I have found another author to add to my list of favorites! Kristin Harmel proved to me that she’s a masterful storyteller in The Winemaker’s Wife. This beautiful tale alternates back and forth between World War II and the present day, with well-developed, memorable characters and a few plot twists I never saw coming. I love the historical setting in France and the eloquent descriptive language Harmel used to paint this powerful story of love, betrayal, and heartbreak. I appreciate how the story came full circle, giving a sense of closure although leaving me shedding some tears.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read an ARC of The Winemaker’s Wife and share my unbiased opinion. I heartily recommend this book to those who enjoy fiction that is rich in historical detail.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. This title will be available August 13th. First I'm glad I finished this book in the privacy of my home instead of the public, like at work or something. I can not lie, I shed a tear at the ending. I loved this book. It had me from the beginning, all the way to the end.

Wonderful book! Loved the dual time lines and the ways the characters lives and stories are all interwoven. Highly recommend this or any of Kristin Harmel's books.

A tale of the winemakers during the catastrophe of WW2 on France. There were surprising moments in the story and seeing how the three women all belonged together led to a satisfying end. This book is a great read and after getting to the middle of the story, I had to keep reading to find out more.

The Winemaker's Wifeis an engrossing read. Set in France during WWII, its about betrayal, loyalty, stupidity, reckoning, and redemption. Told from a trifecta angle, readers get three stories that slowly intertwine: Ines, Celine, and Liv. Liv's history is wrapped up in the first two narratives. Her grandmother whisks her away to France after her divorce to tell her the truth, but then fails at that. It was a little annoying for Grandma Edith to keep shirking her obligation to divulge the truth. Readers will constantly be kept guessing how the story turns out as there are many bends and dips in the road.

Thank you to NetGallery for proving me with this ARC in exchange for my review.
Enjoy historical novels, especially WWII, Nazi antagonists, strong female characters , French setting? Read this book. The winemaker Michel brings his naive new bride Inès to live on his estate just as the Germans occupy France. and carries on business as usual; however, he secretly works in the French Resistance. His wife believes the war will not alter their lives. and her apathy causes a great strain on the marriage. Her interest lie in fashion,travel and socialization, and she often visits friends in Reims, who own a thriving, lively bistro, because her life at the vineyard is not stimulating. As she goes in search of happiness , her husband becomes more involved with the Resistance and eventually a female employee, Cecile assists him, without the knowledge of her husband Theo who manages the vineyard.. Now the plot starts to emerge into more action. At this point we see loyalties reverse into .betrayals . Hansel fully fleshes her main characters well before the turmoil commences. Also,this is a story within a story told in the present day by Liv, who is recently divorced, and her Parisian grandmother Edith, whose flashbacks reveal Liv’s startling family background. Liv doesn’t know who she truly is. Harmel deftly weaves back and forth between WWII and present day America and France. Edith has shown up to take Liv to France, supposedly to lift her post divorce sadness. I enjoyed the plot twists, and even though I did figure out the major twist, there was a much more fulfilling twist that provided closure at the novel’s conclusion In addition if you’ve traveled to this area of France , you will appreciate the exquisite descriptions of the setting. I❤️The Winemaker’s Wife and Kristin Harmel.

I love reading historical fiction novels that are centered around the Holocaust and this one doesn’t disappoint. It sent shivers all over my skin as I imagined how this all went down. The four main characters are believable and it’s so sad how they all got caught up in the melee of WW2. I think the general populous really has no idea how much France was involved in the war. I certainly didn’t until I read Sarah’s Key. For anyone who has read that book this one will also be satisfying. The range of emotions the reader feels is real. The sadness, the anger, the frustration. This is not a happy book so beware anyone who,wants a light read.

Usually, I like WWII novels because many of them can be an emotional and powerful read. This one was not. This was a very hard read. I did not like any of the characters and their actions. They came across as flat. Overall, this was a very forgettable novel. Full review to come!

I have just completed reading (in record time!) this most amazing, engrossing and beautiful book. There was not one moment while reading this title that I wanted it to end---all of my questions, wants and story line were all just so incredibly written and left the reader so satisfied. Aside from learning so much while reading, the book just touched my heart with all the relationships, the characters and how the ends all tied together. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to read this title prior to publication--I will not forget it easily and it will stay with me so quite some time.

This is an interesting take on World War II in the French region of Champagne. I thought the descriptions of the local area and champagne making process were fantastic and very well written. Unfortunately it was a little difficult to connect with most of the characters and I found myself not caring much what happened to them. I guessed a couple of the twists as well, which can be frustrating. I did like the way Julian was written and felt more invested in him than most of the others.

This is a story that makes you feel like you dropped right into wartime France. I got so involved that I was late for work reading "just a little bit more" one day. The characters felt very real, not always likable , especially Inez, but very much like real life people. The plot was believable, with a twist near the end you won't see coming. Smooth writing flow too.

Highly recommended.

*ARC via netgalley*

I have been a fan of Kristin Harmel's writing for quite some time now. She has written a few novels about World War II and the Holocaust, but each one has its own special flair that sets it apart from the others in this genre. The Winemaker's Wife tells a story about two women during a very tumultuous time and the secrets that threaten their safety.

This novel was thoughtful and well-written. I learned new things about winemaking. I liked seeing the perspectives of all three women and finding out why they made the choices they did. Being an avid reader, some parts were easy for me to guess, but other parts were surprising. There were elements that threw off my guesses, as well. Through her vivid descriptions, Kristin brought Paris, Reims, and Champagne to life. I really liked Grandma Edith, as she was very sharp for her age.

I would have liked a pronunciation guide or a footnote every time a new French name was introduced. That would have been helpful, as I don't speak French and probably butchered the way the names sounded in my head.

The Winemaker's Wife is another winner from Kristin that you are guaranteed to devour.

Movie casting suggestions:
Ines: Courtney Eaton
Celine: Mathilde Ollivier
Michel: Jeremy Irvine
Liv: Katherine Waterston
Julien: John Reardon

A story of love, tragedy and the resolve of the human spirit- the Winemakers Wife will transport you to France’s wine country and its rich and victorious history. Told from multiple character points of view Harmel weaves a multidimensional tale that carries us through the struggles of the French people during World War II and their varied roles in fighting the war at home.
The characters are varied and unforgettable, the plot is detailed and thought provoking. Fans of The Nightingale will find satisfaction in The Winemaker’s Wife.

The Winemakers Wife is an intriguing story about world war two. The characters will fill your heart with their stories. You'll learn about champagne as well as the war. There are some surprises and twist that will keep you reading until the end.

From this day forward, I will never watch the bubbles rising in a glass of champagne without thinking of this book. As we approach the 75th anniversary of the ending of World War II, there are a plethora of books about the unknown people who fought the war from their homes. This is the best by far! Although this is a work of fiction, the stories revealed in this book will capture your heart and remain there as you ponder the horrors committed during this war. This book is well researched, and the characters are living, breathing beings. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has ever sipped a glass of wine without giving thought to its origin.

I loved this book and wished it continued so I knew what happened next! The speaker/timeline chapters allowed me to really feel how each of the characters were evolving through WWII France deep in the champagne country. I love historical fiction with a great plot where I also learn about the political, historical, and local aspects surrounding the plot. This book presented all of this and more. Winemakers Wife will be on my top recommendation list when published

What a great story, very moving! It's hard not to feel such strong emotions from the WW2 era of history.
The characters felt real and I loved the story jumping back and forth in time, it gave it more depth.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book. I LOVED this book! Historical Fiction set in France during WWII and Kristin Harmel might be the best combination. Kristin Harmel's writing has a way of sucking you right in from the very first sentence. Any lover of historical fiction will also enjoy this story, I thoroughly enjoyed the multiple timelines from WWII and present day. I highly recommend reading it!

What a wonderful books. It was intricate, detailed, and had multiple stories weaved through WWII sand present-day. I loved the characters. A must-read.

I love her writing and she has a gift for creating memorable characters and tight plots with lots of historical details
thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book