I first will admit that I never saw this book coming from Susan Mallery. I have read all of her books except her Sheik books, which I do plan to read. I do not remember any of her books being so angsty from or for so many characters. I had read the first chapter of this book at the end of another and couldn't wait for it to come out. I have to say now that I have read it, I loved it. In my opinion she did something a bit different than she usually does and it shined bright.
The characters in this book were all in their own ways main characters. Each had their own important part. Yes, this book was about Mackenzie and how her family and life would change. But everyone involved played very important parts.
Mackenzie knew one life, being a hugely talented winemaker at Bel Apres. She had been a Barcellona for 18 years, married to Rhys, his mom was like her second mom, her best friend his sister had introduced them. His family was her family as was his winery. It was never a problem until they decided they were living more like brother and sister than husband and wife. They each had their own bedrooms, they didn't hug or any kind of touching, they only talked about work. So they decided to get divorced. It seemed all amicable, easy, until it wasn't.
Mackenzie had to figure out if she wanted to stay at the winery as an employee and nothing else. She was told years ago that is all she was and would never be anything more. Was she happy that way? Once they got divorced she would punch a time clock like everyone else that worked there. Would Barbara still want her there?
After the financial part of the divorce was worked out and Rhys told her what she would have she made up her mind to go out into the world and start her own winery. She went to Barbara and told her everything, Barbara was fine with Mackenzie staying on and working there, in fact she insisted, but Mackenzie told her she would be leaving. Her mother in law at that point turned on her. Mackenzie didn't back down she stood her ground and left, with a heavy heart.
Mackenzie has made up her mind to move forward with her life. She would do what she had to and buy a winery and be a success. As she moves forward so many things happen. Rhys does things that make her question what type of man he really was. The family's winery issues and Barbara's wrath. But through it all her true friends stand with her, she buys her winery with a partner, and finds a really good friend in him, one that her relationship grows with. But there is one huge surprise that comes her way and really throws her off her center, for a bit anyways. I am not saying. This book is an awesome book. I read it in 2 days and loved the progression of it all. Every character had their "ends" tied up, and they all felt right, happy or not. This was a wonderful story about how you can "grow" and go forward when you need to, like when who you thought were your family simply turns on you or weren't who you thought they were.
