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Tangled Vines

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Amelia O'Sullivan is a photographer who has always viewed herself through the wrong lens. When her marriage publicly crashes around her, she flees to the safety of her aunt's country property to pick up the pieces. Can she adjust her focus to what she really wants from her life?

Born into a wealthy and powerful family, Frederick Doyle may seem like a man who has it all, but behind the scenes, a bitter business feud threatens an irrevocable family split. As he fights for control of the winery he'd built from the ground up, he finds a supportive ally in Amelia and becomes increasingly beguiled by her creative spirit.

Jill McMahon is a successful novelist suffering from writer's block over her latest manuscript. Finding her niece, Amelia, at her door, reminds her of the bonds of family, but in seeing Amelia and Frederick's relationship grow, a long-forgotten and painful secret threatens to re-surface.

Can Amelia, Frederick and Jill untangle themselves from their pasts or will history simply repeat itself?

258 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 6, 2021

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About the author

Megan Mayfair

27 books129 followers
Megan Mayfair is a USA Today bestselling author of fiction with a dash of mystery, a sprinkling of humour and a spoonful of romance.

Her books have won awards including the Romance Writers of Australia Romantic Book of the Year (RuBY), the Romance Writers of New Zealand Koru Award of Excellence and the Australian Romance Readers Association Award for favourite romantic suspense novel.

She lives in Melbourne, Australia with her husband and three children and loves coffee, podcasts and yoga.

Visit her website www.meganmayfair.com or subscribe to her newsletter at www.meganmayfair.com/subscribe

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5 stars
182 (57%)
4 stars
96 (30%)
3 stars
31 (9%)
2 stars
5 (1%)
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4 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
Profile Image for DJ Sakata.
3,334 reviews1,782 followers
December 8, 2018
Favorite Quotes:

Alcohol was not a good idea. It only made things worse. The buzzing in her brain seemed to move up an octave when she drank, like a conductor elevating their baton, leading to the crescendo.

He seemed to suffer a Peter Pan complex and have inherited those enviable athletic Doyle genes. Despite his lean yet muscular build, it was likely he still ate like a teenager whose parents had gone away for the weekend.

“And do you read what your aunt writes, Amelia?” Frederick tilted his head towards Amelia, a waggish glint in his eyes, an arched eyebrow cocked at her. “The first time I did, I don’t think I could look her straight in the eye for a week. It was pure smut.”

It was far too soon for any sort of relationship for Amelia, but if she were to have a little rebound fling, Frederick was a good choice. Remind her that there were other fish in the sea. And when the fish were as handsome as Frederick, it certainly made Toby look like carp.


My Review:

I quickly added this bright and shiny author to my watch list after reading her delightful and highly impressive debut a few months ago with The Things We Leave Unsaid. I seemed to have made an excellent call or maybe even a psychic prediction, as her second book was equally engaging, cunningly paced, insightfully observant, and smartly written. This gal has mad skills. I adored her lovable yet flawed characters; they enticed and intrigued me. I have now wisely shuffled her name over from the Ones to Watch into the Favorite Authors List and feeling quite clever and rather Zen about it. I’m also happy to have a new addition to my Aussie Word List with little tackers, which the Urban Dictionary informed me was Aussie speak for small children.
Profile Image for Dash fan .
1,533 reviews716 followers
December 10, 2018
5☆ A Captivating Saga filled with Romance and Fascinating Characters.


Tangled Vines is the perfect title for this captivating story.
It truly is a mix of vivid and fascinating characters, saga, drama and romance, in which I couldn't put down.

Jill takes her niece Amelia and children in when Amelia's marriage gets dragged through the press, after her scum bag of a husband cheats on her.

Frederick is Jill's neighbour. Despite the age difference, they become really good friends.
Jill is an Author, and to her surprise, Frederick had read all of her steamy novels.

But Jill is keeping things from Frederick.
Despite her secrets she vows to help him save his business. When his horrid Father decides to sell it and force him to take a role in the main family business which he despises.

Amelia and Frederick become close and it's clear to see there is a spark. But is Amelia prepared to open her fragile heart again and can Frederick keep his business and Amelia close?
Only time will tell!

Tangled Vines is Fantastically plotted and perfectly paced.
There are plenty of exciting Twists as each characters stories are entwined.
I was simply drawn into the Characters and their storylines.
The story is full of tangled relationships, emotional dilemmas and juicy storylines to keep the reader Enthralled making for a Compulsive, Evocative and Heartwarming read.

Megan Mayfair has a way of captivating the reader. She has written a totally absorbing story that's beautifully written, a riveting tale filled with colorful characters and intriguing storylines.
Once you start reading you won't want to put it down!

Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

My Review is also on my Blog Website :-

https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/1...
Profile Image for Elaine - Splashes Into Books.
3,900 reviews139 followers
December 7, 2018
There are three main characters in this Australian drama story: Jill McMahon is an author and the person who links everyone else in the story. Her niece is Amelia O'Sullivan who seeks sanctuary for herself and her two young children with her aunt after her infamous husband is caught cheating on her and the press descend. Jill's neighbour is Frederick Doyle; he's embroiled in a family dispute as his father is determined to sell the winery Frederick has built up to someone he doesn't trust despite knowing how important it is to Frederick. His father is determined to have his son join the family business . . . . 

There are so many threads running through this story, no wonder it is called tangled vines! There are some relating to Amelia's relationship with her husband and her own anxiety issues. The angst and challenge between Frederick and his father may cause a serious rift in their family unless it can be resolved to their mutual satisfaction. Whilst all this is happening, it is awakening memories for Jill, many of which are painful secrets that would hurt many should they be revealed. The story is cleverly plotted so these threads become interwoven to form a vivid tapestry filled with possibilities. As attraction between Amelia and Frederick grows there are additional distractions, family pressures and so much more. This isn't 'just a romance', this is a saga of the past, working together to support and develop, laughter, love and family in an endearing story which I really enjoyed. I'd not read anything from this author before but I'll definitely be looking out for more in future!

I requested and was gifted a copy of this story without obligation. I chose to read it and this is my honest opinion after doing so.
Profile Image for Tasha Mahoney.
1,215 reviews45 followers
December 4, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Tangled Vines by Megan Mayfair. Set in Australia this is a story of love, family and the tangled vines (yes I know what I did there) that run through the story.

I thoroughly liked Amelia and her wonderful aunt, Jill who is loving and supportive while hiding her own explosive secret.

Amelia is escaping the breakdown of her marriage from her rugby player Lothario of a husband along with their young son and daughter. She finds solace in the support and love of her Aunt and the relative peace of the countryside.

Frederick Doyle is the handsome neighbour who has a firm friendship with his neighbour Jill and is immediately attracted to Amelia.

Author, Jill is trying to find her writing mojo that seems to be missing of late and while she would like to include Frederick as a character in her books, she knows that, as a reader, he would recognise himself in her work.

Amelia becomes an Ally to him as Frederick desperately fights to keep his successful Vineyard.

He is battling is father who is pushing to sell the usually profitable company that has had a recent slump in profits. (despite this being a usually profitable company.) His father even has an awful buyer lined up who has long been after the property.

This is the tip of the iceberg in this really wonderfully woven tale. It is so entangled and intense as well as gripping, emotive and romantic.

At times I found myself smiling, at others I found myself tense and sometimes angry. Tangled Vines is actually the perfect title for this excellent story.

I am amazed that this is Megan Mayfair’s second novel because it was such a well written and intricate story-line. Megan had a writing style that made it easy to follow the stories twists , surprises and developments.

Thank you to Megan Mayfair and Rachel’s Random Resources, for gifting me a review copy of Tangled Vines. The gifting of this book did not influence this review.
Profile Image for Els .
2,306 reviews57 followers
December 4, 2018
An old and a new love story ... what is not to love about that? But there is more. It's also about standing up for yourself and going for the life you want to live instead of constantly coming second. Family, money, lies, betrayal, manipulation add pizzazz to an already beautiful and fluently written tale and lift it to an even higher level.

This book reminded me of tv series like Dynasty which I totally loved by the way.

The author takes us to Australia where she introduces us to the main characters : Amelia, Frederick and Jill.

