Sophie Valroux's Paris Stars

1

 

falling headfirst into spring

 

For the first time since Grand-mre's funeral two short weeks ago, contentment, not grief, filled my heart. I sat in the window seat, gazing at the blue sky, reflecting on the changes in my life. My once-soiled reputation in New York had fully recovered and I was now Sophie Valroux, Grand Chef and ma tresse de maison of Ch teau de Champvert in southwestern France, not the saboteur blamed for costing my former employer in New York a Michelin star. I had a new best friend in Phillipa, who kept me more or less balanced when I was feeling out of whack. And I had the love of R mi, my childhood sweetheart. All amazing transformations in the state of my world-save for the fact that Grand-mre was gone.

 

To keep the occasional wave of remorse from pulling me under, I kept myself busy-planning menus and testing recipes. Rule number one: no crying in the kitchen, so that's where I placed my focus.

 

Cooking always helped me to sort out my thoughts and pull myself together. Making Grand-mre's recipes, like spring lamb with a fresh mint chutney, the aromas of freshness permeating my nostrils, brought a sense of closure, and I felt closer to her. Food brought on nostalgia, all the happy times I'd spent with her. I needed to move on from my grief, dry up those tears, and forge on. We were going to be extraordinarily busy.

 

In two days, we'd open the gates of Ch teau de Champvert to the public. The guests would be arriving in swarms, just like the bees in the ruches at the far end of the property, and we were booked solid from the third of May to the end of October-almost filled to capacity until we closed for the season in mid-December. At the very least, Les Libellules (the Dragonflies)-the ch teau's flagship restaurant, which I ran-closed its doors on Sundays and Mondays, so I would have a bit of time off. Sort of. I knew

Samantha Vérant is a travel addict, a self-professed oenophile, and a determined, if occasionally unconventional, at-home French chef. She lives in southwestern France, where she's married to a sexy French rocket scientist she met in 1989 (but ignored for twenty years), a stepmom to two incredible kids, and the adoptive mother to a ridiculously adorable French cat. When she's not trekking from Provence to the Pyrénées or embracing her inner Julia Child, Sam is making her best effort to relearn those dreaded conjugations.

Once again, Vérant lavishes us with the continuation of the intriguing story of Chef Sophie. This book is a sheer delight full of twists and turns, family and food, love and romance, and of course, plenty of la vie en France. Janice MacLeod, New York Times best selling author of Paris Letters

"With a colorful medley of characters and ingredients, Sophie Valroux s Paris Stars is a culinary delight. One can t help but root for this ambitious young chef as she overcomes unimaginable obstacles to reach for her dreams. With heart and charm, author Samantha Vérant delivers once again!" Nicole Meier, author of The Second Chance Supper Club

Pitting old dreams against new experiences, this rich and vibrant novel, packed with lush descriptions of countryside life, mixed with Parisian glamour, and sprinkled with intrigue, will appeal to foodies, Francophiles, and fans of Mary Simses' The Irresistible Blueberry Bakeshop & Café. Booklist

Captivating characters, mouthwatering food and a hint of romance this picturesque novel has it all. Woman's World Magazine

"Chef Sophie is at it again with her passion for food that will make you wish you could hop the next flight for France and her desire to have it all. But in true Vérant fashion, Sophie must first run the gamut of what she thinks she wants and what she really wants. Vérant pulls off Sophie Valroux s Paris Stars with all the grace and style we have come to expect from this talented author." Barbara Conrey, USA Today Bestselling Author of Nowhere Near Goodbye

"Vérant is a masterful storyteller with a special knack for weaving mouthwatering menus into her storyline and bonus: she generously shares her recipes in the back of the book." Lori Nelson Spielman, bestselling author of The Star-crossed Sisters of Tuscany

Smart, delightful, and dare I say? downright delicious, Sophie Valroux s Paris Stars has all the right ingredients. Samantha Vérant has captured the very best of France, and