Fans of Lucy Coleman, Phillipa Ashley and Sarah Morgan won't want to miss this heartwarmingly feel-good novel set in the idyllic French countryside, where two people are swept up in a summer of unexpected romance. Can a summer trip to France turn into a second chance at love? Between getting over a bad breakup and losing her mum, Fran is ready to put the past year behind her. So when she's offered the chance to tour the world's finest hotels as a secret shopper, she can't pack her bags fast enough. Arriving at her next destination in the Loire Valley, an unexpected mix-up suddenly sees Fran becoming the newest employee of Chateau les Champs d'Or. Fran isn't afraid to get stuck in, but running into handsome guest, Johnny, was never part of the plan. There to do a job, she knows she should keep her distance from him - especially when Johnny's nursing his own heartache. But despite her best efforts, he somehow manages to come to her rescue at every turn, making it harder to resist his company. Under the glistening French sun, Fran starts to discover just who the real Johnny is behind that gruff exterior, a man she's already losing her heart to. The problem is, she's set to leave in a week, and he's been badly burned by love before. Will Fran risk it all for a shot at happily ever after, or will their time together forever remain a holiday romance? Readers are LOVING Escape to the French Chateau: 'From the minute I opened this book the characters are just unforgettable, unputdownable and after all who doesn't love books set in France? They are my weakness and I wanted to keep on reading Fran's story right to the end' 'This is the perfect summer book! Travel, French countryside, wine, love, a variety of relationships, and a couple you'll be rooting for!' 'From the start, I could not put the book down. It had a cast of characters and a lovely storyline... This is a perfect read for the summer' 'I loved this book. A great summer holiday read. Beautiful setting, interesting characters and a page-turning plot' 'Entertaining and delightful... The scenery is lovely and the description of the surrounding area and the chateau make you feel part of the story... Well done Rachel Barnett for a brilliant summer story' 'I really enjoyed this book and got so involved that I didn't want it to end. Loved the descriptions and the characters'

Click buy: a French chateau. Condition: ‘may require improvement’... It seemed like a good idea. Selling everything we owned. Just Mark and me, swapping our tiny, little, terraced London home – and the heartbreak of not being able to start a family – for an entire chateau in the middle of France... It’s everyone’s dream. And now it’s coming true for us. As I use the rusty key to open the big, creaking wooden door of the tumbledown fairytale chateau that’s officially our new home, I wonder: what could possibly go wrong? Little do I know that the answer is going to be... ‘everything’. I don’t speak nearly as much French as I should yet, but I feel like there’s no mistaking the villagers’ hostility. Nor the look of shock on the builder’s face when he sees the roof. Can our marriage survive this adventure? With all the tumbling masonry, will we? As the French sun blazes overhead, one thing’s for sure: it’s going to be a year to remember... A gorgeously escapist read from the bestselling author of A Year at the French Farmhouse and A Month in Provence. Perfect for fans of Veronica Henry, Jo Thomas and Jennifer Bohnet. Readers are loving Gillian Harvey! ‘A touching story about finding the strength you didn’t know you had. Warm, funny and downright wonderful. I loved it’ Nicola Gill ‘If you’re planning to buy a ramshackle chateau in France and you enjoy engaging, highly readable fiction, this is the book for you. And if you have no chateau plans, you can still live the adrenalin-filled experience on every page of Gillian Harvey's latest novel!’ Sue Teddern ‘A heartwarming story of a couple restoring a French chateau with plenty of surprises along the way and some laugh out loud moments – loved it!’ Catherine Cooper ‘There’s nothing like a book where the main character gets to change her life dramatically to get my attention!... Warm and wonderful... Really relatable and lovely and made me want to jump right in... Definitely an uplifting, heartwarming, escapist novel to be read with a DO NOT DISTURB sign, because once you start that very first page, you are not going to want to put it down’ Kim Nash 'As delightful as it is moving – a true gem of a novel... enchanting, wise and wonderfully uplifting' Isabelle Broom 'Uplifting, feel-good and hilarious... for anyone who has ever had their heart broken. This is escapism at its best. Every page felt like I was on holiday with my best friends. Gillian has done it again!' Tim Ewins

The BRAND NEW gorgeous, escapist romantic read from Jennifer Bohnet for 2024 A fresh start in the beautiful Brittany countryside is what dreams are made of... Buying and relocating to the Château du Cheval in rural France has fulfilled one of Peter and Ingrid Chevalier’s lifelong ambitions. Despite never being able to trace a missing link in Peter’s French ancestry he feels he has finally come home. Now they must renovate the Château to its former glory and make it pay for itself... With money getting tight, they take the decision to sell a couple of cottages on the estate. Can the Château begin to pay for itself and be sustainable for the future? Divorced Sasha Heath and her brother Freddie decide to sensibly invest their mother’s inheritance into property and buy the two rundown cottages on the Château’s estate. Putting the past behind them, a new life in France beckons, but will it live up to their dreams? As they relax and settle into their new idyllic lifestyle, their new lives throw up several surprises, and all they can do is cross their fingers and hope everything will turn out well in the end. An uplifting tale of new adventures and second chances. Perfect for the fans of Jill Mansell and Fern Britton. Praise for Jennifer Bohnet '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 'There is much joy in this story, tempered with some bittersweet memories, but I can promise that you’ll be left feeling both joyous and uplifted. Highly recommended.' - Reader Review 'No surprises here. Just two sweet romances in a dream-come-true story. Not soppy sweet, just charmingly so. Perfect for a rainy day on the couch or a sunny day on a patio.' - Reader Review 'I absolutely love Jennifer’s stories, the characters and storyline’s are superb and she always leaves us wanting more.' - Reader Review ' I couldn't put it down it's definitely a page turner.' - Reader Review 'What a lovely, happy story. Full of the ups and downs of life, but with a happy ending full of love and promise . Thank you.' - Reader Review

“With plenty of ups and downs, romance and friendship, the incomparable beauty of rural France . . . [it] is amazing in every possible way.” —Books of All Kinds It’s fair to say that Flick has had a terrible year. Her beloved father died, she had the wedding of her dreams and only hours after the ceremony her husband ran out on her. Brenda, fed up with her daughter living like a hermit, decides to drag Flick off to France to stay in a chateau. What could be better than an idyllic escape? But when they arrive Flick discovers the chateau is all but abandoned. The only upside of her French escape is the handsome and mysterious neighbour, Nate. Nate loves his life living in the cottage on the grounds of the abandoned chateau but that is about to be put in jeopardy . . . Can Nate and Flick ever learn to come to terms with the past and find love again? “A fabulously fun and uplifting read. Loved it.” —By the Letter Book Reviews “It has everything you could possibly need, princess castles, boy and girl romance as well as a devious mum.” —The P. Turners Book Blog “This book is a complete delight to read—the author has a brilliant writing style that I find addictive.” —Donna’s Book Blog

Ella moved to Paris on a whim - and found happily ever after. But after six months of romantic bliss, living with her French boyfriend, cheesemonger Serge, Ella's new life is thrown off course. An unplanned pregnancy doesn't seem too bad, until Serge unexpectedly decides to move their growing family to a goat farm in the Loire Valley, without consulting Ella. Can Ella and Serge's relationship survive their relocation to the depths of the French countryside? A heart-warming and joyful romance, for fans of Jenny Colgan, Lucy Diamond and Sophie Kinsella

'Chase your dreams and follow your heart! I loved it!' Heidi Swain Escape to France with this warm, witty romantic read. After ten years of loyal service Lily Butterworth has been made redundant. Like any clever woman, she knows the cure to redundancy is a little too much wine and her best friend. Only the next morning, Lily has more than a hangover . . . she has a whole new house – in France! Seeing this as an opportunity instead of a disaster, she’s excited about finally moving to France, just as she and her husband always dreamed of. However, Lily is in for another surprise. Despite planning to move there for over 20 years, her husband never actually intended to go. So begins a year in France, alone, renovating the gorgeous old farmhouse that is held together by wallpaper and wishes. Will a year at the French farmhouse be just what Lily needs? Or could it be the previous owner, Frederique, that is the answer to Lily’s dreams? 'A gorgeous escapist story of second chances. I loved it’ Alex Brown 'Unputdownable. A Year At The French Farmhouse is the ultimate feel good novel. I was right there with the characters, soaking up the atmosphere, rooting for Lily and willing for everything to turn out right.' Paula Greenlees ‘The perfect feel-good read. Uplifting, touching and really quite hilarious. It’s like going on holiday without leaving the house’ Tim Ewins

'You smell the lavender, you feel the sun on your face, this book is pure joy!' Katie Fforde 'Uplifting and full of warmth, this novel is the next best thing to jetting off to France on a relaxing break away.' My Weekly Can Del find her recipe for happiness? Del and her husband Ollie moved to a beautiful village in Provence for a fresh start after years of infertility struggles. But six weeks after they arrive, they’re packing the removal van once more. As Del watches the van leave for England, she suddenly realises exactly what will make her happier...a new life in France – without Ollie. Now alone, all Del has is a crumbling farmhouse, a mortgage to pay and a few lavender plants. What on earth is she going to do? After discovering an old recipe book at the market run by the rather attractive Fabian, Del starts to bake. But can her new-found passion really help her let go of the past and lead to true happiness? A heart-warming tale about reclaiming your life, set amongst the lavender fields of Provence. Perfect escapism from the author of Late Summer in the Vineyard and The Honey Farm on the Hill. -------------------------------------------------- Readers are falling in love with Escape to the French Farmhouse ‘It’s simply amazing . . . has you hooked and makes you feel are in the sunshine in France.’ ‘A refreshing, feel-good story, just perfect for sitting and reading in the sun.’ ‘A love story at its best. You can smell the lavender.’

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection When Rylan's best friend ditches him for the cool kids, Rylan thinks a summer spent working on a French farm will be the perfect chance to reconnect. But he doesn't count on his long-lost father showing up. This funny, touching novel is perfect for fans of Gary D. Schmidt and John David Anderson. Rylan O’Hare has been drifting apart from his best friend, Wilder, for months. Wilder's family became mega-rich when his mom invented an app that reminds people to drink water, and now he barely has time for Rylan. So when Wilder invites Rylan to join him at a summer farming program in France (all expenses paid), Rylan see it as a chance to repair the friendship. Not only that, but he'll get to learn French, milk goats, and eat lots (and lots) of cheese. But before they take off, Rylan's mom drops a bomb: His dad (whom he hasn't spoken to since he was three) lives in France, too, and he wants to meet. Between being swarmed by bees, pooped on by pigeons, and sprayed with goat milk, Rylan's great French escape isn't quite what he thought it would be. Even worse, Wilder ditches him for some cool French kids he meets along the way. And Rylan still can't decide whether or not he should actually meet his father. But somewhere in all the chaos, Rylan begins to find his way, and he realizes that sometimes you have to release old expectations to discover new destinations.

'Tis the season to find your heart's true home Jess has spent most of her life taking care of herself, no stranger to odd jobs here and there. And given the choice between spending another Christmas alone or spending it in Scotland as the Earl of Kirkshield's housekeeper, her choice is a no-brainer. Stepping into the castle's grounds is like something out of a fairytale, and Jess can't believe her luck. But a cold blast of reality hits when she meets the new earl and realises she's not exactly welcome... When Sebastian makes it clear he wants nothing to do with the crumbling estate or title, Jess takes it upon herself to give him a reason to stay and save her job in the meantime. As they work together to bring the castle back to life, she finds herself growing closer to the brooding earl. Much to her surprise, she's starting to think she actually likes the guy. But they come from different worlds, and she doesn't know the first thing about putting down roots. Could the magic of Christmas be enough to spark romance and make the castle a home? Escape to the Scottish Highlands this Christmas with a cosy and heartwarming romance full of drama and forbidden love! Perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan, Lucy Coleman and Downtown Abbey. What readers are saying about Rachel Barnett: 'Gorgeous comfort reading at its best!! ... Great writing, great personalities, festive reality on a different sphere!!' Reader review, 5 stars 'The perfect escapism that will take you away and get you in the Christmas spirit ... perfect blend of magic and the characters are appealing and the plot is tantalising' Reader review, 5 stars 'Loved the characters and their individual stories and the scenery sounded lovely and so inviting and makes you feel all festive. Would recommend to anyone who likes a good Christmas story with intrigue thrown in' Reader review, 5 stars 'Absolutely loved it! A cosy page-turner and a perfect read for the run-up to Christmas!!' Reader review, 5 stars

Whether you want to climb the Eiffel Tower in Paris, sip wine in Burgundy, or indulge in French cuisine in Lyon, the local Fodor’s travel experts in France are here to help! Fodor’s Essential France guidebook is packed with maps, carefully curated recommendations, and everything else you need to simplify your trip-planning process and make the most of your time. This new edition has an easy-to-read layout, fresh information, and beautiful color photos. Fodor’s “Essential” guides have been named by Booklist as the Best Travel Guide Series of 2020! Fodor’s Essential France travel guide includes: AN ILLUSTRATED ULTIMATE EXPERIENCES GUIDE to the top things to see and do MULTIPLE ITINERARIES to effectively organize your days and maximize your time MORE THAN 70 DETAILED MAPS and a FREE PULL-OUT MAP to help you navigate confidently COLOR PHOTOS throughout to spark your wanderlust! HONEST RECOMMENDATIONS FROM LOCALS on the best sights, restaurants, hotels, nightlife, shopping, performing arts, activities, and more PHOTO-FILLED “BEST OF” FEATURES on “France’s Best Museums”, “France’s Best Small Towns”, and “France’s Best Churches and Cathedrals” TRIP-PLANNING TOOLS AND PRACTICAL TIPS including when to go, getting around, beating the crowds, and saving time and money HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL INSIGHTS providing rich context on the local people, politics, art, architecture, cuisine, geography and more SPECIAL FEATURES on The Louvre, Versailles, Burgundy Wine, and more LOCAL WRITERS to help you find the under-the-radar gems FRENCH LANGUAGE PRIMER with useful words and essential phrases UP-TO-DATE COVERAGE ON: Paris, Versailles, Normandy, Burgundy, Lyon, the French Alps, Provence, the French Riviera, Nice, Marseilles, Monaco, Corsica, Bordeaux, and more. Planning on spending more time in France? Check out Fodor’s Paris and Fodor’s Provence and the French Riviera. *Important note for digital editions: The digital edition of this guide does not contain all the images or text included in the physical edition. ABOUT FODOR'S AUTHORS: Each Fodor's Travel Guide is researched and written by local experts. Fodor’s has been offering expert advice for all tastes and budgets for over 80 years. For more travel inspiration, you can sign up for our travel newsletter at fodors.com/newsletter/signup, or follow us @FodorsTravel on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. We invite you to join our friendly community of travel experts at fodors.com/community to ask any other questions and share your experience with us!