Title: The Vintner’s Vixen
Author: Rebecca Norinne & Jamaila Brinkley
Series: River Hill #1
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2018

This fun little contemporary romance might actually have one of my favourite Meet Cutes ever. It’s a little bit horrific, but also a really fun way to dive into this world. I mean, getting off on the wrong foot is one thing – meeting because literally millions of dollars worth of priceless vines have been mistakenly ripped out? A whole other level of awkward and wonderful in their meeting. The fact that neither lead is actually at fault for this moment, but it occurs through the sheer stupidity of others just makes it all that much better.

Normally I feel like male romantic leads are a little bit balanced with some of their behaviours. Noah on the other hand is a full knob. I mean, he manages to just edge on the side of not completely pissing you off, but it’s a damn close thing. You can understand why there are some difficulties between the couple to begin with – and even sympathise with him. Then, in the second half of this book, there’s not really any sensical reason for his behaviour, and it did make it a little bit harder to relate to him. Luckily, he starts to try and fix his behaviour just as you’re about to throw in the towel on this relationship. I actually was at a point where I was almost excited at the idea of Angela NOT ending up with him.

Angela on the other hand is incredibly lovely and bubbly. Some of the comments that she’s received from others in Hollywood actually reminded me quite a bit of reading Busy Philips’ biography. The “curvy best friend trope” that still needs to lose weight. Honestly, I could spend this whole review just writing about how well Norinne & Brinkley approach the different body types conversation. Angela is able to show a complete love and acceptance for her own body. And I love that past her seemingly ditzy outer shell, she is able to carve out exactly the life she wants with a spine of pure steel.

Although Noah might have really bothered me, and I did have moments when I didn’t actually want Angela and Noah to end up together, because I seriously loved Angela, this was a really nice romance. It flirted that line of frustration without quite going over the line. Having said that, I did want a  little bit more grovelling from Noah. Angela is most definitely a whole lot more understanding and kind than I would be! Now I just can’t wait to read more romances in this small town.

Image source: Kobo