The Inheritance by JoAnn Ross

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

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That moment when you discover a new author and a book you truly enjoy. 

Book Description

When conflict photographer Jackson Swann dies, he leaves behind a conflict of his own making when his three daughters, each born to a different mother, discover that they’re now responsible for the family’s Oregon vineyard—and for a family they didn’t ask for.

After a successful career as a child TV star, Tess is, for the first time, suffering from a serious identity crisis, and grieving for the absent father she’s resented all her life.

Charlotte, brought up to be a proper Southern wife, gave up her own career to support her husband’s political ambitions. On the worst day of her life, she discovers her beloved father has died, she has two sisters she never knew about and her husband has fallen in love with another woman.

Natalie, daughter of Jack’s longtime mistress, has always known about her half-sisters and has dreaded the day when Tess and Charlotte find out she’s the daughter their father kept.

As the sisters reluctantly gather at the vineyard, they’re soon enchanted by the Swann family matriarch and namesake of Maison de Madeleine wines, whose stories of bravery in WWII France and love for a wounded American soldier will reveal the family legacy they’ve each inherited and change the course of all their lives.

About JoAnn Ross

When New York Times bestselling author JoAnn Ross was seven years old, she had no doubt whatsoever that she’d grow up to play center field for the New York Yankees. Writing would be her backup occupation, something she planned to do after retiring from baseball. Those were, in her mind, her only options. While waiting for the Yankees management to call, she wrote her first novella — a tragic romance about two star-crossed mallard ducks — for a second-grade writing assignment. 

The paper earned a gold star. And JoAnn kept writing. 

She’s now written over one hundred novels and has been published in twenty-six countries. Two of her titles have been excerpted in Cosmopolitan magazine and her books have also been published by the Doubleday, Rhapsody, Literary Guild, and Mystery Guild book clubs. A member of the Romance Writers of America’s Honor Roll of best-selling authors, she’s won several awards, including RT Reviews’ Career Achievement Awards in both category romance and contemporary single title. In addition, she received RWA’s national service award and was named RWA Pro-Mentor of the Year. 

Although the Yankees have yet to call her to New York to platoon center field, JoAnn figures making one out of two life goals isn’t bad. Currently writing her Honeymoon Harbor series (set on Washington State’s Olympic peninsula) for HQN Books, and single title Women’s Fiction, JoAnn lives with her high school sweetheart—whom she married twice—and their rescued senior Siamese cat, Paws, aka The Dowager Empress, in her beloved Pacific Northwest.

My Thoughts

This was my first book by author JoAnnRoss and I admit she captivated me from page one. 

As a woman who grew up with 6 brothers, I find stories involving sisters fascinating as I never had that bond with anyone. 

This story has a dual timeline story that allows you to delve into the family's past while still being involved in the present time with the characters. I enjoyed the author's ability to draw e in and hold my attention with well-formed characters that are interesting, flawed, and likable.

The thing that stood out for me in this book was how the story took me on a journey of love, hurt, betrayal, forgiveness, and healing. I rode a rollercoaster of emotions reading this story and I would take that ride again gladly. 

If you are looking for a book to take you on a journey you won't forget this s the book for you.