Jasmine does it again, likable characters with depth fall in love ( )

When I pick up a book by Jasmine Guillory, I know what to expect. Guillory delivered a light and upbeat story about a winery owning woman falling for a recently hired man, and it was fun! My only hope was that Sydney's story would have a bit more depth, especially since Margot was not a great friend throughout (Sydney was very much a giver and supported everyone emotionally, but didn't get much in return). ( )

Another delightful read! Loved Margot and Luke, loved the winery staff, loved the family dynamics at play. ( )

Margot owns a winery with her brother, Elliot, but doesn't feel like he wants her there. She is working hard to expand the winery. One night, after Elliot mentions that he hired a new person to help in the winery without her input, she heads to the local bar. She meets an attractive man, Luke, and what follows is a night of steamy sex. Imagine her surprise (but not mine) when the next day, she finds out that Luke is the new employee.
As usual, Guillory's novels are filled with hot, steamy sex in very descriptive language. I wish there was more character development as to why the principals like each other - other than the attraction they feel for each other.
However, as a romance novel, it hits all the points. ( )

Drunk on Love is sorta, kinda linked to The Wedding Date series but I note that it’s marketed as a standalone. We were briefly introduced to Margot, the main character in the previous book and there is a very short appearance of some previous characters in one scene, but that’s it. This is a new setting (Napa Valley, wine country) and a whole new set of characters. I liked it, but it didn’t sparkle as much for me as some of Guillory’s previous novels. Perhaps it was the wine motif over food, perhaps it was the small town vibe. I felt the plot was a bit narrow and I wanted to focus on more of the townspeople.

Margot is a new-ish transplant to the region, having jointly inherited a winery with her brother from her late uncle. She’s the business side of the winery, while Elliot focuses on the winegrowing. Margot feels as though she hasn’t earned her inheritance, so she’s determined to make the winery to best it can be. This sets her up in opposition to Elliot’s quieter, behind the scenes way of things. Margot resents this, and feels that he resents her. It doesn’t make for happy families. It’s at the bar of her friend’s restaurant that she meets Luke, who did grow up locally. Luke has left his job in Silicon Valley after experiencing racism as one of the few Black men at his company. He hasn’t told anyone the truth except his childhood best friend and he’s home to help her out and try working at something less stressful. Margot and Luke have a fantastic night together, avoiding any talk about work. But then it turns out that Luke has been hired by Elliot. Margot knows that she can’t have a romance with her employee, but that doesn’t stop the tension between them. Meanwhile, Luke’s mum is convinced that Luke is in love with his best friend and he’s only on a sabbatical. Neglecting the truth could have ramifications for his future with Margot…

Luke and Margot are both great characters, with a lot of worries between them about what defines them in the eyes of others. They both try to avoid confrontation and criticism but have a need to be seen a certain way by others. Their romance is steamy, full of tension yet very open (except when they neglect to tell each other highly important things…) I didn’t understand Margot’s concerns about Luke being about six years younger – he was mature and quite serious, so her dismissal of him not knowing what he wanted didn’t really ring true. (Sometimes Margot was the more emotionally immature one, denying herself under the pretence of work). I would have liked to have seen more tension between Elliot and Margot, as a lot of it seemed more in Margot’s head than on the page. There were some great minor characters – Avery (Luke’s best friend), Sydney (Margot’s best friend) and Elliot – and I would have like to have seen a subplot about one of them if only to move the focus from Margot and Luke’s URST and unreasonable expectations of themselves. The focus just seemed a bit narrow and repetitive at times. Not my favourite – give me the lights of the Bay area, some more subplots and a food to focus on!

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