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lexicon1982's review against another edition
3.0
A good not great story but lots of unnecessary filler that makes the storyline move slowly. A little frustrated at how Abby’s family treat her and dismiss her so was hard to accept someone would keep working for a family who don’t accept your potential. Overall hard to see how this book has such a high rating. 3 stars for me.
rosiastur's review against another edition
5.0
To be enjoyed with a delicious bottle of wine! This story has great plot development and while it can seem predictable, the delight in finding out you’re wrong is delicious. I read this one stand along (I haven’t read the others), but I’m enchanted with the setting and the way this novel helped me feel like I know more than I actually do about wine and winemaking. Excellent and easily brisk read, perfect for an evening out on the porch, enjoying the weather and indulging.
daisy32's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this series overall; I gave the first book 4 stars, even. On the whole I'd give it a solid 3 across the board, though, including this book. The stories are intriguing, and I love that the romance aspect is light -- there's more intrigue/mystery and less romance, and I like that. The plots are all a *little* unbelievable, on some level, and that's where I'd fault the books as a whole. But the location is interesting, the characters overlap in a charming way, and it's been fun to read them all. If there's ever a fourth book in the series, I'd read that, too.
gothicvamperstein's review against another edition
5.0
The Winemaker's Secret was a fun read. One got to know the main characters and the plot is engaging. I didn't know the book was part of a series, but I want to read the first book as well now.
mishale1's review against another edition
4.0
Most of Abby’s life is wrapped up in her family’s vineyard. Her grandparents started it and most of her family works there. She’s always dreamed that she’d be in charge one day but her grandfather seems hesitant to turn it over to her.
On her grandparents’ wedding anniversary, her family’s priceless stash of ice wine is stolen. Before Abby can tell everyone, her grandfather has an accident and winds up in the hospital.
Everyone thinks it’s for the best that no one tells grandma.
Several other interesting things happen around the same time:
Abby’s brother Dean resurfaces after many years apart from the family. He’s a former drug addict and Abby is very suspicious of the timing on his arrival.
Abby meets and handsome doctor when her grandfather has his accident.
A mysterious box is found on the vineyard property. After some investigating on Abby’s part, a much bigger family secret emerges.
Lots of drama hits this family at once and most of it falls onto Abby’s shoulders.
Another enjoyable book by this author. She’s becoming a go-to for me.
This book is in a series, I have read the other books in this series but accidentally read two after three. So, this book does work as a stand alone novel but I’d recommend all three.
I got to read an early copy from NetGalley. Thanks!
On her grandparents’ wedding anniversary, her family’s priceless stash of ice wine is stolen. Before Abby can tell everyone, her grandfather has an accident and winds up in the hospital.
Everyone thinks it’s for the best that no one tells grandma.
Several other interesting things happen around the same time:
Abby’s brother Dean resurfaces after many years apart from the family. He’s a former drug addict and Abby is very suspicious of the timing on his arrival.
Abby meets and handsome doctor when her grandfather has his accident.
A mysterious box is found on the vineyard property. After some investigating on Abby’s part, a much bigger family secret emerges.
Lots of drama hits this family at once and most of it falls onto Abby’s shoulders.
Another enjoyable book by this author. She’s becoming a go-to for me.
This book is in a series, I have read the other books in this series but accidentally read two after three. So, this book does work as a stand alone novel but I’d recommend all three.
I got to read an early copy from NetGalley. Thanks!
eline_lovelyaudiobooks's review against another edition
2.0
The writing was captivating, and I liked the setting, the scenery, and the bigger plot line.
That being said, this book is a good example of one that should come with a Content Note or Trigger Warning. Abby is severely traumatized and her hospital trauma keeps getting triggered, while the reader learns in gruesome detail what led to her trauma when she was a little girl. It made me feel physically ill even though I don't have a hospital trauma. But I empathize with children.
I picked this up because Amazon said it was a cozy mystery. It wasn't very cozy to me. But the story was so well-written that I was invested even though I felt awful and was very tempted to DNF.
Abby's family treated her badly almost constantly and she didn't even care. I couldn't understand why they were so important to her, why she wanted to stay so badly, considering her brother told her she was bad at her job, her grandpa didn't take her seriously at all, her mother yelled at her and was patronizing, no one understood why she had trouble stepping into a hospital again, and then her grandma beat her up. Splitting her lip. With her fist.
I didn't like anyone in this story particularly much, except, I guess, for the doctor. He was decent. And Abby just took all the abuse. Wondering why she kept stuttering.
I've decided to rate this with 2 stars because it really should have that content warning. With the warning, I'd give it 3.5 stars because the people were all so unlikable which didn't seem to serve any point.
Kate Rudd narrates the audiobook and it's a really great production!
That being said, this book is a good example of one that should come with a Content Note or Trigger Warning. Abby is severely traumatized and her hospital trauma keeps getting triggered, while the reader learns in gruesome detail what led to her trauma when she was a little girl. It made me feel physically ill even though I don't have a hospital trauma. But I empathize with children.
I picked this up because Amazon said it was a cozy mystery. It wasn't very cozy to me. But the story was so well-written that I was invested even though I felt awful and was very tempted to DNF.
Abby's family treated her badly almost constantly and she didn't even care. I couldn't understand why they were so important to her, why she wanted to stay so badly, considering her brother told her she was bad at her job, her grandpa didn't take her seriously at all, her mother yelled at her and was patronizing, no one understood why she had trouble stepping into a hospital again, and then her grandma beat her up. Splitting her lip. With her fist.
I didn't like anyone in this story particularly much, except, I guess, for the doctor. He was decent. And Abby just took all the abuse. Wondering why she kept stuttering.
I've decided to rate this with 2 stars because it really should have that content warning. With the warning, I'd give it 3.5 stars because the people were all so unlikable which didn't seem to serve any point.
Kate Rudd narrates the audiobook and it's a really great production!
that_bookaholic_gal's review against another edition
4.0
Abby Harrington is enjoying a fabulous night relishing in the celebration of her grandparent’s sixtieth wedding anniversary. Proud owners of Harrington Vineyard, the happy couple is flourishing, with Harrington Wines one of the top wineries in the area.
Just as Abby thought she couldn’t contain any more happiness, her drug addict brother, Dean, returns to town bringing back haunting memories from her past. Then her grandparents prized ice wine collection disappears and her grandfather nearly dies in a small plane crash. Abby can’t help but think of the ironic connections.
Abby, determined to save her grandparents reputation and the winery, sets out with the help of others to figure out what is going on in the vineyard.
The Winemaker’s Secret was a cute, fun read. It was so nice to return to the town of Starlight Cove! I had a harder time connecting with the main character, Abby, but overall I enjoyed the read and if Cynthia writes any more books in this series I will definitely be reading them.
Just as Abby thought she couldn’t contain any more happiness, her drug addict brother, Dean, returns to town bringing back haunting memories from her past. Then her grandparents prized ice wine collection disappears and her grandfather nearly dies in a small plane crash. Abby can’t help but think of the ironic connections.
Abby, determined to save her grandparents reputation and the winery, sets out with the help of others to figure out what is going on in the vineyard.
The Winemaker’s Secret was a cute, fun read. It was so nice to return to the town of Starlight Cove! I had a harder time connecting with the main character, Abby, but overall I enjoyed the read and if Cynthia writes any more books in this series I will definitely be reading them.
manntan's review
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
anjana's review against another edition
4.0
https://superfluousreading.wordpress.com/2019/06/13/the-winemakers-secret-starlight-cove-2-by-cynthia-ellingsen
sarahgb's review against another edition
3.0
An easy quick read of the fortunes, fall and rise of a vineyard in a small community. Romance definitely on the menu too.
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