Midnight at the Wandering Vineyard

by Jamie Raintree

The follow-up to Raintree's sparkling debut Perfectly Undone, MIDNIGHT AT THE WANDERING VINEYARD brilliantly meshes the provocative relationship fiction of Jennifer Weiner with the nuanced family dynamics of Karen White in this story of a young woman who reconnects with her estranged best friend to complete their teenage bucket list, but the man who came between them years ago reappears to challenge their bond once again.

A young woman at a crossroads in her life returns home to her family's vineyard in California when tragedy strikes and reconnects with her estranged childhood best friend. They decide to complete the bucket list they created the summer they were 18, the summer that saw their friendship torn apart. But when the man who came between them all those years ago reappears, it challenges their fragile new bond and pushes each woman to confront past hurts and buried truths.

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Romance, Womens Fiction, Book Club, Friendship, Audiobook

362 pages, Paperback

First published March 26, 2019

About the author

Author of Perfectly Undone and Midnight at the Wandering Vineyard. Religious History student. Wife & Mother.

Reviews

[Berit☀️✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful cover. Beautiful setting. Beautiful story.

Jamie Raintree will whisk you away to central California wine country in this lovely story packed with friendship and love. This is a book about forgiveness, family, and finding out who you are. This is the perfect escapist read to take you away after a hard day. So... poor yourself a glass of wine, get comfortable in your favorite reading spot, and transport yourself to the beauty that is wine country.

Can you ever go home again? Mallory is on a visit back home. She hasn’t lived in the small central California town she grew up in for 10 years. She is now living in NYC, but isn’t convinced that’s where she wants to call home. While back home Mallory runs into her ex BFF Kelly. The girls had been best friends since kindergarten, but shortly after high school graduation they had a huge fight and a major fall out. Can the best friends find their way back to one another? And what happens when the very boy who tore them apart shows back up in town?

There really is a lot to the story. A friendship in need of forgiveness, a love story in need of an ending, and a girl in need of a future. I really liked Malory and enjoyed my journey with her character, and I have to say I was just as fickle as she was. I really wanted her to fix things with Kelly and I loved their bucket list. I also really love the bond she had with her parents, and I wanted her to realize she could follow her heart and make her parents happy all at the same time. The romance... Sam was one of those guys you think you should fall in love with, but does that mean that you do? I went back and forth this entire book as to whether or not I thought she should get back together with him. The ending to this book was a little out of left field, but if I’m being honest it is exactly what I wanted, and I am keeping my fingers crossed for a follow up!

The perfect book for anyone who loves love, friendship, or wine!

🎧🎧🎧 Jorjeana Marie narrates the audiobook and does an amazing job. She really brought life to the character of Valerie and particular.

*** Big thank you to Harlequin for my copy of this book ***

[Holly B · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first by the author and I am happy to report that I loved it!

It was the perfect book to cozy up to with my favorite glass of Merlot. The vineyard setting and whimsical touches made it an easy read. It was just the escape that I needed. Her writing flowed nicely with "just enough" details to make it immersive.

A perfect blend of women's fiction/chick-lit and a bit of romance that had me wanting to get back to this one and find out if Mallory would follow her heart. Fingers crossed there will be a sequel!

Themes of family dynamics, lifetime friendships, loss, and taking chances. I highly recommend if you enjoy the genre.

Thanks to NG/ Harlequin-Graydon House for my review copy. Publishes on March 26,2019

 

[Mackey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another one that I got from the library so this is just a quick little write up and not a full review. If you're in the mood for a very light read without any deep connections, a story about friendship and light romance then this is fine. The writing was good, the characters likable, not very deep but okay, the relationships never really caught on for me but it was such a quick read that I'm not sure it mattered. If I needed something to read at the beach or by the pool, this would be perfect.

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evocative, affecting, and heartfelt!

Midnight at the Wandering Vineyard is a heartwarming, touching story that immerses you in a tale about confronting the past, taking risks, being true to one’s self, following your heart, and the importance of never losing sight of your own wants, needs, and dreams.

