Great book about the aftermath of the French Revolution.

This book is the last in a series of books about strong female characters before, during and after the French Revolution. I have not read the first two books but plan to go back and read both of them. I love reading historical fiction about history that is new to me.

The characters in this story are well developed and courageous. This book is about people coming together during a difficult time in history. The pace is good and the book is hard to put down.

Please note: Receive this arc on NetGallery.


I was on Edge til the end. Genevieve and Louis are admirable and my heart was racing for the obstacles that was brought their way. It felt like that there was conflict throughout the story and it was a dangerous time. I didn’t read the first 2 books but the author gave enough back round to where I didn’t feel lost. It’s dual POV which I liked and the dates on each chapter gave you a timeline of the events.

I recommend doing a quick refresher on French Revolution and it was interesting to read about this families struggles and how dreadful it was for the French people to have the instability of their government.

Although part of a book series, Her Own War by Debra Borchert can certainly be read as a stand-alone novel. Taking place in the late 1700’s, this novel focuses on how residents of Chateau de Verzat are impacted by Napoleon and his desire to rule not only France but parts of Africa as well.

In a previous novel in the series, Genevieve risks her life to save her future husband. The roles are then reversed in this novel, as Louis fights to save her from an insane asylum, all because she dressed in men’s clothing. As part of a bargain to get Genevieve released from the asylum, Louis has to sign up for the military and travel to Egypt to participate in Napoleon’s war.

Harboring former slaves, fugitives, and espionage serve as the backbone of the book’s plot as both Genevieve and Louis fight for their vision for the future of France. The book was poignant, and the pace of the story moved along at a good clip.

Set in the late eighteenth century, the third installment of the Chateau de Verzat series covers a tumultuous period following the French Revolution and the Directory, and easing into the early Napoleonic era. Tensions are still high between Royalists and Republicans.

Protagonist Geneviève works to keep the family vineyards alive while her husband, Louis, and the menfolk are sent off on Napoleon’s campaign in Egypt. This well-researched novel ties together interesting research from the era, adventure, intrigue and romance. A highly enjoyable read, which can also be read as a stand-alone.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy - all thoughts are my own.

This book was top tier! The story was so inspiring and had a great message behind the book! The romance in this book was so sweet!

This was my 1st book by Debra Borchert and I would love to read the rest of the series! This the 3rd book of a series and I still was able to understand and appreciate it without reading the 1st 2, although, I'm sure it might have been easier to understand certain aspects of the story. It is set in France at the end of the French Revolution as Napoleon begins his reign and campaigns in Egypt. The Château de Verzat estate.is the setting where Geneviève LaGarde and her husband Louis are cruelly separated after Genevieve is thrown into prison for dressing as a man and is pregnant. Her husband, is coerced into serving in the military in order to free his wife. There are so many twists to the central plot, some with Louis during war and other issues arise back at the Chateau with Genevieve. The details are lush and well described, you can feel the physical settings, the fear, frustration and determination of the characters. The challenges are endless and yet the solutions clever and creative. It was a hard to put down book, I wanted to know what happened next! , I definitely recommend this captivating read and will be reading the prior books! A special thank you to Le Vin Press and NetGalley for their ARC, it was a privilege and a wonderful read! All comments and opinions expressed are my own.

How far will you go to protect your life, your family, your home? During the campaign with Bonaparte, those of royal heritage were ordered to leave the country or be executed. How were they to protect their homes, their families, their workers who depended on them for their livelihood?

Strong characters. Well developed plot.

Trigger warning: open door scenes

Released July 14th. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A masterful, high-paced glorious (and humorous!) romp through the dangerous chaos and rebellion swirling through post-monarchy France when the Royalists and Republicans were sworn, brutal enemies. We live the risks and intrigue through a classic love affair between vigneron Genevieve and her former courtier husband Louis. Bonaparte’s brutality and arrogance reflect the aftermath of courtesan Versailles life lost via the guillotine. Our hero Genevieve is courageous, but author Borchert insightfully draws her as anything but cool under pressure so that the reader whips through the pages on pins and needles feeling every insult, every swallowed retort, every breakthrough of cunning coming from Gen. Just when you think you’re turning the pages fast enough, Borchert ups the ante by splitting the story in two with Gen and Louis forced to outwit their enemies in two different settings, Gen from the massive family vineyard to Louis in the searing sands of Egypt under the horrible leadership of Bonaparte. Through it all tension, murder, espionage, delicious revenge. This is Book 3 of a trilogy and there are enough clever slips into past plot lines to tempt the reader back into Books 1 and 2 without disturbing the pace of this one as a standalone. Borchert’s impressively deep research is deftly applied so that the many historical details bring the scenes to life. Her warriors all are worth rooting for, her enemies are wonderfully idiotic.

If you like books that read like a soap opera, then you will for sure enjoy this book! This book was really entertaining and it was one of those books that you couldn't put down. Once you finish this book, you will think to yourself 'well now what?'

This book is part of a series, and if you haven't read the first part of the series, no worries! The author does a really good job of including the important information from the previous books so that it doesn't leave the readers confused. This really can be a stand alone book. After reading this book, I went ahead and put the first two books in my cart!

This book has different timelines and in the beginning of the book, it may be hard to follow at times but the author does a really good job at tying everything together. I think if you read the first two books before this one, everything will make much more sense.

My favorite thing about this book and this author is the amount of detail that goes into literally everything in this book. You can picture what the characters look like, how their clothes look, even the living conditions that these characters endured. It's almost as though you could feel the fabric of the clothing that they wore! I have never read a more detailed book. It adds so much for us readers!

If you are a fan of historical fiction, specifically the Revolution War, this is a must read book, you will for sure go on the adventure of your life!

Romance and derring-do in the early Napoleonic era

Debra Borchert’s Her Own War is a masterful blend of strong women and honorable men struggling to survive and hoping to thrive at the end of the French revolution into the beginnings of the Napoleonic era. Genevieve is a heroine who races to face threats to her home and family, often causing as much trouble as she hopes to avoid. Borchert’s command of the era’s history is breathtaking; every scene is imbued with the scents, sounds, and colors of the Loire Valley, Paris, and Egypt in the late years of the 1700s. With short chapters alternating between main character points of view, I found myself devouring chapters wanting to know what happened next. Brava Debra and merci for such an engaging novel.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the early copy of Her Own War. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

How to begin? The story is sublime, beautifully told in prose that rings likes a crystal bell, and now that I've finished reading my heart aches for more. Debra Borchert has written a gem.

This is the third book in the Chateau de Verzat series centred around the Napoleonic wars and it is absolutely absorbing from the very first page.
Although it is a stand alone story reading the two books in the series enhances it more so if like me you thoroughly enjoyed it read the first two books in the series and then read Her Own War again and you will find it even more engaging.
Follow the love stories of Genevieve,Juliette and Aurelia and their amazing men during one of the most dangerous times for people to live in French history.
Can’t recommend it enough

Book 3 of 3 - I found this story so interesting. It takes place in the time of Napoleon Bonaparte's war. There is a woman spy who is doing alll she can to protect the people. I great historical story.

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

An exhaustive amount of research resounds throughout this French Revolutionary War novel. The scenes are descriptive and immersive, detailing everything from the clothing to the living conditions, the mechanics of tending grapevines, even how to ride a camel in sweltering desert conditions. With short chapters bouncing between the female and male points of view, the pace perks along despite readers’ desire to slow down to savor the settings and images. And yes, conflict abounds with plotlines including a kidnapping, spying, hiding fugitives, and being forced to join Napoleon’s war campaign. Genevieve is a strong-willed yet loving protagonist, and we get enough glimpses into her adventurous past to want to read book two in the series, where her story begins. The same goes for her husband, Louis, who apparently has grown and changed from a wily courtier to a devoted, self-sacrificing family man. For fans of French Revolution and Napoleonic era history, Her Own War is a must-read adventure.

Debra Borchert’s new book, “Her Own War,” stars the feisty Genevieve whose bravery and vulnerability set the stage for action, romance and tension. I loved how the winery was a family and the people from the top down worked together to help it succeed in the trying times after the French Revolution. The imagery that Debra weaves through her story, the fashions, the landscape, and the food descriptions make the tale comes alive. But this book, is so much more than the history and sights and sounds of the times. The love story pulls you along and the fight for freedom on both fronts for Genevieve, Louis and their family and friends built an amazing story that kept me reading. Don’t miss the chance to read this book and the entire series of Debra’s Chateau de Verzat! I give it a feisty, full 5 Stars!

This book slowly built to an exciting climax. It was hard to follow to start when the curren5 circumstance of the main characters were explained gradually by flashback. The book illustrates the difficult circumstance France found itself in after the revolution. It centres on the rule of napoleon and paints a picture of an arrogant vengeful general who did not value his troops. The lead female is a mix of bravery and vulnerability making her well loved by her friends especially her husband whose life she saved. Interesting stuff.

“Sometimes life doesn’t let you keep your word.”

Just as the roots of a grapevine anchor the plant to the soil, so do the bonds of trust unite and connect all those living and working in the Chateau de Verzat vineyard. Readers quickly become aware of how much the harvest's success relies on everyone working together and of the necessity of metaphorically getting rid of wounds and rot so that the future harvest is not compromised. At a time when the world seems so divided, this was a great reminder of how success relies on everyone doing a small part.

Piggybacking on this thought is Borchert’s theme of trusting others and believing in yourself. She highlights the need of having courage and strength to endure and points us to remember who we are. The poignant focus on preserving the Verzat legacy has ripple effects for all on the estate and gives readers pause as they evaluate their role in preserving their own legacy.

Borchert has a wonderful ability to pull readers into the setting with her rich, vivid descriptions and keep them there with her descriptive era-specific reminders such as appropriate language, customs and the wearing of powdered wigs, tricorne, breeches, and frock coats. Borchert's novel takes place during the Directory and her narrative informs readers of the continued divisions within French society and the manipulation that occurred as those in power frantically tried to keep their hold on the government. Towards the end of the book, readers see how France tried to expand its power internationally by sending Napoleon to Egypt to take control for Britain. Pulling on our heartstrings is the effect of these harsh rules on the everyday lives of the vintners.

I enjoyed the reminders that living requires more courage than dying, that it takes more courage to cry than not, and that sometimes we have no choice but to do the wrong things for the right reason.

I was surprised at Rose de Beauharnais’s new title (don’t know how I didn’t know this before!) and thought this was a fitting end to a great series. You can count on Borchert to pen a completely absorbing historical fiction novel!

I was gifted this copy by Le Vin Press and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

This was a terrific read, one that I highly recommend.

It is always satisfying to come across a book that really grabs your curiosity. It’s even better when the book is the third in a series. Her Own War is book three in Debra Borchert’s Château de Verzat stories.

This novel continues the story of Geneviève Fouquier-Tinville from book two, Her Own Revolution. Geneviève is now Geneviève LaGarde, and she still has the darndest way of getting herself into trouble. Determined to help others, she runs into the fire. While she and her husband, Louis, work to protect Château de Verzat and its bustling wine business, all kinds of things happen to them and the people they love.

Like the other books in the series, Her Own War is about the people of France living through the French Revolution. The decisions made by the more well-known individuals are not new, but in the Château de Verzat series, readers experience the impact of those decisions, in this case Napoleon’s harsh policies. There is tension on every page in a plot that keeps building and building.

What is most compelling to me about this novel and the others in the series is the extensive research that has gone into writing them. Right down to the smallest detail, these are the events that actually happened in France, making the various plot twists and turns believable. The French Revolution was a tumultuous time. It is hard to imagine living through such an unstable period in history. Fortunately, modern readers don’t have to. Borchert has given us a front-row seat, and the experience is delightful.

A really entertaining book which I thoroughly enjoyed, even though it at times felt like a soap opera. The author does a good job of providing context from previous books in the series without belaboring the point. And of wrapping up the current story while setting the reader up for the next volume. The characters were interesting, there was always a new crisis, and the portrayal of Napoleon's expedition to Egypt from a soldier's point of view as eye-opening. My only quibble is the title--the events in this book are told just as much from the male protagonist's POV as the female's, so Her Own War seems like an odd title. But I would definitely recommend this book!