Verliefd op een Franse droom

by Jennifer Bohnet

Na het tragische verlies van haar man verhuizen Nicola Jacques en haar tienerzoon Oliver naar de olijfgaard van zijn vaders familie in de heuvels van de Franse Rivièra.

Vanwege een familievete heeft Oliver zijn vaders kant van de familie nooit gekend, maar opa Henri wil dat Oliver het familiebedrijf en zijn rechtmatige erfenis overneemt. Nicola is vastbesloten om onafhankelijk te blijven van haar nogal dominante schoonvader en zij koopt een vervallen cottage in de buurt. Ze gaat aan de slag om hun nieuwe huis en het land dat erbij hoort op te knappen om groenten te kunnen verbouwen en verkopen.

Terwijl de zomermaanden voorbijgaan, voelen Nicola en Oliver zich steeds gelukkiger met hun nieuwe leven. Zij zijn blij met de hulp van de tweelingzussen van Henri en projectontwikkelaar Gilles Bongars. Maar door de komst van onverwachte gasten op de olijfgaard wordt Nicola gedwongen om een beslissing te nemen over hun toekomst.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Chick Lit, Contemporary Romance, France

288 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2007

About the author

Sixteen years ago Richard and I, with our then dog, 14 year old Holly in a trailer attached to Richard's bike, cycled down through western France via the canal paths, arriving in Antibes in July. With the exception of two fleeting visits back to the UK we have lived in France ever since.

For the past five years we have lived in a small cottage in central Brittany with one large collie dog called Viking, one fat cat known as Little’un and a young tortoiseshell cat called Missy. Oh, and there are various ducks and chickens in the garden, and a large pond with about a hundred fish in!

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.

I am a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association and the Society of Authors.

Reviews

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four and a half stars
The title is apt. I fell so easily into this one. Right from the beginning I was involved with Nicola Jacques as she seeks to come to terms with the sudden death of her husband Marc. She and son Oliver, who is thirteen, need to be able to create a life without him. And then she receives a summons to come to Papa Henri’s olive farm in France. Marc and his father Henri had been estranged for many years, so why is he demanding Nicola and Oliver come there now? Nicola makes plans to visit when it is school holidays for Oliver. But she is in for an even bigger surprise when they arrive. Henri actually wants them to live on the olive farm above the French Riviera. Can Nicola make a new life for them in France and maintain her independence yet still get along with Marc’s father and two aunts Josephine and Odette. Or will Henri try to take over and prove to be too controlling to deal with. The aunts are interesting characters and there is aa secret that has been kept.
A book about grief, guilt and choices, friendship and romance. I loved this gentle story with relatable characters. The setting is also lovely and of course there are plenty of descriptions of French wines and food, so a lot to like in this one. First book I have read by this author. Interested to read more if this is a sample. A beautifully engaging read.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a lovely cover, this sweet story took me to the French countryside for a peaceful summer read. I enjoyed my previous read from Bohnet and this one did not disappoint. Arguably, the format is quite similar to the other novel, but it was long enough between books for me to not truly notice this and I certainly enjoyed it.

Nicola and Oliver’s move to France is shrouded in doubt. Nicola is reluctant to uproot her son however, England has few positive memories. With the recent death of her husband, Nicola’s relocation to the French countryside enables her son, Oliver, to reconnect with his grandparents. However, this comes at a price as traditional patriarch, Henri, is considerably controlling. Nicola is hyper-aware of the circumstances and I liked watching how she maintained control of Oliver’s upbringing, whilst also allowing him to develop a relationship with his French family.

This book is not just about rediscovering lost family connections, but also Nicola’s new opportunities. It is clear from the opening chapters how Nicola will forge a new life in France and seeing her redevelop a holding that is next to her in-laws adds another dimension to the story. By this point, Nicola is used to being a single, independent woman, especially as her late husband would rarely spend long amounts of time at home. Therefore, I liked watching how Nicola breathes life into such a run-down, abandoned place, that will eventually offer something back to the community. This part of the story links really nicely to the beautiful, enticing cover. To be honest, Nicola is such an active, hard-working character, she made me feel guilty sitting down and reading her story, rather than getting on with housework chores!

I loved the summery setting and this book provided perfect escapism. It isn’t all idyllic dreams for Nicola and Olive, and Bohnet explores the changing relationship between mother and son, particularly after the impact of tragedy for them both. Furthermore, the supporting characters of Henri’s sisters, enhance the story even more, with a family secret that has remained hidden for decades.

