Welcome to Front Page Fridays Week-36
Welcome to Front Page Fridays Week-36. On Fridays I showcase the first page of a new book.
My Front Page Fridays Week-36 guest is Jennifer Bohnet and her brand-new romantic, summery getaway read, A French Inheritance, published by Boldwood Books on 15th September.
Here’s the opening:
Five Years Ago
Elliot Belgrave stood in the middle of the farmyard that apparently formed the heart of his older brother’s newest business venture in the countryside behind Cannes in the South of France and shook his head.
‘Adam, you can’t be serious about turning this into a desirable expensive property complex,’ he said before turning to look again at the various buildings that were littered around.
He assumed they had all been outbuildings of the original fifty-hectare farm, but now they were basically ruins. Some had roofs, some were open to the elements. Windows were broken, doors missing and broken terracotta roof tiles were strewn everywhere. All were covered in foliage, mainly ivy, making it impossible to judge how bad a condition they were truly in. The stable block situated a little way from the main complex looked to be in a similarly distressed condition. The old farmhouse itself, standing at the head of the farm driveway overlooking the desolation, had survived the last two decades in a better condition. Its roof was still intact, and all its doors and windows were in place unbroken but with only flakes left of the olive-green paint that had once covered the doors, window frames and shutters.
Elliot turned to his sister-in-law. ’Lucy, I know it’s too late, you’ve already bought the farm, but can’t you talk him out of this madcap scheme? Put the place back on the market? I know he’s an experienced builder and good at it, but he’s never tackled a project as big as this before.’
Lucy smiled and shook her head. ‘I tried. Believe me, I tried. But in the end, I agree with Adam. To rescue this sad place, to bring it to life again would be a good thing to do. So together this is what we will do.’ She pointed at the farmhouse. ‘The house itself had been lived in until about a year ago when the old couple who owned the estate died. Parts of it date from the early eighteen hundreds, but thankfully it isn’t listed and Adam has promised me we’ll do the essentials in there first – update the kitchen, put a modern bathroom in, and sort out a bedroom for us and one the girls can use when they visit, to make life easier before we start to rebuild everything else. In the meantime, we are camping out in two of the rooms. I’ve put you in what will be the girls’ room on a camp bed.’
About the Book
Five years ago, Adam and Lucy Belgrave took the plunge and bought a sprawling rundown farm in the South of France to bring back to life, much against the advice of Adam’s brother, Elliot.
Today, that dream is becoming a reality and the farm is beginning to thrive and Elliot finds himself grateful for the refuge it provides after his career falters and his marriage fails.
After the death of her beloved granny, a bitter divorce and surprise redundancy - the saying ’sad things come in threes’ resonates with Briony Dymond's life. With her mother by her side, Briony travels to France to learn some news that will change her life completely. Will she have the courage to embrace granny Giselle’s special wishes?
As spring returns to the French Riviera both Elliot and Briony seek to put their pasts behind them and look to find happiness in the future. But can the past give up its hold on the present?
Purchase Link
About the Author
Jennifer Bohnet is the international bestselling author of twenty-two novels, including 'Secrets Beneath A Riviera Sky','A French Adventure', 'Summer at the Château', ‘Villa of Sun and Secrets' and 'A Riviera Retreat'. Jennifer's stories usually span the generations with characters ranging in age and having to cope with unexpected problems in their lives - but there is always a hopeful ending, even if there are tears before. Living in France for twenty-five years she has happily adapted to the French lifestyle including the long lunches with friends and the wine.
Website: http://www.jenniferbohnet.com/index.html
X /Twitter: https://twitter.com/@jenniewriter
Amazon.com author page: http://amzn.to/299rvVv
Facebook Author page: https://bit.ly/3qglPh4
Instagram: : https://www.instagram.com/jenniewriter/
I hope you enjoyed reading Front Page Fridays Week-36. Please come back next time when I’ll be featuring a different author and the first page of their book.
And please take a look at books already featured on Front Page Fridays:
1. Blood Ribbons by Lin Le Versha – https://www.rachelsargeant.co.uk/front-page-fridays-week-1/
2. Fatal Blow by Brian Price – https://www.rachelsargeant.co.uk/front-page-fridays-week-2/
3. Can I Trust You? by Rob Gittins – Front Page Fridays Week-3 – Rachel Sargeant
4. The Last Bird of Paradise by AJ Aberford – Front Page Fridays Week-4 – Rachel Sargeant
5. Never Forgive You by Hilly Barmby – Front Page Fridays Week-5 – Rachel Sargeant
6. The Mists of Pencarrack Moor by Terri Nixon – Front Page Fridays Week-6 - Rachel Sargeant
7. The Thief of Joy by Stacey Murray – Front Page Fridays Week-7 - Rachel Sargeant
8. Edge of the Land by Malcolm Hollingdrake – Front Page Fridays Week-8 - Rachel Sargeant
9. The Mind of a Murderer by Michael Wood - https://www.rachelsargeant.co.uk/front-page-fridays-week-9/
10. The Midnight Man by Julie Anderson – Front Page Fridays Week-10 - Rachel Sargeant
11. Dark Road Home by Sheila Bugler – Front Page Fridays Week-11 - Rachel Sargeant
12. Her Charming Man by Rachel Sargeant – Front Page Fridays Week-12 - Rachel Sargeant
13. Wedding Bells at the Lakeside Hotel by Linda Huber – Front Page Fridays Week-13 - Rachel Sargeant
14. Dark Island by Daniel Aubrey – Front Page Fridays Week-14 - Rachel Sargeant
15. The Shame by Maureen Myant – Front Page Fridays Week-15 - Rachel Sargeant
16. Dead Mile by Jo Furniss – Front Page Fridays Week-16 — Rachel Sargeant
17. The Violin and Candlestick by David Jarvis – Front Page Fridays Week-17 — Rachel Sargeant
18. New Memories by S.E. Shepherd – Front Page Fridays Week-18 — Rachel Sargeant
19. Young Blood by Victoria Gemmell – Front Page Fridays Week-19 — Rachel Sargeant
20. Private Investigations by Rob Gittins – Front Page Fridays Week-20 — Rachel Sargeant
21. The Car Horn revolution by A.J. Aberford – Front Page Fridays Week-21 — Rachel Sargeant
22. What Lies Beneath by Maureen Myant – Front Page Fridays Week-22 — Rachel Sargeant
23. A Safe Place by Stephanie Carty – Front Page Fridays Week-23 — Rachel Sargeant
24. Fatal Image by Brian Price – Front Page Fridays Week-24 — Rachel Sargeant
25. Run For Your Lies by A.A. Abbott – Front Page Fridays Week-25 — Rachel Sargeant
26. A Walk in the Park by Natalie Kleinman – Front Page Fridays Week-26 — Rachel Sargeant
27. A Storm in a Teacup by Rachael Gray – Front Page Fridays Week-27 — Rachel Sargeant
28. The Midnight Bookshop by Amanda James – https://www.rachelsargeant.co.uk/blog/front-page-fridays-week-28
29. A Death in the Afternoon by Julie Anderson – Front Page Fridays Week-29 — Rachel Sargeant
30. Justice by Madalyn Morgan – Front Page Fridays Week-30 — Rachel Sargeant
31. Let Me Out by Amanada Brittany – https://www.rachelsargeant.co.uk/blog/front-page-fridays-week-31
32. A Pocketful of Poisons by Brian Price – https://www.rachelsargeant.co.uk/blog/85orb6bc15cs2voyn37yv3jprw0jec
33. Tribute by Madalyn Morgan – Front Page Fridays Week-33 — Rachel Sargeant
34. Mistress of the Manor by Cara Clayton – https://www.rachelsargeant.co.uk/blog/front-page-fridays-week-34
35. Waves of Change in Pelican Crossing by Maggie Chistensen – https://www.rachelsargeant.co.uk/blog/front-page-fridays-week-35