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Kees & Colliers #2
The Lady of the Vineyard
Is it too late for Adele to return to her daughter’s life?
When her ex-husband reappears in her life determined to spend more time with their child, Adele Collier allows him to take Judy to France for the summer. As the summer goes by, an internal battle rages in Adele’s heart. Can she give up her glamorous lifestyle to win her daughter’s heart?
Six-year-old Judy is more than happy to trade Adele’s neglect for her father’s adoring care. She loves his vineyard and wishes she could stay there forever, but someday she must return to England. Can Judy trust her mother again?
“A great story about love, emotional turmoil, and the desire to set things right.” ~Long and Short Reviews
“A whimsically beautiful and heartwarming story.” ~Faith L. Potts, author of Dandelion Dust
When her ex-husband reappears in her life determined to spend more time with their child, Adele Collier allows him to take Judy to France for the summer. As the summer goes by, an internal battle rages in Adele’s heart. Can she give up her glamorous lifestyle to win her daughter’s heart?
Six-year-old Judy is more than happy to trade Adele’s neglect for her father’s adoring care. She loves his vineyard and wishes she could stay there forever, but someday she must return to England. Can Judy trust her mother again?
“A great story about love, emotional turmoil, and the desire to set things right.” ~Long and Short Reviews
“A whimsically beautiful and heartwarming story.” ~Faith L. Potts, author of Dandelion Dust
331 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 10, 2016
14 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
About the author
Kellyn Roth
28 books1,128 followersKellyn Roth is the author of historical romance novels with strong Christian themes, a touch of humor, and messy situations that put the main characters through the wringer and force them to face hard questions. Her stories include The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy, a Christian Victorian family saga.
Kell is the founder and owner of Wild Blue Wonder Press, a small press with the mission of sharing fictional stories full of grace and truth. Their goal is to create stories that matter, to delve into the deepest and sometimes the saddest parts of life, and to return from the darkest valleys resplendent in the light of hope and the fullness of joy.
When not building her author career, Kellyn is likely drinking iced coffee with her husband, getting lost somewhere in the Pacific Northwest with her friends, or watching period dramas and facetious comedies with her border collie.
Find out more at https://kellynrothauthor.com/
Kell is the founder and owner of Wild Blue Wonder Press, a small press with the mission of sharing fictional stories full of grace and truth. Their goal is to create stories that matter, to delve into the deepest and sometimes the saddest parts of life, and to return from the darkest valleys resplendent in the light of hope and the fullness of joy.
When not building her author career, Kellyn is likely drinking iced coffee with her husband, getting lost somewhere in the Pacific Northwest with her friends, or watching period dramas and facetious comedies with her border collie.
Find out more at https://kellynrothauthor.com/
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August 16, 2025Dear reader,
I hope you enjoy my novel!
Concerned about the content? Read my official content guide here.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out!
TTFN!
~Kell~
I hope you enjoy my novel!
Concerned about the content? Read my official content guide here.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out!
TTFN!
~Kell~
September 23, 2016
Oh my goodness I loved this book! The characters were amazingly done!
Judy is basically the most endearing, realistically painted 6 yr. old I’ve read about. I was enchanted ever since the bunny slippers.
Adele takes some getting used to but I ended up loving her too. You can sympathize with her immaturity while still disliking her.
Troy was basically the sweetest husband.
The true meaning of love, though not exactly a theme, was a very clear message.
The ending was a little sudden maybe a bit rough, but those are hard to get just right. I wish I could have seen Della character development.
I wish the Bible would have been a little more in here since one cannot truly love apart from God.
But other than that, I loved this book, and it is now among my favorites
Judy is basically the most endearing, realistically painted 6 yr. old I’ve read about. I was enchanted ever since the bunny slippers.
Adele takes some getting used to but I ended up loving her too. You can sympathize with her immaturity while still disliking her.
Troy was basically the sweetest husband.
The true meaning of love, though not exactly a theme, was a very clear message.
The ending was a little sudden maybe a bit rough, but those are hard to get just right. I wish I could have seen Della character development.
I wish the Bible would have been a little more in here since one cannot truly love apart from God.
But other than that, I loved this book, and it is now among my favorites
November 29, 2016
I'm very late to review this, but here it is...
Is this cover not beautiful?!?! Seriously, it's just precious! Judy looks like Shirley Temple, and that alone will make me love a book... :)
This book was so sweet! I enjoyed the love Judy's daddy showed for her. Judy was a sweet little girl who I wanted to hug. Adele made me mad at times. The ending was sweet. This quick little read will leave you with all the feels!
Is this cover not beautiful?!?! Seriously, it's just precious! Judy looks like Shirley Temple, and that alone will make me love a book... :)
This book was so sweet! I enjoyed the love Judy's daddy showed for her. Judy was a sweet little girl who I wanted to hug. Adele made me mad at times. The ending was sweet. This quick little read will leave you with all the feels!
March 29, 2018
:D
This was a sweet story. It was very fast paced and I think I had a hard time figuring what exactly was happening so suddenly, but I enjoyed it.
Oh, and I still don't know what era it's from.
Thank you Kellyn.
This was a sweet story. It was very fast paced and I think I had a hard time figuring what exactly was happening so suddenly, but I enjoyed it.
Oh, and I still don't know what era it's from.
Thank you Kellyn.
September 9, 2016
I had the privilege of beta-reading this book and I really enjoyed it!! Judy was a very lovable child, Troy was someone you could really understand, and. . . I just have to say that her grandma is awesome! ;) The Vineyard in France was delightful to read about, and all the scenes were described so, so well! Literally, Kellyn knows how to write descriptions that make you feel as if you're standing there with the characters. Which makes the book all the more enjoyable!
