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Vintage
"
Power"
"Madeleine Arsenault" is returning home after her father's death--determined to prove that she can save her family's debt-ridden business and run the most prestigious champagne house in France....
.
"Lust"
"Kelly Elson"'s life is about to change in ways the London hotel maid never imagined. Inheriting a vineyard is only the beginning of her thirst for success....
"
Revenge"
After her marriage to a Hollywood bad boy ends, supermodel "Christina Morgan" wants to prove she's more than a pretty face. That's why she's set her sights on transforming her ex-husband's California vineyard into a major player....
"One sparkling prize"
A ruthless takeover...a shattering family secret... a scandalous affair...Three women competing to produce the world's best sparkling wine and willing to risk everything to win, unaware that they share a single driven by a secret agenda, a powerful vintner is orchestrating a chilling revenge, igniting a scandal that could bring down them all...
Power"
"Madeleine Arsenault" is returning home after her father's death--determined to prove that she can save her family's debt-ridden business and run the most prestigious champagne house in France....
.
"Lust"
"Kelly Elson"'s life is about to change in ways the London hotel maid never imagined. Inheriting a vineyard is only the beginning of her thirst for success....
"
Revenge"
After her marriage to a Hollywood bad boy ends, supermodel "Christina Morgan" wants to prove she's more than a pretty face. That's why she's set her sights on transforming her ex-husband's California vineyard into a major player....
"One sparkling prize"
A ruthless takeover...a shattering family secret... a scandalous affair...Three women competing to produce the world's best sparkling wine and willing to risk everything to win, unaware that they share a single driven by a secret agenda, a powerful vintner is orchestrating a chilling revenge, igniting a scandal that could bring down them all...
Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
11 people are currently reading
148 people want to read
About the author
Olivia Darling
8 books13 followersThirty-three year old Olivia Darling was born and raised in the West of England.
At the age of eighteen she met an Italian art student in St. Ives and ran away to Tuscany in hot pursuit of him.
The love affair didn’t last but Olivia’s sojourn in Montepulciano inspired a much more enduring passion for Vino Nobile that soon became a fascination with viticulture.
She was thrilled and amazed to be made an honorary maitre-cellerier by French trade association Les Echevins De Bouzy in recognition of her promotion of champagne in her first novel, Vintage.
She was inaugurated alongside the Malaysian Ambassador to France at a seven-course dinner accompanied by eight different champagnes and a “Bouzy rouge.” To die for…!
Her other interests include ballroom dancing (she has won awards for her quickstep) and men who drive Aston Martins. She lives in London, where she is at work on her third novel, Temptation.
At the age of eighteen she met an Italian art student in St. Ives and ran away to Tuscany in hot pursuit of him.
The love affair didn’t last but Olivia’s sojourn in Montepulciano inspired a much more enduring passion for Vino Nobile that soon became a fascination with viticulture.
She was thrilled and amazed to be made an honorary maitre-cellerier by French trade association Les Echevins De Bouzy in recognition of her promotion of champagne in her first novel, Vintage.
She was inaugurated alongside the Malaysian Ambassador to France at a seven-course dinner accompanied by eight different champagnes and a “Bouzy rouge.” To die for…!
Her other interests include ballroom dancing (she has won awards for her quickstep) and men who drive Aston Martins. She lives in London, where she is at work on her third novel, Temptation.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 6, 2009
Vintage follows three women who enter the man’s world of wine-making, well champagne making to be exact. Madeleine Arsenault is the daughter of a French champagne-maker, and is left his vineyard when he dies. Madeleine wants to produce a vintage wine of her own, and is determined to prove her critics, who don’t believe a woman can create a great wine, wrong and to rise to the top of her game.
Kelly Elson, a chambermaid in a hotel is also left a vineyard in a will, but unlike Madeleine, she doesn’t want anything to do with it. Under the guidance of trustee Hilarian and and vineyard keeper Guy, she decides maybe there is something to be done in the wine business after all.
Finally, we have Christina Morgan, an American supermodel whose marriage is in tatters, much like her career. Christina only takes on the vineyard as she has nothing else to do, but quickly realises she enjoys the work of making a new bottle of wine, and is determined to make a success of her vineyard.
The three female lead characters are all incredibly different, yet all have the same aims despite their different backgrounds and initial attitudes to their situations. Written in the third person, the book flicks easily between the characters in a comfortable reading style which transports you into the glamorous lives of the women. By the end, you are left feeling real empathy for all the women, and are completely absorbed in the story, feeling every emotion along with them. My favourite was certainly Madeleine, with her steely determination to succeed against the odds. However, all were likeable (although not at first in my opinion!) and even though they are all so different, worked well inside the story together.
I must admit it took me quite a while to get into this book. The start wasn’t overly captivating, and left me a bit cold, so much so that I was able to put it down and not be desperate to pick it up again. However when I got past the first quarter of the book, it took a turn and drew me in – I just didn’t want to put it down! You were suddenly thrown deep into the lives of the women – almost as if the author suddenly grabbed hold of what she was writing and took it on a complete u-turn from average to amazing!
The book does contain some quite graphic sex scenes as well, which don’t seem out of place in the book. They aren’t overly gratuitous and manage to fit in perfectly where they are written, so it doesn’t seem like they are there purely for the sake of it. There is some coarse language used, but that seems to be commonplace in novels these days, so nothing too unusual there. Despite these scenes, romance isn’t actually a main theme through the book, more a sub-theme, but it fits in well with the book and adds a different angle to the story as well as the wine-making side. Luckily, the author doesn’t go into too much detail about wine-making, giving us just enough knowledge that we can understand the very basic processes without boring us!
Overall, once I got past the shaky start, I was thoroughly gripped by the book and really enjoyed what I was reading. The story was easy to follow, despite quite a lot of characters appearing throughout the book, and I think this is a credit to the author Olivia Darling. A very sexy fun read, not to be taken too seriously, but makes for very pleasant reading! I really enjoyed it and I was actually quite sad to turn the final page!
Kelly Elson, a chambermaid in a hotel is also left a vineyard in a will, but unlike Madeleine, she doesn’t want anything to do with it. Under the guidance of trustee Hilarian and and vineyard keeper Guy, she decides maybe there is something to be done in the wine business after all.
Finally, we have Christina Morgan, an American supermodel whose marriage is in tatters, much like her career. Christina only takes on the vineyard as she has nothing else to do, but quickly realises she enjoys the work of making a new bottle of wine, and is determined to make a success of her vineyard.
The three female lead characters are all incredibly different, yet all have the same aims despite their different backgrounds and initial attitudes to their situations. Written in the third person, the book flicks easily between the characters in a comfortable reading style which transports you into the glamorous lives of the women. By the end, you are left feeling real empathy for all the women, and are completely absorbed in the story, feeling every emotion along with them. My favourite was certainly Madeleine, with her steely determination to succeed against the odds. However, all were likeable (although not at first in my opinion!) and even though they are all so different, worked well inside the story together.
I must admit it took me quite a while to get into this book. The start wasn’t overly captivating, and left me a bit cold, so much so that I was able to put it down and not be desperate to pick it up again. However when I got past the first quarter of the book, it took a turn and drew me in – I just didn’t want to put it down! You were suddenly thrown deep into the lives of the women – almost as if the author suddenly grabbed hold of what she was writing and took it on a complete u-turn from average to amazing!
The book does contain some quite graphic sex scenes as well, which don’t seem out of place in the book. They aren’t overly gratuitous and manage to fit in perfectly where they are written, so it doesn’t seem like they are there purely for the sake of it. There is some coarse language used, but that seems to be commonplace in novels these days, so nothing too unusual there. Despite these scenes, romance isn’t actually a main theme through the book, more a sub-theme, but it fits in well with the book and adds a different angle to the story as well as the wine-making side. Luckily, the author doesn’t go into too much detail about wine-making, giving us just enough knowledge that we can understand the very basic processes without boring us!
Overall, once I got past the shaky start, I was thoroughly gripped by the book and really enjoyed what I was reading. The story was easy to follow, despite quite a lot of characters appearing throughout the book, and I think this is a credit to the author Olivia Darling. A very sexy fun read, not to be taken too seriously, but makes for very pleasant reading! I really enjoyed it and I was actually quite sad to turn the final page!
July 2, 2015
Okay, I don't know what to say about this book other than I have never wanted to kick somebody in the nuts so bad after reading a book in my life!
So here's the skinny, there is 3 chicas that in one manner or other come into owning a vineyard. Of the 3, Madeline, the French woman whose dad had more debts than common sense, seems to have a grasp on what she is doing given it has been her family biz since forever and a day. And after I got over trying to settle into the story, I was initially rooting for. She had her head on straight for a while til it flew off somewhere never to be heard from again!
Second chica is this late teenish/early 20ish hotel maid/mini prostitute Kelly that learns through wine critic/fellow trustee/friend of her alleged father's, that she has been left this old timey manor house and a vineyard named Froggy Bottom. In a word this chick was the ultimate brat of the year but she does win the award for the most improved character in the book.
And lastly the third chick is some hot shit super model, Christina. She gets her villa/vineyard through a divorce to some actor she realizes that she never loved anyway. And initially I was expecting a super vapid airhead type that wouldn't know grapes from rocks. But to some extent she cruised along with some sort of sense, morality, til her head flew off as well.
Sprinkle in 3 wine critics which sponsored(and one of which even mentored Kelly) that make one hell of a high wager about which chick will make the best sparkling wine for that year's winefest event. As stories would go and as luck would have it, the head chairman of the fest hears about the wager and bumps it up even higher. So all 3 critics really have something riding on their chick doing the best that can ever win(I will say though that I was happy who won as she totally deserved it with all that was going on).
Oh and can't forget to add a dash of a bad guy, wouldn't be a story without one. And oh what a one he was. Dude pretty much owned so many people in 3 different countries. And they never even saw it coming which is most unfortunate. Hell even got away with things from his past that really made me want to strangle someone. I won't even add in his little rape scene and how the chick curled up next to him like a pet cat or something. Just ugh. Or as I said kick someone in the nuts.
But what really, REALLY, REALLY, made me give this book 1.5 stars is the simple fact that I can't believe some of the decisions that both Madeline and Christina made at times. Some of them were purely logical and others were just so out of the blue and made no sense. I'm all for taking charge of your sexuality. But when you blatantly throw your morals out the window on a whim for no reason at all. Just made no sense, to me at all!
So here's the skinny, there is 3 chicas that in one manner or other come into owning a vineyard. Of the 3, Madeline, the French woman whose dad had more debts than common sense, seems to have a grasp on what she is doing given it has been her family biz since forever and a day. And after I got over trying to settle into the story, I was initially rooting for. She had her head on straight for a while til it flew off somewhere never to be heard from again!
Second chica is this late teenish/early 20ish hotel maid/mini prostitute Kelly that learns through wine critic/fellow trustee/friend of her alleged father's, that she has been left this old timey manor house and a vineyard named Froggy Bottom. In a word this chick was the ultimate brat of the year but she does win the award for the most improved character in the book.
And lastly the third chick is some hot shit super model, Christina. She gets her villa/vineyard through a divorce to some actor she realizes that she never loved anyway. And initially I was expecting a super vapid airhead type that wouldn't know grapes from rocks. But to some extent she cruised along with some sort of sense, morality, til her head flew off as well.
Sprinkle in 3 wine critics which sponsored(and one of which even mentored Kelly) that make one hell of a high wager about which chick will make the best sparkling wine for that year's winefest event. As stories would go and as luck would have it, the head chairman of the fest hears about the wager and bumps it up even higher. So all 3 critics really have something riding on their chick doing the best that can ever win(I will say though that I was happy who won as she totally deserved it with all that was going on).
Oh and can't forget to add a dash of a bad guy, wouldn't be a story without one. And oh what a one he was. Dude pretty much owned so many people in 3 different countries. And they never even saw it coming which is most unfortunate. Hell even got away with things from his past that really made me want to strangle someone. I won't even add in his little rape scene and how the chick curled up next to him like a pet cat or something. Just ugh. Or as I said kick someone in the nuts.
But what really, REALLY, REALLY, made me give this book 1.5 stars is the simple fact that I can't believe some of the decisions that both Madeline and Christina made at times. Some of them were purely logical and others were just so out of the blue and made no sense. I'm all for taking charge of your sexuality. But when you blatantly throw your morals out the window on a whim for no reason at all. Just made no sense, to me at all!
