Bitter Truth by Meredith Wild and Jillian Liota is set in one of my favorite places, California Wine Country. Hawthorne Vines is located in the fictional small town of Rosewood and it is the perfect backdrop for Wes and Murphy’s story.

Wes Hart is the head chef at the new restaurant set to open at Hawthorne Vines. He is looking to start over after some professional difficulties and Rosewood seems like the ideal place to do it.

Murphy Hawthorne is returning home to her family’s vineyard for the first time since she moved to LA years ago to pursue a music career. Things in her life have gone sideways, and she feels like the only place for her to go is home. She is almost there when she finds herself in need of assistance and Wes steps in as Good Samaritan. Their initial meeting is one of my favorite scenes in the whole book. The connection between them is real from the first moment and I was immediately invested in their story.

Wes is surprised to find Murphy pull up to the vineyard and he makes some unflattering assumptions until he realizes that she is the younger sister of his boss. Then he finds out she will be working at the restaurant with him, and she immediately becomes off-limits.

Murphy doesn’t understand why Wes is acting like a jerk, but she has no intention of putting up with it. The push and pull between them is maddening, but it makes it all the sweeter when they finally give in to the deep connection that has developed between them. Their conversations on the bench are also some of my favorite scenes in this book.

This is a bit of a slow burn, but the chemistry between Murphy and Wes is ever present. The butternut squash scene will live rent free in my head. The “Yes, Chef” moments are superb.

There is family drama all around on both sides. Murphy and Wes are both dealing with painful things in their past. They reveal their secrets to each other over time with no real relationship drama. It feels a little drawn out, and there is one plot point that doesn’t get resolved for Wes, but I was happy to see the level of care they show each other during difficult times.

The setting really shines for me in this one and I hope we get to see more of Hawthorne Vines and Rosewood in future books.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book.

Oh i love love loved this! Loved everything about the story and the characters it was such a fun and cute read! I couldn’t put the book down!

I really tried to get into this one - But I couldn't. I would rather not rate it low or leave a not so great review since I am feeling in a bit of a slump myself and it might be affecting my opinion.

I need to choose a star rating to submit, but it feels unfair to do so - since I did not finish the book

3⭐️

Tropes:
Small-town Romance
Close proximity
Forbidden romance (?)
Boss/employee

Bitter Truth by Meredith Wild has Murphy, a talented singer who returns home after failing to succeed in LA and runs into Wesley, a disgraced Chef from Chicago who is itching to make a comeback into the food industry.

This book had the potential to be a 5 star book but I had some issues, and the main one was the pace. With only 212 pages, there really isn’t much room for improvement or in this case, character development seemed rushed. Micah (one of her brothers) was important but he was in and out, her resolution with her dad was rushed, how she fell in love with the MMC was abrupt like I think it needed more room to breathe.

I also had a love/hate relationship with Wes. I understand being so desperate in ensuring your success that you can’t afford distractions but his mood swings were giving me whiplash in the beginning. Like dude, lowkey uncalled for but whatever.

Murphy’s story was unique and I liked being able to read about her. I appreciate the no third-act break up because it seemed like it was gettting there at one point lol.

Thanks Netgalley for a copy of this free arc!

Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

Immerse yourself in a beautifully written, deeply emotional, and heartwarming romance that captivates readers from beginning to end! This delightful story features an array of irresistible tropes, including the ever popular slow burn, second chance, and a bit of forbidden love, all set against the charming backdrop of a small town. Brimming with angst, chemistry, banter, love, forgiveness, family drama, and romance, this novel is a compelling read. The authors skillfully craft real and relatable characters that you can't help but cheer for. It's a story about moving forward from the past, overcoming the fear of failure, and following your dreams on your own unique journey. Overall, I was completely immersed in the story from start to finish! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Meredith Wild and Jillian Liota brings us the story of two strangers who meet at a gas station. On her way home, Murphy ends up with a flat tire. She gets help from a stranger. She comes home to find the stranger who helped her out turns out to be the new chef and her boss. Things get complicated when they try to ignore the sparks that started when they first met while trying to work together at the restaurant at her family's vineyard. They each end up at the vineyard after running from their problems and their past. But will they be able to get past all of it? Will they be brave enough to face it all so they can attempt at a future together?

