Sunshine meets Grumpy in this sweet romance of wine country love.

Hallie Welch is the town's happiest landscaper who's questioning her life choices after the loss of her grandmother. Jullien Vos (who happens to be Hallie's high school crush) comes back to his family's vineyard after taking a break from his teaching position to write a book. However, Jullien can't get any work down because he's severely distracted by Hallie as she redesigns the gardens right outside his room. Lust swirls as the days pass and Hallie and Jullien must work their way through secret admirer letters, mental health issues, and of course, their raging feelings for one another.

What I liked: I love the trope of Sunshine and Grumpy and in Tessa Bailey's hands its always scrumptiously sexy. I also greatly appreciated the strong representation of anxiety.

Secretly Yours is out now!

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

4.5 stars from me, rounded up to 5! Secretly Yours is a sweet (?????) novel about discovering yourself, forgiving yourself, and finding someone who loves you for you, with the standard Tessa Bailey MC who can DIRTY TALK with the best of them.

I will say, I was excited about this book because I LOVE BOOKS WITH TEXTS/EMAILS/LETTERS EXCHANGED, but I was a little disappointed. While "the letters" were an important plot point, they weren't a PRIMARY form of communication.

I loved Julian as the MC. He left his busy professor life to take a break and write a novel, but this journey back home made him evaluate his life choices and his mental health. Experiencing all those feelings with him, having him let his guard down with Hallie, seeing him lose control and then BE in control... he was probably the best part of this story.

I related to Hallie quite a bit. She's a curvy, quirky virgin going through an identity crisis after the passing of her grandma, but it was super believable and seemed authentic in her community and environment. Her friend group is small, but she cares so much about the people in her life and in her small town.

If you love TB, you'll love this one.

While it’s no secret that I’m a big fam of Tessa Bailey, there was so much to love about this one. Julian is a professor living with anxiety and PTSD while Hallie is a wild and impulsive gardener. Both characters are complex and beautifully written. I enjoyed the character development and the emphasis on overcoming different internal struggles.

The teenage crush turned adult romance part of the plot kept me excited and engaged from the first page. Add in the vivid friend and family ties with some small town shenanigans and you’ve got the perfect blend to get drunk on romance.

If you love grumpy/sunshine, opposites attract, secret admirer letters, or small town romance I’m confident you’ll enjoy this book as much as I did!

Thank you NetGalley, Tessa Bailey and Avonbooks for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Secretly Yours by Tessa Bailey
3.75⭐️

First and foremost: Tessa Bailey brings the HEAT in her books. This is your warning 😂

Second: I enjoyed this book for the most part! It was a sweet romance and he was very protective over her, which I’m always a fan of. She fell first. He couldn’t get her out of his head. Overall, a good book and it hooks you so you don’t want to stop reading.

But. I didn’t love how obsessive Hallie was over Julian. I didn’t love how drastically Hallie changed Julian. Those things bugged me a little BUT I did really enjoy reading the story and romance. And that SPICE!

This author can be a little hit or miss for me, but I really enjoyed this one. Julian in particular was a very realistic, relatable character. Hallie was a bit immature and chaotic for my tastes, but she made for a good opposites attract vibe with Julian. I love epistolary romance, so I do wish the secret admirer letters had been as big of a plot point as I thought they might be from the blurb, but this was a fun, enjoyable read nonetheless.

2.5 I think it might be time I admitted Bailey isn’t for me. Everything was just…okay? The characters were slightly annoying, the anxiety rep was half hearted, and the third act was stupid. The sex and dirty talk where Bailey shines were good but the character lacked chemistry so again it ended up being… okay? And it seemed out of character for Julian so all in all it wasn’t that great.

Thank you Avon for the copy of Tessa Bailey's Secretly Yours for review. This is the fun, steamy, light read many are looking for in the romantic but dreary weather month of February. Some stand outs: body positivity, a little social justice advocacy vibes for fighting for a local business, second chance/first crush themes. This book hits all the notes it intends to hit and does it with some humor, fun secondary characters, and a lot of chemistry.

“That did it. His mother was definitely punishing him. She’d sent him this curvaceous gardener to throw off his concentration and flaunt his need for organization. Detailed plans. A schedule. Relative sanity.”

Hallie Welch fell hard for Julian Vos at fourteen, after they almost kissed in the dark vineyards of his family’s winery. Now the prodigal hottie has returned to Napa Valley. When Hallie is hired to revamp the gardens on the Vos estate by Julian’s mother, she wonders if she'll finally get that smooch. But the grumpy professor isn’t the teenager she remembers and their polar opposite personalities clash spectacularly.

On sabbatical from his ivy league job, Julian plans to write a novel. But having Hallie gardening right outside his window is the ultimate distraction. She’s eccentric, chronically late, often literally covered in dirt—and so unbelievably beautiful, he can’t focus on anything else. Like the flowers she plants all over town, Hallie is a burst of color in Julian’s grayscale life. For a man who irons his socks and runs on tight schedules, her sunny chaotic energy makes zero sense. But there’s something so familiar about her... and her very presence is turning his world upside down. Can he let go of his rigidity and structure and finally find happiness?

Although not quite to the caliber of Hook, Line and Sinker, this second chance romance is still an entertaining and enjoyable read. It has some heat and endearingly adorable characters. I really enjoyed watching the relationship between stickler robotic Julian and free spirit whirlwind Hallie unfold. I laughed out loud multiple times! Oh, and there’s wine! 🍷

Thank you to Netgalley, Avon and Harper Voyager, and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am a big Tessa Bailey fan and have read pretty much EVERYTHING by her. This wasn't my favorite one of hers, but it was still her typical cute, and steamy romcom. I enjoyed the secret admirer letters but for some reason there was still something missing throughout the story line that did not grab me. Still a sweet Valentine's Day read!

Thank you NetGalley and Publishers for this ARC in exchange for my review!

SECRETLY YOURS is the first book in the A VINE MESS series, and I look forward to reading more. Set in the Napa Valley, this is Julian and Hallie’s story and it involves wineries and wine–of course.

Hallie is a gardener and landscaper who doesn’t like schedules. Her life is chaotic with three dogs that she takes almost everywhere with her. She still misses her grandmother, who has died and with whom she lived and worked. Julian is a professor at Stanford and has taken a break to write a novel. He is nothing but punctual and lives by the clock. When their paths cross, there’s a lot of chaos along with schedules and romance.

Julian and Hallie are nothing alike, but they do say opposites attract—they sure do! She remembers him from high school fifteen years before, though he has no recollection of her. Hallie has pined from afar for all those years and decides to secretly do something about that now. Their miscommunications are what romcom’s are made of, in addition to his comedic, dysfunctional family that he’s trying to make whole again. There are some laugh-out-loud moments as well that gives a lightness to the story.

I enjoyed getting to know the characters, including the secondary ones, which added another layer to the story. Communication is key, and Hallie and Julian definitely have trouble doing so especially when his schedules are disrupted by none other than Hallie, who is planting around the guest house he’s occupying. But there’s definitely chemistry, and when they finally act on it, there are steamy moments (and very rarely are they between the sheets.)

SECRETLY YOURS has a good flow and is filled with angst, romance, and ultimately love in several different forms. There is closure, but do I wish the story went on just a little longer. I look forward to reading more in this series.

If you like some laugh out loud moments along with romance and some loving, give Tessa Bailey books a try.

SECRETLY YOURS - TESSA BAILEY

3.5⭐

PLOT - Hallie Welch always had feelings for Julian Vos since they were in high school and now he is back at his family's winery in the small Napa town when Hallie after a night out with friends does something reckless like leaving a secret admirer letter for Julian.
Grumpy professor Julian has hots for Hallie as she works in his garden and yet he is curious about his secret admirer.
Around Hallie he forgets his own set of rules and routine. Can Julian let go of his past and accept Hallies sunny disposition into his lifestyle forever?
MY THOUGHTS
I enjoyed this one though not as much as her other previous works.
Read this one of you enjoy
Grumpy vs sunshine
Small town setting of a winery
Steam 🔥🔥

Secretly Yours is the sweet and spicy read I needed to warm me up from this cold February. The dialogue back and forth between Hallie and Julian, especially in their first interactions, had me smiling — their polar opposite personalities made for some good laughs.

For me, the highlight of this book was Julian's character. He’s not your conventional “grumpy “male romance hero. An event from his past leaves Julian dependent on to-do lists and strict schedules to keep him centered, and he struggles with anything that pulls him away from that precious structure (Hallie quickly being at the top of that list of dangerous distractions).

The “love letter” aspect of this storyline was probably my least favourite part of the plot. The letters added this extra drama to Hallie and Julian’s IRL relationship, without any drama seeming to unfold at the end. It just fell a bit flat to me.

Nonetheless, although It Happened One Summer continues to be my Tessa Bailey favourite, I think Secretly Yours is a cute read if you’re looking for something light with a sexy edge. Julian has quite a mouth on him— I’ll leave it at that, haha!

As a side note: I’m a sucker for a small-town romance series, so I can’t wait to spend more time with these characters (there was no epilogue for Hallie and Julian so I’m sure we’ll get some peaks into their lives in Natalie’s book). The bits we saw of Natalie (Julian’s sister) in this book have left me excited for her story!

**E-ARC was provided to me by the publisher for review purposes. All opinions are my own***

Perfect romcom. I love all her work and this one just was the best. The fmc and mmc were off the charts on chemistry.

Looking for the perfect rom-com right before Valentine’s Day? Tessa Bailey’s Secretly Yours is a perfect fit.

Secretly Yours is a great contemporary fiction about a grumpy professor and his happy go lucky gardener. Julian Vos moves back into his hometown estate, the beautiful Vineyards of Napa Valley, ready to take a much needed break from teaching at Stanford. When Hallie Welch, the communities bubbly gardener, hears her high school crush is in town, she orchestrates a plan to get closer to him. Instantly clashing due to their polar opposite personalities, the two can’t deny there’s some sizzling chemistry in the air. Julian is determined to stay the course and write his novel, but his plans become foiled by the beautiful gardener outside and anonymous secret admirer letters.

