These Tangled Vines

by Julianne MacLean

From the USA Today bestselling author of A Curve in the Road comes a sweeping and captivating tale of one woman’s journey to the lush vineyards of Tuscany—and into the mysteries of a tragic family secret.

If Fiona has learned anything in life, it’s how to keep a secret—even from the father who raised her. She is the only person who knows about her late mother’s affair in Tuscany thirty years earlier, and she intends to keep it that way…until a lawyer calls with shocking news: her biological father has died and left her an incredible inheritance—along with two half siblings.

Fiona travels to Italy, where the family is shocked to learn of her existence and desperate to contest her share of the will. While the mystery of her mother’s affair is slowly unraveled, Fiona must navigate through tricky family relationships and tense sibling rivalries. Fiona both fears and embraces her new destiny as she searches for the truth about the fateful summer her mother spent in Italy and the father she never knew.

Spilling over with the sumptuous flavors and romance of Tuscany, These Tangled Vines takes readers on a breathtaking journey of love, secrets, sacrifice, courage—and most importantly, the true meaning of family.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Italy, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Family

302 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2021

About the author

Julianne MacLean is a USA Today bestselling author of more than thirty novels, including the contemporary women’s fiction Color of Heaven Series. Readers have described her books as “breathtaking,” “soulful” and “uplifting.” MacLean is a four-time RITA finalist and has won numerous awards, including the Booksellers’ Best Award and a Reviewers’ Choice Award from Romantic Times. Her novels have sold millions of copies worldwide and have been published in over a dozen languages.

MacLean has a degree in English literature from the University of King’s College in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and a degree in business administration from Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. She loves to travel and has lived in New Zealand, Canada, and England. MacLean currently resides on the east coast of Canada in a lakeside home with her husband and daughter.

For more information about Julianne and her writing life, please visit her website at www.juliannemaclean.com. Be sure to follow her on Bookbub to be notified whenever her ebooks are offered for FREE or 99 cents. (www.bookbub.com/authors/julianne-maclean) and chat with her on Facebook (www.facebook.com/JulianneMacLeanRoman...), Twitter (@JulianneMacLean), and Instagram (@JulianneMaclean).

Reviews

[Regina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine visiting a vineyard in Tuscany where they hand you a glass of a yummy Italian red as soon as you step foot on the property. Reading Julianne MacLean’s latest novel is kind of like that. No delayed gratification required.

The plot starts spilling on the very first page when Fiona receives a phone call from Italy informing her that her father died and she needs to come to his winery in person for the reading of his will. The tricky part is that he’s her *secret* father, and she only learned of him at the age of 18 when her mother confessed that the man who raised her was not in fact her bio dad.

Chapters then alternate between Fiona’s time in present-day Tuscany and the 1980s when her mom encountered the man who filled up 50% of her gene pool. How could this have happened while her mom was married to someone else? Will his “legitimate” children accept what he felt she deserved to inherit? When will stupid COVID end so I can visit Tuscany myself?

These are all questions that had me guzzling this story like it was Boone’s Farm Wine and I was still in my 20s. Since These Tangled Vines was a Kindle Unlimited selection, it was priced like it too. ;)

Blog: https://www.confettibookshelf.com/

[Em Lost In Books · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5*

I was enjoying the first half, and then came the flashbacks. Those chapters made the story predictable, add flat character to the mix, yup I lost interest soon after.

[Mary Jackson _TheMaryReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grab your favorite bottle of wine and a big bowl of pasta and dig into These Tangle Vines. This book was fantastic, the characters were well developed and the whole story was like no other.
My heart went out to Fiona and I loved her big heart and her simple ways.
This was such a well written and amazing read. I can't recommend it enough. 5 stars two times!
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fiona Bell’s mother Lillian told her a life changing secret on deathbed, made her promise she would never tell her father Freddie and she hasn’t. Years later, Fiona receives an unexpected call from Tuscany, her biological father Anton Clark has passed away and has included her in his will.

