The Winemaker’s Wife by Kristin Harmel is a story of
war, of survival, of betrayal and of redemption. The story opens in May 1940,
Ines Chauveau and her husband, Michel have been married for almost a year. They
live among the vineyards of the Champagne regions and produce some of the
finest Champagne. News comes to them that the Germans have invaded France and
Michel begins his preparations. Fast forward to June 2019, Liv Kent is 41 years
old, jobless, childless and on the verge of divorce when her eccentric
grandmother, Edith Thierry, arrives and takes to her Paris. The story travels
back and forth between 1940-1943 as Ines, Michel and their friends, Theo
Laurent, the head winemaker and his wife, Celine, deal with the German
occupation and June 2019 as Liv is trying to figure out what her Grandma Edith
needs to tell her but seems very reluctant to do so. Liv meets Julien Cohn, a
family friend and lawyer who knows parts of Edith’s story but can’t reveal what
he knows without betrayal attorney-client privilege. What horrors do Ines,
Michel, Theo and Celine must endure in order to survive? What is the connection
to Liv and Edith now?
Last year, I reviewed Ms. Harmel’s The Room on Rue Amelie
and loved it. When I had the opportunity to read The Winemaker’s Wife, I
eagerly looked forward to it. Both books feature events surrounding the French
Resistance between World War II. While I enjoyed The Room on Rue Amelie,
I loved The Winemaker’s Wife! This book was filled with drama, action,
intrigue and tears from the opening chapter to the closing pages. I enjoyed
every character and loved how they evolved and did their part during the war. There
are great moments which I can’t discuss as it will give away major plot twists,
but it is a story of great endurance and survival. Most American history class
teach World War II with a brief synopsis of the war before 1941 when the
Americans officially entered the war, so I enjoyed reading about the French
Resistance and the underground which fought against German occupation. One of
my favorite quotes from the book is from Grandma Edith who says, “Many people
lose more than they can image, and they find a way to carry one.” This
statement certainly describes the individuals who fought against unbelievable
odds to survive. I highly, highly recommend The Winemaker’s Wife. It is
an amazing, beautiful story with twists and turns that just when you think you
see where the story is heading, you’re wrong! It will not disappoint!
The Winemaker’s
Wife
is available in
hardcover, eBook and audiobook
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