There was one thing that bugged me, though. The book is set in England and France in 1938. I was looking forward to there being a bit more historical detail. I mean, at this time, both countries were knee deep in negotiations with Germany, and neither country was too happy with its leaders. I was expecting this to be a part of the story, at least a little, but it wasn't.
Then again, I'm bit of a history nut, so that may have been something only I missed. ;)
Oh, and I loved Troy telling Judy about the "Biblical" happy endings! (A.k.a Everything works together for good to those that love God and are the called according to His purpose.) That was one of my favorite parts! :D
All in all this is a great novella and I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read it! Kellyn has a way at making you feel a part of the story, and I'm looking forward to reading more of her work! :D
So what are you waiting for?! Go and pick up a copy!
There was one thing that bugged me, though. The book is set in England and France in 1938. I was looking forward to there being a bit more historical detail. I mean, at this time, both countries were knee deep in negotiations with Germany, and neither country was too happy with its leaders. I was expecting this to be a part of the story, at least a little, but it wasn't.
Then again, I'm bit of a history nut, so that may have been something only I missed. ;)
Oh, and I loved Troy telling Judy about the "Biblical" happy endings! (A.k.a Everything works together for good to those that love God and are the called according to His purpose.) That was one of my favorite parts! :D
All in all this is a great novella and I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read it! Kellyn has a way at making you feel a part of the story, and I'm looking forward to reading more of her work! :D
So what are you waiting for?! Go and pick up a copy!
February 20, 2017
My rating: 3.5 stars.
WARNING: May contain minor spoilers.
Story-wise, this book was pretty good. It seemed to go kinda quickly, but hey, it's a novella, you can only have so many words. ;) Judy was sweet, and very accurately portrayed. The way she acted and spoke was very characteristic of a 6 year old. Adele was a good character, in terms of depth. And Troy was sweet as well, and I liked his and Judy's relationship.
The main issue I found, was legally. If Adele and Troy are legally divorced (which they are), and Adele has full custody of Judy (which was the impression I got), Troy can't just waltz in and 'demand' Judy come with him. Legally, Troy has no right to Judy, Adele has full responsibility. Adele was clearly hesitant to let Judy go with Troy, and I feel like Troy pretty much demanded that she do so, and Adele didn't think she could say no. But legally, she has full right to say no. That part felt off to me. (Sorry, my brother is a paralegal. :P) I think it could have been better researched and portrayed.
Otherwise, this little book was fairly well done! I LOVE the cover artwork! That was what enticed my to read it.
WARNING: May contain minor spoilers.
Story-wise, this book was pretty good. It seemed to go kinda quickly, but hey, it's a novella, you can only have so many words. ;) Judy was sweet, and very accurately portrayed. The way she acted and spoke was very characteristic of a 6 year old. Adele was a good character, in terms of depth. And Troy was sweet as well, and I liked his and Judy's relationship.
The main issue I found, was legally. If Adele and Troy are legally divorced (which they are), and Adele has full custody of Judy (which was the impression I got), Troy can't just waltz in and 'demand' Judy come with him. Legally, Troy has no right to Judy, Adele has full responsibility. Adele was clearly hesitant to let Judy go with Troy, and I feel like Troy pretty much demanded that she do so, and Adele didn't think she could say no. But legally, she has full right to say no. That part felt off to me. (Sorry, my brother is a paralegal. :P) I think it could have been better researched and portrayed.
Otherwise, this little book was fairly well done! I LOVE the cover artwork! That was what enticed my to read it.
July 13, 2017
4.5 stars.
Such a whimsically beautiful and heartwarming story! If you're a lover of historical novellas or 1930s European settings, this is one you won't want to miss. :D
I read this book in an afternoon and I really enjoyed reading Judy and her parents' story. :) The characters were so great!
Judy was a sweet, precious child. I adored her and Troy's relationship (and their first meeting!).
Troy was a nice guy, probably my favorite character, and I loved the way he stood up to Adele.
Adele was the annoying character of the story, but at the same time you kind of had to like her. I, personally, was able to relate to her habits concerning, um, clutter. (Though my mother may consider killing me if I was THAT bad.) :P
For such a young author, Miss Roth's writing is superb. I found no cliches or cringeworthy sentences. And if there were any grammatical errors (I don't think there was any, but I could've missed it/them.) they were minimal.
The one downfall I found in the novella was the lack of biblical content. The book isn't listed as Christian fiction, so I would've been fine with just a clean, historical fiction, except for one thing. There's one mention of Joseph and the Bible at which time we're told Judy does not understand what her father is telling her. So...why isn't it explaining these things to his daughter? Telling her Bible stories?
All in all, this was a sweet, historical novella with a dash of romance. I enjoyed it immensely. ^_^
**I received a free e-ARC from the author in exchange for my honest review.**
Such a whimsically beautiful and heartwarming story! If you're a lover of historical novellas or 1930s European settings, this is one you won't want to miss. :D
I read this book in an afternoon and I really enjoyed reading Judy and her parents' story. :) The characters were so great!
Judy was a sweet, precious child. I adored her and Troy's relationship (and their first meeting!).
Troy was a nice guy, probably my favorite character, and I loved the way he stood up to Adele.
Adele was the annoying character of the story, but at the same time you kind of had to like her. I, personally, was able to relate to her habits concerning, um, clutter. (Though my mother may consider killing me if I was THAT bad.) :P
For such a young author, Miss Roth's writing is superb. I found no cliches or cringeworthy sentences. And if there were any grammatical errors (I don't think there was any, but I could've missed it/them.) they were minimal.
The one downfall I found in the novella was the lack of biblical content. The book isn't listed as Christian fiction, so I would've been fine with just a clean, historical fiction, except for one thing. There's one mention of Joseph and the Bible at which time we're told Judy does not understand what her father is telling her. So...why isn't it explaining these things to his daughter? Telling her Bible stories?
All in all, this was a sweet, historical novella with a dash of romance. I enjoyed it immensely. ^_^
**I received a free e-ARC from the author in exchange for my honest review.**
April 14, 2018
Oh I liked this!!
The Characters:
Judy - she was adorable and so sweet!!
Adele - a beautiful name! Thank goodness she understood her errors!
Troy - Aw! Loved him!! I love how he kept saying "I guess" in the last chapter!!
Henry - *tries not to gag* :D
The Story-line:
I did like it! Historical books are always nice!
Content:
One kiss from an unmarried couple. Talk about people being divorced.
All-in-all:
I really liked it!! I enjoyed it a lot more than this author's other series. Other than the fact this is very similar to other ones , I felt things went about smoother. It was also a very quit read!!
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review
The Characters:
Judy - she was adorable and so sweet!!
Adele - a beautiful name! Thank goodness she understood her errors!
Troy - Aw! Loved him!! I love how he kept saying "I guess" in the last chapter!!
Henry - *tries not to gag* :D
The Story-line:
I did like it! Historical books are always nice!
Content:
One kiss from an unmarried couple. Talk about people being divorced.
All-in-all:
I really liked it!! I enjoyed it a lot more than this author's other series. Other than the fact this is very similar to other ones , I felt things went about smoother. It was also a very quit read!!
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review
February 6, 2017
This book was cute, adorable and a sweet story. I would have enjoyed it more if I had been a lot younger, but I gave it 4 stars because I think girls from that age range would enjoy it. The characters were sweet and I loved Judy.
Aside from the fact that the story seemed to come to a close quickly, I think it was an enjoyable little volume. I would highly recommend it for 8-13 year olds.
The one thing that really bothered me was the formatting. It was really hard to read because the paragraphs were oddly placed and the spacing confusing.
*I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.*
Aside from the fact that the story seemed to come to a close quickly, I think it was an enjoyable little volume. I would highly recommend it for 8-13 year olds.
The one thing that really bothered me was the formatting. It was really hard to read because the paragraphs were oddly placed and the spacing confusing.
*I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.*
September 26, 2016
This is a sweet, lovely tale of a young girl called Judy who isn't loved by her divorced mother and has never met her father. Then one day her father re-enters her life and realises how foolish he has been to stay away.
This is a heart-warming novella about reconnecting broken family ties and leaves you feeling happy. There is some telling not showing here but overall I enjoyed reading this. I received a copy of this book in exchanged for my honest review.
This is a heart-warming novella about reconnecting broken family ties and leaves you feeling happy. There is some telling not showing here but overall I enjoyed reading this. I received a copy of this book in exchanged for my honest review.
April 18, 2018
I recently signed up for Kellyn's blog tour (celebrating the release of her latest book, At Her FingertipsAt Her Fingertips) As an added bonus, I was invited to read this book! I had no idea that was coming but was very excited because I have wanted to read this one for a while now.
Overall I have to say I didn't think this book was quite as well written as Kellyn's other books, and the ending felt a bit rushed, but it was a very fun and easy read.
I love Judy , Troy is such a loveable character and Granny is sweet.
Content: divorce, (Granny + Adele) “Have my rants gotten to you all of the sudden?”
“No. Well, maybe a little. It didn’t help for you to be continually railing at me, always acting as if I was an adulteress of some sort.”
“I believe I only said you were committing adultery once.”
“Yes, but you kept implying it over and over after that.” other than that nothing that I remember.
I also like Troy's house and Harrington and the dog (Holt, I believe his name is) (:
Overall I have to say I didn't think this book was quite as well written as Kellyn's other books, and the ending felt a bit rushed, but it was a very fun and easy read.
I love Judy , Troy is such a loveable character and Granny is sweet.
Content: divorce, (Granny + Adele) “Have my rants gotten to you all of the sudden?”
“No. Well, maybe a little. It didn’t help for you to be continually railing at me, always acting as if I was an adulteress of some sort.”
“I believe I only said you were committing adultery once.”
“Yes, but you kept implying it over and over after that.” other than that nothing that I remember.
I also like Troy's house and Harrington and the dog (Holt, I believe his name is) (:
February 17, 2018
Previously published on Purely by Faith Reviews.
My Review::
I was really excited to read this book, and I'm sorry it took me a while to start it Kell :).
Even if you've seen my status updates or not, it would be obvious that I devoured this book in one sitting. I finished it in an hour and that was because I was easily drawn into this book. I came out with wanting to read more of the author's books. This is a book I'd want on my bookshelf: *adds to my buy-books-online-2018 goodreads shelf*
Onto the characters now
Judy was an absolute gem. Judy was a very smart child, in a great way, and I found myself really looking forward to her lines. I fell in love with the child from the moment she appeared. I really appreciated how she took care of her mother, even though Adele didn't take care of her.
Adele, however, was someone I was frustrated with for neglecting her child. I suppose I was supposed to feel that way towards her since children don't deserve to be ignored. There's always that one character I don't like in a book and she is probably it. I'm glad how everything turned out in the end for her, though.
Troy was that lovable character for me. I'm not really sure why he is, but I took an immediate liking to him from the moment he sat on that bench. I really loved how he gave Judy special attention and made her feel love, something that Judy was sorely lacking from her mother.
I didn't get a lot of historical feels from this book, since it's set in 1938, but the story and the characters really made up for it. I rarely came across any typos, which is a good thing since I notice those easily. Although this is a christian title, there really aren't many mentions of such besides Troy mentioning a bible story (Joseph and his brothers who sold him into slavery). This is a great book to read if you are looking for a book that isn't preachy. If you're looking for some clean fiction that's historical, then pick this title up. You will not regret it.
