Title: The Vineyard at Painted Moon by Susan Mallery
Publisher: HQN Books
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction
Length: 361 pages
Book Rating: B+
Summary:
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.
Review:
The Vineyard at Painted Moon by Susan Mallery is an emotionally compelling novel of new beginnings.
Mackenzie Dienes lives and works with her husband Rhys Barcelona and her in-laws at his family’s vineyard. She is best friends with his sister Stephanie and she considers her mother-in-law Barbara to be a substitute mother. All seems well with everyone until Barbara becomes engaged at the family’s annual summer solstice celebration. The newly engaged couple radiate love and Stephanie volunteers to help plan the nuptials. By all appearances, Mackenzie and Rhys seem to be happy with each other, but they separate not long after the party. Mackenzie hopes to continue working at the vineyard, so she is absolutely stunned by Barbara’s reaction. Not wanting to work for someone else, will Mackenzie find a way to open her own vineyard and winery?
Mackenzie does not have any relatives of her own and she always feels like she is part of the Barcelona family. She is a big reason the vineyard has become so successful. And yet, she has no stake in the business so she is essentially an employee. She and Barbara have always gotten along, but her mother-in-law has not been open to many of the changes Mackenzie has proposed over the past sixteen years. Although in agreement their marriage is over, she struggles to process how quickly their divorce is moving along. With so many changes occurring in her life, Mackenzie is pleasantly surprised when she and a longtime acquaintance become business partners and friends.
Stephanie is trying to figure out what she wants for her future. She is unfulfilled and unappreciated in her current position at the vineyard. But with limited career options in the area, she is uncertain what she will do next. Stephanie also needs to decide what to do about her relationship with her ex-husband. They are long divorced and she is trying to break free of the habit they have fallen into over the years.
Barbara firmly holds the reins of the family business. She is very happy with her new fiancé but she is a little uneasy that he does not realize how much the vineyard means to her. When she lashes out at Mackenzie, she puts the vineyard’s future in jeopardy as they search for her replacement. Her caustic remarks toward her children are initially tolerated, but Barbara is in danger of alienating everyone around her.
The Vineyard at Painted Moon is captivating novel with an engrossing storyline. Mackenzie is a wonderful character who makes the best of a horrible situation as she prepares for life after divorce. While most of the secondary characters are likeable, Barbara is an absolute harridan who treats everyone in her life with little regard. With some heartwarming twists and unanticipated turns, Susan Mallery brings this charming novel to a very uplifting conclusion. I thoroughly enjoyed watching Mackenzie emerge from divorce stronger and happier than she could have imagined. Highly recommend to fans of the genre.
