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The French Winemaker’s Daughter: A Powerful Dual Timeline WWII Romance – Two Women Connected by Wine Stolen from Nazi Paris
Set during World War II, an unforgettable historical novel about love, war, family, and loyalty told in in the voices of two women, generations apart, who find themselves connected by a mysterious and valuable bottle of wine stolen by the Nazis.
1942. Seven-year-old Martine hides in an armoire when the Nazis come to take her father away. Pinned to her dress is a note with her aunt’s address in Paris, and in her arms, a bottle of wine she has been instructed to look after if something happened to her papa. When they are finally gone, the terrified young girl drops the bottle and runs to a neighbor, who puts her on a train to Paris.
But when Martine arrives in the city, her aunt is nowhere to be found. Without a place to go, the girl wanders the streets and eventually falls asleep on the doorstep of Hotel Drouot, where Sister Ada finds her and takes her to the abbey, and watches over her.
1990. Charlotte, a commercial airline pilot, attends an auction with her boyfriend Henri at Hotel Drouot, now the oldest auction house in Paris. Successfully bidding on a box of wine saved from the German occupation during the Second World War, Henri gives Charlotte a seemingly inferior bottle he finds inside the box. Cleaning the label, Charlotte makes a shocking discovery that sends her on a quest to find the origins of this unusual—and very valuable—bottle of wine, a quest that will take her back fifty years into the past. . . .
A powerful tale of love, war, and family, The French Winemaker’s Daughter is an emotionally resonant tale of two women whose fates are intertwined across time. Loretta Ellsworth’s evocative and poignant page-turner will linger in the heart, and make you think about luck, connection, and the meaning of loyalty.
1942. Seven-year-old Martine hides in an armoire when the Nazis come to take her father away. Pinned to her dress is a note with her aunt’s address in Paris, and in her arms, a bottle of wine she has been instructed to look after if something happened to her papa. When they are finally gone, the terrified young girl drops the bottle and runs to a neighbor, who puts her on a train to Paris.
But when Martine arrives in the city, her aunt is nowhere to be found. Without a place to go, the girl wanders the streets and eventually falls asleep on the doorstep of Hotel Drouot, where Sister Ada finds her and takes her to the abbey, and watches over her.
1990. Charlotte, a commercial airline pilot, attends an auction with her boyfriend Henri at Hotel Drouot, now the oldest auction house in Paris. Successfully bidding on a box of wine saved from the German occupation during the Second World War, Henri gives Charlotte a seemingly inferior bottle he finds inside the box. Cleaning the label, Charlotte makes a shocking discovery that sends her on a quest to find the origins of this unusual—and very valuable—bottle of wine, a quest that will take her back fifty years into the past. . . .
A powerful tale of love, war, and family, The French Winemaker’s Daughter is an emotionally resonant tale of two women whose fates are intertwined across time. Loretta Ellsworth’s evocative and poignant page-turner will linger in the heart, and make you think about luck, connection, and the meaning of loyalty.
286 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 10, 2024
308 people are currently reading
15609 people want to read
About the author
Loretta Ellsworth
14 books316 followersLoretta received her BA from the University of Northern Iowa, and an MFA from Hamline University in writing for children and young adults. A former middle and high school teacher, she's the author of four young adult novels, The Shrouding Woman, In Search of Mockingbird,In a Heartbeat, and Unforgettable. Her WWII historical novel, Stars Over Clear Lake, will be published in 2017. She has four children and six grandchildren, and lives in Minnesota. Follow her on Twitter @lellsworth.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 533 reviews
October 4, 2024
Martine Viner is only seven years old when her father tells her to hide in an armoire and while in there she hears lots of noise and has no idea the Germans have arrested him. Her papa gave her a bottle of wine, tells her to look after it for him and it will be their security. A scared Martine leaves the house and the Germans are ransacking the cellar, she runs and with the help of two kind people she makes her way to Paris.
Martine can’t find her aunt in the city and the bottle of wine is missing and Sister Ada finds her asleep in the street and takes her to an Abby and here she spends the rest of the war helping in the garden and nearby vineyard, waiting for news of her papa and wondering what happened to him.
The story has a dual timeline and it’s set in 1942 and 1990 and told from the two main characters points of view Martine and Charlotte.
Charlotte Montgomery is airline pilot, she attends an auction with her boyfriend Henri at Hotel Drouot, the oldest and largest auction house in Paris. Charlotte accidentally bids on a box of wine seized by the Nazi’s during the Second World War and the winning couple drink one bottle, wine expert Henri keeps two and leaves what he assumes is a cheap one with Charlotte. While cleaning the old and dusty bottle, Charlotte discovers it has two labels and she wants to try and find the original owner and solve a fifty year mystery.
