When a sexy, mature man-of-means encounters a silver vixen, healing her broken heart might be worth more than gold.Dolores Chance.When I was falling apart, I fell in love.It wasn’t supposed to happen like this. I ran away from life and ended up running into…his dog.Actually, his dog ran into me. I don’t care for dogs. Then I met the owner. Garrett Fox.When my neighbor’s sister came to visit,I … Fox.
When my neighbor’s sister came to visit,
I promised to show her around town.
I’m an investor in things, not people, not emotions.
I’m not a fan of love.
I’ve been burned before.
Then I met Dolores.
Romance has no age limit.
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From author L.B. Dunbar comes another steamy romance for the over 40.
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This is yet another amazing book by L.B. Dunbar and the over 40 series! Dolores is the sister of Denton that we met in one of the prior books, Second Chance. Note you don’t have to have read Second Chance but I would recommend to have the back story a little on Denton & Dolores’ relationship. Dolores has been the caretaker of her mother & grandmother for years and now that her mom has died, Denton (her brother) recommends she get away and go to his place in California to rest, relax and just have just Dolores time. Dolores has always been so strong and Denton wants to help take care of her and things since he’s been away so long.
While staying at Denton’s condo in California, Dolores meets Garrett who is Denton’s neighbor. It’s definitely not a love at first sight meeting but over time they relax and connect with each other. Neither intends on a relationship or love but they both find that they mean more to each other than intended – especially on Garrett’s side. He’s been burned by a past relationship and is very leery.
I loved that this book addresses their insecurities and where they both try to reassure the other. I definitely connected with both of them and it made for a very enjoyable and well-written book. I can totally recommend this book for you.
I kindly received an ARC for an honest review.
Fantastic read!
This installment of the Sexy Silver Foxes takes a delicious detour and gives us a silver “foxy” lady Dolores Chance’s story.
I love the way this author creates her mature characters, and I particularly liked Dolores. She’s independent, strong, likable and relatable. She’s the woman who cared more about others than herself.
When her brother Denton yeah that Denton Chance pushes her to take time for herself some unexpected and heartfelt moments take place.
Meeting someone wasn’t in her plans. What develops was bittersweet sexy and totally endearing. Their chemistry was off the charts and both realize they don’t want a friends with benefits package. What happens forces them to face the ton of baggage they each carry.
As both discover more than they ever imagined, this read was just delicious to read.
Sexy charming and full of passion.
This read can be read as a standalone although characters from previous books do make an appearance.
4.5 stars!
Favorite Quotes:
He’s like a dreamy candy bar. Crisp and decadent on the outside, but nuggety good on the inside.
“You break her heart, and I’ll kill you.” The threat comes from a little old lady I didn’t hear approaching even though she uses a cane to stand inside the kitchen… “I own a 1965 Remington .22 I keep in good condition, and I’m not afraid to use it.”
Messes are what men make, and that’s why God created women. To clean them up.
My Review:
Written in my favorite dual POV, this tense yet engaging story crossed the country from Georgia to California and back with several tank loads of angst, dashes of humor, heaping helpings of breath-stealing and volcanically hot sensuality, bitter lashings of family drama, and side orders of swoony romance. Dolores ran away from home and while she wasn’t looking for Oz, she felt as lost as Dorothy Gale and managed to meet a few botoxed witches, developed a fondness for Toto, and fell in love with a Tin Man and Wizard hybrid, but there were no flying monkeys. Roughly 80% of the storylines were fraught with emotional tension and conflict on both coasts before coming to that all-important HEA.
I always enjoy LB Dunbar’s books, but this one was probably my favorite. I loved it.
When 47 year old Dolores’ mother dies, her brother sends her off to recharge in his condo on the beach in California. Here, she meets the hero of the story, Garrett Fox (age 50), who is her brother’s neighbor and the absolute opposite of Dolores. She’s the owner of a small town diner, and he’s a rich businessman. She and Garrett both have a lot of baggage and because of this, neither of them really believe that a relationship is in the cards for them. They decide to be friends, knowing that their time together has an expiration date. Then they spend time together and all that goes right out the window.
I loved that I could really relate to Dolores–she’s the same age as me and hasn’t traveled much from the small town where she’s spent her entire life taking care of others. I enjoyed watching her come into herself while she was spending time with Garrett and I really liked the push and pull of their relationship. Every time they got close emotionally, Garrett would seem to find a way to put some distance between them.
