Off the Wild Coast of Brittany

By: Juliet Blackwell

Narrated by: Hope Newhouse, Xe Sands

An unforgettable story of resilience and resistance set during WWII and present-day France on a secluded island off the coast of Brittany

Natalie Morgen made a name for herself with a memoir about overcoming her harsh childhood after finding a new life in Paris. After falling in love with a classically trained chef, they moved together to his ancestral home, a tiny fishing village off the coast of Brittany.

But then Francois-Xavier breaks things off with her without warning, leaving her flat broke and in the middle of renovating the guesthouse they planned to open for business. Natalie's already struggling when her sister, Alex, shows up unannounced. The sisters form an unlikely partnership to save the guesthouse, reluctantly admitting their secrets to each other as they begin to heal the scars of their shared past.

But the property harbors hidden stories of its own. During World War II, every man of fighting age on the island fled to England to join the Free French forces. The women and children were left on their own...until three hundred German troops took up residence, living side-by-side with the French women on the tiny island for the next several years.

When Natalie and Alex unearth an old cookbook in a hidden cupboard, they find handwritten recipes that reveal old secrets. With the help of locals, the Morgen sisters begin to unravel the relationship between Violette, a young islander whose family ran the guesthouse during WWII, and Rainier, a German military customs official with a devastating secret of his own.

Critic reviews

Praise for The Vineyards of Champagne

"A beautifully captivating story of wartime tenacity and tenderness that celebrates the sweetest bonds of human relationships and the courage to love again after loss. So exquisitely rich in detail, you'll feel bubbles on your tongue."--Susan Meissner, bestselling author of The Last Year of the War

"Blackwell moves effortlessly between present-day France and the battlefields of WWI... The allure of the decades-old mystery of missing letters juxtaposed against the history of the caves of Champagne makes for a satisfying page-turner."--Publishers Weekly

"Blackwell's exquisite talent at interweaving the past with the present is on full display in her latest...telling the universal story of grief, loss, and human resilience."--Booklist

Praise for Juliet Blackwell

"Plan your trip to Provence now. In this meticulously researched novel, Juliet Blackwell deftly navigates three time periods, taking us from contemporary California to both the Belle Époque and Nazi-occupied France, as she spins a story as charming as an antique carousel."--Sally Koslow, author of Another Side of Paradise

"With crystalline imagery, vivid characters, and lively prose, Juliet Blackwell redefines what family means in a way that will touch readers long after they've read the last page....This novel should come with a warning: will cause enormous desire to travel to France."--Stephen P. Kiernan, author of The Baker's Secret

"Blackwell seamlessly incorporates details about art, cast making, and the City of Light...[and] especially stuns in the aftermath of the main story by unleashing a twist that is both a complete surprise and a point that expertly ties everything together."--Publishers Weekly

"Bestselling author Blackwell brings us another captivating tale from the City of Light."--Booklist

"A charming protagonist and a deep well of family secrets, all gorgeously set in the City of Light."--Michelle Gable, international bestselling author of I'll See You in Paris

Excellent Engaging Story

Loved the story, transferred between 2 eras tied together cleverly with engaging enduring characters. Very satisfying story telling with excellent narration.

Triple 5 stars

I love historical novels. It's a great way to learn about our history and a great escape from life. This novel was about WWII in a small island off the coast of England and France. The story was well researched and well presented. The narrative was enjoyable. Overall a very good reading experience. I recommend this book.

Historical Fiction of WWII

I loved the entire story, bringing the remote WWII French island residents under German occupation to current life of descendants on the island.

Swept away by this wonderful story

Very enjoyable and interesting story. I learned so much - felt like I was there among the rocks and stony paths of the island. Narration was perfect. Highly recommend!

A beautiful story woven from the past

I love Juliet Blackwell’s writing. Her stories are so absorbable. From beginning to end the characters are so real and the reader becomes the protagonist.
This story of sister love and overcoming challenges inspires.