"A season of surprises...
Celia Grey appears to have the perfect life: married to Dominic, the man of her dreams, and living on a glorious, thriving vineyard in the south of France. To celebrate their good fortune, she decides to throw a huge party.
When she is contacted by a stranger who claims to be her long-lost son, David, the newborn she gave up at twenty and has never spoken of since, Celia impulsively invites him for the weekend of celebrations - without mentioning it to her husband.
Despite his surprise, Dominic graciously welcomes David and his unexpected companion - but secretly he harbours doubts. Is David really Celia's son? And who is the mysterious young woman travelling with him?
Only Celia can decide how far she will go to hold everything together, to keep her perfect life from unravelling...
One Summer in Provence is a story of betrayal and belonging, and of discovering love in unexpected places.
'A SUPERB READ - I LOVED IT!' MIRIAM MARGOLYES"
"It was an idyllic summer. Until they had to escape.
France, 1943.
Forced to flee war ravaged Poland, Sara and her parents are offered refuge in a beautiful but dilapidated house in the French Alps. It seems the perfect hideaway, despite haunting traces of the previous occupants who left in haste. But shadows soon fall over Sara's blissful summer, and her blossoming romance with local villager Alain. As the Nazis close in, the family is forced to make a harrowing choice that could drive them apart forever, while Sara's own bid for freedom risks several lives.
Will Sara be reunited with those she loves? And can she ever find her way back to Alain?
By turns poignant and atmospheric, this is the compelling novel from Sunday Times bestselling author Carol Drinkwater about the power of first love and courage in our darkest hours.
'A lovely novel. A moving story of love and friendship with a wonderful sense of place' KATE MOSSE
'A terrific story ... skilfully written and heart-rending' MIRIAM MARGOLYES
'A virtual hug of a tale; warm, and engaging, and tender' JOANNE HARRIS
'Romantic, evocative, and pulse racingly dramatic' WENDY HOLDEN
'An emotional and moving read' FIONA VALPY
'I love Carol Drinkwater's writing . . . So evocative of the south of France - you can almost smell the maquis . . . Engrossing' Reader Review
'Carol skilfully draws us in to the beautiful Alpes Maritimes region of France to tell the story of Sara . . . the writing is evocative and Sara's story is both moving and inspiring' Sheila O'Flanagan, bestselling author of The Women Who Ran Away
'I enjoyed it very much . . . it's her best' Elizabeth Buchan, author of The Museum of Broken Promises
'A wonderful, enjoyable novel with courage and survival at its heart' Elizabeth Chadwick, author of The Wild Hunt series
'One not to be missed ... tells a part of history that should never be forgotten' Shirley Dickson, author of The Lost Children"
"No one else knows what happened that summer. Or so she believes.
Grace first came to France a lifetime ago. Young and full of dreams of adventure, she met two very different men. She fell under the spell of one. The other fell under hers. Until one summer night shattered everything. Now, Grace is living an idyllic life with her husband, sheltered from the world in a magnificent Provençal villa, perched atop a windswept cliff. Every day she looks out over the sea - the only witness to that fateful night years ago.Until a stranger arrives at the house. A stranger who knows everything.
The past and present spectacularly collide in this gripping story of love and betrayal echoing across the decades.
Praise for the author: 'A lovely book packed with the sunshine, scents and savours of the South of France.' DAILY MAIL"
"Heartbroken following the death of her partner, Susan Parks knows she needs to find a new life, so she leaves her life in England and moves to Cannes. There Susan encounters the enigmatic Gustave. He seems intrigued by Susan, and begins a determined campaign to win her over. His attentions are flattering, and unexpected, but Susan’s emotions are too raw. As they get to know one another, however, Susan learns more about Gustave’s story—his ambitious plans for the stunning château he owns, his own tragic loss. Susan can’t run from her growing feelings, but nor can she forget the heartache that brought her to France. She has a choice to make: to hide in bittersweet memories of the past or to take a chance on love.
“A story to savour, complete with wonderful settings stretching from Paris to the glorious countryside of southern France.” DINAH JEFFRIES on The Lost Girl"
"Returning to their home after an extended absence, Carol and her husband Michel are looking forward to summer together on the farm. Then a shocking blow leaves Carol alone and the future looks uncertain.
The Olive Harvest takes us beyond the perimeters of her olive groves to where hunters, poets, bee-keepers, boars and gypsies abide. In search of the language of troubadours, the dark and sometimes barbarous heart of Provence is revealed.
Nature and the generosity of the South of France's harvests offer a path to joy and an abundant resolution..."
"The Only Girl in the World follows the gripping romance between English WWI soldier Dennis and Helene. Dennis cannot escape the shadows of the trenches, and with only two weeks leave, his future with Helene is not secure. When this war is over, he says he will come back for her. Dare Helene fall in love with this foreigner? Will he survive? In War, love is the only thing you can trust…"
"Lizzie, the only daughter of celebrated war photographer Kurtiz Ross, went missing four years ago. Kurtiz and her ex-husband, Oliver, arrive in Paris, following an unconfirmed sighting of their daughter. Oliver rushes to find her while Kurtiz waits, praying for a reunion. As sirens wail, Kurtiz finds comfort in Marguerite Courtenay - a glamorous former actress. As Marguerite distracts Kurtiz with stories of her life in post-war Provence, Kurtiz must confront her own ghosts and face up to home truths."
"After a devastating car accident, Carole escapes from an oppressive marriage in England to begin again in rural France. Yet she is haunted by the knowledge that Paul, her husband, has tracked her down before… and will do his best to do it again. Afraid to share her fears with her new neighbours, Carole nonetheless finds herself drawn to a local farmer, who helps her to create a new and independent life. But then she learns that Paul is on her trail and closing fast…"
"The annual grape harvest at the Cambon family's magnificent vineyard is always a cause for celebration. But not this year. When an accident destroys the crop, Clarisse Cambon knows exactly who to blame - her daughter-in-law, Jane. Forced to take charge of the ailing vineyard, Jane uncovers proof that Luc may not be the man she fell in love with twenty years ago. And, worse still, she knows that her old enemy Clarisse is the only one who knows the truth…"
"Striking, raven-haired Cecile produces the finest lemons on the Riviera. Her ice creams and lemonades, sold on her stall at Cannes market, are as renowned as the Mediterranean city itself. But Cecile is a woman with a secret. When she was nineteen, Cecile travelled south to a lemon festival on the borders of Italy and France. But she was not anticipating the enigmatic Italian who offered her a future…"
"Genevieve Bowles, an award-winning songwriter, is invited to visit the newly refurbished Hotel Paradise. Genevieve knows the hotel well – in fact, her past life there has haunted her for over a decade...
Twelve years earlier two travellers meet in Paris, Genevieve and Paul. Full of optimism, they head south to the Riviera where they start work at the Hotel Paradise. But when a stranger arrives who threatens her future with Paul, Genevieve senses that events are about to spin out of control."
"For many, Carol Drinkwater will be forever remembered for her part as the wholesome Helen Herriot in the television series 'All Creatures Great and Small'. But since being a successful actress in England, she has spent the past thirteen years in France with her husband Michel. This is the story of her new life, of the trials and tribulations of acquiring an olive farm, restoring it, farming the olives, overcoming the heartaches of taking on a new French family and slowly coming to understand the workings and life of a vivacious Provencal community - opening the door to vibrant Mediterranean world..."
