Escape to the French Farmhouse - Jo Thomas

Can she find her recipe for happiness?

Del and her husband Ollie moved to a beautiful village in Provence for a fresh start after years of infertility struggles. But six weeks after they arrive, they’re packing the removal van once more. As Del watches the van leave for England, she suddenly realises exactly what will make her happier… a new life in France – without Ollie.

Now alone, all Del has is a crumbling farmhouse, a mortgage to pay and a few lavender plants. What on earth is she going to do? Discovering an old recipe book at the market run by the rather attractive Fabian, Del starts to bake. But can her new-found passion really help her let go of the past and lead to true happiness?

A heart-warming tale about reclaiming your life, set amongst the lavender fields of Provence. Perfect escapism from the author of Late Summer in the Vineyard and The Honey Farm on the Hill.

My Review:

A wonderfully enchanting adventure in an idyllic, dreamy French setting.

Jo Thomas is one of my absolute ‘go-to’ authors, I’m always swept away to a glorious destination with fantastic characters, and a heart-warming tale – oh some of the most divine, mouth-watering foods and drink.

Escape to the French Farmhouse is uplifting, emotional and a delight to read. I devoured it in almost one setting and it the story stayed with me for days after I’d finished. Jo Thomas transported me and the writing evoked emotion and I could feel the sunshine, smell the lavender; I could believe I was there and with Del & Co.

What a woman Del is, driven daring and compassionate, I really admired her. I marvelled at Del’s progression throughout the book, her courage rewarded, and confidence restored. Her ability to make people feel better whilst trying to heal her own wounds is lovely, she builds her own family and deservedly finds the community, love and life she craved.

Such a great cast of characters, I was laughing and gasping throughout, a smile on my face one minute but then upset the next, I really did buy in to the emotions of many characters.

I always love the descriptions of yummy treats, foods, and drinks and this did not disappoint, I was intrigued using lavender in so many ways and would love to try some myself now.

I couldn’t recommend this one more if you are looking to be whisked away, escape from current times and take in the delights of this French community. An uplifting, romantic tale that does not disappoint.


About the Author:
 

Jo Thomas worked for many years as a reporter and producer, first for BBC Radio 5, before  moving on to Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour and Radio 2’s The Steve Wright Show. In 2013 Jo won the RNA Katie Fforde Bursary. Her debut novel, The Oyster Catcher, was a runaway bestseller in ebook and was awarded the 2014 RNA Joan Hessayon Award and the 2014 Festival of Romance Best Ebook Award. Jo lives in the Vale of Glamorgan with her husband and three children.

One Day in Winter - Shari Low

About the book

On a cold December's morning...

Caro sets off to find the truth: has her relationship with her father been based on a lifetime of lies?

Cammy can't wait to surprise the woman he loves with a proposal. All he needs is the perfect ring.

Lila can no longer hide her secret. She has to tell her lover's wife about their affair.

After thirty years, Bernadette knows it's time. She's ready to leave her controlling husband... and never look back.

Over the course of twenty-four hours, four lives are about to change forever...

My Review:

A captivating story with themes built around trust, betrayal, family values and friendship. The story is told over the period of one day, which I found interesting and although at first, I thought the pace felt slow, it was setting the scene and building up what was to come! We have four characters that are seeming to go about their own lives but bit by bit we see how connected they are and how the smallest of actions can have farther reaching effects.

Whilst not all the main characters are exactly likable – Shari Low gives us circumstances that we can connect with and don’t we all love to hate some characters anyway!  I think many parts of One Day in Winter will be relatable for so many readers.

My advice is not to feel overwhelmed by the long list of characters at the beginning – they soon make themselves known and it is easy to follow. Bernadette is my favourite, out of everyone I wanted her to find the happiness she deserved.

This is an intense, emotional story but it does include many moments that gave me the odd chuckle. I was glad of the light and shade, it made it a book I became deeply engrossed with. I love a book that is deep and meaningful, Shari Low beautifully gives us that with this read.

As the stories develop there is no way you will be able to put this book down! A fantastic read – highly recommended. 

About the author

Shari Low is the No1 best-selling author of over 20 novels, including One Day In Winter, A Life Without You, The Story Of Our Life, With Or Without You, Another Day In Winter and her latest release, This Is Me. 

And because she likes to over-share toe-curling moments and hapless disasters, she is also the shameless mother behind a collection of parenthood memories called Because Mummy Said So. 

Once upon a time she met a guy, got engaged after a week, and twenty-something years later she lives near Glasgow with her husband, a labradoodle, and two teenagers who think she's fairly embarrassing except when they need a lift. 

Buy links:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2KIuWlD

Kobo: https://bit.ly/2YIDbIn

iBooks: https://apple.co/2H3NhIS

Google Play: https://bit.ly/2Kw7cm1