The Widows of Champagne

By: Renee Ryan

Narrated by: Karen Peakes

“History, drama, and passion as effervescent as the resilient LeBlanc women and the champagne that bears their name. I highly recommend!”
—Karen White, New York Times bestselling author

In this captivating story of resilience, three generations of women battle to save their family’s vineyard from the ravages of WWII.

Champagne, 1939

Gabrielle Leblanc Dupree is taking her family’s future into her hands. While she should be preparing for a lavish party to celebrate two centuries of champagne making, she secretly hides Chateau Fouché-Leblanc’s most precious vintages behind a fake wall in the cellar in preparation for the looming war. But when she joins the resistance, the coveted champagne isn’t the most dangerous secret her cellar must conceal…

A former Parisian socialite, Gabrielle’s mother, Hélène, lost her husband to another war. Now her home has been requisitioned by the Germans, who pillage vineyards to satisfy the Third Reich’s thirst for the finest champagne. There’s even more at stake than Hélène dares admit. She has kept her heritage a secret…and no one is safe in Nazi-occupied France.

Josephine, the family matriarch, watches as her beloved vineyard faces its most difficult harvest yet. As her daughter-in-law and granddaughters contend with the enemies and unexpected allies in their midst, Josephine’s deep faith leads to her own path of resistance.

Across years and continents, the Leblanc women will draw on their courage and wits, determined against all odds to preserve their lives, their freedom and their legacy…


A must-read novel from Love Inspired: Stories to Uplift and Inspire.

Great book that incorporates a wonderful element of faith

So refreshing to read a book that incorporates themes of faith in God and a reliance on him to persevere through even the most difficult of tragedies. And a wonderful story to boot!

Strong Women Survive

An interesting approach to WWII with insight into the champagne region and the making of champagne. There generations of women try to survive Nazi oppression. There is their feminine wiles, their intelligence and their strong characters to keep from falling into the Nazi traps.

The strength and intelligence of a house of women wine makers against the takeover of Natzi regime.

The story blended historical Natzi take over in France during WW 11, with the endurance of female home owners of a productive champagne vineyard. Each character was carefully developed, with each of the women voice variations to distinguish who was speaking.

Great storyline!

I really enjoyed this book. She had a clever storyline and things that were very unexpected! I was sad it was over!

Moving, historic novel

Loved so much! The French setting, the characters, captivating. Warm and intriguing and eye opening to what the French went through at that time