Book Review Young Vines By James Russell Lingerfelt

https://jamesrussell.org/young-vines

Dr. Ryan Lockwood is known as a professor who deeply cares for his students. Having grown up as orphan, he now serves as a literature professor at Pepperdine University, his old alma mater. Located in Malibu, California, Pepperdine holds some of his most treasured memories. It's where he dated and married his first love, and it's where he met his two best friends, Clayton "Finn" Fincannon (The Mason Jar) and Brian "Oz" Bailey (Alabama Irish).

Now, Ryan's on track to become the department Chair, a position he's dreamed of since graduate school. At just thirty-two years old, life couldn't be better. But when his wife passes away unexpectedly, and his grandmother follows soon after, Ryan falls into a deep depression.

His grandmother leaves him her vineyard in Tennessee, where Ryan spent his childhood summers. Since the estate hosts sell-out jazz concerts and the best wine in the southeast, Ryan plans to sell the estate to the highest bidder. But when he visits the vineyard, he meets Rachel Young, the twenty-five year old daughter of the vine dresser. Rachel is good-sensed, hard-working, and she's one of the prettiest women Ryan's ever encountered.

Ryan has sworn to never fall in love again, the vineyard is auctioned at three times it's value, and Pepperdine offers him his dream. Now, Ryan must make a decision: Return to his career and friends in California, or begin a new chapter in life with a young love in Tennessee.

A love story set among the beaches of Malibu, and the lakes and pastures of Tennessee, Young Vines teaches us that sometimes we must let go of old dreams to embrace new ones.

James spent five years writing his first novel, The Mason Jar, an inspirational epic, romance. He self-published and released it in December 2011 after being rejected by eight literary agents. The novel sold over 5,000 copies within two years, and went on to become a national best-seller in 2014. HarperCollins and Amazon offered contracts to purchase The Mason Jar and a sequel novel, but Lingerfelt refused since he couldn't keep the film rights. Best-selling novelist Diana Bold said she was "blown away" by The Mason Jar. Award-winning children's book author Nicole Weaver wrote, "Lingerfelt's novel reads like one, long, beautiful poem." And author Lee Wilson called Lingerfelt the intersection of Nicholas Sparks and C.S. Lewis.

In 2012, Lingerfelt finished an internship in film production at the Emmy-award winning company Revolution Pictures. Lingerfelt went on to work on production teams for The Song, Yellow Day, and Sweet Home Alabama. During this time, he wrote the screenplay for The Mason Jar, after reading over a dozen screenwriting books recommended by Hollywood executives. In December 2013, Lingerfelt was flown to Beverly Hills for table talks concerning The Mason Jar feature film, but it was later passed on for Tom Hanks' film A Hologram For The King and Martin Scorsese's Silence.

Lingerfelt went on to win the 2015 Nasser Entertainment screenwriting competition in Studio City, California, and he wrote and directed his first short film titled, Summer Leaves: A Love Story In DeKalb County, that December. The film was made on a $0 budget with volunteer cast and crew, and was accepted into three international film festivals. The film starred Sandra Lafferty (Walk The Line, The Hunger Games) and Katrina Despain (Pitch Perfect). Carl Lauten, director of The Cosby Show and Spin City wrote an email to Lingerfelt and his crew, calling the short film, "exceptional."

Lingerfelt's second novel Alabama Irish, the sequel to The Mason Jar, was released in book stores world wide in March, 2016. The following month, he received the DeKalb County, Alabama's Top 40 Leaders Award by The Time's Journal.

In 2017, after being recruited to serve as a Financial Adviser at an investment firm, Lingerfelt passed the financial licensing exams, the Series 7 and Series 66. He opened his own office in Newnan, Georgia, near the home of Pinewood Studios. To reach Lingerfelt's office, click here.

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The Huffington Post has published a number of Lingerfelt's articles. His writings have also been featured in A New Mode, Thought Catalog, The Elephant Journal, Elite Daily, Good Guy Swag, and The Good Men Project. Lingerfelt keeps readers briefed at his blog, Love Story from the Male Perspective, which has garnered over 6 million views. 

In December 2019, Lingerfelt's third novel, Young Vines was released in book stores world wide.

Young Vines By James Russell Lingerfelt

Review by Heidi Lynn’s Book Reviews

First, I want to thank James Russell Lingerfelt for providing me with this book so I may bring you this review. 

James Russell Lingerfelt is back with his third novel Young Vines. This is his third book in his series but could be read as a stand alone. However, If you have read Alabama Irish you will see returning characters such as Oz. 

James has always had a flair for writing romance and this book is no exception. Right from the first chapter he totally touched my heart on how Ryan Lockwood wooed his soon to be wife. It brought a smile to my face how he did it. 

The book goes from the present to 2009 and at the end back to the present. Being that I love pop culture I loved all the name drops such as Miley Cyrus, Tom Hanks, former President Barack Obama.

Going back in time we learn how Ryan meets the love of his life Joanna. 

One thing about James writing that I love is he is an amazing storyteller. He has an eye for great details of the scenery, characters, and the storyline in general. So much so you often feel like you are there. 

Regarding the characters he is very passionate about them. You can just tell by his writing style that they have a special place in his heart. It makes it even more meaningful to read the book with that feeling behind it. 

There are a lot of good life lessons in this book that James shares with us. Ironically with that the world is going through today some of that information would hold true in our everyday life as well.