Still suffering from amnesia after a car accident in the hills behind Monaco, Nanette agrees to return there at the request of her best friend.
It’s Formula 1 time, and the wealthy principality is as glamorous as ever, but dangerous secrets lurk beneath the surface, threatening to destroy her life once again. As her memory begins to return, Nanette knows she has to finally face the truth as the past begins to implode on her present.
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.
I absolutely loved this book and couldn't put it down.
We meet Nanette who is now working as a nanny for twins after a terrible accident she had 3 years ago and has no memory of the events that took place in Monte Carlo. Now about to go back to the place where it all happened and face her Ex fiance the famous F1 driver Zac Ewart, is it all a big mistake to go back.
This had me hooked and I was totally engrossed, I felt as if I was there right in Monte Carlo, the setting was just beautiful.
A pure delight to devour and looking foward to reading more from Jennifer.
Boring… uneventful… stupid… this book took way too many turns and they never made sense. Also why did we get chapters in the Amazon. Gal we are in Europe I did not need that.
I now feel like a bitch because I’m the 20th one start review on a 4.3 star book.
I rarely give a one star rating. This might only be my second time ever because it usually makes me feel bad. But when the book is SO boring that you have to force yourself to keep reading and your only motivation to continue it is so that you can finally finish the book and start something else (hopefully something better, anything would be better!)... I'd say it's a one star.
How have over half the people who've rated this book given it a 5 star? What am I missing?
I have been in need of a bit of light escapism so when this book came on my radar I was excited to jump in. I have to say that every time I read a book set outside the UK I remember how much I am itching to travel again and that was in full force reading this book. I am now desperate to go to the south of France and eat all the food and drink all the wine, this is in part down to the beautiful setting that the author captures easily but vividly. I’ve never really been that attracted to the glitz and glamor of Monte Carlo but I have to say after reading this book when I get the chance I am considering a trip there and seeing the fancy yachts.
Nanette’s story was an interesting one, she has a past in Monte Carlo but we don’t immediately get all the details of what happened and this really pulled me into the story but actually what I really ended up enjoying was Nanette getting the chance to leave the past behind her and find new friends and new love, which I really liked because it was a slow burn relationship and allowed her to feel ready to move on.
Surprisingly there was a lot of the book that was devoted to Vanessa and her trip to the Amazon, which I was a bit unsure of at first because I was really getting into Nanette’s story and at first didn’t see what they were adding to the story but actually the more they occurred the more I enjoyed them and there is a reason why they have been included. There is also a bit of excitement in the story with Mathieu’s unusual behaviour and him being around some dodgy characters, it definitely added a bit of light suspense and drama.
There was a slight annoyance for me throughout the book at points the dialogue between characters was a little stiff and sometimes things were over-explained, as an example there were quite a few instances of Nanette talking to family and close friends and referring to her ex-fiancé by his full name, it just seemed really formal and added this sense of detachment between characters. I think it was just because it didn’t happen all the time so that when it did happen it really jilted the flow of the writing for me.
This book was just what I was looking for with a beautiful setting, wonderful characters and some interesting surprises along the way One Summer in Monte Carlo is perfect for a bit of escapism.
When I started reading this book I realized it wasn't the sort of book I was hoping it to be. But I stuck with it. The only thing I didn't like was one of the romances but that's just my personal opinion. It had a mystery that I really enjoyed. Really nice it was a clean read too, and no swear words. This would be great as a movie. A Good easy Summer read. Look forward to reading more of Jennifer's works
“Monte Carlo” was enough to get me to choose this book
This is the perfect read for a beach holiday. I found the characters as mainly uncomplicated who find themselves involved unwittingly with criminal activity. They are based in the world of high society and millionaires when they conclude that the luxury yachts, parties and bijoux cafeterias are a front for the criminals to hide their true business. I rated this book with 4 stars because although I enjoyed the story I wasn't completely caught up and was prone to putting the book to one side. I prefer a deeper conspiracy.
I have never read a book by this author before and only picked this book up to read because it was free with Prime Reading, but this was such a good read. In 290 pages, there was so much drama and the book engaged me so much - I finished it in a day. I totally recomend,the plot was good and so engaging.
Almost certainly the best Jennifer Bohnet book to date, and certainly my favourite.
I was expecting there to be a romance, and a French setting, both of which delivered in spades, but it's the rest of what is containing within the pages that had me completely hooked.
But where to start, so much I could talk about but really if the blurb remotely grabs you then take me word for it, it's a book worth reading.
For there isn't just Monaco, and that's Monaco predominately in the run up to the Grand Prix (which is always my favourite to watch, and I could picture some of the streets and turns so clearly just because I know the race circuit!).
However there is very little F1 detail, or car detail at all, so if you aren't keen on the sport then don't worry this isn't a book about F1, although having an F1 driver as Nanette's ex-fiance there are mentions of it, and it does provide part of the back drop.
Nanette had never wanted to return to Monaco but her friend basically begged her to go back, along with the twins, to spend months with Mathieu the twins father. Nanette has been working as their Nanny, and Vanessa wanted to make sure someone consistent was in the twins lives, while she and new hubby go away for a few months.
The chapters from Vanessa's point of view, were completely unexpected, and their setting covers very important issues for the world. It's also not the most usual of locations for a book (although second one I've read with it in a few months!). They took me completely by surprise, so I'll leave that as a surprise for you too!
Then there is Mathieu who when we first meet him, has been arrested, but he isn't saying why but it soon becomes apparent that he may not have completely legit business partners. But what he is wrapped up in I can't say!
This is fast paced, and completely enthralling, seeing Nanette face up to the past and some very unexpected surprises and turns along the way. Just simply wonderful, and definitely my sort of book!
Thank you to Boldwood and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily,
What a beautiful book, it hits all the emotions and all the senses. I had a hard time putting this book down, I wanted to know what was on the next page.
Nannette returns to Monte Carlo after 3 years. Through her eyes we wander the streets of the city, reliving her memories. She is now a nanny to her best friends twins, rather than the PA/fiancé to an F1 driver. We watch her navigate her past and present, cultivate new relationships, question old ones. What happened 3 years ago, what questionable things are happening now? Are they connected?
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the free copy for my voluntary review.
A gorgeous and glamorous escape sparkling with drama, emotion and pathos, One Summer in Monte Carlo is an immensely satisfying tale from Jennifer Bohnet.
Monte Carlo is the playground for the rich and famous where the streets are lined with designer shops, notorious celebrities and eye-wateringly expensive sports cars. For Nanette Weston, however, Monte Carlo reminds her of a painful time in her life where she had ended up losing everything that she had held dear to her heart. Although she had once been happy in Monte Carlo, a cruel twist of fate had robbed her and her then fiancé Zac of all the joy and fulfilment which they had once found and taken for granted. Three years ago, Nanette and her racing car driver ex Zac had been in a horrific car accident which had resulted in Nanette having to be airlifted back to the UK. Nanette has not seen Zac since that tragic day and she had vowed never to set foot back in Monte Carlo ever again. But when a friend of hers asks for her help, Nanette ends up doing the unthinkable and returning back to the place she never thought she would see ever again – and to the man who still has her heart: Zac.
When her friend and employer Vanessa needed somebody to look after her children in Monte Carlo, she had called upon Nanette, who had found herself with no other choice but to help out her friend. As soon as she set foot in the Principality, Nanette finds herself besieged by heart-breaking memories she has tried her hardest to forget. However, it isn’t only the past she has to worry about, but also her present when the F1 comes back to town and she realises that there is a very good chance that she will find herself running into the one man she never wanted to see ever again: Zac.
As avoiding the past proves impossible, will Nanette find herself laying old ghosts to rest once and for all? Or will she realise that there is simply no running away from the truth in Monte Carlo?
Jennifer Bohnet’s One Summer in Monte Carlo is a compelling tale about old desires, never forgotten feelings and healing from the past that makes for wonderful escapism on a miserable January day! As always, Jennifer Bohnet makes her setting come to colourful life and while reading One Summer in Monte Carlo readers will feel as if they are rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous as they find themselves completely and utterly drawn in by this emotional and dramatic tale.
A wonderful book to lose oneself into, Jennifer Bohnet’s One Summer in Monte Carlo ticks all the right boxes for readers looking for an enjoyable and emotional page-turner.
"One Summer in Monte Carlo," by Jennifer Bonhet, is the first book I have read (in this case I listened to the audiobook) by Ms. Bonhet. Unfortunately, it will also be the last. There was nothing about this book that I enjoyed. I found it disjointed, with the second half quite different from the first. It seemed to take a dark turn, complete with a "smoking bun" in the second half. So much of it became too far fetched to be believable. I did listen to the entire book, but had it not been an audiobook from an app that only allows 7 books per month for downloading, I would have given up on it. I figured I wanted it to count, so I would just keep going, and listened to it while I was baking and cooking much of the day. Monte Carlo is a place known for fast cars and a lot of money. Nanette had worked there years before the start of the novel, and had been involved with a champion race car driver until an accident left her injured and lacking memories of what happened leading up to the accident. All she knew was that Zac had sent her back, via airlift, to the UK. She never wanted to set foot in Monte Carlo again, but years later, there was, for an extended stay caring for the children of her friend/employer, Vanessa, and coming face to face with Zac. As her memories begin to return, she figures out why Zac was so quick to make sure Nanette was nowhere near Monte Carlo. There was a scene on a boat that included a gun, that I thought was so unnecessary. The true colors of a main character came out, and I felt the author should have left it that way, but then she turned a really awful character into a hero. It felt contrived and a waste of the plot leading up to that point. There was some romance in the novel, between Nanette and a man a good deal older than she, but not so much older that people might think she had a daddy complex. The romance felt stilted and unreal to me, but it was not my book to write, and I am sure there will be readers who were moved by it. It did nothing for me, and I never felt there was a beautiful love story going on. Different strokes for different folks applies to the world of books, and I say, "THANK GOODNESS" for that. There is always another book crying out to be read, one which might find me raving about it a few days later. I will never rave about "One Summer in Monte Carlo" but no harm comes from reading a book that can soon be forgotten.
I've been lucky to have visited Monaco numerous times and I'm also a fan of Formula One Motor Racing. Therefore Jennifer Bohnet's new romance set against a backdrop I love was a "no-brainer" to pick up and read.
Nanette Weston's not happy when her friend and employer, Vanessa asks her to travel to a place which holds painful memories. Three years earlier, Nanette's life fell apart while living in the Principality of Monaco. Now as the nanny to Vanessa's twins, she needs to take the children to their father's home and stay with them while Vanessa accompanies her new husband overseas. It's a challenge she doesn't want to embrace. However, she decides it's an opportunity to revisit a place she loves and to finally find closure…for the event which changed her life.
The names of the corners and landmarks along the street circuit of Monte Carlo and the glamour of the backdrop made it easy for me to devour this novel and reminisce about the historical landmarks. Although there's a link to F1, this isn't a motor racing themed novel, although a secondary character is a driver. Yes, the famous Grand Prix features, but it's in the background and doesn't take precedence or detract from the drama.
A surprise is a secondary plot-line, although it ties in at the end in a predictable way. Unfortunately, it didn't add anything worthwhile to the narrative for me. I would have preferred the focus to have concentrated more with Nanette and less so with Vanessa. Other secondary characters are charming… and rich and I envied how Nanette blended into a world most of us can only dream about.
The overall "feel" of this book is fun, entertaining and my personal favourite by Ms Bohnet so far. It captures the essence of Monte Carlo and definitely makes me want to visit this small area of Southern Europe again. Upbeat, with several highs, the author did make me shed a tear or two during one poignant scene, so be prepared to experience an emotional journey to a more than satisfying happy ending.
***arc generously received courtesy of the publisher Boldwood Books via NetGalley***
3.5 stars Be advised this was previously published under a different title “Follow Your Star”.
Three years after a life changing accident in Monte Carlo, Nanette reluctantly agrees to revisit the place again on the request of her employer/friend Venessa as nanny to her children, while Vanessa is away to Amazon rain forest to film a documentary with her husband Ralph.
Monte Carlo is getting ready to host Formula 1 race and Nanette hasn’t been looking forward to encountering her ex-fiancé Zac, who descends there to participate in the race.
The setting of this story in Monte Carlo is absolutely beautiful. It has glitz, glamor, and dodgy businessmen, shady deals, and what not. It was good to learn about the indigenous people of Amazon, struggles to preserve their culture, fight with people who exploit them. At first, I found Vanessa’s story in the forest as non-fiction but it grew on me as the story progressed.
My favorite character is Nanette’s loquacious sister Patsy and her overbearing mother-in-law who is about to turn into granny zilla.
Glad Nanette finds her happy ever after with someone who is caring but I was put off by their relationship. I don’t mind the age difference but I am astonished at how someone can see the person who is FIL to her friend in different angle and have a relationship. This fact ruined this book a little bit for me.
I don’t buy the fate bestowed on Zac. To me it happened only to elevate Nanette’s good side to the next level.
Bohnet’s knowledge about Monte Carlo is evident in her vivid descriptions of the place, races, cafes and prompted me to search for videos about this.
Overall, this story is delightful and a perfect escape to gorgeous locations.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the free copy for my honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary advance reader copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.
I always enjoy this author's books. They are quick r, enjoyable reads, always in lovely locations. I knew very little about the Grand Prix in Monte Carlo before this book and found it interesting to learn a little about it. The characters are always enjoyable and the romance never too much sap but just right. This author's books are always a great book to read after a heavy book, they leave me smiling and wishing I could travel to the destination in the book.
In this book Nannette accepts the request of her friend, Vanessa, to stay in Monte Carlo to watch her children while she goes woth her new husband to the Amazon to film a documentary. She will be staying at Vanessa's ex-husband, Matthieu's house by the marina in Monte Carlo. Thsi should be an easy thing to accept except that Nannette has not been back to Monte Carlo since the incident three years prior that rocked her workd and destroyed everything she had leaving her without a job, fiance or pplace to belong to, but for her friend, she accepts. It is time to face her demons and put her life back on track. Being in Monte carlo at the time of Grand prix means her ex will most definitely be there as well as all of the people from her past. Will Nannette be able to get past what happened and will she finally be able to remember everything from that night. Matthieu appears to be in some sort of trouble; so does her ex, Matthieu's father Jean Claude comes to her aide more than once, will he be the man who mends her broken heart or wil she find love once more with her ex.
Always enjoyable reads, I will look forward to this author's next book.
One Summer in Monte Carlo is a book with a real mix of different characters, all with their own story lines, and all entwined around the wealthy lifestyle of those lucky enough to live in Monaco. There are apartments with balconies and harbour side views, fine dining in the hills above Nice and the roar of Formula 1 that comes crashing into daily life, but there is also a secret from the past that seemed to have been forgotten.
As the PA and fiancée of racing driver Zac Ewart, Nanette was once part of the F1 social scene. She organised parties on his yacht and attended events on his arm, until the car accident three years ago, that she can’t remember, left her ostracised and alone. Monte Carlo, Zac and the privileged lifestyle were firmly in her past, until her best friend Vanessa asks her a huge favour. Her decision to return for one summer, and face those who hurt her, might be just what she needs to help free her from the past, but it could open up opportunities for her future too.
There is more to this book than the glitz and the glamour of its Monte Carlo location, it also shows the importance of family, friendship and being there for the ones you love. Nanette discovers Monaco has changed and with the new faces it seems there are also dirty deals being done that have far reaching consequences. Who is involved and how risky it is, will be something else for her to work out as she attempts to move on with her future. This shady side of life in Monaco added suspense, tension and a few twists to the book.
It is always exciting to be back in a Jennifer Bohnet book and although I’d read Follow Your Star, many years ago, I’ve really enjoyed reading this updated version. If the buzz of Formula 1 and the lifestyle of the rich and famous is where you want to be, if only on a short break, this book would be a perfect winter escape.
It is no secret, I am a massive fan of Jennifer Bohnet's books - she always seems to hit the nail on the head, placing you right in the heart of the story. This book is no exception, and is set in the glamourous location of Monaco around the time of the Formula One Grand Prix...put on your most sparkly outfit, fasten your seatbelt whilst Jennifer gives us VIP pit lane access to the high octane event of the year.
Three years ago, Nanette was in a terrible car accident alongside her Formula One racing driver fiance Zac. The accident saw Nanette being airlifted back to Britain, while Zac walked away seemingly unhurt, but it wasn't just the accident he walked away from, he also left Nanette. She lost her future, her job and her home all in the space of a few short hours.
Settling into a new life back in the UK, Monte Carlo was a place she wanted to forget, not revisit. But when her friend and employer, Vanessa asked her to look after her children in the Principality for a few months, Nanette knew she had no choice but to return, and as the F1 circus rolls into town, Nanette has to finally face Zac.
This book had many twists and turns and had me gripped from the first few pages. The knowledge of the area is oustanding, and as many of us have seen Monte Carlo on the tv, Jennifer really takes us there, visiting cafes, and walking by the casino, all places that I feel I know, even though I've never been there.
In a year when no one has travelled much because of the pandemic, I really honestly feel like I've had a holiday in Monaco!!
Whenever I travel anywhere in one of Jennifer Bohnet’s novels, I always take a little piece of it to keep in my head as a souvenir. One Summer in Monte Carlo is no different. Jennifer writes about Montel Carlo with such vividity and passion that visiting this time felt as though I was returning to a place that is familiar but with so much left to explore. The combination of tourist areas and the more traditional side of Monte Carlo was such an experience and set around the Grand Prix gave it all some added excitement. Nanette is such a sweet character, recovering from a traumatic experience that she cannot remember and struggling with her return to Monte Carlo. I just felt instantly protective over her and became suspicious of anyone who tried to befriend her. I loved watching her confidence grow as she once again found her feet. The romance did go in a different turn than I was expecting, not less enjoyable, just surprising and delightful and I enjoyed watching Nanette learn to love herself again. Jennifer always adds a gentle element of mystery or drama to her romance novels and this one had several little subplots to keep the pace moving swiftly and the pages turning. In this novel we have the strange behaviour of Mattieu (the father of the children Nanette is caring for), an ex who seems to be hiding something, a best friend and husband in potential danger in the Amazon and a pregnant sister and meddling mother-in-law. All of these elements combine to make a delightful summer read in a luxurious and vibrant setting and I loved it. Bring a little sunshine back into your life and read a copy of One Summer in Monte Carlo.
One of my biggest pet peeves in reading is when I feel like a book has a lot of ‘extra’ added to it to meet a word limit. In the case of this read, the author used the characters names repeatedly in conversational lines. If you���ve seen Titanic and heard Rose and Jack call each other by their names in every other sentence, you know what I’m talking about here. At first I thought it was to try and clarify who was talking, but the conversations were not that complex and so the consistent use of names felt forced.
Also, lines or reference points in the stories were repeated unnecessarily several, several times. It’s completely relevant to talk about Nanette being very nervous about running into her Ex or any of their old acquaintances- maybe even a couple of times. But when it comes up once (maybe even twice) in each chapter that focuses on Nanette – that is just too much. To me, it becomes words just for the sake of adding to the word count.
The other real disconnect here for me is that part of the story is focused on Nanette in Monte Carlo while the other is focused on Vanessa in the Amazon. The tie-in does come later in the book but for most of the book, it just felt disjointed in such a way that I never fully was submersed in either part of the story nor in the characters.
Readers who love Chick-Lit with a little adventure and don’t mind the repeating of thoughts, story plot points or character names will probably really enjoy this as both stories do have unique plot lines, which is pretty cool.
