SO GOOD (Ribbon Ridge #7 / Love on the Vine #1) by Darcy Burke-Review, Book tour and Giveaway
SO GOOD
Love on the Vine #1 / Ribbon Ridge #7
by Darcy Burke
Genre: adult, contemporary romance
Release Date: September 6, 2016
Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / itunes /
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 6, 2016
Cameron Westcott has spent eight years recovering from heartbreak by keeping romantic entanglements casual and simple. He’s never minded being called a manwhore, but after two years immersing himself in his new winery, he might be ready for the next chapter. Especially when he meets a sexy wine distributor—only she says she isn’t interested.
Following a bitter divorce, Brooke Ellis relocated to Ribbon Ridge to rebuild her life. Things will never be the same for her, and she’s coming to terms with that reality when she meets charming, persistent Cam. She can’t imagine a happy ever after given his reputation, but he makes her feel so good.
As the sparks between them intensify, they’re both hesitant to commit for very different reasons. Or are they really just sabotaging their own futures? If they can trust each other—and themselves—they may realize that what they share is too good to let slip away.
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REVIEW: SO GOOD is the first installment in Darcy Burke’s contemporary, adult LOVE ON THE VINE romance series focusing on the Westcott brothers of Ribbon Ridge. This is vintner and winery owner Cameron (Cam) Westcott, and wine distributor Brooke Ellis’s story line. LOVE ON THE VINE is a spin off from Burke’s Ribbon Ridge series. We were first introduced to Cameron and his brothers (Luke and Jamie) in You’re Still the One (Ribbon Ridge #6). You do not have to read the original series to follow the premise of SO GOOD but I recommend reading You’re Still the One for some backstory about the brothers and their new winery business.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Cam and Brooke) SO GOOD focuses on the start up of Cam, Jamie, and Luke Westcott, and Hayden Archer’s new winery West Arch Estates, and the building relationship between Ribbon Ridge newcomer and wholesale wine distributor Brooke Ellis and our story line hero. There is a side story developing as Brooke and a number of the Archer significant others begin to research the historical significance of the town of Ribbon Ridge.
Brooke and Cam met under less than auspicious circumstances at the annual International Pinot Noir Celebration near Ribbon Ridge Oregon, although the sparks flew from the outset. Brooke wanted nothing to do with a man she believed to be a player- a reputation as a manwhore had preceded Cameron Westcott’s introduction. When Cam offers Brooke a position within the company to help promote their wines, a line has been drawn about sleeping with the boss, and a line that is crossed several times. What ensues is Cam’s pursuit of the woman that calls to his heart, and Brooke’s continuous need to push Cam away knowing that she can never give him the future that he wants.
The relationship between Cam and Brooke is a push and pull, back and forth, yes and no, frustrating match up as our heroine is afraid about what the future may bring. Both Brooke and Cam have experienced heartbreak in the past but Brooke’s pain is compounded with personal loss. Throughout the story, Cam makes several attempts to woo and seduce out story line heroine only to be rejected time and again, or in a haze of morning-after guilt and punishment. The $ex scenes are intimate and seductive.
There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including Cam’s brothers Jamie and Luke, a number of the Archer clan including Cam’s best friend Hayden and his wife Bex, as well as Brooke’s new BFF, and Ribbon Ridge librarian Kelsey McDade. Kelsey and Luke’s story will be told next in SO RIGHT.
SO GOOD is a story with plenty of sexual banter between Cam and Brooke, enveloped by the angst of too much drama, secrets and lies. Brooke refuses to acknowledge the truth whenever Cam questions our heroine about her past, and when the truth is finally revealed Cam is blindsided once again. There is a distinct lack of communication and mystery about Brooke’s past that added to the already tense morning after scenarios. The premise is entertaining and engaging; the characters are passionate and energetic although Brooke’s hot and cold reactions were a little over the top; the romance is a bit of a struggle towards a happily ever after.
Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley
Reviewed by Sandy
He barked out a laugh. “You nearly made me trip. Not going to beat around the bush with that one, huh?” He looked over at her, smiling.
“Nope. I’m taking a page from your playbook and shooting straight. You don’t deny your reputation?”
“Nope,” he echoed. “I will say that I’ve mellowed a bit recently. I’m too busy with the winery.”
“So if not for the winery, you’d be up to your usual shenanigans.”
“Shenanigans… Yes, I suppose so.” He lifted a shoulder. “Maybe not. I don’t know. What do you mean by ‘shenanigans’?”
She kept her gaze forward. “I hear you had a different girl in every city when you were on the road.”
They turned the corner, and she stopped as they reached the door to her building.
He stopped too and turned toward her. “Not every city. And anyway, I don’t travel anymore.”
“Right. You’re busy. Does that mean you don’t date?”
He moved closer. “Are you asking me out?”
The scent of his cologne stole over her. The green of his eyes at this range was so deep, so captivating, she could easily sway toward him and… She straightened her shoulders. “No.”
“Well, that’s a damn shame.” His words carried a dark, seductive tone of regret. “Guess I’ll have to ask you out—since I wasn’t clear about it before.”
“No. Thank you,” she rushed to add. “I had a nice time tonight, but I’d prefer to keep our relationship strictly professional.”
“Too bad,” he said softly. “I was sort of hoping I could kiss you.”
Standing here with him in the early twilight, feeling the intoxicating burn of his stare, she was sort of hoping that too. But she hadn’t done that in so long… And she wasn’t ready. Okay, her body was totally ready, but her mind was still trying to figure out what the hell to do with Cameron Westcott.
“Cameron—”
“Cam. Everyone calls me Cam.” He inched closer so that she could feel his proximity, and heat raced through her. “At least everyone who likes me.”
“Cam, I—”
“Oh good, you like me.”
She couldn’t help smiling. He was good at that—making her smile. No one had been good at that in a very long time. Not even herself. Especially not herself. “I do. And… Well, ask me again sometime.”
Had she just said that out loud?
“If I can kiss you?” He leaned forward, putting his lips against her ear. “Count on it.”
Darcy Burke is the USA Today Bestselling Author of hot, action-packed historical and sexy, emotional contemporary romance. A native Oregonian, Darcy lives on the edge of wine country with her guitar-strumming husband, their two hilarious kids who seem to have inherited the writing gene, and three Bengal cats. Visit Darcy online at www.darcyburke.com and sign up for her newsletter, follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/darcyburke, or like her Facebook page, www.facebook.com/DarcyBurkeFans.
Connect:
Site: www.darcyburke.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/DarcyBurkeFans
Twitter: twitter.com/darcyburke
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/5823441.Darcy_Burke
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• Ribbon Ridge basket o’ stuff – US shipping ONLY
Great review Sandy. Sounds like the start of a good series.
Terrific review, Sandy. Looks like a great new series.
Great review, Sandy. Sound like a series I would enjoy.
Wonderful review. I enjoyed reading the Ribbon Ridge series. Congrats to Darcy on the new release
Excellent review, thanks Sandy. Looks liked something I would like to read
Thanks Sandy for the truthful review.
Wonderful review, Sandy. The premise of this story looks very good.
Very nice review, thanks Sandy.
Looks like a great family series, thanks Sandy