Review Tuesday: Passionate Brew by Sadira Stone -- #EnemiesToLovers #BeachTown #ReviewTuesday

 

Passionate Brew by Sadira Stone

Self-published, 2023

The Salty Dog Brewery is one of Trapper's Cove’s main attractions – a relaxed, friendly place offering tasty food and fabulous craft beer. Ryan Lee, the disciplined, hard-working owner, is anything but relaxed. Determined to build on the pub’s success, he keeps an eagle eye on every aspect of the business, though he trusts his master brewer Robert Eisinger more than most people.

Lorelei “Lilo” Eisinger learned brewing from her father, then set out to refine her expertise by studying beer-making techniques around the globe. Independent, strong-willed, energetic and a bit bossy, she wants to start her own brewery. When Robert decides to retire and go traveling, he convinces her to take over as brewer at the Salty Dog for a year, in return for help in financing her dream.

Ryan is more or less forced to accept Lilo’s help, but he’s wary of her creative ideas for new beers. Meanwhile, she resents his meddling in what she views as her job. In addition, she still holds a grudge due to an unfortunate incident when they were teens. Their prickly professional relationship is complicated by the powerful sexual chemistry brewing between them. Giving in to their mutual attraction only makes things worse; outside of bed, they still don’t trust each other.

Passionate Brew is the second book in the Trapper’s Cove series. Like Passion in the Cards, this novella has an astrological background: Lilo is a Scorpio, fiery and intense with an edge of darkness to her sexuality, while Ryan is a stubborn Capricorn. However, they are not exactly star-crossed. Their apparently disparate ambitions turn out to be the real source of their problems. I found this aspect of the book very believable. In the real world, relationships often fall apart because the participants want different things out of life.

Unlike many of Sadira Stone’s romances, this one does not follow the “slow burn” trope, where the protagonists inch toward a sexual relationship bit by bit, as they become emotionally closer. Instead, Lilo and Ryan succumb to desire long before they’re really lovers. That gives their sex scenes quite a different feeling, with more focus on the physical. I found myself missing the sense of transcendence associated with making love to one’s soul mate, which Ms. Stone always conveys so well. Also, I wasn’t completely convinced by Lilo’s kinky tendencies.

Still, the clash between the physical and the emotional heightens the conflict. Each encounter heightens their mutual craving. Meanwhile personal and professional differences tear them apart. Indeed, both Lilo and Ryan have difficulty separating work from other aspects of their lives. They only get their happy ending when they let go of their death grip on the professional and give priority to the personal.

Ms. Stone writes wonderfully sensual prose, whether she’s describing the crisp March breeze on an Oregon beach, the tartness of a cherry-flavored craft brew, or the smooth slide of skin against skin. The Salty Dog brings back memories of Banger’s Tavern, with its quirky employees and creative snacks. I love the way she lingers in describing her setting. With each book, Trapper’s Cove becomes more tangible.

Passionate Brew is an enjoyable visit to a special place. You may want to sit down, order an IPA and stay for a while.