January 10, 2010
Very good! I just was a bit upset at the ending
November 5, 2023
I certainly loved this book. Everything from the way the love making is described, the strong minded women and the unfairness of life to women. However, the ending was a bit disappointing. Considering the way the story was proceeding, the ending was a bit disappointing. Hence a 4.
September 11, 2024
Wat een heerlijk, grappig boek van een voor mij onbekende schrijfster.
Lag al heel lang in de kast, maar zeker de moeite waard!
Lag al heel lang in de kast, maar zeker de moeite waard!
April 30, 2016
2.5 stars. If you're looking for a beach read or something for a long flight, this would work. I picked it up because I like to learn more about wine and how it's made. The novel was overly long, I scanned through some paragraphs. The sex scenes seemed to be added after an editor probably recommended the author needed to "spice" up the story - but those are few and you can skim over them. Three women, all gorgeous, young and unmarried become in charge of the 3 different wineries located in Napa, France and England and become embroiled in a 5 year challenge to win a tasting award. Some of the secondary characters were interesting and funny. All in all, the author may have been better off to narrow it to one glamorous heroine/wine maker and tell her story. Can't recommend for a book club read.
March 12, 2012
I bought this book for a salacious beach read but ended up enjoying the plot, the characters and learning about wine making more than the raunchier parts of the book. The plot follows three different women - one young English girl, a French woman who works in finance and an American supermodel - as they struggle to make a mark in the world of sparkling wines. It starts a little slowly but the plot is well formed and it becomes un-put-downable by the end. Overall, a fun and raunchy read with lots of information about wine-making.
July 13, 2010
Who would have thought Champagne could be so exciting? This was the kind of book that kept pulling me back to it despite the callings from the internet and the playstation. I got swept up in the competition and the best girl won :) However I don't feel that one of the characters got his just desserts but maybe Olivia Darling was leaving that open for another book. I hope so. I would certainly read a sequel.
April 6, 2010
For a salacious read, this was quite well-written and researched. I enjoyed reading this escapist novel about women, wine-making, and competition. The author does know how to talk about wine. Warning - the sex scenes are graphic so I wouldn't share this with teen readers. Many people would probably consider this a beach read.
June 3, 2009
Very entertaining beach-read pitting 3 burgeoning vineyards, one each in France, England and Napa against each other to produce an award-winning sparkling wine. Lots of skullduggery and wrangling for power/position & winning a bet with a large sum attached, ensues.
July 9, 2011
I did not think I was going to like this book, it was very slow to
begin with however throughout the book, it did get better, and I was
desperate to finish it to see what would happen. Definitely recommend.
begin with however throughout the book, it did get better, and I was
desperate to finish it to see what would happen. Definitely recommend.
June 10, 2012
I loved it! It was cleverly written in that it could link the four main characters stories together through methods and other characters. Alas, the whole book and individual stories relating to champagne and wine is unique and interesting! recommend!
March 25, 2015
What a fab book, brilliant strong female characters, rose above it all in the face of adversity, making them stronger than before. I was gutted at the end when Mathieu Randon did not get his comeuppance and loose everything! Really enjoyed it.
July 15, 2016
This really deserved 2.5 stars. I kept reading it, but skimmed much. Too much fluff and silliness. Sex scenes that dragged on (seriously - badly written sex scenes). The only character I really cared about was Kelly. Murder mystery thrown in that was just kind of dropped.
Want to read
February 6, 2010This appears to be a beach read extraordinaire! And, among all the glitz, glamour, and backstabbing, one might learn something about the culture of champagne.
July 28, 2012
As far as chick lit goes, this is a pretty good book, dealing with themes a little more varied (and interesting) than the regular, straightforward girl-meets-boy stuff.
February 17, 2012
Read the German version of this. Summary on here makes it sound much more exciting.
October 3, 2014
Entertaining but a tad disappointing. Didn't love the way she wrapped up all the story lines. The women all seemed to grow and end up with the right guys, but what was the deal with Axel?
November 13, 2016
three strong women (well, not all originally strong) take on the male dominated world of vineyards and wine. guess who wins?
November 26, 2019
An enjoyable romp with bubbles and bitchiness. Easy to read but a good plot and interesting characters.
May 22, 2010
Good chick lit. Easy to read and follow but nothing intense or requiring alot of brain power.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews