Sonoma Rose by Jennifer Chiaverini ****

Sonoma Rose by Jennifer Chiaverini is a charming historical novel of prohibition in Sonoma Valley ... the hardships to the vineyards and the families that had practiced the ancient art of wine making from generations ... the introduction of crime and violence from gangsters, bootleggers, and corrupt prohibition agents to this beautiful and peaceful area of northern California.

The saga centers around Rosa. As the novel opens, Rosa is living with her abusive husband and four children. She has had eight children, four of whom died of a mysterious disease that caused chronic digestive problems and ultimately death by malnutrition. Two of the remaining children have similar symptoms. Her husband refuses to spend the money for specialized doctors. This same husband probably murdered Rosa's mother. Oh yes, the two healthy children were fathered by her childhood sweetheart and sometime lover Lars.

The author juggles the history and Rosa occasionally forgetting one or the other. For example, the sweet poetry of Rosa's lover sleeping on the sofa  runs away from the plot with

Lars understandably didn't want to be with someone else's wife.

This being the same Lars that has fathered two children with Rosa. By the end the Rosa and the history are pleasantly integrated as Rosa overcomes her obstacles and becomes a part of the post-prohibition prosperity on Sonoma Valley.