Congrats Patricia
on the recent release of
Deck the Halls at the Villa des Violettes!
Deck the Halls at the Villa des Violettes by Patricia Sands
My thoughts about Deck the Halls at the Villa des Violettes ~~
Holiday Fiction, Travel,199 pages
Published December 15, 2023 by Lake Union Publishing
Let the good times roll at the Villa des Violettes! Life returns to normal at Katherine and Philippe’s villa on the sun-kissed Mediterranean coast. Has someone won the heart of sweet Delphine? Hints of serious romance make this holiday season even more special and excitement is in the air. Irresistible aromas of mulled wine and roasting chestnuts mix with joyful sounds floating through the village streets from the Christmas markets.
Kat and Philippe make an unexpected road trip to the stunning French Basque countryside to help the young lovers meet with family. Delicious cuisine, deep traditions and heartwarming hospitality, amidst the stunning setting between the Atlantic and the Pyrenées, create unforgettable memories. Romance deepens with family acceptance. Plans are made. Hopes are high.
Back in Antibes, dear friends are returning, along with some surprises. It’s possible this could be the merriest holiday ever.
(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first line.)
First lines—"There are times when something bad caused good things to happen."
I absolutely love this series! I always feel like I'm taking a vacation to the Mediterranean coast with a wonderful group of kind and beautiful people. And now after reading Deck the Halls at the Villa des Violettes, I have spent a magical Christmas holiday with all of them.
Patricia's stories set in the Villa des Violettes are so descriptive of the area that when the characters take a road trip to see the sites of visit some of their many friends, I feel like I am there and I am in total awe of the place. Katherine and Philippe are so kind and generous. I would love to be their friend. And someday I would love to see that area in person. Dream big, right? But honestly, from this series, I feel like I have visited there already.
Deck the Halls at the Villa des Violettes was the perfect escape read for me at this harried time of year, with all the holiday goings on. I was able to get away and enjoy some festivities with a great group of people in a beautiful place. I highly recommend this story, as well as the whole series!
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About the author
Patricia Sands lives 2 hours north of Toronto, but her heart's other home is the South of France. She spends part of each year on the Cote d'Azur and once a year leads a women-only tour of the Riviera and Provence based on her novels.
Her award-winning 2010 debut novel, The Bridge Club, is a book club favorite and in December 2020, the Tenth Anniversary edition was published ~ the original story with revisions and a new Epilogue. The Promise of Provence, which launched her three-part Love in Provence series was a finalist for a 2013 USA Best Book Award and a 2014 National Indie Excellence Award, an Amazon Hot New Release in April 2013, and a 2015 nominee for a #RBRT Golden Rose award in the category of romance.
The Promise of Provence became Book #1 in the Love In Provence series. Promises To Keep ~ Book #2 was released in Summer 2014. I Promise You This ~ Book #3 was released in May 17, 2016. The series explores a mid-life coming of age and allows readers to lose themselves in the beauty of the south of France without leaving home.
Patricia was invited to join the Lake Union imprint (Women's Fiction) of Amazon Publishing in January 2015. Her fifth novel, Drawing Lessons, also set in France, and a semi-finalist in the 2018 Somerset Literary Awards, was released by Lake Union Publishing on October 1, 2017.
From December 2018 to January 2020, Patricia published a series of novellas is in response to readers' requests to spend more time with the characters from the Love in Provence series. The First Noël at the Villa des Violettes (Book 1), A Season of Surprises (Book 2) in the Villa des Violettes series and Lavender, Loss & Love at the Villa des Violettes (Book 3)were released in 2019/2020.
The Secrets We Hide was released in August, 2022 and has received the 2023 Book Excellence Winner award for Women's Fiction. www.bookexcellenceawards.com
In February 2023, eight authors collaborated in an entertaining series of short novels, the Sail Away Series, each one set on a cruise. The first book was released on February 1 and for eight weeks after that a new book was published. Patricia's Lost At Sea, Book #8, was released March 15th.
A new Villa des Violettes book (#4) is in the works!
Celebrating the rewarding friendships and bonds women share, Sands' stories examine the challenges life often throws in our paths. Location features prominently in all of her novels.
Her philosophy is that it's never too late to begin something new, to seize each day and be a possibilitarian! As the saying goes, just do it! Hearing from readers (both men and women) is her greatest reward.
Visit her online at www.patriciasandsauthor.com or linktr.ee/patriciasands and follow her on Instagram @psands.stories