I am really enjoying this series of novels by this author - they are always a light and fun read. Perfect holiday material in my opinion.

Another lovely book set in France by this author. Belinda is a lovely character and it is a great story to see her going back to Brittany and rediscovering her childhood and finding secrets along the way. Great characters, friendships and wonderful setting make it difficult to put this book down

A really sweet and easy read.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

Jennifer Bohnet's way with words when describing France makes it impossible to resist being swept away, in this case, to Brittany. Belinda's story as she faces her demons from long in the past is complimented by the beautiful scenery and charming rural setting. Her connection with Fern after she is also forced to reevaluate her life is an engaging portrayal of female friendship and in contrast to her provocative and often antagonistic relationship with Alain. There's many twists and turns along the way, which lead it to be a very satisfying read.

What a breath of fresh air having a group of main characters that are a different age to the usual 25-27 year olds that this genre seems to feature heavily! These characters have lived a life, have experience and know what they want and what they don’t. That said, their age does not adversely influence the flow of the undercurrent of romance, there’s no flush of lust and jumping into bed (again, a heavy feature in this genre), more a slow burn that we can see the potential of before the characters.
I really enjoyed the story, you can tell the author lives in Brittany, her descriptions of the local area is evocative and full of the warmth of the French summer sunshine.
A thoroughly enjoyable story full of family, friendship and romance.

Loved the glimpses of Brittany, but the story itself felt dragging to me, and the POV was distanced from the character, not at all like I was in her shoes. This distance thus made for a tepid read for me, and in trying to keep the secret as to why the heroine was so recalcitrant to visit Brittany, I thought it grew too drawn out and like I was being strung along. Usually love Jennifer Bohnet's books, but this one was a hard miss for me, unfortunately

A very charming read, sweet, engaging, great characters, and a wonderful story that flowed wonderfully and kept me interested until the very end.

A really lovely read.

Good story of conflicting feelings when one must bring up a not so nice memory. Work makes it hard to go places you wouldn’t pick for yourself. This is the start of the main characters Belinda must do. So back to her home town. A nice and interesting read.

I am a fan of Jennifer Bohnet's novels for many reasons, but her writing style with its ease, elegance and beauty keep me coming back! Stories with French settings are appealing, in nature, to me and this is certainly no exception. With this delightful and easy read, I found myself progressing quickly through the pages and couldn't seem to get enough.

This story centers around Belinda, though have a lovely character named Fern who is important to the plot as well. Belinda has been through many trials but perhaps her move to France for several months to oversee a new "glamping" endeavor is one of the most industrious of all. Belinda and Fern meet and interact while foraging a new and important friendship. Their time in France is told in alternating chapters and each parallel story is equally interesting and appealing.

The locations, food and drinks described throughout this story offer wonderful appeal and interesting details that make it really come alive. This story is sweet, encouraging and heart warming and not to be missed!

a french affair is a great book about an affair. set in france. so it's stexy and steamy and fun and funky and quirky and all the great things. there's a lot of pain. like the bread.

Every now and then, a piece of escapist fiction, especially set in France, is what the doctor ordered. Belinda is in her mid-fifties, divorced and working in the hotel industry. When her bosses send her to work on a campsite in Brittany, she leaves Devon and tries her hand at modernizing and updating the campsite. Gaining a new friend, Fern, who is also trying to find her way after losing her husband, Belinda begins to make a new life for herself. I enjoyed the setting, the characters, and recommend. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

An uplifting and emotional tale of secrets, renewal and second chances, A French Affair is the latest addictive page-turner by Jennifer Bohnet.

When her parents’ marriage had come to an acrimonious end, Belinda’s idyllic life in Brittany had come to a sudden and devastating end. Forced to return to England with her mother, the teenager had been forced to bid farewell to her old life and although many years had passed since that fateful day when she had bid adieu to France, Belinda’s still looks back to that time with a mixture of nostalgia, trepidation and unease. Now settled back in England, Belinda never thought that she would ever set foot in Brittany ever again until her boss surprises her the week before Christmas by asking her to help rejuvenate their latest investment: a run-down campsite in Brittany. With no other option but to comply with her boss’s wishes, Belinda prepares herself to face ghosts of the past and heart-breaking memories and emotions that have lain dormant for decades…

As secrets from the past threatens to overwhelm her, Belinda quickly realises that her mother wasn’t totally honest about what transpired during her marriage. It seems that her mother had been very selective about what she revealed to her daughter and as Belinda continues to dig deeper into her family’s past, she not only begins to uncover the truth about what happened back when she was a teenager, but she begins to feel like she has once again found somewhere she can belong and a place she can call home.

A new life awaits Belinda in France, but will she find the happiness that has eluded her for so long? Or will the past continue to exert a sinister hold over her future?

Jennifer Bohnet whisks her readers off to France with such style and aplomb that they will feel as if they are in Brittany soaking up the sights with the characters of her latest heart-warming, intriguing and compelling new novel, A French Affair. A beautifully layered and wonderfully told tale of forgiveness, healing and starting over that touches the heart and lifts the spirit, A French Affair is a spellbinding tale just perfect for losing oneself into – particularly during these testing and trying times.

Jennifer Bohnet’s A French Affair is a dramatic and hopeful story written with sensitivity and heart from a superb writer of contemporary women’s fiction.

This was gently lovely and very readable. Really found myself caught up in the story and very much enjoyed - thank you.

This was a sweet story and easy to read. Would recommend for anyone who wants to get lost in the French countryside!

A very sweet and great romantic story, set in the French countryside. Loved this one!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

I do quite enjoy Jennifer Bohnet novels so when I saw that her newest one was set in France, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. I just really enjoy Jennifer's style of writing. It's quite elegant but also easy to read so you end up flying through the chapters. The cover of this novel is particularly pretty. I adore the bright summery colours, the French stripes and all the beautiful flowers surrounding the edges.

This novel actually follows two different women (although Belinda is the main character overall). We follow Belinda, who has recently had to move to France for a few months to oversee a new glamping site being brought up to her standards, and we also follow Fern who runs an inn (otherwise known in the book as the auberge) in the same town.

Belinda seems to have been through a lot in her past but she seems to be keeping her cards close to her chest as we aren't 100% told what exactly happened in her life has made her dislike being back in France. We are told at the start that it has something to do with her parents so this keeps you on the edge of your seat, dying to know what happened!

With regards to Fern, she is more of an open book. Belinda and Fern meet through Belinda staying at her auberge whilst the living accommodation gets cleaned at the glamping site. She confides in Belinda that her French husband died 18 months earlier due to a drunk driver and due to strict French laws, she cannot sell the inn and move elsewhere so she is stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Together the two women become firm friends and their time in France is split between each chapter. Belinda meets (and dislikes) Alain the site manager, but you can tell from the off there are sparks between the two of them. Fern meets an American man whilst out walking her dog and the pair click straight away, but Fern is nervous about meeting new potential partners.

It's a great read with fabulous locations and delicious sounding food and drink. I really clicked with both women despite them being a lot older than me. They are relatable and enjoyable to read about. Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read an advance copy of this novel via Netgalley, which I have reviewed honestly.

If you adore novels set in stunning locations then you cannot fail to love a Jennifer Bohnet novel.  The reader is always transported to a whole new world and in A French Affair we are whisked away to Brittany in France where Belinda has been sent to turn a dilapidated camping site into a glamorous and thriving business.  Trouble is, she has to share the responsibility with the rude and mysterious Alain.   

The campsite and surrounding area where Belinda spends time is described with a vivid richness that made me want to go there immediately.  The serenity of the campsite and the joy of watching it all come together was wonderful.  In the local area I absorbed every taste and sight there was.   

Jennifer Bohnet doesn't just tell stories.  She creates characters, situations and friendships that are so real they jump of the pages and into your hearts.  Belinda is a little bit of a closed book at the beginning of the novel but as the story progresses snippets of Belinda's past are revealed, allowing the reader to really develop an understanding of her behaviour and thoughts at times.

Overall this is a light read but has a good balance of drama and emotional threads too.  Clear your schedule if you're picking this one up because you won't want to leave Brittany, its inhabitants or Belinda once you start.

Book #2 for the Dewey's Summer Reaverse Readathon 2020.


Belinda Marshall works with a small UK hotel chain. When she finds herself in rural Brittany in France, she is hopoing for a hotel but ends up at a campsite. Alain, the son of the previous camp site owners, does not make her life easy.

Already sceptical and feeling let down, she must either accept her reality or risk letting her boss down.

Will she and Alain see eye to eye, or will they abandon the project?

Jennifer Bohnet does a good job of representing France and its atmosphere and customs. I felt like I was there. I felt like I was curious to know how things would work out.

Thanks to Jennifer Bohnet, Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

A French Affair by Jennifer Bohnet is a delightful romance featuring older lovers as well as the story of transitions, regrets, and moving forward. It has been 35 years since Belinda left Brittany and frankly, she is terrified. Not only is she returning to her childhood home, but also she is to work at a campground, a campground, after these past years as a troubleshooter for a small hotel chain. Things aren't bad enough, but when she arrives, the man with whom she is to partner for this endeavor is a jerk. The only consolation to be found is the auberge in which she arranges to stay and a lovely woman named, Fern, who owns and runs it. The campground is in a shambles and Alain, the man she found there, disagrees on every item on her list. It is beyond frustrating as they make a fragile truce and move forward with renovations.

There are all kinds of side stories in this novel. Some, although interesting, don't seem to come to a conclusion or contain sufficient motivation. None-the-less, this is a pleasant novel of several middle-aged women moving forward in their loves, not only with love affairs, but also with coming to terms with their pasts. The story is lovingly told, and generally not only entertaining, but satisfying. Belinda is a slightly damaged character; between her divorce and the secrets her mother kept about Brittany, but is certainly alert and ready for change when it comes. Fern is less so, but has a ninety-year-old mother-in-law who pushes, so she grows, kicking and screaming into a bright future as well. It is a gentle and loving story. I enjoyed it and recommend it to you.

I was invited to read a free ARC of A French Affair by Net galley. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #afrenchaffair

It's been an absolute treat to read A French Affair as its setting in the Finistère district of Brittany reminded me of a camping holiday spent at La Forêt Fouesnant on a camp site very similar to the one featured in A French Affair.

Belinda Marshall is a successful troubleshooter working with a small chain of UK based hotels and is alarmed when her employers suddenly announce that she is to travel to northern France to oversee the develop of a new enterprise, that of a small camping area in Brittany. Belinda is sceptical about the project for reasons of her own and especially when she receives a cold welcome from Alain, the son of the previous camp site owners.

This is a really lovely story which looks at all the pitfalls of opening up a run down camp site especially when there is animosity and distrust but it's also about friendship and the gradual thawing of relationships. There are old secrets which are surfacing in Belinda's life and the author does a great job of bringing all the pieces of this particular puzzle together in a lovely warmhearted way.

This is my first book by this author and I am impressed by her easy style of writing and the way she brings all her characters very much alive in the imagination. I have enjoyed spending time with each of them especially Belinda who I warmed to from the start but also I also loved getting to know Fern who runs the local Auberge and whose delicious meals... and cakes made my mouth water 😊

Such a delight to read, I raced through A French Affair in an afternoon and thoroughly enjoyed being back in Brittany with the scent of pine and the rustle of leaves and of being immersed in a lovely, heartwarming story about love, life and friendship