Sophie Claire just published her latest novel, An Escape To Provence. Her writing features uplifting emotional stories with their heart in Provence, where she spent her childhood summers. Half French, half Scottish, Sophie Claire was born in Africa and grew up in England. She felt she didn’t belong anywhere – …

Grab a transat (lounge chair) and settle for a great summer read complete with family dynamics, hot bodies, yachts, and a tour through Provence. Sunshine and Shadows at the Vineyard is the latest novel by Jane Dunning and here is our review. The Author Following a diverse career in advertising, …

There are nuances in French with words that mean different things depending on pronunciation or capitalization. Midi is one of those words indicating a geographical location, the southern part of France; the 45th parallel is the dividing line for some people. However, in lowercase, midi also means mid-day and the …

Book Review by Mary-Jane Deeb of M.L. (Mary Lou) Longworth, Death at the Chateau Bremont. Penguin Books, New York, 2011. The Author Mary Lou Longworth, better known as M.L. Longworth, is a Canadian writer best known for her Provençal mysteries set in Aix-en-Provence, where she moved with her family in …

The largest village in the Alpilles, St Rémy de Provence, has dangerously tempting boutiques, excellent restaurants, a dynamic Wednesday morning market, and even a movie theatre. Located at the base of the mountain range, St Rémy was the birthplace of Nostradamus (1503), and many of Vincent van Gogh’s canvases feature …

Holiday Shopping Made Easy Browse this 2021 holiday gift guide for books from Provence for the people on your list who love reading, travelling and dreaming of France. These books are for anyone who wants a literary “dose” of Provence. Whether you have visited the region or always dreamed of …

We recently met Keith and Val Van Sickle for a glass of rosé while we were all in Provence. They were in France for a short visit while Keith researched and completed final drafts for his latest (3rd) book, An Insider’s Guide to Provence. The Author Keith Van Sickle is …

Retired and living in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence since 2011, even after a decade, Gayle Smith Padgett and her hubby Ralph continue their exploration of the region. In 2019, they embarked on “The Big Birding,” a 12-month project they decided would feed Ralph’s passion for birding and test Gayle’s logistical, writing, and record-keeping …

Some families play board games together or, perhaps, hike together or even cook together.  The Gabay-Bernheim family, in the South of France, taste wine together and, in the case of Elizabeth Gabay’s Buyer’s Guide to the Rosés of Southern France, Gabay and son Ben Bernheim wrote about these rosés together. …

Born in Africa, her childhood featured many relocations, but Sophie Claire spent summers in the South of France visiting her grandparents. It’s those memories of sunny, carefree days that inspire her novels today. Sophie Claire’s latest novel, Summer at the French Olive Grove, was published in May 2021. Her effortless …