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Tuesday, July 15, 2025

Book review of The Village Café in the Loire by Gillian Harvey

French Village Diaries book review The Village Cafe in the Loire Gillian Harvey
The Village Café in the Loire by Gillian Harvey


The Village Café in the Loire by Gillian Harvey

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 success is all planned out. But the Loire has a magic she might not be able to resist…


French Village Diaries book review The Village Cafe in the Loire Gillian Harvey
The Village Café in the Loire by Gillian Harvey


My review

It was a delight to be back in a Gillian Harvey novel wondering just where she will take me this time. Despite this being the ninth book of hers that I have read, the variety of characters, locations and emotional situations that she creates means there is always a surprise in store and this book was no exception.

Becky was a tough one to love at the beginning. Her life was fast-paced, and success was all that mattered, so much so that taking the time to notice what was going on for those around her didn’t register on her radar. She had the job of her dreams and thanks to the inheritance of a café in the Loire, she now had the money for the flat of her dreams in London too. When things began to crumble in her perfect life, sitting still wasn’t an option, so she arrived in France, a whirlwind of energy who was determined to sell the café and grab the money she needed as soon as possible.


French Village Diaries book review The Village Cafe in the Loire Gillian Harvey
The Village Café in the Loire by Gillian Harvey


Life in the little town of Vaudrelle in the Loire ticked over at a much slower pace than Becky was used to. She had no option but to put her brakes on and learn to slow down, allowing long-buried emotions the headspace she had denied them for years. Once she got over the initial frustration, she discovered there was something rather special about the café her great aunt Maud had run and the life she had made for herself in France. 

Learning Maud’s secret and the conditions behind her inheritance was a wake-up call that led Becky to rethink certain parts of her life. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, laughed at a lot of the ‘French’ situations Becky found herself in and loved that a bit of rural French magic wove its way into her life.

This is another heart lifting novel from Gillian Harvey to add to your summer reading list.

Purchase links

French Village Diaries is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk at no extra cost to you.

Amazon link 

Ebook – all digital retailers 

 

French Village Diaries book review The Village Cafe in the Loire Gillian Harvey
Gillian Harvey


Author Bio  

Gillian Harvey is an author and freelance writer who lives in Norfolk. Her novels, including the bestselling A Year at the French Farmhouse and The Riviera House Swap, are often set in France, where she lived for 14 years.

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French Village Diaries book review The Village Cafe in the Loire Gillian Harvey
The Village Café in the Loire by Gillian Harvey


You can read my reviews of some of Gillian Harvey’s other fabulous novels here: 

Midnight in Paris 

The Little Provence Book Shop 

The Riviera House Swap 

The Bordeaux Book Club 

A Month in Provence 

The French Chateau Escape 

One French Summer 

A Year at the French Farmhouse 

Saturday, July 5, 2025

Book review of The Magic of Provence by Alison Roberts

French Village Diaries book review The Magic of Provence Alison Roberts
The Magic of Provence by Alison Roberts


The Magic of Provence by Alison Roberts

Sometimes facing your fears can be the start of something wonderful

Fiona Gilchrist has spent years running from her demons. But deciding to take back control, she packs up her life and makes the trip to Provence to be reunited with her sisters. And almost instantly, there is something about La Maisonette which is healing and Fi knows she’s ready for a chance to start again.

When an opportunity arises to work alongside vet Christophe Brabant, Fi, although hesitant cannot resist saying yes. Because immersing herself in what she loves is the ultimate distraction. And while Christophe may be utterly charming, he’s also committed to his job so Fi knows she’s in safe hands. Yet, what starts as a blossoming friendship quickly turns to something deeper. Because for the first time in her life, Fi begins to feel relaxed and completely at ease. Could it be that Christophe’s heart is more like hers than she realises? Or has she allowed him to penetrate the boundaries she always considered unbreachable?

Coming to France took a leap of faith, but in doing so it has allowed these two damaged souls a chance to find each other while Provence works its magic… 


French Village Diaries book review The Magic of Provence Alison Roberts
The Magic of Provence by Alison Roberts


My review

I was equally as delighted to step into this third book about the Gilchrist sisters in Provence, as I was sad that it was the final one in the trilogy. Having loved the previous two, I’d been waiting for this book, and I wasn’t disappointed, despite Fiona having made only fleeting appearances in the previous two books. 

