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Speakeasy Taproom #5
Wildflower
When the prize is love, sometimes you get stung. But if you’re lucky, you just might hit the sweet spot…
Juliana Burton needs a medal at Speakeasy's beer festival to push her brand-new brewery into the spotlight. She thinks she knows how to do it, too--with a beer made exclusively from Vermont hops, barley and the best honey in the state. Too bad the only thing standing in her way is a six feet tall, smokin’ sexy, and her secret high school crush.
After a very public disaster in Boston, Riggs Lyon is home with his teenage son in tow. Riggs is taking over the family beekeeping business with an eye to offload it and start life over somewhere where "Lyin' Lyon" isn't a joke. Selling honey to Juliana doesn't make business sense. She can't afford the high prices Lyon honey fetches in specialty shops and farmer's markets. But somehow, he’s having trouble saying no to anything she asks for, whether it’s in the hive or in the bedroom.
Juliana Burton needs a medal at Speakeasy's beer festival to push her brand-new brewery into the spotlight. She thinks she knows how to do it, too--with a beer made exclusively from Vermont hops, barley and the best honey in the state. Too bad the only thing standing in her way is a six feet tall, smokin’ sexy, and her secret high school crush.
After a very public disaster in Boston, Riggs Lyon is home with his teenage son in tow. Riggs is taking over the family beekeeping business with an eye to offload it and start life over somewhere where "Lyin' Lyon" isn't a joke. Selling honey to Juliana doesn't make business sense. She can't afford the high prices Lyon honey fetches in specialty shops and farmer's markets. But somehow, he’s having trouble saying no to anything she asks for, whether it’s in the hive or in the bedroom.
8 pages, Audible Audio
Published August 3, 2021
47 people are currently reading
381 people want to read
About the author
Mae Wood
9 books437 followersProfessional sassypants and novelist, Mae Wood has been a bookworm her entire life.
She loves cheeses, complicated crafts that she'll start but never complete, and puns.
A while ago Mae decided that she needed to give up the fear that she couldn't write "great literature" and write what she wants to read.
And she wants romance. And laughter. And real life.
She wants heroines who are brave. Brave enough to be themselves and brave enough to fall in love. She wants men who are strong and kind.
So, what do you want to know about Mae? Drop her an email, ask questions, and she'll respond.
Visit her website for bonus content, including deleted scenes, sneak peeks, and
behind-the-scenes treats.
MaeWoodWrites@gmail.com
www.maewood.com
She loves cheeses, complicated crafts that she'll start but never complete, and puns.
A while ago Mae decided that she needed to give up the fear that she couldn't write "great literature" and write what she wants to read.
And she wants romance. And laughter. And real life.
She wants heroines who are brave. Brave enough to be themselves and brave enough to fall in love. She wants men who are strong and kind.
So, what do you want to know about Mae? Drop her an email, ask questions, and she'll respond.
Visit her website for bonus content, including deleted scenes, sneak peeks, and
behind-the-scenes treats.
MaeWoodWrites@gmail.com
www.maewood.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
August 4, 2021
5 Seriously Good Stars
* * * * * Spoiler Free
Like the title of this review says, Wildflower by Mae Woods was amazingly good in all the right ways. It took us on a journey of people who needed to find their way, to be able to rise above all the issues from the past, not of their making, and become free to find the success they craved and the love they were due.
Juliana Burton was tired of being discounted for the ability she had. She was an expert brew master and in all of the past positions she had had with breweries, they all either took advantage of her talents without giving her the credit due or treated her like a second class person because she was a women in this industry. She had reached her limit and finally joined forces with other like minded women and created their own brewery. She was from Vermont, knew the location was perfect for all the beer heads who traveled to taste the latest and greatest.
Juliana had history here and one of the major memories from her school days was Riggs Lyon. She crushed on him all through high school and even when she had come back years ago for a friend's wedding. Her experience then was not great so seeing him once again here in her hometown was a little unnerving.
Riggs Lyon never thought he would be back home helping his mom and dad run the honey business. He left this town as fast as he could when he was out of high school and yet, here he is back. He made the mistake of marrying someone who he thought was the one. She was cut from the society high level, had all the smarts a person could want, and Riggs couldn't believe his luck that she wanted him...yet really she didn't.
No, forget the beautiful son they had, forget the successful career Riggs had and the one she had...they weren't good enough for her. Instead, she decided to pull a Bernie Madoff scam, and was caught.
This caused Riggs to lose his career, be looked at as though he was part of it, which he was not, and because his son was having troubles at school, they left Boston and moved back home. Now Riggs is looking to improve his family's business, develop an online presence, and then figure out where to restart next.
These two cross paths and from the start there is miscommunication that colors how they interact. Riggs thinks Juliana made a dig at his past situation and Juliana wants to use the Lyon's premiere honey in creating a new brew, hoping to win the big award at the next contest.
Juliana and Riggs go through some steps where they start to see through all the barriers they had put up. Connections and respect happen and we get to be in on these happenings from the start.
This was a huge win and Mae Woods is now an author for me to watch.
Touchstone (Speakeasy Taproom #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Heartwood (Speakeasy Taproom #2)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Homecoming (Speakeasy Taproom, #3)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Sideways (Speakeasy Taproom, #4)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Wildflower (Speakeasy Taproom, #5)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Firefly (Speakeasy Taproom, #6)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Starlight (Speakeasy Taproom, #7)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Stargazer (Speakeasy Taproom, #8)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Safeguard (Speakeasy Taproom, #9)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
January 26, 2021
A New Group of Books brought to us from Sarina Bowen's Heart Eyes Press.
❤️❤️❤️ ❤️❤️❤️ ❤️❤️❤️ ❤️❤️❤️
A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
* * * * * Spoiler Free
Like the title of this review says, Wildflower by Mae Woods was amazingly good in all the right ways. It took us on a journey of people who needed to find their way, to be able to rise above all the issues from the past, not of their making, and become free to find the success they craved and the love they were due.
Juliana Burton was tired of being discounted for the ability she had. She was an expert brew master and in all of the past positions she had had with breweries, they all either took advantage of her talents without giving her the credit due or treated her like a second class person because she was a women in this industry. She had reached her limit and finally joined forces with other like minded women and created their own brewery. She was from Vermont, knew the location was perfect for all the beer heads who traveled to taste the latest and greatest.
Juliana had history here and one of the major memories from her school days was Riggs Lyon. She crushed on him all through high school and even when she had come back years ago for a friend's wedding. Her experience then was not great so seeing him once again here in her hometown was a little unnerving.
Riggs Lyon never thought he would be back home helping his mom and dad run the honey business. He left this town as fast as he could when he was out of high school and yet, here he is back. He made the mistake of marrying someone who he thought was the one. She was cut from the society high level, had all the smarts a person could want, and Riggs couldn't believe his luck that she wanted him...yet really she didn't.
No, forget the beautiful son they had, forget the successful career Riggs had and the one she had...they weren't good enough for her. Instead, she decided to pull a Bernie Madoff scam, and was caught.
This caused Riggs to lose his career, be looked at as though he was part of it, which he was not, and because his son was having troubles at school, they left Boston and moved back home. Now Riggs is looking to improve his family's business, develop an online presence, and then figure out where to restart next.
These two cross paths and from the start there is miscommunication that colors how they interact. Riggs thinks Juliana made a dig at his past situation and Juliana wants to use the Lyon's premiere honey in creating a new brew, hoping to win the big award at the next contest.
Juliana and Riggs go through some steps where they start to see through all the barriers they had put up. Connections and respect happen and we get to be in on these happenings from the start.
This was a huge win and Mae Woods is now an author for me to watch.
