Grape juice

One can almost feel the heat of the sun, smell the vegetation in the vineyards, and taste the wine in Dumais's lovely debut destination romance. New Yorker Alice is sent to French wine country by her boss, a wine importer. In order to learn more about the vintages she sells, she'll be working as part of a volunteer crew during the three-week harvest. A bit closed off and cautious following the end of a long-term relationship, Alice is grateful to be warmly embraced by others in the multinational group. Enticingly described communal meals help her to open up, particularly with Henri, the vineyard owner's nephew. On a break from his own wobbly relationship, Henri makes a habit of asking Alice pointed questions as they pick grapes all day long, conversations they jokingly refer to as "therapy" sessions that foster a quick closeness--and intense chemistry. The characters are just as vivid as the setting, and the intimate conversations between the leads feels real and grounded even as they delve deep into their personal histories and motivations. The result is an addictive contemporary that will delight hopeless romantics and armchair travelers alike. (Nov.)

A New Yorker finds herself, and perhaps a bit of romance, in a therapeutic trip to French wine country. Desperate for a change of pace from her accidental relationship and lack of fulfillment in her job as a wine sales representative, Alice takes advantage of an offer from her boss to work a wine harvest in Alsace, France. In reality, Alice knows it was more a mandate than a suggestion; her boss has sensed her waning passion for her job for quite some time. For three and a half weeks, she'll enjoy the hard labor of picking grapes with a global group of fellow wine appreciators. Alice is one of only two women on the crew and the only American. As the work begins, Alice often finds herself paired up and in conversation with the vineyard owner's nephew, Henri. He comes with his own brand of relationship baggage, and their grape-picking often involves deep, probing questions and intimate conversations. Those working the harvest build a lovely community together, enjoying communal meals and finding moments to confide in one another, complete with a good glass of wine. Alice's fledgling friendship with her roommate, the affable Australian Ruby, is particularly sweet, as they giggle and gossip about their colleagues. There's a comforting slice-of-life quality to Alice's time at the winery, as she forges connections that may or may not last. Henri and Alice ease into a cozy rapport and their chemistry leans toward an introspective, slow burn. The mundanity of it all could be a blessing or a curse, depending on the reader. Dedicated romance readers should be warned that there's no neatly tied up happily-ever-after, but rather a hopeful and open-ended happy-for-now resolution for Alice and Henri. Reminiscent of a summer fling, this is a warm and relaxing though fleeting read. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.