The Winemakers - Book Review

 

The Winemakers by Jan Moran

The story begins in 1956 when we meet Catarina an unwed mother who would like nothing more than to go home to her family’s vineyard with her baby daughter. She is very afraid that her mother Ava will disown her if she does not give up the baby for adoption. Catarina is also terrified to reveal who the father is. She decides to travel alone to speak with her mother, and when she arrives finds out she has inherited a home and vineyard in France. Maybe she could travel to Italy and start a new life for her and her daughter.

We then go back to 1928 to start the story of Ava, who has quite the story to tell of how she met and married Catarina’s father and ended up living in California.

The story continues from present day to the past as we learn each woman’s story and how much alike their circumstances were. The plot thickens with the arrival of baby Marisa’s father, Catarina’s adventures to learn the truth about her family, and Ava’s struggles to keep the vineyard thriving.

This was a beautiful story of the struggling relationship between a mother and daughter and the hardships they had to endure in the 1920’s and 1950’s. The plot was fabulous, the depth of the characters was brilliant, and the supporting characters added more intrigue and suspense to the story. I could not put this book down as I felt so drawn into the story and the lives of both women. I also loved learning about the cultures, and the wine making process. Thank you so much to the author Jan Moran for the amazing journey and for the advanced copy of the book to review. It was fabulous! All opinions expressed for this review are unbiased and entirely my own.

 To purchase a copy of this book or any others by Jan click HERE

 

 Jan Moran is a USA Today bestselling author of women's fiction. She writes stylish, uplifting, and emotionally rich contemporary and 20th-century historical women's fiction. The Midwest Book Review and Kirkus have recommended her books, calling her heroines strong, complex, and resourceful. Visit her at www.janmoran.com and join her reader's club.

Her books are also translated into German, Italian, Russian, Portuguese, Dutch, Polish, Turkish, Bulgarian, Lithuanian, and other languages. Jan studied writing at the UCLA Writers Program, sailed on Semester at Sea, and graduated from the University of Texas and Harvard Business School. She lives near the beach in southern California.

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Thank you so much for stopping by the farmhouse. Lynn

 

 

 Affiliate Disclosure: I am so blessed to be able to share and create content free of charge. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases so, please note that when you click links and purchase items, in most (not all) cases I will receive a referral commission. Your support in purchasing through these links is very much appreciated. All the items are supplies that I personally use and recommend. Thank you again for your support.

Life is a Cabernet - Book Review

 

 Life is a Cabernet by Jan Moran

A Companion Wine Novella to The Winemakers

 

Juliana Cardona is still mourning the loss of her fiancé and trying to get her publicity firm off the ground. She hosts a press event for vineyards and Henri Laurent, the elusive winemaker is slated to make an appearance. When Juliana meets Henri, sparks fly and she invites herself to his vineyard to help him market his wine. Can she open her heart again to another man?

Henri Laurent has kept out of the press and leads a quiet and secluded life with his two young girls on his vineyard. When he goes to the press event, he is intrigued by Juliana and is excited yet leery to invite her to his home. He has secrets he wishes to keep hidden and if he opens his heart to another woman, he will have to also share his past. Is he ready to love again?

What a beautifully written story by Jan Moran. This is a companion novella to “The Winemakers” and can be read either before or after the main story. I absolutely loved the story of Juliana and Henri along with his two young girls. It is a story of love and second chances, and it warm your heart as you journey along with the characters. Thank you so much to the author Jan Moran for an advanced copy of the book to review. It was fabulous! All opinions expressed for this review are unbiased and entirely my own.

 To purchase any of Jan's books just click here

Jan Moran is a USA Today bestselling author of women's fiction. She writes stylish, uplifting, and emotionally rich contemporary and 20th-century historical women's fiction. The Midwest Book Review and Kirkus have recommended her books, calling her heroines strong, complex, and resourceful. Visit her at www.janmoran.com and join her reader's club.

Her books are also translated into German, Italian, Russian, Portuguese, Dutch, Polish, Turkish, Bulgarian, Lithuanian, and other languages. Jan studied writing at the UCLA Writers Program, sailed on Semester at Sea, and graduated from the University of Texas and Harvard Business School. She lives near the beach in southern California.

To learn of new releases and special offers, join Jan's Readers Club at https://author.to/JanMoranBookClub. Simply copy and paste. Or visit her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/584252208399841/

Thank you so much for stopping by the farmhouse. Lynn

 

 Affiliate Disclosure: I am so blessed to be able to share and create content free of charge. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases so, please note that when you click links and purchase items, in most (not all) cases I will receive a referral commission. Your support in purchasing through these links is very much appreciated. All the items are supplies that I personally use and recommend. Thank you again for your support.

The Last Story of Mina Lee - Book Review

 

 The Last Story of Mina Lee by Nancy Jooyoun Kim

Publication date September 1, 2020

 Margot comes to LA with a friend and is concerned when she can not reach her mother, Mina. When she finally arrives, she finds her mother has died. This leaves Margot with feelings of regret, anger, remorse, and curiosity. When she starts talking with her Mina’s friends, she finds out that her mother had many secrets and a life Margot knew nothing about.

Now this is where the story gets interesting! We, the reader get an insight into both Margot and Mina’s stories from their own points of view. Mina takes us back to when she first came to America and her journey up until her death. The insights into the Korean culture, the language barriers and immigration issues were fascinating. Margot is trying to come to terms with her mother’s death, her own sense of belonging and her memories of childhood. A griping tale of two fascinating women who are family yet knew so little about one another.

The author Nancy Jooyoun Kim did a brilliant job of weaving both women’s stories into one riveting novel. I enjoyed the depth and loved gaining insight into what immigrant’s face coming to a new country. Thank you so much to the Nancy Jooyoun Kim, Park Row Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book to review. It was fabulous!

 

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Nancy Jooyoun Kim is a graduate of UCLA and the MFA Creative Writing Program at the University of Washington, Seattle. Her work has appeared in the Los Angeles Review of Books, Guernica, The Rumpus, Electric Literature, Asian American Writers’ Workshop’s The Margins, The Offing, the blogs of Prairie Schooner and Kenyon Review, and elsewhere. Her essay, “Love (or Live Cargo),” was performed for NPR/PRI’s Selected Shorts in 2017 with stories by Viet Thanh Nguyen, Phil Klay, and Etgar Keret. THE LAST STORY OF MINA LEE is her first novel.

 Author Website

Twitter: @njooyounkim

Instagram: @njooyounkim

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Thank you so much for stopping by the farmhouse. Lynn 

 

 Affiliate Disclosure: I am so blessed to be able to share and create content free of charge. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases so, please note that when you click links and purchase items, in most (not all) cases I will receive a referral commission. Your support in purchasing through these links is very much appreciated. All the items are supplies that I personally use and recommend. Thank you again for your support.