This was not for me, not enough chemistry and too much actual learning about wine and grapes and champagne!

5⭐️
1/2 🌶️

This has been super fun.
I love a strong female lead.
I am for sure reading the next book in this series when they come out.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Champagne and animosity...

Emma is widowed and then ousted to a property far away.
Julian's family once owned it and he acts like its still his, that's what he believes anyway. He tries gaslighting her, overwhelming her with man details, since he's sure her pretty little mind can't understand the running of the estate. I really liked Emma, who stuck to her guns. Julian, not so much, His entitlement gets tiring. Especially since they both have a lot in common. I really liked that this series focuses on the merry widows, women who ruled champagne, by their marketing and distrubution in real life. Veuve, baby. Go, widows. Can't wait for the next book.
Recommend.

Good book. After the tragic death of her husband and being evicted from the family home by her stepson, Emma moved to the French property she inherited from her husband. Julien Archambeau, the estate manager, runs the chateau and accompanying vineyard. Emma doesn't know that Julien's family owned those lands until losing them during the French Revolution. His family has been trying to reclaim them ever since.

Emma's arrival shocked Julien, who had been in almost complete control for seven years. He and his uncle, who owns a neighboring vineyard, have been working on a special champagne and building their reputation with the local consortium. All that is put at risk when Emma states her intention to take over the running of the vineyard.

I enjoyed watching the relationship between Emma and Julien develop. Initially, each was focused on their claims to the property. Emma is determined to ensure that Julien knows his place as working for her, while Julien wants to keep Emma as a figurehead while he continues to carry out his plans. Their first few encounters have antagonistic undertones despite the surface politeness. When Emma insists on learning about the vineyard, Julien tries to overwhelm her with information. He is stunned and impressed by how she soaks up and processes what she learns and the wealth of good ideas she has for the future of the vineyard.

It isn't long before he and Emma grow closer, with sparks of attraction flying between them. Emma feels guilty about her growing feelings for Julien. Giving in to the attraction accelerates those feelings, creating internal conflict. Emma also has some trust issues stemming from her pre-marriage days. Those feelings are exacerbated by the sense that Julien is not entirely open with her. When the truth comes out, Emma and Julien are left with hurt feelings and wondering what the future holds.

There are some interesting twists at the end, from Emma's confrontation with the consortium to the events of the gala she planned at the chateau. I loved the emotional ending, and the epilogue was terrific.

Julien's Uncle Etienne was the main secondary character. Etienne is obsessed with reclaiming the land lost seventy years earlier. He encourages Julien to do things that Julien considers underhanded and dishonorable to regain the property. I disliked how he created such an internal conflict for Julien between his loyalty to his family and his growing feelings for Emma.

My husband and I spent a week in Epernay this summer and enjoyed touring several champagne houses and learning about champagne's history. I loved the feeling of revisiting that trip as I read this book.

French count Julien has long sought to reclaim his family’s lost lands. Standing in his way is British widow Lady Emma, the new owner of a vineyard essential to his plans. Julien is frustrated by Emma’s refusal to part with her property. Will he give up his schemes when an undeniable attraction ignites between them?

This is a clever and original story that offers something a little different from the typical historical romance fare. Emma has good reason to distrust Julien, but he’s not driven by malice. He underestimates her determination to build a new life in France and has to continually re-evaluate his expectations of her. It’s a complex, emotional, and satisfying novel.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.