Wow, what a book! I dove into The Widows of Champagne thinking it might be just another sad World War II tale, but boy, was I in for a treat. This novel took me on a journey with three generations of resilient women fighting to safeguard their family’s vineyard during a tumultuous time in France.

Gabrielle Leblanc Dupree, a woman with a secret mission, is at the forefront. Instead of gearing up for a grand celebration of two centuries of champagne excellence, she orchestrates a covert operation to protect the vineyard’s most precious vintages from the clutches of the Nazis. The tension is palpable, and you can feel the weight she carries on her young shoulders.

Then there’s Hélène, Gabrielle’s mother, a former Parisian socialite who lost her husband to a previous war. Now, her home is under German control, and the vineyards are being plundered to quench the Third Reich’s insatiable thirst for the finest champagne. But Hélène harbors an even more significant secret—a heritage hidden in the shadows.

Josephine, the family matriarch, oversees it all, witnessing her beloved vineyard facing its most challenging harvest. The narrative weaves through the struggles of these incredible women, dealing with enemies, unexpected allies, and a deep well of faith that becomes a wellspring of resistance.

As an oenophile, I reveled in the intricate details about winemaking, especially the champagne-making process. The storytelling is not just captivating; it’s downright beautiful. With three strong female leads who are both likable and courageous, the book envelops you in the terror, love, and bravery of these remarkable women. Trust me; their stories will linger in your mind long after you turn the last page.

Here’s a rare statement from me—I’m crossing my fingers for a sequel! The Widows of Champagne is one of the best books I’ve read this year, and it’s a solid 5-star recommendation. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable journey.

** Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a comp of this book. The opinions are my own.

During many difficult times throughout the years people in various areas of the world handled issues as they were best able. In the Widows of Champagne Renee Ryan showed how a family handled things within the dynamics of a generations. These women endured and showed strength to persevere with what was given. Truly enjoyed, Thank you NetGalley

The Widows of Champagne is the first book that I have read by Renee Ryan. This is part of the Love Inspired Trade series that has been recently introduced and I am so pleased. In this book we see three generations of widowed women taking care of the vineyards of Chateau Fouche-Leblanc. The Chateau Fouche-Leblanc has been taken over by a German soldier and no one is safe. Family heirlooms start to disappear and they start to wonder if the Nazi's are responsible for it. Gabrielle, the youngest of the women knows she must somehow keep the best champagne from falling into the hands of the Germans .She knows that if this happens that their family secrets could be gone. All three women are strong characters. I enjoyed seeing WWII through a french occupied lens. I felt the author did a good job with her research.
Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own.

Three generations of women fight to protect their home during the Nazi occupation of France.

A compelling read that tells of the harsh realities faced by the French during the occupation through the perspectives of Gabrielle, Helene, and Josephine.

A gripping read, Gabrielle takes on the responsibilities of her family head on as she fights for her family's future, she is courageous and daring, not shying away from the hard things. I admired her faith and bravery. Josephine is the family matriarch, she knows that her memories are failing her, but she is determined through faith and shear will power to fight the Nazis every step of the way. I was most sympathetic towards Helene, though very different from her daughter and mother-in-law, she faced harsh truths and fought back in her own way. I think that the author did a great job of portraying Helene and everything she went through, as well as Paulette.

Overall, an inspiring read full of faith that brings to life the sacrifices that brave women and men made to fight for their country. A book well worth the read, with courageous heroines, strong faith, and a compelling story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is a beautiful yet dramatic telling of WW2 France. When a member of the Nazi party moves into the château of a prominent family vineyard in Champagne, the lives of the women who live there are forever altered. These fierce women will protect what belongs to them all while playing along with the enemy. I’m always intrigued by the power of the resistance and to what lengths they will fight.
The story has religious views of Judaism & Christianity

I really enjoyed The Widows of Champagne, by Renee Ryan. Gabrielle Leblanc Dupree, is supposed to be planning the party of the year. The Vineyard is celebrating 2 centuries champagne making. Château Fouche Leblanc is one of the best and Gabrielle is trying her best to hide the best bottles, best vintages while keeping some of the bottles for the Nazi’s to steal. The best champagne’s are usually sent straight to Hitler and Gabrielle will not let that happen. Helene, Gabrielle’s mother is a socialite from Paris. Her husband died during the First World War and lives on the vineyard with Gabrielle and her mother in law. They are trying their best to deal with the requisition of their home and trying to help the resistance. Josephine, the matriarch is watching it all as well. She has her own way to join the resistance. She has faith that they will come out of this ok. The story is how they all work together to make the best of times. How they all work to keep the traditions and there vineyard safe. Each woman is so strong and doing their own part. This is beautifully written and I really enjoyed the characters. I kept reading to see how it would end. I was hooked. This was a five star read for me.

