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...
It started with a Book by Camilla Isley #Review
Lose yourself in Lakeville Hills in this gorgeous new romance from bestselling author Camilla Isley...When she’s ghosted by yet another Tinder match, Leighton swears off dating for life. Who needs apps and blind dates when she has the perfect-in-every-way (apart from being fictional) heroes of her beloved romance novels?
That night Leigh finds a second-hand book on her TBR pile, which transports her to the small-town of Lakeville Hills, where the heroines wear shorty-shorts and the men drink bourbon. And as Leigh drifts off to sleep, she dreams of billionaire cowboy Killian St Clair, who could win a gold medal for smouldering and bicep flexing.
For a while, Leigh finds it easier to stomach misogynistic supervisors, newly coupled friends, and extravagant bridesmaid duties knowing she can return to Lakeville Hills each evening. Until one day, she wakes up to find she’s brought a bit of Lakeville Hills back with her: the impossible sexy and entirely implausible Killian St Clair is in her apartment.
Now Leigh must help Killian navigate the real world. But as she gets to know the man behind the trope, can she keep her heart safe, or does she risk falling in love with her book boyfriend in real life.
My Thoughts
I thoroughly enjoyed the humour in this romcom and all the references to romance book tropes which the story was premised upon. Enemies to Lovers, forced proximity, one bed, billionaire romance, they are all there as well as so many plot references to character behaviours which you'd expect to find in a romcom. On top of all this, there is the reference to books themselves. For any reader, it is a delight.
Leigh's predicament at the beginning is that of the reluctant single who is surrounded with smug couples who are full of well meaning but patronizing advice. When she meets Killan St Clair, a billionaire cowboy, her life is upturned. Suddenly her daily life seems rather dull and a source of disatisfaction. Clever and determined, she finds herself having to put up with some sexist behaviour at work. In some ways, the story sees her finding out how she wants to value herself. With a touch of magical realism, Leigh's find of a second book opens the door to her fantasies. The shock comes when some of these dreams appear in her real life. The dialogue is full of banter and some of the situations are larger than life but overall, this is a gem of a book.
In short: be careful what you wish for!
About the Author
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She writes contemporary rom-coms. Her characters have big hearts, might be a little stubborn at times, and love to banter with each other. Every story she pens has a guaranteed HEA that will make your heart beat faster. Unless you're a vampire, of course.
Camilla is a cat lover, coffee addict, and shoe hoarder. Besides writing, she loves reading—duh!—cooking, watching bad TV, and going to the movies—popcorn, please. She's a bit of a foodie, nothing too serious. A keen traveler, Camilla knows mosquitoes play a role in the ecosystem, and she doesn't want to starve all those frog princes out there, but she could really live without them.
Thanks to Camilla Isley, Boldwood Books and Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.
Check out the rest of the tour
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