The Promise of Provence
by Patricia Sands
Synopsis:
June in Provence is full of promise when Katherine arrives
from Canada, eager to feel renewed by her surroundings. Endless rows of
lavender prepare to burst into pink and purple blooms. Fields of sunflowers
flow in golden waves among vineyards and olive groves overlooked by ancient
hilltop villages. It’s the postcard setting she envisioned, but is that all she
needs?
After a year of heartbreak, Katherine has impulsively agreed
to a home exchange in the south of France. Colorful locals, a yellow lab named
Picasso, and the inspiring beauty of the countryside breathe new life into her
days.
Seeking to shed the pain of betrayal and loss, she struggles
to recapture her joie de vivre and searches for the answer to a haunting
question: is it too late to begin again?
"Be prepared to fall in love with Provence! This is
a story that will draw you in with its vibrancy in setting and characters. A
must read for any woman with a desire for romance and travel." Steena Holmes, author of Amazon bestseller Finding Emma
Publication Date:
May 30, 2013
457 pages,
ISBN 9780991931316
Published through CreateSpace
Available on Amazon worldwide USA Canada UK FR and may be ordered at any
bookstore.
Author bio:
Patricia Sands lives in
Toronto, Canada, when she isn’t somewhere else. An admitted travel fanatic, she
can pack a bag in a flash and be ready to go anywhere … particularly the south
of France. With a focus on women’s issues and ageing, her stories celebrate the
feminine spirit and the power of friendship. Encouraging women of all ages to
stare down the fear factor and embrace change, she has heard from readers ages
20 to 83.
Her award-winning debut
novel The Bridge Club was published in 2010.
Her second novel, The
Promise of Provence is an Amazon Hot New Release as of April 2013.
Pop in to visit her at:
http://www.patriciasands.wordpress.com
http://www.patriciasandsauthor.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/patricia.sands.9
and https://www.facebook.com/AuthorPatriciaSands
Twitter https://twitter.com/patricia_sands
Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4381348.Patricia_Sands
My thoughts:
C'est magnifique!! The Promise of Provence stole my heart…
Katherine was such a wonderfully human and understandable character. I related to her immediately and through her
story that unfolded within the pages of The
Promise of Provence I was reminded of so many important lessons learned in
my own life.
As I read The Promise
of Provence I was reminded of Eat,
Pray, Love. Let me admit first that
I have yet to read Eat, Pray, Love (though
I own it and intend to do so). I have
only caught the film adaptation during a transatlantic flight. That being said I am not making any
comparison of the authors or the novels, but just the essence of the story… to
live life as if each day is your last, to savor the present and relish the moment. I remember when I saw the film of Eat, Pray, Love it was just that which
stuck with me and I appreciated the film simply as a reminder that just when
you feel you have reached the end of the book of your life you realize that the
best chapter has yet to be written, to live in hope. It is such an important mantra to remember
and one that is so easily forgotten.
I enjoyed every page of Patricia Sands’ The Promise of Provence for its rich detail of the landscape,
architecture, history and especially the food of the Provence region of
France. If you have ever visited or wish
to visit this magical spot Sands manages to truly capture the essence of
Provence in this novel. I will warn you
also that reading The Promise of Provence
will make you crave brie with baguette so please do yourself a favor and have
these on hand before beginning the novel.
Oh, and a bottle of your favorite French wine as well certainly wouldn’t
hurt!
I loved the “extra” the author included in her epilogue so
make sure to read the novel to the end… I look forward to hearing from
Katherine in October! I encourage you
all to read The Promise of Provence
for a beautiful reminder of an ancient idem:
Carpe diem, quam minimum posterior credulous!
Seize the day, trusting as little as possible in tomorrow!
À bientôt!
VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR SCHEDULE
Monday, July 1
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Thursday, July 4
Friday, July 5
Saturday, July 6
Sunday, July 7
Monday, July 8
Tuesday, July 9
Wednesday, July 10
And please note:
Patricia Sands will be co-leading an 11-day tour of 14 women
to Nice and the countryside of Provence in June 2014.
In full compliance with FTC Guidelines, I received a free Kindle edition of this book from the author and France Book Tours in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was in no way compensated for this post, and the thoughts are my own.