Kristen
Harnisch’s The Vintner’s
Daughter is just what wine-loving Francophiles will hope is under their
tree this season. The Vintner’s
Daughter is set near Vouvray in France’s Loire Valley in 1895, then it
moves with Sara, the vintner’s daughter, to America.
Sara
Thibault is seventeen when the book opens and she wants to become a master
winemaker like her father. She has plans
for their Loire Valley family vineyard but after her father’s sudden death in a
mudslide, her mother sells their land to a rival whose son, Bastien, marries
Sara’s sister. Sara soon sees that her
brother-in-law’s plans are more for evil than for winemaking. When he dies violently, Sara and her sister
flee to New York to escape accusations. Later in California, Sara meets Philippe, Bastien’s brother, who is searching for the person
responsible for his brother’s death. Sara wants to avoid Philippe but he’s a
committed winemaker and is building the largest vineyard in the Napa region and
unlike others, he’s willing to hire Sara for her expertise. Will Sara fall in
love with Philippe? Will Philippe learn
of her background? Will she be able to regain her family’s vineyard in
France?
Sara’s
courage and fortitude will win over readers that love reading about strong
women overcoming betrayals and setbacks.
Harnisch combines meticulous research about the history of the wine
industry with a strong love story to create a page-turning novel to be enjoyed
with a glass of Vouvray. I read the
print version but to prepare for this giveaway I listened to an audio sample
and can attest that Tavia Gilbert’s reading is impeccable. Her pronunciation of French locales and terms
in the portions set in the Loire Valley is flawless and she reads at just the
right tempo for the book’s pace. Her reading complements the realistic dialogue
and apt descriptions that contribute to the book’s ability to place the reader
in the period.
Summing
it Up: Read or listen to this charmer if you love wine, France, and historical
fiction with a romantic touch and accurate details. Select this as a gift for Adriana Trigiani
fans. She says it’s: “Lush and
evocative, this novel brings the Loire Valley and its glorious vineyards to
life in a story that will delight readers everywhere.” As a bonus, Harnisch plans a sequel with an
early 2016 release date.
Rating: 4 stars
Category:
Dessert, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Super Nutrition, Book Club
Publication
date: August 5, 2014
Author’s
Website: http://www.kristenharnisch.com/#sthash.eVCpOH7b.dpbs
What
Others are Saying:
Kirkus
Reviews: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/kristen-harnisch/vintners-daughter/
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