Cover Image: Blend

Blend

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I've read a bunch of novels by Georgia Beers which I enjoyed a lot but I feel like I'm just not into them anymore? And it's not just her novels but pretty much any contemporary lesfic. In fact Blend was the first one I read after a rather long period of not reading any lesfic, because I thought the summary sounded rather nice. But I just didn't enjoy it. It was pretty much exactly like any other lesfic I've ever read and I couldn't bring myself to care for it or its characters or anything about it, really. It's not badly written and I've read less imaginative lesfics but it's also nothing special. And it's probably been my last lesfic for a rather long time …

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There is something about this author...Anytime I pick up a book by Georgia Beers, I know I am in for a great read. She somehow always manages to suck me into the worlds and characters she creates. Everything is so real, when the book ends, you feel true sadness because you miss the characters!
Blend is no different. Lindsay and Piper seem like an unlikely couple, but yet they find themselves annoyingly attracted to each other...I'll let you read the book to find out if this has a HEA or not, but I definitely recommend this book and any other book written by Georgia Beers!

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**I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review**

1.5 stars

I have always been a fan of Georgia beers but I was a bit hesitant when requesting this as I wasn't fond of her previous book. While it was good I felt like it wasn't as great as some of her previous works.

I liked the characters in this book to begin with but I just felt that it started to get repetitive in the end. Lindsay was definitely a more likeable character than Piper as even when her ice queen facade started to melt I just found her snobby and a bit of a know it all.

The story was a sloooow burn definitely. There wasn't anything remotely romantic until around the 2/3 of the book. I know this is Beers style but this one was just boring in the end as I felt like it was a whole lot of nothing happening.

All in all I really wanted to like this book I just couldn't. The plot line itself had a lot of potential but I just didn't feel like it came across that way on paper. I will still be looking forward to seeing what Beers comes up with next as I am still a big fan of hers.

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I really enjoyed Blend and Piper and Lindsay’s journey together. The story was written and even as someone who doesn’t drink wine it was very interesting. Lindsay was a very fun and enjoyable character, and I loved how she just goes after Piper. Piper was a tough one to come around to seeing Lindsay for herself and not what she had pictured her to be before she started working together with Lindsay. I liked how Lindsay made improvements to the wine bar and still kept Piper’s fathers “feel” to the place. I enjoyed the story and will recommend it to others it’s definitely a great story.

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Georgia Beers is one of my favorite authors in this genre. As expected, this is a book that delivers. Lindsay Kent knows a lot about the wine business and is excited to implement new ideas to expand her company's target audience. When her boss takes a sabbatical and leaves her in charge, she knows that it is the perfect opportunity to do so. Except for one detail: every decision she makes has to be approved by Piper, the boss's daughter.
Piper doesn't care for innovation. She just wants to make sure her father's legacy remains intact. This causes problems between these two women and all sorts of sparks fly.

My one issue with this book is that the conflict that inevitably drives these characters apart in the climax happened too late in the book and made it seem forced. Nevertheless, it is a fast, fun read for anyone looking for a good lesbian romance.

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Ok I'll admit straight away my relationship with this author is a little hit and miss. I much prefer her earlier works but then this book seemed to be showing the author I liked.

But then I'm not so sure. I know confusing right? This is a romance novel so I guess I'm at a slight disadvantage. I'm not a keen romance fan unless it's fast paced and this isn't.

But saying that I did find it a good read. One for a sunny Sunday afternoon. Enjoy!


*ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley*

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2419506010

https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R17EY0XSTRBEA3/ref=pe_1572281_66412651_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

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I’ve only read a couple of Georgia Beers books but I’ve really enjoyed them. In Blend, recently widowed wine bar owner Ellen Bradshaw has decided to take a well earned break, confident the business will be in safe hands with trusted manager Lindsay and Ellen’s daughter Piper in charge. The two women themselves are less delighted with the arrangement; Piper sees Lindsay as a bit of a hippie and not the best person to manage the wine bar, while Lindsay sees Piper – who’s very successful in her own corporate work environment – as an icy cold “Princess Elsa” who will shoot down all Lindsay’s ideas for developing the business.

It’s no surprise that sparks fly between Lindsay and Piper…

I like that Georgia Beers’ protagonists are usually realistic adult women with careers who, while not perfect, don’t generally act in ridiculous ways. The situations they encounter are believable and the wine bar setting added another dimension (I learned a bit about wine!).

A very enjoyable read which, while delivering no huge surprises, provides plenty of entertainment and escapism in following the development of Lindsay and Piper’s romance.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

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The chemistry between Lindsay and Piper builds slowly which I really enjoyed. The wine bar setting is nice. The leads are very likeable and the supporting characters are also well developed. A really enjoyable novel, and one that leaves the reader longing for a glass of wine!

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The book started a bit slow for me but in the hands of this obviously seasoned author, soon enough, the story reeled me in and didn’t let go until the last page. The owner of a wine bar semi retires and leaves the business in the hands of the manager and her corporate type daughter who absolutely can’t stand one another. They struggle to work together and more often than not, butt heads. There are some hokey rom-com moments but these are outweighed by many tender scenes that paint a picture of the building of friendship and genuine love between the two women. I would recommend if you’re looking for a nice Sunday read, just enough angst, and a HEA. A side note, I felt compelled to drink a lot of wine while reading Blend.

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This book reminded me of previous Georgia Beer's work.

The drama was solid, the story line flowed smoothly, and the happy ending was in sight.

Whenever I see a book by this author, I know there is a 99% chance that I am not going to be able to put it down once I start reading, and this was not the exception to that rule. The way Georgia manages to make the story flow is remarkable, easy to read and enjoyable to a good extent.

The formula for a romance book can be tricky, specially beacause there are many ways the story can go, but only one way that it can end and be memorable for the reader. Georgia has mastered this art and has yet to fail when it comes to redundance, which is something remarkable.

I look forward to reading her two upcoming books, for sure she will not fail and will deliver a graciously as always.

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Georgia Beers does a great job of putting together sweet situations and relationships and this is on the same track.

What I liked about this were a few sweet moments where the characters really connected. Unfortunately, there didn't seem to be enough real moments and the relationship seemed stronger in what we were told versus what was created and we could see.

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This is my favorite book by Beers in a while! Loved both main characters, the believable chemistry between them and the slow build up. Really fun read!

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In vino veritas, or, in this case, “in wine bar truth”. Since the death of her husband a few years ago, Ellen Bradshaw has basically lived at Vineyard, the business they started together in their early retirement. When she suddenly announces plans for a solo vacation, Ellen leaves both her daughter Piper and the wine bar’s general manager, Lindsay Kent, in charge. It's an antagonizing arrangement that starts off sour grapes, but matures into a compulsively readable blend.

Enter “Corporate Barbie” or “Princess Elsa”, two of the nicknames whispered behind Piper’s back. Managing people and productivity as a VP at a tech company are tasks at which she excels. Dealing with painful memories and discomfiting emotions? Not so much. On the other half of the equation is the laid-back, but equally hardworking Lindsay strives to transform the wine bar that turned her life around. Rocket, her lovable yellow lab and a small group of friends complete her good-enough-for-now life. Romance? Well, that's just something that Lindsay's stuffed away in a drawer full of mismatched socks.

As the women spend increasing amounts of time together at the bar and other locales around Black Cherry Lake, they find it impossible to remain at loggerheads. The supporting cast of family, friends, and co-workers deserve major kudos. This contemporary romance shows that sometimes it takes a village to bring two people together. Piper’s frosty demeanor gives way under the warmth of her friend Matthew (a wonderful bear of a kindergarten teacher), Edgar (her mustachioed cat named for Edgar Allen Poe), and older sister Gina. We all need people who love us, warts and all, and aren’t afraid to call us on our stuff.

Author Georgia Beers delivers another satisfying contemporary romance, full of humor, delicious aggravation, and a home for the heart at the end of the emotional journey.

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I received an ARC copy of this by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have read a couple of this authors books but to me this one is my favourite so far.

The story is set within a Wine Bar. The main characters (Piper & Lindsay) hate each other at the beginning but as the story progresses they find themselves in love with each other. Good strong characters with a great story line that had me hooked from the very beginning. I look forward to reading more from this author.

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This book makes a promising start but sadly falls away into a romantic cliche. Piper was not at all likeable and her control issues seem to stem from nothing really, the characters all lacked depth and the second half was very rushed.
On the plus side it was a sweet story and there was nothing very angsty in it, which made it easy to read, but not one I’ll be re reading.

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I wouldn’t change a thing in this book. Great humor and well written. Highly recommend if your looking for a good romance story.

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When I am planning to read a good romance, I can always depend on Georgia Beers. Blend is a wonderful romance with a story that is interesting. The plot is strong with well-developed characters and a good pace.

The two lead characters are Lindsey Kent and Piper Bradshaw. Lindsey is working her dream job as the manager of a wine bar. The owner of the bar takes a leave of absence and leaves the responsibilities in Lindsey’s more than capable hands. The one drawback is that she must work with the owner’s daughter, Piper, a control freak. Lindsey and Piper are exact opposites in personality. However, sparks fly and attraction takes over.

Ms. Beers creates believable characters. As a result, the reader can relate to her credible story. Unlike other romances, this book is more than about sex. It’s about the development of a romantic relationship.

I recommend this book and rate it 5 out of 5 stars.

I was given this ARC in return for a fair and honest review.

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I had to skim read some of the pages.. I was sold by the premise in the description: two girls hating each other then eventually falling in love, but there wasn’t much of it, there wasn’t much antagonism that happened. I was hoping and waiting but I couldn’t get there.

The writing was okay, the story was light, and the plot was predictable. 3.75 stars

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This book was such a treat! It was fun, gave me feelings and on top of that, it was educational. Now, more than ever, I really want to try a blend. *lol*

The best thing about this book are the two main characters. They're described in a real way, and you can't help falling in love with them. Piper is such a cool human being, buried under many layers of frostiness, and Lindsay is an unsure-of-herself woman wrapped in a cocoon of happiness and smiles. They're flawed and they're perfect in my eyes.

This book made me want to read more Georgia Beers.

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I love Georgia Beers books. Unfortunately not all of them can be 5 star. But this one is a strong 4 star. 4 star only because the story was mostly very predictable. ( I prefer her more unpredictable books such as "Fresh Tracks" ) This was a good romance with interesting dialog and definitely increased my interest in wine. And the story definitely sparked many strong emotions. Most of the story is full of warmth but about 3/4s of the way it takes a very hateful turn. (one of those strong emotions I experienced) This is what good writing is all about. Actually making the reader respond emotionally. Kudos to Ms Beers for another good read.

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