I received a copy of The French Winemaker’s Daughter from Edelweiss and HarperCollins Publishers in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. I have been a big fan of Loretta Ellsworth’s since I read Stars Over Clear Lake in 2017, she hasn’t lost her touch for writing moving and empathetic historical fiction and based around real events. In this case using facts about the Nazi’s stealing millions of bottles of expensive French wine, it was sent back to Germany and was as precious as gold, some was hidden and relabelled and remained in France.
The reader gets to look at the impact of the Second World War from a young Jewish girl’s point of view, and as we know youngsters have trouble recalling details, as time went on Martine didn’t remember where in the Burgundy Region her father’s vineyard was and unfortunately she wasn’t alone, hundreds of thousands of Jewish children lost their family and heritage.
A story about war, family, loss, fear, wine and growing regions in France, being one of the lucky ones, fate, and connection, fighting adversity, solving a mystery and righting the wrongs of the past and five stars from me.
Martine can’t find her aunt in the city and the bottle of wine is missing and Sister Ada finds her asleep in the street and takes her to an Abby and here she spends the rest of the war helping in the garden and nearby vineyard, waiting for news of her papa and wondering what happened to him.
The story has a dual timeline and it’s set in 1942 and 1990 and told from the two main characters points of view Martine and Charlotte.
Charlotte Montgomery is airline pilot, she attends an auction with her boyfriend Henri at Hotel Drouot, the oldest and largest auction house in Paris. Charlotte accidentally bids on a box of wine seized by the Nazi’s during the Second World War and the winning couple drink one bottle, wine expert Henri keeps two and leaves what he assumes is a cheap one with Charlotte. While cleaning the old and dusty bottle, Charlotte discovers it has two labels and she wants to try and find the original owner and solve a fifty year mystery.
I received a copy of The French Winemaker’s Daughter from Edelweiss and HarperCollins Publishers in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. I have been a big fan of Loretta Ellsworth’s since I read Stars Over Clear Lake in 2017, she hasn’t lost her touch for writing moving and empathetic historical fiction and based around real events. In this case using facts about the Nazi’s stealing millions of bottles of expensive French wine, it was sent back to Germany and was as precious as gold, some was hidden and relabelled and remained in France.
The reader gets to look at the impact of the Second World War from a young Jewish girl’s point of view, and as we know youngsters have trouble recalling details, as time went on Martine didn’t remember where in the Burgundy Region her father’s vineyard was and unfortunately she wasn’t alone, hundreds of thousands of Jewish children lost their family and heritage.
A story about war, family, loss, fear, wine and growing regions in France, being one of the lucky ones, fate, and connection, fighting adversity, solving a mystery and righting the wrongs of the past and five stars from me.
March 18, 2025
A bottle of wine worth $125,000?
What could make it so valuable and where did it come from?
Present Day - Charlotte and her friend bought a case of wine that was from WWII at the famous auction house, Hotel Drouot.
They took it home and drank two of the bottles, but one looked too interesting to drink.
Charlotte's curiosity was piqued when she found out its value from an appraiser and especially because of a note under the label that said "this is my daughter's inheritance - keep her safe until I can find her."
She had to find out why it was worth so much and what that note meant.
France, WWII - We meet Martine whose father was taken by the Germans and had hidden her with that bottle of wine and the note.
We follow both characters in this lovely, but heartbreaking read as the story unravels during both time periods.
You will love both characters and their stories.
You won’t be able to put the book down. 5/5
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
What could make it so valuable and where did it come from?
Present Day - Charlotte and her friend bought a case of wine that was from WWII at the famous auction house, Hotel Drouot.
They took it home and drank two of the bottles, but one looked too interesting to drink.
Charlotte's curiosity was piqued when she found out its value from an appraiser and especially because of a note under the label that said "this is my daughter's inheritance - keep her safe until I can find her."
She had to find out why it was worth so much and what that note meant.
France, WWII - We meet Martine whose father was taken by the Germans and had hidden her with that bottle of wine and the note.
We follow both characters in this lovely, but heartbreaking read as the story unravels during both time periods.
You will love both characters and their stories.
You won’t be able to put the book down. 5/5
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
February 4, 2025
This historical fiction was a fun and quick read. I did want a little more from both timelines, but I overall enjoyed the story quite a bit. I do like dual timelines quite a bit so I was excited to see this. In 1942 Martine is put on a train to Paris and found and brought to an abbey to be hid from the Nazis. In 1990 Charlotte, a commercial airline pilot, finds a bottle of wine that sends her on a quest to find out what happened to one family during World War II. This book doesn’t delve too deeply into the suffering with the war, although it is alluded to, and overall it is a sweet story. The writing was good, but I did want a little more out of the characters (although Charlotte did grow pleasantly during the story). I would be interested in what else this author comes up with.
January 19, 2025
The French Winemaker’s Daughter by Loretta Ellsworth is a Historical Fiction novel on dual timelines. Typically I enjoy dual timelines. In this case I found the timeline based on 1942, (Martine) Rural France to be weak. It lacked substance and storyline. Martine at the age of 7 yrs is hidden from the nazis. When she reaches Paris with a bottle of wine.
