A tasty workplace lesbian romance about racing the clock and romancing the hot new boss.
Coffee shop manager Clea Winneke is in quite a pickle. She’s just inherited a failing Melbourne sausage factory which she can only keep if it makes a profit in its first year. Mix in Clea’s total lack of sausage savvy with a mysterious saboteur, and it’s a recipe for disaster.
Katrina Nordling works as a food scientist at Shamrock Sausages and can’t understand why it’s doing so badly. Worse, there’s some random barista dropped in to run it, and Kat cannot afford the company to go under because of its novice CEO.
But what if Clea and Katrina join forces to get what they desire? And what if what they most desire changes as they get closer to their goal?
Cheyenne Blue is a sapphic author from southeast Queensland. Her short stories appeared in over 90 anthologies before her stories got longer and more romantic, so she went with the flow and switched to writing romance novels.
She now has a bunch of big-hearted sapphic romance novels mainly set in Australia, and has won both IPPY and Golden Crown Literary Society awards.
She lives in southeast Queensland, Australia in a small house with a big view—perfect for morning coffee, evening wine, and anytime writing. Find her at www.cheyenneblue.com on Facebook, or Instagram.
Well, that was definitely something different. A sausage factory doesn't sound particularly romantic, does it? But the story of Kat and Clea certainly is.
Clea learns at the reading of an acquaintance's will that he was her father. He leaves her a sausage factory, and she has the task of making it profitable by the end of the year. Only then can she keep it. Kat works in this very factory, and the two women slowly become friends. But soon strange things start to happen... is the factory being sabotaged?
I have to admit, the story is a bit unusual, but after a while I was hooked. Unfortunately, most of the plot revolved around the factory and whether or not sabotage was taking place. As a result, the love story took a back seat. It wasn't until the last third that things finally picked up speed and there was romance and sparks.
Clea and Kat definitely had chemistry, even if I had to dig a little to find it at first. But as their relationship slowly unfolded and the slow burn intensified, I couldn't wait for the two of them to finally get closer. I liked the main characters, but also the factory employees. They were like a family and fought together for their jobs.
All in all, a nice novel that doesn't seem like a romance at first glance, but the patience and waiting are worth it.
4⭐️ In Love's Inheritance, Clea, a barista, unexpectedly inherits a struggling sausage factory from her father, who had been visiting her incognito at the coffee shop for some time. However, when the will is announced, she is rejected by the family as an intruder. Can she turn the factory around and make it profitable within a year, despite her family's hatred? Because that is the condition for her to keep the factory; otherwise, it will go to the widow, who wants to sell it.
With a lot of heart and dedication, she tries to save the sinking ship. This is not made any easier by acts of sabotage. But with the help of loyal employees, she may succeed.
She quickly forms a friendship with Kat Nordling in particular, which has the potential to become much more than just a friendship. But the boss/employee relationship keeps them both holding back. Their relationship grows stronger and stronger, and they help each other through difficult times, because Kat also has a problem: she has to repay her loan to the widow.
A few things were predictable, but the story remained very entertaining, with a hint of mystery, some humor, and plenty of likeable characters. And sometimes even snobs soften up a bit.
Clea and Kat are two great women with their hearts in the right place. I cheered them on, not only for their success with the business, but especially for the two of them coming together.
Coming from Cheyenne Blue, we know it is a sweet romance with some fun and drama, but within a good framework, without overdoing it – a light and exciting read.
Many thanks to Ylva and NetGalley for receiving an ARC.
Almost always I enjoy whatever Cheyenne Blue writes, while I did enjoy this one for the most part as well, I also found it dragged on and a tad boring. At some point you’re done with whodunnit in sabotaging the factory (also because you figured it out right away), done with the looming loan, done with the we can’t afford anything (and then go out for expensive wine or get take out).
I do like the characters when you take away the before mentioned nonsense, I would have liked to see more of some of the characters as well. I like the originality of this store. Not often you read a book in which your main character inherits a struggling sausage factory from their long lost parent. And only get to keep it when they make the factory turn a profit. Some “evil stepmother” and a bit of intriguing stepsister action complete this picture.
4.5⭐️ I really liked this workplace story. The romance was great. Both MCs were good and well developed. And the bit of mystery was fun. Also it had two bad women, “I loved to hate”. Also set in Australia which I can’t get enough of. 😊
Love's Inheritance is certainly one of the more original romance premises I’ve come across. Inheriting a struggling sausage factory from a long-lost parent and only keeping it if you can turn a profit isn’t exactly classic swoon material, but Cheyenne Blue makes it surprisingly engaging.
I liked Clea and Kat as characters, and the factory setting, along with the loyal employees, gave the story a strong sense of community. The evil stepmother energy and hints of sabotage added some intrigue as well.
Where it lost me a little was the pacing. The constant stress over loans, money, and sabotage started to drag, and the romance felt sidelined for a good chunk of the book. By the time the sparks really picked up, we were well into the final third. I would've loved a bit more development with the romance itself.
That said, I still enjoyed it overall. The premise is refreshingly different, the characters are solid, and once the slow burn gets going, there’s genuine warmth there. Not my favourite Cheyenne Blue, but still a worthwhile and distinctive read.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Ylva Publishing for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
You can't help but fall in love with Clea! She's inherited a failing Sausage Factory from her father(that she didn't know was her dad). The support she gets from her staff especially Katrina is heartwarming! The chemistry between Clea and Kat is addicting! And when they get together it's steamy! I really enjoyed this book, in fact I LOVE IT! 5 stars!!
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book
this is a great story
clea works as a barista in a coffee shop and a couple of times a week she shares a coffee and a chat with a customer who she feels is becoming a very good friend....
then one day clea is summoned to a lawyers office and finds out she has inherited a business shamrock sausages and not only that she also has a step sister and a step mom... it seems to man she shared her coffee time with was her dad...
she has a year to show a profit or else the place is handed back to her step mom who will knock it down and sell the land for profit
clea has a plan and hopes to bring this business into a profit for all.... but she battles against sabotage
kat works at shamrock sausages as a food scientist and she needs shamrocks to show a profit as she has problems of her own.... what she didnt realised would happen was that she would like working with clea
can clea find out who is doing what and show a profit and maybe get the girl....
i was hooked right to the end with this storyline loved it and its fairly well paced
I had high hopes for this story. The intro was so interesting. A warm story of hope, energy and achievement. I was looking forward to all the clever things Clea would create to improve the company. But basically she just followed the same path as Patrick did. Made friends with the employees, monthly breakfasts and gave them a raise. And even that wasn't discussed until the last few pages. The romance was nice but very fast to develop. Clea is very emotional and sincere about everything with no show of greed. That was sweet but I didn't feel like she had any special skills to save the company. That's what I missed. The person behind the problems they encountered was obvious and not very smart. Nice plot but not fully developed.
This romance takes place in a sausage factory…no, not that, an actual factory that makes sausages. If that’s not enough to compel you to read it then I don’t know what to tell you 🤷♀️😁 3.5⭐️
A romance with a sausage factory in crisis as playground was something new and I was sceptical to start with. I was worried it would involve too many details about the actual technicalities on the manufacturing and financial perspective and way too little focus on the romance and the MCs, but I was very wrong. It is a sweet story that was so easy to love, and I recommend it to everyone wanting an entertaining read without angst.
Clea’s struggle to understand that Patrick was her biological dad at the same time doing all in her power to make the numbers of the sausage factory she inherited positive again while being sabotaged is intriguing to read about. Then we have the food scientist Kat working for the sausage factory that also has her own private financial struggle to deal with after her mum passed. They are people you root for from the beginning, they are so good together, first as colleagues and friends and then they are just perfect as romantic partners, their chemistry just right. They just must find a way to work through all the shit thrown at them by Patrick’s widow Maeve.
I received a free ARC via NetGalley and leave a review voluntarily.
Great start! I really dislike the baddy and hope she gets her comeuppance! 50% in and I am loving the book. I am still waiting for the baddy, either of them, to get their comeuppance and the goodies to triumph. In the meantime the romance is building nicely. I am a teeny bit impatient for the baddy’s minion to be unmasked but only because I am actually quite tense with the bad stuff going on. This is a Romance and I know there will be a happy ever after, but still! The author is good at the non romance drama in her books! I’m as confused as one main by what the other said 85% in, and like with the main, the explanation didn’t wash. Which means I am totally in sync with one main rather than thinking the plot line is daft….. great job. I bought in to everything in the aftermath of the romance bump, and without it I don’t think I would have enjoyed the happy ever after so much. I think the rain for the rainbow was necessary! Plenty laughs, a fair bit of tension.
3.5* A gentle romance between Clea, a coffee shop manager who inherited a sausage factory from a father she did not know existed, and Kat, a food scientist who works at the sausage factory. Clea have to deal with her father's wife and daughter, both of whom are not happy about her existence. Kat have to deal with financial debt and her mother's recent death. They find comfort and safety in their mutual attraction and lo Iove.
Clea meets Katrina after inheriting a failing sausage factory, where she only has a year to make a profit or she’ll lose it. Katrina is the food scientist and one of the first to embrace welcoming Clea as an outsider to this family business, where they have also felt very much a part of the owner’s family. Worried about the company failing because it is the last thing she needs, Katrina learns there is more to Clea than she first thought when she tries to help her figure it all out and make a success of things.
While this started with a shocking revelation and sadness for Clea, it quickly transformed into an amazing opportunity and chance for romance. Clea was uncertain she was right for the opportunity she had been given, and the cold shoulder of her newly acquired step mother and half-sister did not help. I admired her determination though to try and not let them get her down, but if she had to do it alone with only her best friend for support I don’t know that she would have. It really took Katrina’s belief in her the support of a few other’s at the factory taking a chance on her that she felt spurred on to keep trying.
There was this instant connection between Clea and Katrina, in such a natural and comfortable way where they just suited one another. They approached things sensibly with talking and trying to be understanding of one another’s views and positions. That being said, it wasn’t all plain sailing for them. As with any great romance, Cheyenne made sure we had some drama. A lot of it came from the Clea’s upbringing and how that fuelled her decisions and beliefs, even if meant someone got unintentionally hurt. Clea was a good person though, with a good heart and she was fair and open with everyone. Especially with Katrina and I know she got hurt herself in trying to do what she thought was best and right.
I fell in love with Clea and Katrina’s story though, and adored how they were together. There were so many lovely moments, and a lot of emotional ones too, but this is a really uplifting romance that I highly recommend!
Loved it, would happily reread it straight away. Such a great mix of characters, from the mains right up to the ‘step mother from hell’ The only downside? I have the biggest craving for a sausage butty right about now 🤣
Clea Winneke, manager of Yarra Grounds coffee shop, enjoys her chats with regular customer Patrick. He’s thoughtful and supportive, the way a friend should be. She’s thoroughly shocked to learn of his sudden death, especially when she’s summoned to attend the reading of his will and learns that he had a long-ago romance with her free-spirited mum, and is actually her father.
Patrick bequeaths most of his substantial estate to his wife Maeve and their daughter Zara. To Clea, he leaves his beloved but struggling factory, Shamrock Sausages, along with the stipulation that she must guide it to profitability within one year. Armed with a business degree but near zero experience, Clea accepts the challenge. Her inexperience isn’t the only obstacle to Shamrock’s success, however. Before long she realizes that her step-mother is working hard to sabotage the company so that she can take over the valuable land associated with the factory.
Complicating the work of the novice CEO is the presence of food scientist Kat Nordling. Kat and Clea struggle to manage their mutual attraction and keep their relationship appropriately professional. Love’s not something that can be denied, though. And together, they might have a better chance of saving Shamrock than Clea would by herself.
