Review: Hot Basque (French Summer Novel 2) by Laurette Long

☆☆➹⁀☆ 4 stars ☆➹⁀☆☆

 

What it’s about:

Three women, three passions.
It’s summer once again in Biarritz and Caroline is trying out her matchmaking skills. She’s invited best friend Jill to come for a holiday and meet a certain man she has in mind. Caroline and Edward found true love in the Villa’s magical setting one year ago, so who knows what might happen when Jill O’Toole meets Antoine Arantxa?
The table is set, the candles are lit, the guests arrive. Two seconds is all it takes. Stand back for the instant sizzle, the red-hot flambé, the spicy chilli samba! Our man is a sexy Basque, as hot as the famous local peppers, while Jill, with her red Irish hair and voluptuous curves, is no shrinking violet. Plus her hormones haven’t had a night out for six months.
As playtime starts at the Villa, there’s fun in store and not a cloud on the horizon. Best of all, scheming sister Annabel is now living in Germany. No way she can cause trouble this year, she has a new life as wife and mother. She’s busy becoming a society matron, getting to know Julian’s colleagues and their wives.
And welcoming a new member of the group.
He’s handsome, rich, Italian and has a passion for fast cars.
His name is Claudio.

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My Thoughts:

Now that Caroline has found love, she is eager to help her friend Jill fall in love in Laurette Long’s Hot Basque (French Summer #2).  Caroline has just the right man in mind: a hot Basque named Antoine.  The setting couldn’t be better—a villa in sunny Biarritz, and the author’s delicious descriptions of the foods and beverages made for tasty scenery.

Each of the heroines is interesting, and their love interests feel realistic. The antagonist is a drama king who makes emotions run high.  I really enjoyed the dynamic between the women; they’re a great group of friends, and each knows they can rely on the others for support in difficult situations.

I did find the beginning a bit confusing as the chapters switch focus from one main character to the next.  While it wasn’t too hard to get into the groove of the story layout, a bit of preamble would have been helpful.  As is the norm in many romances, the story tension is due to angst from miscommunication between the love interests that is brought to a boil by scheming from the antagonist.  While the base premise is not new, I did enjoy Ms. Long’s twist on the theme.

With beautiful, wealthy and successful characters living large in the top spots of Europe, you can’t go wrong.    I really enjoyed Laurette Long’s characters and her intriguing story line in Hot Basque.  Although part of a series, the book can be read as a standalone novel.

 

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