Chocolat

In tiny Lansquenet, where nothing much has changed in a hundred years, beautiful newcomer Vianne Rocher and her exquisite chocolate shop arrive and instantly begin to play havoc with Lenten vows. Each box of luscious bonbons comes with a free gift: Vianne's uncanny perception of its buyer's private discontents and a clever, caring cure for them. Is she a witch? Soon the parish no longer cares, as it abandons itself to temptation, happiness, and a dramatic face-off between Easter solemnity and the pagan gaiety of a chocolate festival. Chocolat's every page offers a description of chocolate to melt in the mouths of chocoholics, francophiles, armchair gourmets, cookbook readers, and lovers of passion everywhere. It's a must for anyone who craves an escapist read, and is a bewitching gift for any holiday.

and#160; and#160; and#8220;Worth immersing yourself in the sights, sounds and smells of Lansquenetand#8217;s narrow 200-year-old streets.and#8221;and#8212;The Washington Post

and#160; and#160; and#8220;Readers familiar with the Rochers will welcome the newest installment of their story, particularly as it addresses contemporary problems in a familiar setting.and#8221;and#8212;Publishers Weekly, Pick of the Week

and#160; and#8220;A slow buildup to a breathtaking finish.and#8221;and#8212;Kirkus Reviews

and#160; and#160; and#8220;Harrisand#8217;s skill at vibrantly depicting the charm and eccentricity of rural French life is at the heart of this delightful novel.and#8221;and#8212;Library Journal and#160; and#160; and#160;

Praise from the UK for Peaches forand#160;Monsieur le Curand#233;

and#160; and#160; and#8220;Her characteristic love affair with texture and#8211; scents, smells and sounds and#8211; immerses the reader in a bath of seductive imagery in a brave and grippingly confected story.and#8221;and#8212;Sunday Times

and#160; and#160; and#8220;Like Chocolat, this book is a feast for the senses. Every page of the book is steeped in scents, colours and tastes, without ever tipping into the pretentious or showy.and#160; The writing is seductive and engaging throughout; and the magic, too, is intrinsic without ever being soppy or embarrassing. What is magic (or religion), after all, if not an ability to understand the human heart? Peaches for Father Francis is a wonderful return to form for Harris.and#8221;and#8212;Literary Review

and#160; and#160; and#8220;A delightful jumble of the sensuous sights, sounds and smells the author describes so well.and#8221;and#8212;Glamour

and#160; and#160; and#8220;Expertly crafted, typically mouthwatering.and#8221;and#8212;Daily Mail

and#160; and#160; and#8220;An enchanting read, ripe for summer picking.and#8221;and#8212;France Magazine

and#160; and#160; and#8220;A wide-ranging, powerful and very readable novel. I loved it.and#8221;and#8212;Viv Groskop, Red

and#160; and#160; and#8220;Fasting and feasting, magic and mysticism are once again atand#160;the heart of this author's storytelling sorcery.and#8221;and#8212;The Lady

and#160; and#160; and#8220;Absorbing and atmospheric...Joanne bravely tackles religious differences head-on but very sensitively. It's expressive, rich, vibrant and even shocking in parts.and#8221;and#8212;Heat Magazine

Even before it was adapted into the Oscar-nominated film starring Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp, Joanne Harrisand#8217;s Chocolat entranced readers with its mix of hedonism, whimsy, and, of course, chocolate. Now, at last, Chocolatand#8217;s heroine returns to the beautiful French village of Lansquenet in another, equally beguiling tale.

When Vianne Rocher receives a letter from beyond the grave, she knows she must go back to Lansquenet. But the past can be dangerous, and Vianne and her daughters find their old hometown changed in unexpected ways. Most surprising of all, her old nemesis, Francis Reynaud, desperately needs her help. Can Vianne work her magic once again?

Even before it was adapted into the Oscar-nominated film starring Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp, Joanne Harrisand#8217;s Chocolat entranced readers with its mix of hedonism, whimsy, and, of course, chocolate. Now, at last, Chocolatand#8217;s heroine returns to the beautiful French village of Lansquenet in another, equally beguiling tale.

When Vianne Rocher receives a letter from beyond the grave, she has no choice but to return to Lansquenet, where she once owned a chocolate shop and learned the meaning of home. But returning to oneand#8217;s past can be a dangerous pursuit, and Vianne and her daughters find the beautiful French village changed in unexpected ways: women veiled in black, the scent of spices in the air, andand#151;facing the churchand#151;a minaret. Most surprising of all, her old nemesis, Francis Reynaud, desperately needs her help. Can Vianne work her magic once again?