Customer Reviews

Crush on You (Three Kisses)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am on the lookout for new authors as I am traveling in a couple of weeks and am saving my favorite authors for the trip: Nora Roberts, Lisa Kleypas, Gena Showalter, Mary Balogh and a few others. (I read fast). The reviews looked good and I liked the premise of this book so I thought I'd try it. First off, I very rarely write reviews because it all comes down to personal taste. But I have to say, I'm quite confused. Did I read the same book as everyone else?

I could not find anything likable about Penn and Alessandra. I would almost go as far as say I hated Alessandra. I know that for romance novels, you have to suspend reality a bit. Actually, that is why I like them. There was just too much in here that was too hard to swallow. Especially Alessandra's reaction to her friend's wedding towards the end of the book. Actually, a lot of the reactions in this book had me rolling my eyes or laughing in disbelief. And then the resolution? Really, that's it? Where is the dunk tank every time I make bad choices?

There were several things about the writing that kept throwing me off. Everyone was referred to as bride-to-be and groom-to-be. Okay once or twice, but several times in a given description and in every description? Lying alone in her bride-to-be bed? really? What happened to the term fiancé(e)? Why couldn't the author just use bride/groom? I will admit, that is just me being picky. But it was really annoying. Next...Penn Bennett from a home improvement show, Build Me Up. For whatever reason, it kept reminding me of Ty Pennington from Extreme Makeover Home Edition. And then a superfluous character adding to a superfluous conflict was named Lana Lang. Wasn't she Clark Kent's high school girl friend? (smallville anyone?). Regardless of the fact that I had a feeling of borrowed names, I thought Penn's background story was interesting enough without the drama with this Lana character and should have been developed more. I don't know. Maybe I thought the whole story seemed to lack focus.

The only reason I gave this book any stars is because I liked the secondary characters Clare and Gil. I was also interested in Guiliana and Liam's story...but I don't think I can actually sit and read their book.

I read all types of romance novels: historical, contemporary, paranormal, & um...spicier ones (some with little plot). Ones that make you laugh out loud, some that make you want to cry,and some that are just quick fluff reads. This was probably one of the hardest for me to get through. Again, reviews are all subjective, and this is just my opinion. And, admittedly a harsh one. I'm just surprised no one else had any issues.

Crush on You is the first book in a new trilogy by Christie Ridgway set in Napa Valley wine country. I loved her previous series about knitting so it wasn't a stretch that this book (and the series) would be equally enjoyable and entertaining.

Alessandra Baci's grand plan to restore the Baci wedding cottage to it's former glory and rent it out for wedding ceremonies, seems like just the ticket to bring in extra revenue and save Tanti Baci from certain bankruptcy. But her plan hits an unexpected roadblock when the contractor she hires to do the work bails on her at the last minute for a better paying job.

How convenient is it then, that Penn Bennett, TV personality, Hollywood Hottie and star of his own wildly successful home renovation show Build Me Up is home visiting his half brothers Liam and Seth Bennett, who also just happen to own their own winery and are the Baci sisters biggest rivals.

From the moment Penn spies Alessandra complete in her wedding dress (and pajamas), rubber soles of her flip-flops slapping against the heels of her feet, flying across the yard towards him, he can't help but be captivated by the youngest Baci sister. And after a few fake tears (yes he knows they're fake and calls her on it), no one is more surprised than Penn himself when he offers up his handyman services in order to get the renovations done on time.

Alessandra may not like the Bennett's (but does Penn really count since he's the newly discovered bastard son?), but she knows better than to look a gift horse in the mouth - or in this case a Bennett and so she accepts his helping hand. A hand attached to the end of a very infuriating, exceedingly hot Bennett that makes her girl parts tingle.

Neither Penn nor Alessandra is looking for a long term relationship. After all she's not called the Nun of Napa for no reason after her own wedding day ended tragically five years earlier when her fiancé didn't make it to his own "Big Day". And Penn is only home for a short time and has no intention of giving up his bachelor ways in LA. Yet neither can deny that they definitely throw off the sparks whenever they are around each other. Makes for some fun and muy caliente reading!

No review would be complete without mentioning Gil. It's always an unexpected pleasure when the secondary characters in a book are almost as interesting as the main ones. I fell just a little bit in love with him and his storyline is what made Crush on You more than worth reading for me. Gil is Alessandra's cousin, but also more importantly the best friend and "Maid of Honor" for Clare who's own impending nuptials are scheduled to be the first at the Baci Wedding Cottage. Mmmmm wonder how that turned out? Gil and Clare's story deserves its own book! Maybe a prequel?

Crush on You will certainly make you laugh, may even make you tear up and it's the perfect summer read for a lazy day at home or the beach.