A jet lagged Fiona arrives in Italy, she has no idea what sort of reception she will receive and the size of her fathers estate. She discovers she has a half-brother Connor, a half-sister Sloane, and they had no idea she existed. When her fathers will is read, Fiona has been left Maurizio Wines and Connor and Sloane are furious. They want to dispute Fiona’s parentage, contest the will and start looking everywhere for any evidence.

Fiona discovers her parents traveled to Italy in 1986, her mother Lillian worked at Maurizio Wines as a tour guide and while her father Freddie was busy writing his first book. Slowly Fiona uncovers what really happened in Tuscany thirty years ago, it's a complicated story and it has three sides and she’s defiantly Anton's daughter.

These Tangled Vines, is a story about lost love, secrets, sacrifice, courage, revenge, family ties, greed and most of all regret. Fiona regrets she wasn’t given the chance to meet her biological father Anton, Sloane also regrets not spending time with her father when she had the chance, and the two sisters are happy to have found each other.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, it’s absolutely brilliant, I read it in a day and five stars from me. https://karrenreadsbooks.blogspot.com/

[Kira Flowerchild · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really have to stop judging books by their description and the Goodreads/Amazon rating, and investigate further. For example, if I had known this author was a romance writer, I would not have chosen this book as my May First Reads book, despite the Tuscan setting. The book is competently written for what it is, but about halfway through I started skimming because, although I did want to see how it turned out, I didn't want to waste any more time than absolutely necessary on it.

This is a reasonably well-written book for what it is - a romance author branching out a bit. It is not deathless prose by any means. The plot is far-fetched and events and coincidences make suspension of disbelief difficult. Also, I don't believe in "soul mates" and I detest books that employ that kind of tripe - er, trope. I would have given the book two stars but I am sure plenty of people will enjoy it and I don't want to discourage them from reading it. Three stars is as much as I can stretch it, though.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Life is rough for everyone, and it's complicated. It's full of hairpin turns we don't see coming."

I highly recommend THESE TANGLED VINES by Julianne MacLean which is set in picturesque Tuscany, Italy. The cover is gorgeous and the story is beautifully written.
This emotionally charged novel about love, secrets, sacrifice, courage and the true meaning of family is told from dual timelines and different points of view. I was so involved with the characters, the relationships between them, and the scenarios and situations that I read it in one setting.
Fiona Bell, her mother Lillian, Anton Clark and Maria were my favourite characters. My heart broke for Fiona, Lillian and Anton. I disliked Kate Wilson, Alan and Connor and their selfish ways.
I like this quote spoken by Fiona to Sloane.
"...though it's important to look forward, not back...it's important to reflect on past mistakes and learn from them. It helps you move forward in the right direction."
Julianne MacLean is an amazing and excellent author and I eagerly look forward to her next book.

Special thanks to author Julianne MacLean, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC of THESE TANGLED VINES which was my pleasure to read and write an unbiased review.

#TheseTangledVines
#NetGalley

Posted on Goodreads May 9, 2021

[L. K. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Need to do your research. . .

The author lost my interest early when she described the characters sitting on a towel at the beach in Tallahassee, Florida. Later on, the description of "white caps" affirmed that she had never been to Tallahassee or that she did any research. And Tallahassee is not in the "Panhandle!" Tallahassee is at least 40 miles from any kind of beach and farther than that from waves and white caps! Storyline was predictable, characters flat, and writing was pedestrian. at least it was free!

[Donna Alward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in stunning Tuscany, this story follows Fiona Bell, who's been holding onto a family secret since she was eighteen. But that secret is threatened when Fiona learns that her biological father has died and she's a beneficiary in his will. She must travel to Tuscany and meet the family she never knew - and who never knew SHE existed. While there, the truth about her mother's relationship with Anton Clark one fateful summer is slowly unraveled, and Fiona learns that there is truly no going back. Julianne always throws in some sort of twist and she got me with this one, too (though I'm not telling!). Rich descriptions and attention to detail will have you living and breathing the Tuscan air, and the tangled vines of truth and lies will have you questioning what is right and wrong. I recommend you curl up with a glass of Italian wine and savour every page.

[Caro (Bookaria) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“... What good could come from grappling forever with “could have beens”? Every life was full of “could have beens.” The best we could do was make the most of what was and what had been.”

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars - half a star deleted due to the highly unnecessary and inappropriate shock of ‘that text message’ sent to Chloe. What was the author thinking? That spoiled this book from being a 5 star read for me.

Otherwise……

This book will have you wanting to jump onto the phone and book that trip to Tuscany RIGHT NOW. The setting, time, place, atmosphere… simply superb. Be taken away to tables of lush food, sophisticated wine, quaint hill side Tuscan villages… it was an absolute dream to place yourself there in this novel and the author must be commended for nailing this aspect of the novel.

She also manages to capture a range of human emotion in a sensitive and compelling way that had me hooked right from the very first page when the intrigue and mystery is set from the first few paragraphs. After that I sailed through this book in record speed. I couldn’t put it down and it was a near perfect read for me if you like juicy family sagas, secrets held back over the years, love and passion, loss, betrayal and unspeakable tragedy.

I loved this read and it sits proudly on my To Keep shelf. I have promptly ordered more from this author.

The ending was satisfying. I needed the tissues. I highly recommend this novel.

[Amy J · Rating 3 out of 5]

At the time of this review, the book and audiobook were available on Kindle Unlimited.

This is a story of intertwined family lies. Fiona has been keeping her mother's secrets from her father for years. Now all of the lies come to light as Fiona makes a trip to Italy after her biological father's death.

The story has two timelines. The present timeline focuses on Fiona as she travels to Italy to learn about her mother's past. The other is 20 years prior focuses on Fiona's mother's life in Italy.

The story is a sweet story of how two families come together and how the truth comes out in the end.

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful and captivating tale about one woman’s journey to Tuscany to uncover the secret her parents wanted to keep buried. MacLean deftly explores the double edge sword of secret-keeping. This delightful dual timeline, set in 1986 and 2017, is a tale told from a mother and her daughter’s point of view and focuses on love and family. The love just emanates from the pages, and you’ll be left with a better understanding of sacrificial love.

There have been many stories written about a character who discovers they’ve been left a vast inheritance from previously unknown people, but Julianne MacLean has definitely poured her heart and soul into this tale and given it soul, making it stand out from the rest. Yes, you’ll read about a greedy character with a sense of entitlement, but you’ll also read about a girl who has always put other people’s needs first. A girl who discovers that love is the greatest of all gifts and that her most important inheritance is love. Added to this ‘lovey-dovey’ mix, is a great mystery, full of hairpin turns you won’t see coming, prose with tongue in cheek sarcasm, and the essence of Tuscany with its old-world wines, vineyards and great food. I guarantee you’ll feel the tension and attraction between the main characters and your emotions will take a roller coaster ride as they struggle to make sense of their future.

“What is that you’re wearing? Eau de Gigantic Inheritance?”

Let MacLean sweep you away to Montepulciano where you’ll visit Maurizio Wines, one of the oldest and largest wineries in Tuscany, and have a front-row seat to an emotion-filled love affair. As you turn over the last page, you’ll realize what could have been if characters could turn back time.

One tiny disappointment: the story could have had a plot adjustment and still have shock value without the text ‘message’ episode including a minor.

I was gifted this book by Julianne MacLean, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Gabi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it all in one day

So, the way I choose my Amazon first read is a mixture of intuition and gauging reviews. I glance through them all quickly and read the small blurb and click on the one that most calls to me. If it also has decent reviews I will save it and then look through the others. Well this time I was called to These Tangled Vines. And clicked on it and it had 15 five star reviews already. I didn’t even bother looking at the other books, I just chose it and started reading. And finished it all in one day. Usually between 12 and 18% into the book I make a guess on how everything is going to turn out and what each of the characters' arcs will be. I was actually pretty spot on on every single plot thread in this book, but it was the unraveling and the way that we got there that kept me enthralled. Even though I knew what was gonna happen I was still incredibly engaged. The author wove all three characters that we followed really beautifully. I sometimes find books like that (with a change of point of view with character headings) frustrating, because I’m usually more drawn to one character or the other and then I get frustrated when I have to jump to another character that I’m not as interested in. Every single one of them were interesting stories to follow. And by the time we got back to one character, I was really excited to see what they were going to do next. Very well written, I would read more by this author.

[Astrid Galactic · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of those romantic novels that is a bit of an adult fairytale. It has it all. Unrequited love, travel, an Old World vineyard, the wealthy lover, and a lot of drama for just a regular gal. Not quite a Cinderella story, but sort of offers the same sort of vibes without Cinderella's Prince Charming. She gets to live that aspect vicariously via her deceased mother's past.

The story itself is a bit schmaltzy, but these sorts always are. With that said, I did enjoy my time reading this book and never felt as though there was any downtime. I was invested in every page.

[Retired Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

A nice enough story, but zero character development and zero description of the setting, which is TUSCANY. How could the author pass up that opportunity?

[Lori Boyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Books by this author are always enjoyable! This one doesn’t disappoint. Settle down in a favorite chair, grab a glass of wine and enjoy a trip to Tuscany.

Fiona is living day-to-day taking care of her quadriplegic father, along with some outside help. Her mom had passed away a few years before. She receives a mysterious phone call from Italy asking for her to come for a reading of the will of her biological father! Wait, what? Secrets long hidden, mysteries abound.

Fun easy read ...perfect for a summer getaway whether at home or on a beach.

Thanks to Ms. MacLean, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.

[Patricia Sands · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding the truth in Tuscany

Julianne MacLean takes us into the heart of life in Tuscany with this intriguing story of deception, lies and discovery. As the truth unfolds in two different timelines, readers are swept into a world of passionate love revealed after decades of secrecy. Combined with wine, pasta and the stunning Tuscan countryside, this is a journey to savour. Va bene!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

“What good could come from grappling forever with “could have beens”? Every life was full of “could have beens.” The best we could do was make the most of what was and what had been.”

Summer reads do not get much better than having the backdrop of beautiful Tuscany, in the Maurizio vineyards. On top of wine, there are dinners filled with delectable meals; antipasto trays, homemade pasta in cream sauces, and gelato that melts in your mouth (right up this foodie’s alley). And of course, let’s not leave out the years’ worth of family history and drama, with new revelations coming to light that are ruffling everybody’s feathers.

Meet Fiona Bell. She has just received a phone call that her biological father, Anton Clark, has passed away and left her something in his will. She must fly to Italy immediately for the reading of the will. To say this is going to be an uncomfortable experience is an understatement. She never met her father due to her mother’s wishes. At the age of 18, Fiona watched her mother die. Right before passing, her mother told her that she had an affair and that her father Freddie was not her biological father. That instead, her biological father lived in Italy. She made Fiona promise not to tell Freddie because it would break his heart.

Fiona tells Freddie and his nurse (Freddie is a quadriplegic) that she must fly to London for work (LIAR)!!! She wants to protect her father’s feelings at all costs. When she arrives, she meets her half sister Sloane and her half brother Connor. They were less than thrilled to meet Fiona, and it gets a lot more heated. At the reading of the will, Fiona is left the entire Maurizio winery and all buildings on the land, nine hundred hectares of land (2,223.9 acres). She also receives all of the cash holdings. Sloane and Connor are bound and determined to overturn the ruling of the will. Will they be able to?

The story is told in dual timelines; Tuscany 1986 and Tuscany 2017. I am such a huge fan of dual timelines. Everyone’s first impressions are that Anton and Lillian did not have a great relationship. But is that the case? Fiona is determined to learn the truth about what really happened back in Tuscany all those years ago. Through research, she discovers that Lillian worked at the vineyard as an English tour guide in the summer of 86’ while her father was writing a novel. Day by day, she learns more and more about what really happened.

There are so many lessons in this beautiful but in many ways sad story. There is so much love but then so much sacrifice. There is a regret after regret with each character. Then there is acceptance and the hope for healing. This is an absolutely wonderful summer escape read. It gave me all the vibes!!!

“And though I tried to let go of certain things and live without regret, I was beginning to accept that regret would always be a part of my life. I was only human, after all, and as much as I wanted to, I couldn’t escape it. What I decided was that I would not let it consume or define me. For the most part, I was at peace with how my life had unfolded, and I would embrace my regret—and my ability to work at forgiveness—as evidence of my humanity. I would wake up each morning and count my blessings.”

[Trisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Get ready because these family secrets are about to take you for a ride!

These Tangled Vines starts out with the grand reveal of another twisting secret. On her deathbed, Lillian Bell informs her daughter that the father who raised her and loved her is not her biological father. She finds out her actual father is Anton, who lives in Italy and owns a vineyard. However, she knows she cannot look too much into it because if the father who raised her found out it would hurt him too badly. The father who raised her has enough health concerns and Fiona feels too much loyalty to do anything to bring harm to him so she buries all the secrets and continues on with her life.

All until life decides to toss her a curve ball.

One fine day, Fiona gets a call telling her of her biological father's death and how she needs to travel to Italy for the reading of the will. Apparently, something has been left to her and it also gives her a chance to meet her half siblings. After some debating, she decides to travel to Italy under the guise of actually going somewhere else for work so her father won't suspect anything. While there, she falls in love with the place and learns more than a few things about the family and the past.

It just might change her future.

“But isn’t that what life is about? Trying new things? Finding out what you love doing? Then taking a deep dive into it?”

There is a shifting POV between the present with Fiona and the past with her mother, Lillian. Fiona's POV is written in first person and Lillian's in third person. I enjoyed how it went back and forth, offering clues to complete the puzzle of what happened and how everyone connected together. I will say I enjoyed Lillian's narrative a little more but overall this story was an engaging read. I wanted to see what was going to happen!

Grab a big bowl of pasta, a good drink, get comfy and read all about the twisting and tangled up lives filled to the brim with secrets.

4 stars and this was my pick for Amazon First Reads!

“Why do we always wait for traditional special occasions to enjoy good things? Maybe we just need to create our own special occasions.”

-----------------------------------------------------

Cue Nsync here we go. I have to say I liked this far more than I expected to. I am always a sucker for family secrets and does this one have a DOOZY. A few of them, in fact. The setting just made me want to curl up with a big bowl of pasta, a good drink and try to paint even if I never really have before.

I went back and forth but going to go with 4 stars. Full RTC!

-----------------

My May pick for Amazon first reads! Excited about this one. The premise sounds great!

[Nursebookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

These Tangled Vines
By Julianne MacLean

Fiona Bell's mother tells her a secret in her deathbed never to be uttered, and most especially to her father. That is until, Tuscany came a calling - Fiona's biological father has passed away and have left her something in his will. More than that, she discovers of her half brother Connor and half sister Sloane. MacLean tells a vivid and emotionally charged story in two time lines and two point of views about complex family dynamics involving secrets, sacrifice, past mistakes, and the strength and courage to forgive to move forward. This is a story full of hope with an amazing cast of characters and life lessons.

Enjoy this amazing trip to Tuscany and grab a glass of your favorite vino and maybe even a bowl of pasta - this emotional ride is simply perfection!

[Dorothy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Have you ever read a book that was not well-written and yet you kept reading it to the end, hoping the writing would improve? This is that book, for me. Full of too many 'life-lessons' from a 30 yo protagonist who hasn't really encountered things to guide her emotional intelligence to her perfect selflessness. Every character was predictable. Every chapter, predictable. Every premise, predictable. But there was just a little something that kept me reading....yawn.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book...just wow! This is a powerful story of true love and how secrets, lies and selfishness can deny someone true happiness. It’s a story about money and what it does to people. It’s a story about wine and how important it is in the daily lives of many Italians. It’s a story about Italy. I felt as if I was there at the winery and walking the streets of the small town as I was reading. Its a story about friendship. It’s atmospheric and I laughed and I cried. There are just so many lessons in this story.

The author is new to me and from the East Coast of Canada. We have some great authors here and I’m so glad I picked this one up.

[Shannon Rochester · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book...originally, I downloaded it strictly because it involved Italy because that's how I roll...but then I immediately got so interested in it that I knew I was going to have a new favorite almost right away. I loved the storyline, I loved the characters, I loved the growth, I loved the setting...there really was nothing that I didn't like about this book.

[Christine Nolfi]

A heartwarming story of unexpected secrets and betrayal set in the lush Tuscany countryside, THESE TANGLED VINES is a deeply romantic story you’ll savor until the last, uplifting page.

[Greta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Italija. Vynuogynai. Dolce vita. Dolce far niente. Gyvenime dažnai girdime šias frazes, kažkur esame girdėję jų reikšmes, o gal net žinome, jog tai reiškia laisvę gyventi, mėgautis, semti viską pilnomis saujomis. Negalvoti apie tai, kas bus rytoj. Nebijoti įsipilti taurę vyno pietums ar garsiai juoktis. Priimti į savo namus, šeimą, glėbį ir mažiau pažįstamus žmones. Būti drąsesniems. Visa tai man yra Italija. Maistas, emocijos, garsus juokas. Kai pamačiau, jog pasirodė šis romanas, supratau, kad skaitysiu, o perskaičiusi tikrai nenusivyliau. Priminė Lucindą Riley, tik pasirodė truputį stipriau.

Fiona gyvena su tėvu, kuris, galima sakyti, tik egzistuoja. Tuo pat metu moteris saugo ir mamos prieš pat mirtį jai patikėtą paslaptį – jos tėvas iš tikrųjų nėra jos tėvas. O galiausiai ateina diena, kai Fiona gauna žinią apie savo tikrąsias šaknis ir susikrovusi daiktus išvyksta į Toskaną išgirsti tikrojo tėvo paskutinės valios. Paslaptys lenda į paviršių, o šeima nepuola artyn prisileisti sesers, apie kurią nieko nežinojo daugelį metų. Italija greit įtraukia Fioną į savo pinkles, ir nepanašu, kad greit paleis.

Vos Fionai atvykus į vilą, ten dirbančios bobutės greit paleidžia liežuvius, visi ima ja pasitikėti ir apkalbinėti šeimą, kuriai tarnavo daug metų. Mane tai truputį sutrikdė. Nesakau, kad neapkalbi žmonių, kurie tau nepatinka, dažnas tą darome, tačiau čia buvo sunku patikėti, kai visi taip greit prisileido ir ėmė pasitikėti moterimi, kurią matė vos porą dienų. Kita vertus, visiems ten buvo naudinga su ja palaikyti gražius santykius, tik vieni suprato, kiti nelabai.

Šiaip šis romanas vienas iš tų, kur veikėjai švaisto savo ir kitų gyvenimus. Patys kalba apie carpe diem, apie amžinas meiles ir visu tuo nesinaudoja. Viskas yra patiekta ant lėkštutės, viskas aišku, suprantama visiems, tik ne patiems įsimylėjėliams. Šioks toks telemunda elementas, kuris šiaip jau netrukdo, ir šiame romane man patiko. Bet man, naiviai romantikei buvo liūdna, ir atrodė neteisinga, ir aš norėjau, kad veikėjai ateitų į protą.

Ši knyga man priminė nuostabų filmą „Laiškai Džiuljetai“ – kas matėte, sutiksite su daug kuo, ką minėjau apžvalgoje, nes viskas panašu. Bet nuo to nepasidarė nei nuobodžiau, nei linksmiau.

Ir be visos itališkos atmosferos mane domino dalis apie vyną, jo gamybą, vynuogių auginimą, net ir etikečių kūrimą. O dar įdomiau, kad vos po poros savaičių po to, kai perskaičiau knygą, netyčia nusipirkau butelį raudonojo būtent iš knygoje aprašomo vynuogyno. Įdomu, arba gal čia koks ženklas?

Leidyklos dovana.

[Bookoholiccafe · Rating 4 out of 5]

These Tangled Vines Is about Fiona and how her biological father’s death changes her life. Her parent traveled to Italy in 1986 for her mother, Lillian, to work as a tour guide at Maurizio Wines and her father Freddie to write his first book. This was when all the secrets her mother told her years ago started.

When Fiona arrives in Italy, she finds out about her Half-siblings, Connor and Sloane. They were furious to learn about Fiona, a half-sister they never knew about, and that she has been left Maurizio Wines.

This was an emotional story, it made me laugh and cry. This was a story of love, secrets, and family.

[Martina Fraňová (fandomky) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zamotané vinici patria medzi generačné romány, po ktorých v posledných rokoch veľmi často siaham. Bavia ma tie linky, súčasné aj minulé, striedanie, zamotávanie sa a odhaľujúce tajomstvá. Aj keď kniha nie je hrubá, autorka dokázala do tých 270 strán dať…všetko. Nezdalo sa mi to krátke, prišlo mi to, jednoducho, akurát. A každú jednu stranu som si vychutnávala.

Toskánsko, vinice, víno, cestoviny, sloboda a neskutočne krásna krajina. Nespútaná zakázaná láska, rodinná dráma a zamlčané tajomstvá. Všetko to znie tak super a aj to bolo. Tentoraz sme čítali knihu z troch pohľadov - súčasnú linku tvorila naša hlavná postava Fiona, jej nevlastná sestra Sloane a historickú linku dopĺňala Fioninina mama Lilian. Bolo to skvelo poprepletané, linky sa dopĺňali a moja zvedavosť našla pokoj až po prečítaní posledného slova. Áno, občas to bolo predvídateľné, ale mne to absolútne nevadilo a len som sa nechala unášať oslnivým Talianskom.

Príbeh bol krásny, ale zároveň veľmi smutný a istým spôsobom aj ťaživý. Ku koncu som si len hovorila, čo ak, čo keby…všetko bolo veľmi nespravodlivé. Aj teraz, keď píšem tieto riadky premýšľam nad osudom našich postáv a je mi z toho smutno. Ale, nájdete tam aj radosť, pokoru, krásne opisy krajiny a čarovnej vinice, ktorá bola svedkom nejedného príbehu. Ak máte radi knihy Lucindy Riley, Zamotané vinice sú pre vás ako stvorené.

[Anne OK · Rating 4 out of 5]

BOOK BLURB:

If Fiona has learned anything in life, it’s how to keep a secret—even from the father who raised her. She is the only person who knows about her late mother’s affair in Tuscany thirty years earlier, and she intends to keep it that way…until a lawyer calls with shocking news: her biological father has died and left her an incredible inheritance—along with two half siblings.

Fiona travels to Italy, where the family is shocked to learn of her existence and desperate to contest her share of the will. While the mystery of her mother’s affair is slowly unraveled, Fiona must navigate through tricky family relationships and tense sibling rivalries. Fiona both fears and embraces her new destiny as she searches for the truth about the fateful summer her mother spent in Italy and the father she never knew.

Spilling over with the sumptuous flavors and romance of Tuscany, These Tangled Vines takes readers on a breathtaking journey of love, secrets, sacrifice, courage—and most importantly, the true meaning of family.


MY REVIEW:

Oh, what a tangled web we weave –

In a two-fold saga with two timelines – three decades apart -- set amid the grape vineyards of Tuscany, readers will be drawn in by a generational mystery that is heart-wrenching with family drama filled with old secrets, lies and thinly-veiled trust. The book blurb is very generous, so I won’t add many more details.

The layered story is beautifully written with compelling characters and the attention to details brings Tuscany to life with the author’s mouthwatering descriptions. From start to finish, the writing flows evenly keeping the reader's attention and totally captivated by the talented storytelling of Julianne MacLean – a new-to-me-author.

[Kristy Drážovská · Rating 5 out of 5]

Želám si aby mala táto knižka ešte aspoň o pár stránok viac, ale na druhú stranu bola dokonalá presne taká aká bola. Tak veľmi by som si teraz priala navštíviť Taliansko! Včera som si už prezerala fotografie Toskánska a najbližšie letenky… Tá atmosféra, ktorú mi príbeh navodil bola úplne neskutočná. Bolo to krásne, romantické, dojímavé. Úplne som sa zamilovala. Celé ráno som len ležala zakutrená v prikrývkach a dychtivo čítala, až kým som nebola na konci. A teraz mi je asi aj kúsok smutno, že už je naozaj koniec. Bol to výnimočný zážitok…

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor Fiona. She grew up in a tangled web of deception regarding her birth and parents. The book took place in the present and time of her conception. She learned some difficult life lessons, letting go of the past to move forward.