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Friday, June 28, 2019

Book review of Summer at the Little French Café by Karen Clarke

French Village Diaries book review Summer at the Little French Café Karen Clarke
Summer at the Little French Café by Karen Clarke

Summer at the Little French Café

My review today is for book two in the Little French Café series by Karen Clarke, Summer at the Little French Café. 

We are back on the beautiful Ile de Ré where another lost soul finds herself in the bosom of Dolly’s little French café. A chance discovery of a postcard from the island and a baby shawl has led Elle to the café, looking for clues to discover who her mother is. Her ‘holiday’ gets off to an unexpected start as before she realises it, she finds herself working at the café alongside Dolly and her son Charlie (who I developed quite a soft spot for in book one).

All Elle has to go on is an approximate age and a note, signed with the initial M, written on the postcard of the café that drew her to Dolly’s door. Between them, Dolly and Elle draw up a list of possibilities and with a little clever questioning of some of Dolly’s regulars, rule out those it can’t be. While Elle is determined to discover where she came from, Dolly is also working on a plan of her own.

I love a mystery and enjoyed the anticipation every time a new character arrived. I soon found myself playing along, analysing their stories, asking my own questions and wondering if they could be M. There is not quite the fire and passion that grabbed me in book one, but this book has lots of tender, emotional moments, a few romantic what-ifs and lots of laughter too, plus an unexpected twist at the end. Don't forget to pack this book (and book one if you've not yet read it) for your summer holiday.

I can't wait to get back to the café and catch up with Dolly and her café family in the final book in the trilogy, hopefully out later this year.


Summer at the Little French Café is published by Bookouture and available in ebook and paperback, links to Amazon can be found below.

You can read more about Karen at her website and find her on Facebook and Twitter.


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