Summer At The French Caf

‘Unputdownable... A perfect summer holiday read’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review Sparkling sun, strolls in the gorgeous French countryside, that first sip of cool, crisp wine – Summer is Kat’s favourite season. And this year should be no exception...

In the beautiful village of Chamillon lies the Café Belle Vie, where you’ll always find croissants and friends when you need them the most – and where Elle is hoping to uncover the truth about her past… Thirty-year-old Elle Matheson has decided it’s finally time to find the mother who gave her up as a baby. With a faded postcard from the Café Belle Vie in hand – one of the very few things she has from her mother – she heads straight to the Île de Ré to begin her search. With only the postcard and the ivory shawl she was wrapped in as clues, finding her mum is like trying to find a needle in a haystack, even with the help of friendly – and gorgeous – café-owner Charlie. And since Elle hasn’t exactly told her younger sister what she’s up to, the little white lies about where she is are starting to add up… But Elle is really starting to feel at home on the beautiful island. The locals are welcoming, the café is homely, and Charlie is always there with a helping hand, a listening ear, and a pain au chocolat. Is Elle about to discover not just where she came from – but where she belongs? A hilarious rom com perfect for reading in the sunshine! Fans of Debbie Johnson, Zara Stoneley and Debbie Macomber will love Karen Clarke! Readers are loving Summer at the Little French Café! ‘I was hooked in really quickly into the wonderful, summery book, and read it in a few short hours… I loved every moment of this delightful book and there was even a mystery that had me stumped but equally eager to find out the outcome. This was a pure pleasure to read.’ Rachel’s Random Reads, 5 stars ‘A fabulous sunny, summery read that sparkles and delights. I was engrossed in this lovely story from page one. Lovely imagery and a really pretty cover, a must read for the beach!’ NetGalley Reviewer, 5 stars ‘You can’t help but kept swept away… The added aspect of it all being set in France was just the icing on the top of an already scrumptious story… a wonderful and entertaining read.’ By the Letter Book Reviews, 5 stars ‘So summery and inviting – I couldn't wait to dive in!... The story moves quickly, with Karen’s usual humour, which makes the pages fly by… Enjoyable and fills you with happiness… fell in love with the location of the novel and the characters.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars ‘Has everything: fantastic characters, a great storyline, beautiful scenery, and it will leave you smiling from ear to ear and feeling good and happy. Loved it.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars ‘Perfect summer read, with great characters, beautifully described scenery and a story that will have you glued to the page. Really enjoyed this book.’ Goodreads Reviewer ‘Just amazing and that hit the right spot with me… a joy to read… fooled me with her love choice for the heroine and it was quite a twist.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars ‘A really sweet quick read. I was hooked straight away… Perfect for fans of Katie Fforde and Debbie Macomber.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars ‘A really lovely feel-good book which leaves you with a smile on your face… a huge host of delightful characters in this book and the descriptions of Chamillon will leave you wanting to visit… Loved it. A perfect feel-good summer book.’ NetGalley Reviewer, 5 stars ‘I can't stop smiling… absolutely delightful!... Quirky, engaging characters that I missed as soon as the book ended… a great choice for a beach read.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars

On the beautiful French coast lies the Café 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 Île de Ré. 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 Café 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 – suddenly 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. What readers are saying about Escape to the Little French Café: ‘Oh I did laugh!! I absolutely bloomin' LOVED reading this… Such an uplifting, cosy novel which will make your heart leap with joy.’ The Writing Garnet ‘So many laugh-out-loud moments that I lost count of them and the story reeled me in from the very first page! I became so absorbed within the storyline that I forgot where I was… Grab yourself a little bit of romantic escapism to France… You won’t regret it!’ Stardust Book Reviews ‘Pulled me in from the opening paragraph and held my attention until the concluding page – I loved every moment… The perfect romantic pick me up with plenty of humour and comedy thrown in for good measure… I couldn't recommend it more.’ Stacy is Reading ‘Perfect and laugh-out-loud funny. Brilliantly written. I enjoyed every minute of it. If you need a pick me up this is the book you need, guaranteed giggles throughout… I actually devoured this book in a day… Highly recommended. Full of fun, giggles and romance.’ Between the Pages Book Club ‘I was hooked from the beginning of the story… I laughed out loud, cried… This story has it all, and in the end, I have a smile on my face! Thoroughly loved this story!’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars ‘I snort laughed… Hilarious.’ Smile Love Read Repeat ‘5 Stars. Wow, this book has everything. Romance, friendship, second chances and drama. I could not put the book down!’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars ‘Fantastic… A lovely and captivating romance that I found very entertaining… This is definitely one not to miss this summer. Be warned once started it is hard to put down.’ Chellsandbooks, 5 stars ‘Heart-warming, easy to read and overall just a really enjoyable, happy read… I absolutely adored this novel and was so sad when it finished… Overall, would 110% recommend this novel.’ The Cosiest Corner, 5 stars ‘Had me smiling, laughing, mouth open… and kept me wanting to read more… I stayed up way past my bed time because I didn’t want to put it down…’ Kasia the Book Nerd ‘A real page-turner. I read this book in one sitting and the hours just flew by!’ NetGalley reviewer

TALES OF THE COCKTAIL SPIRITED AWARD® WINNER • IACP AWARD FINALIST • The New York Times bestselling author of My Paris Kitchen serves up more than 160 recipes for trendy cocktails, quintessential apéritifs, café favorites, complementary snacks, and more. Bestselling cookbook author, memoirist, and popular blogger David Lebovitz delves into the drinking culture of France in Drinking French. This beautifully photographed collection features 160 recipes for everything from coffee, hot chocolate, and tea to Kir and regional apéritifs, classic and modern cocktails from the hottest Paris bars, and creative infusions using fresh fruit and French liqueurs. And because the French can't imagine drinking without having something to eat alongside, David includes crispy, salty snacks to serve with your concoctions. Each recipe is accompanied by David's witty and informative stories about the ins and outs of life in France, as well as photographs taken on location in Paris and beyond. Whether you have a trip to France booked and want to know what and where to drink, or just want to infuse your next get-together with a little French flair, this rich and revealing guide will make you the toast of the town.

This first book about the famous Select Cafe in Paris' richly illustrated with the faces of its patrons' gives a unique glimpse into the daily rhythm and social and intellectual life of a literary cafe. Here is an intimate view - - in word and image - - of its waiters and artist patrons' enabling one to understand the importance of cafe life - - that third great place of every Parisian or would - be Parisian. See here the famous Montparnasse cafe that has been so vital to Paris life for nearly nine decades; from Hemingway' Beauvoir' Picasso' James Baldwin' and George Plimpton to the writers and artists who continue to work quietly here in the back room and meet their friends late in the day for drinks. The artists have their work on the walls' the novelists include the cafe setting in their fiction. The quiet and drama of the Select world illustrates the centrality of cafes - - particularly this one - - to Parisian social' cultural' and intellectual life. The book gives narrative introductions and witty drawings of cafe clientele and staff and is organized through a history of the Select cafe' its daily and seasonal rhythms' particular colorful clientele' and a few of its typical cafe/brasserie food (including a few recipes).

Selected from 15 years of radio-show archives and re-edited by the author, this onderfully eclectic essay collection gives a glimpse into the thoughtful mind at work behind The Vinyl Cafe. From meditations on peacekeeping to praise for the toothpick, The Vinyl Cafe Notebooks runs the gamut from considered argument to light-hearted opinion. Whether McLean is visiting a forgotten corner of the Canadian Shield, a big-city doughnut factory, or Sir John A. Macdonald's gravesite, his observations are absorbing, unexpected, and original. With thought-provoking proposals about the world we live in and introductions to the people he meets in his extensive travels across our country, The Vinyl Cafe Notebooks is informed by McLean's intimate relationship with Canada and Canadians. Yet the collection is also an intriguing look at the writer himself—his past, his present, and his vision of the future. Sometimes funny, often wise, and always entertaining, The Vinyl Cafe Notebooks is sure to provide a wealth of reading pleasure that fans will return to again and again.

Over the years, Boston has been one of America's leading laboratories of urban culture, including restaurants, and Boston history provides valuable insights into American food ways. James C. O'Connell, in this fascinating look at more than two centuries of culinary trends in Boston restaurants, presents a rich and hitherto unexplored side to the city's past. Dining Out in Boston shows that the city was a pioneer in elaborate hotel dining, oyster houses, French cuisine, student hangouts, ice cream parlors, the twentieth-century revival of traditional New England dishes, and contemporary locavore and trendy foodie culture. In these stories of the most-beloved Boston restaurants of yesterday and today - illustrated with an extensive collection of historic menus, postcards, and photos - O'Connell reveals a unique history sure to whet the intellectual and nostalgic appetite of Bostonians and restaurant-goers the world over.

Escape to the French coast this summer with Jennifer Bohnet’s deliciously uplifting read. A summer of taking chances! Rosie Hewitt’s dream of opening a little French café on the Riviera is finally coming true. She’s giving up on love and instead chasing her own perfect recipe for happiness...