Author: Lucy Coleman
Format reviewed: Ebook
Source: Netgalley
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Publication Date: 7th April 2020
Rating: 5 Stars
Is a change as good as a rest?
When married couple Fern and Aiden have a windfall, their reactions could not be more different. While Fern is content to pay off their mortgage and build a nest egg before starting a family, her husband is set on traveling the world.
Fern’s not much of a back-packer so, before she knows it, the idea of a ‘marriage gap year’ takes shape. And, as Aiden heads off to the wilds of Australia, Fern chooses the more restful Provence for her year out.
Set amidst the glorious French scenery, Château de Vernon offers a retreat from the hustle and bustle of normal life, and Fern agrees to help out in return for painting lessons from the owner – renowned, but rather troubled, painter Nico.
As their year unfolds in very different ways, will the time apart transform their marriage, or will it drive Fern and Aiden even further apart…
Let Lucy Coleman whisk you off on a heart-warming, sun-drenched and magical French adventure.
When married couple Fern and Aiden have a windfall, their reactions could not be more different. While Fern is content to pay off their mortgage and build a nest egg before starting a family, her husband is set on traveling the world.
Fern’s not much of a back-packer so, before she knows it, the idea of a ‘marriage gap year’ takes shape. And, as Aiden heads off to the wilds of Australia, Fern chooses the more restful Provence for her year out.
Set amidst the glorious French scenery, Château de Vernon offers a retreat from the hustle and bustle of normal life, and Fern agrees to help out in return for painting lessons from the owner – renowned, but rather troubled, painter Nico.
As their year unfolds in very different ways, will the time apart transform their marriage, or will it drive Fern and Aiden even further apart…
Let Lucy Coleman whisk you off on a heart-warming, sun-drenched and magical French adventure.
Please can I move to Provence and live at The Haven? I'm utterly enchanted with the setting of this book, a Chateau in Provence which offers various retreats and a chance to learn new creative skills, or start a new hobby. It offers volunteer positions too, and everyone that lives and works there has a real community and family dynamic. It sounded like a marvellous way of life.
It was a brave decision that after having a decent lottery win that Aiden and Fern decide to take a year out of their regular lives. Aiden has always wanted to travel and explore the world, where Fern is more of a homebody, happy worrying about her family and being there for them continually.
But once she reluctantly agrees to let Aiden spread his wings, she decides to indulge in a forgotten love of drawing and thus goes to volunteer at this retreat. What neither of them could have predicted is in what ways a year apart would change them both.
From the moment Fern sets foot in the Chateau and we meet who she will be spending time with, I felt incredibly relaxed, very comfortable and was just happy to sit back and absorb myself within the pages.
It is a fabulous cast of characters and the story lines were so engaging. I loved Nico and his backstory, I enjoyed seeing Kellie come out of her shell, I enjoyed seeing how Fern's relationship with her family changed the more time she spent in Provence.
And the grounds, and sights even just around the Chateau were vividly described, as were some of Nico and Fern's paintings. I could picture the studio and some of the various canvases. It felt as though there is something for everyone within this feel good story.
I felt incredibly peaceful as I was reading, was gutted when it ended as I was so enraptured, but the way Lucy Coleman finished it all off, was rather special and felt like we had almost bonus material from the DVD.. which will make more sense once you read it yourself!
Another truly wonderful book from this author that always manages to make me smile.
Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily,
It was a brave decision that after having a decent lottery win that Aiden and Fern decide to take a year out of their regular lives. Aiden has always wanted to travel and explore the world, where Fern is more of a homebody, happy worrying about her family and being there for them continually.
But once she reluctantly agrees to let Aiden spread his wings, she decides to indulge in a forgotten love of drawing and thus goes to volunteer at this retreat. What neither of them could have predicted is in what ways a year apart would change them both.
From the moment Fern sets foot in the Chateau and we meet who she will be spending time with, I felt incredibly relaxed, very comfortable and was just happy to sit back and absorb myself within the pages.
It is a fabulous cast of characters and the story lines were so engaging. I loved Nico and his backstory, I enjoyed seeing Kellie come out of her shell, I enjoyed seeing how Fern's relationship with her family changed the more time she spent in Provence.
And the grounds, and sights even just around the Chateau were vividly described, as were some of Nico and Fern's paintings. I could picture the studio and some of the various canvases. It felt as though there is something for everyone within this feel good story.
I felt incredibly peaceful as I was reading, was gutted when it ended as I was so enraptured, but the way Lucy Coleman finished it all off, was rather special and felt like we had almost bonus material from the DVD.. which will make more sense once you read it yourself!
Another truly wonderful book from this author that always manages to make me smile.
Thank you to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily,
A huge thank you, Rachel, for your beautiful review and for yet another fabulous book tour - so appreciated! xx
ReplyDelete