Following on from A Wedding in the Country where three young women, Lizzie, Alexandra and Meg, meet on a cookery course and become firm friends, A Wedding in Provence is Alexandra’s story. A chance meeting in Paris leads to her being employed as a nanny to three French children who live in a chateau in Provence. Their father is absent a lot of the time, and their mother left many years before, so they present her with a bit of a challenge to say the least. However, Alexandra is a capable and resourceful young woman and, despite disapproval from almost everyone she meets, gradually gains the children’s trust. Her relationship with them is the main focus of the story, with the romance almost taking second place.
I have read all of Katie Fforde’s novels over the last twenty years or so, and A Wedding in Provence has a lot of the familiar elements that make her books so memorable. Although it features several characters from her previous book, it won’t matter if you have not read it. It stands on its own just fine, but some things will make more sense if you do.
It is always a pleasure to escape from the real world into a Katie Fforde book, and this is no exception, though I still like her early books the best. The characters are well drawn and believable, and there is a strong sense of time and place, with France in 1963 vividly depicted. It definitely makes you want to book a holiday in Provence and head off in search of the sun. I’m hoping that the next book will be Meg’s story and continue the 1960s theme. Thanks to Penguin and NetGalley for a digital copy to review.

I'm an avid reader of Katie Fforde's books, whenever a new one drops I pick it up without question.
This book however, as nice as it was to read, didn't interest me as much as others had.
Firstly, it felt like there were too many plots/subplots going on that kind of lost me and I found myself in a bit of a slump with reading. The title of the book gives too much away to the plot, however I did like the twist with who's wedding takes place.
It was a delightful story with believable characters and narrative, I just didn't feel this particular book by Fforde was for me sadly. I just wish some of the story had been cut down, as it felt like I was reading three different stories; Why Alexandra went to France / met a new friend, Who in turn finds her a job but there's issues with the job, Sub-plot with one marriage, Main plot of another marriage. I just felt it was a little much.

Young, free and full of life Alexandra has everything ahead of her, however it is the mid 1960s and her family guardians are not quite sure about the life she has been leading, so it is time for finishing school and settling down. On her way to a Swiss finishing school, she stops in Paris and ends up taking a job as a nanny in a chateau in Provence.

Three children await her, who need a lot more than a nanny, they need a stable home, schooling and a lot of love. Alexandra draws on her own experiences of having various nanny’s and boarding schools to give these three children the best start in life.

Bringing what she knows from London food and all things English as well as her friend David, Alexandra starts to see these three children start to flourish. What Alexandra didn’t bank on was the flourishing romance with the father of the children.

Can she stay true to herself? Will the love of the area, the children as well as their father be enough to keep Alexandra in Provence? Or will the ex-wife and mother in law prove to much to cope with?

Following on from characters met in A Wedding in the Country, this was a great escapist novel from this author. The warmth and humour just sing from the page and I simply could devour all her books. I hope we go back to these characters in future novels.

A happy romp of a romance that ticks all the necessary escapism boxes. Our heroine is no ditz; she's smart and adaptable and determined, and not looking for love, but finds it anyway. There is nothing challenging about this story, it follows a tried and tested and successful route and is therefore perfect for those of us who need to step away from daily concerns and allow the brain to stand down for a short while, as we drift on a tide of happy-ever-after.

I finished this in 2 days, a charming little read. Would recommend to friends for a perfect beach feel good read 😘

This is an utterly charming read from Fforde and I was swept away reading this. The characters are exquisite and so likeable, their story is romantic and beautiful and the setting is stunning. What more could you want.

I really enjoyed this book. It gave me Eva Ibbotson vibes which I am a big fan of. All the characters are great, developed well and fit in with the story. A lovely, easy read that I definitely recommend if you need a bit of safe escapism.

I really liked this sweet romance. It was a quick read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Set in Provence in the 1960s, it’s the story of a girl named Alexandra who becomes a temporary nanny to Antoine’s (he’s a count) three children. She was on her way to finishing school in Switzerland, and she goes through Paris. She makes a new friend there and decides to delay her trip and get a job. When this job comes up, she doesn’t realize it’s in Provence but goes anyway.
She falls in love with the three kids, and the beautiful château. She also starts to fall in love with Antoine. She’s not sure how he feels, and she still planning to go on to Switzerland. Their romance develops slowly but the chemistry is obvious. I recommend this book, 4 stars.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A Wedding in Provence by Katie Fforde was all the nicer for bringing me up to date with Lizzie Meg Alexandra and, of course, David. A lovely light little love story based in wonderful France. Take this one to the beach with you or just enjoy on the deck with a glass of something in that inimitable French way. Four stars for lovely light entertainment with interesting and well developed characters

This is another beautifully written book in this series from an author we have come to love. Well written with great characters, it is set in 1960’s and a good book to take on holiday.

An enjoyable light read from a great author.
Expanding on the previous book in the series, the characters and plot are great with beautiful location building.
Read in a couple of sittings, definitely a holiday read for this year, for anyone looking.

There is always something comforting when I sit down to read a new novel by Katie Fforde. The characters are well rounded and believable, the settings are fun and the romance just adds to keep me hooked right to the very end. A wedding in Provence is the story of Alexandra who accepts a job in order to stay in France rather than going to live with her elderly relatives and then to finishing school. So Alexandra finds herself at a very large and somewhat dilapidated Chateaux in Provence, in sole charge of three very hostile children. If that wasn’t enough she discovers that the other help in the Chateaux has left and she will need to cook, clean and keep the children occupied. Never one to give up, Alex rolls up her sleeves and gets stuck in. She copes with feeding the children and managing the temperamental heating and hot water system and even finds ways to get the children to like her. Everything is going wonderfully until the children's’ mother appears, someone they’ve not seen in many years. Thankfully the children’s father appears , the very handsome Count Antoine,and life settles into a pattern. The nanny job was to be a short term interlude but Alexandra realises she’s falling in love and this rural life in Provence is more than she ever expected.
Another wonderful read from this great author that I thoroughly enjoyed from cover to cover.

As usual in my reviews, I will not rehash the plot - you'll just have to read this for yourself :)

This was an enjoyable light read, with plenty of interesting descriptions of the beautiful French countryside, a good cast of characters, and a nice touch of romance (indeed, several romances!). The author is very good at writing characters from the inside as well as the outside, putting across their moods and feelings very well.

This was just the antidote I needed - I read it during a week of hideous weather, horrible news, and after several rather heavy books that had left me downcast. Katie Fforde can always be relied upon to lift one's mood - thank you Katie!

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.

Another lovely work by Katie Fforde! Her stories are so easy to disappear into, and her characters are on point! This one was heartwarming and fun, the perfect escape read. Thank you for the ARC!

This was the fourth book I have read by Katie Fforde and this certainly didn't disappoint. Set in a scenic French landscape you couldn't help but find yourself loving the characters in this story. The main character Alexander heads to France on a quick break before heading to Switzerland to spend go to finishing school. Whilst in Paris a freak meeting ends up with Alexandra taking on a job as a Nanny in a French Chateau. You cannot help but love the main character and the three children she ends up looking after along with the other characters you are introduced to at different stages of the story. Extremely easy read; and although you knew quickly where the book was going to take you; you can't help but enjoy the story. A really lovely feel good story!

When first realised this was a follow on from an earlier book, I was a bit disappointed as I had struggled with the previous one. However I really enjoyed this one, perhaps I was prepared for the fact that it is set in 60s when I wasn't with the preceding book, I really loved the characters, especially the 3 children and the seemingly frosty Penelope, I'd definitely recommend this one

I read and quite enjoyed the previous book in this series, featuring the same character in both but she takes centre stage in this one.
As with the previous book this too is in the 1960s and follows the exploits of a well-to-do young heiress who, having previously lived a life of freedom in London, latterly with friends featured in book one, she is expected to head to Switzerland to be in the care of her remaining family members until she comes of age. Finding herself in Paris she ends up becoming nanny / housekeeper / governess for young children in Provence and becoming entangled with, and eventually falling for, their father.
I realise it’s make believe and a work of fiction; however I found the story completely unbelievable, more so than the first book. Perhaps it’s because it was set in the ‘60s and things were different then, but on the whole it just had a ‘jolly hockey sticks’ feel.
Sadly, this book did not appeal to me this time. It has made me realise that I prefer books of this genre to be set in more current times as these are more believable (I do like historical / time slip novels though, so perhaps it’s just this book).. The premise was possible but the timing and the portrayal of the characters made it unbelievable and feel too old fashioned.

A lovely uplifting book a story of a young woman who travels to Paris en route to Switzerland and ends up applying for a job as a nanny to children she has never even met
The following day she finds out she isn’t even going to be staying in Paris but is to travel south to the French country and this man’s château where she meets his three children, and a housekeeper who walks out as they walk in. So she has to start of at quite a pace lighting the oven as the huge range is just too big and rustling up food from eggs and stale bread but Alexandra does and wins her first battle with these children
She has many more to overcome ex wives jealous work colleagues and self doubt as in the French culture nannies are no better than servants
But with hard work lots of love and determination this young woman turns everything around not on her own but with a little help
A beautiful book of love and memories and family

Another great book from Katie Fforde. Loved all the characters, some whom we have met in a previous title by this author. Beautifully written and easy to read

A loved that this story centred around Alexandra, a character from 'A Wedding in the Country', with the other characters making an appearance along the way. Having said that, you don't need to have read the previous book to read this.
A charming story, following Lexi as she takes a job in France as a nanny, desperate to avoid going to Switzerland to finishing school, which is what her relations want her to do.
A great selection of characters, including the family pets. It may be an unconventional family, but is it fun and full of love.
A charming story, a real page-turner, I had to keep reading!