Sonoma Rose...Review

About the book:
As the nation grapples with the strictures of Prohibition, Rosa Barclay lives on a Southern California rye farm with her volatile husband, John, who has lately found another source of income far outside the federal purview.

Mother to eight children, Rosa mourns the loss of four who succumbed to the mysterious wasting disease that is now afflicting young Ana and Miguel. Two daughters born of another father are in perfect health. When an act of violence shatters Rosa’s resolve to maintain her increasingly dangerous existence, she flees with the children and her precious heirloom quilts to the mesa where she last saw her beloved mother alive.

As a flash flood traps them in a treacherous canyon, only one man is brave—or foolhardy—enough to come to their rescue: Lars Jorgenson, Rosa’s first love and the father of her healthy daughters. Together they escape to Berkeley, where a leading specialist offers their only hope of saving Ana and Miguel. Here in northern California, they create new identities to protect themselves from Rosa’s vengeful husband, the police who seek her for questioning, and the gangsters Lars reported to Prohibition agents—officers representing a department often as corrupt as the Mob itself. Ever mindful that his youthful alcoholism provoked Rosa to spurn him, Lars nevertheless supports Rosa’s daring plan to stake their futures on a struggling Sonoma Valley vineyard—despite the recent hardships of local winemakers whose honest labors at viticulture have, through no fault of their own, become illegal.

Trapped in a loveless, abusive marriage, Rosa discovers that her husband is a bootlegger.  After one last beating, Rosa and her children finally leave with the help of Rosa's first love Lars.  Several of Rosa's children suffer from an unknown disease and after escaping John, Rosa and Lars learn that there is a specialist at Stanford hospital who can treat the children.  Eager for the chance to escape John's abuse and on the run from gangsters, they travel to San Francisco and a new life and new identities.

Looking for work while the children are being treated at Stanford, Lars and Rosa find themselves in the Sonoma Valley working for a vineyard struggling against prohibition.  Rosa discovers that she has an affinity for wine making and they take the chance on purchasing a vineyard of their own.

I always love Northern California settings as I am from the San Francisco Bay Area.  I enjoyed the historical aspect and the vintner's view of prohibition.

As I first started reading, much of the story sounded familiar and I realized that Rosa, Lars and Elizabeth were all characters from Chiaverini's novel The Quilter's Homecoming and it was nice to get some closure for Elizabeth and Henry's story as well as learn what happened to Rosa.  I think what I liked most is that while the novel is billed as an Elm Creek book (Jennifer Chiaverini hasn't written anything that isn't Elm Creek related), it can stand alone and doesn't have all the past Elm Creek characters in it.  I found that refreshing.

Thanks to Lisa at TLC Book Tours for the opportunity to review this book.  You can learn more about Jennifer Chiaverini here.  You can purchase your own copy here.  You can see other review here.

Monday, February 13th:  Peeking Between the Pages
Tuesday, February 14th:  2 Kids and Tired Book Reviews
Wednesday, February 15th:  Unabridged Chick
Thursday, February 16th:  Christian Historical Fiction
Monday, February 20th:  Angler’s Rest
Wednesday, February 22nd:  All Grown Up?
Thursday, February 23rd:  Brimful Curiosities
Friday, February 24th:  Amused by Books
Monday, February 27th:  Col Reads
Tuesday, February 28th:  Life in Review
Wednesday, February 29th:  Reflections of a Bookaholic
Thursday, March 1st:  Bloggin’ ‘Bout Books
Monday, March 5th:  A Chick Who Reads
Tuesday, March 6th:  Joyfully Retired
Wednesday, March 7th:  Colloquium 
Monday, March 12th:  Book Dilettante
Wednesday, March 14th:  A Cozy Reader’s Corner

Read 2/12

* * * *
4/5 Stars

Comments

  1. The synopsis on this one sounds very interesting, and I am glad that you had such a good time with it. I think it's one that I would like too, so I would love to enter your giveaway as well. Thanks for hosting it and for the wonderful and very perceptive review!

    zibilee(at)figearo(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  2. I would enjoy reading this. It's interesting that she takes her quilts with her, but the tie-in to the other book explains that.

    seknobloch(at)gmail(dot)com

    I follow you as Sandra K321 with GFC and my email is visible.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Prohibition - oh, the stories my folks could tell about their college days "doings" and a grandmother who was a president of the WCTU! Would love to win this.
    GFC follower.
    kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Would love to read this one! Thanks!

    GFC follower

    Margaret
    singitm(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  5. I bet my mother would enjoy this one, so I'll enter for her. kathy(at)bermudaonion.net

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks for the review and giveaway! Looks like quite an interesting read.

    I'm a GFC follower.

    susanna DOT pyatt AT student DOT rcsnc DOT org

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love that her books include the same characters but that they can be read as standalone novels - it's a great way to be able to visit with favorite characters yet not be stuck reading a series from start to finish.

    I'm glad to see this book was a good fit for you! Thanks for being on the tour.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love Jennifer Chiaverini's books and can't wait to read Sonoma Rose. If her past books are any indicator this should be a fantastic read! Thanks for a great giveaway! :) brown (dot) k (at) centurytel (dot) net

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'm a new follower of your lovely blog. :) brown (dot) k (at) centurytel (dot) net

    ReplyDelete

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