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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
DNF. Loved the author's previous books that I have read, but could not get into this one. Too much love triangle/affairs with completely detestable/unlikeable characters. Not enough about the resistance during the war.
I really enjoyed this book, but then again I've always liked reading about the WWII era and love any book set in France. The twist at the end was completely unexpected. I did find most of the character a bit unlikeable, so I gave it 4 stars. This author has multiple other books set in France during the WWII era so I will be reading more from her - and they're all on Scribd!
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
As WWII HF goes, this one bombed. Sorry. Couldn’t stop myself. There were several characters given to you to consider. From among them, you would have expected to find at least one you could root for. Or sympathize with. Or something. Maybe the only one I sort of liked was the middle-aged, would-be suitor lawyer, Julien, who seemed like a good guy. Beyond that, all of the entangled relationships and story threads were too contrived and unsatisfying. The surprise twist didn’t propel the story, but sort of bogged it down. I would have loved to know more about the champagne industry, grapes, French underground. But these were really only sidelights to the main theme. No one in the book seems to have an identity that sticks. Are you flighty and selfish? Or secretly courageous and determined? Loyal and committed? Or dishonest and untrustworthy? I am completely ok with a character possessing both good and bad traits, but somehow that needs to move people along, refine them or help them grow. Here, the conflicts just kept things muddy and prevented you from connecting with any of them. Maybe I am too harsh, but there were weaknesses in the writing that just kept surfacing and making it hard for me to like the book. Also, it may have been a little due to the narrator. Not a favorite reader for me, so it compounded the problem…
If you liked this one, great! I would love to hear your thoughts as a counter to my own. I have read two other titles by this author and I think this one may be my last. The Book Of Lost Names was pretty good, but I found myself less happy with The Forest Of Vanishing Stars and this one, The Winemaker’s Wife. Does anyone have suggestions of other Kristen Harmel books that you really liked?
If you liked this one, great! I would love to hear your thoughts as a counter to my own. I have read two other titles by this author and I think this one may be my last. The Book Of Lost Names was pretty good, but I found myself less happy with The Forest Of Vanishing Stars and this one, The Winemaker’s Wife. Does anyone have suggestions of other Kristen Harmel books that you really liked?
Loved it!!
Fabulous story. Historical fiction at its finest!
Fabulous story. Historical fiction at its finest!
I didn’t love this one as much as The Book of Lost Names, which I loved. It was good but I couldn’t get into it as much. Told in 2 time periods (WWII and present day) from 3 points of view (Inez and Celine as well as Liv). Without spoilers, it’s the tale of the owner of a champagne house in France, his wife, his chief winemaker and his wife, and their relationships during WWII. Flash forward to present day, we hear from Liv who heads to France with her French grandmother and see how the stories intertwine and how secrets have been kept hidden.
Easily one of the top 3 best books in historical fiction I have ever read!
3 1/2 stars rounded up. The chapters about Ines and Celine were much more compelling and better written than the chapters set in the present day. Liv and Julian’s romance had no chemistry and seemed to come out of nowhere, and Grandma (why wouldn’t she have called her Grandmere) Edith was incredibly annoying.
This one hurt my heart a little, but in some good, make you think ways. One of the better WWII fiction I’ve read in a while.
A little slow to start, I actually put it down for a couple of days, but boy, once you get into the meat of the story it is a "can't put down" type of book. In fact, I stayed up until 4 am to complete it! I really love historical fiction, and WWII draws me for some reason. This book does not begin to cover the horrors of the time, but it does give you a more personal look into day-to-day life during that time. I didn't see the twist coming for quite some time, which is always a treat and keeps you reading on.