Jennifer reviews Summer in Napa by Marina Adair

TITLE: Summer in Napa
SERIES #: A St. Helena Vineyard Novel #2
CHARACTERS: Alexis Moreau, Marco DeLuca
AUTHOR: Marina Adair
PUBLICATION DATE: 05/14/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
When Alexis “Lexi” Moreau caught her husband, Jeff, sampling the sous-chef’s more intimate wares in their New York restaurant, she ran–all the way back to her hometown of St. Helena, California. Six months later, Lexi has no husband and no restaurant. But she does have a three-step plan: First, convert her grandmother’s bakery into her dream bistro. Second, ignore Grandma’s matchmaking attempts. And third, avoid Marco DeLuca, her ex’s commitment-phobic, distractingly sexy best friend.

In school Lexi was off-limits for Marco. After all, she was his buddy’s girl. But she’s still as smart and as gorgeous–and apparently as immune to his charms–as she used to be. Yet the simple fake romance they agree upon to dodge Lexi’s grandmother’s matchmaking plans soon turns deliciously complicated. And the sultry summer might bring together all the right ingredients for Marco to win the only woman he’s ever wanted.

REVIEW:
I adore this series and I can’t seem to get enough of the residents of St. Helena. Alexis “Lexi” Moreau has come home to pick up the pieces of her life and career after the disastrous divorce from her husband, Jeffrey. All she wants is peace and quiet and be able to immerse herself in her grandmother’s bakery. On the very first day of being home, she gets stuck in a window of the bakery while trying to avoid seeing her ex-husband’s best friend and resident casanova, Marco DeLuca. Yet the person that comes to her rescue is non-other than the one man she is trying desperately to avoid. This leads to the two of them slowly making amends for the past, which develops into a friendship with the possibility of being so much more.

I thought Lexi was a sweet character that just wanted her life back after feeling that she had lost everything that she ever cared for. She was smart, vulnerable with her heart on her sleeve and her grandmother’s eclairs were the perfect remedy for any emotional trauma that she may experience. I wanted her to find her happy ending because she deserved to find a little happiness after everything that she went through with her ex.

Marco DeLuca was definitely a charmer in this book. He never wanted to settle down with anyone but when Lexi came back to town, that changed everything. He has cared for her since high school and was never able to act on it because she was with his best friend. I loved how protective he was of his family and the people he cared about, including Lexi. He made some mistakes in his relationship with Lexi but was willing to fix everything for her even if it meant possibly losing her in the end.

I love Marina Adair’s work and the St. Helena Vineyard books are one of my favorite series right now. She creates characters that you can’t help to fall in love with and romantic stories that will bring tears of happiness. I loved this book and I can’t wait to read Autumn in the Vineyard later this year.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.