REVIEW: Crush on You by Christie Ridgway

Title: Crush on You (Three Kisses, #1)
Author: Christie Ridgway
Format: paperback, 304 pages
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: review copy from Fiction Vixen
Published: June 2010 by Berkley

She made knitting sexy.

Now she's taking on a dilapidated winery, three sisters, and the bad boys next door.

The Baci sisters are on a mission to save the winery that's been in their family for generations-by transforming it into the perfect wedding destination. If only Alessandra Baci-affectionately known as the "Nun of Napa"-didn't need the help of tempting neighbor and business rival Penn Bennett.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

The Book Vixen’s Rating:

*This review was originally posted on Fiction Vixen Book Reviews as a guest review.