The Winemaker's Wife

Today on Y’all Have Got To Read This is about "The Winemaker’s Wife" by Kristin Harmel. @kristinharmel OMG! I loved this book. If historical fiction is your cup of tea, you will love this one! As a lover of history, I am down for any book set in France during WWII. The book is so well written. I really enjoyed how the story went back and forth from the war years to the present day. I devoured this book in about three hours, but the scenes and the characters will stay with me forever. Harmel did such a good job of making us feel the fear and intimation of living through the German occupation. While there is a little intimacy in the story, it is done tastefully. I gave it two chili peppers. For the sheer beauty of writing and the gripping twist and turns, I had to give the book five stars. This is a must read if you love WWII stories. Another book that I highly recommend for Book Clubs! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🌶️🌶️ As always, please like and follow me on Instagram and Facebook for more outstanding reads - historical fiction, romance, suspense, and more. If you haven’t already done so, be sure to check out my book, The Carrington Affairs on Amazon. Right now it is only .99 cents on Kindle Unlimited and Audible if you have an account. Until next time, Happy Reading Y’all #thecarringtonaffairs #kindleunlimited #susangoochauthor #susangooch #bookstagtam #romancebooks #suspensefulnovels #thrillers #historicalfiction #carringtonaffairs #goodreads #secondchanceromance #smalltownromance #mysearcy #spicybooks #sweetbooks #tbr #goodreadsauthor #audible #bookrecs #instabooks #yallhavegottoreadthis #yhgtrt #bookinstagtam #tbr #audible #goodreadsauthor

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.

Good book if one enjoys reading the history of WWII & the occupation by Germany of France.

This story is captivating and surprising with all the twists and turns. I enjoyed the characters even with all their flaws. It’s a story of survival and redemption. Very good read.

Ok, so I did love reading this book. As is common nowadays, the author jumps back and forth from the past to the present which is a technique I do enjoy, particularly in this book. My only critique is that while I recognize “artistic license’ in telling a story this book went a little too far in believability with regard to age of two characters and their physical abilities. Even shaving off 10 years would have been better though may not have coincided with the dates. Don’t want to say anymore because I don’t want to ruin the story for anyone. I loved The Nightingale and was advised that this book is similar and would not disappoint and that is completely accurate. Am now going to read her book with Rue Amelia in the title after also reading The Book of Lost Names. Kristen Harmel writes much like Kristen Hannah and for some reason I’m drawn to novels set in France during WWII and the Holocaust. Anyone sharing my feelings will love this book.

I found it difficult in the beginning to read because of the two separate stories going on for nearly half of the book. But it was a good tale presented during WWII.

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.

My wife read this and said it was okay. Nothing great.

Harmel presents her characters with love and intelligence for who they are and why their actions are so important to them. She also does not underestimate her readers. The novel has an excellent story line while providing interesting historical information. Very smart and witty writing. I absolutely loved the The Winemaker's Wife.

En riktigt bra historisk roman från andra världskriget

Enjoying it! A good read.

A memorable story. One of the best books I have read. Really a must to be read.

I loved this story, well written, i really got into the characters and the setting, emotional in parts. I will read more by this author