This book has it all — the laughs, the drama, the anger, the sexy times — everything you could ask for from a book. At one point I was so into what I was reading I was surprised to find myself crying. It’s so hard to come out on the other side of a betrayal and be ok. What matters most is that you try your best to find the truth about yourself afterwards. When you face your own fears, feelings, and problems you can attempt to make positive changes in your life. There’s a saying that everything happens for a reason and that’s evident in this storyline. Vivian must face her worst reality and when she runs to the Hawthorne Vineyard to see her BFF Murphy, she finds more than she ever bargained for. I loved so many things about this book and I highly recommend reading it!

This is the second book in a series which I did not realize at the time. Upside is that it felt like a stand alone read although I am sure there are some background things I probably missed not having read the first book. It was a sweet romance.

This is a small-town love story about a best friend's brother. At times, the demanding careers of both main characters can be too much to handle. This is a heartfelt love story about two self-aware people. I liked how these people changed over time, both individually as well as collectively to embrace love in their lives and to be more open about their emotions. Though I'm delighted that the story took the necessary turns for these two to achieve their HEA together, I didn't anticipate it to include emotional components that it did.

Thank you Montlake & NetGalley for the e-ARC.

This was the second novel to the duology and I absolutely LOVED it.
Getting more time in the vineyard with the family was nice. Also the small town feeling is something I really enjoy as a reader.

Memphis and Vivian were great and their chemistry is written really well. Also love the duel POV of the story is lovely.

I highly recommend this duology!

Another adorable small town romance in the Hawthorne Vines series in which we are following Memphis and Vivian as they fall together in the sheets to escape the reality of their lives.

Memphis has been doing everything he can to save the vineyard passed down to him with generations of pressure to keep the legacy alive. He barely has enough time to take a breath, he certainly doesn't have time for a relationship. But when he finds himself in a steamy exchange with his sister's best friend who is visiting, he can't help but cling to the idea of having someone in his bed.

Vivian is looking for a way to escape her cheating ex, and what better way to do that then to go to your best friend's family vineyard upstate. Tasked with continuing to write music for her upcoming album, Vivian isn't looking for anything serious on the tail of her recent breakup. Except after one night with Memphis, her creativity is booming and she can't write music fast enough. Is sleeping with him bringing her muse to life again?

I loved the way these characters evolved both together in opening up about their feelings and also individually to accept love in their lives.

A 3 star best friends brother kind of story. A story told many times over. I did not connect well with this story. It lacked originality. Liking a book is subjective. Some might like it

Thanks for the opportunity 🩷
I liked it even though it was difficult to let myself be overwhelmed by the story at the beginning and I didn't understand some of the protagonists' attitudes, but all in all I liked it

Thank you, NetGalley for an advanced ARC of this book

I have loved this series so far and this instalment has been a great read that I highly enjoyed, the relationship that's made from frienemies to lovers and how the connection is made makes me feel more of a connection to the story ... I love the writing style this author has and I will be keenly waiting for the next instalment a story about a guy doing all he can to save the family business even sacrificing his happiness. But through this book, he finds a reason and a purpose to live for more than the busy or the family and trying to make his father proud.

Great writing
Great story
Enjoyable pacing that's not too fast
Character building done at a good pace

Huge thanks to NetGalley for the ARC! Appreciate the chance to read and review.

Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2.5/5 stars).

Okay, so first of all—no. I really tried with this book. Like, I pushed through because, you know, guilt (requested ARC and all), but at some point, I had to ask myself: Why am I forcing this? Reading is supposed to be fun, right? Not a struggle.

I made it to 34%, and I was still waiting for something to click. Spoiler alert: it never did. I just couldn’t get into it. The main character, Memphis (is that even his name? I already forgot), was straight-up annoying. Like, sir, why are you so mad for no reason? That one restaurant scene? The way he snapped at Vivian? Unbearable. I wanted to shake him and be like, chill out...

