The idea of going to France to take a cooking class is very appealing. At a lovely old estate is even more appealing. The students were all about my age so I could sympathize with the point of life & some wondering what to do next. There were characters I liked and others I didn't. The local students weren't delved into, just called expats. I saw myself in 2 of the characters, Caroline & Bridgette, especially so I was interested in their endings. Fran was too much for me & I'm not sure I could have cozied up to her like the others did. I dinged a star for the way I thought the plot plodded along & I expected more cooking. I think they spent too much time outside of the kitchen for a supposedly expensive trip.

#Netgalley #TheFrenchCookerySchool #CarolineJames #OneMoreChapter #contempary #cooking #France ( )

Waltho Williams has opened up his luxurious chateau and gardens with a view to hosting (as the title suggests) cookery courses. The first group of eager students have arrived to learn all about the art of French cuisine. And what an eclectic bunch they are! There’s bold and brash Fran from Blackpool wanting to start her own fine dining business, aloof and sad Caroline who has marital problems, journalist glamour-puss Sally with her crazy pink hair, bossy Brigitte with her eye-catching clothes and the colourful and twee twins, Jeanette and Pearl, to name a few. This is such a fun and entertaining read although it does have some serious themes woven through it. The plot and the characters are just like a cassoulet - various differing ingredients being thrown into a pot, slowly simmering away together with the end result combining to make a harmonious and complementary blend, leaving a satisfying after taste. I’d love to sample some of the dishes they cooked - they sounded delicious! And the ice cream they ate on their expeditions….yum. It’s a story to remind us that it’s never too late to follow your dreams and you’re never too old to tango! ( )