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Vino & Veritas #7
Flipcup
Could swearing off men lead Chelsea to the perfect woman?
After being rejected one too many times, Chelsea makes a bold vow: No more men. Her friends doubt a boy-crazy party girl can handle not dating for a year, but that only makes Chelsea more determined.
Tara has made a vow, too. After growing up in foster care and suppressing herself to please others, she's going to live her truth. When she sees a beautiful woman, she'll make her attraction known.
Chelsea appreciates Tara's flirtatious compliments, not to mention her androgynous beauty. There's a loophole in Chelsea's vow, and it's more tempting every day...
After being rejected one too many times, Chelsea makes a bold vow: No more men. Her friends doubt a boy-crazy party girl can handle not dating for a year, but that only makes Chelsea more determined.
Tara has made a vow, too. After growing up in foster care and suppressing herself to please others, she's going to live her truth. When she sees a beautiful woman, she'll make her attraction known.
Chelsea appreciates Tara's flirtatious compliments, not to mention her androgynous beauty. There's a loophole in Chelsea's vow, and it's more tempting every day...
188 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 5, 2021
About the author
Kim Hartfield
20 books44 followersKim Hartfield is a queer woman who's been writing since she could pick up a pen. Her novels are sweet and steamy, and while they may tackle serious issues, they always end with a happily-ever-after. She lives in a beachside city with her partner and their dogs, Chelsea and Rodent.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
March 15, 2021
If you’ve ever wondered what goes on in the head of the straight girl who one day decides that it would be fun to experiment with another woman, meet Chelsea.
Chelsea is half the lesbians I know’s worst nightmare and the other half’s fantasy, that toaster oven dream of ”converting” a woman, half-forgetting that bisexuality is a thing.
One day, Chelsea, 22, decides to swear off men because she’s had more than enough of stupid hookups (her words). A year off to make changes in her life suddenly sounds really good. She’s full of good intentions until she meets Tara. Tara’s a flirt and Chelsea more than enjoys the attention, to the point that she considers having sex with her. Tara isn’t a man so Chelsea wouldn’t be breaking her vow, right? And since Tara’s always flirting, she’d probably be open to no-strings sex, right? Yeah, well, not exactly.
While I easily believed the chemistry between the MCs, I didn’t feel anything substantial that would explain their need to get into a real relationship, though it got a lot better once the relationship was on. Tara keeps praising Chelsea’s openness and lightness but the reader doesn’t get to see all that from Tara’s point of view. The most we know about Chelsea is in chapters written from her POV and what she shows – i.e. what she believes she is – isn’t very attractive and definitely not what I’d call open. Yes, she’s open to fun and experimenting but she’s self-centred (even her friends complain about it), she’s obnoxious, she’s clueless, and she’s borderline offensive in her stereotyping. For some reason, we get to know Tara a lot better, or rather we get to see what makes Tara interesting and attractive while all we see about Chelsea is the negative stuff. All the good we’re told about but not shown. Once I realized that, I gave Chelsea another chance and came to the conclusion that she’s worth it. As immature and selfish as she is at the beginning, she undeniably grows as the story moves on. She’s flawed but willing to do better, and she acts on it. She’s as good for Tara (who grew up in foster care and has a terribly hard time to trust) as Tara is for her, both expressing their better self with the other by their side.
You may have noticed that Flipcup is #7 in the Vino & Veritas series. It can absolutely be read as a standalone, however. Vino & Veritas is the wine bar and bookshop where Tara works. Chelsea is the beer distributor. The series is an extension of Sarina Bowen’s universe, the World of True North, inspired by Sarina Bowen’s True North series and open to various authors. Everything is explained here.
If at the end of the story you want more of Tara and Chelsea, you can get a bonus epilogue by subscribing to the publisher’s and the author’s newsletters. It’s a nice little addition, but even without it, the story feels complete.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Chelsea is half the lesbians I know’s worst nightmare and the other half’s fantasy, that toaster oven dream of ”converting” a woman, half-forgetting that bisexuality is a thing.
One day, Chelsea, 22, decides to swear off men because she’s had more than enough of stupid hookups (her words). A year off to make changes in her life suddenly sounds really good. She’s full of good intentions until she meets Tara. Tara’s a flirt and Chelsea more than enjoys the attention, to the point that she considers having sex with her. Tara isn’t a man so Chelsea wouldn’t be breaking her vow, right? And since Tara’s always flirting, she’d probably be open to no-strings sex, right? Yeah, well, not exactly.
While I easily believed the chemistry between the MCs, I didn’t feel anything substantial that would explain their need to get into a real relationship, though it got a lot better once the relationship was on. Tara keeps praising Chelsea’s openness and lightness but the reader doesn’t get to see all that from Tara’s point of view. The most we know about Chelsea is in chapters written from her POV and what she shows – i.e. what she believes she is – isn’t very attractive and definitely not what I’d call open. Yes, she’s open to fun and experimenting but she’s self-centred (even her friends complain about it), she’s obnoxious, she’s clueless, and she’s borderline offensive in her stereotyping. For some reason, we get to know Tara a lot better, or rather we get to see what makes Tara interesting and attractive while all we see about Chelsea is the negative stuff. All the good we’re told about but not shown. Once I realized that, I gave Chelsea another chance and came to the conclusion that she’s worth it. As immature and selfish as she is at the beginning, she undeniably grows as the story moves on. She’s flawed but willing to do better, and she acts on it. She’s as good for Tara (who grew up in foster care and has a terribly hard time to trust) as Tara is for her, both expressing their better self with the other by their side.
You may have noticed that Flipcup is #7 in the Vino & Veritas series. It can absolutely be read as a standalone, however. Vino & Veritas is the wine bar and bookshop where Tara works. Chelsea is the beer distributor. The series is an extension of Sarina Bowen’s universe, the World of True North, inspired by Sarina Bowen’s True North series and open to various authors. Everything is explained here.
If at the end of the story you want more of Tara and Chelsea, you can get a bonus epilogue by subscribing to the publisher’s and the author’s newsletters. It’s a nice little addition, but even without it, the story feels complete.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
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September 24, 2021Nope, can't do it! I really disliked Chelsea, to the point she just ruined the book for me. Her and her friends were so immature and selfish, I had to tap out.
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May 24, 2021
Review of Flipcup by Kim Hartfield, Audiobook narrated by Abby Craden and Angela Dawe
If someone asks a lesbian audiobook fan to name their top 3 narrators in the genre, it’s very possible that the names of Angela Dawe and Abby Craden will appear on the list. At least they are on mine, so an audiobook featuring both of them is like Christmas arrived early.