1990, Paris (Charlotte) was the substance of the novel still lacking substance and purpose.
The novel is based on a bottle of vintage wine bottle Charlotte finds a hidden message. She sets out to find out more information.
The novel is an original and had the potential to be wonderful, moving novel. Instead I found it weak but fast moving.
1990, Paris (Charlotte) was the substance of the novel still lacking substance and purpose.
The novel is based on a bottle of vintage wine bottle Charlotte finds a hidden message. She sets out to find out more information.
The novel is an original and had the potential to be wonderful, moving novel. Instead I found it weak but fast moving.
March 9, 2025
"“Life doesn’t always work out the way we expect it will. But we must embrace that which makes us happy. Make good memories while you can. They will give your soul something to hold on to when you’re old like me.”" This novel is an attempt to tell a tale (two stories) that bring this homily to life.
The plot is fairly conventional. We follow two separate plot lines. The first takes place in occupied France (W.W. II) and the second, again in France, 50 years later. The first concerns Martine, a very young girl who is cast adrift when the Nazis come to her father’s vineyard and take him away.
"Martine cuddled her rabbit in her arms and spoke to her. “I don’t understand, Annabella. Was Papa taken away because he knew that Damien was part of the Resistance, or because he was Jewish? Why do Germans hate Jews?"
She makes her way to Paris and is rescued by a sympathetic nun…."this must remain our secret. Mother Superior would not approve of Hebrew prayers, and the other sisters would suspect us of being Jews if they heard us. And that would be dangerous for all of us. So, you will have to learn both Catholic and Jewish prayers. And you may only say the Catholic prayers out loud. The Hebrew prayers must be kept here,” she said, pointing to Martine’s heart. “Can you do that?” “Yes,” Martine said. She still remembered the address of her aunt in Paris. She had turned eight years old. She hadn’t told anyone that Sister Ada wasn’t really her aunt. And if she could learn to read, something that had seemed impossible before, then she could remember all her prayers."
The other plotline focuses on an American woman. Charlotte is a commercial jet pilot, a woman who has made her own way in the world and chooses to spend time between flights in Paris. She discovers a hidden label of an old wine bottle that leads her on a search that ties her to Martine and to the vintners in her own past.
Her sometime companion, Henri, makes her a gift of several bottles of wine. One seems old and fairly valuable. "Maybe I could buy Grandpa’s vineyard now! His lot was small, only twenty-five acres, and I could beg Dad to give me a good deal on it. I knew what Dad would say, that it would be a foolish investment and a waste of money, that it wasn’t profitable. And how would I oversee a vineyard when I was constantly flying? But, still. Maybe this was the reason the bottle came to me."
And she meets another man, Julien, who she sees as “unsuitable.” "“But you’re not. You’re a winemaker and you live on a vineyard forty miles outside of Paris. You are tethered to the land, and that’s fine. But I’m tethered to the air. And I’m gone for days on end. Why would you even want to be involved with someone like that?” “You don’t make a good case for yourself, I have to admit,” Julien said. “But this is not about any of that. Sometimes it is about letting go and enjoying life, and seeing where it takes you.”" So she determines not to let romance into their relationship, until……….."A lock of his curly hair drooped down over one eye, and I felt a ridiculous amount of infatuation with it."
I was looking for a historical novel with a bouquet of French wine. This is more Harlequin novel with some characters that could use more depth to counter the rather predictable ending.
The plot is fairly conventional. We follow two separate plot lines. The first takes place in occupied France (W.W. II) and the second, again in France, 50 years later. The first concerns Martine, a very young girl who is cast adrift when the Nazis come to her father’s vineyard and take him away.
"Martine cuddled her rabbit in her arms and spoke to her. “I don’t understand, Annabella. Was Papa taken away because he knew that Damien was part of the Resistance, or because he was Jewish? Why do Germans hate Jews?"
She makes her way to Paris and is rescued by a sympathetic nun…."this must remain our secret. Mother Superior would not approve of Hebrew prayers, and the other sisters would suspect us of being Jews if they heard us. And that would be dangerous for all of us. So, you will have to learn both Catholic and Jewish prayers. And you may only say the Catholic prayers out loud. The Hebrew prayers must be kept here,” she said, pointing to Martine’s heart. “Can you do that?” “Yes,” Martine said. She still remembered the address of her aunt in Paris. She had turned eight years old. She hadn’t told anyone that Sister Ada wasn’t really her aunt. And if she could learn to read, something that had seemed impossible before, then she could remember all her prayers."
The other plotline focuses on an American woman. Charlotte is a commercial jet pilot, a woman who has made her own way in the world and chooses to spend time between flights in Paris. She discovers a hidden label of an old wine bottle that leads her on a search that ties her to Martine and to the vintners in her own past.
