The Vineyard at Painted Moon

Written by SUSAN MALLERY

Narrated by Tanya Eby

Step into the vineyard with Susan Mallery’s most irresistible novel yet, as one woman searches 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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: May 5, 2021
• ISBN: 9781867232513

SUSAN MALLERY

No.1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery writes heartwarming, humorous novels about the relationships that define our lives - family, friendship, romance. She's known for putting nuanced characters in emotional situations that surprise readers to laughter. Beloved by millions, her books have been translated into 28 languages. Susan lives in Washington with her husband, two cats, and a small poodle with delusions of grandeur.

Reviews for The Vineyard at Painted Moon

[angelalam-300700 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this transformation story....well done.

[bookanonjeff · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Slow Start, Sordid Middle, Solid End. This is one of those soap opera type books that starts out *slow*. There's enough to keep most readers hooked, but dang, the pacing could have been a bit tighter. Indeed, the titular Vineyard doesn't even get mentioned at all until at or after the halfway point in the tale. Instead, quite a bit of detail and most of the story is given to the fall of McKenzie Davis - who the description labels as the primary protagonist, but who never *really* feels as such. This is because so much attention is given to two other characters - Stephanie, McKenzie's sister-in-law and best friend, and Barbara, McKenzie's mother-in-law. So to my mind, these three were the core of the story, though McKenzie's own plot did indeed drive the other two's for the most part. McKenzie's story works well, Stephanie shows a great deal of development, and Barbara... starts out regal, yet falls to her own madness to become a character clearly intended to be despised. Still, overall this story could have been shortened by 50-100 pages and still worked just as effectively, maybe moreso with a bit tighter plotting such a reduction in page count would have required. Yet there is nothing technically wrong with this story or the storytelling, and therefore the tale overall gets the full five stars. Very much recommended.

[mchwest · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was very good! I'm all about reading any book involving vineyards, they will always give you research and details as to how things are run and how wine comes about. This book did not disappoint and the plot was well done, kept a good pace and I find this with most of Susan Mallery's works.

[bookchickdi · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have been interested in wineries and vineyards since a trip we made a trip to Napa Valley a few years ago, so I was intrigued by Susan Mallery's newest novel, The Vineyard at Painted Moon. Mackenzie is a well-respected winemaker at her husband Rhys Barcella's family vineyard, Bel Apres Winery, in Walla Walla, Washington. She met his sister Stephanie at college, and they have been best friends ever since. All four of the Barcella adult children live on the grounds of the winery, under the careful and critical eye of their mother Barbara.Barbara freely shares her harsh opinions of her children with them- Rhys, Stephanie (divorced with two teens), Lori (who just wants her mother's respect), and Elizabeth (whom she calls Four). Elizabeth is an artist, a free spirit with a happy marriage and wonderful young children, which makes her mother crazy. Barbara adores Mackenzie and respects her work ethic and talent, and feels like Mackenzie is family.Rhys and Mackenzie seem to be just going through the motions of a marriage. They love each other, but there is no passion there. When Rhys asks for a divorce, Mackenzie decides it's time to strike out on her own. This decision enrages Barbara, who sees this as a betrayal. Her family took Mackenzie in and gave her a career. Mackenzie might be willing to stay if she could own a piece of the winery, as all of Barbara's children do. She has worked hard to earn that, but Barbara refuses.I very much enjoyed learning all about the winery business from the perspective of the vineyard owner, I haven't read many novels with that setting. The family dynamic is fascinating, combining the normal familial relationships with the business relationships. There were some wonderful touches- flying the "cookie flag" outside the house when someone has made fresh cookies, inviting other family members to bring their takeout containers, the personal chef who makes dinner every night for the family members and leaves lunch for the next day (I want that service), and the fact that tea towels became such a big seller in the cafe with the tourists.Mackenzie has to face big changes and decide what she really wants out of life. Is owning a piece of a vineyard worth losing the only family she has? At the end of the book, Susan Mallery includes helpful information about wine pairings- what type of wine to drink with any dish, as well as a few quinoa salad recipes.We've been doing wine-tasting Zooms, and I think that The Vineyard at Painted Moon would be a great way to combine Book Club with Wine Tasting Zooms. If you enjoy wine and interesting family stories as I do, put The Vineyard at Painted Moon on your to-be-read list.Thanks to Harlequin for putting me on Susan Mallery's tour.

[kris_anderson-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Vineyard at Painted Moon by Susan Mallery has Mackenzie Dienes living and working at Bel Après. She has been married to Rhys Barcellona for the last sixteen years. Her family is his family since she lost her parents when she was a child and her grandfather right after she graduated from high school. The one thing that she has wanted is to own a piece of the winery, but the proves to be elusive. The matriarch of the Barcellona clan, Barbara holds tight to the reins. She controls all aspects of the winery, and she is determined it will only belong to those with Barcellona DNA. At a special event at the tenth annual Solstice Party, Mackenzie realizes that her life is lacking. Evidently, Rhys feels the same way because he asks for a divorce. Mackenzie must make some important decisions regarding her future. She could stay at Bel Après as the winemaker or she strike out on her own. What happens when something unexpected throws a wrench in Mackenzie’s plans? I thought The Vineyard at Painted Moon was a good escape novel. I needed a break, and this book was just what I needed. It is well-written with developed characters and it moves at a steady pace. While the story focuses on Mackenzie, we also get to see how Barbara’s other children are doing, especially Stephanie Barcellona. Stephanie is not happy with her job and she wants a change. She is not sure, though, that she has the courage to do it. The author captured the dynamics of a family and a family run business. This is an emotional novel as Mackenzie goes through the various phases after Rhys asks for a divorce. I thought it was realistic (as someone who has gone through a divorce). There is plenty of family drama in this engaging tale along with some good life lessons. The author presented the information on winemaking in an easy-to-understand manner. I found it fascinating all that goes into making wine (who knew). There is some repetition of details along with foul language and intimate situations (not explicit). The Vineyard at Painted Moon is a great book to read while relaxing in front of a fire with a glass of wine.

[cherylk_44 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I am a fan of of Susan and her books. I loved the vineyard scenery. Reading this book so got me in the mood for a good glass of wine and spring/summer. This book is not your light hearted feel good romance read. Which is not a bad thing. The story was a bit more on the serious side with family dynamics and emotions. When it came to Mackenzie, I liked her. I was rooting for her the whole time. In the beginning, she kind of got the short end of the stick but by the end of the story; she did come out just fine if not a bit stronger. I am not saying that this is not a bad book as I did like it. I just was not as connected to most of the characters in this story. Therefore, I was more "reading" versus immersing myself in this story. Fans of Susan will still enjoy this book.

[cathygeha · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Vineyard at Painted Moon by Susan MalleryEmotion laden, deeply moving, intensely poignant, well crafted – this story grabbed me and didn’t let me go till I finished at 3am. I felt so much and at times wanted to jump into the pages to “fix” things knowing that the author would bring things right for at least some of the characters by the end of the book…or at least I hope she would! This is a story of love, loss, growth, endurance, values, goals and family. It is a keeper and one I would reread in the future.What I liked: * Mackenzie: dedicated, focused, interesting. She has been stymied for a while and may need to move on from the safe haven she has lived within for over a decade and a half. She has a rough time of it but comes through rather brilliantly in the end. * Catherine: sister-in-law to Mackenzie, loving, kind, in tune with the earth, grounded, warm, creative…really liked her.* Stephanie: sister-in-law to Mackenzie, divorced, mother of two teens, stuck in a rut and trying to move forward but it isn’t easy for her to do so. She is Mackenzie’s best friend and has been since college. * Bruno: wealthy, attractive, investor, wine distributor, and intriguing. He is warm, a good friend, caring, communicates brilliantly and is perfect for the woman he ends up with. * Kyle: a good father, professional, a bit selfish…divorced from Stephanie and father of her children* Rhys: not a bad guy, married to Mackenzie, wants what is best for both of them, a bit heavy handed at times and sometimes rather clueless…and also selfish, perhaps. * Georgio: a good man, loving, kind, generous, and perfect for the right woman – the boyfriend of Barbara (mother-in-law of Mackenzie)* The close relationships that were friendly, warm, and caring. * That there was growth in a number of characters.* The dynamics between various individuals and groups.* The way verbalization of feelings, thoughts, and insight into the characters* Learning a bit more about the winemaking business.* The setting – love that area of the world!* All of it really except…What I didn’t like: * Barbara: I won’t give details but if you read the book you will probably feel the same* Lori: daughter of Barbara and quite a bit like her, I fear. * The sadness I felt as I empathized with Mackenzie.Did I enjoy this book? YesWould I read more by this author? DefinitelyThank you to NetGalley and Harlequen (HQN) for the ARC – This is my honest review. 5 Stars

