Member Reviews
Jo Jo's French Escape has such a beautiful cover. This is the third in a series and was a delight to read. Jo is escaping her past and hiding away to recover, using her skills of cooking she keeps herself busy. I perfect read if you enjoy an uplifting read with warm and witty characters. A lovely read.
What a fascinating book. I was impressed by the storyline and the characters were all well written and complex. Where there are complex storylines combined with intriguing characters the reader experience is magnified tremendously. To have a book that is well written as well as entertaining is a delight. Reading is about escaping your world and entering another one. Here I forgot about my own life and was immersed in the world created by the author. I would recommend this book.
For twelve months JoJo Grant has been hiding from a secret too shameful to share. And whilst her sanctuary might be the beautiful French countryside, JoJo has a horrible feeling that her peace is about to be shattered…because bursting into her life is the hottest celebrity chef around – Callum O’Connor.
Didn’t realise this was the third book in a series. Need to track those down first before I can read this.
This was prob a 3.5* read for me.
JoJo escapes to her friend Poppy's guesthouse after a traumatic experience back in the UK. She's hidden herself away to lick her wounds and try to heal. She's concerned about being seen out in public and has been keeping herself busy cooking and helping to look after a wonderful tribe of doggy characters. Flump is a new addition during the course of the book and the dogs are a welcome light spot.
When a famous chef starts work with them, she has mixed emotions. She is very keen to learn from an expert, but doesn't want a high profile encounter risking her self healing tucked away.
I loved the food and scenery depicted in the book.
I adore Lorraine Wilson's books and as expected this was a delight from start to finish. The writing is warm and witty and fresh and the characters are authentically drawn. Eagerly awaiting Lorraine's next book.
Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.
What a charming read! Delightful beach reading. I really enjoyed the banter.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.
This was a sweet enjoyable read. The story is about Jojo who has escaped to France after her boyfriend (who featured on a reality TV show with her) dumped for her best friend and then also put a sex tape of them online. Jojo is learning how to move on with the help of her best friends and also some loveable dogs. Then along come celebrity Chef Callum, can Jojo overcome her fears and find some happiness.
For me, I only gave this three stars because I would have liked a little more conversation and getting to know each other from Callum and Jojo before that actually got to together and I have to say in parts I wasn't a huge fan of Jojo (her character) not sure why, she just was likeable at times. However if you are looking for a light hearted, fun read to pass a few hours this is the perfect book.
Thank you to One More Chapter and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily
This was an escapist feel-good read set in France, with an intriguing storyline, interesting characters - I really enjoyed the chemistry between disgraced JoJo and standoffish chef Callum - an emotional pay-off, and of course lots of adorable dogs.
Thank you to the author and publisher for the chance to give this one an early read.
Found this to be a cute read focusing on aspects not usually touched upon in escapist romance (leaking of sex tapes, a heroine who 'gasp' explicitly says she enjoys sex!) and the chemistry between JoJo and Callum was great to witness and see unfold over the pages. Just felt it was a bit too skewed to Poppy and her wedding, as if Jojo's story were only half the tale and a medium to carry through all the info about the wedding and to also still give Poppy reader's time. Loved the dogs, though, and the setting was absolutely brilliant
An enjoyable story about ‘disgraced reality star’ JoJo and her escape from the fallout of a despicable betrayal by her ex-boyfriend. An escape which has led her to Start a new life in France with new friends. But all this is put in jeopardy by the arrival of a celebrity chef and the attraction he & JoJo begin to feel for one another. Throw the re-emergence of her ex-boyfriend & ex-best friend into the mix and it becomes a recipe for disaster in JoJo’s eyes.
I enjoyed reading most of the book, but (and I’m no prude), the sex scenes were far too explicit for my liking, beyond that usual in this genre, & felt out of kilter with the rest of the story and spoilt it for me - in my opinion it added nothing to the story & made it feel a bit seedy, which is a shame as the actual story away from that was good.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Rachel;s Random Resources, Netgalley, and One More Chapter for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.
Revenge porn is the absolute worst and I hate that this is the reason why JoJo is hiding out in France. I would rather be in France just for the fun of it, or even just for the history of it. Even if she’s a reality TV star, she does not deserve to have her personal business aired out like that, and that is definitely something that needs to be said. Now I get that this is a plot device to give Jojo a reason for being in France when she should be somewhere else, but still.
Having this opportunity to cleanse herself from the toxic environment and people that basically made her life a living hell from that incident, Jojo finds that she may be able to start a new chapter in her life in France with her friend Poppy. Even though there were some things from her old life in the UK that she had to leave behind in the UK – like her cafe business – being able to help out in the kitchen in the Chambres D’Hotes and interacting with the guests that stay there during their trips seems to have been a better choice for her. Surrounding herself with real people that don’t have an ulterior motive, some sort of agenda, aren’t doing things just for the drama of television, may have had a positive impact on Jojo’s psyche and mental health.
Despite the drama that ends up happening when people from the reality TV world come back into her life somehow, I thought that this journey that Jojo experienced was one that needed to happen, and was an emotional ride form beginning to end. I think that this was a decent balance of dark material and light rom-com fluff.
The second book in this series.
Jojo is in France after she fled the UK following her appearance in the reality TV show. she wants nothing to do with fame but then Leo's friend TV chef Callum shows up to stay. They don't get off to the best start, but as they spend more time together they realise they were wrong about each other, but can Jojo face being in the public eye again?
Nice to catch up with Poppy and Leo from the first book too.
Lovely read I enjoyed Jojo on her French escape.I was drawn in to this wonderful trip gorgeous environment throw in romance for a really delightful read.Perfrct book to escape into,#netgalley#harpercollinsuk
5☆ A Heart warming, Funny, Uplifting and Feel Good Rom com! A Must Read!
JoJo’s French Escape is a heart warming, funny and feel good Rom Com, that features the most adorable fur babies.
Jojo escapes to her best friend Poppy's guesthouse, Les Coquelicots after a horrible ordeal in the public eye. After something happened on a reality show that was out of her control. Leaving behind her business and family.
Les Coquelicots has been a safe haven for Jojo, a place to hide from the world whilst she slowly gets over her humiliation and discovers her Second chance.
But just as Jojo is finally getting her confidence back and dealing with her anxieties, Poppy invites Callum O’Connor to help out with her new business venture. However there is one slight problem Callum is a well known celebrity chef and he most certainly will of heard of Jojo!
Callum is strikingly handsome, good at his job and doesn't seem to care one bit about Jojo's past!.... Is Callum going to be the one who restores Jojo's faith in humanity and Men or will it all go disastrously wrong!
I really warmed to all of the Characters, I loved Jojo's and Poppy's friendship, and watching Jojo grow in confidence and her potential budding Romance with Callum was heart warming to see.
But for me the adorable Fur babies stole the book and melted my heart. Anyone who knows me, knows that I adore any book that features fur babies, and there was plenty of cheeky, mischievous, loveable pups!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading JoJo’s French Escape it was such an uplifting, heartfelt and fun read. There are also some hot and steamy sexual encounters that will leave you a lil hot under the collar!
But it also had a powerful and poignant message about mental health, anxiety, not letting others bring you down, strength and courage and also self love it's ok to need help.
There are lots of laughs, smiles and crazy doggie antics which will have you laughing out loud.
So if you are looking for a thoroughly entertaining, enjoyable, lighthearted, uplifting Rom Com with the most adorable rescue pups then I highly recommend you picking up a copy of JoJo’s French Escape, you won't be disappointed!
Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
A delightful story. A great read when spending time in the garden or by a pool.
The author took me away to France and I enjoyed getting to know the characters.
This is the first book I've read by this author. Whilst I enjoyed the lovely descriptions and feel of France, I was slightly put off by the amount of 'heat' from JoJo and Cal It doesn't leave much to the imagination so if you are looking for something more 'feel good' then this book may not be for you. However it does deal with the delicate subject matter of public humiliation on social media by people who are trusting of their friends and lovers. It gives an insight in how some get over this by standing up to the bullies and restarting life again with a positive approach, good friends and a home full of rescue dogs.
If you prefer a book that isn't full of dialogue then I would suggest reading it. Jojo and Cal's relationship that blossoms despite deep seated concerns from past relationships. There is a great plot and I wasn't aware on reading it that it was part of a series. A great standalone story. I won't give any spoilers but if you are a fan of Lorraine Wilson, you won't be disappointed.
