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Fredrickson Winery #1
Entangled
A Minneapolis attorney inherits a small California winery, reawakening memories that have lain dormant for twenty years. One summer of her childhood is a mystery she intends to solve. But digging up her past also lays bare the skeletons of others, including her mother’s. Entangled between what she once believed and a new reality, will she be able to live with the consequences of full disclosure?
342 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2010
2115 people are currently reading
2303 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Ellen Brink
25 books120 followersBarbara is a multi-published author of mystery, suspense, and young adult. Her Fredrickson Winery Novels have been on the best-seller lists multiple times, and her Christian thriller, Split Sense, won the Grace Award in 2012. Again in 2016, she won the Grace Award with the 2nd book of her Double Barrel Mysteries, Much Ado About Murder.
Barbara grew up on a small farm in Washington State, but now lives in the mean "burbs" of Minnesota with her husband and their pups. With their adult kids now pushed out of the nest and encouraged to fly, she spends much time reading, writing, collecting books, riding motorcycles, and keeping one step ahead of AARP. She also really likes black licorice.
Barbara grew up on a small farm in Washington State, but now lives in the mean "burbs" of Minnesota with her husband and their pups. With their adult kids now pushed out of the nest and encouraged to fly, she spends much time reading, writing, collecting books, riding motorcycles, and keeping one step ahead of AARP. She also really likes black licorice.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 272 reviews
October 31, 2018
Entangled is mystery, romance, mother/daughter issues, and repressed memories, all fermenting at a California winery. Where else can you get a great vintage for so little!
Taste and enjoy!
Available as an ebook or paperback. Hope you'll check it out.
Thanks,
Barbara
Taste and enjoy!
Available as an ebook or paperback. Hope you'll check it out.
Thanks,
Barbara
May 20, 2016
SUMMARY: A Minneapolis attorney inherits a small California winery, reawakening memories that have lain dormant for twenty years. One summer of her childhood is a mystery she intends to solve. But digging up her past also lays bare the skeletons of others, including her mother’s. Entangled between what she once believed and a new reality, will she be able to live with the consequences of full disclosure?
REVIEW: This is the first book in Brink's Frederickson Winery Series. I love books set in wineries so this immediately gave it a plus. The book indeed lives up to its title "Entangled." This story was like a spider web with so many different directions it could have gone and did go which make it a fascinating read. I would rate it a 4.5 if I could. Both Billie and Handel had so many deep emotions intertwined with their past and connected to the winery which haunted them. The untangling made them both stronger as they dealt with the occurrences that brought them to this point. I would have liked to see a little stronger faith thread interwoven through the story. Great combination of mystery, romance, mother/daughter issues, and healing rolled into one very good book.
FAVORITE QUOTES: "Humans often do things in the name of love that aren't trustworthy."
"Death often pulls family members apart rather than strengthening the bonds.
"She would have fallen for him slowly, not realizing the cloth of love was being woven around them, binding them together with strong threads of mutual respect, kindness, caring, and trust."
"The starry hosts gazed down, reverent observers, a million celestial eyes watching earth's nightly orchestrated performance in God's theater.
REVIEW: This is the first book in Brink's Frederickson Winery Series. I love books set in wineries so this immediately gave it a plus. The book indeed lives up to its title "Entangled." This story was like a spider web with so many different directions it could have gone and did go which make it a fascinating read. I would rate it a 4.5 if I could. Both Billie and Handel had so many deep emotions intertwined with their past and connected to the winery which haunted them. The untangling made them both stronger as they dealt with the occurrences that brought them to this point. I would have liked to see a little stronger faith thread interwoven through the story. Great combination of mystery, romance, mother/daughter issues, and healing rolled into one very good book.
FAVORITE QUOTES: "Humans often do things in the name of love that aren't trustworthy."
"Death often pulls family members apart rather than strengthening the bonds.
