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Crush
Josie Sanchez is the head winemaker at Cadieux Vineyards, and all her dreams ride on the upcoming crush. If she can produce a gold medal pinot noir, the owner will give Josie her own wine label. Finally . She’s worked years for this opportunity, and nothing will stand in her way. Not even Mac, the owner’s annoyingly beautiful niece who doesn’t know anything about wine, but whom Josie’s forced to hire as her only harvest intern. Josie can’t imagine a more ill-suited partner for the most important harvest of her life.
After a lackluster start in her marketing career, Mackenzie Layton is eager to jump headfirst into the illustrious Willamette Valley wine industry. Thanks to her uncle, her first harvest job is with one of the most prestigious wineries in town. But when she meets Josie, it’s clear her presence is a nuisance, even if she does occasionally catch Josie’s gaze lingering on her. Mac has a proclivity for misadventure, and she is unable to resist the one person who is off limits.
This crush will be a messy one, indeed.
After a lackluster start in her marketing career, Mackenzie Layton is eager to jump headfirst into the illustrious Willamette Valley wine industry. Thanks to her uncle, her first harvest job is with one of the most prestigious wineries in town. But when she meets Josie, it’s clear her presence is a nuisance, even if she does occasionally catch Josie’s gaze lingering on her. Mac has a proclivity for misadventure, and she is unable to resist the one person who is off limits.
This crush will be a messy one, indeed.
277 pages, Paperback
Published August 15, 2023
7 people are currently reading
322 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
August 21, 2023
In wine terminology a crush is the harvesting of the grapes. It is the timing of the crush which makes for the best wines. Cadieux Vineyards has lead the way with their award winning wines under the tutelage of head winemaker, Josie Sanchez. This year Josie is hoping to make a limited run of her very own wine which will be made under her personal label. Unfortunately the owner of the business has just thrown a spanner into Josie’s plans. He has hired his niece Mackenzie, who does not have any wine making experience, to assist Josie through the most important crush of her life.
The art and science of wine making is blended nicely into this slow burn romance. Reichardt brings her personal experience and knowledge of the wine industry to life through Josie and Mac. Her storytelling is wonderfully engaging and entertaining. My only complaint is that there is a fairytale ending which I found to be unrealistic although others may love it.
I received an advance review copy from Bold Strokes Books through NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The art and science of wine making is blended nicely into this slow burn romance. Reichardt brings her personal experience and knowledge of the wine industry to life through Josie and Mac. Her storytelling is wonderfully engaging and entertaining. My only complaint is that there is a fairytale ending which I found to be unrealistic although others may love it.
I received an advance review copy from Bold Strokes Books through NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 5, 2023
Sometimes you just have a feeling you’re going to like an author so I went in with high hopes. Josie Sanchez is a nationally renowned winemaker, working for Cadieux Vineyards and its owner, Hank Layton, King of Pinot. She’s excited for this year’s harvest because it could mean Hank finally gives Josie the opportunity to have her own label but it all hinges on the success of this year’s crush. Josie is understandably brimming with confidence until she discovers Hank’s inexperienced niece, Mac, is going to be Josie’s sole intern. A perfect setup for a clash between the two mains.
The story starts out like a grump(Josie)/sunshine(Mac) trope but the characters soon grow beyond the stereotypes. Josie and Mac have good chemistry that made me believe their heat together was real. Each woman feels they have something to prove to themselves and to the world about their capacity to succeed so the tension builds as the crush continues. The third star of the book is of course the winemaking. I am an information junkie so I had fun looking on YouTube at what Mac and Josie were doing during each step as described in brief passages. The writing is smooth and hooked me into the story from page one. Oregon’s Willamette Valley made for a crisp, clean autumn setting which added to the warmth of the book. Overall, Crush is a low angst, cozy read with plenty of sexy scenes, perfect for romance readers and wine fans. The only minus I see is that the ending seems tacked on. Otherwise, I enjoyed Crush.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
The story starts out like a grump(Josie)/sunshine(Mac) trope but the characters soon grow beyond the stereotypes. Josie and Mac have good chemistry that made me believe their heat together was real. Each woman feels they have something to prove to themselves and to the world about their capacity to succeed so the tension builds as the crush continues. The third star of the book is of course the winemaking. I am an information junkie so I had fun looking on YouTube at what Mac and Josie were doing during each step as described in brief passages. The writing is smooth and hooked me into the story from page one. Oregon’s Willamette Valley made for a crisp, clean autumn setting which added to the warmth of the book. Overall, Crush is a low angst, cozy read with plenty of sexy scenes, perfect for romance readers and wine fans. The only minus I see is that the ending seems tacked on. Otherwise, I enjoyed Crush.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
July 27, 2023
This is a story about Josie Sanchez, head winemaker at Cadieux Vineyards. Mackenzie Layton is the new intern at Cadieux and is the niece of Hank Layton the owner of the vineyards. Mac has no knowledge of winemaking when she first arrives, Josie is hell bent to dislike her. All of her previous interns have come with experience and she resents Hank forcing Mac on her.
Since Reichardt has extensive knowledge of the winemaking industry, it’s not surprising that her book should be filled with the details of making wine. I found this interesting and I have a trip coming up to California wine country and chose this book to gain more insight on how wine is made.
Josie and Mac drink a ton of wine everyday after work and it’s a good thing that they can walk to town for dinner and more adult beverages. To me this was too much drinking, and odd that neither ever seemed intoxicated from it. They were a cute couple and their chemistry was hot in the second half of the book.
ARC received from NetGalley for an honest and voluntary review.
Since Reichardt has extensive knowledge of the winemaking industry, it’s not surprising that her book should be filled with the details of making wine. I found this interesting and I have a trip coming up to California wine country and chose this book to gain more insight on how wine is made.
Josie and Mac drink a ton of wine everyday after work and it’s a good thing that they can walk to town for dinner and more adult beverages. To me this was too much drinking, and odd that neither ever seemed intoxicated from it. They were a cute couple and their chemistry was hot in the second half of the book.
ARC received from NetGalley for an honest and voluntary review.
August 21, 2023
This has been a story set between vineyards and wineries and small towns, starring Josie, a winemaker who dreams of having her own wine while working for a long-standing brand owner. And the other protagonist is Mac, the niece of the owner of the winery, who without having a fixed direction in her life, comes to work at the winery, causing Josie's concern, since she sees her more as a hindrance than as a help. Just now that Josie has a chance to get her dream, wine novice Mac may spoil her plans. So at the same time that it happens to Mac, the book shows us the process of wine production and its adjacent activities, not with many details, but it is certainly illustrative and we are learning at the same time that she does.
At the same time, Josie and Mac, who from the beginning feel attracted even though their employment relationship slows them down, since they have to share a house, although in separate areas, they develop that attraction until they finally decide that it will not be the cause of a labor conflict, being the uncle of Mac who is both Josie's boss and owner of the winery, the last hurdle they must face.
The result of the novel has been quite interesting, the two protagonists are mature and coherent, with the doubts that the circumstances have caused them, but they have known how to dialogue and put the problems on the table. A nice story.
Publisher Bold Strokes Books was kind enough to provide me with an advanced reading copy via Netgalley for an honest review
At the same time, Josie and Mac, who from the beginning feel attracted even though their employment relationship slows them down, since they have to share a house, although in separate areas, they develop that attraction until they finally decide that it will not be the cause of a labor conflict, being the uncle of Mac who is both Josie's boss and owner of the winery, the last hurdle they must face.
The result of the novel has been quite interesting, the two protagonists are mature and coherent, with the doubts that the circumstances have caused them, but they have known how to dialogue and put the problems on the table. A nice story.
Publisher Bold Strokes Books was kind enough to provide me with an advanced reading copy via Netgalley for an honest review
September 5, 2023
Crush offers a delightful journey into the world of winemaking through the eyes of its compelling characters, Josie and Mac. Josie is a seasoned winemaker waiting for her big break, while Mac is the well-meaning but inexperienced niece of Josie's boss, thrown into the deep end as Josie's intern. What starts as a classic grumpy/sunshine dynamic soon morphs into a meaningful connection, complete with palpable chemistry that does justice to the "crush"—both the grape harvest and the growing attraction between the two women.
The real standout, aside from the budding romance, is the immersive winemaking backdrop. As a lover of wine, I loved the intricate detail that the author relays throughout the novel. This added an extra layer of engagement that complemented the already smoothly-flowing narrative.
This is a great slow-burn romance though that I definitely recommend - particularly to those that like to learn the ins and outs of a new vocation.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
The real standout, aside from the budding romance, is the immersive winemaking backdrop. As a lover of wine, I loved the intricate detail that the author relays throughout the novel. This added an extra layer of engagement that complemented the already smoothly-flowing narrative.
This is a great slow-burn romance though that I definitely recommend - particularly to those that like to learn the ins and outs of a new vocation.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
August 29, 2023
It's my first book from Ana Hartnett Reichardt because until now, she wrote new adults novels which are not my targeted reads. This adult romance was the perfect occasion for me. Plus, I am french and wine is a huge part of our culture, so a winery romance was a no brainer.
I don't know if the author is a wine lover or it could even be her job, because she clearly did her research thoroughly. As a non English native speaker, Google was my friend and I watched winemaking process videos to help me understand the vocabulary, and I was happy to learn new things. Now what did I think of this romance? Slow burn is like red wine, the longer you wait to consume it, the better it is : and this one was delicious. Reichardt has clearly a talent for writing characters feelings and internal fights. The tension between the characters, careful to respect their work ethics was palpable and going crescendo until they couldn't hold it anymore.
Chemistry was definitely there and I had all I asked for : tension, cuteness, feelings and some well written steamy scenes.
I found the conflict of interest between the boss/intern relationship might have been dragged a bit too much and the resolution a bit too ideal and easy in a short time. I also wished Reichardt digged deeper into the resolution of Josie's anxiety issue.
But overall I really enjoyed this book, it was fast pace and I couldn't put it down. I hope the author will keep writing some adult novels to feed my granny heart. I could definitely picture a short story between Erin and Shelby.
I don't know if the author is a wine lover or it could even be her job, because she clearly did her research thoroughly. As a non English native speaker, Google was my friend and I watched winemaking process videos to help me understand the vocabulary, and I was happy to learn new things. Now what did I think of this romance? Slow burn is like red wine, the longer you wait to consume it, the better it is : and this one was delicious. Reichardt has clearly a talent for writing characters feelings and internal fights. The tension between the characters, careful to respect their work ethics was palpable and going crescendo until they couldn't hold it anymore.
Chemistry was definitely there and I had all I asked for : tension, cuteness, feelings and some well written steamy scenes.
I found the conflict of interest between the boss/intern relationship might have been dragged a bit too much and the resolution a bit too ideal and easy in a short time. I also wished Reichardt digged deeper into the resolution of Josie's anxiety issue.
But overall I really enjoyed this book, it was fast pace and I couldn't put it down. I hope the author will keep writing some adult novels to feed my granny heart. I could definitely picture a short story between Erin and Shelby.
July 22, 2023
Josie is the head winemaker at Cadieux Vineyards where’s she been working for the last fifteen years. She wants to own her on wine label and believes she ready her boss Hank promises to give her own label if the harvest and wine is a success this year. Which I found a bit annoying Hank a good guy but if Josie been making your wine a success for fifteen years why she had to show she ready. Josie has to work with Hank niece Mac who very smart and wasn’t getting anywhere in her father marketing company decides to be an intern at Cadieux Vineyards as fresh start for her. Josie is annoyed to be working with someone who doesn’t know anything about wine but is surprise how well a Mac is willing to learn. Josie and Mac have sizzling chemistry and I love the process of winemaking all the while two characters falling in love and I love that two women know who they are and what they want.
I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.
I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.
August 22, 2023
5 star
Intoxicating on so many levels!
A very slow burn romance that got very hot. The romance was blended fantastically with the very interesting wine making. You will fall in love with wine along with Josie and Mac.
The dialog is rich and very sexy. All the characters are interesting and warm....with one villain.
My favorite line was " when I dreamed of kissing you, I dreamed you kissed me back". That really described what was happening. (Great writing)
The title "CRUSH" is perfect for this story.
I highly recommend this story.
Intoxicating on so many levels!
A very slow burn romance that got very hot. The romance was blended fantastically with the very interesting wine making. You will fall in love with wine along with Josie and Mac.
The dialog is rich and very sexy. All the characters are interesting and warm....with one villain.
My favorite line was " when I dreamed of kissing you, I dreamed you kissed me back". That really described what was happening. (Great writing)
The title "CRUSH" is perfect for this story.
I highly recommend this story.
July 28, 2023
I’ve read and enjoyed the author’s YA Alder (College) series and was happily surprised to read a new book with older characters. Josie Sanchez is the head winemaker at Cadieux Vineyards set in Willamette Valley, Oregon. She is 40 and has everything riding on this seasons winemaking. Hank Layton, the owner, promises Josie her own wine label if the harvest and wine is a success. She has worked for him for 15 years and has elevated his wines to new standards. The drawback is that her new intern doesn’t have any experience with wine making and happens to be his niece MacKenzie (Mac).
Mac is 30 and studied marketing. She is bright, pretty and warm. She gets dismissed for her looks even when she performs above and beyond others around her. That happens while working for her father in his marketing firm. Coming to intern for Uncle Hank is a chance for a new start for her. The winery is small with only a few employees and the work is demanding. The attraction hits early between the two. It doesn’t help that Mac’s apartment is in Josie’s basement. There is longing for a connection, resistance because of employee/boss status and growing and growing tension between Josie and Mac. This builds to a surprising amount of heat. (More than Reichardt’s YA novels.) I totally bought into the relationship.
I will say I am not a drinker and there is a whole lot of wine and beer drinking. I’m not always sure these two should be driving at times. There is a lot of detail descriptions about wine making, processes, science, fermentation etc. It was a lot for me, but it lends authority and authenticity to the winemaking part of the story. I haven’t wanted to visit a tasting room so badly since I read Melissa Brayden’s Tangle Valley series. Very enjoyable read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review.