A sausage factory isn’t your typical setting for a romance. For me, that’s a plus. Cheyenne Blue does a great job depicting the industrial setting: the routine, the machines, the constant required maintenance, and the scary feeling that the business and everyone’s jobs are teetering on the edge of failure. I enjoyed getting to know the various supporting characters who work at Shamrock, though given some of their blue collar backgrounds, I was a bit surprised by their uncritical acceptance of Clea’s and Kat’s lesbian connection. In the U.S., even today, I believe this would be far more of a problem.
Even more than Clea’s work colleagues, I adored the characters of her commune-dwelling, flower-child mother Tamsin and Kat’s elderly neighbor Elsie. The wisdom of age plays a pivotal role in helping Clea and Kat navigate the inevitable storms in their relationship.
Maeve’s underhanded and duplicitous behavior is plausible. The author manages to evoke a smidgeon of sympathy for the wealthy widow. Like Clea, she didn’t expect Patrick, a man in the prime of life, to disappear in an instant.
Finally, though I’m much more of a cat than a dog person, I could not help falling in love with Putchi, the rainbow pride dog. He’s a reminder of the power of simple joy.
Love’s Inheritance is a feel-good lesbian romance that left me smiling. It doesn’t offer much in the way of serious conflict, though. There’s never any doubt that Clea and Kat will finally come together, or that Shamrock will survive.
Fans of Sapphic fiction will enjoy the slow-burn pace and the frank acknowledgment of mutual attraction. The author is expert in focusing on the small details that generate or broadcast arousal. To be honest, I found the flirtation and first hesitant kisses more erotic than the actual love scenes, which had no suspense and seemed a bit rushed.
Finally, the book left me with an urge to visit Melbourne. I’ve never been to Australia, though I have many friends there. Clea and Kat walk by the river, stroll along the beach, visit friendly-sounding restaurants, bars and cafes and generally support the impression that this is a diverse and lively city. I always appreciate books that provide a sense of place. This novel could serve as tourist marketing for its setting.
All in all, Love’s Inheritance serves up a tasty Sapphic tale without an excess of angst – relaxing and entertaining.
A special thank you to NetGalley, Ylva Publishing and Cheyenne Blue for a great ARC! Happy to leave my honest review!
A sapphic romance centered around a sausage factory?! Lol! I loved the irony in that and knew right away that this book was going to make for one hell of a read! Not to mention, the blurb captured my interest immediately. I found the premise of a mystery inheritance from a Dad you didn't know to be quite intriguing…make that inheritance a sausage factory and I am officially engaged.I really enjoyed Love’s Inheritance a great deal and was thoroughly entertained from start to finish. This book made me smile constantly and was just so much fun to read. I found this story to be a really sweet and heartfelt workplace romance with a ton of humour and charm.
Clea works as a barista and serves coffee to a kind man rather frequently. Well, come to find out that this nice man was none other than the father she’d never known and that he’s left her his business, Shamrock Sausages, in his will. Clea is determined to take the reins and make the factory a success, much to the dismay of her new evil stempmother…err stepmother. Clea is a sweet and likeable character that quickly nestled her way into my heart. She is positive, kind and resilient. She is thrown into a world and business that she is completely unfamiliar with but never gives up, even when someone (you know who) keeps sabotaging everything! She meets Kat, the company's resident food scientist, and despite some initial friction, the two make quite the team. Kat and Clea are so different and appear to be total opposites in most ways but for me, they just click. I loved them together so much and found myself smiling ear to ear as they became closer. Kat has a lot invested in the success of Shamrock Sausages and it’s safe to say that she has her own agenda, innocent as it may be. Nevertheless, her intentions are pure and I don't think Clea would have been successful without Kat. They were a couple of darn cute puzzle pieces that fit just right. I loved watching the central love story progress at a believable pace. Clea and Kat have great chemistry and watching them go from relative irritation to undeniable respect to friendship and then to so much more was so satisfying.
