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...
From Provence with Love by Alison Roberts #Review #AYearInFranceBook2
A lifechanging encounter, a whirlwind affair... an
unexpected consequence
Laura Gilchrist has always made sensible choices. But a trip to Provence to sell an inherited stone house leads her face to face with Noah Dufour. Her wild, irresistibly attractive real estate agent. And within an instant she’s bewitched. Without a second thought, she decides she’s going to accept his offer to ride on the back of his motorbike and see the beauty of the South of France though his eyes. She’s never acted on impulse before, but Noah makes her feel spontaneous and free – and a little bit excited.
Weeks later, with the memories of their passionate fling refusing to fade, Laura waits for her life to return to normal. But she can’t shake the feeling something has changed. And then her instincts are confirmed by the sight of two blue lines. Their connection was a whirlwind; perfect yet brief. But Noah has become a chink in her buttoned up armour and she knows her news is going to blindside him. Now she must return to Provence to find out whether they can both take a leap of faith based on one brief yet perfect holiday romance…
I read this as a standalone but it is in fact the second book about the Gilchrist sisters. The first featured the middle sister, Ellie. She is an important part oft this story but the plot surrounds Laura, the oldest sister and her undeniable attraxtion to a frenchman, Noah. Both are strong characters who are determined to keep a strict control pn their feekings. The reasons for this are discovered as the story develops.
The setting in Provence sounds idyllic and such a contrast to the colder conditions at home in Scotland. As Laura and Noah travel in the area of Provence, you can almost smell the lavender and see the rolling hills laid out. Family is everything to Laura and she has a strond bond with her mother and younger sisters, forged through their childhoods and life in earlier years. She has unresolved feelings around rejection and has countered these with her strict timetable got her life, her iron organisation of her time and burying of her emotions. Lauras's career has been her saviour and her total focus. You do feel that it is in France that she feels able to step outside her facde and embark on a journey to test out who she really is as a person. Well worth a read, you will find interesting characters, pure romance and sizzling chemistry.
In short: Can love find a way?
About the Author
Alison Roberts is the author of over one hundred romance novels, joining Boldwood to write ‘wish you were here’ fiction set in the South of France.
You can follow Alison here:
Twitter: @RobertsAli54060
Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/AlisonRobertsNews
Bookbub profile: @rosi3
Thanks to Jane Lark, Boldwood Books and Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.
Look out for the rest of the tour!
I think the first part of this book tells you what happened in the first book just from a different perspective so it does work as a standalone! If you get a chance do go back and read the first book though. It's good!
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