Book review of New Chapters on the French Riviera by Jennifer Bohnet

New Chapters on the French Riviera by Jennifer Bohnet

New Chapters on the French Riviera by Jennifer Bohnet

Can a grieving chef and a group of writers find their own happy endings?

Eight months after his wife Jacqueline died in a tragic car accident, Michelin stared chef and proprietor of Villa Celestia, Guy Lyon’s life has been in freefall. Consumed by grief and plagued by questions as to why she was in a taxi that fateful day, the doors to Villa Celestia have remained closed.

When a good friend, Sandy Thoreau, asks to rent the villa on the French Riviera for a fortnight to hold a women’s writers retreat after being let down, Guy reluctantly agrees.

All the women at the retreat are looking forward to being inspired. Helena and her friend Mandy are writing debut novels, Isobel is editing a cosy crime story, Liz is desperate to kickstart a new book, self-published author Lorraine is looking for advice and Becky, well Becky is a law unto herself.

Over the course of the next fortnight, two of these women will change the course of Guy’s life forever and new chapters - hopefully with happy endings - will begin for all of them.

The perfect tonic and escapist read to the South of France full of warmth and second chances.

New Chapters on the French Riviera by Jennifer Bohnet

My review 

Having been a fan of Jennifer Bohnet’s writing for more years than I can remember, opening a new book is always a treat that leaves me with a comforting, homely feeling. This book had everything I was looking for, and more, enabling me to escape to the south of France, in the company of some fascinating women.

New Chapters on the French Riviera by Jennifer Bohnet

Sandy’s writing retreat in Antibes brought together six writers at different stages in their careers all hoping for inspiration, fun and advice as they switched off from their daily lives and made the most of having the time to write. Friendships were forged as ideas flowed, fed as much by the stunning setting of the villa as the delicious food served by mysterious chef Guy. It was easy to imagine I was on the retreat with them.

They all brought some interesting back stories to the villa, and I couldn’t wait to see how these played out. While some lived a wild and exciting life, time had stood still for some of them, and others were just turning the page for new beginnings. Add in a lovely twist of a second plot that delved deep into the past bringing new relationships to light, and I was in my element.

Never underestimate the magic of the Riviera and meeting the right people at the right time. If you are looking for a feelgood read for some pure escapism, add this book to your reading list now.

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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.

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Jennifer Bohnet

Author Bio  

Jennifer Bohnet is the bestselling author of over 14 women's fiction titles, including Villa of Sun and Secrets and A Riviera Retreat. She is originally from the West Country but now lives in the wilds of rural Brittany, France.

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New Chapters on the French Riviera by Jennifer Bohnet

You can read my reviews of some of Jennifer’s previous novels here:

A French Inheritance

Secrets Beneath a Riviera Sky 

A French Adventure 

Christmas on the Riviera 

Summer on the French Riviera 

Villa of Second Chances 

Summer at the Château 

A French Country Escape 

Book review of Treaty of Blood by Michael Jecks

Treaty of Blood by Michael Jecks

Treaty of Blood by Michael Jecks

Once they'd had enough of war... Now they've had enough of peace

1359, Northern France. With the ink still drying on the Treaty of Bretigny, an agreement most believed to be nothing more than a stalemate between King Edward III of England and John II of France, the country is left riddled with both English and France armies – exhausted, adrift and directionless.

An atmosphere ripe for rebellion.

Berenger Fripper returns to the only life he truly understands, among the troops of Hawkwood’s company. But danger and treachery lurk around every abandoned French farm or village. When the company comes across the promise of riches hidden in a monastery, the motley crew finally feel as though their luck is changing…

But as quickly as they find the treasure, quicker still it’s stolen from under their noses, and as they seek revenge on the unknown thief, they find themselves swept up in the might - and the politics - of the Great Company… Will any of them get out alive?

Treaty of Blood by Michael Jecks

My review

We are back once again with the company of Englishmen from the previous books in this series, trying to make their fortunes on the battle grounds of France, as they serve their king and try their best to stay alive.

This book is a gritty telling of some of the bloodiest times in the history between England and France, bringing to life the horror of battles fought in remote areas of the countryside. Once again it sparked my imagination, especially where I can visualise the locations as they are today. Walls and ancient bastides may not be able to divulge what they witnessed all those centuries ago, but immersing yourself into the pages of a good book can flesh out what history has told us.

Treaty of Blood by Michael Jecks

As I’ve read my way through this series, I can’t say these men have become my friends, they are not those sorts of characters, however something about them has ignited something within me. The dangers of their chosen path meant there were many times I was reading through held-in breaths, almost willing the chapter to finish and the action to calm a little. Maybe reading at bedtime wasn’t my best idea!

This book is certainly one for the summer wish lists of the historical fiction fans out there.

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.

Ebook – all digital retailers  

 

Author Bio  

Michael Jecks is the author of over 50 novels inspired by history and legend. He is the founder of Medieval Murderers, and has served on the committees of the Historical Writers’ Association, the CWA and he Detection Club. He was International Guest of Honour at the Bloody Words festival in Toronto, and Grand Master of the first parade in the New Orleans Mardi Gras.

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You can read my reviews of Fields of Glory and Ashes of Rebellion, also by Michael Jecks here:

Fields of Glory

Ashes of Rebellion

Treaty of Blood by Michael Jecks

 

  

Book review of Ashes of Rebellion by Michael Jecks

Ashes of Rebellion by Michael Jecks

Ashes of Rebellion by Michael Jecks

Beware the red and blue hoods - the signs of revolution

1358, Northern France. In a land ravaged by war, King John II is the prisoner of the King of England. His son, the teenaged Dauphin, must battle to impose control over the fractured kingdom. But King Charles of Navarre wants to wrestle power for himself. He leads Parisians and the Jacquerie to open rebellion, upending the social order, pitting noble against commoner in a brutal struggle for power.

A free company of English men and boys, led by John Hawkwood, previously of Sir John de Sully’s Vintaine, must navigate the treacherous landscape with only their wits, combat skills and each other to rely on.

From the smouldering ruins of small French villages, to the blood-soaked battlefields, their journey is fraught with danger, dogged by a mysterious enemy intent on revenge. As they face the harsh realities of medieval warfare, their bonds are tested, and their fates intertwined with the destiny of a nation.

Ashes of Rebellion by Michael Jecks

My review

In Ashes of Rebellion, we follow the same troop or vintaine of Englishmen that we met in the first book in this series, Fields of Glory, set in 1346. I’ve somehow missed books two and three, Blood on the Sand and Blood of the Innocent, but it didn’t take me long to get the lie of the land and remember the names of significant characters. 

Following the Battle of Crécy in 1346, the English marched on to the Battle of Poitiers in 1356 and this book picks up their journey from there, feeding my appetite for our shared history along the way. When we are out and about exploring France by bike, one of my favourite things to do is to detour via a medieval town and imagine the lives of those who wandered the same narrow, cobbled streets, hundreds of years ago. This book fuelled my imagination, escorting me back through the centuries, bringing to life the hardships and dangers that lay around every narrow street corner and every shadowy forest path.

Ashes of Rebellion by Michael Jecks

Well-written historical fiction, like this novel, makes events so much easier to visualise than from a school textbook, especially as the noises, smells, and even their superstitions and fears were all vividly described. 

In order to fill in the gaps of my knowledge, I will go back and read books two and three, and if you enjoy gritty historical fiction, I’d recommend adding this series to your reading list too.

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  

 

Author Bio  

Michael Jecks is the author of over 50 novels inspired by history and legend. He is the founder of Medieval Murderers, and has served on the committees of the Historical Writers’ Association, the CWA and he Detection Club. He was International Guest of Honour at the Bloody Words festival in Toronto, and Grand Master of the first parade in the New Orleans Mardi Gras.

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You can read my review of Fields of Glory by Michael Jecks here.

Ashes of Rebellion by Michael Jecks

  

Book review of A French Inheritance by Jennifer Bohnet

A French Inheritance by Jennifer Bohnet

A French Inheritance by Jennifer Bohnet

Every moment is a new beginning on the French Riviera

Five years ago, Adam and Lucy Belgrave took the plunge and bought a sprawling rundown farm in the South of France to bring back to life, much against the advice of Adam’s brother, Elliot.

Today, that dream is becoming a reality and the farm is beginning to thrive and Elliot finds himself grateful for the refuge it provides after his career falters and his marriage fails.

After the death of her beloved granny, a bitter divorce and surprise redundancy - the saying ’sad things come in threes’ resonates with Briony Dymond's life. With her mother by her side, Briony travels to France to learn some news that will change her life completely. Will she have the courage to embrace granny Giselle’s special wishes?

As spring returns to the French Riviera both Elliot and Briony seek to put their pasts behind them and look to find happiness in the future. But can the past give up its hold on the present?

A French Inheritance by Jennifer Bohnet

My review

There is something rather exciting, but also reassuring and comforting about opening a new Jennifer Bohnet novel and this one grabbed my heart from the beginning.

As Briony and her mother arrive at granny Giselle’s cottage in France, things are set to change for them both. While her mum is ready for a new beginning, Briony is understandably cautious, still piecing together her life following a recent divorce and redundancy. Meeting their new neighbours, Lucy, Adam and Elliot provides friendship as well as the possibility of exciting new opportunities.

A French Inheritance by Jennifer Bohnet

This book is a great mix of characters with strong family bonds, old flames reigniting and new friendships ready to help mend broken hearts. It filled me with a huge sense of well-being and happiness, and I haven’t even got to the adorable canine companions, or the hidden boxes found in the attic with stories waiting to be told.

It was just what I needed and was one of those reads that I didn’t want to end. I could happily have sat by the lake, hoping to spot the kingfisher and following these characters forever.

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  

 

Jennifer Bohnet

Author Bio  

Jennifer Bohnet is the bestselling author of over 14 women's fiction titles, including Villa of Sun and Secrets and A Riviera Retreat. She is originally from the West Country but now lives in the wilds of rural Brittany, France.

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A French Inheritance by Jennifer Bohnet

You can read my reviews of some of Jennifer’s other novels here:

Secrets Beneath a Riviera Sky 

A French Adventure 

Christmas on the Riviera 

Summer on the French Riviera 

Villa of Second Chances 

Summer at the Château 

A French Country Escape 

Falling for a French Dream 

One Summer in Monte Carlo 

A French Affair 

Book review of The Case of the Body on the Orient Express by Kelly Oliver

The Case of the Body on the Orient Express by Kelly Oliver

The Case of the Body on the Orient Express by Kelly Oliver 

Paris, 1928: Agatha Christie and fellow writer Dorothy L Sayers board the Orient Express, bound for Constantinople. Christie in particular is looking forward to a break from recent dispiriting events in both her work and private life – the finalisation of her divorce from her philanderous husband Archie, and the miserly reception of her latest book.

But before the duo can settle in to enjoy the luxuries of their first-class journey, their journey is derailed when a fellow guest drops dead during the dinner service. And as the last person to speak to the victim, Dorothy finds herself a prime suspect in his murder.

As the train hurtles East, Sayers’ resourceful assistant Eliza and her friend Theo must navigate a maze of suspects. But with each passing mile, the stakes rise, and when another body is discovered, their search to find the killer before they reach their destination becomes increasingly complicated.

Can Eliza and Theo stay one step ahead, crack the mystery and clear Dorothy’s name? Or will this be one journey too far for the amateur sleuths? 

The Case of the Body on the Orient Express by Kelly Oliver

My review

I reached the end of this book and couldn’t decide what my favourite part of it was. With the vivid descriptions of the opulent setting of the Orient Express, the menus served in the dining car and the characters found on board, it felt like I was there. Then there were the mysterious circumstances surrounding the deaths to be solved that certainly got my brain ticking, as old flames and forgotten faces from the past all found themselves on the same train heading to Constantinople. But then there was Eliza, a woman to be admired and not messed with. She won me over from the moment she casually mentioned her forensics kit was included in her modest luggage for the journey to Constantinople with her employer Dorothy L Sayers. She had a mysterious and intriguing past that I couldn’t wait to discover. 

The Case of the Body on the Orient Express by Kelly Oliver

This book was also fully loaded with a rich cast of characters including George Orwell and Agatha Christie who were perfectly matched with the opulent setting of the Orient Express. I was so happy to board this train, and I really didn’t want the journey to end.

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 

 

 

Kelly Oliver

Author Bio  

Kelly Oliver is the award-winning, bestselling author of three mysteries series: The Jessica James Mysteries, The Pet Detective Mysteries, and the historical cozies The Fiona Figg Mysteries, set in WW1. She is also the Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Vanderbilt University and lives in Nashville, Tennessee.

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The Case of the Body on the Orient Express by Kelly Oliver

Book review of The Village Café in the Loire by 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…

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.

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 

 

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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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 

Book review of The Magic of Provence by 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… 

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. 

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 

 

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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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