Monday 13 February 2017

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: SAUVIGNON BLANC TO SIGH FOR by PAMELA GIBSON


Enter to Win a 27-piece Godiva Dark Chocolate Gift Box & a bottle of HONIG Sauvignon Blanc (For states that DO NOT allow shipping of Alcohol,
the winner will receive an Amazon gift card in the amount of the wine.)
*Giveaway entrants must be 21 years of age or older. 
 
 
Sauvignon Blanc to Sigh For
Love in Wine Country #4
By: Pamela Gibson
Releasing February 13, 2017
Self-Published
In Sauvignon Blanc to Sigh For (Love in Wine Country #4) by Pamela Gibson, Sarah James and Sam Reynoso have been friends since the sixth grade, and somehow, Sam always manages to convince Sarah to go along with whatever he wants to do. When he signs them up to compete in a couple's wine and food pairing competition, Sarah knows she might be making a mistake giving in this time, but how can she say no once she learns how much he spent to enter. But with every round they stay in the competition, Sarah finds herself falling for her best friend. Can they risk their friendship for a chance at happy ever after, or will the secret one of them is keeping from the other end the close bond they've shared all these years?

What a wonderful story Ms. Gibson has penned in the fourth book of her Love in Wine Country series about two best friends determined to deny their attraction, a secret that could destroy their friendship, finding forgiveness and getting the happy ever after they both deserve. Right from the beginning, this story was riveting, fast-paced and a story I could not put down. Not only because it's palpable that these two share such strong chemistry from the moment they're introduced into the story together, but because this story encompasses the friends to lovers and the fake relationship tropes; two tropes that I have been reading more and more of lately. It isn't easy for two people to go from friends to lovers, since if things don't end well, then that could be the end of their friendship, but I must admit that Ms. Gibson pens a story with a very satisfying ending.

The dialogue was intense due to the main characters back stories, especially that of the heroine. She's been hurt before by a previous relationship and with her parents being divorced she's never witnessed a healthy marriage, so how likely is it that she'll ever have the chance at happy ever after? Moreover, I liked the teasing banter between the hero and heroine during their time in the wine and food competition. Sarah is determined to show Sam that he can't always make decisions for her without expecting consequences and I liked how she does it. Who knew she had it in her to make him see her as more than his best friend when she seems so prim and proper and not a woman to go too far out of her comfort zone?

Both the main characters entertained me from start to finish with their back stories, the chemistry between them and the secret one of them is hiding. What happens when the other learns the truth? Will it ruin the strong friendship they have and their growing relationship? Will the one that gets hurt by the secret be able to forgive the other? Emotions run high during the competition, which had me turning the pages quickly of this book determined to know whether the pair would make it to the final round without saying something either of them would regret and to discover whether they'd win. Since the prize would go a long way to helping Sam follow his dream when it comes to his career. 

Overall, Ms. Gibson has penned a really good read in this book where the chemistry and bits of romance illustrated how right these two are for each other and that they shouldn't let any obstacle stop them from being together. The way this story ended had me a little worried as to the reaction of the character the secret hurt, but I was cheering that everything would work out and I'm glad that it did, especially since the hero was determined to fight for their happy ever after. I would recommend Sauvignon Blanc to Sigh For by Pamela Gibson, if you enjoy the friends to lovers trope or the fake relationship trope.

OVERALL RATING:

 
 

BLURB:
Sarah James has always wanted to be part of a family. Her divorced parents are estranged and she has no siblings. But she does have friends, especially Sam, who’s always underfoot…eating her food, fixing stuff in her house, and seeking advice about his love life.
Aspiring winemaker Sam Reynoso has taken care of Sarah since the sixth grade. She’s smart, comfortable, and indulgent. They’re best friends until a wine and food pairing competition throws them together in an intimate, tension-filled setting.
 
As feelings neither of them expected start to emerge, each will have to decide if their relationship will evolve, or if their newfound love will be nipped in the bud by a crushing secret.
 
Buy Links:  AMAZON | B & N | ITUNES | KOBO   
 
 
 Sarah hopped off the couch, fists clenched. “Are you out of your freakin’ mind? I’m not doing this. I’m going to Sea Ranch or Morro Bay or Santa Barbara…somewhere with a beach.”
“But this is a great opportunity, Sarah. The judges are enologists and wine and food raters from the big magazines. Even if we don’t win, we can get our talents in front of people who can make things happen for us.”
“We? I don’t want to be a chef. I’m a planner. A damn good one.”
He swiped his fingers over his hair. “You hate the politics. You know you’re a gourmet cook. This is a great chance for you as well as me.”
She planted her hands on her hips and glared. “No. No. No.”
“Why are you being like this?”
She raised her voice. “We’re not a couple. You said this is for couples. To me that means married or engaged. Now eat your cobbler, and I’ll go in the kitchen and make coffee.”
“How can you say that? We’ve been a couple since we were kids. Our friendship is probably stronger than most marriages.”
“But this implies a committed relationship. It would be dishonest.” She stood her ground, but he had a point. If it didn’t specifically say engaged or married, they’d technically qualify.
He hung his head and looked up at her through those lashes most women would kill for. “Uh, Sarah? I already signed us up.”
“What?” she shrieked. “Sam, I can’t believe you did this. I could just…just…this is exactly what you do, every time. Take over and do what you want, and don’t even bother to think about the person you‘re going to rope into your latest scheme. No.”
“It’s only a week. You can have the second week all to yourself.” He got up and stood in front of her, so close she had to look up at him. “Can’t you pretend that we’re more than friends for a week? I know you love me.”
“Yes…like a brother…a big, overgrown, aggravating, controlling, nuisance of a brother.”
“But you’ll do it.”
“No.” She looked up at him and knew instantly why women fell at his feet. His shoulders were immense, and the light stubble on his face made him look dangerous. But the heat in his eyes could melt rocks in an iceberg.
He put his hands on her shoulders and pulled her toward him. It was a brotherly hug, one they’d shared often. “Think about it. I’ve paid the fee, but I can stand to lose it.”
“How much was it?” She murmured against his chest.
“Two grand.”
Two thousand dollars? She pushed him away and faced the kitchen.
 
 
 
 


Pamela Gibson grew up loving books, history, and small towns. Her first career was a newspaper reporter, but when she returned to college to get a master’s degree, it was in public administration which eventually led to jobs running cities…not as an elected official, but as a city manager, the chief appointed one.
Writing was still her passion and in her spare time—between meetings and raising two active kids—she was contracted to write several books on local history. Taking an early retirement at the urging of her very supportive husband, she turned to fiction and began writing the happy ending novels she loves to read.
She now spends half her time on land and the other half cruising coastal or inland waters in her 32-foot boat. She speed-eats chocolates when she’s nervous, squeals when she sees a spider, and loves to relax with a good read with a mellow glass of wine.
 
Author Links:   WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS
 
 

 

 

 

 






2 comments:

  1. Wow. A bottle of wine is part of the gjveaway. Loved this author's book in Marina Adair's SHV Kindle World, and can't wait to read this story.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you SO much for featuring and reviewing SAUVIGNON BLANC TO SIGH FOR!

    ReplyDelete