Tess by Victoria Purman is the second book in "Outback Brides of Wirralong". There are 4 books in this series.
I just love this series. It´s set in the town of Wirralong, a small town in Australia, that´s slowly growing, thanks to a winery slowly being turned number one wedding destination.

This is the second book in the series of The Outback Brides of Wirralong.
This is the story of Tess and Connor. It is a page turner that you will not put down and is a fun quick read that will have you enjoying every moment of it.
I love heading back to Wirralong to read about the characters from there and to meet new ones.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one and of course I can’t wait to finish reading the rest of this series.
Victoria has written some great characters and I think she loves this place as much as her readers do.
What a fantastic second book!!!

Tess is a delightful romance. Great plot, characters and setting. I will definitely be reading more of this author’s. Tho I m unbiased.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Tule Publishing for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. I liked this book. I found it interesting, learned a little and got to read a fun romance. I rate this 4 stars.

I had fun with TESS, it took me a little bit to get into the story for there are a lot of informational wine country and growing details… but once I fell into Tess and Connor’s growing relationship I was hooked on this couple.

Tess is visiting from the USA, determined to learn a different type of winemaking and blowing the family company’s board members back home out of the water with her presentation… only things don’t always go as planned. It was at the vineyard that she met Connor, and while neither was looking for any kind of relationship she couldn’t deny the attraction either.

Connor was still reeling from being left practically at the altar and he has no interest in a romantic encounter with a woman from another country ever again – yet Tess intrigues him and soon a slow burn attraction will burst into something far more permanent.

I enjoyed my time back in this world. The story kept my attention, the characters were interesting and the secondary characters made this story come alive.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

WOW, I LOVED THIS BOOK. I need to read the other books of this series if they are a good as this one, what I ride it will be in Wirralong. The first book in the series is Lacey (Outback Brides of Wirralong Book 1) by Fiona McArthur. This is my first time reading Victoria Purman even with a few books on my kindle of her and I am so grateful for NetGalley and the publisher for giving me this book to read and review and for giving me the chance to start reading this author's lovely words and stories. This is my honest and voluntary review and all my own opinions. Why would girls who have promised to never to Say I Do love to spend her days off watching weddings? I fell in love with the countryside the author had set this book in and could imagine the view she was described fully. I loved all the Australian mannerisms and food the author included within this book. LOL moments her plenty along the journey of this story. The book was perfect for me the right amount of spice and though interesting to keep me reading to the very last word.

Tess Harrison is an up and coming American winemaker that has come to work on her family co-owned vineyard in Wirralong and to spend some time with her brother who has recently settle with his Australian wife here. The town of Wirralong is a wedding destination for the area with a wedding every weekend at Wirra Station Tess has always been a tomboy so why does she love weddings so much, she loved the drama that comes with weddings as she knew she would never have a wedding of her own. <i>“The idea of a wedding without her mother there was unthinkable of Tess.”</i> Tess was looking for a miracle: love with no strings attached with a man that did not want to change her as her dreams and hard work was too important to her to give up for a man.

Connor Hawker needed a life change so he took a job with the Matthew Wines, a bit of a step down from the big wines company in South Australia, he had been working for the last few years but a step into the organic wine industry that was his new interest. He knew who she was the moment he walked past her sitting on the front porch…Tess Harrison Junior Winemaker from Californian. He needed to recover from his ex who left him to return to France as he realized he was no longer going to get the things he wanted a Wife, a Home and a Dog. <i>“Three strikes and you’re out, he thought.”

“Just like some people swear off cigarettes or carbs or sugar, he had sworn off women. And it was going pretty well so far. One whole year and he hadn’t gone near one.”</i>

Tess was only here for a short time to learn more about the organic growth of grapes than to take that knowledge back home. Her plan was going very well until the new Irrigation manager turned up for work.

<i>“Fine. Yeah, fine was the work. Objectively, sexy as hell.”

“Do not look at her leg, Repeat: do not look at her legs.”
“The legs. Stop thinking about her legs.”

"Isabella is on a mission to get me to fall in love with Australia. Tim Tam I can do. But Vegemite? NOPE. Never in a million years.”

“Watching cricket is like meditation. You’ll see,” Isabella called out. “It calms the soul.”
“More like bores you senseless.”</i>

What will these two do when the physical attraction is returned by the other and the wine is spilt?

She is only staying for a few more weeks, she will return home they both tell themselves.

Will their hearts get broken along the way or will their dreams be the best move in the end?

<i>“I’m going home to make sure my dreams come true and nothing is going to stop me, Connor. Not even not-string-attached sex with a hot Australian guy.”</i>

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I read all books of the Outback series and the first book of this spinoff and am excited to have additional books in the series. I like that each book is written by a different author about a couple but many references are made to include the previous couples and their stories in the current book. This book is about Tess who is Harry Harrison’s sister and Isabelle or Belle’s sister in law. We met her when Harry began working with Matthews wines. Tess is also a winemaker and is very interested in organic wines like made in Australia. She meets the new employee, Connor after seeing him the weekend before at a wedding. They try to fight it but they have a lot of chemistry. Neither is looking for anything serious. Tess is returning to Napa to start her own wine label. Connor was left at the alter a year earlier by his French fiancée and is leery of women. The two start with a one night stand. Then his parents arrive to check on him and decide to stay in Wirralong indefinitely. So he decides to move in with her and give his parents his apartment. They want to be together until she has to return to Napa in 3 weeks. There is a lot of angst but eventually there is a HEA. I give it 5 stars and look forward to the next book in the series.

3.5☆
Cute

What I liked:
The writing style
The characters
Part of a series: The Outback Brides of Wirralong
Standalone
HEA
Epilogue

I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

Tess by Victoria Purman continues the Outback Brides of Wirralong series. A series full of colourful character's that charm reader's with every page turn, and Tess is another character worth reading about.
Review copy received from Tule Publishing via Netgalley

I'm enjoying this series about this town and it's people.
I don't know anything about wine so I probably skimmed the knowledge about it. More interested in the characters and their denial of love. Both with histories that leave them living for the moment that love scares them. Tess and Connor were a great couple and deserve their HEA.

I love Tess and Conner’s story. They have incredible chemistry which Victoria Purman captures beautifully. Tess is a continuation of the Outback series. It is a stand alone book, but part of an incredible series. I recommend reading the entire series to enjoy all the wonderful characters.

Neither of our two main characters want anything to do with marriage Tess Harrison is finally away from her domineering wine growing family in the USA and she sees this work at an Australian winery as a chance to spread her wings and become the person she wants to be What she doesn't expect is that every time she turns around she will be confronted with love and weddings in this romance crazy town. Connor Hawker sees this move to Wirralong to be is chance to start over again after suffering the humiliation of been dumped at the alter by his French fiancee. How can to be people so against love and marriage learn to live in this town and what happens when they start to have feeling for one another will they reconsider and learn to love again

If I had any criticism for this book it is that it is a little heavy on the information re wineries and irrigation some times it felt like a text book

I adored this story of finding love when you least expect it. Tess has arrived in Wirralong to spend some time with her brother at his vineyard. Connor has just been hired as the new , irrigation manager. A fresh start for both even though Tess is just here temporarily. Both with baggage from previous relationships, but they can't deny the zing in their chemistry. What harm is a one night of fun?

Loved the chemistry between Connor and Tess. Great friendships and secondary characters add so much to the story. So, pick up a glass of wine and enjoy your trip to Wirralong.

The town of Wirralong, Australia, is known for being a wedding destination. Newcomers, Tess Harrison and Conner Hawker feel they don’t belong in a place that caters to weddings and everywhere they turn its flowers, dresses and brides.

Tess grew up being a tomboy and has winemaking on her mind. She doesn’t need a man in her life for anything. Conner was dumped by his girlfriend minutes before they were supposed to be married. So, he is scarred from that and still isn’t interested in dating. But, when Conner gets a job as the irrigation manager at Matthews Wines and meets Tess, he soon finds himself wanting to get to know Tess better. Tess couldn’t get Conner off her mind either. They soon find themselves caught up in a romance that shouldn’t have happened. Tess is only in Australia for a few weeks and then she is headed back home to her family winery in California. How can they make a relationship work when they live half a world away from each other?

As with the other Outback Brides books, I enjoyed this story quite a bit. Tess and Conner were very likeable and even with their differences and flaws they turned out to be good for each other. The build up to their romance took a little time, but once they got together things really heated up. I also liked the camaraderie between all of Tess’s friends and how they have each other’s backs when one needs some advice or encouragement. I would definitely recommend this book because of the romance, friendships, Australia and of course the wine.

Tess is the second in the follow-up Brides of Wirralong Series by Victoria Purman. Like last year’s series each book is by a different author but the flow of the stories and characters seamless. Tess is Harry’s sister from last year’s book, Isabella. Visiting her brother from America, Tess has as many hang-ups as Isabella did. Believing that she can not have love without sacrificing her dreams along the way. Her love interest, Connor has his own issues so there is angst and drama. However, the ending is fit for a modern day woman who knows that life and love is messy. Here’s a toast to a prince and princess who are able to dream big together.

Sweet romance between two people who are not perfect yet together they can reach perfection. Likeable characters Tess and Conner you will find yourself rooting for them to take their romance to HEA,but will they?
I especially enjoyed the relationship that developed between Tess, who had lost her own mother and Connor’s mom, and just the all around friendship between all the gals was almost as heartwarming as the blooming romance.

Yay, another Outback Brides from Wirralong. This time we meet Harry's sister Tess, who has come over from California to work on the vineyards with her brother. As the youngest female in the family she has always been treated like the 'baby'. Therefore, she is determined to show her family that she can take care of herself and that she is an excellent winemaker. She comes to Australia to learn more about biological wine and she wants to start her own winelabel.
On the vineyard she meets Connor, the typical Aussi. He is very guarded however and she doesn't understand why. Connor has been burnt before. His French fiancee has left him at the altar. Therefore, he doesn't trust women, especially not foreign women.
But he can't help to admire Tess, who is friendly, fiesty and independent. When Connor's parents show up unexpectedly, Tess offers Connor a place to stay, with benefits. Since Tess will be leaving in a few weeks, this is an excellent agreement. But what Connor didn't anticipate was his feelings for Tess. And Tess can't help but wonder if her independence also means not hooking up with a guy. A wonderful read, four out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

AWhat a perfect weekend read! Tess the second story in the Brides of Wirralong series but stands alone well. Set in country Victoria, this story is light, sexy and flirty. It’s clear author Victoria Purmam had fun writing it.
Tess and Connor both have their baggage and it affects their approach to starting a relationship but these two are dynamite together. I couldn’t help but smile as I watched them interact, whether it was in the bedroom or out among the vines. They clearly enjoy each other and it’s infectious.
The story is fast paced and while the tone is light it is still a page-turning read. I really enjoyed it.

I was disappointed by this book. There's a difference between a slow burn romance, and one that sputters like a dying flame. This was the latter.

It felt like the author took all the research that was done regarding wineries and irrigation and stuffed it into this story. I'm sorry, but I really didn't care all that much. I've read other books set in the industry that did NOT have me bored to tears.

Then Tess spends the majority of the book talking about going home to Napa to present her big idea for the family company. She talks about how she can't start anything because of her big presentation, how important this presentation is, how she needs to look into the eyes of each board member to present her big, game changing idea. And the main part of the story ends with her still in Australia, and the epilogue is set two years later. What happened at this presentation?!?!

The ending seemed rushed, but that's what happens when the slow build takes too long. Then the time for realisations and revelations happens in the blink of an eye (as an aside, the author injects too many similes into the story so that it was really jarring), so much so that the characters seem to know things that have never been discussed.

And how many times do we need to hear Tess being a "motormouth", and then hear other people refer to her that way? And one of her indicators that Connor wasn't the "right" man for her is his buzz cut? Really? How shallow is this woman?

I think with another round of edits this story could be a go, but as it It's not something that I really enjoyed, nor would recommend. Which, considering I really enjoy intertwined series like this, is disappointing on many levels.

On my. what a great book. Another in the Outback Brides of Wirralong series. This is the story of Tess, part of an American wine making family who is in Australia to learn more about the wines made there. She meets Conner, who has been hired by the winery to oversee the irrigation system. There's a definite sizzle when they meet. He doesn't want a relationship and she wants her own wine label. Conner is running away from his ex fiancee. He was left at the alter and not sure he is is ready. He keeps this information from Tess and she feels let down. She makes plane reservations for America. Will they know that there can be a future or will they part ways? I loved Conner and the chemistry between them. loved this book. This book has some very steamy scenes that I loved. Can't wait until the next book. I received this book from Net Galley and Tule Publishing for a honest review.