Whilst there is love in this story, it does not dominate the novel. I sympathised with Nicola’s relationship with Andrew and could understand her frustration towards him. At the same time, her growing friendship with Gilles appeared perfect and I wanted her to be able to succeed in her new business, especially with the local shop being established nearby.

A significant appeal of Bohnet’s books is the diversity in the plot. There is relocation, relationships, love and change… there is plenty of themes that keep the narrative interesting and engaging. Easily picturing myself in the French countryside with Nicola, I loved watching her settle into her new role in a new country.

Full of optimism, Bohnet’s novel proves that if you have a dream, you should not be afraid to take that leap of faith. Many of the characters do this in different ways in the story and I think this is what makes Bohnet’s writing so appealing and enjoyable to read.

With thanks to Boldwood Books, NetGalley and Rachel’s Random Resources for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sweet book was perfect to read on holiday which is what I did and I throughly enjoyed it. Sitting in the sunshine reading about the french countryside made it all the more real and enjoyable. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

[Jennifer (Jaye) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Dreams & Drama*

This was a great easy read, not complicated and full of colourful characters set in the French countryside above the French Riviera.

The main character Nicola Jacques is married to Marc a French charity worker who seemed to put his work before his family. Even though they have a son Oliver, His need to help others seemed to outweigh his need for home life. He decides to let her go so he can persue his career. None of this is what Nicola wants but she goes along with it.

Tragically they lose him. Nicola needs to find the strength to go on. Oliver has never really known his French side of the family due to a falling out with Marc and his father.

All this is about to change when Nicola and Oliver decides to visit. During this visit there is more to it. Her father in law Henri is a formidable character and he is determined to have his grandchild Oliver live in France with or without her. He uses underhand tactics to get his way.

They live on an olive farm and when Nicola decides to relocate, she insists that she has her own place.

As time goes on we discover the things that Henri has omitted to tell Nicola and there is a spark of romance in the air, one a blast from the past and one a new possibility

There are some emotional parts and we see Oliver’s name change to the French version and Henri’s twin sisters are about to take their lives in different directions….

*This book was originally published as The French Legacy, this one has some changes hence the new title*

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story on family dynamics. Read almost like a true story.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emotional, astute and compulsively readable, Falling for a French Dream is the latest engrossing novel by best-selling author Jennifer Bohnet.

After the tragic death of her husband, Nicola Jacques and her son Oliver decided to relocate to his father’s family olive farm in the hills above the French Riviera. With relations being rather strained because of a family feud that had caused untold damage, Nicola isn’t sure of the reception they are going to get, but she is willing to do anything for her son’s future – even if it means butting heads with an autocratic and stubborn old man like Henri. With Henri determined to ensure that Oliver takes over the reins of the farm when the time is right, there is certainly a lot at stake for Nicola. But has she made the right choice moving her entire life to France?

Nicola is not about to let Henri walk all over her and her son. Keen to maintain a measure of independence, she buys a rundown cottage on the edge of the farm and begins renovating it and cultivating the small holding that came with the cottage. As Nicola and Oliver begin to settle down, they feel happy for the first time in a very long while. Nicola comes to cherish the help which Henri’s sisters offer her and Oliver and a friendship with property developer Gilles also blossoms.

But could Nicola’s future be threatened by the arrival of some unexpected news that puts in jeopardy everything that she holds dear to her heart…

Jennifer Bohnet’s Falling for a French Dream is a wonderful tale about taking a chance on happiness, new beginnings, hope and healing that readers will thoroughly enjoy. As always, Jennifer Bohnet’s descriptions of France are so rich and vivid that readers feel as if they are taking in the sights and sounds of the places she evokes alongside her protagonists.

In Nicola, Jennifer Bohnet has created a character readers will relate to. Strong, loyal and determined to build a future for herself and her son, Nicola is the kind of heroine readers would love to have as a good friend.

Poignant, compelling and enjoyable, Jennifer Bohnet whisks readers away with her latest novel, Falling for a French Dream.

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 3 out of 5]

French Legacy is one of Jennifer Bohnet's earlier books, and having read some of her newer releases, I know she has written better. There is nothing at all wrong with French Legacy, and I did enjoy the story, but at the same time if felt like the book was missing some oomph.

I got a real feeling for La Prouveresse, which was the farm that Henri, and the aunts Odette and Giselle 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.

When Marc died he was estranged from Henri, and divorced from Nicola, so there are all sorts of mixed emotions in the family, although Nicola and Oliver are trying to make a go of it in France. Nicola to try and get some distance from the family has bought a smallholding to do up, and has assorted decisions to make about her friendships with various men.

Andrew is a friend from England who wants a lot more than friendship with Nicola, but Nicola seems to spend the majority of the time unable to make a decision, which really irritated me.

French Legacy was easy enough to read, and I'm unsure whether its length is a blessing, or a shame, as if the book was longer, perhaps I would have felt like I cared about the characters more. It's around 220 pages, and it feels as though a lot of plot points were put into the book, but that they just weren't explored in enough detail.

As a fan of Jennifer Bohnet, I'm glad I had a chance to read one of her books before her publishing contract with HQ Digital, but I think I will stick with her newer books in future.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read and review this charming story.

Nicola’s ex-husband Marc has recently passed away. Although they divorced on his wish, their relationship remained mostly unchanged when he returned from his humanitarian work around the world.

When his French farmer father Henri invites Nicola and her son Oliver to come to visit, it’s only the third time that they are meeting as Marc didn’t have a good relationship with his father. Marc’s twin unmarried aunts Odette and Josephine live on the farm with Henri and welcome Nicola and Oliver.

When Henri gives Nicola an ultimatum to bring 13 year old Oliver and come live on the farm, she decides to sell up in Britain and buy the smallholding and cottage next door.

Despite Henri’s chauvinism, he accepts Nicola and takes the opportunity build a strong relationship with Oliver.

This is a sad story that is improved by the peace that both Nicola and Oliver find in the Provençal countryside, making a new home and dealing with their grief. A charming read that is reminiscent of a Peter Mayle story. Having travelled in this region of France, I can just picture the mountain villages on the road to Nice.

[Tiziana Langone · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fresh start in France, with family you don’t know very well, couldn’t be easier, right?

Nicola Jacques is still coping with the loss of her husband Marc. Also her son Oliver is still struggling knowing that his rather absent father will never return back home after his trips.
So when Oliver’s grandfather Henri wants them to relocate to the family’s olive farm, Nicola and Oliver pack their belongings.
Not because Nicola really wants to go, but Henri is adamant that Oliver will take over the farm in time and his inheritance. And moving to France is the only way for Oliver to receive what in the future will be his, as dictated by Henri.
Is moving to France the right solution, removing Oliver from a life he knows? And even if Nicola bought a cottage to keep their independence, will Henri not interfere with their lives?

I cannot imagine to pack just everything and make the move to a whole different country. There is not only the logistics, but also just leaving a life behind you… 
To start all over again, for me it would be pure horror!

But of course, I understood Nicola’s reasoning, she surely wouldn’t want Oliver to miss his inheritance or the choice of what he will want to do in the future.
However… me being a bit mistrusting, if I were in Nicola’s shoes I would have done a little bit of more research, to see what legally was right and what not. 
Because things she discovers later, could have been avoided.
But of course, if she did, we wouldn’t have this wonderful story!

Nicola is a strong woman, even if she is heart – broken, and that was even before she lost her husband in a terrible accident. She wants her independence, not wanting anyone to tell her what to do or not. However, the only thing that matters, is Oliver. She truly has a mother’s heart, wanting to do everything to have a happy son (obviously she isn’t saying to just everything, because she can also be strict when necessary).

I found it heart – warming to see how Nicola and Oliver are adapting to a whole different life, and how easy it all went. Yes, there are hurdles to jump over, but they quickly embrace the French way of living.
Also I found it sweet how Oliver loved working on the farm and even made Henri change for the better.

There is one character whose story broke my heart, and that’s Andrew’s… he is a good friend of Nicola and Oliver. And even if his feelings are reciprocated, he shows what real friendship is about. And what happens to him, is just terrible. It left me just shocked!

Reading how Nicola is trying to keep Henri from interfering too much, with the help of Aunts Josephine and Odette, was funny, even if it can be frustrating having to cope with such a stubborn man. but the Aunts surely manage to make him see when he’s wrong!

Yes, there is some romance involved in this story, and it’s not only Nicola meeting local property developer Giles Bongars. There is also a past love story making a reappearance, uncovering a hurtful past.
But for me, this was a story about family.
Because whatever Nicola decides, it’s for her family she is doing it. She knows how important family is, even if there are members in it that you don’t know.

This story was a perfect read, if you’re looking to escape to France yourself, but it was also heart – warming. Because all characters have faced tragedies, but slowly find a way to get past their grieve and reconnect with those who matter, and even change for the better.
I loved reading this story, as it was exactly what I expected from this author and this genre. This book shows us how difficult moving to another country can be, but on the other hand also how rewarding it can be. And that even after tragedies, happiness can be found again. 


[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a fan of Jennifer’s work for a while now. I haven’t quite caught up with everything that she has written but I am getting there. I read the synopsis for ‘Falling For A French Dream’ and it certainly sounded like another cracker of a read. Well it was certainly that and more. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Falling For French Dream’ but more about that in a bit
I really liked the characters of Nicola and Oliver and I warmed to them from the start. In fact I took to them that well that I began to feel all protective of them. Nicola was married to Marc although they later divorced and then Marc sadly died. Oliver is Marc and Nicola’s son, who is still grieving the loss of his father. Marc was estranged from his own father due to a family feud that has been ongoing for years and subsequently Oliver has been unable to get to know his Grandpa Henri. After Marc’s death, Henri tries to throw his weight around and threatens to disinherit Oliver if he fails to live in France. Henri comes across as a stubborn old boot and I certainly didn’t warm to him. Nicola and Oliver come across as fair minded people but determined at the same time.
Oh my word, I was drawn into this story from the very beginning. As soon as I started to read ‘Falling For A French Dream’, I knew that I would struggle to be parted from this book for any length of time. This book allowed me to escape the thundery showers in the North East and be transported somewhere much calmer and much sunnier. It would be fair to say that I became addicted to reading ‘Falling For A French Dream’. I would pick the book up only intending to read a couple of chapters but I would become so wrapped up in the story that I would lose all track of time and of just how quickly I was getting through the story. The pages seemed to be turning that quickly that it was almost as if they were turning themselves and then all too quickly I reached the end of the story and I had to say ‘Au Revoir’ to the characters of Nicola and Oliver. I found ‘Falling For A French Dream’ to be a delight to read from start to finish.
‘Falling For A French Dream’ is extremely well written. Jennifer has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. In fact reading one of Jennifer’s books feels more like a chat between friends than reading an actual book. I hope that makes sense. She creates lovely characters, who end up feeling more like friends than characters in a book. Jennifer certainly knows how to grab your attention and draw you into the story from the very start. I love the very vivid and realistic way in which she describes where her stories are set. She makes them come alive and if I closed my eyes, it would be easy to imagine that I was in France with the sun beating down on my face. I also love the fact that Jennifer mentions family feuds as I found I could relate to this having a few feuds within my own family. I felt as though I was part of the story and at the centre of the action, which is thanks to Jennifer’s very vivid and realistic storytelling.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Falling For A French Dream’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will definitely be reading more of Jennifer’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

"WoW......Très bon et magnifiquement écrit - j'ai adoré!"

Falling for a French Dream by Jennifer Bohnet was a beautifully written book and a lovely surprise for me, as I don't usually read books like this But the Title and the cover just caught my eye and I had to read it. I never even read what this book was about. The title said it all! Especially as I fell for the French dream myself and moved out to France from the UK 6 years ago with my hubby, 2 dogs and a mad cat!

This is a book about Nicola Jacques and her teenage son Oliver who relocates to his father’s family's Olive Farm in the hills above the French Riviera .after tragically losing his dad and the ex husband to Nicola. Sadly due a family feud, Oliver has never known his fathers’ side of the family and Grand-papa Henri is intent that Oliver will take over the reins of the ancestral farm and his rightful inheritance.
Nicola purchases 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. Nicola and Oliver settles in quickly and start to build their life, with the help of Josephine and Odette who are Oliver's aunties.
They have no regrets moving to France. Oliver spends most of the summer holiday with his grand-papa on the farm and Nicola spends her days renovating their new home and garden with the help of local property developer Gilles Bongars where she has become very close to.
This story has sad parts and a tear or two was shed by me. So be warned.

This book was previously published as The French Legacy.


I highly recommend this book and I am looking forward to read more books by Jennifer. I love the way she writes especially as I found this book an enjoyable read and hard to put down.

Big Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion. and especially as Jennifer is a new author to me.

