This was a good one. I look forward to telling others about it. It was for sure a book that I would recommend. Can't wait to add the physical copy to my self.

This was my first book I have read by Loretta Ellsworth and I loved it! It starts when the Germans are rounding up all the Jews in a small village in France. As they are getting closer to their vineyard, Martine’s dad hides her in an armoire with a note pinned to her dress with the address of an aunt in Paris, and a special bottle of wine to keep her safe. Martine makes it to Paris and finds that her aunt was also taken by the Germans and she is left to wander the streets and is found curled up on a hotel doorstep by a nun. The story goes back and forth between 1942 and 1990 where Charlotte, a commercial airline pilot, Finds the bottle of wine that Martine lost all those years ago. Such a great story, I could not put it down. Cannot wait to read another story by Ms. Ellsworth.

This was a neat dual-timeline story set between WWII and 1990. It features Martine, a young, Jewish, French girl who has to find her way during the early invasion of France after her father and his vineyard helper are taken by the Germans. Set opposite that is Charlotte, a female pilot for a major American airline who has to be strong and outspoken for her position yet longs for someone who will truly love her.

The dual-timeline setting works really well for this story and I found it an enjoyable story to follow, watching the threads tighten and come closer as the story neared the end. Martine showcases the feelings of a young girl in her time well and how the adaptation that was required would have been. She is a real-feeling character, well-written and intense. Charlotte is not quite as relatable for me but still exhibits the emotions that we all have - desire to be loved, to do a job well, to want to do right. These two females are the perfect alternating storyline.

This was so enjoyable and I only had to skip over a few parts in Charlotte's story where the discussion was unnecessary about her love life. Leaving those parts out did nothing to dampen the story. I definitely enjoyed this and would not mind exploring another story by this author.

I was given an ARC of this as an ebook for the purpose of feedback to the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

As a lover of historical fiction, and particularly that based around World War II, the description of this book drew me in immediately. A tale of two women, separated by 50 years, and how their lives are intertwined through a bottle of wine? Sign me up! However, upon reading The French Winemaker's Daughter, I was disappointed. In the beginning, I found myself thinking, "Okay, when do things pick up?" I was 20% into the book before I felt like the story actually started to progress. Even so, I felt like by the end, the reader still hadn't been taken very far from where we started. I enjoyed Martine's story, and honestly would probably have liked the book a lot more if it had just been Martine's story. I didn't find Charlotte likeable or relatable. Her personality was not for me. Apart from her personality being shallow, the writing of the character itself seemed shallow and sometimes confusing. The relationships Charlotte had and her views on those relationships didn't feel realistic or fitting for the character and ended up being a big drawback in my enjoyment of the book. I'm sure The French Winemaker's Daughter will be a great read for some, but it just wasn't for me! The idea for the book is wonderful, it just needed a little more fleshing out.

When the Nazis start rounding up Jews in their village, seven-year-old Martine’s dad hides her in an armoire with a note pinned to her dress with the address of an aunt in Paris, and a special bottle of wine to keep her safe. She loses the bottle but manages to make it to Paris. Her aunt is gone and she is left to wander the streets where she is rescued by a friendly nun. Almost fifty years later Charlotte, an airline pilot attends an auction with her boyfriend, Henri, who wins a bid for a box of vintage wines stolen by the Nazis during WWII. A couple of bottles in the box appear to have no value so Henri gives one to Charlotte. A hidden note under the label leads Charlotte on a quest to find the French winemaker’s daughter. Told in dual timelines, this is a well written story of family, love and loyalty, especially during troubled times. It was easy to connect the dots early on, but still it was an enjoyable read with well-drawn characters and an intriguing storyline. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving m an e-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Paperbacks for an ARC.

This is a solid piece of historical fiction. It gives the reader a feel for the setting and the struggles the French people endured during WWII. It's an enjoyable story with likeable characters.

However, it's quite predictable and very run of the mill. I was also less than impressed with the title, which according to the author's notes, she wasn't that happy with it either. *Shrug*

I am rating this book 5 out of 5 stars!!
This is my first time reading a book by Loretta Ellsworth and i’m simply blowing away.
This book was one of the best reads I have read in a while. I simply could not put it down, devoured the book in one day. The the plot was amazing. Lots of twist and turns and it has a lovely ending.

Enjoyable book, spanning two different generations following their passions and family history to determine their place in life. Very easy to read - perfect for a summer read!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It alternates point of views between Martine, who is a child living in France during WWII, and Charlotte, a pilot who frequents Paris in 1990. Charlotte is gifted a bottle of wine that leads her on a search for a winemaker’s daughter.
I liked the mystery that came with Charlotte’s search for the daughter of the winemaker. Additionally, Martine’s story gave a unique perspective of child trying to survive during WWII. I enjoyed the uniqueness of the plot. This book was a quick read with short chapters. My only complaint is that Charlotte had a lot of boy drama that I could have done without. Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for this ARC!

Thank you, NetGalley for this ARC.
As an avid reader of WW2 historical fictions, this was one of the most intriguing one I've read in a while. The dual timeline narrative was very skill fully presented. The characters in "The French Winemaker’s Daughter" are vividly portrayed, each with their own complexities and motivations. Loved reading this beautiful WW2 and it compelled me to google events, place and people. This is a compelling novel that will resonate with readers who appreciate intricately woven .

This was an excellent, straightforward historical fiction novel with an interesting “twist” on the typical Holocaust art theft story—how the Nazis took over French vineyards and wine businesses during WWII and the lasting effects it had on French families for decades.

The novel is told in two different timelines, the 1940s and 50 years later in the 1990s. One bottle of vintage ties together two women in an unexpected way in a hopeful and poignant story. I loved that is was a typical frame for a WWII novel, with a lesser-known aspect of the Nazi takeover in France as the main plot focus. The characters are a little bland but still lovable, having you root for them from the start. I’d recommend this book to any lover of historical fiction. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Thank you to @harpercollins and @netgalley for the advanced e-reader copy of this book. My opinions are solely my own.

The French Winemaker's Daughter by Loretta Ellsworth
Genre: WWII Historical Fiction, Women's fiction
POV: Dual, 2 time periods
Pub Date: December 10, 2024
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!!

Synopsis:
1942 - Martine Viner, a 7 year-old French jewish girl hides in her dresser to avoid capture by the Nazis in WWII France. Her papa is captured and she is left all alone at their family home and vineyard. Her father told her to keep a bottle of their vineyard's wine that had a very special note attached with her if she were able to escape. Though she loses the bottle in the commotion, Martine is able to take a train to Paris with the help of a neighbor. Here, she is rescued from the streets by a nun and taken to a nearby abbey. Martine lives here, assuming a different identity, leaving her religion, father, home, and childhood behind her.

1990 - Charlotte Montgomery is a commercial airline pilot, who in her early 30s, is still single, yet desperately trying to be a career woman and hopefully find a happy ending. Her flights allow her to spend much of her life in Paris, where she is hoping that her currently French boyfriend might be 'the one'. Henri (said boyfriend) buying a mysterious crate of wine bottles at an auction in Paris and gifts one to Charlotte. This bottle happens to have a hidden message under the label, setting Charlotte on a search that will completely change her life.

Opinion:
This book brought real tears to my eyes. It was so beautifully written and I couldn't put it down. The author interweaves some of the terrible realities of Jewish people in France during WWII with the kindness and selflessness of people who refused to see their countrymen treated in such a way. It is a true story of how love and friendship know no bounds when people put others' needs before their own. I loved Martine's story and how almost 50 years later it was able to be told through Charlotte's own adventure.

I was completely immersed by The French Winemaker's Daughter. If you are a fan of historical fiction and want to be taken on a journey spanning time but pulled close through war, connection and how much luck can do for your life. You need to pick this book up, it will leave a mark on your life!

The French Wine Makers Daughter by Loretta Ellsworth Is an amazing Historical fiction that has a dual timeline that takes place in both nazi occupied France in WWII When Nazis raid the home of a Jewish French wine Maker and his daughter Martine and then in the 1990s following a commercial pilot named charlotte who comes into ownership of a bottle of wine that was given to and lost by Martine decades prior. Medium paced and with an enjoyable Story, I enjoyed it very much.

"The French Winemaker's Daughter" is a story about a young Jewish girl, Martine, who lives in a French winery owned and run by her father in 1942. When the Nazis raid their home and take her father away, Martine remains hidden in an armoire where her father has instructed her to hide until the Nazis are gone. He gives her a bottle of his wine and asks her to protect it with the hope that it will provide her with financial security later in life. While she does survive the Nazi raid, she unfortunately loses the bottle of wine in her escape.
It is now 1990, and an American female commercial pilot, Charlotte, gains possession of this bottle of wine and sets out to discover the story behind it. The story goes back and forth between past and present eras until the two stories merge and the two women's lives intertwine.
This is a story of perseverance, love and strength of the human spirit. I especially enjoyed Martine's journey. While there were many evil and hateful people along the way, the kindness, love and protection she received from others was heartwarming.

Very enjoyable dual time line book. One timeline is about a Jewish girl whose father owned a winery in 1940 France. They were separated when the Germans invaded France and the father gave her a bottle of wine which was to be her inheritance. The other timeline is 1990 Paris France of a woman who is one of very few female pilots who is given a bottle of wine with a false label. The story was intriguing and kept my interest. A good addition to the WWII historical fiction genre.

Thank you to Harper Perennial for the chance to review an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

The French Winemaker’s Daughter was a fresh approach to historical fiction during WWII. Being able to imagine what legacies were stolen from the Jews in addition to the loss of human life was haunting.
The description of wine and the process of growing and pruning the vines was fascinating. I enjoyed the perspective of several different vineyards.
Sister Ada was my favorite character. Martine was the obvious main character. I liked her but felt she was portrayed a bit too mature at times.
I did not care for the intimate scenes and felt that the story didn’t need them. Relationships develop characters but these scenes added nothing to the story in my opinion.
I believe this story would appeal to anyone who loves historical fiction.

Since I work in the world of wine and like WWII stories, I was immediately drawn to this book. The story is told in two timelines, the present (1990’s) from Charlotte, a female pilot’s POV and from Martine, a 7 year old Jewish girl who is trying to safe during WWII from the Nazis. Charlotte is dating a man who doesn’t really seem to be giving her what she needs out of a relationship but brings her to a wine auction hoping to nab some good bottles of old wine. He is able to purchase a few bottles and gives one to Charlotte as a gift when he doesn’t think it’s worth anything, and tells her to enjoy drinking it. Martine, who had to hide from the Nazis ends up living in a convent for the duration of the war, had been given a bottle of wine from her Papa and told to keep it safe as it is her inheritance. Do we think the wine may come up as important in the Charlotte time line?!?!

I enjoyed this book but almost wish there was more about wine in it… it is mostly about Charlotte’s struggles with being a pilot in a male dominated profession and her relationship issues. In Martine’s timeline, it had the classic intrigue of hiding from the Nazi’s and the tension of living through such a tough time, especially when there is no one left to truly care about a young child. Overall, I liked the story but wish it had engaged me a little more, it was quite obvious where the story was going, which is fine, but I wanted a little more from Charlotte’s POV.

Thank you NetGalley , Loretta Ellsworth and Harper Collin’s Publishers, Inc. for this WWII era ARC for an honest review. This was a very good story about the Nazi occupation in France and how the Nazis raided, damaged and stole from the French wineries that were owned by Jews. The story is told in alternating chapters :the 194o’s and the 1990’s. In 1940, 7 year old Martine from the Burgundy region of France was helping her father in the winery when he made her hide in the armoire with her stuffed rabbit, Annabelle . The Nazis broke into his home and took him away. Martine was given a very rare bottle of wine and told to safeguard it and not let it go. In 1990, Charlotte, a US commercial airline captain , is given a bottle of French wine from her lover. She is determined to find out where the wine came from and about a mysterious note attached to it. I learned a lot about French wine and the Nazi occupation of France In the 1940’s I also liked that the story didn’t go into graphic details of the concentration camps and the torture of the Jews and others.

SPOILER ALERT As the wife of an airline pilot, I had several issues with this story mostly related to Charlotte's life as a commerical pilot. If she flew for AA out of Chicago then she would have to live in the vicinity or fly to Chicago from whereever she lived to start her trip. Her trips would end in Chicago and she'd have 3-4 days off. But the entire story makes it sound like she lives in Paris. When she was worried about Henri stealing her bottle of wine, why didn't she bring it home with her to the US? Problem solved! Her trip turn in Paris was probably around 30-36 hours and yet she's renting cars and toodling all over France. When did she sleep?
I did like Martine's story but it was rather predictable. I did think there was going to be a link with Charlotte's grandfather but I guess that was just coincidental.
Overall it was justs okay for me.