I have been interested in wineries and vineyards since a trip we made a trip to Napa Valley a few years ago, so I was intrigued by Susan Mallery's newest novel, The Vineyard at Painted Moon.

Mackenzie is a well-respected winemaker at her husband Rhys Barcella's family vineyard, Bel Apres Winery, in Walla Walla, Washington. She met his sister Stephanie at college, and they have been best friends ever since. All four of the Barcella adult children live on the grounds of the winery, under the careful and critical eye of their mother Barbara.

Barbara freely shares her harsh opinions of her children with them- Rhys, Stephanie (divorced with two teens), Lori (who just wants her mother's respect), and Elizabeth (whom she calls Four). Elizabeth is an artist, a free spirit with a happy marriage and wonderful young children, which makes her mother crazy. Barbara adores Mackenzie and respects her work ethic and talent, and feels like Mackenzie is family.

Rhys and Mackenzie seem to be just going through the motions of a marriage. They love each other, but there is no passion there. When Rhys asks for a divorce, Mackenzie decides it's time to strike out on her own.

This decision enrages Barbara, who sees this as a betrayal. Her family took Mackenzie in and gave her a career. Mackenzie might be willing to stay if she could own a piece of the winery, as all of Barbara's children do. She has worked hard to earn that, but Barbara refuses.

I very much enjoyed learning all about the winery business from the perspective of the vineyard owner, I haven't read many novels with that setting. The family dynamic is fascinating, combining the normal familial relationships with the business relationships.

There were some wonderful touches- flying the "cookie flag" outside the house when someone has made fresh cookies, inviting other family members to bring their takeout containers, the personal chef who makes dinner every night for the family members and leaves lunch for the next day (I want that service), and the fact that tea towels became such a big seller in the cafe with the tourists.

Mackenzie has to face big changes and decide what she really wants out of life. Is owning a piece of a vineyard worth losing the only family she has?

At the end of the book, Susan Mallery includes helpful information about wine pairings- what type of wine to drink with any dish, as well as a few quinoa salad recipes.

We've been doing wine-tasting Zooms, and I think that The Vineyard at Painted Moon would be a great way to combine Book Club with Wine Tasting Zooms. If you enjoy wine and interesting family stories as I do, put The Vineyard at Painted Moon on your to-be-read list.

Thanks to Harlequin for putting me on Susan Mallery's tour.

When you start The Vineyard at Painted Moon, you meet Mackenzie Dienes, and she thinks she has it all, a husband and creating wine and the vineyard that she loves. But not everything is as it seems, Mackenzie and her husband of 16 years are basically roommates, and after what should have been a passionate reunion after so long, was just a sad goodbye.

So now Mackenzie has decided for the first time in her life, that she is going to be single and finally getting a vineyard of her own, well with a partner. But nothing is ever that simple, with her crazy ex-mother-in-law Barbara trying and failing to destroy her and take away everything she has, only to karma to rear her head. So we follow along with Mackenzie, starting a new life and love at Painted Moon.

The Vineyard at Painted Moon is a beautiful, yet heartbreaking story, that you cannot help but fall in love with and read again and again.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I am used to reading her novels in the series, which is contemporary romance books. But she is an author that I always read her books no matter what.

The Vineyard at Painted Moon is a stand-alone novel that takes place around her family’s wine vineyard. Mackenzie is one of four sisters, who is married to Rhys and works in her in-laws’ vineyards. Everything that is special in her life seems to come back to her in-laws side.

Barbara is her mother-in-law, and only seems to see her as employee and not a member of the family. Truthfully, was shocked when Rhys decided that he no longer wanted to married. When she finds out that the family that she thought of as her own never really liked her, it made me think of similar times that I have went through that in my life. I was glad to see her find a way to make a road for herself and be happy. A great ending, and I hope that this will continue in a series.

Thank you to Net-galley for a advance copy of this book.

Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com

I am a HUGE fan of Susan Mallery’s and never miss her books because I know they will be a great read but I was not expecting just how good this one would be.

In short, Mackenzie marries into her best friends family and believes she becomes one of them but after almost two decades together her husband wants a divorce and it becomes crystal clear how much of an outsider Mackenie is with the people she believed to be her family.

This book, as with most reads by Mallery, had me laughing and chuckling but what doesn’t normally happen is a tear rolling down my cheek or a lump in my throat and that happened too.

I found myself wanting to crawl into the book and let Mackenzie know she wasn’t alone and that I was her friend and when an author can do that to a reader you know they have written magic.

I will always tell readers to pick up a Mallery book (I can not tell you how many times I have said that to people in stores) but this one will be one of the books I actually call out by name.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Never did catch me. The characters were flat. The plot was like many others except that it too was flat. There was a lot of information about wine and growing the grapes to make wine. That was not enough to excite me. I saw what was going to happen before it did so some satisfaction that I could out guess the author

Susan Gallery has another winner in this story of Mackenzie Dishes a winemaker who is an integral part of her husband's family vineyard. When he wants a divorce chaos enters her life. Strong characters and fascinating looks into the ups and downs of running a winery! A solid story that will keep your
Interest until the end.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

I struggled to finish this one. I'm usually a fan of contemporary romance, but this one fell short for me.

Things that perturbed me:
1. I think there could have been far more character development - particularly for Mackenzie and Rhys.

2. The surprise pregnancy trope annoyed me.

3. Barbara was like a caricature of evil. She was a horrid villain, but not a believable one.

Things I enjoyed:
1. The vineyard setting.

2. The depiction of female friendships.

3. Bruno.

2.5 stars.

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.

Wow!
I have to say, I love everything that Susan Mallery writes.
And this one? Wow! Just wow!
This isn’t an easy book. It’s a roller coaster of all the feelings you can imagine.
I loved the journeys of the characters. Mackenzie and Stephanie especially. Constantly moving forward after your life is pulled out from under you.
I didn’t enjoy Barbara at all. And Rhys was weak and a jerk, in my opinion.
As always, I’m looking forward to the next book.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for my honest review.

This is a story of women coming out of hibernation and into the spring season of their 30 something lives. Have you ever felt stuck in a rut in your life and unhappy and very unsure what to do. As a woman between her 30-40 seeing all of my friends lives changing, divorces, teen children problems, new jobs, etc. This book just really got to me, it struck a cord because I could see myself as any one of these women. These women though they persevered they struggled but they overcame so much to get what they wanted.

The two main characters we are following in this book are Mackenzie and Stephanie, I adored both characters for different reasons. Mackenzie for her struggle and willingness to overcome while being kind throughout the whole thing. I could not do what she did without loosing my cool repeatedly. I felt her love for the land every time I read a chapter through her eyes. Stephanie though my heart broke for her, not sure if she wants to leave her moms business and break out on her own. Raising teens with her ex, obviously complicates things. Both women were strong and successful in their own ways.

I just really loved this story, and I would suggest it to anyone who needs a journey to a confident young woman in a book from maybe a little bit of a mouse. You will really enjoy it. Thank you to HQN for my copy in lieu of an honest review.

McKenzie Dienes is an elite winemaker that married straight out of college and began working in her husband's family vineyards. She lives with him on the compound and is very close to his family, even best friends with her sister in law. The only problem: only blood family gets to own a share of Bel Après. So when she and Rhys decide to divorce, McKenzie is left with nothing to show for her 16 years at the vineyard but a paycheck. Can she give up her home and the only family she's ever known to pursue her own dream?
This was a beautiful story of second chances for McKenzie to live her own dreams. I love how supportive and loving Bruno is through the whole process. Rhys seemed understanding and patient throughout the book but I thought he was as hateful as his mother by the end.
Thank you to Susan Mallery and Harlequin books for the opportunity to read this book. I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The views and opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I admit that I was a little worried about how emotional this story would be, and with all the stress lately, I really wasn't sure that I was up for it. As it turns out, I was right, it is emotional, but Susan Mallery gives us the whole kit-n-caboodle when it comes to feels in The Vineyard at Painted Moon. So, the story is sad at times, but it's also sweet and even amusing. I found it impossible not to like MacKenzie - in fact, there are several characters in this story that I really liked, and there are some that I really didn't, but that made for a good story that was thoroughly engaging. I won't go into details so I don't give spoilers, but this one turned out to be a book that I really enjoyed. It's full of life lessons, including a couple that I've learned pretty recently, and I found the characters interesting whether I liked them or not.

The Vineyard at Painted Moon by Susan Mallery

Emotion laden, deeply moving, intensely poignant, well crafted – this story grabbed me and didn’t let me go till I finished at 3am. I felt so much and at times wanted to jump into the pages to “fix” things knowing that the author would bring things right for at least some of the characters by the end of the book…or at least I hope she would! This is a story of love, loss, growth, endurance, values, goals and family. It is a keeper and one I would reread in the future.

What I liked:
* Mackenzie: dedicated, focused, interesting. She has been stymied for a while and may need to move on from the safe haven she has lived within for over a decade and a half. She has a rough time of it but comes through rather brilliantly in the end.
* Catherine: sister-in-law to Mackenzie, loving, kind, in tune with the earth, grounded, warm, creative…really liked her.
* Stephanie: sister-in-law to Mackenzie, divorced, mother of two teens, stuck in a rut and trying to move forward but it isn’t easy for her to do so. She is Mackenzie’s best friend and has been since college.
* Bruno: wealthy, attractive, investor, wine distributor, and intriguing. He is warm, a good friend, caring, communicates brilliantly and is perfect for the woman he ends up with.
* Kyle: a good father, professional, a bit selfish…divorced from Stephanie and father of her children
* Rhys: not a bad guy, married to Mackenzie, wants what is best for both of them, a bit heavy handed at times and sometimes rather clueless…and also selfish, perhaps.
* Georgio: a good man, loving, kind, generous, and perfect for the right woman – the boyfriend of Barbara (mother-in-law of Mackenzie)
* The close relationships that were friendly, warm, and caring.
* That there was growth in a number of characters.
* The dynamics between various individuals and groups.
* The way verbalization of feelings, thoughts, and insight into the characters
* Learning a bit more about the winemaking business.
* The setting – love that area of the world!
* All of it really except…

What I didn’t like:
* Barbara: I won’t give details but if you read the book you will probably feel the same
* Lori: daughter of Barbara and quite a bit like her, I fear.
* The sadness I felt as I empathized with Mackenzie.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Definitely

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequen (HQN) for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

What a great women's fiction story. I fell in love with the story right away and the vineyards and wines.
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.
They they admit that their marriage is over and she loses everything. His sister is her best friend and his mom is like a mom to her. She is also close to his one other sister. She has been a part of the family and the business for about 17 years. But she can't have any part of the business except for making wine. She wants more.
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.
Mackenzie's husband turns out to not be the person she always thought he was. The mother in law is a cold hearted person and everything is about her. She is horrible to all of her family members and I can't believe they don't walk away from her.
When Mackenzie turns to someone to help her make her dreams come true then I was so happy for her and to get away from her in laws. But can she keep her 2 sister in laws as her friends through everything?
I received this from Harper Collins and NetGalley for review.

Set in the vineyards of the north west part of the USA, The Vineyard of Painted Moon introduces us to the important roles of wine producing. Chief among them is the winemaker and in this case this would be Mackenzie Dienes and she works for her husband's family business. And... she is really good at her job, passionate to be precise.

The family? Well there is Rhys her husband, and his sisters Lori, Stephanie and Four! At the centre of all the action is the matriarch Barbara. Some of these characters are likeable and some not so much. The story is set off by a lovely man proposing to Barbara and giving her a beautiful ring. They look so in love. It sets in play for some of the characters the realisation that they are not living either truthful or satisfying lives. Some way through the book it clicked with me that Bruno who first appears at the vineyards Summer Solstice party, we have met before in another story.

I loved the choices Mackenzie made along the way. She had a lot to deal with. The family is the only one she knows, she has no family of her own. Stephanie is her best friend, she is divorced and struggling rather in life to find passion and meaning.  

Barbara is something else, its a wonder all her children are even as sane as they are. She is a controlling woman, and doesn't seem to know much about unconditional love. Her son Rhys I couldn't make sense of. We didn't see into his mind but could only judge him by what he says and does. I was left feeling sad for him.

I don't want to give the plot away. Don't read the blurb before you start this, go straight in, which as it happens I did, so even the beginning spoilers I didn't have. I picked this book up when I was just not finding reading engaging. 

The Vineyard at Painted Moon soon picked me up out of that slump and I loved every minute of the book, I kept wanting more and more.  The challenges the characters faced, the plot the final epilogue all my kind of read.

THE VINEYARD AT PAINTED MOON – Susan Mallery
HQN
ISBN: 978-1-335-91279-4
February 9, 2021
Women’s Fiction

Walla Walla, Washington – Present Day

The Barcellona family’s lives are falling apart in Susan Mallery’s latest, THE VINEYARD AT PAINTED MOON. Mackenzie married the only son, Rhys, but that marriage is on its last legs. After having sex for the first time in a long time—and having no satisfaction in the act—they both agree that it’s time to divorce. This decision sets several wheels in motion—wheels that are about to go off the track.

Widowed Barbara Barcellona rules the family and the winery they own with an iron fist. She has taught Mackenzie the fine art of winemaking and trusts her more than she does her own children. However, upon learning that Rhys and Mackenzie are divorcing, Barbara goes ballistic. How dare they split, especially since Mackenzie has indicated she won’t stay at the winery unless she gets a share of the business. Barbara refuses, citing the terms of her late husband’s will. With that news, Mackenzie says she will leave. Barbara demands that Mackenzie not only be kicked out of her job at the winery but the house she lives in (each child in the family live in a house on the property). Rhys and Mackenzie had already agreed they would still live under the same roof until she can find a place to stay.

In steps an old friend, Bruno Provencio. After learning that Mackenzie is leaving the winery, Bel Apres, he makes her an interesting offer. She will receive a generous divorce settlement, so how about buying a winery with him as her partner? It’s a dream for her to have control over her own winery, so they explore the possibility of buying one in the area. Meanwhile, the friendly divorce with Rhys continues, but it soon becomes complicated in the most unexpected way: she discovers she’s pregnant. They had never discussed children, but now at the age of thirty-eight, she is about to become a mom. Will this change their plans?

In THE VINEYARD AT PAINTED MOON, there are other characters, namely Barbara’s other children, Stephanie, Catherine (nicknamed Four), and Lori. Mackenzie is close to Stephanie and Four, but will the divorce change things, especially now that Barbara is on the warpath wanting to ruin her life? Rhys isn’t happy at the prospect of becoming a father. In fact, he lets Mackenzie know that he doesn’t really want to be a part of their child’s life. Stunned, she wonders if she ever really knew the man she married. Meanwhile, Stephanie, who is divorced from Kyle, feels restless. She went from her parents’ home to her husband’s, then back to her parents. Kyle is now pushing for a reconciliation. A mother of two teenagers, she wonders if it’s time to spread her wings. How can she accomplish this?

THE VINEYARD AT PAINTED MOON has the earmarks of a family soap opera. A rich, influential family that believes that if you’re part of the family, then your loyalty remains with the family. The decision by Rhys and Mackenzie to divorce throws everything into an upheaval. Barbara recently got engaged and should be happy, but she is angry and bent on revenge. What will she do to Mackenzie? Will Stephanie ever be able to please her mother? Mackenzie’s leaving shifts the dynamics in the family, but is it for the good?

Once I started reading THE VINEYARD AT PAINTED MOON, I became totally engrossed in the lives of everyone and couldn’t put the book down. There is intrigue and conflict, but will someone find love in the end? Find out the answers by picking up this enthralling read.

Patti Fischer

This review will also be published on the review site at Romance Reviews Today: http://romrevtoday.com/

The perfect “feel good” book. Upon finishing “The Vineyard at Painted Moon”, I have a smile on my face and a warm feeling in my heart. What a great story! Not all the characters are likeable, but then that is how real life is. Then there are the wonderful characters that you wish were part of your life. They seemed so real, flaws and all.

This book is a great reminder that “family” does not have to be blood relations. Mackenzie has no blood relatives, but she is married to her best friend’s brother and feels a part of the Barcellona family. She has a reputation as a superb winemaker at the family-owned Bel Apres winery. Life is good. Until it all crashes down around her. She loses her husband, her job, her “family”. For the first time in her life, she is on her own. I loved her determination to get back on her feet and reinvent herself.

A real page-turner. I did not want to put it down. An engaging plot with equally engrossing sub-plots. Laden with emotion. A satisfying story of family and friendship and resiliency.

Thank you to the publisher for the advance copy. Opinions expressed here are my own.

Good Vintage Mallery

I really like Susan Mallery's books and this one is definitely up to her standard. Her books are more than just 'romance'; they include the kinds of dilemmas faced by modern women; one can really identify with her characters' situations. Not that most of us have wineries...only can wish!

As others have noted, this book has the classic challenge of 'do I stay with what is comfortable" or 'do I go for the new buy risky'. In this case, the challenge applies to relationship, family, home and work. Quite the dilemma. I hope to read a sequel soon to know whether the decision was correct!!!

Thank you to the publisher who lent me a time-limited e-arc via netgalley with no obligation. This review is optional and my own opinion.

Mackenzie a renowned winemaker working at her husband’s Rhys family vineyard. She has been part of the family for sixteen years and loves her job. Rhys family is her family, but she finds out it is in name only when they decide to divorce. Mackenzie’s whole life is about to change. While two sisters support their decision, one sister and the family matriarch vow to destroy her and her career.

Mackenzie who has never been on her own, now must decide what her future holds? Can she make it on her own? Just when things seem desolate, things start to change for the better.

This is just such a fabulous story by Susan Mallery. It has all the right ingredients for a hit novel. Family drama, friendships, past hurts, and new beginnings. Mackenzie’s character was so well written, you could feel her pain and frustration. The supporting characters were so diverse it just added to the intricate family web Mackenzie finds herself in. I really enjoyed the story and loved to see Mackenzie triumph over her life circumstances. I would like to thank the author Susan Mallery, Harlequin Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book to review. It was amazing! All opinions expressed for this review are unbiased and entirely my own.

Susan Mallery is one of my go to authors knowing I will enjoy the read and this book is no exception. Great characters that are met with some challenging life changes. Some meet the challenges with courage despite being fearful or devastated, others not so much. Plenty of hand clapping and head shaking moments that are relatable. Enjoyable setting in the world of vineyards and wine making