definitely my favourite Georgia Beers I've read so far.
Piper was a fascinating character. She could have been this cookie cutter ice queen but instead, she was complex and relatable and both vulnerable and strong. She was such a good person. I loved her. She's one of those characters that are bound to stick with you for a while. Lindsay was awesome too - I loved all her ideas. It was really organic the way they were woven into the character to both show the reader the world of Vineyard and the passion Lindsay had for it. The chemistry between the two women was delicious. And, the friendship that blossomed was really natural and only made their relationship stronger.
The setting was perfect. It was so romantic! I loved the descriptions out around the lake - the crispness and the changes in season were such a vivid part of the story for me. The flavours of the wines really added a lot as well, not only did I learn a lot, it was almost like a character of it's own.
I am looking forward to buying the paperback of this novel, I know it will be one I'll be re-reading often.
I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I loved that this was 3rd person POV. I really enjoyed reading this. I was fully connected to the characters and the story. This is definitely my favourite Georgia Beers I've read so far.
Piper was a fascinating character. She could have been this cookie cutter ice queen but instead, she was complex and relatable and both vulnerable and strong. She was such a good person. I loved her. She's one of those characters that are bound to stick with you for a while. Lindsay was awesome too - I loved all her ideas. It was really organic the way they were woven into the character to both show the reader the world of Vineyard and the passion Lindsay had for it. The chemistry between the two women was delicious. And, the friendship that blossomed was really natural and only made their relationship stronger.
The setting was perfect. It was so romantic! I loved the descriptions out around the lake - the crispness and the changes in season were such a vivid part of the story for me. The flavours of the wines really added a lot as well, not only did I learn a lot, it was almost like a character of it's own.
I am looking forward to buying the paperback of this novel, I know it will be one I'll be re-reading often.
I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 20, 2018
It’s a girl next door/ice queen pairing! What’s not to love?!?!
In all seriousness though, Piper has the biggest character arc in Blend and it’s a good thing she does. She’s a real jerk to Lindsay at first, and if it weren’t for the scenes showing her with her friends and family, I would have found Piper entirely unlikeable until she started thawing. It made for an interesting take on the ice queen trope though, because Piper doesn’t hold everyone at bay, she just keeps herself guarded in certain situations like with Lindsay or at work. She has some serious growing to do so that she can open herself up to someone as warm as Lindsay and I’m glad she finally does it, even if I wasn’t thrilled with her during the crisis point (although, frankly, I don’t think I was supposed to be).
Lindsay is so warm and funny and sweet and lovely that I just loved her! I was team Lindsay all the way. She handles herself well when Piper underestimates her and doesn’t shy away from any of Piper’s challenges. Her character arc isn’t nearly as big as Piper’s and I’m totally okay with that. This is really Piper’s book, and Lindsay is wonderful just the way she is (she’s someone I’d totally want to spend time with in person!).
Full review: https://www.thelesbianreview.com/blen...
In all seriousness though, Piper has the biggest character arc in Blend and it’s a good thing she does. She’s a real jerk to Lindsay at first, and if it weren’t for the scenes showing her with her friends and family, I would have found Piper entirely unlikeable until she started thawing. It made for an interesting take on the ice queen trope though, because Piper doesn’t hold everyone at bay, she just keeps herself guarded in certain situations like with Lindsay or at work. She has some serious growing to do so that she can open herself up to someone as warm as Lindsay and I’m glad she finally does it, even if I wasn’t thrilled with her during the crisis point (although, frankly, I don’t think I was supposed to be).
Lindsay is so warm and funny and sweet and lovely that I just loved her! I was team Lindsay all the way. She handles herself well when Piper underestimates her and doesn’t shy away from any of Piper’s challenges. Her character arc isn’t nearly as big as Piper’s and I’m totally okay with that. This is really Piper’s book, and Lindsay is wonderful just the way she is (she’s someone I’d totally want to spend time with in person!).
Full review: https://www.thelesbianreview.com/blen...
March 24, 2018
I really loved this book. It is definitely on of Beers' better books. The setting was fun and different. Which I always enjoy about her books. The characters were interesting and well developed. The chemistry between them was fantastic. The romance was a slow burn. No instalove here. The angst was understandable and well done. If you enjoy Georgia Beers even a little bit...you will want to read this one!
4.5 stars. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 stars. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 17, 2018
*ARC provided by Netgalley and the publisher for an honest review*
I have nothing negative to say about this book. It is the perfect example of a classic romance novel. The characters are endearing and the storyline is one that has been used multiple times, but the author still manages to draw you in and keep you enticed.
If you are looking for a kick back and relax type of book then this book would definitely fall in that category.
I have nothing negative to say about this book. It is the perfect example of a classic romance novel. The characters are endearing and the storyline is one that has been used multiple times, but the author still manages to draw you in and keep you enticed.
If you are looking for a kick back and relax type of book then this book would definitely fall in that category.
December 9, 2022
4 stars!
okay, this was a good book. good because it had me squealing, squirming and grinning which are the kinds of responses that slowburn romances books with well timed-out character development elicits from me!!
i do need to rant though……
so this was a classic ice queen meets girl-next-door moment. and i think what makes the ice queen trope so compelling is probably the inextricable ‘enemies to lovers’ component that propels the story. i for one will always be an absolute wh0re for the push and pull, will they/won’t they of this trope. BUT - i’ve found that in so many of the books i’ve read that have had a character, labelled by the authors themselves as an ‘ice queen,’ the build up is far more thrilling than the tremendously anticlimactic union of the 2 characters.
don’t get me wrong, the chemistry between the characters, the development, the vacillating will they/won’t they, the build up - just all of it is so delicious but is then absolutely squandered by a weak third act conflict and an even weaker and shockingly fleeting resolution, followed, of course, by a somewhat random epilogue and ending.
i think this harangue is just a lengthy advocacy statement for 🗣️more domesticity in ice queen romances🗣️ and 🗣️a more convincing third act conflict (ie, if it is absolutely necessary to incorporate one)🗣️ and 🗣️an ending that’s not abrupt but satisfying🗣️
that being said though, this book was my georgia beers debut (i know, i’m suuuper late to the party. yikes!) and it wasn’t at all a bad one! i’m definitely excited to read more of her stuff, but i may need to take a break from the super frustrating ice queen romances while my starved-for-domesticity heart mends for a minute…
okay, this was a good book. good because it had me squealing, squirming and grinning which are the kinds of responses that slowburn romances books with well timed-out character development elicits from me!!
i do need to rant though……
so this was a classic ice queen meets girl-next-door moment. and i think what makes the ice queen trope so compelling is probably the inextricable ‘enemies to lovers’ component that propels the story. i for one will always be an absolute wh0re for the push and pull, will they/won’t they of this trope. BUT - i’ve found that in so many of the books i’ve read that have had a character, labelled by the authors themselves as an ‘ice queen,’ the build up is far more thrilling than the tremendously anticlimactic union of the 2 characters.
don’t get me wrong, the chemistry between the characters, the development, the vacillating will they/won’t they, the build up - just all of it is so delicious but is then absolutely squandered by a weak third act conflict and an even weaker and shockingly fleeting resolution, followed, of course, by a somewhat random epilogue and ending.
i think this harangue is just a lengthy advocacy statement for 🗣️more domesticity in ice queen romances🗣️ and 🗣️a more convincing third act conflict (ie, if it is absolutely necessary to incorporate one)🗣️ and 🗣️an ending that’s not abrupt but satisfying🗣️
that being said though, this book was my georgia beers debut (i know, i’m suuuper late to the party. yikes!) and it wasn’t at all a bad one! i’m definitely excited to read more of her stuff, but i may need to take a break from the super frustrating ice queen romances while my starved-for-domesticity heart mends for a minute…
April 10, 2018
Netgalley
Really liked this.
Complex characters, lovely setting, charming writing. I was so here for this.
Really liked this.
Complex characters, lovely setting, charming writing. I was so here for this.
April 3, 2018
NetGalley review copy
Blend is a delight to read. It's an uncomplicated, formulaic love story that's been told with a lot of charm and, well, simplicity. The characters are complete people, and not at all unidimensional. The narrative is easy, believable and grounded in reality. The characters behave like normal people do, interact like normal people, and even make mistakes like normal people.
Beers starts building the chemistry between the protagonists right from the start, subtly and gradually, and by the time their third meeting rolls around, the chemistry is right there staring you in the face, and you don't even know how it came about.
The only thing that niggles is the declaration of love, which seems a bit premature for the place the relationship is at, which unfortunately leaves the epilogue a little wanting.
Nonetheless, it is an entertaining book that offers you all the tingles that a good romance should. I highly recommend it.
Blend is a delight to read. It's an uncomplicated, formulaic love story that's been told with a lot of charm and, well, simplicity. The characters are complete people, and not at all unidimensional. The narrative is easy, believable and grounded in reality. The characters behave like normal people do, interact like normal people, and even make mistakes like normal people.
Beers starts building the chemistry between the protagonists right from the start, subtly and gradually, and by the time their third meeting rolls around, the chemistry is right there staring you in the face, and you don't even know how it came about.
The only thing that niggles is the declaration of love, which seems a bit premature for the place the relationship is at, which unfortunately leaves the epilogue a little wanting.
Nonetheless, it is an entertaining book that offers you all the tingles that a good romance should. I highly recommend it.
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