⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Was I hooked by that book? Yes. Boyd’s thirst for revenge didn’t stand a chance against his fascination with Beth.
To save her father from financial ruin, Beth Croft proposes a marriage of convenience to Boyd Sandeman, the ruggedly handsome, infuriating Scotsman and wine tycoon. She expects some challenges, but she didn’t expect Boyd himself, a man with a dry wit, a commanding presence, and a knack for turning her world upside down. For Boyd, Beth’s offer is a chance to settle an old score with her father, who once humiliated him. He agrees, but only if Beth can prove she’s up to the task. At a festive Christmas house party, Boyd devises three challenges to test her mettle, from blind wine tastings to keeping up with his demanding (and often maddening) expectations. Yet as they spar and spark, Boyd’s own defenses begin to falter in surprising ways. Beth didn’t expect proving herself would mean more late nights than she’d bargained for, or that her heart would be on the line. Can she survive Boyd’s trials, break through his defenses, and make it to Christmas morning with her pride, and her heart, intact?
MY THOUGHTS
Right from the start there was this anticipation simmering just beneath the surface and Beth and Boyd were a volcano waiting to erupt. Who knew tasting wine could be so… stimulating. That thin thread of tension was broken occasionally by amusing interludes, such as the bear fountain in the garden and Reggie (sorry, Reginald).
Boyd’s expectations of his “winemaker wife” got progressively more ridiculous and Beth embraced each challenge with determination and vigour. There were also many small actions that showed that Boyd was very much taken with Beth, even if he didn’t acknowledge it to himself.
Some of the other characters from The Winemakers series featured very prominently and even got their own chapters, but it’s not necessary to have read their stories first.
You would not say this was a novella. It certainly didn’t feel like one. We got to know Beth and Boyd quite well. They did fall in love very quickly, but the magic of the writing and the story made it seem like the most natural thing in the world. Things were very intense between them from their first meeting, so, of course, there could be no other outcome.
I can recommend this book and the others in The Winemakers world if you like steamy historical romance.
Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Were you hooked by that book? Let me know in the comments below.
Genre: Historical Romance
Published: December 4, 2024
Sensuality Rating: Warm
Series: The Winemakers
Tropes: Forced Proximity, Enemies to Lovers, Sexy Cello Playing, Christmas House Party
