Review of No Stranger to Love (The Tavonesi Series) by Pamela Aares

No Stranger to Love

With NO STRANGER TO LOVE, USA Today Bestselling Author Pamela Aares delivers another page-turning contemporary romance in the Tavonesi Series featuring love, suspense and adventure!

Juliet Cabot is no stranger to trouble, but she never imagined that her work defending endangered sea turtles on a beautiful Greek island would turn deadly. Threats to her life force her to call for help from the man who's haunted her dreams for years—wine country landowner and international polo star Parker Tavonesi.

Parker owes Juliet big time for getting him out of a fix in the past. Handsome, resourceful and fearless, she trusts him with her life but she vowed she would never trust him with her heart. When danger enshrouds them and warm island nights cause their bottled-up passions to flare, Juliet's every fantasy could become reality . . . unless the dark secrets of a sultry paradise prove fatal, not just for the struggling sea turtles but for Parker and Juliet as well.

**My thoughts**

I remember reading the early part of this series as it was coming out and was madly in love with every page. I inadvertently missed the next few that came out, so I was ecstatic when the opportunity to read and review this latest installment came my way. You don't have to read this series in order to be able to appreciate each installment. A bottle of wine, a warm spring day, and a comfy seat on the front porch, and I settled in with my read.

As per usual with this series, I was completely immersed in their world and madly in love with the characters. Parker is gorgeous, athletic, and intelligent. Plus he owns a vineyard, which is another amazing perk. Juliet has a big heart and is absolutely brilliant. What I love the most about her is that she is so smart, but doesn't act like a know-it-all. The two of them have incredible chemistry and banter. They challenge each other. They just don't open up and communicate very well about their thoughts and feelings.

Their roller coaster ride makes you want to smack them both upside the head many times as their pride gets in their way. But isn't that how these relationships seem to go? I can understand some of their apprehension, as they have known each other for so long. It's just that they've become different people since then and need to let go of those former impressions. Give in to your hearts, people! And be honest with each other, because you are missing out on something wonderful.

Of course, if they did that, there wouldn't be enough of that romantic conflict to tell a good story, right?

Speaking of conflict, this book would not be complete without a little bit of suspense to keep things interesting. There's just enough suspense enveloping Juliet and the island as she tries to push forward with her sea turtle project. I love this blend of suspenseful romance, because it adds a different dimension to the story. Add in the beautiful setting of Greece and you have a winner. Pamela Aares has a gift for putting these together without overdoing either angle. It is smartly written and makes me crave going back through the series.

I received a complimentary of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Read one of my favorite excerpts here.

Buy it on Amazon

'Napa: A MacAllester Family Adventure, Book 1' by Dawn Desousa

Blurb:

Jennifer Jones—JJ to her friends—has played it safe all her life, hiding behind a lab coat as a wine researcher. But after losing her job for dating a coworker, she jumps at the chance to head to Napa Valley to work for the famous MacAllester wine family. She’s learned her lesson: never mix business and pleasure.

William MacAllester-Moore may be the heir to a famous wine making family, but at heart he’s a farmer, growing grapes he hopes will make the best Cabernet in Napa Valley. But when his mother’s new assistant winemaker catches his eye, he realizes his grapes aren’t the only sweet, intoxicating things at the company.

As the sun-drenched days and heated nights stretch out before them, JJ and William’s romance ripens along with the grapes. But there are storm clouds on the horizon. JJ fears her feelings not only endanger her heart and her job, but William’s vineyards as well, putting the first harvest of his new vineyard at risk. Perhaps it’s just not possible to create a new wine and a new life together.

Read Chapter 3:

Chapter Three

William Moore walked into his mom’s office and was presented with the cutest little derriere he’d ever seen.

He sucked in a sharp breath and tensed. One, he wasn’t used to such a gut response to an ass, and two, being turned on in his mom’s office was just wrong. Damn, what was his problem? Clearing his suddenly dry throat, he half groaned, half grumbled, “Can I help you?”

The woman jumped and hit her head on the desk. “Ouch,” she exclaimed, falling back down onto one knee.

William rushed to her side and placed a hand on her arm. “Here, let me help you.”

“Thanks,” she said, taking his offered arm and rising unsteadily to her feet.

“Are you all right?” Being this close, he caught her scent and all thoughts of checking for a concussion were gone.

“I am now,” she sighed and stared up at William. At 6’3” he was used to towering over people, but this woman was nearly as tall as he was.

William stared back, enjoying her warm brown eyes, pert nose, and the full lips grinning back at him. He shook his head, nonplused by the visceral attraction. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to—”

“I was looking at the pictures and accidentally knocked a cork off the shelf. I was looking for it when you came in.” She reached over, returning the cork.

William nodded. “Who are you?”

“Oh, sorry, I’m JJ. Rebecca’s new assistant,” she replied, sticking out her hand.

Taking her hand, William raised an eyebrow. So this is mom’s new assistant, brains and beauty. He had read some of her research and had been impressed with the work.

“I’m William. Rebecca’s son and vineyard manager. Nice to finally meet you.”

“Thank you. Nice to meet you too.” She smiled.

“Hey, I found something better than the ’86, an ’84,” Maggie exclaimed from the doorway. “Hi, William. I see you’ve met JJ.”

“Yes, we were looking at family photos.” William grinned at JJ.

“What?” Maggie asked.

“Nothing.” William waved his cousin off. “So where is my mom?”

“Oh, she got stuck in the tasting room talking to a customer and will be back when she is done. But you’re just in time to officially welcome JJ to the team.” Maggie started opening the wine.

“Welcome to the team. Drinking around here is an occupational necessity.” William grinned and leaned on the edge of his mom’s desk, crossing his arms over his chest.

“William. That’s not true. You’ll scare her off.” Maggie gave him a chiding look as she handed him a glass.

“Are you scared?” William asked JJ, taking a sip.

JJ bit her lip to keep from laughing. Great, she has a sense of humor too.

Shaking her head, JJ took a glass from Maggie. “No, I worked in a wine research lab. Wine drinking was certainly an occupational necessity.”

“See, Maggie. She’ll fit right in.” William winked at JJ. “I had the chance to try the Norton Reserve you shipped here and loved what you did. It’s one of the reasons I think my mom decided to give you the contract.”

JJ brushed some of her silky, sable hair behind her ear. “Thank you. But it’s nothing compared with what you make here.”

“Don’t sell yourself short.” He set down his glass and stood up. “Well, I need to go chat with my mom and get back out in the field. Good to meet you. I’m sure I’ll see you around.”

“Actually, William, don’t forget JJ is staying in your cottage,” Maggie reminded him.

William stopped in the doorway. He had forgotten that Maggie had asked him if JJ could stay at his cottage. Not that he minded; since he’d finished remodeling his house, the cottage had just been sitting there empty. He just hadn’t expected her to be this cute, and hoped she wouldn’t be too much of a temptation. But what the hell, he had promised Maggie and he had to admit he liked the idea of having JJ so close. “That’s right. Not a problem.”

JJ glanced between Maggie and William. “Oh no, I couldn’t impose.”

“Don’t be silly, of course you’ll stay there. You might be an employee now but you were my friend first and that’s what matters,” Maggie assured her.

“That would be nice and thank you for accommodating me.” JJ smiled and nodded at William.

“My pleasure. You can get the address from Maggie. Now if you’ll excuse me, ladies.” William nodded at JJ. “I’ll see you at my house later tonight, say five o’clock?”

“Yep, that works,” JJ replied.

“Great, see you then.” William left his mom’s office with a wide grin. Yes, having her as a guest might turn out to be interesting.

Available on Amazon

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Author Bio:

Dawn DeSousa publishes travel-themed romance novels set in an exciting location she has actually traveled. As part of her mission to encourage women and girls to live their best lives, she created a program called Dimes of Love. For each book sold, a dime will be donated to an organization that empowers women and girls. So every time you buy one of her books, you are contributing to the wellbeing of others around the world.

Links

Website: DestinationLoveStories.com

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