I just love this series. Boyd is a single father and perfectionist when it comes to brewing beer! Dr. Ella and Boyd's son strike up a friendship. Boyd and Ella have an attraction but Boyd fights it. It's was a wonderful thing to see them come together, after Boyd realizes - yes, I need to have a fun time through life too!!

Great, sweet romance! Quick and fast paced. Read in one sitting.

<blockquote>
“There’s bad and good in everything. It’s like beer.”
“Of course, it is.”
“You have malt, which can be wheat or barley. I’ll always choose barley, but that’s not the point. The malt is the sweet. It’s usually a pretty color and it smells good when it’s milled. But no one makes a beer with only malt. If they do, they’re idiots because it’s so syrupy it has no right to be called beer. Any brew master will tell you the key to a good beer is balance, so you add hops. Hops are funky looking, sticky to touch when it’s wet, and bitter. It takes down the sweetness of anything. There’s all kinds of other crap that needs to be adjusted too, but you get the point.”
</blockquote>

Sweet, cozy, and just the perfect read I didn't know I needed! This is a lovely standalone about letting go of the past and letting in love. My favorite takeaway from the book was that settling on being "fine" in order to avoid being hurt by someone again just means you're hurting yourself.

While I loved the themes, it was the characters that really made this book. I especially loved the interactions between Boyd, Ella and Mason. I also liked that both Boyd and Ella realized that they needed to change, and I liked that Ella realized that she needed Boyd to make a commitment to their relationship and refused to accept less. It felt like there was a lot of growth on both sides. I also loved Boyd's brothers and am looking forward to reading more about Trick and Cade!

This is a clean romance (of the fade-to-black type) but the description of their attraction and kisses (especially that first one, wow!) was plenty spicy for me.

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

This was an outside-the-box impulse read for me. I was intrigued by the unique cover, so I decided to give it a go. The story is a slow-burn, small-town contemporary romance between a grumpy single dad and an ER doctor. It’s told in alternating first person POV and I’d say it’s pretty low on the heat level – almost but not quite a closed-door romance.

Ella Walters fled the life of a big-city trauma surgeon after her personal life went up in flames and is now trying to obtain a better work-life balance as an emergency room doctor in a small town. She’s really thriving under the slower pace and she’s got a strong core group of friends who always have her back and are her biggest cheerleaders. Boyd McNaughton is a single parent of a thirteen year old. He’s also a former-engineer turned brew master who is on the cusp of opening up a new brewery with his brothers. Even though they have lived in the same small town for two years, Boyd and Ella have somehow managed to not cross paths before. One serious hand laceration quickly changes that.

After their initial encounter, it seems they can’t stop running into each other. Their social circles frequently coincide and Boyd’s son, Mason, takes an instant shine to Ella and decides that she will be his expert on all things girl related. The burgeoning attraction between Boyd and Ella is obvious to them both (and every single person in town, really), but Boyd is very hesitant to start anything. He’s spent over a decade burying himself in parenthood and avoiding any romantic entanglements. Letting his past problems go and opening up to something new is really hard for him.

Boyd’s reluctance is the biggest problem with this book. He runs hot and cold continuously, and this gets tiring really darn fast. Ella gets her feelings hurt more than once by his crap. The pacing is another major problem. The first half drags beyond belief and the romance doesn’t really take off until after the halfway point. Once it finally does get going, things move at an insane pace.

I’m somewhat torn on this book. I loved the setting and the characters, but I feel like the story failed to stick the dismount. I liked Ella a great deal and loved her girl gang. I just wish Ella had been paired with someone who acted like he wanted her all the time, not just some of the time.

