Scan barcode
theavidreaderandbibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
Once Upon a Wine by Beth Kendrick is a sweet, romance novel. Cammie October Breyer is living in Los Angeles when she receives a call from her cousin, Kat. Kat needs Cammie to return home to Black Dog Bay, Delaware to help with her Aunt Ginger (Kat’s mother but she also raised Cammie after her mother passed away). Ginger has just bought a Lost Dog Vineyard in Delaware, and Kat wants help reasoning with her (she thinks it is a bad idea). Ginger has cashed out her pension plan, her retirement account and sold her house as well as most of the furniture inside it to buy the vineyard. Cammie has nothing left for her in LA. Her restaurant failed once her boyfriend (the chef) left for another restaurant (Cammie was good with the hospitality part of the business, but she is no chef). Ginger wants the three of them to spend the summer together, and then they can reevaluate the vineyard. But if they want to get a good price for the place, they need to keep the grape vines alive and fix up the property. Only problem is that they do not know anything about vineyards or wine making. The three of them work together to cultivate their hidden talents and try to make a success of the vineyard. It is natural for Cammie to run into Ian McKinlay (who owns a farm nearby). The two of them had a summer romance when Cammie was twenty-two and had just finished college. Their romance is rekindled over strawberries and wine. Kat is having some troubles and is glad to have Cammie to talk to. Kat has just retired from her career as a professional skateboarder (I think that is the right term). She does not know what to do with herself (she suffered a bad injury). Kat is married to Josh, a philosophy professor (a great guy). Kat needs to figure out what to do now that she can no longer ride a skateboard. She is spending the summer away from husband and keeps pushing him away (not good for their marriage). It is going to be an interesting summer in Black Dog Bay. A summer of discovery and second chances.
Once Upon a Wine is a pleasing romance novel that is easy to read. It is a book is about choices, second chances, romance, and developing hidden talents. It shows how failure can lead to the fulfillment of a dream (if you want it to). I liked the nice change of pace that this book provided. I give Once Upon a Wine 3.5 out of 5 stars. I have to admit that Kat got on my nerves a little bit, and Cammie talked about her failed restaurant too much (she should never have opened a restaurant in the first place). I liked the addition of the cute French Bulldog, Jacques. He was adorable. Overall, Once Upon a Wine is an easy breezy book that is a good summer read.
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest and fair review.
Once Upon a Wine is a pleasing romance novel that is easy to read. It is a book is about choices, second chances, romance, and developing hidden talents. It shows how failure can lead to the fulfillment of a dream (if you want it to). I liked the nice change of pace that this book provided. I give Once Upon a Wine 3.5 out of 5 stars. I have to admit that Kat got on my nerves a little bit, and Cammie talked about her failed restaurant too much (she should never have opened a restaurant in the first place). I liked the addition of the cute French Bulldog, Jacques. He was adorable. Overall, Once Upon a Wine is an easy breezy book that is a good summer read.
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest and fair review.
jlaz's review against another edition
4.0
*Received for free from NetGalley*
Another story in Black Dog Bay....I didn't enjoy this book as much as the other Black Dog Bay novels, but it's still a good read. As with the others, it's a bit predictable. Good summer read.
Another story in Black Dog Bay....I didn't enjoy this book as much as the other Black Dog Bay novels, but it's still a good read. As with the others, it's a bit predictable. Good summer read.
beastreader's review against another edition
5.0
I read Put a Ring on It and enjoyed the book a lot. Now after reading this book I am a true fan of Beth Kendrick. I totally fell in love with Cammie aka COB, Kat, and Ginger. Each women brought something different to the story with their personalities. They sure kept things entertaining. What I really loved the most about this book was the comedy. It was well done and actually funny. I was laughing the whole time. For example where else would you read the words "Is that the John Deere version of jeggings?" Just remembering this sentence now gives me a vivid image that goes to the melody of Kenny Chesney's song, She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy.
Of course I would be remiss if I did not give props to Ian and Jacques (French Bulldog). Ian turned out to be a great love interest for Cammie. Jacques was there to help add more fun to the story. Once Upon a Wine is a wonderful name for a wine. It was as if I was there with these ladies every step of the way from growing the grapes to savoring the wine with Cammie's descriptive way of describing the flavors of the wine. I can't wait to read the next book by this author.
Of course I would be remiss if I did not give props to Ian and Jacques (French Bulldog). Ian turned out to be a great love interest for Cammie. Jacques was there to help add more fun to the story. Once Upon a Wine is a wonderful name for a wine. It was as if I was there with these ladies every step of the way from growing the grapes to savoring the wine with Cammie's descriptive way of describing the flavors of the wine. I can't wait to read the next book by this author.
vll295's review against another edition
5.0
This book was super cute! I loved the story line about the family coming together to run the winery, a little bit of romance, and about Jacques the dog. This book had all of the elements that I enjoy in a book and I really appreciated the way the story flowed. I thought this was the perfect summer read and am looking forward to reading more from this author.
kdurham2's review against another edition
4.0
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
The fourth in a great series that all take place in this small town in Delaware, known to be a perfect break up town. Cammie has been to this small town in her childhood to spend time with her cousin and her aunt. She is returning now because her aunt on a whim buys a vineyard and she wants to help her make it profitable. Of course she will encounter a former fling who could become a current fling!
Each installment of this series is self contained, but I would definitely suggest starting at the beginning to get the groundwork of the businesses and people of this town. I especially liked this one because of the whole vineyard aspect. I loved reading about the ups and downs of growing grapes and being dependent on weather and crops for a profit.
