The Bridge Club a Book that Celebrates Friendship

My BFF Patricia Sands just published the re-release of her novel, The Bridge Club. The book is a celebration of friendship shared with eight women over a half-century… and counting.

Celebrating Friendship

Patricia and I met in Uzès five years ago at the instigation of our mutual friend, Carolyne Kauser Abbott of Perfectly Provence. For our get together, I was expecting a snazzy, chart-busting book star in a fancy limousine. What showed up was petite Patricia piling off a crowded bus. We became BFFs instantly, and our friendship has only deepened.

I’m sharing this story with you about Patricia’s novel, The Bridge Club, for several reasons. For one, Patricia is a dear friend who opened up for me the adventure of guiding tours soon after we met. Her best-selling Love in Provence novels provides the roadmap for our “Memories You Promised Yourself” tours of the south of France.

Second, I love stories about artists of all types and how they get their inspiration and start. In this post, Patricia shares her journey.

And last, I want to acknowledge the importance of friendship, especially when times are difficult, as now. I am so grateful for my friends from the past and the new ones.

Continue reading here for my interview with author Patricia Sands.

Books by Patricia Sands

Patricia Sands is a remarkable person. She is a wife, mother, grandmother, writer, photographer and a possiblitarian. For Patricia Sands, it is possible to achieve anything in life if you want it badly enough and are willing to work hard. She is living proof of the work effort; somehow, she juggles her family commitments and an intense writing schedule. And, she can’t get enough of Provence.

All of Patricia’s books involve love, loss, friendship, illness and plenty of colourful characters. She has published six (6) books, starting with her first publication, The Bridge Club.

The three-part Love in Provence series introduces you to Kat and Philippe.

Although based in Provence, Drawing Lessons is a departure from her best-selling Love in Provence trilogy and its characters. Set between Toronto, Canada and Arles, France, the book is a love story intertwined with a tragic turn of events. Deep-rooted Greek family traditions and work ethic shaped Arianna’s personality as the novel’s main character. Her husband Ben slips into their family conventions like a glove working side-by-side with Arianna’s father in the kitchen. Over-time the couple assumes the responsibilities of the restaurant business and its associated struggles.

In her last two novellas, Sands returns her readers to the Côte d’Azur and the first B&B guests at Villa des Viollettes.

The First Noël at the Villa des Violettes reconnects you with the characters from the Love in Provence series or dive into the story at this point. In this book, Sands evolves Kat and Philippe’s love story and the French Riviera lifestyle. Threaded with a bit of mystery, a solid dose of holiday stress, and a wonderful interaction with friends and family. This novella is an engaging read.

A Season of Surprises at the Villa des Violettes is a quick read yet covers a lot of ground. Learn about the 130 kilometre Route du Mimosa from Bormes-les-Mimosa to the French perfume capital of Grasse. Along the way, you are guaranteed to see the yellow blooms highlighted by the blue Mediterranean backdrop in February and March. Enjoy an evening at the Nice Carnival as Kat discovers the entertaining annual traditions of Philippe and their friends.

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