Kate Macintosh

A novel of champagne, strong women, and grit. Some have it and some don't. Nathalie's life has fallen apart and she travels to Paris as an adventure and to prove she isn't beaten. When she finds a notebook of letters written by the Widow Clicquot to her great-granddaughter, Natalie finds the words speak to her, inspiring her to live again. With characters that leap off the page because they feel real and somehow familiar, MacIntosh has crafted a book that will stay with me long after I put show more it on the shelf with my favorite books where I will read it again. show less

I love the Veuve Cliquot champagne that Madame Clicquot created and am always up for a story about her. Net Galley provided me with an advanced review copy of this historical fiction account of Madam Cliquot's life. The book will be published on December 10, 2024.

The publisher's summary: Reims, France, 1805: Barbe-Nicole Clicquot has just lost her beloved husband but is determined to pursue their dream of creating the premier champagne house in France, now named for her new identity as a show more widow: Veuve Clicquot. With the Russians poised to invade, competitors fighting for her customers, and the Napoleonic court politics complicating matters she must set herself apart quickly and permanently if she, and her business, are to survive. In present day Chicago, broken from her divorce, Natalie Taylor runs away to Paris. In a book stall by the Seine, Natalie finds a collection of the Widow Clicquot’s published letters and uses them as inspiration to step out of her comfort zone and create a new, empowered life for herself. But when her Parisian escape takes a shocking and unexpected turn, she’s forced to make a choice. Should she accept her losses and return home, or fight for the future she’s only dreamed about? What would the widow do?

I absolutely LOVED this novel! The story is told in alternating perspectives and time periods. Barbe-Nicole Clicquot lived during the 1800s in France and Natalie lives in the present era in Chicago. I have found in the past that when there are dual narratives, one seems to be much better than the other. Here we have two equally compelling narratives. When one chapter ended, I groaned. However, when the next chapter ended I groaned again.

I loved that as Natalie's story was told, she kept a biography of Clicquot in her bag. She referenced it as she hit lows in her post-divorce vacation in France. Madame Clicquot inspired her to live differently than she had before. In the past Natalie always served others. She began to put herself first by being as bold as Madame Clicquot was. I myself was inspired by Natalie's musings over how to change her life by acting as Clicquot did. I, too, am in a transition period as Natalie. One of the sayings that she especially loved from Clicquot was her definition of strength. Madame Clicquot thought that strength was a series of choices. It is not a state of mind. I like this definition!

During Natalie's stay in Paris she meets two people who swindle her out of her money and assets. Believing that these two are not connected to each other, Natalie fell prey to a wine fraud scheme and was questioned by the police. After reviewing the biography Natalie found a way to get her money back that was ingenious. It was risky because the police would then assume that she was involved in the fraud from the beginning. She wasn't. However, Madame Clicquot took huge risks with her business in order to be on top of the champagne business. We all know how successful she was.

The Champagne Letters is a must read. I recommend that you pre-order the book. Amazon will allow you to do so even though the publication date is six months away. I assume that other booksellers will offer pre-sales too. show less

Natalie, recently divorced and floundering, took herself off to Paris for a life reset. It’s hard to start over after decades in a marriage when confronted by your trusted mate’s new (but not that new) relationship. On one of her forays from her boutique hotel, she found a book of translated letters of guidance from a woman who became the Grande Dame of Champagne. Those guiding letters lent Natalie the strength to find her way through her adventure in Paris, an adventure that involved a show more man and champagne and a reminder that not all was as it seemed in "The Champagne Letters". show less

In present day Chicago, broken from her divorce, Natalie Taylor runs away to Paris. In a book stall by the Seine, Natalie finds a collection of the Widow Clicquot’s published letters and uses them as inspiration to step out of her comfort zone and create a new, empowered life for herself. But when her Parisian escape takes a shocking and unexpected turn, she’s forced to make a choice. Should she accept her losses and return home, or fight for the future she’s only dreamed about? What show more would the widow do?

Natalie has a broken heart. To mend her broken heart, she takes off to Paris!! Nothing is better than that. I love how her strength slowly evolves as she learns what she wants for the rest of her life.

Then there is a big twist!…I mean it’s life…there are always big twists. Natalie does not let this stop her. She goes on a hunt..and you will need to read this to find out! You will not be sorry.

I loved the way the past is folded into this novel through the letters. The author did a fabulous job weaving these two stories together to create wonderful dual timelines.

Need an all around good tale which has quite a few twists and turns to keep you on your toes…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review. show less