Her sometime companion, Henri, makes her a gift of several bottles of wine. One seems old and fairly valuable. "Maybe I could buy Grandpa’s vineyard now! His lot was small, only twenty-five acres, and I could beg Dad to give me a good deal on it. I knew what Dad would say, that it would be a foolish investment and a waste of money, that it wasn’t profitable. And how would I oversee a vineyard when I was constantly flying? But, still. Maybe this was the reason the bottle came to me."
And she meets another man, Julien, who she sees as “unsuitable.” "“But you’re not. You’re a winemaker and you live on a vineyard forty miles outside of Paris. You are tethered to the land, and that’s fine. But I’m tethered to the air. And I’m gone for days on end. Why would you even want to be involved with someone like that?” “You don’t make a good case for yourself, I have to admit,” Julien said. “But this is not about any of that. Sometimes it is about letting go and enjoying life, and seeing where it takes you.”" So she determines not to let romance into their relationship, until……….."A lock of his curly hair drooped down over one eye, and I felt a ridiculous amount of infatuation with it."
I was looking for a historical novel with a bouquet of French wine. This is more Harlequin novel with some characters that could use more depth to counter the rather predictable ending.
June 23, 2025
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic copy of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
In 1942, Martine is living on her father’s vineyard, helping him harvest and prepare their grapes for their wine. But everything changes in an instant when Martine’s father is taken by the Germans and Martine is left alone, abandoned and hiding in a closet, with nothing but a note taped to her dress with the address of an aunt she barely knows. With the help of a local stranger, Martine is put on a train to Paris, with nothing but a stuffed bunny rabbit to her name.
Charlotte is one of the few female pilots working for the airlines in 1990, and she enjoys the frequent trips she makes to her favourite haunt- Paris. When her boyfriend gives her an old bottle of wine that he deems worthless, it sets Charlotte on a quest to find its owner, and leads her to discovering more about her own family, and herself.
Loretta Ellsworth’s World War Two historical fiction novel, “The French Winemaker’s Daughter”, is just as the title depicts- the story of a young girl, living in war torn France, who sets out to find a place to belong. This story is obviously dual timeline, told from both Martine’s point of view in 1942 and Charlotte’s in 1990.
It was quite clear to me from the beginning how the two women were connected. Although Ellsworth ensures that their relationship is well thought out and developed, it doesn’t take much to see the loose ties the two women had from the start. It was easy to sympathize and side with young Martine, and Charlotte herself was a strong, independent protagonist who was easy to root for.
The plot was well researched, and it is clear that Ellsworth has a passion for this era, focusing on ensuring its accuracy and honesty whenever possible. I appreciated the steps taken, both obvious and not, by Ellsworth to ensure the struggles were depicted as realistic as possible.
Although I knew how the characters were connected and it was easy to predict how it would play out, I enjoyed the journey. Some sections of “Daughter” seemed less cohesive and forced, somehow, and the conversations in these pieces were awkward and choppy, but they spoke to important plot points so they couldn’t be ignored.
“Daughter” highlights yet another viewpoint of World War Two that is not often highlighted, and I was pleased to read and learn about the indignities that the Jewish winemakers suffered during this time. I appreciate Ellsworth’s engaging plot, relatable characters and how she pulled it all together to form a valuable and honest depiction of the time.
In 1942, Martine is living on her father’s vineyard, helping him harvest and prepare their grapes for their wine. But everything changes in an instant when Martine’s father is taken by the Germans and Martine is left alone, abandoned and hiding in a closet, with nothing but a note taped to her dress with the address of an aunt she barely knows. With the help of a local stranger, Martine is put on a train to Paris, with nothing but a stuffed bunny rabbit to her name.
Charlotte is one of the few female pilots working for the airlines in 1990, and she enjoys the frequent trips she makes to her favourite haunt- Paris. When her boyfriend gives her an old bottle of wine that he deems worthless, it sets Charlotte on a quest to find its owner, and leads her to discovering more about her own family, and herself.
Loretta Ellsworth’s World War Two historical fiction novel, “The French Winemaker’s Daughter”, is just as the title depicts- the story of a young girl, living in war torn France, who sets out to find a place to belong. This story is obviously dual timeline, told from both Martine’s point of view in 1942 and Charlotte’s in 1990.
It was quite clear to me from the beginning how the two women were connected. Although Ellsworth ensures that their relationship is well thought out and developed, it doesn’t take much to see the loose ties the two women had from the start. It was easy to sympathize and side with young Martine, and Charlotte herself was a strong, independent protagonist who was easy to root for.
The plot was well researched, and it is clear that Ellsworth has a passion for this era, focusing on ensuring its accuracy and honesty whenever possible. I appreciated the steps taken, both obvious and not, by Ellsworth to ensure the struggles were depicted as realistic as possible.
