Make Me Exhale (Oil Barrons 5) by Marie Johnston-review tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 4, 2023

Trust fund? Check. Plans to restore an old train foundry into a brewery? Check. Grumpy project manager? Sigh . . . check.

If I wanted to deal with a man just like my uptight dad, I would’ve told my parents what my brewery plans were. Only I didn’t tell anyone. I waited for my trust fund to deliver once I turned twenty-five, and I bought the old train foundry I’d been eyeing for years. Then McCoy Cunningham shows up.

I’m told he’s the best. He’s older than me and knows both sides of the business—the restoration and the brewing. But all I’ve gotten from him are scowls and dismissive grunts. McCoy might think he’s the expert, he might look at me like I should be in diapers with pigtails, but he’s wrong if he thinks he can bulldoze me.

All it takes is one look. One time I catch him eyeing me with something other than disdain. One conversation where we’re geeking out over yeast strains and hops. One kiss that leads to more.

I promised myself I’d never settle for a guarded man who thinks he knows everything, especially one who won’t put me before business. And after what McCoy’s been through, he’s all about work. No personal entanglements. The last thing I need is to be left with flat beer and a broken heart.

Make Me Exhale is a standalone novel in the Oil Barrons series.

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REVIEW:Book five in the Oil Barrons series, and we see McCoy and Isla take the leads in this book.

It’s not necessary to read any of the previous books, as each book stands on its own.

Isla Baron can finally fulfil her dream of owning a brewery. She waited, planned and dreamed of this moment for years. She plans to make it work by putting on events at her little brewery, it’s going to work, it has to!

She’s kept her plans to herself, not telling her family what she intends to do with her inheritance (I get the impression the family do a lot for Isla, they don’t give her enough credit!)

McCoy swore he’s never getting involved again after a nasty divorce! it’s work all day long. Older and definitely a little more wary of women, McCoy sees Isla as a flighty young thing who knows nothing about the business she wants to set up!

It’s suppose to be project manager and client relationship, but Isla feels like she’s being bossed about by said project manager and her family! Her dream is set back time after time with delays and she takes it out on family and friends!

She’s too young. He’s too grumpy….. So you know that once they admit their feelings it’s going to explode all over the page ? but you do have to wonder if it’s ever going to happen!

And even when they do admit their feelings for one another, McCoy keeps her at arms length! Not really letting her in! Isla feels frustrated! Does she give him more time, or is it time to walk away?

I have to admit, this is probably my favourite of the series. I really liked this couple. Isla was very sure of herself, she knew what she wanted to do, and how to go about it. I did think her family and friends could have had a bit more faith in her (they jumped in too quick with opinions and help, instead of letting Isla figure it out for herself) and even grumpy McCoy was a great character. After a messy divorce he was a work/work/work kind of guy. So to see him fall for little miss sunshine was fun to read.

So if you like grumpy/sunshine tropes, age gap tropes, then this is the book for you.

A highly recommended read from one of my favourite small town romance authors.

Previous Reviews

Make Me Whole
Make Me Dream

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie

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Marie Johnston is a RITA® Finalist, and a best-selling and award-winning writer of paranormal and contemporary romance – and an avid reader of them both.

Several years ago, when kids started outnumbering adults in the house, Marie Johnston left her job as a public health microbiologist to stay at home. Settling into working part-time and shuttling kids around gave Marie the opportunity to think about what she wanted to be when she grew up. A die-hard science geek, she explored her previously thought to be non-existent creative side after much time spent making snowman crafts and coloring princesses. Having entertained thoughts of writing a book one day then subsequently deciding it would be too hard, she finally put the figurative pen to paper and began to type – and fell in love with storytelling.

The Sigma Menace is the first series by Marie with Fever Claim being her first book EVER. She is humbled by the fact that people are willing to read to her books and looks forward to keeping readers entertained for many years.

Marie lives with her husband and four kids in the Upper Midwest where the summers are gorgeous, the winters are brutal, and spring and fall are luxuries.