The True Purpose of Vines (The Winemakers Book 1)
Portugal, 1870. Widowed and running a vineyard on her own as a woman, Julia is trying to pay back her late husband’s loan. Griffin is the Englishman sent to learn the winemaking trade while also checking on Julia’s production for the man who controls her loan contract. The two meet and there’s an instant attraction. But Julia is hiding something—a secret valley that may help her keep their home but risks the terms of her contract and possibly losing everything. When a plague begins infecting the vineyards, Julia and Griffin will find themselves on a journey to save the Douro Valley’s wine production. Despite their growing affection, can their love overcome the pressures of society?
Based on real events and people, The True Purpose of Vines is a historical romance about forbidden love and cultural clashes set within the vineyards of Portugal. The craft of winemaking permeates the narrative in fascinating ways. Julia’s expertise brings to life the practice of growing, harvesting, and fermenting wine alongside the beautiful setting. I felt the allure of the craft through Siniscalchi’s elegant prose. The setting and characters are well-developed and lush. Julia is engagingly strong-willed and spirited. Griffin is slightly overbearing but softens as the narrative progresses. Both characters find themselves restricted by the pressures of their respective societies as well as by their own prejudices. Siniscalchi deftly weaves a narrative of mounting obstacles, overcoming gender and social inequalities, and steamy romance.
