A lovely gentle story of George Nicolau and his friend and neighbour Charles who embark on a road trip through France hopefully following the route of the Tour de France.
This is a journey of hope and discovery.
I was given a digital copyof this book by the publisher Gallic Books via Netgalley in return for an honest unbiased review. ( )

When his doting and over-protective daughter decides to go on a trek through the wilderness of Peru for a couple of months, George, with the help of best friend Charles, decide to plan a long trek of their own. Their trip consists of following the Tour de France in their car. Plans almost go awry when George’s granddaughter Adele calls to check in on her grandfather. This book is unique in that it manages to incorporate modern-day use of technology without it being clunky or trite. Adele encourages her grandfather to text her everyday with a simple status of his trip. The initial brief texts eventually evolve in short journal messages of his voyage. Who he’s with, where he is, what he’s experiencing. He and his long-lost granddaughter reunite through these messages.

Read more at: http://thenovelworld.com/2015/07/28/paris-in-july-georges-grand-tour-by-caroline... ( )

Some books just emanate a happiness from the shelf. They beam their goodness out with cheerful, happy covers and delightful sounding plots. Caroline Vermalle's charming novel, George's Grand Tour, is one of these novels, a small gem of a book. You can't help but read it with a smile on your face.

George Nicoleau is 83 years old. He's retired, a widower, and has a few health concerns. He and his best friend Charles, who live next door to each other in Chanteloup, France, are devotees of the Tour de France and together they have concocted a plan to drive the more than 3,000 miles of the world's most famous bicycle race. The timing is perfect since George's protective daughter is on a trip of her own and no one will miss him at home, at least not until his granddaughter Adele calls, having been instructed by her mother to keep tabs on her elderly grandfather. Quelle horreur! How can they leave now with Adele calling? Luckily Charles' grandson forwards all calls to George's home phone to his cell phone, thereby saving the long hoped for trip.

As George and Charles travel the stages of the Tour, they meet strangers, make friends, learn to text when Adele figures out what is really going on, break out of the set ways they have long inhabited, argue with each other and then make up, enjoy the adventure of a lifetime, live in the moment, and George nurtures a growing relationship with the heretofore distant Adele. The two old men are quirky and lovely characters and the tale of them learning to live life to the fullest even at their stage of life is perfectly lovely. Adele's life as a runner on television sets and her interest in entertaining her granddad with stories from her experiences add another layer to the tale. The novel is quite short but gentle, life affirming, and emotionally affecting all the way through. There are hilarious moments as the old men confront technology and touching moments when they each realize the need behind their friend's stubborn insistence on something. The story is an ode to happiness, understanding, and the joy we seldom associate with aging. It captures love and friendship and hope beautifully, and left me smiling through tears in the end. A heart-warming tale, I hope this finds a wide and appreciative audience. ( )