In a split second, life can steal a last breath … and derail all future plans. While flying home after a phone call that left me heartbroken, a row to myself would have been ideal. Instead, I was unknowingly sitting shoulder to shoulder with a strikingly attractive single dad and ex-Marine. I could have pretended not to notice the man, but there was something familiar about him. It didn’t take …
It didn’t take long before I pieced together where I knew him from or why he was back in my life.
With chaos holding me hostage, I wanted to hide but couldn’t avoid Brett Pearson, our old family friend, and my teenage crush, because he kindly offered to help out with my family’s business—The Barrel House.
Handling my father’s distillery would be a distraction from my brutal reality. Except, I never paid close attention to the art of making bourbon, unlike Brett, who was full of bourbon knowledge. He offered to teach me a thing or two, but all I could focus on was the way his lips moved when he spoke to me.
I needed to grieve, and my head was in the wrong place at the wrong time, but my heart was splitting at the seams.
Bourbon was spilled, drinks were shared, but could passion ignite from a dying last wish?
*Bourbon Love Notes is a small-town second-chance angsty romance.
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Brett & Melody’s story is super emotional. Well-written, it was still a difficult read for me because part of it hit a little too close to home. I love the family relationships, and Brett’s kindness & willingness to help & his support… He’s truly a swoony hero w/ a heart of gold. I struggled a bit w/ Melody, because I just couldn’t connect w/ the way she was handling things; at first it seemed almost cold. She’s NOT cold – she, too, has a very caring heart. It’s just that the jumble of her brain & need to “take over” things she doesn’t understand got to be a bit much for me.
Overall, the story’s heart is huge, and most definitely worth the read. : )
Bourbon Love Notes Book 1 The Barrel House
By Shari Ryan
5 Stars
Wow! What a very beautiful story!! Fully enjoyed the characters!! Amazing story that left my heart fulfilled!! So beautifully written! This is so so so emotional and very very heartfelt!
“My Melody– The sweetest of all notes.”
“Forever is an infinite amount of time, and that’s how long I will love you, my beautiful daughter.”
“A flash of our first kiss plays through my mind, remembering how badly I wished for just one more, but I never imagined us ending up here, like this.”
Highly recommend! LOVED it so much! Impatiently waiting for the next book!
Bourbon Love Notes is a beautiful, emotional story that warmed my heart one minute and broke it the next. It brought me to tears and then brought a smile to my face. I absolutely loved these characters and the entire premise of the story. This is definitely a must read in my opinion. Take a chance, you will not be disappointed.
Melody is coming back home to navigate the emotional rollercoaster of her dads quickly failing health. What she didn’t expect to find was Brett, her first crush and her first kiss. Brett has also come back to help run her fathers business and now they are not only working through a great loss but they are realizing that maybe fate has put them in each other’s once again.
I came across the opportunity to read an early copy of this book. I have never read anything by Shari J. Ryan. The description caught my eye and I was looking forward to reading this, unfortunately this story was not for me. I know not everyone reads the same book and I am sure someone else will love this book.
So go ahead and give this book a try. But as for me, the story had great potential but the execution of it was just not meant for me, and that is okay, I hope for others it will be a great read.
Shari Ryan quenches my thirst and touches my heart in such a special way with Bourbon Love Notes. Everyone experiences some type of loss in their life, and this book takes us on a heartbreaking but beautiful journey on how to deal with that loss to find our new normal. Melody and Brett have this sweet undeniable, chemistry that fills my heart with joy. Brett is such a special person and not just anyone could make the choice that he does and I love him even more for it. You need to read this book for the back room, the Bourbon, the notes, the party and Parker alone. Not to mention once you read it, I hope you think the title is perfect like I do. Bourbon Love Notes is a breathtaking and soul searching journey of hope, forgiveness, second chances and finding that once in a lifetime love.
