The French House : Gripping and heartbreaking French historical fiction

Looking back at the crumbling house hidden away in the vineyards, the sound of her daughter’s laughter carrying on the breeze, Nicole plucks a perfect red grape and is reminded her life will never be the same. With her husband gone, her troubles are hers alone... For heartbroken Nicole Clicquot, running the winery her husband left behind is the only chance she has to keep a roof over her head and provide a future for her little girl. She won’t listen to the gossips who insist that the rolling fields of chalk soil are no place for a woman. But as the seasons change, bringing a spoiled harvest and bitter grapes, the vineyards are on the brink of collapse. Without her husband’s oldest friend, travelling merchant Louis, she’d truly be lost. No one else would stay up all night to help count endless rows of green bottles deep in the cellars, or spread word far and wide that Nicole makes the finest champagne he’s ever tasted. One magical night, as a shooting star illuminates their way under a velvet sky, Nicole gazes up at his warm smile and wonders if perhaps she doesn’t need to be quite so alone... But when Louis shrinks from her touch after returning from a long trip abroad, Nicole fears something is terribly wrong. And as an old secret about her husband – that only Louis knew – spreads from the cobbled village streets all the way to the Paris salons, her heart and fragile reputation are shattered. Was she wrong to put her trust in another man? And with Napoleon’s wars looming on the horizon, can she find a way to save her vineyards, her home, and her daughter from ruin? Fans of Chocolat, Carnegie’s Maid, Dinah Jeffries and anyone longing to sip champagne under the stars will adore this stunning historical read, inspired by the true story of how Nicole Clicquot blazed her own path to build the world’s greatest champagne house: Veuve Clicquot. Read what everyone’s saying about The French House: 'Extraordinary. Outstanding... absolutely amazing... just wow!... this book is exquisite. Absolute perfection. A masterpiece. One of my favourite reads ever... one of the finest books out this year and one of the best historical fiction reads ever.’ Renita D’Silva, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Wow! What a story... transports you... I was captivated... I found myself reading late into the night... extraordinary... so moving and totally enthralled me... will stay with me for a long time.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A fascinating book... very heartwarming... I found this book very hard to put down and I thoroughly enjoyed every page.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Beautifully written, fascinating novel... comes alive on the pages... wonderful... extra special.’ Angela Petch, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘What a treat... emotional... An excellent read.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Instantly and completely immersed me in a beautiful romance, heartbreak and the passion of Madame Clicquot.... The author’s ability to whisk me away to the vineyards of post-Revolutionary France and bring to life a feisty, determined heroine who blazed her own path in a man’s world is extraordinary.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Wow! An incredible historical novel... All the feels.’ Chaos Happiness Book Mama, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Vivid and wonderful... a lovely book.’ The Writer's Workout ‘Wow! What a story... I was captivated... I found myself reading late into the night... extraordinary... so moving and totally enthralled me... will stay with me for a long time.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reims, France, 1805. Looking back at the crumbling house hidden away in the vineyards, the sound of her daughter’s laughter carrying on the breeze, Nicole plucks a perfect red grape and is reminded her life will never be the same. With her husband gone, her troubles are hers alone... For grieving Nicole Clicquot, saving the vineyards her husband left behind is her one chance to keep a roof over her head and provide a future for her little girl. She ignores the gossips who insist the fields are no place for a woman: but one day, buying fresh croissants at the boulangerie, Nicole is shocked to hear a rumour about her husband. They say he died with a terrible secret. One that brings disgrace on Nicole and turns the whole town against her. Heartbroken, her reputation in tatters, and full of questions no one can answer, Nicole turns to her husband’s oldest friend, travelling merchant Louis. His warm smile and kind advice seem to melt her troubles away. And as they taste her first golden wine of the season and look out over the endless rolling hills, Nicole starts to believe she can turn her fortunes around, and be welcomed back into the local community. But when Louis avoids her after a long trip abroad, Nicole sees he has secrets of his own... and just as she doubts if he’s on her side, she realises how her feelings for him had grown. Desperately torn between her head and her heart, Nicole works day and night on a plan for her future: but to save her home and her little daughter from ruin, she must risk everything... Fans of Chocolat, Carnegie’s Maid, Dinah Jeffries and anyone longing to sip champagne under the stars will adore this stunning historical read, inspired by the true story of how Nicole Clicquot blazed her own path to build the world’s greatest champagne house: Veuve Clicquot. Read what everyone’s saying about The French House: 'Extraordinary. Outstanding... absolutely amazing... just wow!... this book is exquisite. Absolute perfection. A masterpiece. One of my favourite reads ever... one of the finest books out this year and one of the best historical fiction reads ever.’ Renita D’Silva, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘One of the best books I’ve read... stunning... it grabbed me and pulled me right in to Nicole Clicquot‘s story... unforgettable... addictive... you feel really caught up in the twists and turns... has to be experienced to truly realise how special it is... I was totally immersed... The vineyards stretched away in every direction as he plucked a perfect red grape, sparkling with dew. Marry me, hed said. Well run these vineyards together. But now he is gone. There is no one to share the taste of the first fruit of the harvest. And her troubles are hers alone In sleepy littleReims, France, grievingNicole Clicquotwatches her daughter play amongst the vines under the golden sun and makes a promise to herself. Her gossiping neighbours insist that the rolling fields of chalk soil are no place for a woman, but she is determined to make a success of the winery. Its the only chance she has to keep a roof over her head and provide a future for her little girl. But as the seasons change, bringing a spoiled harvest and bitter grapes, the vineyards are on the brink of collapse. Without her husbands oldest friend, travelling merchantLouis, shed truly be lost. No one else would stay up all night to help count endless rows of green bottles deep in the cellars, or spread word far and wide that Nicole makes the finest champagne hes ever tasted. One magical night, as a shooting star illuminates their way under a velvet sky, Nicole gazes up at his warm smile and wonders if perhaps she doesnt need to bequiteso alone But when Louis shrinks from her touch after returning from a long trip abroad, Nicole fears something is terribly wrong. And as an old secret about her husband that only Louis knew spreads from the cobbled village streets all the way to the Paris salons, her heart and fragile reputation are shattered. Was she wrong to put her trust in another man? And with Napoleons wars looming on the horizon, can she find a way to save her vineyards, and her daughter, from ruin? Fans ofChocolat,Carnegies Maid, Dinah Jeffries and anyone longing to sip champagne under the stars will adore this stunning historical read, inspired by the true story of how Nicole Clicquot blazed her own path to build the worlds greatest champagne house: Veuve Clicquot. Previously titled: The Champagne Widow