Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC.

This is book 3 in the One Year in France series. The three Scottish Gilchrist sisters Ellie, Laura and Fiona have inherited an old stone house in Provence called La Maisonette from an uncle they never knew, due to their alcoholic father leaving them when they were young.

In the previous books Ellie and Laura travelled to Provence to take a look and start selling the house as neither wanted to live in it. Ellie fell for Julien and Laura for Noah. Now it's Fiona's turn, and her romance with vet Christophe is slow-burn and gentle, as two wounded souls find together trying to overcome past trauma.

Dogs Pascal and Heidi as well as donkeys Marguerite and Coquelicot plus a whole herd of forest donkeys are providing animal charm, plus there is a sweet story about Jeannie and Gordon, the sisters' parents.

This is a lovely story about trust, healing, family and second chances. The area and the food are described wonderfully, making you want to live there too and go forest bathing. The cover is also gorgeous. This is a warmhearted holiday novel that can be read as a standalone but you might want to read the other two books first to get the full benefit of the story arc. If you like fake dating and donkeys in a beautiful Mediterranean setting, this is for you. Of the three books in the series, this is my favourite.

4.5 stars

This is another fabulous story involving the Gilchrist sisters.
Since they inherited their uncle’s home, two have found their misters.
The third is Fiona and she’s been running from her past
Now she’s joining her sisters can she find peace at last?

She hadn’t shared what happened all those years ago
Maybe now she should let her family know?
So many secrets still impacting her today
Will sharing them help her find another way?

Working with a local vet gives Fi a new role, too,
And surprisingly being with him feels good - that’s definitely something new!
Christophe has also been hurt in the past.
Can these two help each other to trust and heal at last?

A moving story with families at its heart
And special donkeys there also play a part!
A gorgeous read I thoroughly enjoyed from the beginning to the end
No wonder it is one I highly recommend!

For my copy of this book I say thank you
As I share with you this, my honest review.

The Magic of Provence by Alison Roberts was a magical and beautifully written book from start to finish. Plus, this is the third book in Alison Robert’s trilogy and I have loved reading everyone of these. They just take your breathe away and they are all a great holiday read especially of you are on France. Alison describes the areas of each book with so much description you feel you are there with the characters. The Magic of Provence, is set in Provence. When three sisters, Laura, Ellie and Fiona inherit a house from their unknown French uncle and go Provence to see the house and investigate the area. Within this book we learn more about we finally hear more about Fiona Gilchrist

Fiona Gilchrist has spent so many years running from her demons. But, now she has decided to take back control of her life. So, she packs up her things and takes the trip to Provence to be reunited with her sisters Laura and Ellie.
Within a few days of her being there she knows she belongs there and there is something about La Maisonette and she is ready to start a new life for herself. Plus, she feels happier, which I the main thing of taking the trip to Provence.

An opportunity arises to work alongside vet Christophe Brabant, who is very handsome, and Fiona, cannot resist saying yes. Christophe may be very charming, but he is committed to his work and has no time for relationships.
Yet, what starts as a blossoming friendship quickly turns to something deeper and things change around them. For the first time in her life, Fi begins to feel relaxed and completely at ease with everything.

Now, Could it be that Christophe’s heart is more like hers than she realises?

Or has she allowed him to penetrate the boundaries she always considered un breach able?

This book was just beautiful and I loved reading it in my garden in the shade. Just perfect.

I highly recommend this book 5 ⭐️

The Magic of Provence
by Alison Roberts

This is the third book in the "A Year in France" series by Alison Roberts, though it is the first book in the series that I have had the pleasure of reading. I found it to be a deeply engaging story, and I would highly recommend starting from the first book in the series to better appreciate the intricate family dynamics that unfold throughout. While it is possible to enjoy this book as a standalone, reading the series in order would certainly provide a richer understanding of the relationships and history between the characters.

At the heart of this series are three sisters—Laura, Ellie, and Fiona—who unexpectedly inherit a charming but dilapidated house from their long-lost French uncle, a man they never knew existed. This twist of fate draws them into a world of mystery and nostalgia, set against the enchanting backdrop of Provence's rolling hills, donkey fields, and vibrant local culture.

