This is the first book that I have read from this author and I have to say I didn’t know what to expect.

August and Natalie are enemies and have been for some time. I was a little nervous about this because sometimes in enemies to lovers romances they can take things too far.

August is trying to create a wine that will be good, but has failed so far, it seems like he just can’t get it right. He’s a retired SEAL trying to bring forth the vision of his best friend who died in combat and he’s failing so far. And it’s starting to look like he might need to give up on his best friends dream and move on. So he’s on his way out of town.

Natalie belongs to a family that is basically wine royalty, she comes from a family that has perfected the art of making good wine. But let’s just say her family is dysfunctional and she’s never really fit in. She’s tried and failed many times so she decided to do something else. And she was successful for some time and was engaged but everything fell apart and she’s lost her job and her fiancé and has to head back home to regroup and start over.

August and Natalie need each others help and there’s only one way to do that they have to get married.

Now this is wild because August and Natalie have disliked each other for a long time but secretly they really want each other more than they can say. They go back and forth with the insults which fuels their desire for each other but I don’t feel like the insults went too far.

When August and Natalie start to spend time together they start to uncover things about each other that they didn’t know before and started to understand each other in a way they never had before.

August was a loose cannon, he would speak first and then think later but this was so funny at times but I loved it about him, he didn’t really hold much back. I also really loved how he knew when he messed up and tried his best to fix it and be better.

Natalie just wanted to be needed and wanted someone to appreciate her for who she was but also just appreciate what she was capable of. I loved watching her grow to accept August for who he was and what he meant to her.

This was so much better than I expected and I really enjoyed both characters and how they made each other better. This is a definite must read, I actually want to go back and check out the first book in this series. I really like Julian and Hallie.

I love a Tessa Bailey romance. Natalie and August fit so well together, and I loved how sweet he was. I still haven't finished the first book in this series, but this one felt like a simple romance that came together at the end. I wish it was longer

Nataly Vos is an heiress from a wine royalty family and finds herself in a tight spot when she realizes she needs to get married to access her trust fund. Enter August Cates, a vineyard owner who is in desperate need of a financial boost for his struggling business. The two strike up an arrangement, proposing a marriage of convenience that could help solve their respective problems while forcing them to explore the persistent spark between them.

This was such a fun read and reaffirmed my passion for all things Tessa Bailey. Savage banter? Check. Undeniable chemistry with characters who try to deny it? Check. Scorching spice? Check. Heart-squeezing romance? CHECK.

Despite their initial clashes, it's clear that the MMC’s connection goes beyond their verbal sparring. This is definitely a he falls first romance, and August falls hard and fast. He’s loyal, protective, and so sweet despite his initial clumsiness in expressing his feelings.

Natalie is a relatable and resilient FMC. Her struggles with self-worth and feeling overlooked by her family add depth to her character and made me feel SEEN. As she navigates her complicated relationship with August, she discovers her own strength and grows into a more confident version of herself. I loved watching her rediscover her own strength and level up to the bossiest and snarkiest (in the absolute best way) Boss B*tch.

While the plot follows the familiar path of a marriage of convenience, TB reliably followed through with her signature touches and lovable characters that make this one stand out from other MOC stories. Despite some minor miscommunications and conflicts, the development of August and Natalie's relationship feels genuine and satisfying. The book tackles themes of trust, forgiveness, and personal growth, all wrapped up in a charming Napa Valley setting that adds a touch of magic to the story. Which, despite my lack of interest (and palate) for wine, had me setting alerts for cheap flights to Napa.

Just go read this book. The only regret you’ll have is not reading it sooner.

Marriage of convenience ✔️spicy ✔️

Absolutely loved this book from beginning to end. Loved the banter between the characters. Such a fun spicy read.

Another hit from Tessa Bailey! I love an enemies to lovers story and this one between Natalie and August was so cute! It also follows the marriage of convenience trope which made it even more interesting. The setting in Napa was so dreamy and had me adding it to my bucket list. August was a great main character and I especially loved him with his cat. I found myself laughing and swooning throughout.

4.5 Stars!

Natalie Vos is an independent, sophisticated Napa Valley heiress who returns home to her family's vineyard in St. Helena after losing her job and her fiance. She's been back for a few months and still feels lost. It's time to stop avoiding her problems, and take charge of her life. All she needs is to release and secure her trust fund to put her career plans into motion. The only issue is the terms state she must marry first before she can have access to the money. Now she has to find a groom, and she's desperate enough to propose to a man she can't stand. August Cates knows just how to rile her up. They were always arguing and throwing insults, but maybe they could call a temporary truce.

