Genre: Contemporary fiction, Family Dynamics

Published: March 26, 2019

Pages: 368

🍊🍊🍊🍊/5

My Review:

Family, Friendship, Wine, Horses, First Love, Loyalty – the new title from Jamie Raintree has all of these themes and more. It felt like I was reading about real people I would want to know.

Mallory and Kelly were the best of friends, until the summer before college when reality sets in and the girls plans unravel. It’s now ten years later and Mallory has come home to Paso Robles for a short visit from her corporate life in New York.

Mallory’s family owns The Wandering Vineyard. Her dad is a pillar of the community and of the local hardworking vintners. Her parents are the epitome of parents who just want their only child to be happy. They are kind and generous and warm people.

Even though this is very much about Mallory’s journey, the other characters were complex and memorable and genuine. Kelly’s story was heart wrenching and I loved seeing her grow and be brave. The friendship between the girls was one of my favorite parts. Mallory’s horse (named Midnight) was also an important part – both physically and symbolically. She’s completely free when she’s riding her heart out and life doesn’t seem so complicated.

The author’s writing was sophisticated and descriptive and had me invested in the plot and characters. There were so many gems of wisdom about doing what makes you happy and really listening to your heart, about wanting to be seen for who you are. I’m looking forward to reading her first book, Perfectly Undone.

Goodreads | Amazon

About the Author:

Jamie Raintree is voracious student of life, which is why she became a writer, where she could put all that acquired information to good use. She is a mother of two, a wife, a businesswoman, a nature-lover, and a wannabe yogi. She also teaches writers about business and productivity. Since the setting is always an important part of her books, she is happy to call the Rocky Mountains of Northern Colorado her home and inspiration. Fun facts about Jamie, in her own words. Click here.

QOTD: Have you ever visited a winery? Where was it?

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