Will Amelia blossom or crash and burn? Will Frederik go after what he wants and succeed? Can Jill come to terms with the past and start looking ahead?

These questions will all be answered in this very entertaining novel.

Thank you, Megan Mayfair and RachelsRandomResources.

https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
Profile Image for Yvonne.
1,792 reviews135 followers
December 6, 2018
I usually start a my thoughts with a bit of my own synopsis, but this time I am not as I would pretty much duplicate what it says so I will go straight into what I thought.

This is set in Australia and is a wonderful read that captured my attention from the outset and held right the way through until the end. The story is about three key characters and how they know or come to know each other. It is a story about their lives, their worries, their loves, and losses. Decisions that need to be made for their own individual future need to be made and they all seem to have come to a crossroads in their lives and they have to decide what, who and where their possible and potential happiness lies. The story is about finding an inner strength and confidence in making their decisions to move towards starting the next chapter in their lives and, it is not going to be plain sailing. Important decisions are not easily made.

Even thought there are some heartbreaking revelations, the author has not dwelt too much on them. The story has a pacing that keeps the story moving forward as I followed the characters on their uncertain futures while still dealing with ongoing grief and worries. 

There are various friends, family and colleagues that accompany the main characters and they each have their part to play in the story. I soon worked out who I liked and didn’t and I am sure you will have similar views.

As I mentioned earlier, the past has a part in this story and it plays out very well, and the author dealt with some aspects very well, one in particular was the anxiety that one of the characters has to deal with, for me this was a key trait of this character and it gave an insight into the reactions, emotions and also the personality of said character.

This is a story I really enjoyed, I found myself wondering as to how things would pan out as nothing was clear cut. Nothing was guaranteed to follow a certain pattern and this added a good deal of  subtle dramatic suspense. This is a romance that is not overly romantic which sounds a really odd thing to say. What I mean is that there is a romantic thread, but it is also about family, life, experiences, disappointments and new beginnings as I followed three people dealing with major decisions that could have implications for their futures and goals.

A story that would appeal to romance and also general fiction readers and is one I would definitely recommend.
110 reviews3 followers
December 5, 2018
I loved every minute of my time spent in Australia with this gorgeous book. The story pulled me in with its warm and inviting writing style and I was sad to see the book come to an end.


The characters were instantly likeable and each played their parts extremely well to create a story rich in romance and love. Amelia and Fredrick's chemistry sizzled off the pages and I couldn't rest until I found out whether or not they received that sort after happy ending. Amelia was a beautiful and delicate character and I enjoyed how she blossomed throughout the story into the confident woman seen in the concluding pages. Frederick showed true passion with his belief in his dreams to keep his business and I was behind him every step of the way to come out on top. But the stand out character for me was Jill who shone brightly and created many scene stealing moments.


This is a story of love, family and dreams which is perfect for this time of the year. If you love romance and rich festive cheer then look no further than Tangled Vines, I heartily recommend it.
Profile Image for Susan Roebuck.
Author 5 books111 followers
December 14, 2018
I enjoyed this book so much I didn't want to put it down as I followed the two main characters - Amelia and Frederick. They're so credible and have an instant rapport but too many obstacles in their way that they have to overcome. What a delight this author's voice is. She makes the plot smoothly progress and introduces us to some lovely characters (Jill, Amelia's aunt) and not so lovely (Frederick's father, Peter). The backdrop of the clash between Frederick's vineyard and his father's beloved haulage company made for interesting reading. This is a perfect read that kept me guessing the outcome right to the end.
Profile Image for Susanne Baker.
746 reviews31 followers
January 17, 2019
This is the second book that I have read by Megan Mayfair, and as with her first book, I was instantly drawn into the story. The character of Amelia struck an immediate chord with me because like her I suffer from anxiety. I enjoyed watching her build in confidence and face her challenges.
The character of Frederick was extremely likeable and I was kept interested in what was going to be the outcome of his business challenges.
I found this book very gripping and difficult to put down!
I really enjoyed this story and I’m already looking forward to visiting Australia again via Megan’s beautifully written books.
Profile Image for Isabella May.
Author 22 books128 followers
December 12, 2018
Stunningly beautiful.

Megan Mayfair knows how to tell a story! This one pulled me in from the first page to the last; an exquisite example of contemporary romantic fiction at its very best, packed with wonderful layers of subplot, dramatic dialogue and believable characters. Highly recommended!
Profile Image for Shirley Wine.
Author 30 books47 followers
March 18, 2019
Intriguing

This is a great book with many layers that do indeed entwine. I really enjoyed the way the character's lives were each woven into the other with a dexterity that kept me interested until the last page. Not to give anything away, the secondary relationship's ending was little short of masterly.
Profile Image for Ellie.
546 reviews163 followers
February 16, 2019
Three stars

This book was an okay read, but I had a hard time staying interested and by 50% I was just really anxious to finish and move on.

There wasn't anything wrong with it. It was well-written and executed. The dialogue was pretty natural and the characters used their words often enough that the 'show, don't tell' trap was avoided. But for my tastes I found it all a bit dry and dull.
Everyone was just too 'nice.'
Nothing ever happened here. It was kind of boring. I never felt a connection between Frederick and Amelia. She didn't even admit she loved him until maybe the last 10% of the book - and not even to him, but her aunt Jill.
The book is classified as women's fiction and there are certainly elements of that genre - mild family drama and the issue of Amelia's anxiety and depression, as well as the inclusion of a secondary sub-plot involving Amelia's aunt - but in my mind it's more romance than anything.

However, the love story itself lacks passion and emotion, and since it's clear that the intent is for the two MC's to be together, the lack of feeling was problematic for me. I never felt their longing for one another or their desire to be together and really, it sometimes like they didn't care one way or the other - Amelia, in particular. At least Frederick knew how he felt and acted on it.

There are also small children here, and I am not a fan of young kids OR pregnancy in love stories. They are c*ckbl*ckers that kill spontaneity and excitement, IMO.
Perhaps the H and h were a bit one-dimensional as well, but I often find that to be the case in third-person perspective.

Anyway, it's a pleasant enough read for persons who prefer the arc of a story to be a simple straight line with no ups and downs or conflict.
Clean. No swearing. Sex is implied rather than shown.
Very safe read with a HEA and epilogue.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jessica.
1,657 reviews55 followers
December 3, 2018
Admittedly, I choose to read this book because I love the cover and the idea that the main character is a photographer who "has always viewed herself through the wrong lens."

I was very drawn into this novel from the beginning. The three characters are very compelling and they were brought to life on the pages.

I loved the tangled pasts and the themes of love and family. This was definitely a worthwhile read, and I highly recommend checking it out.

*I received a copy of this book as part of a blog tour. All opinions are my own.*
Profile Image for Donna Maguire.
5,723 reviews125 followers
December 11, 2018
https://donnasbookblog.wordpress.com/...

I really enjoyed this story and I think the cover is lovely!

The book was well written and flowed really well. It had a great pace and plenty of attention to detail to keep me fully engaged and entertained at the same time.

The characterisation was excellent and it made the book a must read for me! It was a thoroughly enjoyable story – 4.5 stars from me rounded up to 5 stars for Goodreads and Amazon – very highly recommended!!
Profile Image for Janice.
880 reviews
December 7, 2018
A Review of Tangled Vines by Megan Mayfair

Amelia and Frederick - 4.5 Stars

This was a new to me author and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I highly recommend it.

**Honest review voluntarily provided from a Complimentary Copy**
Profile Image for Lizzie Chantree.
Author 20 books346 followers
August 25, 2019
Beautifully written book with stunning settings and interwoven plot lines. This is an ideal holiday read and the story will keep you turning page after page. Lots of romance, family histories and fine wine. This is the second book I’ve read by this author and I definitely want to read her next book. A talented writer.
Profile Image for Liv Arnold.
Author 6 books91 followers
December 15, 2019
Loved this sweet book from three different POV.
One of the leads, Amelia, is protective of her kids and experiences anxiety. I found her traits really relatable.
Her love interest, Frederick, I adored. He’s thoughtful and understanding but not in an over the top way.
Amelia’s aunt Jill has an interesting background.
A wonderful story. I can see why this was award winning.
Profile Image for Kath.
1,067 reviews26 followers
July 25, 2019
Nice sweet story to fill in between my more intense novels!
12 reviews
July 24, 2019
A good quick read

