Really enjoyed this!!! Loved the characters and how witty it was. Not me smiling from ear to ear while reading this. Definitely loved it better than book 1bb

This is quintisential Tessa Bailey. If you know what that means, go ahead and read this one, it's delightful. If you don't, here's what you can expect, swoon worthy man, cool woman with aspirations and spiky exterior happily ever after spicy romance.

He is a Navy seal turned ameture wine maker. We don't really get into either of those things though. Most of this book is the two of them arguing....and doing other things. The banter is SOOO good and I found myself giggling a few times throughout! I really hated her family and loved watching him put himself on her side. This book is cliche in all the ways to start out--but I pretty much just liked it anyways.

I loved the wine maker idea, but didn't LOVE the execution--I really would have liked to see more of what it's like to run a winery mixed in with the banter and romance I will also add that it was tricky getting in to this book, but it was worth it to watch that Navy seal turn into a pile of mush madly in love.

3.75 stars. Unfortunately Yours is the second book in the A Vine Mess series and is Natalie (the sister of Julian from book one) and August's story. Natalie loses her NYC finance job and her fiancé in one fell swoop, leaving her running back to her Napa hometown and family winery to hide out. August is new to wine-making there, and failing spectacularly, as he is trying to fulfill his late best friend's dream. The two met and got off on the wrong foot, but desperate times calls for desperate measures. In order to receive her trust fund, Natalie has to be married. She needs her trust fund money to return to NYC and start her own company. August needs money and Natalie's help in the wine business. So a marriage of convenience is proposed and accepted. But convenience becomes all too real as they fall for each other and both find themselves willing to do anything to make each others' dreams come true.

The story was pretty good. August and Natalie were a good couple. I'm not a huge fan of enemies to lovers tropes. This one was a little too much for me on the meanness factor, but as the book went along they got nicer to each other and I liked them more. Once they let their guards down with each other and were honest, I really enjoyed the book and I liked them together. This turned out to be sweet, sexy and romantic with a cute ending. August and Natalie ending up adoring each other and there were some swoon-worthy moments. I originally rated this 4 stars after reading it. I liked it but now a month later, I am finding it a little forgettable. I can remember my favorite TB book still from several years ago, but since then, I haven't loved any of her books the way I loved her older ones. But I still enjoyed this book in general while I was reading it, even if it doesn't quite stand the test of time.

Overall, this was an entertaining read, August and Natalie were a cute couple by the end. I was happy they got their happy ever after. I am still holding out hope that Ms. Bailey will return to her roots one day and I will keep on reading.

Spicy marriage of convince romance? Yes please! I absolutely adore Tessa’s writing so I had been looking forward to this book since it was announced. I had such a fun time reading it. Such an easy quick read and honestly a great choice if you’re looking for a solid pick me up. The chemistry between the hero and heroine was done so well! I really loved them together and their spice…🔥 Ate this one up so fast, super good!

This was a fun, lighthearted enemies-to-lovers romance with a marriage of convenience thrown in. August is a retired Navy Seal trying to make his way in the wine industry for his deceased friend. The problem is that he's terrible at it. Natalie is not. She comes from the family who runs the premiere vineyard in the area. August thinks she's beautiful and falls fast but there's a problem: she cannot stand him. The fight constantly and the final straw finally comes forcing August to make plans to leave town. Before he can, these two find that they can help one another out via a marriage of convenience.

Unfortunately Yours is full of spice, wit, and fun adventures that are found in any Tessa Bailey novel. While the first in this series fell a bit flat for me, this book brought back all the Bailey charm that we have come to expect in one of her novels. Both of these characters are so super strong on their own and yet have some seriously deep vulnerabilities that they need to work through. I particularly loved the way that August discovered the power of open and honest communication throughout the story. I felt for Natalie as it is never easy returning home and she has a particularly tough battle to fit. These two were a great match. They were easy to like so you wanted them to win.

If you are a fan of serious heat in your romance but also want some depth to the story, Tessa Bailey is a great go-to author. Her books always feel slightly different in the best way. I was happy to see that this book delivered in all expectations and look forward to what comes next from this author.

This is a personal preference, but I cant stand military romance. The MMC is ex-Navy SEAL and that was enough for me to be turned off by the book, even with the marriage of convenience trope.

