In the Virginia countryside outside of Washington, DC, Addy Wentworth was on a mission to make a new life for herself. When the opportunity arose, she settled in horse and wine country. Experiencing more than her fair share of tragedy and loss, she had plans for her future, one where failure wasn’t an option. And not just because people and cows were counting on her. She’d poured everything she … she had into her struggling vineyard, because once she’s in, she’s all in.
After giving himself wholly to the job for ten years, Crew Vega was done. He’d fulfilled his commitment, done his duty, gone above and beyond to settle the score. And the score was high. All he had to do was train his replacements and he’d be out for good.
He had a plan, one that didn’t include getting involved with his new neighbor, a woman who not only kept cows for pets, but treasured her employees as family, and understood him better than anyone ever had before. But when he learned a high level CIA target being investigated for treason was keeping tabs on her?
No, he never planned on that.
And like everything Crew Vega did in life, when he goes in, he’s all in.
Warning: I’m a devout member of the mama club and don’t want to get kicked out by angry mamas. If you aren’t eighteen, turn around, go drink your milk and eat your veggies, it’s good for your bones. And go to bed early, you’re still growing, your body needs sleep. And don’t text and drive. And be nice, sit with the kid who sits alone at lunch. And read a PG-13 book, it’s good for your brain. And go tell your mama you love her. Chop-chop, run along now. I’ll see you back when you’re eligible to vote.
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Set in a winery in Virginia and set up next door to a secret training facility, Vines provided two very different realities. Abby bought a failing winery and is turning it around. Crew bought the adjacent acres and is building a facility to train men for special, secret assignments.
I enjoyed the back and forth between Addy and Crew, and the way he pushed into her circle. The poker nights were hilarious, and let me get to know her circle better, basically her employees and her hairdresser.
There were surprises, but the best parts were getting to know all the characters.
This was my first read by this writer and let me tell you – I’m HOOKED!
I thought the humor balanced well with the suspense and steam. I actually felt myself get lost in the story quite a few times. I enjoyed the relationship between Crew and Addy. I thought they were a match made in heaven.
The writing was phenomenal. It kept me captivated right up until the end! I can’t wait to start Book 2!
I absolutely recommend this wonderful book!
Found this author as the result of a Facebook ad/recommendation. Guess those algorithms are good for something! I really enjoyed this first book in the series and am about to dive into a binge read.
The premise here is interesting…retired killer (!) and a woman who pops up on the radar of his former employers. And lots of secrets to go around.
The differing aspects of the story are intriguing. Crew’s business, Addy’s business, the suspense angle, the relationship angle, the secondary characters. It all makes for a good mix of storytelling. It’s pretty clear who the subjects of future stories will be and I can already see the possibilities for compelling books.
4.5 stars. I loved this book. A friend of mine has been trying for months to get me to read it. Why didn’t I listen sooner? I will definitely be bingeing the rest of the series. I love how Crew is alpha and soft at the same time. It’s hard to pull off. Addy’s strength, but willingness to accept help is a nice change. A lot of heroines are made so stubborn that they think they can do everything. No one can. Not alone anyway. It was nice that it’s set in a part of the country that I’m at least familiar with.
Such interesting side characters. You’ll want to know about them all. I already have the next book downloaded. This story was one of the the hardest to pin down to a particular trope. It’s suspenseful, but funny. It’s like a bodyguard type, but not. Definitely interesting.
The story line is good. I skipped the anal sex and I really didn’t like that Crew was so controlling
This was one of those novels that had just enough of everything. Mystery, suspense, quirky characters, hot af deadly men, and cows! The sexytimez were fantastic, the sweet moments adorable, and the deadly scenes were really more of in the background. Only one death happens as you’re ready. I highly recommend. I mean, if you’ve read my reviews you’ll know I hate series books. However, this one is a standalone, and it was amazing. Ive already downloaded Book 2. Read it. You’ll like it!
Audiobook review: the audiobook is a re-read/listen for me and the narrators were really good. It was easy to get lost in the story and that’s not always the case for audiobooks for me. I highly recommend it!.
Kindle review and 1st read: Loved it! The setting was unique and the storyline was exciting. Add in several great side characters, the romantic dance between the main characters, and funny cows. All of that and you get a fun, romantic suspense.
Addy owns a winery where most of the story takes place. She’s a great heroine who I could respect and I enjoyed her relationship with the cows. The cows had enough personality to be considered side characters. They were a funny addition. Then there were also other great side characters at the winery that brought a lot to the story.
Crew, is the kind of hero I like. He’s quiet…speaks more with a look than talking, he’s very protective, and despite what he does for a living, he’s genuinely a good guy. He also brings a few very, interesting side characters to the story.
I like that this is a series of standalones to look forward to more. I can see myself re-reading this one.
Who wouldn’t love a book with pet cows? Add in a pet cow who likes to escape and helps you meet the hot new neighbor and I was hooked. I absolutely loved this book. I just loved Addy and Crew. Addy is the sweetest and I love how she found a family at the winery even if it kind of drives Crew crazy. And Crew, oh man he was so perfect. He was totally an alpha but yet he wasn’t a jerk. He took such great care of Addy during the whole book. There were spectacular slide characters that just added to the book in the best way. I foresee this being a book I reread and am excited to hear the audiobook.
This book should be rated “X”, as the sexual encounters are extremely explicit. In my opinion, this is not necessary for an adult reader. Additionally, it became disgusting to have so many details described over and over again, and leaving no need for your imagination. In fact, I didn’t even understand the purpose of this book was, other than to totally disgust me. The author (Brynne-Asher) should be sent back to “author school” to learn how to write without such detail. Leave something for the reader’s imagination! And, please: HAVE A PLOT!!!
Did a reread of this in anticipation of Book 5 and it was awesome lol. Crew and Addy are very comical together. Addy and her friends and cows will have you laughing. Crew is bossy and protective. He knows that Addy is it for him pretty quickly. This book has some action in it also. SOOO GOOD
The entire series is great…this one remains my favorite!
Wow, wow, wow!!! This book totally grabbed me from the first page!! Seriously a great love story with a bit of action thrown in!! LOVED THIS!!!
Lighthearted yet intense in areas, suspense romance at its best. Two badly bent (but not broken) people find each other in the oddest of situations, she’s looking for her pet cow Harry and he’s running the perimeter of his “killer training camp”. With lively banter and the band of misfit winery employees, the story remains lighthearted even while dealing with the bad guys. Ultra steamy scenes!
I love Crew and Addy. I love the cows are pets. I can’t wait to read more from this author.
Vines was simply spellbinding. Brynne Asher will hypnotize you with her soulful words. You will experience love, laughter , friendship and endure the pain like it was your own. Simply Amazing. I highly recommend this series.
5 “Live With Me” Stars
“Vines” is a fantastic kickoff to the start of a new series by Brynne Asher.
First of all, the name Crew Vega?! That is one sexy, hot, Alpha, swoon worthy name. And Crew definitely lives up to all of those traits. His job pretty much makes him a bad@ss and you just know that he will love and protect anything (and anyone) he cares about.
Addy was such a strong spitfire of a woman that I just loved everything about her. She didn’t need a man to do anything for her and stuck to her guns. It was fun to see the push and pull relationship between the two.
Crew and Addy are definitely a new favorite book couple for me and I look forward to the next book in the Killers Series.
My favorite part of this book, hands down, was the cows. Just wait until you get to the cow-transport part and you’ll see why the cows are my favorite. Thanks to this book, I now find myself browswing cow-memes online, which annoys my husband to no end (because you know I have to share them with him!).
Crew and Addy have both decided to start over in Virginia. Crew wants to have a life of his own after giving his all to his job for about a decade, but he never intended on having cows become a part of that new life. Addy wants a new life and to feel like she’s succeeding at something, even though her vineyard is struggling and her cows continue to visit her surly neighbor.
While the cows bring these two together, Crew finding that Addy is in very real danger because of a traitorous person solidifies their fate. Crew can’t let Addy get hurt and then finds that he can’t let her go because she becomes his new life.
I’d recommend this book to anyone looking for a couple trying to start over, but not looking for love until it slaps them upside the head.
I read this book back in 2017 and really enjoyed it, but re-reading it again reminded me how much I loved Crew, Addy and of course the cows!!! The banter and chemistry between Crew and Addy is so fun and then to add in the little bit of suspense made it amazing!! There is always something about that ex-military, bada$$ alpha male that gets me every time. Crew Vega is all that and so much more! Addy Wentworth was just perfect for Crew, she was always there for him when he needed her and that protective streak he has for her was seriously swoony.
It was so great revisiting this amazing couple, and having read all the books that comes after this one, it was really fun to see snippets of the secondary characters before their own happily ever after. And I can’t not give another shout out to the cows, Harry, Scarlett and Batgirl!!
This is my first time reading a Brynne Asher book and WOW!!! I adored Crew and Addy’s story. It had all the feels!
This is sooo good!!
A woman with a buried past who just wants to be content now with her winery and cows.
A man who finally found a place he can breathe and build his compound.
When Crew meets Addy for the first time, it’s when she is walking with her cows. Then Harry, her cow, goes over to visit Crew. He takes her back and the adventure begins from there.
You will have to read it yourself. I don’t want to reveal any spoilers. Just wish I wouldn’t have waited so long to read it.