Emilia (Mia) Callo was a go-getter who played by the rules. After one night with a gorgeous stranger, she broke her lifelong habit of playing it safe and moved from New York City to St. Helena, California. As the new head of Event Planning for Ryo Wines, the success she always dreamed of is within her grasp. Too bad her one lapse in judgment followed her—and could ruin everything. Mia couldn’t … mix pleasure with business, no matter how much Derek Marconi’s bedroom eyes begged her for a repeat.
Derek Marconi is done trying to prove himself. Working his fingers to the bone as sales manager for DeLuca Wines got him nowhere with nothing to show for it. Working for his cousin’s winery sounded like the perfect opportunity, until the blonde that’s been racing through his mind became his new boss. He didn’t imagine the instant connection they had, no matter how much Mia now fights to forget. Now Derek has a new job and a new goal—to make her remember for a lot longer than one night.
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Oh my! For a novella, this blew my mind! I generally am not a fan of novellas unless they are catching us up on characters from a previous novel, but this breaks the mold!
Chemistry. It is galore between Derek (ahhh!!) and Mia! They meet one evening while Mia is overseeing an event; Derek is a guest at this event. They spend hours getting to know each other, by the end of the night with more than just words. A few months later, both unhappy with their previous jobs, they end up working together. Surprise, surprise- the spark is still there!
This book takes place and is a part of Marina Adair’s St. Helena Vineyard world (oh my God, I didn’t realize how many books there are out there in this Kindle World- I’ve added a lot to my TBR list). As someone who has read those books, I loved going back there (however, you certainly do not have to read Adair’s books first). Stephanie Rose has yet another hit on her hands
* A review copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review *
What can I say except…..Read this Book!!!
Intimate Strangers is a standalone novella written by Stephanie Rose. It is told in Dual POV and was a fun, sexy and spicy chance encounter romance. This will only take a couple hours to read, but it lacks for nothing.
I know novellas aren’t some readers thing because they tend to be short and lack some of the depth you get in a full length novel, but that is NOT the case with this book. Stephanie knows how to incorporate all the feelings and depth of character in her shorter stories. She gives you all the emotion and background on the characters, you can’t help but fall in love with Mia and Derek.
In this book we meet Mia and Derek. Mia is an event planner in NYC for the Thompson Hotel and is extremely unhappy with her current position and boss. Derek is a wine salesman for his families Winery and is also unhappy with what he is doing. Derek runs into Mia (Literally) at an event that she has planned. There is instant attraction and as the night progresses neither can stop looking for the other. After talking for a couple hours Mia has decided she is going to throw caution to the wind and have a one night stand. What could go wrong with that??? Little did she know that her one night stand wouldn’t really be just one night 😉
Mia and Derek were absolutely amazing and fun loving characters. They will make you smile, swoon, laugh and even shed a tear. But in the end you will have the biggest smile on your face 🙂
My only negative for this book was that I wanted more!!! Although I always feel like that after reading a Stephanie Rose novel. I never want them to end!!!! I totally got swept up in Mia and Derek’s story and lives. Hopefully we will get to see them again in the future.
If you have a couple hours to spend some time reading, pick this novella up…I think you will truly love it!!!!
This sweet and sexy second chance romance is the perfect example of how a short story should be written. It grabbed me right from the start and wouldn’t let go having a depth that was totally satisfying. Derek and Mia are at a crossroads in their careers when they meet and have a one night stand. No numbers, no last names, just an instant connection and smoking hot chemistry, not looking back in the morning. Now months later they unexpectedly cross paths again. They never forgot that night and know that they still desperately want each other despite the complications that should keep them apart. I really fell for both Derek and Mia, they were so perfect together. I loved everything about this charming and sexy novella and can’t recommend it highly enough!
This was a cute addition to the St. Helena’s Vineyard KW. I liked learning more about the family business and cousin Derek!.
Yippee! This was definitely a goodie despite it being a novella. I love Maia and Derek. I love Stephanie Rose and her flawless prose. Everything worked. From their first meeting, their one night stand , to them meeting again later on. Their interactions were fabulous filled with humor, depth and romance. I don’t read many novellas because of their fast pace and not being longer but with Intimate Strangers it worked perfectly.
Mia and Derek were terrific. As individuals and as a couple. Also Mia’s grandfather was great. His love and support of Mia was heartwarming. Stephanie Rose definitely knows how to write a caring, loving and vulnerable man. Derek was all that and more.
Intimate Strangers put a smile on my face. If you need a quickie this is definitely a must read!
5 BadAssDirtyGorgeousStars
Oh I loved this novella about Derek and Mia that meet each other and have an instant attraction and end up having a one night stand and then unexpectedly end up in California at the same winery. What are the chances these strangers can become more? I wish there was more of this couple.
Anyone want to pack their bags and move to St. Helena with me??? If I didn’t have a house full of books and a car payment, I’d be loading said car up and moving across country tomorrow. There’s got to be a DeLuca man over there for me!
One amazing night with Derek ~insert swoon here~ is just the catalyst Mia needs to make some major changes in her life. As hard as it is to say good-bye the next morning, they do- Derek back to his unsatisfactory life and Mia off to find something more than what she has now. Never expecting to see each other again, are these 2 in for one heck of a surprise!
Intimate Strangers is such a sweet and sexy second chance romance, one of my favorite tropes to read. For a short little novella Ms. Rose was able to draw me completely into the world of Mia and Derek. The chemistry between them is so hot, sparks almost flew out of my Kindle. Try as they might they just can’t fight their attraction to each other. Derek is a total doll- I’m not sure how Mia was able to hold off for as long as she did once they reconnected.
Sometimes all it takes is one night, one chance encounter, to show you everything you were missing in life.