The Inheritance

A Novel

By: JoAnn Ross

Narrated by: Ann Marie Gideon

Length: 11 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's Summary

“Moving.... This engrossing and hopeful story will hold readers from start to finish.” (Publishers Weekly)

“Family secrets, complex characters and a glorious setting make The Inheritance a rich, compelling read.... JoAnn Ross at her best!” (Sherryl Woods, number one New York Times best-selling author of the Sweet Magnolias series)

With a dramatic wartime love story woven through, JoAnn Ross' long-awaited new novel is a gorgeous generational saga about the rivalry, history, and loyalty that bond sisters together.

When conflict photographer Jackson Swann dies, he leaves behind a conflict of his own making when his three daughters, each born to a different mother, discover that they’re now responsible for the family’s Oregon vineyard - and for a family they didn’t ask for.

After a successful career as a child TV star, Tess is, for the first time, suffering from a serious identity crisis, and grieving for the absent father she’s resented all her life.

Charlotte, brought up to be a proper Southern wife, gave up her own career to support her husband's political ambitions. On the worst day of her life, she discovers her beloved father has died, she has two sisters she never knew about, and her husband has fallen in love with another woman.

Natalie, daughter of Jack’s longtime mistress, has always known about her half sisters and has dreaded the day when Tess and Charlotte find out she’s the daughter their father kept.

As the sisters reluctantly gather at the vineyard, they’re soon enchanted by the Swann family matriarch and namesake of Maison de Madeleine wines, whose stories of bravery in WWII France and love for a wounded American soldier will reveal the family legacy they've each inherited and change the course of all their lives.

©2021 JoAnn Ross (P)2021 Harlequin Enterprises, Limited

Great story a few little quirks

Lovely story and great building of flawed but lovable characters. Definitely enjoyed.

The timing/pacing was a little weird- the build up for reading the will and learning of the stipulations was slow but appropriate. The story and all the side story lines and love stories felt a little rushed in comparison.

Also the geography of Madeleine hiking through the Pyrenees and knowing them back and forth as a child and helping folks escape through them to Spain is odd and unlikely when Dijon/Burgundy are sooooo far from the Pyrenees. Having lived in Burgundy for a year, regularly getting to the Basque Country was off.

I tried

I tried to like it but ultimately couldn’t take it anymore. Too many predictable people. The reader tried for different voices for the characters but it was just too awkward for me.

Just ok

Just ok….not boring but nothing too interesting either. Probably could find another book more intriguing.

Fun light book

Easy fun read—not a lot of depth, but enjoyed it!!!! Grabs your attention from the get go—-

A heartwarming story of family.

I enjoyed this book. It was easy to listen to and kept my attention. I would recommend it.

Wonderful read

I chose this book because it was an editor's pick and it was really worth reading.

ended abruptly

The story was ok but just ended abruptly like yiu could tell writer was pass a deadline. it made the whole book kind of suck. I wouldn't recommend

good story

it was a good story, but predictable. I like the backstory of each sister and of their grandmother. but you knew what was going to happen.

Awful

I doubt I can finish this. The heavily clichéd, over-embellished narrative combined with the narrator's incapacity for nuanced dictation makes this a disappointing, tedious listen. Such a shame, the intricate story line is worthy of skilled authorship & narration.