Villa of Sun and Secrets by Jennifer Bohnet

 

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publishing Date: 8th August 2019

Source:  Received from the publisher via NetGalley, thank you!

Number of pages: 336

Genre: Romance, Women’s Fiction

 Buy the Book:  Kindle | Paperback

 

Synopsis:

It’s never too late to live the dream…

Carla Sullivan’s 50th birthday is fast approaching when her whole world is turned upside down. Discovering her feckless husband is having yet another affair and following her mother’s death, she is in need of an escape. Finding an envelope addressed to her mother’s estranged sister Josette in the South of France gives Carla the perfect plan.

Seizing the moment, she packs her bags and heads to Antibes to seek out the enigma known as Tante Josette. But as the two women begin to forge a tentative relationship, family secrets start to unravel, forcing Carla to question her life as she has always known it.

A heart-warming tale on the beautiful French Riviera, which will keep you guessing. From the bestselling author of Summer at Coastguard Cottages, The Little Kiosk by the Sea and Rosie’s Little Cafe on the Riviera. Perfect for the fans of Jill Mansell and Fern Britton.

Rating:

 

Carla Sullivan has just buried her mother and while clearing out her things, she discovers a letter from her Aunt Josette in France, an estranged twin sister of her mother. When she also discovers that her husband David, in spite of all his promises, has been cheating on her again, Carla decides to buy a ticket and travel to the South of France to visit her aunt. Because of the rift between the sisters Carla doesn’t know much about Josette and her life and she’s desperate to find out more about her, and maybe her family. What she doesn’t expect is that she’s going to open a Pandora box full of lies, secrets and heartache.

I would have really liked the characters more if they weren’t so overdone – they said and did all the right things in the right moments and solved one problem after another systematically and quickly, without big drama. They were either black or white, and I missed the shades of grey on them. Nevertheless, they were lovely described and there were life in all of them, they were not afraid to leave their comfort zones and adapted quickly to new conditions. Carla and Josette were strong and determined women, having courage for changes in every single moment of their lives.

There were, though, elements that couldn’t agree with me. The story started to feel too over – dramatic, but not in a positive way, it started to feel too far – fetched, it was not like reading a book but watching a soap – opera like “Dynasty”. The characters were so nice and kind and understanding that there came a moment that I thought I couldn’t take any more. I know we always want our characters to finally start to talk, but these here were simply talking too much, over – analyzing and discussing everything with each other, so no wonder that the story felt too repetitive, as we were getting a version of the same situation from almost every single character. There were no secrets, everything was in the open and the author didn’t keep me guessing.

The secrets have been revealed one after another, keeping the pace of the story on the right track and altogether, it was an easy, light and quick read, set in one of the most stunning places ever. I loved the setting of the south France that was so easily brought to life by the author. It was a story about fresh starts, finding your roots, discovering what is really important in your life. It was full of drama, secrets, loss, disappointment and hope.

The Little Kiosk by the Sea by Jennifer Bohnet / #BlogTour

Hi guys! I am starting into the new week with another blog tour, ta – dah! This one is celebrating the publication of Jennifer Bohnet’s “The Little Kiosk by the Sea” – a sweet, little book with a feel – good factor and many different characters.

The Little Kiosk by the Sea by Jennifer Bohnet

Publisher: HQ

Publishing Date: 15th June 2017

Source:  Received from the publisher in return for an honest review!

Number of pages: 288

Genre:  Women’s Fiction

 Buy the Book: Kindle | Paperback

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Time’s running out to save the little kiosk by the sea…

Sabine knows that if she doesn’t come up with a plan to save her little kiosk soon, it might be too late. If only her best friend Owen would stop distracting her with marriage proposals!

Harriet is returning to Dartmouth for the first time in thirty years, haunted by the scandal that drove her away and shocked by an inheritance that could change everything.

Rachel never expected to find love again after her world was shattered a year ago. But it seems as if the sleepy seaside town has different ideas…

One thing’s for sure, it’s a summer they will never forget!

Rating: 

This gorgeous cover was one of the things that made me attracted to “The Little Kiosk by the Sea”- it is so colourful and just beautiful, I love this blue, and it just screams summertime, don’t you think? After reading the synopsis I was hoping it’s going to be a story that will whisk me away to a warm, sunny place – did it?

Well, yes and no.

The characters were introduced to us as if they were not introduced, if you follow me. Their presence was just thrown at us, and having in mind there were six main characters it was, well, challenging. It felt as if the introduction of new characters will never stop but it did stop, of course, and what was great is the fact that I’ve never felt confused with who is who and why. At first there didn’t seem any connection between them, it felt so weird to have them all, popping out just out of the blue. There was not much depth to them, they were very straight – forward. It doesn’t mean they weren’t likeable, because they were, but I just couldn’t warm to them because I didn’t know what’s their role in this story should be. Each chapter was told from the different character’s point of view and yes, sometimes I had a feeling I am reading many different stories but eventually those stories started to interlink – however, the bringing of extra characters only to solve one of the subplots is not my favourite way. I just wanted more depth to the characters and the whole story and it would be brilliant!
There was nothing that would discompose the characters – no matter how shocking or surprising the news were, they just stayed cool as a cucumber – it was as if they didn’t have any feelings or emotions. I mean, so easily accept you have a nine – old – months baby that you have to take care of right at this moment? Discover that your aunt was a best – selling author, leaving your daughter almost one million pounds without batting an eye? It just felt weird, so very automatic and robotic, as if they really weren’t real people. The huge life changes were accepted just like this and it was all running so smoothly, nobody questioned anything and it just felt a little too unrealistic – but maybe sometimes it’s not bad when there is not so much drama, right? And it was actually nice to see how the characters rubbed along together, how they simply worked, and mostly they all wore their heart on the sleeves.
Time was passing between the chapters very quickly and without knowing it two or so months have been gone by. It just felt weird. There were so many subplots in this story that I had a feeling none of it is really deeply developed.

But altogether, it was a lovely, nice read that perhaps is not going to stay with me for a long time but it was good enough for me to spend some relaxing hours. The setting was beautiful, and the author truly vividly brought it to life. “The Little Kiosk by the Sea” was a lovely story about huge life changes, new opportunities and family relationships. And even with all those reservations I did enjoy this story. There was a lot of feelings in it, passion and hidden secrets, and this all written in a very easy, forthcoming writing style.

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