The only thing headier than wine is lust.Ryan Royer thought his business trip to California’s Napa Valley would be easy. Land a new client. Taste wine. But when the client is a free-spirited bombshell who presses all of his buttons, Ryan’s world goes sideways.Kenzie Balfour is entirely irresistible. She’s the fourth generation to run The von Eck Estate Winery and she’s more intoxicating than any … more intoxicating than any award-winning cabernet.
Ryan has been working hard for a promotion at one of the world’s top investment banks. If he can close this deal for her legendary winery, he gets the job. He can’t let a gorgeous woman with a great laugh get in the way of his goals. Even if she leaves him love drunk.
From a trouser-tightening almost-kiss at a restaurant to a seductive walk through a vineyard at sunset, can Ryan keep his crush on his client under control or will a taste of Kenzie be his downfall?
Escape to California’s wine country in Crush.
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There is absolute magic to Mae Wood’s words! Every story she has written (and I have read them all!) has been golden and Crush is up there with the best of them!
Crush is McKenzie and Ryan’s story. This story started as blazing hot bites on Book + Main. And now it’s a full-fledged book with heart, heat and oh my me the swoons!
Just one of the millions of things I love about this story is the smart and savvy writing style that is Mae Wood. I was amazed at learning about the winemaking process and yet I didn’t feel pandered to. The background work that Ms. Wood had to do for this story was fantastic and shows in this story.
Even with the age difference between McKenzie and Ryan, you can tell that they were meant to be! I loved McKenzie’s brashness and her honesty.
I loved Ryan with a fierceness! A fully well-rounded hero that a gal can swoon over proudly! I admired his tenacity at keeping what he wanted.
The dialogue was smart, sassy and smexy! I also loved the play on the title Crush, from winemaking, to love and to heartbreak, it covers all the points in this story and more!
If you haven’t read Mae Wood before what are you waiting for?!? Get your hands on this story! This is in the running for my “Best Reads of 2019”!!
Sometimes romance books forgo depth and connection for steam-factor, and that’s cool.
Sometimes books dive headfirst into insta-lust, and that’s cool, too.
Rarely does a book come along that manages to combine ALL those elements.
But this book CRUSHED it.
See what I did there 😉
This story had it all.
It was well-crafted, detailed, and engaging from the very first page.
It was swoony and oh so sexy.
It was everything you could want in a romance book.
So what are you waiting for? 1-click and thank me later 😉
Love at first sight or Lust at first sight? That’s what you will get within the first few chapters of this book. MacKenzie and Ryan or Kenzie and Ryan. Her family owned vineyard is trying to get a loan to expand their winery, he’s the guy that can get the big bucks. But that first meeting between these two was a punch to the gut for both Kenzie and Ryan. Their affair starts off really hot a sexy, but hurdles or the hurdles these two endure to keep what they have to themselves. They both realize what they have is more than a Crush.
I loved, loved, loved Kenzie. Her free spirit ways, but her love and passion for her winery. Ryan, he is totally under Kenzie’s spell, he just need to put everything in perspective, but oh the witchcraft Kenzie has over Ryan.
I am a hopeless romantic to reading a quick love story as this one did not bother me one bit. Kenzie and Ryan had chemistry in spades. The author did her research regarding the harvesting of grapes, so much so that I really want to visit a winery and see the beauty of these grapes.
Mae Wood does not disappoint in delivering a great love story. If you have read her other books, Crush will certainly not disappoint. Mark your calendars, because January 9, 2020 is around the corner for you to one click this book.
Intoxicated in Every Sense of the Word!
Crush by Mae Wood is robust, heady blend of humor, emotion, and passion. Her words somehow gave me butterflies and sent my heart aflutter. I was energized with the possibility of Kenzie and Ryan’s magnetic pull. This story flooded my senses with nostalgia and youth and vitality. It is a well paced romance that explores instalove and the complications of mixing business and pleasure. The hero and heroine are at slightly different phases of their lives, which leads to both internal and external conflict in their relationship. No worries, though. Grapes are not the only thing harvested this year on the Von Eck vines. Love’s resilience blooms bold and bright in the Napa sun!
