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Extracts

The Lost Girl by Carol Drinkwater

The House on the Edge of the Cliff

From the bestselling author behind Channel 5's Carol Drinkwater's Secret Provence comes an epic story of enduring love and betrayal, from Paris in the 1960s, to the present day 
 
'One to get lost in' Woman &amp; Home - Best Books of Summer 
________ 
 
No one else knows what happened that summer. Or so she believes . . . 
 
Grace first came to France a lifetime ago. Young and full of dreams of adventure, she met two very different men. 
 
She fell under the spell of one. The other fell under hers. 
 
Until one summer night shattered everything . . . 
 
Now, Grace is living an idyllic life with her husband, sheltered from the world in a magnificent Provençal villa, perched atop a windswept cliff. 
 
Every day she looks out over the sea - the only witness to that fateful night years ago. 
 
Until a stranger arrives at the house. A stranger who knows everything, and won't leave until he gets what he wants. 
 
The past and present spectacularly collide in this gripping story of love and betrayal echoing across the decades. 
________ 
 
'I was hooked from a start threaded with mystery and menace, and it kept me gripped' Dinah Jefferies, author of The Missing Sister 
 
'A beautifully woven and compelling tale of passion, love and intrigue' Rowan Coleman, author of The Summer of Impossible Things 
 
'Carol Drinkwater's writing is like taking an amazing holiday in book form' Jenny Colgan, author of The Bookshop on the Shore 
 
'Given extra resonance by the beautifully drawn French landscape. Emotional and tenderly written' Elizabeth Buchan, author of The New Mrs Clifton

I was hooked from a start threaded with mystery and menace. And the story kept me gripped as the past tragedy unfolded. I could see the coast of southern France, feel the cooling breeze, and smell the salty ocean

Carol Drinkwater's writing is like taking an amazing holiday in book form

Carol Drinkwater's writing is always guaranteed to sweep me off my feet and The House on the Edge of the Cliff is a beautifully woven and compelling tale of passion, love and intrigue

The story of a love that, despite wrong turnings, grows and develops over time, it is given extra resonance by the beautifully drawn French landscape. Emotional and tenderly written

bestselling author of The New Mrs Clifton

This sweeping tale of love and tragedy charts the life and secrets of engaging and intriguing heroine, Grace. One to get lost in

A mysterious and intricately woven story of passion and betrayal across the decades, set against an alluring French backrop . . . this moving, gripping story is filled with characters who are tenderly and elegantly portrayed

An epic tale of love and betrayal set in a Provencal villa

A love story with bite, with France itself one of the stars

A striking and compelling family drama where the past takes a ferocious bite into the present . . . Within the first few pages I became as hooked as a hooked thing can be . . . Carol Drinkwater writes with captivating eloquence . . . Full of secrets, tense moments, gorgeous descriptions and emotional interplay, The House on the Edge of the Cliff is truly a beautiful read

This moving, gripping story is filled with characters who are tenderly and elegantly portrayed

Everything you want for a summer read. It has romance, passion, intrigue and danger

Praise for Carol Drinkwater

Secrets, tragedy, hidden pasts and family secrets all set in glorious Provence - I loved this

Ranging across time periods this is a story to savour, complete with wonderful settings stretching from Paris to the glorious countryside of southern France

Mesmerising, haunting and extraordinarily relevant

A lovely book packed with the sunshine, scents and savours of the South of France. Plenty of page-turning drama but also mouthwatering descriptions of Paris and Provence. Enough to make you rush straight to the Eurostar

This atmospheric read will whisk you straight to the South of France as you become immersed in the tale of secrets and heartbreak

A story of love and loss, sadness and great joy

I loved this book. I kept snatching a few more pages whenever I could. It has left me wanting to head to warmer climes and take part in the grape and olive harvests. Well I can dream can't I?

