Love Vintage Blend (Home in Hollyridge #2) by Elle Keaton

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Jeff Morgan is rebuilding his life; Zach Brown is trying to keep his from falling apart.

After being disowned by his parents Jeff leaves the city to start over again, hoping to reinvent himself as a winemaker in the small town of Hollyridge. Why not dream big?

Zach is struggling to keep his boutique winery afloat and the summer intern is one more body which will help that happen—and oh, what a body. The only thing is, he’s sworn off men.

Until he met Zach Brown Jeff knew he was gay—but he’d never kissed a man.

One look at Jeff, and Zach knew it was going to be a long, hard summer.

Jeff doesn't know much about wine and even less about love but maybe he's just what Zach needs to save his winery and heal his wounded heart.

A standalone in the Home in Hollyridge series, a dual POV about a man learning to live his own life; and a winemaker who needs a little help from a friend. 24k words 

My Rating - 4 Stars!

Love Vintage Blend, the second book in the Home in Hollyridge series is a delightful read by Elle Keaton. It's easily read as a standalone.

This book starts with Jeff taking a summer internship at a winery. The boss Zach doesn't give the best first impression upon meeting Jeff. 

Jeff is an interesting character. An ex-banker, he's getting a fresh start. His inexperience and mistakes working at the winery make him lovable character. And he certainly doesn't mind the handsome Zachary, the silver fox who owns the winery. 

Their attraction is quick, and they don't wait long to dive into a physical relationship. It's not insta-love though. This is a story of attraction and desire. It includes a loyal dog, a vile ex-boyfriend, and some threats. 

As for Jeff's time on the winery, his innocence is cute and his mistakes are adorable. 

The writing is great, with a wonderfully atmospheric setting, fantastic characters, and an entertaining storyline. 

Love Vintage Blend is a short and sweet book. With just 91 pages, this Elle Keaton read is a fast one that will leave you with a cavity from all the sweetness.

Undue Influence: A Persuasion Retelling by Jenny Holiday

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Goodreads Link

Blurb

Second chances only come around once.

Eight years ago, Adam Elliot made the biggest mistake of his life. Now that mistake is coming back to haunt him. His family’s beloved vineyard has gone into foreclosure, and the new owner is the sister of the only man he’s ever loved—the man he dumped under pressure from family and friends who thought the match was beneath him.

When Freddy Wentworth, aka the bad boy of Bishop’s Glen, left town with a broken heart, he vowed never to return. But a recently widowed friend needs his help, so here he is. He’s a rich and famous celebrity chef now, though, so everyone can just eff right off.

But some things are easier said than done. Despite their attempts to resist each other, old love rekindles—and old wounds reopen. If they want to make things work the second time around, they’ll have to learn to set aside their pride—and prejudice.

This modern retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion is a standalone novel that can be enjoyed by Austen-philes and by those allergic to the nineteenth century.

Review 

My Rating - 4 Stars!

Undue Influence is a modern day retelling of  Persuasion, but with an M/M pairing. Thank you Jenny Holiday for this modern version. That said, don't focus on the original work, instead just enjoy this tale for what it is.

I love Adam, who's struggling when his mom and sister run his family vineyard into foreclosure. And Freddy, ahh Freddy. He's now back in town as a celebrity chef.

It's with the use of frequent flashbacks that we learn of Adam and Freddy's meeting, dating and breaking up. All of these scenes are informative, as well as entertaining.

Adam's best friend, Rusty, is the car mechanic by day, drag queen by night. As the only one who seems to care about Adam, he's also the one who convinced him to make the biggest mistake of his life.

Overall, it's a cute story of second chances.

The Boyfriend Contract by Jason Collins

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Goodreads Link


BLURB

BRETT:
It’s normal for your new boss to ask you to be his fake boyfriend at the interview, right?
When I pulled up to the run-down old vineyard, I wasn’t expecting a man like Ethan Carrington to answer the door. Tall, chiseled, and passionate, he wants to wine and dine me.
But there’s a catch.
Ethan tells me he wants me to pretend to be his boyfriend to impress investors. I’m reluctant, but I need the money, and there are many perks to working with the drop-dead-gorgeous man in charge.
The job is good, the benefits are better, and the boss is absolutely stunning. I can pretend to be his boyfriend, no problem.
That’s all this is. An arrangement that we’ll both benefit from.
But soon enough, I’m under the influence of more than just the fine wine I’ve been serving…
ETHAN:
He's gorgeous and he just gave me the best Climax I’ve ever had.
Well, at least that was the name of the sample drink he prepared for me during the interview. And as it turns out, I need him as much as he needs me.
I used to be all about nightlife and having a good time, but those days came to a screeching halt when my father gave me an ultimatum: either get my act together and restore an old property to a profitable level or risk being cut out of the family inheritance.
Except the vineyard I’m working on is a work in progress and will need renovation from the ground up. Investors won’t touch me with a ten-foot pole – they want proof that I’m good with long-term commitments.
A stable boyfriend would do the trick. Now if only one of those would come knocking at my door.
All my dreams come true when Brett walks in. Sexy and so damn irresistible, he needs a job, and I have just the task in mind.
He’s perfect fake boyfriend material, and I can think of more than just one job I want to give him.
Question is…will Brett play along?

REVIEW

My Rating -  4 Stars!

If you are a fan of Jason Collins, you will definitely enjoy The Boyfriend Contract.

Ethan hires Brett to be the bartender at his new vineyard, as well as hiring him to be his fake boyfriend. As they spend time together, the lines between employer/employee start to blur, as the attraction between the men is strong. Soon, what starts as a fake relationship with benefits becomes more. 

This romance contains some fun angst in the form of Ethan's dad, who not only belittles and insults Ethan's business skills, but also doesn't want him dating the help. All in all, his dad's an ass who continually tries to cause trouble, creating an extremely memorable dinner scene.

I love Ethan's drive to succeed despite everything his dad tries to throw his way. Ethan certainly knows his stuff, and with Brett's help they certainly can make this new business successful.

Ethan and Brett are perfect together. Their attraction is hot and their moments together are intense. I adore the way that Brett makes Ethan feel loved.

Overall, The Boyfriend Contract is another fun book by Jason Collins. Check it out when you're in the mood for a sweet romance.