Rating: 
Summary: Bountiful Harvest
Review: A certain romantic mystique is created by setting a book in a vineyard. It's impossible to say what is more intoxicating: the allure of a pastoral countryside, the attraction of a self-sustaining empire or the culture and richness of fine wines and fine living. That said, Barbara Delinsky is trying to re-create a mid-Atlantic Tuscany in the subject of her latest novel, "The Vineyard".Natalie Seebring is the mature matriarch of the Aquionset Vineyard in Rhode Island. Recently widowed, she decides her life, like her vineyard, has entered a new growing season, to the dismay of her staid, adult children. Hoping to convince them of the sincerity of her plans, she pens a memoir, with the help of a newly-hired personal assistant, Olivia Jones, who moves to the vineyard for the summer with her precocious daughter, Tess, looking to harvest a unique professional opportunity and quality time in a loving, family atmosphere. But the Seebring family, as a whole, is not particularly loving, and Olivia's initial naivete in this regard is only surpassed by her hope to make a difference in the life of her young daughter and to Natalie Seebring. Barbara Delinsky writes typically in the romance genre, and although "The Vineyard" is consistent with the familiar pattern, it is not her best effort. Her last work, "Lake News", offered a modicum of suspense and intrigue to bolster the standard "she hates him, then loves him" romance fare. In comparison, "The Vineyard" offers little more than predictable family secrets to tantalize the reader, which have little impact on the dynamic of the current Seebring family or Olivia's interactions within it. I was disappointed in the story's lack of complexity on this level; its attempt to be a scenic, literary vacation at a beautiful vineyard cannot sustain the otherwise vacuous plot. But the important issue for most romance lovers: does a satisfying romantic relationship develop between likeable characters? Yes! I enjoyed meeting all the characters in "The Vineyard", and the relationships which grow between them are romances, both literally and figuratively. I disagree with the book jacket, which said that Natalie was not the "motherly type"; she is warm and caring, despite turmoil in her own close family. Olivia, as a single mother, faces life's challenges with a quiet strength and determination, although she is often overwhelmed and insecure. Tess, who struggles with a learning disability, possesses the extremes of boldness and shyness typical in a 10-year-old girl. But you are always hopeful that, with care and attention, the time Olivia and Tess spend at the vineyard might ripen into something sweet. I can marginally recommend "The Vineyard". I liked "Lake News" better, but this latest work is a pleasant diversion. Although I have only read these two books by Barbara Delinsky, I trust that she will continue to write books which warm the heart, rather than try to be prophetic or challenging. I will choose Delinsky again for an indulgent escape.
Rating: 
Summary: The Grapes Get the Starring Role
Review: After reading, and enjoying, several of Ms. Delinsky's novels - and having met her this summer - I was looking forward to reading her latest, The Vineyard. When I closed the book, I was left with a mixed bag of emotions and thoughts. While I really enjoyed the budding love story of Olivia and Simon, I found myself wishing there had been more devoted to them , especially how Olivia and her daughter, Tess, helped Simon in his grief recovery over losing his wife and daughter several years before. The italicized portions of the book, which constituted Olivia's writing of Natalie Seebring's memoirs, broke my concentration and drew me out of the story, although I don't know how the author could have crafted this differently and still gotten across Olivia's creative writing ability. Ms. Delinsky expertly weaves several story lines of a dysfunctional family into a verbal tapestry rich in characterization and human foibles. Of all the characters, I loved Simon best, but what I really loved was the in-depth description of life caring for and nurturing a vineyard. I grew up less than a mile from many vineyards, but never did I know what went on inside the little ecosystems. If nothing else, The Vineyard gave me a new appreciation for those whose livelihoods depend on grapes and what they must do to make the harvest a success.
Rating:
Summary: Delinsky: Always reliable
Review: As a fan of Barbara Delinsky, I wouldn't call THE VINEYARD her best novel ever. Nonetheless, Ms. Delinsky is one of modern fiction's most reliable authors; not surprisingly, THE VINEYARD is very good. Her two heroines, Natalie and Olivia, both are real and appealing. The hook with which the story opens is a grabber. Delinsky's writing, as always, is fast-paced and the story is compelling. As a device she often uses to add structure to her books, there is a long-hidden secret which turns out to have had a great impact on the lives of some of her characters. The most telling sign of a skilled writer, I have noticed, is that even the ancillary characters are interesting and believable. THE VINEYARD will not disappoint.
Rating: 
Summary: A note to my readers
Review: As many of you know, I like to challenge myself with each book. With "Coast Road," it was creating a main character who had no direct voice for most of the story. With "Lake News," it was turning a modern-day scandal into something fictional and very much mine. With "Three Wishes," it was ... ooops, can't give away the ending. With "The Vineyard," it was writing a multi-generational story that not only spotlights a contemporary heroine who is a single mother, but also focuses on a member of the Silent Generation, a woman who was a mother way back when and who, after all these years, has a story to tell. In helping her do that, I researched parts of American history about which I previously had only the most cursory knowledge - Prohibition, the Great Depression, and World War II. It was a learning experience for me. That said, "The Vineyard" is like all my books, in that the elements I research merely set the scene for a drama about people and their relationships. Please enjoy this book, with my deepest thanks.
Rating:
Summary: Another Delinsky Success
Review: AS WITH ALL HER NOVELS, DELINSKY ROPES YOU IN IMMEDIATELY WITH HER WONDERFUL STORY SETTINGS AND CHARACTERS. THE VINEYARD IS TWO STORIES IN ONE. NATALIE'S STORY IS ABOUT SACRAFICE, LOYALTY, LOST LOVE AND FAMILY DUTY. OLIVIA'S STORY IS ABOUT LONLINESS, REJECTION, A MOTHER'S LOVE AND AN AWAKINING PASSION. I MUST ADMIT THAT I LOST PATIENCE WITH OLIVIA IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE NOVEL. HER CONSTANT ESCAPE INTO HER DREAMWORLD SOMETIMES IRRITATED ME, BUT AS SHE EXPLORED NATALIE'S PAST WITH HER AND HER RELATIONSHIP WITH SAM DEVELOPED, SHE BECAME MORE GROUNDED IN REALITY. I REALLY STARTED TO ROOT FOR HER. COAST ROAD REMAINS MY FAVORITE, THREE WISHES #2,THE VINEYARD,#3.
Rating: 
Summary: GREAT People-Book
Review: Asquonset Vineyard, Rhode Island. Six months after the death of her husband of 58 years, Natalie Seebring announces her intentions to marry Carl Burke, a man she's known since childhood, a man who's been her vineyard manager for the past 35 years. Naturally, Natalie's grown children, Susanne and Greg, are shocked and disturbed by the sudden news. Natalie decides to hire someone for the summer to help write her memoirs in time for her Labor Day wedding. She hopes her story will explain to her children what she's been through in her 76 years and what she's feeling now. At 35, Olivia Jones is a single mother working hard to provide for her 10-year-old daughter Tess. Olivia knows art and photography. She's been doing photo restoration for Natalie Seebring for months, although they've never met. Through her work, Olivia has grown very attached to the Seebring family. She can only imagine what each family member is like and imagines herself as a Seebring herself. She jumps at the job offer to work at the vineyard for the summer. The pay will be more than enough to hire tutors to help Tess with her dyslexia. With Olivia at her side, pen in hand, Natalie's story of love, heartache, struggle and perseverance slowly unfolds, revealing a few secrets along the way. Meanwhile, Olivia is searching for her own mother as well as dealing with Carl's son, Simon, now the vineyard manager. Simon lost his wife and daughter 4 years ago in a sailing accident and having Olivia around with young Tess only stirs up the pain he's worked so hard to bury. This is truly a story so well told that you laugh at times and cry at others. There's so much detail on a variety of topics. The reader learns a bit about growing grapes, sailing, hurricanes, the Great Depression and World War II. Each character is so well-written, I feel that if I were ever in Rhode Island, I could simply drive up and pay the Seebrings a visit. Great people book.
Rating:
Summary: A pleasure to read
Review: Barbara Delinsky never misses no matter what topic or characters she chooses to develop! The Vineyard consists of a story told within a story which was very appealing (I was always peeking ahead for the italicized print!) From page one the reader is very involved with the characters - you become one of the Seebring clan. Not that everything was perfect in the family; far from it, but as the tale enfolded more harmony was achieved. Natalie's impending marriage to Carl her longtime love - over 70 years - sets the stage. How their children, Olivia, who writes Natalie's story and Tess, her dyslexic daughter, interact draws the reader in. Not only does the reader learn something about the making of wine, photography, dyslexia, and hurricanes, but also about real human emotions of love, hurt, anger, resentment, self-esteem, trust, forgiveness, and community. Not so much her plots, but Delinsky's characters grab you almost immediately. Her character studies are great and present a wholesome look at different personalities without a lot of sex, violence, or bad language. Just like a good wine, this was smooth all the way! Thanks Barbara!
Rating:
Summary: Classic Delinsky
Review: Barbara Delinsky's characters always learn from each other and it isn't always want they want to learn. Olivia Jones is a single parent who dreams of how much easier life would be with an extended family. Natalie Seebring is the martiarch with just that kind of family; but when Olivia goes to work for Natalie, she finds even with family you can be very much alone. I always enjoy the fact that the women in Delinsky's books bridge all facest of life; fitting interesting carreers into busy lives loving their children, their homes, and the men they choose as partners.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting multigenerational tale
Review: Heard the taped version of THE VINEYARD by Barbara
Delinsky, a romance novel of a woman who shocks her family
when she announces plans to marry a vineyard employee mere
months after the death of her husband of 58 years . . . faced
with their disapproval, she decides to write a memoir and hires
a single mother to help her with the task . . . as can be
imagined, nothing is quite as it seems . . . I typically enjoy
such multigenerational stories and this one did not
disappoint . . . it did get a bit confusing at times (following
several story lines, back and forth, over various decades) . . . but
that's probably because I only had access to a 4-tape
abridgment and seemed to miss some important details as
a result.
Rating:
Summary: Great Read!
Review: I can't think of one thing to change about this book. It was so good, vintage Delinsky. I have read half a dozen books by her and she never disappoints.
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