Wine&Dine: another romance for the over 40

No one writes books for over 40 like L.B Dunbar.

All Dolores Chance has ever known is to look after other people her Mother,Grandmother & her diner but never herself, something happens in Dolores life that changes all that her brother Denton offer her a chance to escape and go find herself, take off to California enjoy the beach and live a little but can she do that, taking a stroll along the beach she has an encounter with a very wet furry friend Wally she did not except the owner of the dog to be drop dead gorgeous and handsome like Garrett Fox her next door neighbour, they strike up a friendship from the start he wants to show her California and he sure does it in style, Garrett also has baggage but what he loves about Dolores is she don’t care about his money what he owns or what he does she just likes him. He shows her how a women should be treated something she has never had he turns her life upside down & she’s a stunner to him and his a tin man she gives a heart will they make it, you will have to read it to find out.

She burnout on life. Since her brother left twenty-seven years ago, Dolores was left to support her alcoholic mother and father. The abuse, incriminations, and loveless existence was tempered by her grandmother and her belief in her abilities. Now, after burying her mother, her grandmother was all she had left, besides the Magnolia diner. Everything was rundown. The diner, their home, and most of all her soul.

As her brother Denton Chance appears again, he feels guilty about the lack of support he has given his family all these years. Looking to support and assuage the burden, he offers Dolores a vacation at his Malibu home for as long as Dolores needs. Too tempting to pass up, Dolores leaves for California without even packing. Somehow, she must find the strength in herself to go on and face all the changes needed in her life.

Meeting Denton’s neighbor Garrett Fox is the beginning of a new chapter in her life. Garrett is in his fifties and never been married. He had been hurt years before and relationships were not in his future. These two characters come together at a time in their lives where new beginnings are the answer. They both come from opposite sides with their expectations and yet, their acquaintance provides them with the balm both their souls need.

Falling in love after 40 is not a fantasy. If romance comes at that point in life, it provides the lovers with a new fresh approach at love and commitment. No longer naive and full of the intensity of youth, maturity adds to the realization of what real love can be.

I am voluntarily reviewing this book. Thanks to the author for sharing a copy with me.

When your over forty it seems your life can only get better. Dolores Chance has been stuck in a rut and there seems to be no getting out, taking care of her mother, her grandmother and her business but when your brother comes back and tells her to go and take a break she doesn’t hesitate but what she never expects is to meet Garrett Fox.
Garrett Fox is a very successful business man, living what he thinks is his best life, but when he encounters Dolores in the oddest of places he realizes maybe he’s not.
As you watch the two of them feel the other out you can’t help know that if they let down their guard they can have the best time together and be just what the other needs.

I just love these over 40 themed books and may I say L B Dunbar writes them superbly. Her Silver Fox series is one of my very favorites a must read if you like this genre. Wine and Dine, like the others in this series, has strong characters that know their minds and what they want out of life (or so they think).

Dolores is Denton’s sister. (We met her in Denton’s story: Second Chance). When Denton took off from home at a young age, Dolores was left to deal with her disaster for parents, her aging grandmother and the family diner. Now that her parents have died, it’s become apparent to her just how tired she really is and how much her life is stuck in a rut. So when Denton offers her a vacation at his California Condo, she take a wild chances and says yes. For once in her life doing something for herself.

Garrett is a self made successful businessman who has the world by the tail. He has good looks, money, women, a fast car and a condo on the beach, which happens to be right next door to Denton’s. He isn’t looking for anything else, especially not a relationship as he’s been burned before and has learned from his mistakes. But when his dog, accidently knocks down a woman standing of the beach, he’s taken by surprise at the attraction he feels. As for the woman, Dolores, she is wowed by his looks but fuming at his dogs antics and the man’s attempt at what this small town girl can only assume is California charm. Garrett is used to getting things easily, especially women, so when the hot mess he met on the beach doesn’t seem interested, the challenge is on. Little does he know this small town feisty gal just may make him rethink what’s important in his life while teaching her life can be more that just settling for what is.

From here the storyline takes off and will take you emotions on a fabulous ride. The book is very well written and the characters and their actions are so defined you will right there in the moments with them. Kudos Ms. Dunbar for giving us a romantic, sexy, exciting, emotional storyline that warmed my heart and had me smiling throughout. 2 Huge Thumbs Up and 5 romantic stars for Wine & Dine.

L.B Dunbar writes phenomenal silver fox stories to appeal to the over 40 crowd. It is so refreshing to have her books to read and fully relate to. The characters are in a stage of their life that I’m in. They’ve lived the first half of their life and now they are ready for something new—just like a lot of us fantasize about. I read romance for the emotional experience and LB Dunbar delivers this experience to me in spades.