[cclpad · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love Susan Mallery’s romance fiction, but I really, really love her women’s fiction. THE VINEYARD AT PAINTED MOON is her latest release and it’s wonderful. It’s full of all the things I love about Mallery’s books: warmth, family, friendship, love, and humor. And as the title implies, this one includes wine!I read it an about a day and a half, I enjoyed it so much.Mackenzie is a gifted winemaker, so it’s a good thing she married into a family with a winery and vineyards. The only thing she’s ever wanted is to belong to this family she loves so much. So it nearly breaks her heart when she and her husband realize their marriage is over. Mackenzie has to decide if that means she needs to also leave her job and home. Her sister-in-law is her best friend. Her mother-in-law employs her. Just how much is she willing to lose, along with her marriage?This is set in Eastern Washington, a land growing in popularity for wine grape growing. A character from Mallery’s SISTERS BY CHOICE makes an appearance early in the story, and returns later on.I enjoyed this one a lot. The characters feel like women I’d be friends with. Except for one who is truly evil, but I won’t spoil the story.I highly recommend THE VINEYARD AT PAINTED MOON, and I suggest reading it with a glass of Syrah.-----------------I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, but it did not induce me to review it, favorably or not. That was my choice.

[bettytaylor56 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The perfect “feel good” book. Upon finishing “The Vineyard at Painted Moon”, I have a smile on my face and a warm feeling in my heart. What a great story! Not all the characters are likeable, but then that is how real life is. Then there are the wonderful characters that you wish were part of your life. They seemed so real, flaws and all.This book is a great reminder that “family” does not have to be blood relations. Mackenzie has no blood relatives, but she is married to her best friend’s brother and feels a part of the Barcellona family. She has a reputation as a superb winemaker at the family-owned Bel Apres winery. Life is good. Until it all crashes down around her. She loses her husband, her job, her “family”. For the first time in her life, she is on her own. I loved her determination to get back on her feet and reinvent herself. A real page-turner. I did not want to put it down. An engaging plot with equally engrossing sub-plots. Laden with emotion. A satisfying story of family and friendship and resiliency. Thank you to the publisher for the advance copy. Opinions expressed here are my own.

[scoutmomskf · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Terrific book about love, family, and new beginnings. As the book opens, Mackenzie communes with the grapevines in the family vineyard. She is the head winemaker with a stellar reputation in the wine community. Her husband, Rhys, arrives just in time to remind her of his mother's big shindig that they can't be late for. We get the first hint that things aren't quite right between them when they retreat to their separate bedrooms to get ready. The rest of the family is introduced a short time later. Barbara, the mother/mother-in-law and head of the business, Stephanie, Lori, and Catherine (or Four as she prefers to be called) all live on the family property.The family dynamics are quite interesting. Barbara is a control freak, and the winery is the be-all and end-all of her existence. She has a boyfriend, Giorgio, who treats her like a princess. Stephanie works the retail side of the winery. She is divorced but still friends with her ex. She has lots of ideas for the winery, but Barbara shoots them all down. Lori also works for the business but always seems to be in the background. She is a bit overweight, and Barbara never lets her forget it. The youngest is Catherine, who is an artist and free spirit. She has a happy marriage and seems to delight in pushing Barbara's buttons whenever she can. Barbara's only son, Rhys, works the vineyard side of the business with Mackenzie.When Giorgio proposes to Barbara during the party, it stirs things up within the family. Rhys makes advances to Mackenzie for the first time in months, but when it's all over, they both realize that their marriage has been dead for a long time. Divorce seems to be the only option. Mackenzie is rattled by the whole idea and quickly discovers that more than her marriage comes to an end. Her entire life as she knows it will change. I thought that she and Rhys handled things well together. There were no arguments over finances, how to split things up, etc. Rhys was practical and straightforward, even explaining Mackenzie's options to her. I appreciated that he floated the idea of her striking out on her own.The rest of the family did not react as well. Stephanie, who has been Mackenzie's best friend since college, took a very selfish viewpoint of how the split would affect her and didn't seem to care at all about Mackenzie's feelings. I wanted to smack her for it, but she eventually realized her mistake and made up with Mackenzie. Lori accused Mackenzie of trapping Rhys into marriage in the first place and worming her way into the business. The only one who was okay was Four, who told Mackenzie that she deserved better than she had. But the icing on the cake was Barbara. From the minute she learned of the divorce and Mackenzie's plans to leave, she turned into a raging, vengeful maniac.I loved watching Mackenzie take control of her life. She gets some stellar advice from Rhys about finding a partner to help her make her dream come true. He even suggests the person he thinks is best for the job. Mackenzie has known Bruno for a long time, and he jumps at the chance to join her. The details of everything they went through to make it happen added a depth of realism to the story. I loved how Bruno walked Mackenzie through all of the steps, bolstering her confidence when she needed it and celebrating with her as they reached each milestone.Just as things begin to settle down for Mackenzie, her body blindsides her. She finds out that she is pregnant with Rhys's baby. After a short freak-out where Bruno talks her off the ledge, Mackenzie realizes she's happy about the baby. It doesn't feel quite real to her, and I enjoyed watching her move through the various stages to acceptance. She had lots of help from Bruno, Stephanie, and Four. There were some sweet scenes with all of them. I loved watching Stephanie and Four jump in to help her, but the most endearing moments all came with Bruno. Though I suspected it from the first, it becomes increasingly apparent that Bruno cares very deeply for Mackenzie. She is clueless for the longest time, but eventually, she notices the sparks of attraction between them. I loved watching them grow closer, both professionally and personally.I loved watching Mackenzie settle into the dream of her winery. She has so many ideas that she had wanted to pursue before but wasn't allowed to. Now the sky is the limit. At the same time that Mackenzie's star rises, Barbara's thirst for revenge affects her business. Her over-the-top vindictiveness does a great job of driving people away. I honestly did not feel at all sorry for her. She was a nasty, selfish, and cruel woman and deserved everything she got.While Mackenzie makes a new life for herself, Stephanie also goes through some significant changes. She ends her "friends with benefits" arrangement with her ex after an eye-opening conversation with her teenage daughter. Stephanie finally admits that she tends to take the easy way out of problems, giving up instead of fighting for what she wants. I loved when she finally stood up to Barbara and struck out on her own. She hit a few bumps along the way but developed the confidence she needed. Though I wasn't surprised by the result, I loved how she went about it.The epilogue was great. I liked seeing the story come full circle but with a much happier outcome.

[cats57_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is one book that is definitely going onto my 'comfort books' shelf. That's not to say that this was a comfortable read; it was not, but it was an excellent read! Definitely, a chick-lit sort of book, with the added bonus of learning a bit about winemaking and what it takes to run a vineyard. I had to Google several things to understand precisely what the characters were talking about!Mackenzie Dienes has had a bit of a problematic life, what with being orphaned. However, she thinks she has a stable marriage, an excellent job, friends, and a great family. Then to find out that her husband of 16 years wants a divorce and that everything she has and is, including her job, is tied to him and his family. Now Mackenzie has to make some tough decisions, and she does, but are they the correct decisions?This was an intriguing read for me, and I loved the evil mother-in-law this the author had going on. This kept the book from becoming overly sappy and sentimental. I would have liked to see some closure on the MIL and Mackenzies part, but it would not be. There is some romance but not very explicit (no lurid sex scenes) and a HEA! (actually several HEA's)*ARC supplied by Edelweiss/ATTL, the publisher and the author.