"She would have fallen for him slowly, not realizing the cloth of love was being woven around them, binding them together with strong threads of mutual respect, kindness, caring, and trust."
"The starry hosts gazed down, reverent observers, a million celestial eyes watching earth's nightly orchestrated performance in God's theater.
July 12, 2014
Sometimes long past memories are like ghosts coming back to haunt us.
Minneapolis divorce attorney, Wilhelmina "Billie" Fredrickson, inherits her adventurer uncle's Californian winery. She's determined not to leave her present life by moving to the left coast. She's merely going to attend to all the legal details and then put the winery on the market. She soon begins having the reoccurring nightmares she used to have as a girl after a boy in her high school attempted to rape her at a drunken party. He didn't get too far, as she broke his nose with a wine bottle, giving him a concussion. This is no helpless heroine, yet she is plagued by buried and conflicting emotions from her past she's rather duck than deal with.
Arriving in California, Billie is immediately attracted to attorney Handle Parker, who was her Uncle Jack's legal eagle. However, she can't shake the feeling that he seems to resent her inheriting the Fredrickson Winery. One of the lines I most enjoyed in the novel is…I knew he questioned the validity of my receiving my uncle's holdings, as though I'd conspired to put a voodoo curse on Jack before he died, which was preposterous since I was raised Lutheran.
Author Barbara Ellen Brink has crafted complex characters. Billie has many secrets, most of them hidden from herself. She's got a complex relationship with Sabrina, her protective mother. And Billie has a tendency to run away from her problems. She's definitely pushing down disturbing memories of a long lost summer at the winery twenty-years ago when as a girl she first met Handle as well as the many not so subtle hints that her mother has quite a few secrets of her own.
A break-in at the winery and the discovery of troubling photographs forces Billie to face her past. Then there's vandalism which is a serious setback to her plan for putting the winery on a local winery tour. And let's not forget the attempt upon her life. All these add up to one enticing mystery read. Don't be surprised if you find yourself yearning for an aromatic glass of California wine and perhaps a slice or two of good cheddar.
Minneapolis divorce attorney, Wilhelmina "Billie" Fredrickson, inherits her adventurer uncle's Californian winery. She's determined not to leave her present life by moving to the left coast. She's merely going to attend to all the legal details and then put the winery on the market. She soon begins having the reoccurring nightmares she used to have as a girl after a boy in her high school attempted to rape her at a drunken party. He didn't get too far, as she broke his nose with a wine bottle, giving him a concussion. This is no helpless heroine, yet she is plagued by buried and conflicting emotions from her past she's rather duck than deal with.
Arriving in California, Billie is immediately attracted to attorney Handle Parker, who was her Uncle Jack's legal eagle. However, she can't shake the feeling that he seems to resent her inheriting the Fredrickson Winery. One of the lines I most enjoyed in the novel is…I knew he questioned the validity of my receiving my uncle's holdings, as though I'd conspired to put a voodoo curse on Jack before he died, which was preposterous since I was raised Lutheran.
Author Barbara Ellen Brink has crafted complex characters. Billie has many secrets, most of them hidden from herself. She's got a complex relationship with Sabrina, her protective mother. And Billie has a tendency to run away from her problems. She's definitely pushing down disturbing memories of a long lost summer at the winery twenty-years ago when as a girl she first met Handle as well as the many not so subtle hints that her mother has quite a few secrets of her own.
A break-in at the winery and the discovery of troubling photographs forces Billie to face her past. Then there's vandalism which is a serious setback to her plan for putting the winery on a local winery tour. And let's not forget the attempt upon her life. All these add up to one enticing mystery read. Don't be surprised if you find yourself yearning for an aromatic glass of California wine and perhaps a slice or two of good cheddar.