I would recommend this book for 10+, because of topics such as divorce that a younger one would not understand.
The only content I can think of would be mentions of her getting drunk a few times in a conversation, mention of adultery, divorce, some clean romance (no bed scenes, etc. I don't even recall a kiss, but I could be wrong).
I received a copy of this ebook from the author (thanks so much Kellyn! I really enjoyed it!) in exchange for an honest review. I was not obliged to give a positive one
My Review::
I was really excited to read this book
Even if you've seen my status updates or not, it would be obvious that I devoured this book in one sitting. I finished it in an hour and that was because I was easily drawn into this book. I came out with wanting to read more of the author's books. This is a book I'd want on my bookshelf: *adds to my buy-books-online-2018 goodreads shelf*
Onto the characters now
Judy was an absolute gem. Judy was a very smart child, in a great way, and I found myself really looking forward to her lines. I fell in love with the child from the moment she appeared. I really appreciated how she took care of her mother, even though Adele didn't take care of her.
Adele, however, was someone I was frustrated with for neglecting her child. I suppose I was supposed to feel that way towards her since children don't deserve to be ignored. There's always that one character I don't like in a book and she is probably it. I'm glad how everything turned out in the end for her, though.
Troy was that lovable character for me. I'm not really sure why he is, but I took an immediate liking to him from the moment he sat on that bench. I really loved how he gave Judy special attention and made her feel love, something that Judy was sorely lacking from her mother.
I didn't get a lot of historical feels from this book, since it's set in 1938, but the story and the characters really made up for it. I rarely came across any typos, which is a good thing since I notice those easily. Although this is a christian title, there really aren't many mentions of such besides Troy mentioning a bible story (Joseph and his brothers who sold him into slavery). This is a great book to read if you are looking for a book that isn't preachy. If you're looking for some clean fiction that's historical, then pick this title up. You will not regret it.
I would recommend this book for 10+, because of topics such as divorce that a younger one would not understand.
The only content I can think of would be mentions of her getting drunk a few times in a conversation, mention of adultery, divorce, some clean romance (no bed scenes, etc. I don't even recall a kiss, but I could be wrong).
I received a copy of this ebook from the author (thanks so much Kellyn! I really enjoyed it!) in exchange for an honest review. I was not obliged to give a positive one
March 7, 2018
Enthralling, well designed, and elegantly presented, The Lady of the Vineyard was a short but sweet novella. It was an engaging yet fun read. The characters, from bitter and rebellious Adele to sweet and innocent Judy to mysterious Troy, were all uniquely patterned and cleverly developed.
I really liked the twists and turns and thought they were well done. As a whole it was particularly predictable, but that didn’t restrain my enjoyment of the story. I love how the author has her main characters as younger children in general—they’re always done so perfectly and Judy is no exception; I loved her. Adele’s character was the only one I had my reservations on, simply because her main character change was rather predictable and just a bit cheesy. But I did enjoy it nonetheless!
The storyline was captivating, unique, and sweet all at once. There were strong romantic threads while still retaining a youthful and fun feel. The turns of the story felt natural and the ending brought everything together. I was only a little disappointed in the epilogue; it was a little confusing at first and jumped ahead a lot.
Really, though, it was wholeheartedly a good read! I highly recommend it!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Like my reviews? Follow my blog:
http://jcbuchanan.com
I really liked the twists and turns and thought they were well done. As a whole it was particularly predictable, but that didn’t restrain my enjoyment of the story. I love how the author has her main characters as younger children in general—they’re always done so perfectly and Judy is no exception; I loved her. Adele’s character was the only one I had my reservations on, simply because her main character change was rather predictable and just a bit cheesy. But I did enjoy it nonetheless!
The storyline was captivating, unique, and sweet all at once. There were strong romantic threads while still retaining a youthful and fun feel. The turns of the story felt natural and the ending brought everything together. I was only a little disappointed in the epilogue; it was a little confusing at first and jumped ahead a lot.
Really, though, it was wholeheartedly a good read! I highly recommend it!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Like my reviews? Follow my blog:
http://jcbuchanan.com
February 22, 2020
It's books like this that make me think I should redo my rating system. I read the rerelease. I found it to be fine.
I was fairly certain it wasn't going to be a book I would love and I was proved right. This is a story of an adult woman finally growing up.
I was fairly certain it wasn't going to be a book I would love and I was proved right. This is a story of an adult woman finally growing up.
August 24, 2018
I'll be honest and admit right off the bat that I wasn't expecting to like this book nearly as much as I did. :) Divorce and selfish, neglectful parents are not generally my favorite topics for a story, but this little book really surprised me!
I thought Adele was a very understandable character, even when she wasn't very likeable, and the little things that she didn't always understand about herself gave me hope for her even when she was at her worst. Little Judy tugged at my heartstrings from the very first minute--such a sweet and sometimes pathetic mixture of regular-little-girl and too-old-for-her-age. I wasn't quite sure what to think of Troy at first, but I ended up liking him a lot. I liked that he wasn't perfect, though, either in his relationship with Adele or his relationship with Judy. Loved the little conversations between him and Judy that showed how well they both knew--and ultimately loved--Adele.
I thought Adele's transformation was very well-done, too, even in the bits and snatches of it that we saw. She didn't have the kind of epiphany that hits out of nowhere; instead all the little pieces of what she'd been thinking, feeling, and learning came into place to prepare her for her revelation at the end. Nicely done!
And the writing style absolutely blew me away! It's very simple, but not the kind of simple that I often struggle to fully enjoy. It's a very fun and playful simple that brings a smile by its very simplicity. That's probably a confusing description, but it's a hard quality to describe; I'm not sure I've ever experienced a story quite like this. :)
Content--mentions of divorce and adultery in the context of divorce; parental neglect; mentions of drinking and drunkenness
I thought Adele was a very understandable character, even when she wasn't very likeable, and the little things that she didn't always understand about herself gave me hope for her even when she was at her worst. Little Judy tugged at my heartstrings from the very first minute--such a sweet and sometimes pathetic mixture of regular-little-girl and too-old-for-her-age. I wasn't quite sure what to think of Troy at first, but I ended up liking him a lot. I liked that he wasn't perfect, though, either in his relationship with Adele or his relationship with Judy. Loved the little conversations between him and Judy that showed how well they both knew--and ultimately loved--Adele.
I thought Adele's transformation was very well-done, too, even in the bits and snatches of it that we saw. She didn't have the kind of epiphany that hits out of nowhere; instead all the little pieces of what she'd been thinking, feeling, and learning came into place to prepare her for her revelation at the end. Nicely done!
And the writing style absolutely blew me away! It's very simple, but not the kind of simple that I often struggle to fully enjoy. It's a very fun and playful simple that brings a smile by its very simplicity. That's probably a confusing description, but it's a hard quality to describe; I'm not sure I've ever experienced a story quite like this. :)
Content--mentions of divorce and adultery in the context of divorce; parental neglect; mentions of drinking and drunkenness
July 21, 2019
My Review of The Lady Of The Vineyard:
I've read this book before the rewrites and after Kellyn Roth reworked it I had the privilege to beta read this heartbreaking story with an end unlike any other book. Not only did the author take on a rarely written era she did so with insight that does her credit. It's truly impressive and well done. Not that it isn't sad, which it is very much so. You see the longing on the little girl on the cover? That's what you'll feel reading this; longing for Judy to be with her family and happy.
And we get to read about none other then the wonderful Troy Kee!!! He is so sweet and caring and perfect, yeah lots of perfectness in this series, I know! And see Holt, sweet guy!
If you read it before read it again! If you're new to the series be sure to check it out, a read worth rereading. ;)
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review and am truly happy to provide it.
I've read this book before the rewrites and after Kellyn Roth reworked it I had the privilege to beta read this heartbreaking story with an end unlike any other book. Not only did the author take on a rarely written era she did so with insight that does her credit. It's truly impressive and well done. Not that it isn't sad, which it is very much so. You see the longing on the little girl on the cover? That's what you'll feel reading this; longing for Judy to be with her family and happy.
And we get to read about none other then the wonderful Troy Kee!!! He is so sweet and caring and perfect, yeah lots of perfectness in this series, I know! And see Holt, sweet guy!
If you read it before read it again! If you're new to the series be sure to check it out, a read worth rereading. ;)
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review and am truly happy to provide it.
February 23, 2017
Short-and-sweet story! As most novellas are wont to be, it felt a bit rushed toward the end, but I've kind of come to expect that. What actually knocked it down a star for me was the way that Troy talked about Adele in front of Judy. That made me a little uncomfortable. Other than that, I really enjoyed the story! Judy was such a little sweetheart, and so much like many of the children that I see today in the classroom. Many kids these days are basically raising, or at least half-way raising themselves, and never complain.
February 6, 2017
What a delightful little story! It's nothing elaborate, short and very easy to read, but it's just a really sweet story. Little 6 year old Judy is so cute! And Troy is rather amusing. All in all I like this a lot, and am very glad that I read it.
February 20, 2017
I had the wonderful opportunity to beta-read this for the author and let me tell you, I'm so glad I did! I'm not sure I would have been able to hold out until September 10th, when it officially comes out.
I've now read both of her official books, this one and The Dressmaker's Secret, and although this is a novella and much shorter (which makes it much harder to develop the characters, make the plot not seem as rushed etc.) I have to say I think this is my new favorite of her books.
The characters are so amazing. Judy is adorable. Troy is hilarious. Adele is ... Adele. They just jump off the pages and start doing the polka around you. (Except ... none of them would ever do the polka ...) The character growth in these short amount of pages is stupendous. I got really attached to everyone, and I really hope there might be the possibility of some other stories relating to this in the future. (please? ;) )
The plot was perfect. The pacing, the tension, the everything. I loved how the perspectives switched back and forth from France to England. It wove the stories of the family together and made the ending even more satisfying.
At the moment, I honestly can't even think of anything that I didn't like about it.except for Troy's mustache. Please shave it for me, Adele.
I'd recommend this to basically anyone 10 and up. It's perfectly clean (It talks about divorce (of course), and I believe drunkenness at one point (no one was actually drunk in the story, but it referred to it). The story could be enjoyed forever, and I expect I'll be re-reading it and loving it until I die.
(Update 2/18/17)
Right, so I just re-read this, and I've had a couple more thoughts just about the general story ...
**spoilers below this point**
Hal ... And Adele. I'm not quite as satisfied with this as I was before. Yeah, okay. Adele broke up with him because she thought it was right and everything ... and it was yeah ... it made sense with the character of Adele but ... like ... it was really quick. Was Adele even thinking through this at all? Like, okay ... yeah ... that's what she does and I need to go give her a hug, and it was actually kinda brave and she thought it was the right choice for Judy and it was really sweet and everything but also ... SHE CUT OFF ALL CONTACT WITH THE MAN?! And wouldn't he try contact her at some point??? Like ... BRUH! YOU WERE ENGAGED. GEEZ. Yeah ... I don't even know ...
ALSO: I loved the Troy and Adele thing when I first read this. Because it was beautiful and the ending was beautiful and it was all just so happy. But reading it again ... and after having read like ... the first part of Flowers and just knowing more about them ... it doesn't really feel ... right? Like, why are these children married again? I can kind of see why they did it in the first place, and like, I can see how it would work out, and like ... for the most part it's realistic and sweet and beautiful but like ... when they get engaged in the last chapter here again, or reengaged or whatever it just seemed ... why. Troy. Like Adele I get ... she left before cause she was emotional and she realized why she mistakenly thought she disliked him and she ... just started being more mature. But Troy? Troy? Did he just ... Ooh! Ooh! Hang on! Okay, maybe he like never stopped loving Adele and was just waiting for her? Yes? Okay, yeah. That makes sense ... Anybody else have an opinion on this? XD I'd love to talk about this with anyone. But yeah.
Other than that ... I still hold by my original review. This book is be-au-ti-ful.
Yep. That's all. XD)
I've now read both of her official books, this one and The Dressmaker's Secret, and although this is a novella and much shorter (which makes it much harder to develop the characters, make the plot not seem as rushed etc.) I have to say I think this is my new favorite of her books.
The characters are so amazing. Judy is adorable. Troy is hilarious. Adele is ... Adele. They just jump off the pages and start doing the polka around you. (Except ... none of them would ever do the polka ...) The character growth in these short amount of pages is stupendous. I got really attached to everyone, and I really hope there might be the possibility of some other stories relating to this in the future. (please? ;) )
The plot was perfect. The pacing, the tension, the everything. I loved how the perspectives switched back and forth from France to England. It wove the stories of the family together and made the ending even more satisfying.
At the moment, I honestly can't even think of anything that I didn't like about it.
I'd recommend this to basically anyone 10 and up. It's perfectly clean (It talks about divorce (of course), and I believe drunkenness at one point (no one was actually drunk in the story, but it referred to it). The story could be enjoyed forever, and I expect I'll be re-reading it and loving it until I die.
(Update 2/18/17)
Right, so I just re-read this, and I've had a couple more thoughts just about the general story ...
**spoilers below this point**
Hal ... And Adele. I'm not quite as satisfied with this as I was before. Yeah, okay. Adele broke up with him because she thought it was right and everything ... and it was yeah ... it made sense with the character of Adele but ... like ... it was really quick. Was Adele even thinking through this at all? Like, okay ... yeah ... that's what she does and I need to go give her a hug, and it was actually kinda brave and she thought it was the right choice for Judy and it was really sweet and everything but also ... SHE CUT OFF ALL CONTACT WITH THE MAN?! And wouldn't he try contact her at some point??? Like ... BRUH! YOU WERE ENGAGED. GEEZ. Yeah ... I don't even know ...
ALSO: I loved the Troy and Adele thing when I first read this. Because it was beautiful and the ending was beautiful and it was all just so happy. But reading it again ... and after having read like ... the first part of Flowers and just knowing more about them ... it doesn't really feel ... right? Like, why are these children married again? I can kind of see why they did it in the first place, and like, I can see how it would work out, and like ... for the most part it's realistic and sweet and beautiful but like ... when they get engaged in the last chapter here again, or reengaged or whatever it just seemed ... why. Troy. Like Adele I get ... she left before cause she was emotional and she realized why she mistakenly thought she disliked him and she ... just started being more mature. But Troy? Troy? Did he just ... Ooh! Ooh! Hang on! Okay, maybe he like never stopped loving Adele and was just waiting for her? Yes? Okay, yeah. That makes sense ... Anybody else have an opinion on this? XD I'd love to talk about this with anyone. But yeah.
Other than that ... I still hold by my original review. This book is be-au-ti-ful.
Yep. That's all. XD)
May 12, 2020
FTC Disclosure: Reveries Co. gave me a complimentary electronic copy of this book. A positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts.
What an emotional journey.
It all began with the characters.
Little Judy stole my heart despite sometimes sounding older than six. Her plight was easy to connect with and empathize over. Adele was harder to love, but her growth was, perhaps, the most noteworthy. She did grow on me, carving out space in my reader heart for herself. Troy was lovely in how he adored his little girl. That parent’s love he displayed and the lessons he taught his daughter were worth reading this book. These characters were messy with raw hearts and feelings, yet they learned so much about life and love and hope. Somehow they wriggled their way into my happy place and left me wanting more of their story.
This novel is very dialogue driven, which can be quite exhausting at times. However, the banter was great, and the pace kept moving at a jaunty speed. I took a couple breaks between chapters to catch my breath (even though I wasn’t the one doing all the talking!), and that helped me further enjoy and savor this tale. The plot was delicious, and I particularly adored that beach scene. Oh, to find courage in such a way! Truly delightful.
Perfection was not the name of the game with this book. The most disappointing thing was the expletive that was used twice. Other than that, it was an enjoyable tale of emotion, love, and hope… and a bit of adventure… that I’ll probably read again at some point. Plus, the cover is quite stunning, don’t you think?
What an emotional journey.
It all began with the characters.
Little Judy stole my heart despite sometimes sounding older than six. Her plight was easy to connect with and empathize over. Adele was harder to love, but her growth was, perhaps, the most noteworthy. She did grow on me, carving out space in my reader heart for herself. Troy was lovely in how he adored his little girl. That parent’s love he displayed and the lessons he taught his daughter were worth reading this book. These characters were messy with raw hearts and feelings, yet they learned so much about life and love and hope. Somehow they wriggled their way into my happy place and left me wanting more of their story.
This novel is very dialogue driven, which can be quite exhausting at times. However, the banter was great, and the pace kept moving at a jaunty speed. I took a couple breaks between chapters to catch my breath (even though I wasn’t the one doing all the talking!), and that helped me further enjoy and savor this tale. The plot was delicious, and I particularly adored that beach scene. Oh, to find courage in such a way! Truly delightful.
Perfection was not the name of the game with this book. The most disappointing thing was the expletive that was used twice. Other than that, it was an enjoyable tale of emotion, love, and hope… and a bit of adventure… that I’ll probably read again at some point. Plus, the cover is quite stunning, don’t you think?
August 8, 2016
This book, by my NaNo friend Kell, is beautifully written. It is written in an elegant and flowing language, and her writing style is much the same as L.M. Montgomery- something I have tried long to achieve and have not.
I was a beta-reader, and I found very few faults. I believe most of my comments were more 'wow' then 'what'. Her characters come to life in this far-too-short story. Kell, write more. Right now. I demand it.
If you are considering reading this, then stop considering, because you just *have* to. I'd recommend it for 6th grade and up, though, because the storyline and deep meaning may be hard to understand for younger kids.
I'd say it was pretty historically accurate, and I'm a history geek, so that's saying something. Kellyn really did a great job. She must've done her homework writing this.
It's not necessarily a 'Christian' novel, though it obviously conveys Christian values. There is really nothing I could find to say that would be 'bad' about this book.
All-in-all, I say you should read it now. The storyline was poignant and meaningful, and the author's words conveyed the perfect meanings. This, my friends, is a wonderful novella.
I was a beta-reader, and I found very few faults. I believe most of my comments were more 'wow' then 'what'. Her characters come to life in this far-too-short story. Kell, write more. Right now. I demand it.
If you are considering reading this, then stop considering, because you just *have* to. I'd recommend it for 6th grade and up, though, because the storyline and deep meaning may be hard to understand for younger kids.
I'd say it was pretty historically accurate, and I'm a history geek, so that's saying something. Kellyn really did a great job. She must've done her homework writing this.
It's not necessarily a 'Christian' novel, though it obviously conveys Christian values. There is really nothing I could find to say that would be 'bad' about this book.
All-in-all, I say you should read it now. The storyline was poignant and meaningful, and the author's words conveyed the perfect meanings. This, my friends, is a wonderful novella.
July 25, 2019
I love reading books from new-to-me self-published authors. You win some, and you lose some, but I enjoyed reading The Lady of the Vineyard recently! I have a hard time imagining this book in any other state than its present form, but I’m told it’s something like four times bigger than the original was. This story was engaging, though, as I watched the struggles of a little six-year-old as she tried to find her place in the world. The longings for a happy, loving family were strong, and though she was wise beyond her years (sometimes to the point that I wondered how she could possibly only be six!), she had also learned a sort of contentment.
Honestly, I didn’t know what to think when I read this book. I enjoyed the storyline, and the thread of redemption that ran throughout it, but it did feel like the book needed a bit more, somehow. Maybe just a bit more polishing, I don’t know. Overall, I did enjoy the story, though it was simple. If you’re looking for a pretty clean, sweet read, you would probably enjoy this short book!
The author sent me a free copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it.
Honestly, I didn’t know what to think when I read this book. I enjoyed the storyline, and the thread of redemption that ran throughout it, but it did feel like the book needed a bit more, somehow. Maybe just a bit more polishing, I don’t know. Overall, I did enjoy the story, though it was simple. If you’re looking for a pretty clean, sweet read, you would probably enjoy this short book!
The author sent me a free copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it.
March 6, 2017
I have to say you needn't be a history buff to fall in love with The Lady of the Vineyard by Kellyn Roth. The author sets the time period with just enough description to let the reader ease into the story of a six year girl whose life consists of taking care of a mother who really doesn't even care about her own daughter. Adele has made it perfectly clear that Judy is a regret and a bothersome child that was a mistake from her past.
My heart broke for the emotionally drain child, missing her father that had been gone most of her life, having only the love of her dear granny she adored.
Meeting a mysterious man on the way to pick up some food items, Judy's life suddenly takes quite the turn of events. The flow of the story from this point made it hard to put the book down! Author Roth gives our heartstrings a good "tug" as we discover many misconceptions that have tainted this family. Can forgiveness be attained or has too much time and lost love passed this family by?
A fabulous epilogue that can not be missed puts a finishing touch on to this amazingly sweet story
My heart broke for the emotionally drain child, missing her father that had been gone most of her life, having only the love of her dear granny she adored.
Meeting a mysterious man on the way to pick up some food items, Judy's life suddenly takes quite the turn of events. The flow of the story from this point made it hard to put the book down! Author Roth gives our heartstrings a good "tug" as we discover many misconceptions that have tainted this family. Can forgiveness be attained or has too much time and lost love passed this family by?
A fabulous epilogue that can not be missed puts a finishing touch on to this amazingly sweet story
September 21, 2017
Read this in a couple of hours on the day after Irma blew through.
I enjoyed this! Judy is the sweetest child and I need to give her a hug please and thank you.
I enjoyed this! Judy is the sweetest child and I need to give her a hug please and thank you.
August 29, 2017
Can a family come back together, or has too much time gone past?
Wow. This novella is amazing! I loved Judy and her father. However I don’t think Adele (Judy’s mother) was really keeping Judy away from her father. The book did say that Adele invited him to come to see Judy, but he always refused… That part I didn’t understand. (Kell if you’re reading this, maybe you can give me an answer? XD 😉 ) I also thought Colette sounded too old for her age.
My heart broke for Judy, having only the love of her Granny but wishing her mother wouldn’t neglect her. Especially when she had the talk with her mother. ❤
Kellyn’s writing is amazing, simple to understand, and the setting was perfect. I loved this book and I was really excited when I got it for free today on my Kindle! Unfortunately, by the time I got this post up it wasn’t free anymore. :/ But buy it anyway will you This was a beautiful story that I absolutely adored.
There is some romance, a great book for anyone!
Wow. This novella is amazing! I loved Judy and her father. However I don’t think Adele (Judy’s mother) was really keeping Judy away from her father. The book did say that Adele invited him to come to see Judy, but he always refused… That part I didn’t understand. (Kell if you’re reading this, maybe you can give me an answer? XD 😉 ) I also thought Colette sounded too old for her age.
My heart broke for Judy, having only the love of her Granny but wishing her mother wouldn’t neglect her. Especially when she had the talk with her mother. ❤
Kellyn’s writing is amazing, simple to understand, and the setting was perfect. I loved this book and I was really excited when I got it for free today on my Kindle! Unfortunately, by the time I got this post up it wasn’t free anymore. :/ But buy it anyway will you This was a beautiful story that I absolutely adored.
There is some romance, a great book for anyone!
February 14, 2018
3.5 Stars
This was a sweet little story! Not my favorite in the world, but sweet.
~wonderfuls~
Jane of Lantern Hill feel
Now, this sounds really weird to me, so I'm sure it sounds even weirder to you guys. But The Lady of the Vineyard reminded me a lot of L.M. Montgomery's Jane of Lantern Hill. The mother and father who wouldn't speak to each other, the odd, but lovable house, and the sunsets and the sea. The plot was similar too. And I really, really enjoyed Jane of Lantern Hill, so this made The Lady of the Vineyard that much more lovable. (Please don't misunderstand me, I loved the book for itself also, and it wasn't as if they were exactly the same.)
~not-so-wonderfuls~
just not really my thing
It was really good, but I guess I'm just not that into books like this.
~personal thoughts~
All in all, I would recommend this, it's just not my favorite.
This was a sweet little story! Not my favorite in the world, but sweet.
~wonderfuls~
Jane of Lantern Hill feel
Now, this sounds really weird to me, so I'm sure it sounds even weirder to you guys. But The Lady of the Vineyard reminded me a lot of L.M. Montgomery's Jane of Lantern Hill. The mother and father who wouldn't speak to each other, the odd, but lovable house, and the sunsets and the sea. The plot was similar too. And I really, really enjoyed Jane of Lantern Hill, so this made The Lady of the Vineyard that much more lovable. (Please don't misunderstand me, I loved the book for itself also, and it wasn't as if they were exactly the same.)
~not-so-wonderfuls~
just not really my thing
It was really good, but I guess I'm just not that into books like this.
~personal thoughts~
All in all, I would recommend this, it's just not my favorite.
September 8, 2018
This historical novella, continues with Judy's story, It now 1938, London, England and the French Riviera. Judy who is unloved by her divorced mother and has never met her father. When he returns into her life, it brings on all sort of interesting bits.
I loved this novella. The cover has a sweet, Shirley Temple feel to it. The character's were well done. And Judy is a very realistic 6 year old. The story was a bit fast paced and the ending felt a touch rushed. Over all it was a beautiful story.
I loved this novella. The cover has a sweet, Shirley Temple feel to it. The character's were well done. And Judy is a very realistic 6 year old. The story was a bit fast paced and the ending felt a touch rushed. Over all it was a beautiful story.
September 1, 2017
Lady of the Vineyard — Kellyn Roth (12 chapters) Aug 31, 2017
Note: This story takes place in the 1930's. This is a story (that I learned afterwards is aimed at middle to YA readers,) about a young girl, Judy, whose mother, Della, spends more time concerned about herself than her daughter. (Which doesn't mean she doesn't love her daughter.) Judy's father shows up, takes her back to live with him, causing Della to have a wake-up call.
I really liked this story until the very end. The ending didn't feel as real and natural as the beginning or the middle. It felt more like the author didn't know how to finish the story.
Also, I got the feeling from Judy that she did love her mother in the beginning, or at least had strong loving feelings for her but there was none of that displayed when she left with her father, or really at the end.
Of all the character, Della was the one that seemed the most true to her self. The father didn't seem natural, just showing up as he did and acting as though he had always been a part of Judy's life. I'm not sure if Judy's reaction to her father was natural.
This is a fine book for the intended audience. However, I am a much older reader, and I enjoyed it as well.
Some typos and run on sentences. Reads very quickly.
Three stars.
Note: This story takes place in the 1930's. This is a story (that I learned afterwards is aimed at middle to YA readers,) about a young girl, Judy, whose mother, Della, spends more time concerned about herself than her daughter. (Which doesn't mean she doesn't love her daughter.) Judy's father shows up, takes her back to live with him, causing Della to have a wake-up call.
I really liked this story until the very end. The ending didn't feel as real and natural as the beginning or the middle. It felt more like the author didn't know how to finish the story.
Also, I got the feeling from Judy that she did love her mother in the beginning, or at least had strong loving feelings for her but there was none of that displayed when she left with her father, or really at the end.
Of all the character, Della was the one that seemed the most true to her self. The father didn't seem natural, just showing up as he did and acting as though he had always been a part of Judy's life. I'm not sure if Judy's reaction to her father was natural.
This is a fine book for the intended audience. However, I am a much older reader, and I enjoyed it as well.
Some typos and run on sentences. Reads very quickly.
Three stars.
June 3, 2017
Dr.2: The patient is a darling little flower. If you like the cover, you'll like the story. I am less than an aficionado of love stories of handsome monsieurs from France, but this was a nice story about a handsome monsieur from France. I enjoyed the narrative even though it was outside of my typical genres. A great small story with a kiss of essence, all for Judy.
January 10, 2021
A sweet yet deep story with a historical tone. The slow pace allows time to dive into deep heart issues. I especially enjoyed the sections from Judy’s POV.
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