Invitation to Provence [Paperback]

Elizabeth Adler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 25, 2005

Nothing ever changes much in the village of Marten-de-Provence...until Rafaella Marten decides she has lived alone in the Chateau des Roses Sauvages for too long, and that the time has come at last to bring youth and energy, love and laughter back to the old house. Franny Marten, hard-working California veterinary surgeon, accepts the invitation from a relative she has never heard of at a moment when her life is at rock bottom. Jake Bronson can't resist - he is still a tiny bit in love with the charming woman who was once his father's glamorous lover. And two more unexpected guests arrive: Rafaella's long lost son, and a terrified little girl from Shanghai with the Marten blue eyes. Soon the sleepy French village is alive with more romance and danger than Rafaella ever dreamed of.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Adler is known for carefree and light destination/relationship fiction that features lush descriptions of landscapes and food, appealing characters, gently unfolding plots, and grown-up love stories. While this new novel shares with its predecessors a great sense of place, charming characters, and wonderful descriptions, it's too easily resolved, repetitive, and less well developed as it tells the story of Rafaella Marten and her home in Provence, Chateau des Roses Sauvages. Rafaella has lived a long and interesting life, but she feels it is ending badly, and loneliness drives her to invite her remaining family and friends to a three-week party at the chateau. In the time leading up to the party, readers meet each guest as characters interact and set the stage for future conflict. As the party date draws nearer, it seems that Rafaella's invitation has instigated a series of events, some dark, some lovely, that will change the lives of all involved. Adler's latest should appeal to her many fans. Neal Wyatt
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

'A heartwarming, romantic adventure ... a great one for Francophiles, features real places restaurants and hotels in France.' -- Hello on THE LAST TIME I SAW PARIS 'Like Tuscany's beauty, this book is heaped with delicious words and literary creativity. It's thoroughly engrossing' -- North Wales' The Chronicle on SUMMER IN TUS 'Great for the beach' -- Prize Magazine on SUMMER IN TUSCANY 'The characters are brilliant and full of warmth. A book you can get lost in' -- Yorkshire Evening Post on SUMMER IN TUSCANY 'The popular Adler gets the dynamics of a new relationship pitch-perfect ... But it's the detailed, realistic description of the trip to France that makes her latest great vicarious vacation reading.' -- Publishers Weekly on THE LAST TIME I SAW PA

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Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Hodder Pb (April 25, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0340830379
• ISBN-13: 978-0340830376
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,791,667 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Elizabeth Adler is a self-confessed romantic, a travel addict and a foodie, all of which she brings to the reader in her novels, along with a tough thrust of suspense and an unfolding mystery that keeps you on your toes. Elizabeth has lived in many countries and when she's not writing spends time discovering even more places to bring to you, with her husband, Richard - still in love after all these years - as are the characters featured in her past three novels, Mac Reilly the Malibu PI and Sunny Alvarez, his lover and side kick. You have to read about them to know them! Elizabeth lives in California and has the ability to take you to all those romantic places she knows so well, Capri, Venice, Tuscany, St. Tropez, Monte Carlo, and of course, Malibu. You will feel you are there, with her, sitting on that Italian terrace, sipping that coffee, smelling the delicious food, savoring the heat and the sunshine and the mystery unfolding for you. Elizabeth is five-three and wishes she were taller, blind as a bat without her glasses that anyway she is too vain to wear, and at 128 lbs till thinking about that diet. She has one daughter, Anabelle who is married to rock musician Eric Avery and two kitties, the Siamese, Sweet Pea who rules the household, and an adorable black cat Sunny.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love Blooms at Family Reunion in Beautiful Provence, September 17, 2004

By 

Antoinette Klein (Hoover, Alabama USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Invitation to Provence (Hardcover)

Rafaella Marten is the lonely matriarch of a wine-producing dynasty in Provence. Once a beautiful and vivacious woman, she has become a recluse in her beautiful chateau. Out of sheer and desperate loneliness she plans a reunion of her strange and dysfunctional family.

The most prominent invitee is an unknown niece, Franny, who as a veterinarian in Santa Monica has found herself at the end of a tumultuous love affair with a married man. The man himself sends his wife to break the relationship off, but instead of a cat fight we get two women who bond and become the best of friends.

A second invitee is Jake Bronson, the son of famed polo player Lucas Bronson who was once the love of Rafaella's life. Also receving invites to the reunion are: Shao Lan, a young orphan from Hong Kong; Juliette, a long-ago friend of Rafaella's; Haigh, a devoted butler; Clare, the "other woman" in Franny's affair; Felix and Alain, the wayward sons of Rafaella who left the chateau years ago after an unsolved murder and bitter fight with their mother; and Scott, a handsome wine merchant.

Each of the participants has a secret past that must be dealt with before the future can be faced. Amidst the sensuous setting of Provence, love and intrigue run rampant as Elizabeth Adler weaves a tale of contemporary romance, family ties, and surprising twists.

Devoted fans of the author will be pleased to see Lola and Jack Farrar from the Hotel Riviera once again and to enjoy this pleasant escape to a land famous for azure skies, the scent of rosemary and mimosa, champagne toasts, and exquisite cuisine. So, curl up and enjoy a little armchair travelling to romantic Provence.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Favorite Elizabeth Adler book!, June 2, 2010

By 

J. Mertens "Jeani Beani" (Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Invitation to Provence (Mass Market Paperback)

I don't understand the negative reviews, this was the perfect summer beach book. The setting and the descriptions as always are what make Elizabeth Adler one of my favorite authors to read when I want to escape from the daily life chores that one has to do. This book is a mini vacation and I loved the plot with Franny Marten and all the people she meets. Yes, this book is very formulatic but that is what we come to expect from E.A. and that's what we want, we want everything to be perfect and rosy and a happy ending in a beautiful setting with a wealthy, good looking, and perfect man. I've read all the E.A. books except for 3 and the new one coming out in July, can't wait!!! Buy her books if you want to escape to Europe with descriptions of food and clothing and homes, countryside, and it creates the perfect vacation atmosphere and take this book with you to the beach or the patio and enjoy. Don't listen to the negative reviews, this was her best one yet.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Will transport you to the south of France, January 30, 2006

By 

Tracy Vest (Northern California) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Invitation to Provence (Hardcover)

Lonely matriarch Rafaella Marten impulsively invites a series of old friends and family members to her chateau in Provence for a family reunion. In addition to the sons who were a disappointment and left the estate many years earlier, she has invited veterinarian Franny Marten, who has no family of her own left; Jake Bronson, the son of her former lover; Juliette, her estranged best friend; and vintner Scott who has taken over the reigns at winery. Rafaella's eldest son dies suspiciously in Hong Kong and leaves behind a half Chinese daughter, who is summoned to the villa as well.

While Franny waits patiently at the table for her lover Marcus to arrive for a dinner date, she is shocked to discover that he wife shows up instead. It seems that Marcus does not have a faithful bone in his body, and he cannot even dump his own girlfriends. While Franny loses Marcus, she gains his soon-to-be ex-wife Clare as a friend.

Jake is a wealthy security expert. He knows that Rafaella is looking for an heir, so he decides to check out Franny, and is immediately smitten with her. A one night stand with Franny results in her broken heart, and his immense guilt.

When an invitation to Provence is received, Franny does not plan to go, but Clare talks her into it and they decide to go together. She has never met her aunt Rafaella, and only knows that there was a falling out several generations ago. When they arrive in Provence, she is shocked when Jake arrives, but tries to play it cool with him, but soon finds herself in his arms, much to Rafaella's delight.

Old rivalries and passions are reignited, and there is tension and romance amid the vines, as someone who has everything to gain from the demise of Franny is lurking in the shadows.

The mystery is somewhat lacking, and the story a little too easily wrapped up, but Adler is able to take you away from the hum drum of everyday life and transport the reader to an idyllic place. It makes for a nice escape.