by Susan Mallery
About this book
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 compund, 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 pf 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.
Book review
This story reminds me of one of my favourite books from Nora Roberts – The Villa, which involves a family-run vineyard as well. In comparison to The Villa, this one falls short, but is nevertheless an immensely enjoyable read.
There is a lot of depth in this book, with multiple dimensions explored – family, friendship, divorce, love, personal growth. Every character has their own unique qualities and flaws, which create a lot of drama in the story. Barbara the matriarch, who is stubborn and overly protective of the family winery and doesn’t allow her star winemaker who also happens to be her daughter-in-law any piece of the business. Rhys the ex-husband who seems like a good person on the surface but turns out to be a rather weak and disappointing person who refuses to step up. The three sisters are as well very unique individuals with wildly different personalities.
I felt close to Mackenzie as she took us on her journey to break free from the family as her marriage breaks apart, emerging stronger with her own business, going through pregnancy as a single mother with zero support from Rhys, and eventually finding new love. What a strong and admirable character!
The story was very much focused on Mackenzie’s personal journey, but I thought it would have been great to also see more of the romance between Mackenzie and Bruno develop, which adds even more positivity into the story. In any case, I really enjoyed the drama of the story and the outcome, and I hope you will enjoy it too!
Rin Ranger 