No one else knows what happened that summer. Or so she believes. 
Grace first came to France a lifetime ago. Young and full of dreams of adventure, she met two very different men. She fell under the spell of one. The other fell under hers. 
Until one summer night shattered everything. 
Now, Grace is living an idyllic life with her husband, sheltered from the world in a magnificent Provençal villa, perched atop a windswept cliff. Every day she looks out over the sea - the only witness to that fateful night years ago. 
Until a stranger arrives at the house. A stranger who knows everything. 
The past and present spectacularly collide in this gripping story of love and betrayal echoing across the decades . . .

A captivating tale of mystery and intrigue. Perfect for fans of Dinah Jefferies

The Lost Girl

'A story to savour, complete with wonderful settings stretching from Paris to the glorious countryside of southern France' Dinah Jefferies 
 
A LOVEREADING BOOK OF THE YEAR from the bestselling author behind Channel 5's Carol Drinkwater's Secret Provence 
 
________ 
 
Since her teenage daughter went missing four years ago, Kurtiz Ross has blamed and isolated herself. Until, out of the blue, Lizzie is sighted in Paris. 
 
But within hours of her arrival, Kurtiz sees the City of Light plunged into terror. 
 
Amid the fear and chaos, a hand reaches out. A sympathetic stranger offers to help a terrified mother find her daughter. 
 
The other woman's kindness - and her stories of her own love and loss in post-war Provence - shine unexpected light into the shadows. 
 
The night may hold the answers to a mystery - but dare Kurtiz believe it could also bring a miracle? 
________ 
 
'A gripping tale' Sunday Post 
 
'Mesmerising, haunting and extraordinarily relevant' Lovereading 
 
'An unforgettable journey of family, romance, regret and renewal' The Gloss 
 
'The perfect holiday read that manages to keep you guessing the whole way through' Living France

Ranging across time periods this is a story to savour, complete with wonderful settings stretching from Paris to the occupied territory of the West Bank, and to the glorious countryside of southern France and La Côte d'Azur. Most of all I enjoyed the descriptions of France, particularly the 'wild heady scents', the sloping vineyards and the olive groves of the south. I felt I was breathing the fragrant air and eating dinner beneath the stars

Number One Sunday Times bestselling author of The Tea Planter's Wife

The perfect holiday read that manages to keep you guessing the whole way through

An unforgettable journey of family, romance, regret and renewal

Carol Drinkwater is a great and compassionate writer

The Lost Girl is a story of love and loss, of sadness and great joy . . . Through a cast of frequently complex but immensely likeable characters, the author takes us on a journey - across five generations - that challenge a wide range of political, social and moral mores. Ultimately, The Lost Girl offers a message of hope and regeneration, in addition to the timely reminder that it is often darkest before the dawn

A brilliantly told story set against that dreadful night. The characters are superbly written . . . I couldn't put it down

A great book, one you become immersed in, highly recommended

Great read and easy to follow, look forward to reading more

Superb book . . . two different eras that tie in beautifully . . . I couldn't put the book down

Praise for The Forgotten Summer

Carol Drinkwater is a multi-award-winning actress who is best known for her portrayal of Helen Herriot in the BBC television series All Creatures Great and Small. Her quartet of memoirs set on her olive farm in the south of France have sold over a million copies worldwide and her solo journey round the Mediterranean in search of the olive tree's mythical secrets inspired a five-part documentary film series, The Olive Route. She is also the author of novels The Forgotten Summer, The Lost Girl and The House on the Edge of the Cliff. She lives in the south of France.

Since her teenage daughter went missing four years ago, Kurtiz Ross has blamed and isolated herself. Until, out of the blue, Lizzie is sighted in Paris. But within hours of her hurried arrival, Kurtiz sees the City of Light plunged into terror. Amid the fear and chaos, a hand reaches out. A sympathetic stranger offers to help the terrified mother find her daughter. 
The other woman's kindness - and her stories of her own love and loss in post-war Provence - shine unexpected light into the shadows. The night may hold the answers to a mystery - but dare Kurtiz believe it could also bring a miracle?

