Meant to Be, the second story in the Four Irish Brothers Winery series, by Nan Reinhardt, is rife with emotions...both heartwarming and pulse pounding...with Sean and Megan’s history at the forefront of the story, the reawakening of long buried feelings really drives the story. Due to the seriousness of the nature of Sean’s situation, there wasn’t as nearly as much banter and humor as I found in Connor and Sam’s story. I am looking forward to reading Aiden’s story next.

This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

This author had all the elements I love in a romance. This one is of two best friends since fifth grade. Sean Flaherty thirty-eight and is a lawyer in Chicago. He is part owner along with his three brothers Connor, Brenden, and Aidan. The three took ownership of their father’s winery when he passed. Four Irish Brothers Winery is now theirs.
Everyone in River’s Edge is in wedding count down but none more than the bride Samantha who will be marrying Connor. They met through his oldest brother Sean. In turn, Sam has become best friends with Sean’s bestie, Megan, who is now her maid of honor.
As the two women sit having coffee and pie at Megan’s dad’s diner. Sam gets the worst call anyone can ever get. Sean has been shot on the steps of the courthouse he’s being taken into surgery Megan goes white then wants to vomit. All she knows is she must go to him.
Thanks in great part to Megan, Sean’s ability to recover is quicker and keeps the panic attacks at bay with her around. She helps all the brothers organize a home care nurse, rehab, and therapy. At the hospital, she meets Sean’s gorgeous friend and notorious player/friend, Vin. Sean is having issues with Vin invading his territory and being around his Meg. But says nothing.
Sean goes through major changes in his healing process. His emotions and thoughts as he looks back on his relationship with his Meg. He sees how Meg handles the changes with him and sees if she believes him at face value. He knows she was in front of him this whole time his diamond amongst fake gems.
I totally enjoyed this book. The author had me right away with these characters. They were engaging and real. Most of all you could see yourself living in their town or at least wanting to be. I give this: 5++++ stars.
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Another excellent book by Nan Reinhardt! This is book two in “The Four Irish Brother’s Winery Series”. Who would of thought that a brush with death would be the catalyst of discovery for Sean and Megan. They overlooked the feelings they had for each other and became besties years ago. But Sean’s shooting and recovery gave him the okay to make changes in his life. Would Megan agree could there be a happily ever after?

Meant to Be is the second book in Nan Reinhardt's Four Irish Brother's Winery series and focuses on the oldest brother, Sean, who is a Chicago attorney. Having read the first, A Small Town Christmas, I was looking forward to more of Reinhardt's wonderful writing and character development, and I wasn't disappointed.

Sean Flaherty and Megan Mackenzie have been best friends since grade school, but Sean moved to Chicago when he became an attorney while Megan became mayor of their hometown of River's Edge. They each went on with their lives and thought everything was fine.

Sean gets shot by the wife of his client and Megan rushes to his side. This is a catalyst for both, in life as well as love. Sam recuperates at home and comes to some big decisions about his future. Megan realizes what she really feels for Sam but doesn't want to act on it and lose her best friend if he doesn't feel the same.

The road to HEA is not without a few bumps, namely a friend of Sean's known as "Vinnie da cop". Megan is attracted to Vinnie, but Sean is wary as he knows his reputation with women. Their interaction has a bit of a "When Harry Met Sally" vibe to it, particularly when they double date and their respective dates, Vinnie and Gia, find each other more interesting than Megan and Sean.

Reinhardt updates us on Samantha and Conor and the rest of the Flaherty family. You will love the interaction between Megan's father and Samantha's snooty mother. I'm definitely looking forward to the rest of the series!!

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was unable to read this book because it disappeared from my devices. The book sounds great. Too bad I wasn’t able to read it. I☹️ I’ve rad others by this author and enjoyed them. Apparently I am unable to get the book back so I won’t be reading it at this time.

A sweet friends to lovers romance. Full of great characters, the setting is fun and made me want to visit a winery. Watching Sean and Megan find both themselves and each other in a new way was an engaging ride. I can't wait to see the next two brothers fall.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book of friends to lovers. Sean and Megan have been best friends since childhood and took it for granted until tragedy strikes and Sean returns home to River's Edge. Sean soon discovers his feelings go further than friendship and now to win over his best friend, Megan.

Loved these characters, I always believe a good relationship starts with a friendship. This story brought me in from the beginning. This is the second book in the series but can be read as a stand alone. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Meant to be is a friends to lovers romance between high powered Chicago attorney Sean and Rivers Edge mayor Megan. They have been friends since they were five years old. Now Sean’s brother is getting married again, Megan’s failing miserably at dating, and a shooting has put Sean in the hospital.

When he has to return home to recover he will be faced with all the things that are missing. It’s an sweet romance about two friends reconnecting and well realizing there is more between them than they thought. Of course here is mistrust and miss steps along the way but it was a good book.

Wine, books, and great storytelling, Meant to Be has them all. Reinhardt combines them perfectly with a deft hand. I recommend this with a fun summer rose, and lots of time to savor.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this novel.

Meant To Be is a real page turner that completely sucks the reader in and had me smiling like a buffoon!

Megan and Sean have been best friends since they were infants and though the word has carried them to different places in adulthood, their friendship remains. After an accident, Sean returns to their hometown to recover with the support of his family and friends and along his road to recovery he realises how much he's missed having Megan by his side.

What happens when Megan and Sean just can't deny their chemistry any longer?

Perfect for fans of the genre and for those who adore the 'friends to lover' trope.

3 stars
I found the book slow up until halfway through. It dragged. I also didn't know there was other books in this series. I will have to check them out.

Meant to Be is an adorable romantic read. I loved the connection between the characters it made me melt into a puddle of mush.

Sean and Meghan have been best friends since grade school. She is the mayor of their hometown of River's Edge and he is a high power Chicago attorney. When he is shot by a client's spouse she rushes to his side. When he wakes up the first person he sees is Meghan curled up asleep on the chair next to his bed. When he starts to have a strange feeling of attraction to buddy he writes it off to the stress of being shot. When she feels the zing of attraction she assumes it is because she was so afraid she was going to lose him. What do you do when you having feelings you can't act on because it could cost you your best friend? A very cute story of friendship turned to love.

Sometimes it takes an unexpected, perhaps life-changing event to really see what has been right in front of a person for years. No magic, simply when your life really does flash before your eyes the truth is all too easy to see – when it might be too late. Best friends, Sean and Megan are facing that experience after Sean was shot and returns home to River’s Edge to heal, and perhaps to rethink his priorities in life. He loves the law, yet lately, it’s not all that he imagined. He’s helped his brothers deal with the chaos going on at the winery, but again, from afar. Perhaps now that he’s home it’s a good time to take a hard look at what he really wants out of life – and what he wants most is Megan at his side, but not only as his best friend. Convincing her that the love they already have can be even more than friendship is going to be a challenge. Neither wants to lose their best friend, but they could gain a lifetime.

MEANT TO BE, the second story in Nan Reinhardt’s Four Irish Brothers Winery series gives us a touching love story that has been in the making for years, only now it’s moved to another level. The trouble is going to be that Megan doesn’t believe that Sean is thinking clearly, she thinks that he sees her as a safe haven after the shooting. It will take Megan a while to set aside her fears and truly trust in the love that she and Sean share. There are going to be issues, misunderstandings, and outright stubbornness before this couple finds their happily ever after. But in the end, it will be so worth the journey.

Megan and Sean are both in their mid to late 30’s, taking them into the earlier age range of the Seasoned Romance genre. Which I absolutely love. It’s taken them years of friendship to reach this point, experiences that have made them who they are today. One a successful lawyer, the other the mayor of their small home town. That doesn’t happen overnight, and that maturity flows through their decisions – and even feeds their fears, at times. I found their romance realistic, believable and, at times, a bit frustrating as they battled indecision and a reluctance to risk the friendship that means so much.

Secondary characters make or break the believability factor for me, no one lives in a vacuum of just two people. MEANT TO BE is full of familiar faces (if you’ve read the first story), and people who could easily live on your street or around your town. I easily fell into the flow of River’s Edge. There are hints of the stories to come, and those are tales I’m looking forward to. I had fun with this story, enjoyed the characters, and believed in their issues. If you love a good romance with realistic events then you’d enjoy MEANT TO BE.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Meant to Be is Nan Reinhardt’s second book in the Four Irish Bro Winery Series. I liked this book as much as I liked the first. She gives the reader extremely likable characters. Also friends-to-lovers trope is one of my favorite. I think since these two had known each other for so long they took their feelings for granted as merely friendship until disaster strikes. It is a hard wake-up call when those you love might not always be around. No doubt causing you to re-evaluate your life.

Sean and Megan grew up together as best friends but their lives took them in different directions. Once feelings were acknowledged, it still took a big part of the story for both sides to see it as the true choice and not the safe choice. That felt like it would happen in real life, that feelings would need to be looked at closely. I found it believable when instant would have felt too fast.

While Sean and Megan and their relationship are focal, there is a great deal of family in this story. Of course, after what happened there would be if the family was close. So I enjoy all the supporting characters old and new as the wedding proceeded for Conor and Sam. In fact, I would have been disappointed if Ali had not made a few appearances. Great visit with the Flaherty Brothers as one marries and another finds the love of his life. Perhaps not a true stand-alone, but why not read all the Flaherty men’s stories. I am looking forward to the next, who will it be?

