Bon Appetit

This is a guest post by Tina L. Scott (formerly Miller). Tina is a freelance photographer from Merrill, Wisconsin with a passion for writing. She can be reached at PhotographyByTina.com

Book
Bon Appetit

Author
Sandra Byrd

The Plot
Okay, I’ll admit it. I didn’t read Sandra Byrd’s first book, Let Them Eat Cake,
before reading Bon Appetit. And, I didn’t read the back-cover copy either—because I didn’t want to know anything that was going to happen prior to curling up with the book. But now, after reading Bon Appetit, I am anxiously awaiting the release of the third book scheduled for late 2009—and 2009 isn’t even here yet! You see, this novel enthralled me and I can’t wait to see what comes next in the French Twist series and in Lexi Stuart’s life.

Bon Appetit begins with Lexi’s arrival in France and the culmination of her lifelong dream to come to this country of exquisite cuisine and to study at L’Ecole du Patisserie, a prestigious school for aspiring pastry chefs. She’s ready to immerse herself into the French culture and make this her home. But life in a new country is harder than Lexi anticipated. Although she knows the language well, except for making a few faux amis mistakes, she is lonely. She misses her family, her friends, the man she had begun dating prior to embarking on her foreign adventure, and her illusions of what it would be like to live in France. Unfortunately, she doesn’t feel very welcomed—by the people of France, her co-workers, or the professors and other students at her school.

The Lesson Learned
Given time and faith, however, God reveals surprises for Lexi in France—a new English speaking church that enables her to grow her faith, the friendship of a child named Celine who gives her the gift of immediate and unconditional love, mentors in the workplace that teach her to perfect her baking skills, a new friend at school who needs Lexi as much as Lexi needs her, and even a potential new love interest—although she doesn’t want to admit it even to herself at first.

The Review
I don’t want to give away the ending, but I can tell you this: You will thoroughly enjoy reading about Lexi’s experiences, challenges, adaptations to a new culture, and her internal feelings and struggles as she masters new culinary techniques, explores Paris and other French treasures most of us can only dream of experiencing firsthand, and finds herself—and her faith—growing stronger each day. And along the way, she finds something else. She finds acceptance. From the French people, her new friends, and herself.

This is a wonderful story! Thoroughly engaging, saturated with references to French culture and sweet delicacies and culinary delights bakers and chefs will enjoy, and laced with romantic undertones, Bon Appetit is personable, heart warming, entertaining, and a great read!

Order Bon Appetit today!

Disclosure: The reviewer received a complimentary copy of the book to review.

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This post was sponsored by The Dabbling Mum.

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