Million Dollar Dream
Joanna HuntContemporary romance
Available from Champagne Books
ISBN: 1897261683
June 2006
| The two vineyards of Sunny Valley and Red Earth have always been connected by the friendship of the two immigrants who founded them. Their million dollar dream was to have the two vineyards united by the marriage of their children. That dream was shattered when Bruno and his beautiful but flighty daughter Anna were killed in a car accident. Alarmed by Domenico's failing health after the death of his best friend and his dream, Rafe travels to Melbourne to ask Bruno's younger daughter Giorgina to consider a marriage of convenience. Giorgi, the owner of a rising restaurant, has always felt like an outsider at Red Earth. Anna was the star and center of everyone's life, while she was superfluous. If Rafe considered her anything but a sister and a means to an end, she would marry him gladly, but in the end her loyalty to her family and his overrules her common sense.
The author has captured the wine country of Australia as well as the pressures of living in an old fashioned Italian family. Giorgi is a strong character who deserves far more in life than she has gotten so far. Raised with a self-centered attention-seeking sister, she felt left out, except in her relationship with Rafe. Rafe is also a great character, strong, but with a flaw; his single minded dedication to the million dollar dream at the expense of all else. It is fun to read how he finally comes to the realization of what is really important. The supporting characters are caricatures of Italian immigrants, but in a kind way. Rafe and Giorgi's story is a very good one.
Overall rating:
Reviewer: Maura Frankman |
