Harlequin Tour Review - - A Proposal in Provence

A Proposal in Provence

by Donna Alward

Heirs to an Empire - Book 5

Publisher: Harlequin Romance

Release Date: January 25, 2022

Reviewed by PJ

 

An escape from scandal...rescued by the tycoon!

PR assistant Anemone Jones loves working in Paris for the glamorous Pemberton family...until she discovers she is in fact their half-sibling! When the scandal hits the tabloids, it's her gorgeous boss, Phillippe Leroux, who sweeps her off to his idyllic home in Grasse. Phillippe's proposal in Provence gives Annie breathing space to process her new life - - and even find a place in his...

PJ's Thoughts:

It's been more than two years since I boarded a plane, off to distant locales for new adventures. Is it any wonder I was all over this title when it crossed my desk? Glamorous events in Paris? Gorgeous fields of flowers in Provence? A sweet and sexy Frenchman to seal the deal? Yes, please!

I'll start off by saying that this is the fifth book in a family-centric series. It's written in such a way that I never felt lost or confused about the journey of the main couple. However, there are several family members who figure prominently in the story, in such a way that I wanted to know more about the motivation behind their actions and attitudes. They are the antagonists for much of the book but presented in such a way that I felt the need to dig into their layers and discover what had brought them to this place. I'll be going back to the beginning of the series and reading all of their books. 

I really enjoyed the relationship between Annie and Phillippe. I appreciated the way he put himself between Annie and the family who owns the company where they both work, the way he stood up for her as a valued member of his staff. I liked his integrity and his sense of honor. It meant a lot to me that he refused to engage romantically with her while he was her supervisor. 

Annie really was in a no-win situation. I liked her, respected her honesty, and understood her desire to know the people from whom she had been hidden. I enjoyed her interactions with Phillippe's parents and the seamless way she fit into the Provence life. I also liked the fact that when she made mistakes, she owned up to them quickly. 

The romance in this book was sweet, steamy, and heartwarming. I had no doubts by the end that Annie and Phillippe were exactly where they were meant to be, doing what they were meant to do. Annie's family situation was wrapped up a bit too quickly and neatly for me, considering what had come before. Maybe, after reading the earlier books and getting to know the family members better, I'll be able to buy into that conclusion more completely.

If you're in the mood to escape to the dazzling lights of Paris and the lush, fragrant countryside of Provence with a likeable couple who will have you cheering them on to their happily ever after, pick up a copy of Donna Alward's A Proposal in Provence and let yourself be swept away. 

Harlequin Highlights

I've been catching up on some new Harlequin category books by a few of my favorite authors this month. Here are my thoughts on the first two.  


Stranded with Her Greek Tycoon
By Kandy Shepherd
Publisher: Harlequin Romance
Release Date: February 1, 2018
Reviewed by PJ

Hayley and Cristos were probably too young when, after a whirlwind courtship, they married against both of their families' wishes but they were deeply in love and determined to be together. Two and a half years into the marriage, a crisis tore them apart and, with the help of her family, Hayley disappeared from his life without a word. Two and a half years after that, while Cristos is attending a family celebration on a Greek island, she reappears just as abruptly...with divorce papers in hand. Desire and deeper feelings still simmer between them but Hayley has buried the past and has no desire to face the emotions that are sure to arise from revisiting it with Cristos. She's made a new life far away to which she plans to return as soon as she gets Cristos' signature on the papers. Will a freak storm give Cristos the time he needs to convince her to give them a second chance? 

Shepherd brings a lot of emotion to this second-chance love story, touching on sensitive topics such as depression, self-worth, and cross-cultural marriage. She makes her characters work for their happy ending in a satisfying romance that is sometimes heartwarming, sometimes heart-wrenching, and carries enough humor, sexual tension, and uncertainty to keep me engaged from beginning to end.


Note: If you like your covers to match your characters, check out the UK cover for this book. It's exactly how I pictured Cristos! 

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Rodeo Sheriff
by Mary Sullivan
Publisher: Harlequin Western
Release Date: February 1, 2018
Reviewed by PJ

Sheriff Cole Payette has had a crush on bar owner Honey Armstrong since arriving in Rodeo, Montana several years ago but has never acted on it. In fact, he barely talks to the beautiful, free-spirited woman. But when he suddenly leaves town then returns, grief-stricken, with two grieving young children in tow, it's to Honey that he turns for help. After the death of her deputy fiance, Honey has vowed to never become involved with another lawman but the more time she spends with Cole and his young niece and nephew, the more that vow is tested. Both Cole and Honey have their reasons for avoiding relationships but when two of Cole's reasons, his estranged parents, show up in town with unreasonable demands, working together may be their only hope of protecting his niece and nephew. Will it also be what opens their eyes to the joy to be found in a life together? 

I've thoroughly enjoyed the first four books in Sullivan's Rodeo, Montana series and have become invested in the lives of these characters and the future of their small town. Her characters are fully developed and relatable, leaving me with the sense of having made new friends with each story I read. Children have had key roles in many of these books, including Rodeo Sheriff, and Sullivan has a particularly deft hand in creating these young characters who bring an endearing, sometimes humorous - but always realistic - quality to the pages.  The sense of community, depth of emotion, and complexity that she brings to these characters and their stories has made Rodeo Sheriff another addition to my keeper shelf and Mary Sullivan one of my auto-buy authors. 


Do you read Harlequin category romances? Do you have a favorite line?  I'm so disappointed that the Harlequin Western line has been cancelled. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that all of my favorite Western authors will find a new home for their wonderful stories. 

Today's Special - - Kandy Shepherd

It's always a delight to host Kandy Shepherd, especially when she has a new book out. I've been thoroughly charmed by her Dolphin Bay series for Harlequin Romance. The stories are more sweet than spicy but packed with emotion as characters are given second chances, life-changing opportunities and, if the stars align, a deep enduring love. Her stories never fail to leave me with a sigh and a smile. 

You can read about Kandy and her books at her website and connect with her online at facebook and twitter. 

Welcome back, Kandy!

Sunshine for Christmas

Kandy Shepherd

For many years I worked as a magazine editor and one of the biggest challenges for us was making an Australian Christmas feature look, well, Australian! Even Down Under many of the holiday decorating themes reference the northern hemisphere winter—snow covered landscapes, cozy log fires, red robins, glowing lanterns showing the way home through the dark, and tables groaning with rich dishes just right for the cold weather.

Trouble is, Christmas Down Under is in summer—and it’s usually darn hot. Where I live in Australia, Christmas (for those who celebrate it) is about blue skies, sunshine, sunburn, the incessant thrum of cicadas and evenings so long it’s not dark enough to see the Christmas lights until bedtime. We’ve just had the hottest spring on record so predictions for December 25 see the mercury soaring.

The climate suits not heavy roasts and dense fruit cakes but a barbecue with turkey and ham recipes adapted for outdoor cooking. Or seafood and salads.  And something cool and icy for dessert.  Christmas at the beach is a tradition for many, with families and friends arriving early to stake out their spot on the sand. No chance of kids getting bored when they can frolic in the waves!

Alternatively, at my house, you swelter in the kitchen and prepare a full-on traditional English style Christmas feast. My English-born husband insists on it. I have to admit Christmas wouldn’t seem Christmas to me without that festive meal with all the trimmings. Family favorites are demanded and provided—and appreciated by family and friends!

I’ve enjoyed a winter Christmas in both the UK and the US and it is a totally different experience to an Aussie-style festive celebration. Do I prefer one over the other? Deep down, I have to admit I love the frosty festivities. My ideal would be a cold Christmas and then a flight back to Australia to enjoy the New Year’s Eve celebration in Sydney—where the entire city becomes party central and millions of dollars worth of fireworks explode in the summer sky. But that’s another story!

My heroine, Lizzie Dumont, in my December Harlequin Romance A Diamond in Her Stocking didn’t grow up with happy memories of Christmas: “Her family Christmas had always seen the sad cliché of every bitterness and conflict getting a good airing over the roast turkey and plum pudding.” But as an adult, she embraces Christmas as a joyous celebration and (like me!) has enjoyed the festive season in both the Australian summer and the European winter.

But for Lizzie, the ultimate festive celebration is when she becomes a Christmas bride. The cover might give you a clue as to where the wedding takes place!

What’s your favorite thing about the holiday season?  Do you dream about a hot Christmas or a cold one? Have you ever broken with tradition? I’d love to hear your festive season stories!

One  randomly chosen person leaving a comment will receive a print copy of A Diamond in Her Stocking. (open internationally)

Today's Special - - Kandy Shepherd

It's my pleasure to welcome Kandy Shepherd to the blog today. A former magazine editor, Kandy left that life behind to join her family (both two and four legged) on a small farm in the Blue Mountains near Sydney, Australia and write heartwarming romance novels.  When I picked up a copy of Kandy's debut novel, Love is a Four-Legged Word, in 2009 it quickly became evident that we shared a common love of two things:  dogs and romance. Kandy joins us today to chat about another debut of sorts; her first book for the Harlequin Romance line.  I've just finished The Summer They Never Forgot and enjoyed it immensely.  It's a heartwarming, deeply romantic story of second chances written with the expertise that I've come to expect from Kandy Shepherd.  

Thanks for joining us today, Kandy.  Take it away!


 

In love with the beach 

Kandy Shepherd

I don’t know why I find the beachside such an ideal setting for romance. Is it because the rhythm of the waves is meant to echo the human heartbeat? Or because people are often scantily clothed at the beach? Maybe we’re simply more relaxed in close proximity to golden sands and blue water?

Courtesy of Tourisme Tahiti

Whatever, ask me where I’d like to go for a romantic getaway and the answer will always be somewhere near the water. (One day, maybe, I’ll get to visit one of those amazing over-the-ocean hotels in Tahiti!)

Who can forget that classic scene in From Here to Eternity where Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr make passionate love in the breaking waves on a secluded Hawaiian beach? Sigh! However, according to a small survey I conducted (where the respondents shall remain nameless!) the soggy reality of making love on the beach doesn’t always meet the fantasy. Sand in uncomfortable places. The sting of saltwater. Sunburn. Fear of discovery, etcetera, etcetera. Maybe such scenes are better kept as fantasy!

It’s not surprising that I like to set books near water. My first book for Harlequin Romance The Summer They Never Forgot is set in the fictional small coastal town of Dolphin Bay on the beautiful south coast of New South Wales, Australia, about four hours south of Sydney.

I have spent many happy vacations in that part of the world and love the quaint towns, unspoiled bushland and, most of all, the pristine beaches with their white sand and aquamarine waters. In true Aussie style, kangaroos abound in that area—they even come down to the beach to play in the waves. There are dolphins, too. It’s on one of those beaches that I first saw dolphins surfing. The fun they were having was nothing on my delight in watching them frolic!

So you can imagine what fun I had creating the town of Dolphin Bay, putting all the things I loved best about that area into the one fictional place. One early review of the book says the setting “is described so beautifully, readers will almost feel the sand between their toes”.

It’s in this setting that my hero and heroine Ben and Sandy fall in love as teenagers. To them, it’s more than a vacation romance and they never quite forget that first love. Twelve years pass by until Ben and Sandy meet again and, in the interim, they’ve both been wounded by life. Old hurts, betrayals and misunderstandings stand in the way of their reunion. But they’re so perfect for each other! Again that beachside setting starts to weave its magic on them as they find their way back to each other’s hearts. (Though, because this is a sweet romance, there aren’t any torrid encounters in the surf, From Here to Eternity style!)

I’m glad this deeply romantic and emotional story was released in February. This month of romance is also a month of extreme weather in both hemispheres. Readers in chilly winter and those in steamy summer might enjoy the chance to escape to perfect beach weather in the pages of my book!

What’s your dream vacation—beach, lake, mountain, or somewhere quite different? Have you found romance on vacation? I’d leave to hear about it!

Kandy is giving a mass market paperback copy of The Summer they Never Forgot to two randomly chosen people who leave a comment on today's blog. (open internationally)  You must post a comment before 11:00pm EST, February 12, 2014 to be eligible for the giveaway.