We are returning to France for another great summer read by Gillian Harvey . The Village Cafe in the Loire was published by Boldwood on July 12th. High-flyer Becky Thorne cannot believe what she’s being told. She doesn’t need to be signed off for burnout! Life has been a bit chaotic lately, that’s all. As if dealing with her enviable job and permanent meddling from her mother aren’t enough, she’s also inherited a café in the Loire from an estranged great-aunt, complete with sitting tenant who refuses to budge. But nobody stands in Becky’s way! Ignoring her best friend Amber’s advice, she decides to storm over to France and sort the tenant out. Then she can finally get the café sold and jump back on the career ladder. What she doesn’t count on is the tenant being Pascale, who is six feet of tall, dark, handsome and extremely grumpy about her plans for change. Not to mention the village and the secrets it holds about her past. Becky’s path to succes...
Elle's A to Z of Love by Claire Huston #Review
Haileybrook, a beautiful village in the peaceful Cotswolds
countryside, is most people’s idea of heaven on earth.
Born and raised in this small slice of paradise, Elle Bea can’t wait to leave.
It should be easy, but every time she packs her bags for exotic adventures, old loves and loyalties pull her back.
Will Elle be forced to forget her dreams of far-flung places and epic romance, or can she grab one last chance to have it all?
An uplifting, romantic story about friends, family and the relationships that make a place a home.
My Thoughts
This often feels like one of those stories you can sink into. It is warm and comforting and full of friendships and family. Not that everyone is a cosy, likeable character. There are several characters who are selfish and self centred and quite a backstory about bullying. The novel does keep you on your toes. I couldn't quite work out how it was going to turn out for Elle until very near the end. There are quite a few possibilities for her.
Elle is a well drawn character. You find out quite a lot about her background and come to understand why she has certain feelings of vulnerability despite her obvious commonsense. Above all, she is kind and a loyal friend. There are plenty of inter-generational issues in the novel. You get a real feel of the community in Haileybrook.There are several story strands in the book so you feel that there is plenty to keep your interest.
In short: Home is where the heart is.
About the Author
Claire Huston lives in Warwickshire with her husband and two children. Her debut, Art and Soul, a heart-warming contemporary romance, was published in 2020. Elle’s A to Z of Love is her second novel.
A keen amateur baker, she enjoys making cakes, biscuits and brownies almost as much as eating them. You can find recipes for over a hundred sweet treats at https://clairehuston.co.uk. This is also where she talks about and reviews books.
As well as her website, you can find her on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and Goodreads: linktr.ee/clairehuston_author
Thanks to Claire Huston and Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.
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Thank you so much for reading and reviewing Elle's A to Z of Love and taking part in the blog tour, I really appreciate it! x
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