The Folly of French Kissing {review + giveaway}

{buy me}

… and I can tell you that they detest the Parisian’s far, far more than you.

-The Folly of French Kissing 

While reading Carla McKay’s mysterious and delightful romp through British expat life and intrigues in the south of France, The Folly of French Kissing, I came across countless lines that could have been written about Le Petit Village. So spot on are author Carla McKay’s descriptions of small village life in the South of France that I swear, I’ve actually seen them with my very own eyes…

Behind the church there was an area of pollarded trees and benches where the village elders gathered, tiny old men in flat caps who had lived in the same village all their lives and now had no need to speak to each other having long ago said all there was to say.

Yeah, that’s going to be Brother-in-Law and Honey Jr. in fifty years.

However, The Folly of French Kissing does not take place in Le Petit Village, it is set in the small, fictional village of Vevey, outside of Montpellier, in Provence’s sultry sister to the west, the Languedoc.

In Vevey, the locals fear the Brits are taking over and they begin an Anti-British campaign in revolt. And there are certainly enough British expats there to revolt against. There’s Judith, the literature lover and anonymous published poet who is running from a secret in her not so distance past. Unfortunately for her, she runs into the lecherous Lance, an ad executive turned writer from London who fancies himself to be to the Languedoc, what Peter Mayle is to Provence. Luckily for Judith, there’s the British flag waving Wuthering Heights bookstore to seek refuge in, but will disgraced journalist, Tim, ruin that safe haven for her by exposing her past?

Carla McKay weaves easily through an intricate plot of story lines with a large cast of characters who all have their secrets, lies, and liaisons to hide. Even Vevey itself is hiding shameful memories from the Resistance. (I’ll give you a clue… it involves wine smuggling and Nazis… oh it’s a delicious doozy!)

The Folly of French Kissing is a delectable read a little darker than the standard expat in paradise fare, but nonetheless gratifying and thrilling. And thanks to Gibson Square Books, I am giving away a copy to one lucky reader.

To enter there is one mandatory entry ** and four optional entries. 
(Please leave a separate comment for each entry)
1.** You must be a follower of Sara in Le Petit Village via GFC. If you aren’t already, go ahead and click that blue box up there on the right 
2. Like this blog on Facebook
3. Follow me on Twitter
4. Tweet about the giveaway making sure to add @SaraLouiseLPV to your tweet
5. Become friends with Fifty on Facebook (he really likes making new friends)
Giveaway closes 11:59pm EST, Sunday 16th September.

c’est tout!
bisou

59 responses to “The Folly of French Kissing {review + giveaway}”

  1. And I also follow you on Twitter! @kaddie_

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  2. Sounds like essential background reading for my trip down south!

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  3. And now I can see what you have to say on Facebook too 🙂

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  4. All done! What fun! And now I get to be friends with Fifty too 🙂

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  5. OK I have done all the things you told us and know I am wainting for the results !!! Cheers Salut de Claire de Provence Hand Made

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  6. I follow you on FB 🙂

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  7. I follow you on Twitter! (can't believe I wasn't earlier!)

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  8. I definitely follow you on GFC…

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  9. And I now follow Fifty on FB! (Where have I been?!)

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