When a job brings you more than expected…

Synopsis

Let Lucy Coleman transport you to glorious, sun-drenched France, for the perfect feel-good read. Paris and the Palace of Versailles have always meant a lot to TV producer Lexie. Her grandma Viv spent a year there, but her adventures and memories were never discussed, and Lexie has long wondered why they were a family secret.

When work presents the perfect excuse to spend Springtime in Versailles, Lexie delves into Viv’s old diaries and scrapbooks, and with the help of handsome interpreter Ronan, she is soon learning more about the characters that tend to the magnificent gardens, now and in the past.

In amongst the beauty and splendour of the French countryside, a story of lost love, rivalry and tragedy unfolds. Can Lexie and Ronan right the wrongs of the past, and will France play its tricks on them both before Lexie has to go home? Will this truly be a Springtime to Remember…?

My review

Lexie is finally chasing her dream: making a documentary of the Palace of Versailles. She moves to Paris to focus on the job.
But she also has an ulterior motive: her beloved grandmother spent a year at Versailles but her adventures and memories are a mystery Lexie is ready to unveil.

During her stay, she meets Ronan, an interpreter who she hires for the job. Discovering together Versailles and it’s magic and past, something seems to bloom between them.
But is their attraction strong enough when the deadline is just around the corner and tragedies of the past are putting a strain on their relationship?

The Palace of Versailles itself is a special setting, but add a whole story around this setting, and it’s even more special!
When Lexie sees it for the first time for real, her amazement is palpable. How the Palace is described, it made me feel I was actually standing there.
There is an eye for detail which is often forgotten in other books.

Lexie is a woman taking a leap of faith trying to realize her dream. But her family is also very important for her, as she has a very strong bond with her sister. She’s very protective about those she cares about and when her estranged brother suddenly reappears and seems to start dictating around, Lexie is not just standing at the sideline.

The relation with Ronan is taking off in the story, and they both initially have some troubles opening up, but when they realize there is more than just physical attraction, they open up and start sharing their past and some secrets.

This is not just a romance story, but also a mystery. What happened with Viv during her stay? Bit by bit we get to know more about the past, but when it’s all in the open, there are consequences that will affect more people.

A beautiful setting, where you can imagine being there, where we see a love story being born with on the background a mystery.  What’s not to like?