Although I knew how the characters were connected and it was easy to predict how it would play out, I enjoyed the journey. Some sections of “Daughter” seemed less cohesive and forced, somehow, and the conversations in these pieces were awkward and choppy, but they spoke to important plot points so they couldn’t be ignored.
“Daughter” highlights yet another viewpoint of World War Two that is not often highlighted, and I was pleased to read and learn about the indignities that the Jewish winemakers suffered during this time. I appreciate Ellsworth’s engaging plot, relatable characters and how she pulled it all together to form a valuable and honest depiction of the time.
August 13, 2024
4.5⭐️’s! This book is an encapsulating duel timeline historical fiction that left me sobbing on my flight home! One story line follows a female airline pilot in the 1990s, and the other follows the story of a little girl during WWII. Their two stories end up intertwined in the most beautiful way as the novel progresses! I definitely recommend this book for any historical fiction fans - especially if you liked The Book Thief because it gives off similar vibes imo!
October 22, 2024
5.0
Auction, label, Abbey…
A tale of 2 women:
Martine is 7yo in 1942. Father told her to hide in the armoire when the Germans arrived at the house. Her childhood to adult years will unfold and develop in the story of her life.
1990 - Charlotte is a pilot who often visits Paris. She attends an auction with boyfriend Henri at the Hotel Drouot. He gifts her a bottle of wine from his wine purchases.
Little does she know, this bottle of wine will have a profound impact on her life. The significance of the discovery will soon be clear.
HISTORICAL FICTION
AVAILABLE December 10, 2024
THOUGHTS:
*Thank you to @silversreviews for letting me borrow this ARC! Now I would love to have my own copy!
*First time reader of this author! I would like to read more!
*So good! This is in my top reads for 2024!
*I felt like I knew all the characters! Relatable. Great character development!
*Yes, it’s a WWII plot. Not a lot of gory war details. Just a poignant story of hope, hardships, relationships, decisions & choices, integrity, and loyalty!
* I loved everything about this one! A great ending!
Auction, label, Abbey…
A tale of 2 women:
Martine is 7yo in 1942. Father told her to hide in the armoire when the Germans arrived at the house. Her childhood to adult years will unfold and develop in the story of her life.
1990 - Charlotte is a pilot who often visits Paris. She attends an auction with boyfriend Henri at the Hotel Drouot. He gifts her a bottle of wine from his wine purchases.
Little does she know, this bottle of wine will have a profound impact on her life. The significance of the discovery will soon be clear.
HISTORICAL FICTION
AVAILABLE December 10, 2024
THOUGHTS:
*Thank you to @silversreviews for letting me borrow this ARC! Now I would love to have my own copy!
*First time reader of this author! I would like to read more!
*So good! This is in my top reads for 2024!
*I felt like I knew all the characters! Relatable. Great character development!
*Yes, it’s a WWII plot. Not a lot of gory war details. Just a poignant story of hope, hardships, relationships, decisions & choices, integrity, and loyalty!
* I loved everything about this one! A great ending!
April 12, 2025
4.5. The “twist” was quite obvious to me but I enjoyed both storylines in this and liked the historical elements. A fun read with a bit of mystery and a touching ending.
April 12, 2024
I really enjoyed this book! Set during the waning years of WWII in rural France and using alternating chapters, also in 1990s France (mostly Paris), the story involves a seven-year-old Jewish girl named Martine left on her own as the Nazis attack her family's village. Martine's father makes her hide in an armoire with her beloved stuffed rabbit, Annabella, and a bottle of wine from their vineyard with a note pinned to her dress that has her aunt's address in Paris. Martine's father is captured, the village is ransacked, and Martine escapes to the nearby forest, losing the precious bottle of wine. She eventually makes it to Paris, but her aunt is not there; she ends up at the Hotel Druout, where she is taken in by a nun, Sister Ada.
In 1990 Paris, a U.S. airline captain named Charlotte is about to attend a wine auction at with her current beau, a Frenchman named Henri. The auction is being held at the Hotel Druout, now a famous auction house in Paris. Henri buys a box of collectible wine, and he later gives Charlotte a bottle, which starts a quest to find out its origins.
This is one of those historical fiction novels that you really don't want to give anything away plot-wise, because part of the joy for the reader is discovering what happens. Suffice it to say that this is a fascinating story with memorable characters.
Without divulging too much, the reasons I gave the novel only four stars are a few nitpicky observations that might not bother most readers. Martine's storyline was definitely more interesting than Charlotte's. It annoyed me that Charlotte -- a captain for a major U.S. airline was often immature and petulant -- it was hard to believe that she held such a high professional position the way she acted. Also, the big "reveal" late in the novel was eye-rolling -- I get why the author structured the novel that way, but it really came across as taking the easy way out. Despite those points, I still enjoyed the novel and highly recommend this book for readers interested in wine, WWII and family relationships.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for the eARC of this book.
