A Vine Mess by Amanda Chaperon
Love on the Vine #4
Rating: 3.5/5
Spice: 3.5/5
Plot: 4/5
Primary Genre: Romance
Trigger Warnings: Explicit language, sexual content
Favorite Quote: Breakups were like bruises. Eventually, they become nothing more than some discolored flesh and a memory of the ache you’d once felt. But in the thick of them, when your skin was still mottled black and blue, pressing on them meant only pain.
Blurb: Since her recent breakup, Ella Delatou has buried herself in work. Between her job at the local flower shop, Blossom's, and her family's winery, she has plenty to keep herself busy. If only the busybody townsfolk of Apple Blossom Bay would leave her alone long enough to let her fully move on.
Liam Danvers has been working for Chateau Delatou winery as its head vintner for five years—and has been half in love with Ella Delatou for nearly as long. The first time he laid eyes on her, he knew she was the one. Only, he didn't move fast enough, and she wound up in a relationship before he could sweep her off her feet.
Now, Ella is single again, and all bets are off.
When Ella begs Liam to take her on his cross-country road trip, desperate to leave their small town behind for a few weeks, Liam recognizes it as his opportunity to show Ella how good they could be together.
Two weeks in close proximity has the power to change their lives forever.
But the road to love isn't always smooth. Will they find themselves on the ultimate journey to happiness…or are they driving right into a vine mess?
The Good:
* I’ve got to give the author huge props for her spice scenes. They were pretty creative and very steamy. She also includes a “Dicktionary” which is an index of the spice scenes in case you’d like to skip over them. While this is very convenient for someone who prefers a closed door romance, I also find the term to be absolutely hilarious!
* I absolutely love the MCs. Liam is total Cinnamon Roll vibes. He quietly pines after Ella and lets her come to him on her own timeline without a thought or care to any other woman. His character is chef’s kiss. Ella is working on building her self esteem back up after a shit relationship tore it down and her character development is beautiful. I also really liked the characters of Ella’s sisters and I understand that they each have their own book in this series.
* While the road trip trope keeps the book pretty light hearted and entertaining, Liam and Ella’s relationship becomes incredibly deep and meaningful. Liam and Ella both have some past trauma that they work through on their road trip and they do it together, helping each other. It’s not a romcom but also not a total drama, it’s a great balance.
* I think this is the first book I’ve read (or at least the first I’ve read in a really long time) and I really enjoyed that aspect of it. There was always an event or something new happening so that keeps the book really interesting. There’s definitely never a dull moment and there are quite a few funny moments.
The Meh:
* Why oh why did they have to spend so much time in South Dakota? I guess I just found that part slightly annoying because I live in South Dakota and I find it to be quite boring. Just a personal preference, really.
* The sculpture walk in Sioux Falls was severely overhyped and I’m only including that in this review as a warning to anyone who comes to Sioux Falls expecting it to be really exciting. It’s just random sculptures on the sidewalk in the downtown area. They change out every year and that’s not to say that they’re not great sculptures made by talented artists but I’d hit up Falls Park instead if I was in Sioux Falls as a first timer. Again, that’s just me nitpicking because I live here.
Bottom Line:
This is the last book in the series and now I feel like I’ve got to go back to the beginning and read the rest of them! I enjoyed the setting, characters and plot. I think that the author did a fantastic job and if you’re into the tropes Florist x Vintner, He Falls First and Harder, Forced Proximity, Roadtrip Romance, Open Door, Tattooed MCs you must pick up this book!
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