I read an early version of CRUSH several months ago. Probably over the summer. And I loved it. Suuuuuuper loved it. Then, I got to read the final product before the holidays and I loved that one even more.
Here’s what you need to know:
Instalove but not really. More like… instalust. They meet and their heads and hearts and genitals all start feeling some sort of way.
There is a delicious moment in the vineyard. Delicious.
I wouldn’t call this an age-gap romance just like I wouldn’t call The Space Between an age-gap romance. They happen to be at different ends of an age range and much like Patrick realizing Andy read Harry Potter as a child, there are wonderfully awkward moments where the reality of Kenzie and Ryan’s varied points in life bubble up to the surface.
I also wouldn’t call this an office romance as Ryan and Kenzie have a financier/client relationship, but you get lots of tense workplace moments where they have to pretend they’re not making heart eyes at each other. It’s the best.
You’re probably wondering what I would call this and I want to go back to the start: instalust. But so, so much more. They have this beautiful, immediate moment of adhesion where everything closes in around them and the universe seems to whisper “that’s the one” and they spend a considerable amount of time figuring out whether they can trust those whispers, whether they should risk everything for those whispers. The angst is for real but it’s well earned, it’s valid, and it’s never angst for the sake of angst (you can probably tell how I feel about faux angst from this soliloquy).
You might like this book if…
If you like…characters who look as though they’re perfect and have it all sorted on the outside but have more baggage than Laguardia on Thanksgiving
If you like…big feels and sexy times before 50% (I think it’s closer to 30% but please don’t quote me)
If you like …. families with all the stuff associated with families
If you like…rehabilitated players who are ready to find the one and settle down.
If you like…smart, strong women who know who they are and what they want.
Crush….grapes, infatuation, the heart, preconceived ideas, expectations, hopes, destruction. Yes Crush seems like a small one syllable five letter word but this little word packs a powerful punch. As they say, “Good things come in small packages”. Well this book proves that theory. All of the above are found in this beautifully written and well crafted story. Not only is it well written it’s smart and begs questions of us like; are there really soulmates, kindred spirits, is destiny a real thing, can life change in an instant or at a glance, can we grow up overnight, when do we learn to trust, is it more important to trust your mind or your heart, and even then do you always have to do the right thing or can you just follow your emotional instincts, can two such different worlds really make it work, does the adage really hold true that where there’s a will there is a way?
Well this is just the pop of the wine cork as to why you should indulge in the vibrant and full bodied romance of the journey of Kenzie and Ryan. Watching the development of immaturity to maturity and learning to trust and ignore preconceptions it’s almost like you can feel it and understand all the players in the cast.
Aside from all of the above you get an education into the winemaking process. It’s described in such a way that you want to be there. You want to see the wine cask, feel the grapes, tour the vineyards. After the description of Napa Valley it’s now secured a place on my bucket list!
I don’t do spoilers as I feel it’s not fair to the author. Where would the fun be if you knew what was going to happen. What I will tell you is that you will get everything you’re looking for in this book. It delivers all the feels; smiles, a little angst, romance, insta chemistry and heat ( really good heat!). Plus we get to meet up with people from the Pig and Barley series. That’s a little extra treat.
According to a part of the definition of the word crush it’s an informal feeling of love for someone you can’t have, often short lived, it wears out. Now the burning question is can a crush become love or can it be love from the beginning and not a crush? Well my friends you’ll have to read the book to get those answers. Now after reviewing this beautiful story I’m going to open a bottle of cabaret and soak in the bouquet of the story and the wine.
Crush is more then just an insta lust book but almost a soul finding it’s other half. Ryan is put on lead of his first project helping with the finance a winery needs to buy more land. MacKenzie is finishing college and ready to take her place in the family winery. When they first meet there’s an instant connection but feel like they’ve met before. Business and pleasure is a tricky thing sometimes successful sometimes not but it was a joy to read how they finally figure it out!
Crush is the most exciting time of both wine harvest and new love. It also explains how I felt about this intoxicating, steamy romance. Ryan has worked hard to be a successful investment banker and landing The Von Eck Estate Winery as a client will ensure the big promotion he’s up for. But nailing the client does not include the clients daughter. The sparks fly instantaneously the moment Kenzie and Ryan’s eyes meet. They are so connected that they feel they already know each other. Kenzie loves her family vineyard and has big plans for it’s growth and expansion. She is brave, bold, and beautiful, and more than Ryan can resist. Neither can resist the sizzling chemistry that the romantic vineyard helps to make even more explosive. They start a covert affair and it is fun and fiery at first. But all too soon the complications of their forbidden affair become too much and threaten not only what they’ve worked so hard for, but their love as well. The chemistry between Zachary Webber, and Savannah Peachwood is breathtaking as they bring these smart, strong, sexy characters to life. They easily illuminate their wit, passion, and vulnerability, making Ryan, Kenzie, and their world completely real. Ms Wood is fast becoming a favorite author for me and this collaboration is completely intoxicating and wonderful!
A college girl and a 30 year old financier. What do they have in common?? Well attraction
chemistry and wine. McKenzie a senior in college and Ryan a broker who arranges financing
for businesses meet at McKenzie’s family vineyard. The attraction is instant the chemistry
is hot Ryan is not the alpha in this story as much as McKenzie. She calls a lot
of the shots and is not afraid to voice her feelings for Ryan. Ryan has to keep his distance from McKenzie for the sake of his job. The setting of NAPA and McKenzie coming into her own by
taking charge of the vineyard and becoming the woman who can run the vineyard are another
great redeeming quality to this story and keep you turning the pages of this sweet story.
A short sweet listen with Zachary Webber’s narration.
After reading Plus One I was so curious about the romantic story of Ryan and Kenzie, after all they have a wonderful chemistry. This book tells their story and it is sexy as hell. As I said their chemistry is off the charts and it is like they know each other forever. Ryan works for a bank and in finances and is in charge of a project along with Kenzie’s family business. She is just off of college and her mother puts her along with Ryan on the project in a way of involve her in the business. Kenzie is a great character, she is independent and mature for her age and Ryan is adorable! They have real adult things to sort it out during this complicated relationship but the romance and love is worth it! I just loved this book!!!
I was so excited when I met Mae in Philly and she told me about this book. It was so good! I’ve been in a bit of a mood and this book helped me immensely!
When we are introduced to Ryan I was really curious as to who McKenzie would be. She was EVERYTHING I was hoping for from that blurb!!! I loved that there was an age gap and that this relationship between them was pretty taboo, BUT they were so perfect!!! The amount of chemistry between these two was off the charts. The little moments and the complete devotion to each other was so adorable. But, at the same time they both really lost site of their end goal because of it.
Mae did an amazing job with this story. The characters are so perfectly developed, include the secondary characters (my fav was couch Greg). From the addition of the hockey team, the roommates and the people they all work with the characters were phenomenal. And then of course we have the scenery. I felt like I was right there with them walking through the grape trees in Napa Valley when Kenzie first takes Ryan for his tour.
I’m not putting into words well enough what a good book this was. Just take my word for it and go read now!!
Crush is a stand-alone but part of a series set in Napa Valley in California. The setting is beautifully described and pulls you into their lifestyle and business of owning a vineyard making wine. I love books where I learn something new and this book felt very cultured and real and I so enjoyed being part of that world.
I really liked how Mackenzie was smart and successful and wanted to better herself and learn all she could. There were no handouts for her, and even though she knew she’d one day inherit her share of the winery, she wanted to make good business decisions on her own. The same attributes can be applied to Drennan, her cousin from Plus One, who also worked at the winery and would one day be a co-owner.
Kenzie was in her 20s and took on a lot of responsibility at her family’s VonEck winery, a quality I admired. When she met Ryan, their attraction was immediate, and I loved that he wasn’t her brother’s best friend or a billionaire in need of a wife. They met by chance as he was trying to secure financial backing for their business. He, too, was smart and successful, and couldn’t keep his eyes off of our sweet heroine. From the very beginning, these two couldn’t keep their hands off of each other and there passion was undeniable and hot!
There was family dynamics and pressure in this book, a sense of forbidden romance as they were working together and he’s a bit older, and drama and angst along the way as they tried to navigate their relationship and desire to be together with working, and living long-distance. It seemed everything was pulling them apart but they were so drawn to one-another and I routed for these two the entire time.
The last chapter was my favorite as truths are revealed and they finally get their very own HEA. I truly loved their passion and commitment and felt they were a perfect match.
I loved this story! The story is sweet, sexy and combustible at times! Ryan and Kenzie are a perfect match and will keep you riveted to your seat! I honestly volunteered to review this arc.
This was my first book by Mae Wood and I am regretting waiting this long to read her work. This book was awesome. So awesome that I read it in two days. I fell in love with the chemistry between Ryan and McKenzie from the first few chapters. I was hooked and couldn’t get enough of these characters.
The hot and cold, push and pull of Ryan and McKenzie’s lust and love was mesmerizing. The more they tried to stay away from each other and ignore their feelings, the more I was rooting for them!
On top of my love for the characters in this book, I loved the vivid setting that was painted by Ms. Wood’s words. This is a book that I will be recommending to my friends for a very long time!
Reviewed by: Brianne M.
Napa Wine Country. Forbidden Secret Romance. Taboo Age Gap. Add in steamy off the charts sex (first time in the vineyards) and you have one sexy wonderful story that will leave you wanting more!
McKenzie Balfour is the daughter of one of two sisters who own von Eck Vineyards in Napa Valley and produce some of the best wine around. When Banker Ryan Royer comes to help them acquire more land, there is Insta-Attraction between him and Kenzie. The lust is immediate even though there is an 8 year age difference and she is his client. They try to shut it down several times, but it quickly becomes more than just lust.
I loved the interactions between Ryan and Kenzie, glad we got duel POVs to understand what was going on in each of their heads. Kenzie was very mature for her age, and I didn’t think 8 years was that big of an age difference. She is 22 and he is 30. Their fights seemed real and I could relate to them.
Once I started this book, I couldn’t put it down! It will stay with me for a long time. I learned a lot about the wine making process, the Crush time, as well as the Crush these two had on each other at the beginning! You want to read this book! I’m excited to read Drennan’s book next. She is Kenzie’s cousin!
Just. Wow. The electricity between these two, the feeling of having met before – made this romantic story magical. The fact that it is wine-centric made me quite happy, too. Crush is the perfect title for this beautiful, well-written book. Highly recommended.
My love of wine is real, now give me a romance about wine. You have me hooked line and corkscrew. Kenzie and Ryan’s story will leave you smiling and in love.
“He starting to come undone and I couldn’t help but wonder how far he would come undone for me”
This right here is how Ryan feels about Kenzie, he craves her presence and her passion for her work. When Kenzie talks about her family business you can’t help be excited and passionate
See more on release day with my VLOG. https://youtu.be/inbkDtMwWXU
A dance of rhyme, insta-lust that deepens over time, and where the essence of wine country is as much of a character as the characters are.
I love this author’s writing. I was captivated by Ryan and Kenzie, and watching their journey. Go forth and read!
I have four books sitting on my kindle, including this one, and I am beside myself because I have not read every single word this woman has ever written. WHY PEOPLE, WHYYYY?!?!
THIS IS HOW YOU DO INSTA! All the #wins
I LOVED THIS BOOK!
Ryan and Kenzie have an instant spark the very first time that they meet. Ryan may seem like a buttoned-up banker during the day, but he’s so much more than that, and Kenzie is just the spark that he needs in his life. Kenzie is fresh out of college, and she reminds 30-year-old Ryan what it’s like to just live in the moment and enjoy a new future that may not be what you’d planned.
Mae Wood’s writing is superb. Crush has witty dialog, great scene setting, and amazing side characters in the extended family and hockey team. You feel like you’re invested in not only Ryan and Kenzie’s relationship, but in their relationships with other characters as well. You really get to know Kenzie and Ryan, and you really root for their happily ever after from page one.