This book was a super fun rom-com, with witty banter and some steamy scenes. It also dealt with some heavy topics like addressing your anxiety’s and battling an identity crisis. The Napa vineyards set a perfect summer romance in a small town. The secret admirer letters didn’t add much, other than a small miscommunication trope, but overall I enjoyed this as a cute contemporary read.

⭐️: 4/5

🌶: 3/5

Tropes and whatnot: grumpy x sunshine, small town romance, high school crush, dual POV, secret admirers, opposite personalities

Thank you Tessa Bailey, Avon, and @netgalley for a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review. This book will be out 2/7/2023.

This was an entertaining, well-written book. It was fun, sweet, steamy and I couldn't put it down. I wanted to find out what was going to happen. I enjoyed this book and will look for others by this author.

I don't know if this was my favorite Tessa Bailey book ever but I definitely still enjoyed this dual POV romance between a Professor and a Gardner with secret pining, anonymous love letters and a SUPER steamy virgin who finally gets her high school crush love story!

Full of Tessa's trademark spicy scenes, this was a slow burn, small town romance full of quirky characters you can't help cheering for. Good on audio narrated by Callie Dalton too! Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review! I can't wait to read the next book in the series!

Hallie is in a rough patch. After her grandmother passed away, she's been struggling to keep herself moving, keep her business afloat and fighting new businesses coming in and taking over. Even worse, her high school crush Julian is back in town, writing a book and hiding out at his family's vineyard. Though she tries to stay away, life keeps throwing the two of them together, upending Julian's firm controlled life, and helping Hallie put her life back on track.

A cute little rom-com, this book layers psychology with family dynamics and the families that one creates. Plus the wit, heat and humor that only Tessa Bailey can weave together in a way that makes for a hard to put down book.

#arc
#netgalley
#secretlyyours

4 Stars!
Hallie Welch is a beautiful, quirky gardener from St. Helena that's life was always a bit chaotic. She's an impulsive, free spirit who is still finding her way since the passing of her beloved grandmother. She's carrying on her legacy with Becca's Blooms when a blast from the past returns to town. She was infatuated with Julian Vos her freshman year of high school, and she's crushed on him ever since their almost kiss fifteen years ago. She's never forgotten him, or met anyone like him. He's still the man of her dreams that lived in her fantasies. When they finally meet again it's clear she still carries a torch for him. Could this be her chance with the intelligent, kind, intense professor, or are her feelings one sided?

Julian Vos is a history professor at Stanford who is taking a break from teaching to write a book. He's looking for some peace and quiet, and is headed home to his family Vineyard in Napa for the next several months. He's living and working in the guest house when he hears a bunch of noise outside his window. The last thing he needs is a distraction in the form of a gorgeous, eccentric gardener. He finds her fascinating, and soon looks forward to her sunshine and smiles. He likes routines and structure, and lives life by a schedule, but everything suddenly changes when Hallie is near. Then he gets a secret admirer and things turn even more complicated. Could love be in his future even though it maybe wasn't part of his plan?

Secretly Yours (Vine Mess Book 1) by Tessa Bailey is the first in an all new duet that can be read as a standalone. It's a heartwarming, Grumpy/Sunshine, opposites attract, second chance, small town romantic comedy full of humor, chemistry and fabulous banter. I love Tessa Bailey's writing and look forward to the next story in the duet! :))

• Insta-love
• Small Town
• Secret Admirer / Childhood Crush
• Virgin MC (characters are in their 30s)

Full disclosure this one was a DNF for me. I was having trouble getting into the story and connecting with the plot and characters – I did try to keep going and did do some skim reading as well, but I’m afraid this was just a case of not the right reader for this book.

I was drawn to this one by the excellent cover art (it’s gorgeous) and based on the author – I read and really enjoyed Hook Line and Sinker by Tessa Bailey. I was intrigued by the premise for this one, but unfortunately it just did not click with me as a reader.

I’m not really a fan of the Insta-love trope and that one was strongly present here. The start to the story itself had a lot going on and that and the pacing made it feel a bit chaotic.

While this particular read was not a good fit for me, I do think this will appeal to others who enjoy the author and/or the tropes present. Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books for the opportunity to try an early copy.

Hallie and Julian had a missed romantic opportunity when they were younger. Flash forward to present day when their paths cross again when her bubbly personality messes with his best laid plans of writing a book while on teaching sabbatical.

This one included of a lot of different tropes:
Sunshine/Grump
Dash of miscommunication
Opposites Attract
Small town romance

One thing I can appreciate with Tessa's books is that none of her characters are perfect, each has their own flaws/faults. Sign me up for a vineyard setting any day of the week. I enjoyed the efforts to save the local wine shop Corked and the Voss Vineyard overhaul, wish there had been more of that in the second half. I'll be checking out Unfortunately Yours this Summer to see how Natalie's story plays out.

Rating: 3.5 stars.

Special thanks to @netgalley and @avonbooks for the ARC of Secretly Yours for review purposes. All opinions are my own.