The pace and the way the relationship develops just felt very real to me and I loved that. I didn’t feel like there was angst just for the sake of angst–it all felt very authentic.
I adored the Wizard of Oz references:
“I was lost.”
“You just needed some time off, sweetheart. A trip over the rainbow.”
Wally, the dog, was a sweet and funny addition to this book, as was Doloros’ grandmother, Magnolia who gave me my favorite quote of the book–
“Nothing makes sense lately.”
Magnolia: “Nothing ever does when you love someone. You’ll do things you never thought you’d do and say things you never meant to say. You’ll feel heartache like you’ve never felt before and joy like your heart might burst. And you’ll never make sense of any of it. That’s the great thing about love. It doesn’t need to make sense. It just happens.”
I always love when we get to revisit characters from previous books, as happens here, but if you haven’t read any, you won’t feel like you’re missing out, as this is a complete stand-alone.
I hope LB Dunbar continues to give us more of these “romances for the over 40” because she’s just amazing at them. They always seem to hit me right in the heart and leave me with a happy sigh and a smile on my face.
Let me begin this review by saying that I loved this book! Wine & Dine is another great book in L.B. Dunbar’s Romance over 40 series and I so look forward to reading about characters that I can relate to in contemporary romance. We have Dolores Chance, a 47 year old woman that has been working herself ragged taking care of her mother, grandmother and her diner for almost 25 years. She is beyond burnt out. Her semi-estranged brother has recently returned home after a 27 year absence and he gives her his car, credit card and keys to his California beachfront condo and tells her to take a break from real life. She hesitates but does it anyway. That is where she meets her brother’s neighbor Garrett Foxx. He’s 50 and fine but the last thing that she wants is a silver fox player. Garrett is the first to admit that he works hard and plays hard but he likes his life and has not plans to change it even if he gets a bit lonely sometimes. These two may seem like polar opposites but beneath it all the really desire the same thing, to love and be loved. This story has it all; angst, laughter, lust and love. It’s told from dual POV and stands alone in the series but all the books are so good that I recommend reading every single one. I can’t wait to see what comes next!
This is one of my all time favourite series about the over 40’s, with relatable characters and plots. Dolores has always put everybody’s needs before her own, and now that her brother is forcing her to take a chance and have a well deserved break which is just for her. Garrett is her brothers’ neighbour, and there is undeniable chemistry between them. This is a beautifully written story about two people who are afraid to open themselves up to love and take a chance on each other. I cannot wait to read more from this exceedingly talented author, whose work I highly recommend for all readers.
Dolores‘ long ‘lost’ brother Denton is back home after 27 years of absence. Their mother recently died, and Dolores kind of feels burned out. Taking care of her grandma, her mother and the dated diner, makes her tired. Only having the benefits with Rusty from the MC Gang in her small town, she feels lost, not loved, alone.
Denton is urging her to take a vacation at his beach apartment in California. To get some well deserved break. There she meets Garrett. The neighbor. With a dog. Dolores doesn’t like dogs. But the owner looks hot.
Over the time, they get to spend more time together, getting to know each other. Garrett is a business owner, rich, hot. And lonely. Burned by a woman before, he’s not looking for love.
But doesn’t love find you when you are not looking for it??
This is a very well written book. I loved the feelings in it, there are some insecurities, where both of them tried to reassure the other one. I could connect with both Dolores and Garrett, which is always a big factor for me while reading a book.
I can totally recommend this book for you.
I kindly received an arc for an honest review.
Dolores leaves her small town to relax, rest and maybe find herself. When she gets to CA she still feels lost. Her next door neighbor Garrett has sworn off love. He is happy with his life and then he meets the stunning silver vixen nest door. What does the future hold for these two?
I love that is was a connection but it was also a slow burn. He was always there to hold Dolores when she needed it, even though she may have not realized it. He never pushed for more than she could give.
Another great over 40 read that has chemistry, romance, slow burn, sexiness and some LOL moments and also a cute dog. What is there not to love.
Ms. Dunbar has a way of writing real characters that you can relate to. She writes a story that takes you away to a fantasy place but makes you feel like you can be living the story.
Another great book for the over 40 group. I loved Delores and Garrett’s story. Great book.
5 Cranky Stars
Dolores came from a small town, she lived with her mother and grandmother Magnolia in the family farmstead with a considerable amount of land tied to it. Her abusive father had left many years before and so had her younger brother, Denton. Her grandmother had given her a diner, so that she could become an independent woman. The only problem with this is that it not only made her independent but also very lonely as all her time and effort went into the diner.
There were slim pickings as far as men went in the town, her high school sweetheart broke her heart by falling in love with someone else. The only man that seemed available and vaguely interested in her was a scruffy MC, Rusty who wanted no commitment. For the last ten years she had put up with their sex only relationship. She had convinced herself that this is what she wanted. That was until her mother died and her brother decided to come home where he got a second chance with the girl of his boyhood dreams Mati. 27 years he had been gone while he made his millions in the music business. He could see how run down his sister looked and offered her his condo n California. After some persuading she took him up on the offer.
The condo was one of two right on the beach. Walking along the waters edge one day she was bowled over by a dog, belonging to the owner of the other condo, Garrett. Both of them had one thing in common and that is they were scared to love. After a while they enjoyed each others company and started spending a lot of time together. Yes the inevitable started to happen which they both tried to push away in their own way. Dolores felt that she was not good enough for Garrett and his insecurities ran high.
She returned home unexpectedly to find her precious diner under construction and Magnolia’s home also under improvement. The house she could take as it needed it, but the diner was hers and Denton had no right. He was doing it as a way of making things right for his absence. Tensions and emotions run very high at this point in the book.
This is a very heart warming story of two people struggling for different reasons with their emotions. The different emotions with all the characters is very well portrayed. Some with a little humour. I enjoyed this book a lot.
Great characters, off the charts chemistry; a new favorite
Part of the Sexy Silver Foxes/romance for over 40 series, all these stories work well as standalones, but I do think you get a little something extra out of them if you’ve read the previous books. In this case, Delores’s brother’s story, Second Chance, especially gives you some extra background, and is certainly worth the read.
I’ve probably said this before about this series, but it’s worth another mention: I love that these characters are mature forty somethings. Frankly I find them much more relatable than college age or twenty somethings, and I felt for both of these characters. As someone who has started over a few times myself, I did identify a little more strongly with Delores, who, after the death of her mother, is struggling to find herself again, but more importantly, is trying to figure out who she wants to be. Both Delores and Garrett sense the other might be what’s missing from their lives, but their pasts have taught each of them not to risk love. The heart wants what the heart wants though, and I enjoyed the journey of discovery they take together even as they each fight against getting in too deep.
The author does a stellar job with the chemistry between the two. I admit with other authors, I sometimes skim “bedroom” scenes, especially if it’s kind of the same old, same old, or if it seems to be in place of actual story. With this author, not only is there plenty of heat, but the scenes are engaging and feel integral to both the story and character arcs.
The plot had a couple of twists I didn’t see coming, but it was really the relationship between Garrett and Delores that had me sucked into the book. As for secondary characters, there are several with relatively minor but still important roles—I adored Magnolia and wanted to smack Denton even if his heart was in the right place, lol.
Great characters, off the charts chemistry and a bit of humor made for an entertaining read and a new favorite from this author for me. 5+ stars
B2B Kelly
I loved this story. Dolores is overwhelmed and stuck in a rut….in more ways than one. She just lost her mom, so her brother sends her to stay in his condo in California. Garrett is a gentleman, and a romantic – but has had his heart broken. He lives next door. Throw in a chocolate lab – who I consider to be the matchmaker – and you have the makings of a fun meet cute and great read.
There are so many things that happen in this book that are so true to life and relatable to those of us that are over 40, and I like that.
Following hot on the heels of Denton and Mati’s story, Second Chance, Wine & Dine tells Dolores’ story.
Denton’s sister is worn down by life. She nursed her dying mother, cares for her grandmother, the inimitable Magnolia, and runs the local diner.
Denton persuades her to leave town on a long overdue vacation and spend some time at his home in California. Reluctantly, she agrees after Denton promises to look after things while she’s gone.
In California she meets Denton’s neighbour, Garrett Fox. He’s smart, successful and as hot as hell. Everything Dolores feels that she is not. The ensuing story sees Garrett take Dolores under his wing, overseeing her makeover, making sure she’s taking care of herself. Friendship blooms, then grows into something more.
The development of their relationship is a joy to read. The way Garrett struggles with his developing feelings, how Dolores feels unworthy of such flattering attention – it’s awkward, adorable, painful and as hot as hell. This couple really are wonderful characters.
LB Dunbar really has hit a rich vein of form with her over-40 romances. Each one is better than the last, and the fact that she manages to weave in cameo appearances of characters from her other books is the cherry on top of this delicious cake. I can’t get enough of these silver foxes.