Speaking of Vivian—she was the only saving grace. She had that confident, baddie energy that I love in a character, but unfortunately, she wasn’t enough to carry the whole book. The plot felt kind of all over the place, like things were happening just for the sake of drama, and I just… wasn’t vibing with it...

I kept going, hoping it would get better, but nah. Eventually, I had to admit defeat. This book just wasn’t for me..
Final thoughts: I’m super grateful for the ARC (thank you, NetGalley!), but if a book isn’t making me want to turn the pages, it’s just not the right fit. 2.5 stars...

Memphis is tired and overwhelmed. He runs his family vineyard, Hawthorne Vines and is struggling to make it solvent again. He doesn’t have time to date much less get into a serious relationship. Vivian has achieved her dream of becoming a successful singer songwriter. She is having a struggle writing so she visits her friend in Rosewood. She doesn’t have time for a relationship just as her career is taking off and especially not with her best friend’s older brother. Can two people take an obvious attraction but two separate lives find a way to have a relationship?

Memphis has a large growth curve in the story. At the beginning he is driven to make the vineyard a success but he is closed off and stressed out. The author gives Memphis the chance to learn and to adjust the way he deals with the day-to-day stresses. I thought his changes were very organic and believable. His conversations with his family were touching and sweet. The one things that stays the same throughout is that he will never leave Rosewood. He loves his hometown. Vivian has paid her dues and is just about to breakout with her singing career. I love that Memphis’s sister is one of Vivian’s co-writers. It makes Vivian’s decision to spend time in Rosewood more realistic. Vivian has lots of beliefs about Memphis when she first comes to town and has to work through those biases to see the real man. I thought her journey from being out of ideas for her new songs to falling in love with Memphis to writing new music was good. I even like that she struggled with what it would mean to her to be in love with Memphis.

This is a best friend’s bother, small town love story. Both of the main characters have demanding careers that are overwhelming at times. This is a sweet love story between two self-aware adults. I would recommend this if you want a nice small town love story. I will read more from this author in the future.

New to me authors, Meredith Wild and Jillian Liota had me living my best life reading/listening to this book! I absolutely love when a man acts like he can't be in a relationship but then he is the first one to fall!! I didn't expect this story to have the emotional aspects that it did, but I'm so glad that it took the turns necessary for these two to find their HEA together!

I listened to the audiobook of Sweet Escape and I thought Marcio Catalano and Carly Robbins did a great job with this story! I'd listen to both of them again!

Sweet Escape by Meredith Wild and Jillian Liota
Hawthorne Vines series #2. Contemporary romance. Best friend’s brother troupe. Can be read as a stand-alone.
After her ex cheats on her, which makes him an ex, Vivian Walsh goes to her friend’s family vineyard to get away and focus on writing music for her upcoming album. Vivian doesn’t plan for a new relationship, but Memphis is simply good yummy to resist.
Memphis is busy running the vineyard and restaurant though his father hasn’t officially passed down the family business. Memphis doesn’t have time for a distraction but Vivian is teasing and tempting beyond his ability to resist.
Passion and fun turn to feelings. At least for one of them. Should it continue beyond her stay at the vineyard?

Steamy interludes while the characters go through some self assessment.
I love the joking between them and the laughter.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

Fast spaced and insta love with lots of spice a la friends with benefits. The continuation of the wine business was great we got Memphis’ take on taking over the family business. Vivian in need of inspiration goes to her bff’s family winery meets the older brother and she’s writing songs nonstop.

This was a cozy romance
Very honest, earnest and sweet ( with spice! At least 3-4 spicy scenes) , but I did find it a bit boring throughout the middle. I liked both main characters, but I found it hard to get invested in the relationship.

The setting in the vineyard was beautiful, and the small town and supporting characters were well developed. I wish the plot - beyond "enemies with Benefits" was a bit more pronounced.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sweet Escape by Meredith Wild and Jillian Liota

This is the second book in the Hawthorne Vines series, but it is the first one I have read so far. I really enjoyed the story, the town, and the characters in this book.

From the very beginning, I felt an immediate connection with both of the main characters. After a heartbreaking betrayal, singer-songwriter Vivian Walsh arrives in Rosewood to visit her best friend Murphy and take some time to write new songs. Memphis Hawthorne, Murphy’s older brother and heir to the family's struggling vineyard was doing his best to keep this family's business going, The moment they meet, the chemistry between them is palpable, igniting an undeniable attraction that neither can resist. They decide to embark on a carefree, no-strings-attached fling, setting the stage for a tumultuous yet exhilarating journey.

What truly stood out to me was the delightful banter and playful bickering between Vivian and Memphis. Their exchanges were electric, laced with wit and humour, showcasing her spirited nature as she firmly held her ground against him. Both characters, while quirky and charming, possess a profound depth; they are self-aware and ready to confront their past mistakes. It’s inspiring to witness their growth as they strive to become better versions of themselves, making their journey as engaging as the romance itself.

The book: Hawthorne Vines #2. A free spirited singer falls for her best friends brother.

This was super cute and very bingeable. I finished in one night! This had the perfect amount of found family and spice. I loved the strong female characters and friendships displayed throughout the book. I didn’t realize this was the second in the series when I requested it but definitely can be read as a standalone.

Read if you like:
- enemies to lovers
- one night stand turned more
- strong female characters
- fast paced & bingeable reads
- open door spice

Thank you to Montlake, NetGalley, Meredith Wild and Jillian Liota for allowing me to be an early reader. All thoughts are my own.

Sweet escape is a beautiful falling for best friend’s brother romance. It's Vivian and Memphis heartfelt love story which will surely captivate readers attention and they will keep on turning the pages.

Really Loved this amazing story and cannot wait to read more in this series.

This was such a sweet and quick read. A perfect pallet cleanser if you are looking for something short and to the point. I loved the setting and scenery of this one.
The authors did a fantastic job of creating a very vivid little town and enjoyable characters. I was a little confused with the enemies to lovers aspect, but other than that, I really enjoyed this one!

Sweet Escape is a best friends brother, grumpy sunshine romance with a bit of insta lust thrown in. Vivian has just endured a painful betrayal and break up and escapes to her best friend's home town where the family owns a vineyard. She is looking for some down time and time away before she goes into the studio to record an album. Memphis is working overtime to try and save the family's vineyard by trying to get it out of debt. There is instant chemistry when they meet until Vivian realizes the bartender she was talking up is her best friend's brother and then she puts a halt to that....although it doesn't last long.

I really enjoyed the family business aspect to the story and I really liked how Memphis and Vivian were opposites personality wise but brought out the best in each other. I liked how much Vivian appreciated the smaller town and the people in it and how it gave her inspiration which she then poured into her music.

I did struggle a little with the pacing of the book. I found the first half to be on the slower side. I can normally read a book a day, and I found myself putting the book down after only reading a little bit. It just didn't grab me like I was hoping. Closer towards the 70 percent mark or so, I found myself much more invested and enjoying Memphis and Vivian's story and hoping they would get there happily ever after. Overall the story was interesting and I liked the characters, it was just slow for a while. It did finish strong though and I am glad I read it to the end.

Thank you to Netgalley and the authors for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Sorry been MIA, a family member was involved in a serious car crash and I’ve been taking care of them. Just finished reading this ARC I received in the small breaks I was given to rest. It was captivating story and I’m hooked! The characters are so well-developed, especially the main characters Vivian and Memphis, and their chemistry is off the charts. The steamy scenes are 🔥 but the story also delves into deeper emotions, making it a well-rounded read. I loved the wine country setting and the family dynamics. The author’s writing style is engaging and kept me turning the pages. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a romance with substance! 4.5/5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 #romance #bookreview #winecountry #steamyreads #familysaga @meredithwild @jillianliota 🍷📚❤️