November 20, 2010
The cover is kind of dark, so I'm not fond of it, but it does show that there is some darkness to this suspenseful novel. However, a light shining through the grape leaves would have depicted the heart of the story more, because the light from discovering the truth casts away the darkness and provides healing. While this story had its terrifying moments, it left me feeling good at the end because of the resolution and healing message that was (thank God) not sappy or forced. I loved that. Quite often suspense stories leave me scratching my head because the resolution was not believable, or the great "revelation" seemed staged. This story flowed naturally. The tension built and built until there was nothing left but the inevitable explosion. And what a bang it carried! I was truly impressed.
Given my background of working with sick-o people for several decades I had a feeling there was some stuff in the past that would come to light. I love when my instincts are spot-on, but that also tells me that the author knew how to frame a believable scenario. Not many authors do that so convincingly that my gut says, "yep, that's just what it would look like, too." The author did a great job with the whole mystery and suspense. She also tied in a great romance with Handel, who was not only a childhood friend, but a very heroic figure in this story. I wanted to cuddle up next him when I got scared along with the heroine. Well done!
The coolest part of this story is that while published by the author, the craft part of the storytelling was impressive. This could easily have been published by a big publishing house. It was that well done. Just so you know, it's worth way more than the $2.99 the author is charging for her Amazon kindle edition of her novel. I'd easily pay $9.99 for it because the quality of the writing and storytelling is so good. There is nothing too sick or crass for the average reader to enjoy and nothing to make a Christian's conscience cringe. There are a few minor cuss words and an occasional glass of wine, but she is living at a winery, so it fits the setting. The heroine's memories that are pretty realistic, but that just makes the story more powerful. I highly recommend this book.
January 11, 2012
What an absolute jumbled mess. There is a possibility that this would have made an adequate short story, but somewhere along the way, Barbara Ellen Brink was told to add a little here and a little more there and we will call it a book.
A very bad idea.
Ms. Brink will add long meanderings that add absolutely nothing to the story. Her main character arrives as a wine novice and then suddenly waxes on about wines with no training, skill or gained knowledge and poof she is a winemaker. No. If you are looking for a good mystery series involving wine and vineyards, checkout Ellen Crosby and her Wine Country Mysteries series.
Billie Fredrickson a 28-year-old divorce attorney inherits a winery from an uncle that she has very little recollection of. When she arrives at the estate, with the full intention of selling the property, her uncle’s attorney – who also happened to be a childhood friend, helps her to navigate the estates history and entanglements.
Something happened to Billie when she was last on the estate. Something that happened to her as an eight year old and being back on the property has reawakened memories that only appear in her nightmares.
There is nothing new to this plotline. It has been used repeatedly and when you come to the “climatic” moment, you yawn and have no further attachment to Billie or the other characters involved in this fiasco than you did before the stunning moment.
I see how others have loved this book, now I am beginning to wonder what I missed. There is no depth to any of the characters introduced. The petty squabbling between Billie and her mother seems to have no point and no resolution. Of course, every book must have a love interest, but within a short span, Billie goes from despising the man to suddenly throwing herself at him. Where was the development to get from point A to point B? Most importantly, the “bad guy” was barely mentioned for the first two-thirds of the book and suddenly he is a pivotal character. Once again, no, there needed to be more and this ran along the lines of – we had better find a bad guy fast, whom should we use, oh, I have an idea, it is not a good one, but we can make it work.
I recommend that you pass on this book.
A very bad idea.
Ms. Brink will add long meanderings that add absolutely nothing to the story. Her main character arrives as a wine novice and then suddenly waxes on about wines with no training, skill or gained knowledge and poof she is a winemaker. No. If you are looking for a good mystery series involving wine and vineyards, checkout Ellen Crosby and her Wine Country Mysteries series.
Billie Fredrickson a 28-year-old divorce attorney inherits a winery from an uncle that she has very little recollection of. When she arrives at the estate, with the full intention of selling the property, her uncle’s attorney – who also happened to be a childhood friend, helps her to navigate the estates history and entanglements.