This book was the holy grail of all historical fiction! The settings were vivid, the suspense kept me on the edge of my seat, and of course the romance pushed it over into 5-star territory.
The way this book switched between three generations of women, Josephine, Helene, and Gabrielle, was such a great way to tell the story and really helped to show the relationships between the main characters. As the youngest of girls, I related quite a bit to Gabrielle’s sister, Paulette, until she became the WOAT. Otherwise, all three of the main characters in this book were inspiring. They all brought a different viewpoint to their piece of the story and were very different in personality while all being tough as nails.
The story is thought provoking and will really make you stop and think - how far would you go to protect my family and your legacy? This book will stay with me for a very long time!

I think the thing I liked most about this novel was the way the author showed 3 POVS from different generations. It just really enhanced the story by giving viewers a peek into how the circumstances from the way affected each generation. I didn’t find the switch between POV’s to be disruptive to the story at all, but thought it flowed nicely.

Ryan weaves a tale of heartache, hope, family, loyalty, and surprise. Watching Gabrielle try to save her family, their land, and their goods kept me on the edge of my seat. There was so much emotion and danger throughout the story. I can’t even share my favorite parts, because they contain spoilers. But let’s just say they involve a secret almost caught, a shocking discovery that Gabrielle made, and of course the ending. Have I talked into reading it yet!?

This is the first novel from Ryan that I’ve read, but I can tell you that it will not be my last. In fact, after researching how many books she has, I wonder what has taken me so long to read her! Historic fans will truly enjoy this beautifully written novel. I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Josephine, Hélène, Gabrielle. Three generations of women of Château Fouché-Leblanc in Reims, France—matriarch, daughter-in-law, granddaughter—have the misfortune to be widows. They have banded together to continue their family’s centuries-old tradition of producing celebrated vintages of champagne, but France’s surrender to the Nazis in 1940, and the subsequent occupation, threatens their business and very lives. With Helmut von Schmidt, a German wine importer turned Wehrmacht captain, requisitioning their home and organizing mass theft of champagne for the Third Reich’s consumption, each woman takes separate, dangerous steps to save their legacy and family.

The story ably conveys the trio’s courageous acts amid the constant fear of discovery. Nervous but determined, Gabrielle constructs a false wall to conceal the most treasured champagne blends in their cellar and agrees to spy for the Resistance. Hélène, a sophisticated former Parisian whose paternal Jewish heritage is kept hidden, feigns affection for Von Schmidt, seeing no other choice. Her internal decision-making process, as she endures feelings of guilt and shame, is nuanced and emotionally shattering. Equally moving is the perspective of Josephine— still elegant at 77—as she tries to hold off encroaching dementia while formulating a daring plan. The chime of cathedral bells and intriguing details on champagne production establish credible atmosphere and serve as reminders of daily life around Reims in normal times.

The cruel, lecherous Von Schmidt seems a formulaic villain at first, but the story turns unexpectedly powerful when his superior arrives. Past the halfway point, it has the pacing of a thriller, where the pages can’t be turned fast enough. Aspects of the denouement, however, feel abrupt and fail to address the novel’s complex moral issues in adequate depth, especially since they were explored so realistically beforehand. While The Widows of Champagne has many strengths, the neat conclusion may not satisfy all readers.

(From the Historical Novels Review, November 2021)

A heartbreaking, inspiring look at what we will do for the ones we love. Ryan confronts some of the ugly, difficult things that happened in France during the war, and the book is richer for it.

Three generations of women fight to save their vineyards from the ravages of war in Champagne, France. Gabrielle, the youngest of the three, is bound and determined that they will not lose the vineyards. Helen, Gabrielle's mother, a former Parisian socialite, finds their family home taken over by Nazi officers who want to enjoy and confiscate all the many years of hard work producing wines. While Josephine, the family matriarch, watches her beloved vineyards suffer; and at the same time, finds her own path of resistance in her strong faith.

These three strong women each play their role in saving their home, their vineyards, and their lives. Impressive writing, full bodied characters, and deep historical research brings this intriguing story to life during a time of peril and hopelessness. This is my first reed by Renee Ryan, and I look forward to future books by her.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres and WWII and stories from different perspectives always interests me. I liked the look at the experiences of three generations of a French family--its elderly matriarch, Josephine, her daughter-in-law, Helene, and granddaughter Gabrielle. All of these women are widows and they operate the family's successful vineyards in Champagne, each tough and resilient in her own right. They are still feeling the effects of The Great War as WWII looms on the horizon and soon they are faced with their worst fear when a Nazi officer takes requisition of their chateau, moving in and controlling their lives. It's a calculated move on his part as he was once a German wine merchant who is acquainted with the success of the 200-year-old vineyard. Gabrielle took a preemptive measure by building a false wall behind which she hid much of the family's best vintages before the Germans invaded. Josephine is determined to fight as well and uses her memory loss to make her seem harmless while she gathers information in a journal to give to Gabrielle to pass on to the resistance, helped by Marta, the family's longtime servant. Helene has spent her time on her art and shopping and socializing in Paris with her teenage daughter and Gabrielle's spoiled sister, Paulette. Each woman must make difficult choices to protect their family, legacy, and secrets that the others do not always understand.

The story is told from their alternating points of view, which gives the reader a glimpse into their actions and motivations. For the most part it works, although it is hard to get too deep into each character with the jumps back and forth. The story is not a happy one, as most WWII stories tend not to be and although suspenseful, it's not always an easy book to read, but the story is compelling. I also didn't realize it was a faith-based, Christian historical novel and at times that emphasis was a bit much for me. While not a heathen savage, I am not particularly religious and the many mentions of God and The Lord became a distraction for me, which is why I tend to stay away from books with a push for religion. This could be all me--others may not be bothered by it or may not think it was excessive. And in the end, I am glad I read it and got a glimpse into the lives of these strong and brave women.

The Widows of Champagne by Renee Ryan was a fabulous story about hope and love and redemption during World War 2. It is told from three points of view, Gabrielle, Helene, and Josephine: daughter, mother, and grandmother. As war approaches their small town outside Paris, they must each make choices that put themselves in danger in an effort to protect the ones they love. Beautifully written. Heart wrenching. Full of the miracle of faith and hope. Definitely a must read! Thanks #NetGalley and the publisher.

Set in Reims, France during the WWII era, this mesmerizing novel captures the strength of three women desperately trying to save not only themselves from the Nazis but the family champagne heritage. I was captivated by the first page; the characterization is so real. Gabrielle, Helene, and Josephine are three generations of LeBlanc champagne business, yet with oh so different personalities. Josephine, the matriarch, although suffering with memory issues, was so cleverly portrayed that I felt I was actually experiencing her forte and clear thoughts. I really loved Gabrielle, the adult granddaughter trying to keep all the pieces together. What a great book of strength, perseverance and courage!

Thank you to the Harlequin and NetGalley for providing a copy with no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Starting this book I knew I was going to like it, but I was not expecting to fall in love with this book as much I did! The story was beautifully crafted with so much emotion. 5 stars!

I am lucky enough to still have one of my grandmothers with me, as well as my mother, so reading a story about three generations of women really resonated with me, though I'm not sure the three of us would be as brave as Josephine, Hélène, and Gabrielle. Their endurance in the face of pure hatred is admirable, and how they all did their part to fight this horrible war, while also looking out for one another is truly inspiring.

Being the daughter/granddaughter, I obviously identified with Gabrielle the most. It's one thing learning and taking over the family business, but it's a whole other thing to try to fight for said business, while also trying to fight to protect your family. There were parts that made me cringe, while the anticipation of what may come next gave such suspense I could not put it down.

Though there is predictability, I do see this being a more realistic historical fiction than others novels that are out there, which I greatly appreciated. It has a very authentic feel, really putting you into the story in a unique way. Though I had guessed the twist near the end, I was still delighted that it was something promising amid so much heartache, and was the perfect thing to uplift my own spirits. I don't know about you, but reading anything about World War II always brings me down.

This character-driven novel is superbly written, but I will say it was a slow build for me. At first I struggled to get into the narrative but once the Nazi's come bearing down on Champagne is when it really started to pick up, and from then on it was hard to put down.

I definitely recommend The Widows of Champagne for anyone that loves history, and wants to see another point of view of this war through the eyes of three generations of women that bare their hearts and fight the good fight, not only for their family, but for the vineyards, and for France.

The Widows of Champagne is a compelling novel which takes place during the Nazi occupation of France during the Second World War. The courage and determination exhibited by the three generations of Leblanc widows drew me into the story immediately.
The novel employs the alternative narrative technique which allows the reader to understand the characters thoughts and emotions. Renee Ryan’s descriptive writing depicts the family matriarch Josephine’s decline perfectly. Josephine struggles with her memory but, she’s clever enough to figure out that the Germans are stealing valuable paintings and family heirlooms. The Germans ignore Josephine believing that she is senile which enables her to pass on important information to the résistance.
Helene choses to fight for her family’s heritage in an unorthodox way as she believes she has the most to lose as the Nazi’s invade Reims. The author crafts Helene perfectly as she chooses to align herself with the German officers who occupy the chateau. Can she be trusted?
Gabrielle is the vineyards winemaker. She is determined to preserve her family and their heritage—the vineyards. I admired Gabrielle’s strength of character, her sense of duty and her determination to survive all of the obstacles in her path. Each of the three woman faced difficult choices and they remained steadfast in their beliefs.
The Widows of Champagne is a thought provoking novel of bravery, faith and sacrifice. The suspenseful storyline drew me into the story immediately and kept me on the edge of my seat with its unexpected twists and turns. I could feel the despair when France surrendered to the Germans, the tension when the chateau was occupied and the very real sense of danger that the widows faced every day. This poignant story has made a lasting impression on me. Through the characters of Josephine, Helene and Gabrielle, the author depicts the war in occupied France from a woman’s point of view -- this resonated with me.
The Widows of Champagne is a must read for historical fiction readers—it’s a beautifully written story of the Leblanc’s courage to preserve their heritage.

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Josefina, Helena, and Gabrielle have run their well known champagne winery in the same way as their ancestors in France for years. With the Nazi takeover of France, the winery comes under the control of Germany and the struggle to survive is on. Well written historical fiction.

Historical Fiction. Vineyards. Strong Families. A few of my favorite things to read about all wrapped up in one beautifully done book! Absolutely loved. Cannot recommend enough.