Susan's Review of Forever With You by Barb Curtis (Sapphire Springs #1)

From debut author, Barb Curtis, a heartwarming small-town romance about high school sweethearts who return home and discover that first love sometimes gets a second chance. . .

Jay Wynter wants to be successful on his own merit. That's why he left Sapphire Springs and his family's winery to build a career from scratch. But now that he's successor to Wynter Estate, Jay must return to his small hometown to face everything, and everyone, he left behind-especially his high school sweetheart, who happens to be his stunning new business partner . . .

Leyna Milan knows family legacies come with strings attached, but she's determined to prove that she can run her family's restaurant. Of course, Leyna never expected that honoring her grandfather's wishes meant opening a second location on her ex's property-or having to ignore Jay's sexy grin and guard the heart he shattered years before. But as they work closely together, she begins to discover that maybe first loves deserve a second chance .

Forever with You is an engaging second chance love story set in the Niagara Falls wine country. I was intrigued by the second chance romance between vintner Jason “Jay” Wynter and restaurateur Leyna Milan and adored this dynamic couple.

The friendship between Stefan Wynter and his best friend Joe Leone plays a central role in Forever With You. Prior to Joe’s passing, they had committed to building a restaurant at Wynter Estates, the family’s vineyard. These plans put their grandchildren; former high school sweethearts Jason Wynter and Leyna Milan in an uneasy partnership. Jay has plans to for the property-he envisions growing grapes for syrah wine while Leyna wants to focus on Rosalia’s, the family’s Italian bistro.

Loved the author’s descriptive writing and dialogue! I could feel the joy and excitement in Jay’s voice when he spoke of his love for the vineyard—the soil, vines, grapes and his crew. He was immersed in his work and enjoyed every aspect of the winemaking process. Layna’s mission is to keep her family’s business out of debt. I could hear the worry in her voice when she realized that her financially responsible grandfather left her with outstanding bills. Loved the friendship between Leyna and her friend Emily—their conversations shared over Emily’s cupcakes were honest, poignant and funny.

The author effortlessly blends the romance between Jason and Leyna with family and business intrigue. The chemistry between Jay and Layna bubbled up immediately. I enjoyed reading their perfectly paced slow burn romance. I loved that the author included wine making process thread through the novel. Barb Curtis created fabulous secondary characters-Emily, Tim, Danielle, Cass and Mark- each one added to the storyline.

I highly recommend Forever With You by Barb Curtis!!! It has all the feels- an engaging couple, gorgeous setting and a heartfelt second chance at love. I can’t wait for the next book in the Sapphire Springs series!!

Reviewed by Susan Gorman

ARC provided by the publisher

A happily-ever-after-crafter at heart, Barb Curtis’ love for writing began with a quick-witted style column, and her background in marketing led to stints writing print and web copy, newsletters, and grant proposals. The switch to fiction came with the decision to pair her creativity with her love for words, and crafting characters and settings she could truly get lost in. Barb happily lives in a bubble in rural New Brunswick with her husband, daughter, and dog. You’ll find her restoring the century-old family homestead, weeding the garden, and no doubt whistling the same song all day long.