“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.
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Linda’s Book Obsession Reviews “the Vineyard at Painted Moon” by Susan Mallery, Feb. 2021
Susan Mallery, the author of “The Vineyard at Painted Moon” has written a poignant, captivating, and heartfelt novel. The Genres for this novel are Domestic Fiction, Women’s Fiction, and fiction. The timeline for this story takes place in the present and goes to the past when it pertains to the characters and events. The author describes her characters as complex and complicated, flawed and dysfunctional. In this story, the theme revolves around family, friends, love, personal growth, and wine. This is a thought-provoking story that describes the importance of wine and land, betrayal, and trust.
Mackenzie, one of the protagonists in this novel seems to have a magical palate when it comes to tasting wine. She has a knack for choosing winning combinations for her wine selections. It is an asset and makes what she does so special. Her career with her husband’s family vineyard seems perfect. That is until, both she and her husband decide to divorce. Mackenzie feels she has no family, except her mother-in-law and sister in-laws. Now, the divorce from her husband might just turn her life upside down.
It is Mackenzie’s choice to stay or leave and make a new life for herself. This is a story that tugs at the heartstrings. I highly recommend this thought-provoking novel.
Perfect for fans of Kristan Higgins, Brenda Novak, and Sarah Morgan, the latest Susan Mallery draws you in from the start. Like making wine, there is a rhythm to the story. Come for the wine, stay for the found family.
Mallery brings readers right into the wine country of the Pacific Northwest with vivid imagery and detailed descriptions of the history of the land. That in itself could be enough, but then there are the well-rounded and dynamic and dysfunctional Barcellona family. This is a wonderful piece of women’s fiction with all the feels. It draws the reader from the very first pages and is hard to put down. This is without reservation, one of my favorite books.
I read and reviewed a complementary copy of this book. I highly recommend it to fans of the women’s fiction/chic-lit genre.
Terrific book about love, family, and new beginnings. As the book opens, Mackenzie communes with the grapevines in the family vineyard. She is the head winemaker with a stellar reputation in the wine community. Her husband, Rhys, arrives just in time to remind her of his mother’s big shindig that they can’t be late for. We get the first hint that things aren’t quite right between them when they retreat to their separate bedrooms to get ready. The rest of the family is introduced a short time later. Barbara, the mother/mother-in-law and head of the business, Stephanie, Lori, and Catherine (or Four as she prefers to be called) all live on the family property.
The family dynamics are quite interesting. Barbara is a control freak, and the winery is the be-all and end-all of her existence. She has a boyfriend, Giorgio, who treats her like a princess. Stephanie works the retail side of the winery. She is divorced but still friends with her ex. She has lots of ideas for the winery, but Barbara shoots them all down. Lori also works for the business but always seems to be in the background. She is a bit overweight, and Barbara never lets her forget it. The youngest is Catherine, who is an artist and free spirit. She has a happy marriage and seems to delight in pushing Barbara’s buttons whenever she can. Barbara’s only son, Rhys, works the vineyard side of the business with Mackenzie.
When Giorgio proposes to Barbara during the party, it stirs things up within the family. Rhys makes advances to Mackenzie for the first time in months, but when it’s all over, they both realize that their marriage has been dead for a long time. Divorce seems to be the only option. Mackenzie is rattled by the whole idea and quickly discovers that more than her marriage comes to an end. Her entire life as she knows it will change. I thought that she and Rhys handled things well together. There were no arguments over finances, how to split things up, etc. Rhys was practical and straightforward, even explaining Mackenzie’s options to her. I appreciated that he floated the idea of her striking out on her own.
The rest of the family did not react as well. Stephanie, who has been Mackenzie’s best friend since college, took a very selfish viewpoint of how the split would affect her and didn’t seem to care at all about Mackenzie’s feelings. I wanted to smack her for it, but she eventually realized her mistake and made up with Mackenzie. Lori accused Mackenzie of trapping Rhys into marriage in the first place and worming her way into the business. The only one who was okay was Four, who told Mackenzie that she deserved better than she had. But the icing on the cake was Barbara. From the minute she learned of the divorce and Mackenzie’s plans to leave, she turned into a raging, vengeful maniac.
I loved watching Mackenzie take control of her life. She gets some stellar advice from Rhys about finding a partner to help her make her dream come true. He even suggests the person he thinks is best for the job. Mackenzie has known Bruno for a long time, and he jumps at the chance to join her. The details of everything they went through to make it happen added a depth of realism to the story. I loved how Bruno walked Mackenzie through all of the steps, bolstering her confidence when she needed it and celebrating with her as they reached each milestone.
Just as things begin to settle down for Mackenzie, her body blindsides her. She finds out that she is pregnant with Rhys’s baby. After a short freak-out where Bruno talks her off the ledge, Mackenzie realizes she’s happy about the baby. It doesn’t feel quite real to her, and I enjoyed watching her move through the various stages to acceptance. She had lots of help from Bruno, Stephanie, and Four. There were some sweet scenes with all of them. I loved watching Stephanie and Four jump in to help her, but the most endearing moments all came with Bruno. Though I suspected it from the first, it becomes increasingly apparent that Bruno cares very deeply for Mackenzie. She is clueless for the longest time, but eventually, she notices the sparks of attraction between them. I loved watching them grow closer, both professionally and personally.
I loved watching Mackenzie settle into the dream of her winery. She has so many ideas that she had wanted to pursue before but wasn’t allowed to. Now the sky is the limit. At the same time that Mackenzie’s star rises, Barbara’s thirst for revenge affects her business. Her over-the-top vindictiveness does a great job of driving people away. I honestly did not feel at all sorry for her. She was a nasty, selfish, and cruel woman and deserved everything she got.
While Mackenzie makes a new life for herself, Stephanie also goes through some significant changes. She ends her “friends with benefits” arrangement with her ex after an eye-opening conversation with her teenage daughter. Stephanie finally admits that she tends to take the easy way out of problems, giving up instead of fighting for what she wants. I loved when she finally stood up to Barbara and struck out on her own. She hit a few bumps along the way but developed the confidence she needed. Though I wasn’t surprised by the result, I loved how she went about it.
The epilogue was great. I liked seeing the story come full circle but with a much happier outcome.
#netgalley
An emotional story and such great characters. I really liked Mackenzie, but Barbara, not so much. She sure is a piece of work. Barbara went from a sweet and loving mother-in-law to a selfish woman who will do anything to get her way. When the others don’t do as she says, she feels they need to be punished. Barbara is the one person she thought she could count on. She could until Rhys and Mackenzie decided they would divorce. Mackenzie thought she knew how her life would be, but one day they realized that they were not husband and wife any longer. They are just roommates. She not only loses her husband, but her home and her job. She knows she can’t stay where she is, but what will she do? Her sister-in-law is her best friend, will she lose her too? She is offered an amazing opportunity and is sure she needs to take it. It will really put her at odds with Barbara, but she knows it has to happen. She is also given another surprise. Is she up for the challenge.
Even though I’ve purchased many of Susan Mallery’s books, this is the first book I’ve read of hers. I have a lot of catching up to do because I absolutely loved Mackenzie’s story. If anyone is debating reading this book, STOP! Grab this book and you’ll see why I fell in love with these wonderful characters. Sure, there’s a witch to really despise, but for the most part, you will be happily flipping the pages to see what happens next. As soon as times permits, I’ll definitely be reading more books from this author.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley and Harlequin and this is my voluntary and honest review.
What a wonderful and magical book! The characters were charming (well, most of them) and the plot was well-written, with just enough foreshadowing to leave me with the desire to continue to read to see if I was right. Mackenzie is a strong female protagonist, a talented winemaker who gets stronger in the face of adversity. Barbara, her domineering mother-in-law, is selfish and short-sighted, two characteristics that lead to her loneliness. Stephanie and Four, Mackenzie’s loving sisters-in-law, are the perfect matches to help Mackenzie through the rough times in her life. I really enjoyed how the plot unspooled itself, one thread or loop at a time. The book was perfectly written to make me ponder the themes: relationships, work v. family, single parenting and selfishness. There were characters that I knew from the beginning that I would not like, like Lori, the other sister-in-law, the one who tries to ingratiate herself with Barbara by disdaining Mackenzie. I honestly did not like Barbara and her manipulations at all, but I did understand that was all that she knew. I loved Bruno and could have just swooned when he appeared on the scene. He was a metropolitan man in a country setting, and he stood out as a super hero tends to do. All of the characters were complex and so well-developed that they have lived with me in my den for the past week or so. Fans of good romance will want to snap up this fantastic book! And the author has included bonuses at the end: wine pairings, recipes and discussion questions. This is definitely a great book to read with a book group!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
“The Vineyard at Painted Moon” is a story about starting over, taking chances, and following your heart.
Ms. Mallery creates characters you care for (Mackenzie), characters you pity (Barbara), and characters you adore (Four).
Though I did find there were a lot of people to get to know in the beginning pages, I ended up being lost in their story.
Very interesting read! This immensely talented author always gives us a story line that has depth and strength. The characters are amazing, determined and have intense connections. Loved watching MacKenzie’s growth throughout the story as she dealt with multiple obstacles. Highly recommend this book!
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book; all opinions expressed are my own.
Great addition to Susan Mallery’s books!
All the feels, Family, love, friendship, job satisfaction….heartbreak,divorce,betrayal…but Mackenzie deals with courage dispite all the twists throw at her…not happily ever after for all but a satisfying end. Thank you to Net Galley for opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
With a setting in Napa on a glorious vineyard estate, it’s not hard to get caught up in the essence of the vineyard, the smell of the wine and grapes, and the level of passion it takes to be a creative in this environment. Mallery brings it all to us with her wonderfully descriptive imagery. Take me away!
The author shows us how finding your passion and trusting in yourself to keep moving forward can bring satisfying change and happiness. Yes, it’s easy to get caught up in sadness and despair but everyone has their niche to explore and succeed.
With wonderful characters, including a few you will love to hate, this story is a wonderful family saga that leaves you with some tears flowing and smiles growing. You get a full range of emotion in this classic story.
Definitely one to put on your to read list. Thoroughly engaging and an author to follow! Well Done!
This book hit all the right notes. It deals with some heavy topics like divorce and starting over but it shows you that even when life gets you down there is always hope and good that comes at the end of the day. This is such a beautifully written story and one I will be recommending to everyone I know.
I have to start off by saying I love the cover of this book. This book was great women’s fiction/chick lit book. This book is told by three different women. They each are going through a lot. Two of the women grow stronger from everything that happens and one does not. I didn’t put two and two together about Bruno until the author mentioned it than it clicked and I was like oh yeah I remember him. It is amazing how children can all turn out different when you see who the mother is how they were all raised and still treated. Susan Mallery does a fabulous job describing the vineyards in Walla Walla. I felt like I was right there with Mackenzie while she was checking on the grapes. I loved how this book shows two women who are content with life find strength to change and grow.
*I received this free book from NetGalley and am leaving my honest opinion*
I love this cover! The story was good. The wine business and grape growing interesting. I like strong female characters. Mackenzie manages to raise above many obstacles and make her dreams come true. It was a hard to put down book,definitely recommend
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy
Slow Start, Sordid Middle, Solid End. This is one of those soap opera type books that starts out *slow*. There’s enough to keep most readers hooked, but dang, the pacing could have been a bit tighter. Indeed, the titular Vineyard doesn’t even get mentioned at all until at or after the halfway point in the tale. Instead, quite a bit of detail and most of the story is given to the fall of McKenzie Davis – who the description labels as the primary protagonist, but who never *really* feels as such. This is because so much attention is given to two other characters – Stephanie, McKenzie’s sister-in-law and best friend, and Barbara, McKenzie’s mother-in-law. So to my mind, these three were the core of the story, though McKenzie’s own plot did indeed drive the other two’s for the most part. McKenzie’s story works well, Stephanie shows a great deal of development, and Barbara… starts out regal, yet falls to her own madness to become a character clearly intended to be despised. Still, overall this story could have been shortened by 50-100 pages and still worked just as effectively, maybe moreso with a bit tighter plotting such a reduction in page count would have required. Yet there is nothing technically wrong with this story or the storytelling, and therefore the tale overall gets the full five stars. Very much recommended.
What happens when your 16 year marriage ends and your world changes. An excellent story about change, heartbreak, romance and coming home. This is an excellent read, with a little insight into the world of wine making (which I know nothing about other than drinking). Enjoy this one. Add to your TBR list.
What an amazing story about finding your true self again, when it seems like you’ve lost everything near and dear to you! 5 stars for this one!
We have Mackenzie & Rhys, married and together since she finished college. He’s her best friends brother, and she’s a part of their family, or so she thought. They’ve become complacent in their marriage, and when they realize this, will she lose the last bit of family she has, and her amazing job at the families vineyard?
This story will bring out emotions in you, you’ll want to cry, you’ll be in disbelief at what goes on but you will also cheer on Mackenzie as she tries to adjust to her new normal and stand up for herself!
I myself could not put the book down as I didn’t want to miss a thing! Grab this asap!
Mackenzie Dienes is a very talented winemaker, who has been married for a number of years to Rhys, one of the owners of Bel Après Winery. His mother, Barbara, is the real power behind the winery, and she makes it abundantly clear that spouses will never be owners in this family-run winery. Mackenzie just wants to be part of the family, and she and Rhys are more roommates than spouses, as they haven’t shared a bed in five years. They finally reach the point where they realize that there is more to life than staying married to a roommate, instead of to someone who is an actual partner willing to share all aspects of life with you. Rhys has had a long time to think about things and he is ready to move on, but it comes as a shock to Mackenzie and she is reeling.
When she accepts that she and Rhys are divorcing, she has some major decisions to make regarding the direction that her life will take. She gets help in expected and unexpected places, and as things start looking up for Mackenzie, things take a turn for the worse with Barbara. As Barbara spirals downhill into despair, she makes some choices that have long-term ramifications for her life.
This book starts with a slow build-up, as readers learn about each of the major players in this story. However, there comes a time when this book becomes extremely compelling and gets very tough to put down. Susan Mallery weaves the threads of each life together so expertly, that this book ascends from the masses of good stories being published regularly to the distinctive strata occupied by phenomenal stories. These characters are multi-faceted and complex, and the reader gets drawn into the flaws as well as the beautiful attributes of each one. Readers will find beauty and wisdom and strength in certain characters, and jealousy and insecurity and weakness in others.
The pacing starts off slowly, until it reaches a certain point where it doesn’t let up. The conflicts and motivations are clearly defined for each major character, and the story arc is richly detailed and feels fully realized. The complexity of the major characters is part of what makes this story so compelling. These characters are memorable, and readers will be reflecting on them long after finishing this book.
Classic Susan Mallery! What a thoroughly enjoyable read.
Definitely recommend adding this to your TBR shelf.
Thank you #netgalley and #harelquin-trade for the opportunity to read this eARC.
There is so much going on in this story for a woman who is faced with starting a completely new life when her husband and she decide to divorce. Her whole image of herself is shattered, along with her job, her relationships, and her home. Well worth the read. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.