Crush on You (Three Kisses)

In the past, romance readers were expected to put up with quite a bit from their romantic heroes. Jerk-like behavior was considered to be the gold standard. The more arrogant, the better. Only through the love of a good woman will he be redeemed, thanks to the power of love. Luckily, we see less and less of this type of characterization in modern romances, which is why //Crush on You// is so frustrating. Although, you have to hand it to author Christie Ridgeway, this time the jerk wasn't the hero but rather the heroine. Allie Baci will do anything to hang onto her family's Napa Winery. Anything, including manipulate Penn Bennett, neighbor and star of //Build Me Up//, an //Extreme Home Makeover// knock-off, into remodeling a cottage on her property, a famous landmark of the area. Long ago dubbed the "Nun of Napa" Allie is willing to use Penn in the bedroom as well, provided no one ever find out. While the romance between the main characters is annoying at best, the secondary romance between Allie's cousin, Gil and his best friend Claire make the story bearable. Even enjoyable. Reviewed by Lanine Bradley

Crush on You is the first book in a new trilogy by Christie Ridgway set in Napa Valley wine country. I loved her previous series about knitting so it wasn't a stretch that this book (and the series) would be equally enjoyable and entertaining. Alessandra Baci's grand plan to restore the Baci wedding cottage to it's former glory and rent it out for wedding ceremonies, seems like just the ticket to bring in extra revenue and save Tanti Baci from certain bankruptcy. But her plan hits an unexpected roadblock when the contractor she hires to do the work bails on her at the last minute for a better paying job. How convenient is it then, that Penn Bennett, TV personality, Hollywood Hottie and star of his own wildly successful home renovation show Build Me Up is home visiting his half brothers Liam and Seth Bennett, who also just happen to own their own winery and are the Baci sisters biggest rivals. From the moment Penn spies Alessandra complete in her wedding dress (and pajamas), rubber soles of her flip-flops slapping against the heels of her feet, flying across the yard towards him, he can't help but be captivated by the youngest Baci sister. And after a few fake tears (yes he knows they're fake and calls her on it), no one is more surprised than Penn himself when he offers up his handyman services in order to get the renovations done on time. Alessandra may not like the Bennett's (but does Penn really count since he's the newly discovered bastard son?), but she knows better than to look a gift horse in the mouth - or in this case a Bennett and so she accepts his helping hand. A hand attached to the end of a very infuriating, exceedingly hot Bennett that makes her girl parts tingle. Neither Penn nor Alessandra is looking for a long term relationship. After all she's not called the Nun of Napa for no reason after her own wedding day ended tragically five years earlier when her fiancé didn't make it to his own "Big Day". And Penn is only home for a short time and has no intention of giving up his bachelor ways in LA. Yet neither can deny that they definitely throw off the sparks whenever they are around each other. Makes for some fun and muy caliente reading! No review would be complete without mentioning Gil. It's always an unexpected pleasure when the secondary characters in a book are almost as interesting as the main ones. I fell just a little bit in love with him and his storyline is what made Crush on You more than worth reading for me. Gil is Alessandra's cousin, but also more importantly the best friend and "Maid of Honor" for Clare who's own impending nuptials are scheduled to be the first at the Baci Wedding Cottage. Mmmmm wonder how that turned out? Gil and Clare's story deserves its own book! Maybe a prequel? Crush on You will certainly make you laugh, may even make you tear up and it's the perfect summer read for a lazy day at home or the beach.

Crush On You by Christie Ridgway is another enchanting start to the Baci sisters series. Alessandra Baci is determined to save her families winery. Alli and her sisters are trying to make Tanti Baci the perfect wedding venue. But she can't seem to keep her workers on the project. She needs renovation work done on the cottage she plans to use for weddings. Coming to her rescue is the half brother of the neighboring winery, the Bennett's. Penn Bennett star if Penn Bennett's "Build Me Up" renovation show is visiting the brothers he never knew. Liam and Seth Bennett open their home and life's to Penn. He is just getting to know them when he meets the Nun of Napa AKA Alessandra Baci. Alli barrels into Penn's life and turns it upside down. Penn agrees to help Alli with her wedding chapel and enlist her help to get it completed on time. Penn knew he was attracted to Alli and was willing to see where it would go. But he isn't comfortable been Alli's secret fling. The whole town has never let Alli forget her tragedy. She tries to move on but something or someone pulls her back to that terrible day when her fiancee died on their wedding day. Alli thinks she can keep Penn a secret but in reality her heart is already involved. Crush On You is a heartfelt story. Its shows how friends and love ones mean well but can hold a person back from moving on. Watching Alli work through her grief was heartbreaking but it only made her stronger. And it opened her eyes to what she was almost letting slip out of her hands. I am eagerly looking forward to the next Baci sisters story.

I loved this book. It was a very steamy read and looks like the next couple of books will be just as good.

Alessandra "Nun of Napa" Baci and her sisters (Stephania and Guiliana) vowed to their dying pop to save the family vineyard, Tanti Baci. None of the siblings understood how difficult their death bed pledge would prove when they made it three months ago, but the business is teetering towards bankruptcy. In spite of her own marital woes when her fiancé Tommy failed to come to the altar because he was dead, Alessandra believes restoration of the dilapidated wedding cottage for use by brides and grooms and marketing her wine will help. Reluctantly she must go to the thorny neighbors and rivals the Bennet brood; specifically she needs Penn the host of a TV remodeling show. Penn only recently learned who his biological father was; being one of the two recently "discovered" bastards. He wants to help her as he is attracted to her and her energy, but Napa Valley is not in his itinerary even if his paternal roots are there. Finally he distrusts the nun; unaware she has her doubts as he resides in the shallow movie capital. Neither of them expected to want to be the first couple to occupy the wedding cottage. This is an enjoyable throwback (even with profanities) contemporary romance as neither of the lead couple wants to fall in love; in fact each prefers flight over fight when it comes to relationships. Character driven, fans will appreciate how far the Nun and the TV star come when they learn love means diving head first without regard to safety. Harriet Klausner