This book is a beautiful reminder that life can surprise us, that second chances come in unexpected ways, and that courage often grows quietly, like the slow turning of a page. I fell completely in love with Ellie’s story and the gentle magic of Saint Benet.

I was drawn in immediately at the start of this book. From the opening chapter, when Ellie’s husband suddenly tells her he wants a divorce because he’s found a younger woman, I felt completely hooked. It was such a cold moment, and yet Ellie’s quiet strength in response really stood out to me. She didn’t fall apart (even if she might have felt like it inside); instead, she started to make plans. That line she says early on—something like “I’ve lived his life, now I’m going to live my own”—really stuck with me. It was such a powerful turning point, and I think a lot of readers will relate to that feeling of having lost themselves in someone else’s world.

The entire stay in Saint-Benet was beautiful, the fixing of the villa and the new-found friendships with people of the town was heartwarming. When the war started to move into France, I admired the courage it took for Ellie and her friends to help French Jewish people go into hiding.

Overall, I found this book moving, hopeful, and full of adventure. Ellie’s journey was exactly what I hoped it would be—a reminder that it’s never too late to reclaim your life.

This book was a slow burn, but a good one at the end! I liked the main characters and the bonds they had throughout the book. I love the concept of the book. The FMC dealt with a challenge throughout the book and came out on top in the end! If you like romance, emotional historical fiction this one is for you.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book, This was the perfect book to get me into a summer reading mood. It has all the things I look for in historical fiction- a great setting, a time period i don't know much about, a bit of a love story and friendship. I really enjoyed this book being set in the South of France right before World War II. I also appreciated that we as the reader were able to also see what it was like in one small village in Vichy France during the war. I would have liked a bit more detail for the war years section of the book, but only because I find that time period to be so very fascinating. This book tugged on my heart strings near the end, not something that I expected, but that I appreciated.

After decades in a comfortable, if unexciting, marriage, Ellie Endicott's husband wants a divorce. He's found a younger woman and suddenly Ellie's world is turned upside down. Instead of settling for a lonely life in Surrey, Ellie decides to travel to the south of France and is joined by her housekeeper, Mavis who is escaping an abusive husband, and Dora, an uptight older woman who hasn't long to live. They have no idea what is in store for them as a second world war approaches.

I really enjoyed this stand alone novel from an author whose mystery series I love. No mysteries here, just a heartfelt story peopled with lovable characters. This was not as light of a story as I was expecting as it takes place in France during World War II. However, I found that I liked that better than something fluffy as our characters faced real hardships and showed resilience and courage.

Many of Bowen's stand alone novels have been misses for me but this one was very enjoyable. Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for the e-ARC.

I’ve been enjoying books by Rhys Bowen for years. This is my all time favorite. Mrs. Endicott was a magnificent, lovable, and enjoyable character. All of the characters were memorable. It was so easy for the story to unfold in my mind. I loved the setting in France and the time period. When this is published I will be purchasing the audio version to enjoy again. Highly recommend.

I was blessed with an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.

I always like Rhys Bowen's books, but this was not my favorite of her stand-alone novels. She has amazing character development, and I came to care about all of the main characters. However, this book felt a bit slow and light on plot. There was a lot of foreshadowing about how the war would eventually affect the main characters. but nothing really happened until the last quarter of the book. That being said it was still an enjoyable read.

In MRS. ENDICOTT’S SPLENDID ADVENTURE, written by Rhys Bowen, Ellie Endicott’s husband, Lionel, announces his plans for divorce. Ellie is surprised by Lionel’s announcement since she has always been a dedicated wife and mother. Ellie decides not to leave the relationship gently. I am routing for Ellie and read on.

I enjoy Rhys Bowen’s writing. I have experienced Her Royal Spyness and Molly Brown series, but this book is a standalone rather than part of a series. In this novel, I am immediately drawn into Ellie’s relationship with her husband. Much of the plot that follows is low-key and rather slow-moving. I find the first half to be an easy, comfortable read. Things pick up and the plot gets more complicated, even exciting at times, in the second half. I like this standalone but enjoy Bowen’s Her Royal Spyness series the best. Thank you, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an advance reader copy of MRS. ENDICOTT’S SPLENDID ADVENTURE.

I loved this book. The story had me hooked from the first paragraph. I am a huge fan of Rhys Bowen. Her series, Molly Murphy, is one of my favorites. I have also read and enjoyed many of her other books. Rhys's way of writing makes you fall in love with her characters. This book is no different. I enjoyed getting to know Elli Endicott. She was introduced to us as a woman very much under her husband's thumb. But she blooms into a woman who is confident in herself and can even take on the Germans.

Ellie is shocked when her husband announces that he is to remarry and she has to leave the house she has spent many years making lovely. Refusing to meekly settle in a small cottage locally, she takes the Bentley, 2 friends and heads to the South of France. When the car breaks down they are forced to stay in Saint Benet, a small fishing village. Ellie finds an abandoned villa with a romantic history and decides to renovate it. Throw in the start of WW2 and this is a lovely read.

Ellie Endicott is such an interesting character! I loved following her, Mavis, and Dora to the South of France. It was also so intriguing to see where they end up, and how, at the brink of a war, things are not what they seem.

I really enjoyed Ellie’s life after her divorce. Yes, it had a different set of struggles, but I enjoyed her resilience in the changing times.

This was a good book, I enjoyed it.

Thanks to #NetGalley for the ARC of this book! This was a historical fiction at it’s finest! I loved the character development and the way the story ended. I love books by this author, and this book is no exception! Quick read that sparks joy.

In the late 1930's, after 30 years of marriage and a terrible act of betrayal, Ellie Endicott's husband casts her aside in the hope of marrying a younger woman. Ellie is determined to make a fresh start and on a whim, she takes off to the south of France with her housekeeper, Mavis and her elderly friend Dora who dreams of visiting France again before she dies.

Along the way, a young, mysterious and pregnant woman joins them on their adventures .On their journey, their car breaks down in Saint Benet, a small fishing village and while awaiting repairs of the car, the women become entranced by the beauty and simplicity of life in the town. Thy decide to settle there and move into an abandoned villa in the hills, determined to restore it to its former glory. The women settle into a happy village life, making friends with many of the locals, and Ellie realizes she is in the midst of a wonderful adventure. However, war approaches, threatening to change life in the village dramatically.

When I started reading this story, it seemed to be a light-hearted story, set in a beautiful part of the world; the wonderful descriptions of the beautiful seaside village made me long to return to Europe. However, don't be fooled by the title of the book - there is more to this heartbreaking story which explores betrayal and the opportunities that come with new beginnings, as well as a number of darker themes including war, death, child abandonment and murder. I enjoyed this story and recommend it for people who enjoy historical fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Mrs. Endicott's Splendid Adventure, set at the beginning of what will become WWII, is classic Rhys Bowen—an ensemble cast led by a genuinely likeable, initially underestimated (even by herself) soon-to-be heroine. Finding herself suddenly unmoored from the respectable (and dull) Surrey life she expected to continue to the end of her days, she escapes for France on a lark (and in a commandeered Bentley), picking up, in effect, strays along the way, whether they deserve the benefit of the doubt or not. The stray collecting and accidental permanent alighting in a town on the South Coast of France are a little unbelievable, but so it goes. There she leads a highly unconventional life—including becoming an agent of the Resistance as the Nazi army intrudes on the little village. You will cheer her and the friends and family she acquires along the way as they demonstrate one small act of courage after another, experiencing some losses and betrayals along the way (all shocking when they come, even if predictable). But in general, people rise to the occasion and the book is an engaging, encouraging, but in no way preachy story about what individuals of integrity can do in the face of rising authoritarianism and its enablers.

Mr. Endicott comes home one day and tells Mrs. Endicott he would like a divorce. After devoting her adult life to her husband and their children, Ellie is blindsided and unsure of where to go next. Almost on a whim, she takes his Bentley and picks up two surprising companions. On a journey to a tourist area of France, the women end up in a small village with car trouble.

The village is actually the perfect place for the three women to settle down. The women enjoy the country life until word of the Nazi invasion reaches them. Wartime will challenge Ellie in ways she's never been challenged before.

Recommended for historical fiction readers.

Ellie Endicott has been replaced. Her husband has decided to marry a much younger woman despite the years of support she's given to help raise him socially.

Gobsmacked, she decides to take her husband's Bentley, her maid Mavis and an elderly spinster on a road trip to France. When the Bentley breaks down in a small fishing village, Ellie discovers that she feels at peace exactly where she is. Her motley family and friends support her and she puts down roots by renting an abandoned villa up in the hills. As she heals emotionally, she finds that maybe she's not too old start over again.

Finally WWII finally arrives in her village and she must make some decisions to protect herself and those with her. Although this account is a rather toned-down version of what happened during the war years, it makes it less traumatic for sensitive readers.

This was a light read that, despite the lack of deep character development I found enjoyable to the end.

Set before the beginning of World War II and then following the hard years if the war this very lighthearted and sweet novel will indeed be good for the soul. It tells the story of one woman taking her life back after after husband of thirty years suddenly wants a spur of the moment divorce. This novel gives off the vibe of the movie How Stella Got Her Groove Back.
Ellie Endicott has been married thirty years to her husband Lionel when he announces one morning that he has met someone else and wants a divorce. Instead of being heartbroken Ellie is relieved as she has realized she has lived a boring life all these years. Remembering the time her Aunt took her around Europe when she was a young girl Ellie decides that she wants to go to France and seeing that she has no responsibilities to take care of she decides it could be short eventually turning to a long term thing. She eventually persuades her friend Dora an older woman who is dying and her housekeeper Mavis who is trying to escape her abusive husband.
They manage to make it to France and from there it is an adventure. Along the way they meet a troubled young girl who is trying to escape a bad situation. They also encounter car troubles in which causes them to stop and have to rent a run down villa. However despite the situation they manage to grow some love for the place and fix it up and meet some wonderful people along the way.
However even though these ladies are in paradise they still realize that it doesn't fix all of life's problems. There is still the unavoidable facts of tragedy of loss and death. The war also brings some devastating losses as well. Overall this was a very good book.
I recieved an ARC copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own

I love Rhys Bowen's historical fiction novels. This one takes place in the South if France after Ellie's husband decided to do a runner. Wonderfully atmospheric, carefully plotted with a cast of characters aiquickly become invested in.

1938 England. When her husband suddenly asked her for a divorce, Ellie Endicott felt stranded. Where to go, what to do, she had no idea. That is until she was given some advice...she would show him!! Making up her mind to go to the South of France. Along with her maid and an elderly (crotchety) neighbor the 3 of them take off in her husband's Bentley. And an adventure it was, driving on the narrow, curved road in France (especially on the opposite side where English people drive), picking up a stray young (and pregnant) girl. The car breaks down in a small village, yet the ladies are welcomed. With war clouds gathering, what to do...do they stay or wait until the car is fixed and travel on? This was a lighthearted book, quite enjoyable. When I happened upon this novel and found the author was Rhys Bowen I quickly requested this story. I did not regret one page and would highly recommend this. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rhys Bowen consistently puts out great reads and I always look forward to the next. This book was such a wonderful story, and the characters made me so invented. Highly recommend!