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The WINO* Next Door: *Wife In Name Only
Dexter Nieman was not the type of person to marry a stranger on a whim. Steady, predictable, and maybe even boring, he liked his settled life, loved being in his rut. And he certainly didn't intend to marry his neighbor, an eccentric recluse who worked odd hours and inexplicably owned a cauldron. But his job involved putting out fires for four insane brothers. And when one of those fires spiraled out of control, involving Dexter and his quirky neighbor, a pretend marriage seemed the only solution.
Lainey Andrews quit her job to follow her dream of making candy, straight into total ruin. She was about to fail spectacularly, but nothing new she failed at everything. In desperation she accepted an odd proposal from her straight-laced neighbor--pretend to be married and he would solve her financial woes. The rational part of Lainey's brain knew she shouldn't do it, but when had she ever listened to that?
Both of them went into the arrangement with their eyes open. After all, it was only business. It wasn't like two people so opposite in every way could fall in love.Certainly they wouldn't wind up being exactly what the other didn't realize they'd been missing, and they absolutely wouldn't find the love and friendship with each other they'd tried and failed to find with everyone else. Because things like that didn't happen, not to Lainey and Dexter, not to anyone. Something so unexpected, so wrong in every way couldn't fill their missing pieces, couldn't make them fit when nothing else did. Right?
Funny, warm, lighthearted, wholesome and uplifting, The WINO Next Door is this summer's perfect beach read!
Lainey Andrews quit her job to follow her dream of making candy, straight into total ruin. She was about to fail spectacularly, but nothing new she failed at everything. In desperation she accepted an odd proposal from her straight-laced neighbor--pretend to be married and he would solve her financial woes. The rational part of Lainey's brain knew she shouldn't do it, but when had she ever listened to that?
Both of them went into the arrangement with their eyes open. After all, it was only business. It wasn't like two people so opposite in every way could fall in love.Certainly they wouldn't wind up being exactly what the other didn't realize they'd been missing, and they absolutely wouldn't find the love and friendship with each other they'd tried and failed to find with everyone else. Because things like that didn't happen, not to Lainey and Dexter, not to anyone. Something so unexpected, so wrong in every way couldn't fill their missing pieces, couldn't make them fit when nothing else did. Right?
Funny, warm, lighthearted, wholesome and uplifting, The WINO Next Door is this summer's perfect beach read!
221 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 10, 2022
25 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
Vanessa Gray Bartal
170 books136 followersVanessa Gray Bartal is primarily a foodie who began writing when she was unable to find people willing to pay her to eat. She believes everyone deserves a happily ever after and works hard to make it happen, even in a murder mystery.
She would love to hear from you. Check out her Facebook author page for upcoming new releases, and drop her a line while you're there!
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 13, 2022
What a lovely book!
I'm never sure if I like Vanessa Gray Bartal's book series or standalone books more... so I'll go with both!
The characters in n this in one are sweetly complex and the plot moves along quickly.
Highly recommend!
I'm never sure if I like Vanessa Gray Bartal's book series or standalone books more... so I'll go with both!
The characters in n this in one are sweetly complex and the plot moves along quickly.
Highly recommend!
June 10, 2022
Two world colide
I don't know how she does it, but no matter what the storyline, Vanessa turns it into magic. Good story, quirky characters, and a great read.I wish I could give it 10 stars.
I don't know how she does it, but no matter what the storyline, Vanessa turns it into magic. Good story, quirky characters, and a great read.I wish I could give it 10 stars.
May 13, 2022
Fun, stand alone book!
This is a fun, quick read! Dexter and Lainey are adorable and come to depend on each other. Love comes unexpectedly. ❤️
This is a fun, quick read! Dexter and Lainey are adorable and come to depend on each other. Love comes unexpectedly. ❤️
May 15, 2022
Enjoy!
When I read the blurb about this book, I was not sure what it would be like. It was a fun and amusing read. I so enjoy the author's sense of humor in the books she writes.
When I read the blurb about this book, I was not sure what it would be like. It was a fun and amusing read. I so enjoy the author's sense of humor in the books she writes.
May 21, 2022
Laughs and love
Another great one! I giggled so much reading this book. Thanks for the fun read!
For those who like to know: clean romance. No profanity.
Another great one! I giggled so much reading this book. Thanks for the fun read!
For those who like to know: clean romance. No profanity.
November 18, 2022
I have read *many* MOC's(marriage of convenience)((one of my favorite tropes!)), but this one is so fresh and engrossing and satisfying in all the ways! I love the characters. I love their stories individually. I love their relationship. I love their growth. I love their affection. And I love their witty banter. Vanessa Gray Bartal just does NOT let me down on witty banter. I defy you to present to me anyone who does it better. For so many reasons she's my favorite.(I'm going to be an unabashed fangirl when it comes to her, because for one thing I don't think she gets anywhere near the readership she deserves.)
And this book is going to go down as one of my favorites of hers(ugh, so hard to pick though because she's so prolific and bizarrely consistent in quality), and an all-time favorite in general.
And this book is going to go down as one of my favorites of hers(ugh, so hard to pick though because she's so prolific and bizarrely consistent in quality), and an all-time favorite in general.
June 15, 2023
wacky and wonderful
what an unusual way to tell a story- i dug it.
bringing a perspective utterly different from the usual run of rom coms, this funny and exciting story gives all the feels.
main female character is a dreamer with a chocolatier passion. main male character is a fixer.
delightful sparks fly
what an unusual way to tell a story- i dug it.
bringing a perspective utterly different from the usual run of rom coms, this funny and exciting story gives all the feels.
main female character is a dreamer with a chocolatier passion. main male character is a fixer.
delightful sparks fly
May 31, 2022
Chocolate =Love!
This story was a little slow and the dialogue was not quite as crisp and witty when compared to previous books by the author. Even so it was a cute read.
This story was a little slow and the dialogue was not quite as crisp and witty when compared to previous books by the author. Even so it was a cute read.
January 11, 2025
such a good read/ I thoroughly enjoyed the series and recommend it to anyone looking for a good read with humor and all the fixings.
October 7, 2022
Good fun
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews