The thing about devouring books is that you come across the
same tropes over and over again. And it can all grow old. Or maybe you get
jaded. So when there comes something that fits squarely into the
enemies-to-lovers, ice queen world, you don’t really expect a whole lot. And
then you get surprised. Very, very pleasantly. Yeah, that is Blend.
Lindsay Kent is the hardworking, pleasant and easy-going
manager of Vineyard, a wine bar. She has a great relationship with the owner,
Mrs. B. Lindsey has ideas popping all over to build Vineyard into a more
happening, hipper place, but the widowed Mrs. B is not always on-board with the
changes. However, Mrs. B decides to take an extended vacation and puts Lindsey
in charge even encouraging her to run with her ideas. Except there is one hitch
– anything that requires financial outlay has to involve Mrs. B’s daughter
Piper Bradshaw, who has a successful and demanding job already. So essentially,
Lindsey and Piper will be running Vineyard together. While this shouldn’t have
been a problem, it is because for reasons that Lindsey has no clue about, Piper
seems to dislike her. Free spirit Lindsey and super-organised Piper begin
working together and find not only crazy attraction but also an emotional
connection.
Lindsey and Piper are both really likeable. Piper,
thankfully, is not entirely mean ice-queen-y after a couple of initial scene
where she is unjustifiably frosty. We rather dread the forced conflict towards
the end that seems to be some sort of a template and necessity for romances.
Ever so often we wonder how the two women can even get back together when the
conflict is forced. And it is even more annoying for us when one person makes
all sacrifices to make the relationship work or resolve the conflict. In this
one, the dreaded conflict is there but Beers gives it enough emotional context
and makes sure there is no doubt that the conflict was a result of emotional
breakdown instigated by circumstances outside the relationship between the two
women. Plus (and this is the best part), the person who was unreasonable is the
one who makes all efforts to apologise and to repair the relationship. That makes
this book especially nice to read.
This one is definitely recommended.
⭐⭐⭐⭐★
