Summer at the Little French Cafe

Little French Café #2

by Karen Clarke

In the beautiful village of Chamillon lies the Café Belle Vie, where you’ll always find croissants and friends when you need them the most – and where Elle is hoping to uncover the truth about her past…

Thirty-year-old Elle Matheson has decided it’s finally time to find the mother who gave her up as a baby. With a faded postcard from the Café Belle Vie in hand – one of the very few things she has from her mother – she heads straight to the Île de Ré to begin her search.

With only the postcard and the ivory shawl she was wrapped in as clues, finding her mum is like trying to find a needle in a haystack, even with the help of friendly – and gorgeous – café-owner Charlie. And since Elle hasn’t exactly told her younger sister what she’s up to, the little white lies about where she is are starting to add up…

But Elle is really starting to feel at home on the beautiful island. The locals are welcoming, the café is homely, and Charlie is always there with a helping hand, a listening ear, and a pain au chocolat.

Is Elle about to discover not just where she came from – but where she belongs?

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

281 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 27, 2019

About the author

I live in Buckinghamshire with my husband and three grown-up children where I write psychological thrillers for HQDigital/HarperCollins and romantic comedy novels published by Bookouture.

Over the years I've been a secretary/bookkeeper, a wedding photographer, a pub manager, I've worked in a supermarket, a newsagent's and as a librarian - all good for story ideas.

I now write full-time and when I'm not writing, I read a lot, enjoy walking - which is good for plot-wrangling and ideas - photography, watching Netflix, baking and eating cakes. And then more walking to work off the cakes.

Reviews

[chantalsbookstuff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elle Matheson is on a journey to find her birth mother. It is at the Cafe Belle Vie in the Chamillion Village that she finds a new set of friends really trying to help her.

This book has all the romance and humor feels. I really liked how we get another look into the characters from the first book (wish we had a bigger glimpse of Natalie and Marty too). I really like Charlie, he is so honest and humble, and really rooted for him in the love category.

A really fast paced book with loads to look forward to! Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC.

[Melisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s so lovely when you connect with an author’s writing and they keep the novels coming. Karen Clarke’s books are like a breath of fresh air - perfect summer reads. Beautiful characters, atmosphere, food, and drama sprinkled with a dash of humor. I thoroughly enjoyed Elle’s story and can’t wait for the next installment in the series.

Copy provided by publisher - thank you!

[Jovana (NovelOnMyMind) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐

Themes & vibes:

• Summer at a charming coastal French village
• Looking for birth mother
• Lighthearted vibes
• Lil’ bit of romance

So, this book follows a girl who travels to France in an attempt to find her birth mother. And though I can't say the story was bad, it had a lot of space for improvement.

I couldn't connect with Elle at all. She had such odd thought and reactions, it made the writing feel forced an unconvincing.

We also got two "love interests". The fact I had to put quotation marks should tell you enough about how I felt about them.

And lastly, my imagination created a beautiful setting of an idyllic French village and the most charming little café. However, we actually got very few descriptions of the setting. It felt a bit like something was missing, considering the destination.

Again, this is not necessarily a bad book, and I can see many people enjoying it. But it wasn't for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an audio ARC of Summer at the Little French Café by Karen Clarke in exchange for an honest review.

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book, it was such a sweet story and very enjoyable to read. I hadn’t read any of this author’s books before so I was very pleasantly pleased that it was such a lovely story.
I will looks for more of her books in the future.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elle Matheson is 30 years old and she is determined to find her birth mother. All she has to go on is a faded postcard. This leads her to the beautiful village of Chamillion. Will she find the answers she is seeking? When she approaches a lady that runs a café, and her son, she begins to get the help she is looking for.

The café owner's son, Charlie, affects Elle on a visceral level. However, she is certainly not focused on romance at the time. Meanwhile, Charlie doesn't seem apparently available, so Elle does not understand why she is so drawn to him.

Elle fits in on the island, even working in the café. It is beautiful, and the people are lovely. However, finding her mother does not go so smoothly. How will this bode for her future and for her happiness?

