4.5 stars

The French Winemaker's Daughter is a beautifully written story set in dual timelines of the 1940s and the 1990s. In the 1940s, we follow Martine, who lives with her father on their vineyard. Her life takes an unexpected turn when her father is captured by German soldiers and she has to flee her home. We meet Charlotte in the 1990s timeline, who is a pilot during a time when it was not common for women to hold this kind of job. Her work takes her to Paris frequently, and this is where the lives of Martine and Charlotte cross paths.

I was completely absorbed by the historical fiction aspect of this book. It is always so heart-wrenching to read about the atrocities that took place during WWII, and I enjoyed this take on how it affected the winemakers of France, during this time. Ellsworth had me rooting for Martine throughout the entire story. She had to endure so much heartache at such a young age, but I loved how her character grew throughout the story.

Charlotte's character occasionally made bad decisions, which seemed to be a little uncharacteristic for her age and for the pride she put into her job. Even with some character flaws, I still enjoyed her part in the story. And I loved that Ellsworth set Charlotte's timeline in the 1990s, since I was a young adult in the 90s. The reference to Cindy Crawford hair, was one that I really enjoyed!

I really loved the way the two timelines intersected. Ellsworth does a fantastic job of bringing the two storylines full circle. The transitions between the timelines worked really well, since she dedicated alternating chapters to each character.

I highly recommend The French Winemaker's Daughter if you are a fan of historical fiction, dual timelines, found family and having hope when things are at their worst.

3.5 stars, rounded up. As a fan of WWII historical fiction, I was looking forward to reading this book. It is a dual timeline book. In the earlier timeframe, it tells the story of young Martine, a French Jewish girl, and “Sister” Ada, the nun who rescues her during WWII. In the later timeframe, set in the early 1990’s, an American pilot, Charlotte, living in France, discovers a rare wine bottle that ties the two stories together. Sometimes, I feel dual timelines work amazingly well. Others, not so much. This one fell in the middle of the two. I didn’t love the story of Charlotte, and felt a large piece of that story was entirely too coincidental. I wanted more of Martine and Ada’s story and would have been content if the book only included that piece. I liked both of their characters and the storyline surrounding their relationship. Both had dealt with loss and you could feel that the two understood each other. However, if the book had been devoted to telling only Martine and Ada’s story, there would have been more time to develop things and I think I would have enjoyed it more than I did. That’s being said, the book was good overall. The shorter chapters made it easy to read (one of those “just one more chapter” things!), the basic concept of the book was interesting (though also sad), and it ended well (just felt a bit rushed wrapping up the early timeline).
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

What a captivating tale that keeps moving and keeps the reader engaged and intrigued. You are immediately immersed into Martine's world in occupied France. The powerful, sharp writing allows you to travel alongside her as she tries to survive alone, as a 7-year-old old Jewish child. You can feel the confusion, the fear, and the questions that arise in her childlike mind.

Similarly, you are immediately immersed in Charlotte's world with Henri in romantic Paris. One can quickly see how Charlotte's story will intertwine with Martine's throughout the book. At times, I find Charlotte's character frustrating - lacking in awareness and lacking in depth or complexity. She's a bit of a trope of the independent, successful woman who doesn't want to let her guard down. Even still, I appreciate how the story unwinds, and I recognize the part she must play in it. Specifically, I do appreciate her struggle with the question of who is responsible for returning things that were seized by the Nazis during their occupation of Europe. The book does a fantastic job of grappling with an intense question, and it begs the reader to consider that from a variety of perspectives, too.

Martine's humanity is beautifully portrayed - the intensity of the emotion, the desperation of the human experience during World War II, and a reality that is far from being neatly wrapped up and easily digestible. At times, it's raw, honest, and real.

The end, perhaps, is wrapped up far too quickly and far too neatly. Of course we find the intersection of Martine and Charlotte. Of course we see Charlotte become more open. Perhaps what's unexpected is what happens with the wine bottle that we learn about within the first few pages. I appreciated that twist. While the backdrop of Burgundy is secondary to book, I did appreciate the setting and it made me want to learn a lot more about the region and its experiences during the occupation and how it has grappled with the same questions that must surely arise.

This was hands down the best book I've read this year. The story takes place in two timelines, with two main characters.

Martine is a young Jewish girl, a wine maker's daughter, trying to survive WWII.

Charlotte is a thirty something pilot, a wine maker's granddaughter, wanting a bit more out of her already accomplished life.

The stories are woven together through the wine in more ways than one.

This is historical fiction at its finest, with a fresh plot and lovable, deep characters. I always struggle with finding a book for my book club that will appeal to the eclectic tastes of its members, while giving us all something to talk about and leaving us feeling good about what we just read.

I can't wait for this book to be published so that I can name it as my next choice for my book club.

4.5 stars from me.
This book grabbed my interest immediately. I enjoy dual-perspective and dual-timeline books, and this one is no exception. It was easy to follow and dovetailed well. Even though it was a bit obvious about half way through how it was going to turn out, it was still interesting how the author got it all the way there.
Charlotte’s actions weren’t always what I would have expected from a confident pilot, but she was still a likeanle character and worth rooting for all the way through the book. Of course, I loved little Martine and her spunk and strength. The reading level is low enough for a younger person to enjoy, but I would have preferred a bit more maturity in the writing—unless this is, in fact, aimed at a YA audience. Still, I enjoyed this novel and plan to recommend it to my book reading friends. I will also read more books from this author.

I truly fell head over heels for this book pretty quickly!

I love WWII historical fiction novels, but sometimes find myself feeling like I'm reading the same thing over and over -- from the same perspectives and centered in the towns/countries that most commonly are written about. I loved that though this book is set during WWII, it's not your "average" story.

The character arc of Martine is beautiful and all encompassing. I also loved the introduction of the "present" timeline and Charlotte's character/connection with Martine. I thought Charlotte's persistence and integrity in figuring out where the wine bottle originated from and trying to reconnect it to it's owner was admirable and gave an added sense of adventure to the story.

Perhaps one of my favorite quotes from any WWII HF book I've read:
"You don't care that I'm Jewish?" "No. it's good, because now I know you're not a Nazi."

The power in this sentiment and scene is both absolutely incredible and heartbreaking to think of conceptually. Especially coming from two small children who should never have had to have known such blind hatred at such an early age.

This was a fresh take and new perspective into part of WWII that was very true. Though I understand entirely that this is a work of historical fiction, like most, this story has a lot of factual detail I knew little about. I truly believe this novel sheds light into an art world that is so commonly forgotten about or perhaps, not even known.

I will absolutely recommend this book to anyone that enjoys HF WWII based books, as well as those that are beginning to dip their little toe into the pond of HF. I think this is a great gateway book into the genre that's not overly gory or atrocious in the details, but that still is able to make you understand the atrocities that were taking place during this time.

"Don't confuse accomplishment with joy. You need both to survive."

4.5⭐️ really wasn’t expecting to cry at work from this book, but here we are. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Publishers for the Arc in exchange for my honest review. This book was so moving and told such a beautiful story
Intertwining the present and the past, and I loved every second of it. As a avid history fan I knew I was gonna enjoy this book after reading the description and I’m so happy I got a chance to read it before it came out! If you love Historical Fiction you should read this!

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy. For me this is a 5 star historical fiction. So why 4 stars above? For most historical fiction readers it might be too neat in coincidences, not historically researched enough and a few non fleshed out minor characters.
The main character is a pilot and the author has a good sense of what it is like to be a female in an all male profession. If you want a good story, a quick read and a few good walks through the vineyards… pick up a copy and enjoy by the winter’s fire with a good Cabernet.

French Winemaker’s Daughter by Loretta Ellsworth is a beautifully woven tale of love, survival, and family secrets spanning half a century. The story begins in 1942 with seven-year-old Martine, whose life is upended when the Nazis take her father, leaving her alone with a mysterious bottle of wine and a note to find her aunt in Paris. As Martine navigates the dangers of wartime France, her journey intersects with that of Charlotte in 1990, a commercial airline pilot whose discovery of an old wine bottle at an auction uncovers hidden layers of history. The novel seamlessly blends past and present as Charlotte embarks on a quest to uncover the story behind the bottle, revealing secrets tied to her own life and Martine's.

Ellsworth masterfully captures the emotional depth of her characters, portraying the resilience of a child in war-torn France and the drive of a modern woman seeking answers from the past. French Winemaker’s Daughter is a poignant and evocative story that highlights the strength of family bonds and the enduring power of memories across generations. It's a compelling read that will leave a lasting impression on those who enjoy historical fiction with heart and mystery.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

“The French Winemaker’s Daughter” is a dual timeline historical fiction book by Loretta Ellsworth. This book takes place in France - part of it during WWII and part in the 1990s. I usually prefer the older stories in dual timelines and this story was no exception. I really did not like the 1990s woman, Charlotte. While she was a female pilot for a major US airline, something about her really annoyed me - whether it be her determination to always be correct - or appear to be so - or how amazingly stubborn she could be about things … and her horrible interactions with guys. The WWII story following Martine, I found a lot more interesting - from escaping from Germans at her home to ending up at the convent, her story was easier to digest, though - granted - following a young child’s story was interesting. When Charlotte meets Julian and Elizabeth, Elizabeth’s backstory was interesting - if not a little sad. Overall, I gave Martine’s story four stars, but Charlotte’s only two, thus a three star average. Would I have preferred an entire story about Martine - yes, though I do understand why Ms. Ellsworth wrote the story like she did.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book.