Something happened to Billie when she was last on the estate. Something that happened to her as an eight year old and being back on the property has reawakened memories that only appear in her nightmares.
There is nothing new to this plotline. It has been used repeatedly and when you come to the “climatic” moment, you yawn and have no further attachment to Billie or the other characters involved in this fiasco than you did before the stunning moment.
I see how others have loved this book, now I am beginning to wonder what I missed. There is no depth to any of the characters introduced. The petty squabbling between Billie and her mother seems to have no point and no resolution. Of course, every book must have a love interest, but within a short span, Billie goes from despising the man to suddenly throwing herself at him. Where was the development to get from point A to point B? Most importantly, the “bad guy” was barely mentioned for the first two-thirds of the book and suddenly he is a pivotal character. Once again, no, there needed to be more and this ran along the lines of – we had better find a bad guy fast, whom should we use, oh, I have an idea, it is not a good one, but we can make it work.
I recommend that you pass on this book.
March 11, 2011
Twenty-eight-year-old attorney Billie Fredrickson is shocked to learn that she’s inherited her Uncle Jack’s winery in the Napa Valley. Billie only met Jack once and that was twenty years ago during a family vacation. She doesn’t have any clear memories of the winery or Jack, but when she returns for his funeral, Billie has recurring nightmares she thought she’d put behind her. Why have the nightmares returned, and why are winery employees, including its handsome lawyer, reluctant to answer some of her questions?
Enntangled is a poignant look at one woman’s attempt to unravel family secrets. Author Barbara Ellen Brink does a great job of creating believable characters and providing enough clues and red herrings to keep the reader wondering what really happened when Billie was eight years old and, more importantly, who’s responsible for the past and present trouble? Brink tells a good story and I look forward to reading more of her work.
Enntangled is a poignant look at one woman’s attempt to unravel family secrets. Author Barbara Ellen Brink does a great job of creating believable characters and providing enough clues and red herrings to keep the reader wondering what really happened when Billie was eight years old and, more importantly, who’s responsible for the past and present trouble? Brink tells a good story and I look forward to reading more of her work.
February 27, 2012
I may be giving this one an extra star just because it's way better than the book I read right before this one. It did keep me interested, but there are some problems:
-the regular old typos that show up so frequently in ebooks - in one paragraph the word "winery's" was used when it should have been "wineries" twice, but then it was correct the third time. There were actually quite a few apostrophe errors. When those kinds of things occur often enough to detract from the story, it's a problem.
-the main character's father is central to the story, and there's a sort of unfinished thread about his attitude that hinges around an attempted date rape when the main character was 15 years old, that is never resolved at all.
-the characters in this story are all so flawed, it's doubtful that any of them could ever have good relationships. A boy who was abused then abandoned by his father is not likely to grow up to be the "knight in shining armor" kind of guy. Now that I think about it - the romantic interest is set up to be a sort of knight in shining armor, and I hate that.
-the main character is 28 years old, yet her mommy treats her like a three year old. There is just something wrong with it. The mom is portrayed as loving and kind and having sacrificed most of her life to raise her children after their father dies, but there's just something weird about the relationship with her daughter.
-I knew who did it before "it" was clear. In other words, it's a pretty predictable story. That being said, I continued to read because I wasn't 100% sure I was right.
This list makes it seem like I really didn't like the book - and that's not necessarily true. It did entertain me. It's kind of like watching an episode of Desperate Housewives - not life-changing or thought-provoking, but definitely time-filling and entertaining.
-the regular old typos that show up so frequently in ebooks - in one paragraph the word "winery's" was used when it should have been "wineries" twice, but then it was correct the third time. There were actually quite a few apostrophe errors. When those kinds of things occur often enough to detract from the story, it's a problem.
-the main character's father is central to the story, and there's a sort of unfinished thread about his attitude that hinges around an attempted date rape when the main character was 15 years old, that is never resolved at all.
-the characters in this story are all so flawed, it's doubtful that any of them could ever have good relationships. A boy who was abused then abandoned by his father is not likely to grow up to be the "knight in shining armor" kind of guy. Now that I think about it - the romantic interest is set up to be a sort of knight in shining armor, and I hate that.
-the main character is 28 years old, yet her mommy treats her like a three year old. There is just something wrong with it. The mom is portrayed as loving and kind and having sacrificed most of her life to raise her children after their father dies, but there's just something weird about the relationship with her daughter.
-I knew who did it before "it" was clear. In other words, it's a pretty predictable story. That being said, I continued to read because I wasn't 100% sure I was right.
This list makes it seem like I really didn't like the book - and that's not necessarily true. It did entertain me. It's kind of like watching an episode of Desperate Housewives - not life-changing or thought-provoking, but definitely time-filling and entertaining.
August 28, 2016
This book had the potential of being really good, but I found it boring because it was so predictable with monotonous discriptive dialogue. I had the mystery figured out almost right away.
July 21, 2021
Billie Fredrickson inherits a winery from her uncle Jack in this contemporary romantic suspense novel. She is dumbfounded by this and plans to return to her home in Minneapolis, but re-meeting her childhood friend, Handel, makes her change her mind, that is once she realizes they met before.
With the inheritance, though, comes the return of nightmares and some people who aren't exactly happy with her decision to stay. What happened in the past to cause these nightmares? Until and when, she figures it out, her budding romance with Handel is put on the back-burner as she deals with break-ins and vandalism.
With the inheritance, though, comes the return of nightmares and some people who aren't exactly happy with her decision to stay. What happened in the past to cause these nightmares? Until and when, she figures it out, her budding romance with Handel is put on the back-burner as she deals with break-ins and vandalism.
June 19, 2020
protracted story line just not for me
Read
September 8, 2020Will read at another time
August 17, 2019
Suspense
A good mystery that keeps you guessing. The clues are misleading on purpose. All is untangled .... if a bit much.....at the end.
A good mystery that keeps you guessing. The clues are misleading on purpose. All is untangled .... if a bit much.....at the end.
February 13, 2017
What is the whole story about Billie's inheritance?
Barbara Brink's storyline seemed so simple at the beginning when her main character Billie inherited the Fredrickson Winery. But, it took awhile for the memories of Billie's visit to the winery when she was eight to come totally back to her. All of her memories of another eight year old, Handy, also took time to unfold. Barbara's book, Entangled, was appropriately titled as you will soon see as your reading progresses. I was certain I'd solved the mystery early on, but to my surprise, Handel, Sean Parker, Charlie, and Alex would all play an important part of more than one mystery before the story was completed... Read and enjoy as telling you more would only ruin the story...
Barbara Brink's storyline seemed so simple at the beginning when her main character Billie inherited the Fredrickson Winery. But, it took awhile for the memories of Billie's visit to the winery when she was eight to come totally back to her. All of her memories of another eight year old, Handy, also took time to unfold. Barbara's book, Entangled, was appropriately titled as you will soon see as your reading progresses. I was certain I'd solved the mystery early on, but to my surprise, Handel, Sean Parker, Charlie, and Alex would all play an important part of more than one mystery before the story was completed... Read and enjoy as telling you more would only ruin the story...
April 28, 2011
Review by Zita
Synopsis: Minneapolis attorney inherits a small California winery, reawakening memories that have lain dormant for twenty years. One summer of her childhood is a mystery she intends to solve. But digging up her past also lays bare the skeletons of others, including her mother’s. Entangled between what she once believed and a new reality, will she be able to live with the consequences of full disclosure?
I very much enjoyed this mystery. It was easy to engage with the main protagonist. Ms. Brink has written a well-rounded and likable character. You find yourself taking the journey alongside her, which is the mark of a well-written piece of fiction. The world Ms. Brink invites you to visit is realistic and completely believable. I don't want to say too much about this story, because the mystery is such an important part of it and I don't want to ruin it for you. What I will say is if you like a good mystery, you'll really enjoy this one, and I highly recommend it.
http://www.romancing-the-book.com/201...
Synopsis: Minneapolis attorney inherits a small California winery, reawakening memories that have lain dormant for twenty years. One summer of her childhood is a mystery she intends to solve. But digging up her past also lays bare the skeletons of others, including her mother’s. Entangled between what she once believed and a new reality, will she be able to live with the consequences of full disclosure?
I very much enjoyed this mystery. It was easy to engage with the main protagonist. Ms. Brink has written a well-rounded and likable character. You find yourself taking the journey alongside her, which is the mark of a well-written piece of fiction. The world Ms. Brink invites you to visit is realistic and completely believable. I don't want to say too much about this story, because the mystery is such an important part of it and I don't want to ruin it for you. What I will say is if you like a good mystery, you'll really enjoy this one, and I highly recommend it.
http://www.romancing-the-book.com/201...
June 23, 2012
Entangled (Barbara Brink)
Mystery/Romance
An attorney from Minnesota (Billie) learns she inherited a winery from her recently deceased uncle, so she goes to California to try and settle the estate.
Soon she is reunited with people from her past, also with nightmares of an unmentionable event that happens there when she was a child. As she struggles to figure out what her nightmare means, she starts to unravel family secrets.
There is a love/hate relationship with her mother and a potential romance with a childhood friend. Although I found some parts predictable, the ending was a bit shocking, and a few parts I just did not see it coming.
I will definitely read more from Barbara Ellen Brink
Mystery/Romance
An attorney from Minnesota (Billie) learns she inherited a winery from her recently deceased uncle, so she goes to California to try and settle the estate.
Soon she is reunited with people from her past, also with nightmares of an unmentionable event that happens there when she was a child. As she struggles to figure out what her nightmare means, she starts to unravel family secrets.
There is a love/hate relationship with her mother and a potential romance with a childhood friend. Although I found some parts predictable, the ending was a bit shocking, and a few parts I just did not see it coming.
I will definitely read more from Barbara Ellen Brink
Read
April 10, 2020I'm not going to spoil the plot of this. I just want to warn readers. This book really should have a content/trigger warning.
First of all, there's an attempted date rape of a high schooler.
Secondly, as an adult, the woman begins having issues related to that attack but as she describes her nightmares more, I start to wonder if she was abused as a child. Whether or not she was is covered later in the book and I won't spoil it. Just the way it was written made me question if her attempted rape was her only assault and that's enough to be pretty intense.
I haven't been abused/raped and the book really put me on edge. I wouldn't want someone who had been to stumble blindly into this.
Other than that, the book was good.
First of all, there's an attempted date rape of a high schooler.
Secondly, as an adult, the woman begins having issues related to that attack but as she describes her nightmares more, I start to wonder if she was abused as a child. Whether or not she was is covered later in the book and I won't spoil it. Just the way it was written made me question if her attempted rape was her only assault and that's enough to be pretty intense.
I haven't been abused/raped and the book really put me on edge. I wouldn't want someone who had been to stumble blindly into this.
Other than that, the book was good.
November 27, 2010
A good thriller/mystery. Well worth reading and I will be looking for the next book about the Fredrickson Winery.
A few things about the relationship between Jack, Sean Parker, Simone, and her husband didn't add up if you think about them carefully, but if you don't, the plot works pretty well. This lack of clear explanation kept me from enjoying the story as much as I would have otherwise.
The author also made a one-time mistake with Handel's car that had me wondering for a while how many he owned.... first it was a Porsche, then she said Jag, then back to Porsche (where it stayed for the rest of the book).
A few things about the relationship between Jack, Sean Parker, Simone, and her husband didn't add up if you think about them carefully, but if you don't, the plot works pretty well. This lack of clear explanation kept me from enjoying the story as much as I would have otherwise.
