Between the Vines

by Tricia Stringer

She's given up everything for love: it could be the biggest mistake of her life...

Taylor Rourke wants to change her impulsive ways when it comes to romance and not fall for any man on a whim, but then on a hen party trip to a Coonawarra vineyard, she meets Edward Starr. Gorgeous and charismatic, Edward is enough to make any girl give up her flat and job in Adelaide and move to the country.

So it's something of a shock that when she gets there, Edward is nowhere to be seen. Not wanting to admit she may have made a mistake and return home in disgrace, Taylor accepts the job that Edward's younger brother Pete offers her and throws herself into her work, keen to learn as much as she can about the wine trade.

Taylor is thrilled when Ed returns, but she quickly discovers he may not be the man she thought he was. Her growing friendship with Pete causes tension between the brothers who have fallen out over a woman in the past. That's not the only source of conflict: Pete has a dream to save the family vines, Edward's dreams lie elsewhere.

As the lies and deceit grow, matters come to a head in the vibrant and demanding vintage season. Will Taylor's dream of a new life and love between the vines come true? Or is there only heartbreak ahead?

Set in the beautiful Coonawarra vineyards, a wonderful feel-good rural romance from best-selling Australian author, Tricia Stringer.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary

432 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2015

About the author

Tricia Stringer is a bestselling and award-winning author. Among others, her books include commercial fiction titles Table For Eight, The Model Wife and The Family Inheritance, the rural romances A Chance of Stormy Weather and Come Rain or Shine and historical sagas Heart of the Country, Dust on the Horizon and Jewel in the North, set in the 19th Century Flinders Ranges. Tricia lives in the beautiful Copper Coast region of South Australia, often exploring Australia's diverse communities and landscapes, and shares this passion for the country and its people through her authentic stories and their vivid characters.
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Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The hen’s weekend for their great friend Rosie looked set to be a good one! Leaving Adelaide for the Coonawarra winery district on the Friday, staying two nights in Penola in the south-east of South Australia and returning home Sunday – probably worse for wear – was the plan. Designated driver Taylor Rourke was sure she wouldn’t have as much fun as the other girls - but before they had even checked into their hotel; at the last winery for the day, Taylor’s eye was caught by the handsome and enigmatic Edward Starr. Share owner of Wriggly Creek winery with his brother Peter, Edward proved himself to be an excellent distraction for Taylor over the weekend…

Back at home and having had a wonderful time at Rosie’s wedding, Taylor found herself unhappy in her courier job and about to lose the place she’d long called home. On a whim, she mentally threw her hands in the air and decided to move away from Adelaide; start afresh. And of course her thoughts were on Edward and the fact that he’d asked her to return. Her arrival back at Wriggly Creek winery was unannounced – and the surprise she thought she’d give Edward turned to shock for Taylor. Edward wasn’t anywhere to be found – younger brother Peter made her feel welcome though, and before long she was helping out around the winery.

But there were problems on the horizon – once Edward returned, the tension between the brothers was obvious; it was clear they had different ideas for the future of Wriggly Creek. As the time to harvest the grapes drew closer, the impasse between the boys grew. And so did the lies and deception – Taylor was torn. She had grown to love the winery and the surrounding countryside; the people were friendly, the atmosphere so different to her home town. What would happen in the future, both to the winery and to her? Had she set herself up for heartbreak once again?

I thoroughly enjoyed Between the Vines by Aussie author Tricia Stringer. Set in South Australia and specifically the Coonawarra vineyards in the lower south-east, it felt like coming home to me. Mention of Naracoorte, Penola and Mount Gambier, as well as Adelaide – all places I know well as I’ve lived in most. I loved to see the way Taylor grew over the duration of the story; from a girl continuing to jump into relationships to her detriment, to a young woman confident and happy in her own skin. Between the Vines is a fabulous rural romance which I highly recommend.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy to read and review.

[Tien · Rating 3 out of 5]

Between the Vines is a novel of beautiful and intriguing setting. Set in the famed South Australian vineyards, in Coonawarra, it lends a gorgeous & sunny air as the atmosphere of the novel. Being set within the vineyard itself with characters involved in winemaking engages my curiosity and also reminds me that I need another holiday!

The initial attraction between Taylor and Ed was thrilling. Taylor hasn’t had the best of luck in the men department so whilst she wanted to take the chance with Ed, she also needed to take it slow. As it turned out, he wasn’t what he seemed. Pete, on the other hand, is a bit like the boy next door –a lovely man whom you’d not glance twice if you walk past them on the street. Tension between these three characters were drawn taut but with a clear line of what’s really the best outcome for them all.

For some reason, I got really confused between Ed and Pete (I kept forgetting which brother is which!) in the beginning so I needed my full concentration reading that I even missed my train stop (*grump*) but I got into the swing of it pretty soon. I also seemed to have missed the humour in the F’s... I found this penchant of Taylor actually annoying and could do without it.

Overall, Between the Vines is a fine leisure read. Unfortunately, as this was a train-read for me, I could not have a glass a wine whilst reading though I really really wanted to –this would have improved my reading experience.

Thanks Harlequin Australia for eARC via NetGalley in exchange of honest review

[Sharah McConville · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first time reading something by Tricia Stringer and I really enjoyed this story.

[Lydia Newman]

Gonna be reading some random books in NZ, borrowing what I can

[Lauredhel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t know how much I’d even call this a straight-up Romance - but it is a somewhat unconventional contemporary Australian domestic drama, set in a vineyard, with a romantic plotline. We see through the eyes of all three main characters: two orphaned brothers who own a Coonwarra vineyard but are on the verge of sliding into a feud, and the woman who strays into their lives.

I loved the competence porn; Taylor might be a bit of a stray at the start of the book, but she works hard and is good at the bits of winemaking and administration that she picks up. I liked the winemaking details and the sense of place. The Coonawarra reminds me of my beloved Margaret River region (which is where my next read is coming from, The Grass is Greener).

The romance didn’t carry a lot in the way of surprises for me, but it was sweet and it rang true. I liked that the brothers’ impending feud was drawn realistically, without one being a cartoonish villain and one an unblemished hero. Peter and Edward had different ideas about the direction the vineyard should be going, with credible motivations and actions. This dynamic is the main driver of the action of the book.

This is a strong book, especially for those who dream of a vine change to an Australian vineyard. (OK, ok, I can't think of a good vineyard-related word that rhymes with "sea" and "tree". Apologies. "Chablis change"?) Lastly, if a series was being contemplated, I would love a M/M romance from Antoine’s point of view!

[Sandy Vaile · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the South Australian vineyard setting, complex characters, and the ongoing tension. Taylor doesn't trust herself to detect deception in men she's attracted to, so it determined to take it slowly with dashing winery owner, Edward. He is obviously attracted to her, and patient, but there are some warning signs that Taylor refuses to ignore.

His all around nice guy brother, Pete, is the one who takes the time to show Taylor the inner workings of the winery. The brothers don't see eye-to-eye about much, from spending time with Taylor to running the family winery, but they'll need to band together to save the business from someone close at hand who is undermining everything they've worked for.

[Aileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks for a great read Tricia. I loved Taylor. She was a very head strong character who showed initiative and took control of herself and her relationships between Peter and Ed. Peter and Ed were typical brothers who had different ideas on running the winery but didn't communicate them too well. I loved the twists, it gave the book some mystery along with the romance that Taylor wanted but was a little reluctant to jump into.

[Dzintra aka Ingrid · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had me imagining what it would be like for city girl Taylor to move to a Vineyard after meeting one of the Owners there whilst attending a Hens Party! Once there things aren’t what she imagined it would be like. However, upon meeting the Vigneron there Taylor’s World turns around as she starts to learn more about Winemaking! A very enticing read mixed in with some romance, a mystery and a surprise!

Thank You Tricia for this book which I won through fb….a very enjoyable read which indeed had me reaching for a glass of red!

[Jill · Rating 2 out of 5]

'Between the Vines' by Tricia Stringer disappointed me. It had a weak plot, limp characters, a non-sizzling romance, and dragged on for many pages. However, the description of winemaking seemed realistic and the Coonawarra wine region is depicted in loving terms. I thought it a bit strange that in the notes at the back of the book the author says that most of the places are fictional; however, she mentions all real-life towns a number of times (Naracoorte, Penola, Robe, Casterton, Keith) and I only spotted a couple in passing that may have been made up. Perhaps she meant the wineries. I thought Taylor's motives for moving to the winery and then cooking for everyone seemed silly. The two brothers she gets involved with were just basically nice people and had absolutely no oomph to them. Wishy-washy.

[Tanya Boulter · Rating 1 out of 5]

blah...very disappointed! boring storyline and near non existent love story. I normally like tricia stringer but this was definitely not 1 of her finest

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I am travelling to the Coonawarra region in April, this was the obvious pick off my shelf of backlist books to read. I have read Tricia's latest offering The Model Wife and enjoyed that so had no hesitation in choosing Between the Vines.

Taylor is single with a couple of failed relationships behind her. She is the designated driver for her friends who head to Coonawarra for a hens weekend. One of the wineries they visit is a small winery called Wriggly Creek wines, whilst there she meets the two brothers who co-own the winery. She is immediately taken with Ed and vice versa. After returning back to Adelaide she is fired from her job and decides to return to Coonawarra and see if a relationship with Ed has any merit. She finishes up being offered a casual job working at the winery where she learns all about the growing and production of wine. She finds that working with the brothers has its challenges, and when they start arguing between themselves about the future of the winery she is caught between the two.

I would describe this book as Women's Fiction rather than Rural Romance as it had a compelling story which touched on romance but had its share of drama too. I was immediately captivated by the plot and I loved the descriptions of the Coonawarra region and I learned about the process of making wine in the other red centre of Australia.

[Mary Monks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
It is set in the Coonawarra wine region of South Australia.
Taylor attends the area in a party of young women celebrating a hen's weekend.
While there she finds herself attracted to one of the owners, Edward.
Before she goes back to Adelaide, he suggests she come back again.
After losing her job, she decides to go back, but when she arrives, Ed is nowhere to be found!
She decides to stay however,and manages to make herself useful in the vineyard.
Ed does eventually return, but is the attraction strong enough to make a relationship?
What of Ed's brother Peter?
Some underhanded things are happening at the vineyard, and Taylor becomes an integral part of it all!
Who are the guilty parties?

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this story to be a disappointment. The plot sounded interesting and starting to reading the story, it looked promising. Until the choices that the heroine Taylor makes, became a major disappointment for me. And the choices she makes throughout the book I found cringe-worthy.

I found Taylor's motive for moving to the winery silly. No plans what-so-ever, at first chasing a guy, she later puts at arm's length and later breaks up with. She had no real chemistry with the characters. The other characters in the book had better chemistry with each other, they with Taylor.

[Vicki Robe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have come to the conclusion (no offence to any other of the great Aussie writers) that Tricia Stringer and Rachael Johns are my favorite writers. I enjoy every one of their fantastic books. I can't wait to find out what happens in the storyline but then I am disappointed that the book if finished. Between the Vines was a joy to read. I just couldn't put it down!

I highly recommend this book which seems to get better with each page you read. Although I worked out who the bad guy/girl is, I still didn't pick everything that was going to happen.

[Carolyn Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the setting in South Australia which is my hometown and learning a little bit about vineyards and how the wine is made. However the characters were a bit too obvious and didn't have enough depth for me. I found it weird how little Taylor knew about the most common types of wine, considering she grew up in SA. I was able to predict the entire storyline very early. It would have been better if there had been an unexpected twist maybe.

[Dianne Sidebottom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing of grapes for the wine industry certainly came out in this story set in South Australia. Legacy left for brothers to make ago of and a van of women doing a hen's crawl of the area a chance meet for Taylor. Some mystery n innuendo in the story could have been a different outcome. I live in a winery area n plead ignorance of what's goes on mainly.

[Linda Dembskey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a tough read in that it was seemingly a light summer beach read yet none of the characters were likeable which made it heavy going. However I found myself thinking about the story for a while after I finished the book.

Its the first time I've read this author - jury is still our for me.

[Joanne Mawhirt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taylor takes chances and opportunities appear to change her life direction. This is what she is looking for but there’s always doubt and sometimes confusion when you get more than you bargain for. Sometimes life changing decisions can go either way but we all have to do it sometime!

[Tania Boege · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring and beautiful

Another fantastic Doty from the wonderful Tricia Stringer. I love reading her books and always get so caught up in her story telling that I’m disappointed when it ends

[Shakira Quor · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars from me! Looking forward to adding a few more Tricia Stringer’s to my collection.

I would like to make this comment though-
There sure is a lot of kettle boiling and tea/ coffee drinking in Wriggly Creek 😆

[Gaylene johns · Rating 5 out of 5]

enjoyed this book another great read xx

[Abby Nancarrow grimshaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one took a bit to get into but enjoyed it after that. It's great how Tricia writes about different types of farming ie. This one was about grape growers and how they make the wine.

[Stacey Houllis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I throughly enjoyed reading this book a rural romance set in Coonawarra of young woman search for love and job. TAYLOR Rouke falls for Ed

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to read story about following your intuition.

[Sarah Molineaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant is all I can say

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book a great read. It was your typical romance book.

[Leah Hyndman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice light long weekend read!

[Barbara Bosher · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 Stars.
As you can see I read it in two days. That is testament to how interested it kept me. I really enjoyed this novel and will certainly be purchasing more novels by Tricia Stringer.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

I quite liked this book.
It is set in the South Austalian wine region, on a small family run winery.

[Janine · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was disappointing with characters and behaviours I couldn't relate to. It was also repetitive and too long.