What do you think?
Rate this book
Vino & Veritas #9
Turnabout
I don’t have time for an unplanned visit home to help out in my father’s struggling letterpress shop. My stint in Vermont will have to be short, for a couple of reasons:
One, I’m a busy executive trying to climb the corporate ladder.
Two, my ex is still my dad’s right-hand man in the shop. And I am not over him.
Nothing has changed at the Burlington shop. Auden still has his infuriatingly sexy Scottish accent. He’s still hot, and still stubborn. Between operating the antique press with his shirtsleeves rolled up, and moonlighting at Burlington’s hottest inclusive wine bar, he pushes every one of my attraction buttons.
My falling-in-love-again buttons, too. Except I’m his polar opposite. I love change, and taking chances. Everything he avoids in life.
So why am I trying to convince him to reach for more than we’ve ever dreamed of—the possibility of forever?
Turnabout is a second-chance romance with interfering family, groveling, and a large helping of artisan stationery geekery.
One, I’m a busy executive trying to climb the corporate ladder.
Two, my ex is still my dad’s right-hand man in the shop. And I am not over him.
Nothing has changed at the Burlington shop. Auden still has his infuriatingly sexy Scottish accent. He’s still hot, and still stubborn. Between operating the antique press with his shirtsleeves rolled up, and moonlighting at Burlington’s hottest inclusive wine bar, he pushes every one of my attraction buttons.
My falling-in-love-again buttons, too. Except I’m his polar opposite. I love change, and taking chances. Everything he avoids in life.
So why am I trying to convince him to reach for more than we’ve ever dreamed of—the possibility of forever?
Turnabout is a second-chance romance with interfering family, groveling, and a large helping of artisan stationery geekery.
302 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 6, 2021
About the author
Laurel Greer
53 books436 followersUSA Today bestselling author Laurel Greer loves writing about all the ways love can change people for the better, especially when messy families and charming small towns are involved. She lives outside of Vancouver, BC with her law-talking husband and two daughters and is never far from a cup of tea, a good book, or the ocean—preferably all three.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 235 reviews
August 20, 2023
This was an ok read. I loved Carter. He pretty much carried this whole book, both when it comes to the business part and the romance. As for his dad and Auden – well, I have opinions.
Five stars for the audiobook. I loved listening to Gary Furlong's wonderful narration. Not only Auden's lovely Scottish accent, but also Carter. And the chicken. 😂
Five stars for the audiobook. I loved listening to Gary Furlong's wonderful narration. Not only Auden's lovely Scottish accent, but also Carter. And the chicken. 😂
July 1, 2023
4.25**** stars
Great second-chance romance narrated by Gary Furlong with a strong Scottish accent for everyone who loves that. ♡
♢ family values
♢ small town setting
♢ changing priorities
♢ a kilt wearing Scott
♢ a love that never stopped existing
Great second-chance romance narrated by Gary Furlong with a strong Scottish accent for everyone who loves that. ♡
♢ family values
♢ small town setting
♢ changing priorities
♢ a kilt wearing Scott
♢ a love that never stopped existing
I don’t want to hope.
(With this man, I always will.)
July 6, 2023
3.5 stars for a very enjoyable second-chance romance featuring a sexy, kilt wearing Scot.
I'll be the first one to readily admit that whenever I hear English spoken with a Scottish accent, I'm straining my ears, but I'm also melting to a puddle.
So it won't come as a surprise that when Kati posted her review, mentioning something about a free whispersynced audiobook AND a Scot, I immediately hit that download button.
Here's the thing. I have no idea if the accent Gary Furlong had for his "Auden-voice" (that's one of the MCs, THE SCOT) is a good or accurate one, I'm not a native speaker.
All I know is that I enjoyed listening to him, and while the book itself is not outstandingly good, only... well. Nice. I still had a great time with the audiobook, and I kept listening to it despite having really much going on in real life right now.
It's the story of Auden and Carter, who both used to live (and love. And work.) in that quaint little town in Vermont where Vino&Veritas, the bar/bookshop this series is named after, is located.
Carter's father owns a shop that's specialised on custom, handmade artisan paper(prints). When Carter tries to persuade his father to expand and try out some new technologies, his father rejects him - and Carter leaves, heartbroken that Auden chooses to side with his father instead of following him to Canada.
10 years later, the marriage of Carter's parents is in a shaky spot, and his father asks him to step in for a bit.
Long story short: Auden and Carter meet again, they're still very attracted to each other, have quite a bit of hot sex, and finally realise they're still in love.
I loved he two of them together, and I loved the pining, and the way Carter (and then Auden) really fought for their relationship.
Two things I disliked, and I think they got away too easily:
1. Carter's father, who never took him seriously, or recognized what an amazing man his son is, and what he accomplished in life. His turnaround at the end was very sudden and very brief. I mean - really? One apology and all is forgotten????
2. Auden's mother, who projected her fears on her son for 10!!!! years and kept him from taking a leap and follow his dream (and the man he loved). Again: one apology and all is forgiven?
Lucky the both of them had such kindhearted sons.
But anyway. I'm nitpicking. My sappy heart loved the ending, so I decided to be magnanimous and round my rating up to 4 stars 🙂
I'll be the first one to readily admit that whenever I hear English spoken with a Scottish accent, I'm straining my ears, but I'm also melting to a puddle.
So it won't come as a surprise that when Kati posted her review, mentioning something about a free whispersynced audiobook AND a Scot, I immediately hit that download button.
Here's the thing. I have no idea if the accent Gary Furlong had for his "Auden-voice" (that's one of the MCs, THE SCOT) is a good or accurate one, I'm not a native speaker.
All I know is that I enjoyed listening to him, and while the book itself is not outstandingly good, only... well. Nice. I still had a great time with the audiobook, and I kept listening to it despite having really much going on in real life right now.
It's the story of Auden and Carter, who both used to live (and love. And work.) in that quaint little town in Vermont where Vino&Veritas, the bar/bookshop this series is named after, is located.
Carter's father owns a shop that's specialised on custom, handmade artisan paper(prints). When Carter tries to persuade his father to expand and try out some new technologies, his father rejects him - and Carter leaves, heartbroken that Auden chooses to side with his father instead of following him to Canada.
10 years later, the marriage of Carter's parents is in a shaky spot, and his father asks him to step in for a bit.
Long story short: Auden and Carter meet again, they're still very attracted to each other, have quite a bit of hot sex, and finally realise they're still in love.
I loved he two of them together, and I loved the pining, and the way Carter (and then Auden) really fought for their relationship.
Two things I disliked, and I think they got away too easily:
1. Carter's father, who never took him seriously, or recognized what an amazing man his son is, and what he accomplished in life. His turnaround at the end was very sudden and very brief. I mean - really? One apology and all is forgotten????
2. Auden's mother, who projected her fears on her son for 10!!!! years and kept him from taking a leap and follow his dream (and the man he loved). Again: one apology and all is forgiven?
Lucky the both of them had such kindhearted sons.
But anyway. I'm nitpicking. My sappy heart loved the ending, so I decided to be magnanimous and round my rating up to 4 stars 🙂
April 15, 2021
4.5*
Second chance romance is one of my favourite tropes, when it's done well and you can see that there was a valid reason for why they didn't work at the time and why things have changed.
Here you get just that. When Auden and Carter split in their early 20s after a fairly lengthy college romance, a lot of it was to do with wrong place, wrong time and outside forces they had little control over.
When they meet again a decade later, it's clear not only did the feelings never go, but also the pain and longing of knowing you had the one but just couldn't hold onto them.
The way this is resolved works perfectly. The next bit may be slightly spoilerish, although nothing major so I shall hide it.
What I loved most about this book was that it emphasises the frailties of humanity, our fears, our flaws, the courage needed to put your heart on the line even knowing it might get stomped on. All of this is present in both Auden and Carter.
It also shows that people make mistakes they live to regret and that pride (looking at you Carter's dad!) is more often than not the bogeyman in any type of relationship, whether it's family or lover.
Also, as someone who started their journalism career at a newspaper still printed on hot metal, I absolutely adored all the luxury handpress stationary elements in this story.
This is a lovely romance, it's quite gentle with a bit of angst, there are family tensions which add to the plot but nothing is overwrought or dramatic.
I loved Carter's meddling aunt Bee and her wife Gracie, Olivia who comes to interview at the press only had a tiny bit of page time, but she's fully realised and I loved her too.
My frustrations with Auden knocked half a star off but this really is a wonderful romance.
#ARC kindly received from the publishers Hearts Eye Press in return for an honest and unbiased review
Second chance romance is one of my favourite tropes, when it's done well and you can see that there was a valid reason for why they didn't work at the time and why things have changed.
Here you get just that. When Auden and Carter split in their early 20s after a fairly lengthy college romance, a lot of it was to do with wrong place, wrong time and outside forces they had little control over.
When they meet again a decade later, it's clear not only did the feelings never go, but also the pain and longing of knowing you had the one but just couldn't hold onto them.
The way this is resolved works perfectly. The next bit may be slightly spoilerish, although nothing major so I shall hide it.
What I loved most about this book was that it emphasises the frailties of humanity, our fears, our flaws, the courage needed to put your heart on the line even knowing it might get stomped on. All of this is present in both Auden and Carter.
It also shows that people make mistakes they live to regret and that pride (looking at you Carter's dad!) is more often than not the bogeyman in any type of relationship, whether it's family or lover.
Also, as someone who started their journalism career at a newspaper still printed on hot metal, I absolutely adored all the luxury handpress stationary elements in this story.
This is a lovely romance, it's quite gentle with a bit of angst, there are family tensions which add to the plot but nothing is overwrought or dramatic.
I loved Carter's meddling aunt Bee and her wife Gracie, Olivia who comes to interview at the press only had a tiny bit of page time, but she's fully realised and I loved her too.
My frustrations with Auden knocked half a star off but this really is a wonderful romance.
#ARC kindly received from the publishers Hearts Eye Press in return for an honest and unbiased review
June 27, 2021
I really wanted to like this book but it felt like it was a thousand pages long.
But let's start out with the things I really did like:
+ Carter. I loved Carter. He was swoony. And misunderstood. And he deserved all the love. Both from his dad and Auden. Even if I'm not sure Auden deserved him. But more about that later. Did I say swoony?
+ The kilt! Because yeah.
+ The settings. I really enjoy the world that the authors of this series has built and I'm always looking forward to spending time in Burlington and even more so Vino & Veritas.
Things that didn't work for me:
- Auden. Oh dear, I didn't like Auden. Not even a little. He was so stuck in his way. He refused to see outside of his box. And the way he blamed Carter for their first breakup without even seeing that he was a big part of it. NOT. COOL. I think Carter deserved so much more than Auden.
- The writing. In general it was good. At times great even but there were some stylistic choices that really bugged me. So much so that it even took me out of the story at times.
- The family business. Seriously. It dragged on and on and on and on. And I mean I get it, there wouldn't have been much of a book without it since it was like 50% of the plot. But still. Boring.
What I'm trying to say with this review is, 2 stars for Carter. And only Carter. I guess I could've left it at that.
But let's start out with the things I really did like:
+ Carter. I loved Carter. He was swoony. And misunderstood. And he deserved all the love. Both from his dad and Auden. Even if I'm not sure Auden deserved him. But more about that later. Did I say swoony?
+ The kilt! Because yeah.
+ The settings. I really enjoy the world that the authors of this series has built and I'm always looking forward to spending time in Burlington and even more so Vino & Veritas.
Things that didn't work for me:
- Auden. Oh dear, I didn't like Auden. Not even a little. He was so stuck in his way. He refused to see outside of his box. And the way he blamed Carter for their first breakup without even seeing that he was a big part of it. NOT. COOL. I think Carter deserved so much more than Auden.
- The writing. In general it was good. At times great even but there were some stylistic choices that really bugged me. So much so that it even took me out of the story at times.
- The family business. Seriously. It dragged on and on and on and on. And I mean I get it, there wouldn't have been much of a book without it since it was like 50% of the plot. But still. Boring.
What I'm trying to say with this review is, 2 stars for Carter. And only Carter. I guess I could've left it at that.
August 6, 2023
This is a second chance romance between the characters of Auden and Carter. The two of them had met and fallen in love while in college but life changes and sometimes circumstances just don't seem to cooperate. This is what happened to these two guys. They find themselves at odds because of the position of not ever having ever gotten over the breakup due to the fact that Auden works with Carter’s dad at his letterpress shop. Carter has always felt that he never did anything right as far as his dad was concerned...and it certainly seemed to be true...so he left Vermont and Auden and went to work for a company in Montreal. Before taking the job, he tried to talk to his father about ideas he had to improve the shop, but his ideas fell on deaf ears. Carter had always wanted to bring the print shop into the 21st century and maybe he didn’t present his ideas to his father in the best of ways, but he was heartbroken when his boyfriend, Auden the love of his life sided with his father instead of him....and stayed in Vermont. Years go by and Carter is called by his father asking him to come home and take over the shop while he was gone to try to convince Carter's mother to come home from Paris where she was threating to stay if his dad didn't change his ways. Carter quickly finds himself thrown back into things with his old love... and they find quite early on that even if their ideals on the shop still don’t exactly align, those that they have about each other pick up like time had stood still. I don’t know what it was about these two but between Carter’s bossy, white collared tone and Auden’s Scottish stubbornness... I found myself rooting for them. On paper, the two shouldn’t be together or make sense...but somehow, they did. They both had their fair share of mental and emotional trauma to work through but of course, the power of love nearly always wins out.... especially in this series, that is loaded with fairly short stories all written by different M/M romance authors. "Happy Ever After's" are almost always guaranteed with the Vino and Veritas series. I have read, or listened to, almost all of them and have really enjoyed every one of them. This one was no exception.
July 5, 2023
The audio for this was an absolute dream. I loved the narrators Scottish accent for Auden and it completely sold me on this story. Thank you Kati for the rec, I downloaded Audible specifically to get this Scottish man in my ears!
Unfortunately when it comes to Audiobooks I tune out and lose focus so I didn’t take in the first half of the story too deeply but I enjoyed hearing them talk about ink, paper and mutual pining. I switched to reading for the final third and it was all quite lovely. Would happily try something else by this author.
***Spoiler****
What happened with the ring??? I don’t need a proposal in my books by any means but we were told how he kept the ring for the 12years of their separation in his sock drawer! How did we not get a scene with this in it?? Did I miss something?? Don’t tell me I have to sign up for a stupid mailing list to get it 🙄
Unfortunately when it comes to Audiobooks I tune out and lose focus so I didn’t take in the first half of the story too deeply but I enjoyed hearing them talk about ink, paper and mutual pining. I switched to reading for the final third and it was all quite lovely. Would happily try something else by this author.
***Spoiler****
What happened with the ring??? I don’t need a proposal in my books by any means but we were told how he kept the ring for the 12years of their separation in his sock drawer! How did we not get a scene with this in it?? Did I miss something?? Don’t tell me I have to sign up for a stupid mailing list to get it 🙄
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2022
I enjoyed this one despite Auden having a mother who poisoned him against wanting more for himself, and Carter having a dad who made him feel worthless.
It was sad it took them to be in their mid 30s before they figured themselves out, definitely some heartache/teary moments when reading.
(Can relate to every aspect of the above more than I'd like to!)
It was sad it took them to be in their mid 30s before they figured themselves out, definitely some heartache/teary moments when reading.
(Can relate to every aspect of the above more than I'd like to!)
May 6, 2021
We're back in Vermont!
Vino & Veritas #9
Carter + Auden.
Carter and Auden were together for three years in college. But Carter has been working towards being a big business man in Montreal now for a decade and Auden is still in Vermont, working for Carter's dad at their little printing shop.
But now Carter's back for a while - because dear old dad is chasing after mom - who left him to go to Paris.
LET THE FUN TIMES BEGIN!☺
═════════════════
Adorable!!
I was already in love with the book when I read the dedication:
For everyone who really loves tracing their fingertip along a luscious piece of paper.
The story is a sweet and very sexy second-chance paper-lovers romance. Very adorable!
Maybe a tiny little bit too slow at first. And then it's porn on porn in the second part. (Which I don't hate, but it was a bit too much!) The book is a tiny bit too long. But I enjoyed reading it.
Auden with his sexy scottish accent and then Carter - who's a bit stuffy in his bespoke suits. Cute. Just a bit sad that it took them over a decade to get that second chance. 😢 Five years would've been okay too.
I loved the aunts!
Great 9th book in this third series of Sarina Bowen's True North World.
And as I mentioned in every one of my World of True North reviews - I could read these kinds of books every day for the rest of eternity!
I also wouldn't mind seeing this whole world on Netflix one day!
Can't wait to get more Vermont soon!
TURNABOUT was an adorable + paper + print-lover-ish second-chance M/M love story! Run to your nearest amazon for your own Auden + Carter - they'll be sold out in no time!
💜
💜
May 4, 2022
audio: 5 million stars Gary Furlong's Scottish accent, that shit is to die for!
the book on the other hand... 2.5 stars
Carter really got shafted multiple times in this book by both Auden and his Dad...
and Auden i really got your hesitation, but couldn't you see Carter was changing the business for the better, i was almost in tears from the maddening road blocks Auden and Carters dad were putting up, instead of being open to change and seeing it would benefit everyone in the long run..
Also the ending left a lot to be desired...
I really just stayed to listen to Gary Furlong and his accents, sue me haha.
the book on the other hand... 2.5 stars
Carter really got shafted multiple times in this book by both Auden and his Dad...
and Auden i really got your hesitation, but couldn't you see Carter was changing the business for the better, i was almost in tears from the maddening road blocks Auden and Carters dad were putting up, instead of being open to change and seeing it would benefit everyone in the long run..
Also the ending left a lot to be desired...
I really just stayed to listen to Gary Furlong and his accents, sue me haha.
April 27, 2021
I didn’t expect to love this as much as I did. Laurel Greer is a new author to me, and I really liked her writing. It’s humorous and engaging, and from the first pages on, I knew I was going to enjoy this story. I might feel like this is my favorite V&V book up till now. I haven’t read them all yet, so that might change, but that’s how much I enjoyed it.
Auden is a sexy Scott with a sexy accent and one who still wears his kilt now and then. He’s also Carter’s ex. They come to work together when Carter’s father has an emergency and someone has to help Auden (who works for him at a letterpress shop) out while he is away and that one should be Carter. Their breakup was hurtful and so both are not very eager. But as time passes they can’t help but feel the attraction again.
So this was a sweet second chance romance and I happen to like those. The built up from the hurtful past, the broken hearts until they realise they were good together are a few reasons for my enjoyment.
Though, I have to admit that in the end I wanted to shake some common sense into Auden and tell him he was not his mother and Carter and he were not his parents.
I loved the secondary characters, specially Carter’s aunts!
I really enjoy the Vino and Veritas series. There’s a special vibe about them and I think it’s awesome how well all these different authors’ contributions capture that vibe so well.
I was given an ARC by the publisher and this is my honest review
Auden is a sexy Scott with a sexy accent and one who still wears his kilt now and then. He’s also Carter’s ex. They come to work together when Carter’s father has an emergency and someone has to help Auden (who works for him at a letterpress shop) out while he is away and that one should be Carter. Their breakup was hurtful and so both are not very eager. But as time passes they can’t help but feel the attraction again.
So this was a sweet second chance romance and I happen to like those. The built up from the hurtful past, the broken hearts until they realise they were good together are a few reasons for my enjoyment.
Though, I have to admit that in the end I wanted to shake some common sense into Auden and tell him he was not his mother and Carter and he were not his parents.
I loved the secondary characters, specially Carter’s aunts!
I really enjoy the Vino and Veritas series. There’s a special vibe about them and I think it’s awesome how well all these different authors’ contributions capture that vibe so well.
I was given an ARC by the publisher and this is my honest review
October 7, 2021
Carter dejo su vida en Burlington para poder demostrar a su padre que sus ideas son buenas y validas, hasta el punto que esta celebrando su nuevo puesto como VP en GlobalPrint en Canada. Pero cuando su padre lo llama desesperado porque su madre lo abandono para irse a Paris sola, Carter decide que va a ayudar a sus padres a reconciliarse haciendose cargo de la Imprenta de su padre para que este pueda viajar a Paris y recuperar a su esposa. Pero para que la Imprenta de su padre pueda darles beneficios y permitirles tener una vida con su esposa, hay que hacer algunos cambios, cambios que no van a ser faciles de implementar, pero que son necesarios, el problema sera hacer ver a su padre y a Auden cual es su vision y esperar lo mejor.
Auden ha vivido y trabajado en Burlington desde que se graduo de la Universidad, simpre le han gustado las cosas sencillas, predecibles y estables, por eso no pudo irse cuando Carter le pidio que se fuera con el a Montreal a perseguir sus sueno, no pudo, por eso cuando Carter regresa no puede aceptar los cambios en la Imprenta que el esta planteando, pero si no lo hace puede perder la estabilidad y tranquilidad que siempre ha tenido.
Carter y Auden deben volver a conocerse, volver a confiar en el otro, pero sobre todo deben aceptar que las cosas no son como antes y que aplicar cambios y/o mejoras tanto en su vida como en el trabajo, puede ser lo mejor para ambos.
Este libro se lee facil, rapido, al ser una historia de reencuntros no tenemos el instan-love normal, pero si tenemos la resistencia a caer en los viejos patrones. Los protas son complejos, con dudas, problemas, pero con animos de salir adelante, solo los retienen sus propios temores, que el autor sabe mostrar muy bien.
Aqui vemos mucho la auto-compasion, pero tambien la aceptacion de una vida que no es suficiente y que te lleva a pensar que vivir no es solo sobrevivir, tambien es intentar alcanzar tus suenos, sobre todo si tienes alguien que te apoya.
Los personajes tanto principales como secundarios, despertaron muchas reacciones de mi parte, en algun momentos los odiaba, en otros momentos los queria abrazar, y a veces lloraba con ellos. Eso es lo que busco en un libro sin importar la tematica, que me hace sentir, que me involucre, y este lo logro casi durante toda la trama.
Sin embargo, sigo esperando que los libros de esta serie involucren mas personajes de los libros anteriores, aqui hay breves menciones de ellos, pero poco sabemos que mas paso con ellos. Pero la serie me ha abierto los ojos a ciertos autores que no conocia y que me gustaria leer mas adelante, por eso quiero ver que mas trae.
Auden ha vivido y trabajado en Burlington desde que se graduo de la Universidad, simpre le han gustado las cosas sencillas, predecibles y estables, por eso no pudo irse cuando Carter le pidio que se fuera con el a Montreal a perseguir sus sueno, no pudo, por eso cuando Carter regresa no puede aceptar los cambios en la Imprenta que el esta planteando, pero si no lo hace puede perder la estabilidad y tranquilidad que siempre ha tenido.
Carter y Auden deben volver a conocerse, volver a confiar en el otro, pero sobre todo deben aceptar que las cosas no son como antes y que aplicar cambios y/o mejoras tanto en su vida como en el trabajo, puede ser lo mejor para ambos.
Este libro se lee facil, rapido, al ser una historia de reencuntros no tenemos el instan-love normal, pero si tenemos la resistencia a caer en los viejos patrones. Los protas son complejos, con dudas, problemas, pero con animos de salir adelante, solo los retienen sus propios temores, que el autor sabe mostrar muy bien.
Aqui vemos mucho la auto-compasion, pero tambien la aceptacion de una vida que no es suficiente y que te lleva a pensar que vivir no es solo sobrevivir, tambien es intentar alcanzar tus suenos, sobre todo si tienes alguien que te apoya.
Los personajes tanto principales como secundarios, despertaron muchas reacciones de mi parte, en algun momentos los odiaba, en otros momentos los queria abrazar, y a veces lloraba con ellos. Eso es lo que busco en un libro sin importar la tematica, que me hace sentir, que me involucre, y este lo logro casi durante toda la trama.
Sin embargo, sigo esperando que los libros de esta serie involucren mas personajes de los libros anteriores, aqui hay breves menciones de ellos, pero poco sabemos que mas paso con ellos. Pero la serie me ha abierto los ojos a ciertos autores que no conocia y que me gustaria leer mas adelante, por eso quiero ver que mas trae.
May 31, 2021
[3.4] A second chance at love story wooooo!
Both Carter and Auden have valid concerns and fears with rekindling their relationship, and it really becomes a matter of being brave enough to believe in a happy ending the second time around and to give up some ground. I like how they were eventually able to push through those doubts, which in large part stemmed from their parents (Carter's dad's pride and Auden's mom's risk-averse behavior and distrust) and had eaten at them for so long.
I personally like it when the MCs of a second chance romance don't engage in anything physical for a good portion of the story because (1) UST between exes is delicious and (2) I prefer the emphasis to be on proper communication and on letting go of the emotional baggage first and foremost. So when Carter and Auden started macking on each other's faces ~20% in, I was a little peeved that we didn't get more conversations about the past or any resolutions to past/present problems until much later.
All in all, this was simultaneously a feels trip and a frustrating one with many chemistry-filled scenes (the letterpress edition Ghost pottery scene ahhhhhh), albeit a little too slow paced at times for my liking.
Both Carter and Auden have valid concerns and fears with rekindling their relationship, and it really becomes a matter of being brave enough to believe in a happy ending the second time around and to give up some ground. I like how they were eventually able to push through those doubts, which in large part stemmed from their parents (Carter's dad's pride and Auden's mom's risk-averse behavior and distrust) and had eaten at them for so long.
I personally like it when the MCs of a second chance romance don't engage in anything physical for a good portion of the story because (1) UST between exes is delicious and (2) I prefer the emphasis to be on proper communication and on letting go of the emotional baggage first and foremost. So when Carter and Auden started macking on each other's faces ~20% in, I was a little peeved that we didn't get more conversations about the past or any resolutions to past/present problems until much later.
All in all, this was simultaneously a feels trip and a frustrating one with many chemistry-filled scenes (the letterpress edition Ghost pottery scene ahhhhhh), albeit a little too slow paced at times for my liking.
November 17, 2021
OK, I am the first to admit when I am wrong & I was wrong.
Auden & Carter's story was a bit trying at times but in the end it was worth it. Two people who didn't quite hit the mark their first go around get an unexpected second chance and it was nothing short of heartwarming.
Carter moved away after an argument with his father left him feeling like he would never make it if he stayed in his hometown. Leaving his home didn't just mean leaving his family it meant leaving Auden, the boy he loved desperately but didn't quite see the same picture as Carter did. It has been years now but every trip home seeing Auden is a stab of pain and all the memories of what could have been. Coming home to help his dad is only supposed to be temporary but one week turns into two then three and before Carter knows it, he is falling in love with Auden again.
Auden's heart was shattered when Carter left all those years ago, but he just couldn't go with him in the risk of losing everything he had built. Living in a different country, having a steady job and helping out his mom were his main goals, and he couldn't lose that on a whim. Carter being back now for more than a holiday is bringing back old feelings that Auden is trying to keep locked down. He can't let himself go down that road again because this time he knows that Carter is leaving.
Can these two men with all their differences follow their hearts to their second chance?
Carter had to earn my love; he was adorable don't misunderstand but I felt like he was just a too brash at times but when he softened that is what helped earn my love. Auden on the other hand immediately had my heart with his Scottish brogue, kilts, and the obvious love he had for Carter even after all these years.
Turnabout had serious angst that I was just too anxious to appreciate until the second half of the book but in the end, I adored everything about these two stubborn men.
