Better Luck Next Time

Asheville Brewing, Book 2

By: Denise Grover Swank, A.R. Casella

Narrated by: Joy Nash

The second book in the Asheville Brewing series by A.R. Casella and Denise Grover Swank

Standalone book with HEA

Adalia Buchanan has always poured her soul into her art, but after a horrible betrayal by her mentor, she can no longer bring herself to do it. Instead, she’s designing merch and marketing materials for her family brewery in Asheville, hoping it’ll satisfy her urge to create. It doesn’t, of course, and her worst nightmare comes to pass when an arrogant yet attractive acquaintance witnesses her tearing up one of her own paintings.

Selling Big Catch Brewing was supposed to lead to big things for Finn Hamilton, but it didn’t. Worse, it strained his relationship with his best friend, River, and turned the local community against him. For someone who’s used to being liked, it’s a humbling experience — much like watching Adalia engage in an act of creation and destruction. Before, he only knew her as the intriguingly sassy sister of River’s girlfriend, but what he witnessed changes everything. It also sparks an idea.

When Finn asks her to help him launch a charity art show, Adalia immediately refuses — and then surprises herself by changing her mind. Because the man she wrote off as an arrogant jerk is anything but. He’s a modern-day Mr. Darcy, and she’s infatuated with Pride and Prejudice. If they can survive an evil cat, a psychic, a goat-obsessed artist, and their meddling families, they might just get their own happily-ever-after.

©2020 Denise Grover Swank (P)2020 Denise Grover Swank

Great second book of the series

Adalia and Finn didn't start out liking each other but as they get to know each other, they find more things in common. I really like this series and the characters are great - especially Aunt Dottie. Joy Nash is a wonderful narrator. I'm looking forward to the next book.

Impulse buy for me

I was in the mood for a good funny romance and picked this one mistaking the authors identity (as the sellers were hoping for). A solid story line but not up to Denise Grover Swank’s artistry imho. Lovers of mushy romance and feel good pet rescuers will find it a good read. I’m a foster parent so responsible ownership is a sore point for me.

Cute, but unbelievably mushy.

I loved the first installment, and am a HUGE DGS fan. The main couple has too much feelings. They’re both likeable, but I found the exchanges to be annoying and even cringe, sometimes. The constant ramblings of the 2 main characters are exhausting, IMO. It has potential, it’s just sickening to real life, and at Christmas, this story would make single women pining for love want to jump off a bridge. I’ve been married 12 years, so I eye-rolled a lot throughout this bc it’s just unlikely. I did enjoy the Biltmore part, and the admiration for the rescue dogs. I won’t give up, I just didn’t love it, many frou-frou people will.

Fantastic

I love this story. The characters are funny and uplifting. Joy Nash is an amazing Narrator.

I love, love, love this series!

What I love about this book...
Set in Asheville, NC, the authors provide loads of local color and flavor. The characters are warm, colorful, and multi-dimensional. They’re funny, complex, interesting and warm. The personal journeys of the characters kept me invested and needing to know more. It’s a great book and can’t wait for the next book in this series. Finally, I LOVED the narration by Joy Nash!