If you are in the mood for a friends to lovers romance, then Meant to Be by Nan Reinhart is the book for you. The plot is set in the small town of River's Edge, Indiana, where everyone knows and respects one another. The characters are easy to get to know and identify with. This story is replete with discovery, longing and love.

Local mayor Megan Mackenzie, and Chicago attorney Sean Flaherty, have been the best of friends since childhood. Both have successful careers and believe family is of the utmost importance. Along with Sean's three brothers, Megan is by Sean's side after he survives an almost fatal incident. Sean is happy to be recuperating in his hometown, surrounded by the people that care about him the most. In addition, he is able to help with his family's winery as begins to feel better. With Megan a constant in his world once again, Sean realizes that she is what has been missing from his life. Megan has begun to see Sean in a non-platonic way, however, she finds her new feelings hard to believe.

I truly enjoyed this fast-paced book. Although this is a clean read, the desire between Megan and Sean was tangible. The secondary characters were quite engaging, and they added a lot of personality to the story. This is the second book from the Four Irish Brothers Winery series, and it can read as a standalone.

Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

Meant to Be by Nan Reinhardt
Can a near-tragedy help two best friends realize they’re meant to be so much more?
Best friends since grade school, high-powered Chicago attorney, Sean Flaherty, and small-town mayor Megan Mackenzie have always shared a special bond. When Sean is shot by a client’s angry ex, Megan rushes to his side, terrified she’s about to lose her long-time confidant.
Upon his return to River’s Edge to recuperate, Sean discovers that his feelings for his pal have taken an undeniable turn for the romantic. While Megan struggles with an unfamiliar longing for Sean, she worries that he may be mistaking a safe place to land for love.
Can Sean help her realize that they are truly meant to be so much more than friends?
this is Megan Mackenzie and Sean Flaherty's story.
Megan Mackenzie ploppeddown in the booth at Mac’s Riverside Diner, raked her fingers through her blond curls, and grinned at Samantha Hayes. “Please tell me you ordered me some coffee.”
“I did. Norma’s brewing a fresh pot as we speak, just for you, Madam Mayor.” When Sam returned the smile, Megan was struck for the hundredth time in five months at how quickly they had become good friends. “I also ordered us both a slice of lemon meringue pie because I followed Paula in here and it looks amazing.”
“You are my queen.” Megan bowed her head and waved a hand in front her face in a mock gesture of servitude.
“Sean’s been shot.” Sam crumpled back into the booth, sobbing.
Megan gasped as bile rose in her throat. She couldn’t even comprehend Sam’s words. Sean was shot? The invincible Sean Flaherty? Her buddy? Her best friend? His handsome face flashed into her mind—the lock of dark hair that invariably fell across his brow, the blue, blue eyes that sparkled sapphire with wit or turned dark navy with emotion, that killer smile, those amazing Flaherty dimples… impossible!
“What?” She sat down across from Sam. “Shot?”She could hardly catch her breath. “When? Where?”
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book."
Meant to Be by Nan Reinhardt is a wonderful well written 3 star book.
Nan's Books with Tule:
A Small Town Christmas
Four Irish Brothers Winery
Meant to Be
Four Irish Brothers Winery

I love the friends to lovers trope, this is a great fast read. Great for a summmer evening sat in the garden, you don’t want to put it down. Sweet romantic tale with a lovely story

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

It took years and a tragedy for them to realize what everyone else had been seeing all along. They were made for each other.

Megan and Sean had been best friends since they were kids. Their friendship remained as adults even though they live miles apart. Sean became a lawyer and moved to Chicago and Megan was the mayor of their home town. After Sean gets shot outside the courthouse trying to protect his client, he returned to River's Edge to recover with his family and do a little work at the family winery. Spending more time with Megan made him realize how much he missed her and wanted her in his life permanently. Megan was feeling the pull too, but she feared what might happen if they gave into their feelings and it didn't work out. She didn't want to lose her best friend. When Megan and Sean finally decide to give love a shot, they realized they were meant to be together.

I enjoyed how the author told this story. She had me hooked from the start. Of course, this is a romance book, but there is so much more too. I enjoyed catching up with the characters from the previous book and learning more about the Flaherty brothers and the rest of the residents of River's Edge. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

Meant to Be is the perfect title for this novel in the Four Irish Brothers Winery series. It is all about Sean and Megan-friends since grade schools that discover (uncomfortably) that they have deeper than friend feelings for each other. But, there is the worry of ruining a great and wonderful friendship that puts a hold on each for their dreams of being together.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.