Auden & Carter's story was a bit trying at times but in the end it was worth it. Two people who didn't quite hit the mark their first go around get an unexpected second chance and it was nothing short of heartwarming.
Carter moved away after an argument with his father left him feeling like he would never make it if he stayed in his hometown. Leaving his home didn't just mean leaving his family it meant leaving Auden, the boy he loved desperately but didn't quite see the same picture as Carter did. It has been years now but every trip home seeing Auden is a stab of pain and all the memories of what could have been. Coming home to help his dad is only supposed to be temporary but one week turns into two then three and before Carter knows it, he is falling in love with Auden again.
Auden's heart was shattered when Carter left all those years ago, but he just couldn't go with him in the risk of losing everything he had built. Living in a different country, having a steady job and helping out his mom were his main goals, and he couldn't lose that on a whim. Carter being back now for more than a holiday is bringing back old feelings that Auden is trying to keep locked down. He can't let himself go down that road again because this time he knows that Carter is leaving.
Can these two men with all their differences follow their hearts to their second chance?
Carter had to earn my love; he was adorable don't misunderstand but I felt like he was just a too brash at times but when he softened that is what helped earn my love. Auden on the other hand immediately had my heart with his Scottish brogue, kilts, and the obvious love he had for Carter even after all these years.
Turnabout had serious angst that I was just too anxious to appreciate until the second half of the book but in the end, I adored everything about these two stubborn men.
May 7, 2021
This was a very nice, charming second chance at love story.
My liking grew page after page and I found the ending cute and heartwarming.
Carter and Auden were a couple during college but after that dreamy time when they have to choose about their working careers they have opposites ideas and those ideas drove them apart. Auden decided to stay and to work for Carter's father in his little printing shop, Carter flew all the way to Canada seeking his dream of greandeur and wide marketing. Now ten years after Carter comes back home to replace his father at work letting him go on holiday in order to save his marriage, here he inevitably meets his unforgettable ex boyfriend. They are still pretty taken for each other because love never left their heart but they still hurt so working together is not easy, will they survive for a few days confined in a little shop together or will their different views for the future bring new hurt?
Carter and Auden are the proof that real love exists and that unfortunately real life problems threaten also the strongest couples. I loved them, I loved how they understand their qualities and their flaws and I loved to read about their deep feelings for each other and I also loved to see them grow and start to trust each other again.
I recommend this book you won't regret to meet these characters.
Copy kindly provided by the Publisher/Author.
August 24, 2021
A kilt wearing Scotsman with a delicious accent, meets once again with his lost love....
Carter's Dad calls for help, because his wife has left him. He needs Carter to work the print shop so he can go to her. Carter's ex, Auden, works there.
Carter, 30s, slim, dark blonde, brown eyes,
glasses, is a VP at his new job. He's still upset his Dad won't go digital and keep up with technology.
Auden, 30s, 6'2", burly and broad, bearded
with green eyes, has a lovely accent, loves his print work and bartends at V & V. He's still hurt that Carter left him.
They need to get along and figure out how to help the slow business, while his Dad woos his Mom.
Our guys are still attracted after seven years, but stubborn about giving in, because neither wants to be hurt again. Auden stayed because he needed the steady job, to be able to help support his Mum. Carter left to stretch his wings and create more.
Now they are older, more appreciative of the other's knowledge, and the passionate pull is back.
We watch them talk, butt heads, and then get sexy times.
They are still tentative, and when things come to a head, Carter's Dad tells him to leave, he goes. Once again our men are hurt.
Will they find a remedy? We want them together !
ENJOY !
=====
Carter's Dad calls for help, because his wife has left him. He needs Carter to work the print shop so he can go to her. Carter's ex, Auden, works there.
Carter, 30s, slim, dark blonde, brown eyes,
glasses, is a VP at his new job. He's still upset his Dad won't go digital and keep up with technology.
Auden, 30s, 6'2", burly and broad, bearded
with green eyes, has a lovely accent, loves his print work and bartends at V & V. He's still hurt that Carter left him.
They need to get along and figure out how to help the slow business, while his Dad woos his Mom.
Our guys are still attracted after seven years, but stubborn about giving in, because neither wants to be hurt again. Auden stayed because he needed the steady job, to be able to help support his Mum. Carter left to stretch his wings and create more.
Now they are older, more appreciative of the other's knowledge, and the passionate pull is back.
We watch them talk, butt heads, and then get sexy times.
They are still tentative, and when things come to a head, Carter's Dad tells him to leave, he goes. Once again our men are hurt.
Will they find a remedy? We want them together !
ENJOY !
=====
August 5, 2021
I enjoyed this one a lot. This was a new author for me and I was pleasantly surprised. I'll definitely check out more stuff by her.
May 6, 2021
Laurel Greer is another new to me author which is a wonderful perk of this series, I am getting to read so many authors I haven't had the pleasure of reading before. In this story we have Auden a sexy Scotsman that loves to wear kilts and Carter a deliciously sexy man that speaks French...YUMMY!
Carter needs to return home to help out his father's printing business while he deals with some major issues but that means he will be working closely with his ex, Auden. Have you ever thought about the one that got away? Well, for Carter that is Auden. They have great chemistry but there's a lot of hurt between them that needs to be worked through in order to get their HEA. I enjoyed watching them not only reconnect but rediscover one another.
While there was a lot that I enjoyed about the book there was a big heaping dose of dislike towards Carter's father. This story had a light feel to it but then Carter's dad would pop up and toss some harshness around which I didn't like.
This was a nice addition to the series and I will definitely be reading more of Laurel Greer's work. This is a series of interconnected standalone stories so you can jump in at any point or read them all from the beginning. If you enjoy MM Romances or Second Chance Romances I would recommend this book to you.
Happy Reading!!!
Read an Excerpt here: http://bit.ly/NBReviewT
**I have voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book for my Blog, Nadine's Obsessed with Books**
You can find me here: https://linktr.ee/NadineBookaholic
Carter needs to return home to help out his father's printing business while he deals with some major issues but that means he will be working closely with his ex, Auden. Have you ever thought about the one that got away? Well, for Carter that is Auden. They have great chemistry but there's a lot of hurt between them that needs to be worked through in order to get their HEA. I enjoyed watching them not only reconnect but rediscover one another.
While there was a lot that I enjoyed about the book there was a big heaping dose of dislike towards Carter's father. This story had a light feel to it but then Carter's dad would pop up and toss some harshness around which I didn't like.
This was a nice addition to the series and I will definitely be reading more of Laurel Greer's work. This is a series of interconnected standalone stories so you can jump in at any point or read them all from the beginning. If you enjoy MM Romances or Second Chance Romances I would recommend this book to you.
Happy Reading!!!
