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#Book Review #Christmas on the Riviera #Publisher ‏ : ‎ Boldwood Books #Women Fiction #Contemporary #Jennifer Bohnet


 MY THOUGHTS AND BOOK REVIEW

This is cute and fast read novel to uplift your Christmas spirit this December with the town showing its festive side. Gabrielle Jacques and her beloved 24 year old granddaughter Elodie plans to spend Christmas and celebrate Gabby's 70th birthday in Antibes Juan les Pins for the first time in forty years in France, the town she was born. Gabby thought it is better to talk to Elodie about both her past and future that would be easy if they were in France and as she was planning to leave her the inheritance to Elodie. Elodie was a journalist writing full time novels in her spare time and completed her media degree. Gabby was more of a surrogate mother to Elodie growing up in the same house in Devonshire, as her mother abandoned her and never promised to return. Elodie did not know that her grandmother was always there for her whenever she needed the support. As they reach France and make their stay comfortable at an Airbnb, Christmas fun was definitely in the air.  Down by the harbor they stood on the Esplanade du Pres des Pecheurs, looking at the Christmas market. 

As going back to the memory lane, it was hard for Gabby in her younger years to work in a casino and later at Hotel Le Provencal when she was growing up and even disowned by her family. Elodie is stunned has she learns her grandmother owned a villa No.5 in France which Gabby had inherited from her father leaving her with excitement too. Gabby also owned a property house on the Riviera in France. All this being kept as a secret away from Elodie as she was not old enough to uproot it. Gabby wants Elodie now to think about the villa and the house in France, decide what is the right thing to do, whether to rent or sell it. 

Elodie becomes bitter and unforgiving to her mother Harriet who returns back to her and Gabby after many years of abandoning her. As Harriet confronts why she had to leave it becomes difficult for Elodie to accept her mother and come in terms with her. The ending is happy and expected one. 

I just reviewed Christmas on the Riviera by Jennifer Bohnet. #ChristmasontheRiviera #NetGalley. Thanks to Netgalley and Publisher Boldwood Books for an advance copy for my honest review.

Book Description

As a toddler Elodie Jacques was abandoned by her mother and left in the care of her French grandmother, Gabriella in Dartmouth, Devon.

Now 24 years old, Elodie struggles to reconcile the deep anger for the mother she has never since seen.

When Gabriella unexpectedly announces she wants the two of them to spend Christmas and her 70th birthday in her home town of Juan-les-Pins in the South of France Elodie is thrilled.

Gabriella meanwhile has her own ulterior motives for wanting to return after 40 years, a daunting homecoming potentially filled with memories, secrets and recriminations.

With Juan-les-Pins pulsing with lights, decorations and the festive spirit, Christmas promises to be filled with fun. But when Elodie learns there is the possibility that her long absent mother may join them she hides her feelings behind a show of indifference and animosity.

Will there be the reconciliation that Gabriella longs for - or will the spirit of Christmas fail to work its wonder?

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Boldwood Books 
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 31, 2022
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 212 pages


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