A beautiful story about fresh starts and discovering who you really are with the stunning setting of the South of France as a backdrop, VILLA OF SUN AND SECRETS by Jennifer Bohnet is simply wonderful.

Carla has just buried her elderly mother and while clearing out her things, uncovers a letter from her Aunt Josette in France whom they are all estranged from. Wondering about that side of her family, it may just have come at the perfect time because when Carla discovers that her husband has cheated on her, yet again, she is no longer willing to look the other way. Packing up her belongings, Carla sets off to find her Aunt in France and a journey of a lifetime awaits as secrets, heartache, and hope will all come to bloom in a villa that will take your breath away.

This lovely book has got it all - drama, loss, secrets, and love, and I was hooked as soon as I read the first page. The characters are well-developed and I felt for Carla as she yearned to forge a relationship with Josette, who has her guard up and tries to keep Carla at a safe distance, but as we get a glimpse into Josette's past we begin to understand this woman a little better. This writer has a fabulous way of bringing a setting alive and after reading VILLA OF SUN AND SECRETS, I wanted to book a family trip to France asap!

VILLA OF SUN AND SECRETS by Jennifer Bohnet is an engaging and entertaining story with characters that will warm your heart and I highly recommend it to all fiction fans.

This was a superb summer read and I loved being whisked to the south of France.
This book keeps you on your toes as the family secret is revealed. The villa is a perfect setting and is the icing on the cake

A French villa and a long lost secret is an incredible base for any story to be set upon and this delivered in spades. I fell in love with the rustic setting immediately and loved how the story came alive before my eyes with the turn of each and every page.


The characters were crafted to perfection and weaved a stunning narration throughout the book that had me hooked to each and every word. The storyline was rich in secrets, love and the ability to create new beginnings no matter what age and I applauded their bravery and determination to live their best life.


Villa of Sun and Secrets is a warm and welcoming read and is perfect for these long summer evenings. So sit back, sip a chilled glass of wine and dive straight in....you will not be disappointed in the slightest. I loved every minute of my time spent with this story and I very much look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Carla Sullivan has just buried her mother and upon clearing out her house she discovers a letter addressed to her mother’s sister, Josette. She is not sure what to do with the letter as a big family rift caused the family to fall apart years ago. Back home, she discovers that her husband David is cheating, once again.

On impulse, she decides she has had enough and buys a ticket to the South of France to visit her Aunt Josette. Josette and her mother hadn’t spoken for many years and Carla doesn’t know that much about her or the French side of her extended family but with recent events, she has decided it is time to find out about them and the rift that pulled her extended family apart.

Josette, whilst happy to see her niece would rather keep the past where it is and doesn’t want to get too close to Carla. Some secrets should stay just that, but can Carla get her Aunt to open up to her and sort out her marital issues too?

Villa of Sun and Secrets is an adorable book with the most gorgeous scenery as we not only visit Antibes with Carla but also Monaco and Cote d'Azur.

Both Carla and Josette were tough women who have had their problems in life. Carla is used to relenting to her husband David but this time it’s different, not only with the new woman Lisa but in Carla herself. She somehow feels stronger and more determined to change her life, especially as she is nearing fifty.

Josette has run a rather carefree life. The secrets of the past have made her harden her emotions, like building a brick wall around herself. She has lived an extraordinary carefree life which we get to read in snippets.

The book is simply beautiful and I loved getting to know these two women as well as wanting to stay at Villa Mimosa. As the secrets unravelled I felt for both women, especially Josette, having to relive the past and Carla having to hear it for the first time.

This is a beautiful book full of life and intrigue. It was an easy read and the pages just flew by as I couldn’t put it down. Jennifer Bohnet has created a story in the most stunning of place and that along with the plot make this a must-read novel.

An escapist, enjoyable and uplifting summer read, Villa of Sun and Secrets is a spellbinding tale about seizing the day, taking chances and new beginnings readers will not be able to put down.

Carla Sullivan’s fiftieth birthday might be fast approaching, but she is certainly in no mood for celebrating. After her mother’s death and the discovery that her unfaithful husband has been playing away yet again, Carla needs to get away and escape and finding a letter addressed to her mother’s estranged sister Josette in the South of France is just what the doctor ordered. Spending some time away in the Antibes will enable Carla to figure out what she is going to do next with her life now that her entire world has been turned upside down – and getting to know the enigmatic Tante Josette will be the cherry on the cake…or will it? Will Josette welcome her long-lost niece with open arms? Or will Carla end up regretting her decision to come to the South of France?

As Carla and Josette begin to forge a tentative relationship, a tangled web of secrets and lies slowly begins to unravel leaving Carla to wonder whether she had made the right decision in coming to visit her aunt. As Carla begins to question the life she has always known and wondering just what the future holds, will she manage to lay old ghosts to rest, move on from the past and start living life on her own terms? Or will she continue to be held hostage by old mistakes and long-buried secrets?

Villa of Sun and Secrets is an addictive read that will keep readers riveted to their sun loungers desperate to find out what happens next. Jennifer Bohnet is a terrific writer who has created two fantastic characters readers cannot help but relate to and cheer for. Carla and Josette are brilliantly written, wonderfully realized and so believable, they will feel like old friends by the last page. The South of France is so vividly and beautifully described that readers will want to pack a bag and take the first flight to the Antibes.

Witty, heartwarming and simply irresistible, Villa of Sun and Secrets is a fabulous tale from the talented Jennifer Bohnet that should not be missed.

The Villa of the title is Villa Mimosa, set in the South of France, a 50% share of which has been left to Carla after her mother's death. Her mother,Amelia, was one of a set of twins, who hadn't spoken to her sister,Josette, for more years than Carla can remember. Carla merely knows that having offered her Aunt Josette the chance to say goodbye to her mother was not welcomed, nor did she return for the funeral.

On discovering the latest in a string of affairs by her husband, courtesy of a diamond necklace intended for his mistress, and a sealed letter from her mother to her aunt, Carla tries to take her life under control and leaves, hoping to reconnect with Josette and lay some family ghosts to rest.

Little does she realise that this journey will be the catalyst for the revelation of more than one deeply buried family secret.

However , some things need to see the light of day in order for healing to begin and it is about time that Carla learns it is never too late to start over...

This is marketed as a quick, light hearted read with complex family relationships put under the microscope. I have to admit that I struggled to connect with Carla as a character, the way that she put up with constant infidelities and then suddenly had enough did not seem to ring true to me.

She appeared to have been spending her entire life as a doormat and David, her husband was spectacularly awful.He treated her like that because she allowed him to, and then was suddenly 50 something with no future and saw herself as 'past it'.

This was difficult to reconcile with her sudden abandonment of Britain to live in France as she seemed such a passionless creature.  I could not see how they had stayed married so long, it certainly was not for the children, twins Maddy and Ed who were grownups living their own lives. But even they were quick to cast judgement left and right despite having left home as quickly as they were able to.

Even the revelations of family secrets, which seemed a bit inexplicable,didn't particularly phase Carla . So on the one hand there were quite huge revelations, yet there was a lack of authentic reactions to this news in this reader's opinion. The book presents itself as a light hearted read, yet is dealing with heavy themes so that it went from light to dark very quickly, creating a sense of dissonance that left me puzzled.

I am absolutely sure that this is my fault as a reader, and that this will appeal more to others who read extensively in this genre. It felt, to me, like there were two stories and characters in this book that couldn't make their minds up what they were doing-sort of like a mashup between a light hearted tv programme and a serious drama that didn't work on either score. It was confusing and I wish I liked it more than it did. I am very grateful to Boldwood for the blogtour opportunity and I am sorry that this is not as positive a review as could have been wished for. I didn't not like it but after I finished, I struggled to remember names of family members and quite easily moved on to my next read.

As I say, I am sure that other readers who are more experienced in the field of women's fiction will have a better perspective than me and I would definitely recommend reading the reviews that accompany the blogtour,as they are all excellent bloggers who will offer a different point of view.

Jennifer Bohnet never fails to write a fully rounded, 3d story that is fully immersive.  with every single word she brings characters, settings, dramas and romance alive to provide a fully immersive and delightful read.  Villa of Sun and Secrets is no exception and completely delivers by all accounts making this book the perfect summer companion.

Shortly after the death of her mother, Carla finds out her husband is cheating yet again.  with her world both crumbling down but her resolve becoming stronger than ever, Carla travels to Antibes to sort out her mother's estate and to reunite with her Aunt Josette but there are secrets, and some secrets may need to be kept that way.

This is a read that is impossible to put down and sucks you in from the very first page.  The two main protagonists are Josette and Carla and they take turns to narrate the story sow e see both sides.  Both characters are very different but extremely likable.  Carla is just sweet and a little naive but her story is about her journey establish her own life and follow her own dreams.  On the surface Josette is a carefree older woman who has and does live life to the fullest when she can but there is always a lurking sense of regret and secrecy around her story.  Together the two women have to develop and nurture their relationship whilst navigating some difficult topics.  I felt that both characters were written from the heart, for me they were real living and breathing people and I became fully invested in their journeys.         

Everyone knows that I'm a sucker for a novel with a stunning setting and this one does not disappoint.  Antibes is beautifully described to the point where I wanted to curl up in the pages and never leave.  Every scent, sound and sight is detailed perfectly.

This is a perfect summer read - highly recommended.

What a brilliant read. First read by this author and not my last.
Carland sullivan has just turned 50 and although life has taken a twist she also finds the gift of her husband having another affair. She finds what she needs to get away and does just that, escapes. To Antibes in the south of France to find someone... as time goes on she begins to question herself and her life. There are lots of secrets to find out whether there's any truth in it.
I couldn't put this book down, brilliant read.

The author's knowledge and love of France come through clearly in this story. The setting is vivid, beautiful, and sometimes in sharp contrast to the revelations at the villa.

This is a multi-generational story, a family drama, which unfolds in Tante Josette's villa in Antibes.
Carla's life has not been easy, an unfaithful husband, looking after her sick mother, and now an empty nest, something needs to change. Finding something in her mother's possessions gives her the opportunity of a break from her life and uncharacteristically she takes it.

This is a story of love, lies and secrets, new relationships and forgiveness. The chance to see an ending as a new beginning. The issues explored are emotionally draining, but the outcome is hopeful and makes the angst worthwhile.

The characters are flawed, sometimes they lack the courage to take the first step to something better, but they are easy to empathise and believable. The setting is a lovely contrast to the drama and emotions and the story's ending is heartwarming.

I received a copy of this book from Boldwood Books via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Geez, was a bit like opening Pandora’s box with this one! With the cover being so colourful and summery, I was expecting a light and fluffy novel. What I got, however, was something incredibly different. ‘Villa of Sun and Secrets’ is such a rollercoaster ride of a story. One minute Carla was living in her marital home, and then the next she was filing for a divorce from a husband who couldn’t keep it in his pants. What a lovely bloke.

Anyway, Carla soon realised that she deserved better, and with a big birthday looming, she couldn’t think of a better time to create a life that shr was finally worthy of. I don’t think she expected the hurdles she came up against along the way….

Multiple times I had my hand clasped over my mouth in shock at what I had just read. Naturally I’m not going to say why, I’m not that mean to drop spoilers, but goodness me the Jeremy Kyle are gutted that they missed out on this one!!

As weird as this sounds, I was gripped by the rocky family dynamics and I was eager to find out where everyone stood. I still couldn’t believe my eyes though, and yet it wasn’t me receiving the news that Carla and Josette did!

I couldn’t help but love this emotive, cosy novel that had so many wonderful characters in it to get to know. I have never been to France, however after the beautiful descriptions of the setting, I would happily go and visit there in a heartbeat.

Jennifer Bohnet has such an idyllic, sensual way with words which makes her stories and characters come alive flawlessly. ‘Villa of Sun and Secrets’ was such an insightful and delightful read – a real escapism novel.

Carla finds herself at a strange point in her life: the twins are out of the house; she's turning 50 soon; her prickly mother who suffered from Alzheimers has passed away and her husband is embarking on yet another of his affairs.
Whilst clearing her mother's home for sale, she encounters a sealed envelope addressed to her estranged twin sister back in France. With nothing keeping her in England Carla decides to hand deliver the envelope to her Tante Josetta.
And so begins a new phase of her life, set in the beautiful French Riviera. Everything is about to change radically in her life.
A heart-warming story about hidden secrets that can rip families apart but also re-ignite family bonds; a tale of finding yourself again in the midst of the beautiful Villa Mimosa - the villa that belongs to Carla's family.
It's the first book by Jennifer Bohnet that I've read, but it doesn't disappoint at all. She handles this tale of a 50 year old secret that has the potential to destroy lives, with such comprehension; delicacy and respect.
It was truly a beautiful read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me the chance to experience this book.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. A heart warming story of family, friendship and love. This is a perfect summer read with great characters. Please let there be a sequel !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In this book we meet Carla.  Wife, mother to grown up twins, housewife.  She has recently lost her elderly mother and on clearing out her things in readiness for the house to go on the market she finds an envelope address to her Aunt Josette who lives in Antibes on the South coast of France.  The two sisters had a falling out years ago and haven't spoken since.

Carla's husband David casually suggests that she take a short holiday and delivers the letter in person.  Carla isn't sure about this idea until a few days later when she makes the heartbreaking discovery that David is up to his old tricks. Another affair.

This is finally one too many. Carla immediately packs a bag, taking the letter with here and flees to Antibes.  She wants some time to think things over and acknowledges that things have been bad within her marriage for some time and plans for her divorce.

What Carla doesn't anticipate is the opening of a Pandora's box full of long buried secrets surrounding the fall out between her mother and aunt Josette, and so begins this wonderful tale of family, love, heartbreak and 2 lives lived apart.

This was a super summer read and I loved being whisked off to the The South of France.  I have spent a couple of holidays in this area myself and found the descriptions of Antibes and the nearby coastal areas perfect and now want to go back there!!  The weather, food and trips to Cannes and Monaco all make this book one to sink right into this summer.  The story line in the first half of the book really gets you routing for Carla and I found her and Tante Josette very likeable characters. The second part of the story keeps you on your toes as the family secret is revealed piece by piece wondering how each new wound can be healed for Carla.  The Villa Mimosa sounds a glorious setting and is the icing on the cake for this super summer read.

I look forward to escaping with more of Jennifer's books and recommend this little piece of sunshine goes onto your summer reading list. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my advance copy.

Carla is about to turn 50, when everything in her life changes suddenly. Her Grown-up children have left home her Mother has died, and she discovers that her Husband has had another affair.
She finds a letter in her late Mother's home, addressed to Carla's estranged Aunt Josette. This is the perfect opportunity for Carla to visit her Aunt in France, and get away from the problems at home, so she can decide what to do with her life.
Things in France are not as perfect as they appear, as she discovers a web of family secrets.
This is an enthralling read. The storyline is good, and there are a lot of twists and turns. I felt that this is not as light reading as the author's previous books, but it is a good book to escape into, and an easy summer read.
The location is stunning, and makes you want to live in the South of France. The descriptions of the area are detailed, and the characters are well developed. I loved reading this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for an ARC.

A fantastic book. Well written plot, beautiful setting and well developed characters. My thanks to the publisher for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

I so enjoyed the Villa of Sun and Secrets, and sun and secrets there most certainly were!

Written across three parts, initially set in England and then across the South of France, we are introduced to the life of Carla and her family. Starting at the point of Carla’s mother’s funeral, an angry Carla cannot understand why her aunt, her mother’s twin, didn’t attend the funeral. Alternating to the live of Josette Carla’s aunt, where unknown to Carla, Josette is sitting in a café in Monaco reliving the memories of her and her twin sister’s life together, before lighting a candle to say a final good bye at the Cathedral, at the same time as the English funeral was taking place. Due to circumstances at home and something Carla’s mother left for Josette, Carla and Josette’s lives come together in unfortunate circumstances and many secrets are slowly told.

The story is very much focused on the family structure, unhappy times, changes, standing up for ones self, love, and doing what is right or best for ones self and all involved.

After the initial shock and excitement of one secret revealed, who would have thought there could be more!? The book definitely takes you through an array of emotions, but leaves you with a warm and happy after.

A lovely 5 star read, one of my favourite reads so far. Full review to follow on.my blog and will include author interview

When Amelia, Carla’s cold and unloving mother, dies, Carla is saddened that Amelia’s sister, Tante Josette, doesn’t attend the funeral.

Twins, Amelia and Josette were both born and raised in Antibes at the beautiful Villa Mimosa but, had mysteriously become estranged.

Carla is married to David and they have two adult children, Maddy and Edward. David has not been a faithful husband but, has never strayed too far or for too long. Everything changes when Carla discovers a jewellers’ box with an exquisite diamond pendant. The note says, ‘to my darling Lisa, all my love David’.

In that moment, Carla decides that it’s time to move on. Yearning to learn more about her mother and aunt Carla hopes to uncover the reason behind their long estrangement. Armed with a bundle that Amelia has left for Josette, Carla makes a life changing decision.

Josette is furiously protective of her privacy and has a strict, ‘only in emergencies’ rule for being contacted. Surely, a broken marriage is a big enough emergency for Carla to reach out.

This book transported me to the beautiful French resort of Antibes; I could feel the warm sun and smell the beautiful flowers at Villa Mimosa. The unravelling of family secrets will always be a painstaking task and the sheer devastation, as history is revealed, left me reeling.

Family secrets uncovered in the south of France. A number of twists and turns to keep you interested. Good holiday read.

Lovely story full of twists - characters were easy to relate to and quite lovable. A story that focuses on how a life decision affected the future of the characters involved and the sacrifices required to put the story straight. Truly a joy to read with the ending that you hoped for.