With summer’s arrival, the commencement of two favorite annual sporting events to take us vicariously to the two countries many of us love to visit when we are able. Also, a clothing sale from an affordable and stylish French brand, a rom-com that is easy on the eyes, a documentary to take us behind the scenes of a singer that may have provided the soundtrack for your time as a young girl growing up in the 80s, a new book in a French caper series, a novel telling a novel love story from an author who just knows how to write them so darn well, and still, much, much more.

Books

—Death in La Jardin by Ian Moore, book 4 of 4 in the Follet Valley mystery series

Perhaps you read British mystery writer living in France Ian Moore’s first book Death and Croissants which kicked off the Follet Valley mystery series. Well, now fast-forward and book #4 has just been released in the UK. On June 6th Death in La Jardin became available (and it’s now on sale at Blackwells).

What’s the plot of the latest caper? “On the surface, Richard Ainsworth has life where he wants it. Middle-aged navel gazing and Olympic levels of procrastination are exactly what rural life in France should be about.

“Then crisis hits his posh B&B when redoubtable housekeeper, Madame Tablier, is accused of murder. Even more surprisingly, it’s the murder of a former fiancé, turned brother-in-law. None of which the stubborn old woman denies. Valérie d’Orçay is having none of it and their investigation leads them to a strange tourist garden village, where backbiting, recriminations and even former colleagues provide a deadly scenario more tangled than knotweed.”

—My Life in Seventeen Books: A Literary Memoir by Jon M. Sweeney

If you love books and your curiosity becomes piqued about which books inspired those who write for a living, then this book might just be what you would enjoy. Published in May, Jon M. Sweeney, a former bookseller, longtime publisher and author “shows—with history and anecdotes centering around books such as Thoreau’s Journal, Tagore’s Gitanjali, Martin Buber’s Hasidic Tales, and Tolstoy’s Twenty-three Tales—what it means to be carried by a book. He explores the discovery that once accompanied finding books, and books finding us. He ponders the smell of an old volume, its heft, and why bibliophiles carry them around even without reading them. He demonstrates how and why there is magic and enchantment that takes place between people and books.”

—Mozart in Motion by Patrick Mackie

If you are fascinated by the musical genius that was Amadeus Mozart, then you will want to explore a book released earlier this June, Mozart in Motion. Patrick Mackie “follows Mozart from his youth in Salzburg to his early death, from his close and rivalrous relationship with his father to his romantic attachments, from his hugely successful operas to intimate compositions on the keyboard . . . , Mozart in Motion leads the reader through the major and lesser-known moments of the composer’s life and brings alive the teeming, swiveling modernity of eighteenth-century Europe. In this era of rococo painting, surrealist aesthetics, and political turbulence, Mozart reckoned with a searing talent that threatened to overwhelm him, all the while pushing himself to extraordinary feats of musicianship.”

—A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston

Just released this past Tuesday on the 25th, critics and editors are raving and most eager to recommend A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston, a New York Times bestselling author of The Seven Year Slip and The Dead Romantics. The plot centers around a professor of literature literally caught up in a work of fiction. I will let you read more about the storyline here.

British Finds

—Firebrand

Currently only available to be viewed in theaters, the film Firebrand is adapted from Elizabeth Freemantle’s book Queen’s Gambit: A Novel of Katherine Parr and tells the story of the twice widowed Parr who at the age of thirty-one falls deeply for the dashing courtier Thomas Seymour and hopes at last to marry for love. Alicia Vicklander stars as Katherine Parr and Jude Law disappears masterfully into the role of Henry XIV. Have a look at the trailer below. I must say, I am fascinated and quite curious to watch this film.

—Wimbledon

The official first day of Wimbledon arrives this coming Monday, and while matches have been taking place all this week, technically the fortnight begins on July 1st. Either way, my DVR is set to watch all sorts of tennis during the next two weeks along with swapping time to watch the other sporting event I will talk about just below.

Films

—A Family Affair, Netflix

If you are looking for a good rom-com, Netflix has one I think you might enjoy with a slightly different duo match-up at the helm. Nicole Kidman’s character is a widow falls in lust for her daughter Zara’s boss for whom she is his personal assistant. Described as self-absorbed, Zara’s boss that is Chris Cole, a Hollywood star, played by Zac Ephron, also becomes smitten, and well, the daughter is more than a little worried, and confused, by her mother’s fascination with him. Have a look at the trailer below and find it on Netflix starting today. It looks like a fun watch.

—Let the Canary Sing

“Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”. The song of my pre-teen years! Oh, how I loved and played and delighted in that song! Well, now, we have a documentary about the one and only Cyndi Lauper, the canary as the title describes her, in Let the Canary Sing. Having had the chance to listen to an interview with Lauper on CBS Sunday Morning about both this film and her final tour, I look forward to watching the film. She is a force and an inspiration to continue to sing and sing because it was what you can uniquely do and do oh so well.

Have a look at the trailer below and find the film on Paramount+ now.

Francophile Finds

—Kerzon Summer Sale

Having a good stock of candles you love is a great idea – the candle cupboard!, and when my favorite French brands go on sale, I scoop up a few more. French candle company Kerzon is having a summer sale, and a handful of their classic scents are reduced by 20%.

—Le Tour de France

Samedi Le Tour de France commence ! Yep, my DVR has been set, and for the next three weeks I look forward to ending my days with a good sit down and watching of a tour of France through the perspective of the cyclists. Beginning in Florence, Italy, this weekend, for the first time since 1989 the tour will not end in Paris and instead will conclude in Nice due to the Olympic preparations in the City of Light.

I will be watching, and perhaps you will be watching as well? Below is this year’s route.

—Sandro Sale

The summer sale has begun for French clothing brand Sandro as Les Soldes has kicked off all over France, the semi-annual great reduction on just about everything throughout the country.

I have shopped a few items for you, but be sure to peruse both women and men’s clothing deals.

~SHOP THE SALE:

Shopping

—Alex Mill The Carla High Rise Straight jeans (two washes)

A classic cut, flattering and in two great washes.

—Heidi Wynn White Block Print Floral Dress

Heidi Wynn’s summer dress collection is full of floral and lightweight midi-lengths. I picked out two that caught my eye, but be sure to shop her entire collection as there are many, and there are shorter versions as well.

Heidi Wynn’s White Eyelet Ava Dress

—James Purse Wide Leg Relaxed Linen Pant (many colors)

A good pair of linen pants that fall nicely from the hip provide the comfort and cool from the heat as well as the cool aesthetically to look stylish and smart.

—Lascana Navy Striped Short Sleeve Top (on sale)

—Madewell’s The Oversized Shirt

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The scent of jasmine (star jasmine I have learned), contented pups and a croissant.

The end of a long day of travel punctuated by these sweet treats and I am more than reenergized and breathing easily and happily again.

This weekend finds us over in the valley, and returning to a favorite AirBnB where the garden of the home (the rental is the cottage, while the main house is a wowza! where the owners live) is even more grand than the adorable quaint cottage built back in 1926 or there about. As I shared in the weekly newsletter (it’s free!) letter from the editor, the scent as I typed this post filled my dreams of what a garden in my mind’s eye is imagined to be this time of year. Even the pups, as captured here of Norman, were enamored and most curious with the scent and spent many a minutes trying to figure out exactly what it was and where it was coming from. Needless to say, Star Jasmine, as the owner told me while I enjoyed a bit of a conversation with her as she pottered about in her garden, is the name of this lovely plant and I am now determined to figure out how to bring one suited to Bend’s climate to life in my own Le Papillon!

This week on the blog offered many posts from gardening to style to what made me smile, and we kicked it all off with the launch of the Contentment Masterclass. Be sure to peruse back through all of the posts depending upon what inspiration you are seeking, and coming this Monday with July’s beginning, a new A Cuppa Moments will be shared with TOP Tier Members and a Monday Motivational post for everyone.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend, and may it be filled with love that is nourishing, sights and scents that are inspiring, and of course, many everyday moments to savor. Until Monday, bonne journée.

~The Ultimate French Girl Style Destination – find style recommendations from well-known French style influencers [Vogue]

~A Locals’ Guide to Cape Ferret, France – Where Parisians escape for secret beaches and oyster cabanas [NYTimes Magazine, gift link]

~Ina Garten may be releasing her memoir this fall (pre-order here), but rest assured the cookbook writing goes on! She is currently working on a new cookbook, her 14th, as hinted about here in her recent IG post.

~If you have a chance to pick up a copy of the most recent issue of Town & Country magazine, you are in for a treat if you are a Francophile. All things Paris is the focus, as made clear by the title on the cover – 137 ways to enjoy Paris. Here is a look at all of the articles you will find inside, and if you have two free views on their site, pick your favorite and have a look.

~Style inspiration from the streets of Paris during couture week. [Who What Wear]

~Now this just looks like fun to make, but also ideal for summer dessert – why not try a Burnt Lemon Sgroppino? [House & Garden UK]

~12 interesting French podcasts to help improve your French [Frenchly]

~12 plants that do well in the heat during July and onward for a bountiful late summer garden [Veranda]

~Let’s stay in France a bit longer, 15 of the best beaches to be sure to visit this summer [CondeNast Traveler]

~I think a trip to New York City might be in order this fall, if nothing else just to see this new romantic comedy play starring Julianna Margulies and Peter Gallagher based on the book written by Delia Ephron (Nora’s sister and writing partner), Left on Tenth. A true story about meeting her second love, adapted from her book of the same name.

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~Explore last week’s This & That: June 21, 2024:

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