Crush On You was a fun contemporary romance with a bit of everlasting heartbreak on the side. What I found most interesting about this book was that besides the main romance between Alessandra and Penn there was a secondary romance between Alessandra's best friend and her cousin, and to me that secondary romance completely stole my heart. It was the story between two best friends, one of whom is about to be married when the other realizes he's completely in love with her but it's basically too late to do anything. It was fantastic and I found it to be a lot more emotional than the main plotline.

But onto the main plotline, I liked how Alessandra carried around this heartbreak about her wedding that never happened 5 years ago and because of this, the entire town treats her as the "Nun of Nana" and they handle her with kid gloves. She likes it, she likes it until Penn (a la Ty Pennington from Extreme Makeover Home Edition) shows up in town and shows her she's able to get over this past tragedy and move on as a woman instead of a girl. Their relationship becomes a sort of experimentation in the sexual department, basically to show Alessandra what she has been missing. And on that note it's rather steamy.

I found the story to be a pretty straight on contemporary romance not really delivering anything groundbreakingly new but it was still fun to read. I love the idea of the trilogy exploring all three Baci sisters finding love. So I will definitely be watching out for the second book, Then He Kissed Me, from the sample at the end of the book it looks like a lot of fun.

Alessandra is nicknamed the nun of Napa Valley, and her tragic past has resulted in men cowering to her every whim, not being able to tell her no. Until she meets Hollywood fix-it bad boy Penn Bennett. He agrees to fix up the crumbling wedding cottage which Alessandra hopes to be the family's ticket out of the red. The nun and the bad boy have an undeniable attraction that surprises them both, but is Penn, who is still smarting from his own parentage ready to be Alessandra's secret?

Ridgway's first in a new series about sisters in Napa Valley was a treat to read. I was disappointed with her "Knitting" series, which made this one seem better than it probably was. While I liked the pairing of Alessandra and Penn, like many other readers, the secondary love story between best friends Gil and Claire is what stole the show. I would have liked for that story to be more expanded.

is what this book title should have been!

I picked this up at the library, based on the positive reviews here. I am with another reviewer who asked if she had read the same book! The only redeeming factor in this book was the story of Gil and Clare (which, I will freely admit, was lovely). Alessandra was possibly the most annoying heroine I have ever read in any book, fluffy or not! Forcing a character so self-absorbed and annoying as Alessandra down our throats will not win readers for upcoming books!

Alessandra "Nun of Napa" Baci and her sisters (Stephania and Guiliana) vowed to their dying pop to save the family vineyard, Tanti Baci. None of the siblings understood how difficult their death bed pledge would prove when they made it three months ago, but the business is teetering towards bankruptcy.

In spite of her own marital woes when her fiancé Tommy failed to come to the altar because he was dead, Alessandra believes restoration of the dilapidated wedding cottage for use by brides and grooms and marketing her wine will help. Reluctantly she must go to the thorny neighbors and rivals the Bennet brood; specifically she needs Penn the host of a TV remodeling show.

Penn only recently learned who his biological father was; being one of the two recently "discovered" bastards. He wants to help her as he is attracted to her and her energy, but Napa Valley is not in his itinerary even if his paternal roots are there. Finally he distrusts the nun; unaware she has her doubts as he resides in the shallow movie capital. Neither of them expected to want to be the first couple to occupy the wedding cottage.

This is an enjoyable throwback (even with profanities) contemporary romance as neither of the lead couple wants to fall in love; in fact each prefers flight over fight when it comes to relationships. Character driven, fans will appreciate how far the Nun and the TV star come when they learn love means diving head first without regard to safety.

Harriet Klausner

At the tender age of 20, Alessandra Baci was set to marry Tommy, her high school sweetheart. Tommy was diagnosed with cancer and thought to be in remission. Sadly, he died 15 minutes before the wedding, leaving Allie alone at the altar. Allie has forever been known as "Tommy's Girl" and Sally, Tommy's mother, won't let her forget that. For the past 5 years, Allie hasn't been able to move on and this has earned her another nickname - the Nun of Napa.

On his death bed, Mario Baci informed his daughters that the family business, the Tanti Baci winery, is on the brink of bankruptcy. Alessandra, Giuliana and Stephania promise their father that they will do whatever it takes to save the winery that has been in their family for generations. The sisters have decided to try their hand at the wedding business to keep the winery afloat.

Penn recently discovered that his father was the late Calvin Bennett. The Bennett's own the winery next to the Baci's. Penn was the result of a secret, extra marital affair that no one knew about, that is until Calvin spilled the beans in his will. Calvin also sired a daughter, whom no one can locate. Penn grew up with his strapped-for-cash waitress mother. Times were tough but Penn has more than made up for those rough times; Penn is the host for a home renovation show called Build Me Up. The legitimate Bennett brothers, Liam and Seth, feel guilty about their father's indiscretions and invite Penn up to the winery to share in the inheritance.

Allie needs to get the cottage renovated in time for the winery's first wedding. Adding to the pressure, the wedding is for her good friend Clare, Tommy's sister. When the contractor Allie hired to renovate the cottage fails to show up because he has taken a higher paying job, Penn comes to the rescue. Being that the Bennett's are silent partners in the Tanti Baci winery, it is in their best interest to do what they can to see that the cottage gets finished in time. This wedding business is there last hope of survival for the Tanti Baci winery.

Allie captures Penn's interest right from the start. She's gorgeous and Penn can't help but notice. Penn is also determined to get the infamous Nun of Napa in the sack. Allie's attention is caught by Penn's good looks and decides to escape the rut she's been in for the past 5 years by having a secret affair with Penn.

The connection between Allie and Penn fell flat and lost my interest. I am not convinced that the ending was the best outcome. It felt rushed and disjointed. There were some laugh out loud moments but the romance aspect of the book left much to be desired, particularly in the steamy love scene department. A secondary love story took center stage for me. I was more in tune and more connected with those characters than I was with Allie and Penn. I found myself looking forward to the outcome of these secondary characters' fate more so than I was with Allie and Penn.

There is a back story between one of the Baci sisters, Giuliana, and one of the Bennett brother, Liam. Jules has been holding a grudge against Liam for the past 10 years. I'm guessing that the 2nd and 3rd installment of this series will follow Giuliana and Stephania in their journey towards a happily ever after. But I do wonder if it will involve the two remaining Bennett bachelors...? Hmm, this could get interesting as there once was a flame between Jules and Liam.

Despite the awesome beginning of the book where Alessandra Baci is putting on her five year old wedding dress on the day of her would-be anniversary, she is not pining away for her would-be husband. Allie is a woman that lives life to its fullest. She's a person that cares about the needs of others. It's not until the end of the book that she realizes exactly what she has done by staying in mourning for five years, but it's not because she was actually mourning her fiancé. Cryptic, I know.

Penn Bennett just found out who his father was and has recently met his half brothers. When he first sees Alessandra, she is flying out of the house in flip-flops and a wedding dress begging her contractors not to leave the Baci wedding cottage (and sole business investment) unfinished. It's while he's watching her that he sees her turn on the waterworks and get what she wants. Penn has no idea that he's witnessing the Nun of Napa get her way.

What's so great about Allie being the Nun of Napa is that she deserves it. She has shouldered the grief of the town and she deserves a little credit. She takes an immediately dislike to Penn even as she is physically attracted to him. The same goes for Penn. He has little use for manipulative women and that is exactly what he sees Allie as. That doesn't mean they can't engage in a flaming hot affair.

It's a small town, so there is a lot of meddling going on. Penn wants nothing more than to leave town but he can't tear himself away from Allie. Allie is afraid to have any more feelings than lust for Penn because of the heartbreak she went through before. Any feelings she has now are going to be more intense to have and to lose. She doesn't know if she can risk that. In the end it is Allie that has to take a risk and it made me love her character even more.

This series is about three sisters who live in Napa and struggling to keep their vineyard. This is the story of Alessandra "Nun of Napa" Baci and Penn Bennett

handsome star of home renovation show. The sparks fly when they first meet and the twist of this plot are new and excited to watch be unfolded. It was so much fun to read it... Now I am looking forward to Then He Kissed Me (Three Kisses) due out Jan 4, 2011.

If you love this genre here are a few of my recent favorites; Out of Eden (Hqn) ,Chasing Perfect (Hqn) and Nothing But Trouble.

Alessandra Baci is an Italian cutie, loved by all and affectionately known as the "Nun of Napa." For the past 5 years Alessandra has been living her life without really moving forward. With her family winery and land in jeopardy, she is determined to make it a desirable place for couples to have their weddings. With her two sisters help she begins to revamp a cottage on the estate.

Penn Bennett is a famous television personality known for his construction renovations. He is also the newly discovered illegitimate Bennett son. He's in Napa getting to know his brothers and escaping some drama when he gets roped into helping the Nun of Napa finish the renovations on her cottage.

Their chemistry is incredible.

This is my first book by Christie Ridgway and it won't be my last. I devoured every word. The characters are rich and witty and the storyline fun and engaging. I loved Penn and Alessandra's characters, all their quirks and insecurities, all their flaws and strengths. They really had a physical and emotional pull that sucked you into their story and had me begging for more.

This is the 1st book in a trilogy and I can't wait to see what happens next. I think this is a fabulous start to a promising series and I will be anxiously awaiting the next publication date.

Then He Kissed Me (Three Kisses)

Cherise Everhard, July 2010