Tracey, Life Reads With Friends Book Blog
I went in completely blind and had some difficult times reading it ‘cuz of a topic the author hit in this story. I had to hold in my tears as I went on reading, something that was very hard to do at times. The way the author has written the story and makes you feel all of the emotions, it’s already a top favorite for 2020 for me! It’s a story about love, loss, grief and also family but it had a vulnerability about it that had you really holding on for a good ending throughout. A must read and one that will rip your heart wide open but also in some way heal it in the end!
Melody always had a crush on Brett but never really had the courage to tell him how she really felt. When he leaves town, they don’t see each other until years later when both come back to the town they once left behind, both for different reasons. When a devastating situation leaves Melody heartbroken, she tries to do whatever it takes to take care of her dad’s distillery. Although she knows nothing about the business or bourbon, Brett’s helping a hand to handle whatever she needs to keep afloat. The more time they spend together, the more their relationship evolves into something more than just friendship and their bond grows deeper but when tragedy happens, it’ll take everything in Melody not to break down. Will Brett find a way to heal her heart?…
I love Shari’s writing, and this book is no different. Whether it be a deep emotional story, a rom com, or a fun quick read, she always writes a fantastic story. Her writing draws you in from the first page. No matter the genre or the topic she writes about her writing always impresses me.
Bourbon Love Notes will make you cry, (fair warning now). The scenes between Melody, her family and he dad were really emotional and definitely brought tears to my eyes. Shari did a phenomenal job describing the feelings that someone goes through when they lose someone close to them.
Melody has always had a crush on Brett growing up, but when she finally worked up the courage to tell him, he was leaving for the Marines. Fast forward to the present day and Melody thinks she is living the perfect life with the perfect house, and boyfriend, but all she does is stare out the window at all the neighbors with their kids. She is not happy at all. She accidentally receives a letter in the mail that causes her to call home, and find out that her dad is sick again. She immediately packs to head home, and breaks up with her boyfriend.
Melody and Brett are now back in town. He moved back to help her dad with his business, and she is determined to take over the business and keep it in the family, even though she knows nothing about the bourbon making process. Will they finally find their way back to each other after all these years? Read this fantastic book to find out!!!
I loved Melody and Brett together. I loved their banter, and all their sweet moments. I wished that we could have gotten Brett’s pov though. I liked how Brett never pushed her no matter how stubborn she was being. I really liked how the bourbon was included in the story.
I really hope that Journey and Brody get a book
I recommend everyone to read this book that wants a five star emotion packed read
I received an arc of this book, and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Wow! Just wow! I knew this story wasn’t going to be an easy read for me. I knew that Shari was gonna rip my heart out….and she did! But what an amazing story!! It’s real and raw. It’s heart felt and so, so emotional. The characters are amazing and the story literally flows from page to page, drawing you into this wonderful world of Brett and Melody. Such an amazing book to start the year! Loved it!!
Bourbon.
American Whiskey.
When the Barrel House heiress, Melody Quinn, comes face-to-face with single-dad, Brett Pearson, she finds the ex-Marine strikingly attractive, yet all too familiar for her liking, and she can’t figure out why.
Wherever Melody goes, Brett is there, and after each encounter, she starts to remember where she knows him from. The problem is, she can’t get rid of him because he’s now working in The Barrel House, the one place that is supposed to be hers and hers alone.
Brett loves the art of making bourbon, and nothing pleases him more than watching a customer take their first sip. When he goes to work at The Barrel House, he should be pleased, except he’s forced to work with Melody, who doesn’t know neat from on the rocks, and doesn’t understand why there’s corn everywhere.
Bourbon is spilled, drinks are shared, and passion is reignited between these star-crossed lovers.
I loved every single page of this book! Brett and Melody’s story was flawlessly written and heartfelt. Many emotions while reading their story, and it was absolutely a beautiful story. I highly recommend.
What a sweet story. This tale had quite the emotional journey. I loved the ending! The Barrel House is the main setting and Melody Quinn is the main Heroine and Brett is her childhood sweetheart is in her hometown, that she ran back to when she finds out her Dad is struggling with his health. There were tears and laughter!