The Vineyard at Painted Moon

By: Susan Mallery

Narrated by: Tanya Eby

Length: 10 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's Summary

Three women search for the perfect blend of love, family and wine. 

Mackenzie Dienes seems to have it all—a beautiful home, close friends and a successful career as an elite winemaker with the family winery. There’s just one problem—it’s not her family; it’s her husband’s. In fact, everything in her life is tied to him—his mother is the closest thing to a mum that she’s ever had; their home is on the family compound; his sister is her best friend. So when she and her husband admit their marriage is over, her pain goes beyond heartbreak. She’s on the brink of losing everything. Her job, her home, her friends and, worst of all, her family.

Staying is an option. She can continue to work at the winery, be friends with her mother-in-law, hug her nieces and nephews—but as an employee, nothing more. Or she can surrender every piece of her heart in order to build a legacy of her own. If she can dare to let go of the life she thought she wanted, she might discover something even more beautiful waiting for her beneath a painted moon. 

©2021 Susan Mallery (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Maybe not for everyone.

This is the story of a dedicated and talented wine maker who is at first married into a dysfunctional family. The Matron of the family is a cruel, heartless woman who insists on her way alone even when her approach is way off the mark. She's down right evil by the end.
It is of course a love story so through her great talent and some luck she is able to co-own a vineyard doing the job she loves best and finding true love where she never would have expected it.

I come from a heartless, sadistic family. The family squabbles, moods and betray within this story are very realistic and this could make listening to the story difficult for some. There is of course of beautiful ending to the story that is the norm for Susan Mallery. As usual Tanya Eby does a wonderful job of narrating the story. Tanya is a talented voice actor.

I recommend this book if you enjoy stories containing realistic family squabbles. If you prefer a smoother ride without the pain of family rifts that may be too familiar, as I do, then not so much.
This is the first Susan Mallery book that I haven't whole heartedly loved.
I give it a 7 out of 10.