I must firstly apologise for the amount of time it has taken me to provide a review of this book, my health was rather bad for quite some time, something that had me in hospital on numerous occasions and simply didnt leave me with the time I once had to do what I love most.

Unfortunately that does mean I have missed the archive date for many of these books, so It would feel unjust throwing any review together without being able to pay attention to each novel properly.

However, I am now back to reading as before and look forward to sharing my honest reviews as always going forward. I thank you f0r the patience and understanding throughout x

I am really enjoying this series of novels by this author - they are always a light and fun read. Perfect holiday material in my opinion.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my digital copy in exchange for an honest review. I requested this book because I really liked the cover of it...Unfortunately I did not like it as much as I was hoping for. I will read pretty much anything having to do with France...I have no idea why as I have never been there but I have always been fascinated by it. In this case, I would say it was between 3 and 4 stars for me...The story line was good and obviously the setting would have done it for me...and I loved the personal growth I saw in some of the characters but speaking of characters...there were some that I didn't like JUST enough to take away from the score...and there was at least one part of the story line that I just didn't care for so that took away as well.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. A good women's fiction novel. Love the cover. Recommend

Lovely feel good book to read. It was a joy to read. Lovely characters. Great plot. The book was charming. Very well written. I’d definitely recommend this book. Beautiful location that really set off the tone of the book. This is one of my favourite authors she always brings out a great hit

This was my first book by this author and am excited to read more. This is a rewrite of a previous book so it gets to be a bit choppy at points but still a wonderful story. Nicole Jacques, reeling from grief and loss and struggling to do the right thing to ensure her thirteen year old son, Oliver, the best possible future, finds herself moving her small family from England to France. There they settle into an olive farm just outside Nice, a centuries old family business run by Oliver’s paternal grandfather, Henri, and his twin sisters, Odette and Josephine. I got a real feeling for La Prouveresse, which was the farm that Henri, and the aunts live on. Henri has blackmailed Nicola into moving to the South of France, so that he can get to know his grandson Oliver better, after Henri's son, Oliver's father Marc died. The atmosphere is gorgeous, - evocative with fields, blossoming fruit trees and flowers; herbs and crumbled stone cottages, begging to be brought back to their former charm; and the sights, smells and foodstuffs that define the timeless allure of the rural and Provençal. The picture the author paints of the countryside and landscape is magical.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author.

This was a brilliant read and is being featured on my blog for my quick star reviews feature, which I have created on my blog so I can catch up with all the books I have read and therefore review.
See www.chellsandbooks.wordpress.com.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of this book in return for a reciew based upon my honest opinion.

I love this author, her books always leave me smiling. A breath of fresh air and a great reprieve from the other genres I read, whisked away to lovely locales with wonderful characters. A little hallmark moment, curled upon in my lving room with a cup of tea, a wonderful read.

In this sweet tale, Nicola and her son, Oliver are summoned to the french countryside by her late husband, Marc's father, Henri. Nicola initially does not want to go, she is worried about Henri's influence on Oliver, but when she realizes she may be forfeiting Oliver's inheritance by not going, she relents. Nicola and Oliver end up moving to the quaint french village and as they forge a new life with Marc's family, Nicola finds a peace she has not known for a long time.

An enchanting book about Nicola & Ollie's move to France after the death of her husband & Ollie's father. Henri, ollie's grandfather wants them to live in France and resorts to blackmail to ensure that it happens. The book tells the story of Nicola's determination to keep their independence whilst becoming part of the close-knit French village..
I enjoyed the wonderful descriptions of day to day French life and the complicated family relationships. A great book with a wonderful setting.

A touching story of a mother and son relocating to France close to estranged family. Loved the descriptions of the area and it made me want to go back to that area of France. Relatable characters and family secrets make this a very enjoyable read

A story of loss, family differences and trying to find your way in a very difficult situation. Set in gorgeous France, you''ll want to pack a bag and get straight to the French countryside. Full of romance and drama, it is an uplifting read.A nice romantic read for when you need a pick me up!

Its all against Nicola but she is determined to do what it takes to secure the future of her son......can she settle and make a life for them both??? Or will the men stand in her way???

A nice romantic read for when you need a pick me up!

I can’t believe I missed this book when it was first published as The French Legacy, but I’m delighted it is now available with a new title, a pretty new cover and a few more chapters. It really was the perfect summer escape; its pages full of everything that conjures up the south of France, with a lot more besides.

The Jacques family haven’t always had an easy ride of things, from Henri attempting to control everyone’s lives, to Marc’s impossible search for adventure and now Oliver, who is struggling to adapt to some big life changes, they are a dysfunctional family learning to move on following tragedy. The women had their dramas and sadness too, but came across as strong, dependable and, despite his tough exterior, able to put Henri in his place, when necessary.

