When financial analyst Samantha Goodyear gets the opportunity to make wine in the hills of France, she knows she can’t turn it down. In Beaujolais, Sam builds a picture perfect new life filled with romance and intrigue—until trouble in paradise sends her running back to the states. Can Sam find a way to make her dreams of becoming a world-renowned vinter come true on Californian soil? Or is she destined to live the destitute life of a wannabe winemaker?
Author Linda Sheehan (who is herself the co-owner of a wine company based out of Napa) lends her expertise to the writing of DECANTED, which is filled with wine terminology, descriptions of unique flavors of wine, and in-depth knowledge of the wine-making process. Sheehan’s love for wine infuses the book with a passionate, enthusiastic charm that is hard to resist. DECANTED is also a dual narrative novel. While most of the book follows Sam’s struggle to produce her own label of wine, it also features Samantha’s aunt, Vivian Goodyear, as she makes her way in pre-World War II Paris. Vivian’s storyline is a reflection of Samantha’s, in that both women face decisions that force them to choose between comfort and passion. Their stories are connected through art and wine, and at the end of the novel they dovetail nicely in an interesting way.
During her time in France, Samantha connects with Julien LeMont, the heir to a French wine dynasty. Julien’s passion for wine and playboy reputation make him the perfect romantic interest for a novel like DECANTED. However, the development of their romance leaves much to be desired. Julien and Samantha fall in love quickly and then fizzle out just as fast, which robs the novel of some of its tension and makes the romance the weakest part of book’s narrative.
Should DECANTED be shelved under romance or women’s fiction? It isn’t always clear. The beginning of story is stylized like a romance, but the book’s overall storyline is focused on Sam’s growth and development. This is a solid book about a woman who gives up everything to follow her passion and the universal themes will satisfy all women’s fiction readers—so long as they don’t expect a romantic, wedding-bell-punctuated happily ever after.
DECANTED is a poignant novel about a woman striking out on her own in search of a life filled with passion. The author’s love for wine fills the book, and its fun dual narrative and universal themes make it a good read for fans of the women’s fiction genre.
~Stephani Hren for IndieReader