For the romantic of either sex, this joyous look at love & adventure in Provence shares nine true stories. Each concludes with advice on where to go to experience romance, & for dinner with that special person - a menu "a deux" with simple recipes.

From its style to its authentic-sounding anecdotes ranging from the picturesque to the emotionally charged, to its superb enthusiasm, all is just wonderful. Including recipes was a startlingly good idea. Love in Provence should be proposed as mandatory reading in universities and colleges, for these are times when more windows need to be opened onto the world.

Yvone Lenard has done it again. Reading her books is like being in Provence with her. You can picture the lavender filled fields, and taste the delicious food. These stories are both amusing and touching. I loved it!

I use this book in my French 4 class, and I think it is wonderful. As a student, I can tell you that it is easy to use and understand, with the vocabulary in boldface in the side margins, and extensive footnotes, it is very useful indeed.

The only two things I have to say, and they're not necessarily bad things, just a bit...peculiar...is that sometimes pointless information is given in the footnotes, such as the fact that a new time system might be developed in the future.... Also, sometimes in the activities, they will ask you for vocabulary words from previous chapters, sometimes so far back that you barely remember them! O_o

Overall, though, great book, very informative both of the French language and history!

The settings of both stories are oriental. In `Djinn' the protagonist works undercover for an androgenous American spy. There are some curious adventures met in the hands of two children. After a while the book begins to fold back on itself and we find ourselves right where we started but we go off in a slightly different direction. It is as if the protagonist is trapped in some never ending mystery that doesn't explain itself. `La Maison De Rendez-Vous' is about an evening get together, again we find some mysterious elements and the story folds back on itself various times, everytime we get a further glimpse into the affairs. It is the most curios style of narration that ends up adding a nightmarish aspect to the mystery. I wouldn't suggest this book to a die hard mystery reader but this will make an interesting reading otherwise

I used this book in my advanced French class. It is excellent. Each chapter is arranged into three sections: the first is French history, the second is French literature and culture, and the third is French grammar. It is very well-written with few mistakes. It's completely in French, but has side notes for commonly misunderstood expressions and words. It also has a glossary in the back. This book is great!

Although Lenard's book is not really a "bad" read, I agree with the other reviewers that it can be very dry and progress slowly. I enjoyed reading about her relationship with the dutchess, and I do love the chapter about the cats--but something is lacking. Therefore, I suggest that readers with an interest in Provence try Peter Mayle's books about the region. Mayle is much funnier and his books hold one's attention and flow smoothly from one anecdote to the next; something that Yvone Lenard should aspire to.

I absolutely loved this book! I've read all of Peter Mayle's books on Provence, and while his are charming and wonderful, they're a bit snobby sometimes. Yvone Lenard writes in a more personal, honest and open way. You really feel like you get to know her neighbors, and the way of village life. Her stories are funny, intriguing, and draw you in - I picked up this book every time I had a few moments to read. There's a Web site for the book and you can see pictures of the amazing house they renovated. Made me want to go to Provence even more, and if I can find 5 friends to go along with me, I'm going to rent her house for a week and see those mountain views for myself. All in all, a very enchanting book. I'd still recommend Peter Mayle and eagerly await his next novel or travelogue, but now count Yvone Lenard among my new favorites. Vive la France!!

I was introduced to this book by a friend who's travelled extensively around the world and visited France several times. He was really taken by the book because he always thought Provence was pretty special, but for some reason he could never quite explain why. This book, he said, captured the ambience and spirit of Provence like nothing else he had ever read on the subject. He thought I might find it a good read even though I've never even been to France.

Boy was he ever right! This book is wonderful. The author writes in a way that makes you feel almost as if you know her. I like that. Best of all, the stories carried me away to Southern France, and the recipes--some of which I actually decide to try--brought the "magic" of Provence to my house. Now, I've got to go to France. I may even take up French . . .