A family saga filled with love… her a sandwich and a job at his father’s inn and vineyards. With nothing to lose, Lettie takes him up on his offer and begins a whole new life in the Willamette Valley, Oregon. She immediately falls in love with the land and is fascinated with the idea of growing grapes to make wines. She, Kenton, and Rafe Lopez become friends as she learns about running the small inn on the property.
At the same time she marries Kenton, a stroke kills his father. And then before she can tell Kenton she’s pregnant, he dies in an automobile accident. Heartbroken and burdened with the gift of the Chandler Hill Inn and Winery, she’s left with the task of making them a success. Struggling to raise a child alone while working to grow the business, Lettie makes a shocking discovery that changes everything.
A love story of a family with heart… Be sure to read the other books in the series: Coming Home and Home at Last.
And check out Judith Keim’s other series – the Hartwell Women, The Beach House Hotel series, the Fat Fridays series, the Salty Key Inn series, the Chandler Hill Inn series, the Desert Sage Inn series, and the Seashell Cottage Books that readers are loving.
more
This is the first book of a light romantic trilogy. It was a fun, easy read and a welcome change from some of the more serious books that I’ve been reading. I look forward to the rest of the books in the series and keeping up with the Chandler family.
It’s 1970 and 18 year old Letty has run away from her foster family and is trying to start her life over in San Francisco. After four months, some of it living on the streets, she is totally disillusioned with her new life. She meets a nice guy, Kenton, who offers her a job at his father’s inn and vineyards in Willamette Valley, Oregon. She takes him up on his offer and rides with him to what will become her new home. She falls in love with the land and quickly develops a friendship with Kenton and his father. Her friendship with Kenton quickly turns to love and they marry. After a tragic accident she inherits the inn and vineyard. The book covers her life for 48 more years as she tries to make a success of the inn by making changes and works to establish a good wine making operation. She works hard and treats other people fairly and in her new life finds a family that will love and protect her. Her only failing is that she is often too busy to spend time with her daughter and their relationship is never close. With hard work and perseverance, she is able to live a successful life full of love and happiness.
This is a light interesting read and I am looking forward to book two to re-connect with the characters at the Chandler Hill Inn.
Wow. This book grabbed my attention from the moment I started and I couldn’t put it down. I had to keep reading no matter what I was doing. I instantly fell in love with Lettie and her story. Her story is heartbreaking and incredible. Keim has a wonderful way of writing about strong women and the bonds they share when working together and empowering each other. I am very excited to read more in this new series! I was given an Advance Reviewer Copy in exchange for my unbiased review.
I am so glad that this is the first book of a new series! I am looking forward to the next one!
This novel is about a young woman named Lettie and her life that spans over almost fifty years. She runs to California at eighteen, looking for freedom and a new life, after coming from the foster system in Ohio,
Lettie meets a kind man who offers her employment in his family’s bed & breakfast in Oregon. She has nothing to lose. This is just the beginning.
There is lots of romance, a hint of suspense and lots of overall goodness in this fabulous book.
Lettie finds the family she has always wished for. But as in every family, heartache as well.
I loved Lettie! You can’t help but admire her compassion and kindness!
I will say that I definitely needed tissues at more than a few times!
This story covers a lifetime of experiences for Lettie; the main character, from when she moves out of foster care to the end of her life. Lettie was a strong character and I was impressed with the amount of responsibilities she was left at such a young age. She had a legacy to create was always keeping the original owner of the Inn and Winery in her heart and this reflected in her hard work to make it the best she could. Some of her life’s events felt like they may have been rushed to get in so much. I did enjoy the book and read it in a day. Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC for my honest review.
Heartwarming and somewhat bittersweet at times, this is a multigenerational tale of a young girl’s growth into womanhood and her strength in overcoming the obstacles that life puts in her pathway.
Best love story you will read that wraps you in the story as though you are there.
Linda’ Book Obsession Reviews ‘Going Home” by Judith Keim
Judith Keim, Author of “Going Home” has written a captivating, emotional, intriguing, suspenseful, and thought-provoking novel. The Genres for this Novel are Fiction, Women’s Fiction, and Romance. The story takes place in the author’s present and goes to the past when it pertains to the characters or events. The locations in this story are Ohio, San Francisco, and Willamette Valley Oregon. I love the way the author vividly describes the landscape and architecture. The author describes her colorful characters as complex, complicated, hardworking, and mostly likable.
Lettie leaves Foster Care at age 18 and is hungry and in need of a job. Luckily a very compassionate man, Kenton Chandler, offers her not only a sandwich but the opportunity to go to Oregon, wine country and work in an inn. When Letty sees the gorgeous land, she feels she is at peace and is home. Lettie meets another worker and friend of Kenton’s, Rafe Lopez, and the three of them hang out.
Kenton’s father likes Lettie and introduces her to grapes and wine-tasting. Lettie finds she has more responsibility in the Inn and with the grapes and wine.
In this wonderful story, there are twists and turns, and ups and downs. This is a story about making a home, family, friends, love, and hope. There is life, death, love, and loss. There are some Kleenex moments. I highly recommend this thought-provoking novel.
