Review, Spotlight, and Giveaway of THE LOST CAROUSEL OF PROVENCE by

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All information in this post other than my review is courtesy of Danielle Keir of Berkley|Penguin Random House.

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Celebrating Juliet Blackwell's book:

THE LOST CAROUSEL OF PROVENCE

with a REVIEW and GIVEAWAY

An artist lost to history, a family abandoned to its secrets, and the woman whose search for meaning unearths it all in a sweeping and immersive women’s fiction tale.

Told from the varying perspectives of Cady Drake (present day), wood carver Maëlle Tanguy (1900), and château owner Fabrice Clement (1945), Blackwell brings us another captivating tale painted with sophistication and authenticity. 

Perfect for fans of World War II era France, THE LOST CAROUSEL OF PROVENCE is an emotionally evocative story that seamlessly weaves together themes of family, identity, self-discovery, and love.

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Advanced Praise: 

“Narrating from several perspectives, Blackwell weaves together a tale of love lost, repressed passion, and finding a sense of belonging that should utterly charm and delight readers new to her and current fans alike.”—Booklist 

“Plan your trip to Provence now. In this meticulously researched novel, Juliet Blackwell deftly navigates three time periods, taking us from contemporary California to both The Belle Époque and Nazi-occupied France as she spins a story as charming as an antique carousel.”—Sally Koslow, author of Another Side of Paradise

“An untrusting American orphan meets a dysfunctional French family—and each turns out to possess wisdom that helps the other to heal from old, old wounds. With crystalline imagery, vivid characters and lively prose, Juliet Blackwell redefines what family means, in a way that will touch readers long after they've read the last page.”—Stephen P. Kiernan, author of The Baker’s Secret

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About The Book:

An artist lost to history, a family abandoned to its secrets, and the woman whose search for meaning unearths it all in a sweeping and expressive story from the New York Times bestselling author of Letters from Paris.

Long, lonely years have passed for the crumbling Château Clement, nestled well beyond the rolling lavender fields and popular tourist attractions of Provence. Once a bustling and dignified ancestral estate, now all that remains is the château's gruff, elderly owner and the softly whispered secrets of generations buried and forgotten.
 
But time has a way of exposing history's dark stains, and when American photographer Cady Drake finds herself drawn to the château and its antique carousel, she longs to explore the relic's shadowy origins beyond the small scope of her freelance assignment. As Cady digs deeper into the past, unearthing century-old photographs of the Clement carousel and its creators, she might be the one person who can bring the past to light and reunite a family torn apart.

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About the Author:

Juliet Blackwell is the pseudonym for the New York Times bestselling author of Letters from Paris and The Paris Key. In addition to writing the beloved Witchcraft Mystery series and the Haunted Home Renovation series, she also co-authored the Agatha Award nominated Art Lover's Mystery series with her sister.

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MY REVIEW:

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Who wouldn’t want to go to Paris and photograph carousels? 

Cady was excited to head to Paris when she received the assignment especially since her interest in carousels had begun when she was a child and found Gus. 

Gus was a carved carousel rabbit with a secret Cady found hidden inside Gus when he accidentally broke open.  The hidden secret had a story of its own, and turned into a mystery that haunted Cady to solve.

Cady was used to mysteries and secrets since her childhood was spent in the foster system.  She was moved from one foster home to another with no parents to be found.  When she met Maxine and found Gus, though, they seemed to give her some stability and interest in antiques.

THE LOST CAROUSEL OF PARIS follows Cady back and forth from her childhood to present day with the history behind the carousel rabbit marvelously added in as well.

I enjoyed the history of European carousels and learning about a famous carousel maker Monsieur Gustave Bayol and his company in Angers, France.

THE LOST CAROUSEL OF PARIS allows the reader to get a free trip to Paris and to experience the beautiful landscape and people of Southern France both present-day and past.

This book will appeal to those who enjoy France, antiques, warm-hearted characters, the Provencal countryside, chateaus, and European history during WWII.

A charming, heart-warming read.    

The characters were lovely, and the story line was creative, uplifting, and positive. 

France, carousels, lovable characters, and a marvelous story line.  

LOVED the book...ENJOY if you read it...I know you will.  5/5 

This book was given to me free as an ARC by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. .  All opinions are my own.

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GIVEAWAY:

I am partnering with Danielle Keir of Berkley|Penguin Random House for this giveaway: 

Contest has ended.  

Our winner is Carla from Alabama.

Congrats, Carla!!

Thanks to all who entered.

USA ONLY

September 18 - 25

ENTER HERE

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