Dreamy, cosy and heartwarming, Falling for Provence by Alison Roberts tells a story about a woman who goes to France to fix up a house she inherited and meets her new neighbour and his son.

Summary: Eleanor "Ellie" Gilchrist comes to Provence to fix up an old stone house "La Maisonette" that she inherited from an uncle she never knew she had. There, she meets her new neighbour, Julien Rousseau, and his son Theo. The two are hesitant about acting on their feelings for each other as they spend time together.

Tropes/Genres:
• small town
• neighbours
• single father
• contemporary romance
• set in Provence, France

Review: This book is so nice! The characters are so lovely and realistic. It's so nice to see how they grow throughout the story and learn to love bravely again. The writing feels so gentle and dreamy, creating such a nice cosy vibe while touching on delicate topics and balancing them with a dash of humour.

Ellie is such a sweet character. I just wanted to best for her, honestly. She has been through a lot. It was cute to see her pick up French and start to feel a sense of belonging in France the more time she spent there. I love the way she couldn't help but care for Julien's son, Theo. She's such a compassionate person that one can't help but love her.

Julien is such a nice guy and an amazing dad. He will do anything to protect Theo. Their father-son bond is so heartwarming to see. His backstory is honestly so sad, but it made him who he is today. He's a doctor, and he doesn't hesitate to help anyone in need.

I just think that Ellie and Julian are good for each other, and they have a cosy chemistry. The other characters in this book, such as Ellie's sisters, are also likeable. Here's a special shoutout to Coquelicot and Marguerite, her donkeys! I also absolutely love Pascal, the stray dog that the two of them saved.

Overall, this is such a nice and cosy book for romance readers. I definitely recommend it to those who want to read a small-town single-dad romance set in France! The characters are so lovely, and the story is so heartwarming. This is certainly worth a read.

P.S. I want to eat socca now.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the read.

Second chances in a picturesque setting🌄🍋🍷

4.5🌟 stars
I find it hard to believe many would not fall in love with Provence, the quaint villages and rural landscape, after reading Alison Roberts' descriptions in Falling for Provence. The serenity, healthy living and chance for healing offered to Scottish Ellie when she spends the summer fixing up the long-vacant cottage she and her sisters inherited seems pretty idyllic, especially those chances to sip wine on the terrace and watch a beautiful sunset either alone or with her handsome widower neighbor Julien. It's got a good, second chance romance, a cutie three-year old, some engaging donkeys and a stray dog that quickly worms his way into Ellie's heart.

I really liked the author's writing style which made it a fairly quick, easy read with plenty of emotional content and a good, gradual transformation for Ellie and Julien.

I felt there was a bit of something missing at the end regarding how Julien obtained a unique and meaningful piece of art, maybe in an effort to finish off the story quickly, but otherwise Falling for Provence was a really satisfying read.

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

An easy summer read from Alison Roberts. Following Ellie and her two sisters as they inherit a property in Provence. A bit predictable but still lovely. Thanks to Alison and her publisher for the advanced copy. Thanks to NetGalley

This book was just okay for me. I liked getting to know the characters better as the story progressed, but ultimately I could see where it was going and I just wanted it to end. The author does a very good job at setting the scene and making the reader feel as if she were there.

I received this ARC from the publisher for my honest opinion.

Ellie Gilchrist and her two sisters inherit a dilapidated stone house in Provence from an uncle they never knew. Ellie travels there with one sister and decides to stay to renovate the property, hoping to escape her grief. She meets her neighbor, Julien, a grieving doctor, and his son, Theo, and their initial encounter is tense. After Ellie has an accident and a stray dog is injured, Julien helps her, and she decides to care for the dog temporarily. As Ellie works on the house, she begins to connect with the local surroundings and people, including Julien, and experiences emotional healing and renewal. The book is about new beginnings and rediscovering joy in life.

Having spent a summer in France as a teenager, I am a sucker for any book that makes use of this beautiful setting. Luckily the writing and storyline were also engaging, to go with the gorgeous landscape,

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this story set in France. very good characters, and the setting was beautiful. I enjoyed the book very much..

I really enjoyed this novel set in beautiful France, the characters were warm, the setting wonderful and the author transported me to sunnier climes. Would recommend a little bit of escapism..

"Falling for Provence" is a delightful escape filled with warmth, charm, and the promise of new beginnings. Alison Roberts’ portrayal of the stunning Provençal landscape serves as the perfect backdrop for Ellie’s journey of self-discovery. I was instantly drawn into the story, feeling the lushness of the lavender fields and the quaintness of small-town life.

Ellie is a relatable protagonist whose struggles resonate deeply, and I found it inspiring to follow her as she navigates her grief while opening herself up to the possibility of love again. The dynamic between her and Julien is beautifully crafted; their chemistry is palpable, and I loved watching their relationship blossom amidst the challenges they each face.

Roberts has a talent for creating a cozy atmosphere that makes you feel like you’re part of the story. The addition of the sweet stray dog adds a lovely touch that enhances the theme of finding warmth and love in unexpected places.

I wholeheartedly recommend "Falling for Provence" to anyone seeking a touching, romantic read that celebrates love, healing, and the magic of starting over. It’s a perfect choice for those who want to be swept away to a sun-kissed landscape where hope blossoms anew. This novel left me with a smile and a longing for my own French adventure!

Very slow and rather predictable, (if I’m honest it was more of a 2.5 stars) it was the lovely descriptions of France that kept me engaged.

I was expecting more depth to the story and imagined that there was some foreshadowing of a great revelation that the mysterious artist was a relative but no.

An easy read that didn’t require a thought or analysis.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood for this ARC.

Wonderful romance set in beautiful scenery. Ellie stays in Provence to renovate a house left to herself and siblings. A relief from grief, and a way to move on. Friendship with neighbour Julien develops....... Perfect summer reading.

Falling for Provence beautifully transports readers to the South of France, where Ellie Gilchrist, grappling with deep personal loss, inherits a rundown house. The vivid descriptions of Provence create a strong sense of place, making Ellie’s journey of healing and the restoration of the house deeply moving.

While the romance between Ellie and her neighbour Julien is predictable, it’s heartwarming and authentic. The story really drew me in, making it a wonderfully engaging, quick read - perfect for the summer! Overall a memorable story about healing, love, loss, and new beginnings. Perfect for anyone looking for a heartfelt escape.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy for review.

I really enjoyed this book. A setting waiting to be brought to life and someone who was hurting so badly she needed a change of scenery. This delightful story was a joy from start to finish and I found myself so immersed in the characters I didn’t want the story to end. Glorious.

Falling For Prevence is a wonderfully written book with a stunning locale. It was a great book. Read this on publication day.

What a captivating, sweet read with all the magic ingredients, new beginnings, moving on and finding the meaning of life again and living it to the fullest. This is the story of Ellie one of three sisters who inherited a house in the South East of France. Going there she is fully set on getting the house in order so that they will be able to sell it. Ellie takes on the project and it is going to be a lot more than she expected. This story unravels beautifully and Ellie discovers the neighbors, the surroundings of Provence. It's as if you can feel that Provence is outside your door. Feeling the sun, the lemons, olive trees as well as the atmosphere of how life in that region is. As a reader of this book, and having lived there a couple of decades I can perfectly relate to the magic described in this book. Ellie meets her neighbor Julien, from there on a lot happens, new places discovered with a daily life to be lived even if it at times could seem rather difficult. A nice story that was impossible to put down, with a feel good feeling along the way!
I truly enjoyed this read and discovering this new to me author.

Thank you!
Charlotte N

I did enjoy Falling for Provence, largely due to the terrific imagery that captures the beauty of the region, and not just the sea, the houses, the gardens, and trees, but also the light and how the light captures the mood and reflects it. Author, Alison Roberts, focuses on how the house and Ellie’s life are reflected in the journey that her summer in Provence undertakes. Ellie is able to accept what cannot be changed, even as she uses her grief as a way to transform the house she and her sisters have inherited, turning a neglected house into a beautiful home to be cherished. Since I recently returned from a vacation in Provence, I appreciated how nicely Roberts captures that area. There should be a trigger warning about the death of an infant, and while the author does capture the grief and self-blame that this kind of loss engenders, the loss of a child is a grief that would not be so easily solved by falling in love.

The characters are interesting, but the plot was quite predictable. There were no surprises, and the slight effort to create suspense and tension did leave some holes I expected to have filled. Thank you to Boldwood Publishers and to NetGalley. Falling for Provence was a fast read, and I suspect Roberts' fans will enjoy this romance. 3.5 stars

A beautiful well written book that follows a stead pace of a families sudden inheritance from an unknown family member. .One of the daughters goes to stays at the beautiful if terribly rundown cottage set in the heart of Provence as she is trying to rebuild her own life after a personal tragedy. There are triggers in the book regarding child mortality and grief though beautifully handle. .
Some readers may find the story a tad predictable but it is a lovely stead read that make you feel like you are there and part of Ellie and Julian’s own personal journey to put the past to rest. A very heart warming read and I dreamt I was there . A very comforting and heartwarming read.. I thoroughly enjoyed it. 4.5/5

This is such a beautiful romantic story set in the gorgeous setting of Provence. Ellie Gilchrist, along with her sisters, inherit ‘La Masionette’ a rundown stone house. After her and sister Laura travel to France to look at it she decides to stay to get it ready for putting on the market to sell. It is obvious from the start that Ellie has suffered some trauma and needs space and time to heal. I like the fact that initially it is alluded to and is sympathetically explained in a very sensitive way. It’s not long before she meets her very guarded neighbour Julien and his son Theo. There is a sadness there and it’s not long before their story is also revealed. Together they start to act on their feelings for each other and their friendship develops into something more. I thoroughly enjoyed this, loved the characters and the descriptions of the house and area. Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC

I absolutely loved Falling for Provence, it was superb! For starters it’s set in France so it was always going to be a winner in my eyes as a self-confessed Francophile, but it was a beautifully put together story. Fabulous characters, evocatively descriptive, and with donkeys and little Pascal the terrier what’s not to love. I didn’t want it to end, Highly recommended. Ten stars 🌟😊

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Read in one sitting. The characters were great and the description of the house and area were fabulous. I wanted to go there!
You couldn’t help but fall into Ellie and Julien’s story and heartache. I cannot wait to see if this is going to the the first book in a series with the sisters. Plenty of hints in it.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley.