Good story with a touch of humor and a happy ending. Great beach reading! ( )

Clementine è una donna inflessibile, indurita dal proprio lavoro tra le vigne e dalla vita non proprio gentile nei suoi confronti: se non fosse per quei chili di troppo, assomiglierebbe a una delle sue viti, con le radici aggrappate alla terra dei suoi avi e le membra contorte per far fronte alle avversità.
Un evento improvviso porterà con sé visite inaspettate e non gradite: la vita di Clementine sarà decisamente scombussolata e la donna si troverà a dover affrontare temi dolorosi che ha cercato per anni di tener chiusi nel suo cuore.
Romanzo frizzante come un bicchiere di champagne, che invoglia a scoprire o gustare con occhi diversi questo vino prezioso. ( )

Another light-weight beach read. Published in the UK as "House of Paine", I enjoyed Lynch's depiction of life on a family-run French vineyard. I also really enjoyed the details about the champagne-making. Lynch outlines at the start of the book the extensive research she conducted about the history of champagne and its process, and it really comes through in her story. I learned so much!

A vein of eccentricity runs through this story - from the rumbling ruin of a family home, a miniature pony as Clementine's indoor family pet and Le Petite Noix, the wizened sharp-witted gypsy who suddenly shows up one day, stays through the picking season and tries to guide the three sisters in their relationship. As for the sisters - Clementine, Mathilde and Sophie - they all harbour resentments, bitterness, pain and regrets, but their differences are sharply defined, as is the antagonism between Clementine and Mathilde. Mathilde is just mean, with a viperous tongue and I really grew tired of her constant barbs. Clementine I found to be frustrating. Hard working but prone to resorting to running away and eating when trouble or disappointment comes calling. Not surprisingly, Sophie, the youngest, is also the sweetest of three. What I found strange is that Clementine does not come across as a woman who has lived her entire life in rural France... she comes across almost as American as her sister Mathilde. As the story progresses, we get to see the complexities of the characters emerge - kind of like the hidden complexity of the champagne they work to create.

Overall, an alright summer read with some bubbly wit, a light dosing of magical realism against the backdrop of a French vineyard. ( )

I really enjoyed this book, a nice surprise from Sarah-Kate Lynch… after reading BLESSED ARE THE CHEESEMAKERS, I figured I enjoyed it so much knowing cheese makers from Wisconsin… but this book went far beyond, now I know so much more about Champagne! I can't convey the detail in the book but the plot keeps twisting and you keep reading until it's done and your now sad to reach the end. ( )

Je moet er even inkomen maar dan wil je het niet meer wegleggen. heerlijk boek, tot het laatst toe intrigerend.