Welcome to another Weekend Read. My featured book this week is the heartwarming romance novel New Chapters on the French Riveria by Jennifer Bohnet. Grab yourself a cuppa, get cosy and let’s find out more about the book and the author.
Blurb
Can a talented chef and a group of writers rediscover joy—and perhaps even create new beginnings?
Eight months after suddenly closing its doors, Michelin-starred chef and Villa Celestia proprietor Guy Lyon is almost ready to begin again. When his friend Sandy Thoreau asks to rent the villa on the French Riviera for a last-minute women’s writing retreat, Guy reluctantly agrees.
As Villa Celestia reopens, Guy is swept into the orbit of an eclectic group of writers. Helena and her friend Mandy are tackling their debut novels, Isobel is polishing a cosy crime novel, Liz hopes to reignite her creativity, self-published Lorraine seeks guidance, and Becky… well, Becky plays by her own rules.
Amid sun-drenched days, shared meals, and creative breakthroughs, friendships flourish and unexpected connections form. Together, they discover fresh inspiration, bold new directions, and the courage to turn the page.
An uplifting, escapist journey to the South of France, full of warmth, possibility, and new beginnings.
Praise for Jennifer Bohnet:
‘With an idyllic French Riviera backdrop and a heartfelt story of second chances, romantic love and the importance of family – joyously uplifting.’ – Kate Frost
‘Unputdownable, a heart-warming story of love, family and friendship in the glorious south of France. What’s not to love!’ – Lucy Coleman
‘I couldn’t stop myself from turning the pages and read it in one sitting. I absolutely loved it. Highly recommended!’ – Alison Sherlock
A beautifully written and heart-warming tale of family and friendship’ – Jessica Redland
Prologue
NEW CHAPTERS ON THE FRENCH RIVIERA
PROLOGUE
Up on the roof terrace of his home, Villa Celestia in Antibes, Guy Lyon, former Chef Extraordinaire and the darling of influencers and content creators, sipped his glass of Château Margaux 2023 and aimlessly watched the moon’s reflection on the dancing waves of the Mediterranean. The intense fruit flavour of the wine was wasted on Guy this evening, he barely registered the rich complex taste of black and red fruits as he swallowed. He really shouldn’t have opened another expensive bottle from the cellar.
There should be thoughts about the future going round in his head, decisions being made, but his mind had been a black void of nothingness about the future for the past eight months. Impossible to shake it into consciousness even if he wanted to. Which he didn’t. That would mean facing up to things, picking up his responsibilities and being an adult again doing things, living life, when all he wanted to do was sit up here, sip wine and let it all pass him by.
A burst of fireworks lit up the sky along the coast to the west. Close enough to be seen, far enough away to soften the noise of the exploding gun powder and impossible to smell the sulphur drifting in the night air. Summer down here on the Riviera went hand in hand with weekly firework displays competing for prizes all along the coast. Twenty minutes later Guy sighed as the last of the current pyro-technical display faded away. He knew that this particular fireworks display on the Friday of the Easter weekend signalled the beginning of a relentless merry-go-round for the next few months involving anyone in the catering industry. Easter was early this year, the last week of March when hotels, bars, cafes, restaurants, AirBnB’s, sandwich bars, pizza makers, ice-cream sellers, all geared up for a busy holiday season.
Guy picked up the bottle at his side and poured the last of the self-indulgent wine into his glass. This year he had no intention of jumping on the merry-go-round. Villa Celestia was not opening her doors this year to the public. They could all just …… just go away. He had had enough.
If, like me, you’re eager to know what happens next, you can buy a copy of the book here:
About Jennifer
Author bio
Jennifer Bohnet is the international bestselling author of twenty-three novels, including ”Secrets Beneath A Riviera Sky’,’A French Inheritance’, ‘Villa of Sun and Secrets’, ‘A French Affair,’ and ‘High Tides and Summer Skies.’ The south of England and France are often the setting for her books. Stories usually span the generations with characters ranging in age and having to cope with unexpected problems in their lives – but there is always a hopeful ending, even if there are tears before.
Contact links
More of Jennifer’s books
Karen King 