Really enjoyed this book. Great plot and engaging, believe characters. I was drawn right into the story. Would definitely recommend.

Going Home is a wonderful, heart-warming story of a young 18-year-old woman who leaves the foster care system in the mid-west, where she was born and travels to San Francisco to find where she belongs. Soon, she's in Oregon where she finds people and land she loves. Her story continues throughout her life as she grows and endures losses, struggles, and successes. I love the characters, especially, Lettie, and the location. Highly recommend!

Lovely cover that drew me to the book. The book was lovely. A feel good read perfect for this time of year lazing on holiday or in the garden. It was easy to read and well written. Great read

For a girl who grew up in the foster care system, Lettie continues to suffer hard knocks throughout he life, although there were many good times dispersed among the bad. She loses almost everyone who is near and dear to her heart. The book covers several decades of her life so it isn't as if she was slapped with it all at once, but it sure seemed like it while reading the book.. It's a moving story, but it places a bit unbelievable. Still it was fun to read

I found GOING HOME to be in some aspects, heartbreakingly realistic and in other ways a slice of one woman’s life journey that brought out all the good, the bad and the unexpected as Lettie moves through life and the years.

I don’t think this is a story that can be easily described – but needs to be more felt and experienced to understand the nuances and even the life lessons it also contains. GOING HOME is not always a comfortable story to read, yet it is realistic in that it shows the sides of human emotions that aren’t always noble or spoken about. Lettie has been through so much in her life – good times, difficult times, finding love, losing loved ones and taking on responsibilities that were beyond her abilities until she strengthened herself and did what was necessary for her own and her daughter’s survival. Life is rarely easy, and Lettie’s life proves that – but it is always well worth living and experiencing.

It will be interesting to see what direction this series goes in with the next story.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Oh my what a wonderful story!!
I was immediately drawn into the story from page one. Violet Hawkins, aka Lettie, is a strong character that easily pulls the reader in. As a young woman she longs for a family, freedom, but most of all she's looking for love. San Francisco in 1970 has much to offer, but when Lettie arrives reality smacks her in the face. Finding an affordable place that's safe to live is easier said than done. After 4 months meeting Kenton Chandler was her saving grace, because he offers her a job at his family's vineyards in Oregon. What Lettie didn't expect was to find the beauty and fascination the land brings her.
This captivating and heartwarming story of Lettie Hawkins flows effortlessly. This spectacular read has engaging characters, captures time and place, shows realistic values and beliefs, and love. This unexpected gem was hard to put down. This is a book I would recommend to anyone who loves a good story.
I received this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Lots of heartbreak and loss! Enjoyed the book but I think a lot of the subject matter could have been expanded on. Or made this first in a series with more depth.

This is a book about personal growth while learning how to survive all that life throws at her. Well developed and interesting people, it was hard to put down..

Outstanding! Well written, intriguing story of finding life, love, purpose, The historical set novel, begins in 1970, follows the life of Violet Hawkins leaving Dayton, Ohio, foster-care at 18 to San Francisco and beyond. The story grabbed me interest from the start. I read while I imagined the story as a movie for the descriptions were vivid and embraced my feelings. I highly enjoyed and recommend.

This was the first book I have read by Judith Keim and it was wonderful. I absolutely loved the characters. From the first page to the last I did not want to put it down. I loved the story, the setting of the vineyard and inn is right up my ally. I cant wait for the next book.

A wonderful story. Told with so much feeling, tears in my eyes having just finished it. Lettie grew up in the foster system. Reading the ups and downs in her life after leaving the foster system is heartbreaking and joyful all at the same time. How so many things can occur in one person’s life is unbelievable. I couldn’t wait to turn the pages!

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC. My opinion is my own.
I enjoyed this heartfelt read about a young women in the 1970's who is trying to make her own way in the world after a childhood of despair in foster care. Going Home is primarly set during the times of the 60's 70's, and then to the 2000 decade.
it is about Lettie, a brave young independent girl from a foster home who goes to San Francisco to make her way at only 18 years old with no money . .After failing she comes upon a stranger who offers her a job in his father's vineyards in Oregon. She soon finds herself in love with the wine making process, the vines and of course the son . The Father passes away and the land and business is left to the son. After they marry she comes into her own person running a Inn on their property and enjoying married life. When she discovers she is pregnant her husband dies on the same day leaving her to run the Inn and Vineyards. Motherhood is not her priority in life as she devotes herself to running their business and making a success of the wine and the inn. I like the author's portrayal of her as a independent businesswomen and not focusing on motherhood. Lettie is a strong woman and not one that lets a child get in her way. .
I was completely entranced by the authors' way of bringing her characters and their stories to life for the reader. This is a fascinating read ! There are tears, sadness and joy as she makes a success of her life and does it on her own. This book is a story of the journey of Lettie's life and work. I can't wait to read the next book in the series .

This story is a first for me by Judith Keim. I was a little skeptical since it is not my usual genre that I read. I received a copy through Netgalley. I was not required to write a review.
Violet is so glad to be out of the foster system. She makes her way to California only to be disappointed after longing for the west coast for so long. Needing a job and a roof for her head, Violet is a little leary when a nice young man offers her a sandwich and a job. One catch, the job is in Oregon. She takes Kenton up on the offer and falls in love with Oregon. When her life seems to just be getting good, a series of accidents and hard circumstances leave her with running the vineyard and inn. Will she be able to do this on her own? I really loved how the story was told. It makes one want to turn the page to see how Violet will live?

Violet (“Lettie”) has been in the foster system her entire life. She has had the necessities of life, but living with very strict, religious foster parents, she longs to live a life of her own. So the minute she is old enough, she sets out on her own for San Francisco. The 1970’s are full of free love and drugs, neither of which she is really a part of. A few months later she is hungry and out of cash, but her fortune changes when she meets a Kenton Chandler, who offers her food and a job if she will go with him to Oregon. She hesitates but decides it just might be her salvation.
Kenton is full of surprises. His father owns a fledgling vineyard and he is going home to work in the family business. As soon as Lettie arrives there with him, she feels as though she is home. She has finally found a place that she loves and embraces the land and the people she meets. Times will not always be easy for her, but knowing she is surrounded by everything and everyone she loves she knows she will spend the rest of her life there.
It is easy to jump into the interesting world of wine making, and the surrounding vistas are vividly brought to life in this novel. I would have liked some more information about the winemaking process.
I enjoyed the characters, they are believable and multidimensional. The only problem I had with this book was the timespan. It begin in the 1970s and progresses through three generations in a 256 page book. Sometimes I wanted more details. Major events were mere paragraphs. In order to pull me into the story and characters, I would have loved more details. It seemed at times the plot was getting in the way of the story.
Going Home is the first book in the Chandler Hill Series. This is the fifth series for prolific fiction series author.
DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I have a material connection because I received a review copy for free from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Copyright © 2019 Laura Hartman

I was pulled into this story from the start. My heart was in it completely. I felt for Lettie strongly. She is a very likable character who has many ups and downs. Some laughs and lots of heartaches. I cried with her and wept for her. This story is a love story and a tragedy all in one. Filled with so much love that your heart feels full. Filled with loss that will break your heart. Lettie was raised my foster parents, never knowing her parents at all. Her foster mother made her believe she was ugly and would never be good at anything. When Lettie meets Kenton outside of his California apartment, hungry, tired and scared, she has no idea how her life is fixing to change. Kenton is a very nice guy and feels strong that Lettie will like his home so invites her to go with him for a job at the Inn his dad just opened. She agrees and falls in love with the land right off. The three main men in Lettie’s life are Kenton, his dad Rex and Rafe, Kenton’s friend and a worker on the farm where they make wine and run the Inn. There are sparks between Rafe and Lettie from the very beginning. But they are not meant to be. She goes away with Kenton and they marry. While they are away Kenton’s father has a stroke so they rush home to see about him. After they tell him about their marriage he is so very happy. He loves Lettie as a daughter and loves that she loves the land as much as he does. Sadly though he does not make it. They on leave from boot camp Kenton is killed in a car wreck on his way home to see Lettie. She has just learned she is going to have a baby. She’s so devastated as she loves him with all of her heart. In the short time she got to know the Chandler’s and be a part of their lives she has found much happiness and grief. Rex had made it where if something happened to Kenton she would then run the Inn and Vineyards. A task she takes to heart. Doing all the things she knows he would have wanted. She works hard and is raising a child alone too.

Lettie lives and breaths the land, the grapes, the Inn and her new family. She embraces them with all she has. All the love she possesses is for this land, the Inn and her child. Then after her daughter goes away to work in another country Rafe returns. They have always had a strong chemistry and after a while they are an item again. But this time on one can keep them apart. He is there for her no matter what. Through more tragedies. Through helping with her granddaughter and more loss.

