Books reviewed prior on this site prior to March 2019 were provided to me, at no charge, by the publisher, or by the author, in exchange for an honest review. I have received no further compensation for these reviews. Reviews beginning March 2019 come from a variety of sources: advanced copies, library loans, and my own purchases. All reviews are my honest opinions.

December 2, 2014

Tess in Boots {Courtney Rice Gager}

I received an advanced review copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. I received no further compensation. Publisher is responsible for giveaway details.



Tess Dougherty plans every aspect of her life right down to the last detail. But she doesn’t plan on running her boyfriend off by bringing up the topic of marriage before he’s ready. And she doesn’t plan to lose her job on the day she’s set to receive a huge promotion. So when her perfect world unravels, Tess makes a new plan: disappear. 


Tess packs her bags and leaves her city apartment for a remote vineyard in North Carolina. At first, she’s put off by the slow pace of small-town life in the South. She’s especially irritated by Thatcher, the vineyard’s smart-mouth, dimple-faced farmhand. But she soon begins to appreciate the area’s charm, and Thatcher’s charm, too. She even swaps her trademark heels for a pair of cowboy boots. As Tess spends more time getting to know Thatcher, she finds herself loosening her grip on her old life little by little. Unfortunately, things on the vineyard aren’t as simple as they seem. There’s a secret here, and when the truth comes to light, Tess is forced to reconsider every plan she’s ever made. 

I sat down one night around 11:00 with the intention of getting started on this book. I couldn't put it down and finished it around 3am!

Tess seems like someone I could be great friends with. The day she finally gets promoted to Marketing Director at work, her company is closed by the feds. She also finds herself at odds with her boyfriend and she just wants to get away. Tess is "rescued" by her brother with an offer for a temporary job at his new vineyard. Tess agrees to work for her brother, but only on a temporary basis.

Almost immediately after arriving at her brother's place, Tess meets Thatcher. She finds herself drawn to him in a way that is completely unexpected. Apparently he feels it too. The two quickly become friends, and he gives her a pair of cowboy boots to wear around the vineyard.

Soon, Tess finds herself hired to conduct a "high profile" wedding at the vineyard. Given such a short time frame, she completely forgets about her old life and boyfriends and dives head first into this new town, this new lifestyle... and Thatcher.  She finds herself making friends with the locals, and developing a bit of a relationship with the town.

She also soon discovers that there is a story behind the boots. She wears the boots every day and in town everyone always comments on "the boots" and the rumors about her wearing "Thatcher's boots". She continually questions what is going on, but no one will tell her. It isn't until the end of the story that she learns the background of the boots and the significance of her having them.

The two things that kept me from putting this book down - the boots and the revelation of the mystery bride and groom - were the backbone of this entire book. I turned each page with anticipation of what would be revealed, and what secrets would come to light. I couldn't wait to find out who the mystery couple was for the wedding. And I longed for Tess to come to terms with her relationship with Thatcher.

Gager did an amazing job of keeping the secret right until the very end. And the secrets - AMAZING!!

I loved this book. I loved the story. I loved the boots. And I loved the ending. This is a must-read for anyone looking for a great love story. You don't want to miss it!

 

Courtney Rice GagerAbout the Author:
Courtney Rice Gager graduated from Virginia Tech with a bachelor’s degree in communication and a minor in creative writing. Courtney is also the author of The Buggy List. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and daughter.

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Purchase this book: Amazon