Book Review: The Tapestry of Love by Rosy Thornton

A rural idyll: that's what Catherine is seeking when she sells her house in England and moves to a tiny hamlet in the Cevennes mountains. With her divorce in the past and her children grown, she is free to make a new start, and to set up in business as a seamstress. But this is a harsh and lonely place when you're no longer here on holiday. There is French bureaucracy to contend with, not to mention the mountain weather and the reserve of her neighbours, including the intriguing Patrick Castagnol. And that's before the arrival of Catherine's sister, Bryony...

I was luck enough to be sent The Tapestry of Love by the author herself, to be honest this sometimes makes me really nervous in case I don't enjoy it. I needn't have worried, I loved Rosy Thornton's book and devoured it in one sitting.
As a reader, I felt completely involved in Catherine's brave move to the Cevennes mountains. Rosy Thornton's use of descriptive language is simply excellent; I could picture Catherine's new home and surroundings so vividly, I felt as though I were actually there.
Catherine is an extremely brave character, she has moved her whole life to a foreign country where she knows no-one and has a scant knowledge of the language. It's so interesting to observe as she settles in to the isolated hamlet and the tentative interactions she has with her neighbours. Patrick Castagnol is a very interesting element of the story, everything about him is so mysterious and yet so inviting, it is easy to understand why Catherine is so taken with him.
I do have to warn you though, this book will make you very hungry! There are so many beautiful descriptions of mouth watering food, from wild boar stew to fresh baguettes adorned with local goat's cheese. I loved this element of the book and how detailed it was.
I would highly recommend The Tapestry of Love, Rosy Thornton's writing draws you in and it is a lovely way to while spend an afternoon.