Review: Beginning of Forever by Catherine Bybee

 

Beginning of Forever (The D'Angelo's #3) by Catherine Bybee

Publication Date: June 27th 2023 by Montlake Romance

Pages: 347

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BAM | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Emma Rutledge has been disappointed and frustrated by her father’s treatment. She’s worked hard for the family’s winery and yet her father has discounted her efforts, passing her over for promotions. His latest decision is the final straw pushing Emma to take an extended vacation as she mulls over her options. To help with that her mother gifts her a wine tour through Italy.

Giovanni D’Angelo studied to become a sommelier, but his dream is to create wine. But also, to find love and settle down. He’s put his goals aside to help with the family restaurant, but they understand his passion and gift him the same wine tour Emma’s on. Of course, they meet, sparks fly, but Giovanni wants more than just a holiday affair.

Italy sounded lovely, beautifully described, making me want to book my own tour! Emma and Giovanni’s time together on the trip started out fun and flirty, but turned deeper as the days went by. I loved the advice from the “Golden Girls”, a fun group of older women on the tour, that made them both step back and think about what’s really important in life.

Giovanni’s steadfast support made me swoon! Not only with sorting out Emma’s future career, and standing up to her father, but also when Emma faces a potentially serious medical diagnosis.

Beginning of Forever combined so many things I love in a romance: hot chemistry, a dreamy setting, a big, loving family, and wine! Italy sounded amazing! The perfect setting to start a steamy affair and fall in love! I’ve been loving the D’Angelo series from the beginning, so it was nice to “see” the previous couples and catch up with the other members of that boisterous bunch!

 4.5 Stars

Book Description:

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bybee comes the story of two wine enthusiasts who ride the ups and downs of love in the vineyards of Tuscany.

Tasting wine is not enough: sommelier Giovanni D’Angelo wants to create it. To put his family first, he’s always deferred his dreams—a vineyard to run, a woman to marry. But a three-week vineyard tour in Italy could set him back on track.

For Emma Rutledge, wine is in her blood. Intent to run the family wine business one day, she finds that the men in her family are only intent to push her out of it. But that’s fine—she’s got a plan.

When Gio and Emma meet on a wine tour in Tuscany, their shared aspirations fuel an undeniable chemistry. Returning home to California, they work toward setting up Emma’s vineyard and a label of their own. But when Emma receives a life-altering diagnosis, she worries it’s all been for nothing.

As Emma works to cement her family legacy while dealing with this unexpected challenge, Gio tries to convince her that their future isn’t just wine.

It’s each other.

About the author:

Catherine is a #1 Wall Street Journal, Amazon, and Indie Reader bestselling author. In addition, her books have also graced The New York Times and USA Today bestsellers lists. In total, she has written thirty-nine beloved books that have collectively sold more than 10 million copies and have been translated into more than twenty languages.

Raised in Washington State, Bybee moved to Southern California in the hope of becoming a movie star. After growing bored with waiting tables, she returned to school and became a registered nurse, spending most of her career in urban emergency rooms. She now writes full time and has penned The Not Quite series, The Weekday Brides series, The Most Likely To series, and The First Wives series.