Wine and Dine, like all the Sexy Silver Fox books, is a stand-alone, but I would totally recommend reading Second Chance first. Wine and Dine continues where Second Chance ends and also brings those amazing main characters, Denton, Mati, and Magnolia, into play as the supporting cast. The Chance family has lived through troubled times with alcoholic and abusive parents. This upbringing has molded them into the people they are today but their grandmother, Magnolia, was the guiding force who taught them how to be better. She is one of the most amazing side characters ever. She is smart, witty, and holds nothing back. She’ll make you giggle with her no-nonsense approach.

After a stressful and traumatic event in Dolores’ life, she takes her brother Denton’s offer to leave everything behind and head to his place in California to recharge. His one warning is to stay away from his neighbor Garrett Fox. Garrett Fox turns out to be incredible in more ways than one and his chocolate Lab, Wally, had eyes (and paws) on Dolores the minute she arrives.

Garrett and Dolores are both independent business owners. They are used to living their life as they want and being in control. They are strong human beings who haven’t had to consider the opinions or feelings of another when they make decisions. These single, consenting adults enjoy spending time together, but both are left wondering what the other one is doing to them.

“What are you doing to me?” he mutters against my mouth before pulling back and resting his forehead on mine.
Same thing you’re doing to me, Tin Man. Finding my heart.

This story gave me all the emotional feels you’d expect to have when you are falling in love. Garrett is the perfect romantic who is considerate and has the best first-date ideas ever. Dolores has spent her whole life taking care of others so letting go and putting herself first for a change is hard. Neither of them thinks they are looking for a relationship but when you meet your soulmate at fifty, hopefully, you are smart enough to stop wasting time and start living life on the path that has been hand-delivered to you.

No matter our age, self-doubt still comes into play and such is the case for Dolores. She hasn’t had many people compliment her in her life, so being called “stunning” by her brother’s sexy neighbor, is both flattering and a bit unbelievable for Dolores. No matter how many times Garrett reminds her how beautiful she is, a life of constantly being shot down rears its ugly head. It’s a battle Dolores struggles to win and causes Garrett a considerable amount of stress. I love a good grand gesture and Garrett delivered.

“Don’t ever leave me like that again.” I breathe out against her red lips, my forehead pressing to hers. “My heart can’t take it.”

I loved the Wizard of Oz theme that SL Scott references throughout the story. Dolores is Dorothy and she isn’t in Kansas anymore. She is on the adventure of a lifetime when she meets Garrett, also known as the Tin Man because he doesn’t have a heart, or so he thinks.

She rolls to face me. “I love you. I’m not going anywhere. But what if you decide this isn’t enough, and you want to go…I’m the one afraid you’ll leave me.”
“Not a chance, Dorothy,” I say, rubbing my nose against hers. “The Tin Man sticks once his heart begins to beat again.”

I’ve loved each of the Sexy Silver Foxes and each one supersedes the one before. She has created a world of characters that I’m totally invested in and I will continue to follow them all for as long as she writes about them. Yes, the books are all standalones, but each one has a connection to the others. Why not enhance your experience and start from the beginning with Tommy and Evie?

First of all: I love it

When we last got a glimpse of Dolores in ‘Second Chance’ (Denton + Mati), she was already on her way to California, to have a few days off of life. Dolores owns a diner. She’s not overly successful, but she’s her own boss and not dependent on anyone. Years ago she “lost” her brother Denton to his career and now she has to overcome another loss, her mother. She’s on her own now and a little bit depressed and very sad. She needs some time to find herself. She starts searching in California.

Well, Garrett Fox lives in California (Denton’s neighbor) and is also his own boss, but he’s much more successful than Dolores. That doesn’t make him less unhappy. And then he meets his new short-time neighbor and suddenly he knows exactly what he was missing all the time.

Oh dear! With every book L.B. Dunbar writes it gets better and better and hotter and hotter ! The attraction between Dolores and Garrett is unbelievable. The storyline is unique, the characters are absolutely amazing and credible, the writing is more than great and I really, really beg you all to read this book (and all of her other books).

I think this is my favorite over 40 romance from L.B. Dunbar. Don’t get me wrong because I love all of her books but she hit it out of the park with Delores and Garrett’s story. We get to see Delores make her amazing comeback and do something she never expected to happen. And then we get to watch Garrett realize that a woman from Georgia may be it for him. This was a wonderful read full of emotions at every turn of the page. Plus we get to see more of Denton and Mati and of course Magnolia, the best grandmother in the world.