It’s springtime at The Vineyard in Alsace, a new season and a new beginning
After being abandoned by her partner when she falls pregnant, Lottie Schell goes home to live on The Vineyard in Alsace, where she has started a new relationship with the estate’s winemaker, Thierry. Now about to give birth, Lottie’s determined to raise her child and to provide for them both on her own without having … for them both on her own without having to depend on anyone else.
Thierry Bernard is still dealing with his grief and guilt following the death of his wife two years earlier, for which he blames himself. When he meets Lottie, the instant attraction he feels towards her gives him hope that he can move on from the tragedy of his past, as long as he can tell Lottie the truth of what happened.
When circumstances force Lottie and Thierry closer together, they both find it hard to compromise – she’s proudly independent and he’s fiercely protective – and they’re both wary about trusting someone new with their heart.
Can Lottie and Thierry take a chance on each other, move on from their pasts and start over?
Escape to The Vineyard in Alsace once again with this romantic read set in the heart of the wine country.
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The chemistry, sweetness, and twists in plot kept things interesting.
Add in drama and passion and you have a good read.
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The second book in the Domaine des Montagnes series a well written story by an Author I have not read before. This is single mom Lottie Schell her baby daughter Marie and widower Thierry Bernard’s story and all the friends and family they have there for them. I want to read more in this series. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Oh to be in France
This book is about Lottie and Thierry, and is set in the beautiful and picturesque French wine region of Alsace. Lottie is eight months pregnant to a man no longer in her life. She was living with her sister Fran’s husband Didier’s mother Sylvie, for the time being at least. Fran’s husband Didier is also Lottie’s boyfriend Thierry’s best friend and co-worker.
Lottie and Thierry have been seeing each other for a few months, and are still getting to know each other. He’s offered for her to move in with him, as room in Sylvie’s house is sparce, but she’s hesitant because she’s incredibly proud and independent, and he hasn’t opened up about the loss of his wife Nicole two years ago. She would like him to talk to her about his grief and other feelings, but isn’t ready to. But he has made a move by going to see a counsellor.
Didier and Fran are trying to make time to plan their wedding, but Fran is feeling down about not being able to fall pregnant. Didier is concerned about her, but he already has a daughter Chloe, from a previous relationship. Fran loves her as if she’s her own child, but craves one of her own, their own.
I love that Lottie is fiercely independent, but I also think it could be to her detriment. She’s so incredibly stubborn, and I felt like she was a bit unkind and hurtful to Thierry and his efforts of wanting to care for her and the baby. He didn’t seem like a chauvinistic alpha male or anything. He just truly cares for her, and wants to be there for her. He told her there was a difference between dependent on someone, and being able to depend on someone. Wise words! She acted really petulant sometimes, and it drove me crazy! Argh!
The whole cast of characters were wonderful. They seemed so real, with their own problems and issues, making them so much more relatable. Their story was sweet, romantic and deeply emotional. The setting was idyllically beautiful, quintessentially French and just perfect! I really felt like I was there, living on the vineyards with them (queue dream sequence). I didn’t want the story to end! It was a beautiful escape – especially seeing as I was meant to be in France holidaying next month!
This was my first read form this author, so I haven’t read book one in this series. I’ll definitely be reading that now, and looking for more of this author’s work. PLEASE tell me there’ll be more books to come in this series!? I give this book four and a half idyllic stars!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The characters are great and their backstories are pretty interesting. The two main characters are going through a lot when they meet up. Uncertainty and confusion raise a lot of questions, while the friends seem to open up the possibilities. A baby may prove to be a protecting point. The locale is terrific. The history, surprises and suspense keep it all going well.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Starting Over at the Vineyard in Alsace is a lovely novel I read by Julie Stout. This is book two in the Domaine des Montagnes series and enjoyed this very much. It worked for me as a stand alone novel.
This is a lovely story about second chances where the story is set in an absolutely gorgeous setting during the springtime in a French country wine region.
The characters were a delight to read about – their issues and all, which made for a very realistic story. I love that the story was very well written and a very nice escape read full of wonderful secondary characters that I am hoping to read about in the next installments of the book.
Overall, I enjoyed Lottie and Thierry’s journey of love and lost, of acceptance and moving on. People cope in different ways and in their own time. It was nice to see the process of healing for each person who have suffered through some loss and grief.
The writing style was beautiful and easy to read. The author really understands human emotions and the mental health that takes a toll on our emotions and human interaction. A simple yet deep story that I loved reading about.