Beneath the cover of France’s most exquisite vineyards, a city of women defy an army during World War I, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Carousel of Provence…. Deep within the labyrinth of caves that lies below the lush, rolling vineyards of the Champagne region, an underground city of women and children hums with life. Forced to take shelter from the unrelenting … shelter from the unrelenting onslaught of German shellfire above, the bravest and most defiant women venture out to pluck sweet grapes for the harvest. But wine is not the only secret preserved in the cool, dark cellars…
In present day, Rosalyn Acosta travels to Champagne to select vintages for her Napa-based employer. Rosalyn doesn’t much care for champagne–or France, for that matter. Since the untimely death of her young husband, Rosalyn finds it a challenge to enjoy anything at all. But as she reads through a precious cache of WWI letters and retraces the lives lived in the limestone tunnels, Rosalyn will unravel a mystery hidden for decades…and find a way to savor her own life again.
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A beautifully captivating story of wartime tenacity and tenderness that celebrates the sweetest bonds of human relationships and the courage to love again after loss. So exquisitely rich in detail, you’ll feel bubbles on your tongue.
As a Francophile, I love Juliet Blackwell’s stand-alones set in France. The Vineyards of Champagne is no exception. The World War I history woven into the story is fascinating, as are the details of life in rural France and world of champagne production. And who could resist her gorgeous but grumpy French vintner?
Juliet Blackwell does it again. What a wonderful, heartwarming read.
I do so love a Juliet Blackwell book. She is an auto buy for me and this is my favorite of hers. I will never look at a glass of champagne the same way ever again. Could not put this one down and some of the most like-able and endearing characters ever. Truly a gem of a book.
This book will be right up the alley of my readers, although all of Juliet’s novels are wonderful.
Set partially in the massive and widespread cellars of Champagne, a city of women defy an army during World War I.
In present day, Rosalyn travels to France in large part to get over her young husband’s death, and discovers a hidden cache of letters from WWI that will set her off to uncover a long-kept mystery.
I found this story to be beautiful and haunting. I finished this book few days ago and have read other books since then but the story is still resonating in my mind and heart.
The book explores the Champagne Region of France during both present time and World War 1 where women, children and families hid in the caves.
I loved the dual timeline to see how the region has dealt with the tragedies of the past from a historical view point as well as a personal view point. The main characters are dealing with feelings of grief in the present time from personal tragedies as well as the grief of a nation from past tragedies. However, they are all navigating through the darkness and fighting to find happiness and looking towards the future.
Quick Summary:
In the present time, Rosalyn works for a Napa Winery and is on her way to France for a work trip. She meets a woman named Emma on her flight and finds herself making conversation. She learns that Emma has a great aunt who wrote letters to a Soldier who fought for France in World War 1. Emma is looking for the other side of the correspondence which consists of the letters that her great aunt wrote and she would like Rosalyn to help her find them and catalogue the historical letters for a book she would like to get published. The story of the past is told using 2-3 different view points through letters.
Nicely done.
The reader gets a detailed and intriguing story from WWII about the inhabitants of the champagne region in France. In addition we get some Australia, past and present, and California.
A good look at the realities of war time and the work of creating wines.
What a compelling novel, just fantastic.
A delightful time-slip that looks at loving, losing, and learning to move on after devastating losses. Allowing honesty, vulnerability and friendships are explored and shown as powerful tools.
I loved this book so much! The Vineyards of Champagne is an amazing historical fiction novel that opened my eyes to some of the historical facts of what happened in WWI and the families who lived in the underground caves in those regions in France. Rosalyn, a recent widow still reeling from the death of her young husband is set to travel to France for her employer in Napa Valley. There Rosalyn meets Emma who is researching about the letters she found. The book is written so beautifully and I really enjoy reading historical fiction from that period. The writing is well researched and provided a lot of accurate historical facts surrounding that area in France, the families lives during the war and the Champagne culture in France. I highly recommend this book for HF fans. I enjoyed reading about this book about hope and healing as well.
I have always thought WWII was my time but I am coming to realize that WWI was just as intriguing. I love hearing about the history of a place that has always been known for its amazing champagne but has so much more history to learn about.
The letters that were read in the present time bring to light a history story that you would never find in a classroom and makes the WWI era so much more real. The art of writing letters is lost to many with all the present technology but in the time of war that was the only way to send messages of love and support to those who were fighting. I love that people stepped up and wrote to the soldiers that they didn’t even know, it proved that humanity was strong even when the world was at war. Love could withstand anything, friendships were formed, and unfortunately, friendships were lost but most of all people cared, they wanted to help in even the smallest way and were willing to do whatever they could to support the soldiers in their times of need.
The present story of Rosalyn was just as important. She was grieving the loss of her husband, working a job that she didn’t love, and traveling to a place that she didn’t enjoy. In France, she found new friendships, discovered that she did like champagne, and learned that she could be happy again. She also helped a new friend solve the mystery of her ancestry. Rosalyn put herself in positions that were uncomfortable and learned that a little discomfort can have great results. I was excited to see her grow and open her heart up to new friendships.
The Vineyards of Champagne is an amazing historical fiction book with the dual timelines, the wonderful settings, and the amazing characters it is a must-read.
Rosalyn works for a vineyard in Napa, California, and is told she has to go to Champagne, France. Who wouldn’t want to go to Champagne, France – well…Rosalyn isn’t too excited about going.
On her flight over, Rosalyn meets Emma who has found letters from a soldier and a woman that corresponded during the war. She asked Rosalyn to help her put all the letters together and to make some sense out of them, but Rosalyn declines the offer. She said she has to do what her employer asked her to do.
When Rosalyn finds one of the letters in her bag that Emma must have not picked up after they all fell to the floor, she becomes interested in the correspondence as she translates the letters through all the grime and worn out and unable-to-be translated words.
Rosalyn wishes she would have told Emma she would help her. She could do that if she gets organized and finds the business card Emma had given her.
Translating these letters would be much more interesting than going from one local wine producer to the next trying to drum up business.
I tend to agree with Rosalyn….I would prefer dealing with the letters to uncover the past than dealing with wine makers. I always enjoy books that have the characters finding items from the past that uncover secrets and a past life.
Readers get a marvelous glimpse of France’s quaint, cozy homes, the warmth of the French people, and the history of Champagne and how its citizens coped during the war.
If you love champagne, history lessons, learning about wine making in France, unraveling secrets, reading old letters, exploring old houses, meeting marvelous characters, and being treated to a terrific story line, do not miss reading THE VINEYARDS OF CHAMPAGNE.
Juliet Blackwell has given us another pull-you-in read.
THE VINEYARDS OF CHAMPAGNE will have you falling in love with the characters and the Champagne Region of France, and have you looking at how you need to focus on making yourself happy. 5/5
This book was given to me by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.