The Forgotten Summer

Escape to the South of France in this compelling and atmospheric story of secrets and heartbreak 
 
'Lovely, mouth-watering, page-turning. Packed with the sunshine, scents and savours of the South of France. Enough to make you rush straight to the Eurostar' Daily Mail 
 
 **From the bestselling author behind Channel 5's Carol Drinkwater's Secret Provence** 
 _________ 
 
 The grape harvest at the Cambon family's magnificent Provencal vineyard is always a cause for celebration. 
 
But not this year. 
 
When the crop is accidentally destroyed, leaving the estate facing ruin, Clarisse Cambon knows exactly who to blame - her English daughter-in-law Jane. 
 
 It's just the latest incident in a decades-long feud that has left Jane feeling like an uninvited guest in her husband Luc's family. But when tragedy strikes and Jane uncovers a shocking secret at the family's heart she wonders if she ever really knew any of the Cambons, especially her husband, at all. 
 
 Now she is left with a terrible choice - walk away and see everything the Cambons believe in fall apart, or stay to expose the truth and risk being caught in the storm? 
 _________ 
 
 'Secrets, tragedy, hidden pasts and family secrets all set in glorious Provence - I loved this' Santa Montefiore 
 
 'This atmospheric read will whisk you straight to the South of France as you become immersed in the tale of secrets and heartbreak' Marie Claire

Secrets, tragedy, hidden pasts and family secrets all set in glorious Provence - I loved this

This atmospheric read will whisk you straight to the South of France as you become immersed in the tale of secrets and heartbreak.

A wonderful story full of family drama and mystery. Beautiful and rich writing, wonderful nature, and loads of secrets and intrigue - this book has it all

Carol will take you away as you become immersed in the unusual life of the Cambon family, where no one is quite who they first seemed to be

Her beautifully written prose propels the reader into a sensory haven of fragrant olive groves, rattling cicadas and bejewelled dragonflies . . . Carol Drinkwater is an incredibly talented writer, with a real skill for weaving an engaging story

The Forgotten Summer is literary, well researched and hugely satisfying to read. It explores not just love, but searing grief, hatred, deceit, joy and despair, providing a richness of experience for the reader . . . wonderfully atmospheric writing

A beautiful, atmospheric story of loss, family drama and mystery'

An absolutely outstanding book which I couldn't put down until I finished at 4.30 a.m. Look no further for an intelligently written book with twists and turns I hadn't seen coming. Epically excellent. 5*

Emotional and Absorbing - get Lost in a Beautiful Book

The grape harvest at the Cambon family's magnificent vineyard is normally a cause for celebration. But when an accident destroys the crop, Clarisse Cambon knows exactly who to blame - her daughter-in-law Jane. 
 
It's the latest incident in a decades-long feud whose origin both women have concealed from Luc, who struggles to keep his wife and mother on speaking terms. 
 
But when tragedy strikes and Jane is forced to take charge of the ailing vineyard, she uncovers proof that Luc has been keeping secrets of his own. Worse still, Clarisse is the only one who knows the truth . . .

Carol Drinkwater

A lovely novel. A moving story of love and friendship with a wonderful sense of place

An exciting, evocative and beautifully written romance that views the war from an unusual angle

Carol skilfully draws us in to the beautiful Alpes Maritimes region of France to tell the story of Sara, a Polish refugee who want to live her life her way. The writing is evocative and Sara's story is both moving and inspiring

Sheila O'Flanagan, bestselling author of The Women Who Ran Away

A terrific story [...] skilfully written &amp; heart-rending, we are pulled into the beauty and destruction of the French countryside in WW2, as a young Jewish girl discovers what matters in life &amp; fights for her love &amp; for freedom

A novel where the quality of the writing matches the intrigue of the story. An Act of Love is a beautiful book and the themes of displacement resonate with contemporary events

Woman & Home, Historical Novels of the Year

An outstanding and beautifully written story and one not to be missed. This compelling and meticulously researched WWII novel tells a part of history that should never be forgotten. Thoroughly recommend

Shirley Dickson, author of The Lost Children

Beautifully written, each sentence provides atmosphere and shimmers in thought-provoking prose

An exciting, evocative and beautifully written romance that views the war from an unusual angle

I loved An Act of Love: it's a virtual hug of a tale; warm, and engaging, and tender. Just what I needed

Joanne Harris, Sunday Times bestselling author

Romantic, evocative and pulse-racingly dramatic, this novel views the war from an unusual and fascinating angle

Wendy Holden, Sunday Times bestselling author

An emotional and moving read. The beauty of the French landscape contrasts starkly with the fear and oppression of the war years in this story of love, loss and courage

Fiona Valpy, bestselling author of The Beekeeper's Promise

Dramatic and enthralling (...) will encourage emotions to dip and soar as it gives hope even in the darkness

Her detailed research and vivid characters bring an emotional depth to a novel that depicts poignantly a remarkable period of history. An Act of Love is an emotional and compelling novel about the power of first love and friendship . . . could be Drinkwater's best novel yet

I enjoyed it very much. Her portrayal of damaged and fearful teenager is so good and believable ... I longed to be in France. It's her best

Elizabeth Buchan, author of The Museum of Broken Promises

I loved reading An Act of Love. It kept me engaged, fascinated and eager to turn the pages ... It's a wonderful, enjoyable novel with courage and survival at its heart

Elizabeth Chadwick, author of The Wild Hunt series

A moving story of love, friendship and bravery that simply races along

An evocative tale of courage and loss, of secrets and risk, in some of France's darkest days

Accomplished ... the narrative is beautifully paced and clever

Secrets, tragedy, hidden pasts and family secrets - I loved this

Plenty of page-turning drama but also mouthwatering descriptions of Paris and Provence

I was hooked from a start threaded with mystery and menace . . . The story kept me gripped as the past tragedy unfolded

Carol Drinkwater's writing is always guaranteed to sweep me off my feet

Beautifully written, each sentence provides atmosphere and shimmers in thought-provoking prose

Carol Drinkwater writes with captivating eloquence . . . Full of secrets, tense moments and gorgeous descriptions

An emotionally charged, wartime story set in the French Alps . . . an evocative tale of courage and loss, of secrets and risk

A sweeping and evocative love story about bravery and courage in our darkest hours

Forced to flee war-ravaged Poland, Sara and her parents are offered refuge in a beautiful but dilapidated house in the French Alps. It seems the perfect hideaway, despite haunting traces of the previous occupants who left in haste. 
 
But shadows soon fall over Sara's blissful summer, and her blossoming romance with local villager Alain. As the Nazis close in, the family is forced to make a harrowing choice that could drive them apart forever, while Sara's own bid for freedom risks several lives. 
 
Will Sara be reunited with those she loves? And can she ever find her way back to Alain?

Carol Drinkwater

Praise for An Act of Love

A lovely novel. A moving story of love and friendship with a wonderful sense of place

An exciting, evocative and beautifully written romance that views the war from an unusual angle

Carol skilfully draws us in to the beautiful Alpes Maritimes region of France to tell the story of Sara, a Polish refugee who want to live her life her way. The writing is evocative and Sara's story is both movin ...

A lovely novel. A moving story of love and friendship with a wonderful sense of place

An exciting, evocative and beautifully written romance that views the war from an unusual angle

Carol skilfully draws us in to the beautiful Alpes Maritimes region of France to tell the story of Sara, a Polish refugee who want to live her life her way. The writing is evocative and Sara's story is both movin ...

A lovely novel. A moving story of love and friendship with a wonderful sense of place

An exciting, evocative and beautifully written romance that views the war from an unusual angle

Carol skilfully draws us in to the beautiful Alpes Maritimes region of France to tell the story of Sara, a Polish refugee who want to live her life her way. The writing is evocative and Sara's story is both movin ...

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