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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Happy Publication Day!
“…there has to be more ways to live a life than cramming yourself into a tiny apartment and living shoulder to shoulder with people you don’t care about and who don’t care about you, all in pursuit of a job at a corporation that would happily replace you within two weeks if you died at your desk.”
Atmospheric, comforting and wholesome; this book was a wonderful way to start the year.
Tempèsta lost her mother at the age of thirteen. Her relationship with her father and paternal grandmother had been strained ever since and after her father’s passing she decided to leave the city life in New York and to travel to her mother’s home town in the south of France.
There were secrets to be discovered, some of which heartbreaking, but the idyllic setting, combined with the soothing life wisdom, balanced out the heaviest details.
I loved the community, the found family aspect, and the subtle hint of magic that made the book even more charming. Even though this was not exactly a romance novel, there was a love story that won over my romance loving soul.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Pub Date 5 March 2024
——
This book was like a warm blanket and a cup of hot chocolate, I loved it!!
RTC
“…there has to be more ways to live a life than cramming yourself into a tiny apartment and living shoulder to shoulder with people you don’t care about and who don’t care about you, all in pursuit of a job at a corporation that would happily replace you within two weeks if you died at your desk.”
Atmospheric, comforting and wholesome; this book was a wonderful way to start the year.
Tempèsta lost her mother at the age of thirteen. Her relationship with her father and paternal grandmother had been strained ever since and after her father’s passing she decided to leave the city life in New York and to travel to her mother’s home town in the south of France.
There were secrets to be discovered, some of which heartbreaking, but the idyllic setting, combined with the soothing life wisdom, balanced out the heaviest details.
I loved the community, the found family aspect, and the subtle hint of magic that made the book even more charming. Even though this was not exactly a romance novel, there was a love story that won over my romance loving soul.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Pub Date 5 March 2024
——
This book was like a warm blanket and a cup of hot chocolate, I loved it!!
RTC
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Reading this book is the emotional equivalent of sitting on your porch, warm breeze tickling and watching a lovely sunset.
After the death of her beloved French mother at age 13, Tempesta became increasingly isolated from her locked-in father, openly hostile grandmother and her brother. Always striving to fit in and gain approval, she got her degrees in finance, but added one in journalism too. After hating her financial jobs, she ended up as a food critic for a NYC publication. But the emptiness remained. When she received a small inheritance from her mother after her father's death, she buys the only house in her price range in her mother's home town in Provence. Her journey of self discovery and finding a family along with a few secrets is affecting, haunting and touched with a whisper of magical realism.
Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
After the death of her beloved French mother at age 13, Tempesta became increasingly isolated from her locked-in father, openly hostile grandmother and her brother. Always striving to fit in and gain approval, she got her degrees in finance, but added one in journalism too. After hating her financial jobs, she ended up as a food critic for a NYC publication. But the emptiness remained. When she received a small inheritance from her mother after her father's death, she buys the only house in her price range in her mother's home town in Provence. Her journey of self discovery and finding a family along with a few secrets is affecting, haunting and touched with a whisper of magical realism.
Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Without any doubt, this book is fully deserving of a 5 star rating. The reader (or listener) journeys with Tempesta as she finds her community and gains a real sense of ‘belonging’ - and this journey makes for a truly heartwarming story. I would love to read a sequel and encounter more of this wonderful community.
This is the second book by Aimie K. Runyan that I have read and I highly recommend it. Her writing is beautifully descriptive - particularly in relation to the idyllic French village of Saint-Colombe, the smells and tastes of the herbs, food and drink.
The audiobook is superbly narrated by Caroline Hewitt. The pace is perfect, allowing the story to flow and be understood by the listener. She beautifully brings every character to life with accents, tone and expression.
Thank you to the audio publisher, HarperCollins Focus for an audio copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is the second book by Aimie K. Runyan that I have read and I highly recommend it. Her writing is beautifully descriptive - particularly in relation to the idyllic French village of Saint-Colombe, the smells and tastes of the herbs, food and drink.
The audiobook is superbly narrated by Caroline Hewitt. The pace is perfect, allowing the story to flow and be understood by the listener. She beautifully brings every character to life with accents, tone and expression.
Thank you to the audio publisher, HarperCollins Focus for an audio copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This audiobook really entertained me while also letting me virtually live out my long held dream of buying a home in a village in France and growing herbs. (Seriously). I was going to just take a short listen and I got involved, then, when I did have to stop, couldn’t wait to find out what happened.
T’empesta Luddington has had more than her fair share of hardship. So when her father passes away and she learns she has the opportunity to take some time off—she smartly runs off to her late mother’s village in France! And there the magic begins. There’s so much heart, soul, smell, taste, and just pure Provence magic in this book. It’s a bumpy road—or, should I say, it’s a dusty, creaky road. But someone must do it, and I couldn’t help but hope that Tempesta was our woman. In a world that needs more gentle books, this is a page-turning charmer. Also, the audio hits all the right accents; it is equally well done.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a preview of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
T’empesta Luddington has had more than her fair share of hardship. So when her father passes away and she learns she has the opportunity to take some time off—she smartly runs off to her late mother’s village in France! And there the magic begins. There’s so much heart, soul, smell, taste, and just pure Provence magic in this book. It’s a bumpy road—or, should I say, it’s a dusty, creaky road. But someone must do it, and I couldn’t help but hope that Tempesta was our woman. In a world that needs more gentle books, this is a page-turning charmer. Also, the audio hits all the right accents; it is equally well done.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a preview of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.