Genre: Romance
Number of Pages: 352
Date of Publication: 6 June 2024
Publisher: Penguin
My Review Summary: A wonderful story full of love and emotion. A great summer/holiday read which I highly recommend.
📖PLOT SUMMARY FROM GOODREADS📖
Escape to the beautiful lavender fields of Provence this summer.
Del moved to the south of France three years ago and hasn’t looked back. She’s found new friends, new purpose, and new love with gorgeous Fabien.
But just as harvest on her little lavender farm is due to begin, Del gets some shocking news. With no time to dwell as she welcomes a new crew of lavender pickers, she unexpectedly waves goodbye to Fabien for the summer.
Usually cooking – the thing she loves best – would help soothe her troubles, but Del doesn’t remember how . . . And then chef Zacharie comes to town, dropping another bombshell!
Over one summer in Provence that’s full of surprises, friends old and new rally round. Can they complete the harvest and pull the community back together? And if Fabien returns, will Del finally get her happy-ever-after?
💭THOUGHTS💭
I love a Jo Thomas book, so I was thrilled when I was accepted onto this Tour. As usual it didn’t disappoint. It was full of emotion, love and friendship and it all took place in a beautiful part of the world. It is the perfect summer read.
The writing was wonderfully descriptive without being too much and distracting you from the main story. I specifically enjoyed how the food and cooking was described. It gave an extra layer to the story, and pulled me in more.
There were so many emotional parts to the story, lots of ups and downs that kept my attention, but by the end I felt uplifted. The ending of a book for me is key and can make me change my mind about the rating overall. I would definitely give this book more than 5 stars if I could because of how the ending made me feel.
The chapters weren’t overly long so the story kept moving. The descriptions of the area and the main character’s thoughts and feelings slowed the story down, but in a good way.
There was a good flow to the book, which meant that I could easily read it for long periods of time without getting bored. Everything about the book kept me engaged.
The characters were great. The main character was so kind and loving, but she didn’t always have a lot of confidence in herself due to her past. Whilst she wasn’t always sure, she always looked on the bright side of things and got herself through the difficult situations with hard work and teamwork with the characters around her. I loved the fact that even though these characters had only just met, they were more than willing to help the main character out with any difficulties that she was having.
I loved reading the main character’s thought processes at difficult times. It showed that no matter what happens you can get through it. A quote that I particularly took to, and which was repeated throughout the book, was “don’t wait for life to stop being hard to be happy”. I thought that was a wonderful sentiment.
The characters surrounding the main character were great to read about. They enhanced the main character’s personality well and together their different personalities made for an interesting story.
Lastly the settings. As I have mentioned above, they were richly described, with the sights and smells all written about in an interesting way. This added an extra something to the story as well as grounding it well. It really made me want to visit Provence!
Overall a wonderful story full of love and emotion. A great summer/holiday read which I highly recommend.
✏️ AUTHOR ✏️
Jo Thomas worked for many years as a reporter and producer, including time at Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour and Radio 2’s The Steve Wright Show. Jo’s debut novel, The Oyster Catcher, was a runaway bestseller and won both the RNA Joan Hessayon Award and the Festival of Romance Best eBook Award. Her book Escape to the French Farmhouse was a #1 bestselling eBook.
Jo loves to explore new countries and discover the food produced there, both of which she thoroughly enjoys researching. Jo lives in Pembrokeshire with her husband and three children, where cooking and gathering around the kitchen table are a hugely important and fun part of their family life.
Jo is available for events, features, and to write short stories.
❤️PRAISE FOR LOVE IN PROVENCE❤️
“A delicious escape to the sun, seasoned with Jo’s unique warmth and wisdom”
Phillipa Ashley
“This story is vintage Jo Thomas, making me feel as if I’m truly smelling the lavender and enjoying all that Provencal food! An absolute treat of a book”
Sue Moorcroft
“Jo captures the soul of sunny Provence in this heady and heartwarming story.”
Rosanna Ley
Praise for Jo Thomas
“No summer reading list would be complete without the latest from the fabulous Jo Thomas… her glorious novels always transport you to somewhere beautiful”
My Weekly
“Delicious and delightful – Jo sweeps you away to a better place with every book, which are always filled with warmth, love and a big spoonful of happiness”
Veronica Henry
“Another winner from Jo Thomas, gorgeously evocative, happy-making and full of love!”
Jill Mansell on Summer at the Ice Cream Cafe “Full of love and warmth, tears and laughter”
Katie Fforde on Summer at the Ice Cream Cafe “A sun-drenched treat . . . I loved it!”
Milly Johnson on Retreat to the Spanish Sun
📝FOR SHORTER REVIEWS SEE 📝
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