Welcome to Ribbon Ridge, Oregon, a small town steeped in history and graced with verdant valleys. In the first book of Heather Heyford’s newest series, a family-run vineyard is the perfect place to find yourself . . . and lose your heart. A summer friendship ripens into something more . . . The Vineyards at Ribbon Ridge is about as far away from the big city as Philadelphia music teacher … the big city as Philadelphia music teacher Jamie Martel can get, and it’s the perfect place for her to forget her troubles for a while. But can a dream vacation turn into her real life? When she is offered a summer job at the lush Oregon vineyard, she decides it is time to find out.
Hank Friestatt took over The Vineyards when his parents passed. Committed to keeping their legacy alive, he has poured his heart and soul into the family business. With things back on track, he’s torn between tradition and a tempting opportunity to cut and run. Yet something about down-to-earth Jamie is making him question his plans. As the grapes are harvested and the leaves start to turn, Hank vows to keep the promises he made. Saying goodbye to Jamie, however, may be a lot harder than he thought . . .
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The Sweet Spot by Heather Heyford
A Willamette Valley Romance #1
What would it be like to be the carrier of a family name for the eighth generation and to have with that name come the expectation that you will continue in the family line? What if your dream has always been a bit different…at least for a span of your lifetime? And, what if you were given the opportunity to chuck the family expectations, make a LOT of money and follow your dreams? That is what Hank Friestatt is contemplating as he works the family land known as The Sweet Spot. With the demands of a vineyard, winery and destination vacation site to juggle he is feeling overwhelmed even though his grandmother Ellie, who has been on the job forever, is there to guide him.
When Jamie Martel arrives at The Sweet Spot she is ready for a bit of downtime after a year of teaching music in inner city Philadelphia. She has recently received a promotion that is making her happy but also has her questioning what she really wants in the future. The Sweet Spot reminds her of her childhood and the dreams she once held. She is a giving person so when she realizes that Hank and Emily are shorthanded she immediately steps in to assist. And, when she is offered the opportunity to spend time working in Oregon for the summer she weighs the option of time in the country or going back to hectic city life. Staying will provide her with the chance to revisit her roots and also help her decide what she really wants in the future.
Hank and Jamie are attracted to one another but with only the summer to spend together the smart thing to do is not get involved – sometimes easier said than done. When Delilah, a woman Hank knew in college, shows up with people for Hank to meet, places for him to go and a proposition that is tempting – Hank finds himself on the fence about more than one thing. Only when one is about to or seems to have or has truly lost something valuable are they truly able to appreciate it.
There are ups and downs in this story with life decisions to be made that are not easy for either Jamie or Hank. There is “another woman” for them to contend with. There are backstabbers but also good friends that provide support. There are opportunities for them both to grow. And, there is finally an epiphany that allows the two to have the HEA they so richly deserve. There are also intriguing hints of who might star in the next book of the series…I am intrigued by Roy and feel he is a special person that deserves a special woman. It will be interesting to see where this series goes in the future.
Did I like this book? Yes
Do I want to read the next book in the series? Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books-Lyrical Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4 Stars
The Sweet Spot is a Oregon vineyard and guest house owned and run by the Friestatt family for several generations. Hank Friestatt had been all set to go pilot school, when his parents died in a plane crash and he needed to come home to help his grandmother run the place. He has put in the blood, sweat and tears, while his grandmother tries to teach him everything he will need to know, once she is gone. Jamie Martel grew up on a Pennsylvania dairy farm, which her father eventually sold, and she misses terribly. On the cusp of being the youngest person to be hired as a department head at the school she teaches, she comes to the Sweet spot for her last vacation before she starts the difficult and time sucking job.
The story started slow, and the characters, while developed, did not seem to have much chemistry for each other and the relationship seemed forced. The scenery, however, was richly developed and the readers learns a lot about how grapes are grown for wine, how vineyards work and the difficult life that any kind of farming is. Hank is a very unhappy person, as he feels the responsibility heavy on his shoulders, while Jamie is so perky because she loves the life on a farm, but doesn’t have the responsibilities. But apparently opposites attract. Can they get it together, realize what is really important in life and go for it or will they let misdirections keep them apart?
To make up for the slowness of the begining of the book, the end is very rushed, almost just a summary. All in all it is a sweet story, with a villainess, beautiful scenery, animals and a HEA.
I loved this author’s Oregon Wine Country books and was looking forward to this new series.
I am sorry to say that I felt it didn’t measure up to her usual stories.
The story centers around Jamie Martel, and Hank Friestatt VIII. Jamie is a music teacher from Philadelphia taking a vacation to visit the winery of one of her favorite wines. Hank inherited the vineyard after his parents’ death. He dreams of the big city while Jamie dreams of the country.
I found the story very slow and the characters took a very long time to engage me .
For me , it was sweet but just ok.
I was gifted this copy by Netgalley. The opinions expressed are solely my own.