Breathless

by Roz Lee

With development encroaching on his family’s vineyard, Wade Nightingale has his eye on the property next door. To get it, he’ll have to go through Serenity Granger, the reckless girl he had a crush on all through high school. She’s a grown woman now and determined to save her family legacy from foreclosure. It’s easy to admire her tenacity but impossible to keep his hands off her.
When Serenity Granger was ten years old, Wade Nightingale didn’t know she existed unless she was getting into trouble at his family’s winery, which she’d done more often than she wanted to recall, but now he’s paying attention. When things heat up between them, she has to wonder—could he be the answer to all her grown-up fantasies? Or is he a snake in the vineyard, after the only thing that matters to him—her land?

Genres: Second Chance

250 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 20, 2022

About the author

USA Today Best-Selling author Roz Lee is the author of over thirty romances. The first, The Lust Boat, was born of an idea acquired while on a Caribbean cruise with her family and soon blossomed into a five-book series originally published by Red Sage. Following her love of baseball, she turned her attention to sexy athletes in tight pants, writing the critically acclaimed Mustangs Baseball series.
Roz has been married to her best friend, and high school sweetheart, for nearly four decades. Roz and her husband have two grown daughters and are the proud grandparents to three adorable grandkids. Roz and her husband live in the wilds of New Jersey with their Labrador Retriever, Bud which is code for Big Unruly Dog.
Even though Roz has lived on both coasts, her heart lies in between, in Texas. A Texan by birth, she can trace her family back to the Republic of Texas. With roots that deep, she says, “You can’t ever really leave.”
When Roz isn’t writing, she’s reading, or traipsing around the country on one adventure or another. No trip is too small, no tourist trap too cheesy, and no road unworthy of travel.

Reviews

[MammaDi3Gatti · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Aww, I really liked this book. It was my first of this author's and won't be my last, especially if it's book 2 in the Nightingale series. This one introduces us to the Nightingale family, owners of a successful east coast winery. One of my favorite romance novel series takes place in an east coast winery, but some of my least favorites have too, so this one could have gone either way. In the end, I've found a new series to sink my teeth into.

Here, we have Wade Nightingale, oldest brother and the guy running the show. Our heroine, Serenity Granger, has known the Nightingales her whole life; her family's farm borders the winery and middle Nightingale Sean is one of her closet friends. This means that we have one of my favorite tropes, best friend's brother (with a dash of friends-to-lovers), yay! Serenity is a bit of a mess, having returned to the farm after living in New York to take care of her ill father and the financial mess he's gotten himself into. Her career as a wedding planner brings her in close proximity to Wade, her longtime crush.

The main conflicts are that Wade is reluctant to act on his feelings for Serenity because he thinks she's involved with (or at least was once involved with) Sean and he doesn't want to break the bro code. Why he doesn't just ask Sean if he's with Serenity is a mystery to me, but it doesn't detract too much from the story. The bigger issue is Serenity's dire financial straits. Not only is she barely keeping up with the mortgage, but the farmhouse is falling down around her ears. It is perhaps too convenient that Wade is loaded; even though she resists the help, it's not much of a reach to assume he'll eventually help her out. The question is how he will do it without damaging her pride.

One thing that niggled at me (in a totally shallow way, not gonna lie) is the though of Serenity Granger perhaps choosing to change her name if they marry. Serenity Nightingale? I just don't know about that.

I received an advance review copy for free from the author and BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book one in The Nightingale Vineyards Series and it is Serenity and Wade's story and what a great start to a new series and author to me. Serenity is a wedding planner in New York but when her father becomes ill she goes back home to help him not knowing until she gets there that her father has got himself into a financial news and she doesn't know what to do next to get them out of it. Wade has had feelings for Serenity for year's but his brother Sean is her best friend and Wade doesn't know if they are more involved and he can't go against the bro code but when he finds out just how bad things are for Serenity and her father he is determined to help but how will be so that without causing more problems and making things even more complicated. This was a really beautiful story that pulled you in right from the start and kept your attention throughout and I couldn't put it down as I wanted to see what the outcome would be for Serenity and Wade as they are so perfect for each other and deserve a happy ending. This is the first book that I have read by this author and I enjoyed it so much that I look forward to reading more in the future.

I Voluntarily Reviewed a Copy of This Book.

[Helen Causer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first of a series, and it hooked me in straight away.
Friends to Lovers in a Small Town Setting - it has it all.

Serenity is a walking disaster area, but is trying her best to salvage what she can of her run down family farm that is mortgaged to the hilt.

Wade is the eldest of 3 brothers, and CEO of their family business, which happens to be next door to Serenity’s home.

She has grown up with the 3 boys, and is regarded as family, but has harboured a crush on Wade since childhood.
She is also very proud and is reluctant to accept any help - can her defences be breached by the constant attention shown her by Wade?
Factor in an underhand Banker, and an ailing, unpredictable father, and watch the sparks fly.

Every character is well drawn, and most are very likeable.
I enjoyed this book very much, and I will definitely be following the series as it is released.

I received an Advance Review Copy of this book and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

[Taz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wedding planner who wedding is going to hades in a handbasket what a meet cute. I am so there for it. What a great way to open up the new Nightingale series by Lee. Wade has always thought of Serenity as the kid next door. She is all grown up and her massive crush on Wade is still there as an adult. Wade and Serenity had to learn to get out of their own way in order to find their happy place. Enjoyed learning about the wine making process and the stress a family is under. Love that Lee tied in past book series into this one. Can't wait until book 2.

[CORINNE · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader copy of this book and am reviewing it voluntarily

This was a lovely girl next door story funny sassy and real

Guys and girls can just be friends but the bro code gets misinterpreted hilarious at times

Dealing with money worries parents ill health misdiagnosis causing stress so real

Emotions all over the place whilst reading this

Sibling rivalry this story has it all going on

Loved loved the ending

[Terry Hammoutene · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read. It follows Serenity Granger and Wade Nightingale. They grew up next to each other. Wade came back after college, and Serenity stayed away. Now she is back and they keep finding themselves in each others way.
I enjoyed this story it was a fast read. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

I received a copy of this book on BookSirens in exchange for a honest review

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book-it was funny and a very sweet romance story. I do feel like the ending was kind of rushed, but I am definitely looking forward to the rest of the series!

*I received this ARC from BookSirens and this is my complete and honest review*

[Christina Bowling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, a pretty fun book. I really liked Serenity and Wade together, even though they took a bit for me to warm up to as characters in general. By the end I did like them, though, and was happy with their HEA.

[Jacqueline Johnston Cotton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book! It's a light-hearted and sweet read with great characters. I loved the winery setting and the story line. I highly recommend this book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Roni Denholtz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This contemporary romance has the wonderful characters I expect from Roz Lee, plus her signature humor. It also contains a unique and beautiful winery background and building heat between the characters. I so enjoy her books and you will too!