The story weaves a powerful and emotional story about overcoming adversity from your past and reclaiming oneself. It is both heartbreaking and uplifting, taking readers on a compelling journey of self-discovery, love, and the pursuit of a happy life.

I cherished the romance between Fiona (Fi) and Christophe; both characters have faced significant heartache in their pasts, and as they navigate the breathtaking forests and scenic countryside of Provence together, readers witness their gradual transformation. It is incredibly moving to see them cultivate courage and confidence as they embrace their second chance at love amidst the beauty and vibrancy of their surroundings.

Overall, *The Magic of Provence* is yet another beautifully crafted romantic read by Alison Roberts that captivates both the heart and the imagination.

Thank you to NetGalley, Alison Roberts, and Boldwood Books for the eARC. This was a powerful and emotional story about overcoming hardship and reclaiming personal strength. Set against an idyllic backdrop, it’s both heartbreaking and heartwarming—a journey of self-discovery, love, and finding one’s true purpose.

The Magic Of Provence was my introduction to Alison Roberts’ writing and I was not disappointed. This is a charming story with relatable characters that were easy to cheer for. I empathised with Fiona Gilchrist, a farrier and former vet student, who has survived a rape but carries a very low self image as a result, believing herself to be fat and ugly. She is such a gentle soul with her love for the animals in her care. It was wonderful watching her bonding with the two do nkeys who lived in the paddock next to La Maisonette, the small house in Provence that she and her sisters inherited. Christoph Brabant, best friend of Fi’s brother in law Julien, was easy to like too with his charm and his ability to read the Fi’s emotional wariness. I loved watching these two bond, firstly in friendship as they tended the donkeys in the forest near their homes and later as they fell in love while pretending to be engaged for the sake of his grandmother. Theirs was not the only romance that took place in this story as Fiona’s mother Jeannie arrived in Provence for a visit and discovered Gordon, the husband who walked out on the family when his three daughters were only young. With health issues to contend with, it is clear that he has been a hard road to travel and that his reasons for leaving the family were far more complex than first appeared to be the case. This story is full of healing and family bonding and it left me with a warm and fuzzy feeling when I came to the end.

Running away from her demons, Fiona Gilchrist heads to Provence to be near her two sisters. Staying in their inherited cottage, with donkeys for company, Fiona slowly starts to heal. When she meets local vet Christophe, Fiona starts to wonder whether she may be able to put past demons to rest.

I didn't realise this was the third in a series, but it works perfectly fine as a stand-alone read. Family dramas intertwine with Fiona's reawakening. This is a gentle tale and, for me, sometimes a little too slow in places.

Alison Roberts's "The Magic of Provence" is a charming and escapist romance that takes readers to the quaint French countryside. This romance novel, which is part of the "A Year in France" series, centers around Fiona Gilchrist, who goes to Provence to reconnect with her sisters and deal with her past issues.

The novel expertly interweaves Fiona's healing and self-discovery journey with a developing romance with local vet Christophe Brabant. The author is good at placing the reader in the setting, bringing Provence to life with evocative descriptions so that one can almost smell the lavender and feel the sun. Although the plot has a predictable romantic arc, it's enriched by themes of family, trauma, and discovering a new beginning.

The characters, although sometimes weighed down with heavy emotional baggage, are likable and endearing, and their victories all the more satisfying because of it. While part of a series, "The Magic of Provence" is fully able to stand on its own as a delightful and inspiring read, ideal for those in need of a gentle escape with a little magic.

It's Fiona, the middle sister's story, in this enjoyable romantic series. In many ways, it is the cosy romance the blurb suggests, but the issues it explores may be triggering for some. It's an emotional story that makes you empathise with Fiona. She has survived despite terrible events, but now recognises that she needs to let her sisters into her life to support her. It's a challenging choice for such a private woman. The meeting with vet Christophe is magical and signals a mutual attraction that neither is initially willing to name, even to themselves. The donkey characters are lovely, and the couple's mutual love of animals draws them together and deepens their connection. I appreciated the gentle romance, the growing willingness to trust each other and the believable emotional connection that develops between Fiona and Christophe.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

I really enjoyed Laura’s story in From Provence, With Love so I jumped at the chance to read about another sister in the Gilchrist family.
The Magic of Provence is another beautifully written romantic read and I loved spending time with Fi and Christophe in the forests and countryside of Provence. They’d both been so hurt in their previous lives and to see them gain courage and confidence in a second chance was lovely.
The storyline with the donkeys was extra special and really made me chuckle with some of their antics

A thoughtful read about Fi who has to tackle a horrifying memory and situation.
The parts I liked the best were the setting of France and the delightful cottage plus the donkeys.
I mean who doesn’t love adorable donkeys??
We can’t run from the dark and Fi is forced to face her darkest hour but that’s when the healing begins.
I also liked that she was a farrier because reading a book about a female farrier doesn’t occur often.

Sweet and thoughtful

I have read all three of the Provence books and have thoroughly enjoyed them. They are so evocative of the rural French PACA region with a sweet and warm-hearted romance, they don't shy away from some serious issues in the plot. Highly recommended!

Thank you to the publisher who lent me a time limited e-arc via netgalley with no obligation. This review is optional and my own opinion.

The Magic of Provence is the third book in the A Year in France series and we finally hear more about Fiona Gilchrist. In the first two books in the trilogy, Fiona was always off stage, one of the family but choosing to stay away and it was never really clear to the family or the reader why that would be.

The book opens when there is an incident at Fi's work and she is given an ultimatum which ultimately sees her escaping to the south of France where she knows her two sisters will welcome her, and hopefully not ask too many questions. Fi doesn't know if she will ever be ready to talk to her sisters about the things that have happened to her in the past that have caused her to withdraw from everyone but she knows this is where she needs to be.

To say her sisters are surprised to find her sitting near the donkeys Coquelicot and Marguerite in the early morning is an understatement but they try to give her the space she needs. There is something about the little cottage which has helped each of the sisters in their time of need, and Fi is not immune to its magic. The donkeys also play a big part in that.

Fi is a farrier by trade and soon finds herself helping out the local vet with a herd of wild donkeys that he volunteers to take care of. Fi is attracted to Christophe but she knows that she cannot let himself in because she knows that no one will ever want her and that she can't normally trust men in general. Christophe has his own issues. He was hurt very badly as a young man and he is determined that he won't ever allow that to happen again, despite the best efforts of his mother and ailing grandmother to try and guilt him into finding someone to love.

In addition to Fi's story, we also find out more about why their dad disappeared all those years leaving them to be raised by their mother.

There is a lot of past trauma in this book, and so it is probably a bit heavier than the previous books in the series. Having finished it now though, I am glad that we got to see all three girls come to a place in their lives where they can move on from their individual and collective traumas. Of course, it won't ever truly be gone, but they are in a place where they can deal with it all better than they could previously. Importantly, they can do it together!

This book had me searching on the map for the town of Menton which is one of the places the characters visit. It is a town that is right on the border with Italy so it has a real mix of cultures. I would love to visit for the lemon festival which is held each year in February and also take the train ride from Puget-Theniers to Annot.

In her author's note, Alison Roberts talks about part of the reason for writing this trilogy was wanting to bring Provence to life, and I would say she was very successful in this regard. All the way through the trilogy I found myself wanting to visit the places mentioned in the book like St Paul de Vence and Menton, to try the food, see the local art and the crafts and to just generally enjoy the Provencal atmosphere

Here are the links to my previous reviews for this trilogy

Falling for Provence

From Provence with Love



I am sharing this review with the New Release Challenge hosted at The Chocolate Lady's Book Reviews and with Paris In July hosted by Words and Peace. Be sure to check out other stops on the tour shown below. Thanks to the publisher, Netgalley and Rachel's Random Resources for the review copy.

Rating 4/5

I enjoyed reading The Magic of Provence by Alison Roberts. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

This is the third installment of "A Year in France" series. A fabulous book that I so enjoyed reading. The storytelling is about Fiona Gilchrist one of the Gilchrist sisters and it takes us on back to Provence and the "Maisonette" the three sisters had inherited from an uncle. The place the story is set is the truly amazing, Tourettes-sur-Loup, it's got the cozy feeling of being back home. The story unravels as Fi is going back to Provence escaping from a trauma she's been through. Fi needs distance and time to get through her traumatic past, surrounded by family and new friends. A story of family get together with Jeannie the three sister's mother who came from Scotland. The book has several twist and turns, a very nice Veterinarian, Christophe who's got an important part in this story. There is also the mysterious artist, painter the sisters are looking for which leads them on the trace of the past. This book had all the bits of a cozy read, the beautiful setting, lemon trees a few donkeys and finding the true new beginnings in Provence. This story gives the more complete history of the Gilchrist family. I can definitely recommend this oh so good read. I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to read and review this book.
Charlotte N

The Magic of Provence by Alison Roberts

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Fiona Gilchrist has spent years running from her demons. But deciding to take back control, she packs up her life and makes the trip to Provence to be reunited with her sisters. And almost instantly, there is something about La Maisonette which is healing and Fi knows she’s ready for a chance to start again.

When an opportunity arises to work alongside vet Christophe Brabant, Fi, although hesitant cannot resist saying yes. Because immersing herself in what she loves is the ultimate distraction. And while Christophe may be utterly charming, he’s also committed to his job so Fi knows she’s in safe hands. Yet, what starts as a blossoming friendship quickly turns to something deeper. Because for the first time in her life, Fi begins to feel relaxed and completely at ease. Could it be that Christophe’s heart is more like hers than she realises? Or has she allowed him to penetrate the boundaries she always considered unbreachable?

Coming to France took a leap of faith, but in doing so it has allowed these two damaged souls a chance to find each other while Provence works its magic…

My Opinion

I have read The Magic of Provence as a standalone but I found it to be an enjoyable read. Fiona has some secrets that she has been keeping from her sisters – can she put her past behind her? Alison Roberts has written a delightful, slow-burn romance that had me hooked from the beginning. A heart-warming read.

Rating 4/5

This is the third book in Alison Robert’s trilogy, A Year in France, set in Provence. Three sisters, Laura, Ellie and Fiona inherit a house from their unknown French uncle. Ellie decides to stay in France and renovate the property (Book 1). Laura, an estate agent, takes a ride of Noel’s bike. He too is an estate agent (Book 2). Now it’s time for Fiona’s story. Trauma and tribulation. Maybe there should be a trigger warning. It’s raw and gritty. There’s secrets revealed. And yet more secrets uncovered after decades. Will the family be reconciled?

Fiona escapes to France to be with her sisters following an incident that triggers her previous trauma. There she meets vet Christophe and starts working alongside him. Can both of them overcome their previous issues?
This is quite a heavy story, especially due to Fiona's history and there should really be some trigger warnings. With that aside this is a story about two troubled souls trying to find peace with each other - it's one of those where you want to bang the two main character's heads together and admit their mutual attraction. This gives the story a much more positive spin, but is never going to be a light read.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

The Magic of Provence is the third title in the A Year in France series, which brings us Fiona’s and Christophe’s story of friendship blossoming into something deeper than either expected. I will say that I believe this story needs a trigger warning, it’s far more than a lighthearted romance, it’s a story of healing (for both main characters), perhaps survival, and finally being able to share that space with someone who understands, and still loves and accepts you just as you are. In many ways, the greatest love story here is Fi’s ability to finally heal, to remember, to grow beyond and love herself as much as she is loved.

I had not read the earlier stories in this series, yet I didn’t feel the least bit lost. Christophe’s and Fi’s story consumed me, but the glimpses into her sisters’ lives have me intending to go back to the beginning of this series. If you love an emotionally satisfying romance, where healing is just as important as falling in love, with believable characters and situations, then The Magic of Provence by Alison Roberts is a book you’ll want to pick up.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley, and I sincerely thank the author or publishing house for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

This story is the 3rd in a series set in Provence, after the Gilchrist sisters inherit their uncles' family farm. I’ve read and enjoyed the first two books in the series, so I was excited to read this one. After an incident at the stables where she works, Fiona leaves Scotland and heads out to see her sisters and looking for peace and a fresh start.

This book focuses on Fiona and the mystery of why Fiona has been avoiding her sisters. As she searches for peace, she reconnects with her sisters and mother and starts helping Christophe, the local veterinarian and Julian's best friend. It was a beautifully told story of love and healing in the heart of Provence. I love reading stories set in France, especially fresh starts and rediscovering themselves. I enjoyed the series, and I hope there are more centered around the Gilchrist sisters.