Thank you for my copy of this book to read and review.

I have read a few of Jo Thomas’ previous books and have always enjoyed them. This latest one was no exception.

I didn’t realise it was a follow-up to Escape the French Farmhouse. I read this years ago so couldn’t remember anything about the previous story but I didn’t feel it mattered at all. There are a few brief re-caps but it could easily be read as a standalone.

I always love the way she describes the locations and the food, you could easily imagine you were in the lavender fields in this book. These books are always easy to read and very enjoyable...they are guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

I would definitely recommend this book, and any of her previous ones too.

I wasn’t aware this was a sequel so will now need to read the first one. It was a nice enjoyable read, didn’t take me long to read it! This was my first Jo Thomas book and now looking forward to reading others. A lovely summer read, I read this out in the sun.

A Lovely rambling tale of village life, the lavender harvest and the village bistro. There is romance there but it is subtle and takes a back seat to the friendship and care that the crew have for each other. Strangers united to harvest the lavender, hold each other up through grief, death and feeling unwelcome or out of sorts. This book is a great microscope look at learning to love and love life your own way.

Set in beautiful Provence, this is a heartfelt story about how friends support each other.
An emotional book,
full of vivid descriptions and good people. It is also a feast for all the senses. I can still smell the lavender. A very enjoyable read.

A really enjoyable books. Gentle unfolding of story. Lots of interesting characters and the bonus of a a lot about cooking! Highly recommend.

i love to read books by jo thomas and again this is no exception it is so easy to get into and dam hard to put down full of excitement and of course plenty of food along the way and this time in the warm place of provence telling a tale of lavender pickers all with their own stories to unfold along with dee and fabien and all the locals brill in one word

Never read this author before and wasn't aware that this was a sequel. That didn't really matter as this is easily a stand alone book. Perfect holiday read, charming, light hearted and fun.
There were some negatives but I suppose they are common across books of this type. It is a bit plot by numbers, Del was irritating but grew a bit on me from half way through. Sometimes though that doesn't really matter. You can just lose yourself in Provence which is never a bad move
3.5/5 stars which in this instance I've rounded up not down
Formatting issues need sorting and some typos

I haven’t read the first novel in this series but didn’t feel it mattered. Lots of crises occurring one after the other blamed on the mistral blowing through the village. This is a sweet read, ideal holiday book, perhaps a little too predictable and sweet for my tastes.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC

Jo Thomas books never disappoint! I always love the fact her books are related to food in some way or another and how food connects people together, it always makes me feel warm and comforted. The first book of Jo's I read was infact Escape To The French Farmhouse and it's one of my all time favourite books, so when I realised this one was a follow on from that book I couldn't put it down! The picture Jo paints of Provence, the farmhouse, the lavender fields I just imagine I'm there with them all, harvesting alongside the fabulous characters. This book is absolutely filled with self discovery, Friendships, love and community and I highly recommend.

Yet another amazing trip with Jo Thomas, this time to Provence. Brilliantly written as always, made me want to visit a Lavender Farm and just walk through it enjoying the heady aroma. In true Jo style there was plenty of wonderful food on offer.
This book was worthy of my 5 star review.

I was surprised that there was a follow up to Del's story. I don't think there needed to be one. There was some angst in this story yes, but it felt contrived. I did read the first book, so the sequel jogged some memories, but for Henry to be mentioned so many times was boring. Del was the main culprit. The point was laboured. I am also disappointed in the writer for giving Del and Fabien the ending she did (I can't say any more otherwise it would be a spoiler), but I felt it to be a cliche. I think if a sequel had to be written, then Del and Fabien should have been supporting characters, and a new character should have been the main focus. Some of the people staying at the farm could have been featured far more. Plus points are the food descriptions and the scenic descriptions. With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a super read for a sunny beach, you could almost smell the lavender. Made me laugh and even managed a tear. Great summer read. I haven’t read any of this author’s previous books- I guessed that she’d written about the characters before, but it didn’t spoil it for me- definitely a stand alone book

Another gorgeous story from Jo Thomas revisits the characters in Escape To The French Farmhouse, and introduces us to a whole set of new ones in the pickers who come from the UK and Australia to Provence, to help UK-born Del harvest the lavender. But can they also help Del face the challenges of losing a beloved friend, the demise of her livelihood, and the possible end of her relationship with sexy French musician Fabien? Not to mention face and overcome their own challenges.
This can be read as a stand-alone novel, and I really enjoyed the characters, the atmosphere and the suspenseful plot. As always, Jo Thomas makes me laugh and cry with the mix of human emotions she brings to all her stories. Not to mention all the delicious food content, that has me reaching for my own recipe books, and wondering how I can incorporate lavender into fish finger sandwiches ,,,
Another winner for me.

This is another great Jo Thomas book. The beautiful descriptions of Provence and the lavender fields took you there straight away. The main characters were very likeable and the lovely way the lavender pickers came together to help Jo when problems started mounting up was heartwarming. The romance with Fabien was charming and romantic. Highly recommended.

