*3.5 Stars*

I have to admit, I’m not sure that I actually found Red to be that good of a therapist.  Unfortunately she lets her personal feelings take over and influence her interactions with Sam and, while he isn't her patient, she should know better.  She recognizes it at one point but I think she didn’t take his feelings into consideration as much as she should have, as even just a normal person would.  And definitely not for a trained professional. 

But I also felt really bad for her with the way her friends treated her a couple of times.  I don’t know if the author intended for us to pick up on a personality trait of her's instead but I felt like she was the injured party.  There is one part where she’s helping a friend try on a wedding dress and gets cut off in the middle of a statement.  It just seemed rude and awful from someone who was supposed to be her great friend.  She does make some good strides by the end of the story.  While she still has some issues to work out and I really hope she continues to work on things - for her sake and for Sam's.   

Sam, though, absolutely stole the story for me - he’s so conflicted and for so many reasons.  From the very beginning his troubles just grabbed onto my heart and didn’t let go.   Between his up-bringing and his time in the military the poor man never had a chance of being all that well-adjusted.  Luckily he’s finally reached a stage in his life, and found a person he wants to commit to, that he’s willing to look his demons in the eye and come out the other side. 

A complex story with thorny personal issues, Kisses Sweeter Than Wine isn't an easy read but seeing Sam finally face his troubles makes it all worth while.  Maybe if I'd read the previous stories I'd have been even more involved in this couple, I don't know, but I can definitely say that he won me over.  

*** I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s. ***