The Promise of Provence - Book Tour Stop 9.7.13

One of Today's Tour Stops for The Promise of Provence by Canadian author, Patricia Sands

Welcome!
Today we have the vicarious pleasure of enjoying the gifts of Provence provided through Patricia Sands' storytelling...
"Surprise, shock, and a shift in her comfortable life tumble into Katherine Price’s world when least expected. The future she has imagined suddenly vanishes, leaving little to focus  upon beyond her career and the caregiving her elderly  widowed mother might require. * June in Provence is full of promise when Katherine arrives from Canada, eager to feel renewed by her surroundings. Endless rows of lavender prepare to burst into pink and purple blooms. Fields of sunflowers flow in golden waves among vineyards and olive groves. Ancient hilltop villages beckon. It’s the postcard setting she envisioned, but is that all she needs?
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After a year of heartbreak, Katherine has impulsively agreed to a home exchange in the south of France. Colorful locals, a yellow lab named Picasso, and the inspiring beauty of the countryside breathe new life into her days.
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Seeking to shed the pain of betrayal and loss, she struggles to recapture her joie de vivre and searches for the answer to a haunting question: is it too late to begin again?
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As Katherine explores the romantic cobblestone lanes of medieval towns, discovers the intoxicating pleasures of Paris and savours the sun-kissed Côte d'Azur, she begins redefining the possibilities in her life. 
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An enduring story of hope and change in life’s later years is woven through the author’s love-letter to France. Like a well-travelled friend, Patricia Sands invites readers into a world she loves and entices them to linger."  ~ Goodreads * ~~~~~~ * ~~~~~~ My thoughts? Patricia writes knowledgeably about Toronto, Canada, and surrounding area of St Jacobs, home territory of our MC, as well as her travels to Provence, France. Descriptions have piqued my interest in both travel in France and the home exchange program that brought the book's protagonist to discover its joys. Informative descriptives of France's foods, locales, markets, and practices, all serve up a warm and inviting picture of  the land and its people. *
Secondary characters and subplots in abundance for this 450 page contemporary women's first in a series of fiction novels. It provides a requisite lengthy summer read.  Dealing with a continuum of several weighty topics - divorce, job loss, aging, familial relationships, romantic relationships [both flings and established].   * A fascinating personal WWII story adds intrigue and adventure as it solves some previous unknowns, relative to Katherine's heritage.  * We follow Katherine in her life journey from the moment of discovering her husband's disclosure of infidelity through its aftermath in Katherine's life. Reactions and actions of characters keep the story realistic.  Katherine's introduction to overseas home exchange brings a note of excitement to lighten the weighty discussions dealt with to this point of the story.
* The book is contemporary in thought and action, with language to match, which I must address to honestly inform anyone considering the book. Hopefully this informs readers personal choices regarding   The Promise of Provence.
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I appreciate Ms Sands tackling the issue of life after fifty. 

While I wouldn't agree with all the recommendations Katherine receives from her friends, the book does encourage women to grab hold of their life, choosing to make decisions rather than

obliviously allowing life to drift past them.  

A very good thing indeed.

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About today's author?

Family, writing and travel are my passions ... okay, and chocolate ... and I'm seldom without a camera. Toronto, Canada is home for me most of the time, Florida some of the time, and the south of France whenever possible. There are benefits to getting older!

Beginning with my first Kodak Brownie camera at the age of six, it seems I have told stories all of my life through photography. With our happily blended family of seven adult children and, at last count, six grandchildren, life is full and time is short.

Becoming an author in my ... gasp ... 60's ... (I'm too young to be this old!) was not on my agenda. But here I certainly am and writing is what I will continue to do. My debut novel, The Bridge Club, was published through iUniverse in August 2010 and my second novel, The Promise Of Provence, was released in April, 2013. Readers are asking when the next book will be out so I'm back at the drawing board!

My stories celebrate the rewarding friendships and bonds women share and examine the challenges life often throws in our paths.

One of the great pleasures of being published is being asked to speak with women's groups on the subjects of writing and self-publishing as well as the importance of valuing our personal stories. At other events (as one half of Sommers & Sands) along with my speaking partner, author Susan Sommers, through keynotes, workshops and conferences, audiences are encouraged to embrace change and see challenges as opportunities.

I live by the philosophy 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!

* Thank you, Patricia, for being our guest today and sharing your thoughts and yourself  with us through your writing.  It's been a pleasure to get to know the woman behind the story.
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Pop in to visit Patricia at:

http://www.patriciasands.wordpress.com

http://www.patriciasandsauthor.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/patricia.sands.9

and https://www.facebook.com/AuthorPatriciaSands

Twitter https://twitter.com/patricia_sands

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4381348.Patricia_Sands

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Publication Date: May 30, 2013

457 pages,  ISBN 9780991931316    Published through CreateSpace

Available on Amazon worldwide     USA   Canada   UK    FR and may be ordered at any bookstore.

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I received an ecopy with appreciation to Patricia and France 
Book Tours for reading and review for  today's book tour. *

Monday, July 1
Giveaway at Vvb32 Reads

Tuesday, July 2
Review + Giveaway at Chocolate & Croissants

Wednesday, July 3
Review + Giveaway at The French Village Diaries
Interview + Giveaway at An Accidental Blog

Thursday, July 4
Review at The Most Happy Reader

Friday, July 5
Interview at The French Village Diaries

Saturday, July 6
Excerpt posted by Helena Fairfax

Sunday, July 7
Review + Giveaway at Walkie Talkie Book Club

Monday, July 8
Review at Vvb32 Reads
Review + Giveaway at Words And Peace

Tuesday, July 9
Review at Faith Hope & Cherrytea
Giveaway at Walkie Talkie Book Club

Wednesday, July 10
Review at Impressions In Ink
Review + Giveaway at Queen Of All She Reads
Review + Giveaway at The Redlady’s Reading Room

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Patricia will be co-leading an 11-day tour of 14 women
to Nice and the countryside of Provence in June 2014.
Come join in the magic!

http://womenstravelnetwork.ca/promenade-en-provence/

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