If only life came with instructions.Boyd McNaughton is working on balance. He is a father, a brewmaster, and the oldest brother of four. When he’s not running Foghorn Brewery with two of his brothers, his days are packed with carpools, teenage angst, and well-intentioned school moms determined to send him on the perfect blind date. After a simple argument ends with a visit to the emergency room, … the emergency room, Boyd discovers the one thing he’s been neglecting—his life.
Ella Walters is working on connection. Having grown up in a less-than-affectionate family of overachievers, she moved to Petaluma for a slower pace and to escape her past. She has friends now instead of accolades, chooses chocolate croissants over super foods, and cherishes the peace that’s replaced the drama. Sure, she occasionally misses the buzz of the San Francisco General Hospital ER, but Ella is learning that navigating a fuller life can be just as exciting.
When Boyd’s son, Mason, seeks out Dr. Ella for “advice” and Boyd stumbles all over her newly healed heart, she finds herself longing for something she never knew existed. But families are messy, and they’ll both need to let go of the past if they want to find a future that’s more than by the book.
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I enjoyed this book immensely. It was easy to read, had likable main characters, well developed backstory/secondary characters, and a satisfying ending. I am all ready to read the next two that connect to Brew and plan to go back and read the other books by Ms. Ewens.
Nice story with great characters and a slow burn romance between two adults. Boyd and Ella both have baggage and have learned some hard lessons about love, life and family. Boyd first meets Ella when a gash on his hand brings him to the hospital after she’s been working way too long. Still there is a spark but it takes a good while before they convince themselves that there is a real chance for them. Great secondary characters and a fun watch as two people who are in denial finally reach for an HEA. (I voluntarily reviewed an ARC).
Tracy Ewens, ‘Brew: a love story’.
As an Hidden Gem ARC reader I received this book for free. And promised an honest review. Here it is. English isn’t my first language. Sorry for errors.
Rating: 4 stars (of 5).
In general: Romantic second chance love story .
Main characters:
– Boyd McNaughton (37).
Living in a small city, Petaluma (CA). With his brothers, Patrick and Cade, he just started the Foghorn Brewery. He has a son, Mason, who is 13 years old. The mother of his son, Claire, left him when Mason was a 6 month old baby. Boyd being a single dad, did a good job to raise his son with love.
– Ella Walters (36).
Doctor in Petaluma. Settled in this little city near Sonora after a bad break up with her colleague/boyfriend and hating the stress of her work in the trauma center San Francisco General.
Boyd and Ella meet when Boyd cut his hand while preparing the brewery for the grand opening. It’s a difficult start of their acquaintance. Boyd is ill-tempered because of his painful wound and Ella’s very tired and has little patience after a shift of 24 hours. Their second meeting (to remove the stitches) goes better. Boyd’s son Mason (13) is with him; Ella and his son have a click when Ella gives him a sound advice how to treat a girl he has a crush on.
The author, Tracy Owens, describes with feeling how – with ups and downs – Boyd and Ella’s relationship develops. Both have negative experiences with relations in their past and hesitations to commit in a permanent relationship. Mason is a successful go-between.
Sometimes this reader didn’t quite understand Boyd’s doubts: one moment he doesn’t dare to say ‘I love you’ when his feelings are very clear and – while there’s hardly a chance in the situation – shortly thereafter he asks Ella to marry him. We just keep it up: I’m a man, so I’ve too little sense of romantic complications.
But all in all, for me, ‘Brew’ was a charming, well written book.
R.Huiszoon.