I loved getting to know Nicola as she navigated family life in France, alongside making a home for herself and Oliver and I felt quite at home around the table in the old farmhouse, experiencing the grape and olive harvests, family meals and the challenges of extreme weather. As the family secrets were revealed and stories of lost love and new love took shape, this was an easy book to get lost within and I wished it wouldn't come to an end. I couldn’t help but want Nicola to fall in love with the French dream and find some happiness for herself too, she certainly deserved it.

If you need a post-summer pick-me-up, I’m sure Falling for a French Dream will hit the spot.

What a charming book! Escape to hills high above the French Riviera with international bestseller Jennifer Bohnet.
After tragically losing her husband, Nicola Jacques and her teenage son Oliver relocate to his father’s family's olive farm in the hills above the French Riviera.

Due to a family feud, Oliver has never known his father's side of the family but Grandpapa Henri is intent that Oliver will take over the reins of the ancestral farm and his rightful inheritance.

Determined to keep her independence from a rather controlling Grandpapa, Nicola buys a run-down cottage on the edge of the family's Olive Farm and sets to work renovating their new home and providing an income by cultivating the small holding that came with the Cottage.

As the summer months roll by, Nicola and Oliver begin to settle happily into their new way of life with the help of Aunts Josephine and Odette, Henri’s twin sisters and local property developer Gilles Bongars.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In this book, we are following our main heroine, Nicola, and her new life in France. After her ex husband passed away, his father Henri invited Nicola and her son Oliver to get closer to him. She decides to sell her house in the UK and move to France. Even though, Henri doesn’t seem to be warming up to them, in the end he changes.

I’ve found Nicola to be a very strong character, especially with everything that she had to endure. To just sell everything you own and know and move with your teenage son into a foreign country probably wasn’t easy but this experience made her stronger, for sure. Not only that, but even after divorce and losing her ex husband, she has found love again.

If you want to travel to the French countryside but aren’t able to, pick up this book. Jennifer’s writing is magical and she just grabs you emotionally. I’ve enjoyed this book so much. I have to admit that there were few emotional moments where I cried but that just added to the depth of the book. I hope you pick up this book and check it out for yourself.

What a book. I totally want to move to France now. I’ve always loved France, but this book sells a lifestyle everyone would want. Wonderful details, emotions and characters. Im itching to get back to France now.

I adore stories set in France, they have that idyllic dreamlike quality to them with the stunning locations whether they are in the countryside or the hustle bustle of the city. I love the cafe culture, the chic and bohemian fashion and art scenes. The simplistic lifestyles that revolve around family and food.

This is my first introduction to the work of Jennifer Bohnet and I felt totally welcomed into the lives of the characters within the pages. Nicola with her thirteen year old son, Oliver, are still coming to terms with the death of Marc, Nicola’s ex-husband and Oliver’s father. An unexpected invitation to Marc’s family farm in France leaves Nicola with renewed emotions and conflicting images of what Marc had told her of his life with his father and aunties on the farm. The visit to France gives Nicole and Oliver a chance to see the life and opportunities that Marc left behind. Oliver instantly loves the outdoor life and relishes helping out on the farm, so when Oliver’s grandfather gives Nicola an ultimatum she feels like she is torn in making plans for her and her son’s future.

Nicola and Marc had a very unorthodox marriage with Marc taking prime position in how his life would run, he gave no consideration to his family left behind. Nicola now feels that she has been given an opportunity to open her box of dreams that she kept locked away. Dreams that could easily include her son. Nicola thought following the breakdown of her marriage she had left complications of the heart behind but they appear to have followed her and now she is feeling confident to unveil her dreams she doesn’t want anyone to dampen her positivity and plans moving forward.

Jennifer Bohnet has created a wonderful story of starting again and daring to let your dreams be free. At times the story felt like a memoir and that the reader was enjoying front row seats of this journey that Nicola takes. I fell in love with the location, the scenery, the culture but I also felt like I was championing Nicola’s new life. At times the story is tragic and emotive as it deals with life’s events then the tone lifts you up.

A thoroughly enjoyable read that leaves you with a glow in your heart. I didn’t want this story to end and would love to know how life is treating the characters we have grown to love.

Thank you NetGalley, author Jennifer Bohnet, and Boldwood Books publishing for giving me a free arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
5 stars
You don't want to miss this book that takes the reader to the idyllic French countryside to follow Nicola and her son reestablish a relationship with her husband's family, who believe in the traditional ideas of raising a son and her discovery of new opportunities in both her professional and personal life.
The author did a wonderful job capturing the French countryside. I loved all the descriptions of not only the French landscape, but also the French food and culture. The characters were well developed and relatable, especially the development of Nicola and her husband's parents. Nicola was such a strong character. All she wanted was what was best for her son even if it might cause them to uproot their lives and reestablish a relationship with her father-in-law that might have a difference of opinion in her son's upbringing. I was glad to see her stand up to her father-in-law in regards to how the re entrance into their lives was going to be. I also enjoyed how true she was to her feeling towards the men in her life. The writing and the pacing kept the story moving well that I was able to breeze through the book in no time. Overall this was a great book for a late summer afternoon. I am looking forward to another new release by this author.

