The Vineyard

When I first opened The Vineyard, I didn't know I was going to be making new friends. That's how the characters seemed to me and I hated saying goodbye. When Olivia Jones worked on restoring Natalie Seebring's old pictures, she made up a family for herself using the people in the photos. Her own mother ignored her for most of her life, then abandoned her when she graduated from high school. When she married a man more interested in his work than her and their daughter, the pattern continued up until his death. Then his parents refused to believe Jessie was their son's daughter. Added to all this, Jessie had dyslexia and couldn't get ahead in school or make friends. It was at this stage of Olivia's life when Natalie Seebring hired her to come write a book of her life story. Natalie and her hired employee announced their upcoming wedding six months after Natalie's husband died. Natalie's children felt betrayed and hurt and wondered if she had been having an affair while their father was alive. Always the quiet one, Natalie thinks if she puts her story down on paper, maybe they will understand why she is marrying Carl. Olivia brings her daughter to live at the vineyard that Natalie owns, expecting a large family atmosphere. What she finds are phone calls from Natalie's children that Natalie refuses to take and hostility from the vineyard manager who believes Natalie is playing match maker for himself and Olivia. The story develops beautifully from here as we learn Natalie's story and how it makes Olivia emerge from her dream world and face reality. This is one book where the romance wasn't overdone but added to the beauty of the book.

I could not put this book down. The story is a real portrait of what families can become without nourishment. The young girl character and her problem touched the teacher in me. The mother and tutor showed great love and patience to this struggling little girl. I also loved the grace and dignity of Natalie who wasn't afraid to work hard and tell the truth about her role in the history of the vineyard. The characters and their interactions made melaugh and cry. As usually Barbara Delinsky told a wonderful tale.

I won't go over plot...the other reviewers have already done so. I just wanted to add my own agreement to how wonderful this new book is. Like another reviewer, I tried my best to read the book slowly, but before I knew it, the book was over.What I have liked about Barbara Delinsky's books, and particular the last few---Coast Road, and Lake News, it that I so easily find myself immersed in the setting. Many authors make this a minor part of the book, but she just draws me in to where I can picture myself part of the book. And after each book, I'm ready to move to the location of the setting.The characters are wonderful although I found Tess somewhat annoying. I especially enjoyed Tess, because like me, she is a dreamer.

Olivia Jones accompanied by her nine-year old troubled daughter Tess agrees to write the memoirs of Natalie Seebring, owner of the Asquoniet Vineyard and Winery in Rhode Island. Natalie stuns her adult children, Susanne and Greg when she announces her intention to marry Carl Burke, the long-term manager of the winery although their beloved father has been dead only six months.Iit is a struggle for her to talk about her feelings, Natalie hires Olivia to help her tell the truth to her children in order to gain their blessing for her wedding. Olivia is unaware that she is entering a major family feud. However, she quickly comes to love her employer, who makes her and her daughter feel like part of an extended family. Carl's son Simon makes Olivia want to believe in fairy tales, but she fears that he will desert her like everyone else in her life has done. Olivia, the Seebrings, and the Burkes have many personal obstacles to overcome if they are to learn what true loving means.Because of the width of the talent, no one can predict what the next Barbara Delinsky book will be especially since the great author never repeats herself. Her novels are always different as writing style and the characters are unique to one tale only. THE VINEYARD is Barbara Delinsky at her best, delivering a first class family drama filled with a heartwarming and gut-wrenching story line. The passion and uncertainty of caring for another person and the vineyard, which seems at times like a person, feels true to life in what is certain to be the writer's latest bestseller.Harriet Klausner

One problem I've had when reading a book by Barbara Delinsky is that the end comes too quickly and I'm left waiting anxiously for the next new title. In the meantime, though, any reader will find as I have, that Ms. Delinsky's books are wonderful adventures and her newest book,The Vineyard, is no exception. In my opinion, it may very well be one of Ms. Delisnky's very best books.As you read this book find out as I did that The Vineyard is filled with memorable characters and a unique place, Rhode Island wine country. And then savor this book as you would any fine wine. For within the book's pages, Ms. Delinsky introduces us to two characters, Natalie Seebring and Olivia Jones, whom we will come to know and remember. These women, from different lifestyles and years apart chronologically, will not only come to learn from one another but will also become bound to one another.Thank you Ms. Delinsky for this wonderful read and please don't make me wait too long for your next book.