This was such an incredible read! I was completely captivated from the start to the finish.

This book was heartbreaking, infuriating, heartwarming, beautiful, tragic and wonderfully written!

This book highlights a lot of atrocious acts towards Jews during WWII and really focuses on how wine was stolen from families by Nazis, how they arrested Jews and sent them to concentration camps and that children had to live in fear every day of the war especially if they were Jews because they had to be in hiding.

This book was a journey of two women connected by a bottle of wine and it was such an impactful read! I loved how they ended up meeting and this book ended so perfectly! It was also a love letter to wine, wineries and winemakers.

Other aspects highlighted are - misogyny that female pilots face and working women in general, the possessions of Jews that were stolen by Nazis being auctioned off in the modern day.

I will be forever changed after reading this book. Historical fiction holds a special place in my heart and this book has left an impact on me.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Harper Perennial and Paperbacks, Harper Paperbacks and Loretta Ellsworth for giving me an ARC of this incredible book!

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review The French Winemaker's Daughter by Loretta Ellsworth. I never get tired of reading WWII historical fiction novels. There are so many different avenues to pursue. I also love reading two time-lines to see the connections. This did not disappoint. Ellsworth’s writing is lush and evocative, painting a vivid picture of the French landscape, the beauty of the wine country, and the intricacies of French culture. The characters are well-drawn, particularly Charlotte, whose journey of self-discovery is both poignant and relatable. The historical aspect of the novel is rich with details that provide a window into the complex emotions and aftermath of war, including the scars it leaves on families and communities. While the novel occasionally dips into predictability, the strong character development and sense of place more than make up for it. This is a wonderful written novel for anyone who enjoys historical fiction.

This was an enjoyable premise - a professional American woman ends up in possession of a bottle of vintage French wine with a secret label. Her research leads her to . . . the winemaker's daughter (sorry) who, in a separate timeline survives Nazi-occupied France. The writing was occasionally a bit clunky, especially in the present-day POV chapters. I wasn't surprised to discover that the author's previous books were largely young adult novels - the chapters with the little girl at the center seemed to flow better. I saw the ending coming a mile away, but enjoyed the ride.

3.5 stars rounded up. I've read a lot of WWII books so I am a bit picky of the genre. This one held my interest and was a quick read. I did find it predictable and it also reminded me of the book The Lost Vintage by Ann Mah. At times the Charlotte character was irritating and repetitive with her inner thoughts. I liked Martine's perspective the best. Overall, I enjoyed the premise the writing and storyline was just okay but I would still recommend it. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Loved this dual timeline novel set in Paris in the 1940s and 1990s. One story line follows Martine as an 8 year old that escaped being captured by the Nazis. The other story line follows Charlotte, a female airline pilot. Their stories end up intertwined in the best way. I definitely recommend this one if you love historical fiction with a little mystery.

This was a good WWII book that was dual timeline and it was well crafted and heart breaking in measures
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review book

‘The French Winemaker’s Daughter’ by Loretta Ellsworth is a WWII historical fiction novel is based in the Burgundy region of France and Paris. With dual timelines we follow Martine, a young Jewish girl who’s dad is a winemaker when the Germans begin their occupation of France, and Charlotte, a female pilot in 1990 who has an apartment for the time she spends Paris with her French boyfriend.

I enjoyed the settings of Paris and Burgundy, and the role that wine played in the story. At the beginning of the book I was enthralled with Martine’s story. I enjoyed the juxtaposition of Charlotte piecing together the story of the faux wine label.

What I didn’t love was the conflict between Charlotte and Julien. It felt contrived and an unnecessary part of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collin’s Publishing for the opportunity to read and review!

The French Winemaker’s Daughter is a beautiful story. I loved both points of view and really enjoyed the characters, as well as the dash of mystery woven throughout the narrative. While it was somewhat predictable, I found it quite enjoyable. I love discovering new authors and will definitely keep an eye out for more works by this author.

Such a good story about 2 women whose lives intersect over a bottle of wine. I love reading WWII historical fiction, and I enjoyed that in this one the war is not a central focus, but in the background of Martine’s childhood. It does not feel like a heavy war book. I liked the main characters of Charlotte, Martine, Sister Ada, and Julien. This is my first book by Loretta Ellsworth, but I would read more.

@lorettaellsworth_author ‘s dual timeline story tells the tale of Charlotte, a pilot, living in 1990, and Martine, a small Jewish girl trying to survive in 1942 WWII France. Charlotte and her Parisian beau Henri bid on a set of old wines at an auction. Charlotte finds a hidden note on one of the bottles and this begins her search for the daughter of this winemaker and Charlotte’s life is changed in so many ways.
Martine’s story is by far the star of this show. Her fight details the resilience of a group of people whose fight would not be dimmed as well as those that refused to let their fellow man be persecuted.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thanks to @netgalley and @harperbooks for this #advancedreaderscopy that I took way too long to read because… life 🤷🏻‍♀️. Pub date was 12/10/24.

#2025bookchallengebook4of100
#netgalley
#worldwar2
#thefrenchwinemakersdaughter

yhis gripping dual-timeline historical fiction had me in tears! One storyline follows a female airline pilot in the 90s, while the other traces the journey of a young girl during WWII. As the novel unfolds, their stories beautifully intertwine in unexpected and heart-wrenching ways. I highly recommend this book to any fan of historical fiction!

I liked the different angles of the story and the significance that a bottle of wine played.
I enjoyed the chapters with Martine the nest but I also appreciated the perspective of Charlotte from 1990 and her career as a pilot.
It’s refreshing to read about the era before technology. I smiled as I read the paragraph describing Charlotte consulting her French dictionary to translate the label on the wine bottle.
It’s a good story and oh yes there is a brave little stuffed rabbit who plays a special role in the story.

This was a relatively quick read, set in France during WWII and in contemporary times. A young girl, who is Jewish, hides in her father's winery from the Nazis. Her father has left her a wine bottle, but she drops it as she flees the Germans. Meanwhile, a female airline pilot is gifted an old wine bottle by a lover, who has no idea how much the bottle is worth. The pilot sets off to try to find the original owner of the wine bottle.

I enjoyed this book, mostly because it was concise and got to the point quickly. The action moves along well, and the story is interesting. Characters are well drawn. However, as with almost all books in this genre, the historical story is much, much more interesting than the contemporary story.

Loretta Ellsworth’s The French Winemaker’s Daughter reminds me of the horrors of World War II - Martine, a little Jewish girl, hiding in an armoire and forced to find her way in a war torn world without her dear Papa and only family who was taken away by the Germans. I am always stunned by what victims of war must endure. She adds to it the story of the winemakers of France - and how the Germans stole from them and harmed their legacy for generations. Ellsworth intertwines Martine’s story with that of Charlotte, an airline pilot, charting her own course for women, in the 90s. Her home base is in Paris, and through an auction and a rather horrible “boyfriend” she comes into possession of a bottle of wine from the WW2 era. A mysterious note and second label sets her on a journey to find its story and perhaps its owner.
The WW2 historical setting in the Paris area was a fascinating one. We learn about the making of wine; we learn about the French resistance; we learn about how people worked to save Jewish children (and are reminded of how some did not.) In the 90s as Charlotte works to solve her mystery - we learn a great deal of the intervening history. We also learn a bit about how recently women have been fighting for career equity as well through Charlotte’s struggle as a female pilot. We have so many lessons to learn. Ellsworth does a remarkable job of bringing these characters to life in both eras. Martine must grow up so quickly. She struggles through new names, learning a second faith. She struggles to trust and live as the only child in an abbey filled with nuns. Ellsworth foreshadows her future, and we long to find out what happens to her. I didn’t relate perfectly with Charlotte and her jet setting life in Paris, but her quest was one to admire. She is determined to do the right thing by this WW2 era winemaker and his daughter while learning some things about her own family, love, and strength on the way.
I recommend this book - history, romance, and the voices of women make it an important read. I think it’s very important to be reminded that we can work to try to not fix, not right, but maybe ease the pain of mistakes of the past. Many are quick to refuse accountability and insist that moving forward is the only way to move forward. We can do better. I’m beginning to also believe that we can never ever be reminded of the failures of history too many times. Too often the world just seems to be walking down painfully similar paths. Historians matter. Authors matter. The arts matter. I can’t do as much as I’d like to change the world at large. But maybe I can keep saying those words and return a bottle of wine.

The French Winemakers Daughter was a very sad and well written story. Stories about war and a story about wine deal with some very difficult times.

A heartbreaking and inspiring dual timeline/POV novel featuring young Martine, essentially orphaned and alone due to the war, and Charlotte, a pilot who accidentally discovers her story from the past. This was fast paced and engaging and a lovely read.

The French Winemaker’s Daughter is an unforgettable WWII historical fiction novel that will have you believing in fate.

The dual timeline book is told from the perspective of two women: Martine and Charlotte.

1942, France: Martine, the young daughter of a vineyard owner, is hidden in an armoire as Nazis come to round up the Jewish people in France. Before her father is taken, he pins a note on her dress with an address to her aunt’s apartment in Paris. In her possession is a rare bottle of wine to look after that will secure funds for her future. When the Nazis are gone, she escapes to a neighbor’s house but drops the bottle.

1990, Paris: Charlotte is a commercial pilot who attends a wine auction with her boyfriend. After bidding on and winning a box full of wine from the German occupation, her boyfriend gifts her one of the inferior bottles. Soon after, Charlotte peels back the label and finds a note leading to the shocking origins of the wine and with it a story that will take her on a journey to uncover the mystery of a winemaker’s daughter.

This passionate tale was such an enthralling read. I loved the connection between the two stories but especially how Charlotte’s investigation of a heartfelt letter led her on a chase after something that in return helped her discover her joie de vivre. Both storylines were equally compelling, and if you are a lover of WWII, you will enjoy this novel.

Trigger warnings: violence, war, suggestive content.

Many thanks to the author and NetGalley for the ARC. This review is voluntary. All thoughts are my own.

There were things I loved and disliked about this book. I wish this book was about 100+ pages longer to get more of the story and character development. Charlotte was not a likeable main character for me. She also brought up what felt like a dozen times that is a woman pilot (yes, we get it already.) I loved the historical parts with Martine's sections and was the best part of the book for me! I loved the relationship between her and Ada.

I adored Martine and Charlottes story and how they intertwined. I always find a historical fiction captavating when I learn something new about that time period. Ellsworth does an extraordinary job of telling the story of a found rare and expensive bottle of wine. I will be suggesting this to my book club for February!

A Riveting and Smartly Structured Story

SUMMARY
It is a memorable story of war, love, and family when two women from different continents' lives intersect and a life-changing connection is made.

In 1942, A scared father, a winemaker, hides his seven-year-old daughter Martine in an armoire as the Germans are approaching his vineyard. He gives her a bottle of wine and tells her to protect it until he comes home. The Germans take Martine’s Jewish father. She accidentally drops the bottle when she witnesses the Germans also taking away her father’s vineyard’s caretaker. She runs and, with a bit of help, eventually makes it to Paris, where a nun rescues her from a nearby abbey.

In 1990, Charlotte was a bright and beautiful commercial airline captain well ahead of her time. While in Paris, she discovers that one of the bottles of wine she and her boyfriend had bought at a wine auction is extremely valuable. Under the bottle's label is a mysterious note and a second, more elaborate label indicating that the wine was from the Burgundy region of France. Charlotte begins a quest to find who this bottle had belonged to and what had happened to them.


REVIEW
The French Winemaker’s Daughter is a riveting story set in Paris and the French wine regions. While WWII plays a role in the book for Martine, it is not the story's whole focus. The story is about survival, recovery, love, and family. I enjoyed learning about the history of the wine in that area, and my favorite part was Charlotte’s moral need to find the story behind the bottle of wine she found.

There are actually three female characters who serve as the pillars of the story. Martine and Charlotte are both intriguing and gripping characters, but it is Sister Ada who heroically rescues Martine in Paris and plays a pivotal role in the abbey.

Author Loretta Ellsworth’s writing was superb, and dual narratives were smartly structured.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Publisher Harper Perennial and Paperbacks
Published December 10, 2024
Category Religion and Spirituality, Women’s Fiction
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com