“In true Susan Mallery fashion, strong female characters, friendship, and family are at the center of THE VINEYARD AT PAINTED MOON. You’re sure to laugh and cry along the journey and delight in the happy ending.”—Robyn Carr, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Virgin River“The Vineyard at Painted Moon feels like a story about courage—about making hard choices so that you can live an authentic … courage—about making hard choices so that you can live an authentic life.”—Katherine Center, New York Times bestselling author of What You Wish For
Step into the vineyard with Susan Mallery’s most irresistible novel yet, as one woman searches for the perfect blend of love, family and wine.
Mackenzie Dienes seems to have it all—a beautiful home, close friends and a successful career as an elite winemaker with the family winery. There’s just one problem—it’s not her family, it’s her husband’s. In fact, everything in her life is tied to him—his mother is the closest thing to a mom that she’s ever had, their home is on the family compound, his sister is her best friend. So when she and her husband admit their marriage is over, her pain goes beyond heartbreak. She’s on the brink of losing everything. Her job, her home, her friends and, worst of all, her family.
Staying is an option. She can continue to work at the winery, be friends with her mother-in-law, hug her nieces and nephews—but as an employee, nothing more. Or she can surrender every piece of her heart in order to build a legacy of her own. If she can dare to let go of the life she thought she wanted, she might discover something even more beautiful waiting for her beneath a painted moon.
more
In true Susan Mallery fashion, strong female characters, friendship, and family are at the center of The Vineyard at Painted Moon. You’re sure to laugh and cry along the journey and delight in the happy ending.
The Vineyard at Painted Moon by Susan Mallery has Mackenzie Dienes living and working at Bel Après. She has been married to Rhys Barcellona for the last sixteen years. Her family is his family since she lost her parents when she was a child and her grandfather right after she graduated from high school. The one thing that she has wanted is to own a piece of the winery, but the proves to be elusive. The matriarch of the Barcellona clan, Barbara holds tight to the reins. She controls all aspects of the winery, and she is determined it will only belong to those with Barcellona DNA. At a special event at the tenth annual Solstice Party, Mackenzie realizes that her life is lacking. Evidently, Rhys feels the same way because he asks for a divorce. Mackenzie must make some important decisions regarding her future. She could stay at Bel Après as the winemaker or she strike out on her own. What happens when something unexpected throws a wrench in Mackenzie’s plans? I thought The Vineyard at Painted Moon was a good escape novel. I needed a break, and this book was just what I needed. It is well-written with developed characters and it moves at a steady pace. While the story focuses on Mackenzie, we also get to see how Barbara’s other children are doing, especially Stephanie Barcellona. Stephanie is not happy with her job and she wants a change. She is not sure, though, that she has the courage to do it. The author captured the dynamics of a family and a family run business. This is an emotional novel as Mackenzie goes through the various phases after Rhys asks for a divorce. I thought it was realistic (as someone who has gone through a divorce). There is plenty of family drama in this engaging tale along with some good life lessons. The author presented the information on winemaking in an easy-to-understand manner. I found it fascinating all that goes into making wine (who knew). There is some repetition of details along with foul language and intimate situations (not explicit). The Vineyard at Painted Moon is a great book to read while relaxing in front of a fire with a glass of wine.
The Vineyard at Painted Moon feels like a story about courage—about making hard choices so that you can live an authentic life.
THE VINEYARD AT PAINTED MOON by Susan Mallery is a women’s fiction novel that pulled me in from page one. This is the perfect emotionally intense and ultimately satisfying read to curl up with on your couch wrapped in a comfy blanket with a glass of your favorite wine by your side on these snowy cold days. I read it entirely in one sitting.
Mackenzie Dienes is a successful elite winemaker at her husband’s family vineyard in Walla Walla since graduating from college where she was his sister’s roommate. Having lost her grandfather to cancer after graduating from high school, she has been happily enveloped by her husband’s family and vineyard for sixteen years, but now he wants a divorce.
Mackenzie’s life is thrown into turmoil. She realizes the life she has lived has all belonged to her husband and his family and as much as she longed to be considered a member of the family, she was in many ways just an employee to certain members of the family.
Mackenzie can stay and continue working at the winery or she can risk everything to claim a new future she has only ever dreamed of.
I loved this book from start to finish! Not only did I go through the range of emotions a women’s fiction novel usually takes me through, but I got a HEA, too. Mackenzie is an endearing protagonist. It was so satisfying to see her go from just living to emotionally thriving not only in her personal life, but in her professional one as well. Ms. Mallery made me feel as though I was at the vineyard and walking right along with Mackenzie with her vivid descriptions throughout the story. The secondary characters come to life on the page; some supportive and some surprising, good and bad. I hated to see them go, but was happy with the epilogue.
I highly recommend this novel!
The main character is likable, and one learns about the WA state wine making business. However, there are so many dysfunctional family issues to plow through. For example, the overpowering matriarch has no respect for her children and becomes blindingly bitter over a perceived betrayal. Once the characters and situation are introduced, the plot becomes very predictable.
I did cry a bit, but I wouldn’t call it a real tear-jerker. The heroine was amazing.
The book originally developed some interesting characters, but the ending was weak and somewhat disappointing.
It’s a great story a page turner .I would highly recommend try this book great author. Lee
I loved The Vineyard at Painted Moon. It has wonderful characters although it was pretty predicable but a great beach or vacation read.
Hard working people who worked for everything they got.
Good story that kept your interest all the way through.
Makes you think
I absolutely enjoyed reading this book, I could not put it down. Susan Mallery is one of the best writers and she came through with this book.
Susan Mallery’s new women’s fiction novel, The Vineyard at Painted Moon, is a sensitive, emotional portrayal of a Washington State wine-making dynasty ruled by the matriarch. I always enjoy Susan Mallory’s books and this one is no exception. The plot lines were true to life, the pace was steady, and most of the characters were wonderful!
The Review
The author has done it again, crafting a brilliant contemporary women’s fiction that delves into the emotional core of facing divorce, testing the bonds between not only friends but adopted family, and the oftentimes painful yet worthwhile effort that takes us towards the legacy and career we always dream of. The amazing family dynamics between MacKenzie and her husband’s family are incredible to see, and the drama of her own pursuits mixed with the ties she has to this family really elevates the tension in the character’s arcs.
However, what really was amazing to see was the author’s attention to detail. The research and deep dive into the study of viticulture was a great addition to the depth of the protagonist and really showcased how well-rounded the narrative felt throughout. Add this with the incredible imagery the author incorporates into the narrative and readers will not be able to put this book down.
The Verdict
A brilliant, captivating, and entertaining read, author Susan Mallery’s “The Vineyard at Painted Moon” is a must-read contemporary women’s fiction read. Full of emotional storytelling and engaging character arcs that readers won’t be able to get enough of, this is a fantastic story. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copies today!
I listened to the audio version of this book.
Ms. Mallery has written a fantastic book about those we consider family and how quickly they can turn on us and probably aren’t worth the grief we feel at losing them. The other part of the story is how those who truly love us will stick by us through everything.
MacKenzie is going through so many changes in her life. Nothing is as it was and she’s not sure how to deal with so many changes at once. She takes solace in her true friends and struggles to push through. There are many surprises along the way–some good and some bad. Mackenzie discovers a strength she didn’t know she had and embraces the changes as they come.
The setting of the vineyards of the west coast is beautiful and makes me want to go back. I loved that MacKenzie had such an important job at the vineyard and was so sought after. I feel like her job of blending the wines has probably been a mainly male position in the past. Her husband and mother-in-law (and one sister-in-law) were really scum as far as the way they treated her. Actually, her husband was only scum part of the time.
Mallery writes a compelling story and it was narrated beautifully by Tanya Eby. I love her voice!
I loved this story about second chances and being strong enough to forge a new path. The tale was told through the experiences of the Barcellona women (one by marriage). Each of the women was in different places in their lives, but each had to face big changes and figure out how to make new situations work. I found MacKenzie to be the most relatable. Anyone who has been married knows what it is like to lose track of a sense of self-identity. It was a pleasant story filled with likable characters in a calming, pastoral setting. 4.5 stars. For a detailed review, please visit Fireflies and Free Kicks. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Books for a digital ARC of the book.
Loved the story line. Family dynamics from warm and friendly to nasty and explosive. I was disappointed there wasn’t more to the story focused on Bruno and Mackenzie. It felt like a rush to end the story.
Every time I read a book from this author I think this is the BEST ONE YET!. When it comes to the matters of the heart , family dynamics , characters who grab you from the moment the first sentence is read, this author does it every time!
I couldn’t put it down. Read it in a day and into the night.