This is the second book in the series and although I had read the first one it took me a while to reconnect with the characters and I found it difficult at the beginning to re engage. When I did I then began to enjoy the book and to cheer on Del and the pickers who have joined her for the harvest at her lavender farm in Provence.
The new characters are well written but I did feel there was an expectation that the reader already knew a lot about the others so I wouldn’t recommend reading this as a stand alone book.

I enjoyed the descriptions of the food nd life in a small Provençal village and think this is a great summer read.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for a free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book set in rural France as we followed Del and her band of lavender pickers for a summer in the sun.

With unexpected pitfalls along the way, Del waves goodbye to her boyfriend Fabien as he sets off on a tour as a musician, leaving her to deal with the death of a very good friend, and the unscrupulous behaviour of a chef who takes over her bistro.

The characters are full of warmth and kindness, this is a feel good summer novel, that will leave you wanting more. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A pleasant enough book, set in a great part of the world. I liked the plot (although there possibly wasn't a lot to it) and the characters were great - you really wanted them to develop and find their way forward. You could tell that people were not happy where they were in their lives but the group as a whole was such a force that they helped each other to become stronger. The only thing I felt was that there was an awful lot of repetition with the same phrasing used all the time. It did become quite frustrating, where you just wanted to carry on with the story, not go over old ground.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review, which is what I have given.

This book is the second in a series, and although it isn't necessary to read the first in the series, it definitely helps. This book tells the story of Del who runs a lavender farm as well as a small cafe on behalf of its owner. However, when the owner dies, his estranged son comes back and turns the cafe into a high class establishment.

This novel is a pleasant dip into life in the South of France. There is a good range of characters and a good story arc, but it didn't rise above the ordinary for me, as I couldn't bring myself to care too deeply what happened. I think it was because - for me - there was just too much misery and nobody in the story seem to be who they said they were. It just felt too contrived.

It was lovely to return to Provence and meet up with old friends and make new ones too.
The Mistral wind is renowned for causing change and mischief and this season the change is certainly not for the better.
Del finds herself having to cope without partner Fabian and wonderful friend, mentor and business partner Henri.
The community spirit has moved to the lavender farm harvest bringing a group of strangers together- and all their problems too.
This is a lovely read set in beautiful Provence.

This is the first book that I have read by Jo Thomas and I really enjoyed it, the only disappointment was finding that it was a sequel to a previous book that would have given me a better insight into the characters, having said that it can certainly be read as a standalone.
This is a good, old fashioned love story with a bit of angst thrown in for good measure.
Del had left England to live in France, she loved her life, she partnered her good friend, Henri at the Bistro and loved cooking the traditional dishes that he had taught her, she loved her life with Fabien although she did have twinges of insecurity at being ten years his senior, she loved the lavender farm, the lavender soothed her soul, she loved the wonderful friends that she had made, they were like family to her.
Del was happy to take over the Bistro when Henri and Rhi decided to travel, she knew that if everyone pulled together it would work...........but the the mistral came and everything changed.
Tragic news turned Del's idyllic world upside down, money was tight, the mistral had caused damage, the lavender pickers were due, she would have to feed them but more worryingly she would have to pay them. To add to Del's misery, Fabien was called away by the band that he used to play with, they desperately needed a bass guitarist, with a heavy heart, Del encouraged him to go but was it the right thing to do, he would be with people his own age doing something that he loved...........and then there was Zacharie !
This author has wonderful descriptive powers, the meals sound scrumptious, I could practically smell the lavender and picture the cobbled streets.
Thank you to Net Gallery, I received a free copy of this book and my review is voluntary.

What a charming story. The book is based in Provence which in itself is lovely and written so well you can picture yourself there with the smell of lavender. Del moved to the South of France three years ago with her husband. The relationship failed and she decided to stay and make a life for herself. On looking through Jo Thomas’ book list I did not realise this is a follow on and would have liked to have read the first one but this did not detract from the book at all. I did not get the feeling that I had “missed out” although I will read the other book just to get a feel for her relationship prior to the start of this book. Del is helping to run a Bistro called “Henri’s” and has settled into life. Henri decides to travel with Rhi to see the world and she is left in charge which is working really well. Then things change. A mistral comes into the village destroying the front of the Bistro. Del also has lavender fields at her home and she has secured workers to cut the lavender. She struggles to get to grips with the devastation and also has to deal with workers who have arrived. Then there is Fabian. They are a couple but Del worries about their age gap – she is 10 years older. She explains to the workers after a difficult first meal about the Bistro and the fact that Henri had passed away on holiday. They all pull together to help as this is when the book almost gets a life of it’s own. I enjoyed the way the different characters came across and how they all moulded together. A lovely read

I wasn’t aware that this was a sequel to Escape to the French Farmhouse. That was about rebuilding a life whereas this book seems to be about that life falling apart. The lavender pickers were an interesting group of characters with individual personalities and stories but overall this is not as enjoyable as the first book. The sense of place makes this a good summer story. 3.5⭐️ rounded up.

After an attempt to save her ailing marriage failed, Del decided to stay in Provance. But with nothing to her name except an empty farmhouse Del had her work cut out. 3 years later, Del is happy with new love Fabian, running her lavender farm and embracing her passion for cooking at Henri’s, the small towns favourite bistro.
But, as the unpredictable Mistral wind blows in, Del is rocked by the death of a close friend and then Fabian goes away to work for the summer. Then another shock sends her spiralling, and her usual love of cooking deserts her. Can Del manage the farm and look after the lavender pickers on her own or will her life change beyond recognition by summer’s end.
This is a story, of friendship, community and new beginnings set in the sunshine of Provance.

When I started to read this book some of the characters seemed to be familiar and some investigation confirmed that I read "Escape to the French Farmhouse" nearly 4 years ago! This is quite a long gap for a sequel, especially when Jo Thomas was writing other novels in the meantime. Despite the setting, the characters, the story-lines, etc I somehow didn't find this novel as engaging as the first one. I will continue to read Jo's books but I think I prefer the stand-alone ones.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is the second in the series and I loved them both.
Del moved to Provence on to a lavender farm and after one year her husband left her in the first book and she decides to stay and start a new life with new friends and a new romance with Fabian and she takes over Henri`s bistro who was a good friend when she moved and after he had a heart attack.
Del employs workers to collect the lavender we learn of all their stories.
A very moving story on friendship, and the scenery is very descriptive you just want to move there.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC and I give my honest review.

Such a great story line real holiday book, with a little heartache but very happy ending I totally loved this book

A heart warming, summer time read with romance, friendship and the support of community. Del has settled in Provence running a lavender farm with her partner Fabien, but after a well loved friend difficulties arise.

Del is living her best life on her lavender farm in the south of France with Fabien , her new love, and cooking in her favourite restaurant "Henri's" until a sudden change in the weather brings unexpected changes and not all good ones.

A new group of people arrive for the harvest of the lavender, not knowing what lay ahead and the friendships that would form.

A wonderful read about a community , love and friendship and what the bonds of cooking together can bring.

A must read!!

Thanks to #NetGalley for an #ARC of #LoveInProvence.

A classic storyline, feel good book that would be a great beach read or the like. I got slightly annoyed with the main character and her partner, bit other thank that it was beautiful descriptive writing to make you smile and cry at the same time. I'm looking forward to seeing the book with the recipes at the end!

This book just like the first is uplifting as it's about community, about helping others which sadly in many area's today is a rarity & more of us are feeling isolated especially when health issues prevent us from going out socialising & being part of a community, instead we become forgotten! But this book with Del & her Lavender Farm & you can smell the Herbs & Flowers of Provence as the sun warms the land. I will recommend this book as I did the first to many friends here at home & around the globe. #NetGalley, #Goodreads, #FB, #Instagram. #Amazon.co.uk, #<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/8a5b541512e66ae64954bdaab137035a5b2a89d2" width="80" height="80" alt="200 Book Reviews" title="200 Book Reviews"/>, #<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/ef856e6ce35e6d2d729539aa1808a5fb4326a415" width="80" height="80" alt="Reviews Published" title="Reviews Published"/>, <img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/aa60c7e77cc330186f26ea1f647542df8af8326a" width="80" height="80" alt="Professional Reader" title="Professional Reader"/>.

Love and lavender in Provence. Jo Thomas books always have beautiful settings, making you want to set off there on holiday. Del has moved there to run a lavender farm with her beloved Fabian, but he has an unexpected trip away. How will she cope with everything that happens over the summer? With warmth, humour and a lot of help from her friends.

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a review.

I hadn't realised at first that this was a sequel to a book I had previously read but it was nice to catch up with some old friends.

Another lovely book set in Provence. You can almost feel the summer emanating from the pages.

Jo Thomas never fails to write a book that draws me from page one right until the final page.
This was a delight to read. Summer in the south of France on a lavender farm with great characters, wall to wall sunshine, what more could you ask for. A great summer read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.

A lovely feel good book. I really felt like I was in France. A great cast of characters and a well written storyline. I really enjoyed following Del's story and would like to read more by this author. Recommended.