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emilydoehrman's review against another edition
5.0
I've said this two posts in a row now, but shame on me for putting off this book for so long. I listened to this on audiobook and couldn't stop--literally listening to it as I weightlifted at the gym and finding chores to do around the house to keep my hands occupied while I devoured the story. This book jumps back and forth between present day and past, telling of a vineyard-owning family, the story of the wine, of how the vineyard survived, and of the role it and its owners played throughout the occupation. I would compare this book to The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes not necessarily in writing style, but in how it's formatted. Do yourself a favor and read both.
kaitiebergmann's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this book! I’m not knowledgeable in any way about wine, but I liked the characters and the setting was breathtaking. A beautiful examination of history.
100pagesaday's review against another edition
4.0
"And suddenly I knew- as sure as the laws of chemistry- that remaining passive is no longer prudence. It has become cowardice."
Kate is attempting to pass the demanding Master of Wine examination in order to move up in her career in California. When the restaurant she works for closes suddenly, she takes her mentor's advice to return to the land of her roots- and her family's vineyard in Burgundy to brush up on her French wines. While staying with her brother and sister-in-law, Kate once again comes in contact with neighbor and once fiancee, Jean-Luc. To clear her mind, Kate agrees to help clean out the family cave or basement. While sifting through a hefty amount of junk Kate finds many items from an unknown family member, Helene Marie Charpin. Kate is rebuffed by her Uncle when she asks about Helene. However, a trip to the library gives a clue about the family secret, Helene was prosecuted as a collaborator during WWII. This sends Kate and sister-in-law Heather on a hunt to uncover the truth. While digging, they also uncover a secret cave, untouched since the war and filled with priceless vintage wines.
A family secret, a historical mystery and a romance round out The Lost Vintage. This story has many notes that were brought together like a fine wine. I was drawn in by the beauty of France, the descriptions of the vineyards, grapes, wines and traditions. Then I was intrigued by Kate's broken romance with Jean-Luc. Then the historical mystery found me and I was captivated by Helene and her long lost journal. Lastly, the suspense of tracking down the missing wine pulled me in even further. The point of view switched between Kate and Helene's journal, I am a sucker for dual-time stories, so this suited me perfectly. The plot did pick up for me when Helene's mystery was introduced. I enjoyed learning more about the French resistance as well as the 'horizontal collaborators' and their fate. Helene's story made me think about our choices for survival, making this a relevant story for many people during the present. I was pleased to find out that Helene's story was inspired by Resistor, Agnes Humbert, who I will be looking farther into. Overall, an intricate story that mixes past with present, romance and mystery for a delectable read.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
Kate is attempting to pass the demanding Master of Wine examination in order to move up in her career in California. When the restaurant she works for closes suddenly, she takes her mentor's advice to return to the land of her roots- and her family's vineyard in Burgundy to brush up on her French wines. While staying with her brother and sister-in-law, Kate once again comes in contact with neighbor and once fiancee, Jean-Luc. To clear her mind, Kate agrees to help clean out the family cave or basement. While sifting through a hefty amount of junk Kate finds many items from an unknown family member, Helene Marie Charpin. Kate is rebuffed by her Uncle when she asks about Helene. However, a trip to the library gives a clue about the family secret, Helene was prosecuted as a collaborator during WWII. This sends Kate and sister-in-law Heather on a hunt to uncover the truth. While digging, they also uncover a secret cave, untouched since the war and filled with priceless vintage wines.
A family secret, a historical mystery and a romance round out The Lost Vintage. This story has many notes that were brought together like a fine wine. I was drawn in by the beauty of France, the descriptions of the vineyards, grapes, wines and traditions. Then I was intrigued by Kate's broken romance with Jean-Luc. Then the historical mystery found me and I was captivated by Helene and her long lost journal. Lastly, the suspense of tracking down the missing wine pulled me in even further. The point of view switched between Kate and Helene's journal, I am a sucker for dual-time stories, so this suited me perfectly. The plot did pick up for me when Helene's mystery was introduced. I enjoyed learning more about the French resistance as well as the 'horizontal collaborators' and their fate. Helene's story made me think about our choices for survival, making this a relevant story for many people during the present. I was pleased to find out that Helene's story was inspired by Resistor, Agnes Humbert, who I will be looking farther into. Overall, an intricate story that mixes past with present, romance and mystery for a delectable read.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
wonderwoman619's review against another edition
4.0
A great read exploring past and present
A Goodreads giveaway win!!! I was excited to dig into The Lost Vintage which I won in a recent Goodreads giveaway. I have a Kindle version which I found helpful when reading the French and German terms. The story was wonderful and especially loved the past storyline.
A Goodreads giveaway win!!! I was excited to dig into The Lost Vintage which I won in a recent Goodreads giveaway. I have a Kindle version which I found helpful when reading the French and German terms. The story was wonderful and especially loved the past storyline.
nkk1017's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
jamheck's review against another edition
4.0
as much as i love wine, i could have done without all of the wine theory/ wine-speak. i know the book is based on a vineyard and i loved that, but there were a lot of things that seemed like just a means to an end. loved the family mystery & drama based around the hidden cellar and the resistance during WW2, felt that some of the writing/timing was a bit disjointed but everything came together nicely in the end.
thelily_library's review against another edition
4.0
Fantastic read! A little wordy for my liking, but overall a great story.
bibliobethica's review against another edition
4.0
Light, beachy read involving 2 storylines. The burgundy wine emphasis in the novel added an interesting twist to most WW2 novels. I hadn't read about wines being hidden away during the war. The present day romance story felt contrived, but still enjoyable.
marbooks88's review against another edition
4.0
A beautiful story of family and how secrets impact generations. Kate travels to the family vineyard in France to study for her Master of Wine test. While helping the family clean out the basement they discover a secret room with a stash of valuable wines from before World War II and what looks like a hiding place for the Resistance. As they continue to clean the basement a family secret, a great-aunt, is discovered. Kate & her cousin and his wife want answers to the mysteries they discover. Who hid the wine? What else was the room used for? Who was the great-aunt & why is she unknown?
Thank you to the publisher, William Morrow, for providing an ARC for my honest review.
Thank you to the publisher, William Morrow, for providing an ARC for my honest review.
courtacademia's review against another edition
4.0
I felt immediately transported to the lush French countryside and indulged in the wonderful atmosphere this novel created! It was a lovely bookish vacation that I needed very much. I consider myself fairly novice when it comes to the knowledge of wine, but I learned quite a bit in this story! There was also fair amount of French and while I didn’t know exactly what they were saying, I was able to easily understand the point of the conversations. This book is perfect for those evenings that you just need to getaway while you sip on a scrumptious glass of wine! I enjoyed following Kate in her endeavor to study for the very difficult Master of Wine Examination and uncover deep dark family secrets! Set mostly in Burgundy, France, Kate visits family to expand her already vast knowledge on the vintage wines and assist in clearing out an old cellar where they stumble upon a hidden compartment containing an enormous cache of wine, Resistance documents, and many discarded personal items of great interest! The story oscillates between Kate and a family member’s diary memoirs that chronicled living at the vineyard during WWII. There are many questions that arise as Kate and her cousins dig deeper into the cellar and their secret family history!