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Valley of the Moon
Julie was just like her father--a rebel.
Julie had no idea of the disruptive effect she'd have on the Renards--relatives she hadn't known until her grandfather's invitation to come to Australia.
Now, she sensed the conflicts amongst them. Only when she fell in love with Paul Durand, head of the Renard-Durand family wine industry, did she learn that her father had once loved Paul's mother.
Would she have to leave the valley as her father had? Or would their love overcome past bitterness?
Julie had no idea of the disruptive effect she'd have on the Renards--relatives she hadn't known until her grandfather's invitation to come to Australia.
Now, she sensed the conflicts amongst them. Only when she fell in love with Paul Durand, head of the Renard-Durand family wine industry, did she learn that her father had once loved Paul's mother.
Would she have to leave the valley as her father had? Or would their love overcome past bitterness?
191 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1979
About the author
Margaret Way
625 books165 followersMargaret Way was born and educated in the river city of Brisbane, Australia. Before her marriage she was a well-known pianist, teacher, vocal coach and accompanist, but her hectic musical career came to a halt when her son was born and the demands of motherhood dictated a change of pace.
On a fortuitous impulse she decided to try her hand at romance writing and was thrilled when Mills & Boon accepted her first effort, Time of the Jacaranda, which they published less than a year later in 1970; a feat that brought tears to her father's eyes. Some seventy odd books have followed resulting in a loyal readership whose letters provide a source of support and encouragement. A driving force in all her writing has been the promotion of her much loved country, Australia. She delights in bringing it alive for her readers; its people, way of life, environment, flora and fauna. Her efforts so far have not excited official recognition, but she expects one day she will be awarded the "Order of Australia."
Her interests remain with the arts. She still plays the piano seriously, but her "top Cs" have gone. She is still addicted to collecting antiques and paintings and browsing through galleries. She now lives within sight and sound of beautiful Moreton Bay and its islands, inspiration for some of her books. Her house is full of books, spectacular plants, Chinese screens and pots. She is devoted to her garden and spends much time "directing the design and digging and providing cold drinks and chocolates."
On a fortuitous impulse she decided to try her hand at romance writing and was thrilled when Mills & Boon accepted her first effort, Time of the Jacaranda, which they published less than a year later in 1970; a feat that brought tears to her father's eyes. Some seventy odd books have followed resulting in a loyal readership whose letters provide a source of support and encouragement. A driving force in all her writing has been the promotion of her much loved country, Australia. She delights in bringing it alive for her readers; its people, way of life, environment, flora and fauna. Her efforts so far have not excited official recognition, but she expects one day she will be awarded the "Order of Australia."
Her interests remain with the arts. She still plays the piano seriously, but her "top Cs" have gone. She is still addicted to collecting antiques and paintings and browsing through galleries. She now lives within sight and sound of beautiful Moreton Bay and its islands, inspiration for some of her books. Her house is full of books, spectacular plants, Chinese screens and pots. She is devoted to her garden and spends much time "directing the design and digging and providing cold drinks and chocolates."
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 6, 2018
I was going to say how much I love Margaret Way's books then saw I've 2 starred about three of them. That said I really do like her stories, they are involved and well developed, great travelogues on the flora and fauna of Australia, the heroines (usually) aren't total idiots, and the heroes (usually) seem to actually love the heroines. And, hey, Hugh Jackman is from Australia so that's a golden glow there. I am concerned about MW's home life as she almost always ends up with the kind of family dynamics that Jason and Medea or the Medici's would envy.
Here it's no different, the long lost h arrives in Australia decades after her apparently charismatic alpha father left because of a tragic love affair with a married woman. As luck would have it, guess who the H is. Yep, the son of the long lost love. Toss in one of the most overtly bitchy OW/cousins, a domineering patriarch, more doormats than Bed, Bath and Beyond, some condescending relatives, and an Upstairs/Downstairs mentality for a solid angsty story. The heroine makes the statement at one point, that Australia was supposed to be a classless society and by classless I mean in the good egalitarian way.
Oh yeah, it is 1979 so there is a totally awesome and mind-blowing disco moment, man, where the H and h wow the crowd.
Here it's no different, the long lost h arrives in Australia decades after her apparently charismatic alpha father left because of a tragic love affair with a married woman. As luck would have it, guess who the H is. Yep, the son of the long lost love. Toss in one of the most overtly bitchy OW/cousins, a domineering patriarch, more doormats than Bed, Bath and Beyond, some condescending relatives, and an Upstairs/Downstairs mentality for a solid angsty story. The heroine makes the statement at one point, that Australia was supposed to be a classless society and by classless I mean in the good egalitarian way.
Oh yeah, it is 1979 so there is a totally awesome and mind-blowing disco moment, man, where the H and h wow the crowd.
February 28, 2018
After the death of her parents, the European-raised heroine is summoned back to Australia by her wealthy paternal grandfather. She had never met him or her bevy of Australian relatives because her father became estranged from his family in his youth. Allegedly, he had an affair with a woman who lived in the neighboring vineyard. She was already married and refused to leave her husband and little son for her affair partner. Heartbroken, Heroine’s dad exiled himself abroad, met and married another woman, and fathered the heroine, never disclosing anything from his past to them. They thought he was a poor orphan, not a wealthy heir to a sprawling, majestic Australian vineyard!
Now, the son of heroine’s father’s mistress is all grown up and has become the right-hand man of heroine’s grandfather, helping him to run his world-renown Australian vineyard. He has been training for years to eventually take over the vineyard and it is rumored that he will marry heroine's catty, beautiful cousin.
There is of course much family tension running between the Australian relatives and this “outsider” but the worst of it comes from the hostile, disdainful hero who somehow sees his position as heir to the empire threatened by the return of the prodigal granddaughter. Added to that is the fact that he is disgusted by the sordid history between their respective parents and wants to visit the sins of the father on the daughter.
The heroine is a typical Margaret Way Mary Sue: classy, fashionable, loving, resilient, and on top of it, she is a fine connoisseur of wines. Though the family members first bristle in hostility at her intrusion, she soon has them putty in her hands.
The hero as usual is insulting and unlikable. He taunts her on her first day that she is an unfeeling golddigger with an eye on an ill, old, and easily influenced, wealthy grandfather. He stubbornly clings to his resentment and blows hot and cold until a devastating brush fire brings this rather underwhelming romance to its conclusion.
Now, the son of heroine’s father’s mistress is all grown up and has become the right-hand man of heroine’s grandfather, helping him to run his world-renown Australian vineyard. He has been training for years to eventually take over the vineyard and it is rumored that he will marry heroine's catty, beautiful cousin.
There is of course much family tension running between the Australian relatives and this “outsider” but the worst of it comes from the hostile, disdainful hero who somehow sees his position as heir to the empire threatened by the return of the prodigal granddaughter. Added to that is the fact that he is disgusted by the sordid history between their respective parents and wants to visit the sins of the father on the daughter.
The heroine is a typical Margaret Way Mary Sue: classy, fashionable, loving, resilient, and on top of it, she is a fine connoisseur of wines. Though the family members first bristle in hostility at her intrusion, she soon has them putty in her hands.
The hero as usual is insulting and unlikable. He taunts her on her first day that she is an unfeeling golddigger with an eye on an ill, old, and easily influenced, wealthy grandfather. He stubbornly clings to his resentment and blows hot and cold until a devastating brush fire brings this rather underwhelming romance to its conclusion.
January 11, 2020
French/English heroine travels to her deceased father’s valley in wine-country Australia to meet her grandfather, aunt and uncle, and two cousins.
Her father self-deported after he had an affair with a married woman, the hero’s mother. Don’t worry, hero was born long after heroine’s father left.
Heroine instantly bonds with her autocratic grandfather and then proceeds to take the valley by storm. She engineers matches between her widowed aunt and an antiques dealer, her cousin and a “lower class” neighbor girl, and blows the doors off an illicit affair her other cousin is having with a neighbor.
The hero remains elusive until a bush fire burns down his family estate, his mother dies and he spends time in the Outback in contemplation. It is only in the last three pages of the book that they get together, so be warned.
I really enjoyed this one. It had a different tone than most MW’s. Oh, the cousin OW was crazy pants and the family dysfunctional, but this Australia was green and populated and had frivolous pursuits. The H/h spend time in night clubs and even disco down at a party. 1979 is alive and well within these pages.
Her father self-deported after he had an affair with a married woman, the hero’s mother. Don’t worry, hero was born long after heroine’s father left.
Heroine instantly bonds with her autocratic grandfather and then proceeds to take the valley by storm. She engineers matches between her widowed aunt and an antiques dealer, her cousin and a “lower class” neighbor girl, and blows the doors off an illicit affair her other cousin is having with a neighbor.
The hero remains elusive until a bush fire burns down his family estate, his mother dies and he spends time in the Outback in contemplation. It is only in the last three pages of the book that they get together, so be warned.
I really enjoyed this one. It had a different tone than most MW’s. Oh, the cousin OW was crazy pants and the family dysfunctional, but this Australia was green and populated and had frivolous pursuits. The H/h spend time in night clubs and even disco down at a party. 1979 is alive and well within these pages.
June 5, 2018
I waited a REALLY long time to read this book on Open Library, and now I'm very let down. It was mediocre at best.
December 2, 2019
Julie was just like her father--a rebel.
Julie had no idea of the disruptive effect she'd have on the Renards--relatives she hadn't known until her grandfather's invitation to come to Australia.
Now, she sensed the conflicts amongst them. Only when she fell in love with Paul Durand, head of the Renard-Durand family wine industry, did she learn that her father had once loved Paul's mother.
Would she have to leave the valley as her father had? Or would their love overcome past bitterness?
Julie had no idea of the disruptive effect she'd have on the Renards--relatives she hadn't known until her grandfather's invitation to come to Australia.
Now, she sensed the conflicts amongst them. Only when she fell in love with Paul Durand, head of the Renard-Durand family wine industry, did she learn that her father had once loved Paul's mother.
Would she have to leave the valley as her father had? Or would their love overcome past bitterness?
August 1, 2020
I really loved this when I read this back in 1979. It remains a favourite by this author.
October 6, 2024
A bit too much drama for my liking but with vibrant descriptions and language.
June 11, 2026
I read that book in the summer time in a park so i was very happy on these days so one star for the park not the novel .
January 9, 2021
"Η κοιλάδα του φεγγαριού"- Μάργκαρετ Γουέη- Συλλογή 176, έτος έκδοσης: 1979.
Φτάνοντας στην Αυστραλία για να επισκεφτεί τον παππού της, η Τζούλη αντιμετωπίζει την εχθρότητα των πλούσιων συγγενών της και προπάντων της ξαδέρφης της, της Λη, που πρόκειται να παντρευτεί τον Πωλ Ντυράν, το δεξί χέρι του παππού της στις μεγάλες του επιχειρήσεις. Και το χειρότερο είναι πώς ο Πωλ με τη διαβολική γοητεία του την έχει αναστατώσει. Άραγε θα μπορέσει η Τζούλη ν' αρνηθεί τα αισθήματά της ή θα πρέπει να παλέψει για την αγάπη του;
Πολύ καλή ιστορία!
Φτάνοντας στην Αυστραλία για να επισκεφτεί τον παππού της, η Τζούλη αντιμετωπίζει την εχθρότητα των πλούσιων συγγενών της και προπάντων της ξαδέρφης της, της Λη, που πρόκειται να παντρευτεί τον Πωλ Ντυράν, το δεξί χέρι του παππού της στις μεγάλες του επιχειρήσεις. Και το χειρότερο είναι πώς ο Πωλ με τη διαβολική γοητεία του την έχει αναστατώσει. Άραγε θα μπορέσει η Τζούλη ν' αρνηθεί τα αισθήματά της ή θα πρέπει να παλέψει για την αγάπη του;
Πολύ καλή ιστορία!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews