Eight Hundred Grapes

Dave (The First Husband) both charms and pulls at the heartstrings in this well-crafted novel about a Northern California winemaker's daughter and the foibles of her family. Georgia Ford seemingly has it all: a devoted fianc%C3%A9, a high-powered career in Los Angeles, and a loving family on a vineyard in Northern California. But in an instant, Georgia learns that not everything is as it seems. She's rocked by a series of revealed secrets, including one about her fianc%C3%A9 so explosive that she questions whether to go through with the marriage, and the bitter%E2%80%94and unrealized%E2%80%94truth about her parents' relationship, which the author also covers from her parents' point of view. Georgia's wrenching journey, and those of other members of her family, are detailed in heartbreaking fashion, as each character comes to terms with their new, unforseen situation. Along the way, the author throws in a few secrets about winemaking%E2%80%94in fact, the title is a reference to the number of grapes needed to produce a bottle of wine. This winning tale will both satisfy on a literary level and encourage oenophiles to pour themselves a glass of a recent vintage to enjoy while reading; it's a tasty treat for wine lovers and teetotalers alike. Agent: Suzanne Gluck, WME Entertainment. (June)