Set in beautiful Oregon wine country, this is the sweet and heart-wrenching story of a brave, determined young woman’s journey through life. Defying the odds, and a painful and challenging past, she follows her heart, finds herself and where she truly belongs. A lovely read.
Judith Keim is becoming one of my favorite authors. Her writing pulls you into the stories she writes, so much so that you do not want the story to end. In “Going Home” Violet (Lettie) leaves the foster system in Ohio as soon as she reaches 18. Never knowing her parents she yearns to belong and makes her way to San Francisco. It too is a disappointment and needing to find work, Lettie meets Kenton Chandler and accepts a job and ride to Oregon with him. This decision to work in Kenton’s fathers inn and vineyard changes the course of her life. Lettie’s life in Oregon is unexpected, thrilling and tragic. She has a strong sense of honor toward the Chandlers and this leads to her to discovering her strengths and fortitude. This is an emotional story of love for land, family and second chances that lasts until you turn the final page.
Oregon Vineyard Saga
This novel is the story of one woman’s life from teenage years onward. It is a nice, long book that lets the author tell a complete story across the decades. This story is written so well that it was like a movie playing in my head. The story is told without judgment or horror, it is just what happened. I loved this book, can’t wait for the sequel and know that I will read it again! I received this book for free and this is my honest review.
I received an ARC of this book. Wow! An exceptional story well written. I totally enjoyed reading about Lettie and her story. Lettie who was alone and had no parents, came across this guy who asked her to go to Oregon for a job there. Lettie entrusted in this man and goes with him to Chandler Hill. This is wear her life really begins to come to light. She finds a man, Rafe, whom she falls for, then he has other obligations even though he really wanted Lettie. Love finds Lettie again, to only have it ripped from her by an accident. She comes to find out she is pregnant and has a daughter who she name Autumn. Life on Chandler Hill has its challenges, downfalls, happiness and heartbreak moments. My emotions came out in this book. It was romantic, happy, sad, loving, heartfelt, and emotional. To feel like you are there living in this moment with them all throughout the entire story was awesome. So much happens in this story which is a definite page turner. I totally loved this story. Thank you Judith. I give it a definite 5 star!!!!
This is a very touching story of a young girl, Lettie, who grew up in a foster home in Ohio. At 18 she leaves and makes her way to San Francisco. A young man befriends her and invites her to his father’s vineyard and Inn in Oregon where she begins a new life. She is fascinated with the area and the prospect of working with grapes and making wine. She eventually marries the owner’s son, Kenton. Rex, the owner, has big plans for the vineyard but dies suddenly. Then Kenton passes away in a car accident. Lettie now has the winery and Inn and is in charge of making Rex’s dreams come true. She sees the business grow and become a great success. While at the same time she is trying to raise a child by herself. From beginning to end this book will captivate you. The characters come alive and you can just feel their emotions. The author describes the vineyard area beautifully. Having been in that area, she has me wanting to go back! This is definitely a book you won’t want to put down. I received Going Home by Judith Keim as an ARC.
Awesome book. Awesome writer
I now have a new favorite author.
At age 18 Lettie has spent her entire life in foster homes, and now, she can leave and from Ohio, she ends up in San Francisco, hungry and with no money. Kenton, a young man a few years older offers her a sandwich and the possibiity of a job. He is headed to Oregon where his Dad owns the Chandler Hill Inn and vineyard. Because she trusts Kenton and feels anyone who would give a hungry person a sandwich would be trustworthy, Lettie agrees to go with him. Upon arrival she immediatly falls in love with the land and the people there and fits right in as she begins working at the Inn. She is also is eager to earn more about the grapes and making wine.
This book grabbed me from the beginning and soon had my heart as well. This heartfelt, compelling story is of family – not only those related by blood but by love for one another. It is a story of survival as real life unfolds over the years The Chandler Hill Inn and those associateed with it become Lettie’s lifeline and the family she;s never had. Her life is changed forever because of the kindness of someone giving her a sandwich This beautifully written story is intriging as it follows Lettie throughout her life. I read this book several years ago, but felt compelled to read it again. I love it just as much the second time.
A story about Lettie Hawkins a foster child raised in Dayton Ohio. She has a very difficult life so at the age of eighteen she leaves for California. She is hoping to find work . After living on the streets of San Francisco over many weeks she meets Kenton Chandler and he offers her a job in Oregon at the Chandler Inn and Vineyard. She falls in love with the vineyard and loves it, but faces many trials. Over time she becomes a strong and knowledgeable woman. This journey spans a number of years so you go on this long journey with all the wonderful characters. A Great Read and plan to follow this author.
This was a a very interested book
The main character makes lemonade out of lemons. She doesn’t let her background hold her back. She has opportunities come up throughout her life and takes advantage to learn more. Along the way she finds the sense of belonging, home, and family she’s always wanted. Good read.
Great book, great characters. I can’t wait to continue the series!
Violet is a story of strength, hope, the good in people, triumph with enough challenges and heartache thrown in to keep it real.