Review: Ashes and Wine – Taryn Elliott

Before Tessa met Royal Andreas, her bookstore was on the verge of sinking. And before Tessa met Royal Andreas, she didn’t mind being single. But Royal brings in business with monthly wine tastings featuring his family’s signature vintages–and brings Tessa’s heart to a standstill with intense gray eyes that look on her with nothing but cool indifference.

Yet one searing kiss between the stacks gives Tessa a glimpse of the passion smoldering beneath–and a secret pain further revealed when Royal fills in as the musician at a tasting event. Every note of Spanish guitar tells a story of family tragedy, loss, and ongoing suffering that’s made Royal afraid to lean on anyone…even if he needs Tessa’s sweet flavor more than the richest wine. Only her strength can save him when his world crumbles to ashes. But has Royal learned trust too late to claim Tessa as his own?

Series:
Release Date:  June 28, 2012
Publisher:  Entangled Publishing
Source:  Provided by Publisher
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Reviewer’s Thoughts:

Ashes and Wine was a touching story about dealing with loss and finding love at the worst possible time.

Royal Andreas was a man who gave up his dreams when his father was diagnosed with cancer three years ago.  One of those dreams was book shop owner Tessa Winters.  Royal felt as if with his father’s diagnosis the weight of the family’s needs and those of the vineyard came before anything else that he might want…and that included Tessa.  On one hand, you want to commend Royal for making sure his family was cared for and that their livelihood continued to flourish.  But on the other, you see him making this sacrifice and it’s slowly draining the life out of him.  It’s selfless, but at the same time you had to wonder why everyone let him. 

Tessa has wanted Royal since the summer she toured him family’s winery and shared a special glass of wine with him.  She made all sorts of excuses for why he wouldn’t be attracted to her and was willing to live with those, until she discovered he returned her feelings.  Once she discovered that, she was unwilling to let Royal walk away without a fight.  She forced her way into his home and into his heart when he needed her the most  She knew exactly what he needed, even when he didn’t, and she made dealing with his father’s illness a much easier road than it would have been.

Have a kleenex handy with this one, you’ll be a little teary-eyed at the end, but it’s totally worth it.