Pour Decisions

* ARC Review *

Love on the Vine Book 2

This book was such a great read—I was hooked from the start. I loved diving into the backstories of Owen and Delia; it really added depth to their characters and made me understand why they are the way they are. Owen’s sense of responsibility for others and Delia’s hesitation around him both made perfect sense once you got their histories.

One of the standout things for me was that Owen fell for Delia first, and he wasn’t afraid to admit he needed her in his life. The vulnerability of both characters added so much dimension; they were strong, but also very human. It’s a slow burn, and you can really feel the tension between them as the story unfolds. The chemistry? Off the charts! Even though their first meeting technically isn’t in this book, you can sense that spark right from the beginning.

I also want to mention that I usually don’t go for age-gap romances, but this one worked for me. Owen’s maturity and clear sense of what he wanted out of life resonated with me. And Delia—she’s so successful but also a bit aimless. Watching her thrive with Owen’s support was really satisfying. Their individual growth was great, but their partnership? A whole journey. They compliment each other so well.

Oh, and if you enjoy some open-door spice, get ready because this book delivers! When the slow burn finally pays off, it’s 🔥

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The small-town, slow-burn romance kept me flipping pages, and the banter between Owen and Delia was top-notch. Delia’s sisters were a blast, and seeing Owen and Delia heal their pasts tied everything together beautifully. Plus, their business journey added an exciting twist to the story.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Blurb:

For years, Delia Delatou has been searching for a project to throw all of her restless energy into. When an opportunity arises in the form of a new business venture—a distillery on Old Mission Peninsula—Delia knows she’s found it. The only problem? She has to nail this meeting with her potential partner first. Owen Lawless is sexy and intelligent, a lethal combination, and Delia knows she’s far from his ideal candidate.

Owen Lawless has been a caretaker and leader all his life—both as the oldest of seven siblings and as a former star NFL quarterback. But as much as he hates to admit it, he needs help to make his next passion project a reality. What he doesn’t need is Delia Delatou, with her whiskey eyes and perfect everything, barging in and wrecking all of his plans.

Despite an unspoken hands-off rule, the more time they spend working together, the more they both start to realize their feelings for each other go far beyond the simple business partnership they agreed to.

Giving in and mixing business with pleasure might end up being the latest in a string of poor decisions…or the best one they’ve ever made.

Tropes:

💕Slow Burn
💕Small Town
💕Open Door Spice
💕He Falls First
💕Age Gap
💕No Third Act Breakup
💕Retired NFL Quarterback
💕Found Family

Content Warnings: This book features mentions of the death of a loved one (happens off page), and themes of dealing with grief.

There is also mention of an inappropriate teacher-student relationship (also happens off page).

As the main characters are also in the process of opening a liquor distillery, there are also several mentions of and on page scenes of character drinking.

There is also strong sexual language and explicit sexual content.

Have you read either of the Love on the Vine books yet? Share your thoughts in the comments below! If not, are you planning to pick it up?

XOXO, Courtney