Mac is 30 and studied marketing. She is bright, pretty and warm. She gets dismissed for her looks even when she performs above and beyond others around her. That happens while working for her father in his marketing firm. Coming to intern for Uncle Hank is a chance for a new start for her. The winery is small with only a few employees and the work is demanding. The attraction hits early between the two. It doesn’t help that Mac’s apartment is in Josie’s basement. There is longing for a connection, resistance because of employee/boss status and growing and growing tension between Josie and Mac. This builds to a surprising amount of heat. (More than Reichardt’s YA novels.) I totally bought into the relationship.
I will say I am not a drinker and there is a whole lot of wine and beer drinking. I’m not always sure these two should be driving at times. There is a lot of detail descriptions about wine making, processes, science, fermentation etc. It was a lot for me, but it lends authority and authenticity to the winemaking part of the story. I haven’t wanted to visit a tasting room so badly since I read Melissa Brayden’s Tangle Valley series. Very enjoyable read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review.
July 16, 2023
Good opening chapters. 30% in and there is a bit of thawing. However I’m concerned there is not now much tension, which could make the plot a bit saggy. The barrier to the mains being together is often referenced and although they can’t be together romantically they are having to spend a lot of times together but I’m not gripped.
There are sections I really liked, scenes I loved. Other bits were okay, a bit like garnish on a plate. Noticed, adds to the whole effect but padding the plate out, making it look pretty, but you only eat it if you are still hungry.
I thought the morning after scene was perfect. I think because I wasn’t totally gripped by the romance, the first love scene wasn’t “moving”. No such issues the next day!
A personal dislike here, one of the sex scenes used a particular term for a toy too often. Maybe it’s just because the word is unusual in the scenes I read, but it pulled me out. In fact I was so pulled out the scene, I did a word search on the last 25 books I read and discovered I read a lot about “cocktails”, and there is a significant amount of “head cocking” going on, but no other book used that term.
I mentioned early on about the lack of tension. Well there is no lack of tension towards the end. The end of the shower scene perhaps overly foreshadowed the plot but from then on in, my teeth were lightly clenched. (Always a good sign I'm buying in to the writing.)
Overall somethings I loved and others not so much, but the book finished more strongly for me.
There are sections I really liked, scenes I loved. Other bits were okay, a bit like garnish on a plate. Noticed, adds to the whole effect but padding the plate out, making it look pretty, but you only eat it if you are still hungry.
I thought the morning after scene was perfect. I think because I wasn’t totally gripped by the romance, the first love scene wasn’t “moving”. No such issues the next day!
A personal dislike here, one of the sex scenes used a particular term for a toy too often. Maybe it’s just because the word is unusual in the scenes I read, but it pulled me out. In fact I was so pulled out the scene, I did a word search on the last 25 books I read and discovered I read a lot about “cocktails”, and there is a significant amount of “head cocking” going on, but no other book used that term.
I mentioned early on about the lack of tension. Well there is no lack of tension towards the end. The end of the shower scene perhaps overly foreshadowed the plot but from then on in, my teeth were lightly clenched. (Always a good sign I'm buying in to the writing.)
Overall somethings I loved and others not so much, but the book finished more strongly for me.
October 11, 2023
Okay, so this is my 4th Ana Hartnett book in a couple of months and the first one that takes place outside of Hartnett's Alder series. And I'm still very much enjoying the content Hartnett is giving me.
Josie is one of the world's best wine makers. She loves her job and her boss, Hank Layton, but dreams of one day making her own label. Hank finally agrees to letting her use some of his space and equipment for her own label if she can produce a gold award for this year's vintage. Even though the results would be a couple of years away, Josie accepts. The problem is she has to work this year's crush with one employee fewer than in other years, and the one employee, an intern, isn't her hire, as is custom most years. Instead, Hank goes over her head and hires his niece, Mac, as Josie's intern, but Mac has zero experience in the wine industry. Needless to say, Josie isn't too pleased.
Mac is hard not to love. She balances the girl-next-door quality with the perfect mix of confidence and humility. Josie is a tougher nut to crack. So it was hard for me to connect to the romance, which is a problem for a romance novel. But it's also my own bias here because I don't love when there's instant sexual attraction that fuels a romance. I prefer things to happen a little more subtly than that. And I'll give Hartnett a ton of credit because even though that attraction is instant on both sides, she lets the characters and the reader sit with that for more than half the book. But it loses points for me for always being there anyway. This criticism is completely a me thing, so take it with a grain of salt while I also note that I think Hartnett has done this better than other authors in the genre who do similar things. Three other quibbles to note in the criticism column:
1. Boss/employee relationships make me uncomfortable. This is diluted a bit because of Mac's familial relationship to Hank, but still. It's here and I'm not a fan.
2. There's an age gap here. But this wasn't a huge issue for me as it's 10 years (at the top of my comfort range) and because the characters are full adults when the novel begins. Josie is 40 and Mac is 30. But if there are other readers who are as tired of Age Gap romances as I am, this is just a heads up for you.
3. I know they work on a winery, but the amount of alcohol they drink is excessive. Why is there so much drinking in romance novels?
Having said all that, I did enjoy the novel. I just wasn't blown away. Be prepared for a lot of technical information about wine. It didn't impact my enjoyment any; in fact, I think it helped me understand Mac a bit more since we're essentially in her shoes with all the jargon, but know that there's some stuff that may go over your head.
Josie is one of the world's best wine makers. She loves her job and her boss, Hank Layton, but dreams of one day making her own label. Hank finally agrees to letting her use some of his space and equipment for her own label if she can produce a gold award for this year's vintage. Even though the results would be a couple of years away, Josie accepts. The problem is she has to work this year's crush with one employee fewer than in other years, and the one employee, an intern, isn't her hire, as is custom most years. Instead, Hank goes over her head and hires his niece, Mac, as Josie's intern, but Mac has zero experience in the wine industry. Needless to say, Josie isn't too pleased.
Mac is hard not to love. She balances the girl-next-door quality with the perfect mix of confidence and humility. Josie is a tougher nut to crack. So it was hard for me to connect to the romance, which is a problem for a romance novel. But it's also my own bias here because I don't love when there's instant sexual attraction that fuels a romance. I prefer things to happen a little more subtly than that. And I'll give Hartnett a ton of credit because even though that attraction is instant on both sides, she lets the characters and the reader sit with that for more than half the book. But it loses points for me for always being there anyway. This criticism is completely a me thing, so take it with a grain of salt while I also note that I think Hartnett has done this better than other authors in the genre who do similar things. Three other quibbles to note in the criticism column:
1. Boss/employee relationships make me uncomfortable. This is diluted a bit because of Mac's familial relationship to Hank, but still. It's here and I'm not a fan.
2. There's an age gap here. But this wasn't a huge issue for me as it's 10 years (at the top of my comfort range) and because the characters are full adults when the novel begins. Josie is 40 and Mac is 30. But if there are other readers who are as tired of Age Gap romances as I am, this is just a heads up for you.
3. I know they work on a winery, but the amount of alcohol they drink is excessive. Why is there so much drinking in romance novels?
Having said all that, I did enjoy the novel. I just wasn't blown away. Be prepared for a lot of technical information about wine. It didn't impact my enjoyment any; in fact, I think it helped me understand Mac a bit more since we're essentially in her shoes with all the jargon, but know that there's some stuff that may go over your head.