After many unsatisfactory experiences with men, Chelsea decides to do without them for a year. Celibacy seems like a good idea but when she meets Tara, she finds a loophole in her vow and it’s more tempting every day…
Flipcup is book 7 in the Vino & Veritas Series written by different authors. Vino & Veritas is a wine bar and bookstore where all the romances take place. There are 18 books so far in this series and only two are f/f romances; along with this one, Rachel Lacey’s Hideaway (book number 8). Tara is one of the bookstore employees and Chelsea works for a beer distributor that supplies the bar. Tara is a relentless flirt and Chelsea enjoys the attention of the attractive androgynous woman which makes her start wondering about her sexuality. But Tara’s flirtatious personality is a mask to hide feelings of insecurity and abandonment. Will a no-strings relationship work for both women and what happens if someone starts to develop feelings?
This was an entertaining, opposites attract, coming out story with two very different characters in terms of personalities and life experiences. Chelsea was blessed with a happy and fulfilling upbringing which makes her a bit immature and self-absorbed. Not a very lovable character but, despite that, her actions are understandable considering her age and life story. The problem is that maybe her character needed a bit more development or a longer journey to redeem herself completely. Tara, on the other hand, has been dealt with a really bad hand in life and she tries to make the best of it, despite her insecurities and fears. She’s definitely a more likeable character and easier to empathise with. Despite their differences, or maybe because of them, their chemistry is very powerful and one of the positives points of this book.
At almost 5 hours length, Flipcup is a relatively short audiobook — and it shows. The story itself is engaging and original but, as I said before, it could have been developed a bit more for better results. The book is written from both leads’ point of view: Angela Dawe performs Chelsea’s pov chapters and Abby Craden, Tara’s. I thought that was a good choice and both narrators performed them flawlessly.
I admit that I rarely like an audiobook with two narrators, maybe with the exception of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, which incidentally had three. The issue for me is that once the listener gets used to the characters’ voices, they change in the next chapter. Personally, it gives me auditory whiplash and forces me to readjust to the new set of voices taking me out of the story. The same happens when narrators are changed in the middle of a book series. However, I admit this is my personal taste and this double narrator issue might not be a problem for other listeners.
Commissioning two heavyweights like Ms. Dawe and Ms. Craden to perform a 5-hour audiobook felt a bit like overkill. Having said that, I absolutely loved Ms. Dawe presenting Abby Craden as co-narrator and I hope that this isn’t their last collaboration. I can see the potential for other types of books. They are both consummate professionals and individually they did a good job but, for me, it didn’t mix well together. Maybe next time. 3.5 stars.
If someone asks a lesbian audiobook fan to name their top 3 narrators in the genre, it’s very possible that the names of Angela Dawe and Abby Craden will appear on the list. At least they are on mine, so an audiobook featuring both of them is like Christmas arrived early.
After many unsatisfactory experiences with men, Chelsea decides to do without them for a year. Celibacy seems like a good idea but when she meets Tara, she finds a loophole in her vow and it’s more tempting every day…
Flipcup is book 7 in the Vino & Veritas Series written by different authors. Vino & Veritas is a wine bar and bookstore where all the romances take place. There are 18 books so far in this series and only two are f/f romances; along with this one, Rachel Lacey’s Hideaway (book number 8). Tara is one of the bookstore employees and Chelsea works for a beer distributor that supplies the bar. Tara is a relentless flirt and Chelsea enjoys the attention of the attractive androgynous woman which makes her start wondering about her sexuality. But Tara’s flirtatious personality is a mask to hide feelings of insecurity and abandonment. Will a no-strings relationship work for both women and what happens if someone starts to develop feelings?
This was an entertaining, opposites attract, coming out story with two very different characters in terms of personalities and life experiences. Chelsea was blessed with a happy and fulfilling upbringing which makes her a bit immature and self-absorbed. Not a very lovable character but, despite that, her actions are understandable considering her age and life story. The problem is that maybe her character needed a bit more development or a longer journey to redeem herself completely. Tara, on the other hand, has been dealt with a really bad hand in life and she tries to make the best of it, despite her insecurities and fears. She’s definitely a more likeable character and easier to empathise with. Despite their differences, or maybe because of them, their chemistry is very powerful and one of the positives points of this book.
At almost 5 hours length, Flipcup is a relatively short audiobook — and it shows. The story itself is engaging and original but, as I said before, it could have been developed a bit more for better results. The book is written from both leads’ point of view: Angela Dawe performs Chelsea’s pov chapters and Abby Craden, Tara’s. I thought that was a good choice and both narrators performed them flawlessly.
I admit that I rarely like an audiobook with two narrators, maybe with the exception of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, which incidentally had three. The issue for me is that once the listener gets used to the characters’ voices, they change in the next chapter. Personally, it gives me auditory whiplash and forces me to readjust to the new set of voices taking me out of the story. The same happens when narrators are changed in the middle of a book series. However, I admit this is my personal taste and this double narrator issue might not be a problem for other listeners.
Commissioning two heavyweights like Ms. Dawe and Ms. Craden to perform a 5-hour audiobook felt a bit like overkill. Having said that, I absolutely loved Ms. Dawe presenting Abby Craden as co-narrator and I hope that this isn’t their last collaboration. I can see the potential for other types of books. They are both consummate professionals and individually they did a good job but, for me, it didn’t mix well together. Maybe next time. 3.5 stars.
May 15, 2021
I dropped everything when I learned that the Legendary Angela Dawe and phenomenal Abby Craden had narrated an audiobook together, and put my other audiobook on pause as soon as it was released. I mean - what a coup to secure the both of them! But even the best narrators can only do so much with the material they are given and this one was rough.
It could be because the MCs were 22 and 26 - one so immature that it was painful. And then there were the 37 (guesstimate) references to "dick" in the first couple hours of the book, since the 22 year old was guy-crazy initially. If I never hear that word again it won't be too soon.
There are some good things in this story. The older MC, Tara, was brought up in the foster care system so she's got some attachment issues to work through. Her story is more fleshed out and she has a good, supportive network of friends. Chelsea is just a hot mess and while she has bright moments and grows throughout the story, she's mostly selfish and clueless. I don't know that I saw enough growth from her to buy into the story's conclusion.
In general, if not for the stellar narration from both Dawe and Craden I don't know that I would have finished listening. It could be an age thing. Perhaps people in their 20s might relate to this more? Not sure, but the story itself is not the draw here. There was actually an Angela Dawe moment during one of the love scenes that made me gulp and say, "Okay. This made the whole book worth listening to right here." And sadly, that's the best I can say about it. 3 stars for narration, two stars for story.
It could be because the MCs were 22 and 26 - one so immature that it was painful. And then there were the 37 (guesstimate) references to "dick" in the first couple hours of the book, since the 22 year old was guy-crazy initially. If I never hear that word again it won't be too soon.
There are some good things in this story. The older MC, Tara, was brought up in the foster care system so she's got some attachment issues to work through. Her story is more fleshed out and she has a good, supportive network of friends. Chelsea is just a hot mess and while she has bright moments and grows throughout the story, she's mostly selfish and clueless. I don't know that I saw enough growth from her to buy into the story's conclusion.
In general, if not for the stellar narration from both Dawe and Craden I don't know that I would have finished listening. It could be an age thing. Perhaps people in their 20s might relate to this more? Not sure, but the story itself is not the draw here. There was actually an Angela Dawe moment during one of the love scenes that made me gulp and say, "Okay. This made the whole book worth listening to right here." And sadly, that's the best I can say about it. 3 stars for narration, two stars for story.
March 11, 2021
3.5*
I struggled a fair bit at the start of this book because I just couldn't connect to either of the characters at first.
Chelsea was immature, irresponsible and self-centred, while Tara was outwardly flirty and worldly but also strangely closed off.
It also took me a while to really buy into the fact Chelsea was attracted to Tara sexually, rather than just interested in her friendship.
However, as the narrative unfolded and they spent more time together, I think the author did a great job of peeling back the superficial layers to reveal their true depth of character.
It's medium steam and the sexy times are definitely emotionally engaging.
Both women grew on me, and the big tension causing plot point felt like a real obstacle, not just something thrown in, even if it did happen around the usual 75% mark 😉
The final few chapters, and the Epilogue, however, were fabulous and I loved those.
#ARC kindly received from the publisher Hearts Eyes Press in return for an honest and unbiased review.
I struggled a fair bit at the start of this book because I just couldn't connect to either of the characters at first.
Chelsea was immature, irresponsible and self-centred, while Tara was outwardly flirty and worldly but also strangely closed off.
It also took me a while to really buy into the fact Chelsea was attracted to Tara sexually, rather than just interested in her friendship.
However, as the narrative unfolded and they spent more time together, I think the author did a great job of peeling back the superficial layers to reveal their true depth of character.
It's medium steam and the sexy times are definitely emotionally engaging.
Both women grew on me, and the big tension causing plot point felt like a real obstacle, not just something thrown in, even if it did happen around the usual 75% mark 😉
The final few chapters, and the Epilogue, however, were fabulous and I loved those.
#ARC kindly received from the publisher Hearts Eyes Press in return for an honest and unbiased review.
July 22, 2021
It's the white woman entitlement for me ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Tara deserved so much better than Chelsea
Tara deserved so much better than Chelsea
April 7, 2021
Hmmmmmmmmmmmm
I’m very middle of the road on this book. I did not not enjoy the read, but I read it more out of blogger/ARC obligation than anything else. It’s a perfectly good story, but I didn’t believe in not only the romance journey, or the HEA. I mean, I read it, and it happened, but in my head, I was thinking Chelsea and Tara would someday become part of the divorce statistic because try as I might, I didn’t see these two sitting on rocking chairs 60 years from now enjoy some lemonade on their veranda, or whatever LOL Even now, just trying to think back, I just don’t see their connection. I have no clue what they saw in each other.
I’m not going to ruin the story for you by detailing my biases because then I’d have to start talking about specific plot points and I’m never about that. Like I said at the beginning, this is a perfectly good story, if you just look at structure, grammar, and the like. What it was missing is feeling. That special thing in a story that makes the reader so invested they believe in the journey, they’re invested in the outcome and they can’t wait to read what happens next.
Okay, that’s my 2 cents. Don’t spend them all in one place :)
I’m very middle of the road on this book. I did not not enjoy the read, but I read it more out of blogger/ARC obligation than anything else. It’s a perfectly good story, but I didn’t believe in not only the romance journey, or the HEA. I mean, I read it, and it happened, but in my head, I was thinking Chelsea and Tara would someday become part of the divorce statistic because try as I might, I didn’t see these two sitting on rocking chairs 60 years from now enjoy some lemonade on their veranda, or whatever LOL Even now, just trying to think back, I just don’t see their connection. I have no clue what they saw in each other.
I’m not going to ruin the story for you by detailing my biases because then I’d have to start talking about specific plot points and I’m never about that. Like I said at the beginning, this is a perfectly good story, if you just look at structure, grammar, and the like. What it was missing is feeling. That special thing in a story that makes the reader so invested they believe in the journey, they’re invested in the outcome and they can’t wait to read what happens next.
Okay, that’s my 2 cents. Don’t spend them all in one place :)
October 5, 2021
Chelsea es una joven que trabaja distribuyendo cervezas para NorthCorp, quiere una relacion pero su forma de buscarla es con encuentros sexuales con cualquiera en los bares en los que frecuenta con sus amigas. Siempre ha sido hetero y nunca ha sentido la inclinacion por otras mujeres, pero un dia en una de sus entregas habituales en Vino & Veritas, una mujer comienza a coquetear con ella, y ella empieza a pensar si tal vez es eso lo que le falta en la vida, que mal podria ser experimentar una vez con una mujer tan hermosa?
Tara abandono Boston para comenzar una nueva vida, se sabe gay desde muy joven (mas joven que muchos de sus amigos) y quiere un ambiente donde pueda ser abiertamente quien es y experimentar una verdadera relacion con una mujer abiertamente. Por eso consigue un trabajo en la libreria Vino & Veritas, un trabajo facil pero que le permite la libertar economica y fisica de ser quien quiere ser. Cuando apenas comenzando su trabajando conoce a una hermosa repartidora de cerveza, no puede evitar coquetear con ella, porque no?, quien sabe si tal vez puede ser la persona que esta buscando.
Chelsea y Tara cada uno debera enfrentar su primera relacion con una mujer, su primer rechazo y su primer despertar de conciencia. Ambas tendran muchos retos que superar y ver su entre ellas podra existir algo realmente duradero.
Es un libro romantico, con algunos pequeños toques de drama, pero bastante corto. No puedo evitar ver lo diferente que este autor plantea los mismos problemas que los otros en esta serie, aqui vemos algunos dialogos, pero mas que todo son conversaciones internas que llevan a los protas a darse cuenta de sus verdaderos sentimiento y a actuar en consecuencia.
No es el primer libro de lesbianas que leo, pero hasta ahora es el que ha resultado mas entretenido. Sin embargo, hay algo en los personajes (aunque no se que fue) que no me permitio terminar de conectarme ellos. No hubo manera de conectarme con los sentimientos de abandono de Tara, ni con el sentimiento de "impotencia" de Chelsea y quizas por eso no fue un libro que me atrapara.
Tambien creo que le falto mucho la interaccion con otros personajes de libros anteriores, tal vez alguna conversacion con Harrison o con Tanner, o tal vez Briar, por ser uno de los mas nuevos, o con Maggie, este resulto un libro muy aislado del universo.
Pero la serie sigue siendo prometedora, y voy a continuar con la lectura.
Tara abandono Boston para comenzar una nueva vida, se sabe gay desde muy joven (mas joven que muchos de sus amigos) y quiere un ambiente donde pueda ser abiertamente quien es y experimentar una verdadera relacion con una mujer abiertamente. Por eso consigue un trabajo en la libreria Vino & Veritas, un trabajo facil pero que le permite la libertar economica y fisica de ser quien quiere ser. Cuando apenas comenzando su trabajando conoce a una hermosa repartidora de cerveza, no puede evitar coquetear con ella, porque no?, quien sabe si tal vez puede ser la persona que esta buscando.
Chelsea y Tara cada uno debera enfrentar su primera relacion con una mujer, su primer rechazo y su primer despertar de conciencia. Ambas tendran muchos retos que superar y ver su entre ellas podra existir algo realmente duradero.
Es un libro romantico, con algunos pequeños toques de drama, pero bastante corto. No puedo evitar ver lo diferente que este autor plantea los mismos problemas que los otros en esta serie, aqui vemos algunos dialogos, pero mas que todo son conversaciones internas que llevan a los protas a darse cuenta de sus verdaderos sentimiento y a actuar en consecuencia.
No es el primer libro de lesbianas que leo, pero hasta ahora es el que ha resultado mas entretenido. Sin embargo, hay algo en los personajes (aunque no se que fue) que no me permitio terminar de conectarme ellos. No hubo manera de conectarme con los sentimientos de abandono de Tara, ni con el sentimiento de "impotencia" de Chelsea y quizas por eso no fue un libro que me atrapara.
Tambien creo que le falto mucho la interaccion con otros personajes de libros anteriores, tal vez alguna conversacion con Harrison o con Tanner, o tal vez Briar, por ser uno de los mas nuevos, o con Maggie, este resulto un libro muy aislado del universo.
Pero la serie sigue siendo prometedora, y voy a continuar con la lectura.
June 12, 2023
4.5 rounded up cos, in spite of my gripes, I found myself loving most everything else and tearing thru the pages 😀. And that's exactly what I want from--and love about--pure (i.e., uncomplicated) romance stories.
So, this is another short but nicely constructed romance from Kim Hartfield, my second book by her. I enjoyed it a little more than The Marriage Contact (a v solid 4 stars) with the characters being very different from each other. Having said that, 2 things I didn't love:
1. The near insta-gay: "I'm straight, just wanna kiss a girl" to "I want sex with that girl bad!" very quickly. Altho having now said that, since this is novella length it had to be so or else we'd get too little page time with the MCs.
2. Why oh why does every standard-type romance (meet, get to know, get together, get upset/split, reunite, HEA) story need the reversal around 80% in??? If it's orgnanic (like they can't manage a long-distance relationship, to give a simple example) then I can go with it. Organic equals truth. Truth equals real. Real = reader engagment. Flipcup at least doesn't have the way-too-oft used miscommunication trope ("I don't get you, now I hate you, and so we need to split!" Meh!!), but it still sneaks in the reversal with something Ms. Hartfield tries to make organic (so I guess my gripe is less directed at this story as it is a general one). But, and why I can give this 4.5 stars, it's brief. Both girls quickly re-evaluate their comments/postion, and on we go (yay!).
3. I'll sneak a 3rd issue in: it's too short! And that's a gripe only becasue I found I *really* liked this story! Granted this is part of a multi-author series and there may have been a word-count limit, and if so, Ms. Hartfield wisely maximizies page time with the MCs and the relationship. But that does mean, Tara never seems to meet Chelsea's friends or family, and given how inportnat they are to Chelsea, and also a very specfic trait about Tara, those pages should, ideally, have been written, I would say. And a super subplot comes in quite late that could have been more (IMHO).
BUT... I'll forgive gripe 3 because of possible limitations, I'll forgive gripe 2 because its cause was nearly organically justified and it was brief, and I'll forgive gripe 1 because it gave us proper page time for the relationship. And tbf, while I said "insta-gay," the actual flirting and buildup was very well done.
I think I need to ask you to forgive me, because you've read all my negatvies about this book and now I'm going to tell you that, inspite of this, I lOVED this! 😏
I know! 🙄
Sometimes the beer is too warm but still delicious.
Sometimes the ride isn't perfect but the journey is amazing.
Sometimes the hug from your partner is too short but still everything.
And sometimes a book has issues but is brilliant. Because it fully pulls you in and invests you in the characters. As does Flipcup (btw, what's with this title?). Let's not kid ourselves that we expect, or want, great literature from a lot of the books we read. And sometimes we chose them precsiely becasue we want the tropes and a familiar journey--just demand great characters... as we get here with Tara and Chelsea.
Which means if everything else is great, little niggles about a few things don't, for me, much spoil a faboulous book. And that's what this is: "imperfect but who cares? I loved it!" 🥰
So, this is another short but nicely constructed romance from Kim Hartfield, my second book by her. I enjoyed it a little more than The Marriage Contact (a v solid 4 stars) with the characters being very different from each other. Having said that, 2 things I didn't love:
1. The near insta-gay: "I'm straight, just wanna kiss a girl" to "I want sex with that girl bad!" very quickly. Altho having now said that, since this is novella length it had to be so or else we'd get too little page time with the MCs.
2. Why oh why does every standard-type romance (meet, get to know, get together, get upset/split, reunite, HEA) story need the reversal around 80% in??? If it's orgnanic (like they can't manage a long-distance relationship, to give a simple example) then I can go with it. Organic equals truth. Truth equals real. Real = reader engagment. Flipcup at least doesn't have the way-too-oft used miscommunication trope ("I don't get you, now I hate you, and so we need to split!" Meh!!), but it still sneaks in the reversal with something Ms. Hartfield tries to make organic (so I guess my gripe is less directed at this story as it is a general one). But, and why I can give this 4.5 stars, it's brief. Both girls quickly re-evaluate their comments/postion, and on we go (yay!).
3. I'll sneak a 3rd issue in: it's too short! And that's a gripe only becasue I found I *really* liked this story! Granted this is part of a multi-author series and there may have been a word-count limit, and if so, Ms. Hartfield wisely maximizies page time with the MCs and the relationship. But that does mean, Tara never seems to meet Chelsea's friends or family, and given how inportnat they are to Chelsea, and also a very specfic trait about Tara, those pages should, ideally, have been written, I would say. And a super subplot comes in quite late that could have been more (IMHO).
BUT... I'll forgive gripe 3 because of possible limitations, I'll forgive gripe 2 because its cause was nearly organically justified and it was brief, and I'll forgive gripe 1 because it gave us proper page time for the relationship. And tbf, while I said "insta-gay," the actual flirting and buildup was very well done.
I think I need to ask you to forgive me, because you've read all my negatvies about this book and now I'm going to tell you that, inspite of this, I lOVED this! 😏
I know! 🙄
Sometimes the beer is too warm but still delicious.
Sometimes the ride isn't perfect but the journey is amazing.
Sometimes the hug from your partner is too short but still everything.
And sometimes a book has issues but is brilliant. Because it fully pulls you in and invests you in the characters. As does Flipcup (btw, what's with this title?). Let's not kid ourselves that we expect, or want, great literature from a lot of the books we read. And sometimes we chose them precsiely becasue we want the tropes and a familiar journey--just demand great characters... as we get here with Tara and Chelsea.
Which means if everything else is great, little niggles about a few things don't, for me, much spoil a faboulous book. And that's what this is: "imperfect but who cares? I loved it!" 🥰
April 5, 2021
Flipcup was a nice, quick read.
Chelsea swears off men after yet another one night stand that makes her feel nothing. She meets Tara, the new bookstore clerck, during one of her weekly beer deliveries to Vino and Veritas. Chelsea is intrigued by the flirtatious woman at first sight, and even if she doesn’t know how to take her compliments she feels very attracted to Tara. This is the begin of their awkward friendship that becomes even messier when they share a kiss. Is this only an experiment for Chelsea as Tara thinks or is Chelsea as serious as Tara getting into a deeper relationship?
I liked the story even if I couldn't relate with the main characters, because Chelsea is a bit of an immature woman and Tara with her difficult past is pretty closed off, but I’ve enjoyed nontheless to see their personal growth that leads to an healthy and solid relationship.
Copy kindly provided by the Publisher/Author.
April 2, 2021
This is is the first FF romance in the Vino and Veritas series and I really liked it! It took me a while to warm up to Chelsea as I thought she was a bit annoying but she grew up by the end and overall it was a fun read.
I loved the slow progress of their relationship and how it was built up. Tara and Chelsea are really great together. I loved Tara from the beginning. She's so flirty but then also a bit shy and incredibly brave. It's was great to see them both grow individually and as a couple.
This is written in dual POV and can be read as a standalone. As for the secondary characters, I loved Tara's friends. Check this out if want a quick and short romance! There's also a bonus you can get by subscribing to the author newsletter!
*ARC provided by the author via Heart eyes press in exchange for an honest and unbiased review
I loved the slow progress of their relationship and how it was built up. Tara and Chelsea are really great together. I loved Tara from the beginning. She's so flirty but then also a bit shy and incredibly brave. It's was great to see them both grow individually and as a couple.
This is written in dual POV and can be read as a standalone. As for the secondary characters, I loved Tara's friends. Check this out if want a quick and short romance! There's also a bonus you can get by subscribing to the author newsletter!
*ARC provided by the author via Heart eyes press in exchange for an honest and unbiased review
May 17, 2021
What happens when a dude-obsessed party girl swears off men for a year… but then suddenly finds herself falling for a woman for the first time? This was fine enough, but I never felt truly connected to the story or the relationship between Chelsea and Tara. There were definitely some cute and swoony moments and some nice found family elements from Tara’s storyline, but the book as a whole didn’t blow my mind.
I was kind of expecting a little bit more from Chelsea’s personal journey. I think it’s great that she didn’t have some fraught coming out journey after realizing new things about her sexuality as an adult. But I think I just wanted some more introspection than what was provided. There was definitely more depth with Tara’s character. I enjoyed seeing how she was this huge flirt but actually didn’t have a lot of dating experience with women. Watching her get more comfortable being vulnerable was rewarding. Her backstory with her family and growing up in foster care gave her sections of the story more emotional weight. Some things get thrown in at the end that felt a bit rushed. Also the epilogue was a bit cheesy for my taste.
This was a quick read that was definitely enjoyable in parts. But the overall story definitely isn’t anything to write home about.
I was kind of expecting a little bit more from Chelsea’s personal journey. I think it’s great that she didn’t have some fraught coming out journey after realizing new things about her sexuality as an adult. But I think I just wanted some more introspection than what was provided. There was definitely more depth with Tara’s character. I enjoyed seeing how she was this huge flirt but actually didn’t have a lot of dating experience with women. Watching her get more comfortable being vulnerable was rewarding. Her backstory with her family and growing up in foster care gave her sections of the story more emotional weight. Some things get thrown in at the end that felt a bit rushed. Also the epilogue was a bit cheesy for my taste.
This was a quick read that was definitely enjoyable in parts. But the overall story definitely isn’t anything to write home about.
April 14, 2021
I was excited to read a F/F book. I've read lots of M/M, but never F/F, so I figured I would give it a shot in Sarina Bowen's world of Vino and Veritas. I knew within a few chapters that this book wasn't for me. The MC acted like she was in high school. Her relationships were all about drinking and partying, and playing a game with beer in a cup.
The other MC was more interesting, but still not developed enough for me to feel connected. The sexy times in the book were more like teenage fumbling in the back of a car. Not sexy at all.
When Chelsea called Tara and asked her if she had to take out the trash in her kitchen, I all but gave up on the book. Seriously? She doesn't know she's supposed to take out her trash without calling her girlfriend.
And another thing that bugged me was the lack of conversation about Chelsea suddenly being bisexual. There was a scene at the breakfast table with her parents asking about her girlfriend and I had to backtrack to see if I missed something. Nope. No conversation, just a bit of glossing over.
This book lacked chemistry, and the writing was very amateurish.
I will try another F/F book, but this one was a huge disappointment.
The other MC was more interesting, but still not developed enough for me to feel connected. The sexy times in the book were more like teenage fumbling in the back of a car. Not sexy at all.
When Chelsea called Tara and asked her if she had to take out the trash in her kitchen, I all but gave up on the book. Seriously? She doesn't know she's supposed to take out her trash without calling her girlfriend.
And another thing that bugged me was the lack of conversation about Chelsea suddenly being bisexual. There was a scene at the breakfast table with her parents asking about her girlfriend and I had to backtrack to see if I missed something. Nope. No conversation, just a bit of glossing over.
This book lacked chemistry, and the writing was very amateurish.
I will try another F/F book, but this one was a huge disappointment.
May 24, 2021
1 star for the story. 3.5 stars for the narration.
Ugggh, this was terrible. The first half was actually painful. I skimmed the second half to try to judge it fairly.
Chelsea- trash person whose feelings and motivations are completely unfathomable.
Tara- nice person, but boring. Anybody with a back story like this should be much more interesting.
Side characters- Chelsea’s friends are actually worse than she is, which shouldn’t be possible. What a toxic bunch.
Chemistry- Completely unbelievable, I never once thought that they were actually attracted to each other.
Narration was good for Chelsea although her supporting characters’ voices were baaad. I get that it’s hard to come up with 4 different voices for a bunch or early 20s party girls, but they were very bad. Tara’s narration was acceptable, but not exciting.
Ugggh, this was terrible. The first half was actually painful. I skimmed the second half to try to judge it fairly.
Chelsea- trash person whose feelings and motivations are completely unfathomable.
Tara- nice person, but boring. Anybody with a back story like this should be much more interesting.
Side characters- Chelsea’s friends are actually worse than she is, which shouldn’t be possible. What a toxic bunch.
Chemistry- Completely unbelievable, I never once thought that they were actually attracted to each other.
Narration was good for Chelsea although her supporting characters’ voices were baaad. I get that it’s hard to come up with 4 different voices for a bunch or early 20s party girls, but they were very bad. Tara’s narration was acceptable, but not exciting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Shelved as 'dnf'
October 13, 2022Dnf at 35%
Chelsea is the most obnoxious selfish and judgmental person I’ve ever read about and I can’t do it anymore.
There are so many issues with this book but she’s for sure the main one. I never dnf books but I was just hating this girl with every piece of my being and we’re not about the negative vibes in this household so I’ve had enough.
Chelsea is the most obnoxious selfish and judgmental person I’ve ever read about and I can’t do it anymore.
There are so many issues with this book but she’s for sure the main one. I never dnf books but I was just hating this girl with every piece of my being and we’re not about the negative vibes in this household so I’ve had enough.
June 19, 2021
I was going to burn forever; burning only for her.
3.5 stars. This was pretty good; a solid, simple toaster-oven romance. It had a few too many of my pet peeves and just a couple irksome things besides, but I ended up liking the characters a lot, even though I had my ups and downs. The book starts with Chelsea swearing off men for a year; she decides that she's had enough of random hook-ups, and it's time to concentrate on herself. Then of course, she meets Tara, the hot new lesbian at the bar/bookshop she delivers beer to, and all bets are off. The book handled Chelsea's journey to realising her bisexuality mostly well? Though there's some essentialist language throughout the book. I struggled with Tara's OTT flirting early on in the book, though that was thankfully handled quickly. I also struggled with Chelsea's obnoxiousness and immaturity, until it became clear that that was something that the book would have her work on about herself, and eventually resolve. Sometimes she was so self-centred it seemed exaggerated, but honestly, I ended up liking having character like that, who would realise her flaws and take steps to change.
The writing was fine; I've enjoyed some of Hartfield's books before, and this was better than some of them. It was really easy to get pulled into the story and the world (this is part of a series, but easily read as a standalone). I did feel like this could have been longer though! There were some revelations and conversations that happened off-screen that I really think should have had dedicated page time. There are certain details about Tara's life and past trauma that are only sorta brought up, and only sorta discussed, and it just felt weird to have it brought up so briefly. I don't think we needed to dwell, but certainly, something more than we got.
A large part of my enjoyment can be attributed to the fact that I listened to the audiobook as read by Abby Craden and Angela Dawe, and well. They're the best for a reason! I love their voices so much, they totally suited the characters, I never felt jarred and I just got totally carried away. Sometimes good narration can really elevate writing, and imo, that was the case here. Really loved their performances.
A really sweet romance, even when it got serious and tense. Kudos.
Content warnings:
April 4, 2021
Flipcup is the 7th book in the Vino and Veritas series set in Sarina Bowen’s World of True North, but it can definitely be read as a standalone.
I was really looking forward to reading this book because Chelsea is a side character in Speakeasy, one of the original books in the True North series. (Having said that, you don’t really need to read Speakeasy either to read this book.)
Chelsea works for a beer distributor and visits Vino and Veritas for work. There she meets Tara, who works in the bookstore side of V and V. Tara is kind of a flirt and likes to ruffle Chelsea’s feathers. But when Chelsea—who has sworn off men for a year—starts flirting back, Tara backs off. And so it begins.
I liked both Chelsea and Tara. Chelsea is 22 years old, immature, self-centered and a bit shallow. But so are her friends. I didn’t particularly like her friends at first. Tara is older and flirty on the surface, but she’s really closed off. She’s recently moved from Boston and misses her friends.
I really liked how their relationship progresses, and how they both grow throughout the story. Chelsea and Tara come from very different worlds. Chelsea comes from a traditional family, while Tara grew up in foster care. Their life experiences are completely different, and navigating those differences allows them both to not only understand each other, but be more open minded.
There is some angst and emotional moments, but it is a lighthearted read in general. It’s well written and the story is compelling. I really enjoyed reading this book.
I was really looking forward to reading this book because Chelsea is a side character in Speakeasy, one of the original books in the True North series. (Having said that, you don’t really need to read Speakeasy either to read this book.)
Chelsea works for a beer distributor and visits Vino and Veritas for work. There she meets Tara, who works in the bookstore side of V and V. Tara is kind of a flirt and likes to ruffle Chelsea’s feathers. But when Chelsea—who has sworn off men for a year—starts flirting back, Tara backs off. And so it begins.
I liked both Chelsea and Tara. Chelsea is 22 years old, immature, self-centered and a bit shallow. But so are her friends. I didn’t particularly like her friends at first. Tara is older and flirty on the surface, but she’s really closed off. She’s recently moved from Boston and misses her friends.
I really liked how their relationship progresses, and how they both grow throughout the story. Chelsea and Tara come from very different worlds. Chelsea comes from a traditional family, while Tara grew up in foster care. Their life experiences are completely different, and navigating those differences allows them both to not only understand each other, but be more open minded.
There is some angst and emotional moments, but it is a lighthearted read in general. It’s well written and the story is compelling. I really enjoyed reading this book.
April 6, 2021
I was kind of excited for this book, but i could not warm up to the characters at all. Chelsea was really unlikable and so was Tara. There was so much drama, I really disliked it.
August 23, 2022
dnf @ 20% …it’s incredible that adult romance books like this are being published in 2021? I think this book was written for straight people
Read
December 13, 2023DNF @70%
I could have probably pushed myself to finish it but it just didn't hold my interest.
I could have probably pushed myself to finish it but it just didn't hold my interest.
January 7, 2022
Chelsea is 22 and has sworn off men for a year. But Tara, the new employee at wine and bookstore, flirts with her every time she makes a delivery. She wonders if she could experiment a woman. Chelsea comes off as fairly immature and privileged. But she grows and is actually genuinely sweet. Tara has moved from Boston and is trying to land on her feet after growing up in the foster care system. She's proud of who she is becoming but hesitant to start anything physical without an emotional attachment.
This is seventh in the Vino & Veritas series but I read (listened to) as a stand alone. I literally plucked this off a library web site when I wanted something available I could listen to while doing a project. I enjoyed it enough I will look for other books by the author. Jude in the Stars gives a more detailed review which I agree with entirely.
This is seventh in the Vino & Veritas series but I read (listened to) as a stand alone. I literally plucked this off a library web site when I wanted something available I could listen to while doing a project. I enjoyed it enough I will look for other books by the author. Jude in the Stars gives a more detailed review which I agree with entirely.
Want to read
April 5, 2021Read an Excerpt here: https://bit.ly/3wn8SEp
April 7, 2021
This is my first book by Kim Hartfield. She did an amazing job with Chelsea & Tara's story. Great mix of real life & hot & steamy. Great FF read! And as always, you can't go wrong with Vino & Veritas/World of True North! Anxiously waiting for this come out as an audiobook. Will definitely give it a listen.
January 22, 2023
This was fun. I definitely enjoyed it for the short story it was.
Rep: white bisexual-questioning cis female MC, white lesbian cis female MC, various queer and straight side characters.
CW: sexual content, alcohol consumption. Moderate: abandonment, emotional abuse, medical content, death of parent (past). Minor: Cancer mention, lesbophobia/lesbomisia, sexual assault, sexual violence, internalized biphobia/bimisia.
Rep: white bisexual-questioning cis female MC, white lesbian cis female MC, various queer and straight side characters.
CW: sexual content, alcohol consumption. Moderate: abandonment, emotional abuse, medical content, death of parent (past). Minor: Cancer mention, lesbophobia/lesbomisia, sexual assault, sexual violence, internalized biphobia/bimisia.
May 30, 2021
I already had this book on my TBR list, but when I heard that Abby Craden and Angela Dawe will be the narrators of the audiobook I knew I will get the audio. So what can I say listening to this I was in audiobook heaven. Angela and Abby were fantastic more and I was once more amazed by their magic.
The story itself is a very sweet but in some parts also a bit more serious story. A combination I loved. Chelsea and Tara couldn’t be more different.
Chelsea the one that grew up with parents that love her very much, the one that never had to deal with a lot and of course the one that thinks she is straight.
On the other hand there is Tara. The one that grew up in foster care and always had to look after herself. She is used being alone and only to relate on herself. She is a big flirt on the outside but never really acted on it. Actually flirting with straight girls is one of her favourite things to do because it doesn’t lead somewhere and is safe.
So when they both meet and realise that they get along very well it’s a surprise for them both. I loved their dates and how Chelsea grew during the book. I also loved to hear Tara’s story and how Kim Hartfield described the circumstances that made Tara to the person she is today. Learning to trust is so hard and it made so much sense that Tara needed lots of time.
In the end it’s like Tara says at some point „my darkness, your lightness, we complement each other.“ and I couldn’t agree more.
I definitely enjoyed this book very much and if you can please listen to the audiobook. This is just heaven. 😍
The story itself is a very sweet but in some parts also a bit more serious story. A combination I loved. Chelsea and Tara couldn’t be more different.
Chelsea the one that grew up with parents that love her very much, the one that never had to deal with a lot and of course the one that thinks she is straight.
On the other hand there is Tara. The one that grew up in foster care and always had to look after herself. She is used being alone and only to relate on herself. She is a big flirt on the outside but never really acted on it. Actually flirting with straight girls is one of her favourite things to do because it doesn’t lead somewhere and is safe.
So when they both meet and realise that they get along very well it’s a surprise for them both. I loved their dates and how Chelsea grew during the book. I also loved to hear Tara’s story and how Kim Hartfield described the circumstances that made Tara to the person she is today. Learning to trust is so hard and it made so much sense that Tara needed lots of time.
In the end it’s like Tara says at some point „my darkness, your lightness, we complement each other.“ and I couldn’t agree more.
I definitely enjoyed this book very much and if you can please listen to the audiobook. This is just heaven. 😍
Read
May 14, 2023Dnf
April 6, 2021
Overall Grade: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kim Hartfield’s Flipcup, one of the first FF romances in the Vino & Veritas world, brings us the story of Chelsea, the young woman spurned by Alec in Sarina Bowen’s Speakeasy. This book picks up after the events of that book where we find a Chelsea who has become disillusioned with her one-night stand, easy hook-ups. After a night of drinking and forgettable easy $ex, Chelsea has decided to swear off men for a year so that she can find a better version of herself. As the delivery person for a beer distributor, Chelsea meets Tara, an employee of Vino & Veritas. From their meeting, Tara flirts shamelessly with Chelsea even though she knows that Chelsea is straight. Tara does this as protection; she has never been with a woman, and the idea of it is frightening as it calls for a level of vulnerability and intimacy that she feels ill-prepared for. Therefore, flirting with the unattainable provides her with no-strings-attached fun. The situation becomes complicated when Chelsea starts to become enamored with Tara and her flirting. Thinking she wants to “experiment” to explore her “bi-curious” feelings, Chelsea kisses Tara one night...and then it all falls apart before it becomes something more. Is it possible for Tara to want to explore more? Even more, is Chelsea really straight or is her sexuality more fluid?
First of all, I love that the Vino & Veritas series is offering a variety of LGBTQ titles. Flipcup is one of the first two FF romances under this series, and quite honestly, it’s my first as a reader. I tend to be an equal opportunity reader, so I was excited about this read. Sadly, though, it is my least favorite V&V title thus far. Most of that has to do with the characterization of Chelsea and the lack of emotional depth in the rendering of her story. For lack of a better explanation, Chelsea is all stereotypical sorority girl: a bit self-absorbed with a gaggle of friends who spend their time playing drinking games. In fact, Chelsea decides that she wants to sell a drinking game later in the story. The title is both an homage to the drinking game as it plays an important part in Chelsea’s aspirations, but it’s also a nod to Chelsea’s flip in perception about her $exuality. Honestly, it is there where I thought Flipcup was underwhelming. By the end of the book, you will not really believe Chelsea’s love for Tara, at least that was my feeling.
For me, the best part of Flipcup is Hartfield’s Tara. She is the emotional gravity of this story, and Kim Hartfield throws the book at her: raised in foster care, insecure about intimacy, plus other surprises. I found myself moved by her portrayal, and honestly, I thought she was too good for Chelsea. They are definitely opposites who are attracted to each other, and I’m still surprised by Tara and Chelsea’s coupling. It is Tara who saved the book for me because I simply wanted more from this story. I wanted to feel more deeply about these two women, and I needed a greater emotional connection to their story. Instead, I was wildly disappointed in how Hartfield handled Chelsea’s sense of $exuality and her characterization.
Kim Hartfield’s Flipcup, one of the first FF romances in the Vino & Veritas world, brings us the story of Chelsea, the young woman spurned by Alec in Sarina Bowen’s Speakeasy. This book picks up after the events of that book where we find a Chelsea who has become disillusioned with her one-night stand, easy hook-ups. After a night of drinking and forgettable easy $ex, Chelsea has decided to swear off men for a year so that she can find a better version of herself. As the delivery person for a beer distributor, Chelsea meets Tara, an employee of Vino & Veritas. From their meeting, Tara flirts shamelessly with Chelsea even though she knows that Chelsea is straight. Tara does this as protection; she has never been with a woman, and the idea of it is frightening as it calls for a level of vulnerability and intimacy that she feels ill-prepared for. Therefore, flirting with the unattainable provides her with no-strings-attached fun. The situation becomes complicated when Chelsea starts to become enamored with Tara and her flirting. Thinking she wants to “experiment” to explore her “bi-curious” feelings, Chelsea kisses Tara one night...and then it all falls apart before it becomes something more. Is it possible for Tara to want to explore more? Even more, is Chelsea really straight or is her sexuality more fluid?
First of all, I love that the Vino & Veritas series is offering a variety of LGBTQ titles. Flipcup is one of the first two FF romances under this series, and quite honestly, it’s my first as a reader. I tend to be an equal opportunity reader, so I was excited about this read. Sadly, though, it is my least favorite V&V title thus far. Most of that has to do with the characterization of Chelsea and the lack of emotional depth in the rendering of her story. For lack of a better explanation, Chelsea is all stereotypical sorority girl: a bit self-absorbed with a gaggle of friends who spend their time playing drinking games. In fact, Chelsea decides that she wants to sell a drinking game later in the story. The title is both an homage to the drinking game as it plays an important part in Chelsea’s aspirations, but it’s also a nod to Chelsea’s flip in perception about her $exuality. Honestly, it is there where I thought Flipcup was underwhelming. By the end of the book, you will not really believe Chelsea’s love for Tara, at least that was my feeling.
