The Winemaker's Wife

By Kristin Harmel

Book Overview

From the author of the "engrossing" (People) and "poignant" (Booklist) international bestseller The Room on Rue Am lie comes a remarkable and moving story of love, danger, and betrayal: two women in France in the darkest days of World War II and another in present-day America on a quest to uncover the secret that connects them.

At the dawn of the Second World War, In s is the young wife of Michel, owner of the House of Chauveau, a small champagne winery nestled among rolling vineyards near Reims, France. Marrying into a storied champagne empire was supposed to be a dream come true, but In s feels increasingly isolated, purposely left out of the business by her husband; his chef de cave, Theo; and Theo's wife, Sarah.

But these disappointments pale in comparison to the increasing danger from German forces pouring across the border. At first, it's merely the Nazi weinf hrer coming to demand the choicest champagne for Hitler's cronies, but soon, there are rumors of Jewish townspeople being rounded up and sent east to an unspeakable fate. The war is on their doorstep, and no one in In s's life is safe--least of all Sarah, whose father is Jewish, or Michel, who has recklessly begun hiding munitions for the R sistance in the champagne caves. In s realizes she has to do something to help.

Sarah feels as lost as In s does, but she doesn't have much else in common with Michel's young wife. In s seems to have it made, not least of all because as a Catholic, she's "safe." Sarah, on the other hand, is terrified about the fate of her parents--and about her own future as the Germans begin to rid the Champagne region of Jews. When Sarah makes a dangerous decision to follow her heart in a desperate bid to find some meaning in the ruin, it endangers the lives of all those she cares about--and the champagne house they've all worked so hard to save.

In the present, Liv Kent has just lost her job--and her marriage. Her wealthy but aloof Grandma Edith, sensing that Liv needs a change of scenery before she hits rock bottom, insists that Liv accompany her on a trip to France. But the older woman has an ulterior motive--and some difficult but important information to share with her granddaughter. As Liv begins to uncover long-buried family secrets, she finds herself slowly coming back to life. When past and present intertwine at last, she may finally find a way forward, along a difficult road that leads straight to the winding caves beneath the House of Chauveau.

Perfect for fans of Kristin Hannah's The Nightingale and Kate Quinn's The Alice Network, The Winemaker's Wife is an evocative and gorgeously wrought novel that examines how the choices we make in our darkest hours can profoundly change our lives--and how hope can come from the places we least expect.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1982112298
• ISBN13: 9781982112295
• Release Date: August 2019
• Publisher: Gallery Books
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 1.17 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Such a wonderful story!

A little fiction mixed in with a little history

Great love story

One of my new favorite authors love this book and now want to read more about French wineries who helped with the resistance

Historical fiction set in france world war ll

What a Fabulous love, story, full of suspense, Love and Loss. It is set in the wine country of france , in the Champagne Region. It is told between the years of the beginning of the war and the very current 2019. It reads like an Epic love story movie, Like " Gone with the wind" between two married couples , where the husband and wife , belonging to the other husband/ other wife have an affair....that leads to a baby...to decisions made, that changes the course of all their lives forever. It is heart wrenching how in making these decision's, nothing turns out good for the two married couples involved.The secrets, the deception, the lies, the war and the Germans bearing down on them.. all lead to a very heartbreaking epic fallout...That is so terribly tragic.! There is SO much to this book, and the story on a whole... you couldn't possible begin to describe it all. I stayed up last night reading to 3:15 in the morning..and tonight to 1:30, and finally finished it .You would NOT be sorry reading this gut wrenching story..I can see it being made into a movie! If I could I would absolutely ,without a doubt , Give this more than 5 stars! Fantastic Author, and gifted writing and story telling.This is my second read by her, and to tell the truth I would read Anything She's ever written !!! Loved, Loved, Loved It !!!

Amazing love story

Love this book! Historical non fiction at its best.. made you fall in love with some and hate the others.. so very good!