Patricia Sands

Author

Côte d'Azur

Two weeks and counting …

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I can’t wait to bring my new novel into the world on November 15th! I loved writing this story that is filled characters you are going to love, settings you are going to love and even a Doberman you are going to love … and don’t worry if that sounds like too much love, because it isn’t. There’s plenty of history, intrigue and twists to keep you turning the pages. Seriously, I hope you enjoy the read! I’m told it is just the right kind of story we need in these chaotic times.

The French Effect is available for pre-order now.

Here’s a chat I had with my good friend Lou of Loulabelle Francophile while I was in France for September. Lou loves France as much as I do, so please take a few minutes and enjoy it! Just click here for the podcast.

Thanks for pre-ordering. It’s such a big help to an author when it comes to those crazy algorithms. The more pre-orders we have, the more exposure our book receives and I truly believe this is a story everyone will enjoy.

Here’s the blurb … Sorry for the crazy spacing. Being totally a non-techie, I have no idea how to fix it and it is too late at night to ask my tech assistant. So I’ m just going to post it like this. Please forgive me …

From the bestselling author of the LOVE IN PROVENCE series, comes a hopeful and
heartwarming journey that reminds us it’s never too late for a second chance.

France has a way of changing your mind … and your heart …

Novelist Nora Bennett is living her fifties with more doubts than dreams. Once content with her
quiet life, she’s recently found herself battling writer’s block, a growing restlessness–and
resistance to a holiday season she’s long stopped celebrating. So, when her daughter Chloe, an
artist living in Paris, asks her to dog-sit an intimidating Doberman named Atticus, Nora surprises
them both by saying yes.

Delicious meals, long walks through the storied streets of Montmartre, and a chance to
rediscover a spark of joy in the glittering holiday lights of Paris: Six weeks in the City of Light
might be just the escape Nora needs.

Except Paris has other plans. Nora agrees to ghostwrite a memoir for 93-year-old Marie-Louise,
who reveals haunting memories of surviving the Occupation as a child of the Resistance. A
charming younger tango partner with secrets of his own introduces Nora to the French art of
pleasure. All the while, the city’s irresistible festive spirit envelops her gently.

Chloe invites Nora to spend Christmas at her husband Olivier’s centuries-old ancestral farm in
Provence. There, Nora is embraced by the warmth of family and treasured traditions. She’s also
unexpectedly drawn to Pierre, her son-in-law’s moody and magnetic father. Their connection is undeniable, even as he seems intent on keeping his distance.

But when Atticus suddenly goes missing, Pierre joins Nora in searching for him. Soon a winding
road trip returning to Paris softens their defenses … and reveals complicated truths behind
their guarded hearts.

Yet as Nora’s time in France begins to wind down, she must decide: Return to the comfort of
the life she knew – or leap into a bold new chapter she never imagined beyond the pages of her novels.

DON’T FORGET TO ENTER THE GOODREADS GIVEAWAY! CLICK HERE!

GOOD LUCK! BONNE CHANCE!

Six more days!

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January 31 is the final day in the Kindle sale of the three novels in my Love in Provence series. I hope you have taken advantage of this great deal!

I have no control over when Amazon chooses my books for discounts and am always delighted when I receive an email from their Marketing people informing me. Discounts on books has nothing to do with the literary value and everything to do with inviting new readers to enjoy the work.

As I often mention, if you already have this series in your library, it’s very simple to gift ebooks to friends and even have them delivered on special dates. You simply click on this link when you go to buy the ebook online.

One of the great rewards for me from writing these stories is opening my email to discover messages from readers sharing how they related to the stories … how they had experienced something similar to Kat at the beginning of The Promise of Provence. Hearing people explain how they were inspired to make changes or to take chances and explore new possibilities in life is absolutely priceless to me. I’m so grateful readers take the time to share their thoughts and experiences.

If you have not read the series, here is a bit of history.

The Promise of Provence was my second novel and I wrote it as a stand alone story. You, the readers, turned it into Book One of the series. You wanted more details about Kat’s journey and it was a pleasure to write the next two books … and then the Villa des Violettes series, which is not finished … I promise!

When I knew I was going to set the story of The Promise of Provence in Antibes, my husband and I rented an apartment there for five months.

Overlooking the old town, the harbour and all the way to the Baie des Anges and the Alpes Maritimes beyond, the view was as inspiring as it was breathtaking. We really lucked out finding the unit.

Although I had the bones of the story outlined, I had not settled on exactly who Katherine would meet there. Each morning I would take my panier, my camera, and a dictionary and wind my way through the oldest ruelles to the famous daily Provençal market.

Needless to say, my camera shutter steamed on a daily basis … and no wonder we have returned year after year to this special town.

As I stood in line at the most popular cheese stand one morning, shortly after we arrived in town, I watched the busy fromager discussing a wedge of cheese with a customer and was immediately attracted … not just because he was *ahem* gorgeous.

The passion on his face and his enthusiastic body language made it obvious how much he loved his work … and the character of Philippe was born. In my halting French a few days later, I explained to the fromager about the book I was writing. For several mornings at 7 a.m., before the market opened, he was gracious about spending some time with me answering my questions and giving me a quick education on his craft. Sadly he is no longer at the market, but lives on in my novels. (I’ve always loved that he brought Katherine cheese rather than flowers on special occasions.)

And let us not forget the character, Nick, also a popular favourite with readers. Walking past the harbour each morning, his story came alive.

Now back to the market … I would take my time filling my panier with flowers, olives, fruit, veggies and whatever the dinner menu called for.

Next I would pop into one of many fine boulangeries … say no more …

And my final stop would be at Le Vieil Antibes for a café crème at my favourite table where I could take notes on village life and read the morning edition of Nice Matin, with my trusty dictionary close at hand.

My head spinning with inspiration and ideas, I would rush home to spend hours writing. How I miss those days!

Thanks for spending a few moments with my memories and the story of how Book One ~ The Promise of Provence came to be, followed later … thanks to demand from readers … by Book Two – Promises to Keep and Book Three – I Promise You This.

Please feel free to let your friends know about the sale!

Happy reading! Bonne lecture!

I love sharing the trailer for the series … let it take you away.