Paradise Hops

Oct 05, 2012 Becs - Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, review-copy, abused-heroine, contemporary-romance, made-me-cry, tattooed-hero

I think it’s safe to say that this book broke my heart. It’s at once tragic and yet joyous with a plot that is a significant departure from standard contemporary romance.

This is the story of Lori (Lorelei) Brockton who is recovering from a brutal attack in her past. She’s been hiding away with PTSD for a two years but is now ready to emerge to run her family's famous brewery, working in every corner of Brockton Brewing Company, from warehouse to pub, front office to kitchen, to learn all she ne...more I think it’s safe to say that this book broke my heart. It’s at once tragic and yet joyous with a plot that is a significant departure from standard contemporary romance.

This is the story of Lori (Lorelei) Brockton who is recovering from a brutal attack in her past. She’s been hiding away with PTSD for a two years but is now ready to emerge to run her family's famous brewery, working in every corner of Brockton Brewing Company, from warehouse to pub, front office to kitchen, to learn all she needs to know about the business.

Her father has hired a new business manager – Garrett Hunter. He’s tall, handsome, controlled, calm, collected, a neat freak, masculine perfection in a suit – in fact he’s everything that Lori needs to help her heal and move on from her past. Her father also hires a Master Brewer – Eli Buchanan. Eli is mad, bad and dangerous to know. He’s Garrett’s polar opposite – passionate, spontaneous, compelling, smoking hot, creative and utterly wrong for Lori but she can’t help but be insanely attracted to him.

Lori’s past casts a lengthy shadow over her life and panic hovers, ever on the horizon and she starts a relationship with Garrett who helps her to heal and he falls deeply in love with her but she can’t resist her visceral attraction to Eli and they also embark on a passionate affair. It would be easy to judge Lori harshly here, and I think I to a certain extent I did, but she’s faced with two men who, together, provide everything she could hope for – Garrett is caring, protective, loving, safe and Eli is spontaneous, passionate and she can hardly resist the temptation he poses and both men are aware of what is happening with the other. It’s incredibly tough for Lori to choose between them.

Just as you think you are cruising along nicely with the novel, maybe slightly questioning Lori’s choices and decisions, everything goes to hell in a handbasket. I read a lot of books and there’s very few that will make me gasp out loud and this one truly did. Liz Crowe ripped the rug out from under me when I was least expecting it and the direction of the novel changed completely and nothing would ever be the same again and I felt like I had been hit with a sledgehammer.

I’m not going to give away any plotlines, you’ll need to read it for yourself, but make sure you have a box of Kleenex on standby. Paradise Hops is not your average feel-good romance – it’s a story of flawed, realistic characters finding solace with one another. It’s tragic and yet hopeful and so wrought with emotion that I had a hard time putting it down. It has pervaded my thoughts in the 24 hours since I finished it and I confess to having trouble moving on. I definitely feel a book hangover looming! There’s a beautiful epilogue which gives the reader some much-needed closure and I can highly recommend this – it’s well written, with plenty of surprises and thoroughly engaging.

4 stars contemporary romance

ARC courtesy of Tri Destiny Publishing, with thanks

Paradise Hops will be released on October 15th and can be pre-ordered by clicking here

For more of my reviews, please visit my Sinfully Sexy Book Blog (less)

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Oct 14, 2012 Sara (is in love with boys who love boys) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc

This book was lovely; pure, honest, heart breaking, uplifting and just plain lovely. This is my first Liz Crowe book and I am a fan.

The story begins with Lori working at her family’s brewery learning the ropes so that later she can take over the business. She meets Garrett Hunter, whom her father has hired as the new business manager coming in to update and modernize Brockton Brewing Company. Though there is an instant attraction between Garret and Lori she holds back her emotions. It’s a good...more This book was lovely; pure, honest, heart breaking, uplifting and just plain lovely. This is my first Liz Crowe book and I am a fan.

The story begins with Lori working at her family’s brewery learning the ropes so that later she can take over the business. She meets Garrett Hunter, whom her father has hired as the new business manager coming in to update and modernize Brockton Brewing Company. Though there is an instant attraction between Garret and Lori she holds back her emotions. It’s a good thing Garrett doesn’t.

There is another man in who has come into Lori’s life; newly hired high strung brew master Eli Buchanan. Tall handsome and blond, the complete opposite of Garret he attracts Lori like a moth to flame and she wants to get burned.

Lori begins a relationship with Garrett, a very tender and understanding relationship with no shortage of passion but when she is around Eli her primal instincts kick in and she has a hard time controlling herself. I can say I don’t blame her one bit.

The push and pull between this triangle was nothing short of emotional. Lori caught up with feelings for both men but not knowing how to deal with it tugged at my heart strings. With her past she was so careful who she loved and would not hand her heart over lightly. Lori has to make a decision not only in regards to the men who haunt her dreams and her heart; but a decision that can and will change the rest of her life. Her decision is not an easy one, the scenes that come along with it are difficult yet endearing at the same time.