Meredith Wild and Jillian Liota brings us a story about family and love. They bring us two people whose dreams they thought were shattered and destroyed and try to outrun the hurt and pain. We get to see if they think it is worth going through the heartache. Will Murphy and Wes be brave enough to take a chance on each other, or will the hurt and unknown be too much for them?

I have read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I would like to thank NetGalley and Montlake for this privilege.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

I enjoyed the storyline of this book and the family dynamic was heartbreaking but there is hope of restoring relationships by the end of the book..

I do wish some things were answered for us like the father part of the MMC storyline and the future of the Vineyard but hopefully there will be a next book to possibly explain those things.

Some content may be triggering to some.

Murphy and Wes were bound and determined to keep away from each other, but of course, if they succeeded we wouldn't have this great book. They definitely needed each other in the worst way. I'm so excited to start the rest of the series.

First by this author that I've read (Meredith Wild I've read but not her co author). Story felt a little predictable and nothing caught me out of the ordinary. Not saying it was bad or not a good read, just nothing stood out as taking it to the next level. I do love that Meredith Wild supports starting authors and provides a platform for them to get published and better known- everyone needs a starting point. I think this author will develop more as she goes on. Not a bad start.

3⭐️ 2.5🌶️

This was a cute small town romance, with a lot going on. I feel like the characters backstory could have been more developed. There was just a lot going on in such a short book that it all felt a bit rushed.

"Bitter Truth" by Meredith Wild and Jillian Liota follows Murphy Hawthorne, who returns to her family’s vineyard after nine years in Los Angeles chasing her music dreams. Leaving behind her shattered aspirations, she helps launch the vineyard’s new restaurant but is met with a family still resentful of her departure, leading to the resurfacing of old wounds. The only bright spot is the charming head chef, Wesley Hart.

Wesley, hired to draw more visitors to the vineyard, is a skilled chef with a troubled past he wishes to leave behind. Dealing with his own regrets and complex family issues, he is also searching for a fresh start. The last thing he needs is to act on his growing attraction to his boss’s younger sister, though he finds it increasingly difficult to ignore his feelings.

Despite their reasons to keep their distance, Murphy and Wesley cannot deny the undeniable connection between them. They find solace and a sense of belonging in each other that neither anticipated. To build a future together, they must confront their pasts and learn to forgive.

The novel is a captivating small-town romance that blends forbidden love with personal growth and a slow-burn relationship. The romance between Murphy and Wesley unfolds gradually, allowing readers to become deeply invested in their emotional journey. Both characters are richly developed: Murphy’s past is marked by a troubled childhood and family issues, while Wesley’s story involves significant family challenges and a personal quest for redemption. Their interactions and growth are portrayed with emotional depth, making their eventual union feel genuine and satisfying. However, it didn’t stand out as a favourite among similar books following these themes.

Overall, "Bitter Truth" is an engaging read that offers a heartfelt exploration of love.

I received an ARC of this novel courtesy of Montlake Publishing, Netgalley and the authors. This was my first time reading Meredith Wild and Jillian Liota and I will definitely pick up each of their works again. I really loved the novel and the characters they worked hard to create and build throughout the story.

This novel takes place as Murphy, a musician returns home after the music industry failed her. On her way back to her family’s vineyard where she does not specifically want to be heading she has a tire blow and is stranded. Upon wondering what she is going to do she is greeted by a handsome and nice man who helps her along. She feels sparks and connection with him but they both go on their way. Once she shows up at her family’s vineyard she quickly learns that the man whom helped her is her new boss.

Both recognize the dangers of dating/feeling for one another and attempt to stay away from one another however will they be able to resist their feelings and desire to find out what could have been?

This is a great small town, forbidden romance novel. There is definitely a slow burn element as well in this novel which I absolutely loved. I did not really enjoy the smutiness of this book as it did not feel the most natural but I loved the times when their relationship outside of the sexual parts were discussed. I enjoyed this novel and recommend it to small town vibe readers!

I honestly felt bored for most of this book. I couldn’t feel any chemistry and the family issues did not vibe for me.

I want to start by thanking the author and publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book. Not my favorite book. It was very predictable.

Bitter Truth is a wonderful read. I really enjoyed this one Murphy has always felt like she did not belong in her small town and finally back home to start over. Wesley is a talented chef who is looking at getting his life back on track. I love the sparks as Murphy and Wesley open up to each other. Two broken souls help mend each other in a beautiful way. Murphy and Wesley are fabulous together. You need to click this today.

