Tap - A Love Story

There is nothing more appealing to a woman than a HUNKY BARTENDER; even better is him being a friend. This is the third book by Ewens that deals with brothers running the Foghorn Brewery and finding their soul mates! I could tell you this is a stand alone but having read them all I can recommend starting from the beginning. Cade McNaughton is the last brother standing after his siblings have found their better halves and are filling their nests with little ones. With all the glasses behind the bar that he tends; Cade finally figuratively puts his on and notices Sistine who has been a friend at the end of his bar for months. Sistine Branch is a Yarn Shop Owner who is struggling with her business and the secret in her past that could jeopardize everything. She has to protect her heart and Cade by not letting their relationship knit together. "A copy of this book was provided by author via Netgalley with no requirements for a review. Comments here are my honest opinion."

Finally Cade’s story, and what a joy it was. In the previous stories in this series he came off as untouchable (that was my take), a jokester who relished women’s attention, but here we see the real Cade. Paired with Sistine they were so much fun...her quirkiness and distinctive style was a compliment to Cade, with so many heartfelt and touching moments. I won’t go into them as readers need to discover this for themselves...half the joy of the story was the build up of their relationship.

Ms Ewens has captured my heart with her talent of crafting characters who are real to life, it has always been easy to form an emotional attachment to each and every story...having read each book in the “A Love Story” series I have come away with different feelings of having my heart drawn into the lives of each and every character. I look forward to future stories the this author pens, I know I will never be disappointed.

This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

Loved this book!
Cade is the only one of the McNaughton brothers who isn't married. But he sees what they have and wants that love for himself too.
He has known Sistine for a while, but is starting to see her in a new light, and now he wants more. She has a secret though and when it is revealed everything they thought they had together falls apart.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a voluntary and honest review.

I received a copy of this story from NetGalley for a honest review

4 1/2stars

I loved this book, and I loved by Sistine and Cade, their story was great. So Cade is the last McNaughton brother that is single and he has come to realize that he wants what his brothers have but he's not sure how to get it. Sistine was wonderful, she's quirky, she's real and she has a secret that you don't find out what it is to almost a the end, it drove me crazy trying to figure it out. Don't worry it isn't a bad secret. I loved how their love story evolved from being friends to dating to more. I love the slow pace of their romance and how vulnerable Cade allowed himself to be. This story really worked for me and part of it was because we got to see both Cade's and Sistine's pov, along with the fact that there was no cheating and best of all there was an Epilogue which always makes a book feel complete. This was feel good book and I'm glad I got the chance to read it.

There's something sweet and wholesome about this style of writing. Ewens makes her characters your friends, their family important to you and their relationships meaningful. It's like being a fly on the wall of Sistine's knit shop or on the bar of Cade's Taproom. I'm deeply invested in the McNaughton guys and am very proud of Cade. He's not just the hot bod at the bar but a truly loving individual. Sistine is not just a knitter but a prideful businesswoman. These characters are special and I can't wait to read the next couple. I've been lucky to receive an advanced copy through Netgalley, my review was written voluntarily.

The A Love Story standalone series continues with Tap, giving readers the story of Cade and Sistine. Cade’s never had that desire to settle down, no woman has made him want to buy a house and raise babies, he’s happy with tending bar and running Foghorn Brewery with his brothers. That is, until some unexpected feelings for Sistine are stirred up. Sistine has a secret and she knows she’ll be judged for it, so she hides it away even from the man who makes her heart sing. They both recognize the feelings, but Sistine pushes for a friendship that Cade knows is meant for something more. Not used to the chase, Cade stumbles his way through wooing and trying to win the girl.

"It was kind of like when they were kids, but deeper in his chest. Cade wanted a life, a love, like his brothers."

I've held a personal flame for Cade since we first met him, he's the brother that seems so happy go lucky, easy to be around, and not necessarily serious about the future. Sure, the brewery and the bar are his brain child and are very important to him, but he’s definitely the ultimate bachelor of the brothers. There’s no better way to describe him, especially with how Tap starts out. Sistine is the quiet friend, she owns a knitting shop, is a member of the book club with all of Cade’s family and other friends, and has an interest in learning backgammon. She’s colorful and unexpected, the emotions she makes Cade feel even more so. I really liked Sistine, I liked that she was so much her own self, even if the secrets she kept hidden were not what I would’ve pictured her having. Their connection is obvious even if not to them; Tracy Ewens knows how to write chemistry that’s for sure.

"Who the heck was Sistine Branch? And why did the entire world suddenly seem so much more interesting?"