I am a fan of Cheyenne Blue and this book just solidified that for me. The writing style was clear, direct and engaging. She is able to infuse this book with equal parts humor and heart. I particularly enjoyed the sensory details used throughout, especially in the factory setting and beyond. Blue creates characters that are down to earth and realistic. Clea and Kat are flawed, real women with believable personality traits that I loved. The dialogue is wonderfully clever and creates a wonderful banter between our leading ladies that made me love them even more. There are some predictable events and scenarios but I didn't mind that one bit. The pacing was on point for me. I felt like everything happened in the timing and way that it needed to for the ending to work out how it did. I was happy and entertained with nary a second of confusion or boredom. Many thanks to Miss Blue! This book is a fun, funny, heartwarming romance with a bit of mystery and a lot of warmth.
I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to see what Cheyenne Blue comes out with next! Love’s Inheritance is a feel good sapphic romance with a character driven story full of humor wit! I would totally recommend this book for any and all looking for a slow burn, workplace romance with a loveable couple that you will root for right away. This book was a delightful and low angst story that was plain fun! If you are looking for a simple, sweet, funny and happy sapphic story then look no further!
Love’s Inheritance is not a traditional romance, but it absolutely works! The sapphics in a literal sausage factory also works. Just trust me on this. I swear it all works 🤞
If you go in expecting the romance to be the engine driving the plot, you might be caught off guard, but the way Cheyenne Blue structures this story actually works beautifully! Once I leaned into what the book actually is (a contemporary fiction novel with a genuinely compelling romantic thread woven through it), I had an absolute blast!
The central premise is what really hooked me: Clea Winneke, a coffee shop manager, unexpectedly inherits a failing sausage factory from a father she never knew she had. That's already a lot to unpack, and the author leans into every layer of it.
The storyline surrounding the inheritance (navigating a new industry, uncovering workplace sabotage, and figuring out what to do with a business/legacy she never asked for) kept me thoroughly engaged from start to finish. Honestly? The mystery elements surrounding the sabotage added a fun tension that I wasn’t expecting and didn't know I needed.
Katrina (Kat) Nordling is our other lead, a food scientist at Shamrock Sausages who is understandably less than thrilled about a random barista waltzing in as the new CEO when her livelihood is on the line. The dynamic between Clea and Kat is sweet, and their chemistry develops naturally, even if their romance takes a bit longer to find its footing. I will say that the romantic subplot felt a little slower to develop compared to the main plot, and it didn't fully come together until the latter half of the book, but when it did, it was earned and satisfying.
One of the things that impressed me most was the ensemble of characters that showed real growth over the course of the book. So much so that it stopped feeling like "Clea's story with extras" and started feeling like a full community. There's a general feel-good energy running through the whole thing that made it easy to root for the underdog, especially when the antagonist, Maeve, was being exceptionally cruel. Like, wow! We'd all like to believe no one operates that way, but it definitely made the stakes feel real.
This is the kind of book that reminds you why you love reading. It's different from what you typically find in the contemporary romance category, and that's a feature, not a bug. If you're in the mood for something with more substance and plot than the average romance, characters you'll genuinely care about, and a slow-building love story that rewards your patience, add this one to your TBR immediately!
TLDR: A feel-good, well-crafted read that sits somewhere between contemporary fiction and sapphic romance. The mystery-adjacent plot around the sausage factory inheritance is more gripping than it has any right to be, and Clea and Kat's slow-building romance is sweet and satisfying. Highly recommend!
Clea Winneke is shocked when she learns that a kindly gentleman that has been coming to the coffee shop she manages leaves her a failing sausage factory in Melbourne. The catch is it must be profitable in one year for her to keep it. Otherwise it goes to his wife who will close it and sell because the land is valuable. Clea has a recent MBA and wants to give it her best. At the shop she meets Katrina Nordling who is a food scientist and wears other hats as well. Things are challenging enough but now someone seems to be intentionally sabotaging the plant.
This isn’t really a mystery but they do figure out who doesn’t want her to succeed. It is more Clea coming in as a fish out of water in a fairly tight knit factory. Most want her to succeed. Clea are drawn to each other organically starting with giving a lift home when a car doesn’t start. They are careful at first because of the boss employee aspect which kind of gets dropped.
I like the easy going cover and it fits the easy going relationship. Blue creates two characters who have depth and takes them from new friendship to more. There are some slight time jumps as the book covers several months before jumping to an epilogue to reveal if the plant is profitable. I was rooting for the pair to be together. The side characters are minimal, roommate, hippie mom, a few employees and a neighbor's dog but they add to the story. As always I love the Australian words and slang, although there were less in this one than in some of Blue’s other books. Thank you to NetGalley and Ylva Publishing for the eARC and I am leaving an honest review.
I’m not a sausage fan in any shape or form (sorry, obvious, I know, I couldn’t resist), but I was only about a third of the way through Cheyenne Blue’s Love’s Inheritance when I found myself asking Google to find ‘Gourmet Sausage shops near me’.
Any time I pick up a book by Cheyenne, I know it’s going to be a mostly angst-free, comfort read. Does this mean she is predictable in her writings? I don’t think so - the tropes may be familiar, but she keeps her characters, settings, and her entire story feeling fresh and authentic. When Clea is left a sausage factory by a man she barely knew, her entire life tips sideways. Add the caveat that the business must make a profit within a year, and she is determined to put her dusty business degree to use. The factory employees are welcoming, but the wife and daughter of the deceased are not so much.
Kat aims to lose a lot after the death of her employer, so when Clea comes in as his replacement, she is keen to help her in any way she can. Living in her mother’s house has become somewhat of a strain. The memories and time she feels she owes to the dead woman have her stressing about how she will repay the loan she took out to pay the mortgage.
Clea and Kat, along with a fun cast of side characters, fight to keep the sausage factory running smoothly, with saboteurs, guilt, and growing attraction tripping them up along the way. Cheyenne Blue brings the good old ‘Aussie just trying to get by’ to the page. Her writing is as smooth and punchy as always, and it’s impossible not to be drawn in and captivated by the story as it evolves. Don’t miss this one.
I received an ARC from Ylva Publishing via NetGalley and am leaving a voluntary review
This has been one of my favorite sapphic books I´ve read this year, so I got no doubt I´ll be checking out more of this author´s stories.
That being said, this one is the story of Clea, a woman who worked at a coffee shop until her father (whom she´d never known before) appears... Only to die next chapter and give her his sausage company as inheritance. A bit of soap opera here? Yes, quite. In fact, the evil stepmother and morally questionable half-sister were also contributting to my sometimes reaction of "wtf did I pick to read".
But here´s the funny thing: While the premise might sound cliché or far fetched (or both of them) it is so well handled.
Clea starts working as a CEO without much faith in what she´s doing (she´s new at this, after all) and there she meets Kat, the love interest (who is another worker at the company). I loved both the slow burn of this relationship and also how the trust was slowly stablished, not only between these two characters, but between everyone, as Clea begins to feel more comfortable in her role as the boss.
Also, the mystery of who might be sabotaging the factory was a good touch to keep me engaged. If I don´t give this 5 stars, was because I felt my need for revenge was not satisfied (yes, I wanted to see that person who did criminal things be legally punished, sorry not sorry) and this ended up being even more wholesome than I expected.
Though, hey, I´m not going to complain for a well earned HEA, even if I dislike certain villains. So yeah, that´s it. I recommend this one.
Lady love blooms in a sausage factory This story is entertaining as all get out. I was chuckling in the acknowledgements and kept snickering my way thru the book when I wasn't cheering or doing little fist pumps and atta girls for main characters Clea and Kat. There's loads of drama and some angst that puts them thru the wringer with some nasty secondary characters heaping it on with despicable actions. There are likable secondaries as well but suffice it to say that family (chosen, found and blood alike) relationships and dynamics are complicated in this story. There were some plot twists I didn't see coming and lots of feel good moments between characters. I blazed thru this book in a handful of day, to see how conflicts got resolved and the romance found its way to blossom and thrive despite some less than ideal circumstances. There are steamy scenes you won't want to be reading in public and some lovely Melbourne locales highlighted, things I've come to expect from most Cheyenne Blue lesfic stories; that and feel good content to uplift where kindness and goodness ultimately prevail. As escapist reading goes this isn't pure fluff but the fluffy bits are smile, chuckle and heart-will-grow-two-sizes-bigger inducing. I recommend this book and everything else Cheyenne Blue has written to date and look forward to reading whatever she publishes next.
This book had me hooked from the very first page. The opening is so intriguing and engaging that I couldn’t put it down, and the momentum never slows; there’s always something happening to keep you turning the pages.
The characters are wonderfully developed and instantly likable. Their chemistry feels natural and heartfelt, making it easy to root for them and invest in their journey. Every interaction adds depth, and you find yourself caring about where their story will lead.
What makes this book shine is how effortlessly it balances intrigue with emotion. It’s a great combination that keeps you hooked while also making you feel deeply connected to the people on the page.
If I had one wish, it would be for the ending to linger just a little longer, offering a glimpse further into the future of these characters I have grown to love. But even so, the conclusion is satisfying, and the overall experience is nothing short of excellent.
This is a truly engaging read that captures your heart and imagination. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a story that entertains, inspires, and stays with you long after the last page.
When I first started reading this, I didn’t know where it was going, but it didn’t take long for me to embrace the uniquely creative plot. I’ve read many of Cheyenne’s books and they are all captivating stories. It’s not a comedy, but this one had me smiling and definitely had me seriously thinking during the challenging dilemmas in the story.
Clea Winneke, AKA Clea Starshine Winneke, was the daughter of Tamsin, a flower child.They lived in a commune and Tamsin instilled in her the love and goodness in people and in life.
Clea inherited the struggling Shamrock Sausage factory from a father she never knew. It came with certain conditions that were tense, at times. There were great secondary characters, including Kat Nordling, the factory food scientist. She and Clea had a very steamy romance.
The story flowed smoothly but was tense, at times, with issues such as solving the mystery of being vandalized and sabotaged, all creating drama and very addictive reading!
I really loved this book and continue my admiration of the author who always wows and entertains me. It’s just unfortunate that we didn’t get to taste the very popular pork and prune sausage or eat pizza at Vino Collapso.
Thanks, too, to Ylva Publishing and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my review.
This book had me hooked from the very first page. The opening is so intriguing and engaging that I couldn’t put it down, and the momentum never slows; there’s always something happening to keep you turning the pages.
The characters are wonderfully developed and instantly likable. Their chemistry feels natural and heartfelt, making it easy to root for them and invest in their journey. Every interaction adds depth, and you find yourself caring about where their story will lead.
What makes this book shine is how effortlessly it balances intrigue with emotion. It’s a great combination that keeps you hooked while also making you feel deeply connected to the people on the page.
If I had one wish, it would be for the ending to linger just a little longer, offering a glimpse further into the future of these characters I have grown to love. But even so, the conclusion is satisfying, and the overall experience is nothing short of excellent.
This is a truly engaging read that captures your heart and imagination. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a story that entertains, inspires, and stays with you long after the last page.
I received an ARC from Netgalley for an honest review.
The fact that the business Clea inherits is unusual for a romance novel doesn’t make the story any less interesting. Who cares if it’s about making sausages instead of cakes or flower bouquets? What matters isn’t the product, but the women who produce it.
Clea inherits an unusual business with some complicated conditions, because her own situation is complicated as well. When she inherits it, she also discovers the truth about her family background, which she had been completely unaware of. She had believed she had no family, and suddenly she learns she has a half-sister, an uncle, and a cousin. But it won’t be easy for her to build a relationship with them.
Instead, the inheritance brings her new friendships, including Kat, the technician in charge of product analysis and development, with whom Clea forms an immediate bond—one that goes beyond friendship. The story is engaging because of the ups and downs that take place in the factory, some good and some not so good, though Clea’s determination and the support of her new circle of colleagues, employees, and friends are essential to her professional and personal success.
An interesting story overall.
Ylva Publishing was kind enough to send me a copy via NetGalley for an honest review
Clea Winneke has just inherited....a sausage factory.
(Cue lesbians and sausage joke.)
And she can only keep it if it turns a profit in a year, and she knows nothing about the business. Patrick, the owner, had become a regular at the café and was sort of a mentor to her. And his own daughter, bluntly, was bad at business. Also, spoiler, she's his daughter from his youthful sowing oats days.
And the family hates her, unsurprisingly.
Katrina 'Kat' Nordling met Clea at the funeral and thought she was pretty. However, she's not sure she can run a business. But Clea quickly gets to work, and seems determined to get things going. Zara, her half sister, is incharge of online promotion and does nothing. Clea gives her .multiple chances, then she quits.
Someone sabotaged batches of food. They catch them, and it was paid for by the wife, Maeve.
Third act breakup. Made sense in story, at least.
Resolution, I liked how everything MOSTLY tied up. While it's assumed Clea succeeded, it'd be nice if it was shown. Also, before Clea arrived Maeve was using the business as a piggy bank. Wasn't brought up at all?
warmhearted, sizzling f/f romance set in Melbourne I was charmed right away by this romance: Clea Starshine, child of a hippie-mother, is determined to make it in the business world. But, oh this pesky imposter syndrom! Managing a coffee-shop works well, but does she dare to do a bigger step forward? I already loved the first few pages where we see that Clea is good people, surrounded by more good people. Out of the blue Clea gets her big break - to manage a sausage factory in trouble. And again it‘s good people who attract good people. It‘s Karma (says Tamsyn, the hippie-mother). And one of those people is Kat - with instant chemistry. The obstacles Clea has to face are real and I enjoyed to follow this story of coming-of-age, found family and finding your person. There was a good pinch of foodie love added - something I always adore - and a doggo who dresses up for pride. If you‘re looking for a warmhearted romance with a good sizzle this is a great read.
I received an ARC. The review is left voluntarily.
Love’s Inheritance follows Clea, a barista who unexpectedly inherits a struggling sausage factory. She has one year to turn the business around and make it profitable, or it will go to the widow who plans to sell it. Despite rejection from her family and acts of sabotage, Clea puts her heart into saving the company with the help of loyal employees.
Along the way, she forms a close bond with Kat, one of the employees, which slowly develops into a tentative romance complicated by their boss–employee relationship and Kat’s own financial troubles. While some elements are predictable, the story remains engaging thanks to its humor, light mystery, and likeable characters.
This is a warm, sweet romance with just the right amount of drama—an enjoyable and uplifting read, very much in Cheyenne Blue’s signature style.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Ylva Publishing for the ARC. #NetGalley #YlvaPublishing
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me this ARC*
I really enjoyed Love's Inheritance. It’s a heartfelt romance about family, new beginnings, and discovering what truly matters. The story follows characters who are brought together by an unexpected inheritance, leading them to face old challenges while opening themselves up to new possibilities.
I liked how the characters felt realistic and relatable. Their relationships developed naturally, and the emotional moments made the story easy to connect with. The setting added a warm, cozy feel that fit the story well.
The plot moves at a steady pace, and while there aren't many big surprises, the focus on the characters and their personal growth kept me interested. Overall, it’s a sweet and uplifting read with a satisfying romance.
Well I never thought I would read a lesbian romance based in a sausage factory. But Cheyenne nailed it perfectly. Clea, a barrista, recieves a strange inheritance from a coffee shop customer. Can she make a sausage factory/business profitable in a year? Sabotage and a steep learning curve add a few bumps in the road. Maybe, just maybe with the help of Kat, the in house food scientist, and some trusted staff it's possible? Kat has her own problems, she had a loan with her late boss that his widow is likely to call in, just for spite. Kat is likely to lose her mothers home. Add this to her growing attraction to Clea and work becomes complicated. Cheyenne has penned another great story, charming, sensitive, principled. Another winner.