Jennifer Bohnet certainly creates a world which you would love to escape into! You feel for Nicola and her desire to establish her own independent way of life which at times is thwarted by certain characters. She keeps a clear head however and always tries her best for her son. Family is at the heart of the story. Some family ties are shown to be a strength but cannot be forced.

The story telling is a strength is this book, with one or two surprising events. The French countryside is evoked beautifully and you can certainly visualise the farm and the village nearby. Coming to terms with loss and grief are important themes. You see all Nicola's vulnerability in her moments of self- doubt. I enjoyed the different characters you meet, especially the twin sisters, Josephine and Odette who are so different in personality, and the irascible, Henri. This is an enjoyable read which conjures up a beautiful part of the world and which transports you there, effortlessly.

In short: Escape to the French countryside
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the book

Jennifer Bohnet’s novels are fast becoming a go-to for me when I need to soothe my little Francophile soul. I’ve been unable to go to France since late 2019 and I consider it to be my happy place, so I need a little armchair travel to take me there when I am unable to physically get there. This was such a feel-good story, filled to the brim with the scents of the Provençal countryside.

One thing I love about Jennifer’s novels are that her heroines tend to be slightly older, with varied life experiences to draw from. In this novel Nicola was already divorced from her French husband when he was killed on a rescue mission. When she received an urgent letter from her ex-father in law Henri she decides to take her son during half term to spend a holiday with his French family. What happens during that holiday leads to her selling her home in the UK and moving with her son to France. She buys a dilapidated cottage with some land next to her in-laws farm to give her son Oliver the opportunity to spend more time with his family, whilst also developing a nursery to grow produce to sell.

As Nicola settled into her new life there was also a second chance romance with the delightful Gilles which was incredibly sweet. I loved the side story about Henri’s sister Josephine and her lost love, which added to this lovely story about the importance of family.

This gentle story is the perfect antidote for the end of summer blues.

What a treat, to while away a Sunday afternoon with the latest Jennifer Bohnet novel. Guaranteed to be a winner.
A charming tale crossing the English Channel, spanning a multitude of subjects; family, love, bereavement, selflessness and giving; about being given the chance to let go, about family feuds and about forgiveness.

Above all this book is about new beginnings; forging new and improved relationships with friends and relatives, old and new; neither forgetting about the past, nor dwelling on it.

This tome appealed to me with its sense of mystery – who was Pascal and why is the mention of his name met with an awkward silence? Why is Henri the way he is? What other secrets are the French contingent of the family hiding? Has Henri been totally honest about why he has brought Nicola and Oliver to France? Why on earth do the gendarmes in Paris want to talk to Oliver’s Tante Josephine? A dinner party to celebrate the late Marc’s birthday seems to open up old wounds, but leaves Nicola in the dark as to why. As if to compensate, a romantic interest, of which I had great hopes, was provided in the form of the gorgeous Gilles, and if that didn’t work out, there was always Raoul, Marc’s childhood friend.

I did feel for Nicola. Not only had she lost Marc, the man she had loved (despite their divorce), but she started to struggle with her relationship with Marc’s friend Andrew. He just didn’t seem to want to understand that his and Nicola’s relationship would only ever be platonic. Surely Nicola shouldn’t need to explain that more than once! Being such a gentle soul, she was however conscious of not wanting to hurt Andrew’s feelings. This relationship was notated in such a beautifully empathetic, emotive manner, that one could not help but feel affected by the situation.

I loved the descriptive language in this book, from the scenes of the wild boar invasion, to the flora and fauna on the farm and in the environs, and even the descriptions of the food and wine. What kind of person literally starts to drool, at the marvellous description of a dacquoise desert! Combined, I almost felt that I was living in rural France at times, such was the manner in which this novel drew me in, bewitched by both the scenery and the smells of both the countryside and the local degustation on offer.

I found myself beguiled by Josephine’s colourful past – a torrid 30 year old story of abuse and unrequited love that was just not allowed to be at that time. Frankly it was barbaric. I was devastated that the couple had not been able to be together at that time, yet lifted by the hope that in the present day, their coupling might be deemed acceptable.

My mind went through various different emotions with this book. happiness for Josephine, and her happy ending, yet not so happy for Andrew. Nicola seemed to have made a good move though, in uprooting her life and coming to live near her French family. I felt that Nicola did an amazing job, dealing with Olivier’s moments of teenage angst; she proved what an amazing Mother she was, and quelled his worries about things proverbially coming in threes.

In all, this was a superb novel, full of Gallic charm. The things that stood out to me most of all, were the sense of family throughout the book. The way that those who might be considered set in their ways, made adjustments for the sake of that family bond. Unequivocal proof that you’re never to old to change; and love – evidence that that you’re never too old for love.