For me, the best part of Flipcup is Hartfield’s Tara. She is the emotional gravity of this story, and Kim Hartfield throws the book at her: raised in foster care, insecure about intimacy, plus other surprises. I found myself moved by her portrayal, and honestly, I thought she was too good for Chelsea. They are definitely opposites who are attracted to each other, and I’m still surprised by Tara and Chelsea’s coupling. It is Tara who saved the book for me because I simply wanted more from this story. I wanted to feel more deeply about these two women, and I needed a greater emotional connection to their story. Instead, I was wildly disappointed in how Hartfield handled Chelsea’s sense of $exuality and her characterization.
April 2, 2021
~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~
3.5*s
This is the seventh book in a series of stories written by a collection of talented authors and set in Sarina Bowen’s True North world. I am really enjoying the connections, and yet the variety of styles offered by the different writers. Another employee of V&V finds romance in this book - thanks to the regular beer delivery to the wine bar.
Tara is making a new life for herself in the book stop - she is not really sure how she had been able to start a new life after moving away from her friends - but she is solvent, has her own place and a job in a welcoming group of employees at the store. She flirts with Chelsea as she brings in the beer barrels. She never really expected that to go anywhere, it was just her way, but she happens to catch Chelsea after another bad hookup, which starts an unexpected friendship. It was good to see Tara recognise that she deserved happiness and loyalty beyond her ex-foster friends.
I took a bit of time to warm up to Chelsea as she is portrayed in the role of player from the beginning. She has the security of living with her parents, good friends and a secure job - little does she expect a woman to derail her plans. I did however really enjoy the game that she invented and the effort that she went to creating it for real - it showed a more serious side to her nature, which was appealing.
As the story develops they both mature and grow into their relationship in a satisfying way. Thank you Kim Hartfield for a good addition to this series.
3.5*s
This is the seventh book in a series of stories written by a collection of talented authors and set in Sarina Bowen’s True North world. I am really enjoying the connections, and yet the variety of styles offered by the different writers. Another employee of V&V finds romance in this book - thanks to the regular beer delivery to the wine bar.
Tara is making a new life for herself in the book stop - she is not really sure how she had been able to start a new life after moving away from her friends - but she is solvent, has her own place and a job in a welcoming group of employees at the store. She flirts with Chelsea as she brings in the beer barrels. She never really expected that to go anywhere, it was just her way, but she happens to catch Chelsea after another bad hookup, which starts an unexpected friendship. It was good to see Tara recognise that she deserved happiness and loyalty beyond her ex-foster friends.
I took a bit of time to warm up to Chelsea as she is portrayed in the role of player from the beginning. She has the security of living with her parents, good friends and a secure job - little does she expect a woman to derail her plans. I did however really enjoy the game that she invented and the effort that she went to creating it for real - it showed a more serious side to her nature, which was appealing.
As the story develops they both mature and grow into their relationship in a satisfying way. Thank you Kim Hartfield for a good addition to this series.
April 10, 2023
We're back at V&V and the ladies are in the spotlight this time around. What does that mean? Well, we have a professed straight woman who starts seeing the flirty lady at V&V in a maybe-not-just-friendly light. But first Chelsea has to come to terms with the idea that she might not be as straight as she thought.
Here's the thing: Chelsea was wildly self-centered and immature when we first met her. Which made her a little hard to take. Here's the other thing: when her self-centeredness was brought to her attention, she did actively work on trying to be better about this. She doesn't always succeed, but REALLY who gets it right every single time. Especially when the thing you're working on is you and it's hard to see your actions in the heat of the moment. So, yeah, I actually really get the mistakes Chelsea makes.
As for Tara, she's...complicated. Not in a bad way, but she has been forced to rely on herself for along time and it's hard for her to ask for help. Or to share things. Or to open up pretty much at all. On the plus side, when Chelsea does a boneheaded thing, Tara lets herself ride through the heat of the moment and find her calmer place before she makes any big decisions about them as a couple. Oh, and remember that part about how Tara finds it hard to share things? Yeah, she's holding some big emotions (and news) inside and she's trying to deal with it all on her own. Which takes an already messy situation and makes it even messier.
Friends, a little heartache, a little hope, and a lot of learning how to lean on people when you need them most.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
Here's the thing: Chelsea was wildly self-centered and immature when we first met her. Which made her a little hard to take. Here's the other thing: when her self-centeredness was brought to her attention, she did actively work on trying to be better about this. She doesn't always succeed, but REALLY who gets it right every single time. Especially when the thing you're working on is you and it's hard to see your actions in the heat of the moment. So, yeah, I actually really get the mistakes Chelsea makes.
As for Tara, she's...complicated. Not in a bad way, but she has been forced to rely on herself for along time and it's hard for her to ask for help. Or to share things. Or to open up pretty much at all. On the plus side, when Chelsea does a boneheaded thing, Tara lets herself ride through the heat of the moment and find her calmer place before she makes any big decisions about them as a couple. Oh, and remember that part about how Tara finds it hard to share things? Yeah, she's holding some big emotions (and news) inside and she's trying to deal with it all on her own. Which takes an already messy situation and makes it even messier.
Friends, a little heartache, a little hope, and a lot of learning how to lean on people when you need them most.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
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April 1, 2021
Chelsea is swearing off men for the year, however, she didn’t swear off women.
When she meets Tara while making some deliveries and there is some interest piqued from both women the first moment they meet. They come from opposite worlds. Chelsea grew up in a loving home with her parents, she didn’t really struggle throughout her life. Tara lost her mom at a young age and ended up in foster care. She has struggled and had to work hard her entire life.
I was not a fan of Chelsea in the beginning. She felt very immature and kind of spoiled. She slowly grew as a character and by the of the story I did enjoy her character. I love Tara from the start. She had a rough life, but she found her own family and wasn’t afraid to take risks. There is some chemistry between the two of them from the first time they meet. I loved seeing how their relationship progressed and how they both learned more about themselves as a couple and individuals.
If you’re looking for a F/F, quick read this is one to check out.
When she meets Tara while making some deliveries and there is some interest piqued from both women the first moment they meet. They come from opposite worlds. Chelsea grew up in a loving home with her parents, she didn’t really struggle throughout her life. Tara lost her mom at a young age and ended up in foster care. She has struggled and had to work hard her entire life.
I was not a fan of Chelsea in the beginning. She felt very immature and kind of spoiled. She slowly grew as a character and by the of the story I did enjoy her character. I love Tara from the start. She had a rough life, but she found her own family and wasn’t afraid to take risks. There is some chemistry between the two of them from the first time they meet. I loved seeing how their relationship progressed and how they both learned more about themselves as a couple and individuals.
If you’re looking for a F/F, quick read this is one to check out.
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