This is the third book in "A French Escape" series. This is JoJo Grant's story. JoJo has been in hiding from a shameful secret, to the point where she has become a recluse and if she has to go out, she wears baggy clothes hoping not to be recognized. She is kept busy running Poppy's Guesthouse, looking after several cute puppies and planning Poppy's and Leo's wedding. Poppy and Leo want her to move on with her life, and think that Leo's friend Callum, a celebrity chef, would be perfect for her. It just so happens that Callum wants to get away from his celebrity life, so Leo invites him to come and stay as well as getting him to help design the menu for the new restaurant they want to open in the barn. Leo is coming off a bad relationship with a woman who was after his celebrity status, so JoJo is not a person he wants to encounter at this point in his life. They both have ideas about what and who the other is, but as they get to know one another, they realize they are both wrong.
This book has a really important and powerful message. JoJo has allowed what others think of her force her into hiding. When she does venture out, she hears whispers and comments and slips back into her insecurities. I do not want to ruin the story for you but with some help, she breaks through. Enter Callum, a man who loves to cook, teach people to cook and feed them. He does not enjoy his television shows and is trying to figure out what to do next in his life. He is so caring and supportive. The other characters in the story are lovely, well except for Aiden and Sally, but that was to be expected based on what they did to JoJo. Poppy and Leo have become JoJo's family and support system and she was lucky to have landed with them. The most fun in this story are the dogs. Poppy loves to rescue dogs so she has 4, Callum has 1 and JoJo rescues another. They are a hoot. They are spoiled, pampered and oh so loved. They give back as good as they get, and at one point, come to JoJo's rescue. I have to say I loved the antics that Flump was involved in, but I do not like his name.
Overall, I enjoyed this story. I loved learning a bit about the area and if I ever get to France, I will look for these small villages. This story is a romance, and there are some rather descriptive sex scenes, but for me, the main themes are about friendship and not letting others label you, standing up for yourself, be strong, be yourself and write your own story. This book can be read as a standalone, but if you want the full story with all the characters and how they ended up where they are, I suggest you read the series in order.
I couldn't wait to delve straight into this beautiful looking and sounding novel by Lorraine Wilson. The cover is utterly spellbinding with its bright blue sky and rows upon rows of beautiful yellow sunflowers. I adore it! It's so summery and inviting. I also couldn't wait to give it a read because of the sound of the synopsis, I love books set in France and was so excited to read all about JoJo's life and what she has been hiding from.
As mentioned above this novel focuses on JoJo, even though we do hear about other characters from Lorraine's past novels, it's all about her comeback from the worst and lowest point of her life. Although it mentions Poppy and Leo and what they are getting up to now, it could easily be read as a standalone as it's mainly about JoJo's journey to happiness and learning to love again.
At first I was a bit unsure of JoJo, I knew what she had been through as the author describes it but she seemed really negative and depressed about everything even though she landed on her feet with Poppy and working at the Guesthouse. Even though I understand the reason she is feeling so down, the pages and constant paragraphs discussing it got a little tedious after a while and when JoJo once again went back to thinking about her issue, I started to skip paragraphs.
Having said this, when we aren't discussing JoJo's nightmare it really is a good book. I love reading about France and where they visit and of course reading about the Guesthouse itself and about JoJo and Callum. The chemistry between them is sizzling and boy is this a very sexual book! Maybe a bit too much for my liking but it certainly is sizzling and enjoyable at some points.
Overall, a nice easy read. Thank you to the publisher for a chance to read an advance copy of this novel via Netgalley which I have reviewed honestly.
This was my first experience reading a book by Lorraine Wilson and I mostly enjoyed her writing style. I loved the story, the characters, especially the cute puppies, and the French countryside. However, I could have done without the explicit sex scenes. I definitely prefer things to be left more to the imagination in the regard and it’s what made me go with only a three star rating instead of four. All in all, this was a cute romance novel that explored the importance of loving yourself first and not letting others dictate your value. JoJo has to heal and love herself before she was capable of trying to love Cal. I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoys HEAs and doesn’t mind graphic sex scenes. I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.