Decanted by Linda Sheehan

Release: May 13th 2021
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Source: Suzyapproved Book Tours
Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N

From author Linda Sheehan, who’s part of a Napa wine dynasty, comes a story of grapes, wine, first crushes, and juicy redemption. Dreading the desk job that awaits her after high school, eighteen-year-old Vivian Goodyear takes off for pre-World War ll Paris, where she supports herself as an artist’s model.

Flash forward to modern day Manhattan where, inspired by Vivian’s courage, her grand-niece Samantha leaves her pressure cooker career to work the grape harvest in France. There, between picking grapes in the vineyard and crushing them in the cellar, she gets lessons in the art of making wine and in the art of making love. But when her world is turned upside down, a link from Aunt Vivian’s past could right it in a tale of being on top, sinking to the bottom, and coming up for glorious air.

About the Author:

Linda Sheehan has lived in New York and Los Angeles where she wrote and produced commercials and trailers for movies and television. She now lives in Napa, California where she’s the co-owner of Poe Wines that makes highly acclaimed Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet, Rosé, sparkling wines as well as an organic grapefruit vermouth awarded 95 points from Wine Enthusiast Magazine. “Decanted” is her second novel.

When she’s not consuming wine, she’s either out on the golf course or riding her horse Valentino.

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Decanted Review:

“Decanted ” is a charming contemporary novel about following your dreams, and I adored it.

At times, we urge to take our life in a different direction but are scared to take the risk and avoid change. I loved the theme of the story and how the author made it uplifting, humorous, and lively at the same time. I loved Sam’s decision to change her course and pursue her love for the wine industry. Moreover, I adored how the author depicted life at the winery, and I learned new foods like wild garlic. The author also adds attractive winery terms at the beginning of each chapter, like Karuizawa, Racking, and Veraison. Some of my favorite moments were when Sam gets a taste of how to harvest when she finds herself in the hospital or when she gets a surprising wedding invitation.

Moreover, there is also an incredible parallel storyline that takes place in the past. I adored the flashbacks between Marciel and Vivian and how she became his muse. At times, I loved Vivian more than Sam because of her courage and decisions to improve her life. The author also adds excellent historical references to make the story authentic, and I wondered how Vivian’s journey would progress. On a side note, I adored Odette in this storyline.

Sam is a lovely protagonist, and I loved how she matured in the tale. She made a fantastic team with Benson and Hal, and she found her footing in her new role. It was also interesting to see how Sam dealt with her father’s promiscuous nature, and I found their relationship pretty unique. The author also adds a touch of romance but does not stray from the theme of the story.

Overall, I enjoyed reading “Decanted” and recommend it!