What a fabulous setting in the form of the Palace of Versailles and its gardens. I found the descriptions and the history of the gardens fascinating and it really added something to both the modern love story and that set in the past. An emotional and sometimes uncomfortable read, but in the best possible way. Highly recommended.

What I loved a lot about this book wasn’t only the romance but the way history was incorporated and the way it was discovered made everything even more enjoyable. I’m a sucker for history so this book was right up my alley.

If you love books that are set in Paris or Paris in general, I’m sure that you will love this book. With spring coming, it is a really great time to read it. It makes you excited about the warmer days that are about to come our way

A beautifully written book with locations that are so well described the reader feels they are there.
The characters were all strong, the book being told from Lexie’s prospective. There were many twists to the tale and it made for an intriguing story. Thank you to Netgalley, Boldwood books and Lucy Coleman for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.

A Springtime to Remember

by Lucy Coleman

There are times, like today, when I wonder why I would pick a romance off the virtual bookshelves. Then I read a book like A Springtime to Remember by Lucy Coleman and understanding strikes again. I am hit by a combination of the beauty of Versailles, the ostentatious audacity of the aristocracy of days gone by, a passion for history, the mystery of family relationships, and ultimately the gentle magnetism of two hearts drawn into one.

Lexie, a TV presenter, wants more professionally; it is not enough to be the pretty face in front of the camera. She also has to prove her value to her successful brother, Jake, who very publicly fired her. Lexie is combining forces with cameraman Elliot Nielson to produce and financially back their own mini-series of documentaries. Their first project takes them to France to focus on the Palace of Versailles. Their futures are ironically fixed in the past: Lexie has an added interest in Versailles as her grandmother, an avid gardener, spent a year working in the Versailles gardens immediately prior to her marriage. Mysteriously, she never discussed that year with her family.

Indulge in this clean romance with its appreciation for natural beauty and historical context. You will be treating yourself to lots of smiles and a few tears in the midst of a well-told tale.

I would like to extend my thanks to NetGalley and to Boldwood Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Romance, Women’s Fiction

Publication:   December 26, 2019—Boldwood Books

Memorable Lines:

“Versailles holds so many secrets. The more you uncover, the more you realise the surface has only just been scratched, even after all the years of intense scrutiny.”

I nod my head in agreement, thinking that every family has their problems, they’re just all very different. It’s how you resolve them that counts…

“I’ve learnt that the nature of life is that everyone’s journey is different and, therefore, no one should ever stand in judgement of another. Not least because they have not travelled that same road. Instead, it’s wise to feel grateful if one’s own road is less arduous, or one is simply better equipped to deal with the harsher realities of life.”

I've been a fan of the writer for a while now and this book did not disappoint. It had a great storyline to draw me in and I read it last night as I could not sleep. 
A lovely book I highly recommend

I do love Lucy Coleman's writing. It is flows beautifully and transports the reader to Versailles in this story. Her descriptions are detailed and the reader is able to picture the scenes. This story has several themes going on. There is a romance, a mystery, some family issues, and secrets kept for years. This is the story of Lexie and Roman's love, but it is also her grandmother's journey into the garden of Versailles and what she learned while there, her love and the path she ended up taking. As we learn more about Lexie's Grandma Viv, we see who the lives and Ronan and Lexie intertwine.

I have always wanted to visit the Palace of Versailles especially after reading this book. The story is a mix of detective work, historical research, family dramas and romance, skilfully blended into a story with a few twists and intrigue. I will say that I found it slow to start and it took awhile to get into the mystery and romance. That is my one complaint with this story. I enjoyed the parts with Lexie's family and how they were dealing with their own family issues. Her niece, Maisie, while not in the book often, is a charming character. I liked Lexie and was rooting for her to get closure to all the issues she deals with in this book. There is some angst between Ronan and Lexie caused by past transgressions which I found interesting. Overall, this is a story of love, forgiveness, secrets, family history, beauty and truth. I enjoyed this book and recommend it to those who enjoy romance with a bit of mystery and some history.

I love Lucy Coleman's books and just knew that this would be another amazing read, I mean look at the stunning cover. 
Lexie is following in her Grandma's footsteps and is visiting the Palace of Versailles shooting a documentary.  Alongside the documentary she wants to find out more about her Grandma's time there and why she would not talk about it. Searching through her dairies and scrap books Lexie begins a journey in France that will change not only her life but her families to. 
I found this completely captivating and loved reading about the history of the gardens, how they were created, what the gardens jobs were and the unexpected politics involved. The beauty of France fell from the pages and the love scenes between Lexie and Ronan were a pleasure to read. I was transported to France each time. 
An amazing story that was a pleasure to read it reminded me of times I spent in the garden with my Grandad and the history of each plant or part of the garden that he would talk to me about.

