This book moves back and forth in time from 1940 Champagne France to present day starting in New York and moving quickly to France. Main character Ines is marries to vineyard owner Michel. They marry just as the Germans invade France and Michel quickly becomes part of the Resistance. Other characters living on the vineyard are the winemaker and his wife Ce’line who is half Jewish. Celine is in constant fear from the invading Germans and spends time deep in the caves of the vineyard finding quiet, hope, and love. Ines best friend Edith and her husband own a restaurant in Reimes, the town close to the vineyard. Edith becomes part of the Resistance by listening to the Germans talk and reporting their conversations.

The present day characters are Liv, who is recently divorced and her 99-year-old grandmother Edith. Edith is a spunky woman who wants to tell her granddaughter about her family history, but due to her painful past finds difficult.

I did find most of the characters to be shallow and of weak character. The connection between Edith, Liv and the past caused me to keep reading. The ending had one big surprise and was enjoyable. This is a love story enrolling secrets, mistakes, loss, love and forgiveness.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

WWII France, ah, one of the most popular things to write about! The Winemaker's Wife does not disappoint. Love and betrayal? Check. Fascinating plot twists? Check (not impossible to figure out, but still). French wine country? Check. Resistance/Jewish friends/secrets? Check. I enjoyed this book MUCH more than the author's previous Room on Rue Amelie.

The only thing I could not *love* (besides the infidelity, but without that... no story, right??), was the modern storyline. Olivia doesn't strike me as the most intelligent, lovable character. Grandma Edith, on the other hand... I wanted to adopt her. And, last thing - the use of French in the dialogue occasionally didn't seem to sit quite right. Incorporating a foreign language into an English novel is certainly difficult, and places just needed a bit more polishing.

Overall, a 4/5 read. Excellent snippet of fiction, light enough to enjoy by a wide variety of audiences.

This was enjoyable historical fiction - I gave it 3 stars instead of 4 for a couple of reasons: I didn't like any of the characters! At first, I liked and felt sorry for Ines, but that didn't last long. Also, the coincidences in the current day part of the story were too much to feel like they were realistic.

This was an interesting story because the characters had such complicated relationships with each other. Some that I loved and some that I hated. I liked the way the story was revealed as the perspective flipped back and forth from the 40's to present day. I called the twist before it happened, but I still appreciated the reveal. A WWII story not set in the middle of the action made me see a new side to France in the war. Also, even though I’m not a big Champagne fan, I also now want to go tour a champagne house.

This is the first book I have read about the impact of the second World War on France's wine region. Kristin Harmel was able to describe the fear and determination of the wine growers and the Resistance through her writing. I loved the story of Inez, Michel and Celine. Their fear and vulnerability can be felt while reading the book. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in Historical fiction involving the War, France and especially the wine region.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers of this book for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. 5 out of 5 stars!!

Stevie‘s review of The Winemaker’s Wife by Kristin Harmel
Historical Fiction published by Gallery Books 13 Aug 19

Kristin Harmel is a new author for me, but I’m a great fan of stories set in two eras, with the link being members of the families involved, both past and present. I also enjoy seeing protagonists figure out how lessons their relatives learned in previous generations can also instruct them all as to their next steps following an upheaval. In this instance, Liv Kent is trying to move on from the sudden breakdown of her marriage, as well as from the previous disappointment of several unsuccessful rounds of IVF, when her wealthy and eccentric grandmother Edith breezes back into her life, announcing that they need to take a flight from New York to Paris, for reasons that will shortly be revealed. Having nowhere else to go, and being financially dependent on her grandmother due to the wording of her pre-nuptial agreement, Liv reluctantly agrees to the plan.


Once in France, the pair travel to Reims, in the Champagne region and Liv soon realises that this is another area of France with which her grandmother is very familiar, although she is rapidly learning that while grandmother Edith obviously has a story to tell, it’s going to take quite some time to prise it out of the old woman. Even the appearance on the scene of her Edith’s handsome lawyer does little to address Liv’s confusion, since he insists that the parts of the story of which he is aware are not his to tell.

Alongside Liv’s story, we also learn what happened at one particular vineyard in the region during the Second World War. Owned by the new husband of Edith’s best friend, the vineyard, along with those around it, soon attracts the attention of the occupying Germans – and their commander also shows far too much interest in both the young women living there: Edith’s friends Inès and Céline, who is married to the vineyard’s chef de cave and whose father is Jewish.

As the occupation continues, both women fear for their livelihoods and their marriages. Inès’ husband gets involved in the Resistance, while Céline’s seems blissfully unaware of the dangers facing his wife and, more especially, her family. Both seek solace in affairs – Inès in Reims, where her friend Edith is married to a restaurant owner, and Céline closer to home, taking advantage of Inès frequent absences and avoidance of anything to do with the war or the Resistance. Eventually, things begin to disintegrate, and both women, along with their husbands, find themselves caught between occupiers and Resistance.

This was a wonderfully twisty book, and while I guessed some of the secrets and hidden identities before they were revealed to Liv, others came as a pleasant surprise to me. All the women were incredibly well written and it was easy to sympathise with their motivations, if not always with their actions. I definitely want to read more from this author.

Grade: A

France, love, wine, betrayal, secrets, and war. Told from three different perspectives over three generations this is a must read for any fans of historical fiction based during WWII.

Beautifully told, "The Winemakers Wife" is set in occupied France during WWII and the present. This saga blended the story of a granddaughter and her grandmother in modern day New York. In the end all comes together nicely. Although the book is somewhat predictable I still found it to be a fascinating story line. I would like to thank Netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion of this book.

A truley amazing historical read! I coulf not put this book down!! Such an amazing story i wont soon forget!! A must read to any historical book lover!!! A first by me by this author wont be my last!! A truley captivating read! Thank you Netgalley and The publisher for my arc copy on exchage for my honest review, My opions are my mine and mine alone. I highly recommend this book!

A tale of champagne, WW II, Nazi, resistance, and relationships. Kristen Harmel has written another story of France. The tale is told by Ines and Celine of 1940s and Liv of 2019. The setting is the champagne area near Reim, France. The events of 1940 affect Liv's life in 2019. This is a tale of deceit, lies, secrets that become revealed by the end of the book. An engrossing tale--read it!

This book was amazing! Love how they went back and forth with the present and past. The ending was not one I expected at all!!

This is one of those times where I feel finishing the book was redemption.

This book features the Champagne area of France during WWII. We have alternating storylines with Ines Chauvin, Edith Thierry and Celine Laurent in the 1940's and present day with Liv. This is your standard historical fiction novel with a few twists, heartbreak and of course a background of tragedy with the holocaust casting a cloud over the novel. I appreciated the author's attempt to introduce a fresh perspective with the champagne house narrative and history, but it just didn't hit for me.

Most of the book was a challenge to connect to the characters. They are just so unlikable that it made it hard to find anyone to get behind in this story. I anticipated most of the twists that inevitably present themselves to the reader. I found myself finding most of the plot extremely hard to believe and was constantly rolling my eyes at the conveniences that kept popping up. I also hated the present day storyline- Liv and the lawyer fall in love almost immediately- is that realistic? Maybe, but not based on what the author wrote. While I appreciated the attempt Harmel tried with presenting Ines as someone that didn't believe what the Nazi's were orchestrating, I ultimately couldn't believe how stupid she was with her decisions during this period in history.

If I DNF'd books, this might've been one I would have set aside early on, however I am so glad I finished it. The end mostly redeemed this novel for me and brought my review up to 3 stars. This is one of those times where I am thankful that I am an eternal completest.

I could not stop reading this book. It is a story of love and heartbreak during a very difficult wartime setting in France. The ending will surprise you. The author developed the characters so well that you felt you really knew them. Great book that I highly recommend.

I loved this book so much. It is very Informative, beautifully written, along with tragedy.
The characters are very brave, along with being vulnerable, and very resilient. This book is about love and loss.
I wine tunnels was amazing!!
Kristin Harmel is an amazing author, this is the first book that I have read about hers. The characters fit this well written beautiful story.

If you didn't live during this time, you will never understand the hardships that these people had to endure.
I couldn't stop turning the pages of this novel.

Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book along with my honest review.

This is the type of book that I long for. Great historical fiction, and one that reveals yet another small but fascinatingly important event in history. I am now slightly obsessed with traveling to Reims and reading more about the Champagne area's contributions to the resistance. Much thanks to the author to add further readings and details at the end.

It's quite a great story that takes place both in present time with the granddaughter Liv, and historically during WW2 where we learn about Inez, Michel, Celine, Theo and Edith. Yes, it veers mostly into love triangles rather than the historical resistance/German occupation that would have helped the story along, but it was good nonetheless. I think it slightly loses it's way mid book where there is just too much drama between the couples, but the last 1/4 of the book really dives into the resolution of all nicely.

However, I absolutely couldn't stand Michel and Celine and have a hard time picturing them as such great role models or ones who never had to account for their deceitfulness. Inez was thrown under the bus, in my opinion, for how she acted, but she did so out of much mistrust and absolute betrayal by her husband and friend. So I think I would have written Inez as a much more likable character who, while a bit immature, was definitely fueled by the way she was treated. End of rant.

Overall, a great book and can't wait to read more about this historical piece.

First, I would like to thank NetGalley and Gallery Books for providing me with a free Kindle ARC edition of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Please make a movie! Please please please!

I absolutely loved this book. Honestly, what's not to love? World War II history, winemaking, a love triangle, and a sharp grandmother who keeps you on your toes in between sips of her martini!

There are two alternating timelines with three different narrators. The stories of Inès and Céline begin in 1940, whereas Liv's story begins in 2019.

Inès is the wife of Michel Chauveau, who owns the winery Maison Chauveau. She struggles with feelings of loneliness and inadequacy, which drive her to make rash decisions that endanger her life and others'. Despite Michel and Céline's judgments of Inès, the author writes her character in a way that allows you to sympathize with her...to a point.

Céline is married to the chef de cave of the Maison Chauveau, Theo. The couple lives in a cottage on the winery grounds, so their lives are closely intertwined with Michel and Inès. Half Jewish, she is in constant fear for her father and her paternal grandparents as Jews are increasingly arrested under frivolous charges. Her husband is keen to ignore everything outside of the work at hand, imagining that everything will blow over in due time. Working in close proximity, Céline finds solace with Michel, and despite her good intentions, things will become complicated.

Liv, recently divorced, is whisked away to France by her elderly grandmother without explanation. The more she figures out her grandmother's reasoning for doing so, the harder her grandmother pushes her away. Has she brought Liv across an entire ocean to play matchmaker? Or is there a deeper reason...a painful history that is too difficult to share?

Although there are many true historical facts about the contributions of the people of Reims to le Résistance, the main characters and the Maison Chauveau are fictional. There are also phrases spoken in French and German throughout the book. I believe the phrases in both languages are written with enough context to allow someone who speaks neither language to understand the phrases without the help of a translator.

This book was captivating: heartbreaking yet heartwarming, tragic yet uplifting. It is now at the top of my recommendations list for anyone who loves historical fiction!

#netgalley #thewinemakerswife

3.5 stars
The Winemaker’s Wife was an interesting and moving World War 2 story set in the vineyards of Reims, France during the German occupation and also in modern day France. It was an intriguing and unusual look at the war from a different perspective and follows closely the lives of three women. Inès , a fairly young, naive French woman, who feels as though her husband does not appreciate her or take her seriously; Celine, a half Jewish French woman, who’s husband seems to care more for the champagne they are creating than about the war and the dangers to his wife. And finally, Liv, a modern day American woman, at a crossroads in her life, who takes an impromptu visit with her aged grandmother to France on a mysterious, but revealing trip.

I’d say this story was heavy on the relationship side of things as opposed to the nitty, gritty details of the war itself. I did find the perspective of the women a unique angle and the information about the underground tunnels innovative, and the resistance, inspiring. The characters, however, were far from likeable for one reason or another, and their behavior was childish, selfish and less than admirable. This fact alone made me care less for the story and made it a challenge to get through despite the clear, vivid, and easily readable writing style and relatively quick pace of the story.

The story was moving and harrowing, as all WW2 stories are, but I read it with a sense of dread fearing the outcomes of these characters choices. All-in-all, while I enjoyed the idea and execution of this story, the characters and content of The Winemaker’s Wife were not my favorite.

1940s Champagne: Michel Chaveau and his wife Ines are newlyweds when the Germans invade. He is running his family's business, while trying to protect their livelihood and their country from the Nazis. Ines is a bored housewife who is unconcerned, and so uninformed, that she fails to recognize the dangers that lie ahead. His head winemaker Theo Laurent is obsessed with the art of his trade and the production of their wines. He refuses to believe that danger may lie ahead for his half-Jewish wife Celine, who grew up in a winemaking family and is actively involved in working the cellars.

2019 New York: Liv Kent is broken and lost after her divorce when her French grandmother arrives in a flash to whisk her away to France. Her grandmother is wealthy, impatient, and aloof. Liv is carried along on a journey that at times has her confused, lost, and stunned. Her grandmother seems to have secrets, but is unwilling to share them. She starts to open up, and then impatiently pulls away. Liv struggles to figure out how she can rebuild her life, while completely stunned by the secrets that are unfolding.

One thing is for sure as you read this story: pride, greed, envy, lust, wrath, and deceit will always be heartbreakers. This tale shows you the risks that you take when you care too much, and the sufferring that you cause when you choose inaction. It's a glimpse into the dark world of Nazi occupied Germany, while taking you on a lovely ride into the art of Champagne making. You will never raise your glass in a toast without being awed by those lovely bubbles and the painstaking task behind the process of filling that bottle.

Thank you @NetGalley @kristinharmel @gallerybooks @simonandschuster

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The Winemaker's Wife is a novel that is thoughtful and well-written. The book is a stirring story set in France during the early 1940's during the German occupation of France and present day France. The story is told from three different perspectives; Inès Chauveau, a young newlywed who makes some questionable choices that have far-reaching, life-changing consequences; Céline Laurent, the half-Jewish wife of Chauveau’s winemaker who lives in constant fear of the advancing Germans and who also makes some questionable choices and Liv Kent, a recently divorced American who journeys to France at the request of her grandmother only to discover her own family history which is full of with secrets, betrayals, and sacrifices.

I enjoyed seeing the perspectives of all three women and finding out why they make the choices they do. The characters are rich and deep. They are also courageous, vulnerable, and resilient. The plot is a heart-wrenching tale that gives us a unique view into the struggles, sacrifices, horrors, and bravery of those who lived and survived in the French region of Champagne during this shameful time in history. Through the author’s vivid descriptions she brings the areas of Paris, Reims, and Champagne, France to life. The Winemaker’s Wife is ultimately a story about love, betrayal, deception, determination, loss, intrepid perseverance, the French Resistance efforts and the ultimate importance of forgiveness. The story is moving, and thoroughly absorbing and a good choice for historical fiction lovers.

I would like to thank the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Set in the Champagne region of France during WWII, this is the story of the new, young wife of a winemaker, her husband, and his chef de cave and his half-Jewish wife. This is the story of these people, how the war affected them, the choices they made, the fear, the betrayals, the courage, and the love. Part of the book takes place in the present day and added to the story, but what I liked most was the WWII part and what drove the people to do what they did despite the potential consequences.

Thoroughly enjoyable historical fiction.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free e-ARC of this book.