A wonderfully romantic novel from the No. 1 Sunday Times bestselling author of Recipe for Love, A French Affair and The Perfect Match. Gina and Sally Makepiece have inherited a stall in the French House - an antiques centre nestled in the heart of the English countryside. Gina is determined to drag the French House and its grumpy owner into the twenty-first century. Bearing all the attributes of a modern-day Mr Rochester, Matthew Ballinger is less than happy with the whirlwind that has arrived on his doorstep. The last thing either of them want is to fall in love. But will a trip to France change their minds?
Take two very different cultures, separated by a narrow strip of water. Can love bridge the divide? When Margaret discovers her fiancé is cheating on her, she leaves England in search of a new life and a new dream. Beautiful yet self-effacing, Margaret is determined to put romance out of her life and avoid forming personal ties. On the beautiful south coast of France, Margaret lands herself with a plum job and is happy to forget her worthless old flame. Things are looking up, until a series of events draw her into meeting handsome Frenchman Jean-Paul. Despite her reservations, Margaret begins to let down her guard with inevitable consequence. Margaret falls deeply in love, but struggles with her conscious after discovering Jean-Paul is married. Despite his declaration of a loveless marriage, should Margaret continue with her new affair? Her old life haunts and scares her…Should she choose a secure, safe life, immersed in her work, or one filled with passion and excitement with the sexy Frenchman? In her darkest hours, can she trust him with her heart?... Has she found a safe haven? Or is she poised on the brink of the abyss…
A lively, inspiring account of a New Zealand woman's decision to create a new life in the south of France. Amanda Taylor-Ace's philosophy is 'joie de vivre unlimited' - living life with unlimited joy. So when her 14-year-old son fell in with a bad crowd and her life in Auckland needed a shake-up, she packed their bags and took him to France for a year. My French Affair is the story of how and why she decided to stay. Not content with simply living in France, she decided to renovate two eighteenth-century houses and convert them into guest accommodation. In My French Affair, Amanda describes the trials and tribulations of working with French tradesmen (both good and bad), getting to know the local villagers, hosting guests from around the world, teaching guests to cook in Maison de Maîtresse's kitchen, and her joy in new and old friendships and the daily delights of life in France. With over 30 mouth-watering French recipes to try, My French Affair is a treat for the tastebuds as well as for the soul.
A transcontinental, romantic memoir in the vein of A Year in Provence and Eat, Pray, Love. 'Whether you are contemplating your second act, a fellow Francophile, introvert or gourmande, whether you are a romantic, a clown, or just a lover of life in all its messy wonder, I dare you to read this book and not be entranced. Quite simply it is a delight.' - Megan Nicol Reed What do you say when a man you've dated a handful of times asks you to go live with him in a mill by a river in France? The obvious answer is: 'Are you out of your mind?' Maria Hoyle's was: 'Okay.' At the age of 63 she left her life in Auckland - her two daughters, her dog, her friends, a beautiful rental by a beach, and everything she'd loved for more than two decades - to settle in a tiny French village with a partner she barely knew. What could possibly go wrong? Maria arrived in the remote hamlet with trepidation but also a little bravado - after all, with a degree in French, she was confident about communicating with the locals. And yes - that part was mostly fine (apart from some amusing faux pas). The true challenges were learning to communicate with her new partner, Alistair (they were smitten with each other, but also sitting on a pile of baggage and emotional wounds) and adapting to life in rural France when her idea of a great day out was shopping, lunch in a bustling café and a movie. Does Maria have it in her to persevere? To make good friends and truly feel at home? Crucially, is she making another terrible romantic mistake - or is she finally growing and learning what it means to move beyond the infatuation stage and make a relationship work? Maria's tale is about grabbing life with both hands whatever your age, what it means to belong, the joys and frustrations of French living, and why you should always look closely at a map before emigrating. Ultimately, though, it is a story about the greatest adventure of all. Love.
A NEW YORK TIMES EDITORS’ CHOICE The secret daughter of a French politician and a famous actress drops the startling revelation that will shatter her family in this beguiling debut novel of intrigue and betrayal. NAMED ONE OF SUMMER’S BEST BOOKS BY The Skimm • Marie Claire • LitHub • Subway Book Review • Paperback Paris Margot Louve is a secret: the child of a longstanding affair between an influential French politician with presidential ambitions and a prominent stage actress. This hidden family exists in stolen moments in a small Parisian apartment on the Left Bank. It is a house of cards that Margot—fueled by a longing to be seen and heard—decides to tumble. The summer of her seventeenth birthday, she meets the man who will set her plan in motion: a well-regarded journalist whose trust seems surprisingly easy to gain. But as Margot is drawn into an adult world she struggles to comprehend, she learns how one impulsive decision can threaten a family’s love with ruin, shattering the lives of those around her in ways she could never have imagined. Exposing the seams between private lives and public faces, The Margot Affair is a novel of deceit, desire, and transgression—and the exhilarating knife-edge upon which the danger of telling the truth outweighs the cost of keeping secrets.
“A captivating story about the power of friendship . . . More than a novel, it is a recipe for happiness.”—Anne Fortier, New York Times bestselling author of Juliet Every dress has a history. And so does every woman. Phoebe Swift’s friends are stunned when she abruptly leaves a plum job to open her own vintage clothing shop in London—but to Phoebe, it’s the fulfillment of a dream, and her passion. Digging for finds in attics and wardrobes, Phoebe knows that when you buy a piece of vintage clothing, you’re not just buying fabric and thread—you’re buying a piece of someone’s past. But one particular article of clothing will soon unexpectedly change her life. Thérèse Bell, an elderly Frenchwoman, has an impressive clothing collection. But among the array of elegant suits and couture gowns, Phoebe finds a child’s sky-blue coat—an item with which Mrs. Bell is stubbornly reluctant to part. As the two women become friends, Phoebe will learn the poignant tale of that little blue coat. And she will discover an astonishing connection between herself and Thérèse Bell—one that will help her heal the pain of her own past and allow her to love again. BONUS: This edition contains an A Vintage Affair discussion guide and an excerpt from Isabel Wolff's The Very Picture of You. “Romantic and sumptuous, this is a must for fans of vintage dresses and vintage romance.”—Hester Browne, author of The Little Lady Agency “This colorful new novel has something for everyone. There is mystery, romance, great characters, as well as London and France.”—Naples Daily News “Deftly blends past and present, romance and mystery, and a theme of forgiveness and redemption.”—Mary Kincaid, HuffPost
A single day in Paris changes the lives of three Americans as they each set off to explore the city with a French tutor, learning about language, love, and loss as their lives intersect in surprising ways. Josie, Riley, and Jeremy have come to the City of Light for different reasons: Josie, a young high school teacher, arrives in hopes of healing a broken heart. Riley, a spirited but lonely expat housewife, struggles to feel connected to her husband and her new country. And Jeremy, the reserved husband of a renowned actress, is accompanying his wife on a film shoot, yet he feels distant from her world. As they meet with their tutors—Josie with Nico, a sensitive poet; Riley with Phillippe, a shameless flirt; and Jeremy with the consummately beautiful Chantal—each succumbs to unexpected passion and unpredictable adventures. Yet as they traverse Paris’s grand boulevards and intimate, winding streets, they uncover surprising secrets about one another—and come to understand long-buried truths about themselves.
The French Affair is a collection of recipes collected by author, chef and photographer Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen on his life journey that took him from a farm in South Africa to the French Riviera and Paris. The book is a feast for the eyes and nourishment for the soul, reflecting Jan Hendrik’s love affair with France and its culture of good food, fresh produce from local markets and the meals that have inspired him on his travels through these epicurean surroundings. Jan Hendrik’s love of food was nurtured by his mother and grandmothers, and this family influence and his South African roots are reflected in his recipes for Ouma se Soetkoekies (spice and sweet wine biscuits) and Milk Tart with Cinnamon Quinces. Dishes such as Cauliflower and Roquefort Soup, and Creamy Chicken and Corn Pot Pies are inspired by his student years in Stellenbosch, while Rabbit and Wild Mushroom Ragoût, Sticky Tarte Tatin and Croque- Monsieur à la Banane clearly show the French influence. Oysters Baked with Champagne Cream and Turkish Delight Pavlova reflect his time spent as a private chef on a yacht on the French Riviera. There is also a chapter with basic recipes for pastry, pasta, jams and preserves.
No one looks kindly on the killer of a king. “Fast-paced and refreshing.” – SLJ, starred review “The perfect blend of history and dark fantasy.” – Mary Taranta, author of Shimmer and Burn “Thrilling, romantic, and addictive.” – Rosalyn Eves, author of Blood Rose Rebellion “The only cure is to finish it.” – Lyndsay Ely, author of Gunslinger Girl After unwittingly helping her mother poison King Louis XIV, seventeen-year-old alchemist Mirabelle Monvoisin is forced to see her mother’s Shadow Society in a horrifying new light: they’re not heroes of the people, as they’ve always claimed to be, but murderers. Herself included. Mira tries to ease her guilt by brewing helpful curatives, but her hunger tonics and headache remedies cannot right past wrongs or save the dissenters her mother vows to purge. Royal bastard Josse de Bourbon is more kitchen boy than fils de France. But when the Shadow Society assassinates the Sun King and half of the royal court, he must become the prince he was never meant to be in order to save his injured sisters and the petulant dauphin. Forced to hide in the sewers beneath the city, Josse’s hope of reclaiming Paris seems impossible—until his path collides with Mirabelle’s. She’s a deadly poisoner. He’s a bastard prince. They are sworn enemies, yet they form a tenuous pact to unite the commoners and former nobility against the Shadow Society. But can a rebellion built on mistrust ever hope to succeed?
This book was a total delight -- Cat Sebastian, author of Two Rogues Make a Right on Best Laid Plaids Have kilt, will travel. Sweden, 1930 Two years ago, Dr. Ainsley Graham proved the existence of ghosts and fell in love—hard to top that. But a trip to Sweden to research at a prestigious university for the summer is nothing to sneeze at, especially since his partner, psychologist Joachim Cockburn, will be teaching alongside him. A change of scenery might be just the thing. Their idyllic trip to Sweden is interrupted by a ghost with a proclivity for rude hand gestures and graphic curse words—and a ghastly history begging to be investigated. Life among the living is complicated, too, by a gruff professor who can’t take his eyes off Ainsley, and an enticing new job offer for Joachim. What starts as an adventurous trip abroad turns into mayhem, murder, and…a magical moose? And everyone—well, perhaps not the moose—is a suspect in the death of the ghostly young man who brings them together to expose secrets, loves lost, and a crime that will shock them all. Kilty Pleasures Book 1: Best Laid Plaids Book 2: Where There’s a Kilt, There’s a Way