This book literally made me weep. I mean ugly crying is not even a good description. So much loss and then the biggest loss of all. It just ripped my heart into. Now I can’t wait for the next book in this series to see what happens next. I loved this book from start to finish. Even through all the tears it was one I could not put down. The laughter, the descriptions of the land, the Inn, the vineyards and her home made me feel like I was right there. Lettie was like someone I knew personally. Like that friend you root for to have it all. To be there for when life hurts her. She’s such a likable person you just feel like she is a real person sitting with you while you read about her life. From 18 on she is a fighter and such a good person.

I loved all the characters in this book. Well one man was deplorable.. A real jerk. But all the others were great. Like a huge family that surround each other through thick and thin.

I was given an ARC of this book and leave this review of my own accord. My words and feelings.

A big, huge 5 star book that I highly recommend. A must read.

Took a bit for me to get into this story, as it starts back in the 70s, during the Vietnam War era. Violet is a young 18 year old, who has left her foster home and hitch hiked to California. Meeting up with Kenton, he offers her a job back at his father's inn and vineyard in Oregon. A good story, with a lot of sadness and heartbreak. Just like life. The book goes many generations from when she moves to California, to Oregon, gets married, gets widowed, has a daughter, raises a granddaughter, finds and loses loves, and then ends with her death. Suppose to be the first book in the series, so perhaps the next one will be with the granddaughter? Would give this 4.5 just because it took a bit to get into the story. Once I did though it was hard to put down and one I highly recommend. Great story and author.

This is a beautifully written tale of heartbreak, loss, love, romance and family. It's a timeless story following Lettie's life as she becomes a staple in the Oregon winemaking industry. It will make you laugh, and cry.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy from Wild Quail Publishing and Netgalley for my unbiased opinion of the book. First, I want to say I LOVED THIS BOOK! I read it in less than a day and I can’t wait until the next one gets released. This is a story about, and an orphaned girl named Violet Hawkins who is 18 and the world is her oyster. She decides quickly that she wants to get out of Ohio asap. So, she heads to San Francisco, CA. After a few months, she realizes that if she wants to make it in California, she needs to get a job. She runs into Kenton Chandler who offers her a sandwich and a life beyond her wildest dreams. When she gets to Oregon, she realizes this is where she was meant to be and willing to work for it. She runs into Rafe Lopez who has her spinning in circles. After some unpredictable things happen, Violet needs to stay strong in order to survive. I won’t give it away, but you will love this story as much as I did! Judith keep up the great writing!

So many different ways to be “going home.” I think this is a perfect title for this story. This book is happy, sad, and full of many emotions. I loved it! Violet certainly didn’t have an easy childhood. I can’t even imagine what it would be like growing up in the foster care system. God was looking down on her the day Kenton came into her life. She certainly had a different life after that meeting. Would you have done what she did? Guess she figured she didn’t have anything to lose. I loved the story line and almost all of the people in Willamette Valley. So many different types of prejudice. I don’t think they will ever totally go away. So many things that people have to deal with, but that is what life is all about. I’m sure Violet never thought she would end up with what she did. I think she went beyond her own expectations. I can’t wait to see what happens next. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

Title: Going Home
Author: Judith Keim
Publisher: Wild Quail Publishing
Series: Chandler Hill Inn Book 1
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:

"Going Home" by Judith Keim

My Rationalization:

I found "Going Home" a very emotional heartwarming intriguing novel what will simply pull you into the lives of these interesting characters. The main character Violet Hawkins, [Lettie...her nickname] who was simply trying to find her way at eighteen, running to California after coming out of the foster system in Ohio. Lettie will meet a guy [Keaton Chandler] and travel with him to Oregon to Chandler Hill. There Lettie will get a job at his family's bed & breakfast in Oregon and later will come to the winery and her life will change as she grows into a woman. It was simply wonderful seeing Lettie as one will as her love, secrets, winemaking, joy, and innocence will connect so well with all around her giving us what 'Going Home' is truly about. I was a little surprised where I thought some more twist was coming but didn't, however, I was in for some very interesting surprises that did come.

Be prepared for a good read of 'mystery, suspense, romance, tragedy, friendship and family' that will capture your attention through the read about Lettie's life over fifty years. It was so good to see Lettie finding a family she has always wanted but also there will be heartache also. This story of Lettie as we see her through once being an 18-year-old, a foster kid starting with nothing, on to 'dealing with the trails that life can throw at her becoming a strong and knowledgeable woman' who has grows into the woman she is meant to be. Lettie went through adult life and in the end, she not only has her daughter but a granddaughter that simply put the icing on the cake for her. Yes, this is one of those stories that may have you tearing up a bit as well as also laughing out loud. This is one of those reads that will keep one riveted to the very end!

Thank you, NetGalley and Wild Quail Publishing for the read and my giving my honest opinion on the read.