I absolutely love these over 40 romances. I found the humor and the struggles of the characters so easy to relate to and I found myself living this story right there next to the characters. The humor was fantastic, the chemistry between the characters off the chart and I am sad this story is over.
I am so in love with Dolores and Garrett . This is a love story of the over 40 couple . They have both been burned in the romance department so each of them as closed off in their own way. Garrett builds walls and only lets in one night stands Dolores allows herself to only have a screw bud and thinks that she doesn’t deserve more. Dolores finally leaves home after the death of her mother and just wants to regroup . She decides to stay at her brothers beach condo and recharge . Garrett and his horse of a dog stumble on Dolores on the beach and the journey ensues. They are sweet, snarky, closed off but once the wall begins to crumble they are magic together. They soon find their are many hurdles and old partners that need to be dealt with before they can begin to try at their possible forever! !! Loved their story!!
~~Michele McMullen ~~
This is my first L.B. Dunbar book, and I really loved it! I’m not over 40, but I appreciated seeing characters that aren’t in their early 20s and seemingly perfect. I enjoyed watching Dolores & Garrett have to figure out their own issues in order to be happy with each other. There were so many good feels during the book!! Can’t wait to see what happens next!
With every one of L. B. Dunar’s book there is a unique story behind the sexy silver fox but this one was different it involves a foxy silver fox! Dolores is heading to California for a much needed break from her life in Blue Ridge! Then she meets Garrett Fox and all hell breaks lose!! It emotional, it will rip heart in two, you will cry and laugh but in the end will mend your heart and soul!
Will Dolores get her happily ever after or will she just go back to the same way taking care of everybody else?
I love, love, love this author so much and this series is my favorite! I’m partial to the over 40 crowd because well I’m that crowd! It’s so refreshing to read about older couples. We don’t always have our sh*t together and sometimes due to past experiences, we fool ourselves into believing nothing can or will change. As in the case with Dolores and Garrett.
Dolores is a strong independent business owner who in her hometown her entire life taking care of her family and her diner. After the loss of her mother, Dolores’ brother Denton comes back to town and offers Dolores the opportunity to take some time away for herself. Dolores isn’t sure of Denton’s proposal as he’s not one to stick around and he needs to be responsible for the diner and their grandmother. Dolores eventually takes Denton up on his offer of his car, condo and credit card and off to California she goes.
Dolores finds her way to the beach where she gets knocked down by a dog, Wally. This leads to a first meeting with Denton’s neighbor, Garrett Fox. Garrett is flirty and sarcastic but Dolores is having none of it. Once Garrett finds out she’s Denton’s sister he decides she’s hands off.
Garrett is a business owner and eternal bachelor. After a traumatic experience with an ex, he’s decided love and a long-term relationship is not for him.
These two unlikely people become friends and soon realize that they want more from each other. But past fears and heartbreak cloud their perception and hold them back. Their journey isn’t easy but it is all so beautiful!
LB Dunbar does not disappoint. I felt everything reading this book and appreciated that LB Dunbar gave a real view of us older couples… we still have sex ya know! Go and get this book!! You will not be disappointed.
Wine and Dine is the latest phenomenal novel in LB Dunbar’s Silver Fox series. This is Dolores and Garrett story and it had me hooked from beginning to end. Ever since the previous novel Second Chance, I’ve been anxious for Dolores story and I was not disappointed.
Dolores and Garrett were perfect together. I loved that Dolores was independent and sassy inspite of needing a break from her daily life and Garrett was so sexy and confident, he brought out the best in Dolores. Both characters were flawed and slightly comple, yet they complemented each other in this over 40 novel and I fully enjoyed their story. Their chemistry and steamy scenes were off the charts intense and they were both so relatable and likable. =This story was well-paced and well-written, it had me swooning, it had me smiling, it had me loving every minute of it.
Wine and Dine was another fabulous novel from LB Dunbar and I would highly recommend it to all lovers of contemporary romances.
What an amazing 5 star story this was. I was hooked from the first page read to the last one and then I wanted more.
Dolores goes to California for some much deserved rest. Her brother insist she goes but to stay away from his neighbor, Garrett. Garrett doesn’t commit but he is attracted to her. One thing leads to another.
It was quite a captivating story that had me reading non stop until the last page. It was a lighthearted, entertaining read with amazing characters. The bantering was quite funny too. Bottomline this is a must read.
Standalone told in a dual POV with an HEA. I strongly recommend this story.