In 1990 Paris, a U.S. airline captain named Charlotte is about to attend a wine auction at with her current beau, a Frenchman named Henri. The auction is being held at the Hotel Druout, now a famous auction house in Paris. Henri buys a box of collectible wine, and he later gives Charlotte a bottle, which starts a quest to find out its origins.
This is one of those historical fiction novels that you really don't want to give anything away plot-wise, because part of the joy for the reader is discovering what happens. Suffice it to say that this is a fascinating story with memorable characters.
Without divulging too much, the reasons I gave the novel only four stars are a few nitpicky observations that might not bother most readers. Martine's storyline was definitely more interesting than Charlotte's. It annoyed me that Charlotte -- a captain for a major U.S. airline was often immature and petulant -- it was hard to believe that she held such a high professional position the way she acted. Also, the big "reveal" late in the novel was eye-rolling -- I get why the author structured the novel that way, but it really came across as taking the easy way out. Despite those points, I still enjoyed the novel and highly recommend this book for readers interested in wine, WWII and family relationships.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for the eARC of this book.
August 18, 2024
The French Winemaker's Daughter is a dual timeline story with the first timeline beginning in 1942 in Nazi-occupied France, telling the story of Martine Ziner, a young Jewish girl who lives with her father at their winery in Burgundy. When her dad is taken by the Nazis, he has her hide in an armoire, pinning her aunt's address in Paris to her clothing and giving her a bottle of wine that she is told is her birthright. Unfortunately, she drops the bottle of wine when running away into the woods near their winery. The second timeline begins in 1990 and tells the story of Charlotte, a female pilot, who is just realizing that the boyfriend she is falling for is just using her. He gives her a bottle of wine that he believes is worthless but she realizes that there is a second label under the first along with a note from a father to his daughter, Martine. Charlotte feels a connection to this father and daughter and sets about to locate Martine, if she is still alive. There is so much going on in this story but no spoilers. This story came to a satisfying end - this is an historical fiction novel that made me want to learn more about the time period and the good people who hid Jews and Jewish children from the Nazis at the risk of their own lives. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
June 8, 2024
This was my first ARC read (thank you NetGalley!)
World War II is my favorite historical fiction to read. I love how this book didn’t focus so much on the war but rather one girl’s journey through the time (vague so no spoilers!). I enjoyed the dual timeline and found it easy to follow.
Being in a wine club it was a fun read of the history of French winemaking and the value of bottles from certain times. There was a mixed focus on romance, strong woman characters, loss, family, and WW2 history in France! Loved it - can’t wait for it to come out for others to enjoy.
#TheFrenchWinemakersDaughter #NetGalley
World War II is my favorite historical fiction to read. I love how this book didn’t focus so much on the war but rather one girl’s journey through the time (vague so no spoilers!). I enjoyed the dual timeline and found it easy to follow.
Being in a wine club it was a fun read of the history of French winemaking and the value of bottles from certain times. There was a mixed focus on romance, strong woman characters, loss, family, and WW2 history in France! Loved it - can’t wait for it to come out for others to enjoy.
#TheFrenchWinemakersDaughter #NetGalley
January 22, 2025
She swirled the burgundy liquid around the glass and took a deep inhale. The scents of blackberries, cherries, and a rich oak floated up and invaded her senses. She walked through the vineyard, slowly sipped her wine and savored this moment among the plants.
The French Winemaker’s Daughter is a dual timeline historical fiction novel following Martine, a young Jewish girl trying to survive the war, and Charlotte, a pilot who has happened upon a rare, very expensive bottle of wine with a history.
This was an enjoyable read and I was glad to get some insight into the vineyards and winemakers during the war and everything they endured. I preferred the past timeline more than the present, as I found Charlotte’s character to be quite annoying at times. I guessed the twist very early on and had things figured out, but still enjoyed the story (especially Martine’s perspective).
If you like WWII historical fiction, tales of survival, and wine… then you might enjoy this book.
CW: Murder, Death of a Loved One, Genocide, War, Antisemitism, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, PTSD.
The French Winemaker’s Daughter is a dual timeline historical fiction novel following Martine, a young Jewish girl trying to survive the war, and Charlotte, a pilot who has happened upon a rare, very expensive bottle of wine with a history.
This was an enjoyable read and I was glad to get some insight into the vineyards and winemakers during the war and everything they endured. I preferred the past timeline more than the present, as I found Charlotte’s character to be quite annoying at times. I guessed the twist very early on and had things figured out, but still enjoyed the story (especially Martine’s perspective).
If you like WWII historical fiction, tales of survival, and wine… then you might enjoy this book.
CW: Murder, Death of a Loved One, Genocide, War, Antisemitism, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, PTSD.
November 24, 2024
When I first started this book, I wasn't really sure how I felt about the plot or the characters. It did take me a little bit to get into the story, but once I was invested, I needed to know what would happened. I loved that this switched from past to present chapters. I liked that it captured what happened with a girl in the war who was jewish and hiding as well as a pilot who was looking for the story behind a wine bottle. I did find the book to be a little predictable and guessed what had happened to the girl, but I really loved this whole story overall. If you enjoy WWII historical fiction, then you will probably enjoy this one as well.
I received a free eARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
I received a free eARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
April 15, 2024
Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins for the ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion
A riveting story about German occupation of France during WWII and a young American pilot who is captivated by a young girl's story. I was sucked in from page one and didn't want to put this book down. Martine was a great character that was easy to love and even though he was a side character, I really loved Julien as well. I learned some new things which is what I love about historical fiction.
Were there some problems with the writing? Sure, but they were so minimal that it didn't take away from the story. I am now going to look for the other book by Mrs. Ellsworth because this one was so good.
A riveting story about German occupation of France during WWII and a young American pilot who is captivated by a young girl's story. I was sucked in from page one and didn't want to put this book down. Martine was a great character that was easy to love and even though he was a side character, I really loved Julien as well. I learned some new things which is what I love about historical fiction.
Were there some problems with the writing? Sure, but they were so minimal that it didn't take away from the story. I am now going to look for the other book by Mrs. Ellsworth because this one was so good.
January 9, 2025
1940s timeline 4 stars.
1990s timeline 2 stars. The writing about relationships is stunted. She’s a grown woman narrated with the emotional maturity and ability to express herself of a thirteen year old.
1990s timeline 2 stars. The writing about relationships is stunted. She’s a grown woman narrated with the emotional maturity and ability to express herself of a thirteen year old.
January 12, 2025
Libby Kindle. I liked this a lot! Historical fiction, WWII, strong female main character, dual timeline, France, and wine.
June 6, 2025
Very sweet story. Though predictable, I thoroughly enjoyed it and learned a bit if history as well.
January 31, 2025
Loved this story!There are so many book on this subject ,however this is different.Focus is on a small child ,while diving into the growing of grapes.
February 20, 2025
Concept of the book: 5 stars
Execution: 1 stars
Plot: 1 star
Loveable Characters: 2 stars
This book had sooooooo much potential. The paralleling advancement of Martine's resilience for survival as a Jewish child in France during WWII and Charlotte's trajectory into navigating work, love, and life balance set the scene perfectly for an epic read. I found myself rolling my eyes and hitting the book against my head asking why Charlotte reacted that way and why Martine was too trusting of others.
Honestly, the book read similarly to pre-teen/teenager genre. The chapters were brief interludes between Martine and Charlotte. The dialgoue between the characters were brief, stacco, and felt extremely two-dimensional (see any dialogue between Henri and Charlotte). The book lacked description when setting up a scene. When the scene was descriptive, the rest of the dialogue was rushed or felt meh.
I PRAYED FOR CONFLICT, HEART-STOPPING, LIFE ALTERING plot. I was left with disappointment after a brief brush with drama. Ugh, this book was lack-luster.
Execution: 1 stars
Plot: 1 star
Loveable Characters: 2 stars
This book had sooooooo much potential. The paralleling advancement of Martine's resilience for survival as a Jewish child in France during WWII and Charlotte's trajectory into navigating work, love, and life balance set the scene perfectly for an epic read. I found myself rolling my eyes and hitting the book against my head asking why Charlotte reacted that way and why Martine was too trusting of others.
Honestly, the book read similarly to pre-teen/teenager genre. The chapters were brief interludes between Martine and Charlotte. The dialgoue between the characters were brief, stacco, and felt extremely two-dimensional (see any dialogue between Henri and Charlotte). The book lacked description when setting up a scene. When the scene was descriptive, the rest of the dialogue was rushed or felt meh.
I PRAYED FOR CONFLICT, HEART-STOPPING, LIFE ALTERING plot. I was left with disappointment after a brief brush with drama. Ugh, this book was lack-luster.
March 5, 2025
I almost gave up on this after the first chapter, to be honest. The writing was pretty juvenile and there were several cringe lines. I only pushed through because I was previewing it for my younger sister to make sure it was appropriate.
There are two suggestive scenes and mildly explicit scenes, which confused me because this seems to be written for a younger audience. I’ll be flagging those pages for my sister to skip, but the rest was fine.
I predicted pretty much all the plot twists, but again, it’s for a more juvenile reader, so they may not be able to guess.
Overall, it was a sweet story. I’d recommend it if you want a quick read (I finished it in a few hours). I wouldn’t read it again but I don’t regret it, and I think my sister will like it.
There are two suggestive scenes and mildly explicit scenes, which confused me because this seems to be written for a younger audience. I’ll be flagging those pages for my sister to skip, but the rest was fine.
I predicted pretty much all the plot twists, but again, it’s for a more juvenile reader, so they may not be able to guess.
Overall, it was a sweet story. I’d recommend it if you want a quick read (I finished it in a few hours). I wouldn’t read it again but I don’t regret it, and I think my sister will like it.
February 4, 2025
Good story. Too easy to guess what was going to happen
April 16, 2025
This is a Book Rage selection.
It is a dual timeline story and I picked it up because I really like historical fiction. We have the World War 2 period where the plight of French Jews is highlighted through Martine's experience, which is narrated in the third person. The second timeline is set in the 1990's and is narrated in the first person by Charlotte, an international airline pilot (a Captain) who is gifted a £145,000 bottle of wine that leads to her discovery of a heartbreaking story and of course, an eligible bachelor (a lawyer by training and a vineyard manager due to familial responsibilities).
I really enjoyed the first timeline but didn't like how Charlotte was written for the most part. I found her a little puzzling... she's in her 30's but behaves like a 13 year old. The weirdest part was where she only went out with a guy just because the guy was not interested in her former friend. I mean, isn't it more important to actually consider whether you actually like the guy? 🤔
Anyway, the book is entertaining and gives some valuable insights about wine, vineyards, and the experiences of women in the aviation industry.
It is a dual timeline story and I picked it up because I really like historical fiction. We have the World War 2 period where the plight of French Jews is highlighted through Martine's experience, which is narrated in the third person. The second timeline is set in the 1990's and is narrated in the first person by Charlotte, an international airline pilot (a Captain) who is gifted a £145,000 bottle of wine that leads to her discovery of a heartbreaking story and of course, an eligible bachelor (a lawyer by training and a vineyard manager due to familial responsibilities).
I really enjoyed the first timeline but didn't like how Charlotte was written for the most part. I found her a little puzzling... she's in her 30's but behaves like a 13 year old. The weirdest part was where she only went out with a guy just because the guy was not interested in her former friend. I mean, isn't it more important to actually consider whether you actually like the guy? 🤔
Anyway, the book is entertaining and gives some valuable insights about wine, vineyards, and the experiences of women in the aviation industry.
April 15, 2024
4.5/5 stars. As an avid reader of WW2 historical fictions, this was one of the most intriguing one I've read in a while. A take on the 'present day character finds an artifact and must investigate' trope, Loretta Ellsworth's 'The French Winemaker's Daughter,' follows two storylines: 1940s Martine and 1990s Charlotte. In the 90s, Charlotte is gifted a bottle of vintage wine by her lover. The bottle turns out to conceal a hidden surprise, which turns us to Martine's story line of a young Jewish girl surviving in France during the Nazi occupation.
For WW2 historical fictions, this one is pretty tame. Martine's story line, while devastating, takes place primarily in an abbey surrounded by Catholic nuns. Martine largely avoids concentration camps and violence - with a few exceptions. There's also a romance plot line, some drama with the wine-gifter, and a theme of familial obligations versus personal passions.
Overall, very captivating read and highly recommend for someone wanting to dip their toe into the WW2 historical fiction genre.
** Thank you, NetGalley and Harper Perennial for this ARC.
For WW2 historical fictions, this one is pretty tame. Martine's story line, while devastating, takes place primarily in an abbey surrounded by Catholic nuns. Martine largely avoids concentration camps and violence - with a few exceptions. There's also a romance plot line, some drama with the wine-gifter, and a theme of familial obligations versus personal passions.
Overall, very captivating read and highly recommend for someone wanting to dip their toe into the WW2 historical fiction genre.
** Thank you, NetGalley and Harper Perennial for this ARC.
February 27, 2025
Dress shabbily and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman. -Coco Chanel
Remorse is memory awake,
Her companies astir,-
A presence of departed acts
At window and at door.
Remorse is cureless,-the disease
Not even God can heal;
For 'tis His institution,-
The complement of hell.
-Emily Dickenson
There's a reason Van Gogh painted vineyards. It's a spiritual place, where one can find peace and forgiveness.
Remorse is memory awake,
Her companies astir,-
A presence of departed acts
At window and at door.
Remorse is cureless,-the disease
Not even God can heal;
For 'tis His institution,-
The complement of hell.
-Emily Dickenson
There's a reason Van Gogh painted vineyards. It's a spiritual place, where one can find peace and forgiveness.
February 18, 2025
4.5 stars 🌟 for me!
March 8, 2025
3.5-4 stars. Easy read and interesting storyline. Both timelines were good although each could have been a little more indepth.
January 25, 2025
Wonderful story about a bottle of wine given to a young Jewish girl at the beginning of ww2 and then another woman who gets the same bottle at an auction and wants to find out the history behind it.
July 27, 2024
I loved this book. Dual timelines and dual POV's kept my attention and kept me interested. I really enjoyed the character development and the story itself. Plus, a World War II historical fiction? It's my favorite. I will say that the way the book went felt very obvious and so it felt a little underwhelming how it ended, but I still enjoyed the ride. I would recommend this to fellow believers! It's a clean, unique read.
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