Unfortunately Yours is Tessa Bailey’s latest steamy romantic comedy and the second in her Napa Valley series. It is an opposites-attract, marriage-of-convenience story told in dual points of view. Natalie Vos, Julian’s sister, was introduced in Secretly Yours.

Twenty-something Natalie Vos was an investment guru in Manhattan until she made a billion-dollar mistake, which cost her job and her fiancé in one fell swoop. She returned home to St. Helena, California to lick her wounds. After a couple of months of drinking too much wine and being unneeded at the family winery, she’s ready to return to New York and start her own investment firm. Unfortunately the terms of her trust fund require that she be married before she can access the funds.

35-year-old former Navy SEAL August Cates has been working unsuccessfully for two years to produce a decent wine. He bought the small vineyard to fulfill his dead buddy’s dream, but he doesn’t know what he’s doing. He’s on the verge of abandoning his mission because he can’t get a bank loan.

When August met Natalie at a wine-tasting event, they were instantly attracted to one another. He said something boneheaded, and they have been trading insults ever since. Both August and Natalie are desperate enough to get married for a month to get the money they need. Natalie’s mom plans a nice wedding in a week so that the banker will believe it’s real. The question becomes how long will Natalie and August’s relationship last?

Unfortunately Yours is a very funny romance with engaging characters; I enjoyed it much more than Secretly Yours. August’s POV is especially well-written, with the rough language you would expect from a SEAL. Both Natalie and August have emotional issues to overcome in addition to working on their careers. Natalie’s childhood modus operandi was acting out to get attention, and she has a bad reputation in her hometown. August is viewed as a muscle-bound idiot who makes rotgut wine. Hallie and Julian’s multiple appearances in the story add to the plot and character development. Unfortunately Yours contains a lot of profanity and sexual references.

I received an Advance Review Copy (ARC) from NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Well I devoured this book in one day! And I must say, that this is probably my favorite Tessa Bailey book she has written. I absolutely LOVED the banter, the teasing, the name calling. Poking each other just to get a rise out of one another it was just * chef’s kiss*. August is a top tie book boyfriend, but I loved that Natalie could hold her own. Gotta love a strong FMC. I will definitely be getting a physical copy as soon as it comes out!

🍷 marriage of convenience
🐈 “enemies” to lovers
🍷 small town romance
🐈 forced proximity
🍷 hero falls first

I’ve been impatiently waiting for Natalie and August’s story ever since I read Secretly Yours months ago, and it did not disappoint!

Unfortunately Yours follows Natalie Vos, a down-on-her-luck Napa heiress, as she returns to her hometown after losing her job and fiancé. Despite hitting what feels like rock bottom, Natalie’s determined to make a comeback in NYC’s finance world as it’s the only place she’s ever felt she’s belonged. Natalie’s trust fund could help startup her new business venture but she needs to be married to access it. Enter August Cates: ex-Navy SEAL who needs money to make his struggling vineyard a success—and a man Natalie can’t stand. A marriage of convenience can solve all their financial woes…if they don’t kill each other first.

Unfortunately Yours was such a fun and light read. I love an MMC who falls first and August Cates was down BAD for Natalie Voss from the very beginning. In between their verbal sparring and palpable tension, their sizzling chemistry is undeniable. Their banter had me laughing so hard at times. Natalie’s a strong and independent FMC and I loved her for it. Her relationship with her family really tugged at my heartstrings as all she wanted was to feel accepted and understood. But August was the first person to see Natalie for who she is. Their romance was quick, fast-paced and steamy 🔥, and I appreciated how the 3rd act “conflict” was resolved. I also loved getting bits of Julian and Hallie in this one 🫶🏼

Another great book by Tessa Bailey!

