An heart-warming story of romance and
adventure - and a return to France - from the internationally bestselling
author of The Little Paris Bookshop (500,000
copies sold worldwide)
Marianne Messman longs to escape her loveless marriage to an uncaring husband - an artillery sergeant major named Lothar. On a day trip to Paris, Marianne decides to leap off the Pont Neuf into the Seine, but she is saved from drowning by a homeless man. While recovering in hospital, Marianne comes across a painting of the tiny port town of Kerdruc in Brittany and decides to try her luck on the coast.
In Kerdruc, Marianne meets a host of colourful characters,who all
gravitate around the restaurant of Ar Mor. It is this cast of true
Bretons who become Marianne's new family, and among whom she will find love
once again. But with her husband looking to pull her back to her old life,
Marianne is left with a choice: to step back into the known, or to take a huge
jump into an exciting and unpredictable future.
I have read Nina George's previous books and fell in love with 'The Little Paris Bookshop' and was excited to be offered a place on 'The Little Breton Bistro's' blog tour, partly because I knew it meant I could bring forward my next visit to France with Nina George as the tour guide once more.
As I read 'The Little Breton Bistro' I felt myself falling in love with the characters, Marianne is a sixty year old lady who is in a loveless marriage and visits France to find herself and leave her Army Sergeant Major husband behind. This plan starts with a desperate jump into the Seine from a bridge but luckily she is saved by a homeless man and this is where her journey begins as she travels to Kerdruc, a small town she discovers in a painting. Marianne begins a journey which takes her on an emotional but poignant trip which changes her life for the better.
I really enjoyed this book. I found myself loosing myself for hours as I devoured the book. The book does start with Marianne in a desperate state, contemplating suicide but Marianne soon finds herself enjoying life more and finding herself. She builds up a strong group of friends, who all play a part in building her confidence and resilience, while also developing a love for the French village and leaving her past life behind.
Nina George has a great storytelling style of writing and I would love to visit Kerdruc, although I already feel that I can visualise it. She writes beautiful descriptive prose which, along with Marianne's narrative transports the reader into the location. The story finished with a surprising ending and I am sure I will pick this book up and read it again in the future. I am already looking forward to Nina George's next book and can't wait for my next visit to France but where will the destination be next time?
Thank you to the publishers for sending me this book to review and for inviting me to be part of the blog tour to celebrate it's publication.
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