I have read books with a similar plot line but Ms. Crowe handled it with beautifully with such raw emotion that I was lost in the scenes. I was shocked at the twist and even though I was a bit uncomfortable and confused with what I will call “the dream sequence” the end result is what matters. Nothing was handled with kid gloves. These are things that happen in life; life is not always pretty or presented with a bow. It’s tough, it is hard to deal with and it is never what we expect. I can say the same with Paradise Hops without reservation.

Paradise Hops is story about what life gives us and how much we can handle. It is a story about taking a chance on what you believe in and dream for no matter the consequences. Paradise Hops is a story about the power of love; not only what it can overcome but the heartache and joy that come along with it.

ARC courtesy of Tri Destiny Publishing(less)

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Oct 30, 2012 Carrie (Badass, Alpha-male, Cowboy Connoisseur ) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, heart-wrenching

How do I begin to describe a book that just emotionally tore my heart out? Liz Crowe, you broke me and I can't stop thinking about this book.

Lori is our heroine that has endured a horrific event and after years of hiding she finally begins to live her life. She returns to work at her family's brewery and has no idea that her life is about to spiral.

Meet Garrett Hunter, the new business manager. He is "all that and atleast 5 bags of chips". He's incredibly handsome, infinitley patient, loving, se...more

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Oct 18, 2012 Karen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult-romance

I have been wracking my brain trying to come up with a review for this book. I can easily say that I devoured this book very quickly because I was beyond curious about where the story was headed. I seriously had no idea of what the outcome would be. The book pulled me in immediately. The characters were interesting and the story & setting was realistic.
Because this book was told from three different POVs (Eli, Garrett and Lori), the story never felt sluggish or repetitive. I love it when th...more

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Mar 24, 2013 Rose rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley, arc-or-galley, erotica, mature, romance, tough-subjects, contemporary, realistic-fiction

Initial reaction: I'll have to think on this one, but I really did not like this portrayal of the collective story at all. Too jagged of presentation, the characterization seemed off, and I did not like the presentation of the tough elements this story had to offer. I'm wavering between one and two stars, and I'm not sure it's enough for me to bump up to two because of how irritated I was with the overarching story.

Full review:

I went into this story thinking it would be a brief sexy read and it...more Initial reaction: I'll have to think on this one, but I really did not like this portrayal of the collective story at all. Too jagged of presentation, the characterization seemed off, and I did not like the presentation of the tough elements this story had to offer. I'm wavering between one and two stars, and I'm not sure it's enough for me to bump up to two because of how irritated I was with the overarching story.

Full review:

I went into this story thinking it would be a brief sexy read and it turned out to be an experience that left me cringing in more ways than one. There were sparks in this story that I saw, but in the end, it didn't amount to much.

I really wish that authors who introduce the issue of rape within the context of a story would have more sensitivity with its approach, because alongside the jagged narrative in the way that this starts off, I didn't think it amounted to more than simply a plot device. There was something about this reveal that seemed off in the context of the story. That's a shame because it wasn't as if the premise lacked promise, though I'll admit I spent quite a bit of time having to go over certain details in this overarching story again to understand what happened. That doesn't fare well in a brief narrative like this. The characters felt wooden and lacked a certain depth that I crave for any story I would pick up, but especially for the erotic genre and for the theme of this story.

I wanted to feel more for Lori's experience, but I'll admit the environment or circumstances of her employment wasn't well drawn or intimate. Lori herself had my sympathies in spurts, but more often than not, I found her actions to be irritating and out of character as the story went on. There was very little true depth to her, and the guys that draw her affections (Garrett and Eli) are just as frustrating. I liked Garrett from his surface attributes, but that seemed like all he amounted to. I did feel for him as the story went on particularly with how he cared for Lori in turns.

I couldn't have cared two cents less about Eli. He was a bonafide jerk and I didn't understand Lori's attraction for or trust in him. I'm not going to spoil who she ends up with, but I was really annoyed at how the triangle was done in this book and felt it didn't have any true coming to terms for the heroine or the other characters. For me, the story was forgettable and not very sexy or fulfilling at all.

Not a story I would really recommend.

Overall: 1/5

Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher.(less)

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Dec 13, 2012 Denise rated it 5 of 5 stars

5 stars

Paradise Hops
Liz Crowe

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Paradise Hops is a beautifully and heart wrenching story of healing and
redemption. A story about love, and how life can bring you beauty as you
push through adversity and find personal triumph on the other side.

This story tells the tale of the daughter of a brewery owner Lori Brockton.
She is the victim of a brutal attack that...more

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Oct 14, 2012 Angie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: liz-crowe-stand-alones

This is a fabulous Liz book. Its a story about Lori who has been traumatized and then meets Garrett. He has been hired to run the family company while she learns her way through the different aspects. Sparks fly between her and Garrett but the hot new brew master Eli also catches her eye. Lori becomes a very confused woman.

This book is amazing. I ran through every emotion I had in this book. There are 3 parts to the book and each section left me in tears. If you love Liz then this is another mus...more

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Apr 16, 2013 Britney rated it 5 of 5 stars

Ok, this one blew me away! I bawled, actually sobbed my eyes out as my poor husband looked on with abject terror. He doesn't do weepy women, and I was one extremely weepy woman. I don't know that any other book has ever made be cry that hard. I actually had to put the book down for about 5 minutes (that's as long as I could bare to pull myself away from it) so that I could compose myself and find out what was going to happen next.

The characters in Paradise Hops (just the title makes my eyes mist...more

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Feb 16, 2013 Lynda Kaye Frazier rated it 5 of 5 stars

Review-Paradise Hops-Lynda Kaye Frazier
Lori Brockton is vibrant and happy until she becomes victim of a brutal attack which changes her life, sending her into years of hiding. She returns home to work at the family business, starting at the bottom and learning all aspects of the business. Independent and unwilling to rely on anyone, she is determined to escape the memories of the attack. When her father hired Garrett Hunter his new business manager and Eli Buchannan the new master brewer, her...more

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Feb 11, 2013 Lily Mulholland rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: erotic-romance

I felt that, on the whole, the characterisation of the heroine and the two male love interests was over-the-top and the conflict development was very heavy handed. The second act was an extended dream sequence, which, for me, jolted me right out of the book as a reader and gave me the impression the author was struggling to find creative opportunities for her main characters to have more sex.

Using a brutal rape as the conflict mechanism for the heroine is also very problematic. There are so many...more

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Feb 04, 2013 Kathlynn Roysdon rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Romance & HEA lovers

Shelves: reviewed

*Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher via Netgalley in return for an honest review*

For this and more reviews visit my blog mommaromance

Paradise Hops was one of the first books I've read in a long time that wasn't recommend to me by anyone or a requested read for a review. The fact that I knew nothing about the book or the author was a big plus for me. The storyline was intriguing, Lori Brockton was recovering mentally from a brutal sexual assault that left her broken inside and o...more

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Feb 03, 2013 Susanne Reed rated it 3 of 5 stars

Lorelei (Lori) Brochton is a hot mess. Strong-willed, German speaking heir to her family's brewing company---and dealing with the aftermath of brutal sexual assault. She has survived long enough, but is not ready to live again (and by live I mean have mind blowing sex) until she meets him, and him.

Enter Garrett Hunter, the king of high perfectionism. His calamitous youth burgeoned a man of control, organization and destiny. He falls head over heals for Lori, instantly.

Then there's Eli Buchanan,...more

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Jan 24, 2013 Jessica rated it 5 of 5 stars

I got this book from Netgalley because it seemed interesting. There was a huge note about it not being a "typical romance" and technically not erotica either since it was listed as it. I decided to give it a shot. I am so glad I did.

At first I have to say the writing did throw me off. I was also a little confused with the timeline since I felt it jumped at times. But once I got everything straightened out, I was hooked. The book seemed short but so much was thrown into it.

Lori's family own a br...more

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Jan 08, 2013 Jonetta rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: author-review-request, contemporary-romance

Lori Brockton suffered a brutal attack two years ago and finally emerged from being a virtual recluse to return to work in the family's brewing company business, determined to,learn every aspect of its operations. A year later, their newly-hired business manager sees her and is immediately seduced at first sight by the vulnerable and still rocky Lori. They become seriously involved and after a year, Eli Buchanan, the new brewmaster they recruited, sets off a puzzling attraction as his bad boy re...more Lori Brockton suffered a brutal attack two years ago and finally emerged from being a virtual recluse to return to work in the family's brewing company business, determined to,learn every aspect of its operations. A year later, their newly-hired business manager sees her and is immediately seduced at first sight by the vulnerable and still rocky Lori. They become seriously involved and after a year, Eli Buchanan, the new brewmaster they recruited, sets off a puzzling attraction as his bad boy reputation and behavior is everything Lori wants to avoid. She has her perfect man so why is she drawn to someone else for any reason?

I normally avoid stories involving love triangles because someone inevitably ends up hurt and I end up feeling bad about it at the end of the book. While I certainly experienced some emotional turmoil, this was one ride I'm glad to have taken.

Lori's inner conflict about Garrett and Eli at first seems a bit selfish. Garrett really seems to be the perfect and ideal lover and I was confused as to why Eli was even a consideration. But then, there are things Garrett does that make you question whether he's devoted to the point of being "stalker-ish" and Eli starts exhibiting his Nordic god-like qualities. Later, you start seeing more depth in both of them and you're emotionally torn all over again. The messiness of their situation was so very real with no one "bad guy" that crystallizes to make the solutions easier.

That's the point with this story. I was emotionally ragged throughout as I sifted through the complicated layers of each of the characters. Lori begins as a somewhat tragic figure who evolves into someone I thought was being incredibly insensitive and unfair, then back to being someone I empathized with completely.

The beginning was a little bumpy for me as the time periods moved back and forth and I had some problems anchoring. However, the story is so well crafted, providing three points of view with pretty smooth transitions as I never felt lost in understanding whose perspective I was reading. There were a couple of occasions where the timing could have been better but this was a complex undertaking of an incredibly compelling story about three very interesting people I found myself caring an awful lot about. There were moments I found myself hoping for the possibility of the three of them making it work! (No, it's not that kind of story, though the steam is most definitely HOT.) I loved both Garrett and Eli and ultimately understood Lori's struggle, believing she deserved both of them.

I could not put the book down and, yes, I had some sadness at the outcome but was completely taken care of by an ideal epilogue. I loved, loved, loved this book and still haven't let the characters go. And, by the end, I got the significance of the title and the wordplay...it will make me feel really good every time I see it going forward. I'm rating it 4.5 stars and highly recommend it for the quality of the story, writing, depth of characterization and, ultimately, the romance.

(I received an ARC from the author)(less)

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Dec 21, 2012 Literati_Lit rated it 4 of 5 stars

To begin, I will admit that although I had heard good things about Ms. Crowe’s books and even had a couple on my list to read, I had not read a single one until now. Sometimes a book just comes along in unexpected ways and you go into it thinking “Why not? I’m up for something new and fresh.” I had skimmed the synopsis, and it appeared to be a typical angst-like romance with the potential to stimulate more than my ability to have hot flashes on command so I dove right in. As of now, I have read...more To begin, I will admit that although I had heard good things about Ms. Crowe’s books and even had a couple on my list to read, I had not read a single one until now. Sometimes a book just comes along in unexpected ways and you go into it thinking “Why not? I’m up for something new and fresh.” I had skimmed the synopsis, and it appeared to be a typical angst-like romance with the potential to stimulate more than my ability to have hot flashes on command so I dove right in. As of now, I have read it twice in less than two weeks…

Ms. Crowe has developed a cast of characters that come alive on the pages flaunting their flaws and all. To start we are given a shattered woman who’s lost in a fog that is slowly suffocating her ability to return to the lively and spunky woman she once was. Lori Brockton is a frustrating character that you want to shake to death one minute and then smother her in a hug the next. To see someone compartmentalize her feelings and push away any real social contact was hard; but in the same sense, I’m not sure if I personally would not do the same having gone through what she has. Everyone deals with things differently, and it was refreshing to see real trauma and emotions dealt with in an unfavorable manner and being forced to accept it.

Of course, you can’t have a romance novel without a handsome man or two, and Ms. Crowe did not skimp in this department either. First, there is Garrett Hunter, the man we all want to see opening doors for us and treating us like the princess we all believe we are. He is undeniably handsome with a crisp and clean feeling that hangs a suit like few others but also has the education, drive and dependable qualities we all crave beyond the eye candy. His first interaction with Lori alone made my heart go pity-pat, and I was immediately cheering for him to be that changing force I knew Lori needed from page one. Even from the very first few pages, he made me feel safe; and his compassion and need to care for Lori was evident from the get go, which was exactly what she needed. Now that we have established which team I started on, I will admit that when Eli Buchanan was introduced you could almost hear the “Boos” coming from my own inner monologue. Of course, you can’t have a good romance plot without some angst driven-lust and Eli provided more than enough lust and anger for me and Lori and probably a whole slew of others as well. He’s the bad boy with a temper that has a flash point of zero. But what makes him appealing is his passion for brewing that makes even me want to be on his payroll and even in his warpath just to watch the creativity take over. To say he demanded attention is an understatement…he commanded it and got it. When Eli was in the room, everyone knew it and felt it long before he opened his mouth. And who doesn’t find that kind of man addictive or attractive?

Lori goes through some serious mental and physical anguish and changes; but the most important thing to know is, she needs these highs and lows in order to find her own pace at which to become the Lori she was destined to be. It may not be the person she set out in the world to become, but how often are we exactly what we thought we were supposed to be? Of course, if I were in the vicinity of either Garrett or Eli, I would be a ball of contradictions; and I was right there with Lori as she dealt with each blow as they came. I didn’t agree with some of her decisions; and at some point, I wanted to reach through the pages and take Garrett all for myself as she batted these two men around like they were kitty toys.