Unfortunately Yours was a pure delight from the first page. It's full of steamy (and swoon-worthy) romance that keeps you turning the page. I loved the fact that it's a marriage of convenience and enemies-to-lovers storyline — with the addition of the man falling first. The perfect combination! It's also full of Tessa's signature wit and banter that will keep you smiling and laughing the whole way through. It's the perfect summer read and is sure to be a new favourite Tessa Bailey book for many of her fans.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Tessa Bailey and I have a back-and-forth relationship. Some of her books nail it for me and others dont. I didnt care much for the first book in this series - as my previous review stated - so I was a bit hesitant reading this one.

Unfortunately Yours blew the previous one out of the water.

I had so much fun reading this book. I adored August and Natalie's relationship. Seeing them slowly build trust in one another during a marriage of convenience (that ultimately was just them getting married to do it) warned my heart. Their banter reminded me a lot of my husband and I's own conversations. I loved them both individually and together. Their relationship struggles during this book was so real to me and it was such a fantastic read. And yes, the spice is spicy haha.

I will 100% be recommending this book to anyone wanting a fun romance with a marriage of convenience.

When I say I want an August, I mean I WANT AN AUGUST. The book was super cute, enemies to loves with a marriage of convenience tied in. It really gave those rom com butterflies! Plus I mean come on August a walking green flag.

This next installation in the "A Vine Mess" series by Bailey provided the best wine country vibes, a type of small-town trope that has quickly become a favorite of mine after reading both books in this series. Both Natalie and August were the most lovable types of characters, leaving room for relatability in the escapism of their swoon-worthy marriage of convenience/fake marriage trope. The addition of Menace the cat was one of my favorite parts of the story, adding that comedy part that Tessa Bailey is known for in her rom-com romances.

Definitely better than book one but still not a favorite. I really did enjoy the chemistry between August and Natalie but again some of it was just a little too over the top for me and I just didn't connect with a lot of it. I appreciate how feisty Natalie was and how she stood up for herself but I wish we got more of that with her family/mother. Like some storylines started and they were either swept under the rug or got a nice quick fix. That is mainly my issue with this book. But again so many others have loved it so I recommend reading it and finding out for yourself how you will feel. That is seriously the best part about reading, everyone has different tastes.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: June 6, 2023

I’m such a sucker for amazing first lines and this has a great one. This marriage of convenience tale gets right to it with humor and chemistry oozing off the page. Lots of dirty talk/steam in this open door romcom! It’s a bit much with the “woman needs big strong man” trope and my only issue is that it’s a good book with a great story and characters on its own—it just doesn’t need the constant reminders comparing his shoulders to boulders. Will be a fun summer/vacation read for many…a HEA set in wine country!

So cute. I’m a sucker for good banter and Tessa Bailey always delivers. Natalie and August’s chemistry was great and reeled me in from the start.

As a self declared Tessa fangirl, this one did not disappoint. I think I'll always be chasing the Westport high, but Napa was a really neat setting too! In my opinion, Natalie and August had WAY more chemistry than Hallie/Julian ever did. The tropes (enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience, forced proximity, etc.) were all spot on. My only teeny tiny complaint would be that some of August's dialogue way a little "cave-manish". And I am always the first one to hop on that alpha/asshole/masculine bandwagon... but some of his lines were just a little too out there to get behind. But overall I really enjoyed it, and will obviously keep reading anything and everything that Queen Bailey pumps out.

🍷Marriage of Convenience
🍷Enemies to Lovers
🍷Forced Proximity
🍷Small Town

Unfortunately Yours is book two of the Vine Mess series and I absolutely devoured this book! I couldn’t put it down! I couldn’t wait to read this when I found out Tessa was writing a marriage of convenience book! And it was worth the wait and it was every thing I wanted and more! I loved the angst, the chemistry between Natalie and August, and the spice was smoking hot! I laughed so much but I also got a little emotional at parts. I loved how independent Natalie was and I loved how protective and sweet August was with Natalie. If you are looking for a fun and sweet RomCom then this is the book for you!

This was a sweet with oh-so-saucy-heat RomCom that features two characters that I loved from Secretly Yours, the first book in the A Vine Mess series.

August is an ex-Navy SEAL and a massive dude who is trying his hand at wine making and failing. Natalie is a Napa heiress with family issues and a wicked financial mind who has hit a professional roadblock.

As we saw in Secretly Yours, these two headstrong people do not get along, but they decide it's in their best interests to have a marriage of convenience. As one does. The fake marriage is needed so Natalie can get access to her hefty trust fund and August can get a bank loan for his winery start up. What could possibly go wrong?

Tessa Bailey proves she is the queen of the spicy RomCom with saucy bedroom scenes, her signature humour (oh the banter!!), great chemistry between her characters and a bevy of romance tropes. In this book we have fake marriage, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and just a bit (thankfully) of miscommunication - the bane of all tropes for this reader.

What I didn't love: The overuse of endearments. Argh. Nicknames like 'babe' *inner shudder* are definitely not my jam, so August's constant use of the term "Princess" for Natalie got annoying fast.

The connection between August and Natalie was gentle at times and hot-HOT-HOT other times making them a couple readers will root for. August (sorry, not a fan of the name) successfully balanced between obnoxious dude/manly male and a big 'ol softie while Natalie was a good balance of a strong, smart woman who has her vulnerable side too.

Unfortunately Yours is a great addition to this newer series and I actually liked it even more than Secretly Yours. Make sure you read the epilogue which adds that extra swoony layer on top of this entertaining RomCom that has both humour, heart and spice.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Avon Books for the complimentary digital copy of this book which was sent in exchange for my honest review.

I. Love. Natalie. and August!!!

I was not sure how I'd like this one, given Natalie did not seem very likeable in the previous book in this series. But, she was real and raw and August is major book boyfriend vibes.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Unfortunately Yours is the second and final book in the A Vine Mess duology. Natalie Vos is lying low and licking her wounds at her family's vineyard after losing her job and fiance. She's planning on moving back to New York and starting her own business. However, she needs capital and quickly. She does have a trust fund, but that will only be released to her once she's married. If only there was someone that could help her out... Enter August who needs to be attached to reputable to get a business loan for his new winery. Especially since it's common knowledge that his wine is terrible. The two will have to put aside their dislike for each other to fool everyone in town that they're really in love.
Tessa Bailey can do no wrong. I have loved this series and I was really excited for August and Natalie's story since reading the first book. I loved the relationship between the two main characters and it was great that we got to see plenty of Hallie and Julian from the previous book.

Tessa Bailey is a banter genius! She knows how to hook you in and make you laugh while falling for the characters! I was very intrigued by Natalie and August after their introduction in Secretly Yours. But wow! I did not expect to fall in love with them so quickly!

Natalie and August are fantastic! They both have dreams that they are unwilling to give up, past failures that have a hold on them, and so much attraction I’m surprised my book didn’t catch fire!! 🔥

Read if you like:
🍾 Marriage of convenience
🍾 Enemies to lovers
🍾 Redemption story
🍾 He falls first
🍾 Visiting wineries

This is probably my new favorite Tessa Bailey novel. I even read it in 24 hours. August and Natalie have such an amazing relationship of tension and passion. Their individual development and the development of their relationship throughout the book is my favorite of the year. Filled with incredibly hot scenes and a love that has ruined men for me, this is one you can't miss.

the highlight of this story is definitely the interactions and chemistry between natalie and august and it was so adorable and wholesome to see how they grew into liking each other!

Oh my goodness I really liked this book! I loved how August was such a big, burly teddy bear and how treasured he made Nat feel. This one had me hooked and I couldn’t stop!

This hurts my heart a little to say, but the latest Tessa Bailey was not for me. The main male character, August, was not my cup of tea. He leaned a little too over protective and possessive for me. There were points while reading this that I went “yuck” out loud at him. This might ring someone’s bell, but definitely not mine.

Thanks to @avonbooks and @netgalley for the ARC.