The main characters, Murphy and Was, both have interesting backgrounds. Murphy's childhood was tragic, leaving her with trust issues and a fractured family, while Was has a fascinating family background that suggests a compelling "damaged hero" backstory. The story of his father is so important to Was that it becomes the sole reason for his move to the town and his decision to take the position. The book builds up the importance of this story, but then it gets forgotten. The reader feels left hanging, as the storyline is never fully completed. While we see more of Was' mother and brother's sides, the book covers heavy topics like addiction, abandonment, and childhood trauma, creating a complex backstory that could be the subject of its own book.

3.5 Stars Lovers of small town romance will enjoy the slow burn, forbidden romance in Bitter Truth by Meredith Wild and Jillian Liota!

After nine years trying to make it in LA, aspiring singer Murphy Hawthorne has returned to her family's vineyard in Napa Valley. Faced with the family that's still bitter over the fact that she left in the first place, Murphy struggles and old wounds quickly reopen. The only bright spot is Wes Hart, the head chef hired to open the new restaurant at the vineyard. Like Murphy, Wes is trying to start over and he can't risk his job over a relationship with his new boss's sister. If only he could get Murphy out of his head. Neither can deny the attraction between them and the connection that seems to keep putting them in each other's path. While each trying to forge a new path, could they do it together?

I love small town romances and that's what initially drew me to this one. While I think that trope was well executed, the book was a bit short for the other tropes and subplots to be fully fleshed out. I wish there had been more pages so we could've seen Murphy work things out more with her brother and father, for Wes to connect with his father, and for things to turn around at the vineyard. I'm hoping this is the start of a new series and we'll get to see more of the vineyard and both Memphis's and Micah's stories!

Thank you NetGalley and Meredith Wild & Jillian Liota for the ARC 💗

The premise of this had me so intrigued. An aspiring singer returning home, a beautiful vineyard setting, a heartfelt workplace romance with the chef at her family's vineyard, and that gorgeous swoony cover. Unfortunately, it fell a bit flat for me overall. It's a fast read, and again one that has the architecture for some real emotional substance. But, the fast pacing and undeveloped characters and backstory had me struggling to really immerse myself in both of these characters. Though they really do have great chemistry together- and I loved their meet cute. But the backstory, particular their relationships with their families and their pasts, felt really unclear and incomplete...which is challenging when so much of their issues stem from these family dynamics. And because of limited clarity here, in the end, it just felt incompletely resolved. So the story just really fizzled for me. I so wanted to love it, and I've enjoyed work by these authors before, but overall this one was a bit of a miss for me and didn't deliver on what I felt was an exciting narrative promise.

4 Stars for the small town romance

This is a quick, sweet story with likeable characters. I felt sorry for what happened to Murphy in LA but she made it seem like it was the end of the world that she had to go back to her hometown. At first I didn't really care for Wes, I thought he was a little arrogant but as the story went on I found him more likeable. Although the storyline is good, I just felt that it was too predictable. For how mad Murphy's dad was at her, I thought they would have had more confrontations.

The minute Murphy graduated, she fled the family vineyard to pursue her singing career in LA. Almost a decade later, she's back home with her tail between her legs. Her father and older brother are sceptical about her return while her younger brother and aunt welcome her with open arms. The vineyard is opening a restaurant and she's going to be in charge of the wait staff. Wes had big aspirations as a chef, but he tried to get to the top too fast and ended up getting burned. Now the only place that will hire him is a family's new restaurant and they don't know why he got fired from his last job. When Murphy and Wes meet the sparks fly, but they both know that its not a good idea for them to become involved, but ...

I received an early copy courtesy of Montlake through NetGalley.

Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC. This fell a little bit flat for me, not completely it was still good but just enough, there was parts that I really had to push through I guess it’s because there was two authors writing but we get to know the characters well and their backstory too. It is emotional and cute I loved the connection between Wes and Murphy but with all the problems between her brothers and father and even the constant talk with Wes cooking and doing stuff for the restaurant to open just took away from the story I feel like. It’s not bad by any means but it had a lot more potential to be way better and focus on Wes and Murphy more. I loved the beginning and how both of them met and the cute banter between them really made this story great and especially the spice from this. It isn’t too extreme or lacking it’s just right and I loved it!