Review: Crush on You by Christie Ridgway

Posted September 10, 2010 by Casee in Reviews | 2 Comments

Casee‘s review of Crush on You (Three Kisses, Book 1) by Christie Ridgway.

She made knitting sexy.

Now she’s taking on a dilapidated winery, three sisters, and the bad boys next door.

The Baci sisters are on a mission to save the winery that’s been in their family for generations-by transforming it into the perfect wedding destination. If only Alessandra Baci-affectionately known as the “Nun of Napa”-didn’t need the help of tempting neighbor and business rival Penn Bennett.

This is one of the worst blurbs ever and Christy Ridgway has one of those websites I hate. One that is cutsie and fun but that gives no real useful information. There’s no blurb for Crush on You, only a link to buy the damn thing. That’s where I got this gem of a blurb. It’s a real shame because this craptastic blurb is hiding a gem of a book.

Despite the awesome beginning of the book where Alessandra Baci is putting on her five year old wedding dress on the day of her would-be anniversary, she is not pining away for her would-be husband. Allie is a woman that lives life to its fullest. She’s a person that cares about the needs of others. It’s not until the end of the book that she realizes exactly what she has done by staying in mourning for five years, but it’s not because she was actually mourning her fiancé. Cryptic, I know.

Penn Bennett just found out who his father was and has recently met his half brothers. When he first sees Alessandra, she is flying out of the house in flip-flops and a wedding dress begging her contractors not to leave the Baci wedding cottage (and sole business investment) unfinished. It’s while he’s watching her that he sees her turn on the waterworks and get what she wants. Penn has no idea that he’s witnessing the Nun of Napa get her way.

What’s so great about Allie being the Nun of Napa is that she deserves it. She has shouldered the grief of the town and she deserves a little credit. She takes an immediately dislike to Penn even as she is physically attracted to him. The same goes for Penn. He has little use for manipulative women and that is exactly what he sees Allie as. That doesn’t mean they can’t engage in a flaming hot affair.

It’s a small town, so there is a lot of meddling going on. Penn wants nothing more than to leave town but he can’t tear himself away from Allie. Allie is afraid to have any more feelings than lust for Penn because of the heartbreak she went through before. Any feelings she has now are going to be more intense to have and to lose. She doesn’t know if she can risk that. In the end it is Allie that has to take a risk and it made me love her character even more.

4.25 out of 5.

This book is available from Berkley. You can buy it here or here in e-format.


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