a Champagne Widows novel

Kirkus Reviews logo"A gripping and immersive historical novel, LICENSE TO THRILL brings the extraordinary life of Lily Bollinger vividly to life. With meticulous research and lush detail, Rebecca Rosenberg captures the courage, ingenuity, and resilience of a woman who defied war, occupation, and tradition to protect her family's champagne legacy. ..." —more at Kirkus Reviews

Historical Fiction Co. 2026 award badge"What emerges is not merely the history of a champagne house, but the portrait of a woman whose life became inseparable from the fate of the vines she guarded. ... Celebration, we realize, rests upon vigilance. ... LICENSE TO THRILL: Lily Bollinger transcends the boundaries of corporate biography." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — The Historical Fiction Company

Coffee Pot Book Club Highly Recommended badge"Far more than a novel about champagne, LICENSE TO THRILL: Lily Bollinger is a story of survival, resilience, and the thrilling pursuit of preserving a legacy. Lily Bollinger led the company through war and under the influence of the Reich, proving that not all battles were fought with weapons — some were waged through carefully concealed vintages and relabelled bottles. With beautifully crafted prose, this book leaves you with an irresistible urge to raise a glass and celebrate." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Ellie Yarde, The Coffee Pot Book Club

"... a beautifully told story"

"LICENSE TO THRILL sparkles with the elegant, immersive prose I’ve come to expect from Rebecca Rosenberg. With a clever nod to the glamorous world where champagne and fictional espionage intertwine, Rosenberg weaves two timelines into a sweeping historical novel that moves from the shadowed champagne caves of France to the streets of London and an ambitious American tour. Vital and effervescent as the champagnes she protects, Lily Bollinger emerges as a heroine defined by resilience, family, and vision. This is a beautifully told story of legacy and perseverance, family and loyalty, and the courage to rebuild without compromise."

— Reneee Ryan, author of The Last Fashion House in Paris

"An intoxicating blend of glamour, grit and historical intrigue. Moving effortlessly between Nazi-occupied France and the glamour of the 1970s, Rosenberg paints a rich portrait of Lily Bollinger, a visionary widow who defied tyranny, outmaneuvered her enemies, reinvented champagne, and built a legacy against all odds. An irresistible read, made even better with a glass of bubbly in hand."

— Eliza Knight, USA Today , bestselling author of Confessions of a Grammar Queen

"Terrific book club choice!"

"Could there be something in the bubbles that accounts for the charm, imagination, and sheer guts of the heroines in author Rebecca Rosenberg's exuberant Champagne Widows series? Or is it only Rosenberg's amazing talent for portraying these c...