Taste

This is a beautifully written romantic story, about childhood friends, that are now an adult couple, who discover love between each other. Melanie Harlow writes a book that shows various emotions within the story. All of the characters are well described.They had always known each other, but Ellie had always hated Gianni, because he had always made her life miserable. He had always been a restless person, even as an adult, he was unable to seriously settle down. Ellie had settled down and was happy with her life choices working, as a wine representative for her parents restaurant. Gianni was head chef at this same restaurant, and loved making life miserable for Ellie.Ellie has a dinner that she must attend, and take her wines for a tasting, and pairing with different foods. A severe winter storm is in the very near future, so Gianni forces her to let him drive her to the dinner. Gianni becomes the center of attention, at the dinner, and Ellie feels left out. They become stranded, at a small motel, because of the storm. The closeness leads to a relationship, but a relationship surrounded by Gianni’s lies.After the storm, they head home in complete silence. Hurt feelings continue for Ellie, until she realizes that life has thrown her a road block. She confronts Gianni with this info, and the parents are given this information also.Gianni is about to leave for a job offer in California, but an ultrasound changes his mind. The couple become close again, and finally obtain their HEA.

Ellie is there perfect only daughter of Lucas & Mia Fournier (Frenched & Yanked) who loves the family vineyard, Abelard, & is making it her life’s work to make it thrive. Gianni is the semi celebrity chef son of Nick & Coco Lupo (Forked) who has come home to be head chef at Abelard’s restaurant, Etoile. These two have grown up together since Mia & Coco we’re best friends. They’ve hit every milestone in life…together. There’s pictures to prove it. But as Ellie remembers it, Gianni has made her life a nightmare. On the other hand, Gianni remembers it differently.When Ellie is invited to a wine tasting dinner for a magazine editor, this is her time to shine. But with a polar vortex coming in, Gianni’s protective side comes out & he refuses to let her go alone. Queue snowed in weather conditions & a single vacancy at the only hotel with a single bed.These two found a common ground & actually started to become friends. I loved watching Ellie’s hatred slowly morph as certain experiences in her life were explained differently. Gianni single handedly broke down her walls & showed her the man he truly could be.Now…as some truths came out, they weren’t handled really well. But when it really mattered, Gianni was deadset on proving to Ellie that he could be the man she needed.

Ellie works at her family’s vineyard. She is in charge of the wine tasting and explaining wines. Her nemesis is Gianni. He has been since they were in elementary school. Ellie has been asked to do a wine tasting for a magazine. Elli is hoping to in the magazine as a new 30 Under 30.Gianni is a chef. He has been on a tv show. He was listed as “too hot to handle.” He is also the chef at Ellie’s family restaurant. The two of them are still constantly at each other.Gianni drove Ellie to the magazine wine tasting party. A massive blizzard hits and the two of them are in a small hotel room. A wonderful time happens during those two days. Will the “friendship “ last?

These two have families that have been friends for YEARS and Gianni has been nothing but a nuisance to Ellie for YEARS!! Gianni is a world renown Chef and Ellie is the sommelier for her family’s winery, etc. These two lock horns until trapped together in a snow blizzard. Just wait for the fireworks! I love Melanie Harlow books. Look into her “Ignite" with Winnie and Dex. Here you find a grumpy divorced firefighter with the cutest little girls you have ever read about! I cannot wait to read “Tease” the next in line for these sisters/friends.

Finally I got to read Taste. I’m really glad I read the previous books first. Even though it is a stand-alone book, I do suggest to read Cloverleigh Farms & Frenched series, to get to know everyone ☺️Ellie and Gianni have known each other since they were born, as we all know their parents are Mia/Lucas and Coco/Nick.He loved teasing Ellie when they were children. That’s probably the main reason why Ellie doesn’t trust Gianni. Everything is a joke to him.They end up spending the night (or nights should I say) because of a blizzard. There’s definitely been an attraction between them and thanks to a one bed motel, they even act on it.Ellie tries to push him away after that as much as she can, to protect her heart.She knows that they are not meant for each other.He loves his freedom and independence. She wants family and commitment.But what they don’t know is that everything has consequences. And what they’ve done in that motel is definitely going to change their life forever.Let’s not forget to mention the epilogue. It was cute, funny and emotional at the same time.Melanie didn’t disappoint me with this book. It was funny, it was sweet and oh so sexy.I can’t wait to read 𝙏𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 ( it’s coming to us on 𝟏𝟏 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐 )

Ellie has known Gianni all her life and they have always pressed each other's buttons. She works at her family's wine estate as a taster, and he has come to help as the chef whilst he is in between contracts. He is one of those guys who lives life to the full, he doesnt want to be tied down and enjoys the ladies to the full. He likes to move around and doesnt see the need to settle anywhere. He insists on driving Ellie to a party she has been booked for because the weather is not looking good. It's a disaster because the host is more interested in the famous chef. They end up in a hotel and Gianni wants her. Ellie gets hurt when she finds out he lied about his car breaking down and then there is news that going to make his life suddenly change and its whether he wants to step up and grow up.

Taste by Melanie Harlow.Oh how I loved this book. I loved the banter and sniping from Gianni and Ellie when we saw glimpses of them in Ignite, and I was so excited to see them set the kitchen on fire in Taste.Gianni was instantly likeable. Cheeky, self assured, but with a heart of gold.. there was nothing you couldn’t like.Ellie was a smart, take no prisoners heroine who refused to be bowled over by Giannis charm.Watching their chemistry explode in this book was crazy satisfying. The first half of the book was super hot, and the second half tugged all the heartstrings for me.I could not put this down!

I loved this book so much, I stumbled across this series and fell in love.-one bed trope-enemies/Friends to loversGianni and Ellie have grown up together with their mums as best friends. Ellie always has had a love to hate relationship with Gianni but she thinks she will never have a chance,but once you hit his POV you realise that the feelings mutual.When Ellie has to drive to a work meeting in the snow Gianni takes the chance to go with her, they end up at a motel stranded and of course there’s only one bed, one room.When things get carried away and heated, you know it’s gonna get good.I loved seeing the snippets of the other couples in the series.

After reading Tease didn’t think the next book Taste would be as good. WRONG - the author has a brilliant writing mind, and the humour throughout was absolutely great. Onwards and upwards to the next one. No housework done and doesn’t look likely it will happen in the future 😂 Luckily my husband is only slightly aware of my reading obsession - thank you Book Bub and Kindle Unlimited🙃