The fourth in a great series that all take place in this small town in Delaware, known to be a perfect break up town. Cammie has been to this small town in her childhood to spend time with her cousin and her aunt. She is returning now because her aunt on a whim buys a vineyard and she wants to help her make it profitable. Of course she will encounter a former fling who could become a current fling!
Each installment of this series is self contained, but I would definitely suggest starting at the beginning to get the groundwork of the businesses and people of this town. I especially liked this one because of the whole vineyard aspect. I loved reading about the ups and downs of growing grapes and being dependent on weather and crops for a profit.
girlinthepages's review against another edition
4.0
It’s so rare for a series to get BETTER over time, but that’s exactly what’s happened with the Black Dog Bay series by Beth Kendrick, as the last two books in the series are my favorites by far! I put off reading Once Upon A Wine because I enjoyed Put a Ring On It SO much that I was afraid that I wouldn’t like this one in comparison. However, I was so wrong because I really enjoyed that final installment of the Black Dog Bay series (although not QUITE as much as book 3, but what can I say, it’s hard to compete with Jake Sorenson).
Once Upon a Wine takes readers a little farther inland in Black Dog Bay to rolling hills and a winery purchased on a whim by main protagonist Cammie’s aunt. Cammie flies out to Delaware to LA to help with the situation (since her aunt knows NOTHING about running a vineyard) and of course their family is enveloped into the town fold by all of our local favorites. I think Cammie may be my favorite BDB protagonist because she’s smart and goes after what she wants without being obnoxious about it, but she’s also not a special snowflake either- she’s had her share of failure and mistakes. I loved her female dominated, lovingly bickering family, her adorable “farm dog” Jaques, and her family’s secret Strawberry Wine recipe ( I don’t even like wine but I’d try some of theirs). I loved how even though Cammie wasn’t good at farming, she was able to use her other business school skills and marketing savvy to contribute meaningfully to the vineyard’s growth, and how everyone in her family, though being woefully inept at wine making, was able to make a contribution to the situation in their own way. Even though this book felt the shortest to me, I feel like I connected with the characters the most out of all of the novels (although did this one feel really super short to anyone else? I also wished Cammie’s backstory and her breakup from her previous relationship and her previous restaurant had been talked about more!)
Of course it wouldn’t be a Black Dog Bay book without a romance, but the wonderful thing about these books is that they’re much more about the protagonist self discovery than they are about the romance. Cammie has an ex with unfinished business back in Delaware who she of course runs into all the time throughout the book. While I ultimately liked Ian and Cammie’s relationship (and though they had some of the best chemistry of all the romantic couples), something about him just felt very stubborn and a little sexist to me (likely due to the fact that he was unsupportive of Cammie going off to grad school in the past and wasn’t willing to flex on his own plans or do long distance with her). Overall though, I’d say their romance was the second best in the series (second to Jake and Brighton’s).
Overall: This was a really fun and QUICK read and possibly my favorite location I’ve read about in Black Dog Bay. I really hope the author returns to the series because I love the characters and setting and fall more and more in love with the town with every book I read! There were also some rather big changes at the end of the book and I’d love to see how those pan out in the future!
Once Upon a Wine takes readers a little farther inland in Black Dog Bay to rolling hills and a winery purchased on a whim by main protagonist Cammie’s aunt. Cammie flies out to Delaware to LA to help with the situation (since her aunt knows NOTHING about running a vineyard) and of course their family is enveloped into the town fold by all of our local favorites. I think Cammie may be my favorite BDB protagonist because she’s smart and goes after what she wants without being obnoxious about it, but she’s also not a special snowflake either- she’s had her share of failure and mistakes. I loved her female dominated, lovingly bickering family, her adorable “farm dog” Jaques, and her family’s secret Strawberry Wine recipe ( I don’t even like wine but I’d try some of theirs). I loved how even though Cammie wasn’t good at farming, she was able to use her other business school skills and marketing savvy to contribute meaningfully to the vineyard’s growth, and how everyone in her family, though being woefully inept at wine making, was able to make a contribution to the situation in their own way. Even though this book felt the shortest to me, I feel like I connected with the characters the most out of all of the novels (although did this one feel really super short to anyone else? I also wished Cammie’s backstory and her breakup from her previous relationship and her previous restaurant had been talked about more!)
Of course it wouldn’t be a Black Dog Bay book without a romance, but the wonderful thing about these books is that they’re much more about the protagonist self discovery than they are about the romance. Cammie has an ex with unfinished business back in Delaware who she of course runs into all the time throughout the book. While I ultimately liked Ian and Cammie’s relationship (and though they had some of the best chemistry of all the romantic couples), something about him just felt very stubborn and a little sexist to me (likely due to the fact that he was unsupportive of Cammie going off to grad school in the past and wasn’t willing to flex on his own plans or do long distance with her). Overall though, I’d say their romance was the second best in the series (second to Jake and Brighton’s).
Overall: This was a really fun and QUICK read and possibly my favorite location I’ve read about in Black Dog Bay. I really hope the author returns to the series because I love the characters and setting and fall more and more in love with the town with every book I read! There were also some rather big changes at the end of the book and I’d love to see how those pan out in the future!
sheffner07's review
3.0
This was pretty cute! I picked it up for the dog on the cover, but fell in love with the writing and characters. A bit cheesy and cliche, but a fun distraction and cute romance.
katiewiewski's review
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
sarahelizabeth205's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.25