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Welcome to my stop on the blog tour celebrating the release of The Secret French Recipes of Sophie Valroux by Samantha Verant! Thank you to Berkley Publishing for the invitation!

About the Book:

A disgraced chef rediscovers her passion for food and her roots in this stunning novel rich in culture and full of delectable recipes.

French-born American chef Sophie Valroux had one dream: to be part of the 1% of female chefs running a Michelin-starred restaurant. From spending summers with her grandmother, who taught her the power of cooking and food, to attending the Culinary Institute of America, Sophie finds herself on the cusp of getting everything she’s dreamed of.

Until her career goes up in flames.

Sabotaged by a fellow chef, Sophie is fired, leaving her reputation ruined and confidence shaken. To add fuel to the fire, Sophie learns that her grandmother has suffered a stroke and takes the red-eye to France. There, Sophie discovers the simple home she remembers from her childhood is now a luxurious château, complete with two restaurants and a vineyard. As Sophie tries to reestablish herself in the kitchen, she comes to understand the lengths people will go to for success and love, and how dreams can change.

My Thoughts:

Sophie is an American chef who was born in France. Her only dream is to one of the very few female chefs in charge of a Michelin-starred restaurant.

Sophie learned to cook from her French grandmother and attended the Culinary Institute of America. She’s so close to everything she’s ever wanted, and then her career implodes when she is sabotaged by another chef.

Sophie’s grandmother is ailing and needs her, so she flies to France. Times have changed since she was last in France, but Sophie is once again finding her way in the kitchen.

This book reminded me a little of Under the Tuscan Sun, probably in how the author takes a trip for one purpose but also to start over. Sophie needs a reset button, and in many ways, she finds that in France.

I loved everything about this novel. The cover, Sophie’s character, her grandmother, the storytelling, the French setting, the FOOD, the charm. It really has it all, and throughout, I was rooting for Sophie to find her place again.

I received a gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

About the Author:

Samantha Vérant is a travel addict, a self-professed oenophile, and a determined, if occasionally unconventional, French chef. Over the years, she’s visited many different countries, lived in many places, and worked many jobs— always on the search for the one thing that truly excited her. Then, one day, she found everything she’s been looking for: a passion for the written word and true love. Writing not only enabled her to open her heart, it led her to southwestern France, where she’s now married to a sexy French rocket scientist she met over twenty years ago, a stepmom to two incredible kids, and the adoptive mother to one ridiculously adorable Charteux cat. When she’s not trekking from Provence to the Pyrénées, tasting wine in American-sized glasses, or embracing her inner Julia Child while deliberating what constitutes the perfect boeuf bourguignon, Samantha is making her best effort to relearn those dreaded conjugations.

Have you read The Secret French Recipes of Sophie Valroux, or is it on your TBR? Happy Reading! ~ Jennifer THR