The author also made a one-time mistake with Handel's car that had me wondering for a while how many he owned.... first it was a Porsche, then she said Jag, then back to Porsche (where it stayed for the rest of the book).
May 26, 2020
The elegant writing within this book was just a joy to read. The easy and orderly fashion allowed each word to flow with a rhythmic pace, keeping you glued to the story.
And what a story. It is unique and from a different point of view without the violence one would expect with the topic. But subtle and empathic as the author takes you into the mind of an abused child from the eyes of a grown-up.
Once I started with the book, I simply good not put it down.
This book has been on my Kindle for seven years, but once I finally got to it, I was mesmerized.
Thank you for the freebie, at the time. I am looking forward to more from this author.
And what a story. It is unique and from a different point of view without the violence one would expect with the topic. But subtle and empathic as the author takes you into the mind of an abused child from the eyes of a grown-up.
Once I started with the book, I simply good not put it down.
This book has been on my Kindle for seven years, but once I finally got to it, I was mesmerized.
Thank you for the freebie, at the time. I am looking forward to more from this author.
March 24, 2011
Mystery with a little romance set in Wine Country. Divorce attorney Wilhelmina (Billie) Fredrickson inherits a winery from her uncle and leaves Minnesota to settle the details in California. Something happened there the summer Billie was eight and she has repressed the memories but they start to come back as she begins to dig up the past. I got this book free on Kindle and enjoyed it--good plot and characters got me involved and it had some good twists and suspense, and really, who doesn't secretly dream of inheriting a vineyard anyway?!
January 26, 2012
When I started reading "Entangled" I certainly did not excpect the quailty of reading that i got, for free on my kindle. This book was really just a great book, dark and twisted but romantic and almost fairytale like. The setting of a vinyard just made it ever so spectacular for both sides, creepy and sweet. Brabra Ellen Brink is a fabulous writer, and because of this book, she has a reader for life.
July 24, 2014
Brink sucked me in slowly, over many pages and layers upon layers of mystery. Well done.
I’ll be picking grapes tomorrow. Maybe even having some wine later in the season. For sure, I’ll be reading Crushed (book two in the Fredrickson Winery Saga) in the future. There’s too many secrets at Fredrickson not to go back.
Read my full review here: http://anakalianwhims.wordpress.com/2...
I’ll be picking grapes tomorrow. Maybe even having some wine later in the season. For sure, I’ll be reading Crushed (book two in the Fredrickson Winery Saga) in the future. There’s too many secrets at Fredrickson not to go back.
Read my full review here: http://anakalianwhims.wordpress.com/2...
January 20, 2012
A woman with a complicated past inherits a vineyard in California. I had a suspicion from the cover art what the root of the story was about--and the story makes it obvious to the reader what happened in her childhood. However, there is more to this novel than that. I liked the main characters and I liked seeing their relationships with each other--not simple at all.
April 9, 2012
Fast paced and fun read. Considering the topic of child abuse, I really enjoyed this novel. I loved how the author really painted a clear picture of the world she created with such detail, it seemed like you were there. Highly recommended.
April 18, 2012
I really enjoyed this! It was a lot different than I expected. The mystery/thriller part didn't really start until the last quarter. It's much more of a family relationship drama up to that point. The main character can be annoying, but comes across as realistic.
November 13, 2016
Entangled was a good read full of suspense, mystery, psychological issues and a genuine love story. I enjoyed it, but would have appreciated some deeper character development- it was as we always stayed just under the surface. Overall entertaining and enjoyable!
February 20, 2017
Started the book as a lazy plane reading but eventually liked the story of middle aged woman revisiting and tackling her past demons on a California winery. Downsides lack of character depth and store pace could have been better along with more imagery of vineyards and California landscape.