As her past traumas were revealed, it didn’t take me long to understand the reasons why she’d put so much distance between herself and her family, and a character who I’d initially found cold and aloof, began to soften. All that was left was for me to get comfy, dive between the pages and wait for the magic of Provence to start to heal her broken heart. The fact that the healing process included a rather attractive French vet and an abandoned donkey foal, was just the icing on the cake. Family also plays an important role in this emotional novel, not just in the main storyline of the three sisters, but also in some of the subplots. 


French Village Diaries book review The Magic of Provence Alison Roberts
The Magic of Provence by Alison Roberts


What I will take most from these books, aside from the strong characters and sparks of chemistry, is the absolute love for this part of France that Alison Roberts obviously has. She has a great talent to be able to drop in snippets of French culture and customs, as well as describing postcard vistas of Provencal villages, all while keeping the main storyline flowing.

Reading this trilogy will make you feel like you’ve had the most wonderful holiday in Provence and I can’t think of a better way to spend a summer.

Purchase links

French Village Diaries is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk at no extra cost to you.

Amazon link The Magic of Provence

Amazon link Falling for Provence

Amazon link From Provence With Love

Ebook – all digital retailers 


 

French Village Diaries book review The Magic of Provence Alison Roberts
Alison Roberts


Author Bio  

Alison Roberts is the author of over one hundred romance novels with Mills and Boon, and now writes romance and escapist fiction for Boldwood.

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French Village Diaries book review The Magic of Provence Alison Roberts
The Magic of Provence by Alison Roberts


You can read my reviews of the first two books in this heart-melting series here:

Falling for Provence 

From Provence With Love 

Friday, June 27, 2025

Book review of The Girl from Normandy by Rachel Sweasey

French Village Diaries book review The Girl from Normandy Rachel Sweasey
The Girl from Normandy by Rachel Sweasey


The Girl from Normandy by Rachel Sweasey

Paris, 1940: Marie-Claire steps into the Gare de Lyon, not knowing it will be the last time she'll see her husband and son. Fleeing occupied Paris, she travels into the countryside of Normandy, and stumbles upon a chateau near Caen and a growing resistance movement. Soon, Marie-Claire finds herself working in a cafe in the quiet village of Sainte-Mère-Église, where she tries to come to terms with all she has lost – but little does she realise that her presence in Normandy will change the course of history…

1998: Half a century later, Esther is returning to the Normandy village she visited as a teenager, seeking a break from her monotonous life. Back then, she'd fallen in love with a rustic farmhouse and the family that lived there – not least the charming eldest son, Jules Joubert. But now, when Esther discovers an old annotated cookbook in the family kitchen, she begins to realise that the place she holds so close to her heart may hide more secrets than even the Jouberts realise...

What stories does the area carry? And could this trip change Esther’s life for ever?


French Village Diaries book review The Girl from Normandy Rachel Sweasey
The Girl from Normandy by Rachel Sweasey

My review

This book ticked a lot of boxes for me. It is a dual timeline novel, a format that I love, that followed the lives of two women, Marie-Claire, during the Occupation of France and Esther, a single woman living in Poole in 1990’s. It was Esther’s story that immediately captured my imagination. What was her history with Normandy and more importantly, how would her connection with Marie-Claire reveal itself. She was a character I really enjoyed getting to know as she negotiated some life-changing events.

Marie-Claire’s journey had a far more traumatic beginning as her little family fled the occupying soldiers in Paris. Her husband Benjamin was half Jewish and with no family support, her world dramatically changed in a heartbeat. Finding herself in Normandy, her skills in the kitchen and her burning desire to do anything she could to resist the Germans, gave her a much-needed focus and purpose. Her story was a fascinating one to read with many emotional ups and downs.


French Village Diaries book review The Girl from Normandy Rachel Sweasey
The Girl from Normandy by Rachel Sweasey


Despite some of the situations the characters found themselves in, this was a gentle read that mixed history with family sagas and life-changing events. There were many shared, extended family times, set around a French farmhouse kitchen table where the food, chatter and love came to life. The female characters especially, were strong and independent, and I admired their resilience to what life threw at them. As the book drew to a close there were a few unexpected twists that added another emotional element and put a smile on my face.

If you are a fan of historical fiction, especially set during the Occupation, I’m sure you would enjoy this book.

Purchase links

French Village Diaries is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk at no extra cost to you.

Amazon link 

Ebook – all digital retailers 

 

French Village Diaries book review The Girl from Normandy Rachel Sweasey
Rachel Sweasey


Author Bio  

Rachel was born to English 10-pound-pom parents in sub-tropical Brisbane, Australia, and when the family moved back to Poole, Dorset, she was just 5 years old. She then grew up against the stunning backdrop of Poole Harbour where she sailed and played on the beaches of Brownsea Island and Studland, and walked across the Purbeck Hills, all of which inspired her imagination and provided the setting of her debut historical fiction novel set in WWII. Since then, Rachel has moved back to Brisbane, Australia.

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French Village Diaries book review The Girl from Normandy Rachel Sweasey
The Girl from Normandy by Rachel Sweasey


Friday, June 13, 2025

Book review of Double Stakes by Alison Morton

French Village Diaries book review Double Stakes Alison Morton
Double Stakes by Alison Morton


Double Stakes by Alison Morton

A kidnapped daughter. A rigged election. A family under siege.

Former French special forces intelligence analyst Mélisende is desperate for recovery time after a gruelling mission. But when enforcers attack her family home in rural France, she uncovers a shocking truth – her sister-in-law’s gambling debt has put them all in danger.

Before Mel can untangle the crisis, she is ordered to Germany, where the daughter of Achim Nessler – the front-runner for chancellor – has been abducted. The kidnappers’ goal? To force Nessler to throw the upcoming election, paving the way for a hard-right victory that could upend not just Germany, but all of Europe.

Racing against time, Mel and fellow investigator Jeff McCracken dive into the murky world of extremist politics where old wounds and new betrayals collide. But as their hunt leads them deep into eastern Germany’s shadows, Mel discovers a chilling link between the case and her own family’s troubles.

Now, with both a nation’s future and her loved ones at stake, Mel must risk everything to stop a conspiracy that hits closer to home than she ever imagined.

Double Stakes is the third in the Mélisende Doubles thriller series


French Village Diaries book review Double Stakes Alison Morton
Double Stakes by Alison Morton

My review

I wouldn’t say I was a thriller junky, in fact I’m a wimp and usually prefer my reads to be warm, fuzzy and uplifting, however, this series of books has changed my mind. 

Maybe it is Alison Morton’s attention to detail or meticulous research, that combined with her own military background, means this series is so believable I felt like I was in the heat of the action with the characters. Maybe it’s because the characters are not just strong, focussed and well trained, able to outwit any enemy, but they also retain their personal, emotional sides. Maybe I am more of an adrenalin junky than I realised. 

Whatever it is, I was hooked. This book kept me on the edge of my chair and I’m sure it raised my heart-rate at times too. It’s fast-paced, full of action and political turmoil, both serious national issues and internal ones within various police forces and government agencies. This gave my brain lots to focus on and it was a difficult book to put down.


French Village Diaries book review Double Stakes Alison Morton
Double Stakes by Alison Morton


Having enjoyed the previous two books, I was eagerly awaiting this third book, and although they all grabbed my attention and imagination, Double Stakes was the best by far. I’m so glad I stepped out of my normal comfort zone and I'm sure you’ll enjoy these adventures too. I’m really hoping there will be more from Mélisende in the future.

Purchase links

French Village Diaries is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk at no extra cost to you.

Amazon link 

Ebook – all digital retailers 

Paperback 

 

French Village Diaries book review Double Stakes Alison Morton
Alison Morton


Author Bio  

Alison Morton writes award-winning thrillers featuring tough but compassionate heroines. She lives in Poitou in France, the home of Mélisende, the heroine of her latest three contemporary thrillers, Double IdentityDouble Pursuit and Double Stakes

Her eleven-book Roma Nova thriller series is set in an imaginary European country where a remnant of the ancient Roman Empire has survived into the 21st century and is ruled by women who face conspiracy, revolution and heartache but with a sharp line in dialogue.

Six years’ military service, a fascination with Ancient Rome and a life of reading crime, historical and thriller fiction have inspired her writing. On the way, she collected a BA in modern languages and an MA in history.  

For the latest news, subscribe to her newsletter here and receive 'Welcome to Alison Morton’s Thriller Worlds’ as a thank you gift.

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French Village Diaries book review Double Stakes Alison Morton
Mélisende Doubles thriller series by Alison Morton


If you haven’t yet read the first two books in the Mélisende Doubles thriller series, what are you waiting for – you can read my reviews here:

Double Identity

Double Pursuit 

Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Book review of The Paris Promise by Suzanne Kelman

French Village Diaries book review The Paris Promise Suzanne Kelman
The Paris Promise by Suzanne Kelman


The Paris Promise by Suzanne Kelman

Paris, 1943: Keeping her eyes fixed on the Nazi officer, Antoinette slowly reaches under the pillow for the knife hidden there. Her hands are shaking, but she knows what she must do to save her husband and child…

When the Nazis invade Paris, Antoinette Valette’s world shatters overnight. In an instant, she goes from being a celebrated violinist, to fearing for the life of her Jewish husband and son. With nowhere to flee, hiding in plain sight is her family’s only choice.

But when their secret is discovered and her beloved husband is torn from her arms, Antoinette’s heart breaks. She knows she must act quickly if she is to save her son from the same fate. Desperate, she asks the Resistance to secure him a place on the last train leaving Paris. Holding him tightly against her chest, she promises she will find him again. But is it a promise she can’t possibly keep?

Alone and with nothing left to lose, when the Resistance ask her to use her musical talent to spy on high-ranking Nazis, Antoinette doesn’t hesitate. Playing her violin at elaborate dinner parties each night gives her the opportunity to listen to their conversations. And although she risks her life every day, it is the only way to get her family back.

But when a Nazi commander makes advances towards her, Antoinette realizes that she will have to make a dangerous and impossible choice. Can she find the strength to do the unthinkable, in the hopes that it will save her family, and countless other innocent lives?

The third gripping novel in the Paris Sisters series, this novel tells the story of the power of a mother’s love, in the face of unimaginable darkness. Perfect for fans of Roberta Kagan, Kristin Hannah, and Fiona Valpy. 


French Village Diaries book review The Paris Promise Suzanne Kelman
The Paris Promise by Suzanne Kelman

My review

Having enjoyed the previous books in this series, I was eagerly awaiting book three and looking forward to discovering the Occupation story of another of the Valette sisters.

Antoinette’s war differed from that of her sisters from the outset. As the wife of a Jewish musician, whose family was torn apart when the Nazi’s invaded Paris, her personal loss was heartbreaking to read. This traumatic time gave her the strength and determination to agree to work for the Resistance, using her music to infiltrate the occupying forces. The beauty of her violin playing contrasted with the risks, sacrifices and danger she put herself in and often had me holding my breath as I was dragged deeper into the book. I can’t imagine the emotions she felt as she made difficult decisions that would have repercussions lasting many years.

As with the previous books in this series, it is not just Antoinette’s war story that we follow. Suzanne Kelman is a master at cleverly crafting dual timeline novels that add another dimension and even more emotions to the story. We join Deanna, Antoinette’s granddaughter, as she sets out to uncover the mystery of a precious violin uncovered in her father’s attic. Unravelling her family’s mystery proves to be a journey that takes her to some dark places emotionally as well as some exotic locations.

This book, (and the previous two) are ones to add to your reading list this summer if you enjoy family mysteries, history and the Occupation.

Purchase links

French Village Diaries is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk at no extra cost to you.

Amazon link 

Book link    

 

French Village Diaries book review The Paris Promise Suzanne Kelman
Suzanne Kelman


Author Bio  

Suzanne Kelman is a 2015 Academy of Motion Pictures Nicholl Finalist, Multi-Award-Winning Screenwriter and a Film Producer. As well as working in film she is also an International Amazon Bestselling Fiction Author of the Southlea Bay Series – The Rejected Writers’ Book Club, Rejected Writers Take the Stage and The Rejected Writers’ Christmas Wedding. Born in the United Kingdom, she now resides in Washington State.

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If you haven’t yet read the first two books in the Paris Sisters series, I recommend that you do – you can read my reviews here:

The Last Day in Paris

The Bookseller of Paris 



French Village Diaries book review The Paris Promise Suzanne Kelman
The Paris Promise by Suzanne Kelman