I found What Happens in France to be an OK novel. I liked the premise of a woman using her status as a game show contestant as a platform to try and find her long, lost, runaway sister to be an interesting idea. The novel tended to be a tad slow and repetitious. I am, honestly, not a fan of the same details being written about over and over. I can see how this tendency would be used to drive home the desire of Bryony to contact her sister.
The real depth of the story comes from the budding relationship between Bryony and Lewis, her show partner. He carries pain from a recent breakup that tempers Bryony’s thoughts about their chances. When the ex intrudes, it all blows up for them and she is certain all is lost.

Hannah Masters packed her bags and left home one day and hasn’t been since. Bryony, her younger sister has been looking for her ever since and when their dad suffers a stroke, the need to find Hannah becomes all the more urgent. To get her appeal out to a wider audience, Bryony decides to apply to be a contestant on the new game show “What Happens In….” With the help of her teammate Lewis, they are off on a luxury jet to France to compete against the other contestants! Can they stay in the game and find Hannah and what else will they find out?!

I love this author’s work, but it is usually the crime novels of that she writes that I read. I had absolutely no doubt that this author can turn her hand to anything though, I mean she’s already written romantic comedy before, but I didn’t realise how good this would be! This book was absolutely delightful! Starting with the blurb, it’s enough to pull on your heartstrings and have you smiling all in one go. The cover is to DIE for!! Looking so French with the cutest Pug ever on the front (who we now know to be Biggie Smalls), this cover certainly has the “va-va-voom”!

It is a really unique idea of including a game show (I’ve read very few books featuring game shows!) in the plot and after reading it I can definitely say this works really well. I had a tear in my eye at the thought of Bryony and Hannah’s dad suffering a stroke and the after-effects he suffers as my dear old late dad also suffered the same thing some years ago and this affected his speech also. It was though, written so sensitively and this made me love the Masters family that little bit more. The story flows really well and as the chapters switch between present day to the past, you get an insight into what made Hannah leave home.

The characters in the book are all so likeable and lovable! I’d love to have a best friend like Melinda and after reading this book I realise how boring my life is without someone like her in it! I also loved the delicious Lewis, but cried out in despair when Bryony was told that he’d just broken up with his boyfriend, Maxwell! It’s a good job she’s not his type…..! The other contestants that Bryony and Lewis are up against in the game show are also all fabulous! They are certainly all stars of the show and you could just imagine them on a real game show!

The biggest star of the show, figuratively speaking, has to be of course the pug, Biggie Smalls! A social media star in his own right (well, along with his owner, Oscar), Biggie is absolutely adorable! The writing for Biggie’s character is so spot on that he should win everyone’s hearts! Whilst I loved the book and the other characters, I definitely think Biggie should have his own story (and I have been informed by a reliable source that this just….might….happen!!)

The story treats us to some fabulous views of the French countryside, some opulent modes of transport and some luxurious accommodation! My imagination tells me that when the author travels to France, she goes by private jet and stays in only the most extravagant hotels, as the descriptions of them all are so detailed that this can be the only reason! I do know that the game show parts are definitely written from experience as I remember watching the author on ITV’s Tipping Point!!

This is a hugely funny romantic comedy with lots of heart-warming, endearing moments. I have needed tissues throughout this book, sometimes to wipe away tears of emotion, other times to wipe away tears of laughter. The author has proved without a doubt that she can write amazing romantic comedy as well as amazing crime!

Hautement recommandé!! Absolument fantastique!! Plus s'il vous plait!!

This book is about a young woman named Bryony. She is desperately looking for her sister Hannah who ran away when she was 16 and Bryony was 6. To find her sister she embarks on a journey through a quiz show in order to get Hannah’s information out there in the hope that she will get in touch. I found this book to be a very good read keeping me interested at all times. New friends and old friends assist Bryony in her quest. Will she succeed? Read to find out. I highly recommend this book. Having not read anything from this author before I was pleased to really enjoy it.

I was introduced by this book's title so downloaded it straight away. The cover is very eye catching and I was hooked by the synopsis. However, as soon as I started it I realised that the book has very sad undercurrents, with Bryony's father's health being far from good because of a stroke. I have my own chronic health issues and live with disabilities so I immediately identified with the family.

I'm a very sensitive person and was very moved by the sadness that Bryony's father's stroke caused her and her mum. I just wanted to appear in the book and hug them. On top of that, Bryony's sister Hannah has not been part of the family since she went missing at age 16, which was 30 years ago. I found Bryony's attempts to search for her humbling and was touched by the blog entries she wrote. The tone in which they were written was as if she were talking to her sister face to face and were moving and at times frank and very true to life.

Hannah was a real fan of reality TV shows and Bryony sees the game show, What Happens in France, as an opportunity to find Hannah and finally reunite the family.

She and team mates Lewis jet off to rural France to participate. There, Bryony sees she is in for a real adventure. Will she and Lewis hit it off? Is love on the cards and will she find Hannah? Read this if you want to know. Bryony is courageous, strong driven and pours her heart into everything she does. There's a real sense of the importance of family in this novel which I loved and it really begs the question: What would you do to reunite your family?

The book will make you feel, think, smile and cry. Such an amazing tale. The writing just flows so well too.

What happens in France was suspenseful, sweet and, far from being a slushy romance, I'd say it is "a romance with edge." The plot has an excellent pace and so many layers. This was the perfect introduction to Carol Wyer's books for me and I really want to discover more of her books. 5 stars.

Thanks to Carol Wyer and Canelo for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review and my blog tour slot for this title.

I really enjoyed this book, it’s fun, easy to read book, laugh out loud, I read it in 2 sittings, highly recommend this book for fans of Marian Keyes & Sophie Kinsella. Light hearted read as we follow the character looking for her long lost sister along with the antics on the way. Entertaining, family and romance.

Thanks to Netgalley and Canelo for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I am giving this book 2.5 stars, rounded up to 3. It's a light and frothy read, but one that never really captured my heart. Bryony is an interesting character; one of life survivors with a zest for life, she is loyal and steadfast and someone you would want in your corner. Her search for her long lost sister and unusual method of trying to find her was quirky and unusual and the game show format was what really held my interest. Unfortunately I found the rest of the book somewhat formulaic. From the fully booked hotel, the 'wacky' best friends to the incorrect assumptions about Lewis, I often found myself rolling my eyes. As the book was entering the last stages I caught myself thinking, 'any minute now there will be a plot device that means the romantic couple are separated for a while before coming together for a romantic reunion' and a few pages later there it was! The plot about the missing sister was resolved with an incredibly rushed ending that jarred with me, because it made light of the utter heartache that many people go through when loved ones go missing.
Not one for me I'm afraid, but maybe that's because my heart is as black as the coffee I need to fuel my morning.

My thanks go to the publishers and Net Galley for the advanced copy in return for an honest review.

I loved the creative concept of this book — so fun and romantic with its heartfelt moments, too. This is perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella, or of reality tv shows like The Bachelor (incidentally, I’m a big fan of both). I’d definitely like to read future romances from Carol Wyer!

This book wasn't for me. I found it very slow pace. The characters were nice and funny but unbelievable. Sorry

Sadly this book just wasn’t for me.
This book follows Bryony, here sister ran away from home at the age of 16. Bryony is trying to find her, and decides to air part in a game show to try and make contact with her. Along the way, a romantic involvement developes.
I just didn’t really enjoy this book, it was fairly slow paced, I didn’t like the characters, and I found it unbelievable. I didn’t find it funny either, I found it a bit cringe. Sorry!

I would like to thank Canelo for asking me to review this book and for organising the blog tour. I would also like to thank Carol who agreed to appear on my blog for a QnA. (See my next post)
This is a brilliant read full of humour. Bryony has wanted to find her long lost sister and with her father having a stoke she has more urgency now. Now, Bryony goes about this in the most brilliant modern way of gaining attention by going on a game show in the hope that her sister will be watching. Throughout the process of keeping in the show a lovely romance blossoms.
Carol has created an uplifting, funny romance that has strong emotions running through it giving real meaning to the characters stories. This is far more than just a funny romance. I adored this read and found myself completely lost in Carols words.

Unique story line

Kudos to Carol Wyer for coming up with a unique storyline in What Happens in France. This story tells a tale of family relationships and dynamics in a really unique way. The game show keep Bryony and Lewis challenged as their romance grow. There are plenty of things that will make you smile but you just might need some tissue, I did.
I received an advance reader copy via Netgalley.

I have read the authors police based books as well as some of her more lighthearted stories and enjoyed them all. This one was no different.

I loved the premise of the game show being involved and that part of the story leads to some hilarious moments. Throughout it all runs the fact that Bryony is looking for her long lost sister Hannah. She uses every opportunity to remind those watching of this fact. My favourite moment in the story? What Bryony does right at the end of the competition. It was a definite awww moment.

A great easy read. Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy.

I literally read this in the space of two sittings in one day!

An easy to read story of Bryony Masters, who is trying desperately to find her older sister who ran away when she was a little girl.

I loved how it was kept lighthearted, with the manner in which she decides to find her sister, and the antics of her and the great characters who support her.

Of course, there is a love interest to keep the romantics among us happy too.

And Biggie Small, the pug - what an adorable character! I wanted to be able to pet him myself and take selfies too!

With thanks to Netgalley and Canelo for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. There are a lot of misconceptions throughout the story that these are dealt with throughout the text.
Bryony life as a teacher is successful but she longs to see her older sister Hannah who ran away decades ago. With an ill dad she decides to apply for a new quiz show on TV in a hope of highlighting her search.
Set in France we get the chance to meet her fellow contestants and understand their reasons on entering the show.
There are lots of different characters that jump out at you in this book.
Who will will the contest and will Bryony find out any new information on Hannah.

This book really got to me. I was shocked by my reaction.

Bryony is 6 when her 16 year old sister Hannah runs away from home. Bryons father is ill and she applies to join a gameshow so that she can make a public appeal for Hannah to come home.

Bryony travels to France where she participates in challenges and quizzes to try and win time on camera to appeal to Hannah directly.

This was a fun light hearted read until the last few pages. When the final few words of the book appeared i burst into spontaneous tears. I dont think i have cried that fast ever.

Would have been very interested however in a few more chapters to see how it all played out.

This book was like a breath of fresh air. It swept me along and I felt as if I was part of the story as I was rooting for Bryony to find her sister, Hannah.
Bryony enters a game show called ‘What happens in France’ as she knows her sister likes quiz shows and she’s desperate to find her.
Their father is very poorly and keeps asking for Hannah, but after she ran away many years ago, no-one has heard from her since.
Bryony meets Lewis through her best friend, and they end up being team mates on the quiz show.
They get on very well together and also with the other contestants. Oscar is a great guy but his pug, Biggie, steals everyone’s hearts.
Carol’s great sense of humour comes through in the book as there are some really funny moments.
Bryony is such a likeable character and Lewis sounds gorgeous!
Things don’t go as smoothly as Bryony wants with her appeal on the show for Hannah to contact her but she’s glad she’s tried.
This is a great read and I would love to find out what happens next ....
Thanks to Canelo and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

This was a cute read. The story goes thus, 30 years ago Hannah ran away from home at age 16, and Bryony and her family have been searching for her in all these years. Her father's stroke and ill-health makes it all the more imperative to find her. So Bryony decides to take part in a game show and hopes she can find her sister who loves these shows.

The concept was cute, the writing smooth. The tasks and the quizzes of this game show were written well by author Carol Wyer. Quite a different set of pace and genre for this talented author. It was quite exciting to read them all.

My niggles came on a bit early, it was not a humorous tale as said in the tag line. The game show dominated the book, so the emotions got diluted. I kept wondering as to why would Hannah watch the quiz show which she liked at age 16,may not like it at age 46. The reasons for Hannah staying away from parents for 30 years felt flimsy especially when she herself had a 15 year old daughter.

The characterization caught my eye, I stuck to the story as I was connected to Bryony who was sweet, persistent, and quite bold and humorous. Her struggles with childhood illness were well described. In spite of it all, she did grow up to be an intelligent, strong woman who was a great support to her parents and who had a blog dedicated to finding her sister. Lewis as love interest understood her well, there was a connection. Her best friend Melinda was fabulous.

Overall, an enjoyable read from the multi-talented author.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book by Carol Wyer, getting back to her previous writing style after a very successful change of genre for the past several books. Is there no end to this woman's talents, she writes both genres expertly!

Bryony is persuaded to apply to go on a game show. She meets the lovely Lewis at her audition and they instantly click. Read all about their adventures in France, with a dashing host, fun but exhausting challenges and interesting rivals from the other teams.

I have often wondered what happens behind the scenes when it comes to a show like this and now I have a much better idea. These two main characters were so lovely, and I thought that Bryony's quest to find her sister, Hannah, really tugged at the heartstrings.

I give this book 4.5 stars - and I think the author should absolutely write a follow-up book, I want to know what happens with them all! As you can see, I got a little emotionally involved with this story :)

Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo.

I will be honest and say that I did not finish this book. I persevered until halfway through but it is just not the book for me. The writing is good, which is why I've given it 3 stars. And the storyline will be entertaining to some. It just wasn't for me. I.would still recommend it to friends who I think would like it.

I’d call this book “touching” rather than “laugh out loud”. I’d like to set the proper tone about what to expect here. It isn’t a light, silly story. It’s a rather serious story about Bryony who is trying to reconnect with her sister who ran away 30 years ago.

Bryony had a rough childhood. She had an unusual disease that resulted in her missing a lot of school and spending a lot of time with her family instead. At age six, Bryony was also hit by a car. Her older sister Hannah had been babysitting.

It wasn’t long after the accident that Hannah ran away. She left a note, she took her things and she never contacted her family since.

Her family never stopped looking.
But when Bryony’s dad gets sick, it feels like time is running out for the family to be reunited.

So Bryony uses her supreme intelligence to get onto a game show. She remembers that Hannah loved game shows growing up and she hopes she’ll see her on the show.
But she also wants to use the show as an opportunity to get Hannah’s face out there, to get the public looking for her too.

I like Bryony. She’s a very intelligent character. She’s been hurt but she still lets others get close to her. She has an entertaining group of friends and a good love interest.

The game show itself wasn’t super amusing. I felt the story was mainly character driven so I wasn’t as into the descriptions of the challenges on the game show.
That said, I loved the characters it introduced us to
Oscar and his little pug Biggie especially .

I got to read an early ebook edition from NetGalley. Thanks!