If I’m honest, I’ve always loved the idea of upping sticks and moving to a different country. In reality, probably not so much, but I admire the people who do just that.
A French Adventure follows the stories of three women, Vivienne, Maxine and Olivia, and how their lives progress over the space of a few months as they discover new and old friends and go through some life-changing circumstances. I loved all three women and, of course, I was willing for their journeys to take them in the direction in which they wanted to go.
Jennifer Bohnet shows us how we can overcome the challenges that life can throw at us and how very often we will come out better and stronger on the other side.
I’ve never visited the French Riviera, but after immersing myself in the lives of these three women, I think I could quite happily live there, in a small cottage with the Mediterranean sparkling in the distance.
Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to read and review A French Adventure by Jennifer Bohnet.
About the Book
When your old life ceases to exist, its time to build a new one…
It’s early summer on the French Riviera when Vivienne Wilson arrives for a one-woman writers’ retreat after learning that her philandering husband or 30 years, wants a divorce. There to collect the shell-shocked Vivienne is recently widowed Maxine Zonszain, who is struggling to come to terms with her empty life. To add insult to injury she receives another knockout punch with a letter from her very estranged first husband…. Florist extraordinaire, Olivia Murray, shares the Villa that Vivienne is renting. She’s content with life - but sad to add another failed relationship to her growing list and longs to meet 'The One'. Life under the summer sun in Antibes becomes a challenging time for all three women as secrets are shared, problems halved as they forge unexpected friendships and embark on new adventures. Sometimes life’s surprises turn out to be unwanted but just sometimes the ‘new normal’ makes for a happier life than the one lost.
About Jennie
Twenty-four years ago this year Richard and I, with our then dog, 14 year old Holly, in a trailer attached to Richard’s bike, got on our bikes and cycled down through western France via the canal paths, arriving in Antibes in July. And we’re still in France! We spent eleven fabulous years down on the Côte d’Azur, meeting some wonderful people and enjoying the relaxed lifestyle of the Mediterranean.
Then, thirteen years ago we uprooted ourselves again and moved to a quirky cottage in central Brittany. We now have a rescue dog called Django who is a six year old Border Collie / Australian sheepdog, two outdoor cats, Missy the tortoiseshell cat and Little Tabby, a few chickens and about a hundred fish in a large pond that Richard built.
When I’m not writing I love reading, walking in the beautiful countryside and having friends for lunches that follow the French tradition of lasting all afternoon.
I am a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and also the Society of Authors.
I have contributed short stories and serials to many of the UK women's magazines including, The People's Friend, Candis, My Weekly, Best, Yours and my stories have been published in Australia, Sweden, South Africa and Ireland.
I also write magazine features and my work has been published in national magazines and newspapers like, The Sunday Times, The Sunday Telegraph, Daily Mail, Daily Telegraph, Home and Country, Devon Life. For over three years I had my own newspaper column in the South Hams Group of Newspapers, that took a wry look at family life.
