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...
The Impossible Search for the Perfect Man by Debbie Howells #Review
Imagine for a moment, your husband leaves you. Then through
a bizarre twist of events, you find yourself working with the girl he’s left
you for – and even worse, she's pregnant...
Louisa’s not really up to any more complicated relationships. Right now, she doesn’t need them. She has good friends. Okay, so one has a screwed-up husband and the other a very strange horoscope habit. Not to mention her ex-husband’s new girlfriend, who Louisa has somehow found herself giving relationship counselling to. She doesn’t need anyone else with problems in her life right now.
It would be nice, wouldn’t it? To find a straightforward man, who isn’t remotely messed up. Now there’s a thought... But does such a man even exist?
She thinks not. But, she resolves, a life of helping other people find their happy-ever-afters is still something. But then handsome vet Marcus walks into her life. And everything changes…
Set in the Hampshire countryside against a background of horses and vets, this is a story about friendship and love, and life's way of throwing in the unexpected...
My Thoughts
You become quite involved in Louisa’s life during this heartwarming story as you follow her journey from shattered marriage, onwards. There is a degree of wry humour to be found in the characters who all have their own quirks and personalities and the animals are equally as endearing. The vets practice where she works offers lots of potential in the story to introduce new characters and by the end, you feel you know them so well.
Louisa’s family seem rather cold at first but you see how circumstances change and Louisa begins to see things differently. As per the title, there are plenty of pairings for you to compare as each of Louisa’s friends search for their special person. Marriages are also under the microscope, some more successful than others and a fair few engagements. Most of all, in the story, I appreciated Louisa with her self deprecating manner and ability to see the humour behind events. There is plenty of kindness to offset certain selfish behaviour which leaves you with a feeling of goodwill and the thought that there seems to be the right person for everyone. You might have to kiss a few toads on the way!
In short: warm witty writing
About the Author
Debbie Howells’s first novel, a psychological thriller, The Bones of You was a Sunday Times bestseller for Macmillan. Four more bestsellers followed, including most recently The Vow, published by Avon. Fulfilling her dream of writing women’s fiction, she has found a home with Boldwood and her first title with them, The Life You Left Behind, was published in February 2022.
You can follow Debbie here: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
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Book link: Purchase Link
Thanks to Debbie Howells, Boldwood Books and Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.
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