Work and Play by Julia Jarrett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Winemaker Finn McNeill and his partner, Pierre, have been preparing for the launch of their new winery near Dogwood Cove for months, but before they open, they'll need a fully functional tasting room so that guests can sample their wines. Finn's preference is to design the space himself to keep costs down, but instead, Pierre hires Vancouver-based interior designer Ashley Elliott, the daughter of an old friend. The past few months have been rough for Ashley; her best friend moved across the country, business has been slow, she caught her boyfriend cheating on her in their bed, and she had to move back in with her father until she can find a new apartment in her price range. In other words, she really needs this job, so even though she's not sure small town life will be a good fit for her, she temporarily relocates to Dogwood Cove. Sparks fly when Finn and Ashley don't see eye to eye on the project, and the tension only escalates when they accidentally become roommates after the roof of Finn's house collapses during a snowstorm. It's not long before their conflict gives way to passion, but what happens when it's time for Ashley to return to Vancouver?
I loved the push-pull and fiery chemistry between Finn and Ashley, who were fighting feelings for each other almost from the moment they met. Once they stopped fighting, they made a really cute couple. The only problem was that they weren't very good at communicating how they felt about each other, or admitting that they wanted a future together. That, of course, led to a big misunderstanding in the end, but fortunately they were able to work through it with the help of their friends. The friend group that Ashley found in Dogwood Cove was actually my favorite part of the story. As in the past, Mila was so warm and welcoming, and it was great to see the rest of the "girl squad" too. I hope Serena and Paige will get stories of their own in the future!
Overall, I really enjoyed "Work and Play" and would recommend it for all contemporary romance fans, especially those who enjoy small town romance, workplace romance, and/or the enemies-to-lovers trope. I look forward to the next book in the series.
*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.
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