The Vintner’s Daughter by Kristen Harnisch is the story of Sara, a young French woman who overcomes adversity to fulfill her dreams. She and her sister are forced to run away from their home in the Loire Valley to America after her sister’s brutal husband beats his pregnant wife and then tries to rape her. Sara had always been interesting in her father’s chosen career as a vintner, and after coming to America she realizes that California, in particular, the Napa Valley would be the ideal place to allow her to work and grow in the wine business.

Almost penniless, Sara arrives in the Napa Valley and starts by working with the Chinese in the vineyards. She is taken under another woman’s wing and eventually gets offered a job at one of the largest wineries in the Valley. This could be perfect except that this winery is owned by the brother of her sister’s husband.

The Vintner’s Daughter is rich in period detail and the two locations of the Loire Valley in France and Napa Valley in California help to enhance the story. There is a lot of detail about the growing of grapes and the making of wine but this does not detract in any way from the story of Sara and how she comes to be a vintner in her own right and find a love that will protect, sustain and partner her. This was a great book to read while sipping on a glass (or two) of wine. ( )

Wow. I didn't think I would finish this book so quickly but I was so eager to find out what happened next that I couldn't resist. When I finished the book, a thought came to me....I should have had a glass of wine to sip on while reading. Hahaha.

The book started off with Sara confessing to killing a man. Bam! That caught my attention, I was eager to find out what happened that lead Sara and Lydia to flee France and go all the way across the ocean to the United States.

I rather liked reading about Sara, she is such an intelligent and feisty young lady, who unfortunately came under some unfortunate circumstances. She inspires loyalty from friends that she makes along the way, who do wonders and help her enormously (Marie, Aurora, Jacques). Sara shows her determination and long term thinking over and over again throughout the book. Especially in raising Luc and working hard in the vineyard.

Naturally the focus is on Sara, but I would have liked a few more scenes where the story is told from Philippe's point of view. We aren't really given too much chances to really get to know him at a deeper level. I thought we were in the beginning of the book where he is trying to get Lamont on board with his plan of expanding their wine sales across the states. That scene helped give him credibility as an intelligent person, with potential and compassion.

While parts of the story was cliched and predictable it was still enjoyable and pleasant to read. well minus the attack on Sara and Lydia's death

Overall, it was a good read. Definitely gave some good insight into what vintners do with their vineyard and the process necessary to produce the wine we drink. Plus Sara and Philippe's story was quite lovely to read. ( )

[The Vintner's Daughter] by [Kristen Harnisch] begins in France's Loire Valley in 1896. Sara Thibault and her sister Lydia decide to flee France after an act of violence against them. Their father had recently died and the family vineyard had been sold to pay debts. After arriving in New York Sara learns about Napa Valley and it's suitability for growing grapes. She is determined to become a vintner herself, though women are not welcome in that profession. Soon she is on her way across the country with very little money, but with a wealth of knowledge about growing grapes and making wine. She begins her new life by living in a tent on a river with Chinese vineyard workers. Working alongside them in a large vineyard she is surprised to learn the vineyard is being temporarily managed by a women with a name she recognizes. Aurora Thierry is a well known agriculturist, one that Sara has read and admired. She and Aurora become friends and Aurora's contacts give Sara the opportunity to live her dreams. In addition to Sarah's professional struggles the plot
also includes a murder and a romance.

This is a first novel with some rough spots though it isn't a bad read. One of my pet peeves in historical novels is for the characters to use expressions or vocabulary that wouldn't have been used at that time and there are a few of those here. Another problem for me is that too much of the plot rests on unlikely circumstances. Still the overall concept is interesting and I learned things I didn't know about vineyards and growing. ( )

I loved the frame of this novel, and the characters, although they didn't feel overly complex.

The Vintner's Daughter is a Historical Fiction novel that starts out in France, the Loire Valley, and the main character, Sara Thibault, who still lives at home with her family and spending her days helping her sister prepare for her wedding and working in the family vineyard. Her passion is assisting her father tending the grapes in their winery. She is very proficient and loves what she does. Her sister marries into the Lemieux but not is all it is supposed to be. Lydia's becomes a punching bag for her husband and a terrible tragedy happens that causes Lydia and Sara to flee to America.

They arrive and end up in a convent in New York awaiting the birth of Lydia's baby. Another tragedy occurs that forces Sara to flee to Napa Valley where her plans are to purchase some land and start a winery of her own. Unbeknownst to her, she ends up on the vineyard of Phillipe Lemieux, Lydia's brother in law. The story continues from there with an instant attraction to Phillipe. Should she stay? If she does her whole world could fall apart. This is a story of betrayal, ambition and love that will definitely have you rooting for Sara as she comes to terms with her life.

I found this novel to be very readable, enough suspense and romance to keep me turning the pages. A plot that is believable and the subject matter very well researched by the author. I read it in a few sittings and thoroughly enjoyed it. ( )