August 10, 2023
A story that takes your hand and sets you up at a nice table on top of a hill overlooking the gorgeous winemakers valley. A glass of tasty Pinot in your hand. Oh and there’s a cute couple sitting next to you. If you love wine and a hot falling-for-your boss trope, this book is the one for you.
I received an advance review copy for free from Netgalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily
Josie is the best winemaker in the Willamette Valley. Or even the country. She has been solidly working her way to winefame at Cadieux winery for the past 15 years. And this is the year her boss Hank will finally let her produce her own label. A dream come true. If only Hank doesn’t insist on hiring his incompetent niece as her only intern for this very important harvest.
Mac is done being viewed as inconsequential. Her career at her fathers marketing firm is getting nowhere, because no one takes her seriously. She is determined to make a life and career for herself once and for all in the, new to her, wine making business. When her beloved uncle hires her as an intern at his prestigious vineyard she jumps at the chance. If only her boss and head winemaker wasn’t so harsh and, ok, seriously hot.
The love for wine and the process of making it seeps through every page. Although all the technicalities went far over my head, they only helped cement the importance and love for wine these two main characters have. Hartnett Reichardt does a great job in immersing her readers in the beauty of the wine country and the passion for the profession.
I loved reading how Josie’s walls crumbled around Mac. She goes from cold and not wanting her there to being warm and lovable. It all happens naturally. Mac on the other hand is determined to impress Josie with her learning curve and her personality. She succeeds by being her authentic self and that is what makes her so admirable.
The tension and growing connection between Josie and Mac is a sight to behold and, may I say, searingly hot! The way these two connect emotionally and physically is the stuff of dreams.
Josie struggles with what their relationship with Mac will mean for her professional life. The way Mac stays by her side through it all shows the strong and courageous woman she is.
This was my first book by Ana Hartnett Reichardt and will certainly not be my last. She has a way of using descriptive imagery that lets you immerse yourself completely into the story.
Now please pick up this book for yourself and excuse me while I book a trip to the Willamet Valley.
I received an advance review copy for free from Netgalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily
Josie is the best winemaker in the Willamette Valley. Or even the country. She has been solidly working her way to winefame at Cadieux winery for the past 15 years. And this is the year her boss Hank will finally let her produce her own label. A dream come true. If only Hank doesn’t insist on hiring his incompetent niece as her only intern for this very important harvest.
Mac is done being viewed as inconsequential. Her career at her fathers marketing firm is getting nowhere, because no one takes her seriously. She is determined to make a life and career for herself once and for all in the, new to her, wine making business. When her beloved uncle hires her as an intern at his prestigious vineyard she jumps at the chance. If only her boss and head winemaker wasn’t so harsh and, ok, seriously hot.
The love for wine and the process of making it seeps through every page. Although all the technicalities went far over my head, they only helped cement the importance and love for wine these two main characters have. Hartnett Reichardt does a great job in immersing her readers in the beauty of the wine country and the passion for the profession.
I loved reading how Josie’s walls crumbled around Mac. She goes from cold and not wanting her there to being warm and lovable. It all happens naturally. Mac on the other hand is determined to impress Josie with her learning curve and her personality. She succeeds by being her authentic self and that is what makes her so admirable.
The tension and growing connection between Josie and Mac is a sight to behold and, may I say, searingly hot! The way these two connect emotionally and physically is the stuff of dreams.
Josie struggles with what their relationship with Mac will mean for her professional life. The way Mac stays by her side through it all shows the strong and courageous woman she is.
This was my first book by Ana Hartnett Reichardt and will certainly not be my last. She has a way of using descriptive imagery that lets you immerse yourself completely into the story.
Now please pick up this book for yourself and excuse me while I book a trip to the Willamet Valley.
September 25, 2023
Ana Hartnett’s slow-burn romance Crush is chock full of really interesting info about winemaking. I enjoyed Hartnett’s descriptions of the process, as well as all of the characters in this charming place.
Crush is a forbidden lovers story, so there's naturally a bunch of tension in the first half of the novel. Once these two firely ladies get together, the whole tone changes and it was fun watching them find their happily ever after.
thank you to Bold Strokes Books, via NetGalley, for providing an advanced copy of Crush for the purpose of my honest review, all opinions are my own
Crush is a forbidden lovers story, so there's naturally a bunch of tension in the first half of the novel. Once these two firely ladies get together, the whole tone changes and it was fun watching them find their happily ever after.
thank you to Bold Strokes Books, via NetGalley, for providing an advanced copy of Crush for the purpose of my honest review, all opinions are my own
August 9, 2023
⭐️3.5
The story follows Josie who’s the head winemaker at a vineyard. She must complete a task in order to get her own wine label, and nothing will stand in her way… so she thought.
In comes Mackenzie Layton, whose starter a career in marketing and got a job at the vineyard.
Sadly, Mackenzie is inexperienced and it gets on Josie’s nerves. But after a while she understands that there’s more to Mackenzie than she thought.
It was a lovely short story as I’m trying to read more lgbtq+ books, and I’m happy a got to read this one.
The character development was great and I enjoyed them both.
I also have never read a book that’s set in a vineyard, so it was fun to learn more about about wine and winemaking.
Now I just want to drink a lot of wine and go to a vineyard myself👀
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
The story follows Josie who’s the head winemaker at a vineyard. She must complete a task in order to get her own wine label, and nothing will stand in her way… so she thought.
In comes Mackenzie Layton, whose starter a career in marketing and got a job at the vineyard.
Sadly, Mackenzie is inexperienced and it gets on Josie’s nerves. But after a while she understands that there’s more to Mackenzie than she thought.
It was a lovely short story as I’m trying to read more lgbtq+ books, and I’m happy a got to read this one.
The character development was great and I enjoyed them both.
I also have never read a book that’s set in a vineyard, so it was fun to learn more about about wine and winemaking.
Now I just want to drink a lot of wine and go to a vineyard myself👀
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
November 6, 2023
Try the Wine!
In the words of Wreck it Ralph, “I’m gonna crush it!” Crush has a couple different meanings in this book. First the obvious is the crush you feel towards another. The second, is in the making of wine and not being a wine connoisseur, I didn’t know that so I learned something new! Many new things with the process of winemaking really.
Anyway, well written, slow burn, age gap, forbidden sapphic romance! Josie and Mac are boss/intern forced together (forced proximity?) to work the crush (!). There’s instant attraction but also so many obstacles to overcome, a major one being the only intern and having zero experience. Both characters show depth and growth throughout the story. The tension is hot! Once the spice comes, it is quite nice. Recommend!
In the words of Wreck it Ralph, “I’m gonna crush it!” Crush has a couple different meanings in this book. First the obvious is the crush you feel towards another. The second, is in the making of wine and not being a wine connoisseur, I didn’t know that so I learned something new! Many new things with the process of winemaking really.
Anyway, well written, slow burn, age gap, forbidden sapphic romance! Josie and Mac are boss/intern forced together (forced proximity?) to work the crush (!). There’s instant attraction but also so many obstacles to overcome, a major one being the only intern and having zero experience. Both characters show depth and growth throughout the story. The tension is hot! Once the spice comes, it is quite nice. Recommend!
August 19, 2023
A grumpy/sunshine story. Josie is the star winemaker, at Cadieux Vineyards in Oregon who is getting a chance at her own label with this crush. Josie is known nationwide as the best winemaker of the country. However, Hank the owner is giving her his niece Mac as her intern. Mac of no experience except bottling at a Virginia winery.
Josie only sees more work for herself, but Mac, after a few stutter steps, proves to be competent, actually she excels!
With Mac's apartment in the basement of Josie's house the two women grow close. But, Josie fights getting any closer, until, Mac, falls from the barrels then she can't hold back.
But they're boss, subordinate, what to do? I found this to be a very interesting book, brought back memories as I once was a tour guide at a winery (in VA) many years ago. I rally, I mean really enjoyed this book! 5 stars!
Josie only sees more work for herself, but Mac, after a few stutter steps, proves to be competent, actually she excels!
With Mac's apartment in the basement of Josie's house the two women grow close. But, Josie fights getting any closer, until, Mac, falls from the barrels then she can't hold back.
But they're boss, subordinate, what to do? I found this to be a very interesting book, brought back memories as I once was a tour guide at a winery (in VA) many years ago. I rally, I mean really enjoyed this book! 5 stars!
August 4, 2023
Like a fine wine, this author seems to get better with time. I have read and enjoyed her previous work, the Alder series, but with her newest book Crush, Hartnett Reichardt has elevated her storytelling to a new high.
The setting itself is lush and vibrant, and it’s obvious that the author has worked in the winemaking industry. She deftly provides a lot of substance to the story and environment, while not overwhelming with industry jargon. Admittedly, there were times that I looked up words I was not already familiar with, but only because I’m a nerd and do that a lot anyway, not because there weren’t enough context clues for the average reader.
Where this book really shines, however, is in the relationship between Josie and Mac. As soon as these two met I started smiling. The author did a wonderful job of making them real people (adorable crooked teeth included), that I rooted for and knew I would fall in love with as surely as they would fall for each other. And I did. And I loved every minute of it.
Overall a great read, and one of the few five star books I’ve read this year. If you’re looking for an immersive and adorable romance do yourself a favor and read this book. Ana Hartnett Reichardt has officially been added to my list of auto-buy authors!
I received an ARC copy of this ebook via NetGalley and all opinions are my own.
The setting itself is lush and vibrant, and it’s obvious that the author has worked in the winemaking industry. She deftly provides a lot of substance to the story and environment, while not overwhelming with industry jargon. Admittedly, there were times that I looked up words I was not already familiar with, but only because I’m a nerd and do that a lot anyway, not because there weren’t enough context clues for the average reader.
Where this book really shines, however, is in the relationship between Josie and Mac. As soon as these two met I started smiling. The author did a wonderful job of making them real people (adorable crooked teeth included), that I rooted for and knew I would fall in love with as surely as they would fall for each other. And I did. And I loved every minute of it.
Overall a great read, and one of the few five star books I’ve read this year. If you’re looking for an immersive and adorable romance do yourself a favor and read this book. Ana Hartnett Reichardt has officially been added to my list of auto-buy authors!
I received an ARC copy of this ebook via NetGalley and all opinions are my own.
November 14, 2023
I wasn’t planning on reading this book because it was about wine but i saw a review saying that this book is extra spicy (which’s not true btw) and thought I’ll give it a chance
This focus on Wine more that the romance, like seriously I knew going in that there will be a lot of talk about wine but I didn’t expect this much! I don’t drank alcohol so of customers I didn’t care for it, and I don’t even think the people who drink alcohol will care for it either
And what’s shocking to me is the characters drink a LOT of wine, Beer and champagne, and yet they never seems to get drunk at all 🤣🤣
I didn’t care about or MC much to be honest, like seriously what do we know about them? Not much, they have no depth and their chemistry wasn’t that great, and they didn’t get together until like 75% of the book and had unnecessary third act breakup by 88% 😑
The author kept repeating herself which was annoying
Anyway if your hoping for romance going into this don’t bother, but if you want to know anything about wine go for it
This focus on Wine more that the romance, like seriously I knew going in that there will be a lot of talk about wine but I didn’t expect this much! I don’t drank alcohol so of customers I didn’t care for it, and I don’t even think the people who drink alcohol will care for it either
And what’s shocking to me is the characters drink a LOT of wine, Beer and champagne, and yet they never seems to get drunk at all 🤣🤣
I didn’t care about or MC much to be honest, like seriously what do we know about them? Not much, they have no depth and their chemistry wasn’t that great, and they didn’t get together until like 75% of the book and had unnecessary third act breakup by 88% 😑
The author kept repeating herself which was annoying
Anyway if your hoping for romance going into this don’t bother, but if you want to know anything about wine go for it
November 5, 2023
Ana Hartnett absolutely crushed it with this book. I grabbed a glass of Pinot Noir and began reading knowing it was going to be great. It wasn't just great... it was fantastic!
I loved the depth of Hartnett's relatable, but also incredibly complex, main and supporting characters. The dialogue was very authentic and just flowed naturally throughout the book. The off limits attraction and love between Josie and Mac was achingly palpable with just the right amount of angst and spice.
The winemaking industry is so fascinating to me. Ana Hartnett's extensive knowledge of the industry made this book even more interesting. I ltruly enjoyed learning so much about the process of winemaking.
The Pacific Northwest was such a beautiful backdrop for this book. The vivid description of the vineyards, Mt. Hood, the whole Oregon small town vibe, the gorgeous waterfall, the misty cool weather, and the autumn festival added to the warmth and beauty of Josie and Mac's story.
I highly recommend this sapphic romance and I can't wait for Ana Hartnett's next novel.
I loved the depth of Hartnett's relatable, but also incredibly complex, main and supporting characters. The dialogue was very authentic and just flowed naturally throughout the book. The off limits attraction and love between Josie and Mac was achingly palpable with just the right amount of angst and spice.
The winemaking industry is so fascinating to me. Ana Hartnett's extensive knowledge of the industry made this book even more interesting. I ltruly enjoyed learning so much about the process of winemaking.
The Pacific Northwest was such a beautiful backdrop for this book. The vivid description of the vineyards, Mt. Hood, the whole Oregon small town vibe, the gorgeous waterfall, the misty cool weather, and the autumn festival added to the warmth and beauty of Josie and Mac's story.
I highly recommend this sapphic romance and I can't wait for Ana Hartnett's next novel.
December 28, 2023
THE CHEMISTRY LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
July 16, 2023
ARC provided by NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books!
My very first ARC and I don’t think it could’ve been a more perfect choice.
I don’t know that this book will be for everyone but as a person who majored in chemistry and took a wine tasting class in college I really enjoyed this! Some parts were very technical which I absolutely LOVED but I know it won’t be everyone’s favorite thing to read. I fell in love with the wine making process after taking a tour of a winery before my sisters wedding. I had no idea how much science was involved so getting to read about it in a romance was the perfect storm for me. Yes I geeked out reading about titrations. I enjoyed that the main characters were more established in their lives and careers being 30 and 40 years old. That was a new dynamic for me to read and I really enjoyed it. I think this is a good example of a cozy romance because it has a lot going on but it’s set in the most gorgeous world during the fall and it just makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside. I could read about the winemaking process all day long but the relationships in this book were actually really well done I think. I just want to be in the little winemaking friend group in Oregon.