August Cates owns a vineyard, but knows nothing about wine. He'd do just about anything to make his late best friend's dreams come true, but nothing is going his way, and the winery is a disaster. He needs a loan from the bank, but continues to be denied. Then the beautiful, feisty princess of St. Helena comes to him with an offer he's not sure he can refuse. This woman usually loathed the sight of him, but suddenly she wants him to pretend to be a happily engaged couple. It could be the answer to both their problems. It would be a marriage in name only, but he'd wanted her since he'd first met her, so things could turn complicated if lines were blurred. It would just be one enemy helping out another. They were now a team whether they liked it or not. Everything is going great until their physical attraction becomes too hard to ignore. In the end will they go their separate ways, or will they finally stop fighting their feelings and have a chance at a real marriage?

Unfortunately Yours (A Vine Mess, #2) by Tessa Bailey is a marriage of convenience, fake relationship, enemies to lovers romance about trust, family and unexpected connections. Opposites attract when an ex-Navy SEAL and a Napa heiress clash and ignite. We get a wonderful story full of humor, sexy banter and fabulous chemistry. <333

I loved this book! This was only second Tessa Bailey book, and I really enjoyed it. Great characters, great plot, and it kept me interested the whole way through.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC in exchange for a review.

This one was a struggle for me. The MC’s swung wildly from hating each other to being obsessed with each other for no apparent reason. The pacing gave me whiplash. It had some bright spots, like the parts about winemaking and the Napa setting, but the rest was not for me.

Thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager for my ARC.

I didn’t love the first book in this series but book two was a lot better. The characters were more interesting and I enjoyed them a bit more. It was entertaining and a perfect summer read. I would recommend this to readers who have enjoyed Tessa Bailey books in the past. Thank you netgalley for my free review copy.

The "giant ogre of a man" and "little ole me who will break if touched by his giant oaf hands" is just played out for me. It was mentioned approximately every other page and I was over it quickly. Not my favorite, sadly.

Natalie has moved back home to Napa after losing her Wallstreet job in New York and is ready to get back on her feet. The problem is she needs capital to do it and her trust fund is under lock and key until she is married. August is trying to make his vinyard a success, but it's not working. His wine is terrible, he has not idea what he is doing and he's out of funds. The two form a plan, that even though they can't seem to have a conversation without exchanging barbed words just might help them out financially. They decide to get married for the sake of convenience and once it will no longer be a scandal will go their separate ways. The problem with that plan, is that neither of them seem prepared to deal with the attraction they feel towards each other.

I adored this story! Natalie and August gave me Rhys and Bridget vibes, but in the best possible way. I really appreciated the lack of a miscommunication break up scene, because August was just that determined to fix whatever he messed up and he fixed it as quickly as he could. This was exactly the kind of book I have come to love and honestly expect from Tessa Bailey! This wonderfully done Rom-Com was exactly what I needed!

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for an ARC of this book.

I started reading Tessa Bailey books about a year ago when I knew I was going to meet her at a book signing. There has been no Tessa Bailey book I have read that I did not like.

Unfortunately Yours was such a fun and light read for me.. I enjoyed the two main characters Natalie and August. I enjoyed seeing their story unfold . Their fighting had me laughing at times witch made the story enjoyable. There was also character development for both of them and it was nice to see them learn how to open their hearts and trust each other.

3.5 Stars
This is the second entry of this series by Tessa Bailey.
I am a massive Bailey fan and have read many of her books, recommending them to others. This was good yet didn't feel like a usual Bailey book.

Hilarious, smart, and sassy. Spicy! Fans of Tessa Bailey will love enemies-to-lovers Natalie and August and get to see a glimpse of Julian and Hallie from Secretly Yours.

In this book, we see Natalie home at her parents' vineyard licking her wounds after she loses both her job and her fiancé. Determined to get back on her feet, Natalie needs funds to start her own investment firm, but she can't access her trust fund until she's both employed AND married. Enter August, the former Navy SEAL and terrible winemaker from book one in this duology who just seems to push all her buttons--even though she'd rather he be unbuttoning them. He's desperate for a small business loan (and to get in Natalie's pants). The two form a tenuous truce and agree to a marriage of convenience that ends up fruitful for both of them.

While I enjoyed the first book in this pair, I LOVED this one. A marriage of convenience trope is difficult to pull off, but Bailey does it well--I'm not sure why I'm surprised. August is also hot as sin, and a rough n' tumble lead every polished girl like Natalie needs. This book brought the steam, and it was wonderful to watch the two come to their senses and fall for each other.

Thanks to Avon for my eARC and finished copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 9/10

Unfortunately Yours is the second novel in the A Vine Mess series that takes connected characters and tell their own stories. The first novel, Secretly Yours, followed Julian and Hallie, who both make cameos in this story. Since the novels follow a different couple, each could be read as a standalone or together as a series. The main character in this story, Natalie Vos, is the sister of Julian and needs her trust fund to finance her new business venture. The other main character is August Cates is an ex-Navy SEAL who owns a vineyard but is struggling with the wine making business. The two meet and have the same general goal, which is to obtain funds, so they eventually land on a plan to have a marriage of convenience. They will get married, obtain Natalie’s funds, and then shortly part ways.

The two characters share great banter and have clear sparks that fly between them. There is some insta-lust, but I do appreciate that the love part took a little longer to develop. Their romance does develop and is the focus of the story, but I liked that each has their own journey, too. As characters, both were well-described, so it was easy to connect to them. Natalie has been underestimated and is recovering from her past while August has his own past. August is described as an oaf in this story, which works to kind of give him a descriptor that’s easy to picture; however, I think the repetitive emphasis on this point pushed the narrative to make it seem he was an idiot. There are other repetitive elements in the novel, from the use of certain words, like “babe,” and traits, like the fact August is an ex-SEAL. The writing itself has Bailey’s signature style where there is spice and wit. For me, this novel doesn’t quite live up to the Bellinger Sister series, but it was still enjoyable. Overall, this story was a lot of fun and a great romance and I look forward to reading the next Bailey novel.

**I give a special thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Avon, for the opportunity to read this entertaining novel. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

Unfortunately Yours is the second book in the Vine Mess series. This book centers on Julian's sister Natalie. We meet Natalie and her leading man August in the first book. Now they had instant chemistry but it wasn't smooth sailing after they met. So it was a lot of back and forth and pushing and shoving among the two. While they weren't fan of each other due to misconstruction, that chemistry was still there so it was an internal battle for both Natalie and August. When they needed one another they needed to tamper their hatred and learn to work together. There was so much more to Natalie and August than meets the eye so I liked how we got more in depth with them. It had me rooting for them individually along with them as a couple. These two were more alike than they think. When they were on, it was fascinating. They were nice together and truly had the feelings for each other-a pleasant couple. Overall, this was a nice story.

LOVED LOVED LOVED! First off I was lucky enough to recieve an ARC of Tessa Bailey's newest swoon worth steamy romance and I was thrilled. Tessa Bailey is one of my favoriet romance authors. She writes excellent characters.

First off I love how we are thrown directly into the plot. We open with August (MMC) attending a wine tasting/contest where Natalie Vos, long time enemy turned almost one-night stand, is giving a terrible review of his wine. We quickly learn these two characters have a past where they have an attraction but due to differences have never crossed that line to romance. Natalie is down on her luck and needs to be married to get her trust fund so August and her decide to have a fake marriage. This book is steamy, with the guy falling first and harder, and the writer was great! I would highly recommend this book to any romance readers!

After finishing Secretly Yours, I was fortunate to receive Unfortunately Yours. It was wonderful. Natalie and August compliment one another without being overly volatile or saccharine. Natalie could have easily been a spoiled, snotty rich girl who needed taking down a peg, but was in fact a young woman who tried to make up for her family's indifference by being seen, first as a wild child party girl in her youth, then as an Ivy educated take-no-prisoners financier as an adult. Her upbringing aside, Natalie is relatable and inspiring of empathy. August could just as easily be a Alph-hole meathead, but he's big, gruff, and full of empathy for others.

The Vos duology has exactly what I've been looking for in a romance. There's angst and spice, but it's not overly dark. The conflict is real and sweet and the resolutions of arguments are loving and hot.

It only loses the one star because of the compressed timeline. It takes place over the span of a few weeks on the page while Natalie and August have been playing the slow simmer game for over a month. Without the benefit of having read Secretly Yours to see Natalie and August meet, it looks like insta-lust pants feelings.

Great book. I will definitely revisit.

This was definitely better than the first book and I’m a sucker for marriage of convenience. Unfortunately, I still don’t think Tessa Bailey’s books are for me. It was still hard for me to stay engaged, it was just better than the first book