Three years ago, Nanette lived in the Principality of Monaco, loving her life and engaged to a rising star of Formula One. After a devastating car crash destroyed Nanette's relationship, her reputation, and her memories of the night in question, an obligation to a friend has her returning to Monaco for the summer. As the crowds (and her ex) gather for the Monaco Grand Prix, it seems everyone has secrets. Maybe Nanette should've stayed in England...
This is a lovely story about forgiveness and redemption, but also about setting boundaries and learning to let go and move on. It is not, despite the blurb, a second chance romance. It's women's fiction with a thriller undercurrent and romantic elements. There's also a secondary plotline following Nanette's friend Jessica through the Amazon which provided an interesting contrast to the glitz of Monaco, and we also get comedic glimpses of Nanette's sister Patsy as she deals with an overbearing MIL back in England.
The three stories weave in and out of each other in an absorbing escapist read. There's an awful lot going on (and quite a few characters to keep track of) but it's quite enjoyable to sit back and go with the flow. My one quibble was around logistics, in particular a funeral that only had nine attendees, which made no sense given the context. At all.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Rachel's Random Resources; all opinions are my own
Nanette returns to Monaco as an obligation to her friend Vanessa. There she is expected to take care of her friend's children but the real reason she accepted the offer is to confront the events of the past and let go of it. It's been three years since she has set foot in there, but still her past never left her. What happened in the past and will she be able to recover from it?
One summer in Monte Carlo is far from a romantic tale even though it has romantic elements in it. It potrays the Grand Prix in Monaco, the annual Car racing and the illegal activities that happen there in a particular summer. Parallelly, there is also another story of Vanessa and her husband going on an expedition in Amzon. These two events are some what connected and exclusive at the same time. One thing I felt while reading the book was how intrigued I felt and how I just want to finish it fast. Though the focus was on other things, I liked the potrayal of the state of Monaco. The harbours, the shops, the structures were vividly explained that can instigate wanderlust in anyone and it just expands to the amazon as well. I loved the writing style which is well detailed and lucid. The characters are also well developed. And it did have a perfect ending which I appreciate in all books. Although not my favourite genre, this particular summer story is well enjoyed. An engrossing tale of a summer in Monaco, that is Monte Carlo and it can make you fall in love with the city-state.
One Summer in Monte Carlo was a perfect read to transport me away, I love how Jennifer Bohnet uses such wonderful locations in the books and in this one you see us head off to Monte Carlo for F1 season.
The story was full of vivid descriptions right down to the noise and and thrills associated with F1 on this street made circuit. Through the descriptions of the hustle and bustle you really got a feel for the jubilant atmosphere and the parties held to celebrate this major event in the calendar.
Whilst in one half of this story we are with Nanette and the twins in Monte Carlo reliving her tragedy from 3 years previously. Whilst on the other side of the world Vanessa & Ralph are embarking on married life in the depths of the Amazon filming a documentary to try and help raise awareness to the shifts in how the small villages live and how the environment is impacting this.
I loved the 2 destinations and the totally different vibes you get when reading about them. I found I flew through this book, it was light hearted on the whole and provided some wonderful escapism.
Another wonderful story by Jennifer Bohnet an author you can always rely on to offer a read you can escape into.
I thought this was going to be one of those English-girl-goes-abroad summer romances, but actually it was a rather convoluted smuggling/money laundering tale with a romantic past. When our heroine goes back to Monte Carlo after five years, she has to balance her job as a nanny/housekeeper against her former life as the PA of a Formula One race car driver who became her fiancee. When he abandons her after a car accident, she slowly rebuilds her life back in Britain. Then her boss marries a documentary filmmaker and goes off to the Amazon, leaving her nine-year-old twins with her ex and her nanny. At this point, the story toggles back and forth between the Amazon basin and Monte Carlo. Is the twins' father a money launderer or an undercover law enforcement officer. Would a father really endanger his kids like that? Is the Formula One driver with the gint yacht even a believable character? What is going on in the Amazon and how is it related to the Russian mafioso pulling the strings in Monte Carlo? Needless to say, this wasn't exactly the escapist romp I was expecting. The plot jumps were a bit much as well.
