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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
Ultimate grump and sassy sunshine combo, only one bed, work together, family and friends meddling, all while trying to get a brewery up and running. I really loved James and Winnie's characters and chemistry and banter, etc. I'm not sure if James was meant to be neurodivergent (it wasn't stated outright) but that's how I read him.
funny
lighthearted
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
James is infuriating the majority of the time. I thought I would like him in this book because I liked him in The Buy-In, but I was wrong. He fires Winnie at every minor inconvenience. I usually like grumpy x sunshine, but this man was just a grouch. At some point the grumpy character should be less grumpy to the sunshine character but James continued to be rude and dismissing toward Winnie up until the very end. If James had said some of the things that he said to Winnie to me, I would've been crying. I liked Winnie's character but she didn't particularly stick out to me.
I was a lucky girl & read an advanced copy of this over the weekend and let’s just say this is quintessential Emma St. Clair writing. You have the tension between 2 people who are so obviously meant for one another and then you have the disasters that are their life. I mean if something can go wrong, it usually does. That’s just life, but will it all come together for a happily ever after, or will the past and strong personalities keep getting in the way of happiness and success?
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I loved James and Winnie! I wish James would have used his words a little more, but I felt the way his anxiety was presented was authentic—I mostly just wanted to give him a big ol’ hug that he would probably hate, lol! Winnie’s gumption was a fantastic complement to his gruffness and I totally ate up their banter!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really wanted to give the male lead a hug and he saved this book for me. This was a twist on the grumpy-sunshine trope but the grumpy was done really well (the sunshine less so - I found her quite irritating). The male lead was complex and had very solid reasons for being the way he was - he wasn’t a grump just because. I found his story fascinating even without the romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Alcohol
Minor: Sexism, Violence, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
After purchasing the small town of Sheet Cake, Texas, retired football player Tank Graham persuades his eldest son James to convert an old warehouse into a craft brewery and tasting room as part of the town's revitalization effort. It's a big job but James is reluctant to accept help, though he eventually agrees to hire his new sister-in-law Lindy's friend Winchester "Winnie" Boyd on a temporary basis. Given her talent for web design and previous experience as the mayor of Sheet Cake's secretary, Winnie should be the ideal person to help James launch his new business. Instead, she pushes every single one of his buttons and drives him absolutely crazy. Even so, James can't seem to stop thinking about kissing Winnie. Will he give into the temptation or succeed in pushing her away for good?
I'm a big fan of grumpy-sunshine romances, and "The Bluff" was a great one! Winnie and James were incredibly likeable, sympathetic protagonists who had a lot more in common than either of them realized at first, especially when it came to their fears about relationships and losing the people they loved. I adored their smoking chemistry and witty banter, as well as the way Winnie began to push James outside of his comfort zone from the moment they met. The book's secondary characters were also delightful, especially Lindy's 5-year-old niece Jo. She fits right in with the Graham family and I hope to see more of her in future stories.
I highly recommend "The Bluff" for all sweet contemporary romance and romantic comedy fans. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series, which will feature Winnie's brother Chevy and best friend Val.
*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.
I'm a big fan of grumpy-sunshine romances, and "The Bluff" was a great one! Winnie and James were incredibly likeable, sympathetic protagonists who had a lot more in common than either of them realized at first, especially when it came to their fears about relationships and losing the people they loved. I adored their smoking chemistry and witty banter, as well as the way Winnie began to push James outside of his comfort zone from the moment they met. The book's secondary characters were also delightful, especially Lindy's 5-year-old niece Jo. She fits right in with the Graham family and I hope to see more of her in future stories.
I highly recommend "The Bluff" for all sweet contemporary romance and romantic comedy fans. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series, which will feature Winnie's brother Chevy and best friend Val.
*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent
challenging
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes