Told in a dual timeline, World War II and the 1990's (scary some might consider this historical as well!), this story traces the history of a wine bottle and a little girl through the course of war. Martine is just seven years old when her father hides her in an armoire with a bottle of wine and tells her to stay hidden. Later in her desire to escape, Martine loses the bottle but she's only intent on getting to safety and hopefully finding her father. Fast forward fifty years and that bottle of wine comes up for auction. Charlotte realizes there must be some history surrounding the old bottle and sets out to find out what happened during the war and to the previous owners of the bottle. Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, so I really appreciated the way the author was able to create two separate stories in each time period and yet ultimately weave them together.

This book has a duel timeline with a 1990's American female pilot and a young Jewish girl in France during World War II. The love of vineyards is a bond for the characters. An antique bottle of wine with a hidden label compels the pilot to search for the story of the Jewish girl.

I found the plot to be too predictable, and I wished for more depth of the characters. It was interesting to read about the many vineyards in France.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley and the publisher.

A purchase at auction prompts a search into history

In 1942 a young Jewish girl named Martine hid when conquering forces came for her father. She was left with a bottle of wine and her aunt's address in Paris, but the first was left behind when she was finally able to escape. Unable to find her aunt when she arrived in Paris, she was taken in by Sister Ada at the Hotel Drouot and hoped for her father's return. In 1990, Charlotte is an airline pilot from the US visiting her current boyfriend Henri in Paris. They attend an auction at the Hotel Drouot and are the successful bidders on a box of collectible wines. Charlotte keeps one of the bottles which her wine expert boyfriend thinks is the least interesting of the lot (which tells you a lot about what kind of a guy Henri is), and discovers that under the dust is a bottle with more than one label containing a note from a father to his daughter. Intrigued, Charlotte sets out to discover more about the wine and its origins as well as what happened to the daughter...and uncovers events that happened almost fifty years earlier, when Germany invaded France and wrought havoc on peoples' lives in their quest for power.
Told in chapters which alternate between Martine's life as a young Jewish girl in occupied France and the more contemporary pursuit by the American Charlotte, the reader experiences the terror and confusion of Martine who has lost all connection to her family and whose memories of them and their life on a vineyard dull over time. Through Charlotte's eyes we learn of the German army's seizing of the highly coveted French wines for the consumption and collections of the German elite, and about the wines of France during those years. It is hard not to feel for young Martine, who was shielded from much of the horror that could have befallen her but was still very much a victim of the war, and I found her character the more interesting. Charlotte was more of a device through which the reader could discover what happened to Martine and how the bottle of wine ended up for auction many years later. A story worth reading for those who enjoy WWII fiction and those who might be interested in wine; readers of authors like Janet Skeslien Charles, Sarah Freethy and Kate Quinn should definitely give this one a try. My thanks to NetGalley and Harper Paperbacks for allowing me access to a copy of this story of family, war, and love in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “The French Winemaker’s Daughter” by Loretta Ellsworth is a deeply moving historical novel that captivated me from the very beginning. The intertwining stories of Martine and Charlotte, set against the backdrop of World War II and the 1990s, are both heartfelt and compelling.

Ellsworth’s portrayal of Martine’s journey as a young girl during the war is both poignant and harrowing, shedding light on the resilience required to survive such a tumultuous time. Similarly, Charlotte’s quest to uncover the history behind a mysterious bottle of wine in the 1990s adds depth and intrigue to the narrative.

The novel’s exploration of love, family, and loyalty resonated deeply with me, making it a story that lingers long after the final page. I found myself unable to put it down, fully immersed in the rich historical context and the emotional journeys of the characters.

For readers who appreciate historical fiction that delves into personal narratives amidst significant historical events, “The French Winemaker’s Daughter” is a compelling and emotionally resonant read. Thank you to #netgalley pre-read. #bookstagram #bookreview #historicalfiction #booksbooksbooks #reader #lovetoread

The French Winemaker's Daughter by Loretta Ellsworth was so good! I was drawn into the story immediately, I always love a dual timeline, and as much as I wanted to find out how this would all end, I didn't want it to end! Historical fiction, mystery, romance, and an excellent antagonist that everyone will love hating. Cheers to a fabulous story and here's hoping for a sequel because I'd love to see where this goes next 🤞☺️ 4.5 ⭐s

The French Winemaker’s Daughter by Loretta Ellsworth is a beautifully told story that I was captivated by from the opening chapter all the way until the end. The book flows easily between Martine’s life beginning in 1942 WWII when she was put in an armoire by her father to save her from the Germans to 1990 with Charlotte obtaining an incredibly valuable bottle of wine with a storied past. The story flows seamlessly between the two time periods with characters that are well-fleshed out. Also, the cover is just gorgeous.

I enjoyed this book so much! What a saga, based on a true occurrence—-a bottle of wine from the World War II era having a fake label applied over the real one.

Charlotte, an airline captain, flies frequently to Paris and has a French sometime-boyfriend named Henri. He bid on the wine, along with several others, at the Hotel Drouot, a famous auction house. It is Charlotte who privately discovered the authentic label along with a note from the winemaker to his daughter.

The story flips between the 1940s and the 1990s, with Charlotte as the contemporary narrator and the winemaker’s daughter telling the WWII tale.

It has an immensely satisfying ending. This showed me some of the horrific side of war for the French people, the everyday citizens just going about their lives and dodging the bombs and the Germans.

4.5 stars, rounded up!

I love a good historical fiction. This book was enjoyable enough but there were a few things that really made it tough for me to read. The main character seemed extremely immature. The character’s “voice” just drove me nuts. The way she would word things, jump so quickly to conclusions, and say one thing then take it back drove me insane. I did love all of Martine’s POVs and felt like those were written very well. Another thing that bothered me was that while I liked the way everything was connected, I felt like the dramatic irony came way too early. Everything was a little too obvious for me, and then the denial of the character once again showed how immature she was. I also disliked that the author wrote out WWII when there was a person being quoted. This was an ARC read so I’m hoping they went back and changed it. It just seemed sloppy and overlooked to me. It took me a long time to finish this which is another reason I gave this 3 stars. It was good but I feel like it could’ve been great with some tweaking. Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for this ARC read!

Loved it!! I enjoyed how the book alternated between Martine during WWII and Charlotte in 1990. Martine's story wa probably my favorite part of the book. Martine was lucky to find Sister Ada. Martine would have never survived the streets of Paris alone. All of the nuns were wonderful. Without Sister Ada, Martine would have never found Gabriel or his dog, Oscar. I loved how Charlotte was trying to solve the mystery behind the wine bottle with the second label. Henri showed his true colors. He definitely wasn't the man for Charlotte, unless she wanted to share him with multiple women. Loved the court scene with Henri, Charlotte and Julien. It had me chuckling. Henri got what he deserved. Charlotte showed restraint with Amber. I would have wanted to toss all her clothes out of the apartment windows. It wasn't hard to figure out would eventually be revealed as Martine, but I loved the story.

Definitely recommend the book. Loved the story, characters and writing style. It was a great historical fiction book. Who knew a stuffed rabbit would help Charlotte discover the identity of Martine. This was the first book I read by the author and I look forward to reading more. Love the cover of the book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harper Perennial and Paperbacks through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Book Review | "The French Winemaker's Daughter" by Loretta Ellsworth
A unique WWII story brought to life via French wine and vineyards

"The French Winemaker's Daughter" is a beautiful tale of captivating love stories bound by serendipitous circumstances. The reader is transported to 1940s & 1990s France, exploring the past’s connection to the present and how history unites us in mysterious ways. We follow Martine's harrowing journey to escape the Nazis during WWII and trailblazer Charlotte as she navigates the 90s as a strong and independent woman. We discover how these two worlds collide through history, wine, love, heartbreak, and loss.

I was absolutely transfixed by this novel, starting it one evening into the wee hours of the night and promptly finishing it the next morning. I mourned the many losses experienced in this book and celebrated the victories alongside these complex and dynamic characters, I was rooting for them from start to finish and I think you will too.

Loretta Ellsworth's writing style is inviting and engaging like a warm hug, bringing you into the circle of trust for these vulnerable and heroic stories. Although a work of fiction, the novel is rooted in history, resonating with truth and authenticity throughout.

If you enjoyed “The Nightingale” & “Sarah’s Key,” add to your TBR because this is squarely in your wheelhouse.

Overall, If you're looking for a historical thriller packed with heartbreak and feel-good moments, I highly recommend this book. Oh, and the wine! The common thread of the wine and vineyards creates stunning imagery and a luxurious backdrop to the violence of war. A comprehensive and robust tale worth exploring.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Perennial and Paperbacks, & Harper Paperbacks for the DRC in exchange for my honest review. It was a pleasure.

"Life doesn't always work out the way we expect it will. But we must embrace that which makes us happy."
The French Winemaker's Daughter is a dual-time line from 40's and 90's, following 8-year-old Martine Viner who separated from her father when he's taken away by the Germans and Charlotte, female pilot for an airline.
Charlotte is gifted a bottle of wine that turns out to have a hidden past. Charlotte is intrigued and embarks on a journey to find the truth behind the mysterious bottle of wine.

I appreciated the story's concept, but the execution missed the mark for me. While the narrative was intriguing, the characters and their relationships felt lacking in depth, making it hard for me to connect with them. On the other hand, I enjoyed the historical elements of France during WWII and the insight into vineyard history.

This book had the makings of being a perfect read. If you know me, you know that WWII is my favorite historical fiction topic. This is a story that’s never been told and it was super compelling. However, the writing ruined it for me. The dialogue was stilted, the description of the love story/romance of Charlotte was awkward, as was her interaction with literally every other character. If that had been fleshed out a bit more, this book would have been a wonderful joy to read but instead it fell a bit flat. I’m upset and disappointed and can’t fully recommend for that reason. It’s possible I’m too harsh a critic in my love of Holocaust books, but I am genuinely flabbergasted by everyone else’s higher ratings for this one.

Historical Fiction at its best. One of my favorite books of the year. A serendipitous love story told from a duel timeline with some WWII, loss, hurt and some real Parisian love.

THE FRENCH WINEMAKER'S DAUGHTER by Loretta Ellsworth transported me as the best of stories do. Through the entwined stories of wine during the Second World War to the current day, a single bottle of wine propels present-day Charlotte to explore the past of a terrified 7 year old Martine who fled the Nazis for an uncertain fate. I deeply enjoyed both characters and stayed up way too late reading to learn of their fates. Reading many books set in France during the Second World War, I particularly enjoyed the voice, the sense of place, and the genuine feelings between a terrified child and the people who give her a home and life as well as the present-day woman being a successful pilot thrust into a mystery she defined and pursued for herself. It is a wonderfully escapist read that sheds new light on relationships and the ties that forever link us past and present. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

Dear Fellow Reader,

It is that dark time of year when time flies. Yes, Christmas is on its way and we can sit around and wonder where the year went. How could it almost be 2025 already?

Today I am back with a historical fiction novel. It has been a while since I have reviewed a historical fiction book. And yes, I always claim it isn’t my favorite genre but I seem to read them – not as frequently as mysteries but still often enough.

The French Winemaker’s Daughter is a story that crosses time. It starts in 1942 as the story of seven-year-old Martine and crosses into the story of Charlotte Montgomery an airline pilot in 1990.

Martine is the daughter of a French winemaker. Her mother died at her birth and she has been raised in the vineyard by her father. She has problems in school but knows everything about the vineyard and the grapes. As the story opens, Martine’s father has her hide in an armoire because the Germans were coming. He hid her with her stuffed bunny, pinned a note to her dress, and gave her a bottle of wine, and told her to keep the wine no matter what. He closed her in and there was pounding at the door. The Germans came and took him away. She stayed hidden until nightfall. She came out to try and find Damien, who worked with her father. She thought she had found him in the cellar but realized that the voices she heard were speaking German and that they were getting closer. She accidentally dropped the wine and took off into the forest to hide.

Charlotte has been dating Henri for a year although their schedules mean they have not been together much. She thinks she may love him and she feels her biological clock ticking. Charlotte’s grandfather had been a grape grower in California. He died about a year ago and his vineyard is up for sale. Henri and Charlotte are on their way to a wine auction and Henri is very excited. He is going to bid on a box of wine that was found in the house of a German aristocrat. Charlotte is bothered that the wine was probably stolen during the war by the Germans but Henri is unphased by the wine’s history as long as it is collectible. The box contains 5 bottles of wine. Henri wins the auction for the wine and his contact tells him that two of the bottles are collectible but the other three are not. Henri and Charlotte go back to her apartment to celebrate Henri’s purchase. The next morning Henri leaves without even kissing Charlotte and tells her that she can have the one bottle of wine. She feels rejected by his brisk departure. She sits down with the bottle of wine and in her funk starts looking at the label on the bottle. She discovers there is a label under the label. Her first urge is to call Henri and ask him about it but then decides to see if he calls before her flight. If he does, she will tell him. If not, she won’t.

With this as the setting for the story, we go on to find out about Martine and Charlotte. Martine, a child, trying to find her way and Charlotte trying to find her way and find out the story of the bottle of wine. Do they find their way to each other? Is Martine even still alive?

This is the author’s second book for adult readers, and both are historical fiction. She has also written five books for young adults.

I enjoyed the story. I found it to be interesting and the story moved along well. Sometimes, when an author changes time and characters, it can be confusing. I did not find this book confusing at all. I recommend it.

Thanks for reading!

Happy Holidays!

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

I don't often read WW2 historical fiction. But The French Winemaker's Daughter caught my attention and turned out to be a wonderful read.

It's a dual-timeline story, and the timelines are connected by a very expensive bottle of wine.

I've been thinking a lot lately about dual timeline novels. Many of the books on my shelf use them. I tend to get distracted by the modern timeline in these novels. I wonder why the author chose to use this structure. Was it simply a way to help the reader connect to the story? And could the story be told well without a second storyline?

In this novel, I think the modern timeline works well. It does a bit of work. First, it provides closure to the past storyline in a way that is satisfying for the reader. It also adds tension to the past storyline by letting the reader know the significance of the bottle of wine. The child character could not have known what happened to the wine, but that matters to the larger story.

For me, the later timeline in this novel helps to balance out the point of view. The main character in the story set in WW2 is a very young girl. Her story is delivered in third person, but it's still the perspective of a child. This is done remarkably well, and this never feels like a children's book. The point of view character in the later timeline (1990) is a grown woman who knows what was done to Jewish people in WW2. Unlike the child in the past storyline, she is free to make choices.

I think this is a remarkable book. It's definitely worth the read.

This is my favorite type of historical fiction - following two separate timelines to learn how they eventually connect. This is a beautiful story inspired by tragic events during the German occupation of France in WWII.

The female leads in this story are strong and full of determination. The relationships they form throughout the book are lovely and inspiring. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys wartime historical fiction!

Thank you to the publisher, Harper Paperbacks, and NetGalley for providing me with a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for my review.

4.25 for me. I wish this book was longer actually, I think building on the romance for Charlotte longer term and getting even more of a background on Martine and Gabriel’s life would’ve made it a 5 for me overall. This book is super predictable, but in a comforting way. I liked reading a ww2 book that I knew would work out well instead of worrying when my heart would get broken. Thank you to the publisher for this gifted copy.

Thank you to @harperperennial @netgalley and @lorettaellsworth_author for the #gifted e-book.

In this captivating dual timeline, we meet Martine and Charlotte. Martine, a young Jewish girl in 1942, narrowly escapes from German soldiers after her winemaker father is arrested. A nun discovers her and takes her to an abbey, where Martine's harrowing journey of survival unfolds. Nearly fifty years later, Charlotte stumbles upon a bottle of wine that carries a profound legacy and embarks on a compelling quest to uncover Martine's story. Their lives beautifully intertwine, leading to an incredible and moving conclusion.

I found both characters deeply relatable. The author's ability to evoke emotions as Martine endures the horrors of WWII is masterful. The vivid descriptions of wartime France and Charlotte's explorations of the wineries are stunning. From the very first page, I was entranced by the intertwining narratives.

If you're a fan of historical fiction, this book is a must-read!