Audrey Hepburn had it right when she said “Paris is always a good idea.” The City of Light is loaded with charms and wonders you can’t find anywhere else on the planet. A few weeks ago I was approached by the charming Vicki Lesage, author of Confessions of a Paris Party Girl (see below), about taking part in this special books about Paris post. Mais bien sur! It’s always nice to spread the word about great books and especially in our cases about Paris. Now I have my Spring/Summer book list ready, looking forward to some great reading and I hope that you will also find these books interesting!
A big thank you to Vicki for her coordinating. To help you decide which ones fit your style, she’s asked each author the following questions:
1. Why is your book a “good idea” for someone who loves Paris/France?
2. If your book was a drink, what would it be?
3. Which scene might raise a few eyebrows?
4. Who would absolutely hate your book?
Here are their responses and check out their books!
Bon lecture!
Becoming Josephine by Heather Webb
Why is your book a “good idea” for someone who loves Paris?
Becoming Josephine is about a famous and beloved French historical figure and much of the novel takes place in Paris.
Which scene might raise a few eyebrows?
One of the scenes set during the September Massacres, also, perhaps one of the hotter scenes between Napoleon and Josephine.
Genre: Historical Fiction, Women’s Fiction
Buy now or read the book’s description:
Print: $15.00 | Kindle: $7.99
Connect with Heather:
Website | Facebook | Twitter
Je T’Aime Me Neither by April Lily Heise
Why is your book a “good idea” for someone who loves Paris?
Paris is almost a character in my book rather than the setting, perhaps a coy antagonist? I’d like to think that the passion of Paris was a root of most of my romantic misadventures, but I can’t blame it all on Paris!
Who would absolutely hate your book?
Readers looking for an idealized story of Paris. Truth is more interesting than fiction, but reality can clash with some people’s dreams of perfect Paris.
Genre: Memoir
Buy now or read the book’s description:
Print: $13.49 | Kindle: $6.99
Connect with Lily:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Gastien: The Cost of a Dream by Caddy Rowland
If your book was a drink, what would it be?
If The Gastien Series was a drink, it would be absinthe, of course! That was the preferred drink of the bohemian artists of nineteenth century Paris. Strong, beautiful and mind-altering, the “green fairy” is a drink that forges its own path, daring to be different.
Who would absolutely hate your book?
People who don’t like dark, raw, gritty, emotional, and – at times – brutal stories would hate my book. I don’t write “pretty” stories, I write about the sublime joy and bitter tragedy of being human. That doesn’t guarantee “happy” but it does guarantee “real”.
Genre: Historical Fiction, Family Saga, Drama
Buy now or read the book’s description:
Print: $14.99 | Kindle: $4.99
Connect with Caddy:
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
I see London, I see France
by Paulita Kincer
If your book was a drink, what would it be?
An Absinthe Chocolate Cocktail. Traveling with three kids while figuring out if a marriage is worth saving brings some definite worries, thus the absinthe to help forget those worries. And the chocolate, well that makes everything better, right?Which scene might raise a few eyebrows?
Some of the scenes in my novel are hot, but they don’t get into graphic details of slot a fitted into slot b. What might raise some eyebrows would be Caroline, the main character’s, realization that she may have some prejudices. She rolls around the beach in Nice and is certain she is ready to break her marriage vows to have sex with a sensual gypsy man (think Johnny Depp). She leads him up to her hotel room and realizes she’s never been inside a building with the man. She only pictures him outdoors. And the prejudice of the hotel clerk plants doubt in her mind. Most middle class Americans have trouble admitting they may have prejudices.
Genres: Fiction, Women’s Fiction
Buy now or read the book’s description:
Print: $14.00 | Kindle: $4.99 Connect with Paulita: Website
Confessions of a Paris Party Girl
by Vicki Lesage
If your book was a drink, what would it be?
A glass of red wine ñ classy but accessible. You want to share it with friends and you have fun drinking it.
Which scene might raise a few eyebrows?
The airplane vomit story, for sure. Or maybe the passing-out-on-the-bathroom-floor story. If you enjoy drinking, this might make you stop. If you don’t drink, you can smugly watch me learn my lesson. I do eventually grow up, it just takes a while.
Genre: Memoir
Buy now or read the book’s description:
Print: $14.99 | Kindle: $4.99
Connect with Vicki:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Paris, Rue des Martyrs
by Adria J. Cimino
Why is your book a “good idea” for someone who loves Paris?
It will transport you to the Paris of Parisians… You won’t feel as if you have vacationed in Paris, but as if you have lived there.
If your book was a drink, what would it be?
CafÈ au lait: Bitter and sweet, dark and light… Opposites come together, creating unforgettable flavor!
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Buy now or read the book’s description:
Kindle: $3.99
Connect with Adria:
Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Paris Was The Place
by Susan Conley
Why is your book a “good idea” for someone who loves Paris?
At times Paris Was the Place is like a guided walking tour of Paris. You get to eat delicious crepes, hear some good jazz music, drink red wine and fall in love.
Which scene might raise a few eyebrows?
When narrator Willie Pears falls for a Frenchman she meets in Paris, she jumps in his truck and heads to the South of France. It’s a drive that turns out to be one long roadtrip of foreplay.
Genres: Fiction, Women’s Fiction
Buy now or read the book’s description:
Print: $26.95 | Kindle: $10.99
Connect with Susan:
Website | Facebook | Twitter
The Paris Game
by Alyssa Linn Palme
Why is your book a “good idea” for someone who loves Paris?
It’s an especially good idea if you’re fond of late night jazz, or wandering the streets of the Left Bank. That’s where I focused most of the story.
If your book was a drink, what would it be?
Something quite strong, whiskey on the rocks.
Which scene might raise a few eyebrows?
The entirety of chapter one.
Genres: Mystery, Romance, Suspense
Buy now or read the book’s description:
Print: $15.95 | Kindle: $4.99
Connect with Alyssa:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Have you read any of these yet? Which books match your style? Share in the comments!
I think I need to check out confessions of a Paris Party Girl, I have a feeling she might be the kind of girl I’d get along with!
Hiya! If you do check it out, hope you enjoy it 🙂
I thought you’d like her too! Def the more on your style of the list 🙂 When are you going to write a book of your stories?
Hmmm I could call it Newcastle Party Girl, doesn’t quite have the same ring though. I am going to try and get a hold of this Paris Party girl book, I’m coming to Paris in July might give me some inspiration.
You will come up with a good title when the time is right 🙂 let me know your Paris travel dates a little closer to your arrival, hope I’m here so we can catch up in person!
I would love that”
Hi Lily! I’m flattered to be called charming. Much better than when a sleazebag French guy says it on the street and offers to buy me a 90-cent espresso 🙂 Hope your readers enjoyed the selection of books and reading the authors’ responses!
Hi Vicki,
Well you’ve been nothing but charming to me, I guess I’ve been lucky 😉
Readership is high! A good sign! I hope they like all the books too!