Valentine’s Day Celebrating Friend to More Trope,
Part One
Are you a fan of the romances when friends realize that maybe all of this time they’ve felt more? I have two reviews that are part of Tasty Book Tours to satisfy that gooey goodness.
Sauvignon Blanc to Sigh For
Love in Wine Country #4
Pamela Gibson
Releasing February 13, 2017
Self-Published
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.
SASCHA DARLINGTON’S REVIEW
Sarah and Sam have the perfect friendship. They are yin and yang. They would probably have happily continued like that forever if Sam hadn’t manipulated Sarah into a wine and food competition and then said that the competition was for couples but who would believe that he would date her? While he didn’t mean it in a nasty way, the comment nonetheless rankled Sarah. So, she bought clothes for the contest, ditched her glasses for contacts, and showed Sam a side of her he’d never seen.
In proximity to each other for that week, Sarah and Sam begin to realize that they have feelings for each other that will probably end their friendship.
Pamela Gibson has provided a sweet, well-written romance, filled with wine and tantalizing dishes for the romantic foodie. I liked the relationship between Sam and Sarah because it seemed really natural. I could easily imagine Sam raiding Sarah’s fridge and complaining about his relationships. Likewise, it was very easy to feel the sense of loss when Sarah realized that Sam had gone too far in manipulating her (he has a secret that’s not revealed until late in the novel) and that the friendship was over. All of those times when you would call a friend to share tidbits or bake their favorite cookies and not be able to share.
For this reader, there was just enough humor and I never felt like the drama went sulky or angst-ridden; it just seemed natural with no going overboard. Overall, a quick delicious read!
While this is part of a series, it worked very well as a standalone. (But after this delicious offering, I’m going to read the others!)
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
rating: 
4 out of 5 butteflies
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Author Info
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
VERY
27- piece GODIVA Dark-Chocolate Gift Box, and a Bottle of HONIG Sauvignon Blanc. (For States that DO NOT allow shipping of Alcohol, the winner will receive an Amazon eGift Card in the amount of wine) *Giveaway Entrants must be 21 years of age or older
-Excerpt-
Sarah moved around behind him. Her subtle perfume blended with the smells in the kitchen. “Do you think my label is okay?”
“They’re not judging your label. They’re judging how well the food and wines complement each other.”
“You’re right.” He set the bottle down and turned to greet his friend, but she wasn’t there. In her place stood a siren—that’s the first word that came to mind—in tight leggings that hugged her hips and bared her midriff, and a fitted shirt that tied under plump breasts, showing a hint of cleavage.
What the hell?
But it was the hair that got his attention.
“What have you done to your hair?”
She twirled in front of him, letting her hair swing from side to side provocatively. It looked lighter, and it looked like she had way more hair. “Where are your glasses?”
“I’m wearing contacts. Do you like this look?” She batted her eyelashes at him and moved closer.
He stepped back, aware of an unaccustomed heat he’d never felt in Sarah’s house before. She was his friend. She shouldn’t look like this.
She seemed to be waiting for his answer, but he didn’t know what to say.
“It’s…different.”
She laughed and put her hand on his chest. It left a warm spot there. He couldn’t back up any more, because the edge of the counter was biting into his backside.
“Do you think people will believe we’re a couple now, Mr. Hot Guy?” Her voice was low and sexy, her soft mouth curved into a secret smile.
“Geez, Sarah. You didn’t have to change your appearance.”
“Sure I did. We’re supposed to be a couple in a committed relationship. I have to look like the girls you date. I have to be warm and affectionate, and look at you like you’re my dessert course.” She paused and ran her tongue over her bottom lip. “Let’s see. What would you be? A chocolate soufflé, puffed and pretty on the outside and dark and intense on the inside, with flavors that slide over the tongue and linger there to be savored later, making you crave more.”
The room was suddenly hot. How would he concentrate on wines when she looked—and talked—like that? And how would he keep guys at the resort away from her?
His eyes fixed on her cleavage. “Could you go put on a sweatshirt or something? We need to get down to business.”
Sarah laughed, showing dimples in her cheeks. She had dimples? Why hadn’t he noticed before?
“I’m sorry Sam. The deer-in-the-headlights look on your face is priceless. But you’re going to have to get used to the new Sarah…at least for a week. We need to be convincing. Isn’t that what you said last time you were here?
He shoved his fingers through his hair. “Did I?”
“No more playacting right now. Pour the wines, and let’s start tasting with food.”
Thank you so much for sharing your lovely review!!