Once Tasted (Silver Creek Series #2)

( 18 )

Overview

Three siblings, an extraordinary family, a lasting heritage—in the irresistible Silver Creek Ranch trilogy, they’ll fight for the land and the people they love.
 
Everything has come easily to Reid Knowles, the middle son of a California ranching family. But his charmed life is suddenly complicated when his good friend and neighbor asks him to help run the winery next door. His neighbor’s niece, Mia Bodell, is in charge—and she has made it...

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Once Tasted: A Silver Creek Novel

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More About This Book

Overview

Three siblings, an extraordinary family, a lasting heritage—in the irresistible Silver Creek Ranch trilogy, they’ll fight for the land and the people they love.
 
Everything has come easily to Reid Knowles, the middle son of a California ranching family. But his charmed life is suddenly complicated when his good friend and neighbor asks him to help run the winery next door. His neighbor’s niece, Mia Bodell, is in charge—and she has made it clear that she’d rather be roped to a steer than to Reid Knowles. Never one to back down from a challenge, Reid vows to win her trust.
 
Her life marked by loss, Mia knows that nothing comes easily—love included. In high school, her heart was crushed by Reid, and even though years have passed, the hurt lingers. Mia is achingly aware that the teen heartthrob has matured into a devastatingly handsome playboy, and the budding winemaker refuses to let down her guard. But one taste of unbridled passion changes things. From Reid’s first intoxicating kiss to his unexpectedly tender seduction, Mia is swept into a passionate affair that could tear her heart to pieces . . . or give her everything she has ever wanted.

Praise for Once Tasted
 
“Fans of . . . alpha males will enjoy saddling up with this and adventurously explicit liaison full of intriguing details about winemaking.”—Publishers Weekly
 
“With tension, heart and small-town details on every page, this is a genuinely engaging read that will have fans hungry for more.”—RT Book Reviews
 
“Beautifully written . . . I would recommend this author to anyone.”—The Reading Cafe
 
“Family, friends and small town living bring a lot of characters into the book and make it a great read. Just like grapes take time to grow and mature into something great so does the love story of Reid and Mia.”—Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
 
“Once Tasted is a really great romance and a great read for anybody.”—Fresh Fiction

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Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly
04/14/2014
Moore’s second Knowles novel (following Once Tempted) contains all the obligatory elements: a hero built like a Greek god, a heroine who thinks of herself as ugly (though she’s actually stunning), and circumstances that force them to spend time together. Mia Bodell and Reid Knowles have been secretly pining for one another since high school, but mutual lack of communication and mistaken assumptions pulled them apart for a decade. Now all grown up, Mia is managing her Uncle Thomas’s vineyard in Acacia, Calif., and cowboy Reid, her neighbor and new business partner, is unavoidably in her path. The two of them shoot sparks, but it’s clear that Reid hasn’t quite left his womanizing ways behind when he talks Mia into sex after she rejects him. Fans of pushy alpha males will enjoy saddling up with this and adventurously explicit liaison full of intriguing details about winemaking. (June)
From the Publisher
“Fans of . . . alpha males will enjoy saddling up with this and adventurously explicit liaison full of intriguing details about winemaking.”—Publishers Weekly
 
“With tension, heart and small-town details on every page, this is a genuinely engaging read that will have fans hungry for more.”—RT Book Reviews
 
“Beautifully written . . . I would recommend this author to anyone.”—The Reading Cafe
 
“Family, friends and small town living bring a lot of characters into the book and make it a great read. Just like grapes take time to grow and mature into something great so does the love story of Reid and Mia.”—Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
 
“Once Tasted is a really great romance and a great read for anybody.”—Fresh Fiction
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780345537003
  • Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
  • Publication date: 5/27/2014
  • Series: Silver Creek Series , #2
  • Format: Mass Market Paperback
  • Pages: 368
  • Sales rank: 83590
  • Product dimensions: 4.10 (w) x 6.80 (h) x 1.10 (d)

Meet the Author

Laura Moore lives in Rhode Island with her husband, two children, and their Labrador retriever. Laura loves to hear from readers. Please visit her online.

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Read an Excerpt

Chapter One

Reid Knowles loved life’s finer pleasures: the feel of a warm, enthusiastic woman moving against him, and the rush of a powerful horse carrying him over the fields in a ground-­eating run. Today he was enjoying another: a dawn ride on his Harley, its engine roaring beneath him as he took Route 1’s serpentine curves. He’d chosen the coastal route for the simple reason that it was beautiful. The salty bite to the California wind against his face felt great after the weeks he’d spent in the sauna that was South Carolina in early summer.

That he was presently enjoying only item number three on his list of pleasures didn’t bother him at all, not when every mile flying beneath his wheels brought him closer to numbers one and two. Acacia, California, had some exceptionally pretty women living in it, and his home, Silver Creek Ranch, had some of the finest Quarter Horses to be found anywhere. In just a few hours, he’d be riding his own, Sirrus, a nine-­year-­old gelding he’d trained since birth.

No, he had no complaints at all. Life was good. And if there were moments when he recognized that maybe everything in it came to him a little too easily, well, this wasn’t one of them.

He was happy.

With a grin into the morning wind, he dropped down a gear on the throttle and leaned into the next curve.

Oh, damn, he must be back.

Mia Bodell didn’t need to be a modern-­day Sherlock Holmes to guess who’d put the dreamy expression on Tracy Crofta’s face at Spillin’ the Beans. The barista fairly floated over the wide-­planked, unvarnished floors as she took Mia’s order, humming to the hissing of the steamer as she prepared her triple-­shot latte.

There were other signs, too.

Tracy wasn’t the only blissed-­out female in the coffee shop. Betty Shales, who was sixty if she was a day, wore a beatific smile. Stationed behind the cash register, she stopped patting her gray dreadlocks only long enough to take Mia’s money.

But in case Mia had suffered temporary blindness and failed to notice the women’s joyous glow, she’d have had to be wearing earplugs to miss the trills of laughter and excited chatter when, latte in hand, she walked in to the post office—­which also housed the local bank, general store, and luncheonette.

Not many towns could boast of having a post office where you could not only pick up your mail but also cash your checks, order a stack of buttermilk pancakes or a burger, pick up a loaf of bread and a bottle of Tide, and get your daily dose of the latest local happenings, too. The post office–­general store–­luncheonette wasn’t just Acacia’s hub. It was Gossip Central.

Mia wasn’t big on gossip. She’d been the butt of it too often. But as she inserted her key into the metal mailbox and retrieved the mail, dropping half of it into the recycling bin and tucking the rest of it—­bills, bills, and more bills—­under her arm, the air around her buzzed. Reid Knowles’s name reverberated from all corners of the interior.

There was no escaping it.

The scent of freshly baked goods filled the spacious interior—­another reason why the post office was such a popular place. Knowing how much her uncle Thomas loved the luncheonette’s blueberry muffins, Mia got in line. And since no good deed went unpunished, she spent the next few minutes breathing in the aroma of melted butter, flour, and sugar while listening to Mae­beth Krohner and Nancy Del Ray, who were working the morning shift at the luncheonette, sing Reid Knowles’s praises.

“Mm-­hmm, yeah, he got back today and dropped in to say hi.” Nancy’s voice held a wealth of satisfaction. Nancy had two small children and was five years older than Reid, but that didn’t stop the divorcée from tracking his comings and goings with the breathlessness of a tween at a One Direction concert.

“Dang.” Maebeth shook her head. “I knew I didn’t need to fold the clothes sitting in the dryer this morning. I’d have seen Reid otherwise. Was he looking as fine as ever?”

Thirty and single, Maebeth made no bones about how much she liked Reid—­really liked Reid. In this she was not alone.

“Could you doubt it? The man rode his motorcycle all the way from South Carolina. He came in here looking windblown and scruffy,” Nancy replied.

“Oh Lord.” Maebeth made a show of fanning herself.

It was nine a.m.; the luncheonette was busy and would stay that way until around two o’clock. Yet even as the two women dropped slices of multigrain bread into the toaster, set plates filled with steaming scrambled eggs and hash browns in front of hungry customers, and deposited stacks of dirty plates and empty coffee cups into a partially filled black rubber tub, their conversation didn’t skip a beat.

“Such a bummer I missed him,” Maebeth repeated dolefully. “You think he’ll be at The Drop tonight?”

“I expect so,” Nancy said.

“His being back sure will liven up the place.”

Nancy nodded in agreement. “Mom’s already offered to take the kids tonight so I can slip into my boogie shoes.”

Mia was tempted to roll her eyes at the women’s preoccupation with Reid Knowles and his limitless appeal. She refrained, reminding herself about casting stones.

Taking a fortifying sip of her latte, which somehow she’d forgotten she was holding while she listened to Nancy and Maebeth, Mia focused her attention on the couple ahead of her, who’d stepped forward to pay. Both wore sturdy walking shoes. A folded map was tucked into the back pocket of the man’s chinos.

Tourists, Mia decided. Since they weren’t in jeans and cowboy boots, they probably weren’t staying at the Knowleses’ guest ranch, Silver Creek. There were plenty of other things to do in Acacia, though, such as hiking along the state preserve’s trails, kayaking on Silver Lake, or touring the local vineyards. Spotting the Wine Spectator sticking out of the woman’s canvas tote, she had her answer. Vineyard hopping was on the couple’s agenda.

Although less renowned for its vineyards than Napa and Sonoma, Mendocino County produced some terrific wines. The carefully selected Dijon and Pommard clones, soil, and microclimate made the Pinot Noirs Mia and her uncle crafted rank among them.

Another vintner might have tapped either wife or husband on the shoulder and suggested a stroll over to Good Grapes on Laurel Street, where they could pick up the Bodell Family Vineyard 2011 Pinot Noir. It was delicious and a steal at sixteen dollars. She wished, too, she could have invited them to drive out to the vineyard for a tasting, but her dream of opening a tasting room had yet to materialize.

Besides, while Mia knew wine, she had no talent for self-­promotion. Peddling her family’s products in front of Nancy and Maebeth, who didn’t have a shy bone between them, would only compound her embarrassment. It was all too easy to imagine their expressions at her awkward attempt at a sales pitch.

So she waited in silence while Nancy rang up the couple’s items. Transaction complete, they moved aside. Pinning a smile on her face, Mia stepped in front of the register.

Nancy’s expression changed from openly friendly to something more reserved. “Hi, Mia.”

“Good morning, Nancy. I’d like a blueberry muffin, please.” She also wanted to get the hell out of there. Maebeth had been in the same grade as her cousin, Jay, and so knew the stories, which meant that Nancy had heard every one of them, too. Certain tales didn’t have an expiration date on piquancy.

But even if she wasn’t convinced that both Maebeth and Nancy knew the filth Jay loved to spread about her and her mother, Mia would have felt uncomfortable with the two women who partied their free evenings away at The Drop or at the night spots in Napa. Hers were more often spent in front of the computer, entering moisture, pH, and nutrient levels for the different blocks of their vineyard. Then there was her new pastime of choice: fretting about the distracted look in her uncle’s eyes. Something about Thomas had changed over the last few weeks. Was he sick? Was it money again?

“You came just in time. They’re still warm.” Nancy grabbed a brown paper bag from the stack on the counter and shook it open. Lifting the wire-­mesh dome off the platter, she picked up the tongs. “It’s for Thomas?”

The tongs hovered in the air. Mia nodded. “Yes.”

At her answer, Nancy swooped down and plucked the largest of the batch off the white platter. “How’s he doing?”

“He’s fine,” she said brightly, firmly.

“Your uncle is such a doll. You tell him to come on down for breakfast. We’ll make blueberry pancakes to go with his blueberry muffin.”

“Heck, we’ll put blueberries in anything he wants,” Maebeth offered as she picked up two orders of scrambled eggs and home fries for a table.

Everyone at the luncheonette knew Thomas loved blueberries, and they knew why. They’d been Aunt Ellen’s favorite fruit. She’d died fourteen years ago, but Thomas never missed an opportunity to order something with blueberries.

Mia’s smile lost its stiffness. “I’ll tell him,” she promised. It’d be fun to watch him gobble down a stack of gold and purple pancakes drowning in maple syrup and butter.

Nancy passed her the paper bag. “Can I get you anything, Mia? A lemon–­raspberry muffin? A pecan roll?”

Her hips couldn’t afford either. “No thanks, I grabbed a latte.”

Nancy looked at the cup with undisguised envy. “I keep telling Charlie to get one of those espresso machines for here, too, but he doesn’t want those java junkies over at Spillin’ the Beans to go out of business.” Charlie Haynes owned both the luncheonette and the building that housed Spillin’ the Beans. Diversifying was the name of the game in this economy.

Mia tucked the mail more securely beneath her elbow, ready to say goodbye, just as Maebeth returned with an order. She gave it to Lou behind the grill and then turned to Mia.

“So, did you hear? Reid Knowles is back from South Carolina.”

Leaving now would be too obvious, she thought with an inward sigh. “Yes, I caught you and Nancy saying as much.”

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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 18 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(8)

4 Star

(9)

3 Star

(1)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

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Sort by: Showing all of 18 Customer Reviews

  • Posted Thu Aug 14 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Mia is a woman with the master plan. She knows all about every g

    Mia is a woman with the master plan. She knows all about every grape her family uses to make the wine on her family Vineyard and she is ready to bring all that knowledge to her uncle to make their Vineyard the best in the town. But her uncle gives her a surprise that she never would have imagined. A surprise that makes one man she hates the most her savior. Reid Knowles is sexy, single and has no problems with staying that way. He helps to run his families successful Vineyard drawing in the heartstrings of all the ladies in their little town. Reid may have found out about Mia's crush on him at a very young age but she now holds his attention with her flaming anger. This was a great book. It had many twists and turns and long lost cousins who don't know when to leave good enough alone and anger that sparks into a crush that blossoms into love. Great book it makes me want to shout to the sky save a bull ride a cowboy!

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  • Posted Tue Jul 15 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    more from this reviewer

    Overall Rating:  4 Rockin¿ Stars Reid Knowles is perfectly happ

    Overall Rating:  4 Rockin’ Stars

    Reid Knowles is perfectly happy with his unattached state.  He loves the freedom he has to get on his Harley and ride across country or go trail riding on his favorite horse.  Women love Reid and they flock his way like bees to honey.  There is only one woman that has ever resisted the Reid charms, Mia Bodell.  Mia has been a pain in his side since high school when her hateful cousin read her journey about him out loud in the locker room.  Reid has felt guilty ever since that day, guilty that he had not stopped her mean cousin from slandering Mia.  After ten years you think she would have moved pasted what had happened but she still has not let it go.

    Mia loves her uncle and making wine at the family’s vineyard.  Life would be perfect if her cousin Jay would leave them alone and stop bleeding his father and the vineyard dry. Jay was constantly hitting his father up for money while living the life in LA and contributing nothing to the vineyard. Mia was completely blindsided when her uncle told her he was leaving for France to get married and she would be in charge of the vineyard.  She would also be working with Reid since he had arranged for them to buy into the business. Reid would work with her on the business part of the vineyard and she would continue to work the vines and create the wine. The only problem with this arrangement was her uncle had no idea how she felt about Reid and what had happened in the past.

    Everything suddenly has changed for Mia.  She is alone and has to find a way to work with Reid and pray that her cousin will stay away and not try to get money from her.  Mia is amazed at the way Reid listens to ideas and works with her at the vineyard to make them a reality.  Then things really start to heat up between the two of them when all barriers come down and the attraction between them grabs hold and want let them go.  They are both caught in the sexual web and find that what they share is like nothing else either has experienced.

    Will Reid be able to let go of his confirmed bachelor status? Can Mia forgive the past and move forward?  Or will Mia’s cousin destroy everything that they have started building together?

    Hero: Reid Knowles 4 stars
    Heroine: Mia Bodell 4 stars
    Plot:  4 stars
    Steam Level 4.5 stars
    Cliffhanger: No

    Would I recommend this book: Yes! Take one sexy cowboy mix with a beautiful woman that grows grapes and makes wonderful wine with her uncle and you have a love story that will touch your heart. Can’t leave out all the hot action between our two main characters, they really sizzle.

    Would I recommend this author:  Yes! Ms. Moore has a new fan, me!  I love the way she tells a story and cannot wait to read another book by this author.

    ***Received an ARC of this book from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review***

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Mon Jul 07 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Loved it

    Laura Moore did it again! Another great story. Cannot wait for the next book.

    I enjoyed the plot line. Though I feel that the ending left me hanging. Hopefully this will be touched on somewhat in upcoming book.

    This book would be a great standalone read but I recommend all her books.

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  • Posted Mon Jun 23 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    more from this reviewer

    Once Tasted Author: Laura Moore Publisher: Ballantine Books




    Once Tasted
    Author: Laura Moore
    Publisher: Ballantine Books
    Genre: Romance
    Series: Silver Creek #2
    Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
    Rating: 4.5
    Review:

    "Once Tasted" by Laura Moore...About the book....

    "Three siblings, an extraordinary family, a lasting heritage—in the irresistible Silver Creek Ranch trilogy, they’ll fight for the land and the people they love.

    Everything has come easily to Reid Knowles, the middle son of a California ranching family. But his charmed life is suddenly complicated when his good friend and neighbor asks him to help run the winery next door. His neighbor’s niece, Mia Bodell, is in charge—and she has made it clear that she’d rather be roped to a steer than to Reid Knowles. Never one to back down from a challenge, Reid vows to win her trust.

    Her life marked by loss, Mia knows that nothing comes easily—love included. In high school, her heart was crushed by Reid, and even though years have passed, the hurt lingers. Mia is achingly aware that the teen heartthrob has matured into a devastatingly handsome playboy, and the budding winemaker refuses to let down her guard. But one taste of unbridled passion changes things. From Reid’s first intoxicating kiss to his unexpectedly tender seduction, Mia is swept into a passionate affair that could tear her heart to pieces . . . or give her everything she has ever wanted."

    What I liked from this novel.....

    This was the second series of Silver Creek#2 ..."Once Tasted" was about Mia Bodell and Reid Knowles that seemed to be in a love/hate relationship. I found this read very heart touching, full of heat, and I was even caught laughing at some of the humor (especially about that 'black eye') as I turned the pages. I loved this good story line that had romance, suspense and oh yes, the wonderful characters. Not only were the main characters well developed , colorful and believable but the secondary characters were very richly developed as they seemed to come alive as you are reading. I love how this author is able to produce such good descriptions of her characters and to that vineyard....I could taste the wine.

    Not wanting to give away spoilers, I will say that I did liked how this author was able to get these two together delivering to the reader so well a written script that presents us with a story of twist and turns, some drama and family issues. This is where I say you must pick up "Once Tasted" to see for yourself.

    What I also liked from the read....

    I loved how this author was able to show the reader how one person can destroy your life and livelihood only if you let them.

    What I didn't like about the novel....at first....

    What bothered me somewhat about this novel was the way the heroine saw herself with a fragile ego and didn't see her own worth and beauty, with self-esteem problems with wounded heart and trust issues...my, my .....however was that about to change?

    And I didn't like the Uncle Thomas ad Aunt Ellen's son Jay. I won't say anymore ....you will just have to read for yourself ....why? But in the end...

    Overall Impression of "Once Tasted"

    Overall, "Once Tasted" was a very good read with a good mixture of cowboy, wine and romance. I also enjoyed the first series 'Once Tempted' and I do look forward to the next series about Quinn's story by this author.

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  • Posted Tue Jun 17 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    more from this reviewer

    A Very good book Contem

    A Very good book Contemporary, Romance

    California

    Reid Knowles is the middle son of a California ranching family and for him everything has come easily. When his good friend and neighbor asks him to help his niece, Mia Bodell, run the family winery, everything suddenly gets complicated for Reid. Reid’s charmed life is now in the past and nothing is the same. Mia is in charge of the winery even with Reid’s help and she has made it abundantly clear that she doesn’t trust Reid at all. She would much rather be roped to a steer than deal with Reid. Reid is determined to overcome the challenge that has suddenly been placed in front of him and earn Mia’s trust. No matter what he as to do.

    Mia’s life has never been easy and has been marked more by loss than anything else. She knows nothing comes easy not even love. When she was in high school she had a crush on Reid only to have him break her heart. Even after all these years the hurt still lingers. She is also very aware that the teenage heartthrob he was then is now a devastatingly handsome playboy. Mia is determined to not let down her guard. Then they both get a taste of passion and nothing is the same. From the first intoxicating kiss she receives from Reid to his tender seduction Mia is pulled into an affair that could either tear her heart apart worse than before or give her everything she has always dreamed of.




    This is a wonderful book that takes place in wine country that brings the area to life. The story gives some details on how wine is made and at the same times give the story some great depth that brings it all to life. The story has a little bit of suspense woven through the plot that makes for a great book. The characters are complex and make for an engaging read. The book is part of a trilogy but can easily be read as a standalone. Though once readers read just one of the books they will be looking for the others so that they can again visit a very nice small town that comes to life as they read. Readers also will never look at wine country the same again.

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  • Posted Sat Jun 07 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    more from this reviewer

    Wine, Horses and Romance, you can't go wrong with this combinati

    Wine, Horses and Romance, you can't go wrong with this combination!!!

    “Once Tasted” by Laura Moore is the second book in her “Silver Creek” trilogy.  Since I hadn’t read her first book in the series “Once Tempted” and didn’t feel like I missed anything I would say you can read it as a stand alone but I am a true believer in reading books in order so I just went out and bought “Once Tempted” so that I can fill in anything I have missed, but as I said you do not feel like you have missed anything when you read this book.  Laura Moore is a new to me author but this is her 9th book and second trilogy.




    OK, so to the review, if you are a lover of Romance, Alpha Males, Wine and Horses then this is the book for you.  Mia Bodell has had a crush on Reid Knowels, the middle son of a California ranching family since high school, but an embarrassing event that her hated cousin Jay, orchestrated back during high school, has had her avoiding Reid for almost the last decade.  But her life is about to change, Mia and Reid are about to become business partners due to circumstances beyond their control and both must over come what has happened in the past to embrace their future.




    When Mia’s mother dies during her childhood, Mia is sent to live with her Uncle Thomas who owns a winery, and grows up loving her Uncle and the art and business of making wine.  It is when her Uncle decides to put her in charge of the winery so he can pursue a romance of his own that Mia is forced to deal with Reid, their next door neighbor who is now, due to her Uncles manipulations, her business partner.  Day to day they need to figure out how to deal with each other and put the past to rest so that they can find their future.  In the event you think that is easy, there is still the hated cousin Jay who has made Mia’s life miserable her entire life and is not about to change that now.  




    If you are a believer in destiny and happily ever after with trials and struggles along the way then this is the book for you.  Don’t think any of that will be easy though, there is still Jay to deal with.  As a lover of wine and horses, you will get a lot of both in this book and even a beginners education in the making of wine.




    I can’t wait for the final book in the series, “Once Touched” to come out although I couldn’t find a publication date for that one, it is about the third Knowles sibling, Quinn, the only girl in the family and the person who will capture her heart.

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  • Posted Fri Jun 06 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    NUMBER OF HEARTS: 4 REVIEW:  The one that got away. What that is

    NUMBER OF HEARTS: 4
    REVIEW: 
    The one that got away. What that is not right because she never had him to begin with right? But Reid Knowles has always been the one for Mia. The only one ever!!! But with her uncle leaving her in charge of the winery and Reid acting as her new right hand man will Mia be able to fight her feelings for the cowboy? 
    Reid is a lot of things but a chicken is not one of them, except when it comes to Mia. When it comes to the fiery woman Reid is never sure what to do. Now they have to work together to make the winery a profitable business. But somewhere along the way Reid finds that he can’t keep this relationship just as co-workers. 

    These two are great. It was fun to watch them tiptoe around each other for so long. Both wanting the same thing for so long but neither brave enough to take that chance until now. 

    This was a great second book in Laura’s Silver Creek Series. I just love these cowboys and the feisty women that they love. If you love a good romance with the star hero a sweet, good looking, determined cowboy you need to grab a copy of Once Tasted. 
    I am so looking for to Quinn’s story. It is going to be fun to watch her fall and her big brothers go crazy watching :) 

    Disclaimer: 
    I received a complimentary copy of the book from Edelweiss & Ballantine Books in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review. 

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  • Posted Mon Jun 02 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Fun, Sweet & Sexy! Mia and Reid's story touched my heart, m

    Fun, Sweet & Sexy!

    Mia and Reid's story touched my heart, made me laugh and want MORE. I don't like to give spoilers, so let me just say these two characters were great together. Plus you got the added benefit of Ward and Tess from the first book, Once Tempted, saw more of Quinn (who I understand will be next) and who could resist Adele (Reid's mom) with her humming love songs. 

    Laura Moore never fails to deliver a satisfying story, and this time was no different. Her characters are always fully thought out and feel like someone you could meet walking down the street, in a coffee shop or on a dude ranch. Her stories are full of heart and heat. She is definitely one of my "go-to" authors to take my stress away and leaving me feeling good.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Christine Daae

    Ok...

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Hans

    Im going to get you out of this mess....

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  • Posted Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Laura Moore¿s new book, Once Tasted, was wonderful you have a co

    Laura Moore’s new book, Once Tasted, was wonderful you have a cowboy hero who you would love to take home yourself. You have a love hate relationship where both love but neither will given in, funny how men and women can hear and see the same thing but walk away understand and seeing things differently. With this story you see the twist and turn of how others can affect your life and turn it upside down. How only one person can destroy your life and lively hood if you let them the author reminds us how important family and friends are.

    Mia has had a hard life her mother died when she was young and her uncle Thomas raised her. She has a cousin Thomas son who has always been jealous of her. He has made her life a living hell from the start. Jay is a man who will get his way no matter what and he will destroy everything that gets in his way. He will destroy Mia if she will let him. Thomas falls in love and moves way leaving Mia with feelings of lost, lonely trying to make a business out of her Uncle Thomas vintner. Mia has always been attracted to Reid even in high school where there was a misunderstanding when Jay read her dairy with feeling of Reid in them. Mia thought Reid made fun of her and could not forgive nor forget him. When Reid comes home the sparks fly between them they must learn how to get along because her uncle and his parents now have partnership with them running the business.

    Reid comes home and is thrown in a partnership with Mia he knows he should not have acted so badly when he was young. He knows he should have stood up for Mia years ago but is unable to find away to make her understand. He has been attracted to her since high school but due to misunderstanding he knows she hates him. He doesn’t see any way to make this work out nor any way to have any kind of relationship with Mia. Can he fight this attraction with all of his family pushing them together.

    Jay is a big part of this book causing trouble any way he can. He is all about money I would call him a scam artist. He knows just how to make Mia feel bad and give him the money he wants. He knows the buttons to push and lord he pushes them to the breaking point. He doesn’t know what the word “work” means since his father has always given him what he wants. He doesn’t know how to wait for the quarter to get his share of the money which is not big enough. Mia deserves nothing and he lets her know this.

    The question is will Mia and Reid make this partnership work? Can they over come all the things Jay has planned for them. Can Jay keep them apart so he can get the money he wants? Will Mia and Reid get past the misunderstanding and find they do love each other or will the hate love thing they have going on continue.

    This book started out a little slow for me but by the time I got to the end I did not want to put it down. When I got to the part about the hedgehog the author had me hooked. After reading

    “Moreover, he’s done something funny to his hair. It stood up in short, straight spikes, making him look like…well, for some perversie reason, the only thing that came to mind was a red hedgehog.”

    I could not get this picture out of my head and had to laugh. I found this book to be humorous, a wonderful story that kept me in the edge of my seat. I would recommend this book to my friends to read. I felt so sorry for Mia and knew her pain. Reid I felt sorry for him to but he did not touch me the way Mia did. I hated Jay and wanted to put my hands around his throat myself. Thomas I was so glad he found love after so many years being alone. There are a lot of wonderful characters that I would like to read more about. I see there is one the author has already written about Reid brother I plan on reading it soon. I feel sure anyone who reads this book will enjoy it.

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  • Posted Tue May 27 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    I loved this book. I really enjoyed the how I was able to relat

    I loved this book. I really enjoyed the how I was able to relate to Mia. She is shy, quite, and not sure about her life. I also liked how she grows in confidence and learns that love is import in life. Reid is the boy everyone wants and he knows it. I liked that he had to work to earn Mia’s trust.
    Everything has come easily to Reid Knowles. But suddenly life becomes complicated when his good friend and neighbor asks him to help run the winery next door. His neighbor’s niece, Mia Bodell, is in charge.

    Mia knows that nothing comes easily. In high school, her heart was crushed by Reid, and even though years have passed, the hurt lingers. She will not fall for him. But one taste of unbridled passion changes things. From Reid’s first intoxicating kiss to his unexpectedly tender seduction, Mia is swept into a passionate affair that could tear her heart to pieces . . . or give her everything she has ever wanted.
    Mia never saw herself as someone that anyone would want to be with. She has always felt as no one sees her and if she loves them they will leave her. As Mia comes to believe in herself her Uncle is ready to move to the next step on his life. He is going to hand the rains to Mia and let her run the winery, with the help of the neighbors. He moves to France and Mia takes over. As she does this she starts to second guess her decisions, starting with Reid. As Mia and Reid start to work together on the winery the passion start to grow. Reid wants more than just a few moments with Mia. He starts to spend more time with Mia. Then trouble comes to the winery. Can Mia and Reid keep the winery going? Will they be able keep what they have found with each other?

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  • Posted Tue May 27 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    more from this reviewer

    Can't miss - loved it! When I received an ARC copy in exchange

    Can't miss - loved it!

    When I received an ARC copy in exchange for a fair and honest review, I was so excited for the next installment in Silver Creek.

    Mia Bodell is no stranger to loss, losing her parents young, her crush on Reid destroyed in high school by a jealous cousin and now her uncle, her father for all intents and purposes, is leaving. Mia knows the vines, knows the grapes, and loves being in the field of her family winery. But the customers? Not so much. Her uncle has handled the selling and customers, and overseeing the wine making. When her uncle falls in love and moves to France, he leaves the winery in Mia’s hands, but with one condition. Reid Knowles will help with the business aspects.

    The Knowles family owns the Silver Creek Ranch and is very successful. Reid is the second son and everything has come easy to him. That’s not to say he is lazy, no. He works hard, but women, life, business seems to come easy to this golden boy. When his family invests in the Bodell winery, Reid is the businessman in charge with Mia, to her dismay.

    I loved watching the sparks fly between Mia and Reid. Mia has some serious backstory issues to overcome and this story challenges her whole life – from emerging from her shell, interacting with other people, take on new responsibilities at the winery – all designed to improve her confidence, much needed when her nasty, soul-sucking, mooch of a cousin comes back to screw everything up.

    Reid has to finally work for a woman. Mia won’t come easy and she has a lot of fear to overcome but Reid is the perfect hero for her.
    I thought the first book in this series was awesome, but this might be my new favorite. I loved Reid and Mia and their journey. It was great catching up with old friends, characters from the first book, and I can’t wait for some of the other characters!

    Another can’t miss by Laura Moore!

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  • Posted Tue May 27 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    more from this reviewer

    Once Tasted is a sweet and heartwarming story of wine and cowboy

    Once Tasted is a sweet and heartwarming story of wine and cowboys. Mia Bodell is left running her family's winery with the condition that her childhood nemesis,Reid Knowles, will be her partner and business adviser.




    Reid is the cowboy that everyone lusts over but Mia, she won't even give him the time of day. Now working with Mia, Reid finds she is a temptation he can simply no longer resist. 




    This story is racked with past ghost that haunt the couples potential happiness. These ghost are both physical as well as emotional stumbling blocks for Reid and Mia...mostly Mia. 




    Quite frankly, Reid was the bomb...his lust inducing persona was perfectly portrayed and had that swoon worthy effect. Mia's character is clumsy, somewhat reclusive and emotionally wounded. Bringing Reid's and Mia's personalities together, Moore provides a highly enjoyable, entertaining read.

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  • Posted Tue May 27 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    An incredible fresh story of finding love when it's least expect

    An incredible fresh story of finding love when it's least expected. Mia is a shy reserved soul working hard to get the family's vineyard producing the best wine they can. Reid is the outgoing, confident ranchers son who is perfectly content with his bachelor lifestyle. When circumstances bring these two together they must get past old hurts and regrets to move forward.

    This book is well written, has a wonderful group of characters, and the story flows along at a great pace. It is definitely one I would recommend to everyone. Very enjoyable read.

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  • Posted Mon Apr 07 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    more from this reviewer

    Another hot cowboy around

    3 Stars!
    Contemporary Romance
    Release date: May 27, 2014

    ABOUT THE BOOK:

    Three siblings, an extraordinary family, a lasting heritage—in the irresistible Silver Creek Ranch trilogy, they’ll fight for the land and the people they love.

    Everything has come easily to Reid Knowles, the middle son of a California ranching family. But his charmed life is suddenly complicated when his good friend and neighbor asks him to help run the winery next door. His neighbor’s niece, Mia Bodell, is in charge—and she has made it clear that she’d rather be roped to a steer than to Reid Knowles. Never one to back down from a challenge, Reid vows to win her trust.

    Her life marked by loss, Mia knows that nothing comes easily—love included. In high school, her heart was crushed by Reid, and even though years have passed, the hurt lingers. Mia is achingly aware that the teen heartthrob has matured into a devastatingly handsome playboy, and the budding winemaker refuses to let down her guard. But one taste of unbridled passion changes things. From Reid’s first intoxicating kiss to his unexpectedly tender seduction, Mia is swept into a passionate affair that could tear her heart to pieces . . . or give her everything she has ever wanted.


    MY REVIEW:

    I gobble up Ms. Moore’s books like they are water and I’m stranded on an island with temperatures soaring into the hundreds. Yes, they are that good.

    I liked this book, didn’t love it, but I did like it. It had the same feeling as her previous books, but for some reason after coming down from the high of book 1 in this series, book two came in a little shy of four stars. Not that the writing fell short, but it was just a personal preference for how things played out.

    The whole country charm of this story is one that will leave you wanting more. It’s engaging, full of chemistry, and spot on with conflict. If you want to read a book that will leave other cowboys in the dust, pick this up today!

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Tue Jun 10 00:00:00 EDT 2014

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Tue May 27 00:00:00 EDT 2014

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