When life brings you to La Canette

Synopsis

Another visit to the exquisite La Canette island for this moving story of romance, friendship and funny surprises guaranteed to tug at the heartstrings.

When Alice’s unwise relationship with a politician hits the news, her only hope is to disappear somewhere off the grid where the press won’t find her. The she finds out she’s pregnant and her choices dwindle to an impossible situation.

If anyone ever told Brandon he’s be living in a farmhouse on some tiny unknown island, he’d have laughed out loud. Heenjoys the highlife of a talented concert musician, travel, bright lights and glamorous women. Just as he finds his dream job with the best orchestras in the word, his brother dies unexpectedly, leaving him a list of ten death-bed requests.They include a year of celibacy, house renovation, and helping a women in need. 

*****  Such a sweet story that was very intriguing, set in a gorgeous community.

*****  A joyful book to read we meet old friends and new as Brandon and Alice discover the magic of La Canette as it brings new meaning into their lives and the wonder and strength that a relationship can bring.

*****  “I think this is my favourite of all five books”

My review

Alice truly thought that her relationship with a politician would remain under the radar. And she had good hopes that once the elections would be over, it wouldn’t have to be a secret anymore. But when their relationship is out in the air, she has no other option to disappear and lay low for a while. And that brings her in one way or another in arriving at La Canette. But her arrival isn’t that easy and once her feet are on the solid ground, she has no clue how to make it to her hotel. Luckily, the meets Brandon, who unexpectedly inherited a cottage from him brother, and a list to follow, written by his beloved brother. A list that will bring him, hopefully, happiness in life. A list with requests that seem impossible for Brendon to follow, as he hopes to continue his career as a musician as soon as possible. But how can he ignore his brother’s last wishes? And with Alice now staying in his spare room, can she be of any kind of help at all?

Haven fallen in love with this series, I had the biggest smile on my face when I started this fifth instalment. Only to find myself crying after just a few chapters in it… Because this lovely author managed to break my heart when I read how Brendon inherited the cottage on La Canette… even just writing this bit, has me all teared up again… I literally had to put the book away for a few moments, as I just needed some time to digest what I have read, and es, even to find the courage to continue reading…

But no matter much it hurt, I also knew that it was needed, otherwise how would we have this story?

I have to admit, initially I was rather prejudiced towards Alice. Because it would seem that what she is having with Clive is an affair, behind Clive’s wife her back, and it something that absolutely nobody knows about. But I was happy to read that while yes, it is an affair, it isn’t that sleezy kind of affair. And while the affair is still a wrong thing, there would be an actual future for the pair of them, with just having a little bit of political patience.

So when the relationship comes out, and in a dirty way, making Alice the bad person in the whole situation, I was so angry! Angry because Alice has just fallen in love, and angry because it is her to be paying the price for it all, while Clive doesn’t stand up next to her…

While I admired that Alice decides to make herself scarce, it also felt to me that she didn’t have to do that, that in fact, she should be supported by the one that claims to love her…

Of all the places she could have chosen to go to, La Canette is for sure the best of them all! Knowing this place, I knew that after perhaps an initial hiccup, Alice would find herself embraced by a warm community, and meet some extraordinary people, ready to befriend her!

And they for sure did not disappoint me one tiny bit! I am not only talking about the lovely couples that had their spotlights in the previous books, but also the other side characters show their hearts! They show their hearts and how close a community they truly are when Brendon arrived previously on La Canette. They show him love and support, because of how his brother touched them before his passing (no, don’t start again waterworks!).

Brendon’s life before inheriting the cottage couldn’t be more not – fitting for life on La Canette. I am not a musician myself, but I can imagine how exciting Brendon’s life must be. Travelling all over the world, touching people with music, being part of a great ensemble.

And the List that Brendon finds… it doesn’t fit in his lifestyle at all! But I also knew that his brother (I am not going to write his name, as you do need to read it yourself…) in a way knew best, and knew how the magic of La Canette would work on Brendon…

Brendon and Alice, or Lessa, how she would call herself later on, find each other in what perhaps in another kind of story would be absolutely creepy, and Brendon’s proposition would be totally creepy, but for *this* story and for La Canette, it couldn’t be more fitting.

Due several circumstances, Brendon and Lessa start living together, sharing Brendon’s cottage. And it absolutely warmed my heart to see them going from complete strangers to the best of friends. They have an alliance between them, a bond that would be absolutely unlikely, yet once again, here is it absolutely fitting.

There is one more thing I need to say… in this book the subject of music often reoccurs. And not only because it is Brendon’s profession, but we see in this book how music can help people. People in need, people that don’t have their voice or spark (anymore). And it was so heartwarming reading how music can help even the most delicate, fragile of people…

This story shows us that life absolutely never goes as expected, and that sometimes the most unexpected life – twist can bring us somewhere totally unexpected. And that same unexpectedness can show us a life, a way of life, a whole community that is exactly what we need in our lives.

Rose Amberly yes, she did break my heart at the start of the book. But she also completely made up for my heartbreak with a wonderful story about starting afresh, about life taking a different direction, showing us the beauty of a different (kind of) life.

This book is a marvellous end of a great series, but I have to admit… I am not ready to say goodbye… I want more of La Canette and its community and if only it were possible to actually go there and meet all those marvellous people in real life!