Read an Excerpt here: http://bit.ly/NBReviewT
**I have voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book for my Blog, Nadine's Obsessed with Books**You can find me here: https://linktr.ee/NadineBookaholic
October 9, 2023
I've given this an A- for narration and a C for content at AudioGals
The Vino and Veritas series has been something of a mixed bag overall. I’ve loved one or two of the books, liked a few and found several to be distinctly ‘meh’. It’s introduced me to some new authors, although I have to say that the books I’ve enjoyed the most have been those by authors whose work I’m already familiar with (Garrett Leigh, Jay Hogan, L.A. Witt etc.). I admit that I picked up Laurel Greer’s Turnabout because Gary Furlong is the narrator; I always enjoy listening to him, and given that the two leads in this book are an American and a Scot, I knew I wouldn’t be wincing at any horrible accent!fails.
The story is built around your typical city-big-shot-returns-to-small-home-town-and-rekindles-youthful-romance trope, and features Carter Prescott, who left Burlington and his father’s small artisanal print shop to work for a hugely successful office supplies company based in Montreal and Auden Macarthur, who left his home in Scotland to attend college in Vermont (where he met Carter) and who stayed in Burlington when Carter left. Carter is very happily climbing the corporate ladder and has recently been appointed VP of OfficeMart – the youngest ever – when he gets a phone call from his dad Francis telling him that his mother has left him, citing the fact that he’s always put the business first and never has any time for her. His dad is flying out to Paris to try to work things out with her and wants Carter to drop everything and come home to help out for a few days while he’s gone.
Carter is, naturally, worried about his mother and the state of his parents’ marriage, and makes arrangements to go back to Vermont – he can do his job remotely, he has a very capable 2IC (second-in-command) in the office and he can handle whatever needs handling at the shop. It’ll be fine. Even though it will bring him face-to-face with Auden, whom he’s rarely seen since they broke up ten years earlier.
The romance proceeds as you might expect, with an awkward reunion and a few recriminations before Carter and Auden begin to realise that they’re still attracted to each other. When Francis calls to say he’s staying in Paris for a bit longer to have an actual holiday with his wife -something he hasn’t done in years – Carter isn’t best pleased, but agrees to find a way to make it work for their sake, and risks pissing off the people at his real job in the process. He and Auden decide to make the most of the short amount of time they have together before Carter goes back to Montreal, and agree to a short fling – even though it’s quickly clear to both of them that whatever is going on between them, it isn’t casual.
Most of the conflict in Turnabout comes courtesy of Old Man Prescott, who is, quite simply, an arsehole for pretty much the entire book. It’s clear early on that the main reason Carter left Vermont and Imprescott Designs was because of his father’s stubbornness in insisting on doing things the way they’ve always been done and refusing to even listen to any of Carter’s ideas to develop and grow the business. I didn’t blame Carter at all for wanting to get out and forge his own path, and I didn’t blame him for leaving Auden behind either, because Auden was basically too chickenshit to follow his heart. Carter bends over backwards to help his dad, yet all he gets in return is criticism and snide digs even as he’s doing the man a massive favour, and having to watch his dad treat Auden like a son.
And speaking of Auden, I never worked out what Carter saw in him and never warmed to him. Auden’s father walked out on him and his mum when Auden was little, and his mum basically brought him up to value security above all else. It’s understandable, but Auden has continued to live like that, always putting her experiences above his own, afraid to take a risk and holding back from going for what he wants. He’s really wary of going against any advice she gives him, and he also behaves very much like Carter’s dad at times, shutting Carter down about anything to do with work.
It’s the death knell for a romance when you end up thinking that one of the protagonists just doesn’t deserve the other, and that’s how I felt about Carter and Auden here. Carter is a great guy – intelligent, creative, loving – and Auden is just… there.
I also found it really difficult to become invested in all the minutiae of paper and card types, and printing, and inks and typefaces and fonts… in short I just couldn’t see the fortunes of a small-town print-shop as some kind of high-stakes enterprise. I get that there would be no story without it, and I appreciated how the author handles the ‘how do we make this business successful while retaining its artisanal heart and soul’ dilemma – but there’s just too much of it, and the pacing falters while the story meanders off into discussions of papers and inks and whathaveyous. I started to tune them out – which isn’t exactly ideal when listening to an audiobook!
Gary Furlong is one of my go-to narrators, and as I said at the beginning, his name on Turnabout is why I picked it up. He doesn’t disappoint, delivering an expressive, expertly characterised performance that brings the characters vividly to life and perfectly realises their emotions and experiences. The narration is well-paced and clearly differentiated, with male and female characters easily distinguishable; and Mr. Furlong’s considerable skill at adopting a variety of accents is on display as he switches seamlessly between American (Carter), Scottish (Auden) and French (Carter’s 2IC), and making a decent job of the handful of French phrases he’s called upon to say. It’s a very good performance, and his Scottish accent will no doubt cause widespread swooning (!) as will the various mentions of Auden wearing a kilt, but I’m afraid the sexy accent didn’t make me like him any better!
Despite the excellent performance, my advice would be to Turnabout, walk away from this one, and find a romance where you can believe the protagonists truly belong together.
This review originally appeared at AudioGals.
The Vino and Veritas series has been something of a mixed bag overall. I’ve loved one or two of the books, liked a few and found several to be distinctly ‘meh’. It’s introduced me to some new authors, although I have to say that the books I’ve enjoyed the most have been those by authors whose work I’m already familiar with (Garrett Leigh, Jay Hogan, L.A. Witt etc.). I admit that I picked up Laurel Greer’s Turnabout because Gary Furlong is the narrator; I always enjoy listening to him, and given that the two leads in this book are an American and a Scot, I knew I wouldn’t be wincing at any horrible accent!fails.
The story is built around your typical city-big-shot-returns-to-small-home-town-and-rekindles-youthful-romance trope, and features Carter Prescott, who left Burlington and his father’s small artisanal print shop to work for a hugely successful office supplies company based in Montreal and Auden Macarthur, who left his home in Scotland to attend college in Vermont (where he met Carter) and who stayed in Burlington when Carter left. Carter is very happily climbing the corporate ladder and has recently been appointed VP of OfficeMart – the youngest ever – when he gets a phone call from his dad Francis telling him that his mother has left him, citing the fact that he’s always put the business first and never has any time for her. His dad is flying out to Paris to try to work things out with her and wants Carter to drop everything and come home to help out for a few days while he’s gone.
Carter is, naturally, worried about his mother and the state of his parents’ marriage, and makes arrangements to go back to Vermont – he can do his job remotely, he has a very capable 2IC (second-in-command) in the office and he can handle whatever needs handling at the shop. It’ll be fine. Even though it will bring him face-to-face with Auden, whom he’s rarely seen since they broke up ten years earlier.
The romance proceeds as you might expect, with an awkward reunion and a few recriminations before Carter and Auden begin to realise that they’re still attracted to each other. When Francis calls to say he’s staying in Paris for a bit longer to have an actual holiday with his wife -something he hasn’t done in years – Carter isn’t best pleased, but agrees to find a way to make it work for their sake, and risks pissing off the people at his real job in the process. He and Auden decide to make the most of the short amount of time they have together before Carter goes back to Montreal, and agree to a short fling – even though it’s quickly clear to both of them that whatever is going on between them, it isn’t casual.
Most of the conflict in Turnabout comes courtesy of Old Man Prescott, who is, quite simply, an arsehole for pretty much the entire book. It’s clear early on that the main reason Carter left Vermont and Imprescott Designs was because of his father’s stubbornness in insisting on doing things the way they’ve always been done and refusing to even listen to any of Carter’s ideas to develop and grow the business. I didn’t blame Carter at all for wanting to get out and forge his own path, and I didn’t blame him for leaving Auden behind either, because Auden was basically too chickenshit to follow his heart. Carter bends over backwards to help his dad, yet all he gets in return is criticism and snide digs even as he’s doing the man a massive favour, and having to watch his dad treat Auden like a son.
And speaking of Auden, I never worked out what Carter saw in him and never warmed to him. Auden’s father walked out on him and his mum when Auden was little, and his mum basically brought him up to value security above all else. It’s understandable, but Auden has continued to live like that, always putting her experiences above his own, afraid to take a risk and holding back from going for what he wants. He’s really wary of going against any advice she gives him, and he also behaves very much like Carter’s dad at times, shutting Carter down about anything to do with work.
It’s the death knell for a romance when you end up thinking that one of the protagonists just doesn’t deserve the other, and that’s how I felt about Carter and Auden here. Carter is a great guy – intelligent, creative, loving – and Auden is just… there.
I also found it really difficult to become invested in all the minutiae of paper and card types, and printing, and inks and typefaces and fonts… in short I just couldn’t see the fortunes of a small-town print-shop as some kind of high-stakes enterprise. I get that there would be no story without it, and I appreciated how the author handles the ‘how do we make this business successful while retaining its artisanal heart and soul’ dilemma – but there’s just too much of it, and the pacing falters while the story meanders off into discussions of papers and inks and whathaveyous. I started to tune them out – which isn’t exactly ideal when listening to an audiobook!
Gary Furlong is one of my go-to narrators, and as I said at the beginning, his name on Turnabout is why I picked it up. He doesn’t disappoint, delivering an expressive, expertly characterised performance that brings the characters vividly to life and perfectly realises their emotions and experiences. The narration is well-paced and clearly differentiated, with male and female characters easily distinguishable; and Mr. Furlong’s considerable skill at adopting a variety of accents is on display as he switches seamlessly between American (Carter), Scottish (Auden) and French (Carter’s 2IC), and making a decent job of the handful of French phrases he’s called upon to say. It’s a very good performance, and his Scottish accent will no doubt cause widespread swooning (!) as will the various mentions of Auden wearing a kilt, but I’m afraid the sexy accent didn’t make me like him any better!
Despite the excellent performance, my advice would be to Turnabout, walk away from this one, and find a romance where you can believe the protagonists truly belong together.
This review originally appeared at AudioGals.
December 25, 2021
* 4 stars *
Nice story, well-developed characters, good writing. Definitely worth it!
Nice story, well-developed characters, good writing. Definitely worth it!
April 19, 2021
I'm loving (so much!) the richness and the heart that is going into the Vino & Veritas books. Turnabout was no exception. This story struck a lovely balance between heartfelt emotion, angst, and heat - and I found myself utterly smitten with Auden and Carter.
I mean, who knew I needed a blushing hot Scot in my life? Sure, there's always been something irresistibly sexy about that accent, but Auden's appeal went beyond that. His outer strength masked a bunch of inner wounds and his sensitive sweetness knocked my heart for a loop. I loved how this played out against Carter who was bearing a few wounds of his own, but generally came off as more confident and polished than Auden. Their story had these luscious layers of the history between them which didn't overshadow the chemistry and rekindling of their flame as they rediscovered their love.
It was by turns adorable, scorching, frustrating, heartbreaking, and sweetly joyous.
This was my first book by Laurel Greer and I was so impressed by the heart she gave both of her characters, the emotion that she drew out of me, and the giant smile she left me with in the end. This was another Vino & Veritas hit for me! ~ Shelly, 4 Stars
I mean, who knew I needed a blushing hot Scot in my life? Sure, there's always been something irresistibly sexy about that accent, but Auden's appeal went beyond that. His outer strength masked a bunch of inner wounds and his sensitive sweetness knocked my heart for a loop. I loved how this played out against Carter who was bearing a few wounds of his own, but generally came off as more confident and polished than Auden. Their story had these luscious layers of the history between them which didn't overshadow the chemistry and rekindling of their flame as they rediscovered their love.
It was by turns adorable, scorching, frustrating, heartbreaking, and sweetly joyous.
This was my first book by Laurel Greer and I was so impressed by the heart she gave both of her characters, the emotion that she drew out of me, and the giant smile she left me with in the end. This was another Vino & Veritas hit for me! ~ Shelly, 4 Stars
May 11, 2021
It was bound to happen eventually- a Vino and Veritas story that I didn’t love. While the ending went some way to addressing my pique, the list of people that I hated is as follows:
Francis - Carter’s father
Auden’s mother
Meddling and incredibly nosy Aunt Bee
Jill - Carter’s entitled ass rude sister
Auden for a large portion of the book.
Francis - Carter’s father
Auden’s mother
Meddling and incredibly nosy Aunt Bee
Jill - Carter’s entitled ass rude sister
Auden for a large portion of the book.
May 6, 2021
The most unique aspect of this story is the likeability because it builds as you read. I might not have the right words this late in a workday to explain this properly, but you know the beginning of a roller coaster ride, how it’s just chug-chug-chug and then swoosh, down you go? That was my experience with both the storyline and Auden and Carter’s journey as a couple. So, the more I read, the more I enjoyed and liked the story and the more we got into the story, the faster these two kids went from smoldering to #sexfest … everyone feel me? lol When you put that together you get a really nice story that always had something to look forward to. There was no lull in the storyline nor was I ever bored, quite the opposite actually. I found myself charmed by the entire thing and didn’t stop reading from beginning to end.
I like that I’ve found a new author with this story, especially one that writes the kind of sexual chemistry I like in my MM reads ;) I mean I’ll take #sexfest over #swoonfest any day of the week and I don’t apologize for it :) I can’t say I’ll dive into her backlist because the books don’t seems to be my taste, but I’ll sure keep an eye out to what she writes in the future!
I like that I’ve found a new author with this story, especially one that writes the kind of sexual chemistry I like in my MM reads ;) I mean I’ll take #sexfest over #swoonfest any day of the week and I don’t apologize for it :) I can’t say I’ll dive into her backlist because the books don’t seems to be my taste, but I’ll sure keep an eye out to what she writes in the future!
Shelved as 'dnf'
November 14, 2022DNF ok. 12%
Nie mam bladego pojęcia, co tutaj się stało 😕
Przemęczyłam jakoś te 12%, ale miałam wrażenie, jakbym się przebijała przez zarośniętą dżunglę jedynie ze scyzorykiem w ręku 🤦♀️ Zupełnie mi ta książka nie podeszła, bohaterowie i historia totalnie mnie nie interesowali, w dodatku przeczytałam naprawdę niewiele, a czułam się po tym fragmencie, jakbym przynajmniej "Potop" przeczytała w tym czasie, jeżeli chodzi o długość tekstu...
Zatem zostawiam, bo w tym tempie czytałabym ją z 10 dni co najmniej, jak nie dłużej. A szkoda mi czasu na taką drogę przez mękę.
Ale nie oceniam, bo to może całkiem dobra książka, tylko mnie jakoś dziwnie siadła - albo raczej nie siadła 😉
Nie mam bladego pojęcia, co tutaj się stało 😕
Przemęczyłam jakoś te 12%, ale miałam wrażenie, jakbym się przebijała przez zarośniętą dżunglę jedynie ze scyzorykiem w ręku 🤦♀️ Zupełnie mi ta książka nie podeszła, bohaterowie i historia totalnie mnie nie interesowali, w dodatku przeczytałam naprawdę niewiele, a czułam się po tym fragmencie, jakbym przynajmniej "Potop" przeczytała w tym czasie, jeżeli chodzi o długość tekstu...
Zatem zostawiam, bo w tym tempie czytałabym ją z 10 dni co najmniej, jak nie dłużej. A szkoda mi czasu na taką drogę przez mękę.
Ale nie oceniam, bo to może całkiem dobra książka, tylko mnie jakoś dziwnie siadła - albo raczej nie siadła 😉
April 15, 2021
What I love about reading Laurel Greer's romances is that they are absolutely sumptuous and rich. The author always gives us beautiful love stories, the sort that stay with you, but there's so much more. I know I can count of Laurel Greer for excellent world-building, interesting secondary characters, and a peek into some lovely and realistic family dynamics. Turnabout is no different. This is a second chance romance, and we root for Auden and Carter from the get-go. When Carter is forced to come home to help his dad with his business, he has to confront the man he left behind. Although these two men believed they moved on, it's clear their feelings still run deep. And as they work together to help Carter's dad, old passions prove overwhelming. This is such a smart, sexy romance, featuring two very lovable protagonists. I love that it introduced me to the world of the letterpress business, as well. Such an interesting backdrop for a romance! I also loved the relationship and struggle between Carter and his dad. It was beautifully and sensitively portrayed. In short, this "falling in love again" romance will make readers fall in love...and head over heels to boot.
April 20, 2021
*** I received an eArc from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.***
This was an easy-to-read second-chance romance in the world of Vino and Veritas that did not disappoint. Both main characters were fun to read as the characters re-discovered their feelings toward one another. This was a quick read that was a joy to experience in this world that is filled with lovely interactions with one another.
This was an easy-to-read second-chance romance in the world of Vino and Veritas that did not disappoint. Both main characters were fun to read as the characters re-discovered their feelings toward one another. This was a quick read that was a joy to experience in this world that is filled with lovely interactions with one another.
May 2, 2021
This story gave my all sorts of feels. It’s the story of Carter, who left small town life for a chance to prove himself, and Auden, the one who stayed behind. And even though the story alternates between the viewpoints of Auden and Carter respectively, to me, this was Carter’s story.
My Carter:
There’s so much to love about this story.
Carter and Auden were obviously made for each other. But I just couldn’t see how they could possibly make it work (which of course is how it’s supposed to be). However, it was a bit repetitive the way they both went from hot to cold and then back to hot again.
Obviously, this story is very well written. But what impressed me the most was the authenticity and detail that went into creating the print-shop back-drop atmosphere. This is research done right! I know absolutely nothing about old-time printer presses, but it couldn’t be clearer that Greer has done her homework. I love that, it makes all the difference.
My Auden:
However, while Auden and Carter kept circling each other (And by circling, I mean them making out, then having second thoughts, then making out again. Over and over.) I couldn’t get past how awful Carter’s family was to him. Always with the digs and the thinly veiled disapproval. Carter was bending over backwards to help, and all he got in return was derision and contempt. His father was the worst of course, but his sister was almost as bad. Even his supposedly supportive aunt – the psychology professor – thought he was a fuck-up, and told him so. The only one who didn’t try to put him down all the time was his mother. But the way she accepted the other’s shitty treatment of Carter – for years and years – was just as bad.
So a huge chunk of my feelings while reading this book was outrage. Outrage at Carter’s sucky family and sympathy for him. His family most certainly didn’t deserve him or his forgiveness. Christ, they made me mad.
But there’s a happily ever after. Auden and Carter did figure it out – because of course they did. And it was glorious. So if you can handle shitty family-members who don’t get their just desserts, then this is a great read. 4 stars!
* A free copy of this book was kindly provided by Heart Eyes Press *
https://reflectionsofaswedishgirl.blo...
My Carter:
There’s so much to love about this story.
Carter and Auden were obviously made for each other. But I just couldn’t see how they could possibly make it work (which of course is how it’s supposed to be). However, it was a bit repetitive the way they both went from hot to cold and then back to hot again.
Obviously, this story is very well written. But what impressed me the most was the authenticity and detail that went into creating the print-shop back-drop atmosphere. This is research done right! I know absolutely nothing about old-time printer presses, but it couldn’t be clearer that Greer has done her homework. I love that, it makes all the difference.
My Auden:
However, while Auden and Carter kept circling each other (And by circling, I mean them making out, then having second thoughts, then making out again. Over and over.) I couldn’t get past how awful Carter’s family was to him. Always with the digs and the thinly veiled disapproval. Carter was bending over backwards to help, and all he got in return was derision and contempt. His father was the worst of course, but his sister was almost as bad. Even his supposedly supportive aunt – the psychology professor – thought he was a fuck-up, and told him so. The only one who didn’t try to put him down all the time was his mother. But the way she accepted the other’s shitty treatment of Carter – for years and years – was just as bad.
So a huge chunk of my feelings while reading this book was outrage. Outrage at Carter’s sucky family and sympathy for him. His family most certainly didn’t deserve him or his forgiveness. Christ, they made me mad.
But there’s a happily ever after. Auden and Carter did figure it out – because of course they did. And it was glorious. So if you can handle shitty family-members who don’t get their just desserts, then this is a great read. 4 stars!
* A free copy of this book was kindly provided by Heart Eyes Press *
https://reflectionsofaswedishgirl.blo...
Read
May 21, 2021DNF 20%
Sick and tired of second chance romances where I have to wade through 60%+ of the book full of pages and pages of hurt feelings and snide comments. I’m sure this will be enjoyable to many, but the characters are too different and I already see one as being absolutely absurd.
Sick and tired of second chance romances where I have to wade through 60%+ of the book full of pages and pages of hurt feelings and snide comments. I’m sure this will be enjoyable to many, but the characters are too different and I already see one as being absolutely absurd.
October 11, 2021
3.5 stars
It was mostly good but would have still been good with about 50 pages less of the back & forth denial. Some hard to like characters, the non-communication trope. Written well and had a satisfactory conclusion.
It was mostly good but would have still been good with about 50 pages less of the back & forth denial. Some hard to like characters, the non-communication trope. Written well and had a satisfactory conclusion.
May 17, 2021
It wasn’t one of my favorites.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 235 reviews