Welcome to our first ever excerpt tour! Instead of posting a review, every stop on this tour posts an excerpt from the book, in order. So basically, you get to read the first few chapters of this book! Cool, right?
Without any further ado…
About The Vineyard at Painted Moon
Step into the vineyard with Susan Malleryโs most irresistible novel yet, as one woman searches for the perfect blend of love, family and wine.
Mackenzie Dienes seems to have it allโa beautiful home, close friends and a successful career as an elite winemaker with the family winery. Thereโs just one problemโitโs not her family, itโs her husbandโs. In fact, everything in her life is tied to himโhis mother is the closest thing to a mom that sheโs ever had, their home is on the family compound, his sister is her best friend. So when she and her husband admit their marriage is over, her pain goes beyond heartbreak. Sheโs on the brink of losing everything. Her job, her home, her friends and, worst of all, her family.
Staying is an option. She can continue to work at the winery, be friends with her mother-in-law, hug her nieces and nephewsโbut as an employee, nothing more. Or she can surrender every piece of her heart in order to build a legacy of her own. If she can dare to let go of the life she thought she wanted, she might discover something even more beautiful waiting for her beneath a painted moon.
Excerpt
Chapter Three
Barbara had no idea what was happening, and she didnโt like that one bit. She looked between Stephanie and Giorgio, hoping they werenโt going to do something ridiculous like sing a duet. Stephanie didnโt have much of a voice.ย
Still, she trusted Giorgio. The man took care of her the way no one ever had, so she should just relax and pretend to enjoy whatever silly thing they had planned.
Giorgio smiled at her as he spoke into the microphone. โHello, my love.โ
She smiled back without speaking. He knew she didnโt like to be played for a fool and she trusted him. Whatever misgivings she had, she should ignore.
He glanced at the circle of people around them. โFor those of you who donโt know me very well, I met this wonderful woman two years ago, in Italy. We were tasting wine at a little place outside of Tuscany. The day was beautiful, but the woman next to me was even more appealing. I found myself unable to look away.โ
โYou were very charming,โ she said, relaxing as he spoke.
โOn the outside. On the inside, my heart was beating so quickly. At my age, that can be a dangerous thing.โ
Everyone laughed.
โI introduced myself and suggested we share a glass of wine.โ He smiled again. โShe agreed and I was so happy, I could barely speak. You told me about Bel Aprรจs and your children and Mackenzie, and I could hear the love and pride in your voice. Within the hour, I was smitten.โ
Barbara felt herself getting lost in the memories of that first meeting. Heโd surprised her by talking to her. She hadnโt known what to think. Handsome men simply didnโt ever talk to herโ not the way he had. Heโd been funny and kind and the afternoon had flown by.
โI was married before,โ he said. โMy wife passed away five years ago, and it never occurred to me that I would find love again, but I have. A great, glorious love that has filled my heart.โ
She placed her hands on her chest and mouthed, โMe, too.โ
He handed Stephanie the microphone and took something out of a small bag, then stunned her by dropping to one knee.
โBarbara Barcellona, you are the love of my life. I love you and adore you. I want to make you happy, and spend the rest of my days with you. Will you marry me?โ
She hadnโt seen it coming, she thought, genuinely stunned by the proposal. She stared at Giorgio, trying to take it all in. The sound of the music retreated until she could hear only her own heartbeat.
Happiness swelled, becoming joy, and she knew that she would never again experience a moment so perfect.
โYes,โ she said, fighting tears. โOh, yes, Giorgio. Iโll marry you.โ Around them, everyone began to cheer and applaud. He stood and slid a large diamond solitaire onto her finger, then cupped her face and kissed her. The feel of his warm lips on hers was magical. She felt like a princess. She felt thirty years younger.
โI love you,โ he whispered into her ear.
โI love you, too.โ
Around them, the clapping continued. Her children gathered around, hugging her and Giorgio.
โDid you know?โ she asked Rhys.
Rhys grinned. โHe asked for my permission. It was very honorable of him and Iโm happy for you both, Mom.โ
โI didnโt know,โ Mackenzie said, kissing her cheek. โBarbara, congratulations. Youโre going to be a beautiful bride. I know Giorgio will make you so happy.โ
Four and Lori rushed in to hug her.
โNo one told us,โ Four said with a laugh. โWhat a wonderful surprise.โ
โIโm happy for you,โ Lori added, sounding slightly less than thrilled.
Barbara supposed the living arrangements would be a problem. Lori had never moved out of the large family home at the center of the compound. It was one thing to have Giorgio staying there when he visited, but another to have him a permanent resident. A problem she would deal with tomorrow, she told herself, determined to enjoy every moment of the very perfect evening.
The music resumed and Giorgio drew her to the dance floor. She laughed when she heard the opening notes of โLady in Red,โ then glanced down at her red cocktail dress.
โSo thatโs why you asked me to wear this,โ she said, gazing up at him.
โIt was all part of the plan.โ
She leaned her head against his shoulder. โI was surprised.โ
โIโm glad. Rhys knew, of course, and Stephanie.โ
โThey kept the secret.โ
โBarbara?โ
She looked at him.
โI donโt want you to worry about anything,โ he said, his gaze filled with affection. โIโll be happy to sign a prenuptial agreement. I want no part of Bel Aprรจs.โ
โYou will?โ
She hadnโt even thought of a prenup. She would have, probably before midnight, which would have kept her up the rest of the night. โThank you for that. Iโll sign whatever you want, as well.โ
Giorgio had plenty of money from the aerospace manufacturing firm heโd run in upstate New York.
โWeโre a very modern couple,โ he teased.
She raised herself on tiptoe and whispered in his ear, โYes, and later, weโre going to have lots of modern sex.โ
He chuckled. โHow is it modern? I think of our lovemaking style as more traditional.โ
She grinned. โWe keep the lights on.โ
โThat we do.โ
Purchase Links
Amazonย |ย Books-A-Millionย |ย Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
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Excerpt Tour:
Monday, January 18th: Novel Gossip
Tuesday, January 19th: Helenโs Book Blog
Wednesday, January 20th: Pacific Northwest Bookworm
Thursday, January 21st: From the TBR Pile
Friday, January 22nd: Jathan & Heather
Monday, January 25th: Reading Reality
Tuesday, January 26th: Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers
Wednesday, January 27th: Lesaโs Book Critiques
Thursday, January 28th: Book Reviews and More by Kathy
Friday, January 29th: Literary Quicksand
Saturday, January 30th: The Romance Dish
Monday, February 1st: Leighellen Landskov
Tuesday, February 2nd: The Sketchy Reader
Wednesday, February 3rd: Audio Killed the Bookmark
Thursday, February 4th: Palmerโs Page Turners
Friday, February 5th: What is That Book About
Saturday, February 6th: Books & Bindings
Sunday, February 7th: Books & Spoons
Monday, February 8th: Books Cooks Looks
Tuesday, February 9th: Romantic Reads and Such
More About Me
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1 comment
Thank you for featuring this! Sara @ TLC Book Tours