When I tell you that this book was AmazING!! The sparks, the bickering, the marriage of convenience trope… just ah yes. So good! Probably one of my favorite books I’ve read this year. Would definitely recommend, of course.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This is book 2 in the series but can be read as a standalone. The only way to describe this couple - August and Natalie - is (self-proclaimed) doofus and (Beth from Yellowstone confident) heiress. If you're into the love-to-hate, opposite attracts love story, this is your summer read! August and Natalie can't stand each other and are adamant about succeeding on their own, when they know deep down inside they're attracted and each brings something to the table that will allow the other to flourish in their goals. What starts as a slight flicker of a flame soon turns to boiling point, you'll need a fan while reading.

This book was SO FUN!! The enemies to lovers was real for me and I just didn't see how August could have a redemption arc. He followed through in classic Tessa Bailey fashion and I'm in love with him. Definitely recommend, I couldn't put it down! 4/5 stars for me!

Tessa Bailey always delivers on a quick, spicy read, but sometimes the dialogue is a little cringey. This was no exception. The story follows Natalie, a Napa winemaking heiress who needs to marry someone to unlock her trust fund, and August, a terrible winemaker who can't make wine. The two hate each other (oR dO tHeY?) but agree to marry so Natalie can get her trust fund, and so August can get a small business loan. As these things have a way of happening, they start to fall in love.

Things I liked: the cat, the setting, the spice.

Things I didn't like: the dialogue, especially August's, is just too much sometimes.

All in all, still a fun read, and one I'd recommend to any fan of steamy romance novels.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager, Avon for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley, Avon Books, and Tessa Bailey for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review! This is an excellent romance book and is even better than the first one. It follows Natalie Vos and August as they come to an agreement that will help them both (marriage of convenience anyone?)

It’s romantic, spicy, and sweet, like Tessa Bailey’s books usually are! It features vineyards, finding out who you are, lots of fun tropes, a cute cat, and more to make it the perfect summer read. Be sure to pick this one up!

In this follow-up to Bailey's "Secretly Yours", we get a better look at Natalie Vos. The exact opposite of her professor brother, Natalie has returned to Napa to recover after losing her job, fiance, and Manhattan apartment with one catastrophic business decision. when she discovers that her trust fund is tied to certain terms, Natalie must find a way to bankroll her new start-up. She refuses to stoop so low as to marry just for money. Right? Enter August Cates. Former Navy seal, current (horrendous) winemaker, and definite pain in her ass. After yet another failed wine competition, August is ready to throw in the towel. He has no money left to spend on his best friend's pipe dream and he's fully aware he's not good at it anyway. Is a marriage of convenience just what both these two need?

Filled with humor, snark, and all the smut we expect from Tessa Bailey, "Unfortunately Yours" is one of my favorite reads so far this year. August is the perfect mix of golden retriever and bad boy, with Natalie being a stormcloud that just needs a little sunshine. Bailey's hit another 5 stars with the second book in the :Vine Mess" series and I can't wait to see what comes next.

I feel like this started with me missing out on an inside joke. I like the concept of this a lot and enjoyed the growth of each character, but it was hard for me to get into. I wish we would have gotten some back story to understand why they had such a connection from the get go

Tessa Bailey's books are neither hits nor misses for me. I would die for her steamy, spicy rom-com, or I would die of boredom. Unfortunately, I was kind of in between with her newest book, Unfortunately Yours.

Unfortunately Yours started off rocky with me. I knew we were going to be the main characters in this book since I read the previous book in the series. So I already knew that I would have mixed feelings about the main character, but I was hoping that my mind would change. Unfortunately, my mind didn’t change about the main character, Natalie. She was a bit too messy and mean throughout the book. I truly tried to understand her, but I could not get her reasoning.

And from there, it went downward. I truly don’t understand why they want to be with each other. They were so mean to each other. That’s not a rom-com I want to read. I've never been a fan of the bully romance trope. It's not my thing; I won’t read it. And unfortunately, I was not warned about it.

The only thing that this book has going for it is the spicy scenes between them. They are not too spicy, but they give a bit of a kick to the reading. You know what they say about people who hate each other? The more fire and chemistry they have for each other.

In the second installment of the Vine Mess series, we again meet Natalie Vos and August Cates. Natalie, despite being born into the esteemed Vos winery family, leads a life far from the idyllic existence many assume. After losing both her job and her fiancé, Natalie finds herself reluctantly returning to her dysfunctional childhood home. While she drowns her sorrows in wine, she sets her sights on returning to New York City to establish her own firm on Wall Street. However, an outdated stipulation in her trust fund presents a major obstacle—Natalie must be married to access the funds.

August, on the other hand, has recently opened a winery despite his lack of expertise in winemaking—a fact evident to anyone who tastes his creations. He contemplates giving up, recognizing that winemaking is not his true calling. August, a former Navy SEAL, embarked on this venture as a tribute to his fallen comrade, Sam, whose dream was to own a winery after leaving the SEALs. Now facing financial troubles, with the winery on the brink of failure and loan applications falling through, August is desperate for a solution.

Could a fake marriage be the answer to their financial dilemmas? Despite their inability to get along, the boundaries should be easy to maintain, right? Or will the undeniable attraction between them complicate matters?

Personally, I found Unfortunately Yours to be a more enjoyable read than Secretly Yours; however I am glad I read Secretly Yours first since it gives us a lot of insight into the Vos family. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Publishing for a chance to read an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 Stars

I loved this some much! Tessa bailey has done it again. I loved Natalie and August banter and their entire relationship. The way he loved her from page one had be swooning!

Natalie's life is falling apart, but at least it is happening in the beautiful wine country of the Napa valley. When she isn't thinking about the bottom of her wine glass she can't help but think about August Cates's awful wine and even more awful disposition. Can these enemies get through their marriage of convenience long enough for both of them to get what they need to get their lives back on track or will more blood be spilled than wine?

I liked this book even more than the first in this series, Secretly Yours. Natalie and August's banter and hate-filled relationship were hilarious. The sexual tension was deliciously built up and satisfyingly resolved. The characters issues were front and center, and while a bit repetitive at points, helped with their development and eventually brought them together. It was satisfying to see the inner workings of both MC's thoughts and feelings as they developed which really sold the love story. Another job well done by Tessa Bailey!

✩3.5

✦What to Expect✦
• Marriage of convenience
• Enemies to lovers
• Prank wars
• Napa & wine vibes

✦Thoughts ✦
I think this book was definitely better than the first book. I loved the banter between August & Natalie. They took no mercy when it came to their jabs, but also would defend the other in heartbeat. I thought August was very funny, a little ridiculous at times…but I still found him entertaining. I felt sympathy for Natalie and found her very relatable. In typical Tessa fashion, the spice in this one is top tier and super fun.

Tessa Bailey's novels are always a solid read. Bailey's writing is fluid and clear, her characters are well crafted, and her plots feel believable. Unfortunately Yours is another solid book by Bailey, it is an easy entry point into her writing, it has a more tame feel compared to some of her indie and older works, and is a very easy and enjoyable read. In this novel Bailey explores the marriage of convenience trope, which is currently very prominent in a lot of new traditionally published contemporary romances. This novel is fairly fun, and light hearted. There is nothing crazy build around the need to get married and is a predictable set up. I found this novel to be a quick and easy read, perfect beach style read that has a nice level of sensuality. It also has a hero who has some unrequited love for the heroine, which makes him super endearing and someone the reader can easily fall and root for. The wit and banter between the hero and heroine really sparks of the page and make this novel so much fun to read.

If you are looking for a lighthearted, funny romance then Unfortunately Yours is a wonderful novel to check out. If you adore Tessa Bailey I am sure you are going to enjoy this novel. I also find this a really easy place to start with Tessa Bailey, it beautifully highlights her humor and character building, while being easily accessible for someone new to her works.

CW: PTSD, absent parent, destructive fire.

Marriage of convenience + enemies to lovers= August and Natalie Cates.

Their story technically began at the end of Secretly Yours, so while these can be read as standalones, I do recommend reading SY first.

Marriage of convenience is a favorite of mine, but so rarely is it in contemporary romance. Tessa found credible reasons for it, which I appreciated.

The hate, which so often in enemies to lovers makes zero sense to me, has some foundation in this situation, which makes the slow burn romance beautiful.

Note: slow burn romance. Not slow burn steam. The steam is more like fireworks. And yes, in true Queen Tessa fashion, it is a wide open door romance.

He falls first (which you know I love), but it's more than finding her attractive. He truly wants nothing more than to see her happy, from the beginning. And when Natalie realized she wants the same for her fake husband...some moments made me laugh (prank war), while others (Natalie comforting August after a triggering experience), made me tear up.

The one issue I have is that August, a retired Navy SEAL, is referred to as a soldier multiple times. Including by his CO. This would not happen, ever. So that was upsetting.

That said, I loved the story itself. The ending and epilogue gave me the warm fuzzies.

Be ready for a whirlwind.