I fell into a rut with reading again, but it wasn't at the fault of this book. This historical based novel was everything I needed in this season of life to escape from my reality for a bit. Martine was a force to be reckoned with despite her lack of self confidence. I've always enjoyed historical fiction, but always more so during WWII. This book did not disappoint. The author did a fantastic job at going from war time to "present" time, which for this one was the 1990s. This was an impeccable book and I would highly recommend it to anyone, but especially those that enjoy a good WWII historical fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

This book was fine. I did not really connect with the writing or characters. I think the story the story honed in on too many aspects of Charlotte's plot line leaving me unsure what the focus was supposed to be and leaving some things kinda unresolved. Overall it just felt very explanatory and I didn't feel like I was in the story. But this could be someone else's cup of tea!

What a great historical fiction read of WW2 in France.

This book follows duals POVs of Martine during the 1940s and Charlotte during the 1990s. It is a story of family, loss, love and wine, and also a story of how the most unlikely of circumstances can lead you somewhere you never thought you would end up.

This was a short and easy read, and you could really feel the emotions reading this. WW2 historical fiction is one of my favorite genres and this book is just another reason I love it so much.

Thank you NetGalley, Harper Collins Publishing, and Loretta Ellsworth for a chance to read this ARC.

This book is a historical fiction and the way the story is told is in dual timelines, which for me makes this book an automatic winner! I don't know why, but there is just something about a story being told in two different time periods. This story takes place during WWII and there are many parts that can be very eye opening and you wonder if some situations actually happened or would have happened during this time period.

This book will absolutely be one of those where you are always thinking about it, even when you don't want to. Once I was done reading this book, I had a book hangover for about three weeks because all I could think about was this book. The character development in this book was out of this world. You really ended up falling in love with the characters! The plot line was also nothing short of amazing!

I really wished this book would not have ended. If it could have gone on forever, I would have loved that. I will for sure be buying a physical copy of this so I can go back and re-read it and pick up on parts I didn't pick up on the first time I read it. That, and it will look really good on my bookshelf!

This was a solid historical fiction taking place in dual timelines - WWII and the early 90's. I loved the setting in France, but the story was a little drawn out and there were a few places I had to push myself to keep reading. Nonetheless, definitely pick this up if you're in the right mood for a little mystery, a dash of France, and a lot of love.

The French Winemaker’s Daughter by Loretta Ellsworth is a poignant tale told in two time periods. One is the story of the survival of Martine Viner, the daughter of a French winemaker who was taken by the Nazis because he was Jewish. The other story involves Charlotte, an American airline captain who’s given what turns out to be a very rare, expensive bottle of wine with a secret. Completely intrigued, Charlotte becomes obsessed with learning about the vineyard and what happened to the family that once had owned the property. Ms. Ellsworth’s prose seamlessly takes the reader to both periods as Martine struggles to stay alive and Charlotte searches answers on several fronts. I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. Highly recommend.

I really enjoyed this book. I love to read about history especially world war 2, even fiction, but this had the added bonus of a mystery. While we follow along with Maritine, and wine makers daughter, she navigates childhood in Paris during the war after losing the only thing her father left her a bottle of wine.
When Charlotte is gifted a mystery bottle of wine and uncovers a hidden message we must find out the truth about the original owner. After discovering the value of this bottle she not only continue to search for answers but must fight an old lover for the right to keep it.

This is the first book I have read from this author. It is the story of survival during WWII of a young Jewish girl hidden by nuns during the Holocaust in France. The action switches between the 1940's and present day as characters between the decades are connected by events and vineyards.
The contrast between 1940's and current day provide drama and tension to keep the reader on edge, hoping for a happy outcome. That tension is done well, but this book is also centered on love and betrayal and and certain amount of suspense.
I believe those you enjoy romance will enjoy this story as well as those who want to see strong females in the telling as this one features a young pilot who is a woman. There is too much emotion for me, but the story was told successfully.

“The Madwomen of Paris” by Jennifer Cody Epstein is a novel inspired by actual events and historical figures of the 1880’s which follows orphaned Laure Bissonnet as she navigates being committed to the asylum, La Salpêtrière, in France to an eventual employee at the same asylum. This was such an intriguing read in the way of seeing, hearing, and feeling what life in an asylum during this time period would have been like for women who could be admitted for even the most minuscule of ailments, which at the time were considered “hysteria” or “lunacy”. The author does a fantastic job painting the scenery of asylum life and really orchestrates the characters in a raw and realistic way giving great background and understanding of their trauma. This was a great read, would recommend. Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins Publishers, and Loretta Ellsworth for this e-ARC.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is a beautiful story of hope and resilience set against the backdrop of WW2 France, the French Resistance, and the rich history of winemaking. I enjoyed the dual timelines and POV. The plot reveal comes far earlier in the book than it might usually, but this doesn't take away from the emotional weight of the story. The constant references to Charlotte being a female pilot felt repetitive at times, but was likely intentional. The anachronistic Spice Girls reference was unnecessary. Overall, an enjoyable, engaging work of historical fiction.