Looking at Love!
Happy Valentine’s Day! Vineyards, jewels, cupcakes and bookstores, mystery…stir your heart with these lovely books!
Praise for The Vineyards of Champagne
“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.”—Susan Meissner, bestselling author of The Last Year of the War
“Blackwell moves effortlessly between present-day France and the battlefields of WWI… The allure of the decades-old mystery of missing letters juxtaposed against the history of the caves of Champagne makes for a satisfying page-turner.”—Publishers Weekly
“Blackwell’s exquisite talent at interweaving the past with the present is on full display in her latest…telling the universal story of grief, loss, and human resilience.”—Booklist
JENA’S REVIEW
The Vineyards of Champagne by Juliet Blackwell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This thoughtful and compelling book is both a toast to champagne- the drink and the region in France as well as a salute to the human spirit. Champagne- so bubbly, light on the tongue, effervescent, it’s the nectar of celebrations, a beverage of joy. But this is not a giddy story. The Vineyards of Champagne is a lyrical and lovely look at the past and present, its sadness and challenges.
When we meet Rosalyn, sitting in first class on her way to a small village in the Champagne region of France, she is not at all a poster girl for champagne, surprising since she is a wine sales rep. She lives in the shadows and suffers by crouching in front of her medicine cabinet, ever since Dash, the vibrant love of her life died.
On the plane, she is seated by a human force of nature, Emma from Australia, a wealthy wine investor. Emma is not married, she is not a widow, or “veuve” but she is in the same mold as the famous Madame Clicquot, the first woman to head a champagne house. The Veuve Clicquot is well-described in this book, so I looked her up. “In an era when women were excluded from the business world, she dared to assume the head of the company, a role she undertook with passion and determination. Madame Clicquot’s character might be summarized with two words: audacious and intelligent.” Audacious and intelligent also describes Emma.
Once in France Emma and Rosalyn meet and stay with the family of a small champagne house and grow quite close to Blondine, a wonderful character. The three of them team up because of their champagne connection, but they grow close as they investigate a century-old mystery. Emma is in possession of some letters that her great-aunt wrote to a young French soldier serving in the trenches during World War 1. Their epistolary relationship is a highlight of the book. What ever happened to the soldier, and his lover?
This is not a thrilling or suspenseful story; rather, it echoes the strength and timelessness of the Champagne region. The soil and its caves can nourish as well as save. Growers and producers of champagne face hard constant toil and must be as strong as the land that creates the grapes. The characters in this story are connected because they all face trials of the spirit.
I commend the author for creating a readable story that is filled with such entertaining depth . Juliet Blackwell is able to teach us about grapes and champagne, from Napa Valley to France in an appealing way. She is quite adept at creating full characters that are so real and authentic. Emma seems to Australian. The French characters are so French in their words, thoughts and actions. This is one of the saddest depictions of World War I have read.
I have not traveled that much in Europe, but as a college student, I did make it to Reims. I remember seeing the beautiful Cathedral, but nothing else. Oh, to have known more about the history of the place, the people living in the wine caves and cellars during the War! Thanks to this book, I now feel connected to the region.
The next time you drink Champagne, think of the stories behind it. Maison Veuve Clicquot has produced luxury champagnes sine 1772. It proclaims on its website, “Let Life Surprise you”. I highly recommend this book. Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an advanced digital review copy. This is my honest review.
Reviews for Cartier’s Hope
“MJ Rose’s latest encapsulates everything I love about historical fiction: a heroine whose journey is as timely today as it is in the 1910s, a glamorous setting that perfectly melds fact and fiction into an unputdownable tale, and at the sparkling center of it all: New York City. A true gem by an author at the top of her game.” —Fiona Davis, nationally bestselling author of The Chelsea Girls
“M.J. Rose soars with Cartier’s Hope, a heady tale of romance, intrigue and empowerment. The contrasting poverty and wealth of turn of the century New York make for a vivid backdrop for the story of Vera, a journalist determined to go beyond the confines imposed on women in her field and learn the truth about the Hope Diamond while confronting her own dark past. Readers will root for journalist Vera on her page-turning quest for the truths that are both intimate and universal. Brava!” —Pam Jenoff,New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Girls of Paris
“From the very first page, Cartier’s Hope plunges the reader into the fascinating world of New York jewelers, journalists, and high society at the dawn of the Gilded Age. With her signature elegance and attention to detail, M.J. Rose weaves a twisting tale of greed, revenge, and masked identities that put love and lives at risk. A fast-paced historical novel that shines with as much intrigue and mystery as the Hope Diamond itself.” —Kristina McMorris, New York Times bestselling author of Sold on a Monday and The Edge of Lost
JENA’S REVIEW
Cartier’s Hope by M.J. Rose
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Even those of us who don’t know much about gemology will certainly light up when the Hope Diamond is mentioned. With a rare color and amazing size and owned at one time by Louis XIV- it truly is “Le Bijou du Roi”. According to legend, a curse befell the large, blue diamond when it was stolen from an idol in India — a curse that foretold bad luck and death not only for the owner of the diamond but for all who touched it. The Hope Diamond (named Hope after one of its owners) now resides in the Smithsonian. IN the early 1900’s it was owned by the house of Cartier.
In her previous book, Tiffany Blues, author M. J. Rose gave us a luscious historical and romantic look at the Tiffany family during the Jazz Age. In Cartier’s Hope, we are introduced to the Cartier family and the Hope Diamond, as well as life in the early 1900’s. This book features romance and mystery along with many characters and a detailed look at the changing times in New York City.
The main character is Vera Garland, the daughter of a wealthy department store owner. Her mother wants her to follow the upper-class role set out for young woman but Vera, who has graduated from college, wants to do something meaningful with her life. She is sensitive to privilege, fairness, and social needs and she wants to establish herself as an intrepid reporter like Nellie Bly. Her path makes life hard for her. When she learns of some serious family secrets, she becomes even more combative. How can she choose happiness- when life seems so unfair to her?
A gem cutter can see the beauty hidden in a rough stone and cut the stone so as to reveal the true beauty of the gem. When applied to life, we see that Vera can’t see the hidden beauty in her own life, in the life of her family and friends, or in the world. She interacts with some fascinating people, including her mother, the highly respected businessman and gentleman Pierre Cartier, and jeweler Jacob Asher. The ending of this story of trickery and deceit may surprise you.
Vera tackles quite a bit in the story- poverty, tenement life, women’s rights and suffrage, all while searching for her own place in the world. As a diamond gives off so much brilliance, this books shoots light at many different topics.
Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for a digital advanced review cop. This is my honest review.
The Story of Us
JENA’S REVIEW
The Story Of Us: Based On the Hallmark Channel Original Movie by Teri Wilson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
You may think this book is just another tried and true boy loves girl, boy moves away, boy and girl reunite love story. Oh no- this is the sweetest, most refreshing and genuine romance I have ever read. The Story of Us features:
A charming small town in Oregon
A darling bookstore called the True Love Bookstore and Café
Cupcakes and flowers galore
Valentines and love letters
A handsome and educated guy, Sawyer
A pretty and spunky young lady, Jamie who is on a “romantic hiatus”
Good friends
An all-knowing cat
Lattes topped with heart-shaped whipped cream
A few problems, a la jane Austen
Sparkling chemistry between the two main characters, and their sidekicks
What more could you want? Well, how about a storybook ending featuring a kiss steeped in fairytales and valentines and a kiss born of literature and love stories. Happy Valentine’s Day and swoon over this appealing “once upon a time” romance. I agree with sweet Jamie, “the lure of love never goes away.”
And since this is a Hallmark romance, there is a recipe for Wild Mushroom and Asparagus Risotto- wow! Thanks to NetGalley and Hallmark Publishing for an advance review copy. This is my honest review.
Big Lies in a Small Town
“Chamberlain’s depictions of creative beauty and perseverance across time and in the face of inevitable obstacles will keep readers turning the pages.”—Publishers Weekly
“Chamberlain’s writing is reminiscent of a quilt made up of pieces from different people, places, and times, stitched together into a single, emotional story.”—Booklist
JENA’S REVIEW
Big Lies in a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
One of the best parts of reading is finding a book that shows and teaches you something new. This lyrical and evocative book brings to the reader the world of art: painting, the creation of a mural, and the field of art restoration. I so enjoyed learning how artists think and create. And even, more I was swept away by the powerful story of Anna Dale and Morgan Christopher.
The story is based on a New Deal Public Works of Art Project called the 48 State Mural Competition. During the Depression, artists competed to paint a mural for a post office, one in each of the 48 states. This book has a dual timeline, and we meet artist Anna Dale in 1939. She has been chosen as an artist and assigned to create a mural for the post office in the small town of Edenton, North Carolina. She is young and talented, but grew up New Jersey, and is thus a “furriner” when she comes to the south to create her mural.
Morgan Christopher tells us her story in the present day. She is also a young adult, and she wants to be an artist, although her life has fallen off the rails. She comes to Edenton at the behest of a famous African American artist, Jesse Williams, for a mysterious reason. What is striking about the beginning of story, is that Anna and Morgan lived such parallel lives. We see Anna walking down the Main Street of Edenton in 1939, filled with hope and concern, and then we see Morgan walking the same streets with equal problems. We learn how Anna created her her mural, how she researched to chose the images she would paint, and the fascinating way that a large mural is created. We also see how Morgan learned to restore the same mural almost 80 years later.
In addition to the main characters, many other wonderful people inhabit this book. The townspeople of both eras, some delightful, some hideous, some caring and some crude, are all well-drawn and compelling to read about. Like a painting, there are many layers and shades of mystery in this book and I know you will find it hard to stop reading. There are also layers of issues that are interesting to read about from a perspective of 1939 and the present: race relations, abuse, and mental illness.
But most of all, this is a book about restoration: of the mural, but also the lives of Anna and Morgan. Sometimes it’s a big event, some times an act of bravery, and sometimes it’s love, but lives can be restored.
I highly recommend this book. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a digital review copy. This is my honest review.
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