I highly recommend this book for a cozy fall read when it comes out!
My very first ARC and I don’t think it could’ve been a more perfect choice.
I don’t know that this book will be for everyone but as a person who majored in chemistry and took a wine tasting class in college I really enjoyed this! Some parts were very technical which I absolutely LOVED but I know it won’t be everyone’s favorite thing to read. I fell in love with the wine making process after taking a tour of a winery before my sisters wedding. I had no idea how much science was involved so getting to read about it in a romance was the perfect storm for me. Yes I geeked out reading about titrations. I enjoyed that the main characters were more established in their lives and careers being 30 and 40 years old. That was a new dynamic for me to read and I really enjoyed it. I think this is a good example of a cozy romance because it has a lot going on but it’s set in the most gorgeous world during the fall and it just makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside. I could read about the winemaking process all day long but the relationships in this book were actually really well done I think. I just want to be in the little winemaking friend group in Oregon.
I highly recommend this book for a cozy fall read when it comes out!
July 24, 2023
I was somehow expecting a YA from Reichard but I was pleasantly surprised to see this is on the more adult spectrum. There is a 10 years age gap between the 2 MC but the main gap is in their wine making abilities. Josie is an experienced wine maker and quite passionate about it. Mac is changing careers and, aided by her uncle, is hoping to work hard and impress her new boss. And impress she does- just not work related, at least not at first. I really enjoyed this one but be advised that it is quite heavy on the wine making process.
Free ARC via NetGalley.
Free ARC via NetGalley.
January 25, 2024
4.25 Stars
I honestly thought this was a great book. I enjoyed the characters all round, including the side characters even the ones we see briefly.
Josie Sanchez is the head winemaker at Cadieux Vineyards set in Willamette Valley, Oregon. She is 40 and has everything riding on this seasons winemaking. Hank Layton, the owner, promises Josie her own wine label if the harvest and wine is a success. She has worked for him for 15 years and has elevated his wines to new standards. The drawback is that her new intern doesn’t have any experience with wine making and happens to be his niece MacKenzie (Mac).
The book cover is amazing and I look forward to reading more from Ana as this was my first book of theirs.
I honestly thought this was a great book. I enjoyed the characters all round, including the side characters even the ones we see briefly.
Josie Sanchez is the head winemaker at Cadieux Vineyards set in Willamette Valley, Oregon. She is 40 and has everything riding on this seasons winemaking. Hank Layton, the owner, promises Josie her own wine label if the harvest and wine is a success. She has worked for him for 15 years and has elevated his wines to new standards. The drawback is that her new intern doesn’t have any experience with wine making and happens to be his niece MacKenzie (Mac).
The book cover is amazing and I look forward to reading more from Ana as this was my first book of theirs.
November 24, 2024
Ana Hartnett Reichardt crushed it with her latest book. Pun Intended. Haha
This story makes me feel like I want to meet Josie and Mac in real life. I want them to teach me about wine and bask in their love.
Reichardt is definitely a top 5 author for me. Can't wait for next book in the Alder series.
Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for providing an eARC for an honest review.
This story makes me feel like I want to meet Josie and Mac in real life. I want them to teach me about wine and bask in their love.
Reichardt is definitely a top 5 author for me. Can't wait for next book in the Alder series.
Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for providing an eARC for an honest review.
October 19, 2023
2.5 stars rounded up.
Plot summary: Josie is a winemaker who wants her own wine label. Her boss hires his inexperienced niece, Mac, as her intern for the busy 'crush' period. They’re immediately horny for each other, but there's frustrations around Mac's inexperience, although she learns quickly. Feelings develop and they all live happily ever after.
If they’re not making wine, they’re drinking wine. Seriously, there is SO MUCH WINE. And then they just casually drive their cars after drinking? I wanted to DNF this early on, ngl. I didn't find it that compelling and I was bored by the constant wine. I even tried drinking wine during it, but it didn't help. It honestly became quite dry - I feel like the learning process for Mac/overall winemaking should've been condensed, or more suited to a visual medium honestly (sometimes I had no idea what was going on). Their lives outside their job were naturally more interesting to me, like Jack's place or Erin and Georgie. I ended up skimming the wine scenes to be honest, but it did become a bit more balanced towards the end.
As a queer person, I love lgbt romance, but this just didn't hit for me. It seems to rely on the grumpy/sunshine trope, except Josie isn't that grumpy, she's just rightfully stressed. There was an initial attraction, Mac getting wet over folding Josie's underwear (it was weird), and 'we work together, we shouldn't date' but I just really didn't _feel_ any of it. I wasn't excited, rooting for them, or warmed by the fluff (but this could also be from the predictability/inevitable happy ending). The 'conflict' around Josie's panic attacks was quite uncomfortable - Mac says she should have therapy and Josie shuts it down (which I don't think is unreasonable or unrealistic) so Mac thinks she's an arsehole and they don't really talk for over a week until Josie has a migraine and Mac demands (again) that she calls a therapist? Idk it was all weird. The first kiss was weird and felt forced. This continued when they then have sex because 'it's just as bad as kissing your intern'(?????) and then declare love(?????!). Aside from the constant mentions of wine, the next most frequent was 'wet panties' (or that kinda wetness in general, including leaving a wet patch on the kitchen countertop), and it was just as grating at best. I did warm to Josie, but it was hard to be invested in the story when it was obviously all gonna be okay.
Other than the dry winemaking, and overuse of certain phrases, I found the writing style a bit basic and forced at times. There was also weird summaries after paragraph breaks or in a new chapter of stuff we've literally just read.
Overall, I just wasn't into any of it, and the overarching plot was predictable. Others have given good reviews, so maybe it just wasn't for me.
Additionally, the change in POV could've been made clearer. It was written in third person but shifted perspectives and at times it was unclear.
AND WHO CUTS UP A POPTART??
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
Plot summary: Josie is a winemaker who wants her own wine label. Her boss hires his inexperienced niece, Mac, as her intern for the busy 'crush' period. They’re immediately horny for each other, but there's frustrations around Mac's inexperience, although she learns quickly. Feelings develop and they all live happily ever after.
If they’re not making wine, they’re drinking wine. Seriously, there is SO MUCH WINE. And then they just casually drive their cars after drinking? I wanted to DNF this early on, ngl. I didn't find it that compelling and I was bored by the constant wine. I even tried drinking wine during it, but it didn't help. It honestly became quite dry - I feel like the learning process for Mac/overall winemaking should've been condensed, or more suited to a visual medium honestly (sometimes I had no idea what was going on). Their lives outside their job were naturally more interesting to me, like Jack's place or Erin and Georgie. I ended up skimming the wine scenes to be honest, but it did become a bit more balanced towards the end.