Though the brewery does play a large part in the story, in my opinion it took a backseat to the romance more so than the previous novels. Cade is so serious about the brewery, even if he’s often the one joking around, so seeing him put himself out there and do new things was fun. I laughed so hard when the chickens became more than just chickens, but this sign to Cade that maybe he was ready to settle. We see Cade be more than the bartender and Sistine is far more than the quiet knitter. We see these two in their element, both together and separate, but the moments they are together are my favorite. Each share so much of themselves, though it is apparent they both hold emotion back even if in different ways. I enjoyed them learning how to care for another, to accept being cared for, and figuring out that they can do so much more than is expected of them. The twist, though unexpected, didn’t surprise me once I made the connection. It was clever and made things interesting, especially towards the end.

"She knew there were still a few people scattered throughout the darkness, but the only things clear were his mouth and the weight in his voice she recognized as need. How had he come to need her?"

I breezed through Tap! I was so excited for Cade’s story and finding it a unique story that really stood out from the other sibling’s story was a nice surprise. Tap is the perfect casual romance read, taking place in a small California town with the bustling Foghorn Brewery as its centerpiece. It’s light without being fluffy, the romance realistic, the friendships meaningful, and the characters easy to connect with. I always recommend Tracy Ewens’ novels, but this one might be my personal favorite. All the novels can be read as standalones, though I recommend reading them in order just so you can meet all the fantastic characters Tracy Ewens has created. I can’t wait for the next, 2019 is full of promise already!

Tap was an excellent read. It was my first book by Tracy Ewens and I throughly enjoyed her writing style. The character developments were great, I loved the whole story to be honest. It was such a fun light hearted and happy read! I really enjoyed getting to know all the characters from both sides of the family, I was glad to see there were prequels to this book!

I loved Loved LOVED Sistine, our heroine. She's super talented and quirky and always stays true to herself. She goes through some difficult financial times and takes care of herself very independently, something I really respected that no one handed her out of her troubles.

Cade, our hero, I enjoyed his maturing process through the book. I didn't really get a feel of the 'old' Cade as we were just kind of told of him and who he was, but the 'new' was pretty great.

I really enjoyed the slow relaxed style in which Sistine and Cade fell for each other, it was much more realistic and lovely than an instalove situation, and it was a refreshing change from other romance.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to escape into a funny light hearted afternoon love story as I did.

I was given an arc for this book for my opinion, I look forward to reading other books by this author!

I cannot say enough good things about this book! I have read all the books in this series and while I loved them all, I think Tap is my favorite.

Tracy Ewens has given us a wonderful character in Sistine. She's sweet, quirky and just such a good soul that I wanted to bring her home to be my friend. I think I have a girl crush on Sistine!

Cade, oh gosh, what is there to saw about the last single brother of this clan? What a great guy. The first date he planned! Be still my heart!!

I hope I've intrigued you and made you want to read Tap because it's just. that. good. Seriously. Get it now!

I cannot say enough good things about Tap! It was one of those books that once I started reading I couldn’t put it down. I’ve always appreciated that Ms. Ewens has made it so easy to become fully immersed in the story..

Cade has easily become one of my favorites in her series of books.

I received thIS ARC in exchange for a voluntary and honest review.

In the final installment of the McNaughton brothers, we finally get Cade and Sistine’s story. Every time I start an Tracy Ewen’s book I think I know what to expect and then I read the book and I’m always blown away. The direction of this love story was unique but also so down to earth and normal. It’s a comfortable read about every day people with a bit of a twist to it.

Cade has always been the fun loving, happy go lucky brother and I loved that Tracy Ewens was able to add to his character so much more than that easy going charisma that we’d previously seen. Cade by far was the most realistic and honest portrayal of someone struggling to grow up, to become more grounded and seen as someone you can depend on. His emotional turmoil and his vulnerabilities were genuine.

As for Sistine, (I absolutely LOVE her name!) she was just the kind of quirky sweet type of heroine that I love. She was honest, adorably sweet in her innocence but also a bit wild and seductive when she lets her guard down.

Both of them have hidden behind their safe and predictable facades but when push comes to shove, they fight to break out of that mold. Their story is definitely along the lines of self discovery, forgiveness and accepting the good along with the more bumpy side of love.

Tracy Ewens has such a great style of writing. Her characters aren’t predictable or one dimensional, instead they’re complex and always so grounded and real. They face every day challenges, they battle inner demons, they have an amazing set of supportive friends and family and the love story builds over time and shared experiences. Sometimes I crave crazy OTT and insta-love but other times, these rich slow burn love stories that build layers upon layers of detail, from the simple setting to the supporting characters and intricate situations the MCs are placed it, it all pulls me in.

I would still recommend this series; it’s charming and sweetly romantic.

This was the right mix of sexy and sweet.
I loved Cade, and I enjoyed this book until the end.
Even if you have not read the series, you will get inside the layers of the characters, and their stories.
if you are looking for a romance that is not the norm and relatable fiction, this is one author whose titles you should look out for.

"Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review."

Loved this book very much. It had just enough sweet romance and the storyline was great! I highly recommend!

Another great romance from Traci Ewens. Her characters have grown up relationships. The women are strong, not needy. And I love the interaction between the brothers!

Cade and Sistine were acquaintances. This book is s slow burn. Cade is trying to navigate the growing pains of mid-life adulthood as all his brothers are starting families. Sistine is just trying to keep her life and finances afloat as she pursues a business.

I love the awkwardness of these two navigating friendship, kisses and life. It was all challenging but worth it.

Tracy Ewens always packs a punch in to their stories. They are dynamic, relevant, and relatable.

Tap- A Love Story was such a surprising read and I loved it! Although this book is one in a series, it is definitely a standalone, as I haven't read any of the others (though I will now!) and didn't have any issues keeping up. Anyway, this one is about Cade, a super sexy bartender and part-owner of the Foghorn Brewery. He decides it's time to reevaluate his life after a revealing photo of him goes viral.

Meanwhile, Sistine is the owner of a knitting shop in the same town, and she has a ton of money troubles looming over her head- the lights are off, the electricity needs repair, and she's desperate to get things fixed in time to host a knitting convention which will hopefully put her business back on track.

Cade and Sistine know each other but aren't super close.....yet....and Tap is such a fun story all about their lives intertwining. This was such a quick, fun read and I just loved it!

Cade McNaughton is the youngest of four brothers. He helps run the Tap House, part of Foghorn Brewery. As the only unmarried member of his family, he has the right to be able to play the field, until one Instagram post drew unwanted attention to the Foghorn Brewery, especially as it showcased a part of his body.

Sistine Branch owned Knitterley's, where she not only sold yarn and other knitting products, but held knitting classes for the little village.

The Tap House wasn't just a bar, it was a meeting place, and as such there was always something going on. The Book Club had their monthly meeting there and now every Wednesday, Cade taught Sistine Backgammon after she had mentioned he wanted to learn something new.

Cade and Sistine were slowly finding out that just maybe being in each other's company was becoming more interesting, Cade loved the quirky clothes Sistine dressed in, and Sistine was seeing Cade in a different light, not just the ladies man that he usually portrayed.

Cade decides to open up to Sistine, and when she asks some rather personal questions about his views on things, they find they just might have more in common than just fiends.

When Sistine's little shop badly needs electrical repairs, her former life comes back to haunt her and taking up an offer she knows she shouldn't, her secrecy ruins any chance of a life of happiness with Cade unless she comes clean and confesses what she has done.

Loved every word from start to finish and look forward to reading more books from Tracey Ewens.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tracey Ewens for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I loved all three of the books on this family of brothers. This Cade's story. Always up for a good time but never to settle, he realizes there may be more to life.

Sistine has been in the previous books as well. She owns a knitting store. Her and Cade a good friends until it seems like Cade wants to be more.

It's a friends to lovers tale that is filled with humor and family love. Both of them need to decide if their hearts are ready for commitment. Great ending to the McNaughton bunch. Loved the setting and the brewery and seeing all the previous couples.

Good read all around!

I really liked the way this story flowed, although for some it might be slow paced, for me it was just perfect. We have two individuals who are both in their thirties, they have their own business and both are at a crossroads in their lives. For Cade, simply put he wants to be seen beyond his physical attributes and he's reputation as a charmer, desired for his bedroom prowess and not so much for his intellect. Sistine, I adore, she has her own style and her own rhythm but she's also a business owner drowning in debt. She wants to be seen as capable and she really wants to make a go of her knitting business. But she needs money fast and the only one to offer it to her is the one person she totally left behind after being betrayed. Most readers will probably take issue with how long Sistine held on to her secret while probably thinking Cade was overreacting. I totally understood both their reactions because Ms. Ewens took time to let their back stories evolve into the fabric of the romance. In the end, I loved how it all ended and the resolution really made sense. Don't be fooled, this is still a sexy, often extremely sweet and wonderful romance partly because Sistine and Cade took time for the romance to build. Plus Sistine despite the almost goody two shoes image, is sexually proactive and knows what she wants and how to ask for it. A very sweet, poignant romance for the 21st century.

I have read all three books in this series and given them five stars they are all so good. Three brothers all very different with three very different love stories. This story of Cade the sexy bartender and Sistine the hippy owner of a knitting store is a treat to read. Both characters have know about each other for years but have never really connected in any way. Cade loves to have fun with the women he meets in the bar and has gained himself a reputation which unfortunately backfires on him causing some bad publicity for Foghorn the brew pub that he part owns with his brothers. This incident starts him evaluating his life and making him realise that he wants to settle down like his three brothers.

Sistine lives a quiet life enjoying her store and her close friends and a game of backgammon with Cade every Wednesday. She admires Cade from afar but never thinks that she has a chance with him until a late night meeting at the local coffee shop changes things. However Sistine has other things on her mind mostly how she can raise the money to do necessary repairs and renovations to her store. Unfortunately returning to her secret past is the only way she can think of to get the money she needs.

Cade becomes more enamoured with Sistine and I love that he notices the clothes that she wears and that she isn't wearing lipstick! After an amazing date with Cade, Sistine knows that she is really attracted to Cade, more than she should be if she wants to keep her dirty little secret. Things finally come to a head when Sistine's old roommate arrives on the scene and the secret is revealed in a very public way. Cade and Sistine have to decide if they can overcome this and continue to build a relationship.

Tracy did such a great job with this book, all the way through I was dying to know what was in Sistine's past and it certainly was not what I expected.

You can read this book alone but I highly recommend reading the previous two as it is such a great series and I am wondering if there will be any spin-offs with the other small town characters.

After reading Brew and Smooth, I had a feeling there was something happening between Cade and Sistine. I hoped Ewens would write their story and I’m so glad she did!

Cade and Sistine have been firmly in the friends camp but as is wont to happen, they start seeing each other in a different light.

Cade is a hot bartender and has no problem with being unattached but it’s quickly clear that he’s more than his good looks. He listens to grammar podcasts, for crying out loud! And yet he’s rarely taken seriously by his family, even though he runs a third of their brewery. I was really frustrated on his behalf when his family and friends couldn’t truly see him. At the same time, Cade needed a push to take himself more seriously as well.

After an ex posts a half naked photo of him on Instagram, Cade starts thinking it might be time for a change. He gets two hens and a rooster who will be the brewery mascots and starts taking social media and blogging more seriously. And he also starts thinking about whether it might be time to settle down and consider marriage and a family. But then he also has to think about whether his bad boy playboy image impacts his ability to find a woman worth marrying. I really liked this examination of the image he presents to the world and how it helps and hinders him.

That same examination is at play with Sistine. Sistine owns Knitterly, a knitting shop in financial straits. She’s quirky but also confident in who she is and who she is not. At the same time, she keeps her secrets and her troubles to herself, even though she has a great group of friends she could lean on. This was really hard to see because Sistine essentially makes a deal with the devil to get out of debt. I never fully understood her reasoning, especially once the truth came out. I can understand desperation and I can understand making hard choices that land you in hot water but she needed to do much more due diligence first and this made me super frustrated with her.

Cade and Sistine are both more than who they seem and I loved how they could truly see and appreciate one another. Even though Sistine was reluctant to get involved, there was no resisting Cade in the end. I loved his determined pursuit of her. Their relationship did progress faster than I would have preferred, particularly with the novel’s resolution, but overall I enjoyed this one a great deal.

The books can be read as standalones but I think you’ll appreciate Tap even more if you read Brew and Smooth first. I adore this series!

3.5 stars

I really liked how this book focused on calling out  stereotypes.  The hot bartender-all brawn and no brains, the knitting store owner-quirky and reserved.  It pointed out obvious misconceptions and then built these amazing characters that broke the mold.  That saw that they were being pigeon holed and called out those around them for doing it.  It made for a very refreshing and intellectual storyline.

It took me a bit to get into this story but, then it really picked up and I had a hard time putting it down.  I enjoyed the banter between Cade and Sistine but, often times one of them would disappear inside their heads and we would have a lot of inner dialogue that would swerve off course and leave me questioning what was going on.

After starting this book I quickly realized there were others before it.  It didn't disrupt the story having not read the others first and I really liked how developed and supportive to the storyline the previous characters were.   I don't know if I will go back and read the others but, the curiosity of how they all came to be is definitely there. 

 After reading this book I now have this burning desire to learn how to knit.  The passion Sistine had for it was palpable.  Though I don't believe I'll be pairing beer and donuts any time soon!

At one point one of the characters in "Tap" describes the conversations with Cade and Sistine as meandering. They're a good match because they meander together. That's how I feel about this book. You have to be in the mood to go with flow and let this story slowly take you where it will go. This story doesn't go straight from a to b, but in the process of its slow pace, we are charmed by two wonderful characters and their growing relationship. Cade and Sistine's personalities come to life in a slow-burn story built on sweet moments.

I love these stories. They're just enjoyable and easy to read. I stayed up a bit too late after getting caught up in the "mystery" of Sistine's second job but I just wanted to see the ending I was hoping for. This love story had a bit of an 'edge' to it that the others didn't, and that's a good thing.
Thank you, NetGalley and Tracy Ewens!!!

Tap: A Love Story by Tracy Ewens is a stand alone romance by Ewens. The books do build on each other and make for a more satisfying read when read together, but they stand beautifully together or alone. I greatly enjoyed the books I have read, and am going to go back and read some of the ones I have missed.
Cade McNaughton is the last man standing. His brothers have all found love. Despite his recent oh-so-revealing Instagram nightmare and his family’s subsequent disappointment, Cade is ready to fall for a woman who cares more about the last book he read and less about his body. But amid the buzz and banter of tending Foghorn Brewery’s bar, Cade is not exactly settle-down material. All that’s about to change, starting with buzzing off his fauxhawk and sporting a cardigan that has everyone talking. Sistine Branch has more bills than money, yet she’s fine eating barbecue chips for dinner if it means keeping her knitting shop open. But when her lights go out and the electrician puts a ten-thousand-dollar price tag on renovations, Sistine’s back is against an old and crumbling wall. For the past two years, she’s relied solely on herself, which makes selling out to the one woman from her past who can ruin everything the worst decision ever. Cade and Sistine are backgammon and end-of-the-bar friends. One rejection, a literal fall into Cade’s arms, and a dinner date with farm animals has them enmeshed in feelings neither thought possible. But, it only takes one lie, a literal fall from grace, and a date with the she-devil to unravel everything they’ve come to know. If they want a real shot, they’ll need to start from the beginning and realize that love is often a tangled mess, sometimes a funny T-shirt, but never perfect.

Tap: A Love Story is a contemporary romance with fun characters and fans of the love story books from Ewens will recognize most of the characters and enjoy seeing the continuation of the previous stories in the background of Cade and Sistine's story. I like both characters, and how they are both a little quirky and fun, while still being good hearted and sweet. The uses of social media and animals was very well done, although I think it might date the books a little in the long run, after Instagram runs it course, but maybe I am wrong there. I did think that Sistine's big secret was not as big of a deal as she thought it was- and that if she had just come out about it in the beginning it would not have even been an issue- and that it was a bigger problem even at that point that I thought it should have been. However, I did think the characters and complications that come with them were fantastic. I am hoping to see more about Sistine's family in future books by Ewens and plan on reading more in the future.

Tap: A Love Story is a delightful romance with quirky characters that made me smile. THere was only one aspect of the book I did not love, but the rest was on point and I think readers will enjoy the read as much as I did.

This is my third foray into Tracy Ewens romances, and she does not disappoint. Her characters are lovely, the dialogue is realistic and fun, and she gives them a perfect amount of angst and sexual tension.

Tracy Ewens keeps churning out books in her Love Story series that are topical, enjoyable to read, and though the end is predicable, there are always a few unexpected nuggets added to the storyline to keep it interesting and engaging. If you haven’t read her earlier books in the series you won’t be lost; that stated, if you don’t want to have any endings known before you read their story, I suggest going to the first book.

In Tap, Sistene and Cade have been acquaintances for years; Though younger by a couple of decades, Sistene is even in a book club with Cade’s mom and some other women in town. This friendship has been stagnant until the two start seeing one another with new eyes and perspective after a friendly chat at a local coffee shop. Suddenly, neither is who they thought the other is, which is creating confusion and dissonance for both. As they navigate their feelings, they each have their own personal demons to overcome; Cade is trying to move past his reputation and Sistene is trying to keep her business afloat. Once they realize they can help one another out without compromising who they are as individuals, all falls into place. I look forward to another installment, as Ewens deftly introduces different career perspectives into each novel. She also gives the men and women equal time, which I appreciate.

(I received a copy of Tap from NetGalley and have provided an objective review.)