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Abandon Collection #3
Wild Abandon
Single in the city sounds good until you’re thirty-years-old in New York, swiping left, and waking up next to a man with a Thor tattoo on his manhood.
After months of begging, I finally took my best friend’s offer and moved out to Napa, California with her and her family.
I came here looking for love.
What I found was something greater.
I never meant to meet Nathaniel Teller. It was by accident, on a Tuesday, that I walked into his bar. He was solemn, intense, and hiding a secret behind those stoic green eyes. He didn’t believe in love, and I so desperately did.
In an attempt to meet my dream man, I signed up for online dating and used Nate’s bar as neutral territory. After each date, it was Nate I ended up with, having drinks and talking about life.
I never intended to fall in love with him. We were supposed to be just friends. But I fell for him hard, deep. There was no turning back.
I never thought his past would be so dark. And if I thought I had any chance of being in his future, I was wrong. Because his past was his future.
And I needed to walk away.
Because when you fall in love it’s forever. But sometimes forever comes with a price.
After months of begging, I finally took my best friend’s offer and moved out to Napa, California with her and her family.
I came here looking for love.
What I found was something greater.
I never meant to meet Nathaniel Teller. It was by accident, on a Tuesday, that I walked into his bar. He was solemn, intense, and hiding a secret behind those stoic green eyes. He didn’t believe in love, and I so desperately did.
In an attempt to meet my dream man, I signed up for online dating and used Nate’s bar as neutral territory. After each date, it was Nate I ended up with, having drinks and talking about life.
I never intended to fall in love with him. We were supposed to be just friends. But I fell for him hard, deep. There was no turning back.
I never thought his past would be so dark. And if I thought I had any chance of being in his future, I was wrong. Because his past was his future.
And I needed to walk away.
Because when you fall in love it’s forever. But sometimes forever comes with a price.
308 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 26, 2016
178 people are currently reading
1057 people want to read
About the author
Jeannine Colette
47 books1,550 followersWhen I was little, my mom was part of the Double Day book club. She had piles and piles of books lying around the house; most of them with Fabio-esque men and a scantily clad woman set in a different century. I made up stories in my head just from looking at the covers.
When I as 9, I wrote stories using my best friend as a muse. They were romances...but for the 9-year-old. She was the only one who read them.
When I was 14, another friend gave me a Marian Keyes novel. I fell in-love with her wit, and humor with a dark side. This was my first experience with realistic fiction.
When I was 19, Nicholas Sparks forever changed my views on relationships. I learned what true love could be beautiful and difficult at the same time. I wanted it.
When I was 22, Jeannette Wells made me feel more emotion from an autobiographical novel than I thought possible. I wanted to be her.
When I was 30, Jamie McGuire and Colleen Hoover introduced me to the world of self-publishing. For the first time I thought: I could give this a try someday.
When I was 32, my someday came.
----------------------------------------
Jeannine Colette is the author of the Abandon Collection – a series of stand-alone novels featuring dynamic heroines who have to abandon their reality in order to discover themselves . . . and love along the way. Each book features a new couple, exciting new city and a rose of a different color.
A graduate of Wagner College and the New York Film Academy, Jeannine went on to become a Segment Producer for television shows on CBS and NBC. She left the television industry to focus on her children and pursue a full-time writing career. She lives in New York with her husband, the three tiny people she adores more than life itself, and a rescue pup named Wrigley.
Want to hear about new releases and get exciting emails from me??? Sign up for my monthly newsletter!
www.jeanninecolette.com/newsletter
Jeannine and her family are active supporters of The March of Dimes and Strivright The Auditory-Oral School of New York.
When I as 9, I wrote stories using my best friend as a muse. They were romances...but for the 9-year-old. She was the only one who read them.
When I was 14, another friend gave me a Marian Keyes novel. I fell in-love with her wit, and humor with a dark side. This was my first experience with realistic fiction.
When I was 19, Nicholas Sparks forever changed my views on relationships. I learned what true love could be beautiful and difficult at the same time. I wanted it.
When I was 22, Jeannette Wells made me feel more emotion from an autobiographical novel than I thought possible. I wanted to be her.
When I was 30, Jamie McGuire and Colleen Hoover introduced me to the world of self-publishing. For the first time I thought: I could give this a try someday.
When I was 32, my someday came.
----------------------------------------
Jeannine Colette is the author of the Abandon Collection – a series of stand-alone novels featuring dynamic heroines who have to abandon their reality in order to discover themselves . . . and love along the way. Each book features a new couple, exciting new city and a rose of a different color.
A graduate of Wagner College and the New York Film Academy, Jeannine went on to become a Segment Producer for television shows on CBS and NBC. She left the television industry to focus on her children and pursue a full-time writing career. She lives in New York with her husband, the three tiny people she adores more than life itself, and a rescue pup named Wrigley.
Want to hear about new releases and get exciting emails from me??? Sign up for my monthly newsletter!
www.jeanninecolette.com/newsletter
Jeannine and her family are active supporters of The March of Dimes and Strivright The Auditory-Oral School of New York.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews
November 13, 2021
5 “OLIVE JUICE” STARS
ANGSTY, EMOTIONAL AND SIMPLY ONE AWESOME READ!
This is such a well-written emotional standalone story. It displayed the author's great sense of humor while she took me on an angsty and gratifying ride!
Crystal Reid is a self-proclaimed serial dater who caves to her best friend’s plea to come to Nappa Valley and stay with her family to have a fresh start. Crystal believes in love regardless of the fact that when she took a chance years ago it didn’t work out for her. She uses dating apps (the dates are hilarious) and is positive she knows what she is searching for in her Mr. Right.
”I won’t settle. You know that. I have a clear vision.”
While waiting on her friend she walks into Henley’s Pub and she meets Nate Teller. Nate is the broody bartender who isn’t so sold on love yet he seems amused by Crystal. In the weeks that follow she meets several dates at Henley’s and Nate the bartender and she appears to be very attracted to one another yet becomes friends…
”We should do this again. Maybe bring your girlfriend.” It’s a half-assed invitation. Nate suddenly looks really uncomfortable. “About that. I hope I didn’t give you the wrong impression.
Crystal works at a rundown vineyard and helps breathe life back into the owner and the property. While Nate seems to send some interesting signals and their attraction grows.
”You look beautiful. How’s that for romance?”
“It would be romantic if you meant it. And it’s definitely not romantic since you are not romancing me”
“What if I were? What if this were a date, and I had changed my shirt three times after spending a ridiculous amount of time on my hair because I hadn’t done it in years?” He stops, and his eyes turn dark. “What if I were trying to romance you?” ”
Nate has a very big secret and when this secret comes to light it will crush our couple with it out in the open.
”I can’t be with someone, knowing I’m their second choice.” I pull on my lip and fight back my tears. Nate lets his own tears fall free. “And I can’t be with you because I’m afraid you’d be my first.”
I adored this couple and found Nate to be tough yet broken, sexy yet gentle, and made for truly wonderful hero. The author brings the story together and for me left nothing unanswered or unsaid. The supporting characters were all were strongly done, the humor, the attraction, the sex scene, the pain, the tears and the smiles.
”There she goes with the bom, bom, bom.”
ANGSTY, EMOTIONAL AND SIMPLY ONE AWESOME READ!
This is such a well-written emotional standalone story. It displayed the author's great sense of humor while she took me on an angsty and gratifying ride!
Crystal Reid is a self-proclaimed serial dater who caves to her best friend’s plea to come to Nappa Valley and stay with her family to have a fresh start. Crystal believes in love regardless of the fact that when she took a chance years ago it didn’t work out for her. She uses dating apps (the dates are hilarious) and is positive she knows what she is searching for in her Mr. Right.
”I won’t settle. You know that. I have a clear vision.”
While waiting on her friend she walks into Henley’s Pub and she meets Nate Teller. Nate is the broody bartender who isn’t so sold on love yet he seems amused by Crystal. In the weeks that follow she meets several dates at Henley’s and Nate the bartender and she appears to be very attracted to one another yet becomes friends…
”We should do this again. Maybe bring your girlfriend.” It’s a half-assed invitation. Nate suddenly looks really uncomfortable. “About that. I hope I didn’t give you the wrong impression.
Crystal works at a rundown vineyard and helps breathe life back into the owner and the property. While Nate seems to send some interesting signals and their attraction grows.
”You look beautiful. How’s that for romance?”
“It would be romantic if you meant it. And it’s definitely not romantic since you are not romancing me”
“What if I were? What if this were a date, and I had changed my shirt three times after spending a ridiculous amount of time on my hair because I hadn’t done it in years?” He stops, and his eyes turn dark. “What if I were trying to romance you?” ”
Nate has a very big secret and when this secret comes to light it will crush our couple with it out in the open.
”I can’t be with someone, knowing I’m their second choice.” I pull on my lip and fight back my tears. Nate lets his own tears fall free. “And I can’t be with you because I’m afraid you’d be my first.”
I adored this couple and found Nate to be tough yet broken, sexy yet gentle, and made for truly wonderful hero. The author brings the story together and for me left nothing unanswered or unsaid. The supporting characters were all were strongly done, the humor, the attraction, the sex scene, the pain, the tears and the smiles.
”There she goes with the bom, bom, bom.”
July 16, 2016
4.5 Stars!!
This was such a wonderful story! 'Wild Abandon' was my first read by this author and definitely won’t be my last. I really enjoyed this story about love and forgiveness. It was fresh, it was emotional and moving, it made me feel and it got me hooked from the very beginning. The story is well written, has more depth that I had expected and it has some of the best setting descriptions I’ve read in a while.
'Wild Abandon' tells Crystal’s story, a woman in her early 30s whose love life is a total disaster, who jumps from one dating apps to another hoping that she will find a good man. Needless to say Crystal is a serial dater. She’s a little desperate to find ‘the one’ and despite the fact that in the past she had a bad romantic experience, she still believes in love and happily ever after. When she decides is time for a change of scenery she quits her job leaving New York and moves to the other side of the country in Napa Valley with her best friend and her family.
Crystal is trying to adjust her new life in Napa. She gets a job at a small winery continuing to use different dating apps and meeting several men at a bar named 'Henley'. There she meets the bartender/manager Nate Teller. Nate is very closed off and intense, but Crystal feels a strong connection with him even if he doesn’t seem to believe in love, being emotionally unavailable. Nate is somehow trapped in his past being also a little grumpy at times, but Crystal succeeds to win him over...eventually. They become friends at first, but their relationship starts to change gradually in something more, their attraction growing slowly with each and every day. But Nate has a secret that has the power to destroy this wonderful thing between them.
This one turned out to be so much better than I had expected. I loved this beautiful, moving tale and I was invested in these two characters’ story from the very beginning. I truly enjoyed this author’s storytelling and I’m so looking forward to read her upcoming books. I loved the two main characters. Both of them were endearing had so much depth and were so well developed. Crystal is that type of heroine you will connect immediately. She was simply wonderful, vividly portrayed, relatable and I have to say I loved her personality very much. She was fun and I loved her kindness and the fact that she knew what she wanted and never gave up on trying to find the perfect man for her.
Nate is different from anything Crystal ever wanted, the opposite of what she should want. He was a fantastic hero and I truly felt for him as the story unfolded and his past was revealed. He’s a troubled man whose vulnerability, past and personality make me fell in love with from the start. I loved his moral code, his loyalty and of course the way he was with Crystal as the story progressed.
