In Bitter Truth, Murphy Hawthorne returns to her family’s Northern California vineyard after nine years in LA chasing her dreams of becoming a singer. While trying to repair strained family relationships, she meets Wesley Hart, the vineyard’s new head chef with a past he’d rather forget. Their connection is instant but complicated—Murphy is Wes's boss’s younger sister while Wes is Murphy's boss, and both are haunted by family. As they navigate their undeniable chemistry, they must confront their pasts and decide if they can build a future together despite the odds.

I initially picked up the book because it's set at a vineyard, and I've wanted to read a book like that forever. However, I was quickly drawn in by the complexity of both MCs.

Murphy and Wes each start the story with unresolved secrets that slowly unravel, revealing layers of emotional baggage. The gradual reveal of their backstories added an almost mystery element to the book that kept me hooked right to the end. I found myself wanting to learn not only how they will get to their HEA but also what happened in their pasts to shape them into the guarded people they are in the book.

What I loved most about this book is how Murphy and Wes's instant connection slowly morphed into something more meaningful, even though it was initially fraught with tension. They became each other’s confidant, sharing their trauma and finding solace in one another.

Wes’s reluctance to pursue Murphy because she’s his boss’s sister created a forbidden romance element that added to the stakes of their relationship. Wes’s internal struggle - torn between his attraction to Murphy and his desire to keep his job - felt very real, but once he figured out his feelings, he didn't let that stop him from being with Murphy, which I loved!

Murphy’s personal growth throughout the book was also a prominent part of it. Her journey from the black sheep of the family to someone who learns to deal with her past the right way was gratifying to read. She definitely had to make several tough decisions and stand up for herself more than once, but ultimately, she chose what was best for her, which ended up helping her repair her relationship with her dad and older brother, too!

And the vineyard backdrop was beautifully woven into the story, offering an atmospheric setting that felt like a character in itself.

Overall, Bitter Truth is a sweet and a bit steamy romance about healing from past wounds and choosing love, even when it’s risky.

Tropes:
-forbidden romance
-instant attraction
-boss/employee
-small town
-vineyard
-trauma bonding
-chef x singer/songwriter
-no third-act breakup
-some spice

This is my first book by Meredith Wild, but I picked it up because of Jillian Liota's name and I'm SO glad I did.
These two authors came together in a seamless and beautiful way that had me begging for more. I'm so glad this is going to be a series because I couldn't get enough of this town, the family, and all of their personal struggles that clearly impact their day-to-day lives.
You will swoon and your heart will break—but don't worry, they'll piece it back together by the end!

This story took me a little while to get through. Not because of the characters or the plot but more of personal things. Overall I feel like Murphy and Wes were very developed characters and you got to see them grow throughout the story. The setting was perfect and I loved the idea of the vineyard. I would highly recommend this novel to anyone who has an interest in romance, music, small town business and family.

Hallmark with a little bit of spice is how i would review this series. The main female character comes back to her families winery and meets the chef she’s been placed under. They are opening resturant to expand the business. Meanwhile, the chef has his own secrets and struggles to move on from the past after being black listed in chicago.
The big secrets they both carry felt like they were brought up too soon in the story, at least murphys was. It didn’t feel like the timing of it didn’t really add to the story right then and would have been better later on. The spicy scenes were better in this story than the second one, but it’s still not my favorite one I’ve read.
Overall, it’s a quick read that i enjoyed for the most part. The story is what kept me interested and read in one day.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the arc. All thoughts and feelings are my own.

I like that we get some emotional depth with our small town romance. The story is cute, but it also has characters going through a lot trying to overcome their perceived failure. The forbidden nature adds to it as well. I like how these two meet, share a moment, and then later realize they will be in forced proximity. Overall, I felt like this one was an interesting start to a new series.

This is a perfect fit for readers who adore heartwarming, emotional stories about second chances, found family, and the power of love to heal old wounds, set against the picturesque backdrop of a small town and a charming vineyard.

3.5 Star

Overall I did enjoy this book but I had a few issues with it.

I felt like it was a bit rushed at times and there were too many subplots happening, that were left unfinished. I also felt the story didn't really get going and for me was a little bit slow paced.
The boys behaviour towards Memphis was really annoying and I just didn't really enjoy it.

Small town set in the family’s vineyard? Yes please. I’ve always enjoyed Meredith’s writing so I was looking forward to reading her duet writing. This was a sweet small town romance with some forbidden vibes with him being her new boss. An interesting family dynamic with Murphy and her moody brother and father.

Such a cute, wholesome small town romance!! I love the little accidental car meeting between Wes and Murphy (it reminded me of When in Rome by Sarah Adams) and the chemistry they shared! These two had such an effortless, intimate connection from the beginning. I really enjoyed their chemistry, but beyond that, I admired their deep and mutual understanding of each other’s difficulties. They’re both empathetic and provide this safe haven for the other when they need someone the most. It was easy to see how they found love considering their similar circumstances.

Murphy, moving back home after a horrible experience chasing her goals in Los Angeles, breaks down on the way back into town and instantly connects with a man at the gas station who helps her change her tire. They had no idea that they are much closer to a second meeting than they both think. One of the authors' greatest talents is developing and revealing the backstories of both key characters at just the right moment. I really liked this book.


Thank you NetGalley & Montlake for this e-ARC.

Both of these two authors coming together was such an amazing surprise and they just wrote such an amazing book together. perfect for going into the summer time. this one will pull at all the heart strings but it is so heart warming too.
Hopefully they will write again and will be just as exceptional as this book.

this was so good! this was such a cozy read and perfect for this time of year! i just loved these two, forbidden romance is one of my favorite tropes and this one did not disappoint! The character development for both Murphy and Wes was fantastic, i couldnt stop reading this one! I cannot wait for more of this series! If you love a sweet romance with some angsty in a cozy small town i recommend this one!

DNF - This book was unfortunately not for me. There wasn't anything wrong with the book it just wasn't something that kept my interest.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. This is a story about two people who were presented with their dream jobs and made decisions that had huge impacts on their worlds. I really liked how those decisions kind of mirrored each other. I do feel like there was a lot going on but at the same time it didn’t feel like it was anything that really mattered. I was a little lost at the importance of bringing in the storyline of Wes’ mom. It didn’t feel like it was really needed. I did enjoy the story overall and look forward to the next story in the series.

Murphy left home to chase her dream of being a professional singer. She is now returning home broken-hearted and embarrassed. She feels like her family doesn’t want her home. Wes’ career as a top chef crashed and burned. He thinks running the restaurant at the vineyard is his one chance to prove he is a good chef. How do two people who have been hurt by their chosen careers learn that it’s okay to take a chance on love?


The author created two characters who had good backstories and solid reasons for being cautious about starting a relationship. I like that both of them confronted their issues and got at least some level of completion. This book is quiet. A lot happens but there are no explosions or screaming matches. The family interactions are good. The subplot of Murphy and Wes opening the restaurant together is good. It’s just a very pleasing story.

This is a contemporary romance that takes place primarily in a vineyard in California. I look forward to reading more books from this series because I want to find out how Murphy’s brothers find love. I will read more from this author in the future.

Murphy Hawthorne is returning home to her family's vineyard after her dreams of becoming a famous musician in LA were thwarted. But after nine years away, things on the vineyard have changed; her brother is now in charge and he's made some changes, including opening a new restaurant with a new chef, Wesley Hart, and Murphy is assigned to help with this new project. Murphy and Wes both have complicated pasts and they're both pretty closed off. But while they know it is not a good idea to get romantically involved, they can't seem to stay away from each other. And this workplace romance is complicated.

I really liked this book. The story is told from the competing POV's of Murphy and Wes. Both Murphy and Wes are complex characters; while Murphy is headstrong; Wes is kind and considerate. They are both likeable and I was invested in the outcome of their story. I liked the way Wild and Liota wove the character's pasts into the story, which gave the book a bit of mystery as well as romance. It was an easy, fun read and I found myself reading "just one more" chapter well past my bedtime.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I listened to the audiobook of Bitter Truth by Meredith Wild and Jillian Liota, narrated by Nelson Hobbs and Savannah Peachwood, and they really brought the characters to life. I’d recommend the audio version over reading the book—it’s much more engaging.

While the premise of a small-town romance with a female comeback story sounded great, the book didn’t quite hit the mark for me. At under 300 pages, it tried to tackle too many heavy themes—family issues, past trauma, saving a vineyard—which led to underdeveloped storylines. The romance also felt rushed and leaned into insta-love without enough buildup.

Overall, while I appreciated the concept, it felt like the book needed more time to explore the characters and their backstories. I'd still be interested in seeing how these authors develop in future works.

Wes and Murphy have similar backgrounds, failed dreams and trying to move on from them. She returns to the one place she never wanted to be, working for the family’s vineyard. He is the new chef she will be working with. They do have some chemistry but it is more antagonistic creating a slow burn. ARC provided by Netgalley for a honest review.

In this small town romance, we are following Murphy and Wes as they navigate their complicated pasts as they collide in their current lives.

Murphy comes back to her hometown after she struggles to make it in LA. Sadly, her homecoming is far from well received by her brothers and father who run a winery. Murphy wants nothing more than to show her family that she can be helpful with the family business if given the chance, but they trust new chef Wes more than her.

Wes just moved from Chicago to northern California and lands a job at a new restaurant being opened on winery property. Little does he know, the damsel in distress that he helped recently is part of the family that now employs him. Struggling to separate his past discretions with his present feelings for Murphy, the two are constantly going back and forth in a will-they-won't-they tug of war.

Of course, being a romance novel, we know they will and when they do, the chemistry is off the charts. This is one of the only books I have ever read with a 69 scene and I was living for it. I am so excited to read more from this duo of authors.

Characters - 8 out of 10
Atmosphere - 10 out of 10
Writing - 9 out of 10
Plot - 8 out of 10
Intrigue - 9 out of 10
Logic - 10 out of 10
Enjoyment - 9 out of 10
CAWPILE Average Score - 9 out of 10
Star Rating - 5 out of 5

Wonderful story set in wine country, California that tells a tale of redemption. Murphy, slinking back home after a traumatic experience chasing her dreams in LA, breaks down on the way back into town and has an instant connection to a man at the gas station who helps change her tire. Little do they know that they are a lot closer to a second meeting than either realizes. As in, Wes is the new head chef of the restaurant at her family’s vineyard. He’s also the only ally she has save her younger brother. Both her dad and older brother expect her to be the same old Murphy and it was so frustrating watching them treat her the way they did. I love a good forbidden romance plot and Bitter Truth was no exception. I enjoyed the characters, the plot keeps moving, and if you like angst in your romance…this one has it is spades. One of the things the authors do best is build the backstory reveal for both main characters and dish it out at such an opportune time in the arc of emotion of the story. The only question I felt was unresolved was Wes’s dad. He was made such a part of Wes’s storyline and then nothing ever came of it. It felt unresolved for me. That said, it doesn’t detract for the beauty of the story or the strength of these characters. hopefully more to come because Memphis needs some energy release big time and I’d love to watch him fall.