The Magic of Provence is the 3rd novel in Alison Roberts' series about the Gilchrist girls, three sisters who leave Scotland to live in Provence. As was the case in the first 2 novels, in The Magic of Provence, a 3rd sister goes to Provence to live in a cottage left to the sisters by an uncle none of the sisters have ever met. This French cottage is magical in its ability to create solace in those who are in pain. All three novels are romance novels and perfect for a sweet escape in southern France.

Roberts is able to create a romance with detail that capture the look and smell of France. The descriptions of locations, scenery, animals, and flowers serve to create the sort of background that allows readers to imagine themselves in France. Characters come to life in The Magic of Provence, as they did in Roberts' previous Provence novels in this series. This story about Fiona Gilchrist is perfect for a summer read. Readers can escape to southern France and imagine this kind of romance happening. The Magic of Provence isn't a simple girl meets boy, boy breaks girl's heart, girl and boy decides they love one another. This romance possesses enough complexity to move the romance into reality, or at least a reality, many readers would like to enjoy.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for providing this ARC for me to read and review. The above comments reflect my honest appreciation for this novel.

5 stars

My one and only gripe (which is a general gripe) is that nowhere does it tell you that this is the third book in the trilogy of books about the Gilchrist sisters. I hate reading a book to find that there are others before them. Happily, I realised I have read the previous two.

Fi Gilchrist has been hiding - literally and emotionally - from something that happened when she was at University, which had changed the course of her life for ever. When she is sacked from her job as a farrier, she realises the only place she can go is to the little cottage that she and her sisters inherited from their Uncle in Provence. Her two sisters live nearby and she realises that she will have to stop hiding from them now. The appearance of handsome vet Christopher provokes anxiety and attraction in equal parts. How will it all end?

This is a lovely summer read, with dark undertones that add depth to the story and make it more than frothy chick lit (as much as I enjoy that too at times!). The lovely Provence setting, small children, donkeys and descriptions of delicious food all add to the enjoyment this book creates. Through it all winds the thread of the growing relationship between Christophe - still reeling from a shattered heart himself - and Fi. It was a total joy to go along for the ride.

This is the third book about these three sisters, telling the story of the middle one, Fi.

Well written and I could almost picture myself in the South of France, with the fragrance of the lavender fields, fromageries, cafés, the cobble streets and the wonderful characters.

It can be read as a stand alone, but I liked how all three books compliment each other.

A beautiful romance that proves that relationships are strongest when your heart and soul give unconditionally to the one you love, even when they believe they are unworthy.

Fiona decides to move to Provence to be with her sisters to try and forget her past. She then meets Christophe who helps her with donkeys