‘She had me at Bonjour! Warm, funny, deliciously French…this lovely story filled my heart with sunshine’ Jane LinfootSometimes you need to lose yourself to find your way home… shines down on her ramshackle new home, Poppy knows she’s made the right decision. A lick of paint, and some TLC and her rustic farmhouse will be the perfect holiday retreat – Poppy’s dream come true.
Poppy is welcomed by her fellow villagers, except for brooding local vet Leo Dubois, who makes it clear Poppy isn’t welcome in his village – or his life! Leo might be gorgeous, but Poppy won’t be told what to do by an arrogant Frenchman – no matter how kind and gentle he is to her dogs!
Determined to stay, Poppy tries to understand the enigmatic Frenchman better. But as the two get closer, Poppy sees another side to Leo – a man with heartbreak of his own. Falling in love with Leo is easy, but can he ever return Poppy’s love? And what would this mean for her dream life and place in the sun?
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Can’t say enough about these stories I’ve read 2 so far and I’m thirsty for more.
Light fun read
I enjoyed this book. If it matters to you there are very graphic sex episodes
Favorite Quotes:
Pete will laugh when I tell him about this. He’s never been one for the jealous boyfriend act. Which is good, sort of, but maybe a little bit unflattering. He usually makes a joke out of it, asking whether the other man had a white stick or a guide dog.
She’s certainly the smallest dog I’ve ever seen, but with a personality so huge I don’t know where she can possibly be keeping it all.
Not only does close proximity to him does funny things to my body chemistry, but it seemingly reduces my IQ at the same time.
He seems anxious, not so much worried about treading on eggshells as stepping into a man-trap with iron teeth.
My Review:
I enjoyed this refreshingly sweet and amusing tale; it was just what I needed for a genre cleanse after reading heavier fare. It was a light and humorous read with some heart-squeezing moments and a few bursts of romantic sizzle. I adored the character of Poppy, an illustrator of children’s books, a daydreamer, and rescuer of abused and abandoned animals and people. I frequently smiled at the levity provided by the descriptions and hijinx of Poppy’s tiny canine companions as well as the antics of the nearby assortment of football playing “delinquent donkeys” and demonic goats. The storylines were easy to follow, engaging, entertaining, and lively, while the characters were endearing and alluring, with the exception of the cranky Madame Gilbert and Pete the Prick. Poppy had been devastated to be dumped by text but she came out the better for it with an upgrade to a tall, dark, and handsome Frenchman. I picked up a few additions to my Brit Vocabulary list with “being bolshie” (being deliberately combative or uncooperative) and “calling bagsy,” which would be what we Americans do when calling dibs.
What an enjoyable escape Poppy’s Place in the Sun was for me! I knew when I read the synopsis, I was going to love the book!
Poppy has decided to move from England to a quiet, rural village in the south of France. She has bought her new home and is quite looking forward to her boyfriend, Pete, joining her. Imagine her shock and surprise when he breaks it off with her…and not even in person. I was pretty shocked myself! I couldn’t help wanting to flog him myself on her behalf. However, she refuses to give up her dream of moving, so she forges ahead!
Many people consider Poppy a daydreamer, and she is. But, she is also determined and strong, doing what it takes to reach those dreams. She has bought a home that has no working kitchen, and the plumbing and electricity needs updating. Poppy certainly won’t let that stop her! The girl has some determination!!!!
Poppy is welcomed by the people in the village, and she seems to be thriving. Only one person isn’t so happy she has come to town, local vet, Leo. He loves her three dogs, but he appears to not be overly fond of her. The more time he spends with her, he begins to show her a whole other side to him. But, then who couldn’t resist Poppy’s sunny demeanor and charm? He has his reasons for not trusting her, and I kept hoping he would let his defenses down, giving her a chance and himself a chance for a HEA.
I really loved everything about the book…the storyline, the characters, the romance, and of course, the beautiful south of France. I want to go there now! It was the theme of the book that resonated with me the most. It’s about casting your fears aside and daring to grasp your dreams and make them a reality. This was perfectly illustrated through Leo and Poppy. When you add in how well-written the book was with inspiring quotes with each chapter and some precious pups, and you have yourself one gem of a book!!!!