Ehhh ... this one didn't do if for me. It was fine, just ... I won't remember it at all. I think I was expecting the two-timelines, some taking place in the past. I've some others by this author (The Dressmaker's Gift, The Beekeeper's Promise, Sea of Memories). I didn't realize this was supposedly the 3rd in a series (Escape to France: The French For Love, The French For Always, The French for Christmas ... which was the original title of this book). I don't think it's a series per se (I haven't read the others) but the only connection seems to be someone "escaping to France" ... not overlapping stories. In fact here in the author's note at the end, it's stated that Eliane and Mereille (characters in this book, who I guess appear in the other two "Escape to France" books) are featured in the books I've read, mentioned above. I did not recognize them or their stories. 

This was basically a Hallmark Christmas movie. I'm finding I don't care for them ... in movies, but even more in books. They are just blah ... I knew Christmas played a part, but I was thinking this wouldn't be the same stereotypes and tropes. But it was. "I know now that our lives are made of of changing seasons. Through the darkest days of bleak midwinter we have to do what we can to keep the faith, nourishing our bodies and our souls, keeping a flame burning no matter how tiny or how tenuous - deep down inside our hearts. And that, in the bleakest moments of all, we should make a Christmas for ourselves, piling on the tinsel, lighting the candles and the fairy lights and rolling back the darkness ... with the promise of a rebirth."  Just a little too "after school special" happily ever after, Christmas movie ending for me. 

Note the changed title ... there was a lot of food talk in this one. Also addresses the emotion after a stillbirth/breakup of a marriage. Some humor in the Bradley-Cooper French Doctor look-alike living next door. If I remember anything from this book, it will likely be that.