Patricia Sands

Author

Paris

If it’s Friday, it must be France …

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Happy Easter, Happy Passover, Happy Spring!

Joyeuses Pâques, Joyeux Pesach, Joyeux Printemps!

Whatever joyous occasion you celebrate at this special time of year, may it bring family and friends together for reflection, fellowship, food … and chocolate. Let’s count our blessings and focus on how we can help those who cannot.

In France, the traditions around Easter are quite different than most countries. Here’s an excellent article from The Good Life France (my favourite website, as you all must know by now). It is written by my friend, Margo Lestz, who will give you all the history. It begins like this … “On the Thursday night before Easter, all the church bells go silent and they won’t be heard from again until Easter Sunday.” Click here to read more.

With the tragic fire that occurred this week at the beloved Notre Dame in Paris, thoughts will also be centred on the impact that has had around the world. Whether for religious reasons or for the tremendous historical symbol it represents, the hope is that what was lost will be rebuilt. Response has been heartwarming and unifying, from the greatest to the smallest level. The heroes of that day are les pompiers, the men and women firefighters who worked tirelessly to contain the flames and those who helped save the priceless art.

This photo is from my last visit to Paris in 2015. I will be back there in September for a few days, on my way to co-lead ~ (with my BFF Deborah Bine) ~ my fifth women’s tour in the south of France … click on that link if you want to know all the great things about that adventure! I hope some day I have the opportunity to take a photo of the newly restored grande Dame.

Bon weekend everyone!

Books That Celebrate Paris

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If it’s Friday, it must be France …

BOOKS THAT CELEBRATE PARISThanks to CC MacKenzie for designing this banner. A team effort!

Celebrate Paris. Read a New Book. Support the French Red Cross.

After the tragic terror attacks in Paris three weeks ago, author Ava Miles had a thoughtful idea as to how some of her friends might help and we were only too happy to have a way to express our support and sympathy.

For the month of December, proceeds from the sales of the books listed below will be donated to the Croix-Rouge française, the French Red Cross.

As all of my friends/readers (one and the same, thanks!) know, I’ve had a love affair with France since I was twenty-one years old. I’ve been fortunate to visit many different departements often through the years and, for the past fifteen years, my husband and I have spent extended time in France each summer or fall.

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Although the attacks occurred in Paris, the entire country suffered, as did the world.

ID-100378538-300x300Here’s how Ava explains her idea. “I love Paris. It’s like home. When the tragic events occurred on November 13, I wanted to help. An idea formed. I reached out to other authors with books set in Paris to establish a fundraiser called Books That Celebrate Paris to raise money for the victims of the attack and to support peace. We’re banding together to celebrate this beautiful city and support the French Red Cross, who has been on the front lines of helping the victims of the attacks.

Join us in celebrating this beautiful city and remembering the magic that can always be found there.”

Billionaire's Gamble

 

Ava Miles
Dare Valley Meets Paris Billionaire Mini-Series
The Billionaire’s Gamble, Volume One

Paris’ self-made billionaire inventor and infamous bad boy Evan Michaels has lost the biggest gamble of his life in a poker game. For one month, he must live and work like a “normal” person in the small town of Dare Valley and give up his playboy ways. When Evan meets Margie Lancaster, his landlord and new boss, he’s not so sure he can make it a month.

Buy it now at:

Amazon ~ BN ~ Kobo ~ iBooks ~ Google Play

How Sweet It Is

 

Kate Perry
How Sweet It Is

To validate herself in the art world, Viola Summerhill goes to Paris in search of the artist whose work she’s fallen in love with, but she realizes very quickly that it’s not just his paintings she loves…

 

Buy it now at:

Amazon ~ BN ~ Kobo ~ iBooks ~ Google Play

 

Her Rules

 

CC MacKenzie
Her Rules

One woman stood out, a fragile rose, among hot-house blooms at the show in Paris fashion week. Imaginative, innovative and shy – Daniela Pebbles is nothing like any woman wealthy designer Pascale Wolfe has ever known. The cynical Frenchman was determined to discover why Daniela wanted to keep him at arm’s length. But, given her past, could Pascale really convince Daniela that their night of passion could become a lifetime together?

Buy it now at:

Amazon ~ BN ~ Kobo ~ iBooks

 

Some Enchanted Dream

 

Lily Silver
Some Enchanted Dream

Fey Time Travelers arrive in Paris of 1889 when World’s Fair is progress. Discover plot by dark fairies trying to poison mankind by selling tainted absinthe to world visitors.

 

Buy it now at:

Amazon ~ BN ~ Kobo ~ iBooks

 

Billionaires in DisguiseRae

 

Blair Babylon
Billionaires in Disguise: Rae

One wild quickie with a sexy stranger will change Rae’s life forever. How did a country bumpkin like Rae end up in Paris?

 

Buy it now at:

Amazon ~ BN ~ Kobo ~ iBooks ~ Google Play

 

The Promise of Provence

 

Patricia Sands
The Promise of Provence

Fifty, suddenly divorced and alone, can be an opportunity to begin something better than you ever dreamed. A mid-life coming of age unfolds in the breathtaking countryside of Provence, enchanting boulevards of Paris and sun-kissed Côte d’Azur.

Buy it now at:

Amazon

 
 

Learning Curves

 

Olivia Rigal
Learning Curves 

Take six Americans in Paris, a French cooking school and a sexy chef. Bring together in an intensive workshop. Let the mix simmer for a long weekend. Savor cautiously, it’s hot and a little spicy.

 

Buy it now at:

Amazon

 

What the Heart Remembers

 

Bette Lee Crosby
What the Heart Remembers

Two Lovers. One Chance at Happiness. When Max Martinelli returns to Paris in search of her lost love, what she finds changes her life forever.

Buy it now at:

Amazon ~ BN ~ Kobo ~ iBooks ~ Google Play

DSC07054Our thoughts remain with the survivors and the families and friends of those touched by the tragedies in Paris. To the resilient citizens of Paris and all France, your strength and purpose in moving forward inspires the world.

I’ll close by quoting my friend Janine Marsh, editor of the fabulous The Good Life France, in her recent newsletter:

“I think the motto of Paris (which dates back to the 14th century) sums it up nicely: “Fluctuat nec mergitur” translates as “Il est battu par les flots, mais ne sombre pas”.  “It is beaten by the waves but does not sink”…

#porteouverte ~ Open door, open heart

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Last Friday, as the shocking events were unfolding in Paris, citizens there launched the hashtag #PorteOuverte (which translates to #OpenDoor) on Twitter to offer shelter and safety to those stranded in the city. Taxi drivers turned off their meters and offered free rides to all who needed them. Strangers opened their hearts to each other, comforted each other. They showed light and love in the face of unspeakable terror.

The events of 9/11 inspired the same responses.

c281433ba8a10ad538320619394e1493To my generally optimistic nature, this is how the majority of people around the world feel about helping each other. No one stops to question the race, religion or political affiliation of the person they are reaching out to help in that moment.  Unfortunately, it is often only through disasters of epic physical or emotional proportions, that we hear about such acts of kindness. Let’s continue to try to keep the conversation going.

How would you feel if everything you held dear to you was violently stripped away and you were forced to flee to with nothing … to where … ?

It’s an unfathomable thought to most of us but a reality to many others, as we know. I hope we can keep our doors and hearts open to this.

There is an evil darkness in our world that must be defeated. Every small role we play to making this happen will help.

2E7A307500000578-0-image-m-21_1447625422527The young French artist, Jean Jullien, who created this now iconic graphic was expressing the feelings of his heart. It will never lose the power of its message around the world now. His heartfelt words in an interview with Slate, ‘And just because this is what I do, I draw, I reacted graphically, just drawing something spontaneously with pen and paper and then sharing it as a raw reaction, the artist told Slate. ‘With so much violence and tragedy – we just want a bit of peace.’

My love for France is no secret but my hope for peace, love, understanding, acceptance … and let’s add laughter to that … is for the world. I have a sense it is your hope too.

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Some Friday Fantasy

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If it’s Friday it must be France …

Writing deadlines trump blog posts. I’m in the final stretch of completing Book #3  of my Love In Provence series.  (Title vote coming soon, dear newsletter subscribers …) Every minute possible at the moment is devoted to reaching that light at the end of the tunnel. I can see it! *waving*

Soon, the manuscript will be in the hands of my enthusiastic and supportive Lake Union Publishing editor, Danielle Marshall. I love the editing process and am excited to dive in.

But I also love doing my Friday in France posts and don’t want to miss sharing this. So here’s a quickie that is mostly photographs. I’ll elaborate another day on the beautifully elegant Le Train Bleu in Paris. There are a lot of intriguing stories … as you might imagine! (Think Coco Chanel, Brigitte Bardot, Jean Cocteau, Colette, Marcel Pagnol, for starters.)

Initially called “Buffet de la Gare de Lyon”, it was renamed “Le Train Bleu” in 1963, after the famous train of the same name.

Pour yourself a coffee, tea, glass of wine … and come along. I hope you enjoy this visit.  Have you been? The meals are exquisite but simply stopping in for your beverage of choice is well worth the experience.

First, go to the Gare de Lyon. It’s easy to reach by the Metro system.

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Walk to the very front of the station … then look up above the trains … and voilà … since 1901.

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Climb the elegant staircase …

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Walk through the door and enter a time gone by …

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In The Promise of Provence, Katherine rushed to see this iconic restaurant on her visit to Paris. It was high on the “must visit” list Philippe had put together for her.

Ever since writing that scene I’ve been obsessed IMG_0036with returning there (after more years than I care to say out loud … yikes!). I’m pretty sure that first time my travel buddy and I snuck in for a peek … those were the days we traveled with Europe on $5 A Day as our bible.

So three weeks ago, my husband and I had a delicious lunch at Le Train Bleu … joined, quite coincidentally, by our friend Carol Perehudoff, the fabulous travel blogger. Click right here to follow her hilarious and informative posts on Wandering Carol as she explores the world. She’s rated in the Top Ten luxury travel bloggers by USA Today and deservedly so.

How Carol and I discovered we were in Paris at the same time with reservations at Le Train Bleu for the same day is a story for another day.

Have you ever visited Le Train Bleu? I would love to hear about it!

Bon weekend!

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I just discovered this postcard ~ what fun to see the restaurant truly has retained the original atmosphere.

Postcard from Pinterest
Postcard from Pinterest