Lily Bollinger fearlessly led Bollinger Champagne after her husband died. During a time when women could only own a business through widowhood, Lily took the reins and didn't back down. As the Third Reich took over her house and her champagne stores, Lily kept the harvest going and hid her precious stock along with resistance fighters and Allied soldiers. After the war, Lily must adapt to the changing times and consider the future of Bollinger and Champagne itself. With no heir, she looks to her niece and nephews to continue the line, despite their differences of opinion and unwillingness to work together. She became a champion of the name Champagne, stopping others from releasing drinks with the same name. Lily also finds new ways to keep her champagne current by releasing a vintage from ungrafted stock that resisted Phylloxera and a Recently Disgorged Champagne. Cyril Ray later documented Lily's triumphs so that the Bollinger legacy would not be forgotten.
License to Thrill is a fictionalized story about Lily Bollinger and Bollinger Champagne. Told through two distinct periods of Lily's life—the 1940s and the 1970s—we learn of the struggles, fearlessness and successes of the Dame of Champagne and her empire. Lily's courage shines from the beginning of the story as she decides to debut her Recently Disgorged Champagne in the 1970's and keeps her vineyard running in the 1940's. The writing captures Lily's personality, passion and persistence throughout the years as well as the beauty of the vineyards and the town of Aÿ. I was constantly amazed by Lily's poise as threatening situations loomed. In comparing herself and her town to the strongest of vines, Lily's character states, "We are battered, but the roots are deep." With all of Rosenberg's books, I loved learning about a real, iconic woman who impacted the world not only through her work with Champagne but also with her unwavering bravery in the face of danger.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
License to Thrill is a fictionalized story about Lily Bollinger and Bollinger Champagne. Told through two distinct periods of Lily's life—the 1940s and the 1970s—we learn of the struggles, fearlessness and successes of the Dame of Champagne and her empire. Lily's courage shines from the beginning of the story as she decides to debut her Recently Disgorged Champagne in the 1970's and keeps her vineyard running in the 1940's. The writing captures Lily's personality, passion and persistence throughout the years as well as the beauty of the vineyards and the town of Aÿ. I was constantly amazed by Lily's poise as threatening situations loomed. In comparing herself and her town to the strongest of vines, Lily's character states, "We are battered, but the roots are deep." With all of Rosenberg's books, I loved learning about a real, iconic woman who impacted the world not only through her work with Champagne but also with her unwavering bravery in the face of danger.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
