Something a Little Different

A change of pace for your Friday reading

Hey Readers,

I’m in Southern California on vacation this week, so this newsletter will be a quick review of a great book I’ve read. If you read books in the late ’80s and early ‘90s, you might enjoy this book as it is so reminiscent of some of the great authors of that era.

I am a Net Galley reader, and after reading the blurb, I couldn’t help requesting Jamie Brenner’s newest book, Blush, about a family winery set on Long Island, N.Y. Who knew Long Island had wineries? I sure didn’t.

Blush tells the story of a multi-generational family led by a patriarch who only wants to do the best for his family. The women in his life love and adore him but feel like they are not respected as they should be because they are women. While secrets threaten to take the life out of the winery and the residents of the vineyards, those same secrets are used to walk back a decision made and move forward down a new path with genuine passion and leadership.  

There are many references to book clubs and many beloved authors such as Judith Krantz and Jackie Collins. There are journals written by the family's matriarch about that summer long ago, the winery book club, and the "scandalous" books a group of ladies read during that time. So much fun with the granddaughter and her thoughts about her grandmother and the books these ladies were reading.

One thing that resonated so much with me is that no matter how much you enjoy your life’s work, you may be left feeling unfulfilled and wanting if that work is not your passion. Recognizing this and instinctively knowing that something needs to change is the first step in bringing enjoyment and passion together.

This book was a pleasure to read; I didn't want it to end. It reminds me of the books of beloved authors of bygone days. I have never read this author before, but if this book is an example of her writing, characters, and story, I will gladly read her backlist and plan to start that now.

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I hope you have a great weekend, do something fun, and when all else fails, read a good book!