As a queer person, I love lgbt romance, but this just didn't hit for me. It seems to rely on the grumpy/sunshine trope, except Josie isn't that grumpy, she's just rightfully stressed. There was an initial attraction, Mac getting wet over folding Josie's underwear (it was weird), and 'we work together, we shouldn't date' but I just really didn't _feel_ any of it. I wasn't excited, rooting for them, or warmed by the fluff (but this could also be from the predictability/inevitable happy ending). The 'conflict' around Josie's panic attacks was quite uncomfortable - Mac says she should have therapy and Josie shuts it down (which I don't think is unreasonable or unrealistic) so Mac thinks she's an arsehole and they don't really talk for over a week until Josie has a migraine and Mac demands (again) that she calls a therapist? Idk it was all weird. The first kiss was weird and felt forced. This continued when they then have sex because 'it's just as bad as kissing your intern'(?????) and then declare love(?????!). Aside from the constant mentions of wine, the next most frequent was 'wet panties' (or that kinda wetness in general, including leaving a wet patch on the kitchen countertop), and it was just as grating at best. I did warm to Josie, but it was hard to be invested in the story when it was obviously all gonna be okay.
Other than the dry winemaking, and overuse of certain phrases, I found the writing style a bit basic and forced at times. There was also weird summaries after paragraph breaks or in a new chapter of stuff we've literally just read.
Overall, I just wasn't into any of it, and the overarching plot was predictable. Others have given good reviews, so maybe it just wasn't for me.
Additionally, the change in POV could've been made clearer. It was written in third person but shifted perspectives and at times it was unclear.
AND WHO CUTS UP A POPTART??
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
August 1, 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
🍷🍇🐕🚿👩🏼❤️💋👩🏼
Ana Hartnett Reichardt's very ADULT book, Crush, is a very spicy, very romantic, and very informative new novel.
I loved it, which I knew I would, considering she is one of my go-to authors.
Crush, is about the wine industry, set in the very busy part of the year with crush and harvest. The book follows Winemaker Josie Sanchez, and her intern Mac. You will find age gap, grumpy vs sunshine, boss/intern, and found-family tropes. This book is filled with sexual tension from the moment they meet, but it's ultimately slow-burn because neither one wants to get the other in trouble because of the positions they are in, but once they give in to their desires, it is HOT. And of course, it starts off with Josie being resentful for Mac because she was hired only because she was her boss's niece, which makes the sexual feelings she's feeling towards Mac so much better.
I loved the knowledge Reichardt's brings to the book. She clearly writes about something she is passionate about, and you can see that is reflected in the character's actions and knowledge of the wine industry. I loved the references to New Zealand, considering I am from here, but also because we are also a well-known wine country, and I actually live in Marlborough which is probably the wine capital of New Zealand, so I could relate a lot to this book.
I loved the characters, and how everyone was supportive of one another. Except for Greg. (You suck Greg) I loved how Mac's uncle, Hank, practically got our two lovers together, making his favourite worker who is like his daughter in some ways, part of his actual family. I loved how pretty much all the women were lesbians. They all wanted a piece of Mac.
I just loved this book. Thanks to Netgalley, Boldstroke Books, and Ana for a copy of the ebook. This review is left voluntarily.
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
🍷🍇🐕🚿👩🏼❤️💋👩🏼
Ana Hartnett Reichardt's very ADULT book, Crush, is a very spicy, very romantic, and very informative new novel.
I loved it, which I knew I would, considering she is one of my go-to authors.
Crush, is about the wine industry, set in the very busy part of the year with crush and harvest. The book follows Winemaker Josie Sanchez, and her intern Mac. You will find age gap, grumpy vs sunshine, boss/intern, and found-family tropes. This book is filled with sexual tension from the moment they meet, but it's ultimately slow-burn because neither one wants to get the other in trouble because of the positions they are in, but once they give in to their desires, it is HOT. And of course, it starts off with Josie being resentful for Mac because she was hired only because she was her boss's niece, which makes the sexual feelings she's feeling towards Mac so much better.
I loved the knowledge Reichardt's brings to the book. She clearly writes about something she is passionate about, and you can see that is reflected in the character's actions and knowledge of the wine industry. I loved the references to New Zealand, considering I am from here, but also because we are also a well-known wine country, and I actually live in Marlborough which is probably the wine capital of New Zealand, so I could relate a lot to this book.
I loved the characters, and how everyone was supportive of one another. Except for Greg. (You suck Greg) I loved how Mac's uncle, Hank, practically got our two lovers together, making his favourite worker who is like his daughter in some ways, part of his actual family. I loved how pretty much all the women were lesbians. They all wanted a piece of Mac.
I just loved this book. Thanks to Netgalley, Boldstroke Books, and Ana for a copy of the ebook. This review is left voluntarily.
August 24, 2023
Crush, such an interesting name for the title because of not only referring to two people who have a crush on each other, but it also has a reference to the wine industry where Crush is one of the main steps in the winemaking process, which includes harvesting, crushing and pressing, fermentation, fining/clarification, and then aging and bottling.
The Cadieux Winery in the Willamette Valley, Oregon, is the winery where Josie Sanchez is the head winemaker and has the opportunity to have her very own label if she can earn gold in the CRU Awards. To her dismay, Hank Layton, the winery’s owner, has brought in his niece, Mackenzie (Mac) Layton, to be Josie’s intern. The position requires a lot of important knowledge and Josie is immediately unhappy and upset that Mac hadn’t studied or prepared, leaving Josie having to babysit her and teach her everything.
There is great character development that brings the story to life as we learn the pertinent role of everyone, including other very likable employees, local friends and one unsavory and obnoxious fellow. The brightest character is Mac, who proves her worth with her hard efforts, earning Josie’s respect .
Since Mac is housed in Josie’s basement, the attraction begins between the two. They both know the no fraternization company rules, how Josie could lose her job if they allowed themselves to become involved.
The author obviously knows a great deal about wine production because I found it very amazing to hear about all the different and difficult steps in producing wine, how hard, time consuming and exhausting the work is.
I don’t want to leave out the hot romance but don’t want to give anything away other than to say it was quite a journey with some misunderstandings, low angst, and enjoyable reading.
My thanks to Bold Strokes Books and Net.Galley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
The Cadieux Winery in the Willamette Valley, Oregon, is the winery where Josie Sanchez is the head winemaker and has the opportunity to have her very own label if she can earn gold in the CRU Awards. To her dismay, Hank Layton, the winery’s owner, has brought in his niece, Mackenzie (Mac) Layton, to be Josie’s intern. The position requires a lot of important knowledge and Josie is immediately unhappy and upset that Mac hadn’t studied or prepared, leaving Josie having to babysit her and teach her everything.
There is great character development that brings the story to life as we learn the pertinent role of everyone, including other very likable employees, local friends and one unsavory and obnoxious fellow. The brightest character is Mac, who proves her worth with her hard efforts, earning Josie’s respect .
Since Mac is housed in Josie’s basement, the attraction begins between the two. They both know the no fraternization company rules, how Josie could lose her job if they allowed themselves to become involved.
The author obviously knows a great deal about wine production because I found it very amazing to hear about all the different and difficult steps in producing wine, how hard, time consuming and exhausting the work is.
I don’t want to leave out the hot romance but don’t want to give anything away other than to say it was quite a journey with some misunderstandings, low angst, and enjoyable reading.
My thanks to Bold Strokes Books and Net.Galley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
October 29, 2023
‘Crush’ is Ana Hartnett’s breakaway from her award winning YA sapphic ‘Alder’ series and it reads like a true representation of how her style and confidence has grown since her debut.
For me Hartnett has a natural ability to create vivid characters and sincere interactions between them that keeps you turning the pages and Josie and Mackenzie’s story is no exception.
The setting for this forbidden romance is Cadieux vineyard where Josie is working on what should be another wildly successful harvest, a stepping stone to creating her own label, but there is one small spanner in the works. Cue Mackenzie, Mac, an inexperienced and often infuriating harvest intern.
The banter and tension created with Mac and Josie is so palpable and although it airs a little on the side of a slow burn, the pacing throughout is balanced and the chemistry never feels forced between the MCs. One thing I have noted from Hartnett’s previous works is that she always rounds her cast of characters out with as much care and detail and she uses them to maximum effect to move along the story in ‘Crush’.
I will say that you can tell that Hartnett has a clear passion and expansive knowledge about wine and its production but as someone who knows nothing about wine I never felt lectured to or bewildered with the technicalities. There’s a warmth to the way Hartnett writes that draws you into the story and feel so connected to her characters, her writing style really adds something to the sapphic romance genre that can sometimes feel formulaic. Although there is nothing overdone when it comes to the undeniable chemistry between the MCs, Hartnett leaves no question as to her stylistic move out of YA in that area!
A sweet, funny, sexy and super smooth sapphic romance that I couldn’t put down. (Definitely should be accompanied by a buttery chardonnay…)
For me Hartnett has a natural ability to create vivid characters and sincere interactions between them that keeps you turning the pages and Josie and Mackenzie’s story is no exception.
The setting for this forbidden romance is Cadieux vineyard where Josie is working on what should be another wildly successful harvest, a stepping stone to creating her own label, but there is one small spanner in the works. Cue Mackenzie, Mac, an inexperienced and often infuriating harvest intern.
The banter and tension created with Mac and Josie is so palpable and although it airs a little on the side of a slow burn, the pacing throughout is balanced and the chemistry never feels forced between the MCs. One thing I have noted from Hartnett’s previous works is that she always rounds her cast of characters out with as much care and detail and she uses them to maximum effect to move along the story in ‘Crush’.
I will say that you can tell that Hartnett has a clear passion and expansive knowledge about wine and its production but as someone who knows nothing about wine I never felt lectured to or bewildered with the technicalities. There’s a warmth to the way Hartnett writes that draws you into the story and feel so connected to her characters, her writing style really adds something to the sapphic romance genre that can sometimes feel formulaic. Although there is nothing overdone when it comes to the undeniable chemistry between the MCs, Hartnett leaves no question as to her stylistic move out of YA in that area!
A sweet, funny, sexy and super smooth sapphic romance that I couldn’t put down. (Definitely should be accompanied by a buttery chardonnay…)
July 10, 2023
Some books just feel written for you, and this - lesbians in the wine industry with a storyline that feels this side of realistic rather than hallmark movie - absolutely falls in that category. It's almost as fast-paced as an actual harvest and crush is, with the chemistry between Josie and Mac simmering from the very start and continuing to build until they all but crash together. Throughout it all, the backdrop of the Willamette Valley wine industry is completely in focus. It's very clear that Reichardt worked in the wine industry for years - details or traditions pepper the pages, but with enough distinction to have been taken from personal experience in some cases (though in others it feels a little name-droppy, which can get jarring). Personally I loved all of the details, having grown up around wine and winemaking, and they will be fun for anyone who's touched that world or just been interested in how wine gets made, but might be a bit overwhelming if you're just here for the romance and general plot. Thankfully, both Mac and Josie are grounded in both themselves and the plot that they more than make up for it. Their growth under each others' influence and the small ways that they push each other to improve and become more confident in themselves is sweet to watch, despite the cold beginnings and ways they both have to prove themselves to themselves and each other.
Also, kudos for trying to explain why chardonnay has gone so wrong the past few decades.
There are a few stumbling points that kept it from being a full five stars for me, namely the conceit of why Josie only gets one intern and what she has to achieve to get her own label (you wouldn't submit a red wine for a medal panel until a few years after it's been bottled, so the timeline is weird, but also a brix meter, even a digital one is only like a week's worth of harvest intern pay) puts stress on Josie and the relationship that never quite clicked for me, but at the same time, it's easy enough to look past.
Also, kudos for trying to explain why chardonnay has gone so wrong the past few decades.
There are a few stumbling points that kept it from being a full five stars for me, namely the conceit of why Josie only gets one intern and what she has to achieve to get her own label (you wouldn't submit a red wine for a medal panel until a few years after it's been bottled, so the timeline is weird, but also a brix meter, even a digital one is only like a week's worth of harvest intern pay) puts stress on Josie and the relationship that never quite clicked for me, but at the same time, it's easy enough to look past.
September 12, 2023
*thanks to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review."
Reichardt's Crush is a charming WLW romance that takes place on a wine vineyard.
The author did an amazing job explaining the winemaking process, displayed how well they understood the hard work, dedication, and also skill that comes with it, and even all the little details about varietals and seasons. I also liked the portrayal of two older main characters, as there needs to be more room to showcase how finding true love happens at any age.
However, for all the build up and tension and issues that come with them getting together, it seemingly fizzles out and resolves itself rather quickly. A strong area of tension was the risk of either of them losing their jobs, but then when push comes to shove, there is this perfect happy ending after not much conflict.
Same can be said for the romance at times. There was chemistry and tension, but then for all the build up, sometimes it was unclear why their feelings were getting as strong as they did. And once they've kissed and made love, they soon then progressed to being in love... and it just felt so very fast that the reader did not get to enjoy seeing them grow to love each other.
I would have loved to have seen a more developed second act of the story, one where there is more time and development given to not only the romance, but also the solving of the core issues of the book. It presented such a strong and fundamental reason to keep them apart, and I had wished the story had honored it a bit more by giving it time to really stay as a conflict before it got fixed.
I loved the idea and starting premise of the novel, but it really is just the desire to see a more well fleshed out ending that I was missing.
Reichardt's Crush is a charming WLW romance that takes place on a wine vineyard.
The author did an amazing job explaining the winemaking process, displayed how well they understood the hard work, dedication, and also skill that comes with it, and even all the little details about varietals and seasons. I also liked the portrayal of two older main characters, as there needs to be more room to showcase how finding true love happens at any age.
However, for all the build up and tension and issues that come with them getting together, it seemingly fizzles out and resolves itself rather quickly. A strong area of tension was the risk of either of them losing their jobs, but then when push comes to shove, there is this perfect happy ending after not much conflict.
Same can be said for the romance at times. There was chemistry and tension, but then for all the build up, sometimes it was unclear why their feelings were getting as strong as they did. And once they've kissed and made love, they soon then progressed to being in love... and it just felt so very fast that the reader did not get to enjoy seeing them grow to love each other.
I would have loved to have seen a more developed second act of the story, one where there is more time and development given to not only the romance, but also the solving of the core issues of the book. It presented such a strong and fundamental reason to keep them apart, and I had wished the story had honored it a bit more by giving it time to really stay as a conflict before it got fixed.
I loved the idea and starting premise of the novel, but it really is just the desire to see a more well fleshed out ending that I was missing.
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