The writing is vivid and impassioned. The characters are flawed, genuine, and endearing, And the plot is an exceptionally absorbing tale about life, loss, heartbreak, forgiveness, friendship, family, community, courage, happiness, and unconditional love.

Overall, Midnight at the Wandering Vineyard is an uplifting, emotive, alluring story by Raintree that reminds us that everyone that enters our lives, no matter the length of time, shapes and defines us. It is beautifully written, lushly depicted and like a good wine should definitely be savoured.

Thank you to Harlequin Books for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

It was love at first sight for me as soon as I saw this stunning cover, I had a feeling that with a cover this beautiful the inside would have to be just as gorgeous and I was right, this was a really lovely story about forgiveness, family and doing what makes you happy.

One of the things I enjoy most about the authors books is her ability to create realistic characters with messy lives and histories that could be any one of us. Mallory is back home for the first time in ten years and she didn’t leave on the best of terms with a few people in her life. So much has changed since she’s been gone and the changes she experiences just throughout the book are amazing. The characterization is where the author shines, she writes about different types of relationships with an assuredness and accuracy that I find refreshing.

This book was a very solid read for me all the way up until the very end and things just fell flat for me in those last couple of chapters. Admittedly I need a strong, tidy ending to fully enjoy most books and this one was left wide open. I also felt like some of the last minute decisions made by Mallory were out of character and not entirely fitting with the way she behaved throughout the book, but again, I truly need things all tied up with a bow to be totally satisfied, so keep that in mind.

[Tanja ~ KT Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

The prodigal daughter comes home. wanting to reevaluate and make right the issues and mistakes of her past Mallory uses a gathering at her parents home as an opportunity to set things right... or at least try. So many things within the pages of MIDNIGHT AT THE WANDERING VINEYARD by Jamie Raintree make this a perfect read for the upcoming spring and summer. Especially if you're a fan of romancing about college days of youth and looking on things with more mature eyes.

I really enjoyed the writing style and flow of Jamie Raintree. This is the first time I've read one of her books and I can assure you it wont be my last.

*ARC provided by Carina Press | HQN Books | Graydon House


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[Dawnny · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars
Mallory and Kelly are best friends sharing everything until, Mallory meets Sam. The summer that changes everything. After ten-years Mallory is back home longing to connect and make amends with Kelly. A touching heart felt story of friendship, secrets, heartache and forgiveness. A wonderful debut.
Dawnny Ruby-BookGypsy
Novels N Latte Blog
Novels & Latte Book Club

[Lorilin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mallory hasn’t been back to visit her hometown in ten years. She left California on the heels of two major setbacks: first, a break up with her then quasi-boyfriend, Sam; and second (and more devastating) a massive fight with her lifelong best friend, Kelly. Unable to deal with the emotional fallout, she left for school and never looked back. Now she’s a successful marketing exec in New York, adored by her boss and about to be promoted. She’s successful. And happy. Well, mostly.

Unfortunately, her past still weighs heavy, and she’s never really been able to put the memories behind her. So when her parents announce that they are hosting a huge party on the family-owned vineyard to celebrate twenty years of business, Mallory sees it as an opportunity to make things right. She flies home to California to support her parents, reconnect with Kelly, and maybe even hash it out with Sam. Of course things don’t go exactly as planned, but the ensuing events force Mallory to reevaluate her priorities and figure out what—and who—is most important to her.

I really loved this book. I read it while Chicago was experiencing some of the lowest temps seen in a generation (-23 degrees F, with a feels like temp of -40), and all I could think about (while whining my way through it all…) was being back in my home state of California. The description of Mallory’s family vineyard is spot on, and I could picture the farms, the horses, the rolling hills of vines perfectly. The romance of the setting alone was enough to keep me hooked.

But I also liked following Mallory along as she tried to figure out who she was and what she valued. Her choices are not perfect, but if you’ve been 20-something and in love with the wrong guy, you’re going to understand Mallory’s plight. It may not always be pretty to watch her struggle, but it still makes for a good, relatable story. And in the end, while she has to revisit some less-than-stellar relationships to gain some closure, at least she does come out stronger.

Ultimately, Midnight at the Wandering Vineyard is a well-written, engaging, picturesque, feel-good story. I loved it start to finish.

Big thank you to Graydon House and Amazon Vine for the ARC!

See more of my reviews at www.bugbugbooks.com.

[Laura • lauralovestoread · Rating 3 out of 5]

Midnight at the Wandering Vineyard sucked me in with the beautiful cover! This may be the case of don’t judge a book by its cover, but while there were things I enjoyed about this book, I just didn’t love this one!

A story of self discovery through friendship, family and these were the aspects I loved best, and what draws me into this genre. I was looking for a light fuzzy romance and maybe that’s where it fell flat for me.

*Thank you to netgalley and Graydon Publishing for this complimentary book. All opinions are my own.

[Leigh Kramer · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’ve followed me for a while, you know I love books that explore friendship. The good, the bad, and the ugly—I’ll read it all. I was highly intrigued when I saw this one took the angle of making our main character the one who did her friend wrong. Mallory left her small hometown for NYC ten years ago and she hasn’t been back since but when she comes back to celebrate a milestone at her family’s vineyard, she has the chance to make things right.

I was here for this. Mallory and Kelly were best friends ever since Mallory stood up for Kelly in kindergarten and I wanted to know what could have driven them apart and just how Mallory would atone for her actions. And right away, I knew this wasn’t going to go the expected route as Mallory completely bungled the "come back into town and apologize to the estranged best friend" thing. I wanted to smack my forehead and give her a stern talking to but I could see her heart was in the right place, even if she expected things to magically be all better without doing the work.

But eventually Mallory and Kelly take tentative steps forward, going so far as to resurrect their Summer Bucket List from the summer it all came undone for them. It made me wonder what my friends and I would have put on a Summer Bucket List when we were 18. And what we would have thought of those things 10 years later. As you might imagine, some of the items works better for the women than others.

While Mallory is making amends with Kelly, she’s also becoming reacquainted with the person she used to be and making sense of what she wants out of her life. What expectations she’s taken on that she doesn’t need to carry and what it means to be happy. We can see where things got derailed for her and it was heartbreaking to watch her shuffle through the past ten years and realize she’s not where she wants to be. And at the same time, I could so clearly see a path forward for her and I just wanted her to stop naval gazing and take it already. Too bad it’s so much easier to see this for other people.

Mallory has to take stock of what she did ten years ago. She has a second chance with Kelly and with Sam, the man she fell for back then. But does she want a second chance? Is she worthy of a second chance? That’s what she has to figure out. I did feel like this dragged out a bit, especially in finding out just exactly what her fight with Kelly was all about. If my estranged best friend wanted back into my life, you’d best believe we’d be hashing it all out right then and there if I gave them another shot. But perhaps Kelly is more evolved than me. It’s entirely possible.

What I liked about this story was the discrepancy between Mallory then and now and how she still had people who loved her fully and believed in her. She has such wonderful parents and great friends in Kelly and Tyler. And this helps her believe in herself again. I didn’t always understand why she did or said the things she did or why everyone saw her as such a unicorn. But I really liked the journey she went on, even if the ending was a little overly neat and predictable.

There were plenty of moving moments in this story, especially given what Kelly goes through with her mother. At the end of the day, Kelly and Mallory have to decide what really matters and whether their friendship is worth saving and that’s something worth reading about.

CW: depression, disability (unsure about representation), bullying, death of a parent (heart attack), grief

Disclosure: I received an advanced copy from Harlequin Publicity Team in exchange for an honest review.

[Jacqueline Francis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes you read a book and you don’t know what you’re going to get. With this one, I was expecting more romance, but it turned out to be a story of family and friendship, and that’s okay! I enjoyed this story a lot. It did fall flat for me at times. There were instances where I couldn’t picture the characters or the setting, and that was hard. It was also difficult for me to grapple with the main character not wanting to stay in such a beautiful setting! However, it was a good story.

I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mallory returns home for a short trio after being gone for 10 years. As this story unfolds we learn about what happened between Mallory and Kelly, the last summer before college. And why after a summer fling, Sam and Mallory parted ways.

This is the story of friendship and family and self discovery. Can you ever go home? And can the past be repaired.

I enjoyed the setting of this story. And it was definitely what drew me to it. I appreciated how Mallory grew as a person during this story. And while I’m unsure about the ending, it did leave me wondering what will happen next. Pick this up if you want a light read with your glass of wine!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book!

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Midnight at Wandering Vineyard by Jamie Raintree is my first book by this author, and I enjoyed it. It hooked me in from the first page. It was filled with drama and emotional roller coasters. I plan on reading this author's other book, Perfectly Undone. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good drama.

I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and the publisher. Thank you.

[Amanda B · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m glad this wasn’t a stereotypical second chance romance, but it sure felt like it was going to be, pretty much until the very end. The book was definitely more about Mallory and Kelly’s friendship more than anything. I did like how Sam came between the two when they were young but this time, their friendship could weather his place in their lives. I’m glad Mallory didn’t end up with Sam, because he wasn’t likeable and I was going to be very frustrated if she did. I liked Tyler from the second I met him but assumed Mallory would be with Sam and Tyler wouldn’t be an option.

The story was fine, a little contrived. I just didn’t really connect with any of the main characters. I loved Kelly and Tyler though. I just felt like Sam and Mallory were flat. Mallory has this love for marketing but we don’t really know why other then she’s always been good at it. Kelly, though, she was realistic. Someone with a psych degree working as a barista because there are no jobs, this is real.

Some scenes were rushed and others were way too drawn out. Shannon’s death and arrangements took mere pages but there are several depictions of Sam and Mal’s dad at dinner time which are sooooo slow. I found myself skimming and that’s never good for me.

I loved her precious book and wish I loved this one more.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

The gorgeous cover and promise of wine country drew me into this book. I’m not quite sure what I was expecting, but everything about this book was perfect and refreshing. Growing up is hard. Navigating friendships, romantic relationships and parental relationships is hard. This book was so down to earth and I loved it for that.

[Amy Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mallory is returning home to the vineyard after many years away. Having been thru so much in her time away she is now faced with her past, memories and old familiar faces she once had tried to push from her memory. Kelly her longtime friend have not spoken in years. Slowly they begin to grow closer again and decide to embark on completing their bucket list they created as youngsters.

A lighthearted quick read. Friendships and family and of course lots of wine!

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you goodreads for an ARC of this book!

My goal of 2019 was to be able to quit a book if I wasn't enjoying it. This was going to be the first book I did that on...but for some reason, I kept going...and wow...I'm absolutely glad I did! If you can make it through the protagonist's first 50 pages where she complains and whines...you'll find she really does turn it around! She faces challenges and mends and builds relationships that feel completely real and understandable. In fact, I cannot wait to give this to my mom for her to read the amazing mother/daughter scenes. I laughed, cried, and drank wine (because reading a book about a vineyard is a great reason to drink wine!)

[Ruby · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story of friendship, forgiveness, and learning from one's mistake... Midnight at the Wandering Vineyard is a sweet emotion ride on the twisted turns of a roller coaster. It brings together a gorgeous vineyard, the woman it raised, and her best friend who was estranged all because of a boy. When Mallory returns home, she yearns to make amends with Kelly after lies and secrets pulled them apart, but with the return brings a reason they broke up in the first place and a host of things could go very wrong fast.

I enjoyed this story. It had heart, mystery, and a lesson on how lies can tear us down. I empathized with both characters and was glad that the story kept them in the forefront. A wonderful book club novel full of great discussion points....

***thank you to Harlequin for allowing me to review this ARC. My opinions are my own.

[Amanda (Books, Life and Everything Nice) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Graydon House, and Jamie Raintree for an ARC ebook copy to review. As always, an honest review from me.

Like:
- Mallory’s relationship with her ex best friend - it shows that through communication you can reconcile some differences. A very mature way of dealing with the situation that sets a good example
- Not all just sappy unrealistic romance

Love: —

Dislike:
- The age difference - yes they’re both adults but she just graduated high school and he’s been out of college for 2 years. The power dynamic seems off

Wish that:
- The summary stated it was more of a contemporary fiction than a romance novel - in the 1st half there’s very little romance. Mostly reevaluations of careers, life choices, friendships, and family. I don’t mind, but not what I thought I was getting.
- Wasn’t just another — I left my small town for the big city but really regret leaving kind of story

Overall, a good story that’s different than your typical contemporary romance novel. I did end up DNFing it, because it took me 2 weeks to get halfway through. If a book is right for me as reader, it won’t take me 2 weeks to finish much less only get halfway. Not a bad book by any means though, quite enjoyable at moments actually.

[Paula Ackley · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is one of those books that if I hadn't read it I wouldn't be missing anything. It wasn't bad. It just wasn't that good. The storyline was long, plodding and slow. Any meaning, insight or enjoyment of the book was almost lost in the pages of Midnight at the Wandering Vineyard. Mallory is one of those people that got out of the small town but the small town never got out of Mallory even though she's lived in NYC for 10 years. Many people never forget their first love but to compare EVERY man you meet to the guy you had a crush on at 18 is ridiculous. To lose your best friend because of a man like Sam (who is no winner in any way, shape or form) is just plain stupid. What boss keeps extending your leave (even with a big project due) over and over, where days turn into weeks? The plot is drawn out, the ending is predicable and Mallory and Sam never seem to fit together even when they FINALLY get together. Ms. Raintree's love of nature does shine through in her descriptions but they aren't enough to make a good story. The book also needs a good editing before it's final printing.

[Christine Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mallory and Kelly have been best friends since elementary school. They are more like sisters than best friends. In the summer before they leave for college they make a summer bucket list. As they were doing all their fun things, Sam came to town. Mallory spent a lot of time with Sam almost forgetting their bucket list. Mallory and Kelly have a huge fight and Mallory goes off to college without Kelly. 10 years later, Mallory comes back to town to try and fix her relationship with Kelly. Her family is having a big celebration at their vineyard and Mallory thinks it is the perfect time to fix things with Kelly. At the very heart of this amazing book is relationships. Mallory and Kelly's friendship, Mallory's relationship with her parents, and Kelly's relationship with her Mom. I absolutely loved the characters in this story. I read this book in one long sitting as I could not put it down. I received an advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Harlequin Graydon House Books. All opinions are my own.

[Seema Rao · Rating 4 out of 5]

Realistic ~ Unanticipate ~ Empowering

tl; dr: Girl returns to California vineyard where she grew up and runs into an old flame.

Romance novels often play up the second chance romance trope. Without any spoilers, this book plays with that second chance romance trope in an enjoyable and unanticipated manner. The California wine country (Paso Robles) is depicted fairly well, and the main character is appealing. But, the real charm of this book is the complexity of the plot and the surprising turns. An enjoyable surprise.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Seema Rao Write : Instagram| Blog| Twitter|

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

t’s been 10 years since Mallory has been home to visit. She takes the 20-year anniversary of her parents’ vineyard as the reason to return. While there she re-evaluates her past and relationships with others. She tries to figure out who she is and wants to be and sets out to rebuild or put to rest some past relationships. She wants to reconnect with her ex BFF and figure out if they can rebuild their relationship.

She doesn’t always make the right decisions but don’t we all make a mistake or two? This was a great read. The setting is picturesque, the characters believable.

I liked this story.