I love love Tracy Ewans and her A Love Story series so I was super excited when I was offered to read the newest installment! Now Brew is book nine in this series but I totally feel like you can read as stand alones…but come on why would you want to!
Brew was a great book! I loved the storyline and characters and can’t wait for more from them! This book will really good for anyone and everyone! I mean come on who doesn’t like an amazing love story with a HEA?!
I love love loved Boyd and Ella! Boyd is trying to find his way in a life full of jobs! He is a brewmaster and running Foghorn Brewery with his two brothers and then he is a father. When he isn’t working he is a carpool driving fool! Of course since he is so good lucking and a truly nice guy the school moms are determined to play match maker! Ella is running away to Petaluma away from her past and away from her family. She is loving the slower pace and easy way of life that Petaluma has to offer.
Tracy Ewans is a great writing of feel good love stories with amazing characters and story lines full of substance and dense!

Dr. Ella Walters has embraced the small town life, the everybody-knows-everybody thing has grown on her, and she's even managed to slowly let go of her past and accept her single status. Boyd McNaughton is a ruggedly handsome man, Ella can't deny that, but beyond his looks the only charming thing about him is his son, Mason. Ella is working on connections though and Mason brings out the best in her and soon even Boyd can't deny that he wants to be her friend or maybe something more. Mason helps break down Ella's walls and when she embraces hugs she embraces Boyd too. They'll both have to let go of their idea of what's best for themselves in order to see that the best is right in front of them.

"It was one of his favorite brews. Her eyes were more of an oatmeal stout, deep brown with a hint of amber, kind of like last year's Golden Polish."

"That was a good year. Great beer. Great eyes. He allowed himself one more look."

I had no idea how much I needed a sweet romance read to fall into until I opened up the pages of Brew. It's a slow burn romance of the best kind, nothing stands in the way of the characters and their love story except for themselves. Alternating between Ella and Boyd's perspectives, we get to see the characters as they battle their pasts, their heads, and their hearts as they recognize that things between them are more than just lust-driven chemistry. I loved that Brew features a small town, that I know well actually, and the drama that drives the story is wholesome and true to reality. Ella and Boyd were dealing with things like broken hearts, raising teenagers, and navigating the bumpy roads of siblings, friendship, and how much monkey bread is considered too much. Brew is all about the relationships that shape you, whether they are good or bad and it's definitely emotional as the good finally wins out. It's obvious from the very beginning that Boyd and Ella are meant to be, that everything just needed to be sorted out with a bit of help from their very own cupid, Mason, and all the citizens of Petaluma.

"every time she said his name, it was like hearing a song he thought he knew but realizing the new version was better."

Tracy Ewens is a new-to-me author, but she's made a fan out of me with Brew. I could easily find happiness as Ella with a man like Boyd and his adorable son by my side. I'll be going back and reading the entire A Love Story standalone romance series. Fans of easy romance and emotional love stories will fall head over heels for Brew, just as I did. Plus, it features beer, and if you know me or have read my blog at all, you know I love my craft beer!

This is the third book from the 'A Love Story' series that I have read. I have loved each book. They are standalone but I think you gain so much more from having read prior books in the series. I still want to go back and read all the ones that I have missed! Throughout the series I have been impressed by the writing style of the author and I feel like these books were are real labor of love. From the story lines to the perfectly imperfect characters. They may not always be pretty, fast, easy or free from bumps but I can relate to each story and they just feel real.

I have been waiting impatiently for Brew since I finished Exposure where the McNaughton brothers were introduced through West. I don't want to give any spoilers about Ella and Boyd but I love them both and their story was perfect. Everything flowed for me- from their first meeting in the ER, to Mason seeking advice, to movie night at the end of the book. The cast of characters have drawn me in and I can't wait to discover what is in store next.

Dr. Ella Walters left the big city to start over and put distance between her and her past. The small town of Petaluma is close knit and she begins to settle in. Even makes friends and starts to collect hobbies, all in an attempt to reconnect with people. An unexpected ER visit brings Boyd McNaughton into her life.

A single father, Boyd is seemly content with his life. He has an amazing relationship with his son, he has a supportive and loving family and the Brewery keeps him challenged. Meeting Ella throws Boyd’s routine life into a whirlwind of emotions and complications he isn’t expecting and isn’t sure he’s ready to face.

Brew is a story of forgiveness, friendship and love. It’s about opening yourself to new experiences and obstacles and facing your fears head on. If you’re in the mood for a small town romance with strong ties to family and a second chance love story, Brew will be just the thing.

What I liked:
For starters, I really liked this cover. Maybe the color is a bit neutral but I loved the design and it really represented the story. The cover to this one isn’t bright or bold but still grabbed my attention. I think it’s really pretty :)

When it comes to the story itself, I loved the author’s voice. Her way with words, especially the inner dialogue of the characters, it was a really engrossing and comfortable read. It was funny, sad, happy and angsty at times but each character shined through as his/her own person and moved the story along as just the right pacing.

It’s been awhile since I’ve loved so many characters in one book. I loved Ella with her determination and optimism. Because even though she’d been burned before, she was ready to be happy. I loved Mason, he was a great character. The author managed to make him both wise beyond his years but enough of a kid still to find him endearing. He really was a great secondary character I wouldn’t mind reading more about in the future. I loved Boyd for his love of family, for his devotion to his kid and for being an awkward but sweet guy, even with his hang-ups and indecision. These three clicked and their emotional connections made the story for me.

I also loved the friendship that springs between Ella and Mason. Their connection was a strong one and seeing them interact, especially with the whole dating/girl advice, it was funny and cute.

The secondary characters were also really amazing. I loved Cade and Trick with their sage advice, unconditional love and unwavering support for their family. I’m definitely going to check back in for their stories. I loved Ella’s friends, fingers crossed they’ll feature in their own HEA in this series. I have a hunch Aspen and Trick will end up together but Cade is still up in the air.

I’m happy I got the chance to read and review this new (for me) author and can’t wait to see what else she has in store for the Foghorn Brewery.

The cover lured me in, the writing sold me! If you want a funny romantic story, Brew is it. I loved Tracy’s style of writing and while it is not the usual romance story I go for, it was a welcome break from all the angst I have been reading. I liked that the characters, Boyd and Ella are a little older.
Ella, a doctor who left the big city after a disastrous affair with another doctor meets Boyd, master brewer with a teenage son Mase who is a delight. What results is the ups and downs of dating and falling in love. I can honestly recommend this book and will be reading more of Tracy’s books!

This author once again serves up a sweet blend of romance with a heaping dose of relationship uncertainty angst. The first 40% or so was mostly main couple inner monologues as these two, perfect for each other knuckleheads try to reason and rationalize the feelings brewing inside and between them. They both seem set on convincing their heads and hearts that true love is too messy and complicated for their hectic lives.

Ella is an ER doctor who has jumped off the fast track of success to hopefully get some needed life perspective and slow things down a bit, much to the perpetual disappointment of her selfish, uncaring, elitist family. Still reeling from hurt and betrayal two years ago, she finds herself unable to resist falling for Boyd and his 12 year old son, Mason. Surprisingly, she’s the one who mans up more than once and puts her heart on the line.

Boyd is a single father in a small town trying to juggle a job and fatherhood to a 12 year old boy. He foolishly thinks a relationship will just get in the way of what needs to be his sole focus in life, Mason. Deep down though, he has an even greater fear, falling for someone then having to endure watching them walk away again. Let me warn you upfront. It causes him to do quite a bit of hand wringing and a knucklehead moment or two.

With writing that flows, this slow burn romance finally starts to smoulder after quite a bit of circling around each other with a first kiss at the 45% point. However, it continues to be a rocky road right up until the finish line. The main couple do spent some smexy time together, but it is not overly done, folks. The majority of the book focuses on their relationship angst, with the hero being the most conflicted.

If you like a sweet romance in a small town setting that does not have steamy scenes hijacking the storyline, you might want to consider this new release by Tracy Ewens.

Title: Brew, Series: Love Story (Book 9), Author: Tracy Ewens, Pages: 304, stand-alone but part of a series, afraid to love hero, reluctant at first heroine, a few not overly graphic steamy scenes, lots of relationship angst, ex-boyfriend appearance, a few cameos of baby mama, no love triangle, no cheating, both have been celibate for quite awhile, great cast of sub-characters.

Book 1 - Premiere
Book 2 - Candidate
Book 3 - Taste
Book 4 - Reserved
Book 5 - Stirred
Book 6 - Vacancy
Book 8 - Exposed
Book 9 - Brew

(I received a free advanced reader copy via NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. No type of compensation was given to this reviewer. There is no relationship/affiliation between the reviewer and the author/publisher/NetGalley.)

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Tracy Ewens is a new to me author but I liked the premise and will admit I was initially drawn to the cover so I took a chance. I am glad that I did. This was not the perfect book. It was slow with way too much about Ella's friends (who all seemed interchangeable to me). Ella and Boyd did not have great chemistry on the pages but their relationship still worked. What I loved was Ella's relationship with Boyd's son Mason. Every interaction between the two of them made me smile. I would read the next few books in the series just to read more about them.

Tracy Ewens is very talented, one of my top 5 favorite authors. She has created a large series with fantastic characters and it's not overwhelming. Each book is a standalone but the last two are connected with brothers, as I can assume are the next two. Boyd, single father to teenage Mason, is the master brewer for the family brewery. Ella, trauma doctor with connecting limitations, is smart and funny and brave. Their path to romance was slow but built around realistic concerns: his son, her past, their independence. Boyd is the old dog that actually learned some new tricks. It was fun to learn about his brothers, the brewing process and a local town from Northern California. I'm thankful my day was slow because I devoured their story in one day! My review was written voluntarily after reading an early copy from Netgalley, totally unbiased although I love her books.

This is a new to me author. It looks like this is part of a series although I think all the books are stand alone. I grabbed this one based on the synopsis. Love single parent tropes and with a brewery in the background---I was one clicking.

Although the story follow a pretty simple and fairly common outline, I found myself really caught up in this small town and all the secondary characters. Honestly, this author needs to write everyone of those McNaughton brothers their own HEA. A family of beer making brothers--come on--a no brainer there! Hopefully the rest of the gang speaks to her so we can see more of Boyd and Ella as time goes on.

A bit of heartache, but mostly healing hearts, a quirky teenage boy, meddling family and great best friends. I enjoyed the older age group of this couple as well as their developing friendship before things went further. Enjoyable read!

have been reading Ms Ewen's "Love Story" stories since she first introduced us to them. Each is perfect in of itself, this new story involving the McNaughton brothers, Boyd in particular, promises to be another that demonstrates this author's capacity for writing stories you are excited to be immersed in.

Boyd and Ella are flawed, but are working to draw themselves into a better reflection of who they truly are. These characters grab your heart immediately, giving you a view into their vulnerabilities, right up front becoming emotionally invested in them and those within their orbit...especially Mason.

Mason alone added tremendous depth and dimension with his delightful humor. He is a young man so real that one could envision every thirteen year old to be so loving, and emotionally aware of the important people in his life.

With each of her stories, I've found that Ms Ewens draws you into a world one could readily live in and simply never want to leave. This story is no different, I wish I could have stayed and experience more of the Boyd, Ella, and Mason show. I look forward to seeing which direction the next stories take.

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

I was surprised to see that Brew is under 300 pages; it feels much longer than that. The first 25% or so of the book is incredibly slow with lots of time being spent inside our two main characters heads and they ruminate as re-ruminate about their lives. When we finally get to the part where they've said more than a handful of words to each other, there is no chemistry. I found both Ella and Boyd to be dull.

I did, however, enjoy some of the secondary characters. Boyd's son, Mason, was the much needed comic relief and there were also cute moments between him and his father as well as him and Ella. I also liked Boyd's brothers, Cade and Patrick. They had some personality whereas I felt Ella and boyd had none.