Overall very disappointed... and that genuinely breaks my heart considering Sophie Lark has been one of my favorite authors for quite some time. With whats going on in the world right now, I can't get behind reading Elon Musk propaganda. Nor can I look past some of the blatantly racist remarks.

As a woman with Hispanic roots, this book doesn’t align with representation that I can support. It’s tone deaf and belittling of the contributions that migrants make to our society. Its support of Musk, who is dismantling our government and affecting the livelihood of many in order to increase his wealth is also appalling.

Sparrow and Vine by Sophie Lark

Summary:
The wedding that never was…
Sadie Sparrow loves the beautiful overgrown winery of Sparrow and Vine. It's her family home, and she's willing to do anything to inherit it: even marry her worst enemy. It's the only possible solution. Or at least, Monroe Beaumont makes it seem that way when he corners Sadie with his offer. Intimidation is what Monroe does best for the pack of pirates he calls brothers. And after all…somebody has to get married to unlock the family trust.
Sadie's sisters are furious. They're sure that everything they love is about to be stolen from them by Beaumonts. But Sadie's the one who actually has to live with one of them. The biggest one…who smells like cinnamon and insists on sharing a bed… Sadie's always known she'd have to fight for Sparrow and Vine. She just didn't know she'd be fighting her own husband...

Review: 4-Star
While this story has so much that makes it a winner, it’s not a page-turner. I was able to sit the book down for over a week, before picking it up and finishing. The editing, flow, character development is all spot on, but it’s just has that spark missing which turns the story into a page-turner that you can’t put down.

Conclusion:
Would I buy this book for a friend? YES
Would I recommend this book to others? YES
Would I read more books written by this Author? YES

This author has written very disgusting things in the book and I hope to never see her on NetGalley again.

I thought the premise would be great but the racist remarks and also the overall gist that both just immediately don’t trust people in their lives but each other - who they just met. It’s just not it.

The racist comments + Elon Musk praise was NOT it. I was so excited to read this and was so disappointed. Thank you netgalley for giving me this ARC but unfortunately it was not a good read :(

I wasn't the biggest fan of the Brutal Prince series but I've heard a lot of praise for Sopgie Lark's books. So I decided to give this a second shot but the racist comments truly distorted my enjoyment.

So the racism and Elon Musk worship are a major ick and reason enough not to finish.

This one had a lot of potential. I loved the setting and the idea of the family rivalry. However, the romance just didn’t hold up for me. At the beginning, Monroe says that Sadie is nothing special and it’s alluded that these families don’t get along.

Suddenly, the two main characters trust each other over their siblings and families without us seeing them actually build their relationship. It felt very insta-love without building on their connection and relationship. We hear very little about their background and relationship before the book and honestly I was more interested in what was going on with the other siblings (who I’m sure will be the main characters in the next books).

For the length of the book, the resolution felt rushed and the decisions made were confusing and felt like they were not aligned with what we had previously learned about the characters. The epilogue was cute and definitely sets up for more questions for the rest of the series.

Unfortunately after attempting to read this book I cannot move past the issues I have with some of the comments and characters motivations in this story. Since starting to read this book I have seen that the Sophie Lark has come out and apologized for the insensitive issues in this story and that she will be fixing them. Since I was given the opportunity to review this original version I cannot adjust my review to reflect that. I hope that her changes reflect more sensitivity to her readers and look forward to seeing what changes are made.

I was part way through this book and unsure whether or not to continue when I was made aware of the issues. Given I was already finding the characters unlikeable and the plot dull, I did not finish it.

From the reviews on this book. I no longer want to read it, which is a shame because I was looking forward to it.

Sparrow and Vine was admittedly my last attempt to read a Sophie Lark book. Though I initially enjoyed her unique spin on the mafia and serial unaliver sub-genres, I have noticed a decline in the quality and craft of her work for a while now. But I wanted to give her one last shot, for nostalgia’s sake.

Unfortunately, due to the racist nature of some of the content in this book, I did not complete this novel. I find it staggeringly ignorant to stereotype and denigrate migrant workers and immigrants, especially at this specific moment in time. That it was written so casually as a throwaway line feels even worse, somehow. Also? The hero worship of a certain creep who profited off of daddy’s apartheid money was a whole capital-C CHOICE.

As I was debating on how to write a review for this, I came across other reviewers (thankfully) highlighting these same passages and then being silenced for doing so. I will add my voice with theirs to say that this behavior is not okay. And mention that the author seeking to claim ignorance to the harm she caused because the book was written a year ago was not the “apology” she thought it was.

I am also disappointed that the publisher did not mitigate this issue once it was allegedly raised. Even with the rewrites that are supposedly happening, I will not be continuing with this series or this author.

Thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

I was thrilled to be approved for this book, but unfortunately, I’m really disappointed. The inclusion of racist and political remarks is inexcusable and has no place in any story.

I’m glad to hear that Bloom Books ensured these comments were removed before publication, but the author’s defense—that it was appropriate when originally written—is unacceptable.

I’m giving this 3 stars just to not hurt my account more but it deserves zero.

Having read reviews, I can not read this book. I wouldn't want to read this even if there are edits. I won't be reading anything by this author going forward.

Thank you SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

I was super excited to receive this and read as she was a new to me author that I'd heard so much about. Unfortunately due to the racist and political views I can't continue reading.

While I am grateful that Bloom advised the content in question to be removed prior to the release allowing the author to publish this makes the apology so much worse.

Thank you SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

When I saw I was approved to read a book from my favorite publisher I was thrilled. Unfortunately, the author of this book has disappointed all of us in their choice to express racist and political views in this book that can not be supported.

I am grateful to hear Bloom had advised this to be removed prior to release but the authors apology or excuse that this book would have been ok to include these comments when it was written, a year prior, is disgusting.

This is unfortunate, because I want to like this book but I cannot justify it with the recent racial issues.

Due to the racism in this book, I am choosing not to read it. I'm disappointed in the author (and will not be reading any of her books) and equally frustrated that Bloom Books allowed the racist lines to make it through the editing process despite being identified as harmful.

I honestly thought we were over this type of thing. The racism in this book was so disgusting and honestly disappointing as well. Saying that they need more people with ‘questionable’ visas to work with the grapes is not okay. Plus, one of the characters sees Elon Musk as an idol.
Hard pass.

I’m not able to finish this book due to the author’s racist writing.I’m not able to finish this book due to the author’s racist writing.I’m not able to finish this book due to the author’s racist writing.