What do you think?
Rate this book
Bound by Design #2
Love on the Vine
Straightforward Kay Bing has never been one for subterfuge, although she did embellish her resume just a bit to land a design job at Free Leaf Concepts, a cutting edge botanicals firm. Determined to make a good first impression, she’s exploring the highly secure company greenhouse when her assistant—the much too attractive Oliver Pierce—confides that he’s actually working undercover to investigate whether Free Leaf has created a potent new street drug. Kay doesn’t believe it for a minute—until someone plants designer mushrooms in her salad. Suddenly she and her sexy colleague are teaming up to unearth the roots of a dangerous operation . . .
Oliver not only has a personal stake in the investigation, his entire career in law enforcement is on the line. Stubborn, sensible Kay is a distraction he can’t afford, but as they dig deeper into the case, they discover a chemistry that’s too heated to deny. When even one wrong move could be deadly, Oliver may have to risk it all to keep Kay from harm—and convince her they should be partners for good.
Oliver not only has a personal stake in the investigation, his entire career in law enforcement is on the line. Stubborn, sensible Kay is a distraction he can’t afford, but as they dig deeper into the case, they discover a chemistry that’s too heated to deny. When even one wrong move could be deadly, Oliver may have to risk it all to keep Kay from harm—and convince her they should be partners for good.
- GenresRomance
192 pages, Paperback
Published July 18, 2017
About the author
Roxanne Smith
20 books199 followersRoxanne Smith lives in a small North Carolina town, nestled in the Smokies. She reads a lot.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 17, 2017
Love on the vine: I wasn't a big fan of the first book in the series and I am definitely not a fan of this book either. I wasn't able to get into the story and I had a hard time reading a book that otherwise would have been a very easy read. I took a couple of breaks when I was reading this book and I actually was able to read and finish two books in those breaks. Then I had to woman up and finish this one because it will be released in a couple of days and I have to have my review ready. The characters are not as strange as Neve, but they are also not your usual kind of people which didn't always translate in a good way. I wasn't drawn to the story and I ended up skimming some parts. I am happy that I am able to say that one thing in the book satisfied me. Kay had a feeling that she and Oliver weren't able to solve the whole mystery and I was wondering if we were going to find out if she was correct. We do find out and loose things were tied up. That made me like the book a bit. I think a three star rating is fair for this book, considering my whole experience. Probably more than it deserves since we had the "pleasure" to read about Neve and her problems. I don't know how that man puts up with her. Why would anyone be fine with her demands for her man to always be ok with her behavior, but he cannot do anything without being considered a jerk? I had to say that last thing because Neve always manages to get on my nerves. The book didn't work for me, unfortunately, but I would recommend it only because it's better than the first book.
September 9, 2017
3.5/5.0
Ms. Smith has created an interesting cast of characters in “Love on the Vine”.
Read full review in the 2017 September issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Ms. Smith has created an interesting cast of characters in “Love on the Vine”.
Read full review in the 2017 September issue of InD'tale Magazine.
August 12, 2017
3.5 Stars
Kay Bing is ready to start her new job at Free Leaf Concepts, but soon after she begins, she finds herself embroiled in a police investigation working alongside Oliver Pierce, the undercover cop assigned to the case. However, neither imagined things could become so dangerous, especially when she's drugged with designer mushrooms. Will Kay and Oliver be able to find whose responsible, so they a shot at happy ever after?
It was hard to decide how many stars I was going to give this story once I finished it, because there were things that I loved such as the investigation and the main characters, especially Oliver; and things that I wasn't fussed on like the acerbic attitude of one of the secondary characters that seemed a little too harsh towards her friends and the animosity Oliver faces from a fellow officer. The way this story started was really good, as one of Kay's good friends is determined to get her out of her funk, even if it means stretching the truth to help Kay achieve her dream job. Will Kay be able to handle things once she starts working?
As for the dialogue, it was intense due to the main characters back stories and what happens to the heroine that has a terrible effect on her. However, there were some light-hearted moments that I loved, especially when the heroine does something that takes the hero by surprise when it comes to his job and he doesn't take too seriously, considering he's not easy to get rid of. Moreover, the heroine is resilient, brave and I liked how determined she was to succeed in her new job. I also liked how she tried to make things right with her ex. Will it assuage the guilt she feels due to what she did to him? Yet, there were moments where the heroine frustrated me, as I found her to be a tad harsh when it came to dealing with people. Why did she feel she needed to assert the tough-girl-I-don't-care-what-you-think-of-me attitude of her friend, Neve.
While the hero, he was a fantastic character and I loved his back story. He has his reasons for taking on the case he has and I liked how determined he was to discover the people responsible for the drug ring. Sneaking around and wondering if he'd get caught made this book very exciting at times. I also liked how protective he was of the heroine and that he would do anything to keep her safe, because he needs her. Not only for his investigation, but for personal reasons. It's palpable how much he's falling for her.
Overall, Ms. Smith has penned a good read in this book where the chemistry between this couple was strong, the romance on the sweet side and the ending had me cheering for this couple's happy ever after. Will Oliver realize that Kay is right when it comes to everything she believes is part of the drug ring? Moreover, I liked how things worked out for Oliver and Kay, especially after Kay gets closure from her past. I would recommend Love on the Vine by Roxanne Smith, if you enjoy contemporary romance with a dash of mystery; or books by authors Mackenzie Crowne, Sharla Lovelace, Kyra Jacobs and Jamie Hollins.
July 19, 2017
undercover detective oliver pierce has more than one reason to want to bring down the leaders of a drug ring producing super shrooms in love on the vine. and it's not just wanting to save people from a dangerous hallucinogenic. but when his boss gets fired for inappropriate on-the-job behavior he's got to start from scratch with kay bing.
on paper and in person it would be easy to dismiss kay bing. she's petite and blond and looks barely old enough to drive. but she's been mentored by two powerful women for her professional life and she decides to channel them in her new role as lead designer at free leaf concepts. she's out to make an impression, and her first order of business is firing oliver.
luckily it doesn't stick, but with kay suspicious of his motives oliver knows he will need to change tactics in order to keep the case. when honesty becomes the best policy, his cover depends on kay's buying the fact that all is not as it seems at free leaf concept. it's an idea she'd like to dismiss, but things are weird.
things are weird between kay and oliver too, because the truth is that there's this crazy attraction between them. partly because they are so good at reading one another. not just their motives, but the way their minds work. both oliver and kay are good at assessing people and figuring out what makes them tick. when kay is drugged with the shrooms in her salad everything ramps up, the case and kay and oliver's relationship.
it's a decent mystery and the romance works, as both kay and oliver are clearly meant for each other.
**love on the vine will publish on july 18, 2017. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/kensington books (lyrical shine) in exchange for my honest review.
on paper and in person it would be easy to dismiss kay bing. she's petite and blond and looks barely old enough to drive. but she's been mentored by two powerful women for her professional life and she decides to channel them in her new role as lead designer at free leaf concepts. she's out to make an impression, and her first order of business is firing oliver.
luckily it doesn't stick, but with kay suspicious of his motives oliver knows he will need to change tactics in order to keep the case. when honesty becomes the best policy, his cover depends on kay's buying the fact that all is not as it seems at free leaf concept. it's an idea she'd like to dismiss, but things are weird.
things are weird between kay and oliver too, because the truth is that there's this crazy attraction between them. partly because they are so good at reading one another. not just their motives, but the way their minds work. both oliver and kay are good at assessing people and figuring out what makes them tick. when kay is drugged with the shrooms in her salad everything ramps up, the case and kay and oliver's relationship.
it's a decent mystery and the romance works, as both kay and oliver are clearly meant for each other.
**love on the vine will publish on july 18, 2017. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/kensington books (lyrical shine) in exchange for my honest review.
July 18, 2017
Love on the Vine is a decent book, I just wasn't able to quite get into it. I like the premise, just the execution left me a bit on the fence.
When Kay's mentor and boss not so gently pushes Kay into a new job at an innovative botanicals firm, she knows she has to do her best at her new position because if Neve (her boss) referred her, she can't possibly do anything to let her down or make her look bad. Kay's new assistant is hot and gets under her skin immediately. As Kay takes on her new job, Oliver is there to help her, but he's really helping himself because he's there to investigate her new employer, as the firm is suspected of manufacturing a new deadly drug.
Although I like the mystery of Love on the Vine, and I even like both Kay and Oliver, there was something missing here. I can't pinpoint it exactly except to say that I just didn't connect to either of the characters, nor to the story as a whole. It's not horrible, it's not even bad, it's just...lacking something. Sorry for being so vague and cryptic. Unfortunately, I just can't justify a high rating for something I didn't connect to.
I received an ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.
When Kay's mentor and boss not so gently pushes Kay into a new job at an innovative botanicals firm, she knows she has to do her best at her new position because if Neve (her boss) referred her, she can't possibly do anything to let her down or make her look bad. Kay's new assistant is hot and gets under her skin immediately. As Kay takes on her new job, Oliver is there to help her, but he's really helping himself because he's there to investigate her new employer, as the firm is suspected of manufacturing a new deadly drug.
Although I like the mystery of Love on the Vine, and I even like both Kay and Oliver, there was something missing here. I can't pinpoint it exactly except to say that I just didn't connect to either of the characters, nor to the story as a whole. It's not horrible, it's not even bad, it's just...lacking something. Sorry for being so vague and cryptic. Unfortunately, I just can't justify a high rating for something I didn't connect to.
I received an ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.
May 14, 2017
netgalley
Not bad, a very good read. a re read
Not bad, a very good read. a re read
August 22, 2017
Full Review for Library Journal:
Kay Bing is recovering from a bad breakup when her mentor Neve pushes her into a new job—one that will challenge Kay and help her to become the person she is meant to be. Meanwhile, there is one small problem: Oliver Pierce, an undercover cop posing as Kay’s assistant. When the two meet, their conflicting personalities cause sparks to fly—as well as sexual tension. As each learns to trust the other, they must discover what is really going on at Free Leaf Concepts—and find the brains behind it all. Smith (To the Studs) writes an engaging story with some steam. Our protagonists have made mistakes that they regret, making them human and more realistic. Kay’s self-doubt is particularly interesting and will likely strike a chord with most readers.
Verdict This second installment in Smith’s series is a solid read, with engaging characters, and will prevent readers from discovering who did it too soon. Recommended for anyone who enjoys romantic suspense, especially with elements of design and botany.
https://reviews.libraryjournal.com/20...
Kay Bing is recovering from a bad breakup when her mentor Neve pushes her into a new job—one that will challenge Kay and help her to become the person she is meant to be. Meanwhile, there is one small problem: Oliver Pierce, an undercover cop posing as Kay’s assistant. When the two meet, their conflicting personalities cause sparks to fly—as well as sexual tension. As each learns to trust the other, they must discover what is really going on at Free Leaf Concepts—and find the brains behind it all. Smith (To the Studs) writes an engaging story with some steam. Our protagonists have made mistakes that they regret, making them human and more realistic. Kay’s self-doubt is particularly interesting and will likely strike a chord with most readers.
Verdict This second installment in Smith’s series is a solid read, with engaging characters, and will prevent readers from discovering who did it too soon. Recommended for anyone who enjoys romantic suspense, especially with elements of design and botany.
https://reviews.libraryjournal.com/20...
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews