“Laura Bradbury’s writing will make you hungry for life.” – Amazon reviewer My Grape Cellar takes fans of Laura Bradbury’s Grape Series back to the charming village of Beaune, where Laura and Franck embark on another grande adventure to restore a long-neglected wine cellar beneath the cobblestone streets—sight unseen.Much as they dream of family winetastings in this relic of historic France, … winetastings in this relic of historic France, reviving a thirteenth-century cellar proves a formidable task. Laura never imagined she’d be hunting through ancient sinks, hauling stones by moonlight, or appointing godparents for a medieval cave, all while managing an even more important project: a new baby. Can Laura and Franck transform a dingy cellar full of garbage and coal into a magical space in the wine capital of Burgundy? Find out in My Grape Cellar, book 6 in the bestselling Grape Series.more
I have enjoyed all of Laura’s Grape series, this being my sixth read. She has a lovely easy writing style, taking her readers on wonderful journeys though Burgundy.
My Grape Cellar charts the transformation of a lowly wine cellar, which she and Franck purchase along with an apartment that is also in need of renovation. Although pregnant with her third child, she manages to juggle life as a mother, with that of a partner in a holiday rental business.
I particularly liked her descriptions of all the talented friends who helped create a charming addition to their business portfolio.
Reading this book is like reading a letter from a dear friend. It chronicles not only the creation of their wine cellar, but the birth of their third daughter as well. Like the other books in the series, Laura shares intimate details of her life with Franck, the live they have for their children and her willingness to to be absorbed into the Burgundian culture. The book is peppered with French phrases and and provides a picturesque view of where they live as well as how they live. It is easy to read and is another chapter in the lives of this young woman and her family. Thoroughly enjoyable, it just makes you want to visit this spot in France.
I devoured this book in one day — what a fun addition to the Grape books family! I just love Laura’s writing style. All of the Grape series books, this one included, are uplifiting, engaging and heartwarming. It’s always entertaining to read about their experiences as an international couple and family and how they navigate all of the ups and downs that go with that, and reading about this particular adventure restoring a very old wine cellar in France was an interesting peek into a totally different but related facet of their life. I always wish I had a bottle of wine handy when I’m reading these books! If you’ve read her other books, you’ll want to read this latest installment. And if you’re a fan of wine, France, historical renovations or sweet stories, you’ll enjoy it too!
Purely Delicious!
What a joy to return to Burgundy with Laura, Franck and the Bevy. This time, we join them as they buy and renovate an ancient wine cellar beneath the streets of Beaune. Oh, and they have a baby – their third. And they are in the midst of renovating their home in Villiers-la-Faye! Easy peasy, right?
Of course not but that is what I love about the Grape books. Laura graciously opens the door to her life at a point in time and let’s us see it all – the worry, the hard work, the embarrassment, the joy and the frustration with such easy and engaging storytelling that I feel like I am right along side her, every step of the way.
So if you would like to spend some time in France, jump on this train and join in the hectic, messy, fabulous life of the Germain family for another extraordinary ride into French wine country.
Restoring a wine cellar and having a baby Burgundian style
After reading this book all I wanted to do was visit the beautiful old wine cellar that they lovingly restored and meet the family. I was sad to finish this, currently the final book in the Grape series, and I do hope that there are more books in the future. Laura writes with an ease and fluidity that allow you as the reader to be fully immersed in her story. Laura captures the essence of the region in which they live and brings it to life for you. Her descriptions of the local food and wine are superb and make you feel hungry! The French lifestyle, family and village are all brought to life in her books, and this is a series of books that I have thoroughly enjoyed reading and that I can highly recommend.
Too short! I love Laura Bradbury’s writing. It feels like she is a girlfriend sharing a story. The characters from previous books are old friends. The tales are always down to earth and natural. But I want more. I did not realize that this was a novella. So I was disappointed with the length. However, the book was still fantastic!
Charmant. This is my first book in the Grape Series and I can’t wait to read the other ones. I was transported to Beaune as Laura brought the village and its occupants to life. I loved seeing the cellar come to life stone by stone as Laura and Franck welcome little Clem into their zany world; all with the help of the amazing people surrounding them. It’s the kind of book you don’t want to put down. I felt like I was chatting with a friend whose stories I love to hear.
I have been a huge fan of Laura Bradbury’s Grape series novels since the beginning. She takes us into her world with Franck and their 3 bevys and immediately captures our hearts as we follow each adventure. I was awaiting her latest book with anticipation, My Grape Cellar, and it did not disappoint! Immediately you were transported into their world of building a wine cellar, their joie de vivre and overcoming each challenge with a strong committment to each other and surrounding themselves with the support of friends and family to achieve their goal. I was sad to reach the end and hope Laura will be able to entertain us with another journey.
Reading one of Laura Bradbury’s memoirs is like sitting down with a good friend, who is sharing treasured memories. She writes from the heart. This latest treasure from Laura is truly as she said in My Grape Cellar, “a wonderful celebration of life and wine and history and solidarity.” Yes, all those things in one book! I enjoyed meeting Robert and the others that made renovating a 13th century wine cellar possible, despite the huge challenges. It was fascinating to learn about the history of wine cellars in Beaune … and the care of them. Who would have ever thought that wine cellars had to have godparents! Through her writing Laura welcomes you into her life, sharing stories of her family and friends. The solidarity of Franck & Laura & their shared vision of a good life will affirm your faith in the power of love & family. My Grape Cellar is best enjoyed with a lovely bottle of Burgundian wine & some stinky French cheese to nibble. Try to read this book without wanting to visit Beaune & their wine cellar & immersing yourself in la belle vie of Burgundy.
Loved another visit to Burgundian adventures with Laura and Frank. A wonderful edition to the family both the book series and the Germains. A great read, thank you.
4 “transport me to France” stars
I first started reading Laura Bradbury with her first work of fiction, “A Vineyard for Two” – I enjoyed that one so much that I will happily seek out her memoir series.
I just finished this one, #6 in the memoir series. I think they can be read as stand-alones, but I definitely am interested in reading the earlier ones! Laura and Franck buy an apartment in Beaune that comes with a neglected cellar. There’s a fascinating history of wine cellars in this region including ancient Roman cellars likely underneath. They spend quite a bit of time restoring the cellar and it was fascinating to be along for the ride. They luck out with connections to some people that have a magical touch with creating a perfect home and cellar. I need a Robert to redo my house!
This book placed me right in the heart of all things French and I loved reading all about their lifestyle. I want to go hunting for the perfect items to finish an apartment and go to a cellar baptism!
I really want to make time to read all of these memoirs now! And maybe look into renting one of their restored apartments on a visit to France!
What a delight this book was! As always, this author brings you right into her family and her village, and makes the reader feel a part of each. It was so fun picturing the caller and its stages of renovation, and I learned some history along the way as well. Making relationships come alive in writing is something that clearly comes naturally to Laura Bradbury; the gentle give and take between she and her husband, and between their girls is so lovely, and makes me feel like I know all of them so personally. I particularly enjoyed the tales of her toddler the climber, as I had one of those too. Spot on descriptions there! This is another book of hers that I’ll read again and again, for a little escape to France.
Laura B has done it again! I loved her Grape Series, had read all five and was wanting more. Just finished My Grape Cellar, number six in her series. I love the day to day ‘ness of her writing, life in Burgundy raising a family….but also the fascinating history and details. I love how she is able to describe the characters in her book, fully three dimentional people. You feel like you really know them! I am hoping Laura has plenty more stories to share, I will be here for every one of them! Thanks again for the escape
I thoroughly enjoyed reading My Grape Cellar, the sixth book in the Grape Series. Laura Bradbury is an engaging writer. Whether you have followed her adventures through the other five book in this series, or are reading this as a stand alone story, I am sure you will enjoy it.
As I read My Grape Cellar, I imagined myself sitting with Laura, enjoying a glass of wine, listening to her relate the story of how their wine cellar came to be. I found the process of restoring the cellar fascinating and the only thing more I could have wished for were some photos of the finished cellar.
Laura demonstrates her gift in story telling by selectively moving us through the stages of the cellar restoration, enhancing the storyline with a parallel tale of her third pregnancy and adjusting to being Mom of three kids.
For those of us already familiar with her family and friends, reading the book was a welcome chance to revisit them and enjoy more tales from the entertaining life they lead. My guess is that if you haven’t read the other books in this series, you will want to by the time you finish My Grape Cellar to learn more about this intriguing family.
I’ve read all of Laura Bradbury’s books, enjoyed this one and all the others. I even signed up for her Newsletter, and follow her on Facebook….I never do that, lol! Fun and entertaining..how many times do you go on a journey to renovate a five hundred year old Cellar? See what I mean….great fun.
My Grape Cellar is a wonderful addition to the series as Bradbury continues to share her family and experiences living in France. This book is less intense and busy than previous books as it focuses on the renovation of a 13th century wine cellar. The story builds on the value of relationships and satisfaction derived from bringing new life to something long abandoned. Supported by family and the locals Laura and Franck give back to the wine making region sharing their love of food, wine and history. Laura shares detailed explanations of the wine cellar from her first time to pass through the door to the triumph of completion and hosting friends and family the first time. From the very first page the reader is transported to to the wonderful French countryside and joie de vivre such a part of the European lifestyle. Thank you Laura!
I loved being transported once again into Laura Bradbury’s adventures in Burgundy! In My Grape Cellar we get to witness new beginnings in the arrival of sweet Clementine to round out her beautiful bevy and a much sought after ancient wine cellar in the heart of Beaune. A beautiful little morsel that leaves me looking forward to the next delicious chapter of Laura’s charmed life!
Laura Bradbury’s wonderful and witty tale of how she and Franck became the surprise owners of a thirteenth century decrepit wine cellar in Beaune and (with a lot of help from their friends and family) restored it to full glory is a “grape” read! Here are a few “raisins” why you should read it: This novella for armchair travelers is a window into living like a local in the beautiful French wine country. For those of us who appreciate historic preservation and tradition, it’s replete with fascinating and some endearing quirky details (i.e. how to support a marble slab on concrete-filled flowerpots). For wine lovers, it will whet your lips and send you out to your local wine shop craving “gorgeous white Grand Cru Chablis”, “Haute-Cotes de Beaune” or “Savigny Les Guettes”. For those of us with a “bunch” of kids, it’s a primer on how to juggle a handful of little ones while undertaking a massive project with faith, love and aplomb. Since I identify a bit with all these categories, I read “My Grape Cellar” in two sittings!