I love a good book, and I know when one is a little higher on my shelf than others. And Paradise Hops is slowly creeping up my favorites list. The characters and story plot are at times intense and painful but yet are filled with a painful passion that was refreshingly unexpected. Ms. Crowe has forced me to feel sympathy for each character in a different way and proved that even in fiction, life isn’t always easy or fair and that happily-ever-after come in all shapes and forms. My heart, along with Garrett’s, Lori’s, and Eli’s, was tested and broken several times only to be glued back together with an outcome that was not foreshadowed. The only, and very small difficult moments for me to comprehend, were a three chapter segment set in a different time and place. I stumbled through this part questioning why it was there; and after two reads, I still don’t have a definitive answer. I feel like the book could easily hold without these particular parts and maybe even spare some room for more elaboration in the parts I wanted to see more of. It didn’t ruin the story or my feeling for the book–just left me a little lost in the reasoning and purpose column. The other thing that stuck out to me was the brewing company itself. I know nothing of beer/lagers/ales or their processes; but it was evident to me that Ms. Crowe is very passionate about this area, and it came through in the story. There was technical terminology that I was unaware of; and being that I have never experienced a brewery myself, I found myself Googling images to give a more complete mental picture. And I will admit, it enhanced the story for me. I don’t see myself going out and sampling brews (it’s just not my choice in beverages), but I can now say I know the difference when I see the labels on bottles. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, even the parts I wanted to scream at or the one I cried at; and I look forward to reading more of Ms. Crowe’s writing in the near future. This story contains some serious heat and passion but are enhanced with elements of forgiveness, acceptance, and ultimately love that makes this more than just a steamy clichéd romance novel. Ms. Crowe certainly doesn’t write her stories with the standard formulas that’s for sure, and it’s refreshing to know that as a romance writer she’s willing to think outside the box and challenge her readers.

Please note: Author supplied book for review.(less)

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Nov 10, 2012 Harlie Williams rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: erotic, contemporary

Ahem, can I have your attention please. My review is my review and my opinion, no one elses. I will NOT tolerate flaming, bad manners, cyber bullying or name calling on the blog. If you don’t agree or like my review, that’s fine. Its your opinion and I RESPECT that. Do I agree with other reviewer’s reviews? No but I don’t cyber bully them either.

I realize that there are some people that don’t “get” Liz and her books. Personally, I do. I’m a true romantic and I crave the HEA more than anything in...more Ahem, can I have your attention please. My review is my review and my opinion, no one elses. I will NOT tolerate flaming, bad manners, cyber bullying or name calling on the blog. If you don’t agree or like my review, that’s fine. Its your opinion and I RESPECT that. Do I agree with other reviewer’s reviews? No but I don’t cyber bully them either.

I realize that there are some people that don’t “get” Liz and her books. Personally, I do. I’m a true romantic and I crave the HEA more than anything in the world. Do I totally agree with some of the situations in Liz’s books? No, I don’t but that makes for great writing. Liz creates worlds that are real, emotional, upsetting to some, hurtful at times and I may not agree with the story or how it ends and why. To me that’s great writing. Its thought provoking, emotionally engaging and great conversation. I have stopped reading some of the so-called bestseller authors because they tend to write the same thing over and over. I got bored and tired of the whole “let’s just recycle a story and see if anyone notices” rote. Or series that have been around too long. Yawn… On with the review…

This was one of the hardest books of Liz’s for me to read. It brought out emotions and images that I had tucked away for over 20 years. I’ve experienced the horrible situation that happened to Lori and the feeling, at least for me, never goes away. It effects you in ways that I can’t describe. There is shame, nothingness, numbness and rage. Unless you have walked in our shoes, you can’t judge or offer an opinion on what anyone should’ve, could’ve or would’ve done in that situation. Did she make decisions that I don’t agree with? You bet but at the same time, this is Lori’s life, not mine. Again, powerful writing. (At least this time, I didn’t throw my computer) I related to Lori and her way of thinking.

Picking between two completely different men is a situation that, thank goodness, I’ve never had to do. I could see Lori’s dilemma. What to do and who to pick? Are there situations that aren’t Harlequinisque? You bet but again, that’s a real life decision that Lori made, good or bad depending on how you look at it in context. Personally I couldn’t choose but I choose my guy for Lori. You have Mr. Perfect and the Wild Man. Never to go down the easy road, Liz created situations for Lori that made her think, become emotionally attached and then, have the rug pulled from underneath her. Bravo!

The ending was a complete and total shock to me. Didn’t see it coming and then BAM…I read this book when I first got the ARC and the review you are reading is my second and final draft. When I read my original review on Monday (its Tuesday), I realized that I had actually given away spoilers. Horrors, I know. I also thought, why did I write such a normal review for Liz? Liz’s books are not the “norm” so why does this review have to be normal? I talked about how well Liz incorporates the brewery world in this book, the raw and emotional sex that she writes but most people already know that about Liz’s books. What I wanted to talk about today is the way Lori effected me as a woman that had gone through a horrific event in her life and how she dealt with it and the fallout. Trust me, I still have some hangups and emotions that come to the surface from time to time. Books that I will not ever read because of the content, no matter if it is fiction and that people just rave about.

In the end, Paradise Hops is a book about a woman’s struggle to deal with the fallout of events in her life that shapes her, molds her into the woman that she will become and how she deals with it. Its emotional, raw and the characters drew me in and never let me go. I still think about Lori almost a month later and try to put myself in her shoes. Nope, can’t do it. My path and her path were different. And that makes for a great thought provoking book. *sniff*

*I received this ARC as part of a blog tour for a fair and honest review*(less)

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Nov 04, 2012 Jeanne rated it 5 of 5 stars

Liz Crowe does it again! PARADISE HOPS is another fascinating tale with rich, authentic characters and a fabulous - but never easy (in true Crowe fashion) - love story.

Lori Brockton has been through an unimaginable horror and as one would expect has shut herself down. She can’t trust men and doesn’t want to pursue her old passion for playing the piano. She has moved on enough to apply herself to learning the beer business at her family’s brewery. She loves Garrett Hunter for his patience with he...more

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Oct 22, 2012 Lisa rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5 Stars.
A love triangle:
Lori- The daughter of the owner of a beer brewery. Her life has been anything but easy. She had to face a devastating trauma that took her three years to overcome and start living life again.
Garrett: The perfect man. Gorgeous, sexy, a little controlling, romantic, patient, mature-Garrett. He is the new manager hired to organize, and turn the brewery around to show a profit.
Eli: The master brewer. The six foot five inch blonde, all male hunk of man that is selfish, h...more 3.5 Stars.
A love triangle:
Lori- The daughter of the owner of a beer brewery. Her life has been anything but easy. She had to face a devastating trauma that took her three years to overcome and start living life again.
Garrett: The perfect man. Gorgeous, sexy, a little controlling, romantic, patient, mature-Garrett. He is the new manager hired to organize, and turn the brewery around to show a profit.
Eli: The master brewer. The six foot five inch blonde, all male hunk of man that is selfish, hateful, difficult and one huge bundle of sexy.

The very first day that Garrett laid eyes on Lori he knew that she was the one that he wanted. He soon found out that Lori had a lot of baggage and he had to be careful or he would scare her and she would run so he waited. He took his time. He was gentle, loving and patient and soon Lori became his or so he thought...

Eli moved from town to town, woman to woman. He never allowed himself to get too close or care to much until Lori. Lori was different and no matter how much he tried to resist her, he was drawn to her like a moth to a flame.

Lori wants to learn everything about the brewery so one day she can take over for her father. She is learning ever aspect by working in every department. She finally allows herself to open up and let Garrett love her and she couldn't be happier until she starts to be drawn to the big blonde master brewery who sizzles with sex appeal, is difficult to work with, cocky and overbearing.

I enjoyed this adult version of a love triangle however I was never really committed to Eli. He was really hot and cold and I had a hard time deciding if I really liked him or not. Garrett on the other hand had my heart. He was perfect and I can't imagine why Lori would ever risk that kind of man for Eli.

Lots of emotions can be stirred while reading this book. There is one part that I had to stop and re-read a couple of times because I just could not accept it. I didn't want to accept it and I'm still not happy about it. My heart was broken....

Still a great book and the H/H get their HEA ( I just can't reveal which one) so you need to buy this book and find out for yourself. You won't regret it.

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Oct 15, 2012 Molly rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: everyone

Recommended to Molly by: Liz Crowe

Shelves: book-review, favorites

Liz Crowe is my absolute favorite contemporary romance authors of all time. Her skillset is beyond fascinating. She captivates me instantly, taking me on a whirlwind rollercoaster ride,each and every time. Every turn of the page brings me closer to Michigan; closer to characters that aren’t just characters….they become your best friends while you’re reading Ms. Crowe’s work. Ms. Crowe’s stories have been dubbed “Romance For Real Life”; and it’s definitely justifiable.

Paradise Hops is like Liz’s...more Liz Crowe is my absolute favorite contemporary romance authors of all time. Her skillset is beyond fascinating. She captivates me instantly, taking me on a whirlwind rollercoaster ride,each and every time. Every turn of the page brings me closer to Michigan; closer to characters that aren’t just characters….they become your best friends while you’re reading Ms. Crowe’s work. Ms. Crowe’s stories have been dubbed “Romance For Real Life”; and it’s definitely justifiable.

Paradise Hops is like Liz’s other amazing stories…..except, it’s not. It’s the same in that she’s still incorporating her “wow” factor, her amazing romance, and her love for beer & Michigan. It’s different, however, because it’s so much stronger; so much deeper in meaning than her other stories. PH is superbly intense. Every gut-wrenching emotional story of each of the characters past is felt throughout your entire soul. The three characters that Liz Crowe has modeled for this story are some of her best ones yet (and that’s saying alot because I am completely infatuated with my Book Boyfriend, Jack Gordon from her Realtor series!).

Lori Brockton is a tormented soul. I felt so much of her inner pain and emotional turmoil, it twisted my heart. I didn’t know whether to cry for her, or be angry at her. I can’t begin, for one millisecond, to imagine how she could have survived what she went through, only to be confronted with two amazing distractions that tear her heart in two. But, Ms. Crowe kept it flowing perfectly, leaving me with an understanding and heartfelt admiration for this amazing character!

Garrett Hunter, the new Brockton Brewery business manager, swept me off my feet, just as he did Lori. He changed BB for the better. But, one thing he may not be able to change, not matter how desperately he wants to, is the heart of a broken down, tormented soul of a beautiful woman that he fell for, hard and fast. When secrets are kept, however, things change his way of thinking….and it might not be for the better, after all.

Eli Buchanan, sexy “bad boy attitude”, new Master brewer of the Brockton Brewery crew, has an unspoken of past, and one helluva an eye capturing tattoo that Lori can’t seem to get enough off, even though she has the perfect (or darn near perfect!) man. When Eli lays eyes on the brewery owners daughter, he wants to gaurd his heart….but prove to her he’s all man….and just what she needs.

Each of these characters have so many layers. It was breathtaking and torturing, all at once, reading each page, stripping layer by layer off of them, until finally, the last page is turned and the final layer leaves you with a dropped jaw and tears. Tears of joy? Or tears of sadness? I won’t tell you that….I want you to go and order this absolutely stunning, absolutely painfully intense, wowing novel. Deserving of so much more than a measly 5 Book rating, PH is a definite home run, slam dunk, lets-get-drunk-on-beer, touchdown of a fanfrickentastic novel. Pain, passion,humor, and a mind blowing whopper of a plot and is absolutely the best ever book of 2012. Thank you so much, Ms. Crowe, for creating another “Romance For Real Life” book and keeping this reader completely satisfied and starving for more of your talents!!

*A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review*(less)

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Oct 10, 2012 Delphina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

I am not someone who minds reading formulaic novels. In fact, I often find comfort in reading thing like that because I know where the story is going from the first three chapters. Sometimes, however, I want to be shocked. I want to be able to say, "WHAT?!?!?!?!?!" I want to be on that emotional roller coaster. Paradise Hops is this type of book. I am still processing all that happened and I finished the book a few days ago. Liz crafted this story beautifully and every thing fits. It is not a "s...more

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Oct 09, 2012 Kristin rated it 5 of 5 stars

I thought this was the sweetest book ever! I loved the male characters, Eli and Garret. Garret is the good guy the man that you take home to your parents. He's successful, considerate, sensitive and sexy while Eli is the epitome of the bad boy! He's a master of his craft, but he's arrogant, tactless, mean... and sexy. When given a choice how could you choose? I had very hot/cold feelings toward Lori, initially I liked her then I didn't like her until the end of the book then I liked her again. R...more

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Oct 02, 2012 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was such a great read wit a lot of emotion. I couldn't put the book down from the moment I started reading. Liz does a great job with the character development and you feel the emotions that the characters are going through.

It tells the story of Lori Brockton, two years after being brutally attacked. She is ready to come out of "hiding" go work at her family's brewing company and begin to take charge if her life. Become independent and rely on no one.

Then she meets Garrett the new business...more

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Sep 30, 2012 Nic rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc

It still amazes me how quickly I can be consumed by a novel; I guess that’s why I love to read! As soon as I started Paradise Hops I couldn’t put it down, I wanted more, needed to know more. I think I was completely hooked by the end of the first chapter. I found Paradise Hops to be an easy read with a strong storyline. I also found it to be a HOT romance, we all love those ;-) Just when I thought I would settle in for the night with a nice little romance novel I had the rug pulled completely ou...more

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Oct 18, 2012 Terry rated it 4 of 5 stars

Oh my goodness, WTH??!?!? This book was nothing, NOTHING I was expecting. Hell, after reading the book I don't even know what I was expecting. It was an emotional roller coaster.

This isn't a love triangle, though it may seem that way at first. There is Garrett who is kind, protective, controlling and completely in love with Lori. And then we have Eli, he is pure temptation; and those stolen moments in the brewery.. *sigh* .

This book is about the choices we make in life and the consequences of...more

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Feb 01, 2013 Heather Forsythe rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook, net-galley

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. Thanks!

What a Brilliantly wrote heart breaking story. My heart ached for the HEA that you were sure couldn't come in this story.

Lori Brockton had evolved about as much as a character can through a story line. She goes from the broken shell of her former self after a brutal attack. To a flower blooming with trust and need to become her womanly self again with Garrett. Then to the women who's lust after Eli leaves her confused a...more

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Nov 20, 2012 Melanie Codina rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved the story. I loved the characters. Paradise Hops is a must read!!

I have always felt that if an author can bring every one of my emotions to the surface for me to feel for the story they are narrating for me, then I know that this is an author I MUST follow. Liz Crowe is that type of author. Paradise Hops was a wonderfully emotional love story. You can't help but fall in love with the characters individually and together. When they hurt, I hurt. When they were happy, I was too. It sucked...more

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Oct 25, 2012 Kindlehooked (Tanya Childress) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance, recommended, arc-for-review

I enjoyed Paradise Hops very much. It was a very different, contemporary romance read for me but down to earth with strong characters and emotional events. It is a love triangle but to a different degree. I did have mixed feelings about things that happened in the book and I was heartbroken more often than not, so you will need the tissues, as well as shocked at some parts.

Lori Brockton is a woman that has been through hell and back and is trying so hard to get back in the groove of life and hav

...more

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Sep 29, 2012 Adria (Romance Reviews) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-and-reviewed

Originally posted at Breath of Life Reviews

Liz Crowe doesn't write typical romance. She doesn't write those romances that most of us are so fond of, those that wrap up all the conflict and angst by the end of the book and present readers with a happily ever after that takes readers to cloud nine for a while. Not that there's a problem with those, but Liz is different.

Liz Crowe writes "Romance for Real Life." What is that you ask? "Romance for Real Life" is just what it sounds like, it's more rea...more Originally posted at Breath of Life Reviews

Liz Crowe doesn't write typical romance. She doesn't write those romances that most of us are so fond of, those that wrap up all the conflict and angst by the end of the book and present readers with a happily ever after that takes readers to cloud nine for a while. Not that there's a problem with those, but Liz is different.

Liz Crowe writes "Romance for Real Life." What is that you ask? "Romance for Real Life" is just what it sounds like, it's more real to life, her characters are as complex as everyday people. It would be easy to see Garrett, Eli and Lori in the average, everyday person. If you want to know more straight from Liz herself, then check out this post on her site. She explains it better than I can.

Point blank, Paradise Hops has the tragedy of a Shakespearean play, the love triangle of Pearl Harbor (the film) and the emotional upheaval of P.S. I Love You. This is not an easy journey, it is full of confusion, angst, difficult choices and heart breaking situations that put love to the test and forces one woman to confront the consequences of her choices head on.

Lori Brockton is in a tough situation, she's caught between two men who could be "Mr. Right" for her. If only she could be sure which man IS the right one for her.

It would be easy to judge Lori for her inability to choose between Garrett and Eli but before you bring out your pitchforks, think about this: Could you choose between one man who completes your need for a quiet, strong, dependable love and another man who completes your need for a wild, passionate, addictive love?

Uh huh, not as easy to judge her now is it?

Neither man is wrong for Lori, they just appeal to totally different sides of her emotionally and sexually. It's nearly impossible to hate either one of them because both Garrett and Eli love Lori deeply and sincerely but each in their own unique way. Author Liz Crowe created sympathy for all three characters when it would be so easy to cast one or more of them as villains. The only true villain were the circumstances Garrett, Eli and Lori find themselves in.

Paradise Hops is so heart breaking and emotionally challenging that at times I forgot I was in fact, reading fiction and not the memoir of a woman who has seen and experienced a full circle of emotions: Love, Pain, Lust, Loss, Devastation and ended up, after much time, in love and content with her life.

I am not ashamed to admit, I cried with this book. Not silent tears mind you, but sobs, loud ones and it involved tissues. I was surprised at the emotions this story brought out in me.

With its erotic, romantic scenes, multidimensional characters and bittersweet ending, Paradise Hops is an incredibly moving, emotionally charged roller coaster ride that readers won't soon forget. If you only read a handful of books this year, be sure to include this one!(less)

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Sep 23, 2012 Wendy Mckillip rated it 5 of 5 stars

As the story begins you meet Lori who is emotional scared from being physically attacked. 3 years after the incident she meets the new manager of her family brewing company, Garrett Hunter.

Garett is able to help Lori heal and find her way back. Working in her family business, her father has her on rotations of different departments to learn the business. She is about to start a long rotation in the brewery.

Eli, hot new brewmaster who is a really jerk to everyone was there to teacher everything...more

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Feb 25, 2013 Christine rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, erotica, love-triangle, read-2013, recommend, romance, steamy, mondays

Days after reading this I had to put my thoughts together before I was able to write this review.
First let me start by saying I loved the story. I also loved the author’s writing style. I know I will be reading more books by Liz Crowe.

Before I started this book, I knew that there was going to be an angsty part. I did not know where in the book it was going to fall or what it was going to be. What I have to say is that the tragedy took me by surprise. It came out of left field and hit me right i...more

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topics	posts	views	last activity
Liz Crowe's Roman...: Paradise Hops Excerpt	1	11	Sep 03, 2012 01:37pm
Liz Crowe's Roman...: 2nd Paradise Hops Excerpt	1	9	Sep 03, 2012 01:33pm
Liz Crowe's Roman...: Paradise Hops	1	5	Sep 01, 2012 05:33pm

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