August 15, 2019
When lawyer Billie inherits her late uncle's California winery and house, she and her mother travel west to take care of things. Her original plan is to sell it and get back to Minneapolis and her law firm. But childhood memories of a visit to Uncle Jack's winery begin to surface, and she begins having nightmares again, although she can remember few details. After a break-in at the winery, and prowlers around her house, she is determined to get to the bottom of things and begins unearthing long-held secrets with the support of a handsome local lawyer who was a childhood friend. She is determined to guard her heart and to discover the meaning of her long-suppressed memories. This turned out to be much better than I expected, and I ended up reading all night to find out how it ended. I didn't really like the protagonist although I sympathized with her, but that didn't stop me from liking the book. It is the first in a series - I haven't decided whether to pay in full for the next one (Crushed) or not. There is a sample chapter of Crushed at the end of this book, and it does sound interesting....
March 9, 2023
After Minneapolis attorney, Billie Fredrickson, inherits her uncle's winery, the past comes back to haunt her. While uncovering repressed memories, she must make the decision to keep the winery or return to what she knows.
It was an engaging story, though I did figure out pretty early on what the protagonist's forgotten past was. The buildup of who did it was handled well. Was it Uncle Jack, Mr. Parker, or Charlie. Again, I figured that out pretty early. I was tempted to say "Charlie" because it felt like such a twist villain thing to put in, but ultimately I decided on the right culprit. The only main issue I have was the needless punctuation, ie. commas where there really didn't need to be that stilted the flow and other minor grammatical errors (though I suppose this is to be expected in a free book. It probably wasn't edited as thoroughly.) and the fact that while it tried to push one person, as the book was nearing the 95% finished range, it quickly detoured into the real culprit and came to a FAST conclusion. Will I want to read the rest in the series? Honestly, I don't know yet. We'll see.
It was an engaging story, though I did figure out pretty early on what the protagonist's forgotten past was. The buildup of who did it was handled well. Was it Uncle Jack, Mr. Parker, or Charlie. Again, I figured that out pretty early. I was tempted to say "Charlie" because it felt like such a twist villain thing to put in, but ultimately I decided on the right culprit. The only main issue I have was the needless punctuation, ie. commas where there really didn't need to be that stilted the flow and other minor grammatical errors (though I suppose this is to be expected in a free book. It probably wasn't edited as thoroughly.) and the fact that while it tried to push one person, as the book was nearing the 95% finished range, it quickly detoured into the real culprit and came to a FAST conclusion. Will I want to read the rest in the series? Honestly, I don't know yet. We'll see.
December 1, 2020
Billie Fredrickson's life is turned upside down when she inherits a vineyard, a winery, a house and old memories. She is surprised that an uncle she hardly remembers names her sole beneficiary of his estate. Her trip to California with her mother to collect her inheritance begins a new chapter in her life and dredges up old memories of when she was a young girl. She doesn't know who she can trust and it seems that many people are jealous and downright hateful toward her. Thank goodness she finds an old friend who she doesn't really remember, either, and their relationship blossoms. As the story unfolds, Billie discovers more memories and eventually uncovers the reason she wasn't able to remember her 3-week visit to her uncle's place. The book is filled with happiness and sadness. Well written and hard to put down!
August 22, 2019
The author developed her main character, Billie, early in the book, giving her a bit of a dark side. As I read further into the book, I realized Billie had suffered from traumatic events in her past and built a wall around herself for protection. Her mother hovers, as mothers tend to do, worried her nightmares will send her into a deep depression again. Billie's emotional state is tested as memories resurface at a winery willed to her by her late uncle. It's there she renews a friendship with a childhood friend who eventually becomes more than a friend, but the relationship is not without its struggles when she realizes the root of her nightmares.
Interesting, engaging story that kept me turning the pages. I didn't figure out who the 'villain' was until the very end.
Interesting, engaging story that kept me turning the pages. I didn't figure out who the 'villain' was until the very end.
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