Really enjoyed this book. A sweet love story. I liked the characters. Look forward to other books by this author.
Profile Image for Heidi Catherine.
Author 55 books233 followers
November 26, 2018
This is a gorgeous book that I'd hesitate to call a love story as there was so much more packed into it. Both Amelia and Frederick have interesting stories of their own and I enjoyed watching their relationship blossom as they helped each other sort out their problems. But Amelia's Aunt Jill really stole the show for me. She had me laughing and wishing for an aunt like her of my own. My only complaint is that all those scenes in the vineyard made me want to drink far too much wine... Cheers to a fabulous read!
Profile Image for Eva King.
Author 24 books54 followers
April 6, 2019
Very well written and entertaining read. However, the beginning was hard to get into.
Profile Image for Stella Quinn.
Author 31 books113 followers
December 16, 2018
Tangled Vines by Megan Mayfair - Oh a gorgeous book, and just what I like to read on my holidays. A really multi-layered family story, with romance, redemption, and relatable characters who I now want to go and live with. Loved the setting, too. A winery tour in Australia has just been added to my bucket list.
Profile Image for Rochelle.
169 reviews3 followers
April 1, 2019
I am grateful to The Fiction Café – Review Group and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for the honest review.

This is the first that I have read anything by this author, I normally don’t read romance novels, but this one had a twist with family saga. There are three main characters in this Australian drama story: Jill McMahon is an author and the person who links everyone else in the story. Her niece is Amelia O'Sullivan who seeks sanctuary for herself and her two young children with her aunt after her infamous husband is caught cheating on her and the press descend. Jill's neighbor is Frederick Doyle; he's embroiled in a family dispute as his father is determined to sell the winery Frederick has built up to someone he doesn't trust despite knowing how important it is to Frederick. His father is determined to have his son join the family business . . . .
I really enjoyed reading and learning more about the characters. I Highly recommend this book the author kept my interest until the very end.
I'll definitely be looking out for more from this author in future!
Profile Image for Saskia.
134 reviews10 followers
March 28, 2019
When Amelia having some trouble in her marriage with a sportman she decide to go to her beloved aunt Jill for a while. She needs time to think and have a safe place for her and her children.

Frederick, her aunts neighbour, is about to loose his beloved company.

Frederick and Amelia become friends and talk a out everything, being supportive to each other and after a while there is more then just friendship. But what if Toby shows up? And is falling in love not to soon?

A nice book about friendship, choices, love. Amalia is a person many woman can reconize themselves in. The writer made the characters just like your normal now and day people and they deal with things everyone has in their lives. I do like that. My first book from this writer. I really enjoyed the style of writing. Very easy to read.
Profile Image for Priya.
2,238 reviews76 followers
March 25, 2019
A nice family story with a bit of everything!
Amelia is a photographer with anxiety issues that get worse when a scandal breaks about her husband. She escapes with her children to be with her aunt Jill.
Frederick Doyle on the other hand, knows the downs of being the heir to a rich family only too well and prefers to run his own winery business instead of work with his father. But his business is in danger and he needs to work fast to save it.
As Frederick and Amelia get closer to each other, Jill can't help but recall her past and what she most regrets giving up.
One of those stories where you are sure you can guess the ending but the fun is in how you get there!
Profile Image for Pam Devine.
592 reviews11 followers
March 29, 2019
Completely different from my normal reads of psychological thrillers, Terry Pritchett and war novels, this is a lovely story of Amelia and her aunt Jill, a cheating husband and the possibility of new beginnings. Set in country Victoria, Australia, I could picture the scenery and vineyards. Definitely recommended.
Profile Image for Lauren (Lauren_readsandreads).
97 reviews
April 3, 2019
Tangled vines is the second book by Megan Mayfair I've read. I enjoy her writing style and how the characters develop and stories are entwined. As much as I enjoyed this book I got quite distracted at parts and that's the only reason for 4 not 5 stars.
Profile Image for Sonia Stanizzo.
Author 10 books54 followers
February 24, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. A 'tangle' of romance, family drama and courage that will keep you enthralled until the end. A must read!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews