Well, this book was a surprise! I had just finished reading three books by another author and had to check to be certain this wasn't written by the other author as the location and plot was very similar. I was pleased to find out it was written by a different author, Joann Ross, and that it was only similar on the surface.

This story is about three half sisters who really don't know that they each exist. They share paternity in their father, a highly esteemed photographer, who dies from cancer and leaves his considerable estate to the three daughters, hoping to unite them. It is a little dicey at first, as the eldest daughter never even knew who her father was, and nearly refused to go to the reading of the will. The second and third daughters also had reason to not attend the funeral or reading, yet they all managed to attend, thus managing to form their own sisterhood.

For the measure of a couple of months the girls all live in the mansion their father had left, learning about the extensive vineyard and property he had inherited from his own father. The future of the famous property depended on the ability of the girls to decide to keep the business running or sell it off, take their gains and walk away from each other.

While waiting for harvest season, they manage to learn about each other, and they eventually become a true family. All perfectly wealthy on their own, due to the inherited creativity from their father, they find a purpose in family and form a close bond.

A great "feel good" read: one that warmed my heart. We could use more good books like this one.

Great story about sisters who lose their father only to find each other, a French resistance fighter grandmother, and the loves of their lives.

Solid Women's Fiction With Historical Elements. This is one of those books where the description perfectly sets up what you're actually getting here - a tale of siblings finding each other after their father passes away and sets in motion a plan for the three of them to meet. Along the way, they discover their still-living grandmother and get to hear the stories of her activities in WWII - including meeting and falling in love with their grandfather. On these elements, this is a solidly written women's fiction tale with historical fiction *elements* - but I personally would not market this as a "historical fiction" title. So if you're a reader that *only* reads historical fiction... I'd still say this one is worthy of your time, just know that you aren't getting a true tale of that genre here. Indeed, along the story of one of the sisters in particular (and to a lesser extent another of them), this *could* be marketed as a romance - though the women's fiction side is still the dominant side of the tale. The titular Inheritance? Well, that's actually the best part of the tale... when you realize what Ross intends it as. Overall a strong book filled with strongly developed characters among is main and primary supporting cast, and a very well told story. Very much recommended.

This novel of sisters and generations surrounded by WWII was given to me as an advanced reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Highly recommend

I have read JoAnn Ross books for years. This is my favorite by far. I absolutely loved the concept and story line~ it being the main character rather than one of the people. The historical aspect of it was well woven into the story, the cover art gorgeous, settings phenomenal and I would read it again~ (which is the highest compliment I can give :)

The Inheritance is a story about a photo journalist who passes away and his three daughters from three different mothers. They are brought together but his inheritance. His daughters must come together to save the family winery. It's told from multiple perspectives which was nice to hear each persons experience. It's technically a historical fiction but I found the historical part of it be a little lacking. Overall, I liked the story but never fell in love with it.

This novel just didn't work for me. I expected more historical fiction, and the whole WWII backstory came across as an afterthought which was not given it's due or the substance it deserved after the build up - it didn't really appear until 75% into the book! Hard pass on this one.

This was an enjoyable story with lots of moving parts, but it worked for me. I especially liked the feisty grandmother and her participation in WWII. Somedays one just needs a "happy for ever after" story.

Well, I didn't realize I was requesting a Harlequin-style romance when I asked for access to The Inheritance, but that's what it turned into, in the end.

The action is primarily dialogue-driven. No characters or scenes are particularly well-developed, not even the WWII spy activity. The 90+ year old character sounds like a 30 year old woke feminist. The dominated and jilted wife bounced back in two weeks. And hot love - surely strong enough to last forever - was consummated after a two week courtship.

Not recommended.

I received an advance reader's copy from #NetGalley #TheInheritance

When war photographer Jackson Swann dies he leaves behind 3 daughters and a family vineyard. His relationships with his daughters are varied and troubled, and the young women have never met. Brought together by their father's death former actress turned author Tess, Southern belle Charlotte, and photographer Natalie tentatively bond as they reminisce about Jackson and make decisions about their individual futures. A sexy lawyer and handsome hardworking winemaker add romance and grandmother Madeleine's tales of working with the Maquis in occupied France provides a historical background. The novel ended a bit abruptly, and some characters had more involved storylines than others, but overall the novel is the perfect choice for relaxing with a nice glass of merlot

Jo Ann Ross has written a lovely book set in the heart of Oregon wine country (oh those pinot noirs!) where 3 half sisters gather at the Masion de Madeline to learn of their father's final wishes and the vineyard they have inherited.. Interspersed with present day is their grandmothers recollections of life in WWII France and the American solider who would impact their lives in ways unbeknownst to them.. Tess, Charlotte and Natalie are three characters that will stay with you long after the novel is finished.

This was totally lovely read. It’s the story of 3 sisters brought together by the death of their negligent father. They meet at his winery in the Pacific Northwest where they get to know each other as well as their aged grandmother, a fighter and hero of the French resistance.

Of course, there’s a fair dose of romance included. I admit I enjoyed this element too, despite the fact that I’m not generally a romance reader.

This is a real feel good page turner. If you are a fan of Danielle Steel, you will love this. So, sit back and enjoy, as I did. Looking forward to reading more books by Ross.

Thank you Netgalley for this charming book.

The Inheritance by JoAnn Ross is a fascinating dual timeline story that focuses on a French Resistance worker, and an American Forces Pilot in the World War II timeline, and three half-sisters, and their grandmother in the present-day timeline.

Tess, a novelist and former child actress, Charlotte, a southern designer, and Natalie, a French photographer are all summoned to the Maison de Madeleine winery in Aberdeen, Oregon, to listen to their Father’s reading of his will. Each of the sisters has different mothers, and they grew up separately, and not knowing each other. In fact, some did not even have knowledge of their sister’s existence until the summons.

At the winery, they meet their 96-year-old Grandmother who tells them her story of meeting their Grandfather during the war in France. They were each a hero in their own way during the French resistance and have a fascinating story of their own. The sisters also have to learn to forgive their father for his lack of parenting and learn to forgive and love each other as they learn more about their famous photographer’s father.

I found this book to be a fast read and I was engrossed in the story immediately. I love stories of sisters and forgiveness and love, and the author did an excellent job of giving us well-developed characters who are all likable and flawed at the same time. I also enjoyed reading about the grandmother and her time in Nazi-occupied France, and her rescue of the American pilot who she eventually marries. The suffering of the French people during this terrible time in history is illustrated in the Grandmothers story.

I recommend this book to fans of WWII history and lovers of multi-generational family sagas.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Inheritance by JoAnn Ross's story is about a world-renowned photographer, Jackson Swann, his three daughters, and their grandmother, a World War II French Resistance Fighter. Jackson Swann has died of cancer, and his will stimulates that his daughters must be at the reading of his will. Tess, Charlotte, and Natalie have never met. Only Natalie knows the existence of Tess and Charlotte; all have different mothers. They are intrigued at the thought of meeting each other and the siblings traveling to their father's home, which turns out to be a vineyard. There Tess and Charlotte meet their grandmother for the first time. Will love conquer all? Will they be surprised by the stipulations of the will? Will their grandmother share her story about being in the French Resistance? I enjoyed the story and characters. Great read.

When not feeling in the best of moods , a read like this is a good choice. Three sisters are reunited at the reading of their father's will at a famous winery. none of the sisters had met as they were all by different mothers. I will admit that I quickly read this, not that interesting to me but it kept me busy for a rainy afternoon.

Wow - there is so much going on in this book! Photo journalist Jack passes away - leaving three daughters that don't know about each other. His lawyer is tasked with getting them all to the family vineyard for the will reading. All three girls are having troubles in their lives and this comes at the perfect time for them. Also meeting a grandmother only one of them knew about. And Madeline, the grandmother, has her own amazing story of how she met her husband during WWII.

It's a big storyline, with a lot of moving parts -- drags out a bit in the middle and the ending wraps up really quickly. It's a sweet story.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

Three sisters unknown to each other, one father, three lives forever changed. The Inheritance is a story of the three daughters of Jackson Swann, a famous photographer who was as conflicted as his photos were. His eldest Tess, was a child star whose idea of family is warped as was her childhood including her relationship with her own father. Middle child Charlotte, a proper southern wife had a relationship with her father although limited and she is always trying to please everyone but herself. Natalie, the youngest daughter, whose loving relationship with her father makes her stand out from her sisters, is a brilliant photographer in her own right. All three sisters learn of each other and of the vineyard their father left to them. Can they get past the hurt to learn not only about each other but about their grandmother for whom the vineyard is named? Madeleine has a delightful addition to their story as well. Told from the perspective of each daughter, the storyline works well with each narrative. Stories from all the women flow seamlessly and each chapter has you looking forward to where the sisters are headed. The story includes romance, acceptance of oneself and others, love, heroism and most importantly family in all its forms. This is a wonderfully written story, grab a glass of tea and enjoy this read.

The Inheritance by JoAnn Ross is a story about an adventuring photo journalist with three daughters by three different mothers. At his death, the daughters, some of whom did not know of the existence of the others are brought together for the inheritance. Two of them are meeting a grandmother that they knew nothing about and it is her story of her life in France during World War II that takes up much of the story line.

Each daughter is having a life crisis and the reunion at their father’s death causes each one to look closely at their lives and see exactly what their future should look like.

Because I am such a fan of anything concerning the Second World War, I was anxious to read this novel. At first I didn’t really know where the author was taking me, but early on, I was decidedly unable to put the book down.

This is a whirlwind of a book, I was drawn in from the first pages. I loved the look back into the past and how it all comes together and unfolds in the future.
These sisters are great characters with lots of tension between them. Their grandmother is an amazing woman. I liked learning about this family and their trials/tribulations.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC!

When photographer Jackson Swann dies, he leaves behind three daughters Each of the daughters were born to a different mother

The sisters reluctantly gather at the lawyers to deal with their father's will, They find that they must work together to save the family winery. Their grandmother’s stories of life in WWII France and the wounded American soldier who would ultimately influence all their lives.

I loved the characters and the setting and the history woven throughout the story