Freya's French Farmhouse by Daisy James
Freya’s French Farmhouse by Daisy James
Welcome to Freya's French Farmhouse, the second book in a brand new series from the author of the Hummingbird Hotel series and the Cornish Confetti Agency series.
Escape to the French Riviera!
After losing her aromatherapy studio in the Blossomwood Bay fire, Freya Farnham finds herself at a loose end, especially when her trusty Renault decides that it’s time to head to the scrapyard in the sky. Now she has no excuse not to agree to her parents’ request to head to the pretty village of Saint-Julien to find out why her late Uncle Toby’s gorgeous French farmhouse isn’t selling, even when the real estate agent, Xavier Deschamps, advertises himself as "the best in the whole of Provence".
As soon as she arrives, Freya realises what the problem is, and so, with the help of handsome local car mechanic Jacques Jordan, she invests her last euro in a kaleidoscope of cleaning products and sets about transforming the drab and dusty dwelling into a chic and shiny château. Little did she know that in the process she would discover more about her family’s history than she bargained for.
Can she come to terms with her past? Or will the demons that have been snapping at her heels since childhood prevent her from seizing the chance to achieve a much-longed-for sense of belonging in the friendly community where she’s treated as one of their own?
Why not join Freya as she explores the lavender-infused Provençal countryside, and enjoy a trip filled with fun, fragrance, and delicious foodie treats with a dash of heart-warming romance thrown in for good measure!
Freya's French Farmhouse by Daisy James
My Review
My heart went out to poor Freya right at the beginning of this book. Following an unusual childhood with no real fixed abode, she thought she’d settled in Blossomwood Bay, after the disastrous end of her life in London, so to lose her fledgling business in a fire, is the last thing she needs. However, Freya is independent, strong and willing to do what it takes to get things done and move forward, and I admired her for that. With nothing to keep her in Blossomwood Bay, she sets off to Provence to rediscover the farmhouse owned by her Uncle Toby and do her best to get his estate finalised and the house sold.
Things aren’t quite as she is expecting them to be in France. The house needs some attention, but the gardens have been lovingly cared for and she can’t work out why it hasn’t attracted much interest, let alone sold. It isn’t long before the magic of Provence, flowering lavender, welcoming villagers and the discovery of Toby’s perfume organ begin to work on healing her past traumas. Things she accepted as a child, enjoying summer holidays with Toby, now become questions she needs answers to and an intriguing family mystery to unravel. I do love a good family drama and add in the quirky characters of a French village, new friendships and a whole lot of fun in a location that was easy to visualise, and this book ticked all my boxes. I also loved the extra sensory pleasure of Freya’s essential oil blending that I could almost smell from the screen of my kindle. There is something very relaxing about aromatherapy, even from the pages of a book and it was a real treat to fall into this book every evening.
If you are looking for an escape to the sunny south of France, to lift your mood and warm your heart, then Freya’s French Farmhouse should be on your holiday reading list this summer.
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Freya's French Farmhouse by Daisy James
Author Bio
Daisy James loves writing stories with strong heroines and swift-flowing plotlines. She especially likes to create sunshine-filled settings in exotic locations - the Caribbean, Tuscany, Cornwall, Provence - so she can spend her time envisioning her characters enjoying the fabulous scenery and sampling the local food and drink.
When not scribbling away in her peppermint-and-green summerhouse (garden shed), she spends her time sifting flour and sprinkling sugar and edible glitter. She loves gossiping with friends over a glass of something fizzy or indulging in a spot of afternoon tea - china plates and teacups are a must.
Freya's French Farmhouse by Daisy James
Thank you so much for this wonderful review, Jacqui! I'm thrilled you enjoyed it! Love Daisy x
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