Customer Reviews

Late Harvest

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Late Harvest provides excellent background into the goings-on at a winery, and combines rich, evocative narrative with lively dialogue and characterization that heighten the reader's sense of expectation. Ms. Barrett delivers an intense, sexy, delicious love story. Put this one at the top of your to-be-read pile.

Full of emotional stress, insecurities, and misconstrued assumptions, Late Harvest throbs with unrequited love. It bears out the veracity of the adage--better late than never.

Glenna Ryan, a hardworking, single mother, knows if she goes back to work at Cresthaven for one season, Robbie can have the surgery he needs. Nothing, not her humiliation, anger, or broken heart, will keep her from doing what is best for her five-year-old son.

Glenna's emotional wounds received from Otto and Kurt von Daniken never healed. However, she feels indebted to Otto who is dying. He had provided materially for her after her mother's death and, sad but true, she still loves Kurt, her Teutonic prince, so tall, blond, and handsome, even though he seems cold and remote.

Kurt, reared by a stern father in his early years then by his even sterner Uncle Otto, puts duty and responsibility above all else. Love is not supposed to figure into the equation of life according to his upbringing.

At Cresthaven, Robbie takes to life and to Kurt who teaches him lots of things little boys love. However, Kurt had no understanding of a child's needing love, affection, or pets to cuddle. He almost destroys his bond with Robbie before he comes to the realization that life without Robbie and Glenna will leave an emptiness inside him that cannot be filled. He understands his need for them but he still does not understand LOVE.

The conflicts seem insurmountable, However, Kurt and Glenna succumbs to old desires that never died. Their need for each other in every way draws them together, but Glenna wants love not just marriage and business.

The mystery of Glenna's ancestry fuels the misgivings. Only with clues given by Otto and some attic searching are answers found that give Glenna understanding and closure for past grief and fears.

The secondary characters create the background of life moving along regardless of hurts, fears, and unrequited love. Mags, the housekeeper, is a steady giver of unconditional love, while the cook Carmen and her son add strange elements that pique one's interest. The workers in the vineyard--from winemaker to field hands make Late Harvest come alive with the doings of ordinary living.

Suzanne Barrett crams a wealth of emotion, hard work, and social interaction into this short novel. The descriptions, introspections, and humor (ex. the claws of the kitten making a prick that lets out "pompous hot air") grabs the attention and keeps one reading. Best of all is getting to vicariously experience long-suffering love being rewarded with a magnificent acknowledgement and a promised happy-ever-after.

Originally posted at The Long and Short of It Romance Reviews

I'm only three chapters into Late Harvest by Suzanne Barrett and I absolutely love it! Really fine writing, attractive (honest!) characters, even the secondary characters feel like "real" people, and an interesting and amusing 5-year-old. (Interestingly, two of the secondary characters are gypsies!) Also great sexual tension and, sigh, a setting (Cresthaven winery) to die for and fantasize about. And, well, um, there's the hero, too.

More later... Don't miss this book!

4 days later: I am even more impressed not only by the deliciously romantic love story (just the way I enjoy them - full of melting emotional scenes that tied my heart in knots)... but by the wine-making expertise shown in this novel. Much, much solid knowledge is presented very subtly, but the expertise here will appeal to those interested in fine wine, wine-making and the vintners' world.

I love coming away from a book with a genuine soft spot for the hero and heroine AND a lot of fascinating new information.

This one's a real keeper!

I enjoyed the plot of this book, and the interesting facts about wine making, but found Kurt not very likable, never mind lovable! Glenna on the other hand, at first meeting seems like a strong, single mother, raising her son, and working two jobs. When she agrees to move back to the winery and work with Kurt, she seems to turn into a cringing violet, the romance heroine of old! If I hadn't read it was a contemporary novel, I would have thought of it as almost historical. (except for the computer) It was an enjoyable read, just not what I was expecting.

Reviewed by Joanne

Review copy provided by publisher

This book was reminiscent to me of the series with the Marcelli Sisters by Susan Mallery which is one of my favorite series by her. Late Harvest was also about a family winery and the family dynamics surrounding the interactions and workload which included the workers at the winery since they are like family. Ultimately this was a story about family and how Kurt fit in as a von Daniken and what that meant for Glenna who thought his Uncle Otto was her grandfather. Late Harvest drew me in from the beginning and held my attention throughout. Glenna and Kurt had a past together but Kurt didn't realize how closely their lives were entwined when he first found her again and brought her back to his family's vineyard to make Ice Wine. There was romance, tears, arguments, tension - both sexual and as a result of conflict, and a happy ending to boot. Watching how Glenna and Kurt would circle around each other was nerve wracking at times and showed the

importance of communication. Also, watching how close Glenna's son Robbie was getting to Kurt added another dimension to the story. The story flowed effortlessly and even family history thrown in occasionally did not bog it down. I truly enjoyed this story and look forward to reading other books by Suzanne Barrett.

This is a very smooth and enjoyable read.

Glenna was raised at Cresthaven vinery. She wasn't treated as a family member but as the orphan child she was after her mother's death. As a young girl she developed a crush on Kurt, the nephew and heir apparent of the tyrant head of the vinery, Otto. During her teen years she has learned the business and helped Uncle Otto as they test for developing a late wine known as an Ice Wine After returning from college an incident shows Glenna that she has no future at the vinery and she runs away. She has scrapped to make a small home for herself and her son but she continues to struggle to save enough money for her son's surgery.

Now five years later her first love, Kurt von Daniken, shows up to coerce her to come back to the vinery to make the Ice Wine. She fears being around him and having him discover her secrets. However she will agree to work with the devil, and face the tyrant Otto even if he is ill, if it means she will be able to get the surgery for her son.

Glenna works hard in the vinery to help produce the Ice Wine. Although she tries to be stand offish with Kurt, he is still drawn to her and he is enamored by her young son. Conditions have changed at Cresthaven since she was last there. Kurt is a hard worker too and it appears that he cares for the workers and people of the vinery in a much more personal way than his Uncle. At very least Robbie will get the surgery he needs but is it possible that Glenna could find a place at Cresthaven after all?

The chemistry and the sensual tension between Glenna and Kurt is very rich. There is plenty of emotional conflict with misunderstandings and secrets from the past to be uncovered. The details of the vinery are presented with interesting detail so that you understand the difficulties that the must be faced in the day to day workings. The writing is clear and moves at a good pace with the engaging plot. I had some problem understanding Glenna's stubborn resistance but other than that I enjoyed everything about this story.

I enjoy this author's writing and look forward to reading more in the future.

5.0 out of 5 stars I am loving this novel!!, November 10, 2010

By Carolyn Woolston (Felton, California USA) - See all my reviews

(REAL NAME) This review is from: Late Harvest (Paperback)

I'm only three chapters into Late Harvest by Suzanne Barrett and I absolutely love it! Really fine writing, attractive (honest!) characters, even the secondary characters feel like "real" people, and an interesting and amusing 5-year-old. (Interestingly, two of the secondary characters are gypsies!) Also great sexual tension and, sigh, a setting (Cresthaven winery) to die for and fantasize about. And, well, um, there's the hero, too.

More later... Don't miss this book!

4 days later: I am even more impressed not only by the deliciously romantic love story (just the way I enjoy them - full of melting emotional scenes that tied my heart in knots)... but by the wine-making expertise shown in this novel. Much, much solid knowledge is presented very subtly, but the expertise here will appeal to those interested in fine wine, wine-making and the vintners' world.

I love coming away from a book with a genuine soft spot for the hero and heroine AND a lot of fascinating new information.

This one's a real keeper!