One summer, with unexpected turns

Synopsis

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…

As soon as Kat Jenson set foot in the idyllic French village of Kirchhoffen, she knew she’d found her home. Now she has a dreamy boyfriend, a delightful dog and the perfect job managing a bustling book café in the vibrant Parc Lemmel.

But when she learns her boyfriend isn’t all he seems, it’s the start of a difficult summer for Kat. Vindictive troublemakers, work woes and family heartache follow, and the clear blue sky that was her life suddenly seems full of clouds.

Then she gets to know the mysterious Noah, and her sun begins to shine brighter than ever. But Noah has problems of his own – ones that could scupper their new-found happiness. Together, can they overcome their many obstacles, and find love again?

The perfect summer read for fans of Trisha Ashley, Sarah Morgan and Carole Matthews.

My review

Kat Jenson fell in love with the French village of Kirchhoffen the moment she got there. Working in a book café in Parc Lemmel, having adopted Angelique the dog and found herself a boyfriend, things couldn’t get any better. Of course, the relationship with her father, stepmother, and half-brother Solly could definitely be warmer, but she is used on being by herself.
But when she discovers that her boyfriend is not what she thought he was, Kat even feels more alone than ever. The happy feelings she had, suddenly turn into the negative, as she now also has to face someone sabotaging the place she loves to work, a family even more distant and realization that people she thought were her friends, are just not.
And then she meets Noah, who is sharing places with Kat’s brother. Noah has his own issues to handle, and is planning to return to his home after summer.
However, despite they both have broken hearts, they find each other and find a happiness they weren’t looking for.
But with all their luggage of the past, will their new found love stand a chance? Or will this only be a summer fling like so many?

I have read several books of this author, and I have loved each and every one of them.
But after reading this book, I think I have a favourite one…
This may be catalogued as a romance, yet there is so much more going on than just two people falling in love.

Kat is so easy to like. It’s obvious she is a lovely character. She is looking after the book café while her bosses are facing some serious personal issues. But  not only does she look after the business, she is truly concerned about the people she feels are more like her parents than just the people that pay her wage.
Also the fact she adopted Angelique, a sweet dog who has endured so much, show us that Kat is the good kind of person.
But I also felt so very sorry for her. As she is the child of divorced parents who both remarried, she was only disappointed by one, but by both new families.
And my heart broke to see how her father and his second wide Irina treated her. I truly wanted to knock some sense both of them, because Kat certainly deserved to be treated better by her own family!
On top of everything, she finds out that her boyfriend is the worst kind and her relationship with him is now the reason that someone is sabotaging her work.
Talking about taking it out on the wrong person! Kat was in this case also a victim, but she is being treated as the culprit!

So obviously, I was happy when Noah enters the picture. I loved from the start how he stands by Kat’s side, and shows his protectiveness even if he doesn’t know Kat that well yet.
But Noah’s story isn’t a very happy one neither… He has his own agenda on why he made the move, and the more was revealed the more my heart went out to him.
His tale is the one where whatever you do, it will always end up in hurting someone somehow.
And because he is just a too good of a guy, he doesn’t want to hurt anyone, but sometimes you just have to…

But before you think this is a sad story, there were also so many heartwarming moments! I loved reading how Kat and Noah are getting closer, helping each other and start to believe in love again.
Also seeing how Kat and Solly are finally bonding as siblings was so sweet and tender!

And let’s not forget about the sweetest dog ever! I am always amazed about how dogs can sense when we are in need of comfort or even protection. But Angelique showed us that despite her sad past, she truly loved her new owner and wouldn’t stop at anything to protect her ‘family’.

The author managed perfectly to find the perfect blend of a new love story for our main characters, but also showing that family dynamics aren’t always that straightforward or are how they actually should be.
Even our own family, parents, ex – wives, children,… are only human and bound to make mistakes. That is what is being human is about.
But it’s what we do after we realize our mistakes that make us good human beings..

This book was the perfect preparation for the summer, with a setting that made me wish I were there and with people that I fell in love with, who were unselfish (at one point even TOO unselfish), wanting nothing but happiness for their loved ones (risking their own happiness).
I devoured this book, and now the author has very high expectations to fulfil with her next story!