When you look at the cover and read the synopsis was it just me or did you immediately think this book was a romance? Well your wrong, this book was absolutely fantastic.
At the start of this book you get introduced to Nanette who suffered a tragic accident in Monaco and vowed to never go back. However her boss Vanessa is leaving to go to the Amazon Rainforest to do some filming work with new husband Ralph for 5 months and asked Nanette if she would go back to Monaco to help look after her kids whilst they stayed at their dads.
Nanette didn’t want to go but realised she had a lot of unanswered questions she hoped to gain answers to which related to her accident and Zac. Zac who ended up being her ex fiancé and a formula 1 driver.
This book follows new love, betrayal, corruption, lies and secrecy. I especially loved the formula one aspect and reading about how it was all prepared in Monaco
Thank you so much to RachelRandomResources and Boldwood Books for sending me a copy of this book for the blog tour.
I enjoyed this book. It is set in Monaco during the F1 season, and in the jungles of the Amazon..There is a connection between the two locations, which I think it is a bit far fetched, but it is a work of fiction and it makes a good story. You'll probably work it out as I did.
The plot generally suspends disbelief, however it is a good bit of escapism so enjoy the ride. It is well researched and takes us to places we'll probably never visit.
The main plot which plays out in Monaco is full of suspense as our main protagonist, Nanette becomes embroiled in some shady dealings while trying to resurrect her reputation and get her life back together. Lots of description of the Formula 1 proceedings.
The subplot set in the Amazon is also quite suspenseful. The way the author weaves the stories together is quite good. Again I found it very informative.
So the book is a mixture of family drama, romance, suspense, adventure and travel escapism.. Nothing that will put your blood pressure up.
One Summer in Monte Carlo by Jennifer Bohnet - Pub Date: 12/01/21 Nanette called Monte Carlo home, enjoying her life and engaged to an upcoming Formula One driver. After a devastating car crash, she returned to the UK. The collision bought her relationship to an end, shattered her reputation, and destroyed her recollections of the night in question. A friends request sees her returning to Monte Carlo for the summer. Nanette has never wanted to return, but Vanessa, her best friend begs her to go back with her twins, to spend time with Mathieu, their father. Nanette works as her Nanny, and Vanessa wanted to make sure someone stable was in the twins' lives, while she and her new husband go away. I enjoyed the straightforward writing style. The characters are well-rounded—a tale of a summer in Monaco with a touch of the Amazon. I want to thank NetGalley, Boldwood Books and author Jennifer Bohnet for a pre-publication to review.
Another author who I have come to love. A bit of escape from the UK and these lockdowns eh. Absolute perfection it was. Ofcourse it has a little bit of Romantic history reappearing and a little bit of crime, but other than that it was a beautiful story with a happy ending. I loved the main character Nanette she got everything she deserved in the end. The setting was just gorgeous. The story also focuses a lot on formula 1 (F1) as a race is currently in Monte Carlo. Now believe it or not I actually know alot about F1 already thanks to my grandma but it gave the story some action and an event to look forward too. Loved how we also got a slice of the amazon and the rainforest via the twins mother being there so it flicks between them. Felt like I went around the world in this book. Pure escapism. Brilliantly written. Beautiful settings. Friendly and handsome characters. Whats not to love? Highly recommend. A well deserved four stars from me.
If I'm being completely honest, it was the gorgeous cover that drew me to One Summer in Monte Carlo rather than the setting. I know very little about F1 racing (but found this side of the book fascinating!), and although Monte Carlo is not high on my list of must-see destinations, I found myself swept up in the glitz and glamour through Nanette's story as she returns to a place where her life had come crashing down around her three years before. That's what captured me: Nanette being forced to confront her past and her ex-fiancé, Zac.
What I particularly liked was the way Nanette's story was interwoven with her friend Vanessa's and the strikingly different setting of the hot and steamy Amazon jungle - a great contrast to the glamour and comfort that permeates the French Riviera.
One Summer in Monte Carlo is filled with emotion and the ups and downs of life, yet it manages to be pure escapism too.