My first review of 2024 in true Vivian fashion. The
final duo I read of 2023 probably after the rest of booktok delivered on it.
Sorry guys.
Ah. Another duo. So let me tell you about the time my
friend got me not one but two signed books from Tessa Bailey herself, one of
them being an ARC, for my birthday. Any guesses which book was the ARC? It was
none other than ‘Secretly yours’. I died, went to heaven, looked at the
ARC and died again. There are not enough words in the English Dictionary to
describe the feelings I went through when I opened that package but when I got
over my initial shock, I rolled my tongue back into my mouth, got my snacks and
began reading the story of stuffy Julian Vos and unpredictable Hallie Welch.
This series consists of Secretly Yours and
Unfortunately Yours. Both can be read as standalones but like why do
that. This series is set in the world of wine aka Napa Valley. There is
something about Napa Valley – it makes me all cozy inside. If I had to choose
between New York, Nappa Valley and Westport to live? I’d just have to boyfriend
from each town.
Secretly Yours is about a professor (Julian Vos) who’s currently taking
a break from his profession to write a book. To get away from his overbearing
mothers who runs Vos Wines (family business) following his parents’ divorce,
Juliann is currently residing in the guesthouse. When his mother decides to get
some greenery to decorate the molding house, Hallie Welch is all but excited when
she’s signs up for the job. The most painful part? Julian doesn’t even remember
Hallie and their almost kiss years ago. Slowly but surely, Julian realizes he
likes the chaos she brings to him despite his anxiety that chased him out of
Napa in the first place.
Unfortunately Yours (the better read in my humble opinion). Starring a perplexed
Natalie - misunderstood - Vos and Ex-Navy SEAL August Cates. This couple
makes an appearance in the first book from the duo. Natalie has come fresh from
New York after a broken engagement following her getting released (if you will)
from her accounting firm she was a partner for. Back at Napa, she tries to gain
access to her trust fund. That is until she discovers the language is archaic,
demeaning and an obstacle for her to start her own firm. August Cates is her
best bet. As he tries to makes his late best friends dream of opening a winery
come true with no actually experience, the extra money would be great for him to
get the additional help. Just one problem. The bank won’t give him a loan. When
Natalie needs a husband for the trust fund to release and August needs a loan
to get him to success, they find themselves in a marriage where pranks were
expected but love wasn’t.
Now we don’t lie on this blog so I’m not going to
start now. I’d say it took me some more effort than usual to get into Secretly
Yours by Mrs. Bailey and that alone was a shock to the system. It may or
may not have been due to my obsession with Fox Thornton. However, that all
changed when I met Julian Vos. Boy does the saying ‘first impressions
count’ really stick. Both characters were very clearly presented in the
book whilst still having room for self-development later on also. The
similarity I found in both books was that Hallie and August were portrayed as ‘big
clueless kids’ instead of individuals who didn’t want to be all straight clean
lines. Hallie had her own business; August was an EX-Seal which isn’t nothing, even though they don’t carry the Voss name.
There was a lack of emphasis on Hallie’s actual life
which was a stark contrast about there being so much about Julian’s. It felt
like there was this bridge in information where if developed could have taken
this book to an even higher rating. The spice though? Yeah, she slayed in that
department. Takes the cake. It was hilarious how Julian got ganged up on by his
sister and his lover which he didn’t know.
One thing that really disappointed me a little bit was
the letters. They were the star of the show so with there only being 3 of them
it was a bit meh. Don’t get me wrong the ones there were included satisfied me
but didn’t quite get the itch. Overall, this book still gets a sold 4/5 stars
for me because I’m a sucker for small town romances. Nobody does it better than
Tessa Bailey.
Natalie Vos’s first appearance in Secretly Yours
had me hooked. She had an air of melancholy carried out throughout from the
first book to Unfortunately Yours. Natalie was portrayed perfectly; she
was an underestimated socialite that had been let down from both parents with
only Julian having reasonable expectations of her.
Guys, Unfortunately Yours really hit home. Being
biased is such a thing like I loved the content of the books however I resonated
with Natalie so that instantly made me feel like I was in the book
rather than a reader of it. I I get feeling left out. I’m jobless trying to make
it in the editorial fiction book world that I have a drive towards. Going from
a law graduate to finding my actual calling, wanting to move to New York from
the UK so I’m miles away from people who underestimate me is SUCH. A. FEELING.
Me in another country is the American dream for me; where no one knows who I
am, a fresh clean start in life. Living in an Asian family where everyone is so,
damn, judgmental isn’t for the faint hearted. Money talks and this book was a
clear representation of it. The façade Natalie puts up in front of her mother whilst
getting used like a verbal punching bag is broken by August Cates. He sees her
more than an accountant gone wrong or the prestige Vos family’s heiress. In
comparison to Hallie Welch, the family history of August was more explored
which I was grateful for. The prank-wars had a level of maturity to it but overall,
a light-heard, swoon-worthy, spicy read. 5/5 stars read.
I wish I find my happily ever after and dream job like
Natalie did. My hope was restored.
I wouldn’t skip this duo. Maybe not the most anticipated
read of Tessa’s. The Bellinger sister’s duo outdid this one by a mile but
Natalie Vos really got to me. Like I’m tearing up whilst writing this level.
My shelf is dying for the 2 new releases from Tessa
this year but until then I have a feeling, I’m going to re-read a certain love
story.
Until next time, I’m off for more job hunting and
reading some more paper pages. Currently the next on my list of authors to read
from? Rina Kent.
Vivian.
Don’t forget to keep reading, because as long as you
do, it’s making a struggling authors day that much better. Reach for the starts
of success.
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