I previously read Marina Adair's Kissing Under the Mistletoe (A St. Helena Vineyard Novel) the first book in her St. Helena Vineyard series.

I think my overall feeling from that one was that it was just okay and had way too absurd moments though as a whole it was just set up as a typical holiday romance novel.

Her newest offering, "Summer in Napa", is still focusing on the DeLuca family. The two main protagonists in this novel are Lexi and Marco (he was introduced in Kissing Under the Mistletoe).

Lexi, a long-time resident of St. Helena who left to follow her boyfriend and now ex-husband to New York. Due to her divorce she leaves New York and the restaurant she helped him built to return back to St. Helena. Lexi runs into Marco DeLuca, her ex-husband's long time best friend and reluctantly feels herself drawn to him. Marco while attempting to get his family's wine contest underway finds himself drawn to Lexi even though he does his level best to avoid her.

The good: Well this plot was a lot more palatable than Kissing Under the Mistletoe. I really enjoyed the character of Lexi and felt for her dealing with trying to start over again back home and feeling like a failure.

Also we get more insight into Abigail DeLuca since she and Lexi in this novel are long time friends. I was glad to see that Ms. Adair rounded out the character of Abigail so she was less a caricature in this novel than in the previous one.

Also thank goodness for continuity. We have glimpses of previous characters' (Gabe and Regan from 'Under the Misteloe') and allusions to long-time family grudges between the DeLuca's and others which I am sure we will hear more about in subsequent novels.

The bad: The DeLuca family are still caricatures in some aspects and they need to be fleshed out more (the brothers). I am assuming due to the subsequent novels in this series we will get to hear more about the other brothers only briefly touched upon in this novel. However, I do think that Ms. Adair did her best to write more scenes between the brothers' but the constant heavy handiness by Gabe and the other brothers' towards Marco got old fast. I would like to see more family dinners, hangouts, something, just so I can see that yes they are a very loving family with one another.

All in all this was a nice read and I am looking forward to reading the next novel in this series.

Please note that I received this novel via the Amazon Vine Program. ( )

Marina Adair’s Summer in Napa is a cute and witty friends to lovers novel. This second installment of the St. Helena Vineyard series starring the DeLuca family is a slow burning love story that is sure to delight fans of contemporary romances. Please click HERE to read my review in its entirety. ( )

Good starting over/friends to lovers story. Lexie grew up in St. Helena and dreamed of turning her grandmother's bakery into a bistro. Instead, she followed her high school sweetheart to New York, where they opened their restaurant, Pairings. But somehow, all the things she wanted took second place to Jeff's plans, until the day she found him indulging in his own pairings with her sous-chef. Now she's back home, ready to follow her long-delayed dreams. Only it hasn't started out the way she planned.

If it weren't for bad luck, Lexi would have no luck at all. From her late night arrival and sneaking into the apartment over the bakery, to locking herself out on her way to get her suitcase from her car, she has a rough morning. Then she gets stuck in the window of the bakery as she tries to sneak in without being spotted by anyone out on the street, only to be discovered by Marco DeLuca, her ex-husband's best friend and currently the last person she wants to see.

Marc had been looking forward to Lexi's arrival, even though he shouldn't. He's been crushing on her since he was fourteen, but his buddy Jeff asked her out before he could. Now, the "bro-code" says you don't poach your friend's girl, even after they've broken up, but his heart isn't listening.

I enjoyed the development of their relationship. Marc and Lexi had been friends for a long time, except for the period since the divorce. Marc had been unable to figure out what to say to Lexie, and as a result said nothing, leaving her feeling hurt. Now that she's back in town, he has a chance to make it up to her. He begins by trying to be just the friend and supporter that she needs, but his attraction to her keeps growing. I loved his inner conversations as he reminds himself over and over that she's off limits, only to forget everything the minute he's with her. Lexi doesn't want to get involved with anyone right now; she just wants to concentrate on her plans. Unfortunately, her grandmother has a bazillion dates already lined up for her, plus she's trying to fight the crazy things she feels around Marc.

I loved their interactions. Lexi has seen Marc as a player all these years. He's well-known for the variety and short tenure of his women. She gives him a hard time about his current problem, even as she tries to help him. Marc may be a player, but with Lexie, he is completely different. I loved how closely he watched her and saw her struggles. Jeff's actions had done a number on her self-confidence, but Marc had an unexpected sensitivity and seemed to know just what to say or do to give her the boost she needed. He also could think on his feet and came up with a brilliant idea - a faux romance to get her grandmother to lay off the matchmaking and protect him from his more aggressive pursuers. It wasn't long before the "faux" was dropped from the romance, as they began to drop their guards. Marc also has to deal with his reputation within his own family. Because of his actions after the deaths of their parents, his siblings still look at him as the family screw-up. However, he has worked hard to make his hotel a success, and Lexi recognizes that immediately. I loved the way that she gave him the same belief and support that he gave her.

There is also a lot going on around them. The town is getting ready for the Great Wine Showdown, a huge event. Marc has stuck his neck way out in using his recently renovated hotel as the site. There are many issues creating headaches for him. The longstanding feud between the DeLucas and the Baudouins threatens the wine-tasting itself. Marc's brothers are constantly on his case about one thing or another. Marc's sister Abby is running newspaper ads about her "missing Dick" of a husband, the battle for the caterer has come down to Lexi versus the woman who wants Marc for her own, and Marc is keeping a huge secret from Lexi. I loved the small town politics and personalities that brought all of this to life. The grandmothers were a hoot with their mix of modern and traditional values. I loved the food showdown between Lexi and Natasha, as Lexi strives to regain her mojo when it comes to unique dishes.

The biggest obstacle is one that Lexie knows nothing about, except for the jerking around she's been getting from Jeff. He is a man I detested from the get-go. His treatment of Lexi during and after the divorce is scum-of-the-earth worthy, as he made it impossible for her to use the recipes she developed for Pairings in her new place. Jeff has also been lying like a rug to Marc to gain his cooperation for his expansion plans - plans that once again will stick it to Lexie. Unfortunately, Marc doesn't figure this out until he's in deep with Lexie, and then he doesn't know how to fix it. I ached for Lexie when she found out, as her feelings of betrayal nearly leveled her. I loved the support she got from her friend Abby, and how she picked herself up yet again and went on. I ached for Marc too, as he realized just how badly he had screwed up. Though he can have major problems with his brothers, when the chips are down, they are there to support him when he needs it. I loved Gabe's comment "you don't fuck with our family, our wine, or our women." Marc's "go big" moment at the end is amazing, and he comes through for Lexie in a big way.

This was my first book by this author, but it won't be my last. Her other books are now on my "plan to read" list. I'm especially looking forward to reading Frankie and Nate's book. ( )

DESCRIPTION, NOT REVIEW: 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. ( )

Another great story from this author and for the St. Helena series. In this story we see Lexington learn to trust and love again and Marco DeLuca finally give his heart to a woman. Highly highly recommended ( )