Se tem uma coisa que eu adoro é romance e romance que passa na França? Tem meu nome do meio.

Anemone é assistente em uma famosa marca de perfume francesa. Seu chefe Phillipe é um homem gentil, trabalhador e justo. Eles são atraídos um pelo outro,mas como trabalham juntos se mantém distantes. Até que o dia que os donos da empresa descobrem quem Anemone é: filha bastarda do dono da empresa que morreu anos antes. Agora Anemone terá que lidar com o fato da família desconfiar dela e de um escândalo iminente. Apenas Phillipe estará a seu lado.



Eu amo esse estilo de romance com segredos familiares e um mocinho muito protetor. Donna Alward entrega dois protagonistas que foram machucados no passado e que estão tentando se reerguer.



Phillipe teve um divórcio difícil, sua ex acabou o traindo mesmo que ele tivesse mudado sua vida inteira por ela e isso deixou o moço desconfiado. Quando ele repara em Anemone, acaba vendo ali uma moça simples e trabalhadora que só quer uma família.



Anemone, por sua vez, agora que está sozinha no mundo quer se aproximar da família do pai na esperança de conhecer os meio-irmãos, mas acaba sendo tratada super mal. A única pessoa que a apoia é Phillipe.



O romance deles é muito bonito de acompanhar e se desenvolve em paisagens belíssimas na França. Minha única ressalva é que Anemone perdoa tudo fácil demais, faltou um pouco de ódio nesse coração. Porém, com certeza é um romance que vale a pena.

This is a good story that kept me reading . I did like the characters.

I do recommend this book.

Anemone didn’t find out that she was the illegitimate child of the already married Lord Pemberton until after both her parents had passed away. Hoping to get to know her family better, she comes to work at their company in France. But when her identity is discovered, she’s whisked away to the countryside hide from the publicity by her charming boss Phillipe.

This is the fifth book in the Heirs to an Empire series, but I followed it quite easily without having read any of the preceding books. I found this a light and charming read, with likable leads and a real sense of setting, especially in Provence – the author successfully conveys the peaceful, pastoral scenes. I also liked how the author deftly navigated the complicated feelings between Anemone and the Pembertons with a light touch, despite the potential for over-the-top melodrama that comes with long-lost siblings.

However, I found the characterisation of both Anemone and Phillipe to be a little light. We mostly understand who the characters are through the lens of each other, but this can be frustrating – for example, Phillipe often calls Anemone sweet to the point that it is one of her defining personality traits, but I didn’t feel as though there was necessarily a lot of on-page evidence to support this beyond what he believes of her. I also wondered if the romance got a touch shafted in favor of the family reunion angle – the romance felt more like a major subplot than the point of the story sometimes.

Overall a well-written and enjoyable book made less successful by its somewhat unbalanced plot.

It's been more than two years since I boarded a plane, off to distant locales for new adventures. Is it any wonder I was all over this title when it crossed my desk? Glamorous events in Paris? Gorgeous fields of flowers in Provence? A sweet and sexy Frenchman to seal the deal? Yes, please!

I'll start off by saying that this is the fifth book in a family-centric series. It's written in such a way that I never felt lost or confused about the journey of the main couple. However, there are several family members who figure prominently in the story, in such a way that I wanted to know more about the motivation behind their actions and attitudes. They are the antagonists for much of the book but presented in such a way that I felt the need to dig into their layers and discover what had brought them to this place. I'll be going back to the beginning of the series and reading all of their books.

I really enjoyed the relationship between Annie and Phillippe. I appreciated the way he put himself between Annie and the family who owns the company where they both work, the way he stood up for her as a valued member of his staff. I liked his integrity and his sense of honor. It meant a lot to me that he refused to engage romantically with her while he was her supervisor.

Annie really was in a no-win situation. I liked her, respected her honesty, and understood her desire to know the people from whom she had been hidden. I enjoyed her interactions with Phillippe's parents and the seamless way she fit into the Provence life. I also liked the fact that when she made mistakes, she owned up to them quickly.

The romance in this book was sweet, steamy, and heartwarming. I had no doubts by the end that Annie and Phillippe were exactly where they were meant to be, doing what they were meant to do. Annie's family situation was wrapped up a bit too quickly and neatly for me, considering what had come before. Maybe, after reading the earlier books and getting to know the family members better, I'll be able to buy into that conclusion more completely.

If you're in the mood to escape to the dazzling lights of Paris and the lush, fragrant countryside of Provence with a likeable couple who will have you cheering them on to their happily ever after, pick up a copy of Donna Alward's A Proposal in Provence and let yourself be swept away.

4.5 Stars
ARC received for fair and unbiased review

Anemone Jones cresceu apenas com sua mãe, sem nunca saber quem era seu pai, mas quando sua mãe faleceu, ela deixou em seu testamento o nome do pai de Annie. Não tendo mais nenhuma família, Annie decide se mudar para Paris para trabalhar na Aurora Inc., empresa da família de seu falecido pai, com a esperança de alguma forma conseguir se aproximar de seus meio-irmãos antes de revelar a verdade. Ela ama o seu trabalho, ainda mais quando está com Phillippe Leroux, seu novo chefe, com quem está organizando uma grande festa de lançamento de um novo perfume.

Tudo vai por água abaixo quando a família Pemberton descobrem a verdadeira identidade de Annie, e a reação não poderia ser pior. Annie não quer o dinheiro deles e está prestes a ficar sem emprego, não tendo como se sustentar em Paris ela pensa em voltar para a Inglaterra. Mas quando a notícia chega aos tablóides, é Phillippe quem ajuda Annie a sair de Paris por alguns dias, e a leva para a Grasse. Entre as plantações de flores e a paz que essa cidade traz, eles vão dar uma chance para a atração que estão sentindo.

Annie é uma personagem que busca o laço familiar, apesar de não ter feito isso da melhor maneira. Ela não quer o dinheiro dos Pemberton, por isso que quando eles lhe oferece dinheiro para ir embora, ela sente seu coração partindo. Esse livro é o quinto de uma série, mas como eu não li os anteriores, não conheci os Pemberton de uma outra forma, então fiquei com um certo rancinho deles pela forma como trataram a Annie.

Phillippe tem suas questões quando se trata de relacionamento, ele já foi casado, e trabalhava incessantemente para dar a sua ex-esposa o nível de vida que ela estava acostumada. Mas quando ele achou que tinha achado a solução, que era se mudar para Paris, ela já estava nos braços de outro. Ele tem problemas para se envolver, entregar seu coração novamente, mas Annie com sua doçura irá quebrar as barreiras que ele construiu.

A Proposal in Provence é um romance muito bom, nos leva de Paris para a costa da França, onde fiquei imaginando toda aquela plantação de flores e a brisa do mar. Annie e Phillippe são um casal encantador, e para quem busca ler em inglês, a leitura é bem fácil. Recomendo para quem ama um bom romance, e quer ficar com o coração quentinho.

Terrific story. Anemone (Annie) Jones was raised by a single mother. She never knew her father or who he was until after her mother's death. Annie would love to get to know her half-siblings but is wary of her reception. She takes a job at Aurora, the family company, without letting anyone know of her connection.

As the story opens, Stephen Pemberton discovers that his father had been making unknown payments to someone up until his death. Determined to get to the bottom of it, he sets his investigators on the problem and is horrified by what he finds out. The father they all admired had had an affair that produced another child. The next step was to locate that child.

Meanwhile, Annie works in the PR department at Aurora's Paris office. She is assigned to help Phillippe Leroux plan the launch of the newest Aurora fragrance. Her organizational skills are stellar, and she has become indispensable to Phillippe. Annie has quite a crush on Phillippe, handsome, kind, and an excellent boss. Annie doesn't know it, but Phillippe is just as drawn to her. Two things are holding him back. First, he is her boss. Second, he is divorced, and his first wife's actions left him determined to avoid romantic entanglements.

When Annie receives a summons to report to a meeting with the head boss, she has no idea what's in store for her. Confronted by the united front of her half-siblings, they accuse her of wanting to blackmail them for money, create a scandal, etc. Horrified and devastated by the accusations and the coldness of her so-called family, Annie is furious when Stephen attempts to buy her off.

I ached for Annie, who just wanted some family, and instead, they accused her of horrible intentions. I loved how Phillippe stood up for her and protected her. Though he tries to deny his feelings for her, it's easy to see that Annie has found her way into his heart. I loved watching the attraction between them build until it became too much to resist. Phillippe's pride in her accomplishments was one motivation in his insistence that she attend the launch gala, and I loved the steps he took to make it possible. I also liked the little bit of "rub their faces in it" attitude he had, knowing that the Pembertons wouldn't exactly be happy that she was there.

When disaster struck in the form of a tabloid story about Annie, Phillippe was the one who rode to the rescue. I loved seeing him take her to the place where he's happiest and where he can let go and be himself. I loved seeing Phillippe open up about his past and trust Annie with the pain and guilt he still feels. There were plenty of sweet scenes of them together, like picking roses for perfume, and a couple of steamy ones, such as their trip to Cannes. The tension returned when Annie received a call asking her to visit the Pemberton chateau. Once again, Phillippe was ready to stand by her side in support but stood back when Annie wanted to do it on her own. I loved the boost in confidence that he gave her.

I was happy to see that the Pemberton family redeemed themselves, but it complicated matters for Phillippe. I ached for him and his fear of history repeating itself and wanted to shake Annie for being a bit insensitive in her excitement. Fortunately, their separation didn't last long. I loved the depth of emotion expressed as Annie and Phillippe finally shared their feelings. The ending was great. I loved seeing their decisions about their future and loved Phillippe's big moment.

A proposal in provence by Donna Alward.
Heirs to an Empire, Book 5.
In this Heirs to an Empire story, PR assistant Anemone loves working in Paris for the glamorous Pemberton family…until she discovers she’s their half-sibling! When the scandal breaks, her gorgeous boss Philippe comes to her rescue by whisking her away to Provence, giving her a chance to process her new life—and even find a place in his…
A very good read with good characters. Likeable story. 4*.

Anemone doesn't know her father's identity until after his death. She doesn't want anything from her wealthy, noble half-siblings except to know them. She secretly takes a job at the family company—but when they learn the truth, they freeze her out. Phillippe, her soon-to-be-former boss, takes her under his wing. She's always been attracted to him, but now it feels like they could be more. Will tabloid rumors come between them?

My heart goes out to Anemone. She's alone in the world and just wants a family. Phillippe's social climbing ex-wife steered him into a profession that isn't what he really wants. Together, they help each other reach their potential and discover their dreams. A lovely, heartfelt read.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Anemone Jones had few complaints about life. Actually, she was quite content in her job as a PR assistent for the Pemberton family. One of them treats her quite badly however, and that soon comes to no surprise. Annie is a half-sibling to the Pembertons. Was she their father's dirty little secret? What is she to do now that events have turned to the degree that she will soon receive her due inheritance, one that will change her future together?

Meanwhile, Phillippe Leroux soon becomes her boss and she goes to idyllic Greece to work for him. Will Annie be able to reconcile her past with her present, all while fighting the fact that she is falling for Phillippe?

What a tender story! This ended up not being a case of the sins of the father being cast on his child. While it is true that Annie never got to know her father, he never forgot about her and after his death, she not only learned about him but finds out she will be a very rich woman. What about Phillippe and the baggage he has from a previous relationship? Will this impact their growing feelings? How about her half-siblings? Where will Annie fit in? This well-rounded story was a true delight and I loved how everything came together.

Many thanks to Harlequin Romance and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

When I saw the cover of this book I was brought back in time as it reminded me of when I was a pre-teen and discovered Delly, Elinor Glyn and Max de Vezuit (Delly and Max de Vezuit are two French romance writers of the beginning of XX century).
There's something timeless in their romances and this book brought me back memories and I liked it for this characteristic.
It's a sweet and engrossing story featuring two fleshed out characters, a gorgeous setting and a sweet love story.
The plot is well crafted, the characters are well developed and I appreciated the style of writing
Recommended.
Many thanks to Harlequin Romance and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

First, let's talk covers! Isn't this one beautiful. That's a cover that makes you stop, a cover that says 'Pick me up.' And the romance inside doesn't disappoint. A Proposal in Provence was my weekend escape, and I feel like I chose pretty well. Annie and Phillipe have such good chemistry, and they're both so likable that you can't help but root for them. Then you have the setting - I mean, come on, the south of France! We have the gorgeous hero, a damsel who needs to get away from scandal, a beautiful location, and lots of feels. Add that up. and this is one swoony romance that was perfect for a bit of escapism after a stressful week. The blurb says this book is part of Donna Alward's Heirs to an Empire miniseries, and while I haven't had the pleasure of reading the earlier books in the series, I see no reason this one can't work as a standalone. I know I certainly enjoyed it.