A story full of love, laughter, friendship and cooking, seasoned with heartache, jealousy and tragedy.
I loved the easy going nature of this book, easy to read, which doesn't spoil the story.
I could smell the lavender and marvelled at the menus. Thoroughly enjoyable couple of hours

Sun, Lavender, Love, Friendship, Family & Food! Perfection, however when a loved one dies it turns life upside-down.
As soon as I started this book the characters seemed familiar. I love Jo Thomas' books and soon realised that this was a sequel to Escape to the French Farmhouse which I had read and loved previously. However saying that this could easily be read as a stand-alone book.
As always Jo's books are wonderfully descriptive, I read this on a rainy Bank Holiday feeling like I was in sunny Provence.
Beautiful book!

I was so excited to receive an invitation to revue this book. Having read Jo Thomas’ other books I knew I had a treat in store. I was right!!
From the beginning, when the Mistral upturned everyone’s lives, I was there in amongst the lavender fields…..seeing and absorbing the fragrance! Jo’s writing is so gently evocative and compelling. Her story lines, as they weave amongst the fields of Provence, capture attention
I am not going to spoil the plot by repeating it, but just say that this is a story to be savoured and enjoyed!

If you ever wondered what happened to Del and Fabien and their lavender farm in Provence, wait no longer because here it is.

Things are going pretty well, Henri and Rhi are travelling the world together while Del manages their restaurant Henri's, she and Fabien are busy, although his brocant is not as busy as they would like. Then the infamous mistral descends leaving behind it a literal trail of destruction and some tragic news. Afraid she might be holding Fabien too close, Del encourages him to go on tour with his old band when one of the band members injures himself, but that leaves her alone to manage the lavender harvest and the itinerant pickers at a time when her brain feels totally foggy.

AS Del lurches from one crisis to another her livelihood and her romance appear to be at risk, can she, her friends, and a bunch of misfits here for the lavender picking make everything right?

I enjoyed this, but I felt some of the drama was a bit manufactured, I would have enjoyed seeing Del and Fabien again without the angst.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

From the highly talented author of so many women's fiction books, Jo Thomas, we have this the latest of hers "Love in Provence ".
Stephanie was a single mother who would do whatever it takes to provide for her son Thomas, but now she is married to JB and has two further children. She lives in the South of France and runs a successful baking firm. Her best friend Del is always there for her, Del's marriage to Ollie is over, he has returned to England and she stayed in Provence and became a partner in her friends Henri's bistro. Henri also looked out for Stephanie but when he had a heart attack and decided it was time to slow down a bit everyone stepped into help. At that same time Del also found love again with Fabian, and as JB works with Fabian, they all work happily together as friends. The mistral (a very strong wind) has caused havoc in the square and uprooted a massive tree, breaking windows of the shops. But this is not the only devastation, and when Henri unexpectedly dies his wife Rhi is understandably devastated, he died whilst they were on holiday in New Zealand and she has returned home with his ashes.

Everyone staying and working on the lavender farm has there own personal stories and as you read on you become involved in them, understanding and sharing is one of the guests main attributes too. Full of friendships old and new, all brought together in a gorgeous location full of fragrant lavender, and gorgeous sounding dishes. This is truly a superb story.

Love in Provence by Jo Thomas



This is a sequel to an earlier book by Jo Thomas, entitled Escape to the French Farmhouse. I always look forward to Jo Thomas’s books, sure of a compelling story, and this title definitely did not disappoint. As usual, she transports her readers to a beautiful location, this time a charming village in Provence. The stunning, bright cover of the book beautifully illustrates what to expect from the story within; you can almost smell the lavender. I enjoyed meeting up with many familiar faces and finding out what had transpired in the period between the two stories, but you would not have needed to read the previous book to enjoy this one.



The story once again centres on Del, who moved three years ago from England to Provence, where she now lives with partner Fabien (previously spelt Fabian) in a large farmhouse surrounded by lavender fields. She has made many friends in the village where she lives and, with support from a local chef, has developed a love of cooking, incorporating the local herbs and lavender into her dishes. As the lavender harvest is almost upon her, the Mistral sweeps through the village, bringing with it great changes in Del’s life, mostly unwelcome ones. It seems there is one blow after another, and she must face most of them without Fabien by her side. Luckily, she finds support from some unexpected sources as well as her old friends. There are so many worries over and above whether the harvest can be completed, and, most of all, will Fabien come home?



I highly recommend this latest book from Jo Thomas. Whether or not you have read her previous story about Del and her new life in Provence, this charming and romantic tale is bound to prove an enjoyable read. I loved so many of the characters in this book. Del herself certainly had a hard time of it and I felt for her facing so many problems as they stacked up. However, the sense of community in the village came across once more. The surprise for Del and the reader was the way in which the itinerant lavender pickers came to the fore and pitched in. They were a really interesting group, and often a source of humour. As I usually find with Jo’s marvellous writing, I really felt that I was there in the village with Del every time I sat down to read. Of course, there was also all that lovely food that was being produced and described all through the book, making even me want to go into the kitchen and cook.