There are three stories in this book, the story of Versailles, Lexi's grandmother, and Lexi herself, and all three are cleverly interwoven. 

The setting of the book is as important as the plot and is a character in its own right. It's beautifully described and I felt as though I was there, even though I've never visited Versailles.

The storyline itself takes several twists and turns and there is a lovely sense of mystery about the whole thing, with a very satisfying conclusion.

A Springtime to Remember is not my first Lucy Coleman novel...I was lucky enough to read Magic Under The Mistletoe  back at Christmas which I loved, so I was very excited to get my hands on a copy of this!

Lexie Winters is a TV presenter with aspirations to become a TV producer, and a successful one.  As part of her climb up the career ladder, she decides to take the risky path of creating her own TV series exploring the Palace of Versailles and its gardens.  She has a very personal attachment to France and the Palace of Versailles, as her grandmother spent a year there in her youth, something she never discussed upon her return.  Following her death, Lexie is keen to find out about the year that shaped her grandmothers future.

Ronan O'Byrne is an interpreter brought in to assist Lexie with her interviews for her TV project.  In the background he has a project of his own, researching for his third book about the gardens of Versailles during different periods in history.  He also has a very personal interest in the history of the Palace of Versailles, a place where his grandfather worked and lived for a period in his younger years.

This novel is all about the setting.  I have not yet been fortunate enough to visit the Palace of Versailles, but Lucy Coleman's descriptions were vivid - I really felt like I was right there with Lexie as she walked through the halls and the gardens, taking in her surroundings steeped in history.  The French setting is exquisite - Lucy captures it all beautifully and I loved it.

Lexie and Ronan's burgeoning relationship works perfectly within the setting.  Getting to know each other whilst they each seek answers to their own family histories - they really compliment each other whilst they grapple with their own personal discoveries, providing love and support when it is most needed.

This is a story of family, it is a story of love and it is the story of the exploration of personal history.  Its a beautiful story, in a beautiful setting and I am very happy to recommend it to you all!

This book has 31 Chapters and is all about the story of Lexie and Ronan. It is well written and the descriptions of Versailles will have you adding this destination to your bucket list of places to visit. The descriptions are so in depth that it makes the reader feel like they can imagine being there. Not only that but the ending of this book is simply brilliant, the perfect way to end the story. Overall I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to discover more titles by Lucy Coleman

I always get excited when I receive a blog tour invitation to review a book by Lucy Coleman and Linn B. Halton. Lucy/Linn is one of my favourite authors and I accept without reading the book's description because I know I am going to enjoy it. I have previously read Magic Under the Mistletoe by Lucy Coleman and The Secrets of Villa Rosso and A Greek Affair by Linn B. Halton so I knew A Springtime to Remember was a book for me- and it was!

A Springtime to Remember centres around Lexie Cole, a daytime tv presenter who has ambitions to be a TV producer. She has always dreamed of making a documentary about the gardens at the Palace of Versailles, ever since her grandma Viv spent a year there in the 1960s. When the situation presents itself, Lexi takes a leap and spends the Spring at Versailles. She also takes the opportunity to delve into her grandma's time at Versailles. 

During her time in France, Lexie encounters some interesting characters and hits it off with Ronan, the interpreter. It isn't an easy ride for them both though and there were a couple of moments where I felt myself welling up. 

One of the many things I love about Lucy Coleman's writing is that it flows effortlessly and she is able to grab me and position me in the story from the first page. I instantly connected with Lexie, as I have with all of Lucy's female protagonists thus far. If it wasn't for life in between, I would not have come up for breath with this story until the end. 

On one level, A Springtime to Remember is about love, loss, family dramas, includes some history about the Palace of Versailles all set in Springtime in France. There's even the classic baguette, cheese and wine picnic :-) On another, deeper, level, it reminds us to be true to ourselves and to follow our dreams. It is another great read from Lucy Coleman.

5☆ A Heart Warming Romance full of Charm

Lexi is saying goodbye to her older sister Shellie and 5yr old niece Maisie for a few months whilst she travels to Versailles to produce a mini travel documentary.

Lexi is a tv presenter but has always dreamed of producing so she teams up with cameraman Elliot and sets off to follow her dreams.

Whilst there she plans on doing some family history research as her Grandma Viv spent time in France in 1961 particularly Versailles. But her Grandma never ever spoke of her time there and Lexi is eager to discover why she never spoke of it.

Elliot sets up a meeting with Ronan the interpreter who is going to work with them on the filming. But as soon as Lexi sets eyes on Ronan she is warming to his laid back charms and his intriguing persona. But not only that, he think he can help Lexi find out about her Grandma.
Is love on the horizons for Lexi, or will Ronan be an unwelcome distraction?

I loved the gorgeous setting for this charming book. Coleman has this way of transporting you right into the heart of the story with her setting descriptions that are always superbly written.

A Springtime to Remember is a heart warming story, about following your dreams, researching family past, a dash of mystery, with plenty of charm, romance, a stunning location, Filled with warm and likeable characters.

Lucy Coleman is one of my favourite Authors and once again she has written a Gem of a book, I have absolutely no problem highly recommending!

Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Lexie has finally decided to follow her dreams and visit the Palace of Versailles to follow in her grandma Viv’s footsteps. Her grandma worked as a gardener at the palace but during her lifetime, mentioned very little of what actually happened there to Lexie. Determined to find out the truth of her family secrets and make a fantastic TV show whilst she’s doing it, Lexie’s sure it will be a springtime to remember.

Lexie’s relationship with Ronan, the interpreter she’s employed to work on the TV show with her is my favourite part of the story. He already knows so much about the Palace, having written books about it himself, he makes the perfect tour guide and friend during her stay. As the friendship develops it blooms into a deeper connection than either of them initially realised. The story doesn’t revolve around the romance and Lexie is strong and independent alone, which is refreshing to see!

The story is as much a mystery book as it is a romance. There are so many secrets multiple characters are uncovering that it’s exciting to read! But as we all know, uncovering secrets doesn’t always end well…

The author clearly loves the Palace of Versailles, the intricacy it is detailed in is phenomenal. It makes you feel as though you are actually standing there looking at the Palace. The description in the book is second to none.

A beautifully descriptive read with a fantastic mystery element. What’s not to love?

A Springtime To Remember has its roots in the past. Ambitious TV presenter Lexie Winters really wants to be a producer and she might just have the resources to make it happen. She’s teamed up with cameraman Elliot Neilson to make a mini series of documentaries filmed at Versailles, about the gardens and how they have evolved over the years. Her grandmother worked there in 1961 and her enthusiasm instilled in Lexie her love of gardening. Lexie also sees this as an opportunity to find out more about her grandmother’s time in France as she was always reluctant to speak about it, making Lexie wonder why.

Her interpreter for the project is Ronan O’Byrne who has lived in France for a while and been involved in several projects centred around the palace of Versailles. Reading through her grandmother’s diaries brings the past to life for Lexie as she learns about the Versailles of the early 1960s, uncovering secrets and a tragedy that affects someone Lexie had grown very close to. And while all this is going on Lexie also has family relationship issues to deal with.

A Springtime To Remember is a charming read, with many descriptive passages about the palace and gardens. While it’s good to have a sense of place, and that definitely comes across, I sometimes felt the detailed descriptions interrupted the flow of the story. That said, it’s very well written with well defined, realistic characters you can empathise with. Lexie and Ronan both have issues from the past to resolve before they can move on. I enjoyed the fact this was much more than just a romance—Ronan and Lexie’s family dramas are running through the narrative, plus the intrigue and mystery of the research aspect, all blended together and adding extra layers to the story. It was a lovely escape to French sunshine and beautiful gardens.

If ever anything was going to give me the urge to travel, then this is it . . .

Lexie is heading to the Palace of Versailles to work on her dream project. Knowing that her grandmother spent a year there when she was young has meant it's always held some appeal for her; but why was grandma Viv's time there such a family secret? Will the unexpected gift of Viv's notebooks written during that time reveal all?

I don't have any inclination to go abroad whatsoever, but I could be tempted to head to Versailles now! This is a fantastic story with superb characters in the most wonderful setting. Lucy Coleman paints a vivid picture of the beauty of France as seen through Lexie's eyes and, along with a very finely woven story, this is a terrific read. I actually felt warmer (we're in the throes of several stormy weekends here) and could almost feel the sun beating down and smell the scent of the gardens in the Palace of Versailles. Such a pity her series isn't going to be shown! A fabulous read from an author I can always rely on to deliver an interesting and satisfying read, and it deserves all five glowing stars.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy, and to Rachel's Random Resources for my spot in this tour. This is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

Favorite Quotes:

I’ve lost my pride a few times over the years and it does shake your confidence, but the lessons I learnt were invaluable. Hardest of all though is when a family member turns on you – it’s a hurt that never goes away.

I swear if Jake fell out of a plane he’d land on his feet and walk away without breaking a sweat.

‘I knew this house needed something,’ Ronan says, slipping his arm around my waist and squeezing, ‘but I didn’t realise what it needed was YOU.’

I’ve been in limbo, I guess… I’ve been living my life one day at a time for so long now that it’s become second nature to me. I stopped noticing what was around me because without her here it feels like a shell.

To life, love and laughter. May we all be blessed with all three.


My Review:

Lucy Coleman’s background in interior design was readily apparent throughout this tale, as her narrative was rich with lush descriptions of every scene. I would imagine when touring and attempting to capture the opulence and extravagance of Versailles, her professional eye for detail could well have put her in danger of a massive cranial explosion as I nearly short-circuited during an all too brief tour many years ago.  The storylines were slow to develop, intricately detailed, and rife with family drama, dead ends, and angsty misconceptions while a sweet romance was gradually blossoming and several underlying mysteries kept poking and taunting my curiosity.  And what clever twists those threads turned out to be once unraveled.  Lucy Coleman has a hidden side of sly and clever trickster lurking behind her sweet smile, which pleases me to no end ;-)

I have to say, I had a lot of fun with this book. It was the first book by Lucy Coleman that I have read and I enjoyed it.

First of all, my grandparents were Portuguese immigrants in France and most of my family still lives there, so I felt a good connection with the story because of the context. The brilliant and amazing descriptions transported me to the places were Lexie was. It almost felt like I was there, and I love when the writing does that to me and I get lost, not only in the storytelling, but also in the senses transmitted by the words.

Lexie was fantastic main character, that took me on this adventure through a part of France I haven't visit yet, and through the uncovering of mysteries, combined with meeting new people. I Then there is Ronan, and getting to see their relationship develop was fun. Because of them I felt as if I was a part of the story, even though as a spectator.

There were mysteries and connections that made the plot interesting, and I did enjoyed the historical elements, as well as the gardens. Not only is the story sparking of curious moments that made me turn page after page to learn more, the scenery gave the romantic ambiance that the story needed as well.

Overall, it was a good first book to read to enter this author's writing style. The characters were well written, the descriptions absolutely opened the storytelling to a movie kind of feeling, the family secrets are always a nice touch to keep the reader focus on the details, and France is just a country full of beautiful places to visit. It was a sweet novel and I can't wait to read more of Lucy Coleman's novels.

Ah, the Palace of Versailles .... what a backdrop to a story. As a fan of the recent TV series, how could I miss this one!  The author knows her stuff - this was a veritable tour guide within a story of of secrets, misunderstandings, family history and future endeavours (by which I mean romance, of course!) With beautiful descriptions, charming characters, and ·D detail, Lucy Coleman brings this gorgeous part of France to life, not just the palace but the people who work thee, the locals who live there and the gardeners whose past is intricately linked to the flowerbeds and topiaries. No wonder, Lexie, the MC, is so enamoured of the place. Clearly, her grandmother's story is a huge reason for bringing her to Versailles, but once there, the location begins to weave its magic on Lexie's own life.

The story is multilayered, with secrets from the past coming to the fore, and impacting new lives. A slow-burning romance develops between Lexie and her translator, Ronan as they tackle the job of making the documentary and uncovering the secrets of the past, not realising how their two families were connected already. This is the kind of story where it takes a whole village to tell the tale, from Lexie's neighbour in the row of gorgeous cottages, to the owners of the flat where her grandmother lived, over the flowershop. Not forgetting the interviewees, some more reluctant to talk than others (well, one in particular) whose connections to the Palace help to flesh out Lexie's dream project.

You can tell this was a labour of love for Lexie, her enthusiasm is unerring, as is her determination to get the documentary finished when events beyond her control throw a curve ball in its direction.

This is a heart-warming story, so easy to get engrossed in, with drama and red herrings, misunderstandings and even a touch of bitterness. Yet the tale comes together with aplomb. You'd expect nothing less than perfection from such a grand and elegant venue, and you won't be disappointed.

After yet another week of wind, a little bit of snow and freezing temperatures this was the perfect novel to cosy up with and pretend I was in a much prettier, warmer place. 

This novel has a little of everything as we follow Lexi to Versailles on her journey to creating a new TV show as a producer.  In addition to the new show, Lexi is also curious about a year that her Grandmother had spent there but never talked about.  Will her new show be a hit?  Will she find out what her Gran did in that year?  Will Versailles weave its magic on Lexi?

Writing a novel set in a place for it's beauty was always going to be tough but Lucy Coleman does a superb job of bringing Versailles to life for the reader.  I'm just completely in love with the place and it's now on my places to visit as soon as I can.  every detail of the houses, gardens and the general atmosphere was described beautifully. 

Lexi was an interesting character and I loved being part of her journey.  The plot was perfectly paced with the right balance of family drama, mystery and romance and I felt they were all given the right amount of attention. 

Lucy Coleman has become one of those authors I cannot resist and I cannot recommend this, or any of her books enough.

A dash of romance, drama and history makes this a good leisurely read for summer vacation. I Loved how the past and present connect in this love story set in beautiful French backdrop.