Escape to the Little French Cafe
Karen Clarke
Rating: 5 stars
On the beautiful French coast lies the Cafe Belle Vie, a peaceful haven offering a warm welcome and delicious pains au chocolat - and where Natalie's quiet life is about to be turned upside down...
When thirty-one-year-old Natalie Bright's boyfriend dumps her and immediately gets engaged to his ex-girlfriend, she escapes her heartbreak and moves to the charming village of Chamillon on the Ile de Re.
She's determined to build a new life there: writing about farmer's markets for a local magazine, exploring the local vineyards on her bike, and taking advantage of the sunshine. And in the Cafe Belle Vie she finds a bustling community - including new best friend Charlie - and a near-constant supply of cakes.
All in all, things are looking pretty good.
So when a blast from the past - her teenage crush Jay Merino - turns up in Chamillon, Natalie's thrown. She's sworn off men ever since she moved to France, but she and Jay have a connection that stretches back years.
But could taking a chance on an old flame complete her new life - or ruin everything she's worked so hard for?
A gorgeous rom com full of sunshine, croissants and sparkling romance! Perfect for fans of Debbie Johnson, Zara Stoneley and Debbie Macomber.
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I have always loved Karen Clarke's novels. They're heartwarming, easy to read and overall just a really enjoyable, happy read. This one was no different to her other novels. I have really enjoyed Karen's other series' such as The Seashell Cove series and also The Beachside Bay series and was really looking forward to reading this one. I believe this is her first novel which is set abroad (which I'm aware of anyway) but I was excited to see where she would take it and how it would be. I'm not sure if this would be a series but if it is, I'd love to read more!
The cover is equally as eye-catching and as beautiful as her others. I love the bold red and blue colours, they really stand out and draw you in. The little checked table cloth and the little Westie in his striped top are also really cute! And I really enjoy the sea in the background, really making you feel in holiday-mode.
Natalie is our main character and she has moved to France to live with her dad after suffering a bad heartbreak and needing some space to get her head and heart back together. Whilst living there, she has secured a job as a journalist for an ex-pat magazine, which she publishes an article for. However, Natalie doesn't feel fulfilled with her job and longs to work at Magnifique, an extremely popular magazine but feels like she never has the opportunity to show her writing to the famous Editor. When famous but extremely shy and reserved actor Jay Merino comes to the island to film his latest blockbuster, Natalie jumps at the chance to try and get an interview with him. She does slightly, only a little bit, not really, know him from quite a few years ago and he did promise her an interview after all!
When Jay Merino agrees Natalie is over the moon, and the pair soon grow close as they get to know one another, but when sensitive details from the interview come to light before it is even released, Jay and Natalie's relationship seems over for good. Natalie is obviously devastated as she realises she liked him a whole lot more than she originally thought. She has no idea how she's going to make this right but she makes it her mission to make it up to Jay and to prove it wasn't her that released the interview. As the story goes on, there are quite a few shocks but ones that will leave you on the edge of your seat, longing to find out more!
At the start of this novel, I was a little bit apprehensive as to how this novel was going to go. I really thought that Natalie would fall for best friend Charlie's charms but throughout the book it's a bit hazy as to how it will end., when Jay entered the story it came a bit clearer though! However it was a great novel and the ending was beautiful and heartwarming! I absolutely adored this novel and was so sad when it finished. The French setting sounded idyllic and soon had me wanting to visit the island, and the characters all seemed really warm and lovely! Overall, would 110% recommend this novel for anyone who wants a bit of lighthearted reading. Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read this novel via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly.
I have always loved Karen Clarke's novels. They're heartwarming, easy to read and overall just a really enjoyable, happy read. This one was no different to her other novels. I have really enjoyed Karen's other series' such as The Seashell Cove series and also The Beachside Bay series and was really looking forward to reading this one. I believe this is her first novel which is set abroad (which I'm aware of anyway) but I was excited to see where she would take it and how it would be. I'm not sure if this would be a series but if it is, I'd love to read more!
The cover is equally as eye-catching and as beautiful as her others. I love the bold red and blue colours, they really stand out and draw you in. The little checked table cloth and the little Westie in his striped top are also really cute! And I really enjoy the sea in the background, really making you feel in holiday-mode.
Natalie is our main character and she has moved to France to live with her dad after suffering a bad heartbreak and needing some space to get her head and heart back together. Whilst living there, she has secured a job as a journalist for an ex-pat magazine, which she publishes an article for. However, Natalie doesn't feel fulfilled with her job and longs to work at Magnifique, an extremely popular magazine but feels like she never has the opportunity to show her writing to the famous Editor. When famous but extremely shy and reserved actor Jay Merino comes to the island to film his latest blockbuster, Natalie jumps at the chance to try and get an interview with him. She does slightly, only a little bit, not really, know him from quite a few years ago and he did promise her an interview after all!
When Jay Merino agrees Natalie is over the moon, and the pair soon grow close as they get to know one another, but when sensitive details from the interview come to light before it is even released, Jay and Natalie's relationship seems over for good. Natalie is obviously devastated as she realises she liked him a whole lot more than she originally thought. She has no idea how she's going to make this right but she makes it her mission to make it up to Jay and to prove it wasn't her that released the interview. As the story goes on, there are quite a few shocks but ones that will leave you on the edge of your seat, longing to find out more!
At the start of this novel, I was a little bit apprehensive as to how this novel was going to go. I really thought that Natalie would fall for best friend Charlie's charms but throughout the book it's a bit hazy as to how it will end., when Jay entered the story it came a bit clearer though! However it was a great novel and the ending was beautiful and heartwarming! I absolutely adored this novel and was so sad when it finished. The French setting sounded idyllic and soon had me wanting to visit the island, and the characters all seemed really warm and lovely! Overall, would 110% recommend this novel for anyone who wants a bit of lighthearted reading. Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read this novel via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly.
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