Helen Fripp

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

Gripping and heartbreaking French historical fiction

The French House

"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 rumor 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 realizes 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..."--

She plucks a perfectly ripe grape, glowing golden in the moonlight. In that moment she knows her life will be full of joy and sorrow: harvest feasts and heartbreak, the thrill of the season's first sip and the bitter threat of betrayal. But if her success could taste this sweet, she would have it no other way. France, 1805. In the sleepy town of Reims, recently widowed Nicole Clicquot is struggling to run her winemaking business alone. Her rival and owner of the largest vineyard in Champagne, calculating Monsieur Moët, is sure she'll accept his offer of marriage. But one look at her little daughter running happily through the vines that could one day be hers, and Nicole knows she could never share her late husband's legacy. Taking courage from the chalk soil beneath her boots, and the heat of the soft French sun, Nicole vows to save the vineyard herself by making the best champagne the world has ever tasted. But toiling over the harvest day and night and the constant disapproval of her gossiping neighbours take their toll on Nicole. Only her husband's oldest friend, Louis, believes she can do this alone. One magical night, as a shooting star illuminates their way under a velvet sky, Nicole gazes up at his warm smile and wonders if, with Louis by her side, her champagne would taste even finer... because isn't the best wine made with love? Then Moët, still bitter over Nicole's rejection, discovers her secret method of making crystal-clear champagne, and the House of Clicquot could lose everything. Did Louis betray her trust, and was she wrong to open her heart again? And with Napoleon's wars looming on the horizon, can she save her vineyards, 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.

Helen Fripp

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