Touchstone (Speakeasy Taproom #1)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Heartwood (Speakeasy Taproom #2)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Homecoming (Speakeasy Taproom, #3)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Sideways (Speakeasy Taproom, #4)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Wildflower (Speakeasy Taproom, #5)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Firefly (Speakeasy Taproom, #6)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Starlight (Speakeasy Taproom, #7)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Stargazer (Speakeasy Taproom, #8)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Safeguard (Speakeasy Taproom, #9)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
January 26, 2021
A New Group of Books brought to us from Sarina Bowen's Heart Eyes Press.
❤️❤️❤️ ❤️❤️❤️ ❤️❤️❤️ ❤️❤️❤️
A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
August 2, 2021
Juliana + Riggs
Juli is finally this close to her dream: opening her own brewery with her three friends. The first female-owned Vermont brewery.
Riggs is the guy who has the expensive honey she needs for one of her beers.
And he's also her lifelong crush - ever since she was 14 years old!
He left town and got married in the big city. But now he's not married anymore and he's running his family's honey business ...
LET THE FUN TIMES BEGIN! ☺
══════════════════
Adorable!
Another very sweet and vermonty romance. And a very mature one again - I love that.
We get so many cute beer and honey moments!
I really enjoyed reading this.
Juliana and Riggs were really adorable together. A kind of crush to enemies to lovers kind of romance. Really funny and sparky! And of course a bit heartbreaking and sad and we didn't have the easiest way to our happily ever after! But we got there!
And like I say in all my World of True North reviews ... I could read these kinds of books every day for the rest of eternity!
I also wouldn't mind seeing this whole world on Netflix one day!
Can't wait to get more Vermont soon!
WILDFLOWER was an adorable + funny + very Vermonty mature romance! I loved reading it! Run to your nearest amazon for your own Riggs - he'll be sold out in no time!
💜
💜
August 4, 2021
I don’t want to say this is my favorite Mae Wood read but maaaaaaaaaybe, possibly, probably, okay, yes, yes it is!
In January of 2020 I read my first story by Mae and subsequently dove right into 3 more like a kid at Christmas! Her writing makes me happy you guys. It is just so easy and relatable and organic and just magic! I’ve said this before, I am super picky about the authors I invite into my reading experience that write older, more mature characters and Mae Wood has been on that list since I read my first book written by her and she continues to be magic for me today!
I loved the connection between Riggs and Juliana. It was sparky with a dash of frenemies, sprinkled with a dose of childhood crush that just mixed really well and worked for them. Their story was a pleasure and easy even tho it had its share of conflict. It just wasn’t weighed down by it. Magic *happy sigh*
I don’t want to go into anything else because at this point, I’d be giving away or hinting at plot points and the story is all kinds of wonderful I want everyone to enjoy it as much as I did :) and going in blind is the way to go! So do yourselves a favor and go do the thing,k.
Amazon: https://geni.us/AmazonWildflower
Apple: https://geni.us/AppleWildflower
Kobo: https://geni.us/KoboWildflower
Nook: https://geni.us/NookWildflower
Google: https://geni.us/GoogleWildflower
Audio → https://geni.us/AudibleWildflower
In January of 2020 I read my first story by Mae and subsequently dove right into 3 more like a kid at Christmas! Her writing makes me happy you guys. It is just so easy and relatable and organic and just magic! I’ve said this before, I am super picky about the authors I invite into my reading experience that write older, more mature characters and Mae Wood has been on that list since I read my first book written by her and she continues to be magic for me today!
I loved the connection between Riggs and Juliana. It was sparky with a dash of frenemies, sprinkled with a dose of childhood crush that just mixed really well and worked for them. Their story was a pleasure and easy even tho it had its share of conflict. It just wasn’t weighed down by it. Magic *happy sigh*
I don’t want to go into anything else because at this point, I’d be giving away or hinting at plot points and the story is all kinds of wonderful I want everyone to enjoy it as much as I did :) and going in blind is the way to go! So do yourselves a favor and go do the thing,k.
Amazon: https://geni.us/AmazonWildflower
Apple: https://geni.us/AppleWildflower
Kobo: https://geni.us/KoboWildflower
Nook: https://geni.us/NookWildflower
Google: https://geni.us/GoogleWildflower
Audio → https://geni.us/AudibleWildflower
June 21, 2022
What I'm liking about this series is the chance to experience new to me authors in a world I'm familiar with. Probably the point. So far, I've enjoyed Mae Wood best. I liked there was a little more steam and a hint of kink in this one along with MCs in their 40s who were unapologetically themselves and didn't act like 16 year olds. Such a relief!
The story was somewhat predictable as many in this genre are but we read for the journey right? I had put this one off for a while but honestly, I don't think the blurb does it justice..
Andi Arndt was on point as always in the narration and a new to me narrator (Stephen Dexter) has a new fan.
a solid listen/read in The World of True North
The story was somewhat predictable as many in this genre are but we read for the journey right? I had put this one off for a while but honestly, I don't think the blurb does it justice..
Andi Arndt was on point as always in the narration and a new to me narrator (Stephen Dexter) has a new fan.
a solid listen/read in The World of True North
August 6, 2021
Wildflower is part of the Speakeasy series, set in Sarina Bowen’s World of True North. It’s definitely a standalone, it can be thoroughly enjoyed by itself, thought you might want to check out the other books in this series.
I loved Wildflower. I think it’s a great enemies to lovers story. It’s very Vermonty. The setting is wonderful and it plays an important part in the story. Riggs a reluctant beekeeper and Juliana is establishing—with her partners—an all-female beer brewery in Northern Vermont, a bit outside the tourist route but still close enough to other points of interest that will attract the foamies. There’s this whole Boston vs. Vermont thing, the big city against the small town dilemma. And there’s also the fact that Juliana has had a crush on Riggs since they were kids.
I really enjoyed the banter between Juliana and Riggs. The chemistry between them in off the charts hot and the way it slowly grows until it explodes is amazing. I loved the beer and bee aspects of the story, I found them really interesting and compelling. There’s so much heat in this book I’m amazed my phone didn’t catch fire, but there’s also a lot of depth to the characters and their stories. There’s a connection between Riggs and Juliana and there’s emotional turmoil that contributes to their growth as people and as a couple.
I thoroughly enjoy reading this book and I highly recommend it. It’s definitely a great addition to the Speakeasy series and the World of True North.
I loved Wildflower. I think it’s a great enemies to lovers story. It’s very Vermonty. The setting is wonderful and it plays an important part in the story. Riggs a reluctant beekeeper and Juliana is establishing—with her partners—an all-female beer brewery in Northern Vermont, a bit outside the tourist route but still close enough to other points of interest that will attract the foamies. There’s this whole Boston vs. Vermont thing, the big city against the small town dilemma. And there’s also the fact that Juliana has had a crush on Riggs since they were kids.
I really enjoyed the banter between Juliana and Riggs. The chemistry between them in off the charts hot and the way it slowly grows until it explodes is amazing. I loved the beer and bee aspects of the story, I found them really interesting and compelling. There’s so much heat in this book I’m amazed my phone didn’t catch fire, but there’s also a lot of depth to the characters and their stories. There’s a connection between Riggs and Juliana and there’s emotional turmoil that contributes to their growth as people and as a couple.
I thoroughly enjoy reading this book and I highly recommend it. It’s definitely a great addition to the Speakeasy series and the World of True North.
August 5, 2021
Mae Wood clears the path for another later in romance. Riggs and Julianna light Vermont on fire with their bees and beer intimacy. Wood's talent lies in the weight of painting strong women and men who respect them for those high aspirations, smarts, and sexy good looks. Her characters never dance around a lack of intellect and they all have lived a few decades, making life experience something they reflect on readily.
Riggs and Julianna provide a great platform for midlife restarts and the recognition of changing gears when the time comes. One of the strengths Wood brings to this story is her solid research and dabble in both the bee and beer industries. She also provides untraditional roles for women, yet creates them to be not only bright in their careers but beautify soft where necessary. These fine details leave the reader wanting more of the Vermost and also of the Runaway Pond Brewing gals!
Knowing that life is full of high topping powerful situations as well as pitfalls lower than hell, Wood's sums it all up here. "You look around and see what you have and it may not seem special at first, but then you put in the work, and sometimes what comes out is just magic."
If you've not read Mae Wood, you don't know what you're missing!
Riggs and Julianna provide a great platform for midlife restarts and the recognition of changing gears when the time comes. One of the strengths Wood brings to this story is her solid research and dabble in both the bee and beer industries. She also provides untraditional roles for women, yet creates them to be not only bright in their careers but beautify soft where necessary. These fine details leave the reader wanting more of the Vermost and also of the Runaway Pond Brewing gals!
Knowing that life is full of high topping powerful situations as well as pitfalls lower than hell, Wood's sums it all up here. "You look around and see what you have and it may not seem special at first, but then you put in the work, and sometimes what comes out is just magic."
If you've not read Mae Wood, you don't know what you're missing!
August 3, 2021
I have throughly enjoyed reading Wildflower.
Juliana Burton came back to Gaskin to open her own brewery and to begin her conquest to this male dominated world with her all females colleagues. She didn't expect to meet her high school crush, Riggs Lyon, in town. Riggs came back home with his teen son after a scandal, now he is a beekeeper and he helps with his family business, the fabulous Lyon's Honey. They end up to work together but they start off on the wrong foot and even if they are attracted from each other they keep arguing. Will they be helpful for each other business? Or will their relationship be irreparably ruined?
Juliana and Riggs love-hate relationship makes for the best and entertaining banters and the steamiest sex.
I've appreciated the maturity of these characters, it shows in their arguments, in their reasons to not start a relationship and in their love making.
Mae Wood wrote a very good story with witty dialogues and lovable characters that kept me glued to my reader and made me finish to read this novel too quickly.
Grab this one, you won't regret it.
Copy kindly provided by the Publisher/Author.
August 4, 2021
4.5 Stars! I loved this enemies to lovers -2nd chance-workplace romance.
Riggs is a broody bee keeper, Juliana is a beer brew-mistress (is there such a thing?)
Juliana & her friends have an up and coming beer brewery/tasting room.
She's single and making a go of her career. She was gaslighted by her ex and her former employer.
She's not letting anything or anyone get her down.
Riggs has not so good past with Juliana's family-especially her brother Caleb!
Juliana connects with Riggs' family bee farm/honey source for her beer making.
I loved all the technical terms and really weaving it into their growing attraction.
There's a lot of steam. This is an "older" couple- in their 40s.
I love this author's writing style. The local color really brought me into the story.
Juliana and Riggs have great chemistry.
Amazon: https://geni.us/AmazonWildflower
Apple: https://geni.us/AppleWildflower
Kobo: https://geni.us/KoboWildflower
Nook: https://geni.us/NookWildflower
Google: https://geni.us/GoogleWildflower
Audio → https://geni.us/AudibleWildflower
Series Page → https://hearteyespress.com/wotn#/spea...
Riggs is a broody bee keeper, Juliana is a beer brew-mistress (is there such a thing?)
Juliana & her friends have an up and coming beer brewery/tasting room.
She's single and making a go of her career. She was gaslighted by her ex and her former employer.
She's not letting anything or anyone get her down.
Riggs has not so good past with Juliana's family-especially her brother Caleb!
Juliana connects with Riggs' family bee farm/honey source for her beer making.
I loved all the technical terms and really weaving it into their growing attraction.
There's a lot of steam. This is an "older" couple- in their 40s.
I love this author's writing style. The local color really brought me into the story.
Juliana and Riggs have great chemistry.
Amazon: https://geni.us/AmazonWildflower
Apple: https://geni.us/AppleWildflower
Kobo: https://geni.us/KoboWildflower
Nook: https://geni.us/NookWildflower
Google: https://geni.us/GoogleWildflower
Audio → https://geni.us/AudibleWildflower
Series Page → https://hearteyespress.com/wotn#/spea...
July 31, 2021
ARC received for an honest review
Yaaaaass b*tches! We're back in the True North-verse, and I can't get enough!
And not only are we back in Vermont, we are back at the Speakeasy.
Firstly,I am loving the older characters in these books - nothing wrong with the younguns except I am an old fart and it can get hard to relate to the youngsters at times - listen to me, I am one breath away from saying "back in my day!"
And I am loving the vibe of the women forging their way in very male oriented business.
I love the way Juliana is still crushing on her high school crush Riggs. I adore Riggs with his son.
And the snark and bite between our lovelies as they fight their attraction to each other heats up the pages.
I really enjoyed this installment of the Speakeasy series, and could read stories like this for years to come.
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Read
July 2, 2021Andi Arndt & Stephen Dexter bring Wildflower to life in audio!
They were my dream casting and are going to rock this audiobook. Big thanks to Blackstone Audio for making it happen!
They were my dream casting and are going to rock this audiobook. Big thanks to Blackstone Audio for making it happen!
August 2, 2021
I am OBSESSED with this one!
I have always been a sucker for those stories when one of the characters has had a crush on the other for YEARS but things didn't work out and they are able to come back together, years later, and finally connect. And actually even then it's usually just a few years while they were away at college, whereas with these two it's been about 20. I've actually read a few books/fics lately that feature characters who get a second chance at love when they're in their 40s and I love it. Even if kids are involved, at that point they usually are old enough that they just want their parent to be happy and for the character themselves, they just know what they want out of life and they usually don't want to waste time.
The two may get off to a semi-rocky start, mostly involving old family drama, but it doesn't take long for things to come to a head. And when it does--phew. It's hot. Again, at this point in both Juliana and Riggs's lives, they know what they want (in this case in bed) and are not afraid to ask for what they want and give as good as they've got. That first scene between them was way hotter than I anticipated and I was very happy about it, lol.
Of course I did also enjoy seeing life on the Lyons' apiary and Julie's brewery coming to life and learning about what it means to be a solely woman run business, especially in an area that ALWAYS predominantly features beer-bros. Those ladies were so badass and I loved the process of naming the beers (EXCEPT I WANTED VERMOST TO STICK SO BAD LOL), brewing them, bringing them to the competitions, etc.
Once again a great addition to The World of True North!
Huge thanks to Heart Eyes Press for allowing me to read an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion ♥
For more of my reviews, please visit:
I have always been a sucker for those stories when one of the characters has had a crush on the other for YEARS but things didn't work out and they are able to come back together, years later, and finally connect. And actually even then it's usually just a few years while they were away at college, whereas with these two it's been about 20. I've actually read a few books/fics lately that feature characters who get a second chance at love when they're in their 40s and I love it. Even if kids are involved, at that point they usually are old enough that they just want their parent to be happy and for the character themselves, they just know what they want out of life and they usually don't want to waste time.
The two may get off to a semi-rocky start, mostly involving old family drama, but it doesn't take long for things to come to a head. And when it does--phew. It's hot. Again, at this point in both Juliana and Riggs's lives, they know what they want (in this case in bed) and are not afraid to ask for what they want and give as good as they've got. That first scene between them was way hotter than I anticipated and I was very happy about it, lol.
Of course I did also enjoy seeing life on the Lyons' apiary and Julie's brewery coming to life and learning about what it means to be a solely woman run business, especially in an area that ALWAYS predominantly features beer-bros. Those ladies were so badass and I loved the process of naming the beers (EXCEPT I WANTED VERMOST TO STICK SO BAD LOL), brewing them, bringing them to the competitions, etc.
Once again a great addition to The World of True North!
Huge thanks to Heart Eyes Press for allowing me to read an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion ♥
For more of my reviews, please visit:
August 2, 2021
~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~
This is the fifth book in the series - and whilst I would definitely recommend that you read them in order, and possibly will enjoy the links with other books that are based in Sarina Bowen's True North world, you could read this as a standalone and go back afterwards.
I love the idea of a group of women choosing to go into business together making beer. Juliana is the brewer, supported by the other partners in sales, etc. She is described so clearly as the person who stays behind the scenes. who has learned the hard way that she is best off concentrating on her beer. So when she sees Riggs, a one time crush, back working with his parents, beekeeping, she is thrown. She has no idea that he is sore and damaged after his wife committed a fraud on a big scale, and now he has to start again and protect his son too. Not a great start to their meeting, but she puts herself out there and helps him in exchange for his honey that she needs for her award-worthy quality beer.
I very much enjoyed learning more about beekeeping, and about brewing. That it was all wrapped around a very lovely, unexpected romance, was a perfect combination. They were fun in their reluctance to consider that what they saw as benefits, was actually much more special.
A really fun read, with a good level of humour, real life and sexy realisations of love and romance.
This is the fifth book in the series - and whilst I would definitely recommend that you read them in order, and possibly will enjoy the links with other books that are based in Sarina Bowen's True North world, you could read this as a standalone and go back afterwards.
I love the idea of a group of women choosing to go into business together making beer. Juliana is the brewer, supported by the other partners in sales, etc. She is described so clearly as the person who stays behind the scenes. who has learned the hard way that she is best off concentrating on her beer. So when she sees Riggs, a one time crush, back working with his parents, beekeeping, she is thrown. She has no idea that he is sore and damaged after his wife committed a fraud on a big scale, and now he has to start again and protect his son too. Not a great start to their meeting, but she puts herself out there and helps him in exchange for his honey that she needs for her award-worthy quality beer.
I very much enjoyed learning more about beekeeping, and about brewing. That it was all wrapped around a very lovely, unexpected romance, was a perfect combination. They were fun in their reluctance to consider that what they saw as benefits, was actually much more special.
A really fun read, with a good level of humour, real life and sexy realisations of love and romance.
September 3, 2021
This was so good! Julianna Burton has moved back home to Gaskin, Vermont to open up her own brewery with three other women in a mostly male dominate industry. Moving back home, she didn't expect for her life-long crush to have also moved back to Gaskin. Riggs Lyon has moved back home after a scandal had him leave Boston with his teenage son Jordan for a quieter life. Seeing each other again after all those years doesn't go as planned and they start out on a very wrong foot. Julianna's goal to make great beers and win festivals all around the country and especially in Colebury in the fall. In order to make her perfect beer, she needs honey, specifically Lyon honey. When Riggs' life went to hell, he came back home and became a beekeeper at his family's business. Julianna and Riggs had a love-hate relationship from the start, yet he was very much attracted to her. He tried his hardest to be rude, mean but he had to work with her in order to get her the honey she needed. But as they spent more time together and eventually end up in bed, it became clearer that they loved one another. I liked that Julianna's older brother used to be Riggs' best friend back in the day. Riggs' son Jordan and Julianna's niece Biza became best friends as well. I loved all the beer making and beer talk and to see four women on top of their game in business together making money. Julianna and Riggs were a good couple and I loved that they were in their mid-forties, they've both lived life and knew what they were now looking for in a fulfilling relationship. They've had their ups and downs but they knew that they loved and deserved each other. I really loved this book, it was pretty amazing.
August 10, 2021
I absolutely adored this book. In typical Mae Wood Fashion, the characters were lovingly flawed and totally endearing. I enjoyed how driven and unapologetic her main characters are with their careers and families. Not only does she write characters with great chemistry, her game is strong with interpersonal relationships between friends. Her books are a mini vacation and I can't wait for the next one.
July 25, 2021
The Sweetest Thing!
This is the sweetest little book about a beekeeper and brewmaster, I couldn’t put it down! As with all this author’s books, I could hear the bees buzzing, taste the honey on my tongue as well as the tang of the beer. I find Mae Woods writing very evocative.
Riggs and his teenage son have come back to Vermont in disgrace to live with his parents until he can figure out his next move. Juliana is back in town, too, along with her business partners to open a brewery. Both Riggs and Juliana are focused, driven, and passionate. About their respective businesses and each other. I loved the way they carved out time for their romance! They both have a lot to prove to the world and to each other as a summer fling turns into so much more. This is a wonderfully sweet book!
This is the sweetest little book about a beekeeper and brewmaster, I couldn’t put it down! As with all this author’s books, I could hear the bees buzzing, taste the honey on my tongue as well as the tang of the beer. I find Mae Woods writing very evocative.
Riggs and his teenage son have come back to Vermont in disgrace to live with his parents until he can figure out his next move. Juliana is back in town, too, along with her business partners to open a brewery. Both Riggs and Juliana are focused, driven, and passionate. About their respective businesses and each other. I loved the way they carved out time for their romance! They both have a lot to prove to the world and to each other as a summer fling turns into so much more. This is a wonderfully sweet book!
August 3, 2021
When one of my favorite authors writes in one of my favorite worlds, I know the story is going to be phenomenal. Phenomenal doesn’t even feel like it does justice to Wildflower.
Juliana and Riggs made me want both beer (gross) and honey (yum!). These two people who had been through quite a bit, from bad bosses to bad significant others, but those experiences sucked me into them and their story. They felt so real that I wanted to both savor their book and hurry through so I knew how it would end.
This trip to Vermont is perfection and I can’t wait to go back.
Juliana and Riggs made me want both beer (gross) and honey (yum!). These two people who had been through quite a bit, from bad bosses to bad significant others, but those experiences sucked me into them and their story. They felt so real that I wanted to both savor their book and hurry through so I knew how it would end.
This trip to Vermont is perfection and I can’t wait to go back.
August 3, 2021
Overall Grade: 4.5 ⭐️
If you have been loving the stories in the Speakeasy Taproom series, then you will ADORE Mae Wood’s Wildflower. This newest book to this series, a part of the World of True North universe courtesy of Sarina Bowen’s Heart Eyes Press, is a second chance romance based on an unrequited crush. One of the shining elements of Wildflower is its focus on women breaking through the glass ceiling of the beer industry. And any story intent on magnifying the equity issues within a business industry while wrapping it in a romance package is a worthy read.
The story follows Juliana and Riggs. As a teenager, Juliana had an unrequited crush on Riggs, her older brother’s adversary and friend. Even a few years later, at her best friend’s wedding, Juliana continues to pine for Riggs to no avail. Fast forward twenty-plus years and Riggs and Juliana find themselves back in their hometown. Riggs has escaped Boston with his teenage son in the wake of a family scandal, while Juliana and her three partners have set up shop opening a brewery and tasting room, one of the first fully-owned female breweries. From the moment they meet again, Riggs and Juliana are attracted to each other. However, past issues cause them to forgo acting upon it. Until they do. One night, stranded in another town, they decide to act on their attraction for one night. However, after that night, they can’t deny themselves. The issue is Juliana’s very busy life and Rigg’s insistence on leaving their hometown and returning to Boston. Is it possible for these two to have more?
There are some important focuses of Mae Wood’s Wildflower that make this story important:
*Through the course of Riggs’s journey, Wood aptly highlights the idea of happiness. More specifically, through his story arc, Wood interrogates the definition of happiness and the need to find it while being yourself. Riggs makes a choice in his youth to “put on” an identity to show wealth and prosperity, as a way to escape his simple life. On his return home, he recognizes that those two things mean nothing if reached by being nothing other than yourself. As the book progresses and he falls deeper into love with Juliana, he realizes what matters most: family, peace, and easy living.
*With Juliana’s story (and her partners), Wood focuses on female achievement and the way that women’s roles are reduced in traditionally male-dominated industries. From the start to the finish, you learn so much about the beer world and beer bros as Juliana and her partners strive to find their own place in it. Once again, there is this focus on striving. However, through Juliana’s characterization, we find the balance between reaching goals and wanting more AND finding happiness in a life lived simply with deep relationships between friends and family members.
These two characterizations show Mae Wood’s impressive storytelling. From its beginning, I was hooked unable to step away from Juliana and Rigg’s story. I will say that the ending felt underwhelming given the depth of development you find through most of the story. However, I’m hoping to get my hands on the epilogue to earn more of their happy ending.
As a first-time reader of Mae Wood, I want more. I loved her fluid style and her capacity to infuse her story with a gravity that makes her romance more. If you have jumped into the Speakeasy Taproom stories, then I KNOW you will love Wildflower. Thus far, I think it’s one of my favorites.
If you have been loving the stories in the Speakeasy Taproom series, then you will ADORE Mae Wood’s Wildflower. This newest book to this series, a part of the World of True North universe courtesy of Sarina Bowen’s Heart Eyes Press, is a second chance romance based on an unrequited crush. One of the shining elements of Wildflower is its focus on women breaking through the glass ceiling of the beer industry. And any story intent on magnifying the equity issues within a business industry while wrapping it in a romance package is a worthy read.
The story follows Juliana and Riggs. As a teenager, Juliana had an unrequited crush on Riggs, her older brother’s adversary and friend. Even a few years later, at her best friend’s wedding, Juliana continues to pine for Riggs to no avail. Fast forward twenty-plus years and Riggs and Juliana find themselves back in their hometown. Riggs has escaped Boston with his teenage son in the wake of a family scandal, while Juliana and her three partners have set up shop opening a brewery and tasting room, one of the first fully-owned female breweries. From the moment they meet again, Riggs and Juliana are attracted to each other. However, past issues cause them to forgo acting upon it. Until they do. One night, stranded in another town, they decide to act on their attraction for one night. However, after that night, they can’t deny themselves. The issue is Juliana’s very busy life and Rigg’s insistence on leaving their hometown and returning to Boston. Is it possible for these two to have more?
There are some important focuses of Mae Wood’s Wildflower that make this story important:
*Through the course of Riggs’s journey, Wood aptly highlights the idea of happiness. More specifically, through his story arc, Wood interrogates the definition of happiness and the need to find it while being yourself. Riggs makes a choice in his youth to “put on” an identity to show wealth and prosperity, as a way to escape his simple life. On his return home, he recognizes that those two things mean nothing if reached by being nothing other than yourself. As the book progresses and he falls deeper into love with Juliana, he realizes what matters most: family, peace, and easy living.
*With Juliana’s story (and her partners), Wood focuses on female achievement and the way that women’s roles are reduced in traditionally male-dominated industries. From the start to the finish, you learn so much about the beer world and beer bros as Juliana and her partners strive to find their own place in it. Once again, there is this focus on striving. However, through Juliana’s characterization, we find the balance between reaching goals and wanting more AND finding happiness in a life lived simply with deep relationships between friends and family members.
These two characterizations show Mae Wood’s impressive storytelling. From its beginning, I was hooked unable to step away from Juliana and Rigg’s story. I will say that the ending felt underwhelming given the depth of development you find through most of the story. However, I’m hoping to get my hands on the epilogue to earn more of their happy ending.
As a first-time reader of Mae Wood, I want more. I loved her fluid style and her capacity to infuse her story with a gravity that makes her romance more. If you have jumped into the Speakeasy Taproom stories, then I KNOW you will love Wildflower. Thus far, I think it’s one of my favorites.
August 4, 2021
Check out our full post for WILDFLOWER on Wicked Reads.
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the fifth book in the series and whilst I would definitely recommend that you read them in order, and possibly will enjoy the links with other books that are based in Sarina Bowen's True North World, you could read this as a standalone and go back afterwards.
I love the idea of a group of women choosing to go into business together making beer. Juliana is the brewer, supported by the other partners in sales, etc. She is described so clearly as the person who stays behind the scenes. who has learned the hard way that she is best off concentrating on her beer. So when she sees Riggs, a one-time crush, back working with his parents, beekeeping, she is thrown. She has no idea that he is sore and damaged after his wife committed a fraud on a big scale, and now he has to start again and protect his son too. Not a great start to their meeting, but she puts herself out there and helps him in exchange for his honey that she needs for her award-worthy quality beer.
I very much enjoyed learning more about beekeeping and about brewing. That it was all wrapped around a very lovely, unexpected romance, was a perfect combination. They were fun in their reluctance to consider that what they saw as benefits, was actually much more special.
A really fun read, with a good level of humour, real life, and sexy realisations of love and romance.
Reviewers received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
October 19, 2021
I had been waiting (not so) patiently for Wildflower for months. MONTHS. I’ve loved all of Mae Wood’s books - her writing is fantastic and she does “seasoned” romances exceptionally well. I’ve also been in a massive reading slump and was crossing all my fingers that this book would get me out of that slump. So, it’s painful to admit I thought this one was just okay.
Juliana Burton and three business partners/friends are opening a new brewery/tap room in the tiny Vermont town where she grew up. And if she can create the perfect beer using all Vermont ingredients, they’ll win a designated tap at a well-known bar which will basically insure their success. Not to mention shut the mouths of all the brew-bros who are not-so-secretly rooting for her failure. The only challenge is having to ask her childhood crush to sell his family’s honey to her.
Riggs Lyon has had a rough couple of years and things don’t look like they’re going to be getting better any time soon. Not when his father undersells their hard-earned honey to the sister of his childhood best friend, not when she offers to help with his beekeeping work in exchange for the exceptional deal she got for his honey.
And from here you can probably guess where the story goes. The more time they spend together - which is fueled with animosity and angst at first, the better they get to know each other. And then their chemistry combusts. Wowsers, does it ever combust.
But from there…the story just failed to meet my astronomical expectations. Mae Wood gave the hero an intriguing backstory, yet I felt like it was underdeveloped and underutilized. Riggs and Juliana are nice people and they have some challenges to overcome. But my emotions weren’t moved to great depths as I went along on their journey.
Still, the writing was great and the dialogue superb. This book’s main issue is that I compared it to Mae Wood’s other books. And it came up short.
Juliana Burton and three business partners/friends are opening a new brewery/tap room in the tiny Vermont town where she grew up. And if she can create the perfect beer using all Vermont ingredients, they’ll win a designated tap at a well-known bar which will basically insure their success. Not to mention shut the mouths of all the brew-bros who are not-so-secretly rooting for her failure. The only challenge is having to ask her childhood crush to sell his family’s honey to her.
Riggs Lyon has had a rough couple of years and things don’t look like they’re going to be getting better any time soon. Not when his father undersells their hard-earned honey to the sister of his childhood best friend, not when she offers to help with his beekeeping work in exchange for the exceptional deal she got for his honey.
And from here you can probably guess where the story goes. The more time they spend together - which is fueled with animosity and angst at first, the better they get to know each other. And then their chemistry combusts. Wowsers, does it ever combust.
But from there…the story just failed to meet my astronomical expectations. Mae Wood gave the hero an intriguing backstory, yet I felt like it was underdeveloped and underutilized. Riggs and Juliana are nice people and they have some challenges to overcome. But my emotions weren’t moved to great depths as I went along on their journey.
Still, the writing was great and the dialogue superb. This book’s main issue is that I compared it to Mae Wood’s other books. And it came up short.
August 5, 2021
Visit Vermont and Try the Beer!
This book is a fun read. If you enjoy childhood crushes becoming real life love interests, or sibling best friends’ off-limits tropes, then you are in for a treat. I enjoyed this book not only because of the author taking us into a world that I adore, but the characters of Juliana and Riggs are combustible when they are together.
Riggs couldn’t wait to get out of this small town. He didn’t ever expect to return but his life didn’t exactly turn out the way he imagined. His ex-wife took away the safety net and left he and his teenaged son in a very precarious environment. The only thing he could do was go back home and start over.
Juliana is a force to be reckoned with – her tenacity, her conviction and her belief in her abilities is inspiring. She convinces her friends to take a chance, move to a small town in Vermont and build a brewery. Juliana dreams of building a brand that is spoken about across brewers, while her friends want to promote sustainability and local products to help build their name.
When Juliana goes to Lyon’s Honey to negotiate a supplier deal, she never thought she would have to harvest the honey herself. She never realized she would have to work so closely to the man she crushed on growing up, who was her brother’s best friend until he wasn’t. She didn’t know how she could resist the deep attraction to the man he became, with stormy eyes and a weathered disposition, Juliana simply didn’t know how she was going to make this work.
The story that unfolds is lovely and light, with a few scenes that will get your heart melting. When the two characters finally give in to their attraction, you cheer and celebrate. When heartbreak happens, you wonder how they could have been so blind. It is the best kind of angst story – and you will learn a bit more about how to brew beer (so win-win). This author has written several books and has a very creative way of telling stories. You will enjoy this one and I encourage you to purchase it.
This book is a fun read. If you enjoy childhood crushes becoming real life love interests, or sibling best friends’ off-limits tropes, then you are in for a treat. I enjoyed this book not only because of the author taking us into a world that I adore, but the characters of Juliana and Riggs are combustible when they are together.
Riggs couldn’t wait to get out of this small town. He didn’t ever expect to return but his life didn’t exactly turn out the way he imagined. His ex-wife took away the safety net and left he and his teenaged son in a very precarious environment. The only thing he could do was go back home and start over.
Juliana is a force to be reckoned with – her tenacity, her conviction and her belief in her abilities is inspiring. She convinces her friends to take a chance, move to a small town in Vermont and build a brewery. Juliana dreams of building a brand that is spoken about across brewers, while her friends want to promote sustainability and local products to help build their name.
When Juliana goes to Lyon’s Honey to negotiate a supplier deal, she never thought she would have to harvest the honey herself. She never realized she would have to work so closely to the man she crushed on growing up, who was her brother’s best friend until he wasn’t. She didn’t know how she could resist the deep attraction to the man he became, with stormy eyes and a weathered disposition, Juliana simply didn’t know how she was going to make this work.
The story that unfolds is lovely and light, with a few scenes that will get your heart melting. When the two characters finally give in to their attraction, you cheer and celebrate. When heartbreak happens, you wonder how they could have been so blind. It is the best kind of angst story – and you will learn a bit more about how to brew beer (so win-win). This author has written several books and has a very creative way of telling stories. You will enjoy this one and I encourage you to purchase it.
August 4, 2021
Small Town Buzz, Big-Time Feels
Wildflower is a beautifully crafted romance about family, self discovery, and love. Mae Wood writes nuanced characters with a variety of life experiences. They feel real and flawed and familiar. This story is rich with friendship, passion, and promise. I relish the support and vulnerability exchanged in this book. Change is inevitable. What matters is holding on to those you love and embracing joy.
Juliana is an intelligent, determined, capable beer maker and business woman. She is also a loving daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. In a business dominated my men, she is determined to be taken seriously. She and her business partners are poised to make their mark.
Riggs is a bit grumpy and lost. Starting over is always hard, especially when life leads you back to a place you were determined to leave behind. He is focused on helping his family apiary thrive, helping his son heal, and finding his own footing. He doesn't need to be reminded of the way his life imploded.
The reintroduction between Juliana and Riggs is fraught with attraction and an awkward verbal exchange. However, when Juliana needs some Lyon Honey for a new beer she is planning to brew their fates are sealed. The push and pull is electric. The more time they spend together, the more frantic the need becomes. Once they take the lid off of their potent chemistry, it can't be recapped. Their relationship blossoms through bold, honest communication and humor. The growth of the characters correlates with the deepening of their feelings.
Wildflower is a delightful read with small town vibes and big-time heart! I love the way this story seamlessly settles into Sarina Bowen's World of True North. As a reader, I am convinced that Vermont is where magic happens!
Wildflower is a beautifully crafted romance about family, self discovery, and love. Mae Wood writes nuanced characters with a variety of life experiences. They feel real and flawed and familiar. This story is rich with friendship, passion, and promise. I relish the support and vulnerability exchanged in this book. Change is inevitable. What matters is holding on to those you love and embracing joy.
Juliana is an intelligent, determined, capable beer maker and business woman. She is also a loving daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. In a business dominated my men, she is determined to be taken seriously. She and her business partners are poised to make their mark.
Riggs is a bit grumpy and lost. Starting over is always hard, especially when life leads you back to a place you were determined to leave behind. He is focused on helping his family apiary thrive, helping his son heal, and finding his own footing. He doesn't need to be reminded of the way his life imploded.
The reintroduction between Juliana and Riggs is fraught with attraction and an awkward verbal exchange. However, when Juliana needs some Lyon Honey for a new beer she is planning to brew their fates are sealed. The push and pull is electric. The more time they spend together, the more frantic the need becomes. Once they take the lid off of their potent chemistry, it can't be recapped. Their relationship blossoms through bold, honest communication and humor. The growth of the characters correlates with the deepening of their feelings.
Wildflower is a delightful read with small town vibes and big-time heart! I love the way this story seamlessly settles into Sarina Bowen's World of True North. As a reader, I am convinced that Vermont is where magic happens!
September 7, 2021
I've really enjoyed Mae Wood's books and was looking forward to this one because she writes about Gen-Xers who get a second chance at love, and there's usually a foodie bent to them.
In this one, we have 43 yo Juliana who's a divorced brewmaster and 46 yo Riggs who's also divorced and father to a 17yo son. She had a long time crush on him as a kid and he was her big brother's frenemy on the basketball court. He left for the bright lights and big city of Boston to make it big, only to return with his son after his ex-wife was sentenced to 33 yrs in jail for pulling off a ponzi scheme to rival Madoff's. He now helps run his family apiary and there are lots of scenes with him telling the bees, because if you don't tell them what's important to you, they'll leave or die (how's that for a metaphor?)
The foodie bent here is all the talk about honey flavours and the process of beer making and the flavour profiles (if you liked this, check out Plus One and Crush which were spin-offs of her Pig & Barley series and you'll get similar foodie/wine porn but with wine.) Juliana is starting up a brewery with 3 partners, all women, and there's a lot here about the toxic masculinity of the beer industry.
Riggs and Juliana get off to a rocky start but the attraction is too much for them to resist and they eventually settle into what they think is a casual relationship with no strings attached. We all know how well that works out. Love is declared, and they settle into a nice rhythm. The thing I love about mature characters who've been through shit, especially when they've learned from their mistakes and reflected on them, is that they try to do better to not repeat them. There're some really great scenes where Riggs is with Juliana who's in her element and he knows to stay back and let her shine because it's her moment, that it's not about him.
Speakeasy and The Gin Mill are referenced very lightly here since this is set in Gaskin, Vermont, but the goal for Juliana and her partners is to brew an award winner at the Colebury Beer Fest, with the wining prize being a dedicated tap at The Gin Mill. A beer she had brewed the year before won the prize but the beer-bro owner took all the credit for her work so she was out to prove herself, and she did.
There was a reference early in the book about Riggs' having anxiety/depression much of his life, and a second later reference to it but I wish it had been explored more fully, particularly within the context of Riggs' relationship with his son, Jordan and how they had to deal with the fallout of his ex-wife's conviction.
In this one, we have 43 yo Juliana who's a divorced brewmaster and 46 yo Riggs who's also divorced and father to a 17yo son. She had a long time crush on him as a kid and he was her big brother's frenemy on the basketball court. He left for the bright lights and big city of Boston to make it big, only to return with his son after his ex-wife was sentenced to 33 yrs in jail for pulling off a ponzi scheme to rival Madoff's. He now helps run his family apiary and there are lots of scenes with him telling the bees, because if you don't tell them what's important to you, they'll leave or die (how's that for a metaphor?)
The foodie bent here is all the talk about honey flavours and the process of beer making and the flavour profiles (if you liked this, check out Plus One and Crush which were spin-offs of her Pig & Barley series and you'll get similar foodie/wine porn but with wine.) Juliana is starting up a brewery with 3 partners, all women, and there's a lot here about the toxic masculinity of the beer industry.
Riggs and Juliana get off to a rocky start but the attraction is too much for them to resist and they eventually settle into what they think is a casual relationship with no strings attached. We all know how well that works out. Love is declared, and they settle into a nice rhythm. The thing I love about mature characters who've been through shit, especially when they've learned from their mistakes and reflected on them, is that they try to do better to not repeat them. There're some really great scenes where Riggs is with Juliana who's in her element and he knows to stay back and let her shine because it's her moment, that it's not about him.
Speakeasy and The Gin Mill are referenced very lightly here since this is set in Gaskin, Vermont, but the goal for Juliana and her partners is to brew an award winner at the Colebury Beer Fest, with the wining prize being a dedicated tap at The Gin Mill. A beer she had brewed the year before won the prize but the beer-bro owner took all the credit for her work so she was out to prove herself, and she did.
There was a reference early in the book about Riggs' having anxiety/depression much of his life, and a second later reference to it but I wish it had been explored more fully, particularly within the context of Riggs' relationship with his son, Jordan and how they had to deal with the fallout of his ex-wife's conviction.
August 6, 2021
4.5 STARS
This book is written as part of Sarina Bowen’s True North world and functions completely as a standalone. It is written in first person from an alternating dual POV and has a sweet HEA.
Juliana and Riggs both end up back in their small Vermont town in their 40s. Juliana is working with three business partners to open a new female owned brewery. Riggs and his teenage son have moved back after high profile drama with his ex-wife makes him choose a fresh start away from the city life they have known in Boston. Though they have known each other since childhood, they were never close. I love the sizzle between them as they really get to know each other.
I appreciated the maturity of the characters in their communication, both in and out of the bedroom. I love how they have both been career focused and are determined to succeed with their new ventures. I love the heat and the fearlessness between them and how they make time for each other even though they are both busy. I love Riggs’ relationship with his son and Juliana’s relationship that she is developing with her teenage niece. Neither one of these characters was looking for a relationship, yet they find love anyway. One of the things I appreciate about this author is her commitment to research. I feel like I learned a lot about beekeeping and beer that I did not know, without it ever feeling like a textbook approach. It was a natural part of Juliana and Riggs learning about each other, and I really enjoyed the knowledge gained. This was a very enjoyable read and I recommend it. I look forward to reading more books in this true North world.
This book is written as part of Sarina Bowen’s True North world and functions completely as a standalone. It is written in first person from an alternating dual POV and has a sweet HEA.
Juliana and Riggs both end up back in their small Vermont town in their 40s. Juliana is working with three business partners to open a new female owned brewery. Riggs and his teenage son have moved back after high profile drama with his ex-wife makes him choose a fresh start away from the city life they have known in Boston. Though they have known each other since childhood, they were never close. I love the sizzle between them as they really get to know each other.
I appreciated the maturity of the characters in their communication, both in and out of the bedroom. I love how they have both been career focused and are determined to succeed with their new ventures. I love the heat and the fearlessness between them and how they make time for each other even though they are both busy. I love Riggs’ relationship with his son and Juliana’s relationship that she is developing with her teenage niece. Neither one of these characters was looking for a relationship, yet they find love anyway. One of the things I appreciate about this author is her commitment to research. I feel like I learned a lot about beekeeping and beer that I did not know, without it ever feeling like a textbook approach. It was a natural part of Juliana and Riggs learning about each other, and I really enjoyed the knowledge gained. This was a very enjoyable read and I recommend it. I look forward to reading more books in this true North world.
August 3, 2021
Another great addition to the Speakeasy series. This is my first Mae Wood book and I really enjoyed her writing.
Juliana is working with her brewing crew in getting their business off the ground. She is a tough, determined business woman who’s looking to make a name for herself/business in a man’s world of beer brewing. She isn’t looking for a relationship or love as she is strictly focused on her business. She has held onto a crush from her high school days and doesn’t realize he’s back in town.
Riggs is dealing with a major life event that has seriously altered him and his sons living arrangements, lifestyle and reputation. His short term goal is getting back on his feet while helping his father with the family bee business along with making sure his son is in a good place. A relationship/love are the furthest thing from his mind. When his path crossed with Juliana he is awestruck - not looking for a relationship but a good time will be just fine.
Juliana and Riggs are beautifully written by Mae. You feel their stress, tension and determination. Although they start out as friends, the more time they spend together the more comfortable they get. They build each other’s confidence and find out that the past does not define the future.
I requested an arc and I am leaving my honest review.
Juliana is working with her brewing crew in getting their business off the ground. She is a tough, determined business woman who’s looking to make a name for herself/business in a man’s world of beer brewing. She isn’t looking for a relationship or love as she is strictly focused on her business. She has held onto a crush from her high school days and doesn’t realize he’s back in town.
Riggs is dealing with a major life event that has seriously altered him and his sons living arrangements, lifestyle and reputation. His short term goal is getting back on his feet while helping his father with the family bee business along with making sure his son is in a good place. A relationship/love are the furthest thing from his mind. When his path crossed with Juliana he is awestruck - not looking for a relationship but a good time will be just fine.
Juliana and Riggs are beautifully written by Mae. You feel their stress, tension and determination. Although they start out as friends, the more time they spend together the more comfortable they get. They build each other’s confidence and find out that the past does not define the future.
I requested an arc and I am leaving my honest review.
September 19, 2021
This book made me want to learn how to brew beer and be a beekeeper at the same time. I liked how both Riggs and Julianna seemed to be on the same path in a way. Both were back in their home town, one on a high of success, one sort of with his tail between his legs, but neither expected to be back where they started.
I really felt for Riggs, he was sort of licking his wounds, trying to find his footing in a place he never wanted to be. Yet, is worked for him, let him find his calm, was a good place for his son. Julianna was starting a new phase in her life, starting a new business with women she liked and admired back in her home town. It didn't help that between Riggs and Julianna there was past drama between the families. It was interesting to see the two of them work through things and be able to see past conceptions.
I really liked where both of these 2 were by the end of the book. Julianna finding success with her beer, Riggs happy to be where he was and working with bees, the cherry on top of things was that these two worked things out and are living their lives happy, together.
I really felt for Riggs, he was sort of licking his wounds, trying to find his footing in a place he never wanted to be. Yet, is worked for him, let him find his calm, was a good place for his son. Julianna was starting a new phase in her life, starting a new business with women she liked and admired back in her home town. It didn't help that between Riggs and Julianna there was past drama between the families. It was interesting to see the two of them work through things and be able to see past conceptions.
I really liked where both of these 2 were by the end of the book. Julianna finding success with her beer, Riggs happy to be where he was and working with bees, the cherry on top of things was that these two worked things out and are living their lives happy, together.
July 31, 2021
When the MC's are a little older I feel like it makes the story a little better. They know what they want and don't want any of the BS that usually goes along with it. Juliana had a secret crush on Riggs in high school which was almost 30 years ago. She is his former best friends little sister. So of course back in the day the crush had to be a secret. But things are different now and Riggs no longer sees her as his friends little sister. She moves back to Vermont to try and get her brewmaking business off and running.
Riggs hates having to move back to Vermont with his son to live with his parents and help with their honey business. A very public disaster with his ex wife may be in the past but rumors still fly. He wants his stay in Vermont to be a short stay but sometimes life doesn't go how we like it to. To get what they both want they have to help each other out but that also means what they want begins to change.
This is my first book by Mae Wood but not my last. I like her writing style and how she really brings the characters and story to life.
Riggs hates having to move back to Vermont with his son to live with his parents and help with their honey business. A very public disaster with his ex wife may be in the past but rumors still fly. He wants his stay in Vermont to be a short stay but sometimes life doesn't go how we like it to. To get what they both want they have to help each other out but that also means what they want begins to change.
This is my first book by Mae Wood but not my last. I like her writing style and how she really brings the characters and story to life.
August 3, 2021
I love the World of True North that Sarina Bowen has created so I was beyond thrilled to find out that other authors would be writing books set in this world in this new Speakeasy Taproom series. I had not previously read anything by Mae Wood but this book was great and I am eager to read more books by her. Wildflower is a solid and entertaining addition to the Speakeasy Taproom books.
Juliana and Riggs were great characters and I really enjoyed watching their story unfold. I loved the humor in this book and I found the details and descriptions of beekeeping to be fascinating. This book is part of a series but it can be read on its own.
I am excited to read more books that take place in the World of True North and more specifically the Speakeasy Taproom as I know there will be several by a variety of authors coming out soon. This is a relatable place with characters you care for and want to see a happy outcome given to. Speakeasy Taproom is a wonderful series on its own and a great spin off for Sarina Bowen's True North world.
Juliana and Riggs were great characters and I really enjoyed watching their story unfold. I loved the humor in this book and I found the details and descriptions of beekeeping to be fascinating. This book is part of a series but it can be read on its own.
I am excited to read more books that take place in the World of True North and more specifically the Speakeasy Taproom as I know there will be several by a variety of authors coming out soon. This is a relatable place with characters you care for and want to see a happy outcome given to. Speakeasy Taproom is a wonderful series on its own and a great spin off for Sarina Bowen's True North world.
September 20, 2021
Note: An ARC was provided by Heart Eyes Press.
I love reading romances in general, but I must admit that over-40 romances hold a special place in my heart. Wildflower is only my second read from Mae Wood, and while my introductory reading experience four years ago was middling at best, this contribution of hers to the Speakeasy Taproom series had me sitting up and paying attention. Juliana Burton (43) and Riggs Lyon (46) were an interesting pair, and I liked that they were basically starting new chapters in their respective life stories. Juliana was focused on creating a new legacy for herself alongside her friends and business partners, while Riggs was hoping his family's legacy would be a stepping stone in escaping the mess his ex-wife left behind for him and their son. These two and their story not only grabbed and held my attention, but I had a heck of a lot of affection for Juliana and Riggs as well. 4.5 stars for Wildflower!
I love reading romances in general, but I must admit that over-40 romances hold a special place in my heart. Wildflower is only my second read from Mae Wood, and while my introductory reading experience four years ago was middling at best, this contribution of hers to the Speakeasy Taproom series had me sitting up and paying attention. Juliana Burton (43) and Riggs Lyon (46) were an interesting pair, and I liked that they were basically starting new chapters in their respective life stories. Juliana was focused on creating a new legacy for herself alongside her friends and business partners, while Riggs was hoping his family's legacy would be a stepping stone in escaping the mess his ex-wife left behind for him and their son. These two and their story not only grabbed and held my attention, but I had a heck of a lot of affection for Juliana and Riggs as well. 4.5 stars for Wildflower!
August 2, 2021
Jeezum Crow! I wish I was a leaf peeper in Vermont!
Another great read from Mae Wood! This book is one in The World of True North. You don’t need to read any other books before enjoying this one but if you have you’ll recognize some names and venues. Riggs and Juliana are back in their hometown for opposite reasons. Juliana is starting a dream venture while Riggs is picking up the pieces from an ex wife. These are “older adult” characters who are relatable and their journey is so real. They both have a lot going on but have to find time for each other if they want this to work. Riggs was Juliana’s high school crush. It was fun to watch their story unfold as Riggs realized what he couldn’t wait to get away from, was actually all he ever needed. “Just because something seems ordinary doesn’t mean it is”.
Another great read from Mae Wood! This book is one in The World of True North. You don’t need to read any other books before enjoying this one but if you have you’ll recognize some names and venues. Riggs and Juliana are back in their hometown for opposite reasons. Juliana is starting a dream venture while Riggs is picking up the pieces from an ex wife. These are “older adult” characters who are relatable and their journey is so real. They both have a lot going on but have to find time for each other if they want this to work. Riggs was Juliana’s high school crush. It was fun to watch their story unfold as Riggs realized what he couldn’t wait to get away from, was actually all he ever needed. “Just because something seems ordinary doesn’t mean it is”.
July 29, 2021
This was such a good story!
Riggs is back home after a scandal with his ex wife changed his life forever.
Juliana moves back to her small town to open up an all female owned brewery. And she is surprised to find out that her high school crush, Riggs, is living there too.
I love that both MC's are in their forties. You get so many romance books with people in their twenties, and I love them. But it's nice to have a story with older characters.
And the author did not skimp on the heat. The intimate scenes between them were intense. I might have reread them a couple of times. So good.
And I adored how confident Juliana was. I love a strong female lead and she is definitely that.
The ending felt a bit rushed for my liking. And the quick conversation about the beer between them seemed a little out of character for both of them. She wasn't the direct and honest person she'd been the whole time. She was a bit cagey and talked around things. And he was a bit meek and awkward, as opposed to the in control strong willed man he'd been the entire time.
But overall I really did enjoy this story very much.
Riggs is back home after a scandal with his ex wife changed his life forever.
Juliana moves back to her small town to open up an all female owned brewery. And she is surprised to find out that her high school crush, Riggs, is living there too.
I love that both MC's are in their forties. You get so many romance books with people in their twenties, and I love them. But it's nice to have a story with older characters.
And the author did not skimp on the heat. The intimate scenes between them were intense. I might have reread them a couple of times. So good.
And I adored how confident Juliana was. I love a strong female lead and she is definitely that.
The ending felt a bit rushed for my liking. And the quick conversation about the beer between them seemed a little out of character for both of them. She wasn't the direct and honest person she'd been the whole time. She was a bit cagey and talked around things. And he was a bit meek and awkward, as opposed to the in control strong willed man he'd been the entire time.
But overall I really did enjoy this story very much.
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