[Kel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow I don't know where to start, this is an author whose stories transport me to sunny France and steal my heart within the first few chapters. I love picking up a book and just knowing it's going to be an amazing read and a feel good tonic which is something we all need from time to time.

I loved my trip to France where we meet the Jacques family as they adjust to the sudden loss of their son/nephew and we get to meet Olivier and Nicola who are also still deeply lost in the grief of losing Marc.

We get to experience the highs and lows as they work to mend bridges, build new relationships and make life changing decisions. All set against the stunning back drop of a small village near Nice and the family farm.

The absolute back bone of this story was family and throughout the beautiful descriptions and sprinkles of romance the importance of family shone through.

A story that consumed me and I was desperate to keep reading but also wanted to savour as I was enjoying it so much.

[Shannon Rochester · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Carolina Rojas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book

[Sjan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dit keer wel een goede vertaling gelukkig.

[Terri (BooklyMatters) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“They ate lunch outside, sitting in the enclosed small garden area at the back of the farmhouse. Weathered painted furniture, pots of lavender and rosemary, sweet-smelling old fashioned roses, trailing geraniums tumbling down the stone wall, bougainvillea climbing the pillars that the rusty hinges of the ancient wrought-iron gates were embedded in “

I could get lost in writing like that - which I’m sure is the whole point of this wonderful, wistful, gentle 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.

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.

Infused with quiet charm, this lovely read meanders through Nicole and Oliver’s transition to their new surroundings; their introduction into the French “famille” and the challenges encountered as they attempt to slip into new lives, and new relationships; healing and expanding their fractured concept of “home” and “belonging”.

Sure to be a favorite read of lovers of the pastoral and bucolic, as well as anyone who has ever dreamed of a “rooted” life in picturesque France, this heartwarming story hits all the right beguiling and escapist notes.

A great big thank you to the author and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.

[Henriette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although Jennifer has written many books and I already own a few, this is the first I have actually read and I enjoyed the story and the style so much that I will not hesitate to read many more of her books.

The story is really sad, but also touching following mainly the lives of Nicola and Oliver, her 13 year old son. Shortly after the death of Oliver's father Marc they end up uprooting their lives and trying to start over near the Marc's estranged family in the countryside in the south of France, just outside of Nice.

There is some romance in this book, but that is not the main story line. The story is mostly about Nicola and Oliver and their new type of life in France. By the end of the story I felt really connected to these two and their French relatives, but other members of the cast, like the dog Mischief were simply there but I didn't feel all that connected to them. I don't even have a clue what the dog looked like and the same goes for many of the characters. If I had gotten a better feel for the characters so I could picture them while reading, then it might have been a 5 star read, but the story and the characters were still touching enough that I gave it 4 stars and would highly recommend it.

What to expect:
✅ loss and grief
✅ estranged family and family secrets that cannot stay secret forever
✅ beautiful setting in the countryside in the south of France
✅ the quiet life on a farm and rebuilding a cottage
✅ the importance of family helping you get through when tragedy strikes again (and again)
✅ a touching relationship between mother and son

I would like to thank Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books and Jennifer Bohnet for giving me this book in return for an honest review. My thoughts about this book are in no way influenced by the fact that it was a gift

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do hope the cover really is coming soon because that is what Dre’s me in to this book. I was pleasantly surprised to find it was much much less lightweight than I expected but was definitely still a romance, a warm, feel-good story. It begins with Nicole and her son Oliver leaving England to go to the south of France to visit her in-laws, almost a command performance from her father-in-law. Nicole’s husband Marc had been killed some time back wow trying to rescue victims in a earthquake in Italy Marc’s father Henri head nothing less than strong-minded, to say the least.

Upon arrival, 13-year Oliver too to the vineyard and olive farm like a duck to water and somehow managed to get along with his Grandpapa Henri. Nicole’s mother-in-law had died years before ad he never been in the picture. However, Henri’s delightful twin sisters lived on the farm and were able to manage their curmudgeonly brother a good bit.

Suffice it to say that Nicole began to put down rootlets in France as she experienced some of Henri’s plans, and she saw his softening somewhat with Oliver. Oliver was thriving in France, and his grief was subsiding a bit among his father’s family. Nicole bought an old, very run-down rock house at the far side of the farm property, met a handsome contractor who was building a…….. no, you read this delightful book for yourself. It deals with grief, finding yourself again (while raising a young teenager!), and a myriad of new experiences she faces such as learning to be fluent in another language. But she didn’t let much stop her. There were plenty of small side stories to keep the story hopping as well. This is a thoroughly enjoyable book.

[Kerry https://likeherdingcatsblog.wordpress.com Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicola is such a sweet character and my heart really went out to her. She loved Marc and despite divorcing, at his request when he went to do humanitarian work, they were not completely estranged or without love for each other. So, when he dies Nicola is grieving and their sone Oliver has lost his father. When she is summoned to France by Marc’s father, Nicola sells up and moves there in order to mend bridges with his family. Can she find the strength to heal and her heart and to make amends with Mark’s family.
Jennifer’s books always immediately transport the reader completely into the setting and completely brought The French Riviera to life in my sitting room. It’s so beautifully described and Henri’s farm is such a peaceful and perfect place for Nicola to heal and support her son.
The relationship between Nicola and Oliver is such a lovely one and so well developed. The rebuilding of their lives in France was so tenderly written and I loved how the aunts welcomed and supported them whilst developing a new relationship. Henri was not a likeable character but I think Nicola it become clear why it was difficult for him. There was a clear difference between the relationship he had with Nicola and that of the one with Oliver but he did frustrate me at times. I love when character make me feel really strong emotions.
This is a story about building bridges, forming new relationships, moving forwards after grief and starting a new life. It’s emotional yet heart-warming and simply wonderful.

[Denise Hale · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rewrite of Follow your Star

I didn't know this was a rewrite till the end but it explained why the book seemed a bit uneven in places. I read these novels for the feeling of being back in France and enjoying the ambience of wandering around its markets and eating delicious food in delightful cáfes. I'm not sure if post-Brexit it is as easy to move to France and set up a business but as the original novel was written prior to UK's departure I'll overlook this detail.
Nicola was married to Marc, a French charity worker, they had a son, Oliver but family life wasn't enough for Marc. He needed to be helping people in need and decided to work for an Overseas crisis charity. He still came home to see his family but eventually encouraged Nicola to divorce him so she could get on with her life. For Nicola looking after Oliver was her life. Whilst aiding at an earthquake in Italy Marc dies, his body is taken to his father's farm near Nice, where it is quickly cremated, denying Nicola and Oliver a final closure. A few months later Henri, Marc's father demands that Nicola comes to France as there are things they need to discuss. Well, we have to get Nicola and Oliver into France so the story can begin.
A lot of the action takes place off stage and is reported but the book is an easy read and absorbing enough. Its main theme is love and loss which underlines several different stories; Nicola and Marc, Henri and Marc, Oliver and his father, as well as others. For me, it also brought back holiday memories of Nice in a time of travel uncertainty.

[Ashley Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Jacqueline · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Adele · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Pam Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Allyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

💞Taking chances on a new life in France: family, friends and a well-deserved romance🌄

4-4.5🌟 stars
Author Jennifer Bohnet has a real talent for lovingly bringing to life rural France. Here a young teenager loses his father and his mother Nicola does all in her power to ease his grief and do the right thing to secure a happy future for him. Packing up their life and moving from England to join the boy's paternal family in rural farm life in southern France brings plenty of possibilities along with some new heartache.

The writing makes the pages fly by and there's more than one sweet, second chance romance to brighten their days. I enjoyed it though it's not my favorite of the author's French-set works.

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

[Jane Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A poignant story of family, grief and second chances in the South of France. The characterisation and setting of this story immerse the reader into Nicola and Oliver's lives. This is a multi-generational story with Henri, Oliver's grandfather, as the strict, unbending Patriarch. Josephine and Odette Oliver's great aunts welcome Nicola and her son unreservedly and are instrumental in working towards the compromise essential for the family to heal.

Romance flourishes from loss, and Nicola has to decide where her heart lies. Vivid descriptions evoke the reader's imagination to visualise the location and the events that unfold. This is a character-led story, and each one is lovingly crafted into a believable individual who the reader can like or dislike.

I received a copy of this book from Boldwood Books via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

[Jo Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Felicity Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful escape to the French countryside near Nice!!
Easy reading, warm hearted, and hugely enjoyable.
Nicola and her son Oliver are making the best of their lives after tragedy hits their family.
When her father in law requests her to visit him in France, her life is about to change.
Great story, great characters, with a good knowledge of the French culture,
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and would highly recommend it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood books for the early read.

[Jodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.