Love in Wine Country #4
By: Pamela Gibson
Releasing February 13, 2017
Self-Published
Link to Follow Tour: Tasty Book Tours
Goodreads
Blurb
Sarah James has always wanted to be part of a family. Her divorced parents are estranged and she has no siblings. But she does have friends, especially Sam, who’s always underfoot…eating her food, fixing stuff in her house, and seeking advice about his love life.
Aspiring winemaker Sam Reynoso has taken care of Sarah since the sixth grade. She’s smart, comfortable, and indulgent. They’re best friends until a wine and food pairing competition throws them together in an intimate, tension-filled setting.
As feelings neither of them expected start to emerge, each will have to decide if their relationship will evolve, or if their newfound love will be nipped in the bud by a crushing secret.
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Sarah is somewhat of a loner, but she does have friends and a job she enjoys. Sam is eye candy with a knack for taking charge. Together, they make a cute couple when Sam is not taking advantage and Sarah is not trying to get revenge. Sweet revenge, but revenge nonetheless. 🙂 Don’t get me wrong, she doesn’t do anything illegal or immoral, she just sets out to show her BFF that underneath her granny exterior is a sexy vixen (in her own sweet way).
I liked both characters although I would’ve enjoyed having more indepth knowledge of them. It’s stated that Sarah’s parents abandoned her, and that she moved away temporarily and came back. It’s also known that she and Matt met in the sixth grade, but there’s not a lot of backstory to add much depth. Sarah has always wanted a family, but how has it really affected her? I would’ve like to know more about her through her actions, not just because her feelings are stated. She is organized (which makes her career as a planner fit), but she loves cooking and is extremely good at it. It’s kinda conflicting that she puts so much thought and energy into her cooking, but only wants it to be a hobby. As if it’s not that important to her. To offset so much knowledge about food, I would’ve liked to read more about how she handles her planning job because as written, it seems only right that she should be a chef, or aiming to be one and planning is something for the moment. It’s obvious Sam is all about wine. Not too obvious (except for her saying it) that Sarah is all about her planning position.
I love Sam’s nickname for her, Sarah Bear (and a lot of times he just says Bear). They look out for each other (as BFFs do) and they really are a cute couple. I was a little bothered by Sarah’s refusal to listen to him regarding the red-head at the contest. It was the classic cliche overreaction after seeing something that wasn’t what it appeared to be. That misunderstanding could’ve been resolved quickly had she not kept running away and avoiding him. It was childish on her part, which didn’t fit her otherwise mature personality. And it definitely went against the fact that they were indeed best friends. She should’ve at least listened.
Now the big secret was a different story. I understood her needing space before discussing that particular boo-boo. Sam was so wrong, although he hadn’t meant to hurt her and had every intention of coming clean. They both had some growing up to do. I enjoyed reading about the contest tho. It was original. I had mixed feelings about some of the things that took place (like Sarah just outight admitting they were really not a couple although she knew that was a requirement of the contest), and nobody making an issue about that little white lie. If it was a requirement, why was it ok to let a judge know that they’d fudged the truth? And why wasn’t that judge surprised or at least a little bothered by the revelation? That was kinda strange to me. It’s like being set up for something and then being left hanging.
The premise and dialogue are good. The flow was a tad questionable. The first sex scene (and by the way the heat level is not a 3, but more like a 1, if that) came out of nowhere and needed some more to lead up to it to make it believable. Everything happened too fast even for lovers who’d been best friends since 6th grade (and they’re now in their late twenties).
Overall, it was an ok read. It’s light and fun, although a little swiss-cheesy (full of holes).
Rating system: Cups of Coffee (the less the better)
0: You won’t need any coffee to stay up for this one. It’s intriguing enough all on its own.
1: You’ll stay up late, but not all night. Brew one cup.
2: You’ll read as long as you’re not tired. If you are, two cups should do the trick.
3: I hope you got plenty of rest; you’ll need it, or at least 3 cups.
4: If the cable goes out, read the book. It’s better than nothing, I guess. Oh, don’t forget your brew!
5: Find anything else to do- it doesn’t matter what it is. Don’t waste your coffee. Too much caffeine is bad for you.
My rating: 3 cups of coffee
Author Info
Pamela Gibson grew up loving books, history, and small towns. Her first career was a newspaper reporter, but when she returned to college to get a master’s degree, it was in public administration which eventually led to jobs running cities…not as an elected official, but as a city manager, the chief appointed one.
Writing was still her passion and in her spare time—between meetings and raising two active kids—she was contracted to write several books on local history. Taking an early retirement at the urging of her very supportive husband, she turned to fiction and began writing the happy ending novels she loves to read.
She now spends half her time on land and the other half cruising coastal or inland waters in her 32-foot boat. She speed-eats chocolates when she’s nervous, squeals when she sees a spider, and loves to relax with a good read with a mellow glass of wine.
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Sarah moved around behind him. Her subtle perfume blended with the smells in the kitchen. “Do you think my label is okay?”
“They’re not judging your label. They’re judging how well the food and wines complement each other.”
“You’re right.” He set the bottle down and turned to greet his friend, but she wasn’t there. In her place stood a siren—that’s the first word that came to mind—in tight leggings that hugged her hips and bared her midriff, and a fitted shirt that tied under plump breasts, showing a hint of cleavage.
What the hell?
But it was the hair that got his attention.
“What have you done to your hair?”
She twirled in front of him, letting her hair swing from side to side provocatively. It looked lighter, and it looked like she had way more hair. “Where are your glasses?”
“I’m wearing contacts. Do you like this look?” She batted her eyelashes at him and moved closer.
He stepped back, aware of an unaccustomed heat he’d never felt in Sarah’s house before. She was his friend. She shouldn’t look like this.
She seemed to be waiting for his answer, but he didn’t know what to say.
“It’s…different.”
She laughed and put her hand on his chest. It left a warm spot there. He couldn’t back up any more, because the edge of the counter was biting into his backside.
“Do you think people will believe we’re a couple now, Mr. Hot Guy?” Her voice was low and sexy, her soft mouth curved into a secret smile.
“Geez, Sarah. You didn’t have to change your appearance.”
“Sure I did. We’re supposed to be a couple in a committed relationship. I have to look like the girls you date. I have to be warm and affectionate, and look at you like you’re my dessert course.” She paused and ran her tongue over her bottom lip. “Let’s see. What would you be? A chocolate soufflé, puffed and pretty on the outside and dark and intense on the inside, with flavors that slide over the tongue and linger there to be savored later, making you crave more.”
The room was suddenly hot. How would he concentrate on wines when she looked—and talked—like that? And how would he keep guys at the resort away from her?
His eyes fixed on her cleavage. “Could you go put on a sweatshirt or something? We need to get down to business.”
Sarah laughed, showing dimples in her cheeks. She had dimples? Why hadn’t he noticed before?
“I’m sorry Sam. The deer-in-the-headlights look on your face is priceless. But you’re going to have to get used to the new Sarah…at least for a week. We need to be convincing. Isn’t that what you said last time you were here?
He shoved his fingers through his hair. “Did I?”
“No more playacting right now. Pour the wines, and let’s start tasting with food.”
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