Author: Catherine Bybee
Publisher: Montlake
Genre: Romance / Fiction
Source: Montlake ( Netgalley )

Goodreads: From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bybee comes the story of two wine enthusiasts who ride the ups and downs of love in the vineyards of Tuscany.

Tasting wine is not enough: sommelier Giovanni D’Angelo wants to create it. To put his family first, he’s always deferred his dreams—a vineyard to run, a woman to marry. But a three-week vineyard tour in Italy could set him back on track.

For Emma Rutledge, wine is in her blood. Intent to run the family wine business one day, she finds that the men in her family are only intent to push her out of it. But that’s fine—she’s got a plan.

When Gio and Emma meet on a wine tour in Tuscany, their shared aspirations fuel an undeniable chemistry. Returning home to California, they work toward setting up Emma’s vineyard and a label of their own. But when Emma receives a life-altering diagnosis, she worries it’s all been for nothing.

As Emma works to cement her family legacy while dealing with this unexpected challenge, Gio tries to convince her that their future isn’t just wine.

It’s each other.

Ope’s Opinion: I was struggling between 3.5 and 4.0, so I rounded up because I really like this author, and the story line was good and original. I especially liked that even though this was a romance, there was so much else going on.

There were some steamy parts and a bit of foul language that I don’t care for – that is why it didn’t end up being a 5.

The family drama and a twist in the story that I did not see coming made this an original story – not like all the other ones I am used to reading. The main character was a strong female, which always makes me like the story more.

I will look for Catherine Bybee’s next book.