The Winemaker's Wife Paperback – March 17, 2020

The Winemaker’s Wife is one of those historical fiction novels that stayed with me long after the last page. Kristin Harmel masterfully weaves together a dual timeline—set in WWII-era Champagne, France and modern-day Reims—and both stories are equally gripping.The wartime storyline is filled with tension, secrets, and heartbreak, while the modern-day narrative brings healing, discovery, and redemption. The writing is atmospheric, the characters feel real and flawed in the best way, and the twists genuinely surprised me. I especially loved the way the novel explores how ordinary people make impossible choices during extraordinary times.I have a renewed love for French champagne . I now want to know the history of the Marie Stuart champagne.Such an incredibly beautiful

The only character I liked in this book was Céline. The story was engrossing, though, the history and setting fascinating, and the pacing well done and compelling.More than one astonishing plot twist seemed a little contrived, and it was hard to identify with or like several main characters. Perhaps the human propensity for making stupid mistakes was more accurately portrayed than in many stories where the protagonists seem smarter, and I tired of Grandma Edith’s reluctance to share her story with Liv after going to so much trouble to do so. That said, it was an interesting read.

What a beautiful written story of love, betrayal, and forgiveness. The heroes of the story are written deeply and real.

Enjoyed the book from day one. Easy to read and a lot to learn. Can’t wait to read another Kristin Harmel book.

I really, really enjoyed this book. The beginning was a little weak, but then it took off to the point where I couldn’t put it down. I don’t like when a main character is bitter and miserable (Edith), because it’s hard to understand the loving relationship between her and her granddaughter Liv. Yet the story unfolds and it gets more and more interesting. At the end, I love how the story came together but there was STILL no reason for Edith to have been so grouchy and nasty to her granddaughter. Oh well! I highly recommend this book.

When you think you know what is going on, you get thrown curve balls. It was a good read. To read about some things that happened during that timeframe is sad.

The Winemaker’s Wife is by Kristin Harmel. This novel is set during World War II in the Champagne region of France near the city of Reims. Most of it is set on the vineyard of Chauveau. This book deals with the personal relationships of friends and lovers as well as husbands and wives. It deals with how people were able to protect themselves and their property during the occupation by the Nazis. The Resistance is definitely working in this area and there were lots of collaborators and traitors. How each person chose which side to be on and whether to be active or not is looked at in detail. The story is told in two different eras, during the war from 1940-5 and the present 2016.In May, 1940, Inez Chauveau raced towards the vineyards from Reims. She had news to relay to her husband. She felt he didn’t pay much attention to anything she did or said and that everything she did or said was wrong. This time, she was totally right and the news wasn’t good. When she found Michel, he was in the caverns with the wine. When she told him that war had started in France, his reaction was not what she expected. His first words were, “I guess we need to finish hiding the champagne.” Once more, his first thought was for the wine. However, Inez immediately began helping move the best of the wines to a secret room in the caverns. The winemaker was going to make sure the Nazis didn’t get the best wines his vineyard could produce. Luckily, his great-grandfather had created several secret rooms in the caverns where they kept the wines. There were miles of caverns beneath his property. You could easily get lost there. Inez and Michel lived here with his winemaker, Theo Laurent, and his wife, Celine. Inez got along with them; but they were never destined to be best friends. Theo thought she was just flighty and immature. All of them made her feel like they were judging her every day and she always fell short of their expectations. She came to resent them and went to Reims where she began a relationship with Antoine. At least he pretended to listen to her and believe in her. However, he would become her downfall.Liv Kent had just broken up with her husband. She was devastated when her grandmother, Edith Thierry came to take her to Paris. Her grandmother had a reason other than to get her back on track. She planned to tell her the truth about her heritage; but Edith was having a hard time doing that. Edith took Liv on tours and walks; but never told her the secret. Liv was introduced to Edith’s attorney who knew the story but was unable to tell her Edith’s story. Would she ever tell her the true story behind the Chauveau vinyards?The book is very good and keeps you reading. You just can’t stop.

Book club May 2025Told in the war time and 2019. Love, adultery crime, atrocities of Germans. Historical fiction. Long book