Eight Hundred Grapes

Who knew it takes 800 to make one bottle of wine? That and many other fascinating, arcane facts fill this romantic peek behind the scenes of a Sonoma, California, vineyard and the offbeat members of the family that owns it. Narrator Joy Osmanski's feisty delivery is just right for Georgia, the 30-year-old lawyer who discovers that her too-good-to-be-true fiancé is too good to be true. When a terrible secret emerges just weeks before her wedding to Ben, Georgia runs home to the vineyard only to discover more secrets lurking behind every grapevine. Her parents' marriage is in trouble, her twin brothers are feuding over a woman, and her father is planning to sell the vineyard. Whether recounting flashbacks or dealing with present-day crises, Osmanski's performance is winning. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine

June 8, 2015
Dave (The First Husband) both charms and pulls at the heartstrings in this well-crafted novel about a Northern California winemaker's daughter and the foibles of her family. Georgia Ford seemingly has it all: a devoted fiancé, a high-powered career in Los Angeles, and a loving family on a vineyard in Northern California. But in an instant, Georgia learns that not everything is as it seems. She's rocked by a series of revealed secrets, including one about her fiancé so explosive that she questions whether to go through with the marriage, and the bitterâand unrealizedâtruth about her parents' relationship, which the author also covers from her parents' point of view. Georgia's wrenching journey, and those of other members of her family, are detailed in heartbreaking fashion, as each character comes to terms with their new, unforseen situation. Along the way, the author throws in a few secrets about winemakingâin fact, the title is a reference to the number of grapes needed to produce a bottle of wine. This winning tale will both satisfy on a literary level and encourage oenophiles to pour themselves a glass of a recent vintage to enjoy while reading; it's a tasty treat for wine lovers and teetotalers alike. Agent: Suzanne Gluck, WME Entertainment.