When Agnes Agastini's ex husband Oscar dies, it is a relief. They have been separated for years since Agnes fled to Britain to live, but this means that there is no way that he can torment her ever again. For Agnes' daughter, Francine, it is also a relief. He asked her to make an impossible choice years before and they have been estranged ever since. However, for Agnes' granddaughter it is a lost opportunity. Agnes and Francine have never talked about him and so Jasmine, who prefers to be called Zazz, has curiousity about who he was and why her mother and grandmother dislike him so much.
Oscar, however, does still have some capacity to cause trouble even from the grave. When his will is to be read, the three women head to Cannes. Thankfully, Oscar's brother, Theo, is there to give them all the support they need, as he always has been, especially to Agnes who never really expected to return to the south of France.
Francine has her own challenges to face, especially in terms of her relationships with her husband and daughter. Her marriage is a bit stale after many years, she and Zazz are not as close as they once were and she knows that Zazz is hiding something from her. Zazz is planning to start a whole new life and she knows that she has to tell her mother eventually but hasn't quite found the opportunity to do so.
As truths are revealed from both the past and the present, the women are forced to look at their lives, and their actions, in a new light. And maybe, they are given the opportunity to take their own lives in a whole new direction.
I have read a few Jennifer Bohnet novels now, and I do like that they are set in France. It was a decent read, and I liked the three main characters, but some of the others were a bit one dimensional.
Funnily enough, I read both this book and Under a Riviera Sky very close together and they obviously shared the Riviera setting but they also both had a character named Etienne in them which amused me!
I am sharing this review with the New Release Challenge hosted by The Chocolate Lady's Book Reviews. Be sure to check out other stops on the tour shown below. Thanks to the publisher, Netgalley and Rachel's Random Resources for the review copy.
Rating 3.5/5
Secrets Beneath a Riviera Sky
As one door closes, another one opens…
When Agnes Agistini receives a phone call from Theo, her brother-in-law informing her that her estranged, abusive husband Oscar has died in an accident, she feels nothing but relief. But that relief is short-lived as Oscar’s vengeance from an early grave forces Agnes to return to the place she fled from over forty years ago. A place and time she’s not keen to revisit.
At the request of a French notaires dealing with Oscar’s last will, Agnes travels to Cannes in the South of France alongside their daughter Francine and her grand-daughter Jasmine.
Agnes knows that going back will inevitably drag up deep, dark memories which she is yet to reconcile, but what choice does she have?
What she wasn’t prepared for are the family secrets that will come to light, or the cruel way in which Oscar treats her right until the bitter end.
As always Theo remains by her side, helping to navigate the myriad of bombshells Oscar leaves in his wake. But as wonderful memories begin to resurface Agnes begins to wonder if she can finally make peace with the past and find an everlasting happiness?
Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/SecretsBeneath
Jennifer Bohnet is the international bestselling author of twenty-one novels, including 'Secrets Beneath A Riviera Sky','A French Adventure', 'Summer at the Château', ‘Villa of Sun and Secrets' and 'A Riviera Retreat'. Jennifer's stories usually span the generations with characters ranging in age and having to cope with unexpected problems in their lives - but there is always a hopeful ending, even if there are tears before. Living in France for twenty-five years she has happily adapted to the French lifestyle including the long lunches with friends and the wine.
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