Going Home

Chandler Hill Inn #1

by Judith Keim

In 1970, Violet Hawkins’ only wish at eighteen is to escape her life in the Dayton, Ohio, foster-care system and make her way to the west coast to enjoy a mellow life and find the love she’s been missing all her life. She makes it to San Francisco, but soon learns she needs a job if she’s to live properly. A kind, young man named Kenton Chandler offers her a sandwich and a job at his father’s inn and vineyards.

With nothing to lose, Lettie takes him up on his offer and begins a whole new life in the Willamette Valley, Oregon. She immediately falls in love with the land and is fascinated with the idea of growing grapes in order to make wines. She, Kenton, and Rafe Lopez become friends as she learns about running the small inn on the property.

At the same time she marries Kenton, a stroke kills his father. And then before she can tell Kenton she’s pregnant, he dies in an automobile accident. Heartbroken and burdened with the gift of the Chandler Hill Inn and Winery, she’s left with the task of making them a success. Struggling to raise a child alone while working to grow the business, Lettie makes a shocking discovery that changes everything.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Chick Lit, Contemporary, Womens Fiction, Family, Wine

302 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 7, 2019

About the author

Judith Keim, A USA Today Best Selling Author, is a hybrid author who both has a publisher and self-publishes. Ms. Keim writes heart-warming novels about women who face unexpected challenges, meet them with strength, and find love and happiness along the way, stories with heart. Her best-selling books are based, in part, on many of the places she's lived or visited and on the interesting people that she's met, creating believable characters and realistic settings her many loyal readers love.

She enjoyed her childhood and young-adult years in Elmira, New York, and now makes her home in Boise, Idaho, with her husband and their two dachshunds, Kacy and Wally, and other members of her family.

While growing up, she was drawn to the idea of writing stories from a young age. Books were always present, being read, ready to go back to the library, or about to be discovered. All in her family shared information from the books in general conversation, giving them a wealth of knowledge and vivid imaginations.

Ms. Keim loves to hear from her readers and appreciates their enthusiasm for her stories.

To sign up for her newsletter, go here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/oeiwdp1vkc

Her website: https://judithkeim.com/

Follow her on Book Bub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/judit...

Reviews

[Bette Crosby · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this novel, Keim captures the 1970's era perfectly. It is a poignant story of a young woman coming to grips with the unfortunate hand life has given her. It is well-written and well paced. A great start to what promises to be a good series.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lettie is a foster kid who jumps out the system right to California. She runs through her money quickly and finds herself desperate for a job. Sitting on a stoop, Lettie meets Kenton who offers to take her away to Oregon to his family winery. Lettie decides to go to Oregon, meets Kenton's father and starts to build a life in a place she really loves.

Talk about insta-love x2. I was taken aback by the lack of character development that lead to not one but two proclamations of love. I was thinking that I could maybe believe a relationship with Kenton because he saved Lettie from homelessness. But Lettie literally jumps right from Rafe to Kenton.

Lettie gets married only to be widowed during a tragic accident, leaving her the owner of the start up winery, a single mother and having to face it all on her own. Lettie goes from innocence to strength, mother to grandmother and transverses 48 years of her life.

Its a story of love, life, and death. A very fast telling for what I thinks was 48 years of Lettie's life. I found Going Home a quick easy read.

I received this ARC copy of Going Home from. Wild Quail Publishing. This is my honest and voluntary review. Going Home is set for publication Feb. 13, 2019.

My Rating: 3 stars
Written by: Judith Kemp
Series: Chandler Hill Inn Series
Sequence in Series: Book 1
Paperback: 311 pages
Publisher: Wild Quail Publishing
Publication Date: January 24, 2019
ISBN-10: 0999244868
ISBN-13: 978-0999244869
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Going-Home-Cha...
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/goin...

[Amina Ibrahim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not the kind of book I usually read, but it was an okay read there was too much cancer in it for my liking . Going Home by Judith Keim is a women's fiction highlighting the life of Violet "Lettie".
Lettie lived in a foster home with eight other kids and strict, catholic foster parents. She craved the independence of the city and went to San Francisco when she came of age. But the picture life is not always perfect. After four months of trying to settle in the city and failing miserably, Lettie met Kenton Chandler, who offered her a job at Chandler Hills inn in the Willanette valley. When she got there she instantly felt at home on the beautiful rolling hills of the valley.
The book follows Lettie's life journey as she goes through ups and downs. It tells about her attractions, her marriage, her griefs and her happiness. After the death of Kenton and his father Rex, the responsibility of the inn and the vineyard falls on Lettie's shoulders. When she discovers she is pregnant, things become even more difficult than before.
I liked Lettie as a woman and a grandmother, but not as a mother. She admits she spends more time at the inn and the vineyard than with her daughter and on occasions she also said she didn't want her daughter, that she was a burden. So now it doesn't make sense that she expects her daughter to take over the inn from her.
The process gone behind the making of wine was fascinating.. I liked Rex's character and to know he was inspired by a real man made it more better. I couldn't connect with Lettie's character and the mother-daughter relationship didn't help either. But the book was good. Maybe other people will like it more than me.
Thank you to Netgalley and wild quail Publishing for giving me an ARC of this book.

[Tonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Going Home is truly about the heroine and main character of the story, a green girl trying to find her way in the world. Quickly becoming disillusioned with life in California, Lettie meets what she hopes is a nice guy and agrees, on a whim to travel with him to Oregon for a job. She winds up accepting the job and her life truly changes in a very short time. This novel allows the reader to watch Lettie grow up into the woman she is meant to be. Tangled love interests, secrets that come to light, wine making by day, love making by night. and frustrated relationships between mother and daughter keep this book moving when it could have slowed down. I would say the book goes down easy enough but has a tender bite to it that needs to be explored.

Lettie's joy and innocence and the way she connected with the land and the people around her really touched my heart. I also felt like she was real enough not some virtuous woman that only belongs on a pedestal. Well done, Judith Keim.... Going Home is about what home is and who we choose to make a place in our heart for along the way. I can't wait to read the next one!!!!!

[Arlena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Going Home
Author: Judith Keim
Publisher: Wild Quail Publishing
Series: Chandler Hill Inn Book 1
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:

"Going Home" by Judith Keim

My Rationalization:

I found "Going Home" a very emotional heartwarming intriguing novel what will simply pull you into the lives of these interesting characters. The main character Violet Hawkins, [Lettie...her nickname] who was simply trying to find her way at eighteen, running to California after coming out of the foster system in Ohio. Lettie will meet a guy [Keaton Chandler] and travel with him to Oregon to Chandler Hill. There Lettie will get a job at his family's bed & breakfast in Oregon and later will come to the winery and her life will change as she grows into a woman. It was simply wonderful seeing Lettie as one will as her love, secrets, winemaking, joy, and innocence will connect so well with all around her giving us what 'Going Home' is truly about. I was a little surprised where I thought some more twist was coming but didn't, however, I was in for some very interesting surprises that did come.

Be prepared for a good read of 'mystery, suspense, romance, tragedy, friendship and family' that will capture your attention through the read about Lettie's life over fifty years. It was so good to see Lettie finding a family she has always wanted but also there will be heartache also. This story of Lettie as we see her through once being an 18-year-old, a foster kid starting with nothing, on to 'dealing with the trails that life can throw at her becoming a strong and knowledgeable woman' who has grows into the woman she is meant to be. Lettie went through adult life and in the end, she not only has her daughter but a granddaughter that simply put the icing on the cake for her. Yes, this is one of those stories that may have you tearing up a bit as well as also laughing out loud. This is one of those reads that will keep one riveted to the very end!

Thank you, NetGalley and Wild Quail Publishing for the read and my giving my honest opinion on the read.

[Carol Boyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Going Home is a heart wrenching book, during the times of the 60's 70's, the Vietnam War and into the 2000's, it is about strength, determination and the loves of Lettie, a young girl from a foster home who finds herself by chance in a completely different world from the generosity of a stranger who offers her a job in his father's vineyards. I was completely immersed in this book, with the beautiful descriptive writing, and the authors' way of bringing her characters to life. I felt like I was right inside her story. Many events brought tears, many brought smiles, and I guessed one of the surprises early on but that did not take away from the plot development, it only made it more real and there were more that I didn't guess that happened and shocked me. This book is a riveting journey of Lettie's life, one that was hard to put down, wondering how this story would end. I can't wait to read the next book in the series after reading the first chapter I am hooked.

[Bambi Rathman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been drawn into a brand new series, in this first book of the series, by Judith Keim and I couldn't be more excited! It's a story that introduced me to Lettie (Violet Hawkins) and her determination to find her place in life. I hurt for her in the beginning with the childhood she endured and the foster parents who told her she was never going to be anything in her life. Tired of the life she was in, she strikes out for a new life in the "free love" of California only to find out that it wasn't any kind of life at all. Hungry and homeless, destiny brings her and Kenton Chandler to cross paths. He offers her a job at his family vineyard business and she's more than eager to accept.
The story takes the reader on a lifetime journey with Lettie. There are so many emotions that my heart went through with her. From all consuming love to the most devastating events, I felt the power of Lettie to pull through each and every situation her life brought her to. She stood up for her principles with determination. She has so much love and compassion for those she's loyal to. She loves with an infinite heart. I love the character of Lettie and felt a part of her life throughout the book.
Ms. Keim has a wonderful descriptive gift of writing. The research she put into the grape growing and wine making business is obvious and I learned how much there is that goes into that. I love the setting of the Willamette Valley in Oregon and I would love to visit there but feel like I have from reading this book.
I want to thank Ms. Keim for the honor of reading an ARC copy of this wonderful book. I am very much looking forward to reading the second book in this series, Coming Home, and living the next chapter in the Chandler Hill Inn Series. I definitely give it 5 stars.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book from page one!! A first by me by this author won’t be my last! This story is a captivating story based in the 1970s that makes you feel you are in that time period. This book keeps you rooting for Lettie the main character as she fights through life’s most terrible tragedies to never give up and find herself to make it through it all. Lettie’s life starts hard and some may not have made it through her earlier events and it seems her life will never be easy. I admired the authors detail in this character as well as the others. The complete story left me in tears and hoping for another book! Truly powerful and captivating story that grabs you instantly! A must read!!

[ROBIN RUIZ · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Violet ( Lettie) Hawkins ages out of foster care she gets as far away from Dayton, Ohio as she can. After living on the streets she meets Kenton Chandler and he offers her a sandwich and a job, this offer changes her life in ways she can’t begin to imagine and we the reader get the chance to follow Lettie on her journey and through the years as she makes a life and the family , she has always dreamed of !
Kenton takes her home to Chandler Hill and from the first look at the place , Violet finally feels she belongs . Along the way friends become family and we get to weave in and out of their lives as well .
I absolutely loved the writing of this book, I felt that I was at Chandler Hill seeing the green mountains and smelling the grapes .
I loved traveling through life with Lettie who has so many ups and downs, yet continues to fulfill her late father in law and her late husbands wishes to turn Chandler Hill into the establishment they always planned.

This is the first book in the series and I can’t wait to read more and return to The Inn again and again

[Cynthia Reaves · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was asked as a member of Judith Keim's review team to give my opinion of this book, Going Home. I have mixed feelings about this book. I loved the story behind the characters but I wanted more information on each character. The main character, Lettie, had such a tragic life but her life in the book was rushed through the years. I can say Ms. Keim knows how to write though as I once again read this book in a day.

I would recommend it to other readers as it was a good read, but not the best.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book of a light romantic trilogy. It was a fun, easy read and a welcome change from some of the more serious books that I've been reading. I look forward to the rest of the books in the series and keeping up with the Chandler family.

It's 1970 and 18 year old Letty has run away from her foster family and is trying to start her life over in San Francisco. After four months, some of it living on the streets, she is totally disillusioned with her new life. She meets a nice guy, Kenton, who offers her a job at his father’s inn and vineyards in Willamette Valley, Oregon. She takes him up on his offer and rides with him to what will become her new home. She falls in love with the land and quickly develops a friendship with Kenton and his father. Her friendship with Kenton quickly turns to love and they marry. After a tragic accident she inherits the inn and vineyard. The book covers her life for 48 more years as she tries to make a success of the inn by making changes and works to establish a good wine making operation. She works hard and treats other people fairly and in her new life finds a family that will love and protect her. Her only failing is that she is often too busy to spend time with her daughter and their relationship is never close. With hard work and perseverance, she is able to live a successful life full of love and happiness.

This is a light interesting read and I am looking forward to book two to re-connect with the characters at the Chandler Hill Inn.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was pulled into this story from the start. My heart was in it completely. I felt for Lettie strongly. She is a very likable character who has many ups and downs. Some laughs and lots of heartaches. I cried with her and wept for her. This story is a love story and a tragedy all in one. Filled with so much love that your heart feels full. Filled with loss that will break your heart. Lettie was raised my foster parents, never knowing her parents at all. Her foster mother made her believe she was ugly and would never be good at anything. When Lettie meets Kenton outside of his California apartment, hungry, tired and scared, she has no idea how her life is fixing to change. Kenton is a very nice guy and feels strong that Lettie will like his home so invites her to go with him for a job at the Inn his dad just opened. She agrees and falls in love with the land right off. The three main men in Lettie’s life are Kenton, his dad Rex and Rafe, Kenton’s friend and a worker on the farm where they make wine and run the Inn. There are sparks between Rafe and Lettie from the very beginning. But they are not meant to be. She goes away with Kenton and they marry. While they are away Kenton’s father has a stroke so they rush home to see about him. After they tell him about their marriage he is so very happy. He loves Lettie as a daughter and loves that she loves the land as much as he does. Sadly though he does not make it. They on leave from boot camp Kenton is killed in a car wreck on his way home to see Lettie. She has just learned she is going to have a baby. She’s so devastated as she loves him with all of her heart. In the short time she got to know the Chandler’s and be a part of their lives she has found much happiness and grief. Rex had made it where if something happened to Kenton she would then run the Inn and Vineyards. A task she takes to heart. Doing all the things she knows he would have wanted. She works hard and is raising a child alone too.

Lettie lives and breaths the land, the grapes, the Inn and her new family. She embraces them with all she has. All the love she possesses is for this land, the Inn and her child. Then after her daughter goes away to work in another country Rafe returns. They have always had a strong chemistry and after a while they are an item again. But this time on one can keep them apart. He is there for her no matter what. Through more tragedies. Through helping with her granddaughter and more loss.

This book literally made me weep. I mean ugly crying is not even a good description. So much loss and then the biggest loss of all. It just ripped my heart into. Now I can’t wait for the next book in this series to see what happens next. I loved this book from start to finish. Even through all the tears it was one I could not put down. The laughter, the descriptions of the land, the Inn, the vineyards and her home made me feel like I was right there. Lettie was like someone I knew personally. Like that friend you root for to have it all. To be there for when life hurts her. She’s such a likable person you just feel like she is a real person sitting with you while you read about her life. From 18 on she is a fighter and such a good person.

I loved all the characters in this book. Well one man was deplorable.. A real jerk. But all the others were great. Like a huge family that surround each other through thick and thin.

I was given an ARC of this book and leave this review of my own accord. My words and feelings.

A big, huge 5 star book that I highly recommend. A must read.

[Ann-Maree · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story of love, life, and death “Going Home” is a heart-wrenching book that will draw you into the heroine and her life. It is a very fast moving tale at times that will take us on a journey of Lettie’s life from Dayton, Ohio at the age of 18 to Willamette Valley, Oregon. She has recently moved to San Francisco to start a new life of her own choosing but soon finds life is not much easier out of foster care. I would have loved to have this book been written as a full novel with much more depth in both the story and the other characters. We only got to read and learn about Lettie’s life and how her choices affected her life and those around her. I very much enjoyed the book that gave me moments of great sadness and great joy for this character.
“But sometimes things have a way of working out as they might’ve all along.”

Violet Hawkins (Lettie) is in San Fransico during the 70s with all the flower power and free love during the Vietnam war she meets Kenton Chandler. Kenton offers her a job at his father’s Inn and vineyard, with no luck finding a job in San Fransico Lettie decided to take up his offer. A new life is in her future in a place she soon finds gives her a place to call home with people that care and need her. It’s the closest thing she has had to a family ever. Kenton soon becomes her friend as well as Rafe Lopez who works with his father on the vineyard and with there help and help from Kenton father Rex she learns she wants to learn to make wine.

Violet finds she wants more and is searching for love but where will she find it?

After an encounter with someone she soon finds herself attracted to Kenton how is not shy in telling and show Lettie exactly how he feels about her. Lettie soon learns the joy of love, marriage, family and the sadness of death, grief, and responsibility of a family. Friendship with many women will place a large part in Lettie’s life over the next decade or three as she learns to be the strong and independent woman of the ever-changing world.

As like most of us Lettie will make many mistakes and have many regrets with the choices she has made during her life but when she learns of something it just might change everything she believed to be true.

I loved learning about vineyards and the making of wine during my read and as I had recently visited my first winery I was very intrigued to learn more from this author who must have done a whole lot of research for this book.

[Nana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given an advanced copy of this book for an honest review.
This is a powerful story about Lettie. Lettie grew up in the foster care system and as she said, some parents are only in it for the money. When she aged out of the foster care system, she went to San Francisco where she discovered she would need a job if she wanted to eat. She met Kenton Chandler who offered her a job at his inn and she took it.
She started working in the inn but Kenton and his father had plans of having a great winery one day. She fell in love with the land and learning about growing grapes. When Kenton and Lettie were getting married, his father had a stoke and when they arrived, he passed away. He left extensive plans on how the winery should be built and Kenton and Kettie were going to see his dream come true. Kenton got called into the military and after basic training when he was on his way home, he and his friend were in a car accident and they didn't survive.
Lettie could have turned bitter, could have felt sorry for herself but instead, we see the amazing things this woman accomplished. There were still struggles, heartache, but she carried on. When she was having the winery built just as her father-in-law wanted, the builder decided he knew more than she did, and did it his way. Well, Lettie stood right up to him and told him to tear it all down and do it the way it was supposed to be done and he did. Lettie discovered after her husband died that she was pregnant. She knew nothing about being a mother, but she did it.
It was wonderful to read about this strong woman that had so many bad things happen but was such a positive, wonderful woman. You may think that this is the whole book but rest assured, far from it. There are surprises along the way, there are new people to meet and at the end of the book, I say, wow, that was a gooooooooooooooooooooood book. Even though I received an advanced copy, I preordered it. It is that good.

[ella ☆ any pronouns · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) from the author in exchange for an honest review

I had not been exposed to any of Kiem's work prior to picking up GOING HOME, but I have to say, I am pleasantly surprised and will without a doubt be checking out some of her previous works after loving this read! I am also going to pick up a hardcopy once it is released, and I encourage all of you to do as well. This girl deserves more props, man.

I have been getting more and more into women's fiction, and I have to say, GOING HOME is by far the most engaging, raw, and emotionally heartfelt story I have yet to read in this genre.

What I love most about GOING HOME is the constant undertone of women empowerment. With all of the discrimination towards women just for being women, I applaud the main character, Lettie, for persevering through all of her hardships regardless of how tiring and draining they were and I applaud Keim for being able to pull off such a powerful character like Lettie as it isn't an easy task. Also, Lettie's ability to stay positive through everything instead of breaking down and becoming a 'negative nelly' as I, as well as countless others, tend to do in consuming situations, is truly incredible.

Lettie's journey truly warmed my heart and I am absolutely in awe over aspect of her, her life, her relationships, and her family. There is something so... breathtaking. I know this sounds dramatic, but there isn't a way that isn't dramatic to describe my pure attachment, for lack of better words, to GOING HOME.

Not going to lie, I definitely cried during the beginning, and I have never been the kind of person to cry at movies or books, but especially books. This book affected me emotionally in more ways than I can begin to describe.

GOING HOME is moving read that is sure to get you out of your book slump or further your current desire to read. I will be adding this one to my reread list, that's for sure!

[Patricia Cosgrove · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading Going Home by Judith Keim and once again she has written another great book and start to new series. A 18 year old foster child Violet Hawkins leaves Ohio and goes to California to strike out on her own. This story takes place in the 70's when flower children and make love not war was the going thing. She preferred to be called Lettie, tried to make it for 4 months but realized that her money was getting low and she was in need of a job and that is when she meets Kenton Chandler. Kenton tells her his father has a vineyard in Oregon and if she needs and wants a job their hiring. She accepts his offer and begins a new life in a new world to her. Living in this new world she finally feels what it is like to belong to a family. From the beauty of the vineyards, the families and workers Judith Keims book really warms your heart and leaves you waiting for the next book.

[Dawn Byers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another very good book - by Judith Keim.
I was given this book by the author for an honest review -
This is the second book I have read by her and have loved them both -
Violet, a foster child can't wait to be on her own - but she needs a job -
She meets Kenton, who offers her a job in his fathers vineyard - -she falls in love with the place, and the people, as they fall in love with her.
She meets Rafe and the chemistry is hot but his family feels differently.
She later marries Kenton but sadly he is killed in an accident and she is left to raise her daughter alone plus manage the vineyards.
The struggle with the mother and daughter is real, the friendships with Violet and her workers is precious and as life continues a grandbaby enters who is so precious and loved.
You will feel all the wonderful emotions in the life of Violet as she lives a full and wonderful life.
Grab this book for a heartwarming read!

[Judi Easley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've now read all three in this trilogy. The characters are well done and create a tight knit group that evolve through the three books. The individual and overarching plots are well thought out and interesting with lots of drama as families go. There's a good balance between the romances and the overall stories as well as between action, dialogue and description. Through it all, I think my favorite character is Rafe. He's so sweet. I admired Lettie for managing all she did with no preparation. Then Cami had to do the same thing and live up to Lettie as well. No easy task. I liked the miniature daschund touch. Very sweet. Recommended, read all three!

[Noreen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story covers a lifetime of experiences for Lettie; the main character, from when she moves out of foster care to the end of her life. Lettie was a strong character and I was impressed with the amount of responsibilities she was left at such a young age. She had a legacy to create was always keeping the original owner of the Inn and Winery in her heart and this reflected in her hard work to make it the best she could. Some of her life's events felt like they may have been rushed to get in so much. I did enjoy the book and read it in a day. Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC for my honest review.

[Teresa Timm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think Going Home is the start of what will be Judith Keim's strongest series. I just finished reading the ARC copy I received today for review. It is a tear jerker at beginning and end but what an wonderful story . It starts in 1970 with the journey of Violet Hawkins, Lettie to her friends...a young woman girl who grew up in foster homes in Ohio. At 18, Lettie ventures out to San Francisco and finds herself on the Chandler vinyard in Oregon owned by Rex Chandler a retired movie star and his son, Keaton. She loves the land and feels suddenly at home with Keaton and Rafe learning about growing grapes, which is a good thing because at the age of 19 she finds herself the owner of Chandler Inn with a baby on the way.


This book will keep you riveted to the end wanting to know what is going to happen to Lettie...how is she going to manage, will she succeed? This book could be a Hallmark movie. A great read and way to start out 2019

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in beautiful Oregon wine country, this is the sweet and heart-wrenching story of a brave, determined young woman's journey through life. Defying the odds, and a painful and challenging past, she follows her heart, finds herself and where she truly belongs. A lovely read.

[Gayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review

This is my first time to read this author. What a magnificent writer. I'm not very good at writing reviews but I can tell you this was one of the best books I've read. I highly recommend it to everyone. I could not stop reading. I will certainly read more by her.

[Margaret Yelton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a good read, I cried at the end of it. I would certainly recommend it too anyone.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tissues a must.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming

I couldn't put this down. At times, when something heartbreaking happened, I wanted to, but I just had to go on. So glad I did. This story will stay with me forever.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook. In 1970 California, Violet had no family, no income, no future until she met Kenton Chandler who offered her a sandwich and a job in Oregon with his father’s Inn and wine property. How her life changed when she fell in love with the land at first sight!

[Karina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Going Home by Judith Keim is a very heartwarming emotional Story. I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series. I was hooked from the beginning and read this book in one sitting. Yes it was that good, I couldn’t put it down. The characters were well written and realistic, the descriptions are very realistic you can visualize, as if you were there. Judith doesn’t disappoint in this first book in her new series. I can’t wait for the next book in this series!

[Jill Eshenbaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely could not put this book down. Started at night and read late into the middle of the night. As a child of the 60s, the Vietnam war was front and center so this resonated with me. All the characters in the book were so well developed that the reader felt like they were friends of the family. The story of Lettie and how she started with nothing, dealt with the trials that life threw at her and how she became a strong and knowledgeable women is so worth the time you spend reading this book. All the female characters are strong, centered women which is topical for today's world. I can't wait for the next book in the series.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Going Home

Very good book about a young 18 year old lonely foster child moving from Ohio to San Francisco where she met a young man from Oregon. He then took her home to his family vineyard.

Lettie marries and inherits the vineyard. Life continues to happen thru a daughter, granddaughter, new life partner and finally death. There is so much that happens during her lifetime. Read the book.

[Jeannie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweeping, heart wrenching story. Need tissues when you read this one. Lettie is a strong character and her story is of determination, heartbreak, love, lost love and family. The descriptive writing style of the author had me visualizing the beautiful vineyards. The era of the late 60's, Vietnam war and the early 70's resonated with me. I read this book in two days and didn't want to put it down. I am looking forward to reading the second book. I voluntarily reviewed a copy I received from the author.