*I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Evie has no desire to celebrate Christmas this year. Not with the memories of the previous one still so vivid. And, after seeing in a gossip magazine that her future ex-husband is dating his assistant, she decides to accept her friends' offer to spend the holidays at France in their vacation home.

And if, at first, the adaptation of a city woman to the life in the country is not easy, as she begins to adapt and interact with the neighbours, an elderly couple and especially the attractive and nice new town doctor, Evie begins the healing process. And she starts to wonder if the best thing for her won’t be to radically change her life.

A story filled with Christmas spirit, where several broken characters find themselves at the right time and help each other to surpass the pain and find a way to live with the grief.

The characters are vivid and it’s easy to identify with them and their problems. But the thing I liked the most were the descriptions, not only of the landscapes of the french countryside, but especially of the food. They are mouthwatering... ( )

Sissy: What is magical about this story is the beautifully described scenery, food, and people that Evie encounters, laced with lyrical French words and phrases. I loved the Not-Christmas apple tree in the backyard of Evie’s cottage still dotted with red fruit and a cardinal in residence that is the first thing to stir up a holiday feeling in her heart.
Bubby: I loved the slow, gentle progression of healing that took place in The French For Christmas. It was beautiful to watch two wounded characters finally find joy and solace through meeting each other. Read full review at www.bubblebath-books.com ( )

Evie has had a difficult year, to say the least. She and her husband had a stillborn baby. Then, her husband and partner in their restaurant, left her. Finally, the restaurant closed. She always loved Christmas and had fond memories of the holiday, but this year she does not really want Christmas and wants it all to be a distant memory. When her friends offer to let he use their house in the French countryside, she gladly accepts, hoping to get past the holiday season without any celebrations. Initially, Evie is a bit put off by the cottage and its lack of amenities such as a working land line, a working Internet, etc. that she is used to, but she adjusts well after a short time. She also becomes friends with her neighbor, the hunky doctor who tends to the village needs and is temporarily filling in until the village can entice a doctor to move in to take the place of the last doctor who moved on to retirement. Then there is the older couple who live in the farmhouse close by. Evie is not sure what to make of it all, and she really took her friends up on her offer to hopefully get over some of the things that have happened and to move herself to another level, accepting life and going forward. This is a story about healing and realizing what is important in life. It is not really a Christmas story as such, though the time frame fits the holiday season. In addition, the storyline meaning fits the holiday season.

This is much more than that, however. This is the story of one woman’s need to accept life as it has been handed to her and her journey to do that. Along the way, she encounters another lost soul searching, her neighbor doctor, and together they manage to each figure out what life really means for themselves while realizing the attraction between them. I loved this story. The two main characters were very well done. The chemistry between them was evident from the get-go. I found myself mesmerized by the way the author brought the reader righto their hearts and minds as each moved through some difficult territory. I think anyone who enjoys a good romance will love this book. It is beautifully written and held my attention from the first page. I loved that the story took place in France and was chock full of food and cooking, my great love. I got hungry just reading the story at many times. I have not read any other of the author’s books, but will now look for her works. After reading this, I am sure you will also. I received this from NetGalley to read to provide an honest review. ( )