I love a good historical fiction. This book was enjoyable enough but there were a few things that really made it tough for me to read. The main character seemed extremely immature. The character’s “voice” just drove me nuts. The way she would word things, jump so quickly to conclusions, and say one thing then take it back drove me insane. I did love all of Martine’s POVs and felt like those were written very well. Another thing that bothered me was that while I liked the way everything was connected, I felt like the dramatic irony came way too early. Everything was a little too obvious for me, and then the denial of the character once again showed how immature she was. I also disliked that the author wrote out WWII when there was a person being quoted. This was an ARC read so I’m hoping they went back and changed it. It just seemed sloppy and overlooked to me. It took me a long time to finish this which is another reason I gave this 3 stars. It was good but I feel like it could’ve been great with some tweaking. Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for this ARC read!

Loved it!! I enjoyed how the book alternated between Martine during WWII and Charlotte in 1990. Martine's story wa probably my favorite part of the book. Martine was lucky to find Sister Ada. Martine would have never survived the streets of Paris alone. All of the nuns were wonderful. Without Sister Ada, Martine would have never found Gabriel or his dog, Oscar. I loved how Charlotte was trying to solve the mystery behind the wine bottle with the second label. Henri showed his true colors. He definitely wasn't the man for Charlotte, unless she wanted to share him with multiple women. Loved the court scene with Henri, Charlotte and Julien. It had me chuckling. Henri got what he deserved. Charlotte showed restraint with Amber. I would have wanted to toss all her clothes out of the apartment windows. It wasn't hard to figure out would eventually be revealed as Martine, but I loved the story.

Definitely recommend the book. Loved the story, characters and writing style. It was a great historical fiction book. Who knew a stuffed rabbit would help Charlotte discover the identity of Martine. This was the first book I read by the author and I look forward to reading more. Love the cover of the book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harper Perennial and Paperbacks through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Book Review | "The French Winemaker's Daughter" by Loretta Ellsworth
A unique WWII story brought to life via French wine and vineyards

"The French Winemaker's Daughter" is a beautiful tale of captivating love stories bound by serendipitous circumstances. The reader is transported to 1940s & 1990s France, exploring the past’s connection to the present and how history unites us in mysterious ways. We follow Martine's harrowing journey to escape the Nazis during WWII and trailblazer Charlotte as she navigates the 90s as a strong and independent woman. We discover how these two worlds collide through history, wine, love, heartbreak, and loss.

I was absolutely transfixed by this novel, starting it one evening into the wee hours of the night and promptly finishing it the next morning. I mourned the many losses experienced in this book and celebrated the victories alongside these complex and dynamic characters, I was rooting for them from start to finish and I think you will too.

Loretta Ellsworth's writing style is inviting and engaging like a warm hug, bringing you into the circle of trust for these vulnerable and heroic stories. Although a work of fiction, the novel is rooted in history, resonating with truth and authenticity throughout.

If you enjoyed “The Nightingale” & “Sarah’s Key,” add to your TBR because this is squarely in your wheelhouse.

Overall, If you're looking for a historical thriller packed with heartbreak and feel-good moments, I highly recommend this book. Oh, and the wine! The common thread of the wine and vineyards creates stunning imagery and a luxurious backdrop to the violence of war. A comprehensive and robust tale worth exploring.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Perennial and Paperbacks, & Harper Paperbacks for the DRC in exchange for my honest review. It was a pleasure.

"Life doesn't always work out the way we expect it will. But we must embrace that which makes us happy."
The French Winemaker's Daughter is a dual-time line from 40's and 90's, following 8-year-old Martine Viner who separated from her father when he's taken away by the Germans and Charlotte, female pilot for an airline.
Charlotte is gifted a bottle of wine that turns out to have a hidden past. Charlotte is intrigued and embarks on a journey to find the truth behind the mysterious bottle of wine.

I appreciated the story's concept, but the execution missed the mark for me. While the narrative was intriguing, the characters and their relationships felt lacking in depth, making it hard for me to connect with them. On the other hand, I enjoyed the historical elements of France during WWII and the insight into vineyard history.

This book had the makings of being a perfect read. If you know me, you know that WWII is my favorite historical fiction topic. This is a story that’s never been told and it was super compelling. However, the writing ruined it for me. The dialogue was stilted, the description of the love story/romance of Charlotte was awkward, as was her interaction with literally every other character. If that had been fleshed out a bit more, this book would have been a wonderful joy to read but instead it fell a bit flat. I’m upset and disappointed and can’t fully recommend for that reason. It’s possible I’m too harsh a critic in my love of Holocaust books, but I am genuinely flabbergasted by everyone else’s higher ratings for this one.

Historical Fiction at its best. One of my favorite books of the year. A serendipitous love story told from a duel timeline with some WWII, loss, hurt and some real Parisian love.

THE FRENCH WINEMAKER'S DAUGHTER by Loretta Ellsworth transported me as the best of stories do. Through the entwined stories of wine during the Second World War to the current day, a single bottle of wine propels present-day Charlotte to explore the past of a terrified 7 year old Martine who fled the Nazis for an uncertain fate. I deeply enjoyed both characters and stayed up way too late reading to learn of their fates. Reading many books set in France during the Second World War, I particularly enjoyed the voice, the sense of place, and the genuine feelings between a terrified child and the people who give her a home and life as well as the present-day woman being a successful pilot thrust into a mystery she defined and pursued for herself. It is a wonderfully escapist read that sheds new light on relationships and the ties that forever link us past and present. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

Dear Fellow Reader,

It is that dark time of year when time flies. Yes, Christmas is on its way and we can sit around and wonder where the year went. How could it almost be 2025 already?

Today I am back with a historical fiction novel. It has been a while since I have reviewed a historical fiction book. And yes, I always claim it isn’t my favorite genre but I seem to read them – not as frequently as mysteries but still often enough.

The French Winemaker’s Daughter is a story that crosses time. It starts in 1942 as the story of seven-year-old Martine and crosses into the story of Charlotte Montgomery an airline pilot in 1990.

Martine is the daughter of a French winemaker. Her mother died at her birth and she has been raised in the vineyard by her father. She has problems in school but knows everything about the vineyard and the grapes. As the story opens, Martine’s father has her hide in an armoire because the Germans were coming. He hid her with her stuffed bunny, pinned a note to her dress, and gave her a bottle of wine, and told her to keep the wine no matter what. He closed her in and there was pounding at the door. The Germans came and took him away. She stayed hidden until nightfall. She came out to try and find Damien, who worked with her father. She thought she had found him in the cellar but realized that the voices she heard were speaking German and that they were getting closer. She accidentally dropped the wine and took off into the forest to hide.

Charlotte has been dating Henri for a year although their schedules mean they have not been together much. She thinks she may love him and she feels her biological clock ticking. Charlotte’s grandfather had been a grape grower in California. He died about a year ago and his vineyard is up for sale. Henri and Charlotte are on their way to a wine auction and Henri is very excited. He is going to bid on a box of wine that was found in the house of a German aristocrat. Charlotte is bothered that the wine was probably stolen during the war by the Germans but Henri is unphased by the wine’s history as long as it is collectible. The box contains 5 bottles of wine. Henri wins the auction for the wine and his contact tells him that two of the bottles are collectible but the other three are not. Henri and Charlotte go back to her apartment to celebrate Henri’s purchase. The next morning Henri leaves without even kissing Charlotte and tells her that she can have the one bottle of wine. She feels rejected by his brisk departure. She sits down with the bottle of wine and in her funk starts looking at the label on the bottle. She discovers there is a label under the label. Her first urge is to call Henri and ask him about it but then decides to see if he calls before her flight. If he does, she will tell him. If not, she won’t.

With this as the setting for the story, we go on to find out about Martine and Charlotte. Martine, a child, trying to find her way and Charlotte trying to find her way and find out the story of the bottle of wine. Do they find their way to each other? Is Martine even still alive?

This is the author’s second book for adult readers, and both are historical fiction. She has also written five books for young adults.

I enjoyed the story. I found it to be interesting and the story moved along well. Sometimes, when an author changes time and characters, it can be confusing. I did not find this book confusing at all. I recommend it.

Thanks for reading!

Happy Holidays!

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

I don't often read WW2 historical fiction. But The French Winemaker's Daughter caught my attention and turned out to be a wonderful read.

It's a dual-timeline story, and the timelines are connected by a very expensive bottle of wine.

I've been thinking a lot lately about dual timeline novels. Many of the books on my shelf use them. I tend to get distracted by the modern timeline in these novels. I wonder why the author chose to use this structure. Was it simply a way to help the reader connect to the story? And could the story be told well without a second storyline?

In this novel, I think the modern timeline works well. It does a bit of work. First, it provides closure to the past storyline in a way that is satisfying for the reader. It also adds tension to the past storyline by letting the reader know the significance of the bottle of wine. The child character could not have known what happened to the wine, but that matters to the larger story.

For me, the later timeline in this novel helps to balance out the point of view. The main character in the story set in WW2 is a very young girl. Her story is delivered in third person, but it's still the perspective of a child. This is done remarkably well, and this never feels like a children's book. The point of view character in the later timeline (1990) is a grown woman who knows what was done to Jewish people in WW2. Unlike the child in the past storyline, she is free to make choices.

I think this is a remarkable book. It's definitely worth the read.

This is my favorite type of historical fiction - following two separate timelines to learn how they eventually connect. This is a beautiful story inspired by tragic events during the German occupation of France in WWII.

The female leads in this story are strong and full of determination. The relationships they form throughout the book are lovely and inspiring. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys wartime historical fiction!

Thank you to the publisher, Harper Paperbacks, and NetGalley for providing me with a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for my review.

4.25 for me. I wish this book was longer actually, I think building on the romance for Charlotte longer term and getting even more of a background on Martine and Gabriel’s life would’ve made it a 5 for me overall. This book is super predictable, but in a comforting way. I liked reading a ww2 book that I knew would work out well instead of worrying when my heart would get broken. Thank you to the publisher for this gifted copy.

Thank you to @harperperennial @netgalley and @lorettaellsworth_author for the #gifted e-book.

In this captivating dual timeline, we meet Martine and Charlotte. Martine, a young Jewish girl in 1942, narrowly escapes from German soldiers after her winemaker father is arrested. A nun discovers her and takes her to an abbey, where Martine's harrowing journey of survival unfolds. Nearly fifty years later, Charlotte stumbles upon a bottle of wine that carries a profound legacy and embarks on a compelling quest to uncover Martine's story. Their lives beautifully intertwine, leading to an incredible and moving conclusion.

I found both characters deeply relatable. The author's ability to evoke emotions as Martine endures the horrors of WWII is masterful. The vivid descriptions of wartime France and Charlotte's explorations of the wineries are stunning. From the very first page, I was entranced by the intertwining narratives.

If you're a fan of historical fiction, this book is a must-read!

The dual timeline worked well in this work of historical fiction. The 1990 timeline revolved around Charlotte, a pilot often stationed in France. Charlotte believed she was in a meaningful relationship with Henri, but would be disappointed. Martine’s story was the more captivating, set in occupied France during WWII. Martine had to run and hide as the Germans approached, ending up hidden in a monastery. Her father, a vintner, gave her a bottle of wine to take with her as her birthright, and that bottle of wine would tie the two stories together. I liked the book, but thought that the coincidences and serendipity was a little bit of a stretch, especially with the background of the Nazi occupation of France and the brutality that occurred. I would still recommend the book. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Absolutely loved this book. The story is told in 2 different time periods; one in the 1940s during WWII and the other 1990. Strong women are portrayed in the story. One woman,Charolotte, a pilot for a commercial airline who flies the US to Paris flight and the other two are Sister Ada and Martine who must keep their secrets while hiding during WWII. While you know how the story is going to end it's a great read to find out how it all comes together due to a bottle of wine.

This dual time line novel takes place in Paris in 1942 and 1990. The two time periods are joined together by a bottle of wine that was worth over $100,000 in 1990. Where did the wine come from and why was it worth so much?

1942 - Martine is 6 years old and lives with her father at a winery. Her father claims that she understands the grapes and the process of growing grapes more than anyone. Unfortunately, she and her father are Jewish and when the Nazis storm into their home, her father hides her in an armoire with a note and a bottle of wine. When it gets quiet in the house again, she starts looking for the caretaker but when she hears the Nazis in the orchard, she drops the bottle of wine and hides in the woods. After a scary train ride to Paris to try to find her aunt, she finds out that she too has been taken away. She falls asleep in a doorway is found by Sister Ada who takes her to an abbey. To keep her safe from any Nazis who come to the convent, she is taught Catholic prayers and told to never tell anyone that she is Jewish.

1990 - Charlotte is a pilot for one of the major airlines and flies to Paris often. She has a boyfriend who is starting a wine collection. When he bids on a box of wine from WWII, he discovers that three of the bottles are worthless so they drink two bottles and he gifts one bottle to Charlotte. She removes the label and finds a note underneath and based on that note starts visiting wineries near Paris to try to find out more about the person who wrote the note and the daughter he wrote it to.

The bottle of wine connects these two women who live almost 50 years apart. Charlotte is convinced that Martine died during the war but she wants to find out whatever she can about her life and family. Her search exposes her strength and tenacity. This is a well researched story about family and love, luck and loyalty. It's a story that you don't want to miss.

Read if you like historical WWII fiction. It's a great addition to the genre. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

This is a WWII novel set in France told in two time lines. Martine is seven years old when her father tells her to hide. He is taken by the Germans and all she has left is a bottle of wine and her stuffed rabbit, Annabell. She makes her way to Paris where she is taken in by nuns where she is especially close to Sister Ada. The second timeline is Charlotte. She is an airline pilot. Her boyfriend takes her to a wine auction and gifts her a bottle of wine. When she finds a second label on the bottle and realizes it was probably stolen from a Jew she tries to find its origin. I found Martine's story way more interesting and just followed along with Charlotte to see how the story connected. Truth is I found Charlotte to be very unlikeable. She wants her career but laments that her schedule doesn't leave her time for a life. She seems desperate to be married and have a family and the men she meets have to check off all the boxes. I would give a 5 to Martine's story and wished to know more about what happened after the war with Ada and about her marriage to Gabriel. I give Charlotte a 2.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Perennial Paperbacks for providing me with a digital copy.

I really enjoyed this one! I always love WWII historical fiction. The dual timeline kept it interesting and I couldn’t wait to read more of each story.

✨Thank you NetGalley, Harper Collins and Loretta Ellsworth for this arc!

WOW!! What an amazing story!!!
Loved, loved, LOVED this story about hope, hardships, love, loyalty and survival!

If you know me or have been familiar with my posts, historical fiction is one of my favorites genres. Especially when it comes to WW2 historical fiction. It’s set in 1942 Nazi-occupied France and goes back and forth between then and 1990 France. I absolutely loved the way both stories intertwined in the most beautiful way as the story unfolds.

I was sucked in on page one and I couldn’t put this book down. When I read at nighttime before bed, I didn’t even want to go to sleep at times because I wanted to continue on with the story. I loved all the characters. Martine was my favorite character, so sweet and easy to love. So innocent. You get to see the impact the world war has on her through a year 7 year olds perspective. Intense is an understatement!

I will 100% be owning a physical copy as well as reading more from this author. Amazing story that i recommend to the fullest and it made it to one of my top reads of the year!