Romance Reading Mom

Monday, January 15

Laura Florand's Blame It on Paris

Have you ever read a review and thought "I have to get that book!!"? Jayne's review of Laura Florand's Blame It on Paris did just this. It's been on my TBR pile for a couple of weeks. What a wonderful book to simply curl up on the sofa and enjoy.

Can an insecure American woman find happiness with a sexy Parisian waiter--even if she doesn't like the French?

Laura has spent most of her adult life avoiding serious relationships, flitting around the world, and keeping her romantic expectations comfortably low. The last thing she wants is to have her globe-trotting ways curtailed by a messy emotional entanglement. As far as she's concerned, chocolate is just as satisfying as true love--and a lot less complicated.

So how, in the name of all that is romantic, has she managed to get involved with a dangerously charming Frenchman named Sebastien? And only weeks before she's scheduled to leave Paris for good?

Everyone knows that Frenchmen are chain-smoking, manic-depressive, faithless, male chauvinistic, perfectionist snobs. What's worse, they live in France.

The cultural differences alone are enough to kill any relationship, even if Laura wanted one. She's from small-town Georgia. He's a sophisticated Parisian. They go together like grits and escargot.

But Sebastien isn't just any Frenchman. He's a gorgeous, sweet, sexy, graphic artist who seems to find Laura adorable for reasons she can't begin to comprehend. As the days slip by, she's finding it harder and harder to say adieu.

Unless she comes to her senses soon, she could end up ruining her life with a beautiful romance. . . .

I'm so glad I spent yesterday reading this book. My husband kept asking me what I was smiling at. It's a wonderfully witty book that takes an interesting and funny American look at Paris and then turns that witty view on America from a very funny French point of view.

It's a delightful look at what I hope are average American and French families. Her dealings with bureaucracies on both sides of the Atlantic are priceless. The interesting Catholic Priests she's encountered remind me of some from my childhood. And apparently septic tanks in France aren't any better than those in the States. I want to spend the 4th of July with Mrs. Florand's family in Georgia and I want to visit Mr. Florand's for the next fetes villageoises.

Just a few random thought...

Mayonnaise needs to be refrigerated as does uncooked and cooked chicken, no matter what the French think.
11 year olds shouldn't be allowed to work a crane.
"Mamie" reminded me of my grandmother, that was her nickname.
"mon petite chou" reminded me of my grandfather, that's what he called us when we were little.
Being a chocoholic Paris might be worth visiting.
America needs PACS.
Paris needs a little more green space if someone raised there is so easily impressed by squirrels.

A delightful, witty and sweet tale, and a really good read.

Posted by Tara Marie :: 6:07 AM :: 8 comments