These Tangled Vines

A Novel

By: Julianne MacLean

Narrated by: Carlotta Brentan

Length: 9 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

From the USA Today bestselling author of A Curve in the Road comes a sweeping and captivating tale of one woman’s journey to the lush vineyards of Tuscany - and into the mysteries of a tragic family secret.

If Fiona has learned anything in life, it’s how to keep a secret - even from the father who raised her. She is the only person who knows about her late mother’s affair in Tuscany thirty years earlier, and she intends to keep it that way...until a lawyer calls with shocking news: her biological father has died and left her an incredible inheritance - along with two half siblings.

Fiona travels to Italy, where the family is shocked to learn of her existence and desperate to contest her share of the will. While the mystery of her mother’s affair is slowly unraveled, Fiona must navigate through tricky family relationships and tense sibling rivalries. Fiona both fears and embraces her new destiny as she searches for the truth about the fateful summer her mother spent in Italy and the father she never knew.

Spilling over with the sumptuous flavors and romance of Tuscany, These Tangled Vines takes listeners on a breathtaking journey of love, secrets, sacrifice, courage - and most importantly, the true meaning of family.

©2021 Julianne MacLean Publishing Inc. (P)2021 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“This heartwarming story of love and loss, longing and betrayal set amid the vines of Tuscany is the perfect escape in troubled times.” (Rhys Bowen, best-selling author of The Tuscan Child and Above the Bay of Angels)

“Rich descriptions and attention to detail will have you living and breathing the Tuscan air, and the tangled vines of truth and lies will have you questioning what is right and wrong. I recommend you curl up with a glass of Italian wine and savour every page.” (Donna Alward, New York Times best-selling author)

“Wouldn’t it be a dream to inherit a wine estate in Europe? That’s what happens - most unexpectedly - to the character at the center of Julianne MacLean’s latest. This introspective escapist story of tangled family secrets and the impact of our choices all set to the backdrop of a sprawling Tuscan winery will make you crave a glass of Chianti Classico and reflect on roads not traveled. Cin cin!” (Kristin Harmel, New York Times best-selling author of The Book of Lost Names and The Winemaker’s Wife)

Enchanting love story

Fresh twist to a love story. Narrator did a stellar job giving life to the characters. Vivid descriptions made you feel you were there.

Beautifully Love story with truly different twist!

This is A very well written story about love & devotion, secrets & sacrifices. Ms. Julianne MacLean writes beautifully about the landscapes in Tuscany, romantic love &the interpersonal relationships of the main characters. You feel like you are there in Tuscany & getting to know the people in the story. I enjoyed the book even though I ended up sharing some of the regrets & frustrations of the main characters. Ms. Carlotta Brentan is also an outstanding narrator. I would happily buy & listen to other books by Ms. MacLean, particularly if narrated by Ms. Brentan.

Tuscany

Story keeps you guessing as well as you can’t help that picture the beautiful Florence in Tuscany Italy

True love

Ugh what a great yet sad story of family , drama and love …with a happy/bitter sweet ending!

This was a really good read!

i really enjoyed this book. It didn't take long to get the story going. The narrator was good with all of the characters, too.

Tortured love story

Such a brilliant story of love, loss and forgiveness. The main character was beautifully developed. I loved the whole thing. It ended with me wanting it to keep going forever….

Loved it from start to finish!!

Such a great book. Coworkers kept coming to work, or my family would find me in my driveway, catching me sitting in my car listening; I just couldn't turn it off!

Terrible Narrator

Good story, but narration was awful. She had an almost Chicano sounding accent. I will not listen to another book by this narrator.

Good story and understand the neg comments about the performance but only at times

Loved the story. It was good and honestly in today’s world I miss these kinds of stories. The narrator though was inconsistent which is why I gave it 3 stars. It was not enough to influence the story line but it was annoying at times. I’ve never written a review with a negative about the narrator because, I genera do not complete those books. It was only about 15% of the time and it could have been she was not totally able to put herself in the performance for some reason. People fo have deadlines. Anyway.
Story really worth reading or listening to for a reminder that everyone has secrets. Secrets cause untold pain when they are revealed. The story was not that deep, just feeling disillusioned and reflecting on where my life is today. I realize, the choice I have made is the right one for me and now it is time to take action. Thank you, Julianne,

Great lo e sgory on so many levels

Love is complicated, messy, a symphony of hypocrisy, and MacLean captures it all in this novel. A great read!