'Wine or Lose' had me at the start with Amara and Calvin's initial meeting—it set up a promising dynamic that had me eager to see where their story would go. However, as the plot unfolded, their interactions left me puzzled. The chemistry felt off, and their behaviors seemed inconsistent, pulling me out of the narrative completely. Amara is trying to prove herself as the new CEO of her family's winery, while Calvin struggles to see her as anything more than a spoiled party girl. Their tension could have made for an engaging enemies-to-lovers arc, but instead, it felt disjointed.

The back-and-forth of their relationship lacked the depth I needed to truly invest in them. Calvin came across as harsh and dismissive, which made it difficult to care about him or believe his love. Meanwhile, Amara seemed to float along without much agency. The stakes were clear, but I wished for more background to understand their animosity and what was truly at stake for both of them.

TL;DR: I loved the opening chapter where Amara and Calvin met, but after that, their interactions felt inconsistent and confusing. Their behaviors pulled me out of the story, leaving me disconnected and unable to root for them.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

I really enjoyed this book and thought the author did a great job getting her ideas across! I also really liked the cover and it drew me to want to read this book

I honestly wish I enjoyed this book more, specially because it has some of my all-time favourite tropes and this blurb that got me intrigued. Unfortunately this book wasn't for me.

Amara and Cal met 5 years ago and they almost had a one-night stand. However once Cal finds out that Amara is his new boss' daughter, he calls things off. As this was their very first encounter, you can guess that it didn't end well.

Fast forward to the present, Cal is still the CFO, and Amara joins the family business as the CEO, which means of course their paths will cross again.
I know this is an enemies-to-lovers and workplace romance, but Cal had an extremely unprofessional attitude. He didn't trust Amara's professional decisions, was disrespectful to her on several occasions, including in front of her family. Some of his actions are very alarming and I honestly don't understand how Amara's family didn't do a thing about this, and how did Cal even maintain his job at all.

Amara is confident and tenacious, she's professional and dedicated to her family and her family's business. These are actually the qualities that I enjoyed about our FMC.
However, at the same time I felt like Amara was letting Cal walk all over her? She'd forgive him for his terrible behaviour so easily, and when she wouldn't, she'd behave in such petty way that honestly made me roll my eyes.

This book is spicy, but I wish these characters connected on an emotional level as well, which is something I didn't really see happening.

The writing was okay, but I did enjoy the setting in this one! The winery, the details - it definitely sounds like a beautiful place to be.

I have read some of Amanda's book in the past and I feel like they're a bit of hit or miss for me. This one, sadly, was a miss.

Thank you Net Galley and publisher for this ARC!

What a great story! I really enjoyed this. I love how well the characters worked together. Love the MCs and the secondary characters. Loved the humor, spice, romance, dramas all of it!!

I love that this is the start of a new series as I very much enjoyed it and all the characters that were introduced! Cal and Amara almost have a night of passion before he realises that she’s his new boss’s daughter and quickly ends things. Four years later, Amara is taking over her dad’s vineyard and is Cal’s new boss - something he is hard against and they became serious enemies as he tries to overthrow her. Let me tell you, this isn’t enemies to lovers in a mild oh they have banter kind of way - these two hate each other. Which makes for some off the charts sexual tension given their past and their chemistry is on fire when they do get together. And then, the drama - phew. So much. Made it pretty gripping. Also worth mentioning the epilogue(s) which felt like an overdose of serotonin 🙃

Allll the tropes:

- enemies to lovers
- forced proximity
- let’s just get it our systems…
- workplace romance
- surprise pregnancy
- very spicy

This was such a fun book. I was hooked on the characters very quickly and loved how much tension there was between them. I loved the whole concept of this story.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for my gifted ARC copy!

I started out really enjoying this one but it didn’t end up being a favorite, but I do plan to read more from this author.

I loved the winery setting and how the story took place in the Midwest! I don’t know what it is about a winery as the backdrop but it’s always so dreamy 😍 The family dynamics were amazing and I loved the relationships Amara had with her sisters! I loved Amara’s character in general. She was so intelligent and fiercely independent! Cal, on the other hand, was very hard to root for. I loved his character when he was sweet but I just couldn’t forget about how badly he treated Amara and tried to undermine her authority. It made me question why she wanted to be with him at all.

I’m also not a fan of the accidental pregnancy trope, but that had no effect on my review.

★ ★ ☆ | 2.75 ★s

Let me preface this by saying I absolutely love Amanda Chaperon’s other books this one just didn’t do it for me. I was so excited when I saw it on NetGalley and got the ARC but I struggled with it. First off MMC is too much of an ass, there is enemies to lovers and the there is just plain asshole. The whole reason they hate each other is so childish. Who lets an almost one night stand fester into something so crazy for 5 years. Ya don’t even know each other. Not to mention he is so disrespectful in so many ways I really don’t see how anything happened between them at all. Our FMC is a boss and I liked really her for about 98% of the book. Her bond with her family and sisters was awesome too. She lost me at the third act breakup when 1) there was no need for ppl to bring up a past that he obviously got to know her and changed his tune so what was the point and 2) her reaction was too much and then to blame it on your hormones? Come on. It just all felt a bit much and forced to me. I needed more buildup to the actual love part and less of the hate you part and none of the third act breakup part. All that being said there was some great banter and laughable moments and I enjoyed the atmosphere and side characters of the book.

I am excited to read the other sisters/characters books because I have enjoyed all of Amanda’s previous books and it might just be a me thing on this one.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

I had hight expectations for this one - maybe to high to be honest but the book, in general, did not convince me as an all.
The main characthers chemistry was nothing special and the book was a little bit boring to me.

it was perfect, but it gave me the warm & fuzzies! I have always enjoyed Amanda Champeron’s books and this one has a slightly different vibe, but the enemies to lovers was everything you could ever want. I mean… the tension?! was everything!!

This book was a great introduction to the Delateau world and getting to know some new characters. I can't wait to see where Amanda brings this story next!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I looooove the enemies to lovers trope and was excited to read this based on the synopsis. Unfortunately this book did not grab my attention and it fell flat for me.

I think there are a lot of people who will enjoy this!

Anything that is set in a vineyard is already set in a dream location for me. The blurb instantly drew me into this story, being a workplace romance between the CEO and CFO at the vineyard. Everything was there and set up well for me but it fell flat. My hopes were set high and I just felt like I wasn't connecting with the characters or story.

This was really cute, it’s not my usual genre so I wish it had grabbed my attention a little more but over all I still enjoyed it

In Amanda Chaperon's "Wine or Lose," Amara Delatou, the newly appointed CEO of Chateau Delatou, faces skepticism from her CFO, Calvin Ryder, due to a past misunderstanding. As they navigate their professional and personal relationship, tensions rise until their control snaps, leading to blurred lines, revealed secrets, and a threat to their budding romance. The story explores the complexities of love, trust, and the challenges of working closely with someone you're attracted to. Chaperon skillfully paints a vivid picture of the Delatou winery and the surrounding Old Mission Peninsula, immersing readers in the beauty of the setting. The characters are well-developed and relatable, with Amara's determination and Calvin's guardedness creating a compelling dynamic. The banter between them is witty and engaging, adding a layer of humor to the story. The novel delves into the intricacies of family dynamics and the pressures of living up to expectations. Amara's struggle to prove herself as a capable leader while dealing with her father's legacy adds depth to her character. Calvin's own demons and insecurities hinder his ability to trust Amara, creating a poignant obstacle to their relationship. Chaperon's writing is fluid and engaging, drawing readers into the story and keeping them invested in Amara and Calvin's journey. The pacing is steady, with enough twists and turns to maintain suspense without overwhelming the reader. The resolution is satisfying, providing closure while leaving room for potential future developments. Overall, "Wine or Lose" is a captivating and entertaining romance novel that explores the complexities of love, trust, and family dynamics. With well-developed characters, a picturesque setting, and a compelling storyline, Chaperon delivers a story that will resonate with readers who enjoy contemporary romance with a touch of humor and emotional depth.

First I must say, that I didn't really care for a cover, but synopsis of this book bought me.
I am so for enemies to lovers trope, and I wanted to loved this one, but I just did not. It felt a little flat. Writning was okay, but I just did not really care For MMC...

2 stars

Sadly this didn't work for me.
Between a misogynistic mmc and a very childish heroine I couldn't root for them as a couple but also I couldn't find anything appealing about them.
The plot seemed interesting but the execution wasn't great.
Overall I'm very disappointed.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

This was such a fun read! I finished this one pretty quickly and found it super entertaining and kept me engaged throughout. I loved Amara's persistence to not only be good at her job, but to keep her families legacy and dream alive. I thought she was such a strong character and immediately fell in love with her.. While I loved the rivals to lovers trope, I did not really find Calvin to be my favorite and I overall just did not find him to be that likable. I think Amara kept the story going and I was just really rooting for her to prove to everyone that doubted her wrong.

I enjoyed the family dynamic and the close relationship between all of the sisters. I found myself getting attached to a lot of the side characters and loved getting to know them. This was a fast-paced read and had many amazing elements. It gives small-town vibes with a very strong FMC and I overall enjoyed the book!

I love Amanda’s writing, and I already can’t wait to fall in love with this series!

Amara is the new CEO of her family’s winery, and her CFO, Calvin, is less than pleased. He thinks she’s a party princess and unfit to run the company, so he’s prepared to do whatever it takes to make her fail. Amara is intent on ignoring him and their quick relationship fail 5 years ago, but their control is quickly tested and lines are blurred. Will they let the tension get the best of them, or will they risk it all for the love they’ve always dreamed of?

Amara is the kind of boss babe I’d love to be! She works hard and doesn’t flaunt her achievements, she just shows up and does her job. Even faced with naysayers, she holds her head up and moves on. Calvin is her weakness, and I loved seeing her open up to him and be vulnerable instead of closed off.

Calvin was less than ideal at the start, but I warmed up to him once he got his head on straight and began to respect Amara for the goddess she is (iykyk). He quickly became such a sweetie intent on making her happy and putting her first!

This town and plot were so perfect, I didn’t know a family winery is exactly the location I needed in my life. The little hints of the Delatou sisters and their potential MMCs has me impatient for them! Also, the spice was delicious and I LOVED the list of spicy chapters in the back for easy reference.