The West Country Winery

by Lizzie Lovell

Chrissie loves her London life and job as an events manager. She loves her loyal lodger and cleaner Melina (a bit neurotic but hardly ever breaks anything), and her daughters Scarlet (loud, vegan, activist) and Ruby (quiet, musician, boffin). She even loves her husband Rob, despite him deciding to cycle across Africa. For a year. But life as the only responsible adult has left Chrissie stressed and overworked, so much so that she is almost relieved when her mum calls her home to Devon to help with the struggling family vineyard. Almost. But if Chrissie has her doubts about moving, how will she persuade the girls to trade their multi-cultural, fast-paced London lives for a twice-weekly bus service and erratic broadband? Only Melina is keen to come along for the ride - worried as she is about Brexit and despite Chrissie's description of the local villagers, Melina is on the look-out for a Brit to marry. Chrissie gives herself a if she can make it through until then, maybe they can celebrate as a family with their own fizz? But adjusting to West Country life may take more than she bargained for... A comedic state-of-the-nation tale for fans of Katie Fforde, Jenny Colgan and Phillipa Ashley.

Genres: Love

336 pages, Paperback

Published October 1, 2019

Reviews

[©hrissie ❁ · Rating 3 out of 5]

The West Country Winery by Lizzie Lovell promises more than it delivers: it is possibly recommendable to the most enthusiastic of wine-enthusiasts amongst us, though one does hope to be able to connect more with characters rather than wine, in a novel. Both would have been a plus, admittedly.

It is in fact an astonishing reminder that execution is key in storytelling, for this one in particular has a frustrating level of exciting components going for it: life at crossroads followed by the return to the family vineyard in picturesque Devon, the rediscovery of family bonds coupled with the mission to make things right in terms of both past and future, the criss-crossing story of the husband cycling through Africa for a year. Also, the beautiful bookcover design! Needless to say how disappointing it was to find that I could not wait for it to end.

The question is: why does none of it work?

A number of reasons:

1. The characters are awkwardly flat, with the exception of Melina, a strong Polish woman whom we get to know through Christabel's underestimating eyes, and who turns out to be a marvellous creature: resourceful, knowledgeable about wine, the earth and farm life, and able to apply herself in anything she sets her mind to.

2. The narrative felt forced, lacked in purpose, and seemed to merely plod on in its latter part. 

3. Where one would most have expected a climax of some emotional amplitude - the return of the husband from his travels or the lack therefore and its repercussions (indeed no such decision is expounded upon), what we get is actually an abrupt ending devoid of thought or feeling. 

4. The writing, notwithstanding the good humour, was probably not the most engaging either.

I would honestly have to say 2.5 ⭐ - this sadly did not work for me.

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book very unsatisfying. It started off well but it went downhill very quickly and it got so boring because it never went anywhere. The book seemed to just stop at thr end without a proper finish.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...

This book grabbed my attention because it has so many of my favourite colours on the cover. However, despite the beauty of the cover, the story did not match my enthusiasms and I found it to be as bland as the wine from the struggling Devonshire winery.

[Bookread2day · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chrissie is a busy wife, mother, who works as an events managet. The story opens up families being like all families who argue.
On one occasion when Chrissie is busy working from home, her cleaner Melina has the dam cheek to bring her clothes in bin bags to Chrissie house, claiming she has been evicted, her boyfriend has finished with her, but she is going to stay with a friend until she finds a place to live. Well what can Chrissie say, but yes that's okay to leave your clothes here.
The West Country Winery is a pleasantly read, with quite a lot that I have deliberately left out to not spoil it for readers that are about to read this book or have put it on their to read list. I have also read The Juniper Gin Joint by Lizzie Lovell.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely book set in the Wine making world. Chrissie goes back to help her family wine making business, when her husband decides he is taking a year out to travel around Africa on a bike. She is left to deal with the fallout. I enjoyed the background to wine making and felt that I learnt something, not only about the struggles that the wine makers face.
Chrissie is having to consider upgrading her families business to make it successful alongside dealing with 'city girl' daughters having to deal with rural life and new schools.
A great book about the struggles of mid life crisis and family life.

[Justkeepreading · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the author that brought us the feel good book The Juniper Gin joint. Now brings us The West Country winery.

Chrissy loves her London job as an event manager. She loves her lovely cleaner, lodger and friend Melina, she loves her children Scarlet and Ruby. Chrissy loves her husband Rob (despite him leaving her and the children behind as he decides to cycle across Africa for a year).

But Chrissy is tired, she is overworked, overwhelmed, stressed and in desperate need of a break away from her hectic life.

So when Chrissy mum calls her and asks her to go home. As she desperately needs help with the struggling vineyard. But she first has to persuade her children to leave behind the dazzling lights of London for a twice a day bus service, slow broadband and nothing but rolling hills and greenery.

A feel good, fun, story about family, love, friendship, finding yourself, discovering yourself, spending time with the ones you love, wine and vineyard life.

[Nicola Clough · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author and won't be the last as she writes so well and has you hooked straight away. It's full of warmth wit and families and doing what is right. Worth more than five stars for sure.
Chrissie loves her London life and she has a loyal lodger Melina and her daughters and her husband she lives but when he decides to travel on his bike how will she and the family cope. Chrissie is stressed and over worked and her mum calls from Devon and she's struggling with the family vineyard. Christie decides to move down there but how will the girls cope with that how will they all cope or not and will she settle as a family down in Devon.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

En lite småmysig bok om att testa något nytt och att ta hand om familjen. Vin, gemenskap och kulturkrockar blandas med familjer, vänner och cykliga äventyr.

[Lottie Saunders · Rating 3 out of 5]

Delightful book about slightly idyllic life in Devon making wine.

[Pavithra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short read, few lines were repeated again and again which kinda spoils the fun. Very informative about the wine making process. Could have ended it in a better way.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book but not the ending. I would have expected all the loose ends to be tied up but unfortunately this was not the case in the way I was hoping. That aside it’s lovely to read about a year in the life of a winery and several generation family life and the scrapes they encounter. Engaging and funny throughout with plenty of warmth and a sense of coziness about the setting.

Thank you Netgalley

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was attracted to this book by the location of the story, and the cover, so I was pleased to read an ARC from Netgalley.
The story at the Winery begins in the Autumn, which is nice and refreshing,as many books are either set in Summer time or Christmas time.
Chrissie finds herself returning back home to her parents Devon Winery to help out. Her husband is 'finding' himself in Africa, while she takes care of their daughters and the Winery. She is joined by her former cleaner, who unexpectedly helps to make the business profitable once more.
I liked the female characters, but I did not like a lot of the male characters, apart from Des and Declan. Chrissie seemed to be too accepting of the way that she was treated by the male characters.
The story flowed well, and I enjoyed the story, however, I found that the book ended abruptly, with no real resolution or ending. I found this frustrating, and would like to know what happened. Despite this, I enjoyed reading this book.

[Bri C · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely story with a good set of characters set against the not so well known background of English winemaking. Chrissie's husband runs off overseas for a year to follow his dream and she is left looking after their two teenagers, so goes home to the Family farm which makes terrible wine. Along the way her Polish cleaner and ex husband and quirky mother round out Chrissie working out her relationships and where she really wants to be in life. Could have done with one more chapter to find out how the homecoming from the husband went though.....

[Janette · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely easy read set in rural Devon which I really enjoyed. A story of mid-life crisis, family, relationships, romance, choices and new beginnings. I really enjoyed the character particularly the quirky polish cleaner. The setting was interesting - in a family vineyard. The story was well paced.
The ending felt a little abrupt and I hope there will be a sequel to tie up the loose ends.

A perfect cosy read for a Sunday afternoon on the sofa or holiday read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

The right read for this hot summer day: it's refreshing, entertaining and well written.
I hope this is the start of a new series because there were quite a number of loose ends.
The book is well written, the cast of characters is likable and interesting, the plot is engrossing.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

[Elizabeth Ducie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chrissie, Scarlet and Ruby head for Devon and a new life - maybe temporary, maybe not - helping to run the family winery. Over the course of a year, there is a lot of growth - and not just among the vines. This second book from Lizzie Lovell continues the theme of drinks; and it is a wonderful evocation of life in the countryside. A quick easy read; good fun; some bitter-sweet moments; the perfect mixture. The ending leaves a few loose ends; does this herald a second outing for Chrissie and co?

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

The west country winery was a lovely warming feel good read.
The wonderful quirky characters made you feel part of the family and the journey that they took you on was filled with love, friendship, family and wine!
I only gave it four stars as I was a little disappointed with the ending as I felt it did not wrap up all the loose ends but it did not detract from my enjoyment of this feel good book.

[Dawn Probert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a lovely book, really refreshing to not be so formulaic and have someone rush in and save the girl.
The girls in this book are kick ass and they have a circle of strong male family and friends supporting them through life apart from Rob. He needs a slap and a dose of reality and I hope when he returns from gallivanting he gets a dose of real life and she kicks him to the curb.

I went to see a sequel to this so I can see what happens to the fortune of the vineyard.

[Andrea Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely read

I have really enjoyed reading this today, it's got me through a day when I was feeling really awful - ill and fed up, and it was lovely to escape into this world. But it finished - what happened next? Did Rob come back, did they make a success of the wine, of their marriage? Will there be another book?

[Jo newman · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a surprise

I really loved this book. Every book is like a journey into the unknown you never know where it will take you. This was a wonderful journey full of ups and downs and of life and love and hope. The end came all too soon and left me wondering...

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another 'summer reading' recommendation that I enjoyed.

Again Lizzie's written the characters that allows you back on the empathetic rollercoaster while not necessarily wanting this ride to end.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chrissie's husband Rob has a mid life crises a d decides to cycle across Africa for a year leaving her with their fifteen year old daughters.
Chrissie takes the decision to move to Devon and help her parents to run the vineyard.
There are lots of bumps along the way.
An easy summer read.

[Janice Cleland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to read. As others have said there's no "ending". It's more like 'a year in the life of...' rather than a conclusion. But it kept my interest throughout so I've given 4 stars to acknowledge it was a pleasant relaxing read - isn't that what it's all about?!

[June Churchill · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read, left me wanting more. I hope there is a sequel to this book.

[thewoollygeek (tea, cake, crochet & books) · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was disappointed in this, started off well but nothing actually happened to hold my interest. A slow read

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

[Serena Jane Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this from start to finish! Hope there’s a sequel to hear what happens x

[MR K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. Was disappointed in the ending, however it made me think that there may well be a book 2.

[Sammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, I thought it was a wonderful story up until the end which I felt was rushed and it didn't tie everything up in a way I would have liked.

[Shruti Bhandari-Kothari · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful warm and totally caotic read

[Jenny L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely story. Steady and pleasant. A feel-good throughout and ending.