Publication Date: May 2013
Format: Ebook/Kindle 457 pages
Source: France Book Tours/Author
The Promise of Provence Synopsis
June in Provence is full of promise when Katherine arrives from Canada, eager to feel renewed by her surroundings. Endless rows of lavender prepare to burst into pink and purple blooms. Fields of sunflowers flow in golden waves among vineyards and olive groves overlooked by ancient hilltop villages. It’s the postcard setting she envisioned, but is that all she needs?
After a year of heartbreak, Katherine has impulsively agreed to a home exchange in the south of France. Colorful locals, a yellow lab named Picasso, and the inspiring beauty of the countryside breathe new life into her days.
Seeking to shed the pain of betrayal and loss, she struggles to recapture her joie de vivre and searches for the answer to a haunting question: is it too late to begin again?
The Promise of Provence takes the reader through a myriad of emotions and experiences and visual and sensory experiences as we travel from Canada to France. Katherine has had a major life changing experience in her mid fifties and her world has literally shifted after her husband shocks her with news of wanting a divorce. Katherine's life appeared happy and perfect to her at home and at work. In time, with the help of her family and friends, Katherine is able to make positive life changing decisions that bring about experiences in her life that are ever changing.
As a reader, the strongest parts of the book are the travels Katherine takes through Provence and other parts of France. As Katherine faces her deepest fears of being alone she finds she is truly not alone and the world opens up to her. The scenes of the fields of Provence, the villages, vineyards, markets and coastal towns made me want to be right there alongside Katherine. As a reader, these scenes were the strongest for me as I could imagine them and visualize them in my mind as I read. I have not been to Provence, although I yearn to go there now! I have been to Paris and have beautiful memories and would love to go back.
Katherine learns to love, experience life and open herself up to the beauty surrounding her in the world. She must take chances as she chooses to use a home exchange program to live in Provence which opens up another opportunity for another home exchange in France. She has to face loss, learn to be independent, and to trust again.
This is truly a beautiful novel with the settings in France and travels that we are taken through as a reader. I highly recommend The Promise of Provence for those who like to travel, or armchair travel as I did. I also recommend this book for those who enjoy a strong story about a woman finding herself and her independence as well as friendships and a touch of romance!
The author, has a surprise at the end for readers to be personally involved in finding out more about Katherine this fall. I found this a very fun & unique idea and was excited to participate in the experience...we do have to wait until fall but it will be worth the wait!!
Author bio:
Patricia Sands lives in Toronto, Canada, when she isn’t somewhere else. An admitted travel fanatic, she can pack a bag in a flash and be ready to go anywhere … particularly the south of France. With a focus on women’s issues and ageing, her stories celebrate the feminine spirit and the power of friendship. Encouraging women of all ages to stare down the fear factor and embrace change, she has heard from readers ages 20 to 83.
Her award-winning debut novel The Bridge Club was published in 2010.
Her second novel, The Promise of Provence is an Amazon Hot New Release as of April 2013.
Pop in to visit her at:
Please leave a comment below to be entered and make sure to leave your email address so that I can contact the winner.
Giveaway ends July 15, 2013
© Copyright 2013- All Rights Reserved
A good storyline that I would like to read and thanks for the chance to win.
ReplyDeletecenya2 at Hotmail dot com
a wonderful posting...would love to read this story...thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeletekarenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com
Thanks for the giveaway , and wonderful review. Looks like a delightful read! The cover is beautiful also!
ReplyDeleteSorry forgot! fordycep at yahoo dot com
Deletethanks for your great review, looks like we are all ready to go there!
ReplyDeletethis is a lovely giveaway. Thanks for this chance and the lovely post today. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteYour review was excellent and captivated my interest. Thanks. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI am reading in France this month so this one looks good :)
ReplyDeleteoh, and please enter me ion the giveaway :) stacybooks at yahoo
ReplyDeleteI would love to read this book. It sounds really good.
ReplyDeleteLoved your review and this sounds like a storyline I would love.
ReplyDeletelag110 at mchsi dot com
Thanks for the giveaway! I enjoyed the book, as well, and look forward to reading The Bridge Club.
ReplyDeletemy email! netty1001@gmail.com - thanks!
DeleteThanks for your lovely review and for participating in the book tour. It's a pleasure to be featured on your impressive website and, of course, I'm delighted you enjoyed the story!
ReplyDeleteI love the cover art, it really captures the spirt of that area
ReplyDeletefencingromein at hotmail dot com
I'd love to read this one, it's probably the only way I'll experience France. Thanks for the great review.
ReplyDeletevalleyreader(at)gmail(dot)com
Sounds like a good read; enter me please!
ReplyDeletenomfreebies at hotmail dot com
You know I love anything France so this is on my wishlist!
ReplyDeleteEnter me please!
ReplyDeleteada.gherkin07 at gmail dot com
I saw a review for this book somewhere else too, and it looks like a great read! You should look in to “One American Woman Fifty Italian Men” by Lynne Ashdown, http://lynneashdown.com/. I'm reading it right now and I can't put it down! I'm considering this a sign and I'm putting this on my to read list for this summer!
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