A Season of Surprises at the Villa des Violettes Book 2

A Season of Surprises at the Villa des Violettes Book 2

Patricia Sands

Amazon Digital, Jun 2019

228 pages, Kindle

Also in paperback

Women’s Lit

Purchased on Amazon

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The cover is so pretty with the soft yellow adobe color of the many houses of southern France and the weathered blue door with the wisteria vine growing over the top. So typical of Ms. Sands’ writing and photography, and very appropriate for this book. It welcomes you into the continuing story of these characters nicely.

The characters, Philippe and Kat, are from Patricia Sands’ Love in Provence series. In the first of the Villa des Violettes books, it was a Christmas almost-disaster. In this, the second book, it has been one year since Philippe and Kat were married and moved into their about-to-become a B&B. There are still some changes going on in the garden areas of the property, but for the most part, the villa is restored and up and running. Suddenly, they get the news that a young friend of theirs has disappeared and may be caught up in human trafficking. Through friends and high up connections, they involve the police at the highest levels and are assured that everything that can be done is being done. And in the midst of all this, the first guests for the B&B arrive for a week’s stay.

The pace is brisk and the tension stays high even with the calming walks and rides through the lovely countryside the author gives us to keep us grounded. It wouldn’t be a Patricia Sands novel without the lush French countryside sites, sounds, tastes, and smells. You might say it’s her trademark. That and the way her characters interact and support each other all the time. These characters run true to form as well. Through all the worry about their missing friend, all of the people involved pull together and support each other, check on each other and help each other out. Even the gardeners post notices about the missing young woman. All her friends know her dogs’ names and the fact that her cat has kittens. When the cat has kittens, Kat’s friends claim them as soon as they are ready to go to homes. They all know her family’s names and situation. This is a very close-knit group. So typical of the author’s style. So typical of what makes reading this author’s books so enjoyable. You feel part of the group!

Now, since I missed out on reading the first book, I’m going to pick it up and save it for this fall when I start looking at seasonal books. It’ll be the perfect book to start off Christmas books in September (only 3 months until Christmas!). Until then, I highly recommend this second book to any of you who have already read book one or want to read a wonderfully warm book without reading book one. It isn’t that difficult to get into it without the first book, especially if you have read any of Patricia’s previous books.