I received an ARC e-copy from Netgalley. These are my opinions and am not required to leave a positive review.

[Kate (kate_reads_) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ten years ago, Mallory left her family’s home at a vineyard in CA to attend college in NYC and has barely been back since. That last summer before college ended with a big fight with her best friend Kelly and they haven’t spoken since.

Now that Mallory is back for a week to visit - it’s her chance to see if she can make things right again with the friend who was always more like a sister. We see alternating timelines between the present and what happened during that summer ten years ago.

This is a book that can make you consider a lot of questions - where is the line between following your dreams and being selfish? How do we know if we are doing what we truly want or trying to fulfill the expectations that were placed upon us? Is it possible to get a do-over and set things right?

There are a lot of things I really enjoyed about this book but ultimately it didn’t work for me. The ending didn’t seem true to what was set up through the book and the characters’ relationships with each other didn’t always ring true for me.

Thank you very much to Netgalley and the publisher for the free advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Nikki · Rating 1 out of 5]

Holy crap, on what list was I looking when I added this to my "want to read" pile? In all fairness to the author, I am no fan at all of cheesy romance, and I've never even bothered with reading the description of a harlequin book, but here I am in stunned disbelief. I kept thinking something tragic would happen and add some drama that I actually cared about, but it never came. The characters were boring, the plot was boring, and I was neither convinced that she was an in-demand marketing wiz, nor a knowledgeable product of growing up on a vinyard. I wasn't even convinced she was an adult. It was like preteen Charlie Brown, where the parents were barely there and oblivious to their daughter and the staff, making an occasional appearance so you didn't think they were a figment of someone's mental breakdown. I really have to pay more attention to the titles I add to lists and make sure they have a plot I might actually appreciate on some level. I do feel robbed of hours of my life, but in a sea of interesting books all around me, my inobservant hands grabbed this and I have only myself to blame.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book makes me want to climb back on a horse and go on some trails. The beautiful vineyard setting didn’t hurt the situation either. Mallory left her family’s vineyard 10 years ago to pursue college and then a career in NYC but while she left on good terms with her parents, the rest of her relationships were in turmoil. She’s made good but something in her heart still hurts.

She goes back for a planting party where she’ll try to make amends with her former best friend, Kelly. What she didn’t plan for is the guy who broke her heart to be there as well which causes things to spiral in a way she didn’t foresee.

I liked how she had to come face to face with her past and her mistakes and maybe finally put some closure to things that she’s been holding on to. While Mallory grew up a bit while she was away, it’s this trip back that truly launches her into adulthood.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for ARC. 2.5 ⭐️ Yikes I just read Synopsis...this is nothing like Jennifer Weiner. Not even close. Formulaic Story girl grows up on vineyard/farm etc. Moves away but realizes she belongs back home or a place like it. Additionally, the main character’s thought process was inconsistent— empathetic and remorseful but then petty, even bitchy. This unevenness made it hard to have any connection with or empathy for her. Sadly, this wasn’t very good for me,

[Bin Blogs Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mallory, on the cusp of a big promotion, goes home to attend a family gathering in hopes of finally closing a few doors to her past; hoping to finally be happy. The author takes you through a coming of age of sorts seem through the lens of maturity and brings readers to a beautifully picturesque setting to do so.

[Alysha Blackburn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 Picked this book up because of the cover and the beautiful artwork on it. Hello wine!! Easy read.. some parts left unresolved, which made me wanting more... which in turn could be a good thing. Overall a good book to waste some time with.

[Susan Burlew · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful story about family and relationships. Mallory goes home to visit her family at their vineyard in California. She has been living in New York for ten years and has only been home for a few brief visits. Growing up her best friend was Kelly. They had a huge fight right after graduation and haven't spoken since then. A big part of her visit is to try to mend their friendship. The story flips between the present and ten years ago. Mallory tries to come to terms with some bad decisions and figure out how she really wants to live her life. I loved this and book and felt good after finishing it. Highly recommend!!!