The Winemaker’s Granddaughter
Gosia Nealon
Germany, 1945. I tiptoe across rows of symmetrical vines, my thin linen dress no protection against the whipping breeze. A cry echoes through the night, but when I reach the stream, my heart plummets. He isn’t here. And by the time I see the soldier, it’s already too late…
Present day. Devastated by the loss of the grandmother she adored, newly single Matylda escapes to the vineyard Rozalia called home to mend her twice-broken heart. Curled up beside the crackling fire, Matylda breathes in the scent of her childhood—woody vanilla mixed with lavender—and is filled with hope. But that shatters when she learns that the other half of her grandmother’s land has been left to a stranger…
“Welcome to our home”, Matylda says coolly to Tobias von Hagel, his blue eyes fixed on her as they hear the terms of Rozalia’s will: they must share the house for thirty days or forfeit their half. Who is this sullen man? And why would her grandmother insist on them living together like this?
Matylda throws herself into life on the vineyard, picking and crushing grapes from sunrise to sunset. But no matter how much she tries to avoid him, Tobias is always there. And as his fingers brush hers as they silently work the land together, Matylda feels herself warming to him. Until she uncovers a devastating truth: the von Hagels were the Nazi family who kidnapped her grandmother, forcing her to labor in these very fields.
Dumbfounded, Matylda can’t imagine how Rozalia could return to this place after the war. And why would she reward the grandson of her tormentor with her beloved house? As deep-rooted secrets from Rozalia’s life surface, Matylda must ask herself: how well did she really know her grandmother—and can she survive the truth hidden amongst the twisting vines?
A totally heartbreaking read about family secrets and forbidden love, by Polish American writer Gosia Nealon. Perfect for fans of Fiona Valpy, Lorna Cook and The Letter.
What readers are saying about Gosia Nealon:
“MUST READ!… I couldn’t put this book down! Fantastic from start to finish… Amazing!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Absolutely spectacular!!!… Addicting… Devastating, yet beautiful… Once I started, I could not stop… You won’t be able to put this one down… Grabbed my heart and it didn’t let go… An absolute MUST READ!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Exceptional… I loved this… Impossible to put the book down… I found myself on the edge of my seat… My heart rate quickened, I was so emotional, and couldn’t hold back the tears.” Page Turners, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I could not put it down… Read it past my bedtime, finishing it in one day… Unputdownable.” Vegan Book Blogger, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Definitely kept me up past my bedtime!!!… Gripping… Made me “ugly cry”.” dianelikestoread, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I absolutely adored this… My favourite… I was definitely tearing up at the end… Definitely one to remember!” Salmareads
“Loved… I read this in one sitting… Clear your schedule because you won’t want to put it down… Powerful.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Sucked me right in… Impossible to set the book down!… Incredible… Heartbreaking.” Celebrating Author Blogspot, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