Crystal and Nate’s relationship progressed in a very believable way. They were so good for each other, their connection being so palpable. Needless to say I connected with them individually and as a (potential) couple. Their love story was truly wonderful, intense, heartwarming, both of them making me smile and swoon so many times.
I loved all the supporting characters. All of them were lovely and well portrayed, but the one who almost stole the show for me was Ed. Ed’s present and past touched my heart. He was such an endearing character and I have to say I really loved his role in Crystal and Nate’s relationship.
All in all, 'Wild Abandon' was a beautiful, emotional story that will touch your heart and soul with endearing main and supporting characters, entertaining dialogue and a delightful love story that will make you swoon and smile.
This was such a wonderful story! 'Wild Abandon' was my first read by this author and definitely won’t be my last. I really enjoyed this story about love and forgiveness. It was fresh, it was emotional and moving, it made me feel and it got me hooked from the very beginning. The story is well written, has more depth that I had expected and it has some of the best setting descriptions I’ve read in a while.
'Wild Abandon' tells Crystal’s story, a woman in her early 30s whose love life is a total disaster, who jumps from one dating apps to another hoping that she will find a good man. Needless to say Crystal is a serial dater. She’s a little desperate to find ‘the one’ and despite the fact that in the past she had a bad romantic experience, she still believes in love and happily ever after. When she decides is time for a change of scenery she quits her job leaving New York and moves to the other side of the country in Napa Valley with her best friend and her family.
“Napa is for lovers, not loners.”
Crystal is trying to adjust her new life in Napa. She gets a job at a small winery continuing to use different dating apps and meeting several men at a bar named 'Henley'. There she meets the bartender/manager Nate Teller. Nate is very closed off and intense, but Crystal feels a strong connection with him even if he doesn’t seem to believe in love, being emotionally unavailable. Nate is somehow trapped in his past being also a little grumpy at times, but Crystal succeeds to win him over...eventually. They become friends at first, but their relationship starts to change gradually in something more, their attraction growing slowly with each and every day. But Nate has a secret that has the power to destroy this wonderful thing between them.
“Love is like wine. You can’t add sugar and mask the flavor, pretending it’s something it’s not. Love is like that. When you meet the right person, you’ll know. And you won’t be able to let it go.”
This one turned out to be so much better than I had expected. I loved this beautiful, moving tale and I was invested in these two characters’ story from the very beginning. I truly enjoyed this author’s storytelling and I’m so looking forward to read her upcoming books. I loved the two main characters. Both of them were endearing had so much depth and were so well developed. Crystal is that type of heroine you will connect immediately. She was simply wonderful, vividly portrayed, relatable and I have to say I loved her personality very much. She was fun and I loved her kindness and the fact that she knew what she wanted and never gave up on trying to find the perfect man for her.
“The smell of him, the feel of his hands in my hair, the taste of Nate are intoxicating me in so many ways that I forget where we are, who we are, what we are.”
Nate is different from anything Crystal ever wanted, the opposite of what she should want. He was a fantastic hero and I truly felt for him as the story unfolded and his past was revealed. He’s a troubled man whose vulnerability, past and personality make me fell in love with from the start. I loved his moral code, his loyalty and of course the way he was with Crystal as the story progressed.
“Sometimes, planning for the future only leads to disappointment. It’s what we do with the present that matters.”
Crystal and Nate’s relationship progressed in a very believable way. They were so good for each other, their connection being so palpable. Needless to say I connected with them individually and as a (potential) couple. Their love story was truly wonderful, intense, heartwarming, both of them making me smile and swoon so many times.
“Somewhere along the way, I fell in love with you. And it’s not because I was lonely. You complete me in a way no one else ever has.”
I loved all the supporting characters. All of them were lovely and well portrayed, but the one who almost stole the show for me was Ed. Ed’s present and past touched my heart. He was such an endearing character and I have to say I really loved his role in Crystal and Nate’s relationship.
All in all, 'Wild Abandon' was a beautiful, emotional story that will touch your heart and soul with endearing main and supporting characters, entertaining dialogue and a delightful love story that will make you swoon and smile.
April 25, 2017
5+ Have Mercy! I'm in Swoon and Angst Heaven! Stars!!!
A big shout out to my "Rolodex of great recommendations" friend, Robin Hill, who suggested many moons ago I read this absolute gem.
This was also my first read by Ms. Colette. To say her writing skills are divine and impeccable is putting it mildly. Her words immediately put me into this mesmerized trance I did not want to wake up from. It was surreal.
To use a quote from one of her characters ..... this book made me "stupidly, deliriously, idiotically happy," along with other feelings from one end of the spectrum to the other.
This was a captivating, intense, yet entertaining romance. Yes, honest to goodness, it can be all three. Who knew? Nate is swoon worthy and scarred; Crystal is sassy and independent. They are both undeniably charming and unforgettable in their own unique way. Nate was burned by love and Crystal is trying to find love. Their journey was an angsty and bumpy one, and I enjoyed every minute of it.
The less you know about this story going in, the better (I went in totally blind), but here is my backdrop synopsis ......
Crystal, a thirty year old, accomplished cellist, is still nursing a wound of rejection. Seven years ago, she met Steven in Paris where they spent six weeks together traveling across Europe. Deciding they can't live without each other, they elope and six months later, their marriage is kaput and her heart is broken. Not one to give up on love, she's been on a quest ever since to find "the one." So far, online dating, her avenue of choice, has been a complete bust. Her best friend, Naomi, urges her to leave NYC and come out to Napa Valley to get "recharged." Crystal decides to take the plunge and fly to the other side of the country and look for love. She can only hope she will have better luck meeting her soulmate in California on MatchDateLove.
While out exploring the quaint town of Napa, Crystal finds herself walking into Henley's Bar. When the bartender walks over to take her order, she has to remember how to breathe, unprepared for the gorgeousness of the man staring her down with the sexiest, olive green eyes she has ever seen. He is also insulting and rude. His name is Nate and clearly puts off a vibe he was burned badly by an ex-girlfriend and is in no way looking for any type of relationship. Pity that!
"You didn't move all the way across the country in hopes of finding love, did you?"
"So what if I did?"
"Seems like a waste of time."
"You don't believe in love?"
"I believe in love just as much as I believe in death. It is inevitable, and it can hurt."
Nate cannot figure her out. Crystal, or "Red" as he likes to call her, is an incredibly beautiful woman, who could have her pick of any guy she wants, yet she insists on selecting a bunch of yahoos off an online website. Night after night, Crystal meets her blind dates at Henley's Bar. And night after night, Nate observes the date ending long before the evening is over. Nate waits behind the bar always available to serve as a sounding board and to give his critique of the latest man Crystal has just sent home alone. He enjoys their bantering conversations. Heck, he enjoys everything about her. He is starting to fall for her, but knows it is completely wrong. It will be disastrous for them both.
Let me tell you, this is one emotional ride! A ride I am ready to get right back on and do a re-read, like now! Seriously, this was one memorable, amazing read.
Also, kudos to dear, old, cranky Big Ed and eight year old, going on thirty-eight, Scarlett. They were a hoot! I would love a story about Scarlett's love life when she is all grown up. The man will have to be a canonized saint.
This is a stand alone, so don't let the #3 of the collection scare you off.
June 23, 2016
SPOILERS EVERYWHERE
I am fucking sick of these kind of plot twists. Do you know the sad part, I really enjoyed Wild Abandon until we find out Nate's secret. I loved his and Crystal's interactions, how they slowly got together, I laughed and I swooned. It could have been a four star read, but for me the bad heavily outweighed the good.
I am fucking sick of these kind of plot twists. Do you know the sad part, I really enjoyed Wild Abandon until we find out Nate's secret. I loved his and Crystal's interactions, how they slowly got together, I laughed and I swooned. It could have been a four star read, but for me the bad heavily outweighed the good.
"I will forever wonder if he wished to trade me in for the life he had originally chosen... I’d rather live a half-life with Nate than not live with him at all."How can you live your life forever wondering, fuck that shit.
June 26, 2017
4.5 stars
GREAT chemistry between the main characters. I fell in love with both Crystal and Nate!
This is only my second book by this author but i can see her becoming an easy favourite. Her writing is flawless, pacing is great and had just the right amount of angst and sweetness!
Crystal moves to Napa after a heartbreak and unintentionally meets Nate. Nate feels something for Crystal however keeps pushing her away. Nate hides a sad, heartbreaking secret and that last 25% of the book deals with it. So unexpected, my heart broke for Crystal and yet i would have totally done what she did.
So happy i found this author! Off the check out her other books.
GREAT chemistry between the main characters. I fell in love with both Crystal and Nate!
This is only my second book by this author but i can see her becoming an easy favourite. Her writing is flawless, pacing is great and had just the right amount of angst and sweetness!
Crystal moves to Napa after a heartbreak and unintentionally meets Nate. Nate feels something for Crystal however keeps pushing her away. Nate hides a sad, heartbreaking secret and that last 25% of the book deals with it. So unexpected, my heart broke for Crystal and yet i would have totally done what she did.
So happy i found this author! Off the check out her other books.
February 17, 2019
3.5 Stars
**Please do NOT read the spoiler tags below unless you are okay with it being spoiled. This is normally the case with all my reviews, but these are BIG SPOILERS that could impact your experience with the book**
Overall Opinion: Hmmm...what a hard one for me to rate. I messed myself up by predicting what was going to happen all along and I think I never got emotionally invested because of it. I was expecting an angst fest, and maybe if I hadn't read Jake Undone (wayyy) before this I might have had a different experience with it. I don't know which book came first, but they definitely are similar in some aspects -- BUT not all, so don't get me wrong! I liked both characters and I was happy for their HEA. Overall, I didn't love it and I didn't hate it -- a little over the "just okay" 3 Stars for me and I'm giving it a 3.5 star rating 🤷🏻♀️
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Crystal and Nate's story. Crystal is down on her luck and moves to Napa with her friend to try her luck at finding love there. She meets Nate, who is a bartender at the pub she goes into, and they butt heads with an underlying attraction. They form a friendship through her failed dating attempts and end up spending more time together where they fall in love. There are some big secrets revealed, some huge obstacles in their way, some sexy times...and they get a HEA ending.
POV: This alternated between Crystal (mostly) and Nate's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well. This does end at the 89% mark in my kindle app and jumps into another book in the series.
Instalove: No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings.
H rating: 4 stars. Nate. I liked him. Yes, he definitely could have communicated better -- but I also understood where he was coming from.
h rating: 4 stars. Crystal. I liked her. She was a mess, but I also liked how she cared for others.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed. I didn't need any, but other readers might. Think it's because I had predicted what was going to happen from the start that it didn't get me all that emotionally invested.
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW/OM drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: Yes, technically
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This had a cute epilogue with what I would call a HEA ending . I still don't like that the big conflict was resolved and then we are directly put into an epilogue. The epilogue did answer majority if my questions though, so I'll still classify it as a "HEA".
Safety: This one is probably either Safe with exception or Not Safe for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences.
**Please do NOT read the spoiler tags below unless you are okay with it being spoiled. This is normally the case with all my reviews, but these are BIG SPOILERS that could impact your experience with the book**
Overall Opinion: Hmmm...what a hard one for me to rate. I messed myself up by predicting what was going to happen all along and I think I never got emotionally invested because of it. I was expecting an angst fest, and maybe if I hadn't read Jake Undone (wayyy) before this I might have had a different experience with it. I don't know which book came first, but they definitely are similar in some aspects -- BUT not all, so don't get me wrong! I liked both characters and I was happy for their HEA. Overall, I didn't love it and I didn't hate it -- a little over the "just okay" 3 Stars for me and I'm giving it a 3.5 star rating 🤷🏻♀️
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Crystal and Nate's story. Crystal is down on her luck and moves to Napa with her friend to try her luck at finding love there. She meets Nate, who is a bartender at the pub she goes into, and they butt heads with an underlying attraction. They form a friendship through her failed dating attempts and end up spending more time together where they fall in love. There are some big secrets revealed, some huge obstacles in their way, some sexy times...and they get a HEA ending.
POV: This alternated between Crystal (mostly) and Nate's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well. This does end at the 89% mark in my kindle app and jumps into another book in the series.
Instalove: No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings.
H rating: 4 stars. Nate. I liked him. Yes, he definitely could have communicated better -- but I also understood where he was coming from.
h rating: 4 stars. Crystal. I liked her. She was a mess, but I also liked how she cared for others.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed. I didn't need any, but other readers might. Think it's because I had predicted what was going to happen from the start that it didn't get me all that emotionally invested.
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW/OM drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: Yes, technically
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This had a cute epilogue with what I would call a HEA ending . I still don't like that the big conflict was resolved and then we are directly put into an epilogue. The epilogue did answer majority if my questions though, so I'll still classify it as a "HEA".
Safety: This one is probably either Safe with exception or Not Safe for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences.
October 1, 2018
4-4.5 ⭐'s
“Olive juice.”
Another book on my angsty list that I really enjoyed. This is my first book by Jeannine Colette and I liked her writing style. It is angsty but it also had some good humor, some good romance and a twist that you definitely saw coming.
Crystal's love life hasn't been the best and a lot of that has to do with her having a certain idea of who she's looking for. She ends up moving to Napa to stay with her best friend, Naomi, for six months to test the waters there. And test she does.
Thank goodness for hunky bartender Nate who knows exactly what Crystal needs and wants. From the moment they met, you knew there would be heart break and you knew he wouldn't be able to stay away from her.
Likes:
💓Naomi and her family especially Scarlet.
💓Big Ed!
💓Russet Ranch.
💓THE ROSES!
💓Loved getting Nate's POV.
💓Hot air balloons, second tattoos and Giants games.
💓Austin, of course.
💓The rose garden.
Dislikes:
💔How Nate held back and how he didn't.
💔The twist.
💔The ending...wasn't sure I bought how that would work.
It's a very complicated situation...and very difficult. I'm not sure I'm okay with how things would work but I really enjoyed Nate and Crystal together. So much so, that when I found out there is a Wild Abandon Christmas, I started on it right away.
There are couples from the prior book in the story but this can be read as a standalone. I will be going back and reading the other books because Alexander sounds really yummy.
(ETA: DO NOT read this book first if you plan on reading the first two books! This book has many spoilers for those two.)
“Olive juice.”
Another book on my angsty list that I really enjoyed. This is my first book by Jeannine Colette and I liked her writing style. It is angsty but it also had some good humor, some good romance and a twist that you definitely saw coming.
Crystal's love life hasn't been the best and a lot of that has to do with her having a certain idea of who she's looking for. She ends up moving to Napa to stay with her best friend, Naomi, for six months to test the waters there. And test she does.
Thank goodness for hunky bartender Nate who knows exactly what Crystal needs and wants. From the moment they met, you knew there would be heart break and you knew he wouldn't be able to stay away from her.
Likes:
💓Naomi and her family especially Scarlet.
💓Big Ed!
💓Russet Ranch.
💓THE ROSES!
💓Loved getting Nate's POV.
💓Hot air balloons, second tattoos and Giants games.
💓Austin, of course.
💓The rose garden.
Dislikes:
💔How Nate held back and how he didn't.
💔The twist.
💔The ending...wasn't sure I bought how that would work.
It's a very complicated situation...and very difficult. I'm not sure I'm okay with how things would work but I really enjoyed Nate and Crystal together. So much so, that when I found out there is a Wild Abandon Christmas, I started on it right away.
There are couples from the prior book in the story but this can be read as a standalone. I will be going back and reading the other books because Alexander sounds really yummy.
(ETA: DO NOT read this book first if you plan on reading the first two books! This book has many spoilers for those two.)
August 30, 2016
4.5 stars!
Absolutely loved this!
Such a beautiful and heartfelt story of love and second chances. The MC's Crystal and Nate meet in a the bar where Nate works. They start a tentative friendship. Crystal is a serial dater she's looking for the right man her Prince Charming. Even though she had a bad breakup with her ex she still believes in love and a HEA. Nate is such an amazing guy and my heart broke for him, for his situation, being stuck, not being able to move on and be with crystal. Their relationship was angsty but I liked that they became friends first, even when they felt the strong attraction.
The secondary characters were amazing as well especially Ed, I felt for him but part of me hated the way he treated Nate. But he redeem himself at the end, and I did like his relationship win crystal it was so endearing.
Overall this was a beautiful story of not just a love between a man/woman but the love of good friends, the love of your children....even of those loves that are not meant to be!
"olive juice" hands down the best quote of the book! <3
Absolutely loved this!
Such a beautiful and heartfelt story of love and second chances. The MC's Crystal and Nate meet in a the bar where Nate works. They start a tentative friendship. Crystal is a serial dater she's looking for the right man her Prince Charming. Even though she had a bad breakup with her ex she still believes in love and a HEA. Nate is such an amazing guy and my heart broke for him, for his situation, being stuck, not being able to move on and be with crystal. Their relationship was angsty but I liked that they became friends first, even when they felt the strong attraction.
The secondary characters were amazing as well especially Ed, I felt for him but part of me hated the way he treated Nate. But he redeem himself at the end, and I did like his relationship win crystal it was so endearing.
Overall this was a beautiful story of not just a love between a man/woman but the love of good friends, the love of your children....even of those loves that are not meant to be!
"olive juice" hands down the best quote of the book! <3
May 24, 2016
5 "Olive Juice" Stars
Bear with me if I’m all over the place with this review. I will get to Wild Abandon and how awesome it is in a second. I fell in love with Jeannine Colette’s writing when I read Pure Abandon last summer. Pure Abandon is this amazing, forbidden/edgy book that captivated me from the first page and instantly became one of my favorite books. I read it in one sitting and couldn’t stop thinking about it for days. And from then on, I became a super fan of this author. I needed to know if she had more books, I needed to know what was next. Her writing is that good, she is that talented and more and more people should read her books. One of the things I love about her books is that the characters are always so real and so flawed, which is great and so refreshing these days. The other thing I love is the storytelling. Jeannine has this amazing ability to make you feel like you’re there, in these locations, and feeling what the characters are feeling.
I was honored to beta-read this book and it was definitely an interesting experience. As you know, I tend to be super honest when it comes to my reviews, and we pretty much follow that same philosophy on the blog. But when an author entrusts you with a not yet released book that very few people have read and asks you to be brutally honest with her as to what could be improved, to me, is a whole different ballgame. What do you do? You can either tell her it’s perfect, or you can be honest. I chose the honesty route, it was hard and painful but I do believe honest feedback made the book better. Now, don’t get me wrong, the beta version of the book was pretty amazing but the final version is perfect!
Ok, back to Wild Abandon. Wild Abandon is book #3 in the Abandon series and can be totally read as a standalone although I super recommend the previous two books. This story is set in Napa and is all sorts of awesome. We first meet the heroine, Crystal, in Reckless Abandon, she’s Emma’s co-worker and friend and she totally deserved her own book. Wild Abandon starts with Crystal leaving New York and seeking a fresh start in Napa. Crystal wants to find the one, she longs to find that once in a lifetime love after a lot of heartbreak. Crystal is looking for love in the wrong places, some of those scenes are the funniest in the book, until she meets Nate (Nathaniel).
“The smell of him, the feel of his hands in my hair, the taste of Nate are intoxicating me in so many ways that I forget where we are, who we are, what we are.”
Crystal and Nate start out as friends, but their chemistry is off the charts since the first moment, and you just know they just need to be together. But, as the blurb suggests, it won’t be that easy and they are in for a bumpy ride, one I you will need to read to understand. In the interest of honesty, this is usually not my favorite story, but man Jeannine totally sold the story to me and made me a believer. Sometimes, it’s all about the execution, and the execution is great on this book. I will just say that this is an epic love story, full of feels, all of them! I cried, I laughed, I cried some more and I got frustrated at times. This is definitely not your traditional love story, but it’s beautiful nonetheless.
“I have so much to explain. So much to tell you. Right now, I just want to be a man making love to a beautiful woman. I want to touch you. I want to kiss you. I want to be with you, Crystal. I’ll tell you everything. My story, my life. You might want to run. Oh God, I hope you don’t run. But, for now, please, let me love you. Let me be Nate.”
I loved both Nate and Crystal, they were both very likeable. My heart also broke for both and their situation at times. I also loved the secondary characters, they complement the story in the best way possible. The book flows perfectly and the writing is just gorgeous. I guarantee you will love this book and the underlying message of hope, fate and unconditional love. In a sea of mediocre, poorly written and more of the same books, this one is a standout gem. I wholeheartedly recommend this author and this book!
“Somewhere along the way, I fell in love with you. And it’s not because I was lonely. You complete me in a way no one else ever has.”
**An ARC was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review**
Bear with me if I’m all over the place with this review. I will get to Wild Abandon and how awesome it is in a second. I fell in love with Jeannine Colette’s writing when I read Pure Abandon last summer. Pure Abandon is this amazing, forbidden/edgy book that captivated me from the first page and instantly became one of my favorite books. I read it in one sitting and couldn’t stop thinking about it for days. And from then on, I became a super fan of this author. I needed to know if she had more books, I needed to know what was next. Her writing is that good, she is that talented and more and more people should read her books. One of the things I love about her books is that the characters are always so real and so flawed, which is great and so refreshing these days. The other thing I love is the storytelling. Jeannine has this amazing ability to make you feel like you’re there, in these locations, and feeling what the characters are feeling.
I was honored to beta-read this book and it was definitely an interesting experience. As you know, I tend to be super honest when it comes to my reviews, and we pretty much follow that same philosophy on the blog. But when an author entrusts you with a not yet released book that very few people have read and asks you to be brutally honest with her as to what could be improved, to me, is a whole different ballgame. What do you do? You can either tell her it’s perfect, or you can be honest. I chose the honesty route, it was hard and painful but I do believe honest feedback made the book better. Now, don’t get me wrong, the beta version of the book was pretty amazing but the final version is perfect!
Ok, back to Wild Abandon. Wild Abandon is book #3 in the Abandon series and can be totally read as a standalone although I super recommend the previous two books. This story is set in Napa and is all sorts of awesome. We first meet the heroine, Crystal, in Reckless Abandon, she’s Emma’s co-worker and friend and she totally deserved her own book. Wild Abandon starts with Crystal leaving New York and seeking a fresh start in Napa. Crystal wants to find the one, she longs to find that once in a lifetime love after a lot of heartbreak. Crystal is looking for love in the wrong places, some of those scenes are the funniest in the book, until she meets Nate (Nathaniel).
“The smell of him, the feel of his hands in my hair, the taste of Nate are intoxicating me in so many ways that I forget where we are, who we are, what we are.”
Crystal and Nate start out as friends, but their chemistry is off the charts since the first moment, and you just know they just need to be together. But, as the blurb suggests, it won’t be that easy and they are in for a bumpy ride, one I you will need to read to understand. In the interest of honesty, this is usually not my favorite story, but man Jeannine totally sold the story to me and made me a believer. Sometimes, it’s all about the execution, and the execution is great on this book. I will just say that this is an epic love story, full of feels, all of them! I cried, I laughed, I cried some more and I got frustrated at times. This is definitely not your traditional love story, but it’s beautiful nonetheless.
“I have so much to explain. So much to tell you. Right now, I just want to be a man making love to a beautiful woman. I want to touch you. I want to kiss you. I want to be with you, Crystal. I’ll tell you everything. My story, my life. You might want to run. Oh God, I hope you don’t run. But, for now, please, let me love you. Let me be Nate.”
I loved both Nate and Crystal, they were both very likeable. My heart also broke for both and their situation at times. I also loved the secondary characters, they complement the story in the best way possible. The book flows perfectly and the writing is just gorgeous. I guarantee you will love this book and the underlying message of hope, fate and unconditional love. In a sea of mediocre, poorly written and more of the same books, this one is a standout gem. I wholeheartedly recommend this author and this book!
“Somewhere along the way, I fell in love with you. And it’s not because I was lonely. You complete me in a way no one else ever has.”
**An ARC was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review**
May 29, 2016
Crystal Reid is desperate to find the man of her life, and has resorted to online dating in the hope of finding this elusive Mr Right, but with absolutely no success. It has become quite an obsession, despite her passion for music. She feels she needs a change of scenery to find herself and decides to relocate for 6 months to the West Coast, with the help of her best friend.
She gets a job at a small winery in Napa Valley. The place is falling apart and the job is unclear though, ranging from cleaning to playing the cello for hypothetic visitors. Ed Martin, its owner, is rough and grumbly but intends to teach her some winetasting skills.
When she meets Nate Teller, the bartender of the place where she usually dates her potential Mr Rights, she is intrigued. Nate is emotionally unavailable, for a reason she doesn’t understand. She has made a checklist of the qualities of the perfect man, and Nate is the opposite of everything she wants in a guy. So why is she attracted to him ?
Nate is friendly but complex, he seems broken and hates love. He refuses to plan for the future, wants to live in the present. He is not interested in Crystal, but then he is… And when he starts romancing Crystal, she can’t resist him. But Nate has to reveal her the story of his life, and it’s not an easy one to hear.
I enjoyed this heartfelt story about love, friendship, fidelity and hope. I love Jeannine Colette’s narrative style and characterization. I have read all her books so far. This book was different from the previous ones in the series though, less passionate. It was more an emotional and touching exploration of a friend/lover relationship and Ms. Colette nailed it. Wild abandon is connected to Reckless Abandon, Crystal being a co-worker of Emma at the academy. However, it can perfectly be read as a standalone. I really enjoyed the little cameo of Emma and Alexander, the heroes from Reckless Abandon.
I received a copy of this book from the author and Wordsmith Publicity, in exchange for an honest review.
She gets a job at a small winery in Napa Valley. The place is falling apart and the job is unclear though, ranging from cleaning to playing the cello for hypothetic visitors. Ed Martin, its owner, is rough and grumbly but intends to teach her some winetasting skills.
When she meets Nate Teller, the bartender of the place where she usually dates her potential Mr Rights, she is intrigued. Nate is emotionally unavailable, for a reason she doesn’t understand. She has made a checklist of the qualities of the perfect man, and Nate is the opposite of everything she wants in a guy. So why is she attracted to him ?
Nate is friendly but complex, he seems broken and hates love. He refuses to plan for the future, wants to live in the present. He is not interested in Crystal, but then he is… And when he starts romancing Crystal, she can’t resist him. But Nate has to reveal her the story of his life, and it’s not an easy one to hear.
I enjoyed this heartfelt story about love, friendship, fidelity and hope. I love Jeannine Colette’s narrative style and characterization. I have read all her books so far. This book was different from the previous ones in the series though, less passionate. It was more an emotional and touching exploration of a friend/lover relationship and Ms. Colette nailed it. Wild abandon is connected to Reckless Abandon, Crystal being a co-worker of Emma at the academy. However, it can perfectly be read as a standalone. I really enjoyed the little cameo of Emma and Alexander, the heroes from Reckless Abandon.
I received a copy of this book from the author and Wordsmith Publicity, in exchange for an honest review.
June 27, 2016
What a beautiful, angsty, funny, and romantic story! LOVED!
Confession time - I knew the hero's secret going into this story. Someone (no names) posted a review without spoiler tags and put this spoiler all over it. Not cool. But I had already started this book so I continued reading because the writing is gorgeous and emotional. And I'm so happy I kept going (even though I knew the spoiler) because this book is more than just about the plot twist. But that plot twist HURT.
One of my favorite things about this book is the rich description of Napa Valley, where the heroine goes to visit her best friend, hoping to find love. It's written in a way that made me feel like I was truly there. I loved Big Ed. You must meet this grumpy old man that stole my heart.
This story is about love and forgiveness and finding yourself. Not only did I love the heroine's personality immediately, but I connected with her as well. She's absolutely fantastic. The hero is pretty great too. Nate is troubled, a bit broody, but sweet and swoony too. He has a secret that will break your heart, as it did mine. I loved the way the Crystal and Nate met, and every interaction between them made my stomach flutter. Their chemistry was incredible.
I'm SO IN LOVE with this author's writing style that I'm going to check out her other books.
Thank you Jennifer Kyle for the rec! xx
June 27, 2016
Wild Abandon by Jeannine Colette
5 stars!!
I adored everything about this book, from the visceral scene setting, to the intense emotion, to the ebb and flow of angst, to some fantastic characters including the secondary’s, to the amount of research into Napa and wine that must have gone into making this such a believable story and for me personally, a journey through the Napa Valley experiencing everything along the way.
The story of Crystal and Nate was one addictive read and one that I couldn’t put down, a story where I thought I knew where things were going (and I did to an extent) only to be blindsided the next. But this was an incredibly beautiful and moving story, one that will touch even the toughest of hearts but none the less, a story that tugged on every single emotion and had my eyes leaking a few times too…not only from sadness but also from some great comedic moments too. Nate and Crystal’s relationship was that of a fine wine, it takes its time to mature, to develop, but it is complex, it tantalises and it leaves a lingering, lasting memory.
Crystal Reid was a woman that had had her heart broken once and now she is woman that has her lists and the man she meets needs to tick every box, she has become a serial dater and is addicted to dating apps. Her dating experiences are much the same as the state of her life…crap, and so she decides to have a fresh start from everything…from memories, from life, from dating the same old pool. So on a wing and a prayer she ups sticks and relocates to Napa to stay with her best friend. This would be one journey she would never forget.
Nate Teller was the barman/manager at the local establishment, Henley’s. Nate was very closed off, broody, intense and attached. Nate meets Crystal while she is waiting for her friend and despite his frostiness in the first instance they seemed to hit it off, but in a friends only capacity. Nate is already in a relationship and as much as he doesn’t want to even be friends with Crystal she has that effect on everyone around her and her personality is infectious, even the most closed off are spread wide open.
Crystal was a free spirit, she was a talented cello player and had a heart of gold and as part of her new start she gets a job at a rundown vineyard that gave up the ghost years ago. Ed, the owner, was old, had family problems and since he had lost his wife and his daughter had gone off to university he had lost his vitality and his enthusiasm with anything pertaining to the vineyard, however, he didn’t bank on the mini tornado called Crystal.
As I said above, this was such a beautiful and touching story, I loved Ed as well as Crystal and Nate and all secondary characters had a huge part to play in bringing this story to fruition. I loved the dialogue, the banter between friends and had many chuckles as well as tears. This was a great all-rounder and one that will pull on every single emotion, from love to laughter, from frustration to OMG, to tears and joy, it had everything. There was nothing I would have changed, the flow was perfect, the build was perfect, the dialogue was perfect, the plot was perfect, the epilogue was perfect…see we have a pattern, for me it was perfect.
Yes, they have secrets, yes it takes time to build up that trust, some secrets I saw coming, some I didn’t, but nothing was superfluous, everything made sense, everything was answered and I have to mention this one scene…their first time...OMG, perfection…I had tears. So there you have it, perfect, perfect, perfect and more perfect, means for me this book was awesome. So it was well deserving of my five shiny stars. Jeannine Collette is a new to me author, but she will not be a stranger, I now need to go and check out what else she has written.
www.theromancecover.com
5 stars!!
“Napa is for lovers, not loners.”
I adored everything about this book, from the visceral scene setting, to the intense emotion, to the ebb and flow of angst, to some fantastic characters including the secondary’s, to the amount of research into Napa and wine that must have gone into making this such a believable story and for me personally, a journey through the Napa Valley experiencing everything along the way.
“What screws us up the most in life is the picture in our head of what it’s supposed to be.”
The story of Crystal and Nate was one addictive read and one that I couldn’t put down, a story where I thought I knew where things were going (and I did to an extent) only to be blindsided the next. But this was an incredibly beautiful and moving story, one that will touch even the toughest of hearts but none the less, a story that tugged on every single emotion and had my eyes leaking a few times too…not only from sadness but also from some great comedic moments too. Nate and Crystal’s relationship was that of a fine wine, it takes its time to mature, to develop, but it is complex, it tantalises and it leaves a lingering, lasting memory.
“Sometimes, planning for the future only leads to disappointment. It’s what we do with the present that matters. And, right now, I’m really enjoying today.”
Crystal Reid was a woman that had had her heart broken once and now she is woman that has her lists and the man she meets needs to tick every box, she has become a serial dater and is addicted to dating apps. Her dating experiences are much the same as the state of her life…crap, and so she decides to have a fresh start from everything…from memories, from life, from dating the same old pool. So on a wing and a prayer she ups sticks and relocates to Napa to stay with her best friend. This would be one journey she would never forget.
“Olive juice.”
Nate Teller was the barman/manager at the local establishment, Henley’s. Nate was very closed off, broody, intense and attached. Nate meets Crystal while she is waiting for her friend and despite his frostiness in the first instance they seemed to hit it off, but in a friends only capacity. Nate is already in a relationship and as much as he doesn’t want to even be friends with Crystal she has that effect on everyone around her and her personality is infectious, even the most closed off are spread wide open.
“I would never rewrite my past. But if I could change my future, it would be to have you in it.”
Crystal was a free spirit, she was a talented cello player and had a heart of gold and as part of her new start she gets a job at a rundown vineyard that gave up the ghost years ago. Ed, the owner, was old, had family problems and since he had lost his wife and his daughter had gone off to university he had lost his vitality and his enthusiasm with anything pertaining to the vineyard, however, he didn’t bank on the mini tornado called Crystal.
“You and me – we’re white grapes. Protecting ourselves from the outside world. But you, Crystal, when you’re done growing, you will thrive and make a spectacular wine so rare that you’ll break a collector’s heart one day.”
As I said above, this was such a beautiful and touching story, I loved Ed as well as Crystal and Nate and all secondary characters had a huge part to play in bringing this story to fruition. I loved the dialogue, the banter between friends and had many chuckles as well as tears. This was a great all-rounder and one that will pull on every single emotion, from love to laughter, from frustration to OMG, to tears and joy, it had everything. There was nothing I would have changed, the flow was perfect, the build was perfect, the dialogue was perfect, the plot was perfect, the epilogue was perfect…see we have a pattern, for me it was perfect.
“I can’t be with someone, knowing I’m their second choice.”
“And I can’t be with you because I’m afraid you’d be my first.”
Yes, they have secrets, yes it takes time to build up that trust, some secrets I saw coming, some I didn’t, but nothing was superfluous, everything made sense, everything was answered and I have to mention this one scene…their first time...OMG, perfection…I had tears. So there you have it, perfect, perfect, perfect and more perfect, means for me this book was awesome. So it was well deserving of my five shiny stars. Jeannine Collette is a new to me author, but she will not be a stranger, I now need to go and check out what else she has written.
“I’d rather live a half-life with Nate than not live with him at all.”
www.theromancecover.com
June 28, 2016
I kept seeing this book pop-up on Goodreads lately so to pull myself out of this book funk I had going on, I one-clicked it. And trust me, I am so glad that I did!
It’s been awhile since I read “that book”. The book that makes you want to scream about. That book that makes you forget to start dinner because you are too busy reading. The one you want to tell everyone about, and reread for the first time. Wild Abandon is THAT BOOK.
Crystal is at a bit of a crossroads at the young age of thirty. To get her out of her rut, she decides to move to Napa to do her own sort of Eat. Love. Pray. thing. She moves in with her best friend and her family. On a whim while waiting for her fried, she stumbles into a bar and meets the standoffish bartender, Nate, and they slowly become friends.
One of Crystal’s main goals is to find her soul mate. Immediately she gets her dating apps updated to her new location, and dips her toes into the dating pool. Each date starts at Henley’s, (Nate’s bar) and I will tell you each and every date is absolutely hysterical. Throughout her dating “experiences” Nate is right there front and center to the disasters that play out.
“I would never rewrite my past. But if I could change my future, it would be to have you in it.”
At the same time, Crystal takes a job at a rundown vineyard that is in need of some serious TLC. Not only does the vineyard benefit from her amazingness, but so does Ed, the older, albeit very curmudgeon owner. The friendship that blooms between them is beautiful and shows you how big Crystal’s heart is. That she literally is that special person that seems to have fallen into where she is supposed to be.
All the while, through crappy dates, Crystal starts to fall for Nate while he throws some very wishy-washy signals. The thing is, Nate is stuck in his past and really can’t escape it. The chemistry that these two share is off the charts. You know that these two are made for each other but there are things in Nate’s life that he can’t control.
“You are my red rose.”
These two have quite the road to find their HEA…and there will be tears. For me it was more like waterworks and I ended up a hot mess. Also, the rich backdrop of Napa just added to the story. The author did an incredible job depicted how beautiful and romantic Napa truly is.
“I know you have a past, but I need you to treat me like I’m your future.”
Lastly, don’t read any spoilers. I think it will distract from how the story unfolds. Also, I know this review did not do the book the justice it deserves, just read it. This book will absolutely hands-down be a top read of 2016 for me.
Psst....this is one book you will keep saying OLIVE JUICE to as well! <3
It’s been awhile since I read “that book”. The book that makes you want to scream about. That book that makes you forget to start dinner because you are too busy reading. The one you want to tell everyone about, and reread for the first time. Wild Abandon is THAT BOOK.
Crystal is at a bit of a crossroads at the young age of thirty. To get her out of her rut, she decides to move to Napa to do her own sort of Eat. Love. Pray. thing. She moves in with her best friend and her family. On a whim while waiting for her fried, she stumbles into a bar and meets the standoffish bartender, Nate, and they slowly become friends.
One of Crystal’s main goals is to find her soul mate. Immediately she gets her dating apps updated to her new location, and dips her toes into the dating pool. Each date starts at Henley’s, (Nate’s bar) and I will tell you each and every date is absolutely hysterical. Throughout her dating “experiences” Nate is right there front and center to the disasters that play out.
“I would never rewrite my past. But if I could change my future, it would be to have you in it.”
At the same time, Crystal takes a job at a rundown vineyard that is in need of some serious TLC. Not only does the vineyard benefit from her amazingness, but so does Ed, the older, albeit very curmudgeon owner. The friendship that blooms between them is beautiful and shows you how big Crystal’s heart is. That she literally is that special person that seems to have fallen into where she is supposed to be.
All the while, through crappy dates, Crystal starts to fall for Nate while he throws some very wishy-washy signals. The thing is, Nate is stuck in his past and really can’t escape it. The chemistry that these two share is off the charts. You know that these two are made for each other but there are things in Nate’s life that he can’t control.
“You are my red rose.”
These two have quite the road to find their HEA…and there will be tears. For me it was more like waterworks and I ended up a hot mess. Also, the rich backdrop of Napa just added to the story. The author did an incredible job depicted how beautiful and romantic Napa truly is.
“I know you have a past, but I need you to treat me like I’m your future.”
Lastly, don’t read any spoilers. I think it will distract from how the story unfolds. Also, I know this review did not do the book the justice it deserves, just read it. This book will absolutely hands-down be a top read of 2016 for me.
Psst....this is one book you will keep saying OLIVE JUICE to as well! <3
June 1, 2016
5++++ Stars!!!
For those of you wondering, this book is a standalone and can be read without the need to read the first two books. But, I did love Pure Abandon A LOT!
Same goes for Wild Abandon....I loved it even though I was pretty sure I knew the storyline and where it was going early in the book. It didn't matter. Jeannine Colette you rock!
So this is a story of second chances for two people who are brought together by fate. Nate and Crystal. Crystal takes her chances and moves from the East Coast to the West Coast to stay with her friend and hopefully, start living life again. She is a cellist and her friend gets her a job with a local winery. I loved this portion of the book. Her relationship with Ed, learning about the winery, and her dedication to bring the winery back to life.
Crystal meets Nate when walking into a bar where he is a bartender. The bar was supposed to be closed and the door locked. I loved Nate. There was obviously something very troubling in his past, but you could feel the connection between him and Crystal.
Determined to be "just friends", Crystal and Nate spend some time together and they were so good together.
But, secrets were being held by some of the people Crystal felt she'd become very close to and you know, secrets always eventually come out.
Great book and I just love Jeannine Colette.
P.S. to Jeannine: You've just redeemed yourself in my eyes! Haha! I was so sad about Alex in Reckless Abandon because I didn't like Emma and felt like he deserved better (like me....lol!!) But you rocked my world with this book!
I received an ARC of this book for an honest review through Maryse's Book Blog Wolfpack/Bridesmaids Meeting Place. Thank you so much! Loved it!
For those of you wondering, this book is a standalone and can be read without the need to read the first two books. But, I did love Pure Abandon A LOT!
Same goes for Wild Abandon....I loved it even though I was pretty sure I knew the storyline and where it was going early in the book. It didn't matter. Jeannine Colette you rock!
So this is a story of second chances for two people who are brought together by fate. Nate and Crystal. Crystal takes her chances and moves from the East Coast to the West Coast to stay with her friend and hopefully, start living life again. She is a cellist and her friend gets her a job with a local winery. I loved this portion of the book. Her relationship with Ed, learning about the winery, and her dedication to bring the winery back to life.
Crystal meets Nate when walking into a bar where he is a bartender. The bar was supposed to be closed and the door locked. I loved Nate. There was obviously something very troubling in his past, but you could feel the connection between him and Crystal.
Determined to be "just friends", Crystal and Nate spend some time together and they were so good together.
But, secrets were being held by some of the people Crystal felt she'd become very close to and you know, secrets always eventually come out.
Great book and I just love Jeannine Colette.
P.S. to Jeannine: You've just redeemed yourself in my eyes! Haha! I was so sad about Alex in Reckless Abandon because I didn't like Emma and felt like he deserved better (like me....lol!!) But you rocked my world with this book!
I received an ARC of this book for an honest review through Maryse's Book Blog Wolfpack/Bridesmaids Meeting Place. Thank you so much! Loved it!
August 9, 2016
I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!
5 Reasons you should read The Abandon Books:
Our Q & A With Seth
Schmexy: So why writing? How did you get started and was this something you always wanted to do?
Schmexy: How long did it take you to write each book?
Schmexy: Where do you get your ideas?
Schmexy: Who is your favorite author and what is your favorite book?
Schmexy: What inspires you?
We are thrilled to have Jeannine Colette for our second feature of "Schmexy's New Found Faves" post!!! Jeannine is the author of the Abandon series and they are all must reads!!!
Roxie and Jen recently DEVOURED the Abandon Series. Jeannine Colette was a "new to us" author, and OH MY GOD, we were sucked in and LOVED EVERY BOOK!!!
Each book was filled with lots of angst, a swoonworthy book boyfriend, the perfect heroine and her writing was top-notch.
We couldn't put them down!!!
5 Reasons you should read The Abandon Books:
1. Amazingly written.
2. Incredible plots.
3. Lots of angst.
4. Book boyfriends who are swoonworthy.
5. Triple Bookgasm!!!
We had a chance to ask Jeannine a few questions. So here we go! Read what Jeannine had to say!
Our Q & A With Seth
Schmexy: So why writing? How did you get started and was this something you always wanted to do?
I started writing at nine-years-old. It was a way to escape, to daydream, and to create. But I never thought of writing as a career. It was something I did for me.
It wasn’t until I left my career as a television producer, to focus on my hearing impaired son, that I found myself reevaluating my life and my dreams. For five hours a day I sat in a lobby while I waited for my son to complete his speech, physical and occupational therapies. It was in this lobby that I finished my first book, Pure Abandon. In many ways, it was my son’s inability to hear that gave me the ability to listen. Listen to myself, to the characters inside my head and to understand the kind of woman I want to be for my kids: Someone who doesn’t give up on her dreams.
Schmexy: How long did it take you to write each book?
I started writing Pure Abandon on my hour and a half commute to work at NBC. It took my seven months to write and then it sat on my computer for two years! Why? Because I thought people would laugh at me. What if it sucked? In the world of social media, if you fail, you fail in front of everyone. Finally, I got the nerve to hire a developmental editor and turned my passion project into a real life novel. I wrote Reckless Abandon in seven months and Wild Abandon in four.
The hardest part is making sure these standalone novels can, indeed, be read as single titles while still being faithful to the other books in the collection.
Schmexy: Where do you get your ideas?
Pure Abandon came from my love of book boyfriends! I wondered, “What would I do if Kellen Kyle (Thoughtless), Brayden Carmichael (On Dublin Street) or Christen Grey (FSOG) walked into my life and asked me to run away with him?” I’m married with children, not a twenty-two-year-old, converse sneaker wearing, virgin. I put temptation to the test and asked readers, “What would you do?”
I never planned to write a collection but, once Pure Abandon was complete, I knew I had to continue the story of the “one that got away.” Each couple in my novels faces an obstacle that has been inspired by myself or someone I have known. I’d love to talk about Wild Abandon but then I’d be giving away Nate’s secret. And it’s a great secret!
Schmexy: Who is your favorite author and what is your favorite book?
This is a crazy hard question! I’d have to say Colleen Hoover. Not only are her novels brilliant but, if you ever read her blog, you’d quickly learn she is genuine, authentic and has the biggest heart in the book community. Her novel, Maybe Someday, is one of my favorite books. She is the one person I wanted to interview before I left my career but never got a chance to.
Schmexy: What inspires you?
Have passport, will travel! Each novel in the Abandon Collection features a city, including my hometown NYC! I like to think these cities are as important as the characters themselves. So far, I have taken readers to Capri (Reckless Abandon), Napa (Wild Abandon) and in the upcoming novella, Sinful Abandon, Chicago. Landscapes, food, people and scents from incredible cities around the world inspire me more than words can describe.
June 26, 2016
Omg, this book was incredible!!!!! From start to finish, I was immersed in Nate and Crystal's whirlwind, heartbreaking love story!!! So much emotion and heart, I loved it hard. A solid read. That ending pieced my soul back together. I'm super happy for have taken a chance on this gem. A definite must-read. Now I need to check out more by this author.
July 6, 2016
I haven't read the other two books by this author but thoroughly enjoyed this one. While it can be read as a standalone, I believe her other books are about characters who were included in this one.
I do feel that there was unnecessary drama in this that could have been prevented if either Nate or Ed would have told Crystal the truth.
Anyways not bad, not bad.
I do feel that there was unnecessary drama in this that could have been prevented if either Nate or Ed would have told Crystal the truth.
Anyways not bad, not bad.
October 2, 2017
So i started reading this one and put it down for a while, it just wasn't speaking to me. I picked it back up and finished I in one sitting. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Yes, some you see coming but the story still keeps your attention page by page.
Solid read 4
H/H: 4
Cover: 4 I like non typical covers!!
Steam: 3
Angst: 4
Emotions while reading: I laughed, I smiled, I teared up a tiny bit
Very well written
Solid read 4
H/H: 4
Cover: 4 I like non typical covers!!
Steam: 3
Angst: 4
Emotions while reading: I laughed, I smiled, I teared up a tiny bit
Very well written
December 19, 2016
5 *olive juice* estrelas
Primeiro quero dizer que a capa pra esse livro deveria ser bem melhor, se não fosse pelas resenhas e notas eu provavelmente nunca teria escolhido esse livro, contudo fez o destino que eu lesse o primeiro parágrafo e foi amor instantâneo.
Eu realmente necessito dizer o quanto esse livro me agradou extremamente, acho que tudo que procuro quando leio encontrei nesse livro, é a dose certa de humor, são personagens bens escritos (todos personagens são maravilhosos), é a parte dramática excelente e bem estruturada, tudo possuí um momento adequado para ocorrer.
Amantes de vinho esse livro vos pertence, acho que o que não sabia sobre a bebida aprendi nesse livro, vou por em prática algum dia quiçá.
Além de tudo isso mencionado nós temos uma moçinha fodona e um mocinho com um coração gigante, mas cheio de dor.
Amei o início o meio e o fim.
Para quem leu o livro:
There she goes with the bom,bom,bom
Her hips , they sway with the bom bom bom
It's guerrilla warfare with her bom bom bom
She's so damn primal with her bom, bom,bom
Get nasty! I get loose! I get crazy! She's so loose! It's Master Craze, and the girl's in a daze. I just can't help myself.
HAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAAHAAHAHAHHAAHHAAH
"What did he just say?" "He said some people come into your life for a reason, some for a season, and some a lifetime."
"Love is like wine. You can't add sugar and mask the flavor, pretending it's something it's not. Love is like that. When you meet the right person, you'll know. And you won't be able to let it go."
Primeiro quero dizer que a capa pra esse livro deveria ser bem melhor, se não fosse pelas resenhas e notas eu provavelmente nunca teria escolhido esse livro, contudo fez o destino que eu lesse o primeiro parágrafo e foi amor instantâneo.
Eu realmente necessito dizer o quanto esse livro me agradou extremamente, acho que tudo que procuro quando leio encontrei nesse livro, é a dose certa de humor, são personagens bens escritos (todos personagens são maravilhosos), é a parte dramática excelente e bem estruturada, tudo possuí um momento adequado para ocorrer.
Amantes de vinho esse livro vos pertence, acho que o que não sabia sobre a bebida aprendi nesse livro, vou por em prática algum dia quiçá.
Além de tudo isso mencionado nós temos uma moçinha fodona e um mocinho com um coração gigante, mas cheio de dor.
Amei o início o meio e o fim.
Para quem leu o livro:
There she goes with the bom,bom,bom
Her hips , they sway with the bom bom bom
It's guerrilla warfare with her bom bom bom
She's so damn primal with her bom, bom,bom
Get nasty! I get loose! I get crazy! She's so loose! It's Master Craze, and the girl's in a daze. I just can't help myself.
HAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAAHAAHAHAHHAAHHAAH
"What did he just say?" "He said some people come into your life for a reason, some for a season, and some a lifetime."
"Love is like wine. You can't add sugar and mask the flavor, pretending it's something it's not. Love is like that. When you meet the right person, you'll know. And you won't be able to let it go."
August 14, 2024
Second read (7/24), so I upped my rating to 4 solid ⭐️'s instead of 3.5 rounded up. I couldn't give it more bc I didn't cry or rage, just a good solid read. TBH, I don't cry much with books but I love to rage. 😁 Nothing like a good cleansing rage to let off real life steam.
Yes, a lot like Jake Undone, but I didn't care for the writing in that book so I enjoyed this one more. JU feels very NA to me and the angst was eh.
I took out the cheating tag, bc to me it wasn't cheating, just wasn't. We each tolerate and view things so differently though, so if you're sensitive to cheating like scenarios I wouldn't recommend it to you.
If you want a well written, angsty, second chance at love story, read this. I laughed a few times, which I don't do a lot bc it seems like authors go for silly humor; this had a couple of places that I thought were actually funny instead of feeling like the author was going for an artifical laugh. I really dislike authorial manipulation, and humor that isn't organic to the story is one of my pet peeves. The humor lightened things up a bit. KU
I adjusted my review after re reading.
Yes, a lot like Jake Undone, but I didn't care for the writing in that book so I enjoyed this one more. JU feels very NA to me and the angst was eh.
I took out the cheating tag, bc to me it wasn't cheating, just wasn't. We each tolerate and view things so differently though, so if you're sensitive to cheating like scenarios I wouldn't recommend it to you.
If you want a well written, angsty, second chance at love story, read this. I laughed a few times, which I don't do a lot bc it seems like authors go for silly humor; this had a couple of places that I thought were actually funny instead of feeling like the author was going for an artifical laugh. I really dislike authorial manipulation, and humor that isn't organic to the story is one of my pet peeves. The humor lightened things up a bit. KU
I adjusted my review after re reading.
July 5, 2016
This review might not make a bunch of sense. I also want to apologize beforehand for the length. Sometimes I have a lot to say. I have a lot of thoughts that I need to get out about this story but I'm not really sure how. I'm also not going to do the general thing and vaguely describe the story line and tell you about the character's rises and falls. You need to experience that for yourself, and as for story line? If the author wanted you to have clues, she would have put them in the synopsis. Just know that you need this book in your life.
“With wild abandon, I run. Not from him. I run to him.”
Let me just start by telling you this: Jeannine's writing is so flawless and eloquent, it's astonishing. Every word she put on that page held a purpose. I'm actually at a loss for words as to how I can describe it any more. She seamlessly flows from scene to scene, location to location, while weaving character growth, experiences, intense imagery and perfect dialogue together. And on top of this, she makes it look easy.
How each reader perceives this book will be a very personal experience. It will be different for everyone - whether you like it, love it, dislike it, love the ending, hate it, etc. I can't praise or fault anyone how how they take is because like I said, it's extremely personal and will reflect on your values and experiences. I loved Wild Abandon. It was deeply emotional and moving with incredible depth that will make you question the difference between right and wrong, fate and destiny, want and commitment.
I've never known a love like this or the pain of someone I can't have. I don't know what this is like, but I am having a bit of a hard time with the conclusion. Would I have done the same thing? I'm not sure. I honestly think I may have have done the opposite or at least extended it, but could never know for sure. I think it was done in the cleanest way to tie the loose ends up yes, but with a story that holds this much heartbreak, I don't necessarily need clean. *I finished this book and wrote this paragraph last night but after sleeping on it, I feel better about the conclusion. I still agree with the aforementioned thoughts, but it's sitting better with me now.*
“I didn’t want to fall in love, but I couldn’t help it.”
My stomach drops. They’re the words every girl dreams of hearing. They’re so perfect yet so wrong. Even still, I can’t move. So, I don’t.
Nate lowers his mouth and places a soft kiss along my hairline. “You are funny and sexy and wild and sweet. The first time you came into the bar, I tried not to look at you because I just knew I was going to fall. I did. So hard. No one has ever made me laugh the way you do or understands me the way you do. The fact that you’re even here, tonight, is why I will never stop thinking about you for the rest of my life.”
I am a 100%, true, sappy, romantic, cheese loving woman. It's like the air I breathe, I need it to live. So something like Wild Abandon, which tells an amazing story of a woman looking for love and a man who is trapped in his past with no escape is a story that I'm not strong enough to turn down. Even with the vagueness of the synopsis I knew I had to read this book, and it came recommended by one of my very good friends who I trust dearly. She told me I'd love it and she was right. Throw in an extremely healthy dose of angst, a touch of drama and some interconnected characters and I'm as happy as a pig in mud.
I really enjoyed Crystal's character. She was searching for what everyone wants in this world and she wasn't going to settle for someone who wasn't perfect. With being married before and going on countless dead end dates afterwards, she knew what she wanted and was chasing it with everyone she had. Only problem is that sometimes it's those that you least expect who have the greatest impact.
“He’s so different from anything I’ve ever wanted. The opposite of what I should want. Yet I need him more than I need air to breathe.
This could all end badly, but I don’t care.
I want him.
I want him forever.”
My heart bled for Nate. It's as simple as that. From his present situation to his past, to his little hope for a future. I hurt and I cried for him, because if there's anyone that needed an HEA, it's this guy. Plus the fact that he found want he wanted in Crystal, and her in him, but they couldn't now or ever be together. Their journey is a hard one, but nothing in life worth having is ever easy.
“When I am with you, I can be me. You look at me like a man. I haven’t wanted to let anyone in. I tried to keep you away, but I can’t, Crystal. You walked into my life, and I couldn’t shut you out.”
“Somewhere along the way, I fell in love with you. And it’s not because I was lonely. You complete me in a way no one else ever has. I want to be with you, Crystal.” He bows his head and clenches his trembling jaw.
“I can’t be with someone, knowing I’m their second choice.” I pull on my lip and fight back my tears.
Nate lets his own tears fall free. “And I can’t be with you because I’m afraid you’d be my first.”
Everything about Nate I loved. His work ethic, his morals and vows, his identity, perseverance and his loyalty. He wasn't afraid to put his heart on the line. Granted, he was never looking for the line but Crystal snuck up on him. It's his actions and his words that make you fall in love over and over, deeper and deeper. I love this kind of hero.
The relationship between the two main characters was so easy to connect with. The reader can sense the connection almost immediately and then as the story progresses with them not being able to have each other, it tugs at your heart strings. Then with Crystal and Nate having to walk away because it's too hard to be close but not have the person you want, breaks your heart. Shatters it. Obliterates it. It hurts because the connection is so palpable, their need for each other was so great. I'll be honest in saying that I cried on more than one occasion, and I NEVER cry in stories like this. In a cancer book when someone is dying? Sure, that'll make me bawl like a baby. But here? I sat on my bed, quietly weeping as to not disrupt their moments together. Wishing I could make it better, somehow come into their lives to help everything so they could have a chance together and at happiness. This has never happened to me before. My emotions were all over the place and I felt so helpless, my hope vanishing, my heart splintering.
“Will I ever see you again?”
I close my eyes and answer honestly, “No.”
His breath hitches, and when I open my eyes, I see a tear fall down his cheek.
“Can I hold you? While you sleep? When you open your eyes, I’ll take you home, and I promise you’ll never see me again.”
It’s a bad idea. Being in his arms will absolutely ruin me.”
Not only did Wild Abandon have an intense love story but it's also the kind of book that makes you think. To dissect your outlooks on life, your future, your goals and wants and dreams. You're also given invaluable advice from more than one person. Some of these things can really speak to you on a personal level, or at least they have for me.
“We’re always told we should live like it’s the last day. Do today what you can’t do tomorrow. But we don’t. We all have reminders in our lives. My friend Emma lost brother who was only twenty-one. Naomi lost a forty-year-old aunt to cancer. We hear these stories. We hug our families. We make bucket lists. We vow to live life to the fullest. And we do. For a moment. And then life gets in the way.
Maybe if we stopped trying to live the perfect life, finding the end, we’d be able to enjoy the moments more.”
This story isn't just about Crystal and Nate. Crystal starts to work at an old, run down winery and works with (or what seems like against) the owner to restore it to its former glory. Through working with Ed, crystal gains valuable wisdom and does some serious searching within herself. This time transformed not only the winery, but Crystal and Ed as well.
The rose on the cover comes from Ed's magic garden, and the symbolism is so perfect and breathtaking. It's used several times throughout the story in different ways, so it can appeal in many different ways. I really enjoyed the concept - how it connected each character and ultimately what it meant in regards to their past, present, and future.
“They are a delicate flower, armed with prickers. Sometimes, what we display on the outside is only to protect what we have on the inside.”
Speaking of the cover, have you seen how insanely gorgeous this is is? I'd buy the book based on the cover alone. It shows both so much of the story and not enough at the same time. It's intriguing and beautiful and you wonder what each element could possibly mean. It's a complete representation of the story within its covers.
So that friend that I mentioned, the one who recommended this book to me? She's actually one of the Sisters! Wil is a fantastic lady who can read me quite well. It's a pleasure working with her and knowing her as one of my friends. When she told me to read this, I had to. She's also one of Jeannine's beta readers, and I was so excited and squealed a little bit when I saw the acknowledgements at the end of the book. She's mentioned, of course, because she's super awesome!
At one point while reading I messaged Wil suggesting that at some point in my life, I had to visit Napa Valley. The scenes that had been set were playing out in my mind and I just have to see it with my own eyes. Then I even joked that instead of just being average and walking in the vineyards, I would take a special someone and we could be the cool kids that go in hot air balloons and take a tour that way. I said this completely joking - but remember my previous statement about my romantic heart? This may or may not have happened and I kid you not I was freaking out a little. I was so freaking excited for these characters and can't wait to have that experience myself one day.
“It’s four in the morning, and the world is asleep.
Except for us.
In a darkened room in an apartment in San Francisco are two people shouting in silence.”
I hate wine. Or severely dislike at least. We drank the really cheap stuff in college but I have never really gotten a taste for real wine - I'm more of a whiskey kind of girl. I'm getting better though and will have some for special occasions but would never decide to drink a glass on my own. So obviously while reading Wild Abandon, I had to try again and see what all the fuss was about. I sat there and consciously drank red wine. What?! This is so weird for me, my family asked if I was feeling okay. Lol!
I don't know why, but I've always had a thing for trying to match songs to the books I read, or for certain characters. One song that kept playing in my mind over and over for Crystal was Just A Fool by Christina Aguilera. Now yes this song is about cheating but no that's not what I'm trying to portray. It was a woman who is in love with a man that either can't or won't be with her, even when she loves him. It's sad and it's real.
Maybe tomorrow it won't be this hard
Who am I kidding?
I know what I'm missing
Oh, I had my heart set on you
But nothing else hurts like you do
Who knew that love was so cruel (yeah, yeah, yeah)
And I waited and waited so long
I'm just a fool
A fool for you
I'm just a fool
Jeannine has made a fan out of me. Her writing is beautiful, her stories unique and her settings are breathtaking. I've got Pure Abandon and Reckless Abandon sitting in my Amazon shopping cart and once Wild Abandon releases that'll be going in there too. I buy the books I love in paperback, and based on this one, I know I'll love the other two as well. It boggles me that this author isn't more well known, based on the quality of her stories. If I can suggest one author, or one series to a reader who enjoys the same things I do, it would be this right here.
“I have waited my entire life to find my soul mate. To love and to be loved so deeply that it would never be replicated. I would take one night of this intensity than a lifetime of loneliness.
So, I am going to take it. At least until the sun comes up.
His heart is still racing, and my lips are quivering, only to be stilled when I lean forward and lay them over his. His body shakes when we connect, and his hands move down to my hips, pulling me in, as if they never want to let go.
When his mouth parts, our lips intertwine.
I kiss him for the first time. I kiss him for the last time. I kiss him forever.”
Olive Juice
Disclaimer: Some quotes have sections or lines of dialogue that have been edited to avoid spoilers.
*An ARC was received from the author and Wordsmith Publicity in exchange for an honest review.
For teasers in this review and more awesome releases, check out www.tbbsisterhood.com <3
“With wild abandon, I run. Not from him. I run to him.”
Let me just start by telling you this: Jeannine's writing is so flawless and eloquent, it's astonishing. Every word she put on that page held a purpose. I'm actually at a loss for words as to how I can describe it any more. She seamlessly flows from scene to scene, location to location, while weaving character growth, experiences, intense imagery and perfect dialogue together. And on top of this, she makes it look easy.
How each reader perceives this book will be a very personal experience. It will be different for everyone - whether you like it, love it, dislike it, love the ending, hate it, etc. I can't praise or fault anyone how how they take is because like I said, it's extremely personal and will reflect on your values and experiences. I loved Wild Abandon. It was deeply emotional and moving with incredible depth that will make you question the difference between right and wrong, fate and destiny, want and commitment.
I've never known a love like this or the pain of someone I can't have. I don't know what this is like, but I am having a bit of a hard time with the conclusion. Would I have done the same thing? I'm not sure. I honestly think I may have have done the opposite or at least extended it, but could never know for sure. I think it was done in the cleanest way to tie the loose ends up yes, but with a story that holds this much heartbreak, I don't necessarily need clean. *I finished this book and wrote this paragraph last night but after sleeping on it, I feel better about the conclusion. I still agree with the aforementioned thoughts, but it's sitting better with me now.*
“I didn’t want to fall in love, but I couldn’t help it.”
My stomach drops. They’re the words every girl dreams of hearing. They’re so perfect yet so wrong. Even still, I can’t move. So, I don’t.
Nate lowers his mouth and places a soft kiss along my hairline. “You are funny and sexy and wild and sweet. The first time you came into the bar, I tried not to look at you because I just knew I was going to fall. I did. So hard. No one has ever made me laugh the way you do or understands me the way you do. The fact that you’re even here, tonight, is why I will never stop thinking about you for the rest of my life.”
I am a 100%, true, sappy, romantic, cheese loving woman. It's like the air I breathe, I need it to live. So something like Wild Abandon, which tells an amazing story of a woman looking for love and a man who is trapped in his past with no escape is a story that I'm not strong enough to turn down. Even with the vagueness of the synopsis I knew I had to read this book, and it came recommended by one of my very good friends who I trust dearly. She told me I'd love it and she was right. Throw in an extremely healthy dose of angst, a touch of drama and some interconnected characters and I'm as happy as a pig in mud.
I really enjoyed Crystal's character. She was searching for what everyone wants in this world and she wasn't going to settle for someone who wasn't perfect. With being married before and going on countless dead end dates afterwards, she knew what she wanted and was chasing it with everyone she had. Only problem is that sometimes it's those that you least expect who have the greatest impact.
“He’s so different from anything I’ve ever wanted. The opposite of what I should want. Yet I need him more than I need air to breathe.
This could all end badly, but I don’t care.
I want him.
I want him forever.”
My heart bled for Nate. It's as simple as that. From his present situation to his past, to his little hope for a future. I hurt and I cried for him, because if there's anyone that needed an HEA, it's this guy. Plus the fact that he found want he wanted in Crystal, and her in him, but they couldn't now or ever be together. Their journey is a hard one, but nothing in life worth having is ever easy.
“When I am with you, I can be me. You look at me like a man. I haven’t wanted to let anyone in. I tried to keep you away, but I can’t, Crystal. You walked into my life, and I couldn’t shut you out.”
“Somewhere along the way, I fell in love with you. And it’s not because I was lonely. You complete me in a way no one else ever has. I want to be with you, Crystal.” He bows his head and clenches his trembling jaw.
“I can’t be with someone, knowing I’m their second choice.” I pull on my lip and fight back my tears.
Nate lets his own tears fall free. “And I can’t be with you because I’m afraid you’d be my first.”
Everything about Nate I loved. His work ethic, his morals and vows, his identity, perseverance and his loyalty. He wasn't afraid to put his heart on the line. Granted, he was never looking for the line but Crystal snuck up on him. It's his actions and his words that make you fall in love over and over, deeper and deeper. I love this kind of hero.
The relationship between the two main characters was so easy to connect with. The reader can sense the connection almost immediately and then as the story progresses with them not being able to have each other, it tugs at your heart strings. Then with Crystal and Nate having to walk away because it's too hard to be close but not have the person you want, breaks your heart. Shatters it. Obliterates it. It hurts because the connection is so palpable, their need for each other was so great. I'll be honest in saying that I cried on more than one occasion, and I NEVER cry in stories like this. In a cancer book when someone is dying? Sure, that'll make me bawl like a baby. But here? I sat on my bed, quietly weeping as to not disrupt their moments together. Wishing I could make it better, somehow come into their lives to help everything so they could have a chance together and at happiness. This has never happened to me before. My emotions were all over the place and I felt so helpless, my hope vanishing, my heart splintering.
“Will I ever see you again?”
I close my eyes and answer honestly, “No.”
His breath hitches, and when I open my eyes, I see a tear fall down his cheek.
“Can I hold you? While you sleep? When you open your eyes, I’ll take you home, and I promise you’ll never see me again.”
It’s a bad idea. Being in his arms will absolutely ruin me.”
Not only did Wild Abandon have an intense love story but it's also the kind of book that makes you think. To dissect your outlooks on life, your future, your goals and wants and dreams. You're also given invaluable advice from more than one person. Some of these things can really speak to you on a personal level, or at least they have for me.
“We’re always told we should live like it’s the last day. Do today what you can’t do tomorrow. But we don’t. We all have reminders in our lives. My friend Emma lost brother who was only twenty-one. Naomi lost a forty-year-old aunt to cancer. We hear these stories. We hug our families. We make bucket lists. We vow to live life to the fullest. And we do. For a moment. And then life gets in the way.
Maybe if we stopped trying to live the perfect life, finding the end, we’d be able to enjoy the moments more.”
This story isn't just about Crystal and Nate. Crystal starts to work at an old, run down winery and works with (or what seems like against) the owner to restore it to its former glory. Through working with Ed, crystal gains valuable wisdom and does some serious searching within herself. This time transformed not only the winery, but Crystal and Ed as well.
The rose on the cover comes from Ed's magic garden, and the symbolism is so perfect and breathtaking. It's used several times throughout the story in different ways, so it can appeal in many different ways. I really enjoyed the concept - how it connected each character and ultimately what it meant in regards to their past, present, and future.
“They are a delicate flower, armed with prickers. Sometimes, what we display on the outside is only to protect what we have on the inside.”
Speaking of the cover, have you seen how insanely gorgeous this is is? I'd buy the book based on the cover alone. It shows both so much of the story and not enough at the same time. It's intriguing and beautiful and you wonder what each element could possibly mean. It's a complete representation of the story within its covers.
So that friend that I mentioned, the one who recommended this book to me? She's actually one of the Sisters! Wil is a fantastic lady who can read me quite well. It's a pleasure working with her and knowing her as one of my friends. When she told me to read this, I had to. She's also one of Jeannine's beta readers, and I was so excited and squealed a little bit when I saw the acknowledgements at the end of the book. She's mentioned, of course, because she's super awesome!
At one point while reading I messaged Wil suggesting that at some point in my life, I had to visit Napa Valley. The scenes that had been set were playing out in my mind and I just have to see it with my own eyes. Then I even joked that instead of just being average and walking in the vineyards, I would take a special someone and we could be the cool kids that go in hot air balloons and take a tour that way. I said this completely joking - but remember my previous statement about my romantic heart? This may or may not have happened and I kid you not I was freaking out a little. I was so freaking excited for these characters and can't wait to have that experience myself one day.
“It’s four in the morning, and the world is asleep.
Except for us.
In a darkened room in an apartment in San Francisco are two people shouting in silence.”
I hate wine. Or severely dislike at least. We drank the really cheap stuff in college but I have never really gotten a taste for real wine - I'm more of a whiskey kind of girl. I'm getting better though and will have some for special occasions but would never decide to drink a glass on my own. So obviously while reading Wild Abandon, I had to try again and see what all the fuss was about. I sat there and consciously drank red wine. What?! This is so weird for me, my family asked if I was feeling okay. Lol!
I don't know why, but I've always had a thing for trying to match songs to the books I read, or for certain characters. One song that kept playing in my mind over and over for Crystal was Just A Fool by Christina Aguilera. Now yes this song is about cheating but no that's not what I'm trying to portray. It was a woman who is in love with a man that either can't or won't be with her, even when she loves him. It's sad and it's real.
Maybe tomorrow it won't be this hard
Who am I kidding?
I know what I'm missing
Oh, I had my heart set on you
But nothing else hurts like you do
Who knew that love was so cruel (yeah, yeah, yeah)
And I waited and waited so long
I'm just a fool
A fool for you
I'm just a fool
Jeannine has made a fan out of me. Her writing is beautiful, her stories unique and her settings are breathtaking. I've got Pure Abandon and Reckless Abandon sitting in my Amazon shopping cart and once Wild Abandon releases that'll be going in there too. I buy the books I love in paperback, and based on this one, I know I'll love the other two as well. It boggles me that this author isn't more well known, based on the quality of her stories. If I can suggest one author, or one series to a reader who enjoys the same things I do, it would be this right here.
“I have waited my entire life to find my soul mate. To love and to be loved so deeply that it would never be replicated. I would take one night of this intensity than a lifetime of loneliness.
So, I am going to take it. At least until the sun comes up.
His heart is still racing, and my lips are quivering, only to be stilled when I lean forward and lay them over his. His body shakes when we connect, and his hands move down to my hips, pulling me in, as if they never want to let go.
When his mouth parts, our lips intertwine.
I kiss him for the first time. I kiss him for the last time. I kiss him forever.”
Olive Juice
Disclaimer: Some quotes have sections or lines of dialogue that have been edited to avoid spoilers.
*An ARC was received from the author and Wordsmith Publicity in exchange for an honest review.
For teasers in this review and more awesome releases, check out www.tbbsisterhood.com <3
June 16, 2016
This is a new to me author and I really enjoyed this book. Crystal is looking for a change so she moves to the West Coast. She tries the dating scene out there but to no luck. In the process she forms a friendship with Nate Teller. I loved their friendship and it wasn't forced or rushed. The character build up was perfect. When they finally get together it was amazing! Then something unexpected happens. This secret Nate was carrying gutted me and wasn't what I expected. The inner turmoil he felt over Crystal broke my heart. To be in his position was just downright horrible. When you read about his history and how he grew up you will understand his NEED to do the right thing. Crystal, my heart ached for her since she finally found her guy and this happens. I had to put my iPad down and take a break. Crystal was a strong woman and I don't know what I would have done in her shoes. This story had me all over the place. Talk about angst!! I went to bed and woke up thinking about this book. Well done Colette.
*arc was given in exchange for honest review*
*arc was given in exchange for honest review*
September 29, 2016
So maybe the wine country setting and the swoony male lead who loves the San Francisco Giants swayed my opinion a bit, but pair that with great writing and strong character development and you've got yourself a page-turning read that will satisfy your romance craving.
May 19, 2023
4.25 stars!
This was really good.
After my epic 2020-2021 book slump, I abandoned my plan to read old books on the TBR. I needed to read whatever got me back into reading. Now that I am decidedly out of the slump (*knocks wood*) I am trying to read some older stuff here and there. This book has been on my list for almost 7 years! I am so glad it stood the test of time and made for an enjoyable read.
This turned out to be different than I expected. The title and old book cover kind of gave me “old romance” vibes, which I don’t usually like. But it turned out to have a very contemporary vibe to it. I enjoyed the writing and the story, though the twist was very obvious. (Maybe it was supposed to be? I can never tell.)
I did not read the first two books in the series, as I had notes on my list that this was a standalone. It worked out. I did not feel I missed anything.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read with a lovely setting (Napa) and good story. I’m glad I kept it around on the TBR for so long.
This was really good.
After my epic 2020-2021 book slump, I abandoned my plan to read old books on the TBR. I needed to read whatever got me back into reading. Now that I am decidedly out of the slump (*knocks wood*) I am trying to read some older stuff here and there. This book has been on my list for almost 7 years! I am so glad it stood the test of time and made for an enjoyable read.
This turned out to be different than I expected. The title and old book cover kind of gave me “old romance” vibes, which I don’t usually like. But it turned out to have a very contemporary vibe to it. I enjoyed the writing and the story, though the twist was very obvious. (Maybe it was supposed to be? I can never tell.)
I did not read the first two books in the series, as I had notes on my list that this was a standalone. It worked out. I did not feel I missed anything.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read with a lovely setting (Napa) and good story. I’m glad I kept it around on the TBR for so long.
March 13, 2017
3 Stars
Contrary to the first two books of this series which really had me reading non stop, this book was just so so.
Once again, I fell under the minority. I feel left out as everyone seemed to enjoy this book except for me.
It's not that the story was bad, it was good actually. But somehow, I just didn't seem to connect with both the characters.
Luckily, I find Scarlet's character fascinating.
Unfortunately, her character was only limited in the story because she was only the daughter of Crystal's friend, Naomi.
Also, I was a bit disappointed to find the reason behind Nate's hot and cold persona. Especially since it was quite similar to one of the books that I've read which is
So, instead of flipping the pages, I ended up doing this....
October 22, 2016
Months ago I saw this book pop up on my feed and loved by readers, but it shows as book 3 of a series. I am a stickler for reading in order, LOL! So I had to start with Book 1. Which I was so glad I did! Now having completed all 3 I can safely say - Book 3 is very much a stand alone. You really do not need to read the other 2 before this one. However, I loved the other 2 so much more than this one and those 2 do need to be read in order, as Reckless Abandon is a sequel to Pure Abandon. Wild Abandon is more of a spinoff of the other 2.
Now that we got that out of the way...lets get to the story! Very enjoyable, very fun, the romance was a slow simmer and quite the entertaining look as we see Crystal move to Napa looking for a husband. She proceeds to online match date, and sets up meeting these men at a certain bar, where she really only has eyes for the bartender. Said bartender, Nate...always has an opinion on these men and proceeds to intervene or not with various food and drink messages! Nate of course has his own issues...secret issues which slowly unravel as Vineyards are visited and remodeled. Instruments are played, grumpy old men soften their hearts, and fun Bay Area/SF spots are visited - which I always love reading through my old stomping grounds!!
Now that we got that out of the way...lets get to the story! Very enjoyable, very fun, the romance was a slow simmer and quite the entertaining look as we see Crystal move to Napa looking for a husband. She proceeds to online match date, and sets up meeting these men at a certain bar, where she really only has eyes for the bartender. Said bartender, Nate...always has an opinion on these men and proceeds to intervene or not with various food and drink messages! Nate of course has his own issues...secret issues which slowly unravel as Vineyards are visited and remodeled. Instruments are played, grumpy old men soften their hearts, and fun Bay Area/SF spots are visited - which I always love reading through my old stomping grounds!!
December 28, 2016
4.5 stars!!! I loved loved this book. My god this felt like old school NA for me. Crystal was the perfect kind of heroine and her and Nate getting to know each other was absolute perfection. Their banter was awesome and I found myself just smiling and chucking at their exchanges. I love her friends and Scarlet, and Big Ed. I loved how she was trying to find herself. Mostly I just loved Nate. This guy was just someone I fell instantly for. I believed every single one of his feelings. I felt deeply for him. Despite this storyline that has been done over and over and one that usually can't stand, this one stands out. It was just done so damn well. It had a realistic feel to it and I just felt for all of them. It felt grown up and mature and yes it just worked for me. I feel just so happy right cause I loved this freaking book.
May 22, 2016
I received an ARC for an honest review. I actually liked this story more than the 2 previous installments in the series. Nate and Crystal and their quirks made me chuckle while their individual struggles tugged at my heartstrings and made me feel for their plight.
The vivid imagery that Jeannine Colette paints with her words allows the reader to easily picture the scenes she describes. A quick, enjoyable read.
The vivid imagery that Jeannine Colette paints with her words allows the reader to easily picture the scenes she describes. A quick, enjoyable read.
June 29, 2016
4.5 stars
August 19, 2016
I was lucky enough to beta read for this amazing book and let me tell you, there was not much "beta-ing" going on and a whole bunch of completely getting lost in the story was happening because it was already perfect.
I just loved Nate. He's mysterious, caring and what you want every man to be.
There were parts that I was laughing out loud and then parts where I was tearing up. This book fit every mold for what I want in a perfect book and I love Jeannine's writing more with every book.
Definitely a must read!
I just loved Nate. He's mysterious, caring and what you want every man to be.
There were parts that I was laughing out loud and then parts where I was tearing up. This book fit every mold for what I want in a perfect book and I love Jeannine's writing more with every book.
Definitely a must read!
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