Patricia Sands

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Patricia Sands

Two days left at this special price!

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Every once in a while, Amazon chooses to put one of my books on sale and I don’t want you to miss out. The Promise of Provence sale will end on September 30th and, if you already have your copy, this is a great opportunity to stock up on some gift copies for the holidays.

Here’s all you have to do:

Purchasing Kindle Books as Gifts
Click the Give a Gift button located under the Buy button for that kindle book
It’s important that you need to be on the Kindle page version for the book
Enter the e-mail address for your gift recipient*
Enter a delivery date**
Enter an optional gift message.

When books are on sale, this is a wonderful way to pick up gifts and you can specify when you want them delivered.

I returned from France this week and am working on Book #4 of the Villa des Violettes series. I’m so happy to hear from readers eager to get back visiting with Kat, Philippe and all the other characters. As usual, there’s never a dull moment!

Bon weekend!

Just a few days left ~ The Promise of Provence for $1.99 (USA)

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Thank you, Amazon! I always appreciate it when one of my books is offered on sale.

When I wrote The Promise of Provence, I had no idea it would turn into the long series it has. The reason that happened is thanks to readers like you who fell in love with the characters and wanted to know how Kat’s life changed after her home exchange in the ancient farmhouse in the countryside of Provence and then her second exchange in magical Antibes where a new life truly began to fall into place.

I was happy to keep spending time with the characters, meeting new ones, and discovering myself how her world was unfolding. It’s so satisfying to write about how life can change for the better at any age and that we are never too old to begin again.

I am working on Book #4 in the Villa des Violettes series now and hope to have it ready for you by December.

At the moment, through another promotion, A Season of Surprises is FREE for a short time! Bonus!

Bon weekend everyone!

Bonne fête ~ May 1st, 2023

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May 1, 2023 by Patricia Sands Leave a Comment (Edit)

Happy May Day!

En France ~ Bonne fête du muguet! Bonne fête du travail! Bon premier Mai! Happy Labor Day! Happy first of May!

In many countries around the world, the first of May is a celebrated Labor Day. In France there’s a special twist to the holiday that I love.
I recycle this post every year because I don’t want to change anything about it. If you read it last year … or the year before , I hope you enjoy it again. And if you can find some Lily of the Valley to give to a friend, all the better.

En mai, fais ce qu’il te plait!

Provençal proverb ~ In May, do what pleases you!


Here’s my May 1st muguet to each of you.

Every May 1st I like to share one of my favourite traditions in France ~ La Fête du Travail or La Fête du Muguet. The day is a national holiday ~ International Workers’ Day, like Labour Day in North America. But more than that it is an occasion when people give little bouquets or sprigs or pots of le muguet (lily of the valley) to each other. Like so many of the things we love about France, the tradition has lasted for centuries. It began in 1561, during the Renaissance.

Click here to read an excellent article by Margo Lestz, about this sweet tradition and all the history behind it.

Here’s another post about the tradition from Kristin Espinasse, everyone’s favourite scribe of daily French life.

A few years ago, my husband and I had just finished a magical stay (but then isn’t it always?) in Paris and the Loire Valley. We were driving south to the Dordogne region on May 1st and in every town, big or small, this was the scene. Even on a drizzly day. I loved it!


Obviously, young or old, everyone puts a lot of thought into this tradition.

A vivid memory of that rainy morning, is of an elderly woman sitting under an umbrella beside her small stand of bouquets of muguets. It wasn’t an appropriate picture to take … and no time to stop in the midst of traffic … but I’ve never forgotten the image. Does this happen to you sometimes when you travel? Your eye is the shutter and a particular image is captured forever in your memory?

Le muguet or lily of the valley represents a porte-bonheur, a good luck charm, to special people in your life. I am offering one to each of you.

Does your culture or country have a special May 1st tradtion?