4.5 stars - A great start to a new series!

If you're looking for a romance that delves deep into family dynamics, this small-town gem is a must-read. Sweeping you into a picturesque vineyard setting, the drama and emotional highs and lows unfold, holding the reader captivated.

Nelson Hobbs and Savannah Peachwood deliver outstanding performances, breathing life into the story with their narration. Their voices perfectly capture the characters emotions, making the reading experience even more immersive.

This was a terrific introduction to the Hawthorne Vines series and I can't wait for more! For those who enjoy a compelling, heartfelt romance, this audiobook is available for free through Kindle Unlimited. Don't miss out on this beautifully told journey.

⭐️easy to binge
⭐️ no third act break-up
⭐️ lack of communication
⭐️ rough family relations

This book is great for anybody that wants an easy read. It's set on our female MC's families vineyard as the male MC is leading the opening of a restaurant on their property. It's a story of self discovery and the female MC rediscovering who she is after "failing" on what she wanted to do with her life. Definitely a tead for a "I'm here for the vibes" reader.

When Murphy left her hometown and the vineyard that her family owned to pursue her dream of singing, she didn’t realize how challenging the industry could be. She is now returning to face the family that didn’t support her decision to leave knowing that it will be difficult. She now finds herself working in the restaurant as a waitress for a chef who doesn’t want her there.

Wes is a successful chef who has a challenging past of his own. When he meets his new waitress, he is surprised to learn that not only is she his boss’s sister but the woman whose rescue he came to when she had car trouble and shared a kiss with. He knows he should keep his distance however he can’t ignore his urge to protect her with everything she is going through.

Both Murphy and Wes are looking for a new beginning and even though they don’t want to do anything to jeopardize that the feelings between them are undeniable as they support each other through all the obstacles they have to face.

Murphy and Wes met unexpectedly and had an instant connection! But it was short lived and soon these two met “for real” and realized how off limits they were. But chemistry like theirs couldn’t be denied! They worked well together and supported each other. They had different experiences but both had major letdowns in their lives that brought them to where they were. I liked the ease they had with one another and seeing their relationship grow. I didn’t want this book to be over! I loved it!

Such a cute and spicy story with out being over the top in the spice. I love stories where two people happen to meet and then realize they are both ending up at the same place and that’s how this starts out. I felt like we really got a good amount of content to see the love between these two and feel like this could be a series with all the interesting characters.

I enjoyed this small town, forbidden romance. Murphy and Wes's love story was sweet, and I loved how supportive they were of each other as they dealt with family drama and worked to leave their pasts behind.

En bref, j'ai beaucoup aimé Wes et Murphy, leurs secrets et leur manière de gérer leur passé et leur présent, ils sont pleins de doutes et de peurs mais aussi de l'envie de rebondir après des déconvenues. J'ai aimé les voir se livrer petit à petit, se lier d'amitié puis les voir développer des sentiments amoureux, ils sont touchants et on ne peut que dévorer les pages pour en savoir plus. Dommage que certaines choses soient un peu rapide parce que les sujets abordés sont assez nombreux et dans l'ensemble j'ai aimé leurs actions et réactions. Une chouette romance qui manque du petit truc en plus.

Wonderful small town romance. Murphy has to return home to her families Vineyard after her dreams of making a recording career take off didn’t take off. On route she comes across Wes who helps to change a tyre, their connection was instant but a heated kiss was all they shared.
When Murphy reaches her family home her moody brother (Memphis) tells her she will be working in the new restaurant, much ti her shock her new boss is Wes. He can’t get into a relationship with his bosses sister, he can’t afford to lose his job!
Their pasts both have a lot to play in as to why they behave the way they do now. I loved how they started to open up and share this, supporting each other.
I’m looking forward to reading Memphis’s story now.
Thank you NetGalley, Meredith Wild and Jillian Liota and Montlake for this ARC, all opinions expressed are my own.

Bitter Truth by Meredith Wild and Jillian Liota is a captivating small-town romance with a perfect blend of slow-burn passion and emotional depth. The story centers on Murphy, who returns home after leaving her dreams behind in LA, and Wesley, a talented chef with a complicated past. Both characters are beautifully flawed and struggling with their own issues, which adds depth to their connection.
The chemistry between Murphy and Wes is undeniable, and their journey from resisting their feelings to finally embracing them is heartfelt. The small-town setting, family dynamics, and the forbidden romance create a compelling atmosphere. This book has just the right amount of spice and emotional tension to keep readers hooked. If you enjoy stories about love, healing, and finding your place in the world, Bitter Truth is an easy, enjoyable read that will leave you satisfied

This is a very sweet story.
Both Murphy and Wes have to over come a lot and they help each other through all their hurdles.
It’s a very slow burn and the spicy isn’t the spiciest but still written well.
If you are after a sweet romance set on a winery this book is for you.

Bitter Truth (Hawthorne Vines #1) by Meredith Wild and Jillian Liota.

This is an emotional, charming, small town romance that brought all the feels as well as the perfect mix of drama and romance.

This is Murphy and Wesley story and I was captivated by their journey.

Murphy has just returned home after living in Los Angeles for the last nine years trying to find fame as a singer. Struggling as she returns to the small town that always made he feel like she didn’t belong.

Wesley is a famous chef who is trying to get his career and life back on track. He hopes that being offered a position at the Hawthorne Winery at their new restaurant as the Head Chef will be the restart he needs.

These two broken souls are fantastic together. So easy to love, their chemistry is sizzling, and the strength between them was everything. They made this hopeless romantic melt and swoon!

I received an early copy and this is my honest review.

Murphy is a singer, who returns to her home town from Los Angeles after a attempt at launching her singing career. Her family owns a vineyard with a restaurant, which she starts working at. While there, she reunites with a man that had helped her on her way back into town. The man, Wesley, and Murphy feel sparks during this short interaction before going their separate ways. However, when Murphy returns to her family's vineyard, the two reunite, because it turns out that Wesley is the head chef at the vineyard restaurant.

This was a cute, easy, and quick read. There was a bit of forbidden romance and small town vibes, as well as some family drama thrown in to add a bit of friction between the characters. However, this book just didn't stand out to me that much in terms of romance. There was a lack of banter that would have shown more chemistry between the characters, as well as a lack of development of some of the plot/tropes/trauma of the characters that were thrown in there. Maybe this was due to the story being so short, and not having the space to add more, but it just seemed like a lot for a short book.

Thank you to Montlake Publishing, Meredith Wild, Jillian Liota, and NetGalley for the eARC of this book. This is my honest review.

If love small town romance look no further than Bitter Truth ( Hawthorne Vines #1). I haven’t read much by Meredith Wild and Jillian Liota but I was intrigued by the blurb for Wes and Murphy’s story and I wasn’t disappointed. This is a read with all the feels and it has the perfect mix of romance and drama.
Murphy is back home after leaving her life in the city, coming home is not easy and the last thing she is looking for is love.
Wes is the vineyards new chef and he has his own baggage and crossing the line with Murphy is not on his agenda but our hearts know what they want and it seems these two want each other……
The characters are easy to love, the chemistry is hot but it was the strength these two found together that took this book up a level.
I received this book from publisher through Netgalley.

Bitter Truth is book one in the Hawthorne Vines series by Meredith Wild; Jillian Liota and it is a phenomenal novel about family, past regrets, and future hopes.
A sweet small town romance that I devoured.
Second chance romance lovers will just love this
These characters will immediately pull you in and consume you!
I can’t wait to one book two Sweet Escape!

This book felt like a quintessential romance book for me, a spicy Hallmark movie, it was perfectly paced and I loved every moment. Wes and Murphy get a meet cute that turns sour when they realize they that Wes is in charge of Murphy and has heard a lot of not so good stories about Murphy from her brother. After losing his last job, Wes is unwilling to risk this opportunity, but Murphy is ready to take a chance for love, so this is a conflict for them. But these two, they have such similar stories, they understand each other throughout all the family issues they both are having and will stick up for each other unconditionally.

Murphy and Wes are a perfectly imperfect couple who works hard to kickstart their romance, but they are both risking a lot. As a result, you get some secret trists, spicy scenes, and so much more as they work it all out. But as that’s happening, the story also covers Murphy’s feeling and emotions surrounding her leaving 9 years prior and the ripple effect is caused in her relationship with her family.

A perfect balance of a romance with deep emotional side storylines, can’t wait to read the next book!

A lovely wholesome book.

The beginning of the first third of this book had me holding back tears as I felt so bad for Murphy when she had to come home, after being told she wouldn't make it in the Singing Industry.

She meets wes on her journey home by chance, not knowing he works for her family business.

They try to stay apart but eventually give into their desires much to her families disapproval.

It ends with them facing a future together, and Happy on their own

A great storyline, great pov from both characters

Would recommend to friends

This was a great, quick read. I loved Murphy - she was strong, kind, and brave. I love that she wore her heart on her sleeve and didn't back down from showing the people she loves how much she loves them. I had to warm up to Wes. I think it was important that we got a Wes POV, because otherwise those games he played would turn the reader off very quickly.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I can't wait to dive into the next book in the series.

This book was a first for me from this author and I enjoyed it immensely. It blends romance with a little bit of family drama. Murphy returns to her small town after leaving her life in the big city, but it isn’t an easy transition for her. SHe’s dealing with old wounds and strained familial relationships. Wes has his own baggage to process as he escapes to the small town as the vineyard’s new head chef. The chemistry between the two is electric and comes right off the page. Thanks to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for this free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

<b>A beautiful treat for small town romance lovers! Bitter Truth by Meredith Wild and Jillian Liota was a mix of swoon, heartache, angst and crazy chemistry. Wes and Murphy both came to Rosewood with their own emotional baggage and scars. Though they were forbidden, the heart knows what it wants. And they ended up healing each other in a perfect way.</b>

Murphy Hawthorne had to leave LA and her dream of making it big as a singer after she refused to compromise with her integrity. She feels lost and embarrassed and shaken about coming back to her family vineyard after nine Years as her family never supported her decision. She gets upset when her brother Memphis bluntly tells her that she has to work as a waitress in the new restaurant under celebrity chef Wes Hart. The issue isn't the work. She has been blindsided and her family is treating her like some kind of impulsive good for nothing person ( except her younger brother and aunt). Wes knows he has to keep his attraction under control as this job matters a lot in his disgraced career. But they are soulmates and they have to fight for it.

<b>I felt angry on behalf of Murphy for the way her family treated her. But I mater realised her older brother Memphis was only taking out his helplessness and anger about the condition of the vineyard on her. She is heartbroken and the home wasn't welcoming. Even Wes acted hot and cold. They had an instant chemistry but Wes is technically her boss and it was a mess once other people came to know about it. But by then, they have formed a pretty solid connection and fell in love. Wes let his past and his emotional baggage to push Murphy during the early stage. But soon he realised they are more alike than he thought. Murphy is such a beautiful soul. She has struggled so much and worked so hard to make a name for herself away from this small town. But her talent wasn't enough. She is lost but with Wes, she feels like she is home again. She slowly starts to feel connected to her old home. Wes was so supportive and caring and inspiring for her. And she was there for him during some of his darkest days. At the end, they both got their dreams. But they really didn't need anything except each other </b>

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily

This is such a perfect book for the transition between summer and fall! Cute romance, angst, vineyards and a cozy vibe. It's the kind of story that is raw, realistic, emotional and puts your own life and thoughts into perspective. We have main characters who face changes, life choices, careers, dreams and new relationships that are easy to understand and relate to. It's a quick easy read so if you are looking for a late summer read that give you that cozy small town vibe but also spice, emotions and that hope that at the end of the day it will all work out, this is for you.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC