Extremely interesting foray into the 1980s via a queer romance focused on a budding winery dream. I was surprised by this story and how much it focused on the business side of things. I would've liked a more nuanced ending as it seem rushed to me. Overall enjoyable time.

Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked this book. It started off a little slow and I was confused as it seemed Sydney and Kate barely had a chance to get to know one another before they were separated, but it was for a reason. They needed that time to grow into themselves and what they would need to know to help grow their vineyard. As someone who grew up in this era seeing the reactions from people, about Louie as well as Kate and Sydney, it was hard but very much part of our history. I loved seeing both these women come into their own, again separately and together. I found myself loving their families and community that comes to support them and show them that it's okay to be who you are and love who you love. While this book does deal with heavy topics such as grief, the passing of a loved one, homophobia, etc it doesn't become bogged down by it. I also love any book that gives me information on a topic and learning about wine growing and wine making along with the two MCs was interesting.

I really struggled to get into this book, I think the pacing was just too slow for me at this point in my week/month. It was also hard to follow the plot at times. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

This book is set in the `1980s with main characters Sydney & Kate. Kate is given land and a house by her late uncle who passed due to AIDS. Kate and Sydney decide to start planting grapes in hopes of starting a winery.
The book is a slow read, however, it is written well and everyone hides who they are because of the time period.
It is your traditional lesbian romance story but it is set at a soon to be winery.
I enjoyed this book.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This could have been a really good read but this story jumps over too much and then stays much longer than it should. I admit sometimes trying to keep the timeline of the characters in this book …..well it didn’t go well. Read twelve chapters. That’s as far as I went. I suggest you read other reviewers you trust because they may have had a different view.
ARC via NetGalley/BSB

This was a throwback with a good story line. However, I just didn't connect with it. I still recommend as this might appeal to someone else.

Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books.

Harvest Dreams... I enjoyed it. Very good debut novel. And I'm looking forward to future realises from Jacqueline Fein-Zachary.

Harvest Dreams is set (way) back in the 1980s- my favourite era to read about. As you've probably guessed based on the plot, there's plenty of farming community going on in this story. The many characters could have done with more ‘sparks’ but this hasn't squashed the storyline. And with the story being set in the 80s there's no surprise you'll find homophobia in the storyline.

All in all, I enjoyed the story and would love a sequel showing them later in life.

4 out of 5.

The book starts in the fall of 1982 when Kate Bauer is an agricultural student and meets Sydney Barrett a marketing major. Sydney is from a wealthy background and has dreams of owning a vineyard after travels in France. Kate is from a more modest background with her father and beloved uncle splitting a large family. When the uncle leaves his potato farm to Kate it is a chance for she and Sydney to try and make a dream come true.

I had to turn off my logical mind many times reading this story. I wasn’t clear on how Kate is affording to attend UC Davis when she is from Long Island. While Kate finishes her senior year Sydney is in France working and learning more about wine making. But it just kind of skips them making plans together to the point that Kate isn’t sure if Sydney will show up at the farm after her graduation. With my MBA I cringed that there is never a discussion of anything financial between the two. Kate is spending her inheritance and using her land. She only needs a portion of land to start with, does she still farm potatoes as well? How is the farm surviving till they can make wine? I got pages of wine details but not day to day practicalities. Sydney sells her car but it is presented as her breaking from her showy wealth upbringing not as a way to raise money to invest in the farm. Both MCs get jobs but I’m not clear if that is for growing the business or are they making just enough to feed and support themselves. I am also perplexed that one conversation with a new sister-in-law somehow opens a whole new understanding of Sydney’s family.

This reads more of general historical fiction than romance because for half the book the two MCs aren’t together. I did like the era for showing the need to be more discrete and for lack of acceptance. I don’t want to be so nit picky because there is a nice story here. There is a wonderful sense of farm community helping each other. I love the caring angels that help a person with aids live their final days in dignity. The two main characters are hard working but I honestly didn’t feel the chemistry between them. I don’t think it helps that they both are with other people during the book before they are together. I got weary of trying to guess practical details that are skipped over.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review.