One enjoyable thing about this book it is more than a romance. It contains a bit of humor that certainly made this book far more enjoyable to read. I do wish I had read the first book in this series, and definitely hope that I will be able to read more about this little village and its genuine people.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for a honest review.

[Silke · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

A while back I read Karen Clarckes series at Seashell Cove. It was a series I had pretty mixed feelings about. One book in the series really stole my heart, while the others were quite mediocre. But I wanted to read something else by her hand, because I wanted to see if I would love her other work more.

Summer at the Little French Café is the second installment in the series, but can be read as a standalone. There are some tiny little pieces of the puzzle that you might be missing, but overall you never feel left out as a reader. The main character of the first installment is only mentioned in this one, so it’s not like you get a glimpse on their further lives as is sometimes the case with these series. Might be a little disappointing for readers of the first book.

I think I can now safely say after reading four of Karen’s books that they are not my cup of tea. I think they are just mediocre in the genre and don’t really bring anything new to the table. They are okay and have their strong points, but for me they are just not good enough.

The story overall was pretty interesting. With Elle trying to find her birth mother, with only a scarf, a bracelet and a postcard to go on. It felt like a little mystery that needed to be solved. And I really enjoyed the wrap up of this storyline. It was heart-warming and different from what I expected. So absolutely found this storyline interesting, refreshing and it kept me reading.

What didn’t keep me reading was the romance in this book. There are some potential love interest for Elle in the Chamillon. But I just couldn’t see her with any of them. There was zero chemistry between Elle and any of the men she got to know. I found the eventual come out pretty predictable and I kind of hated the in between story-line. I found it unnecessary and kind of bad executed.

One of my major complaints about this book however was the fact that the location is so very important for the story. I mean the book is named The Little French Café. Even the series is named after this café in France. The setting on Ile de Ré is important. The setting at times feels like an important character in the story and normally I absolutely love it when authors do this. Because it gives the story an instant injection of vacation and exploration. But that only counts when the setting is brought to life on the pages. And I don’t think Karen was able to do is. Chamillon never came alive. It was just descriptions on paper. When I was reading I could not hear the sea or smell the saltiness in the air. The same counts for the café. Numerous pastries are mentioned, but I never got that mouth-watering feeling that I love in feel good books about cafes and restaurants.

Overall it wasn’t a bad book. It was a fast read, with an interesting story-line. But I don’t love the writing and think this book is not outstanding enough in a genre that gives us so many new books every month. It is just another book.. nothing new, nothing refreshing, nothing I haven’t read before. It would maybe have been a different story if the writing would have been captivating and I would have felt like I spend some time on Ile de Ré, but sadly I closed the book and almost immediately forgot half of the story.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hooked in really quickly into the wonderful, summery book, and read it in a few short hours. Was shocked to occasionally look up while I was reading on the tube to discover just how many stations had passed me by!

I loved the reason Elle was in Chamillon, and how the now familiar Cafe Belle Vie plays a part in the story. If you have read the first book set on the Ile de Re, there will definitely be familiar faces and locations, but equally this is a story that stands completely alone. Even the main characters are different.

For a rom-com there was a lot of comedy, and some truly fabulous moments, but equally I found the romance side of things really weren't as obvious. i wasn't completely convinced with Elle's chemistry for any of the leading men she finds in France, and didn't necessarily see the ending coming.

I loved every moment of this delightful book and there was even a mystery that had me stumped but equally eager to find out the outcome of.

This was a pure pleasure to read, and I can only hope this isn't the last we see of Chamillon, as I really would like to get to know Dolly and Henri better, plus Charlie and a whole myriad of women of a certain age whose names begin with M!

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

[Diana N. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and light summer read!

After her father died, Elle found some items from her birth mother. Of course she goes to the little Cafe in France that was on the postcard she found.

I liked this story because it was really a needle in a haystack type search, I mean how many women have "M" names even in a little town. I liked that Elle also became part of the town and Cafe even during her short trip. I got home and like family vibes throughout. Of course a little romance added some fun, it is France after all.

This was a nice Audiobook to listen to, I think the narrator nailed all of the characters and helped bring out their charm and personalities.

Thank you to Saga Egmont Audio and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this Audiobook for my honest review.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t know whether Elle was just mad or very brave to go to a different country where she knows very little of the language to try and find her biological mother with very little to go by. I mean a postcard and the first letter of her mother’s name, it really is a huge risk and I had my doubts that there would be any sort of happy ending.

There are a couple of love interests for Ellie which I loved. Who doesn’t dream of having a choice of men to choose from? Especially as they are as dishy as they are in this story. Elle isn’t looking for love though having been left hurt from her previous relationship. I so enjoyed some of the tricky situations she gets herself into though which really made for some fun reading.

As well as the promise of romance, there is a lot of heart in this story. With so many great characters to make this such a homely read, you can’t help but kept swept away in Elle’s quest. The added aspect of it all being set in France was just the icing on the top of an already scrumptious story.

Summer at the Little French Café is a wonderful and entertaining read. I love the French way of life and the people and just the overall setting of the story. It feels like a home from home and the fabulous characters and the authors writing, really draws you right into this story and makes you not want to leave. Definitely a book to escape into.

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.

[Toya (thereadingchemist) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Summer at the Little French Cafe follows the story of thirty old Elle Matheson. When Elle was one week old, she was delivered to her father by her biological mother with only a postcard saying to name her Eloise, and the postcard was signed M. Elle finally decides that it’s time to go to Chamillon and visit Cafe Belle Vie (the cafe on the postcard) in order to get the answers that she so desperately seeks.

When Elle arrives at the cafe, she crashes (literally) into the gorgeous Charlie, who assumes that she is the temporary fill in for the cafe. Elle meets Dolly, Charlie’s mom and co-owner of the cafe, and ends up agreeing to work at the cafe for the week that she is there. With Dolly’s help, Elle is determined to meet all the women in Chamillon whose name starts with the letter M and that traveled to London in the eighties.

One of the best aspects of this story is that it is almost entirely character driven. We get to see the different relationships that Elle builds in such a short timespan, and how each of those characters become integral parts of Elle. I loved watching Elle interact with Dolly who is incredibly maternal and choses to help Elle without any judgment.

While this book says that it is a romantic comedy, I would actually say that is a bit misleading. This book definitely has some funny moments (Elle trying to eat a raw oyster on a not-date with Henri), but most of the story really pulls at your heartstrings as you embark on this adventure to seek closure for Elle.

Overall, if you enjoy French cafes, romance, and character driven plots, then definitely pick this one up! You won’t be disappointed.

Thank you to Bookouture for providing an eARC of this book for review and for the blog tour invitation. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.

[Jo Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was thrilled to see that Karen Clarke had written the second in the Little French Cafe series, which sees a return to the Café Belle Vie in Chamillon, which was the location for the first book in the series ‘Escape to the Little French Cafe’. I have never been to the Ile de Ré, but I have been to other French islands along the Atlantic coast, so I can picture vividly what it looks like, and having read two books set in the fictitious village on the island I know that I want to go there one day for a vacation. It was so lovely to return to the cafe and see familiar and much loved characters from the first book.

Although the book is a return to the same location, don’t worry if you have not read the first book because this is a standalone book with some new characters, so you can read it without having read the first book. However, having the advantage of reading the first book, this book fills out some of the secondary characters.

I enjoyed the fact that the romantic element of this book was secondary to the mystery of who Elle’s mother was. There were some funny moments as Elle tried to find her mother, by looking at every woman of a certain age whose name began with an ‘M’. I also found I related to Elle being so accident-prone!

This was a delightful and fast read, mainly because I didn’t want to put it down! Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for a copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this even more than "The Escape to the Little French Café." Loved Elle, she was a great character. She was definitely loved by her best friend Toni and her sister Jess. Her mom never treated her differently than Jess. Loved how Elle and Charlie thought they could take pictures of goats at a petting zoo and pass them off as Greek mountain goats. The characters from the previous book all make an appearance. Dolly seems like such a sweetheart and loving mom. She was a wonderful help to Elle with her quest to find her birth mother. Madame Bisset's cat Delphine sounds down right scary. When a cat is described as looking like Chucky the serial killing doll, it must me ugly!!!! Loved learning more about Marie, she is such a sweet women. Margot definitely has a story to tell. Chamillon seems like such a beautiful place. Sad to see the book end. I loved reading about Elle, even though she was the worst dishwasher. I'm pretty sure she broke more dishes than she actually cleaned. At least she found out what she needed. I thought the book would end with the wedding.

Definitely recommend the book and the previous one in the series. I can't wait to read the next book in the Little French cafe series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bookouture through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Justkeepreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Karen Clark’s books and this book is simply no exception. It is amazing to be transported to the French countryside in the pages of this book. To meet and go on the adventures with the amazing characters. The storyline of this book is feel good and like a little hug in book form. I really enjoyed it.

[thewoollygeek (tea, cake, crochet & books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually enjoyed this more than the previous book in the series, a lovely light read, nothing too challenging and is a nice fluffy read. Don’t expect much more though

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

[Barbara Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a refreshing light and summery beach read and I listened to the whole thing in one go because I was enjoying it so much. This was my first book by this author but it won’t be my last!
After the death of her father, Eloise finds a postcard and a couple of items in his belongings that send Elle on a quest to find out who the mystery “M” is that sent the postcard, because she is her birth mother. Elle didn’t know much about her other than she met her dad for a brief fling and then turned up and gave him the baby when she was a week old because she couldn’t care for it. So Elle goes to Chamillion and the cafe in France that was shown on the postcard in hopes that someone will have some answers to all her many questions about her birth mom and maybe even be able to help find her.
While there, she meets some of the locals and becomes a part of them as they help to track down the mysterious “M” and of course, manages to find a few love interests, but only one truly captures her heart.
The narrator did a great job with the story, keeping it light and engaging. Really enjoyed the story and the audiobook narration.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for this audiobook arc in exchange for my review.

[Holly in Bookland · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading the first book, Escape to the Little French Café, I was looking forward to more of some memorable characters. Though I did get to know more about Dolly and Marie, I didn't get more of Charlie. What little I did see of him, he didn't seem like the same character from the first book. I was somewhat disappointed in that. I did like the plot of a young woman who was in search of her mother but, unfortunately, I didn't warm to Elle. She was just ok, but I felt her character was trying too hard to be clumsy cute. Since I knew that Elle was going to end up with one guy, there wasn't enough interaction between the two, so I wasn't feeling the whole romance angle. Elle definitely spent too much time with another guy, which never really made sense to me. Still a cute read but I much prefer the first book.


*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Sonali Dabade]

DNFed at 45%!

Here are the reasons why:

1. Henri is a creepy guy who just cannot take no for an answer. He keeps showing up at Elle's door and keeps hounding her to have dinner, go on a walk, do something, or some nonsense.

2. Elle's views are incredibly classist. "Oh I'd feel so bad if my birth mother were to be a butcher" is just one of the stupid nonsense she spouts.

3. "I'm glad I let Toni talk me into having a pedicure before leaving and that my toenails were coloured a shade called Bahama Mamma." - Good God, I don't even want to comment on this.

4. The village of Chamillon doesn't even take precedence. Every action that happens in the cafe, the author describes, but the cafe itself? No ma'am. It's called 'Summer at the Little French Cafe' no?

I'm just... Nope.

[AnnaScott · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are looking for a summery chick flick to read on the beach (or wherever you're vacationing) then look no further!

This was a cute book. It was fun and lighthearted, and I loved reading about Elle and her trip to France. Overall, she was a very relatable character, especially since she is a professional photographer like myself. The cafe was darling, as were all of the characters that ate there (especially Charlie), and it was just a sweet story overall.

My only big complaint is that the plot felt very slow. Not much really happened, and considering how gripping other stories featuring girls looking for a lost parent are, it was a little disappointing.

Overall, it was a fun read despite the pacing.

Content warning: There is a smattering of minor language throughout, as well as several sexual innuendos. Nothing is explicitly shown though.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and I am writing a voluntary review.

[Kylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Narrator 5
Greta voice

Story 4 stars
This book was beautiful!! I absolutely loved this story and how it unfolded. I was absolutely absorbed in it.

[Els · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have not been to France a lot but I did spent a hot long weekend at La Rochelle and of course a visit to Ile de Ré was included as well. Reading this book brought back wonderful memories and I see myself basking in the sun, strolling through the village and enjoying a huge plate of seafood again. Awesome!

When you have been to a place that is used as a background for a book, it makes you feel more connected. It was nice to be back and meet up with some of the characters from the previous book. You felt at home again straight away.

Can the book be read as a standalone? Yes, but as always while reading a series it’s best to start with the first one, simply because you miss out on some info about recurring characters and you skipped a lovely story.

The author introduces us to Elle. We follow her on her jouney trying to find her past and finding both her past and her future.

A great tale sprinkled with some little jokes makes a perfect summer read. 5 stars.

Thank you, Karen Clarke, Bookouture and Netgalley.

https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com

[Emma Crowley · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a pleasant and, for the most part, enjoyable return visit to the French island of Ile De Re and the small village of Chamillon, Summer at the Little French Cafe by Karen Clarke turned out to be. This was a very quick, light and easy read which I flew through in a matter of hours. It's perfect for the summer when you just want to escape from it all and engage in some relaxing reading. Once again the author completely nails the descriptions of such a wonderful and beautiful setting of the island, this aspect brings some warmth and charm to the story. Again, I felt instantly transported to the island as the descriptions are so vivid and colourful. I can visualise everything so clearly in my mind and it seems that Chamillon is an ideal place to escape from it all where your worries could be potentially washed away or else any questions or worries you may have can be resolved with some help support and guidance.

Characters we have previously met all make an appearance again bar one or two but they do get a mention and we know where they have gone. But again I had that feeling that there are so many still remaining on the periphery that I would love to get to know them more and for them to play a more active role in the story. But I suppose there is the potential for several more books in this series and maybe the people I wish to feature more so I can get to know them better will get their turn in the spotlight.

As always the Cafe Belle Vie is the central focal point and more so than ever in this case as Elle arrives on the island on a mission. I loved how there was no pussy footing around the issue and the reader was told more or less within the first few pages her reasons for arriving on the island. Of curse the majority of the main characters are kept in the dark as to why she has left London and her photography business behind to come to the village but I loved how the reader was let in on her quest very early on. As soon as Elle arrives she immediately falls in love with the area and feels a connection to it. Like she is meant to be there and that all things happen for a reason but she is there on a mission and she has only given herself a week to uncover the answers in order to gain some truth which hopes will give her some closure or else will what she discovers open up a whole new can of worms?

So why exactly is Elle in France. Several months ago she suddenly lost her father and whilst sorting through his things she came across a bag which contained a shawl, a bracelet and a postcard. On the front of said postcard was a picture of the Cafe Belle Vie and a note from the woman who was her biological mother who only signed her name as M. Elle has always been aware that the woman who married her father and brought her up was not her biological mother but she may as well have been up until her untimely death. But now Elle is seeking answers, can she find her real mother? Can she discover why a one night liaison resulted in her father being handed a child nine months later whilst a woman disappeared never to be seen again?

The discovery of the postcard gave Elle the kick start she needed to go on a journey. Although this is an emotional journey and full of lots of little quirks and fun moments I don't think it ever got very very deep and given the overall light-hearted tone of the book and that it is marketed as fun and a feel good romance it really was never going to venture down that route. I would have loved just a little more deeper exploration of how Elle felt about everything and maybe she could have been more open with her sister Jess as to what she was doing.

Jess was a conservationist working in Borneo and although they are not biological sisters they do share a close bond and I think Jess would really have supported Elle in her journey instead Elle felt the need to lie about her whereabouts and got herself pretty mixed up when really there was no need for it at all. Things just felt that little bit too light-hearted for me and as Elle settles into her accommodation and meets Madame Girard (Marie) she sets about locating anyone whose name begins with an M and who might fit the criteria and time frame around meeting her father.

All the people Elle meets are so nice and willing to help particularly Dolly who runs the café. She is like a mother hen who wants to take Elle's quest and make it her own. In an exchange for helping her Elle finds herself working in the café for the week which is really ideal as she can suss out potential women who could possibly be her mother. Dolly's son Charlie makes a welcome reappearance. He was a character I loved in book one and I was delighted to see that he would feature more prominently here. Dolly is forever trying to match make him with women and she views lots of people as being the love of his life.

If Dolly could she would have Charlie married off in an instant and she never misses an opportunity to make suggestions or to throw him together with some woman who really does nothing for him at all. Charlie is charming, loyal and someone who knows what he wants in life and doesn't need other people especially his mother sorting things out for him. He will do things in his own good time when he is ready and willing to. I loved how he was so protective of Elle and although she didn't reveal the truth behind her reasons for being in France to him until much later I sensed he would do anything to help because it was in his nature and he was just that kind of guy. One with no ulterior motives.

Elle knows actually finding her birth mother is a long shot but she feels she can't move on unless she has given it a go. She is at a crossroads in her life and as she rings her friend Toni, who also helps her out with the photography business, with little life updates I could sense Elle's unease and dissatisfaction with her life. The reader can tell that whatever the outcome of her experiences in Chamillon that they will certainly be life changing for her. I did think things got a little bit over the top that literally anyone who had the name M and was female was more or less pounced upon for information and was then interrogated without really knowing why this was happening to them. We flitted from various characters without any real stopping and thinking as to realistically could this be my birth mother?

It felt a bit unnatural and I would have loved a bit more contemplation and then digging and investigating back into the past. Distracting Elle from her main purpose was Henri, a local fisherman. I didn't like him at all. I felt uneasy when he was around like he was forcing himself upon Elle even though she admitted a frisson of attraction when she was around him. He made me feel uncomfortable and honestly I thought he was a bit sleazy and really would she have developed deep feelings for him in a day or two knowing she was only there for a week. If the Henri element of the storyline hadn't have been included the overall story would have progressed well enough because I don't think it really brought anything to the book.

Summer at the Little French Cafe was a nice enough read but it didn't blow me away. I felt the ending was all too rushed and I would have loved to see more development once the big revelation became apparent and as for the romance side of things to be done and dusted in a page or two seemed far too quick. There are lots of funny moments scattered throughout the book and I loved the setting and Elle as a character because she goes through so many changes and is really going for what she wants. She needs answers in order to move on but when she finds what she is seeking will it prove too much or will she find acceptance which will fill the hole in her heart? This wasn't a bad book overall it just lacked that little bit of sparkle that would have completely drawn me and had me totally riveted. It reads well as a stand alone but I would suggest trying out book one Escape to the Little French Cafe beforehand which follows Natalie's story.

[Kylie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
This book was so cute!
As I've said a million times, I'm a sucker for a book that takes place in France. Usually it's Paris, but this one takes place in Chamillon. I could so easily picture the town in my head. It was so easy to be transported right to the French countryside.
This book is about Elle who has discovered after her father's death that her mother was born and raised in Chamillon. So she decides to travel there from England to find her birth mother. She meets the most fun cast of characters, adorable Charlie and his mom who own the café on the postcard her mother left for her, handsome brooding Henry, Marie who is watching over the house Elle is staying in while the owners are away. She also meets several café regulars as she promises to help out at the café in exchange for help finding her birth mother. There were so many characters, but it was so easy to distinguish between them and never forget who is who.
The story is never boring, and there is a good balance between Elle trying to find her mother and being in France and doing things with some of the other characters. It was so easy to just listen to this story unfold even though the narrator was British and sometimes listening to a narrator with an accent is a little tough. She did a great job.
What Elle ended up finding was just so heartwarming. I can't wait to read more books in this series!
Thank you to Netgalley for an audio copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Barbara Schultz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Name of Book: Summer at the Little French Café
Series: Little French Café #2
Author: Karen Clarke
Audiobook Narrator: Lucy Bromilow
Publisher: Saga Egmont Audio
Genre: Chick Lit
Pub Date: July 5, 2022
My Rating: 3.7 rounded up!

Elie Matheson is now thirty years old and has always wanted to find her birth mother who left her wrapped in an ivory shawl with a postcard of the Café Belle Vie with a note to her father.
Her father welcomes the baby with open arms and so does his bride-to-be. Elie is raised by her father and step mother and no one knew she wasn’t their biological child.
Now thirty years later when her father died she decides it is time to start her search for her mother and travels to the beautiful village of Chamillon and the Café Belle Vie.

Story is a perfect summer reads. Likeable characters pleasant surroundings and a tad of drama and humor. Love the message that family comes in many forms.
As always I enjoyed the author’s ‘Acknowledgments’ as well as in this case ~ “A Letter from Karen”!

Enjoyable light read!

Want to thank NetGalley and Saga Egmont Audio for this audioGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for an honest professional review.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for July 5, 2022.

[Nicola Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book hit me in all the right feels. It was lovely, heartwarming, cosy and happy with a gorgeous French vibe.

I immediately knew I’d love the book upon seconds of listening to it (the audiobook was great!) and as the story continued to develop, I found myself more and more invested! With El’s quest to find her birth mother, it takes her to a wonderful little pocket of France, where the community quickly get behind her and offered her a helping hand.

It has a romance element as well as some great plot and character development and it just hit all the right marks. A wonderful way to spend the afternoon, cosying up and getting lost in this book. I was left feeling thoroughly happy and fuzzy! Loved it.

Thank you to the author and publisher for this book via NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another light enjoyable book by Karen clarke. I liked getting to know some of the side characters from previous book better and the town too. The ‘mystery’ adds a little more depth to the story. Fun quick read.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another great summer read. She uses the same town and characters as her other book 'Escape to the Little French Cafe'. but added some new characters and story line. I really enjoyed visiting them once again and the craving I had for French pastries. Pack the book to beach or better yet find you your own cafe' and let the story take you to a little place in France.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't aware this was the 2nd book in the series, however i feel it is fine as a standalone. The story of Ells (Elouise), who is in France to try and find her birth mother, with the only lead being a postcard featuring the Café Belle Vie. Along the way she meets locals keen to help her and locals keen to date her. The book didn't wow me, but a lovely book to listen too. Narrator Lucy Bromilow was brilliant 🙂

[Jodie (That Happy Reader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story. Elle’s adopted mother died several years ago, and recently she’s also lost her father. While cleaning out his personal items, she discovers a shawl and postcard with a photo of the Cafe Belle Vie (aka The Little French Cafe). The initial M is found in the script on the card which Elle assumes is the initial of her birth mother. Determined to find out all she can in hopes of being reunited with this woman, she journeys to Chamillon to start her search.

Elle is given a warm welcome and ends up working at Cafe Belle Vie which provides her with lots of opportunities to meet the people of the village who assist her in solving the mystery of her birth mother’s identity. Elle also meets Charlie the cafe owner’s son and Henri a local fisherman who adds a bit of romance to Elle’s life and to the story.

I enjoyed this book. It has an interesting storyline, a well-developed protagonist, and lots of food references. The reader cannot help but feel they are on vacation in France. The elements of humour added to my enjoyment of the book and I found the conclusion of the book to be satisfying.

I listened to the audiobook version of Summer at the Little French Cafe which was narrated by Lucy Bromilow. I appreciated the tone of her voice which made this an easy book to listen to. Those that enjoy audiobooks may wish to choose this format.

[Kaisha (The Writing Garnet) · Rating 5 out of 5]

All reviews can be found on my blog at https://thewritinggarnet.wordpress.com

Oh my, what a delightful little book this is!!!! One minute I was opening my kindle to begin reading the book, and the next I saw that I had read 70% of it!! It's safe to say that Karen Clarke's 'Little French Cafe' had me hooked - it may have a very colourful cover, but the storyline has so much more to it than pretty colours.

Elle has never met her birth mother and now, due to the passing of her father, she embarks on the journey to France to try and find the parent that 'got away'. However, Elle doesn't know her mothers name, nor does she know her age. All Elle can go buy are the clues she found in her fathers things. But would they be enough? And, if Elle were to come face to face with her birth mother, would she have the courage to ask those all important questions?

Like I say, there is a A LOT more to this book than a French cafe, although the cafe does play a huge part in Elle's journey. Take Dolly and Charlie for example, two people Elle first meets on French Soil - they are such eccentric (well, Dolly is) and warm characters, it would be incredibly difficult not to sit yourself under their wings for safety. I adored them, they really did make the story come alive.

My heart went out to Elle multiple times because the journey she had found herself on was one which was full of uncertainty. She had absolutely no idea whether she would come face to face with her birth mum, nor did she know whether her birth mum would even WANT to talk to her if they did manage to cross paths. I couldn't even begin to imagine the emotions that were threatening to spill out of Elle - it was certainly emotional for an outsider to read though, that's for sure.

Despite Elle's emotional journey, her character had me in absolute hysterics. I thought I was accident prone! Elle put her own little spin on that! I loved getting to know her character, and laughing alongside her with her infectious humour. I felt the community spirit within Cafe Belle Vie tenfold, if only the place and the characters were real! I would move there in an instant!!

'Summer at the Little French Cafe' was an absolute joy to read, I honestly don't think I could have devoured the book any quicker if I tried. I was actually quite bereft when the book came to an end as I could have read more about Elle and Charlie until the cows came home. Yeah.....I was invested!

Karen Clarke has done her characters proud with this book, and I feel that a lot of readers will be falling in love with her little French cafe, just like I have. A cosy, heart-warming novel that left me with a ginormous smile on my face.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh to be back in France with the lovely Karen Clarke and some amazingly caring characters! I loved the first one in this series and couldn't believe there was going to be another one - so I was so happy when I found out that we were going back to the idyllic setting! The cover is similar to the first, so there's a good sense of continuity. I love the bright blues used for the sky as well as the sea, the colourful buildings with their traditional colours and the French flag colours used on the bunting along the top of the cover. It looks so summery and inviting - I couldn't wait to dive in!

Even though you can completely read this novel as a standalone, you'll make the most out of it if you read the first one because then you'll know some of the secondary characters a little bit better. It's not required however, and you do get to meet everyone anyway but the first book was so lovely and enjoyable that you may as well read it anyway! With the second one in the series we meet Elle, who has come to France to try and find her birth mother. With not much to go on, she ends up at the exact place that's pictured on the postcard she has from her mother, and from there somehow accidentally gets a job at the Cafe Belle Vie!

The story moves quickly, with Karen's usual humour, which makes the pages fly by. I love Karen's style of writing, it's easy and enjoyable and fills you with happiness. I once again fell in love with the location of the novel and the characters and this time I found myself warming the most to Dolly! She was such a lovely and caring character and I was excited at the prospect of Elle finding her real mother. There are a lot of possibilities, but it was a refreshing read and I enjoyed meeting all the other older ladies who name begun with 'M'. I would say that Charlie doesn't come into it much until at least 40%, but this doesn't affect the overall feeling of the story - it actually makes it better to focus on the main character and not her love life for once.

Overall, I feel like Karen's novels just keep getting better. After reading her novels, I'm seeping with happiness! They are just such lovely, feel-good novels and I'm really hoping there's another one in the series! I'm enjoying being in France too much for it to all be over now! Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read this novel via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly.