Sweet and thoughtful

I have read all three of the Provence books and have thoroughly enjoyed them. They are so evocative of the rural French PACA region with a sweet and warm-hearted romance, they don't shy away from some serious issues in the plot. Highly recommended!

Thank you to the publisher who lent me a time limited e-arc via netgalley with no obligation. This review is optional and my own opinion.

The Magic of Provence is the third book in the A Year in France series and we finally hear more about Fiona Gilchrist. In the first two books in the trilogy, Fiona was always off stage, one of the family but choosing to stay away and it was never really clear to the family or the reader why that would be.

The book opens when there is an incident at Fi's work and she is given an ultimatum which ultimately sees her escaping to the south of France where she knows her two sisters will welcome her, and hopefully not ask too many questions. Fi doesn't know if she will ever be ready to talk to her sisters about the things that have happened to her in the past that have caused her to withdraw from everyone but she knows this is where she needs to be.

To say her sisters are surprised to find her sitting near the donkeys Coquelicot and Marguerite in the early morning is an understatement but they try to give her the space she needs. There is something about the little cottage which has helped each of the sisters in their time of need, and Fi is not immune to its magic. The donkeys also play a big part in that.

Fi is a farrier by trade and soon finds herself helping out the local vet with a herd of wild donkeys that he volunteers to take care of. Fi is attracted to Christophe but she knows that she cannot let himself in because she knows that no one will ever want her and that she can't normally trust men in general. Christophe has his own issues. He was hurt very badly as a young man and he is determined that he won't ever allow that to happen again, despite the best efforts of his mother and ailing grandmother to try and guilt him into finding someone to love.

In addition to Fi's story, we also find out more about why their dad disappeared all those years leaving them to be raised by their mother.

There is a lot of past trauma in this book, and so it is probably a bit heavier than the previous books in the series. Having finished it now though, I am glad that we got to see all three girls come to a place in their lives where they can move on from their individual and collective traumas. Of course, it won't ever truly be gone, but they are in a place where they can deal with it all better than they could previously. Importantly, they can do it together!

This book had me searching on the map for the town of Menton which is one of the places the characters visit. It is a town that is right on the border with Italy so it has a real mix of cultures. I would love to visit for the lemon festival which is held each year in February and also take the train ride from Puget-Theniers to Annot.

In her author's note, Alison Roberts talks about part of the reason for writing this trilogy was wanting to bring Provence to life, and I would say she was very successful in this regard. All the way through the trilogy I found myself wanting to visit the places mentioned in the book like St Paul de Vence and Menton, to try the food, see the local art and the crafts and to just generally enjoy the Provencal atmosphere

Here are the links to my previous reviews for this trilogy

Falling for Provence

From Provence with Love



I am sharing this review with the New Release Challenge hosted at The Chocolate Lady's Book Reviews and with Paris In July hosted by Words and Peace. Be sure to check out other stops on the tour shown below. Thanks to the publisher, Netgalley and Rachel's Random Resources for the review copy.

Rating 4/5

I enjoyed reading The Magic of Provence by Alison Roberts. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

This is the third installment of "A Year in France" series. A fabulous book that I so enjoyed reading. The storytelling is about Fiona Gilchrist one of the Gilchrist sisters and it takes us on back to Provence and the "Maisonette" the three sisters had inherited from an uncle. The place the story is set is the truly amazing, Tourettes-sur-Loup, it's got the cozy feeling of being back home. The story unravels as Fi is going back to Provence escaping from a trauma she's been through. Fi needs distance and time to get through her traumatic past, surrounded by family and new friends. A story of family get together with Jeannie the three sister's mother who came from Scotland. The book has several twist and turns, a very nice Veterinarian, Christophe who's got an important part in this story. There is also the mysterious artist, painter the sisters are looking for which leads them on the trace of the past. This book had all the bits of a cozy read, the beautiful setting, lemon trees a few donkeys and finding the true new beginnings in Provence. This story gives the more complete history of the Gilchrist family. I can definitely recommend this oh so good read. I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to read and review this book.
Charlotte N

The Magic of Provence by Alison Roberts

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Fiona Gilchrist has spent years running from her demons. But deciding to take back control, she packs up her life and makes the trip to Provence to be reunited with her sisters. And almost instantly, there is something about La Maisonette which is healing and Fi knows she’s ready for a chance to start again.

When an opportunity arises to work alongside vet Christophe Brabant, Fi, although hesitant cannot resist saying yes. Because immersing herself in what she loves is the ultimate distraction. And while Christophe may be utterly charming, he’s also committed to his job so Fi knows she’s in safe hands. Yet, what starts as a blossoming friendship quickly turns to something deeper. Because for the first time in her life, Fi begins to feel relaxed and completely at ease. Could it be that Christophe’s heart is more like hers than she realises? Or has she allowed him to penetrate the boundaries she always considered unbreachable?

Coming to France took a leap of faith, but in doing so it has allowed these two damaged souls a chance to find each other while Provence works its magic…

My Opinion

I have read The Magic of Provence as a standalone but I found it to be an enjoyable read. Fiona has some secrets that she has been keeping from her sisters – can she put her past behind her? Alison Roberts has written a delightful, slow-burn romance that had me hooked from the beginning. A heart-warming read.

Rating 4/5

This is the third book in Alison Robert’s trilogy, A Year in France, set in Provence. Three sisters, Laura, Ellie and Fiona inherit a house from their unknown French uncle. Ellie decides to stay in France and renovate the property (Book 1). Laura, an estate agent, takes a ride of Noel’s bike. He too is an estate agent (Book 2). Now it’s time for Fiona’s story. Trauma and tribulation. Maybe there should be a trigger warning. It’s raw and gritty. There’s secrets revealed. And yet more secrets uncovered after decades. Will the family be reconciled?

Fiona escapes to France to be with her sisters following an incident that triggers her previous trauma. There she meets vet Christophe and starts working alongside him. Can both of them overcome their previous issues?
This is quite a heavy story, especially due to Fiona's history and there should really be some trigger warnings. With that aside this is a story about two troubled souls trying to find peace with each other - it's one of those where you want to bang the two main character's heads together and admit their mutual attraction. This gives the story a much more positive spin, but is never going to be a light read.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

The Magic of Provence is the third title in the A Year in France series, which brings us Fiona’s and Christophe’s story of friendship blossoming into something deeper than either expected. I will say that I believe this story needs a trigger warning, it’s far more than a lighthearted romance, it’s a story of healing (for both main characters), perhaps survival, and finally being able to share that space with someone who understands, and still loves and accepts you just as you are. In many ways, the greatest love story here is Fi’s ability to finally heal, to remember, to grow beyond and love herself as much as she is loved.

I had not read the earlier stories in this series, yet I didn’t feel the least bit lost. Christophe’s and Fi’s story consumed me, but the glimpses into her sisters’ lives have me intending to go back to the beginning of this series. If you love an emotionally satisfying romance, where healing is just as important as falling in love, with believable characters and situations, then The Magic of Provence by Alison Roberts is a book you’ll want to pick up.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley, and I sincerely thank the author or publishing house for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

This story is the 3rd in a series set in Provence, after the Gilchrist sisters inherit their uncles' family farm. I’ve read and enjoyed the first two books in the series, so I was excited to read this one. After an incident at the stables where she works, Fiona leaves Scotland and heads out to see her sisters and looking for peace and a fresh start.

This book focuses on Fiona and the mystery of why Fiona has been avoiding her sisters. As she searches for peace, she reconnects with her sisters and mother and starts helping Christophe, the local veterinarian and Julian's best friend. It was a beautifully told story of love and healing in the heart of Provence. I love reading stories set in France, especially fresh starts and rediscovering themselves. I enjoyed the series, and I hope there are more centered around the Gilchrist sisters.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

Fiona is leaving her past behind in Scotland and going to France so that she can be with her family.

She was only intending to stay a short period of time, but, being back with her family, she didn’t feel like leaving.

Fiona decided to inform her sister of what happened with her and let them take care of her.

There was a mystery of a paining that was solved, which brought back memories for all the family.

I loved the setting as well as the characters and animals.

It was a story of second chances, love and finding yourself after something bad happens.

I highly recommend this book.

Fi suddenly finds herself jobless and unsure what to do next. She then remembers the little cabin that was left to her and her sisters and heads to France.
Christophe is devoted to his job as a vet and sworn off women. A chance meeting has him offering Fi a job.
This was a nice story. It does touch on some sensitive life issues. It makes for a nice beach read.

4.5 stars rounded up

The Magic of Provence by Alison Roberts weaved its magic on me because I loved it! It is a contemporary fiction/romance that pulls at the heartstrings and evokes a setting that the reader does not want to leave.

I found Fiona Gilchrist to be an instantly relatable character. This book became very emotional for me as she worked through the past trauma that is revealed throughout the book with the help of her family, some precocious donkeys, and a very charming French veterinarian. Even though the book got very heavy at times, the author was adept at pacing and not allowing the reader to stay in the difficult moments for too long. I found myself laughing and crying and back to smiling within the span of a chapter or two.

I would have liked for this book to be a bit longer because I didn't want to let the characters go. Some of the tensions between characters could have been explored more fully. This may happen in the previous books, so I may not have had the full context. I was happy to find out that while this book stands on its own, it is part of a series. I can go and read the other two and hope for a subsequent book.

This is exactly the right kind of book for me: relatable, well-written characters, emotional exploration of family dynamics, difficult topics written with care, and cute animals for good measure.

Thank you very much to Boldwood Books and the author for providing a digital early copy of this book via NetGalley for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This is the third in Alison’s Provence series following the lives of the Gilchrist girls and I’ve loved each one . This one tells us Fiona’s story , the sadness, the guilt that she holds close , but slowly Provence, the donkeys , the people and her family , works its magic .
Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommended,

This is a very sweet romance with enough family drama to keep it interesting. Fiona has lots of demons in her past so she is not interested in relationships. Christopher is not interested in falling in love again after having his heart broken. So of course, these two will come together to help each other with no pressure of a relationship. The descriptions took me right to France and the romance with so sweet and lots of funny moments to boot. This was a wonderful story from start to finish.

The Magic of Provence by Alison Roberts is more than the breezy, escapist romance its cover and title might suggest. Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for my gifted ARC. I came for the lavender fields and a French love story, but what I found was a much deeper emotional thread—one about trauma, trust, and choosing to stop surviving and start living.

The story follows Fiona Gilchrist, the youngest of three sisters who have each, in their own way, ended up in Provence. Fi is a farrier, strong and independent on the surface, but she’s been quietly carrying the weight of something devastating since her university days: an unresolved trauma that changed the course of her life. When she loses her job under deeply unfair circumstances, she has no choice but to face the thing she’s avoided for years—herself. She heads to La Maisonette, the cottage the sisters inherited from their late uncle, and it’s here that the book really begins to breathe.

Fiona’s relationship with her sisters, Ellie and Laura, is tender and complicated. There’s love, but also distance—some of it emotional, some of it self-imposed. It’s refreshing to see sisterhood portrayed as both a source of comfort and a mirror held up to things you’d rather not face. As Fi begins to settle into life in the French countryside, she’s drawn to local veterinarian Christophe Brabant, a man whose charm runs deeper than his easygoing demeanor. He’s also dealing with his own grief, and their connection isn’t instant fireworks—it’s quiet, hesitant, and deeply believable. It’s a relationship built not on grand gestures but on shared silences, mutual respect, and small acts of kindness.

This is a slow-burn romance, and that’s exactly what the story demands. Fi’s trauma isn’t brushed aside for the sake of plot progression, and Roberts never turns healing into a montage. One line in particular stuck with me: “Maybe healing didn’t mean forgetting. Maybe it just meant finally feeling safe enough to remember.” That single sentence anchors the book. It’s not about closure; it’s about creating space for the truth without letting it define your future.

Roberts does an exceptional job balancing the weightier emotional themes with moments of joy. The setting—Provence in all its golden-hour beauty—isn’t just a pretty backdrop. It feels like a balm, both for Fi and the reader. Whether it’s the sound of donkeys in the field, the scent of warm bread from a village bakery, or the rush of a train winding through the hills to Menton, there’s a tactile richness here that makes the world feel lived in. And the animals—particularly the donkeys—aren’t just cute filler. They’re woven into Fi’s healing process, providing purpose and, in a subtle way, companionship she didn’t know she needed.

As much as I enjoyed the novel, I do want to note that the promotional copy and cover marketing feel misleading. This is not a lighthearted romantic escape. The story opens with a confrontation and the implication of sexual assault from Fi’s past, which becomes a central thread. It’s handled with restraint and compassion, but a proper trigger warning would have been appropriate. Readers looking for a dreamy, low-stakes romance may be unprepared for the emotional terrain covered here.

It’s also the third book in a series about the Gilchrist sisters, though it functions well as a standalone. I hadn’t read the previous two, and while I could sense there were backstories I missed, I never felt lost. Instead, I found myself intrigued—especially about the family dynamics that thread through all three books. That said, I would’ve appreciated a clearer heads-up in the marketing that this book was part of a series.

Where The Magic of Provence truly shines is in its emotional honesty. Fi’s evolution is not driven by romance alone—it’s fueled by self-acceptance, by reclaiming control over her narrative, and by letting others into her life in a way she never allowed before. Christophe doesn’t rescue her, and that’s the point. He listens. He shows up. He offers steadiness, not salvation.

In a market crowded with formulaic love stories, this one takes its time—and earns its emotional payoff. It’s romantic, but not in a fantasy kind of way. It’s romantic in the sense that it believes people can grow, that love can be safe, and that places—whether literal or emotional—can heal us when we finally stop running.

If you want a soft, steady romance with a heart full of compassion and a soul rooted in truth, The Magic of Provence is absolutely worth your time. Just don’t go in expecting fluff. Go in expecting something real.

This is an absolutely beautiful addition to such a lovely series centred around the Gilchrist sisters. Following on from the previous two book this focuses on Fiona who has over the last few years has distanced herself from everyone. After an incident at the stables where she works, and with nowhere else to go, she heads to France to La Maisonette. It’s the lovely little house that she inherited along with her sisters and where she is hoping to find refuge while she decides what to do next. What she doesn’t count on is meeting and building a friendship with Christoph the local vet. For me this isn’t just a love story, it’s a story about healing wounds, trust and new beginnings as well as so much more. I love how the characters interact and how the story flows. A super series. Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC

I didn’t realise that this was the third book of a series but it was easy to read as a standalone novel. It does I think, provide answers to questions that have been raised in previous books. This is the story of Fi the youngest sister of the family and the only one not to have found love. The reasons for this are gradually revealed when Fi arrives in Provence after losing her job. Sensitively written, a good summer read.

🌄Healing love story between 2 animal lovers🌿

I really was drawn to the subplot about main characters Scottish farrier Fiona and French vet Christophe working together to care for donkeys, and how they gradually break down the self-erected barriers to their hearts. The setting in southern France is beautifully described and the story has a family affair atmosphere as it focuses on both Fi and Christophe's families and some medical drama, mystery and unexpected romance there.

In general, plenty of characters and swirling subplots on the side of the main romance as Fiona's sisters, featured in the previous books in the series, their new and growing families, Fiona's mom Jeannie, her mysterious dad, and Christophe's beloved mom and Italian grandmother fill out the supporting cast with their own action. But I did find the repeated "no way I could love and have a family" from both Fiona and Christophe a bit too oft said. Especially for Christophe. Luckily the "doth protest too much" saying applies here. Multiple character HEA? Yes. Even for some of the four-legged variety!

TW: trauma of past sexual assault and animal neglect/death.

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

Review shared on 6/28/25 on Waterstones and Goodreads, and with BAM and Barnes & Noble. To be shared with kobo and Google Play upon publication.

I picked this up expecting a light, escapist romance, so I was incredibly surprised to find that the central storyline deals with the aftermath of the main character being raped as a student. While the book is ultimately about facing your fears and finding strength, it tackles an incredibly difficult and emotional topic — and I don’t feel this was made clear upfront. I really believe a trigger warning would have been appropriate here, as this is not a lighthearted read and may catch some readers off guard.

Fi is escaping from her past and life in Scotland to reconnect with herself and her family in France. What started as a trip supposed to last just a few weeks, became so much more.
Fi learned to open up with her sisters about her troubled past, to let her guard down and let herself be loved not only by her family…
A very cute summer read, perfect for lovers of the dreamy setting of Provence and animals. A story about love, rediscovery and second chances.
Apparently the book is part of a series about the sisters, but I’ve finished it without even knowing about it and not noticing something was missing. So it can definitely be read as a stand alone book.

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.